The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

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PUNJAB

Bathinda
Prize distribution: A colourful cultural programme studded with a wide variety of songs, drama and dances marked the annual prize distribution function of S.S.D Women’s Institute of Technology here, on Saturday. Rajinder Mittal, managing director, Bathinda Chemicals Limited, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Mass media: A seminar on ‘Careers in Mass Media’ was organised at the DAV College, on Saturday. Avinash Singh, executive director, MassCo Media, in his keynote address, exhorted the students to avail of job opportunities in various fields of print and electronic media.

CHANDIGARH
Postings ordered: The Punjab government on Friday ordered postings of two IAS and two PCS officers. Jagpal Singh becomes secretary to the Government of Punjab, Department of Revenue, and Harjit Singh is the new secretary, Social Security and Development of Women and Children. Prem Chand is the new SDM, Jalaladad, and Tejinder Pal Singh has been posted SDM, Jaito, and in addition DTO, Faridkot.

SANGRUR
Cremation ground: Harjit Singh Sohi, IRS, commissioner, Income Tax, Bathinda, laid the foundation stone for Mander Patti’s cremation ground at Dhuri village on Saturday. Sangrur ADC (D) Harnek Singh presented a cheque for Rs 1.5 lakh to the village panchayat for the development of the cremation ground.

TARN TARAN
CPI to launch stir: The CPI on the second day of its three-day 20th state conference held here on Saturday has resolved to launch an agitation against the economic policies of the UPA and SAD-BJP governments. Shamim Faizi, member, Central Secretariat of the party, addressing the conference said the policies of these governments had made the lives of the poor more miserable.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Ex-servicemen’s rally: The Army Training Command (ARTRAC), Shimla, would organise an ex-servicemen rally at Luhanu maidan here on March 11. It will be organised in collaboration with the local ex-servicemen welfare office. This was stated by Col Puneet Nethani while presiding over a meeting of the rally organising committee here on Saturday. Nethani said ex-servicemen of all wings and widows of ex-servicemen and also war-widows and those with decorations, had been invited to attend the rally.

BSP’s plea: The BSP has welcomed announcement of implementation of long-awaited Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Berry broad gauge railway project with reservations. It has urged the Central and the state government to ensure beforehand that the project did not adversely affect the balanced economy of the area. BSP district unit president Kesh Pathania said the economy of the district depended on thousands of trucks employed for cement carriage by Barmana ACC factory. It provided direct and indirect employment to about 20,000 families.

Eight arrested: Eight persons, including a woman, were arrested under a special campaign launched by the police in Barmana, Talai, Kot-Kehloor and Ghumarwin police station areas over the past four days. SP K.K. Indoria said Ramjani of Kamlota village, Roshanlal of Jaal village, Bhag Singh of Gharan-Matla village, Amarnath of Bhated village, Manoj Kumar of Amarpur village were arrested for possessing liquor illegally. All of them were later bailed out. Cases have been registered.

CHAMBA
Smuggler held: In a special drive to check drug-trafficking in this region, the police has arrested a charas smuggler Vikramjeet alias Sunny (28), resident of Jalandhar (Punjab), while he was carrying 650 grams of charas from Sahoo area of Chamba district to Pathankot on Thursday. ASP Chamba Dr D.K. Choudhary said the accused has been arrested by the police under Section 20 of the Nar cotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act.

dHAMIRPUR
Budget haile: Vice-president of the state Congress party Rajinder Zar has welcomed the Union Budget presented by the UPA government. In a release issued here on Saturday Zar said this budget reflects commitment of the Congress party towards the weaker section of the society. While waving loans of the farmers to the tune of Rs 60,000 crore the party has reiterated its commitment to farmers of the country.

KULLU
Geriatric clinics: Chairman, Elders’ and Senior citizens’ welfare council of Himachal Pradesh, O.N. Hazri, said the geriatric care clinics (GCC) should be started in all allopathic hospitals in the state immediately. He was talking to mediapersons here on Friday. He said the long pending demand of the welfare council was under consideration and the Ayurveda Department of the state had announced to provide facilities to senior citizens in the state for their medical check up on every Tuesday.

SUNDERNAGAR
Charas seized: Two persons were arrested with 6.5 kg charas near Pandoh Dam on Friday. The accused were identified as Rajesh Yadav from Bihar and Ajeet of Chintpurni (Una). Rajesh was carrying 4 kg charas in a briefcase, while Ajeet’s bag contained 2.5 kg of it. A case has been registered under Section 20 of the NDPS Act.