R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amloh
Meeting: A meeting of the representatives of the various youth clubs of Amloh block was held here on Sunday under the chairmanship of Mr Harjeet Singh Jeeta Machhrai, president of the Youth Clubs Association. Mr Paramjeet Singh, District Youth Coordinator, Fatehgarh Sahib, was the chief guest. Mr Paramjeet Singh said that the youth clubs should work for the development of the area and welfare of the people. He explained the functioning of the Nehru Yuva Kendra and assured them of full cooperation. Mr Harjeet Singh appealed to the workers not to use drugs.

LUDHIANA
Demonstration: On a call given by the struggle committee the PSEB Employees Federation (AITUC), the Technical Services Union and the JE Council organised a protest march here on Saturday against the economic and industrial policies of the state government. Mr Harbans Singh Mander, Mr Tarsem Lal, Mr Hem Raj, Mr Harbhajan Singh, Mr Amrik Singh, Mr Bharat Bhushan and Mr Ranjeet Singh Dogra addressed the gathering. Employees Federation of Khanna Circle Secretary Surinder Kumar and Technical Services Union president Kuldeep Singh urged the employees to prepare for a long struggle against the government.

PATIALA
RETIRED: Mrs Tripat Kaur Rahi has retired as the Principal of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines, after nearly 34 years of service in the Punjab Education Department. She has been honoured with various national and state-level awards. School Principal Charnjit Kaur Cheema, Prof G.S. Rahi, Mr Gurbachan Singh and DEO (Secondary) Prit Pal Kaur Sidhu were present on the occasion. OC

FASHION CARNIVAL: The local Height Institute of Fashion and Technology organised Fashion Carnival-2004 here on Sunday. The carnival was inaugurated by the District Public Relations Officer, Mr Ujjagar Singh. While addressing the gathering, Mr Ujjagar Singh said there was a need to give an opportunity to the youngsters to exhibit their hidden talents. An exhibition of dresses prepared by the students was also organised on the occasion.

CHANDIGARH

PANCHKULA
Demolition drive: The enforcement staff of HUDA carried out a demolition drive in Sector 21’s Azad Bharat Nagar. Eight kiosks and one shop were demolished. Rehris of 15 vegetable vendors were also seized from near the Sector 8-17 roundabout, sources said.

ROAD SAFETY WEEK: Road Safety Week would be observed from Monday with the assistance of NGOs and schoolchildren, the DC, Ms Satwant Ahlawar, said on Friday. 

HARYANA

AMBALA
VISA ADVISER: Visa Adviser, a foreign education and immigration consultancy, launched its centre here on Sunday. Company’s senior vice-president Rajini Kakkar said the centre would provide professional guidance to students going in for foreign education and professionals seeking immigration. She advised students to opt for the career-based on their personality traits and interest. Mrs Kakkar stressed that their system was transparent and everything would be done through official channels.

SCHOOL FUNCTION: The Haryana Irrigation Minister, Mr Jaswinder Sandhu, has asked the educational institutions to provide knowledge of rich Indian heritage to their students to check the effect of western culture on them. He was the chief guest on the occasion of annual function of Ambala Public School here on Sunday. While addressing the students, he said the foreign TV channels were “polluting” our cultural values. The MLA from Shahbad, Vaidh Kapoor Chand, said the country which forgot its civilisation and culture lost its identity. The school Principal, Ms A.S. Virk, also spoke on the occasion. The students of the school presented a colourful cultural show.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
TWELVE ARRESTED: The police arrested 12 persons and recovered “illicit” liquor from these persons on Friday. The arrested include Rattan Lal — Kothipura, Piyare Lal, Malkiat Singh, Sher, Biyansa Devi Gangloh, Pradeep Kumar — Amarpur, Amarnath — Karangoda, Jagdishram — Gatole, Ramji Kumar — Malokhar, Sohanlal — Gwalthai, Krishanram — Gwalthai, Nikkuram — Ghatewal, Chamanlal — Dabhat. They have been booked under various Sections of the HP Excise Act.

MARKET FEE: The Himachal pradesh Beopar Mandal on Saturday criticised the increase in market fee on agriculture and forest produce from 1 per cent to 2 per cent.

Chamba
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of the LIC of India Agents Association: chairman — Mr N.K. Sapolia; president — B.P. Singh; senior vice-president — Mr Maan Singh; vice-presidents — Mr Naresh Mandla, Mr O.P. Gupta, general secretary — Mr M. Kampani; joint secretary — Mr Rajender Rana; press secretary — Mr B.B. Chona; and cashier — Mr O.P. Bhardwaj.

Dharamsala
RAPE: Suresh Kumar and Gagan Singh of Utthra Gran near here allegedly raped a girl of the same village on Friday. A case under Section 376 (2) G of the IPC has been registered against them.

Nurpur
BODY EXHUMED: The Jawali police on Saturday exhumed the body of an unidentified youth (25 to 35) from a field near a forest near Barot village in Fatehpur tehsil. The body was headless and without legs and right arm.

CONVICTED: Mr Madan Kumar, Judicial Magistrate, Nurpur, on Saturday convicted Saroop Singh of Kundas village in Indora tehsil to one day’s simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,700. A case under Sections 451, 354 and 323 of the IPC had been lodged by the Indora police on January 30, 1997, for outraging the modesty of a woman.

Palampur
STIR CALLED OFF: The Palampur Union of Journalists on Saturday called off its agitation following an agreement between the PUJ and Dr D.S. Chandel, SMO, Palampur who allegedly had misbehaved with a journalist. Dr Chandel tendered an unconditional apology.

Sundernagar
WORKSHOP: First state-level workshop of the Department For International Development (DFID) Himachal Pradesh Forestry Sector Reforms Project was held here on Friday where 40 forest officials from all over Himachal were present. The officials were familiarised with the changing role of Monitoring and Evaluation in Forestry. The DFID Project started in Himachal in January 2003 from Sundernagar. This Foreign aided (U.K.) Project budget of which is Rs 62 crore stresses sustainable development of the Forest and the Community.

BJP COMMITTEE: Himachal BJP chief on Saturday, on his first visit here said that a decision on the formation of the executive committee would be taken after January 11 after the meeting of the national executive committee of the party.