AMRITSAR
Refresher course: Guru Nanak Dev University will conduct a three-week refresher course in English for university and college teachers from November 7 to 27 under the aegis of the Academic Staff College here. Dr Parminder Singh, Reader, Department of English, has appointed as course coordinator. Prof B.R. Batra, Director, Academic Staff College, said the university and college teachers desirous to participate in the course should contact Dr Parminder Singh.

Appointed: The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, has appointed Mr Surinder Singh Bittu as district chairman of the other backward classes section, according to a press note.

Urged: Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, president, All-India Hindu Shiv Sena, has urged the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, not to pardon Mohammad Afzal Guru, who has been awarded death sentence by the Supreme Court.

HOSHIARPUR
Office-bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the state-level unit of the Pol Khol, a social organisation: chairman — Mr R.K. Behl; vice-chairman — Mr K.S. Lakhanpal; general secretary — Mr Ramesh Chander; and adviser — Mr Ram Singh. The district unit has also been formed. The office-bearers are: chairman — Mr Naval Kalia; vice-chairman — Mr Harcharan Sodhi; senior general secretary — Mr Sukhwinder Pal Bhatti; and general secretary — Mr Kundan Lal.

Poppy husk seized: The Dasuya police, on a tip-off, arrested Satnam Singh, son of Kewal Singh from Mahallan Chaudhrian, and seized 32 kg poppy husk from him. According to police sources, he was booked under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act.