R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

ABOHAR
FARMER’S SON DIES: Sheshkaran, a son of Surja Ram, a farmer of Sardarpura village succumbed to bullet injury on Monday night. Family sources said he was hit on the chest as in an “accidental fire” as he was cleaning the weapon.

AMRITSAR
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: Under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, the district administration will spend Rs 7.79 crore for the repair and maintenance of elementary schools. This was stated by Mr Raminder Singh, Deputy Commissioner, during a ‘jan sampark’ campaign at Khalra village in Patti subdivision on Wednesday.

BARNALA
CHILDREN GIVEN SHOES: The Lions Club Harmony, Barnala, on Tuesday distributed 250 pairs of shoes and socks among Thikriwala Primary School children 10 km from here.

KHANNA
SEMINAR: Rupali Wadhawan, a student of Sacred Heart Convent School, Khanna has won the first prize at a seminar organised by the Bharat Vikas Parishad in Jalandhar on the topic “Bhart Ko Jano” on Sunday, Rupali and Savneet Kaur, both students of Sacred Heart Convent School, Khanna, had earlier bagged the first prize in a contest organised at Hindi Putri Pathshala by the parishad on Saturday.

KHARAR
CHEMISTS’ BODY: Mr Harish Sethi has been elected president of the Ropar District Chemists Association.

LUDHIANA
AWARD FOR BANK BRANCH: Karnataka Bank, Ludhiana branch, was adjudged as the “best branch” of the bank for the year 2002-03. In a function held recently at Mangalore, Chairman of the bank, Mr Ananthakrishna, presented the “Silver Rolling Trophy” to Mr B. Chandrashekar Rao, senior branch manager of the Ludhiana branch. The trophy was presented to the Regional Office, New Delhi. The trophy is given every year for all-round performance in key areas like deposits, advances, productivity per employee, net profit, etc.

PAU PROFESSOR GETS AWARD: Dr Hari Mohan Saxena, Professor of Immunology in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology of the Veterinary College of Punjab Agricultural University, has been awarded with the Mid-Career Scientist Award of the Indian Society for Veterinary Immunology and Biotechnology for his outstanding research contributions in immunology.

MANDI AHMEDGARH
MEETING: A meeting of the Government Teachers Union was held at the local Municipal Children Park. Mr Sikander Singh Jartoli, district general secretary of the union, presided over the meeting. Apprising members of the details of a meeting of office-bearer with the District Education Officer (DEO) at Sangrur, Mr Jartoli said the DEO had assured that promotions of head teachers and centre head teacher would be done with immediate effect. All GPF balances would be sent to blocks in January, 2004, and matter of ACP to Giani and Parbhakar teachers would be taken up with the authorities concerned.

PATHANKOT
DISTRIBUTED: Madhuban, an organisation established in the memory of renowned radio and TV artiste Ashwani Mahajan on his 50th death anniversary on Monday, distributed winter school uniforms to needy students of the local Saraswati School.

ELECTROCUTED: Amrik Singh, Assistant Lineman with the Punjab State Electricity Board here died of electrocution on Wednesday morning at Mamun village while he was repairing an electric cable box

PATIALA
FELLOWSHIP: Dr D.S. Bhullar, Senior Medical Officer of Rajindra Hospital here has been awarded Fellowship of the IMA Academy of Medical Specialities in Medicine by the Indian Medical Association.

ROPAR
ANNUAL FUNCTION: The annual function of Shivalik Public School was celebrated on Tuesday. The Deputy Commissioner, Ms Seema Jain, presided over the function. Students presented a four-hour cultural function on the occasion.

CHANDIGARH

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATED: Students of Eicher School, Parwanoo, celebrated Christmas with great fervour on Tuesday. The school premises was colourfully decorated with balloons, stars and Christmas tree. Children sang carol. A few tiny tots were dressed up as Santa Claus. The Principal, Mrs Shalini Kashyap addressed the gathering.

HARYANA

AMBALA
CHRISTMAS: Christmas was celebrated with enthusiasm by students of DAV Public School, Ambala Cantonment on Wednesday. They staged a skit highlighting the significance of Christmas. Students spoke on Santa Claus and the importance of giving gifts. Carols were sung by the school choir. A separate celebration for the junior wing of the school was also held. Principal Rita J.P. Singh encouraged the students to maintain the Christmas spirit.

BHIWANI
HUSBAND HELD: The police has arrested Mahender Singh of Jamalpur village on the charge of burning his wife to death. Mahender allegedly had murdered his wife Rajni for dowry.

PANCHAYAT POLL: Voting for 16 sarpanches and members of two Panchayat Samitis will be held on December 28. Mr Javir Singh was elected from ward No 21 of Bhiwani in Panchayat Samiti election. Election in ward No 21 of Khanak village in Tosham block and Dadri block II will be held for Panchayat Samiti where voters of Paldi, Balrod and Changrod will cast votes. Three panches in Bajina village under Tosham block, four panches in Bhiwani Khera, three panches in Badhra, one in Kairu and two panches were elected under Siwani block unopposed.

YAMUNANAGAR
LOK MANCH: Braving foggy weather 240 persons put their grievances before Mr Vijayendra Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, at the weekly lok manch programme held at the District Secretariat here on Monday. The Deputy Commissioner settled most of the grievances on the spot and a few were referred to the departments concerned.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

DHARAMSALA
CONSUMERS DAY: On the eve of National Consumers Day , a seminar on the rights of consumers was organised here on Wednesday by the District Civil Supplies Department. The seminar was addressed by the Joint Director of Civil Supplies, Mr Raj Kumar Rakesh, and officials of the Weights and Measure Department.

HAMIRPUR
EFFIGIES BURNT: Activists of the Hamirpur Seva Dal burnt effigies of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and former Chairman, HP Subordinate Services Selection board Surendra Mohan Katwal here on Tuesday. They also raised anti-Dhumal and anti-Katwal slogans.