R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
CONDOLED: Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh expressed condolence to the family of Giani Sant Singh Muskin, who passed away recently. He participated in the cremation and offered 'daushala' (shawl).

Batala
PROTEST: The Santokh Masih Murder Sangarsh Committee, held a protest march today after holding a rally at Haqiqat Rai Samadh, Batala, under the leadership of Mr Gurnam Singh, general secretary, Rural Mazdoor Sabha. The rally was also joined by various other organisations. They demanded that a case under Section 302, IPC, be registered against the culprits who killed Santokh Masih.

Bathinda
VACCINATION DRIVE: The local Civil Hospital authorities on Monday started a vaccination drive for Hepatitis-B. Deputy Commissioner K.A.P Sinha said during the drive a doze would be given for Rs 15 per child and Rs 30 per adult.

Faridkot
MEETING: Deputy Commissioner Alok Shekhar on Monday called a meeting of school principals and PTA presidents in the wake of kidnapping incidents in the state. He appealed to parents and teachers to be more vigilant. It was decided to deploy the police outside schools.

Jagraon
One held: Sudhar police is said to have arrested a person and allegedly recovered from his possession some of the stolen articles. According to the information, Ms Paramjit Kaur, wife of Kirpal Singh hailing from Akalgarh, lodged a complaint against Raju, son of Gurdev Singh of Dakha, about having committed theft in her house. The accused allegedly after breaking open the lock stole Rs 4500 in cash, 2 wrist watches HMT valued at Rs 5500 and silver ornaments. The police had registered a case under Section 454, 380 IPC.

Ludhiana
Camp: More than 350 persons were examined at a free dental check-up and awareness camp organised by Baba Jaswant Singh Dental College and Hospital at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Urban Estate, Focal Point, here on Tuesday. A team of doctors, led by Dr V.K. Kapila, along with supporting staff, conducted the check-up and rendered advice on prevention and follow-up treatment. 

Cultural fest: The students of the Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GGNIMT) emerged overall winners at Expression-2005, a cultural fest. They won prizes in almost all events. Mr Kuldip Singh, director of the GGNIMT, and Mr Gunwant Singh Dua, coordinator, congratulated the winners.

Mandi Ahmedgarh
welcomed: The senior students of Guru Nanak Ayurvedic Medical College and Research Institute organised a cultural function on Monday to welcome new students. Dr Balwinder Singh Walia, Chairman of the trust running the institute, inaugurated the function and Dr J. P. S. Oberoi, Principal, gave away prizes to the winning students.

Malerkotla
Children adopted: Mr Harminder Gill and Mr Vijay Sharma, directors of London-Punjab Charity Ltd, a London-based organisation, visited Sohrab Public School recently and adopted eight children. They donated Rs 1 lakh to meet the expenditure of the children. The school management honoured the two NRIs on the occasion.

Phagwara
PROTEST: Members of the Nagar Sudhar Sangharsh Committee of mohalla Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar Tibbi took out a protest march in the town on Monday. They also started a relay hunger strike in front of the office of local Nagar Council in protest against unsanitary conditions prevailing in Wards No 9 and 26.

HONOURED: Noted educationist NRI Jagat Singh Palahi, who heads a number of educational institutions in Palahi and Phagwara, was honoured at local Guru Nanak College here on Monday. Two other NRIs Dogar Singh Palahi and Jagtar Singh Palahi were also feted.

Phillaur
UNHURT: The passengers of the Delhi-bound 2716DN Sachkhand Express on Monday escaped unhurt when its driver applied brakes on feeling jerks between Goraya and Phillaur near Bhattian canal. The railway sources said here on Tuesday that the driver found about 30 mm of the track broken. It was immediately repaired and the train left for its destination after half-an-hour.

CHANDIGARH

Kerosene tanker leaks: An oil tanker carrying kerosene started leaking near the Sectors 33 and 34 roundabout on Tuesday. A large quantity of oil spilled on the road as the fire engines from the Sector 32 fire station reached the spot. Pavement dwellers nearby thronged the spot with buckets and containers and started collecting the oil. The tanker was on its way to Sector 45 kerosene depot when the incident occurred. Later, an empty tanker was requisitioned and the oil was transferred into it with buckets.

PANCHKULA
CELEBRATED: Infotech and BPO firm, IRD, Panchkula, on Sunday celebrated two years of its establishment and one year of the takeover by the present Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Rakesh Bhardwaj. The day was celebrated with prayers, besides a dance party and dinner at a popular discotheque in Sector 35, Chandigarh. The CMD announced addition of more campaigns and gave raise to the staff. 

HARYANA

Bhiwani
FOUNDATION STONE: Mr Dilbag Rai Jain, a philanthropist, laid the foundation stone of "Preksha Vihar" near the local municipal park here on Monday. Mr Nem Chand Jain, an industrialist, presided over the function, which was organised by the Acharya Shri Mahapragya Chaturmas Organising Committee.

INJURED: Seventeen persons were injured when a vehicle carrying members of a marriage party turned turtle near Samaspur village here on Sunday. The injured, belonged to Chattisgarh, have been admitted to a hospital.

LEGAL CAMP: Members of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) held a free legal aid camp at Balmiki Chaupal, Mattour village here on Sunday. Mr Dharam Veer Bhola, advocate member of the DLSA, said the camp was organised under the guidance of Mr V.K. Baksi, Additional District Judge and Mr Surya Partap Singh, CJM.

Sonepat
TRUCK OVERTURNS: Traffic on the National Highway No. 1 remained blocked for an hour following the overturning of a truck loaded with bricks near Rai village, about 13 km from here, on Tuesday.

Three INJURED: Three youths going on a motor cycle were injured when they were hit by a van on the GT road near Kundli village, about 25 km from here, on Tuesday. All injured were rushed to a private hospital at Narela (Delhi).

MISHAP: A car dashed against a culvert on the GT road near Devilal Park at Bahalgarh Chowk, about 10 km from here, on Tuesday. Its occupants, Mr Krishan and his wife, Ms Sumitra Devi, sustained injuries.

Dowry death: Meena, a housewife, was reportedly poisoned to death in her in-law’s house at Raipur village, about 10 km from here, on Monday night. According to information the Sadar police has registered a dowry death case against her husband and other members of the in-law’s family. However, all persons named in the FIR were absconding.

Dharna: Hundreds of industrial workers, under the banners of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), marched in a procession and held a dharna in front of the office of the District Labour and Conciliation Officer in the Prem Nagar area in support of their demands here today. According to a report, the procession and the dharna were headed by Mr Hawa Singh, vice-president of the state committee of the CITU, and Mr Ved Pal, general secretary of the district committee of the CITU, respectively.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
Seminar: A state-level annual conference and seminar of the Himachal Pradesh State Journalists Federation would be held at Bilaspur on March 13, at Kisan Bhavan here. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh would inaugurate the conference. This was announced by state federation president Jaikumar here on Monday after they met Chief Minister at Shimla. He said a deputation of the state office-bearers of the federation presented a charter of difficulties which the journalists of the state face to the Chief Minister and urged him to provide essential facilities to them for helping them perform their duties in a befitting manner.

ARRESTED: The police arrested Mastram of Tikkar village and Baburam of Palthin village allegedly for faking as CIA officials. Superintendent of Police M. Chandershekhar said the accused took Rs 2,000 from Yashpal of Badgaon by posing as CIA officials.

Kulu
BANDH: Traders here observed a bandh on Monday in protest against the VAT. The bandh was complete in the townships of Kulu, Bhuntar and Manali.

KILLED: One person was crushed to death while he was boarding a bus (HP-66-8016) at Badah village, 3 km from here, on Sunday. A case has been registered against the driver of the bus.

Shimla
ELECTED: The following have been elected as office-bearers of the Himachal Pradesh State Veterinary Officer's Association: president — Dr B.S. Chauhan; sr vice-president — Dr Avinash Sharma; vice-president — Dr H.R Sankhayan; general secretary — Dr Sushil Sood; joint secretary — Dr Sidharth Dev Thakur; press secretary — Dr Aneesh Kumar; finance secretary — Dr Arvind Sharma; and auditors — Dr Rajeev Mehta and Dr R.L. Sandal.