R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
INAUGURATED: Public schools play an important role in quality education, said Mr Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, MLA from Amloh, while speaking at the inaugural function of the Maa Saraswati Vidya Peeth Nursery School here on Saturday. Ms Ranjana Garg, school Principal, said the school would offer computer education to students from nursery.

AMRITSAR
MEDICAL CAMP: As many as 1500 patients were examined at a free mega medical camp organised by 140 Battalion of the Border Security Force at Narli village on Saturday. Medicines were given free of cost to the patients.

BATHINDA
SUICIDE: A woman committed suicide at Kailebander village by consuming some poisonous substance on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Sunita Rani (35). The post-mortem examination was conducted at the local Civil Hospital and thereafter the body was handed over to her parents. A case was registered at Talwandi Sabo police station on the complaint of her father.

DHADI-KAWISHRI FEST: The 8th annual Dhadi-Kawishri’ festival will be organised at Balianwali village on March 17. During the festival that is organised in the memory of popular “Kawishri” singer Maghi Singh Gill, prominent ‘Dhadi-Kawishri’ singers of the area will participate.

CAMP: A medical check-up camp for persons suffering from joint pains and bone disorders was held in a private hospital by the Lions Club (Fort) here on Sunday.

AWARENESS: The Bathinda Vikas Manch organised a camp for educating consumers about their rights, at Phoos Mandi village in the district, on Sunday.

GRANT: Mr Hardev Singh Sidhu, president of the district unit of the NRI Sabha, has given Rs 51,000 for the development of Bhai Asa Singh College for Women (Goniana town).

FARIDKOT
CALLED: The Punjab Beopar Mandal has called a meeting of its executive body at Kotkapura on March 23 to decide its future course of action against the implementation of the VAT in the state.

HOSHIARPUR
INAUGURATED: Ms Sisri Kumari Samal, wife of Dr B. Samal, Chairman and Managing Director of Allahabad Bank, inaugurated the ATM service at the JCT Extension counter at Chohal, 12 km from here, on Saturday. Dr B. Samal talked about various schemes of the bank and Mr D.S. Rathore, head of the JCT Filament Division, said the ATM service would benefit villagers of this area.

TWO ARRESTED: The Garhshankar police on Friday arrested Ajit Singh of Moranwali and his accomplice Arwinder Singh of Jandiala under Section 302 of the IPC for allegedly killing Harjinder Singh of the same village. According to police sources Harjinder Singh had illicit relations with Veena wife of Ajit Singh due to which he was murdered.

DOWRY CASE: The Sadar police on Friday arrested Tej Kaur mother-in-law, Kulwinder Singh and Lakhwinder Singh, brothers-in-law of Manjit Kaur of Bela Sarian and Baldev Singh and his wife Narinder Kaur of Punian under Sections 498 A & 406 of the IPC. Manjit Kaur, daughter of Amarpal Singh of Taunli village, had lodged a complaint that they had been harassing her to bring more dowry.

KHANNA
ELECTED: Mr Vinod Gupta was elected acting president of the AS College Alumni Association at a meeting of the governing body of the association here on Saturday. The president of the association, Mr Boota Singh, who has been appointed Income Tax Commissioner, Mumbai, wanted to appoint a new president but the governing body only permitted him to appoint an acting president.

ANNUAL Function: The first annual function of Guru Harkrishan Sahib Charitable Hospital was held on Sunday. A kirtan darbar was organised on the occasion. Bhai Avtar Singh, president of the hospital trust, said facilities being provided at the Sohana hospital will be extended to the Khanna hospital.

MANSA
POLL: The elections of presidents and vice-presidents of three Municipal Councils — Mansa, Budhlada and Bareta — and one Nagar Panchayat — Sardulgarh, in the district will take place on Saturday, according to Mr S.K. Ahluwalia, Deputy Commissioner.

PHAGWARA
OPPOSED: The Milkmen and Dairy Union, Punjab, has opposed the entry of milk products in India under the WTO, according to Harbans Singh, union president, here on Saturday. The union raised this demand at its meeting with the Punjab Animal Husbandry Minister, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang. The union also demanded the disbanding of the Dairy Board, amendment in the Food Adulteration Act, immediate halt to programmes on TV channels and media depicting milkmen in poor light and end to the challans of milkmen’s vehicles for overloading.

SAMRALA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Punjab State Tubewell Corporation Workers Union, Ludhiana district: president — Mr Gurmeet Singh Mangat; senior vice-president — Mr Swaran Singh Dhillon; vice-presidents — Mr Amar Pal Singh and Mr Jora Singh; general secretary — Mr Sudesh Kumar Sharma; joint secretary — Mr Mohinder Singh; cashier — Mr Gulzar Singh; auditor — Mr Kesar Singh; and press secretary — Mr Harmel Singh Khamanon.

SPORTS FESTIVAL: A rural sports festival will be held at Lopon village, 10 km from here, from March 17 to 19, in which kabaddi, back trolley and dog races will be the main attractions.

BEREAVED: The mother of social worker and government contractor Achhar Singh Gill — Kartar Kaur — died on Friday. She was cremated at her native village Chehalan, near here, on Saturday.

HARYANA

FATEHABAD
KILLED: A motorcyclist was killed and the pillion injured when a bull suddenly came in front of their vehicle and struck it late on Saturday. The motorcyclist, Satwinder Singh, was coming to Fatehabad from nearby Rattia. Sunil Kumar, who was riding pillion, fell on the road when the motorcycle hit against animal. Satwinder received injuries on the head and died on the spot, while Sunil was taken to a local hospital.

HISAR
ARRESTED: The police has arrested two persons in connection with a case of forcible demolition of a house in the Model Town area here. A police spokesman said here on Saturday that the police had arrested Bhupinder Singh, Ravi Kumar of Rohtak and recovered a pistol, a gun and 32 live cartridges from them. The police had also recovered the JCB machine, which was used for the demolition of the house, from Rohtak.

SENTENCED: The District and Sessions Judge, Mr Arvind Kumar Goyal, on Friday sentenced four persons to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2000 each for killing a married woman. According to the prosecution, Rajbala, a resident of Poli village was married to Kartar Singh of Puthi village 20 years ago. Kartar Singh, his brother Ram Niwas, sister Dhanpati and mother Giano Devi had set Rajbala on fire two years ago. She died in the hospital the same day. In her statement before the police, she alleged that her husband used to drink and beat her up. When she objected this, her in-laws set her on fire.

KILLED: A tractor-driver was killed while another was injured seriously when their tractor overturned at Satrod village near here on Friday. The injured was admitted to the local Civil Hospital. According to the police, Kamikhiya and Satbir Singh, both residents of UP were returning here from Hansi when their tractor overturned.

KARNAL
RESENTED: The Haryana branch of the National Integrated Medical Association has resented the statement of the state Health Minister, Dr H.L. Ranga, made recently in the Haryana Assembly regarding the use of allopathic medicines by doctors having BAMS/GAMS degrees. Dr R.B. Goyal, president, NIMA and Dr Shashi Bhushan Madan, its general secretary, described the minister’s statement as misleading.

YAMUNANAGAR
KANDI PROJECT: “Rs 228.19 lakh have been spent under Kandi Project benefiting 5,277 farmers in the past three years or so,” said Mr Vijayendra Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, here on Sunday. He also said 200 women from six villages of the district had been trained in cutting and tailoring under the project in the current financial year.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

SHIMLA
EXAMINATIONS: Himachal Pradesh University has decided to conduct the postgraduate examinations of second, fourth and sixth semester (regular) and first, third and fifth semester (re-appear) candidates of MA/M.Sc/LL.B./M.Com./M.Ed. and all other PG degree/diploma courses in computer sciences, journalism etc from June 5, 2003. An official release of the university said examination forms and fee for these examinations must reach the university before April 10, without late fee and thereafter a late fee of Rs 100 will be charged up to April 25 and Rs 125 up to May 5.