R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
Boy found dead: Gagandeep Bhatti, a resident of Guru Ram Das Nagar, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Company Bagh here on Friday. Pritam Singh, father of the deceased, alleged that he was murdered by Balwinder Singh. Mr Ashish Kapur, DSP, visited the spot and started investigations.

Batala
Internet: The BSNL started its broadband Internet connectivity service here on Friday. With the commissioning of the service, the BSNL subscribers, who are already using services, “Net-One” or “Sanchar-Net”, will have the option to use the service with broadband “Data-One” free for two months on trial.

Hoshiarpur
Girl restored: Biti, alias Priyanka (13), who left home in New Delhi on April 21 and arrived at Chabewal village under mysterious circumstances on April 23, was handed over to her parents by the District Red Cross Society here on Thursday.

Ludhiana
Mourned: The Punjab Government Pensioners’ Association has mourned the death of R.C. Vasisht, former senior vice-president of the association, who died on April 20 in the USA.

Venue changed: The venue of Yog Vigyan Shivir of Swami Ram Dev, scheduled to be held from May 3 to 9 at Palm City, near Kohara, Chandigarh Road, Ludhiana, has been changed to PUDA Ground, adjoining Power House, Urban Estate, Phase I1, Dugri, Ludhiana. Mr A.P. Singh, General Manager of Ashok Malhotra Group and organiser of the camp, said in a press note that the venue was changed for the convenience of the disciples. He said all arrangements had been made and free bus service would be available on all routes leading to the shivir. The coupons to attend the shivir could be obtained from the main branches of Punjab National Bank in Ludhiana district.

Celebrated: The local branch of the Bharat Maurya Sangh celebrated the“jayanti” of Chander Gupt Maurya here on Friday. A flag was hoisted and havan performed. The Director of the sangh, Mr Vishavnath Maurya, and other members paid homage to the great king.

Tarn Taran
Student killed: Gurdarash Singh (13), a student, was crushed under a truck on Thursday. The Valtoha police has registered a case under Sections 304-A and 427 of the IPC against the truck driver, Sukha Singh, of Kalia Sankattra village.

CHANDIGARH

Mohali
Office-bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Residents Welfare Association , HIG Housing Complex , Phase II: president — Mr Kuldip Singh ; vice - president — Mr Surjit Singh Bains ; secretary — Lt Col Anil Bakshi ; joint secretary — Mr Harmit Singh Gujral ; and treasurer — Mr Kamaljit Singh Sohal.

Low water pressure: House Owners Welfare Association, Phase I, has complained that water was being received at a low pressure in the area. Mr A.S.Patialvi, press secretary, said on Saturday that the department concerned should fix timings when the water would be provided at full pressure.

HARYANA

FELICITATED: A function was organised at the railway auditorium here on Saturday to felicitate railway personnel for their contribution in different fields. Those who were felicitated include three members of the Indian women hockey team which had won the silver medal in Commonwealth Games. A cultural programme was also held to mark the occasion.

Bhiwani
3 sentenced: The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Surender Kumar, has sentenced three persons to life imprisonment and fined them Rs 5,500 each for murdering Rajnibala, a resident of Jamalpur village. Rajnibala had lodged a complaint on December 11, 2003, that her husband Mahender, her brother-in-law Prem Kumar and her sister-in-law Bimla set her on fire.

Hisar
Two arrested: The police has arrested Naresh of Chhotu Ram Colony and Sandeep Nain of Urban Estate-II in connection with the murder of Santosh Chawla, a government teacher. The teacher was hacked to death, while her husband was injured in their house a few days ago. However, the main accused, Pardeep, who was working as a security guard at Haryana Agricultural University here, is still at large.

Office-bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Haryana Agricultural University Non-Teaching Employees Association: president — Mr Surajbhan; senior vice-president — Mr Ashok Verma; vice-president — Mr Sukhbir; general secretary — Mr Wazir Siwach; secretary — Mr Ram Mehar; and treasurer — Mr Yogender Singh.