R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Irregular power supply RESENTED: Residents of Nai Abadi on Wednesday morning marched in procession to the office of the Punjab State Electricity Board to express resentment over a total mismanagement in regulating electricity supply. Shopkeepers delayed opening of shutters by more than an hour to join the march. The protesters included senior citizens also. The protesters led by Mr Ashok Makkar, president, Durgiana Market Association, assembled in front of the Shri Nav Durga Vaishno Mandir in the main market.

AMRITSAR
Shoe makers assured: The Deputy Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Prof Darbari Lal, on Tuesday assured a delegation of shoe makers that he would take up issue for VAT exemption with the state government. In a press note issued here, Prof Darbari Lal said more than 10,000 poor families were engaged in making shoes and chappals in the city and were badly affected by the introduction of VAT since April 1.

doctors resent move: The PCMS Specialist Doctors’ Association, Punjab, has strongly resented the move of the Punjab Government to withdraw non-practising allowance on dearness pay. The association had already sent a representation to the Chief Minister, Finance Minister and Health Minister to undo the injustice. Dr Dinesh Kumar, general secretary of the Association, in a press note said this move would affect more than 3000 doctors and described this as discrimination against Punjab doctors.

Money stolen: Mr Harjot Singh, a resident of Sultanwind, claimed that Rs 1 lakh was stolen from his scooter here on Tuesday. He said the incident occurred when he had gone inside the ICICI Bank’s branch at Lawrence Road leaving his scooter parked outside. However, when he returned he found his money missing. He said bystanders told him that two youths took out a black plastic bag and fled on a Vespa. He said he had filed a complaint with the nearest police post.

Fatehgarh Sahib
Brick kiln  owners’ body: The Punjab Brick Kiln Owner’s Association held a state level election meeting on Tuesday. Brick Kiln owners from all districts of the state participated in the meeting. In this election meeting the brick kiln owners also discussed the problems being faced by the industry. Mr Kamaljit Singh Lally, MLA, was unanimously elected as state president of the association. Other office-bearers elected on the occasion include: Surinder Bansal — chief patron; Sarabjit Singh Makkar — patron; Kamaljit Singh Lally — president; Kuldeep Khanduja — chairman; Inderpal Singh Walia and Surinder Singla — general secretary; Surjit Singh, Yash Pal, Kewal Krishan — senior vice-presidents; Amarjit Singh Saini, Raj Pal Gupta, Krishan Lal Versal, Pardeep Kumar Aggarwal, Inderjit Verma — vice-presidents.

Jagraon
ASSAULTED: Jagir Singh, his son Ramesh Singh and daughter Ramesh Kaur and Sucha Singh were allegedly assaulted by Jit Singh, Prem Singh and their family members over some land dispute. The assailants also set Jagir Singh’s cattle shed on fire.

Mandi Ahmedgarh
SEMINAR: A seminar was organised at Gobind National College, Narangwal, on Tuesday. Mr Rajiv Ahir, Senior Superintendent of Police, Jagraon, in his keynote address identified reckless driving, drug addiction and foeticide as major factors leading to untimely deaths. Mr Harjit Singh Brar, DSP, Mullanpur, Mr Balbir Singh, secretary of the collage, Mr Amarjit Singh, SHO, Dehlon, Mr Tirlochan Singh, Dr Hardaljit Singh Gosal, Principal, Dr Amarpreet Singh Deol and Mr Amrik Singh Talwandi also spoke.

PHAGWARA
girl hit by car: A teenaged school girl was hit by a car and injured here on Monday. It was learnt that a Punjabi singer was among the occupants of the car who first tried to force the girl into the vehicle on the local Shivpuri road. However, when the girl raised an alarm, they fled. The mother of the girl alleged that the singer and his companions had been pestering and teasing her daughter for the past several days.

teachers honoured: The Bharat Vikas Parishad organised a function at the local Tagore Public School on Monday. On this occasion, seven school teachers — Suresh Gupta, Janak Kumari, Minu Sharma, Kiran Sharma, Ashwini Bagga, Harjinder Gogna and Shalima Verma — were honoured with ‘Bharat ka Gaurav’ award for their contribution in the field of education.

Samana
Protest rally: PCMS doctors of the Civil Hospital held a protest rally against the Punjab Government on Wednesday and condemned its decision for not giving the NPA and DA to them from the Finance Department, according to general secretary of the association.

Samrala
Free power: Capt Amarinder Singh’s declaration for free power to tubewells was welcomed on Wednesday in a press note by Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, national general secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union.

CHANDIGARH

Facts about Germany: A lecture on ’Facts about Germany’ was delivered by Dr Dorothea Jecht of the German Academic Exchange Service, Delhi, in the Department of German, Panjab University. Various topics related to history, economics, education, languages were highlighted through colourful pictures. Dr Jecht waid admission requirements, eligibility criterion were discussed at length. Few CDs and other German language material related to study and research programme were also given to the department.

death mourned: Teachers, students and staff members of Department of Punjabi, Panjab University mourned the demise of Dr Kulwant Kaur Kohli at a meeting. Dr Jagjit Singh, Dr Surinder Kumar Devasar and Dr Sukhdev Singh highlighted the research works of Dr Kulwant Kaur Kohli. They said that with her death, a void has been created which could never be filled. Two minutes’ silence was observed in memory of departed soul, according to the Chairperson, School of Punjabi Studies, PU.

Dean (Academics): Prof. I.K Kataria, a renowned academician, has joined as Dean (Academics) in Swami Vivekanand Institute Of Engineering AND Technology (SVIET), Banur, Chandigarh. He will also be Member, Advisory Council, Swami Vivekanand Group of Institutes, Chandigarh. The formal announcement regarding this was made at a press conference by Mr Manmohan Kumar Garg CEO, Swami Vivekanand Group, at a hotel in Sector 35-B Chandigarh. Prof Kataria has 37 years of teaching experience in various engineering institutes. He also served as the Head of Electronic Technology and Dean of Engineering Faculty in Guru Nanak Dev University.

Punjabi gayaki: A one-day seminar on “Punjabi Lok Gayaki: dasha te disha” was organised in DAV College, Sector 10, on Wednesday by the college Punjabi Sahit Sabha. Dr Surinder Sharma, an eminent actor, was the special guest. Dr Rajinderpal Brar of Punjabi University spoke on the Punjabi music scene from a historical perspective. Dr Labh Singh Khiwa and Dr Kesar Singh touched upon various aspects of music production. Famous singer Pammi Bai was also present.

Students donate blood: The NSS Wing of GCG-11 in collaboration with the government medical college, Sector 32, organized a blood donation camp in the college. Volunteers also presented a street play, showing the importance of blood donation. More than 110 students donated blood.

Language forum: A language forum was launched at GGDSD College, Sector 32, on Wednesday. It aimed to enhance students communication skills and build confidence.

Teachers’ workshop: Delhi Public School, Sector 40, was the venue for a primary teacher training programme. The theme for the workshop was ‘Teacher education-lifelong learning’. This was organised by the DPS Society in collaboration with the CEC Network.

NTSE scholarship: Nupur Gupta of Bhavan Vidyalya, Sector 27 is one of the eight students of Chandigarh selected for National Talent Search Examination-NTSE Scholarship.

PANCHKULA
Road safety exhibition: The Rotary Club, Panchkula, in collaboration with S NS Foundation, organised a mobile exhibition on the theme of road safety and health at Hansraj Public School. The exhibition was inaugurated by artist, Mr Shiv Singh. The paintings on display have been made by students of seven countries of South Asia. A painting by Sahil Sareen, a student of Class X of Hansraj Public School, has also been exhibited in the exhibition.

Traffic assistance booth: A traffic assistance booth has been set up by the Haryana Government on the Panchkula-Shimla national highway. An official press note said the booth would provide emergency medical aid. An ambulance, crane, gypsy and motor cycle is available at the centre. Those in need of help can dial 1033, or 098120- 52036 in order to seek help from this centre.

Medical camp: A free multi-speciality medical check-up camp was organised by the District Red Cross Society at Mallah village on Tuesday. As many as 265 persons were examined in this camp. The SDM Kalka, Mr Maheshwar Sharma, was the chief guest on the occasion.

BJP morcha hold protest: The Haryana state General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha, Varinder Rana led a procession of a small group of protesters at an intersection of Sector 7 chowk on Wednesday. Senior state leaders Gian Chand Gupta, Anil Goyal and advocate Ravi Sharma, too, participated and criticised the working of the government for suppressing the poor sector of the society. Rana denounced the abrupt rise in the prices of the petrol and diesel rates during the regime of the Congress. Other yuva leaders Deepak Sharma and Rajeev Sharma lamented the poor power and water supply. The extra expenditure on petrol will hit students, employees and the business community, they said.

HARYANA

AMBALA:
Sahitya Sabha: The SD College Principal, Dr Desh Bandhu, on Wednesday inaugurated a Punjabi Sahit Sabha function in the college. Dr Desh Bandhu cautioned students against drug addiction. He asked them to take interest in creative literature for well- being of the society. Mr Jagdeep Thakur, Mr Rajeev, Ms Kavita, Ms Amanpreet, Mr Vikas, Ms Gurpreet Kaur, ms Paramjit Kaur, Ms Sandeep Kaur and Prabhjeet Singh, also took part in the function. The following were elected office- bearers of the sabha : President — Ms Sonaldeep Kaur Sahota; vice-president— Ms Gurwinder Kaur; Secretary — Mr Harpreet Singh Bhatti; and joint secretary - Ms Preeti.

Anti-graft  council chief: Mr Vishal Chona has been appointed president of the Ambala unit of the National Anti- - Corruption Council. Mr Chona has been asked to constitute the local committee.

KALKA
BIJLI SABHA: A bijli sabha, chaired by Superintending Engineer, Mr M.R. Murari, was organised at Kalka on Tuesday. The sabha was organised in order to redress the complaints of power consumers. As many as three complaints were received on this occasion. Residents of Barwala demanded that a meter rent refund be given, which was allowed by the officials.

SONEPAT
Body found hanging: The police recovered the body of Jagdish which was found hanging in his house in Kailash Colony here on Wednesday. The police believe it to be a case of suicide and the body was sent for a post-mortem examination.

1 killed in road mishap: One person was killed and three others were injured in different accidents on the GT Road passing through the district on Wednesday. Ram Bahadur, a factory worker, was hit by a car while he was crossing the road near Kundli village along the Haryana-Delhi border. He died on the spot. Three persons, including a three-wheeler, were injured when a three-wheeler was hit by a truck and three overturned on the GT Road, near Pithopara village, about 20 km from here.

Rs 25,000 stolen: A case of daylight theft was reported from Rishi Nagar Colony here on Wednesday. Thieves broke open the locks of a house owned by Mr Dayal Chand and decamped with Rs 25,000, gold ornaments and other valuables worth several thousands of rupees from it. None of the family members was present in the house when the theft was committed during the broad day light.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

SUNDERNAGAR
Meeting HELD: The general house meeting of Forest Development Agency, Mandi, under the National Afforestation Programme was held on Tuesday at the circle office of Mandi. Representatives of 43 joint forest management committees from five ranges of the Mandi Forest Division attended the meeting. This Rs 1.73 crore programme was started to conserve forests and also to ensure people’s participation in the forest management. An amount of Rs 6.50 lakh was disbursed equally among the various joint forest management committees by Mr C.S. Singh, Conservator, Forests, Mandi. The DFO, Mandi, Mrs Upasna Patiyal, and Conservator, Forests, Mandi, Mr C.S. Singh, along with other forest officials addressed the delegates.