R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
SGPC POLL: The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) will contest the coming SGPC elections, said Mr Pritam Singh, senior vice-president of the SAD Amloh unit at a press statement here on Thursday. He was critical of the SAD chief and the SGPC chief and alleged that they have caused a big loss to the ‘Panth’. The management of gurdwaras should be handed over to the honest persons, he demanded. The unity between the two leaders is for their personal gains and not for the benefit of the Sikhs. Mr Badal who had been speaking against Mr Tohra has now, under the pressure of the BJP, joined hands with him. SAD (A) has been holding meetings to expose the said leaders, he said.

BATHINDA
SUICIDE: Kheta Ram, a rickshaw-puller of this town, committed suicide on Wednesday after jumping before a train on the Bathinda-Dabwali rail section. Mr Vijay Goyal, president, Sahara Jan Sewa, a voluntary organisation, in a press note, said volunteers of the organisation cremated the body.

BARNALA
BLOOD DONATION: A blood donation camp organised by the Lions Club here in league with the State Bank of Patiala and the NSS unit of S.D. College here on Wednesday evoked an overwhelming response. As many as 170 donors donated blood. Mrs Surjit Kaur Barnala, wife of Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Governor, Andhra Pradesh, was the chief guest.

LUDHIANA
IT DEPT’S CAMPAIGN: The Income Tax Department is continuing its campaign to unearth concealed income and as a result of survey of a spinning unit, a sum of Rs 85 lakh was surrendered by the unit on Wednesday. The survey operations continued for whole day. The unit deals in import and export of acrylic and wool.

35 POs ARRESTED: Mr Narinderpal Singh, SSP, said in a press release here on Thursday that the Proclaimed Offenders Wing of the city police, which was set up on December 2002, had caught 35 POs in September. So far, the wing had arrested 1,435 proclaimed offenders and efforts were afoot to nab those criminals who were still eluding the police, added the SSP.

CAMP: An eye check-up-cum awareness camp was organised at SAN Jain Model School, Circular Road, on Thursday to mark World Sight Day. As many as 650 students were examined by Dr J.M. Singh, SMO (Eye) and Dr Anita Jain, Medical Officer. Dr S.N. Tiwari, Civil Surgeon, was the chief guest, while Mr Ashok Makkar, member, District Health Advisory Committee was the guest of honour. The students were educated about care of eyes and prevention from injuries. Posters and banners to create awareness among children were also displayed.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
BLOOD DONATION CAMP: The NSS unit of the Punjab Institute of Management and Technology (PIMT) organised a blood donation camp on Wednesday in collaboration with the Lions Clubs (Main and Supreme), Mandi Gobindgarh, to commemorate the establishment day of the NSS. Mr Kanahaya Lal Bardeja inaugurated the camp. Mr Swaranjeet Singh Bagli, president, Gobindgarh Educational and Social Welfare Trust, Mr N.K. Khanna, chairman, PIMT, and Dr O.P. Shahni, Director of the institute, were present on the occasion. As many as 69 volunteers, including members of the clubs, NSS volunteers and faculty members of the institute donated blood.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

NAHAN
2 GET LIFE TERM: Mr L.N. Sharma, District and Sessions Judge, Sirmaur, has sentenced two to imprisonment for life in two separate cases under Section 302, IPC, on charges of murder. Tara Chand, a resident of Jagas village has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Amar Chand, a resident of Barash village. Sunder Singh of Tali Chandron has been convicted for the murder of his 22-year-old wife, Mahima Devi and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment.