R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
DECRIED: The Textile Mazdoor Ekta Union and the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) have decried the hike in the prices of essential commodities. At a meeting here on Monday the unions stated that prices of cooking gas, kerosene , diesel, petrol, flour and refined oil were back breaking for the ordinary man and should be rolled back.

LUDHIANA
SEMINAR: The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India organised a seminar on “Cost Reduction” here yesterday. Manufacturers were explained ways to scrap utilisation and management, inventory management, low-cost automation, energy monitoring and conservation systems, said a press note issued here today. 

DEMONSTRATION: Employees of New India Insurance, National Insurance, United India Insurance and Oriental Insurance, today held a demonstration outside the regional office United India Insurance here in protest against of the non-revision of wages, non-implementation of promotion and several other issues. Mr Arun Kalia, member, CWC-GIOAIA, said a memorandum of demands had been submitted to Mr R.S. Singhal, regional manager by the General Insurance Officers All-India Association.

MANDI AHMEDGARH
PROTEST: Activists of various local employee unions the Punjab State Electricity Board organised a protest rally in front of 66 KV grid at local Pohir road on Monday. The protesters were demanding revoking of a circular regarding the screening of the employees with a service of more than 25 years or with higher age. The leaders urged the management to consider the survivors of the dead employees on a priority basis. Mr Nirbhai Singh, Mr Sukhcharanjit Singh, Mr Hari Datt, Mr Harbans Singh, Mr Rajbir Singh, Mr Kuldeep Singh, Mr Baljit Singh and Harbhalav Dass, leaders of PSEB Employees Federation, Technical Service Union, Employees Federation, JE Council and MSU addressed the rally.

NSS CAMP: A ten-day NSS camp started at Guru Hari Karishan College for Women Phallewal on Monday. Mr Sinder Singh Kanganwal, Chairman Market Committee, Ahmedgarh, inaugurated it and Mr Sukhdev Singh Walia, president, Truck Operators Union, was the chief guest. Mr Amarjit Singh Sidhu, director of the college, spoke about the achievements of the college. The college had represented the university at a national function of the NSS organised at Agra by the union government. Dr Saroj Sharma, principal of the college also spoke. A cleanliness drive was launched in the village.

Nawanshahr
MELA: Amardeep Singh Shergill Memorial College, Mukandpur (Nawanshahr), will organise ‘‘Amardeep Mela-2004’’ to observe its 11th establishment day on Thursday on the college premises. Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, will be the chief guest. Mr Amarjit Singh Samra, Revenue Minister, will inaugurated the mela.

INAUGURATED: Mr Balwinder Singh Multani, ADC(D), inaugurated a three-day training workshop for self-help groups being organised by the District Rural Development Agency. As many as 70 self-help groups are taking part in it. Bimarsh Consultancy Services, Amritsar, will impart training to the members of self-help groups.

NOMINATED: Ms Sushil Kaur, Editor, ‘‘Neevan Seva’’ a monthly bi-lingual magazine published by the Guru Nanak Mission Medical and Education Trust, Dhahan Kaleran (Nawanshahr) has been nominated member of the district-level committee on women rights constituted by the state Social Security, Women and Child Development Department.

Patiala
MEDICAL CAMP: The Bharat Vikas Parishad (East) on Monday organised a free medical camp at Basic Shiksha Kendra, Bajwa Colony with the cooperation of the State Bank of Patiala, IOC branch. Free medicines were given on the spot. Chest specialist Dr Jawahar Joshi and his team examined around 250 patients, an office-bearer Arun Sharma disclosed.

ATTACHED: The Punjab and Sind Bank, Rajpura, on Monday attached the property of Punjab Breeders situated in the Focal Point at Rajpura during a drive against defaulters. Disclosing this bank Zonal Manager Tejinder Singh Ghuman said the firm was defaulting to the tune of Rs 3.75 crore. The property of the firm was attached through the Tehsildar, Rajpura.

APPEALED: The Sudhar Sabha on Monday appealed to Patiala MP Preneet Kaur to ensure justice to its mahila wing office-bearer, Ms Yogita. Some criminals had allegedly entered her house and threatened her daughter. It claimed that it had already met senior police officials but no action had been taken in the matter.

Phillaur
ATTACKED: An undertrial prisoner Abhijit Kumar attacked with his handcuff and wounded Ramesh Kumar of nearby Pharwala village in the court complex on Monday evening. According to reports received here, Ramesh Kumar was admitted to the civil hospital. Ramesh Kumar alleged that Abhijit, kidnapped and raped his niece and was arrested by the Noormahal police.He was produced in Phillaur Civil Court, where the accused attacked him with his handcuffs.

BODY FOUND: A Decomposed body of an unidentified middle-aged person was found near the fields of Talwan on Monday evening. The deceased was said to be under acute mental depression, the police said. The body was sent to the Phillaur Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

SAMRALA
HONOURED: Mr Gulzar Singh, veterinary pharmacist Animal Husbandry Hospital, Ghulal, 5 km from here, has been awarded President of India’s Census Medal and Certificates of Honour for 2001 by the Governor of Punjab, Gen (retd) S.F. Rodrigues, at a function in Shivalik Public School, Chandigarh, said Mr Inderjit Singh, Director, Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Directorate of Census Operations, Punjab, Chandigarh. Dr Ashok Sharma, the president of the Punjab Veterinarians Officers Association, congratulated Mr Gulzar Singh. The association of pharmacists, including veterinary doctors of the subdivision, has decided to honour Mr Gulzar Singh on January 26 here. 

WATER SUPPLY RESTORED: Residents of the town were relieved when the water supply to the city was restored on Tuesday early morning after more than 20 hours. The supply was disrupted due to the negligence of the sewerage board’s staff as the work on Khanna road was in progress, which damaged the underground water pipes, it was alleged. 

Tarn Taran
ARRESTED: The police has arrested 10 persons involve in illicit liquor trade and poppy husk. Police sources said on Monday that the Sarhali police had recovered 1.5 kg of poppy husk from Darshan Singh, a resident of Chohla Sahib village. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered.

CHANDIGARH

LOAN MAHOTSAVA: The three-day loan mahotsava organised by the State Bank of India, Zonal Office, concluded, here on Tuesday. The SBI attracted business worth crores during the mahotsav. This venture was the first of its kind to be organised by the bank.

HARYANA

Fatehabad
INTRODUCED: Under the integrated pest management programme, the Agriculture Department has introduced a new technology for the control of harmful insects in the oilseed crops during the current rabi season. Friendly insects are being grown in the crops to counter the harmful pests.

Hisar
TRAINED: Electoral officials from five districts falling under Hisar division got training on the use and handling of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) here on Monday. Engineers from Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bangalore, trained the poll officials from Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Jind and Bhiwani districts.

LOOTED: Malkit Singh and Jagtar Singh of 11 Sikh Regiment were looted on board a train from Ludhiana to Jakhal. They have been admitted to the local Civil Hospital in a semi-conscious state. They boarded the train from Ludhiana for Jakhal. They were offered tea by some person near Dhuri. The tea was laced with some intoxicating drug, due to which they fell unconscious after consuming it. Malkit said they had lost Rs 40,000 in cash and a suitcase.