R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
BOOKED: Mr Subhash Kumar Sumra, his wife Suman Devi, son Manoj Kumar and Mr Kuldeep Siyag were booked under Sections 452, 323, 148 and 149 of the IPC for allegedly attacking the occupants of a disputed house on the Gobindgarh road near here. The police has also booked the occupants of the house, Ms Harminder Kaur, Mr Harvinder Singh and Mr Jasbir Singh, for attacking the Sumra family.

POETICAL CONTEST: Mohit Juneja of Government Senior Secondary School was adjudged first in the poem recitation competition held at Swami Keshwa Nand Senior Secondary School here, on the 32nd death anniversary of the founder of the Sahitya Sadan. Kunal Chhabra of Assumption Convent School stood second and Kavita Jain of Central School won the third prize. Mr Kamal Nagpal and Dr R.P. Asija distributed the prizes.

HONOURED: Dr Manju Mehta, former Principal and present Controller of Exams of the DAV Education Board, was honoured at the closing session of a workshop on syllabus and paper setting at Gopichand Arya Mahila College. Students of the LRS DAV Senior Secondary School presented a cultural programme.

Amritsar
DENIED: Mr Harjinder Chouhan, general secretary (Beopar cell), Punjab Pradesh Youth Congress, here on Saturday, denied the allegations levied by Mr Gurdip Singh of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, Mr Rajinder Singh of Gobind Nagar and Mr Harbhajan Singh of Tarn Taran road, that the Congress leader had defrauded them on the pretext of providing jobs in Municipal Corporation.

INQUIRY: Deputy Commissioner Raminder Singh on Saturday marked an inquiry into the alleged misbehaviour of the District Congress Committee President (rural), Mr Inderjit Singh Basarke. According to a report, Mr Baserke along with 10 supporters had gone to the DEO office and asked about the District Education Officer, Mr Yashpal Mehra. On knowing about his absence he used abusive language. When objected by staff members, he allegedly manhandled them.

Batala
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Punjab unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP): president-Pankaj Mahajan; vice presidents-Mukta Sharma, Sandeep Kapoor, Amit Kansal, Vipan Sharma and Amar Singh; secretary-Sushil Sharma; joint secretaries-Yogesh Khatri, Rajat Sood, Vishav Bharti, Manu Sharma and Ajay Kataria; state organising secretary-Subash Sharma; office secretary -Mohit; treasurer-Bharat Bhushan.

Bathinda
BAKHSHISH DIVAS: A Gurmat Chetna March started from the Tikana Bhai Jagta Ji, Goniana Mandi, 15 km from here, towards Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of tercentenary celebrations of Bakhshish Divas related to Bhai Kanhaiya. Bhai Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Jathedar, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, performed the 'Ardas'.

Gurdaspur
STRIKE: Members of the Non-Technical Employees Union of the regional research centre of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here, went on strike in protest against the transfer of union president Bhupinder Singh Aulakh. The members alleged that they had been protesting peacefully for their demands, which included an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10,000 to dependents of deceased employees and repairing of the staff quarters. However, instead of accepting the demands the PAU management transferred the president.

Ludhiana
LIONS CLUB: The installation ceremony of Lions Club, Ludhiana-North, was held here on Sunday. According to Mr J.P.S Saluja, PRO of the club, Lions district governor Jaswant Rai Garg was the chief guest. Newly elected president Dupinder Shahpuri and the rest of the team were installed by Mr Rajiv Lochan Mahajan, former district governor.

SELECTIONS: The District Tournament Committee, Schools, organised competitions for judo and gymnastics in the district. The following students of SN Public School were selected for state-level competitions: judo-Manisha (u 17, Class 8), Neha (u 14, Class 7), and Samriti (u 14 Class 5) and gymnastics-Aarti, Priyanka and Jyoti, all under 17 and of Class 7.

Moga
ARRESTED: The Vigilance Bureau has arrested patwari Harcharan Pal Singh of Gholia Khurd village on the complaint of Mr Gurmail Singh of the same village who had alleged that the patwari demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 for transferring land which he had purchased from Mr Chhinder Singh and Mr Jagga Singh. When he refused to give the bribe, the patwari transferred the land in the name of Mr Beant Singh, Mr Naib Singh and Mr Kulwant Singh.

Nawanshahr
ARRESTED: The police has arrested Ranjit Singh (25) of Gahal Mazari village near Mukandpur for allegedly raping and killing Jasvir Kaur (24) of the same village. The body of the victim was recovered from a well on Friday. The victim was missing since September 12.

NABBED: The police has arrested Hardeep Singh of Rurki Khas village under Sections 356, 379 and 411 of the IPC for allegedly snatching a gold chain from Ms Santosh Sharma wife of Mr Gian Chand Sharma of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar here, at Chandigarh Road on Friday. The accused after snatching the chain, fled towards the Barnala road. Mr Gian Chand Sharma chased him and nabbed him with the help of shopkeepers there.

Phagwara
KILLED: Sarwan Singh of Mianwal Rajan village was run over and killed under a train near Mauli village on the Phagwara-Ludhiana section. In another incident, Major Singh (38) of Chaheru village died after allegedly consuming a poisonous substance.

Tarn Taran
PSSF PROTEST: The Punjab Subordinate Services Federation (PSSF) has decided to organise a protest march on September 28 against the alleged indifferent attitude of the state government towards the demands of the employees. Mr Ranbir Dhillon, Chief Advisor of the federation said here on Saturday that the government had neglected the demands of the employees by abolishing thousands of posts and imposing a ban on recruitment.

CHANDIGARH

SCIENCE QUIZ: DAV School, Sector 8, has won the first prize in the district-level science quiz held at Hansraj Public School, Sector 6, on Friday. The quiz was organised by the District Education Officer on behalf of the Haryana State Council for Science and Technology. The quiz consisted of three rounds and was conducted by Dr V.B.T. Malik. The team of Hansraj Public School won the second prize, while Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, team won the third prize. Other than these three teams, the teams of New India Senior Secondary School, Sector 15, Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 15, and Chaman Lal DAV School, Sector 11 have been selected to participate in the zonal-level quiz to be held later this year.

HARYANA

Bhiwani
DIED: A woman, Sunita (23), reportedly died under mysterious circumstances at Hindol village in Charkhi Dadri subdivision on Saturday. The parents of the deceased have lodged a complaint against her in-laws. Sunita had married four years back. In the complaint, it has been alleged that she had been harassed to bring a motor cycle.

THEFT: Two theft cases took place at Bharat Nagar Colony here on Saturday. The thieves decamped with valuables worth lakhs of rupees.

ALLEGED: Ms Radha Rani of Vidya Nagar has lodged a complaint with the police that her 15-year-old daughter has been abducted by her neighbour, Mr Mahender, and his wife, Suman. The police has registered a case under Sections 363 and 366 of the IPC.

Fatehabad
RALLY: A rally is being organised by the Indian National Lok Dal here on September 25 on the occasion of the 91st birth anniversary of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal.

Kaithal
ELECTROCUTED: A youth, Balkar Singh, was electrocuted in Badsikri village in Kalayat subdivision on Saturday. His father, Mr Ranvir Singh, also suffered burn injuries. Both were working in their field. When the power was restored after usual cut Ranvir Singh went to switch on the tubewell and got stuck to the switch board. After noticing this, Balkar Singh went to save his father but he also got stuck to the switch board. He died on the spot.

COMPLAINTS REDRESSED: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr H.S. Malik, redressed a number of complaints at the monthly grievances committee meeting here on Saturday. He directed the electricity board officials to install electric poles in place of bamboos. He listened to complaints relating to agriculture, public health, electricity, and police departments and settled most of them. Mr Ranbir Sharma, Superintendent of Police, and other officials were present.

Panipat
INSTRUCTIONS: District Magistrate Anurag Rastogi has issued instructions to landlords in the district to get the names of their tenants and domestic servants registered at their concerned police stations. If anyone failed to provide information, stern action would be taken against them. Similar instructions have also been issued to hotel and dhaba owners.

FINANCIAL HELP: The District welfare office has given financial help to 173 poor families for the marriage of their daughters under the Kanyadan Yojna. This was stated by Deputy Commissioner Anurag Rastogi here on Saturday.

Rewari
SENTENCED: The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr K.R. Goyal has sentenced Rampat to seven years’ imprisonment while his wife has been given a three-year sentence in a case of attempt to murder. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 and Rs 7,000 on them respectively.

LOOTED: A gang of four miscreants looted Rs 11,500 from a truck driver, Mr Rajinde Singh and also beat him up on the National Highway No.8 on Tuesday. A case under Sections 392,394,397 of the IPC has been registered against the suspects.

Sonepat
CONCERN: The general secretary of the state unit of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), Mr Raji Jain, has expressed his concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Sonepat city and its surrounding areas. He alleged that the state government and the police had failed to curb the activities of the anti-social elements and criminals. Mr Jain condemned the murderous assault on Dr J.B. Bansal and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. He urged the state government to issue a White Paper on the law and order situation.

DEMANDED: Ghasauli and Datauli villages in Ganaur subdivision have been under the grip of viral fever and jaundice for the past one week. About four persons have reportedly died in Ghasauli village. The Health Department has failed to take preventive measures to check these diseases. Residents of the both villages have urged the state government and district administration to take stern action against the guilty officials.

Yamunanagar
DEMANDED: Mr Neeraj Jain, Chairman, (North India), Regional Council of Chartered Accountants of India has demanded representation of chartered accountants on the district committees. It would be beneficial for the district administration as experts of the institute could provide suggestions and services in accounting and finances.

THEFT: Thieves took away cash and jewellery for Rs 2 lakh from the house of Mr Dinesh Gupta in Azadnagar here on Saturday.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Chamba
COUNCIL'S PLEA: The Progressive Citizens Council has urged the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, to set up an examination centre at Chamba for various admission examinations conducted by Himachal Pradesh University,horticulture and agricultural universities, and by the state government from time to time. Mr Gurmukh Singh, secretary of the council has also requested to the Chief Minister to generate jobs for educated youths of the region.

Dharamsala
TIBET ISSUE: The Assembly of Tibetan Peoples' Deputies has decided to adopt the Dalai Lama's approach on the Tibet issue. Mr Pema Jungney, Speaker of the Assembly, said the practice of getting the Dalai Lama's approval on all new laws enacted by the Tibetan Government-in-exile should be continued. The Dalai Lama, in his 12-point charter for decentralisation of his authority, had also suggested that these decisions should be taken by the parliament on its own. The assembly also formed a committee to chalk out details of the proposed Land and Property Act for Tibetan settlements. A new education policy also approved with minor changes, he added.

Kangra
WATER SUPPLY: Himachal Pradesh Irrigation and Public Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said 7800 villages of the state which included 2100 villages of Kangra district, would get regular water supply by the end of the year. He blamed the former state government of the BJP for inadequate water supply. He further alleged that people were served water bills for dry taps. He said the amount of outstanding bills had gone up to Rs 1.50 crore. He assured that if need be the outstanding bills would be waived. The government would appoint 100 Junior Engineers and 50 per cent posts would be filled on batch basis and while the remaining would be filled on merit basis, he added.

Kulu
ELECTROCUTED: Videsh Kumar son of Mr Bhag Singh, a resident of Gharbadshah village of Sarakaghat tehsil in Mandi district, was electrocuted here on Saturday. He went to the roof of his house to fix the antenna of his television and got electrocuted.

INJURED: Pradeep Negi (18), a student of the local senior secondary school, was injured when he fell from the roof of a running HRTC bus at Seobagh, about 5 km from here, on Saturday. The police has registered a case. Nahan

INAUGURATED: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr M.L. Sharma, inaugurated an Aaganbari Kendra at Bankala here on Saturday. This Kendra was constructed under the Vikas Mein Jan Sahyog Programme. Mr Sharma said it was a symbol of community participation in development works.

Kumarhatti
LIQUOR SEIZED: The Arki police seized 84 bottles of country liquor from a shopkeeper at Matairveen village on Saturday. The shopkeeper, Rajju Ram from Bilaspur, was allegedly involved in illegal sale of liquor.

Shimla
DIRECTIVE TO NIIC: Mr Suresh Chaudhary, president of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, has directed the New India Insurance Company to pay Rs 2 lakh with 12 per cent interest to Ms Narbada Devi, a complainant whose husband, insured under the Janta Personal Accident Policy died in October 1997. The company was allegedly delaying settlement of the insurance claim.