R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

TARN TARAN
Girls’ Lohri celebrated: The local Kalpana Chawla Progressive Society organised a function to celebrate Lohri of girls hereon Monday. Gulzar Singh Ranike, minister for animal husbandry, Youth Services and Sports, Punjab, presided over the function. More than 130 newly born baby girls were brought by their parents at the function. The minister announced a grant of Rs 21,000 for the society.

CHANDIGARH

MOHALI
Recruitment drive: As many as 25 students were selected during the joint campus recruitment drive held at Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran, by Ambuja Cements, Mumbai. The recruitment drive was open to BTech students securing more than 60 per cent marks. More than 230 students from Punjab, Chandigarh and HP, participated in the drive.

HARYANA

FATEHABAD
Rural lok adalat: A rural lok adalat was organised at Aherwan village here on Monday. Judicial Magistrate, Ratia, Ajay Agarwal presided over the adalat. Five civil and petty crime cases were placed before the judge, which he resolved on the spot. He said gramin lok adalats delivered justice to villagers at their doorsteps.

Tips on traffic rules: Children were given tips on traffic rules at Mother India Convent School in Ratia town here on Monday. They were informed about traffic lights, zebra crossings, speed and importance of low and high beams of light. SP Saurabh Singh was the chief guest on the occasion. A writing and speech competition on the theme of traffic rules was also organised. Pardeep, Lalita and Seema got first three positions, respectively, in the writing competition while Pankaj, Shubham and Shruti bagged first three positions, respectively, in the speech competition.

JHAJJAR
Man killed: A person died after a youth allegedly attacked him with an iron rod at Chabili village of the district on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Inder Singh, son of former sarpanch of Utloda village. Sources said Inder Singh had extended some financial help to Ramesh few days ago. However, Ramesh did not return the money. Ramesh reportedly attacked Inder at his residence when the latter went there to take the money. Later, Ramesh confessed to his crime and was arrested by the police.

ROHTAK
Farmer’s body found: The body of Harpal (38), son of Raghbir Singh of Basantpur village in the district, was found lying in agricultural fields at Brahmanwas village, near here, on Monday. Harpal’s body, a farmer, was found in the fields of Dayanand of Brahmanwas village. The body has been sent for postmortem examination and a case registered in this regard. Investigations are on and no arrests had been made till the time of filing the report.

SIRSA
Mobile medical units: With a view to providing medical aid to people at their doorstep, especially in rural areas of the state, mobile medical units comprising medical specialists would be soon deployed in each district of the state, said health minister Kartar Devi, while addressing a press conference here on Monday. The mobile units would have all latest facilities. She said all vacant posts of doctors in the state would be soon filled as 200 posts had been advertised.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Freedom fighters’ demand: Former MLA and vice-president of the HP State Freedom Fighters Parishad Narottam Datt Shastri has congratulated Dhumal on his assuming the office of the Chief Minister and expressed confidence that he will look into their grievances. He has demanded that the pension of freedom fighters should be increased keeping in view the rise in prices of essential commodities over the past few years.

HAMIRPUR
Workshop: A three-days workshop for bailiffs and summoning instructors began at Bachat Bhawan on Monday. The workshop is being organised by the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Academy. Academy director George spoke on the importance of such workshops. District and Sessions Judge V.K. Sharma inaugurated the workshop. He said 29 employees linked with the judicial process would be trained in maintaining records, about the procedure of summons, warrants etc.

Inaugurated: A short-term course for the D-category employees of the Electrical Engineering Department of NIT began on Monday. The course was inaugurated by coordinator of the department, Dr R.L. Sharma. The course has been organised to impart training to employees in electrical wiring and in repair of electrical appliances. As many as 31 participants are attending the course. The course will be held from January 7 to 11.

SHIMLA
Air hostess training: Maples International Institute of Air Hostess Training has decided to set up its training centre in the state. Chief executive officer of the institute said the centre would be established in Shimla by the end of February and the training course would commence from April, 2008. He said the institute offered courses in the disciplines of travel, tourism and hospitality. He said Maples had planned to set up 100 learning centres in the country by the end of 2009. He said it was an ISO 9001 certified company which provided training in collaboration with the Cavendish College, London. He added that the company planned to start its centre on a franchise basis.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

ANANTNAG
Music concert: The Radio Kashmir Srinagar in collaboration with the Department of Information, Anantnag, organised a day-long musical concert at Town Hall, Anantnag, in which artists of various states of the country performed along with renowned artists of the Jammu and Kashmir.

BUDGAM
Meetings on Muharram: Review meetings regarding Muharram arrangements were held in Budgam and Baramulla districts of Kashmir valley on Monday. Arrangements were finalised at a meeting of officers at Baramulla on Monday chaired by additional deputy commissioner.

JAMMU
Panel for budget session: Legislative Council chairman Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura on Monday announced a panel of vice-chairpersons for the current budget session. They include Mohammad Yousuf Taing, Farida Mir and Ved Mahajan.

KULGAM
Public welfare: The district administration has spent Rs 2.72 crore has been spent in Kulgam district by the yearend for renovation of roads, Rs 2.92 crore under education sector, and Rs 96 lakh under health sector. The district development commissioner, Kulgam, presided over the review meeting on Monday.

SHOPIAN
Arrangements finalised: In connection with Republic Day celebrations in Shopian district, arrangements were finalised at a meeting of officers with deputy commissioner in chair. Police officials and civil administration officers were among those present in the meeting.