R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BARNALA
Teachers’ seminar: A 10-day camp-cum- seminar of primary teachers under the Sarv Sikhya Abhiyan concluded at Shaheed Bibi Kiran Jit Kaur Government Senior Secondary School, Mehal Kalan, 20 km from here, on Saturday. The efficiency and ability of teachers was sharpened through various modules, stressing on the need for using teaching aids as well as maintenance of record. Mr Dalip Singh, lecturer-cum-co-ordinator of the seminar, addressed the seminar.

BATALA
Medical camp: A free medical check-up camp was organised here on Sunday at Kaushalya Devi Sanan Eye Hospital by the local branch of the Rotary Club. A team of medical officers of Escorts Hospital, Amritsar, checked 250 patients and free medicines were given to about 150.

NSS camp: The NSS unit of Government Rajindra College on Sunday held a one-day camp at the college campus. Two hundred students participated. The NSS volunteers cleaned up the college campus and watered plants. College Principal Kulwinder Sidhu inaugurated the camp. Prof Jyoti Parkash, Prof Satwinder Pal, Neelam Rani and Kamlesh Jauhar, guided the NSS volunteers during the camp.

DORAHA
Saplings planted: A total of 100 saplings were planted by the Doraha branch of State Bank Of Patiala at C.E.T.C. quarters, on Monday. Mr K.M. Bhal, AGM, State Bank of Patiala Regional Office, Ludhiana Mr R.K. Dudeja, Branch Manager, State Bank of Patiala, Col. Dal Singh, commanding officer, CETC, Doraha were present along with the staff of the bank and headquarters.

FEROZEPORE
Rotary Club: Mr S.K. Sharma, Manager, Punjab National Bank, has been elected president of the Rotary Club, Ferozepore cantonment. Mr Sharma was sworn in as president at a function here on Sunday which was presided over by Dr Harbans Pathak, Rotary Governor, District RI 3090.

LUDHIANA
Defection: More than 500 patients were examined at a free cardiac check up camp organised by Fortis Hospital, Mohali at Guru Teg Bahadur Charitable Hospital here on Monday. A team of doctors and supporting staff, led by Dr G.S. Kalra, chief of cardiology at Fortis, conducted the check up. Deputy Commissioner Anurag Verma inaugurated the medical camp.

PATIALA
DISTRIBUTED: The Patiala Society for the Rehabilition of Physically Handicapped distributed artificial limbs and appliances to 23 persons during the annual meeting here on Sunday. Prominent personalities were present on the occasion. 

LIONS CLUB: Uniforms, books and stationery was provided to 110 students of the Government Elementary School, Jhill village, near here, by the Lions Club on Monday. Mr K.K. Sharma, Chairman, Improvement Trust, was the chief guest.

ROPAR
CONDEMNED: Journalists of various newspapers of Ropar on Monday condemned the action of the Punjab Police for arresting senior reporter of Indian Express. At a meeting held in the press room, they termed the Punjab Police act to curb the freedom of press. The reporter was arrested after he made attempt to expose loopholes in the police functioning while dealing with the rape case. 

SENTENCED: A city resident, Amrik Singh, was today sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for causing serious injuries to his brother Shingra Singh. The complainant, Jaswinder Kaur, alleged that Amrik Singh had caused serious injuries to her husband on June 17, 2004, with a view to prevent them from irrigating their fields.

SAMRALA
Power shut off: The power supply will remain shut off on Tuesday due to heavy repairs of I 32 KV grid of Shamshpur substation from 9 am to 5 pm, according to Mr Avinash Garg, SDO, PSEB. The local Bondal road, Kamal Colony, Khanna road, Chawa road and Bondli, Nagar Khindsa, Ottalam and Rajewal villages will be affected due to the power cut. 

Camp for women farmers held: On the direction of the Punjab Veterinary Department, an awareness camp for progressive women farmers was held at Ghungrali Sikhan village here on Monday in which 68 women farmers took part. According to Dr Ashok Sharma, Deputy Director, Dairy Department, Mr Baldev Raj, Joint Director, Dr Vinod Kumar Gupta, and Dr B.N. Sharma, Senior Veterinary Officer, Samrala, took part in the camp. The participants were given tips on how to get more milk from animals, give good feed to animals, new techniques of poultry farming, etc. Dr Sharma said such camps would be organised every month in the different villages of the block.

CHANDIGARH

PANCHKULA
DISTRIBUTED: The Rotary Club Chandigarh Himalayan Ranges on Monday distributed uniforms and text books to 100 underprivileged students of Government Senior Secondary School, Mauli Jagran. The club president, Mr Mohnish Kapila, and Project Director, Mr T.K. Ruby, reaffirmed the continued support to this school. Mr Dhian Chand from Rotary Club, Shimla, was the chief guest on this occasion.

DEMAND: A delegation of 11 rebel councillors of the Municipal Council on Monday met the Haryana Local Bodies Minister, Mr L.D. Arora, and urged that MC president Tarun Bhandari be removed because of corruption charges. The councillors said an inquiry was pending against Mr Bhandari and he could influence the inquiry by using his position.

HARYANA

AMBALA
DECLAMATION: A declamation contest was held at MDSD Girls College, Ambala City. The college principal, Dr Kiran Angra, was the chief guest. The programme was organised by the Litrary Society of the college. Dr Jewanti Joshi, in charge of the society, said the subject of the contest was cooperation and social justice. The judges were Nishu Bansal and Mr Satpal Sharm. Sukhversha of SA Jain College was first and Yogita of MDSD Girls College, Neelam of MDSD Girls College and Komal of SA Jain College got consolation prizes. 

PLANETARIUM SHOW: A planetarium show of star constellations was organised at PKR Jain Vatika School, Ambala city, on Monday. School management committee president Bharat Bhushan Jain said the planetarium show has been introduced in India by “Constellation mobile education and learning technologies, Dehradun”. 

REWARI
14-year-old boy electrocuted: Baljit Singh (14), a son of Harbail Singh, was electrocuted when he incidentally touched a live wire while repairing a cable connection at his house in Mohalla Bara Hazari here on Sunday. His body was cremated here on Monday. He was a student of the Class X in Shishushala here.

Housewife dead: Suman Lata (26), wife of Mukesh Kumar of Dungarwas village, near here, who was admitted to the Civil Hospital here after she reportedly consumed poison on August 23, died in the hospital here on Sunday. It is stated that she consumed poison after harassment by her in-laws over the alleged possession of a plot. On a complaint lodged by Mahavir Singh, father of the deceased, the Dharuhera police has registered a case of abetment to suicide under Section 306 of the IPC against Satbir, Dhanpat (brothers-in-law) and Chameli Devi (mother-in-law).

SONEPAT
Freedom fighter dead: Mr Munshi Ram, a freedom fighter, died of a heart attack at his native village, Baroda, about 50 km from here, on Sunday. He was 86. The body was cremated with full state honours in the presence of the SDM and the DSP, Gohana, and other officials and a large number of residents of the village. Mr Munshi Ram had joined the freedom struggle along with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and remained in prison between 1940 and 1946 in Germany.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Kumarhatti
Plantation drive: The Kasauli Mandal, BJP, launched a plantation drive in Padiyar village under Gangudi panchayat on Sunday. Led by Mr Baldev Bhandari, state secretary of the BJP, mandal party leaders and workers planted 250 species of different plants. Among others, Mr Laj Kishore Sharma, party state executive member, and Mr Srikant, Solan district chief, participated in the drive.