R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Mill workers hold rally: Members of the Lal Jhanda Mukerian Paper Mill Workers’ Union staged a protest rally in front of the mini secretariat here on Thursday to show their resentment against the lockout in the mill and for not getting their salaries for the past six months.

KAPURTHALA
10 couples tie knot: An NRI from Germany solemnised the marriage ceremony of 10 couples belonging to poor families at Fulewal village here on Wednesday. Mr Baldev Singh Bajwa who runs restaurant in Germany helps in the marriage of poor people of his area here every year. 

NAWANSHAHR
Drive against drug menace: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Krishan Kumar and representatives of about 50 NGOs, resolved to launch a vigorous drive against the menace of drugs. The NGOs organised a meeting here at B.L.M. Girls College to work out a strategy and decided to join hands under the newly constituted community service organization —” Upkar “ to create an awakening among the masses against the ill effects of the drug addiction.

Lok Suvidha camp: The district administration, with a view to providing services at the door step and to creating awareness about various beneficiary schemes will organise a “Lok Suvidha Camp” at Saidpur Kalan village on Saturday. Residents of as many as 21 villages falling under the Rahon Kaungo circle can avail the benefits at this camp, informed Mr Krishan Kumar, Deputy Commissioner. 

CHANDIGARH

Hailed: The decision taken by the ESI Corporation to set up an ESI hospital at Baddi is a welcome step in view of the rapid industrialisation in the area, said Mr Ashok Tandon, Chairman, CII Himachal Pradesh State Council.—

Scooter stolen : Mr Gursimran Singh of Sector 37-C lodged a complaint to the police alleging that his Kinetic Honda scooter (PB-10-AJ-0338) was stolen from outside Hostel Number 2, Panjab University, on Thursday. A case of theft has been registered. 

Gas cylinder stolen : Mr Ravi Kumar of Mauli Jagran Complex filed a complaint to the police alleging that a gas cylinder had been stolen from his plot in Phase I of Industrial Area in Chandigarh. A case of theft has been registered. 

Teachers’ demands : The Government Teachers Union of Chandigarh has served a notice to the UT Education Department regarding the promotion of UT cadre teachers, especially from the master cadre to lecturer cadre and release of an updated seniority list of all cadres which had been pending for over 20 years. Dr Vinod Sharma, general secretary of the union, said the union had also sought a transparent transfer policy, abolition of deputation, increase in the promotion quota and a special scheme for the teachers. The union has also demanded immediate reversion of the Principal of the Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, to her parent state. 

HARYANA

JHAJJAR
Samples collected: A team of the Vigilance Bureau on Thursday collected samples of the material used in the construction of two roads in Bahadurgarh Subdivision. The Vigilance team arrived here following the complaints of substandard material used in the laying of these roads.

KAITHAL
Sentenced: The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Subhash Goel, here, has sentenced Jeewna, alias Bhagat, a resident of Narar village, to 10 years’ imprisonment and fined him Rs 1 lakh after convicting him under the NDPS Act. 

Inaugurated : The Deputy Commissioner, Mr B.S. Malik, inaugurated the newly set up Kisan Seva Kendra on the premises of a cooperative sugar mill here on Wednesday. Mr Arun Sharma, MD, sugar mill, also spoke.

REWARI
2 docs booked: On a petition filed by Dharam Vir, a resident of Kuhard village near Kosli, the Model Town police here has booked two doctors and the in charge of the Bharti Blood Bank here on the charge of causing the death of Savita, wife of the Dharamvir, by negligence. 

Drug seized: The Dharuhera police on Tuesday arrested two persons identified as Murari Lal, a resident of Jeetpur (Nepal), and Vinod Kumar Sharma, a resident of Unnao (UP), and seized 800 gm of sulpha (a narcotic drug) from their possession. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Revenue officials suspended: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Manish Garg, has suspended three revenue officials. Those suspended include Bilaspur Sadar field kanoongo Bishan Singh, Badhyat circle patwari Surinder Kumar and Bilaspur town Diara Sector circle patwari Bal Krishan. 

Lab opened: R.B. Pathak, NTPC Kol Dam Project in charge and General Manager, inaugurated a modern testing laboratory at Harnora and officers and employees’ colony at Jamthal near here on Thursday.

KUMARHATTI
Liquor seized: The CIA Staff, Solan, on Wednesday seized 72 bottles of country-made liquor from a van near here. Vijay Singh from Dilwan and Mohan Singh from Sultanpur bodh occupants of van were arrested. The vehicle was impounded.

MANDI
HPAA demand: The HP Attorney Association on Thursday demanded that the state government should restore the posts of the district attorney (Forest), in Litigation and at HIPA, which were abolished recently.

Office-bearers: The following have been elected the office-bearers of the HP Government College Laboratory Staff Federation: president — Mr Arun Kumar Awasthi; vice-president — Mr A.S. Kalyan; vice-president — Mr Pawan Kumar and Mr Mohan Lal Gautam; and treasurer Mr Subhash Dhiman.

SHIMLA
Lahaul Spiti residents meet Sonia: A deputation of residents of Lahaul Spiti, led by Mrs Pratibha Singh, MP and Mr Raghuvir Singh, MLA, called on the UPA president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Thursday and urged them to expedite the construction work of the Rohtang tunnel.

Exempted from appearance : The Himachal High Court on Thursday exempted the Chairman and the Members of the H.P. State Electricity Board from personal appearance before the Chairman of the H.P. State Electricity Regulatory Commission till further orders. A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice Arun Kumar Goel and Mr Justice K.C. Sood passed this interim direction on a petition filed by the H.P. State Electricity Board.