R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
DEMAND CHARTER: A delegation of Guru Nanak Dev University Non-Teaching Employees Association met the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr S.P. Singh, here on Friday and presented him a demand charter. Dr S.P. Singh assured them that their genuine demands would be accepted shortly.

SANCTIONED: The Department of Science and Technology of Government of India has sanctioned Rs 45 lakh for strengthening postgraduate teaching and research in the Department of Microbiology of Guru Nanak Dev University. Dr B.S. Chadha, Head of the Department, said here on Friday that the amount would be used for the purchase of sophisticated equipment for carrying out advanced research.

DONATION: The Ladies Club of Guru Nanak University campus has presented a draft of Rs 10,000 to the Vice-Chancellor of the University for tsunami victims towards the Prime Minister's National Relief fund.

PAPER PRESENTED: An electronics scientist, Dr Jasvir Singh, Reader, Department of Electronics Technology, Guru Nanak Dev University, presented his paper 'Personal wireless communication' at an international conference held in the USA recently. Dr Jasvir Singh said it was a good opportunity to meet experts hailing from different parts of the world.

POSTPONED: Guru Nanak Dev University has postponed the interview for part-time Medical Officer which was scheduled for January 31. The new date will be announced later.

BOOKED: The Vigilance Bureau has booked two patwaris, a kanungo and two others belonging to Gurdaspur for indulging in corruption. The Senior Superintendent of the Bureau, said here on Friday that two patwaris, Harjit Singh and Vijay Kumar, in connivance with Swaran Singh, Kanungo, and Gurinder Singh and Gurdial Singh, both residents of Bharat Colony, Batala, tampered with government records and sold government land.

Gurdaspur
ARRESTED: The Vigilance Bureau has arrested a patwari, Kishori Lal, posted at Majra while taking a bribe of Rs 2,000 from Mr Kulwinder Singh. The complainant, Mr Kulwinder Singh, had alleged that he wanted to raise a loan from a bank, for which he required the 'farad' of his land. However, the patwari demanded Rs 2,000 for issuing the farad.

Jagraon
Theft: Gold ornaments of Bhupinder Singh were stolen from Katyal Marriage Palace, Raikot, on Friday. The police has registered a case.

Poppy husk seized: Raghbir Singh and Amarjit Singh of Kotli were arrested for possessing 54 kg of poppy husk. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against them at Sidhwanbet police station.

One arrested: Pappu Singh of Bhundri was arrested for carrying 45 litre of illicit liquor. A case under the Excise Act has been registered.

LUDHIANA
INVITED: Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, has invited Prof Ashwani Bhalla of the SCD Government College, Ludhiana, to present a paper at an international conference on “Environment and Development — A Developing Country Perspective” to be organised from April 7-8. 

Nawanshahr
RELEASED: The district unit of the Punjab Chandigarh Patrakar Parishad and the Sajri Saver Likhari Sabha, Mahilpur (Hoshiarpur), have jointly organised a function here at Bazid Palace. Punjabi author, Mr Jaswant Kanwal, presided over and released a collection of poems, 'Midnight Revolt', written by Mr Narinder Dansiwalia, editor-in-chief, "Sailabh", a weekly magazine.

PATIALA
DEAD: Mr W.G. Lal, who was Technical Member, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), died on January 21 at Secunderabad in Andhra Pardesh. Lal was also a member of the Punjab Public Service Commission.

COMPETITION: A drawing and quiz competition was held at the local Budha Dal Public School. It was followed by the formation of a human chain by students of the school to create mass awareness about oil and gas conservation. Around 300 students participated in the competition.

LOK ADALAT: As many as 94 cases were settled at a Lok Adalat organised at the Rajpura Court Complex on Saturday. Additional Civil Judge, Rajpura A.P.Batra said three banches were constituted for the adalat. Amount of Rs 3.44 lakh was awarded as compensation.

Phagwara
BOOKED: The police has booked six persons, including two nambardars, on the charges of fraud, forgery, destruction of will etc. These persons had reportedly given surety for securing bail of three persons by presenting false documents. Those booked included Raj Kumar, Kehar Singh, both nambardars, Rampal, Surjit Singh of Ranipur village, Anoop Kumar and Sham Lal of Dayalpur village.

Sangrur
RELIEF: The local Government Pensioners' Welfare Association has submitted a bank draft for Rs 22,800 to the Deputy Commissioner towards the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for tsunami victims. This was stated by Mr Vinay Kumar, Patron of the association, here on Friday.

CHANDIGARH

CULTURAL SHOW: It was a musical evening of Punjabi folk songs at Weekend Cultural Show at Plaza, sector 17 on Saturday. The show started with the folk singer’s song ‘ jogi banana painda hai’. It was followed by other songs like ‘ charriya di jun kharab’, ‘ main jatt ludhiana da’ and’ mere dil di sohneya’.

Panchkula
Holy Child School: Students and staff of Holy Child School, Panchkula, collected funds to help the victims of tsunami tragedy. The school donated a sum of Rs 11,000 to the Prime Minister’s Relief fund. Students were given medals by the Principal of the school on the Republic Day for their noble gesture. The Babu Kanshi Ram Bachao Sangharsh Samiti on Saturday started the Parda Faash Rath Yatra against the BSP leader Mayawati. The yatra is being undertaken by ailing BSP leader’s mother, Ms Bishan Kaur, in protest against not being allowed to meet her son. She had started this yatra in Punjab from December 11 to 15, and re-started the yatra in Haryana from here. The yatra proceeded towards Yamunanagar from here, from where it headed towards Rohtak.

Blood donation camp: As many as 110 units of blood were collected are a blood donation camp organised by Rotary Club, Panchkula, along with youth wing of Interact Club at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15. The Rotary Club served refreshments to all donors.

INJURED: A 26-year-old woman, Rinku Devi, died of burn injuries at the Command Hospital here on Thursday. She reportedly sustained the injuries while she was cooking at Suratgarh on January 13.

Two Injured: A woman scooterist was injured when the scooter on which she was riding collided with a Zen car in Sector 5 on Friday. The victim, Poonam Jain, was rushed to the hospital with head injuries. In another incident, a cyclist hit a pedestrian, Manisha, in Sector 6. She suffered minor injuries.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Kulu
SEIZED: The police seized 22.75 kg of charas from a Maruti van at a naka at Fagu near Banjar, about 35 km from here, on Friday. The charas was concealed in the doors of the van. The owner of the vehicle, Sanjay Kumar, son of Subhash Chand, a resident of Shamshi, and Inder Singh, son of Jagan Nath of Babli village in Mandi district, were arrested. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Press Club: president — Mr Rajiv Sharma; senior vice-president — Mr Ashesh Sharma; vice-president — Mr Rajesh Sharma; secretary — Mr Rakesh Sharma; treasurer — Mr Sumit Chauhan; chief adviser — Mr Jaidev Vidrohi; and adviser — Mr Gopal Sharma.

Mandi
PROTEST: Shri Guru Ravidas Panchyat Committee here on Friday staged a protest march and demanded the reconstruction of a temple demolished recently and the immediate release of Dalits who were arrested in this connection at Santokhgarh in Una district. Urging the state government to release Dalits, the protesters raised slogans against the government, demanding their release.

Nahan
SANCTIONED: Mr Rajinder Thakur, chairman, Zila Parishad, here on Friday disclosed that nine important road networks had been sanctioned for Sirmaur district by the World Bank. He said the committee had approved 145 schemes of public participation in Swajaldhara Drinking Water Project and Rs 4.50 crore would be spent on the schemes. Mr Sadanand Chauhan, local MLA, proposed that a pipe and iron rod factories be set up in place of the Nahan Foundry.

LOAN FAIR: The local branch of the State Bank of Patiala organised a loan fair here on Friday. The chief manager, Mr Arvind Singhal, said loans worth Rs 1 crore were sanctioned. He said the fair would continue till January 31.