R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

HARYANA

Karnal
CONG LEADER QUITS: The Congress got a jolt on Thursday when its veteran leader and former minister Kunwar Ram Pal Singh quit the party, alleging nepotism in the selection of candidates for the Assembly elections by the party leadership. He has joined the Ekta Shakti along with his supporters. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
Honoured: The Sarsawati Yuvak Mandal, Anand Ghat, has been declared “Best Yuvak Mandal” in Bilaspur district keeping in view its last year’s working. The honour was bestowed on the mandal by Himachal Forests, Youth Services and Sports Minister Ram Lal Thakur at Jagat Khana on Wednesday evening. The mandal was given a prize of Rs 10,000 at a district-level National Youth Day function organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Anita Sharma (Brahampukhar), Amar-chand (Surahad) and Naresh Nadda (Swara) were declared ‘Best Youths’ in the district and were given prizes by the chief guest.

Fatehabad
SHOPS BURGLED: Thieves broke into five shops in the town on Wednesday night and decamped with cash and goods worth Rs 1.5 lakh. The police is investigating the matter and has arrested one person in this connection. The thefts were reported from a mobile handset shop in Palika Bazar, a grocery shop on the DSP road, two kiosks and another shop situated in the Hans market.

Hisar
SCIENCE CONGRESS: A team of PCSD Senior Secondary School, Hansi, participated in the 92nd Indian Science Congress organised in Ahemdabad recently. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Microsoft chief Bill Gates attended the Science Congress, which was organised by Nirma University, Ahemdabad. The school Principal, Mr Ashok Mittal, said on Thursday that two teachers of the school, Mr Sanjay Aggarwal and Mr Mohan Lal, as well as a student, Deepak Soni, represented Haryana in the event.

Nurpur
PENSIONERS’ MEETING: The Elder Citizens Association, an organisation of retired officers and employees here, has decided to meet Chief Minister and submit a memorandum of demands regarding difficulties being faced by citizens here. A meeting of the association was held here on Thursday night. It was presided over by association president Col A.P. Gautam (retd). An appeal was made to the government to solve the problems being faced by pensioners. A decision to donate one-day pension for the tsunami relief fund was also taken.

VEHICLE THEFT: A truck (HP-38 B-235) parked along the Pathankot-Mandi national highway at Bodh near here was stolen on Thursday. The truck belonged to Girdhar Sharma on Fatehpur village in Jawali Subdivision. A case has been registered.

Rewari
PROHIBITORY ORDERS: In view of forthcoming Assembly elections in the state, the District Magistrate, Mr C.R. Rana, has promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, banning the carrying of weapons and firearms in the district. The orders will remain in force till February 28. He has ordered licensees of firearms to deposit their weapons in their nearest police station immediately.