R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Dera Bassi 
Medical services paralysed: Medical services in the Dera Bassi block were affected today with the doctors and para-medical staff joining the nationwide anti-quota protest. Patients were at the receiving end as OPDs and operating theatres remained out of business due to the strike. Even private doctors joined the protest to express solidarity with the medical fraternity.

Jalandhar
Musical show: The Vajra Army Wives’ Welfare Association in collaboration with ETC channel will hold “Salute to Soldiers”, a live musical show at Katoch Stadium in Jalandhar Cantonment Saturday evening with performances by Shefali Zariwala of “Kanta laga” fame, The Aryans, DJ Narayan of “Akhon mein tera hi chehra” fame, Meet Brothers, Balkar Sidhu and Mika. Lieut-Col Vaish, coordinating the programme, said entry for soldiers would be free and passes would be given to selected civilians.

BSM condemns quota protests: The Bahujan Samaj Morcha (BSM) on Wednesday condemned the nationwide protests against the proposed reservation policy, the party’s press secretary Ramesh Kumar Chohka said in a release. The party also blamed the Congress party for not trying to form a consensus on the issue in Parliament by inviting all sections.

Kapurthala
University topper: Neha Chugh, a student of Hindu Kanya College here, has stood first in the B.Sc. (IT), first year, examination of the Guru Nanak Dev University. She secured 669 out of a total of 900 marks.

Phagwara
Road mishap: Three persons sustained serious injuries when the jeep they were travelling overturned and caught fire near the local Rest House on Wednesday night. The jeep also caught fire which was immediately controlled by the fire brigade personnel.

CHANDIGARH

Demonstration: A large number of employees of public sector general insurance companies held a demonstration in front of the United India Regional Office to protest against the implementation of transfer and mobility policy for Class III and IV employees here on Thursday. They said the policy was against the interests of the companies as well as employees.

Contest: Airtel today announced its “Dhamaka Contest” for its postpaid and prepaid customers. The winner will get a Mahindra Scorpio. A customer needs to call 64640 and answer some questions. Each correct answer will get the customer give points. The contest ends on June 4 and the customer with the highest points will be declared the winner, according to Chief Executive Officer, (Mobility) Bharti Airtel Limited, Punjab Circle, Rajiv Jaitly.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Mandi
Protest: The Akhil Jan Vadi Samiti of women held a protest on Wednesday against the state government and the UPA government for their failure to control the rising prices of daily-need commodities.

Shimla
Volvo buses: The Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation has purchased two new Volvo buses for the convenience of tourists. Mr G.S. Bali, Transport Minister, said these buses would ply on the Shimla-Delhi-Shimla route. An additional Volvo bus service would also be introduced on the Delhi-Manali-Delhi route. 

Sundernagar
Accident claim: In an order passed by the Consumer Forum Mandi, the National Insurance Company has been asked to pay Rs 1.7 lakh along with Rs 2,000 as cost of complaint to Ms Sapna Dhawan of Jogindernagar.

Solan
Raid: An investigating team of the Central Income Tax Department descended on the premises of M/s Jasmine Expo Private Limited on Wednesday. The team made an assessment of sanitaryware and marble at the Deonghat-based showroom.