R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the state unit of the All-India Human Rights Association: president — Mr Satbir Choudhry; chief secretary — Mr Subash Agarwal; joint-secretary — Mr Manjinder Singh Kang and organising secretaries — Dr Kuldeep Singh and Mr Suresh Agarwal.

REGISTRATION OF CASE: Mr Satya Pal Dang, CPI leader, urged the DGP to register a case against a hospital in Jalandhar where Rattan Chand of Verka locality underwent kidney transplantation. In a letter to Mr A.A. Siddiqui, DGP, Mr Dang stated that the SP (City), who had investigated the case had recommended the registration of case against New Ruby Hospital.

BATHINDA
BEST BOY: Harjot Singh Dhillon, a student of local Summer Hill Convent School, was declared best boy of the school during its sports and cultural meet organised recently, according to a school press note.

CONDEMNS: Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President, SAD (A), while condemning the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, for giving "siropa" to Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Sukhbir Badal alleged that this action had lowered the dignity of highest temporal seat of the Sikhs. He also condemned the SAD (B) leadership for voting in favour of POTA.

Barnala
ARRESTED: The police has seized a large amount of intoxicants from a local chemist's residence Dr Narinder Bhargav, SSP, said the residence of Rajesh Kumar, a local chemist, was raided and 23,300 intoxicant pills, 2,550 intoxicant capsules, five litres of liquid, 1 kg intoxicant powder and 20 injections were seized.

Hoshiarpur
Function: The birth anniversary of Lord Dhanvantri, founder of the Ayurvedic system of medicines, was celebrated by the District Vaid Mandal here on Sunday. A state-level function was organised on the occasion. It was presided over by Mr Romesh Chander Dogra, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, in which 1000 vaids from all over the state participated.

Jalandhar
LEFTISTS’ RALLY: Secretary of the CPM (Punjab) Mangat Ram Pasla said that four Left parties including the CPI (ML), Liberation, the Forward Block, the MCPI and the CPM (Punjab) would hold rallies in parts of the state from January 20 to February 15, 2004 against the anti-people policies of the Congress government.

FILL POSTS: The Government Teachers Union, Punjab on Saturday urged the government to fill 20,000 posts of teacher. The union criticised the government for not sanctioning salary of hundred of teachers for more than three months.

Pathankot
ANNUAL FUNCTION: The annual function of Saini Mahasabha concluded here on Sunday. Mrs Minakshi Saini of Saini Motors, Ludhiana, was the chief guest. Mr Kamal Choudhry, former MP, while presiding over the function demanded the reservation for the community. Mr Inderjit Saini, president, Samta Party, Punjab, Mr Sat Pal Saini, former minister, Punjab, Mr Onkar Singh Saini, Tehsildar, Jammu, also addressed the gathering.

PATIALA
NSS CAMP: A one-day NSS, camp was organised at the Punjab College of Education, Bahadurgarh, on Sunday were given a demonstration of various yogic exercises and a discussion was held on how to improve the college campus. The camp was inaugurated by the field organiser, NSS, Punjabi University, Ms Raman Chahal, who planted a sapling. The Principal of the college, Dr Agyajit Singh, exhorted NSS volunteers to create awareness in the rural areas about drug addiction, illiteracy and AIDS. The camp ended with a cultural programme by college students.

Phagwara
DISTRIBUTED: Mr Charanjit Singh Bassi and Mr Kulwinder Singh Bassi on Sunday distributed 300 woollen pullovers among the poor and the needy especially the children of slum dwellers. They distributed these woollens on the occasion of a religious function held by them at the local gurdwara Shaheedan. They also donated Rs 10,000 to the gurdwara on the occasion.

Sangrur
PULSE POLIO CAMPAIGN: The district administration has formed 1104 teams including 44 mobile teams, to administer anti-polio drops to the children as part of the National Pulse-Polio Programme, on January 4 and February 22, Mr Sarvjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner stated this here on Saturday.

HARYANA

Hisar
DEATH: An inmate of a jail died here on Sunday. According to jail officials, Hari Singh, a local resident, was lodged in the Central Jail in connection with a case registered against him under the Excise Act two years ago. He was being taken to the Civil Hospital after he complained of pain in his chest. He died on way to the hospital.

Karnal
LJP rally: The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will hold a state-level public rally at Panipat on January 27. The national president of the LJP Mr Ram Vilas Paswan will address the rally. Stating this, Mr Surendra Singh Hudda, the state general secretary of the party, said the rally had been named “adhikaar” rally.

Kurukshetra
BAR ASSOCIATION: The following were elected office bearers of the District Bar Association, Kuruksheta here on Saturday evening. Mr Subhash Sharma — president, Mr Baldev Raj Bajaj — Vice-president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Saini — secretary, Mr Jaswinder Singh Vartiya — Joint secretary and Mr Sukhbir Singh Saini — treasurer.

Yamunanagar
FETE: The Ladies Club in association with the Thapar Industries Club of Ballarpur Industries Ltd organised a fete here on Sunday. Dr Deviyani Singh, president, District Red Cross Society, inaugurated the fete.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
STONE LAID: Ms Chandresh Kumari, Himachal Health Minister, here on Saturday laid the foundation stone of a diagnostic centre. She said the Centre had sanctioned three diagnostic centres for Hamirpur, Solan and Bilaspur three years ago while the Centre was to provide Rs 3 crore for each project but the former BJP government slept over this project.

Chamba
LOK ADALAT: A Lok Adalat was held under the chairmanship of Mr V.K. Gupta, District and Sessions Judge, Chamba, here on Saturday. Out of 48 cases fixed for concialation, 27 were disposed of on the spot. A total compensation of Rs 1.18 lakh was awarded in 16 motor accident claim cases.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture and Horticulture Officers Services (Class-I) Association. president — Dr Deepak Verma; vice-president — Dr Bharat Raj Sood; general secretary — Dr Bhola Singh; joint secretary — Dr Rajeev Chandra; press secretary — Dr Manoj Vaid and finance secretary — Dr S.K. Bhambola.

Dharamsala
WOMAN, SON HELD: The Shahpur police has arrested Suresh Kumar and his mother Vimla Devi of Basnoor village on the charge of forcing Sureshtha Devi to commit suicide. Suresh Kumar married Sureshtha Devi (25) two years ago. On Friday night she allegedly consumed poison and was removed to Shahpur CHC but was declared dead there.

SENTENCED TO LIFE: A court here on Saturday sentenced Som Raj alias Sonu of Khanda Sanial village under Indora police station to life imprisonment and fined him Rs 5,000. He was found guilty of murdering Sardari Lal of the same village.

Hamirpur
EFFIGIES BURNT: Activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad burnt the effigies of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh at Government Degree College, Anoo, on Saturday.

Shimla
SOCIAL SECURITY: Social security is on top of the government’s agenda in the hill state. About 46 per cent of the total plan investment had been earmarked for this sector. As many as 1,86,266 persons will be getting Rs 200 per month as social security pension from January 1, 2004.