R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
SEIZED: The Khuyiansarwer police arrested Sukhpal Singh, alias Jaspal, of Pattisadiq village, and seized 1 kg of smack from his possession here on Wednesday.

Amritsar
PASSPORTS: Mr Raminder Singh, Deputy Commissioner, said here on Wednesday that the Passport Office, Jalandhar, had launched a special campaign for issuing passports to applicants whose applications had been pending for the past several months. Special camps would be organised on November 6 and 7 and December 4 at the Passport Office. The applicants should carry their identity cards, ration cards, voter cards, residential proof and school certificates, besides two copies of their recent passport-size photograph.

BAN ORDERS: The District Magistrate has imposed a ban under Section 144 of the CrPC on the extension made by firework sellers. He also demarcated venues for licence holders to sell fireworks at Golbagh, Sakatary Bagh, Chheharta, Ranjit Avenue, Sultanwind Road and near Gurdwara Guru Ki Wadali.

CRITICISED: The Government Teachers Union, Punjab, criticised the decision of the District Education Officer (Senior Secondary) to charge Rs 5 from each student for watching the magic show. Mr Sucha Singh Ajnala, state general secretary of the union, in a press note, said here on Wednesday the amount was even very high for students who had come from lower strata of society.

Hoshiarpur
BAN ORDERS: Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, District Magistrate, has allowed the sale of fireworks and crackers at the places earmarked by the Subdivisional Magistrates (Civil). Mr Bhullar also put ban on the exhibition of fireworks and use of crackers from 10 pm to 6 am throughout the district. Display of fireworks is also banned within a radius of 100 metres of hospitals, educational institutions, courts and religious places. These orders would remain in force from November 1 to 30.

BODY FOUND: The body of Baaj Singh, a son of Udham Singh of Mewa Mianian, was found from the Beas near Dasuya here on Wednesday. The police said Baaj Singh was drowned in the river on October 25 when he was crossing the river in a boat.

Ropar
YOUTH FESTIVAL: Ms Harbans Kaur Rai, principal, Government College, said here on Wednesday that more than 1,500 students from 25 colleges were participating in a three-day Ropar zone youth festival of Punjabi University. The Minister of Transport, Mr Mohinder Singh, announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for the festival.

INJURED: Mr Gurcharan Singh, director of a skit, was injured when a group of students attacked him here on Wednesday. The skit was performed by Bela College at a three-day youth festival of Ropar zone. Mr Gurcharan had restrained students from creating nonsense during the play.

Ludhiana
elected: Mr Dharam Prakash Datta has been elected as president of the Arya Prathinidhi Sabha, Punjab by its executive committee here Wednesday at Nawanshehar. The outgoing president Dr KK Pasricha’s term was up to 2006, but due to personal reasons, he retired before the expiry of his term.

fancy dress: SIPS located at 138 Model Gram held a ‘fancy dress competition here on Wednesday. The students came dressed up as fruits and vegetables. The idea behind this was to familiarise the children with the names of vegetables and fruits and also to explain why the children should eat them The children came dressed up as ladyfinger, onion, brinjal, karela, papaya , mango , orange etc. Ms Sanskriti stole the show as she came wearing garland of different vegetables and fruits . The prizes were won by Sanskriti, Satvik, Yamini, Jagnoor, Sukhpreet, Ramneek, Harkirat Sehaj and Gur Asees.

Education camp: A three-day State Level Education Camp is being conducted by Punjab Rural Promotion Council, Ludhiana at Baba Isher Singh (N) Senior Secondary School, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar from October 30 to November 1, 2004. Dr Manohar Singh Gill, Member Rajya Sabha, and former Chief Election Commissioner, would grace the occasion.

SEMINAR: The postgraduate Department of Nutrition and Dietetics of Government College for Girls, Patiala organised a seminar on health on October 25. Students discussed the ill-effects of food adulteration and cancer-preventive components of food. The seminar was presided over by Dr G.K. Jaggi, Principal of the college, who emphasised the need to put theoretical knowledge into practical use. 

CHANDIGARH

BHOOMI PUJAN: The bhoomi pujan of Adarsh Public School, Sector 27-D, was performed on Thursday on the new site allotted to the school by the UT Administration. Two school students of the LKG and the UKG — Ms Mehak and Ms Parika, respectively, laid the foundation for the school building.

HARYANA

Bhiwani
HELD: The police claims to have arrested four criminals who had indulged in several cases of robbery and dacoity and recovered a .315-bore pistol from their possession. Mr A S Chawla, Superintendent of Police, said here on Thursday that Manoj of Saunf, Mohit of Kasni, Gogi and Raja of Dhanana villages confessed to the crimes. He said there were 10 most wanted criminals in the district of which six were still absconding.

BOOKED: The police has booked the husband, the father-in-law and a sister-in-law of Saroj for allegedly killing her by setting her on fire. In a complaint, Shanti Devi, mother of the deceased, said she was married to Ram Avtar of Kungar village. Her in-laws had started demanding more dowry soon after the marriage.

Hisar
CAMP: The Army Wives Welfare Association organised a medical check-up camp for war widows of Fatehabad district at cantonment here on Tuesday. Medicines and blankets were given free of cost. Ms Anita Loomba, president of the association, heard the grievances of widows.

Sonepat
ARRESTED: On a complaint by a woman, the police arrested Sandeep of Mahra village, Pardeep of Kathmandi area, and Surinder, alias Sonu, of Arya Nagar, here on Thursday. They were allegedly eve-teasing.