R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Barnala
SHRADHANJALI: Residents of the region paid tributes to Pandit Bindra Ban Shorey, freedom fighter and a Praja Mandal activist, who died on August 30, at his Bhog and Shradhanjali Samaroh at Shanti Hall here on Sunday. Mr Malkiat Singh Keetu, MLA, Barnala, and Mr Kewal Singh Dhillon, Vice-President, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, among those who paid homage to the freedom fighter.

Ludhiana
JEWELLERY EXHIBITION: Swarn Sambandh’s jewellery exhibition will be held from September 17 in a hotel here showcasing jewellery in gold.

LECTURE: An Extension Lecture in the Department of Sociology was organised by Dr (Mrs) Daisy Aujla, Ms Manjinder Kaur and Dr B.K. Aggarwal here on Monday. Dr A.K. Gupta, Head of Department, ‘Human Development and Sociology’, PAU, Ludhiana, was invited to deliver a lecture on ‘Social Problems’. Dr Daisy Aujla, Head of the PG Department of Sociology introduced the guest and Principal Dr (Mrs) Charanjit Mahal welcomed Dr A.K. Gupta.

TALK: Psychologist Dr D.R. Vij delivered a talk on ‘Personality Development and Professional Excellence’ for lecturers of Khalsa College for Women.

Pathankot
FREE CAMP: The Army unit, 2 Guards (1 Grenadiers), organised a free medical camp under the aegis of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) here on Sunday. As many as 150 JCOs, officers and their families were examined and provided medicines by a team of specialists, including Dr Lt Col Prem Singh, Dr Rajiv Sehgal, Dr Arun Khera and Dr Mahesh Mahajan. Ms Archna Vats, president, AWWA, emphasised on the need for preventive treatment.

CHANDIGARH

PANCHKULA
BLOOD DONATION: A blood donation camp was organised at Government College here, on the occasion of Bakshish Divas of Bhai Kanhaiyaji on Monday. Fifty units of blood was donated by the NSS unit of the college. The camp was organised with the help of doctors from General Hospital, Panchkula.

PARISHAD WEEK: The local branch of Bharat Vikas Parishad celebrated Parishad week from September 4 to 12 and undertook social activities. It celebrated the birthday of inmates of Saket Hospital, Chandi Mandir, honoured teachers of Government School, Abheypur, and organised inspirational talk for school students. A free physiotherapy treatment camp and a free eye and dental check-up camp were also organised on the occasion. 

Development works: The local MLA, Mr Chander Mohan, said on Sunday that development of Panchkula would continue and thrust would be given to the development of slum areas. He was addressing a gathering at Kalka, near here. He said he would put forth the demand of residents for a rail link between Chandigarh and Hisar to the local MP and Union Minister for Poverty Allieviation and Urban Development, Ms Selja. 

voter list: The voter list of the Kalka Assembly constituency will be revised from September 15, as per the directions of the Election Commission of India. A press note said on Monday that all persons who would attain the age of 18 on January 1, 2005, could apply for the inclusion of their names in the voter list. 

Kisan Club Meeting: A meeting of Kisan Club was held here on Monday. The participating farmers were informed about schemes for farmers started by the Agriculture Department. Dr Ram Pratap gave information about fruits and vegetables that could be economically viable crops like traditional wheat and paddy crops.

HARYANA

AMBALA
CAREER GUIDANCE: A career guidance seminar was held at MDSD Girls College, Ambala City, on Monday. The importance of development of skills of communication, group discussion and interview were stressed upon. 

Sonepat
MURDER: Tantrik Howa Singh (50) was reported to have been murdered and the police has recovered the body in a decomposed condition from a pond at Jagsi village, about 45 km from here on Monday. According to report the police has registered the case and sent the body for the post-mortem examination. It is stated that the victim had been living in the village for the past few years and he had developed illicit relations with a woman who used to come to him usually for treatment.

PANIC: Panic prevails in Dahesra village, along the Yamuna river, in this district following the death of four persons, including three children, by mysterious fever during the past three days. According to a report, on receipt of information a team of doctors from Sonepat Civil Hospital rushed to the village and assured the villagers that the Health Department will take steps to check the disease. It is, however, stated that the supply of contaminated water is the main cause of this disease.

WRESTLERS HURT: Two wrestlers Ravinder and Vikram were injured in an attack by some athletes here on Sunday. According to a report, the attack followed altercations between the wrestlers and the athletes in the sports ground of CRA College. The police are still investigating the case. According to another report, Ashok was injured seriously when he was attacked by Siri Bhagwan and his son Sonu in Ward No. 13 here on Sunday. The injured youth was immediately hospitalised and stated to be out of danger. A dispute over money was stated to be the main cause of the attack.

DEMONSTRATION: A large number of workers of the BSP took out a procession here on Monday against the abusive language used by a national daily. According to a report they marched through the main bazaars and reached the Deputy Commissioner office where they held a demonstration and sat on a dharna.

Yamunanagar
MUSIC RELEASE: Mr D.R Sharma, secretary of the local Red Cross, released the music of a film, ‘Bihari Bhaiya Kaisen Bani Gentleman’, here on Sunday. After making a telefilm on AIDS, producer director Krishan Lal Sharma is making the Bhojpuri film on the same topic. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Dalhousie
FLAGGED OFF: The Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, Mr Rahul Anand, here on Monday flagged off a batch of 30 scientist trekkers at a function held at the local Youth Hostel. This trekking is part of the Indian Institute of Public Administration’s training programme.

Hamirpur
DEMANDED: The district unit of the Himachal Pradesh Anganwari Workers Union has demanded regularisation of their services and bringing them under the preview of pension and provident fund. Ms Prem Kumari, state president of the union, warned the government of an agitation if no action was taken on their demands.

DELEGATION: An eight-member delegation of four trade unions, the BMS, CITU, INTUC and AITUC, will visit China from Wednesday for 10 days. Two members from each union will take part in the delegation, according to Mr Kashmir Singh Thakur, state secretary of CITU.

FIRE: Property worth Rs 90,000, including household articles, were destroyed in a fire in a karyana shop in Panyali village here on Saturday. The fire was stated to be due to a short-circuit.

Nahan
URGED: Himachal Forest Minister Ram Lal Thakur here on Sunday asked the forest officers to ensure that deep cuts and concentrated acid were not being used for tapping resin from pine trees. He also urged farmers not to use unscientific methods to tap resin.

Sundernagar
ELECTED: Mr Narinder Goel was elected president of the local Beopar Mandal here on Sunday. The elections of the mandal were held at Government Polytechnic College.