R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
ANNUAL FUNCTION: Mr Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Parliamentary Secretary, gave away prizes at the annual prize function of BVN College for Girls, Fatehgarh Churian, here on Thursday. Mr Randhawa announced a grant of Rs 50,000 to the college. Tributes were paid to the founder of the college, D.P. Gupta, for his vision towards education.

Hoshiarpur
ALLEGED: Mr Jai Gopal Dhiman, president, Social Democratic Party of India, here on Thursday alleged that some depot holders of Garhshankar division had sold wheat being supplied to them for distribution to below poverty line cardholders under the Antodaya Scheme.

CASE REGISTERED: On the complaint of Gurmeet Ram, son of Harjit Singh, a resident of Naloian area, the police has registered a case against a travel agent, Hardeep Singh of Binpalke. Mr Gurmeet Ram alleged that Hardeep Singh had duped him of Rs 70,000 on the pretext of sending him abroad. He neither sent him abroad nor returned the money. A case has been registered.

CAUGHT: A team of the Vigilance Bureau headed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Ram Asra, caught Ashutosh Pal, District Manager, Punjab Agro Food Grain Corporation, while accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a contractor, Tarlok Singh. Mr Ram Asra said the manager was demanding the money for clearing pending bills. A case has been registered.

Jagraon
Scrap Stolen: Sukhjinder Singh of Nanak Nagar,Jagraon, have allegedly stolen a pipe and a piece of girder from electricity grid here. The local police on the complaint of Sadhu Singh, Agwar Lopon has registered a case.

Nawanshahr
CAMP: The district Health Department in collaboration with the Rotary Club organised a family planning camp and a blood donation camp at Banga on Thursday. Mr Harjit Inder Singh Grewal, Deputy Commissioner, presiding over the camp, said a sum of Rs 4.21 lakh was being spent on maternity beneficiary schemes in the district. As many as 149 pregnant women had been given grants worth Rs 500 each under the scheme.

Sangrur
Camp: Nearly 300 persons were examined at a medical camp held at Police Lines here on Friday. Mr Harinder Singh Chahal, SSP, Sangrur, inaugurated the camp. The local Umeed Khanna Foundation provided doctors, medicines, etc. for the camp.

HARYANA

Kaithal
IMPRISONMENT: The court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ms Raj Rahul Garg, here has sentenced Mohinder Singh of Parta Bhoop Singh Wala village in Guhla subdivision to eight months’ imprisonment and fined him Rs 1,000 for possessing poppy husk. Mohinder Singh was nabbed by a police party headed by Sub Inspector Amar Nath of the Sadar police station on September 28, 2001, as he got down from a Haryana Roadways bus at the Titram crossing near here.

SCHOOLS’ BLUES: As many as 150 private schools of this district running in residential areas in violation of the Punjab and Haryana high court orders face closure the coming session. In pursuance of the court order, the Director, Education, has issued instructions to the District Education Officers to take action against such schools, which are being run against rules.

Sonepat
SHOT DEAD: Sandeep, alias Chintu, a resident of Jamalpur Mohalla, was shot at by two unidentified armed youths near Shiv Mandir Chotti Masjid in Kalan Mohalla here on Thursday night. He was taken to the local Civil Hospital where he was declared brought dead. A case has been registered.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Kumarhatti
TWO DEAD: Two persons died when a canter (HP-14-7711) carrying logs rolled down into a gorge near Kotha Majhyari village on Patta road under Kasauli police station on the intervening night of March 1 and 2. Rattan Singh (21) from Thathal village failed to control the vehicle while negotiating a curve. He died at the Primary Health Centre, Kuthar. The canter owner, Babu Ram from Niana Tikkar village, succumbed to his injuries on way to Zonal Hospital, Solan.

Nurpur
YOUTH COMMITS SUICIDE: Om Parkash (27) of Kathol village under Haripur police station committed suicide by hanging in his room on Thursday. The deceased was having strained relations with his wife who had been living with her parents due to some family dispute. The deceased was a meat vendor at Nagrota Surian.

PARWANOO
SEIZED: A Punjab Roadways bus driver has booked under the Excise Act for allegedly carrying illicit liquor along with him at the multi-purpose barrier here on Thursday. The ASI Sher Singh during routine checking of a bus going to Shimla seized wine foreign liquor bottles from Pritam Singh. 

CELEBRATED: Purolator India Limited here celebrated 34th National Safety Day on its premises today. All employees of the company took part in the celebrations. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Vadiraj Meghlal, in the company plant head, emphasised upon the health and safety of employees workplace.

Shimla
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the H.P. State Tyre Retreaders Association: Mr R.M. Ramaul — chairman; Mr Sumit Dhiman — working president; Mr Ram Krishan Sood, Mr Manjeet and Mr Vinay — vice-presidents; Mr Ajay Gupta — general secretary; and Mr Alok Pandey — treasurer.