R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
ANNUAL FUNCTION: Students and teachers were honoured at the annual prize distribution function and the foundation day of the local Khalsa College here on Saturday. Mr Varinder Singh Bajwa, MP, was the chief guest on the occasion. He announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh to the college.

APPEAL: The abolition of standard deduction under Sections 88 and 80L of the Income Tax Act has seemed most hostile to the senior citizens, according to Mr B.R. Preenja, general secretary, Punjab Employees Rights Protection and Welfare Union. He said proposed provisions in the Budget would enhance the tax liability. He said the union demanded to review the provisions of the Budget and made it friendly for the senior citizens.

Hoshiarpur
SEMINAR: The District Legal Authority organised a seminar in connection with the celebration of the National Legal Awareness Week for Women at the local DAV College complex here on Saturday. Mr G.K. Rai, District and Sessions Judge, said laws and legal ways were there to protect the rights of women but they would have to protest against the discrimination to safeguard their rights. Various speakers from different strata of life spoke on the occasion.

DUPED: A case of duping of Rs 4.86 lakh was reported in Sadar police station here on Friday. Police sources said an NRI, Mr Gurdip Singh, son of Mohinder Singh of Atowal village, had prepared a FDR from the Punjab National Bank, Ludhaina branch. Another person, Gurdip Singh, son of Gurbachan Singh of the same village, was aware of it. He produced a fictitious affidavit in the name of the NRI and withdrawn the amount. A case has been registered.

LOK ADALAT: A Lok Adalat was held in the Sessions Court Complex here on Saturday. In the Lok Adalat two different Benches were constituted for hearing the cases. Mr R.P. Nagrath, Additional District and Sessions Judge and Mr K.S. Cheema, Chief Judicial Magistrate, presided over the Benches. Out of 99 cases, 48 cases had been disposed off.

Jalandhar
SEMINAR: A seminar was organised in connection with National Legal Aid Week for Women at Khalsa College for Women here on Saturday. Mr K.K. Kareer, Civil Judge-cum-Secretary, Legal Services Authority, said there was need to create awareness about rights conferred upon women by various legislations enacted for their benefits, might be enforced properly. Mr Jagnahar Singh, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr G.S. Dhillon, Judicial Magistrate (1st Class) were present on the occasion.

LUDHIANA
Kisan mela: More than 1,000 farmers visited a stall put up by the Punjab National Bank at the two-day kisan mela at Punjab Agricultural University, which concluded here on Saturday. According to Mr R.K. Sharma, Senior Regional Manager of the bank, the farmers evinced keen interest in production of tuberose concrete, nagarmotha oil, rose water, palmarosa oil, harnoli seed oil, which were bringing more money for farmers. 

Natak mela: International Medical Helpline and Anti-Drugs Society, Punjab, will launch a panchayati chetna ajlas and natak mela at Bardhalan village near here, on Monday, according to Dr Mohan Singh Mann, Mr Sukhdev Singh Libra, Member Parliament, will inaugurate the function and MLA Mr Amrik Singh Dhilon, will be the chief guest.

Shoba yatra: A Shoba yatra will be held on the eve of Shivratri on Monday. The yatra will start from Baba Gari Wala mandir and will pass through various villages.

Donated: Mr Amarjeet Guru UK, chairman of Shri Guru Ramdas Dharamshala Mandir Committee, Shahi Mohalla, Ludhiana, donated a water cooler to Govt High School, Salem Tabri here on Saturday. The water cooler was donated in memory of his parents. Mr Guru was honoured by Mr Ranjit Singh, Principal, and staff of the school for his gesture and presented him with a trophy. Books on life of Guru Ramdas were given to outstanding students.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
WOMEN’S DAY: The Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences will celebrate Women’s Day on Monday. A paper reading contest will be organised for providing a platform for the women to break the silence and come forward, said Ms Shalini Gupta, director of the institute.

Nawanshahr
BRIDGE: Deputy Commissioner Harjit Inder Singh Grewal in a press note here on Saturday said that the Rahon—Machhiwara bridge across the Sutlej was being constructed at a cost of Rs 32 crore and it would be completed by June 30. He said a comprehensive plan had been chalked out to solve the problem of traffic. Estimates had been prepared for constructing a fly-over in the town and by passes from Rahon—sugar mills and Rahon—Langroya, he added.

YOGA CAMP: After launching a website on the “Nawanshahr police www.nsrpolice.org” and computerised complaint redressal system at all police stations in the district, Mr M.F. Farooqui, SSP, started yoga and meditation camp for policemen here on Saturday. Besides, laughing club was also launched.

Phagwara
YATRA: A shobha yatra was taken out here on Saturday on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. It started from old Dana Mandi, passed through bazaars and concluded at Moni Baba Ka Mandir.

ASSURANCE: Mr Joginder Singh Mann, Chairman, Punjab Agro Foods Corporation, here on Saturday visited the houses of two youths, Tilak Raj of Panshta Village and Sarabjit, alias Toni, of Nasirabad village, who are languishing in Pakistan jails along with 200 Indians, including 29 Punjabi youths. He said criminal cases would be registered against the unscrupulous travel agents who had duped the youths.

CAMP: As many as 1,300 patients were checked in a free eye operation and check-up camp here on Thursday. The camp was organised by Phagwara Jaycees in the memory of Nanak Chand Sethi.

ROPAR
CAMP FOR WOMEN: The district administration today organised a camp to motivate the women to start manufacturing soaps and other household items for economic independence. About 90 members of a self-help group of the district participated in the camp. While addressing the members of the self-help groups, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Harnek Singh, said the time had come that the woman should also contribute equally to run the family. Now with the passage of the time, requirements of the people have increased. So the members of the self-help group could easily start small units at their villages to manufacture household items, he added.

CELEBRATED: President of the Punjab unit of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) Amar Singh Mehmi, along with other members on Friday distributed sweets to the people in front of the new bus stand celebrating victory of the National president of the LJP and Union Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, in Assembly elections in Bihar. TNS 

Tarn Taran
PROTEST: Powermen under the banner of the Technical Services Union (TSU) here on Saturday organised a protest rally against the privatisation of the PSEB and warned the board authorities against it. Mr Saranjit Singh, Mr Joginder Singh and Mr Mohinder Singh addressed the rally.

DEAD: Harpreet Kaur (35), wife of a martyr Tirath Singh, died under mysterious circumstance at her in-law’s house at Maluwal Santan village, 20 km from here, on Friday night. It is reported that she had consumed some poisonous substance. Mr Baljit Singh, father of the deceased, said she was in depression after death of her husband. A case has been registered.

HARYANA

Karnal
Assumes CHARGE : Mr Chander Bhan Jaglan, District and Sessions Judge, has taken over the charge of the post in place Mr B.L. Singal who has retired from service.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Kullu
VAT CAMPS: The Excise and Taxation Department has organised various camps at different places in the district to educate the people about the value added tax (VAT). A meeting with more than 200 traders was held here on Saturday on the premises of the department headed by Mr Satish Kumar Awasthi, Deputy Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, (Mandi Zone). He told the traders about shortcomings in the present taxation system and which had been removed under the VAT policy. Mr Ashok Mahajan, Commissioner, Excise and Taxation (flying squad), Palampur, was also present on the occasion.