R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
MEDICAL CAMP: As many as 500 physically challenged children aged 3-14 were examined at a free medical camp organised at Government Senior Secondary School here. While inaugurating the camp, Dr Harbans Singh Chahal, principal, expressed gratitude to the District Red Cross Society and Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital here for extending cooperation.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Well-wishers Club: patrons - Mr Rajiv Soni, Mr Ram Chand and Mr Satish Midha; president - Mr Naveen Bajaj; vice-president - Mr Charanjeet Singh Tinna; secretary - Mr Romesh Midha; joint secretary - Mr Sanjay Kukkar; finance secretary - Mr K.R. Nagpal; PRO - Mr A.K. Baghla; and legal adviser - Mr Sunil Setia.

Amritsar
URGED: A three-member SGPC team currently touring Andaman and Nicobar Islands urged the Sikh community to donate money for rehabilitation of Sikh families hit by tsunami. According to a report issued by the team, Sikh population of Port Blair and the Koblaya isles had suffered severe economic damages.

Ferozepore
BANKING FACILITY: Mr C.L. Mahajan, Senior Manager, Punjab National Bank, said the bank had started core banking solution (CBS) facility in Jalalabad (West), thereby connecting it with more than 800 branches throughout the country.

Nawanshahr
DONATION: Lt Col Jernail Singh (retd.), vice-president, District Sainik Welfare Board, said here on Sunday that the board had collected Rs 68,600 for relief of tsunami victims. Students and staff of Bhagwan Mahavir Public School, Banga, have also handed over a cheque for Rs 51,000 to Mr Tarlochan Singh Soondh, local MLA, towards the relief fund.

SEMINAR: The Geography Society of R.K. Arya College organised a seminar on environment pollution on the college campus here on Saturday. Mr Kailash Nath Bhardwaj, principal, inaugurated the seminar.

MEDICAL CAMP: Mr Baldev Nayyar, deputy district governor, Lions Club district 321-D, and residents of Banga organised a diabetes awareness and treatment camp at Phagwara. As many as 200 patients were examined and given herbal medicines.

SELECTED: Nisha Sharma, a student of local B.L.M. Girls College has been selected as "role model" for youth by the Swami Vivekanand Study Circle, Ludhiana. As many as 1600 students from all over the state participated in the competition and only 12 were selected, according to Ms C. Tassuvar, officiating principal of the college.

AWARDED: A low cost refrigerator model prepared by Kuljit Kaur, student of local Doaba Arya Senior Secondary School, under the guidance of Mr Rajesh Chandel, science teacher, has been adjudged the best model by the Petroleum Conservation and Research Association (PCRA) and awarded a prize of Rs 4,500.

LUDHIANA
DR KEWAL DHEER: Dr Kewal Dheer , an eminent Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi writer, will visit Pakistan to present a paper at the World Urdu Conference being held from January 25 to 27, in Islamabad. A prestigious literary award of Pakistan Qartas-A-Aizaz, was announced last year which will be conferred upon Dr Dheer at a function scheduled to be held at Rawalpindi. The Asian Writers Forum will honour Dr Dheer on January 26.

Pathankot
ELECTED: Mr Satinder Walia and Ms Saroj Puri have been elected presidents of the Rotary Club and the Inner-wheel club, respectively.

SAMRALA
Donated: Free clothes and shoes were distributed among the needy students of Government Girls Secondary School by Principal Bachittar Singh Barn here today. Mr Barn said about 103 students were given dresses and shoes which were sent by Ms Satveer Kaur, an NRI from the USA. On this occasion the Mr Barn thanked Ms Satveer Kaur and also appealed to the rich persons to help the needy and deserving students of the school.

Sangrur
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the District Mini Bus Operators Union: president - Mr Harjit Singh Hasanpuri; vice-presidents - Mr Rajinder Singh Barnala, Mr Nachhatar Singh Barri and Mr Sohan Singh Dhuri; and general secretaries - Mr Tota Singh Kherri (Khurad), Mr Shivpreet Singh (Sunam) and Mr Pargat Singh (Malerkotla).

HARYANA

Sonepat
CAR TAKEN AWAY: Two unidentified armed youths have allegedly taken away car from Mr Ganga Ram of Kakraula village while he was on way to Kharkhauda town, 19 km from here.

ELECTED: Acharya Satyavir Singh Shashtri has been elected president of the local Arya Samaj, Kath Mandi. He has been authorised to appoint members of the working committee of the samaj.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
ORGANISED: A district-level function was organised on the occasion of birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Government Primary School, Raura, here on Sunday. State Forest, Youth Services and Sports Minister Ram Lal Thakur inaugurated the function.

IGNOU COURSES: A career awareness camp was organised by IGNOU centre at Government Post-graduate College here on Sunday. Mr S.R. Kaushal, principal, presided over. Centre coordinator Prof Brij Bala Sankhyan said the last date for admission to various courses offered by IGNOU was March 31.

Nurpur
ARRESTED: The police has arrested Kikkar, alias Vicky, Karam Chand, alias Sethi, and Rakesh, all residents of Talara village, allegedly for committing theft at a jewellery shop at Raja Ka Talab here. A case under Sections 457, 380 and 34 of the IPC has been registered.