R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Jalandhar
OPIUM SEIZED: The district police on Saturday nabbed a miscreant, Ranjit Singh, alias Bittu, a resident of Bassi Asa Khan in Hoshiarpur district and seized one kilogram of opium from his possession at a naka put up at Hardev Nagar on Kapurthala road here. His accomplice, Kashmir Singh, however, managed to run away.

Ludhiana
BONE DENSITY CAMP: A free bone mineral density (BMD) camp is being organised at Iqbal Nursing Home and Hospital here. The camp will conclude on July 25. About 1000 patients have been examined so far. Patients were educated on menopausal problems and calcium deficiency.

ST/SC ASSOCIATION: The all-India Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes Railway Employees Association (diesel shed branch) has disowned Gurmit Singh, the chief organiser of the function which was held recently by an employees’ association to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar. In a press note on Saturday, Mr Rattan Chand, Secretary, said Gurmit Singh had  nothing to do with the association and anyone wanting to invite railway employees to such functions should contact the association.

VANMAHOTSAVA: The local branch of the Bank of India organised a vanmahotsava at Government Middle School, Kulam, about 3 km from here, on Saturday. Mr Sulakhan Singh, Branch Manager, inaugurated it. As many as 50 saplings were planted on the school premises. Dr H.S. Gill delivered a talk about the preservation of environment, health and hygiene.

Phagwara
SDM’S DIRECTIVE: In the wake of a large number of gastroenteritis cases reported from different parts of the city, SDM Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal on Friday directed officials of the Nagar Council to ensure the supply of clean and potable water to residents. He issued these instructions at a meeting of district health, civic and administrative authorities called to review the situation.

TYRE SHOP GUTTED: A tyre shop was gutted here on Friday night. It was learnt on Saturday that a fire broke out at Chana Tyres Services on the GT Road opposite the sugar mill here. The Fire Brigade struggled hard to extinguish the flames. The owner of the shop, Joginder Singh, said the fire was probably caused by short circuit.

WOMAN killed: A woman was killed and her son seriously injured when a mini-bus knocked them down near Sahni village on the Hoshiarpur road here on Saturday. According to police sources, Vicky and his mother Maya Devi of Panchhta village, were coming back to their village on motor cycle when a speeding mini-bus hit them. Maya Devi died on the spot while Vicky was seriously injured and admitted to the local Civil Hospital. Later, Vicky was referred to DMC Hospital at Ludhiana in a serious condition.

Ropar
MEDICAL CAMP: More than 800 patients were examined at a free medical camp jointly organised by the Red Cross Society and the Lions Club Ropar in Purkhali village here on Saturday. While inaugurating camp, Ms Kiran Garewal, president of the Hospital Welfare Committee of the Red Cross Society, said that similar camps would also be organised in several other villages to provide them with free medical aid.

Sangrur
BANK BRANCH OPENS: Mr Ashok Mukand, Chief General Manager, State Bank of Patiala, on Friday performed the opening ceremony of the first computerised and air-conditioned branch of Malwa Gramin Bank situated on the DC office road here. Among others present on the occasion were Mr M.K. Rastogi, Deputy General Manager of the SBP, Mr N.K. Bansal, Chairman of Malwa Gramin Bank, Mr R.P. Jain, Assistant General Manager of RBI, Chandigarh, Mr V.K. Kochhar, AGM of the SBP, Patiala, and Mr Pali Ram Bansal, Manager of the local branch of Malwa Gramin Bank.

CHANDIGARH

Panchkula
Workshop: A workshop on Choi Kwang Do was held for teachers in St Xaviers High School, Sector 20 on Saturday. The workshop was conducted by Mr Bikram S. Thapa, Technical Director, Choi Kwang Do Martial Art International. 

Grandparents meeting: A meeting of grandparents of students of Satluj Public School and senior citizens, on the theme of Monsoon, was held on Saturday. About 400 grandparents attended the meeting, where they were enthralled with dances, songs, skits and ‘words of wisdom’ by fellow delegates. Students of the school, too, performed a rain dance. 

Awarded: As many as 32 young women were awarded certificates of merit by noted Punjabi litterateur, Dr Gunita Gill, on Saturday. These women, from economically weaker sections, have successfully completed a six-month training course in stitching and embroidery, conducted by Piya Sharma Charitable Trust. Dr Gill congratulated the girls and urged them to pursue income generating activities and become self reliant. The Project Director of the Trust, Ms Pooja S. Passi, was also present on the occasion. She highlighted the various welfare activities of the Trust.

Meeting: The 20th meeting of the management committee of Sainik Parivar Bhavans, Haryana, was chaired by Ms Savita Tayal here on Saturday. Lt Col. N K Siag, Deputy Secretary, Rajya Sainik Board and Manager, Sainik Parivar Bhavans, Haryana, gave a brief resume on the functioning of Sainik Parivar Bhavans. He said that there are nine industrial training centres being run by them, which provide free training.

HARYANA

Hisar
CAMP : Saakar, a school being run by the local Mentally Challenged Children Welfare Society, will organise a special camp for challenged children on July 24. Dr Kantamani Gupta, in charge of the school, said a team of experts, including a psychologist, a speech therapist, a counseller and professional teachers would be available to provide their services on this occasion.

STUDENT DEAD: Samrat Majumdar, a student who had come from Faridabad along with his mother to attend the CEET counselling at Guru Jambheshwar University here, died on Friday. Samrat’s mother said he had been ill for the past several days. She was sent to Faridabad along with her son’s body in a van along with a university official and a security guard.

NOMINATED: Dr Kuldip Singh Dhindsa, Professor of Chemistry at Haryana Agricultural University here, has been nominated the chairman of the university grievances committee. This was stated in an official statement issued here.

Jhajjar
CARTRIDGES SEIZED: The district police seized 27 live cartridges of an AK-47 rifle and an SLR from a house at Baharana village of the district on Friday. A team of the Beri police raided the house of Mr Ved Pal on a tip off and found the cartridges. The police also arrested the house owner in this connection. The police said Nanha, son of Mr Ved Pal, was a proclaimed offender, who was evading arrest in many criminal cases.