R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amloh
Meeting: To listen to the grievances of the residents of the town, Mr Sandeep Hans, SDM, held a meeting at his office on Thursday. The meeting was attended by NGOs, officials of police and other department, councillors and representatives of shopkeepers unions. Mr Anokh Singh, president of the Master Colony Society, and former council chief Baldev Sedha pointed out various grievances of the public. Mr Som Nath Lutawa, chairman, Manav Bhillai Manch, and Manohar Lal Verma, secretary, stressed the need for speed brakes at certain points. 

AMRITSAR
Interaction with NRI painter: Punjabi Department of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) organised face-to-face interaction with Switzerland-based poet and painter Dev and Canada-based storywriter Dr Sadhu Singh here on Friday. Dr S.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, GND varsity presided over the programme. Mr Dev said English men never accept that the residents of the country which they used to rule were equal to them.

BARNALA
Awareness seminar: A seminar was organised on the occasion of National Legal Aid Awareness Day at local court complex here on Thursday. The seminar was presided over by the Addl Session Judge, Mr Fatehdeep Singh. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Fatehdeep Singh told that the Indian Constitution has provided the legal aid to all the needy people. As per Legal Services Authorities Act 1987, the person belonging to schedule tribe, women, children, handicap, persons having income below Rs 30,000 per year and industrial labour people can have free legal assistance from the government.

HOSHIARPUR
Chain snatcher overpowered: A vigilant woman travelling in a bus not only saved her gold chain from the snatchers, but succeeded in getting them arrested on Thursday. According to police sources, four women chain snatchers, who were sitting behind the seat of Surinder Kaur wife of Subedar Gian Singh of Datta village, who was going from Bhogpur to Tanda in a private bus, snatched her gold chain near Adda Chalang. Surinder Kaur, raised an alarm. Her fellow passengers overpowered the snatchers and recovered the chain from them. 

Ludhiana
Screening of film: A religious film “Khalsa” will be screened at Government Primary School, Bhanot, on November 19 from 6.30 pm to 9 pm, said social worker Balvinder Singh Bhattal, a resident of Bhanot village. It will be screened free of cost. The film, directed by Mangal Dhillon, depicts the Sikh history.

Martyrdom day: The leaders and workers of the Communist Party of India on Thursday observed the martyrdom day of Kartar Singh Sarbaha. The comrades vowed to fight the imperialist forces represented by the United States which were spreading their influence over India. Floral tributes were paid at the statue of Kartar Singh Sarabha. The district secretary of the CPI, Mr Kartar Singh Beowani, Dr Arun Mitra, Assistant Secretary, addressed the gathering. 

NSS camp: An NSS camp was organised at Khalsa College for Women here on Thursday. Doctors from the Apollo Hospital interacted with NSS volunteers. Dr Anureet Gill, talked about the importance of a balanced diet. Dr Sunita Arora discussed various gynecological problems that adolescents face. The Principal of the college, Dr Varinder Thind, took keen interest in the camp. Nearly 150 volunteers attended the camp.

Quiz: Pinnacle, a BBA students society of Khalsa College for Women, organised a quiz on “IQ Quest — Media and Management” here on Thursday. It involved rounds of ad creations, picto, who am I, brand ambassador and logo identification. The team from the science stream bagged the first prize while the business management team stood second. Dr Thind gave away the prizes to the winners.

PATHANKOT
Awareness camp: Local unit of Akhil Bhartiya Parishad organised a five-day Awareness Camp for women at Harial village which concluded here on Thursday. Chairperson of the Parishad Ms Bimla Dogra said that in the camp rural women were provided inputs about the improvements in the economic conditions of their family. Mr Ashok Sharma, MLA and chairman PTDC, presided over the function. 

SANGRUR
Newborn Week: In connection with the Newborn Week, a function was organised at the ANM Training Centre in the Civil Hospital here on Thursday. The function was presided over by Dr Suresh Goyal, Assistant Civil Surgeon, Sangrur. Dr V.K. Ahuja, a child specialist, said even after 58 years of Independence, India was still struggling to bring down high infant mortality rate. At least two newborn babies died every minute in the country.

Sarpanch shot at: Mr Sukhwinder Singh, alias Bhola, Sarpanch of Ladda village, near here, reportedly suffered an abrasion on his shoulder when some-one fired on him near the district courts complex here on Thursday. Mr Bhola was on his scooter at that time. A case against five persons of Ladda village, namely Jagjit Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Jagroop Singh, Mohinder Singh and Karam Singh has been registered. All accused are at large. 

HARYANA

Inaugurated: Mr M.L. Tayal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, inaugurated a new wing constructed at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore on the premises of the Ethnic India Tourist Complex on the GT road near Rai village about 13 km from here, on Wednesday evening. The new wing consists of 18 modern suites, an air conditioned restaurant, a bar and a banquet hall.

HISAR
Heritage week celebrations: As part of the World Heritage Week celebrations from November 19 to 25, the Chandigarh circle of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has organised an exhibition of photographs and graphic material of various historical monuments, sites and recent discoveries at Ferozeshah Palace (commonly known as Gujari Mahal) here. The main highlights of the exhibition will be photographs of world heritage monuments of India, Harappan and Buddhist monuments and sites and other important monuments of Punjab and Haryana. Students of local schools and colleges will also be involved in the activity.

SONEPAT
Truck stolen: A truck laden with paddy was stolen from the Kakroi road here on Friday. The owner of the truck has lodged a complaint with the police in this connection. The truck driver parked the truck along the road and went to take a slip from the management of the rice mill. After that he went to a dhaba for taking meals. In the meantime someone drove away the truck.

Sentenced: The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr J.S. Jangra, on Thursday sentenced a woman, Mrs Sunita of Mohalla Kot, 18 months’ imprisonment with a fine of Rs 2,500 on charge for keeping 250 gm of contraband charas.

Cop commits suicide: Bharat Singh Balmiki, a police head constable, reportedly committed suicide by taking celphos tablets in his house in the Devi Nagar area of Gohana town, 35 km from here on Thursday night. According to police sources, he was 40 and leaves behind five children, including three daughters, two of them are married. A family quarrel was stated to be the cause of his extreme step.

LPG cylinders seized: Officials of the Food and Supplies Department on Thursday claimed to have seized 31 LPG cylinders during surprise raids conducted on the premises of the 13 hotels, restaurants, halwais shops and industrial units in the Kundli area of this district. According to a report, this followed a series of complaints about the use of the domestic cylinders by the owners, instead of commercial PLG cylinder. 

3 vehicles damaged: Three vehicles, including a car and a motor cycle, were burnt in a fire which broke out outside Gian Nursing Home in Shivaji Colony near the general bus stand here on Wednesday night. According to a report, the fire broke out when petrol leaked from the tank of a motor cycle which fell down after its parking. Dr Neelam Sapra, a lecturer of the GVM Girls College, informed the municipal fire-brigade about the incident of the fire.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Fill posts: The Himachal Pradesh State Fire Brigade Employees Association has urged the Chief Minister to look into their long-pending grievances and also fill all vacant posts which have been lying vacant for years. Addressing mediapersons here on Thursday after their state executive meeting, senior vice-president Bhupenderpal Dogra said the skeletal staff could not work efficiently.

KULU
Held with charas: Kunj Lal of Jyeshta village was nabbed by the police with 6.2 kg charas on Thursday while two others fled. Anand Pratap Singh, Superintendent of Police, here said the police put a naka on a tip- off near Daladhni Bridge in the Gadsa valley of this district. He said the two others would also be arrested soon as the police had started a hunt. 

SUNDERNAGAR
Directed: The Consumer Forum, Mandi, during its circuit bench at Kulu, has directed National Insurance Company, Mandi, to pay Rs 18,300 along with 6 per cent interest per annum plus Rs 1000 as costs of complaint to Baldev of Chamba on account of damage caused to his tractor in an accident. The tractor (HP-45-0108) met with an accident and damage was caused to the tractor . The complainant filed a claim with the company but the company repudiated the claim on the ground that the driver was not holding and valid driving licence to drive the tractor.