R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
Seminar on AIDS: A seminar on HIV/AIDS was organised by Guru Nanak Dev University in collaboration with National AIDS Control Society here on Monday. Medical scientists stressed the need for an urgent and sustained effort at the regional, national and the international level to combat HIV/AIDS. They were of the view that prevention was the only viable solution to control the spread of the disease.

Assurance: Dr B.R. Hastir, Chairman, All-India Terrorist Victim Association, said here Monday that Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, President, PPCC, would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek relief for the terrorist victims of Punjab. Dr Hastir said their organisation had been working the welfare of the for terrorist-affected families.

BATALA
Action sought: The Batala Welfare Association has criticised the misuse of word ‘Press’ by some unauthorised and unscrupulous persons. Mr R.M. Aggarwal, a senior advocate, and some officers (on the condition of anonymity) alleged that certain persons were using the word ‘Press’ on their vehicles for the of evasion of taxes and other levies. The association demanded stern against such unscrupulous persons.

Ban orders: The Subdivisional Magistrate, Mr Parneet Bhardwaj, has imposed ban on the sale, storage and display of fire crackers in the subdivision. According to the order, the fire crackers can be sold at specified places. No crackers can be fired within radius of 500 metres of a hospital, an educational institution and an oil dump.

JAGRAON
INJURED: Kewal Krishan, a pedestrian, received multiple injuries when he was hit by a motorcyclist bearing No PB-29E-1955 in the Mullanpur Mandi area. The unidentified motorcyclist fled away. Dakha police has registered a case under Sections 279 and 338, IPC. Meanwhile, the injured has been admitted to Sabti Neuro Control Hospital in Ludhiana. 

LIQUOR SEIZED: Gurtej Singh of Badal Patti Kaunke Kalan was arrested by the local police and 6.930 litres of illicit liquor recovered from his possession. A case under the Excise Act has been registered.

Ludhiana
Anaesthesia Day: The World Anaesthesia Day was observed at Ludhiana Medi City, a super speciality hospital here on Monday. Addressing the function, Dr L.S. Chawla, former Vice-Chancellor of the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, said the anaesthesiology had made rapid advances to keep pace with the latest surgical techniques. 

Eye Camp: The Kerala Ayurvedic Centre here has launched an ayurvedic eye camp, first of its kind in Northern India, which will continue till October 22. Dr B.G. Gokulam, an ayurvedic eye specialist, will examine the patients and provide specialised treatment for eye ailments like glaucoma, retinitis, pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, progressive short sightedness, computer vision syndrome and related diseases. 

Camp: A free eye check-up camp was organised at Deep Eye Care Centre here on Monday in which more than 300 patients were examined and given treatment by a team of professionals led by Dr Jagroop Singh. As many as 32 cataract surgeries were also performed with implantation of intra-ocular lens by phaco-emulsification technique at the camp. 

NEWPORT: Newport, a jeans brand, has launched its new range of festive line of jeans. Cricketer Harbhajan Singh has been brought in as the company’s brand ambassador in addition to the existing brand ambassador, Saif Ali Khan, said a press note. 

LAUNCHED: John Players has launched its fall-winter collection for the year. According to a company press note, the new collection is stylish and offers vibrant colours in T-shirts, jackets, trousers and cargos apart from accessories. 

NAWANSHAHR
Annual Day: Bhagwan Mahavir Public School, Banga, organised its annual day function on the school premises here on Saturday. The Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, was the chief guest. A culture programme was organised on the occasion.

ROPAR
Camp held: More than 200 patients were examined a free eye check-up camp held at Brahmpura village on Monday. Sixty patients will be operated upon by a team of doctors from CMC Ludhiana. The camp was organised by the Yuvak Sewak Club in collaboration with District Red Cross Society. 

Samrala
Distributed: At a function held on the premises of local market committee, cheques for Rs 3.50 lakh were distributed to the beneficiaries who had lost their hands or fingers during working in the fields, by the local MLA, Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon. Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, national general secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union, who was also present on the occasion, demanded more compensation for the victims from the Punjab Government.

TARN TARAN
One killed: Ranjit Singh Rana (55) was killed in a road accident at Dadehar Sahib village, near Sarhali, on Sunday. He was going to Harike when his Maruti van collided head-on with an unidentified vehicle.

HARYANA

SONEPAT
LPG shortage: Residents have been facing an acute shortage of LPG cylinders for the past two months. LPG agencies have asked consumers to wait for a month for a cylinder. The agencies have blamed oil companies for the shortage. However, a spokesman for Indian Oil said, “We are regulating the supply of LPG cylinders and making efforts to ensure that cylinders for domestic use are not used for commercial purposes.” 

1 killed, 3 hurt: One person was killed and three were injured when a Canter rammed into a truck on the G.T. Road near Nangal Khurd village on Tuesday. The deceased could not be identified. The injured are Chhote Lal of Jhundpur village, Krishan of Nepal and Nanhu of Muzaffarnagar.

HISAR
Three nabbed: The police has arrested three youths while they were allegedly planning a dacoity in the local Mahabir Colony. Two of their accomplices escaped. A sword and a knife were seized. 

KAITHAL
Function organised: Lion Dr Kamlesh Bansal, Mr Subash Mittal, Mr B.D. Gupta and Mr Ashok Gupta were honoured at a function organised by the Lions Club here on Sunday. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Herbal crops: The Himachal Herbal Heritage Society has urged farmers to adopt latest and scientific technology for the development of herbal crops in state. This call was given by the society at the one-day seminar and workshop on herbal crops presided by state president Chambel Singh Dhiman and attended by some 150 advanced herbal farmers. 

Project: A ‘counter magnet project’ has been prepared for Bilaspur district and an area of 1600 square km has been brought under the project. This was announced by HP State Town Planner A.R. Sankhayayan here on Sunday. The seminar was attended by about 120 representatives from various walks of life. 

Watershed project: A sum of Rs 30 lakh will be spent on the Seehda-Bandla watershed project. This was stated by Tilakraj Sharma, MLA, while inaugurating a community centre at Bandla on Sunday. He said 500 hectares of land would be irrigated.

Voters’ list: Voters’ list of the local nagar council, Naindadevi Nagar Council, and Ghumarwin Nagar panchayat have been prepared. The Deputy Commissioner said here on Monday that objections, if any, would be entertained till October 22.

NAHAN
Sharad Mahotsav: The three-day Yamuna Sharad Mahotsav concluded at Paonta Municipal ground on Sunday. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.S. Negi, presided over the function. Singer Kuldeep Sharma entertained the audience.