R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

ABOHAR
2 HELD: Krishna Devi, a resident of Nai Abadi has been arrested by the city police under the NDPS Act for allegedly possessing 2 gm smack, the police said. Two women of the same family were arrested last month for a similar offence. The city police has also arrested Gurpreet Singh, alias Raju, resident of Jammu Basti, and recovered 3 gm smack from him.

AMRITSAR
TALENT SEARCH: A talent search competition for freshers was organised at the local Khalsa College for Women here on Friday. The competitions included declamation, poetry recitation, singing and dancing. Mr S S Puri, Deputy Commissioner, was the chief guest. He also distributed prizes.

MEDICAL CAMP: A 15-day free medical camp for eyes, and teeth will be organised by Khalsa College for Women at Gurudwara Sarkaria Patti on September 1.

COMPLAINT: Naresh Kumar, a banner maker has alleged in an affidavit that a candidate from ward no 42 had not paid him Rs 6,960 for 100 banners made by him during the municipal elections recently. However, the banner maker has alleged that the candidate not only refuses to pay but also threatens him with arrest.

BATALA
STUDENTS HONOURED: A function was held here on Friday at R R Bawa, DAV College for Girls to honour the meritorious students. Mr Khushal Behl, Education Minister, Punjab was the chief guest and Mr Ashwani Sekhri, Minister of Tourism and Industries, Punjab, presided.

FEROZEPORE
CRUSHED TO DEATH: Kuldeep Singh (40) of Malwal Kadeem village crushed to death by a Tata Sumo on Saturday he was crossing the road to go to the fields for answering nature’s call. A case has been registered. However, the driver of the Tata Sumo has absconded.

HOSHIARPUR
IDOLS INSTALLED: Idols of Lord Krishna, Radha and Lord Vishnu were installed at a newly constructed temple at Daulatpur Gillan village, 24 km from here on Saturday. Mr Romesh Chander Dogra, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Punjab donated Rs 21,000 for the construction of a Dharamsala near to the temple.

BOY ELECTROCUTED: Sameer a young boy of Garhi Gate here was electrocuted while preparing a tableau in connection with Janamashtami celebration at Tagore Park on Friday. He reportedly touched a naked electric wire.

KHARAR
LECTURE: Mr Mohni Kanugo, medical representative of GlaxoSmith Kline, gave a lecture on various forms of hepatitis at a meeting of the Rotary Club on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, he said hepatitis A was most widespread infectious disease, world-wide. The virus was common in places with poor hygiene and sanitation. Hepatitis A and B could be prevented through a vaccine which was available in the market, he said.

MOGA
MARKETING VEHICLE: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr G. Romesh Kumar, on Saturday performed the opening ceremony of rural marketing vehicle at Darolibhai village under Moga sadar police station. Sarpanch Parupkar Singh presided.

NAWANSHAHR
ERRATIC POWER: Residents of the town are sore over the erratic power supply and frequent power cuts. They allege that the town have been facing power cuts of at least nine hours. This is also affecting the water supply.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the District High and Senior Secondary Schools Tournament Committee: President — Mr Krishan Chander Kapoor general secretary — Mr Baldev Singh Pabla; vice presidents — Mr Karnail Singh, Mr Hans Raj Sharma and Ms Rajinder Kaur; organising secretary — Mr Gurpal Singh; finance secretary — Mr Harjinder Singh; and joint secretary — Mr Balbir Singh.

PATIALA
IT AWARD: Dr Dhanwant Singh, Padam Shree awardee and noted eye surgeon, was awarded ‘Samman Patra’ by the Income Tax Department in the category of highest income tax paying professionals for the year 1999-2000 on Saturday.

PHAGWARA
THREE ARRESTED: The local police has arrested three persons and recovered from them the stolen items worth Rs 4.70 lakh of the Air Tel showroom on the G T Road here. The arrested persons include Bhupinder Kumar, alias Popi, Pawan Kumar, alias Bawa and Man Singh, alias Pappi, all of Amritsar. They have been remanded in police custody till August 31. Their two other accomplices, Sunil, alias Bhichi and Amrit Beri are still at large.

DEAD: Gurmail Singh, a rickshaw-puller of a nearby village, Piddi, was killed on the spot at the village when he was hit by a car. A case has been registered under Section 174, Cr PC.

CHANDIGARH

AWARDED: Capital Book Depot, Sector 17, has been awarded the Full Circle Award for excellence in book distribution and book selling. The award was conferred by Mr I.D. Swami, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, at a function held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The company was a part of the ongoing Delhi Book Fair. Capital Book Depot was selected for the award from a total of about 15 book stores all over the country and happens to be the only store representing the North India (excluding Delhi).

HARYANA

AMBALA
URGED: The chairman of the All-India Anti Terrorist Front, Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta, has urged the Union Government to take harsh action against the forest brigand, Veerappan. Talking to mediapersons here on Saturday, he said the government should not go for any compromise with Veerappan to save the life of a former minister of Karnataka who was kidnapped by him. He said that earlier the government had shown weakness while giving undue importance to the sandalwood smuggler.

MEETING: A meeting of the District Ambala Mahila Congress (rural) was held under the presidentship of Ms Amarjit Kaur Sodhi on Friday. Ms Sodhi said a number of Congress activists and senior leaders would participate in the Congress rally being held in Yamuna Nagar on Sunday.

BHIWANI
INJURED: Jaswant received burn injuries when he touched naked live wires while switching on the motor in his fields at Kakroli Hatti village on Saturday.

ACTION SOUGHT: The local Saini Sabha has sought action against a teacher for pouring acid on some trees planted on the panchayati land in Hanuman Dhani here. In a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, it alleged that Ram Gopal ordered some employees to pour acid on trees planted by the sabha. However, one of the staff members denied the complaint.

FATEHABAD
SUBSIDY ON SEEDS: Under its drought relief measures, the state government is providing seeds for alternative crops to farmers at 50 per cent subsidy. The Deputy Commissioner, Dr R.B. Langyaan, told mediapersons here on Friday that farmers would be eligible to take one bag of seeds of alternative crops like cereals and oilseeds per acre. He said that permits for the same would be issued by the agriculture officer concerned. The farmers would get the seeds from sale centres of the Haryana Seed Development Corporation of the Haryana Land Development Corporation.

2 BROTHERS HELD: The police on Friday arrested two brothers from Alika village in this district and recovered 2.5 kg of opium from their possession. The police has booked them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. According to sources, the police arrested Malkiat and Hartjit, both brothers from village Alika and recovered from their possession 1.5 kg and 1 kg of opium, respectively.

CRUSHED TO DEATH: A teenaged boy Balwant of Kuleri village, was killed when he was crushed by a Center near Daryapur village in the district on Friday. The victim was on his way Daryapur village on his bicycle when the canter hit him from behind and crushed him. The driver absconded after the accident. A case has been registered.

PROGRAMME: Manohar Memorial College here organised a talent search programme here on Saturday. The Deputy Commissioner, Dr R.B. Langyaan, was the chief guest. The INLD MLA, Mr Leela Krishan Chowdhary, presided over the function. Students presented a cultural programme on the occasion.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

DALHOUSIE
CARNIVAL: The district administration will host a winter carnival here in December-end to attract tourists. According to Mr Rahul Anand, Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, cooperation of hoteliers and local residents will be sought.