R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

HOSHIARPUR
Processing unit: The Punjab Government will set up a fruit and vegetable processing plant in 21 acres at Naushera village in the Bhunga block of the district. This was stated by Mr D. K. Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner, here on Wednesday. He said the Horticulture Department had set up three nurseries of fruit plants at Bhunga, Khialan and Chhowni Kalan. Fruit plants were being given to farmers on 50 per cent subsidy for setting up orchards, he said.

Case registered: On the complaint of Charan Singh, a former president of truck union, Garhdiwala, the Tanda police has registered a case against Santokh Singh, Shana, Harjeet, all residents of Garhdiwala, Tajinder Chander Shekhar of Bahadiwal, Bitu of Argowal, Sabhi of Randhawa, Gurnam of Jhubewal, Onkar Singh alias, Kari and other unidentified persons. Mr Charan Singh alleged that they had fired at him while he was going to his dera on Monday. 

PHAGWARA
Two held: The police arrested Amar Sodhi alias, Babbu, a resident of Purian mohalla, Jalandhar, and seized 250 gm of smack at a naka near Darvesh village here Tuesday. In another incident, the police has arrested Maninderpal Singh alias, Kaka, a resident of Dhand mohalla of Jalandhar, from Hardaspur village and seized 500 gm of opium.

CHANDIGARH

Environment fest: The Haritima Environment Society of SD College, sector 32-C, organised an environment fest on the college premises on Thursday. An eminent environmentalist and leader of the Chipko movement, Mr Sunder Lal Bahuguna, inaugurated the function by planting saplings. Addressing students, he said there should be maximum number of fruit trees in the city. Many inter-college activities, like essay-writing competition, slogan writing etc were organised. Around 23 colleges from across the city participated. 

Celebrated: The fifth anniversary of Career Point was organised here on Thursday on its Sector 8 premises. Established in 2000 by Dr Sukhvinder Kaur, this institute caters only to students preparing for UGC- NET Examinations. She said till now they have helped hundreds of students getting placed as lecturers in colleges and universities. She asked the students to value the time management, as the main ingredient to succeed.

PENSIONERS’ PLEA: Pensioners have urged the Haryana Government to sanction relief to those pensioners who were initially appointed in the erstwhile Punjab but transferred to Haryana after its formation in 1966. The Punjab Government pensioners are getting relief at 65 and 75 years at the rate of 5 and 10 per cent, respectively, says Mr M.S. Cheema, a Panchkula-based pensioner. 

HARYANA

REWARI
Two arrested: The police has arrested Ram Kishan and his son, Rakesh Kumar, on the charge of violating the Explosive Act. Crackers along with stationery material were destroyed in a fire, which broke out in their godown at Bara Hazari Mohalla, here on Tuesday. The police also seized about 200 packets of crackers. 

Chain snatcher held: A woman pilferer snatched the gold chain of Suman, a resident of New Adarsh Nagar Colony, near the police post at Bharawas gate, here on Wednesday. Suman was returning home after watching the Dasehra celebrations. Meanwhile, Suman raised the alarm, the police nabbed the snatcher with the help of passer-by. She was identified as Meera of Nandrampurbas village. 

Youth ends life: Kamal Sharma (24), son of Brahmanand Sharma, a resident of Jaliawas village, near here, reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself in Uttam Nagar here on Tuesday. Later, the police recovered a suicide note. 

SONEPAT
Five injured: At least five persons were injured, two of them seriously, in a group clash at Ridha village, about 15 km from here, on Thursday. The injured were taken to the Community Health Centre at Kharkhauda town from where two of them were referred to the Civil Hospital. The police has registered a case.

One held: The police on Thursday arrested Balraj alias, Surta, a resident of Naseerpur village, in connection with alleged assault on Vimal Kishore, president, Janhit Samiti and a former municipal councillor. Balraj was produced before a Judicial Magistrate who remanded him in police custody for two days. On the complaint of Mr Vimal Kishore, the police has registered a case against 12 other persons.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA
Relief distributed: The district administration has directed the Revenue Department to carry out relief and rescue operations in the earthquake-affected areas, which rocked Chamba on Saturday. The relief of Rs 15,000 distributed among the earthquake-affected families. Officials of the department assessed loss in the nearby areas of Chamba town.

CITU flays police: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has flayed the police lathi-charge on workers of Birla Textiles at Baddi in Solan district. In a press note here on Tuesday, Ms Duesh Thakur, general secretary of the CITU, warned the government that such acts on the workers would not be tolerated.

SHIMLA
Appeal for donation: The Himachal Pradesh Pensioners’ Welfare Association has appealed to pensioners to contribute liberally towards the fund created for alleviating sufferings of the earthquake-victims in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. The contribution will be raised at the subdivisional and district levels and remitted to the Chief Minister’s relief fund.