R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Hoshiarpur
Killed: Three persons were killed in two road accidents in Hoshiarpur district on Monday. Kushal Singh and Harwinder Singh, both residents of Gera village, died on the spot when a mini-bus hit their scooter. Balwinder Singh, who was also travelling with them, was injured.

Jagraon
Opium seized: The police has arrested Sikandar Ram, alias Khaila Bazigar, of Raikot on the Raikot-Tazpur road and seized 200 gms of opium from him. The police has registered a case under Sections 18, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act.

Two held: The local police has arrested and booked Harbax Singh and his son, Tejinder Singh, who run Canadian Chicken Hut on the GT Road, for allowing consumption of liquor without license on their shop premises. They have been arrested under the Punjab Excise Act.

LUDHIANA
SITAR PERFORMANCE: Pooja Sharma of the local SDP College for Women received a certificate of appreciation from the jury in the new-talent category for her performance on the sitar at the 28th All-India Music Competition during Shree Baba Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan at Devi Talab Mandir, Jalandhar.

NEW YEAR: The district Civil Defence Officers will organise a New Year function, “Rising Sun of 2004” at Lodhi Club here on Wednesday. The programme will be anchored by Kirpal Singh, also known as Kaka Lishkara Walla, according to a press release.

ROPAR
NEHRU STADIUM: The Nehru Stadium of Ropar was being given a facelift by the district administration. In a press release issued here on Tuesday, the Deputy Commissioner, Ms Seema Jain, said the stadium that was brought up in 1972 was in an utter state of neglect. Under the recently carried out renovation, all the floors of the stadium have been repaired, the track has been given a new look and electrification has been rectified. The renovation of the stadium has been carried out with a grant of Rs 1.75 lakh provided by the Punjab Government and Rs 25,000 contributed by the district administration. The renovation of the stadium would be completed by January 26.

HARYANA

AMBALA
CRITICISED: The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee organising secretary, Dr Viresh Shandilya, on Tuesday criticised former minister Nirmal Singh for planning to hold ‘Hisab chukao rally’ without seeking permission from the HPCC. Talking to mediapersons, Dr Shandilya said Mr Nirmal Singh raising an unnecessary hue and cry over north Haryana being neglected. Dr Shandilya said Mr Bhajan Lal, during his tenure as Chief Minister, had sought to develop all Haryana. “Mr Nirmal Singh is duty bound to seek permission from the state president Mr Bhajan Lal for the rally,” he said.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The office-bearers of the Naujwan Sudhar Sabha, Deha Colony, were elected here on Tuesday. President — Mr Billu, vice-president — Mr Naresh Kumar, adviser — Mr Chotey Lal; secretary — Mr Suresh Kumar; joint secretary — Mr Parsa Ram; cashier — Mr Masla Ram; and media secretary — Mr Gulshan Kumar. 

SPORTS DAY: Annual sports day was held at Lord Mahavir Jain Public School, Ambala Cantonment here on Tuesday. The cold failed to deter the enthusiasm of the students who participated in various sports activities. Mr N.K. Jain was the chief guest. The students held an impressive marchpast. In biscuit race, Dishu, Pragya and Nishant of KG were prize winners while Amandeep, Abhinav and Shivam were winners in makeup race. Kritika, Swapnil and Shalu were winners in slow cycling. The students performed different drills. Prizes were given to students for excellence in swimming at the state-level, table tennis the at district-level and other championships. The highlight of the day was bhangra.

Hisar
FIVE BOOKED: The local police has booked five persons in connection with the murder of notorious criminal Mahabir Singh Kanwari. A police spokesman said here on Tuesday that the police had registered the case against Umed Singh, a former sarpanch of nearby Juglan village, and four others under Sections 302, 341, 148 and 149 of the IPC and the Arms Act on the complaint of the victim’s brother, Dhoop Singh, a resident of Kanwari village.

Kurukshetra
MEETING: The executive council of Kurukshetra University at its meeting held under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor, Dr A.K. Chawla, here on Tuesday approved that a simple warning be issued to Dr Usha Sharma, Reader, Department of Statistics and Operational Research, for opening an envelope of Dr N.K. Jain. In another resolution, the request of Dr Ramesh Gupta, Reader, Department of Hindi, for reinstating him was allowed for teaching purpose only. The council also decided to revise the fee structure of professional and affiliated colleges of the university.

PROGRAMME: A customer care programme was organised by the regional office of Punjab National Bank under the chairmanship of the Senior Regional Manager, Mr J.S. Jus. The Lead Bank Officer, Mr J.B. Bansal, said nearly 250 customers were made aware of the latest banking facilities.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Mandi
NCC CAMP: Presiding over the concluding function of the 12-day NCC training camp of Mandi, Kulu and Bilaspur districts at Pandoh, near here, the Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Thakur Kaul Singh, said the NCC had emerged as a second line of defence. As many as 600 cadets were imparted training in the use of mortars, small weapons and light-machine guns. They were also given elementary training in map reading. A blood donation camp was also held in which 47 cadets donated blood. A cultural programme was organised.

MEETING: A sum of Rs 9.16 crore would be spent in the district for the welfare of old, widows and lepers during the current financial year. Stating this at a meeting of the District Social Welfare Committee held here on Tuesday. This was stated by the Excise and Taxation Minister, Mr Rangila Ram Rao.

RESENTMENT: The Himachal Pradesh Private Bus Operators Association has expressed resentment over the fact that the government had not invited representatives of the association for the meeting convened on January 3 to finalise the new route permit policy. Mr B.D. Sharma, its general secretary, said the private bus operators had a biggest fleet than the state-owned road transport corporation and it would have been most appropriate to consult them while framing the permit policy.