R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Jalandhar
CHARGE ASSUMED: Air Cdre Inder Singh assumed the command of Air Force Station, Adampur, from Air Cdre K.J. Mathews here on Monday. Cdre Inder Singh is an ace flier who has flown varies types of fighter aircraft. He was commissioned in July 1975 in the flying branch of IAF. A recipient of Vayu Sena Medal in 2001, he was the battalion commander at the National Defence Academy.

Nawanshahr
PROTEST MARCH: The district unit of the Bhatha Workers Union, Punjab, took out a protest march in the town and staged a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here on Monday. They were demanding withdrawal of the state government’s decision regarding mixing of flyash of thermal plants into the soil for the purpose of making bricks.

CONFERENCE HELD: The local unit of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) organised a conference at Rahon on Sunday. As many as 90 delegates participated in the conference which was inaugurated by Mr Rakesh Nayyar, state vice-president, DYFI. Mr Nayyar criticised successive governments at the Centre and the state for ignoring issues concerning youth welfare.

MEDICAL CAMP: Guru Gobind Singh Charitable Trust, Ludhiana, organised its annual medical check-up camp at Amardeep Singh Shergill Memorial College, Mukandpur, 20 km from here, on Monday. It was dedicated to its founder president, Buta Singh Sekhon. A team of doctors from CMC, Ludhiana, examined 1200 patients suffering from various ailments. Free medicines were given to patients.

WORKSHOP: The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology will organise a two- day training workshop at Doaba Arya Senior Secondary School on September 23 and 24 for teachers for constituting eco-clubs in schools.

CHANDIGARH

Mohali
GJIMT excels: The Gian Jyoti Institute of Management and Technology (GJ-IMT) has been ranked 82nd in the list of top 100 management institutes of India published by the Business World in the September, 2004, issue.

PANCHKULA
Ex-CE honoured: Mr K.C. Verma, former Chief Engineer, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) was honoured with the Outstanding Engineer Award for the year 2004 by the Institution of Engineers (India), Haryana centre. The award was presented on September 15, on the occasion of Engineers Day.

VIVAHA UTSAV: A family salon in Sector 9 here organised Vivaha Utsav for its members. A bridal ambience was created at the salon and all were invited to attend in their finery. Ms Mona was adjudged the best dressed lady, Ms Varsha won the prize for the best wedding day dish, while Ms Chaudhary won the prize for the anecdote contest.

HARYANA

Bhiwani
PATWARI HELD: The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau has arrested Raghbir Prashad, patwari of Chiria village in Charkhi Dadri tehsil, following an enquiry that he had accumulated huge property by illegal means. A spokesman of the bureau said the enquiry was conducted by the Hisar range of the bureau.

Karnal
ELECTROCUTED: A farmer was electrocuted to death at Takhana village, near here, on Tuesday evening. Suresh Kumar, a resident of the village, was electrocuted when he tried to start his electric tube- well. He died on the spot. The post-mortem of the body was conducted at the Civil Hospital here.

KILLED: One person was killed and four others were injured in two different accidents on the G.T. Road and the state highway. The deceased could not be identified. The injured persons were identified as Dharminder and Jatinder, both residents of Delhi, Sukhan of Hassanpur village and Parmod.

Kurukshetra
SENIOR CITIZENS: A general body of the Senior Citizens Forum at its meeting here, unanimously elected Mr Jagjit Singh Virk as president for the next two years’ term from October 2004 to September, 2006. According to the forum secretary, Mr H.K. Puri, the president would appoint the forum executive body.

Sonepat
INJURED: A youth, Vikki, and his sister were injured when a group of armed persons attacked them in their house in Dev Nagar here on Monday. One of the alleged assailants was caught by neighbourers and handed over to the police.

SUICIDE BID: A housewife, Sunita, tried to commit suicide by consuming some poisonous substance in her house in Mahavir Colony here on Monday. In a similar incident, Swaroop Singh consumed celphos tablets at his house in Garh Mirakhpur village. Both of them have been admitted to the Civil Hospital.

Yamunanagar
SEMINAR: The Hindi Department of DAV College for Girls will organise a two-day seminar-cum-workshop on ‘Adhunik Hindi Natak — Ek Paridrishya’ from September 30. Noted writer Dr Naamvar Singh and Dr Nirmala will attend the seminar. Lecturers from different states would participate in the seminar. Besides, two teams from the National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi, will stage plays on the two days. The general secretary of DAV institutions, M.L. Khanna, will be the chief guest.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
HELD FOR ROBBERY: The police at Ghumarwin, near here, have arrested four persons — Sandeep Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Mohinder Singh and Sanjiv Kumar — for allegedly extorting Rs 500 from a doctor after threatening him with a knife. According to the police, the youths forcibly entered the doctor’s house and threatened him and robbed him of the money.

LOANS: A sum of Rs 21.60 crore has been distributed by various banks as loan under the district credit plan during the first quarter of this year in Bilaspur for giving boost to economy. Under the “kisan credit cards” scheme, the bank have distributed loans of more than Rs 11.20 crore, sources said.

Dharamsala
PRESS MEET: Mr Krishan Kapoor, former minister and BJP leader, addressing a press conference here on Monday said he supported concerns about “discrimination” of Kangra district by the state government. “The boundaries of the district, which once extended to Pathankot, have been shrunk and any politician who raised voice for Kangra has been victimised. No wonder the per capita income of Kangra has taken a dip,” he said.

Mandi
DECLAMATION CONTEST: The Additional Divisional Magistrate, Mandi, Dr Prem Bhardwaj, addressing a gathering of students from different parts of the district to participate in a district-level poster-making and declamation contest organised by the Public Relations Department here on Monday as part of its drug de-addiction campaign, said the schools were the best platforms to spread awareness about the drugs.

Nahan
TOURISM: Addressing a public meeting on the occasion of Sarsoo Mela in Pachhad area of Sirmaur, Speaker G.R. Musafir said emphasis would be laid on developing tourism to attract more foreign tourists to the interiors of the state. Link roads would be upgraded in these areas. New trekking routes would be identified and huts constructed en route.