R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
PROTEST: Mr Harbir Singh Sandhu, office secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), here on Friday threatened that his party would launch protest if Mr Baldev Singh, a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), was allowed to speak on any panthic stage because he was facing an allegation of molestation.

DONATED: Officials from the office of the Executive Engineer, Public Health (GW) Division, have donated Rs 75,000 towards tsunami relief fund. Mr Mukhtiar Singh, Executive Engineer, has handed over the draft to the Deputy Commissioner.

BOOKED: The police has booked Rajnish of Punjab Communication, Hussainpura, for allegedly defrauding Mr Naresh Kumar of Sultanwind road. Mr Naresh Kumar alleged that Rajnish had issued a mobile number to Mr Harjit Singh of Baba Bakala which was earlier issued to a criminal. A case has been registered.

Barnala
TAKES CHARGE: Mr Hussan Lal, Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur has taken the charge as the new administrator, Improvement Trust, Barnala. The post of the Chairman was lying vacant with the death of Prem Chand Aggarwal last month.

Bathinda
ELECTED: In a press note issued here on Saturday, Mr Ram Aggrawal, secretary, Rotary Club, Bathinda, said Mr Rajinder Kumar Bansal had unanimously been elected president of the club for next year.

Faridkot
FOUNDER’S DAY: The local College of Nursing, a constituent of Baba Farid University of Health Science, organised a function to celebrate founder’s day here on Friday. Dr J.S. Gujral, Vice-Chancellor of the university, presided over the function.

Hoshiarpur
KILLED: Sohan Singh of Bassi Jalal, who was seriously injured along with six other members of his family in a road accident, succumbed to his injuries on the way to Civil Hospital, Muerkian here on Friday. They were going to Thein Dam, Pathankot, when their jeep hit a truck near Nangal Bhoor on the Jalandhar-Pathankot National Highway.

CONTEST: As many as 250 students from 20 schools of Hoshiarpur zone participated in 'Aao Bune Knitting' contest which was organised by Vardhman Spinning and General Mills at the local Chaudhary Balbir Singh Public Senior Secondary School on Friday. Mr Harish Bhatia, Product Manager, said winner would be awarded with a cash prize of Rs 5,100, Rs 3,100 and 2,100.

THEFTS: Four shops have been burgled at Uchi Bassi sub town located on the GT Road between Dasuya and Mukerian. The thieves decamped with cash and goods worth several lakhs. The shops belonged to Mr Ravinder Singh, Mr Mandeep Singh, Mr Balwinder Singh and Ashok Kumar Marnal. A case has been registered.

Pathankot
SUMMONED: The Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Mr Justice Ranjit Singh, has issued summons to ASI Tirlok Singh, posted at Sadar police station, for allegedly torturing Surinder Kumar, former Sarpanch of Firozpur Khan village. Mr Surinder Kumar alleged that on August 1, 2002, some policemen forcibly entered his house on the pretext of an inquiry against his brother. He said they picked up his minor son and kept him in illegal confinement.

Nawanshahr
CAMP: As many as 400 physically and mentally challenged children in the age group of 3-14 years have been examined by a team of specialist physicians, surgeons, prosthetic technicians and speech therapists at a two-day camp for the identification of disabilities among children. The camp was organised by the District Sarva Shikhiya Abhiyan Authority in collaboration with the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India ( ALIMCO), Kanpur, District Disability and Rehabilitation Centre, Ferozepore, and some local NGOs here at Government Senior Secondary School.

VERMI-COMPOST: Mr Harjit Inder Singh Grewal, Deputy Commissioner, in a press note issued here on Saturday said the district administration had chalked out a comprehensive plan to popularise the use of vermin compost in the district. One village each in the five blocks of the district — Rattewal, Bheen, Kariha, Chandiani Khurd and Chakdana — had been adopted for setting up vermin compost units. As many as 175 farmers would be imparted training.

RAJPURA
ANNUAL FUNCTION: A cultural programme presented by students of The Heritage Public School, Lehla Gazzu Khera, near here, marked the first annual function of the school, on Saturday. Various cultural events including giddha, bhangara, mimes, skits and other events added vigour to the function. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, former Punjab Finance Minister, who was the chief guest, distributed prizes. The school Principal, Ms Seema Nagpal, read out the annual report of the school. 

CHANDIGARH

CONCLUDED: A fete concluded at Stepping Stones School here on Saturday. An exhibition depicting the diverse culture of India followed by a food festival. All money collected at the fete was forwarded far the tsunami victims through the PM Relief Fund. Eco Dosts of the school sold colourful papers and contributed their proceeds for the tsunami. 

DEAD: Ritu Sharma, wife of Mr Sudhir Kalia, a former Special Correspondent in The Times of India, died after brief illness at Mukat Hospital here. She was a Reader in the Department of Political Science, Panjab University. Her last rites were performed on Saturday.

HARYANA

AWARDED: Lt-Gen Hari Prasad, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern command, has awarded the Sena Medal to Major Ashok Arya of Mahra village in the district for bravery shown by him in saving the lives of innocent people from militants.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
TSUNAMI FUND: Drafts for Rs 32,267 for tsunami victims were handed over to the Tribune management for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund by Mr H.S. Atwal, a resident of Majari village in Naina Devi teshil of the district. The amount was collected by residents the village.

Chamba
ASSURANCE: A deputation of the district unit of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Federation has met the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, at Dharamsala in connection with the pending demand of compensatory allowance. Mr Sat Pal Thakur, district president of the federation, said here on Friday that the Chief Minister had assured the deputation that he would consider their demand sympathetically.

CONVICTED: The District Sessions Judge, Mr P.D. Goel, on Thursday convicted Rumi Ram, a resident of Bhanauta Pargna Lohtikri in Churah tehsil, for possessing 2.5 kg of charas. The convict was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and fined Rs 1 lakh.

Shimla
ALLEGED: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) here on Friday said that the state government was trying to sabotage truck operators strike in Darlabhat by unleashing police terror on people. Mr Rakesh Singha, state secretary of the CPI (M), demanded immediate release of the arrested leaders who had been taken in custody.