The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

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PUNJAB

Abohar
HMX-XI win in cricket: A fine performance by Ranveer helped HMC-XI defeat Panjpeer-II by 27 runs in the quarter-finals of the Nashon Se Door: Khelon Ki Aur Cricket Series being held at the Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday. A team of medicos from the local Homoeopathic Medical College won the toss and opted to bat first. The team scored 108 for 6 in allotted 15 overs. Ranveer and Gurjeet contributed 33 runs each. In reply, the Panjpeer-II was bundled out for 81 in 14.5 overs, thanks to HMC XI’s Priyank, Lakhwinder and Sunil who took two wickets each, Ranveer bagged one wicket of the rival team. Ranveer was declared Man of the Match. He has so far won four such titles in the tournament. The final will be played on May 16, principal Rajinder Girdhar informed while congratulating the players.

Sewing centre: The Bharat Vikas Parishad (Shiva JI), at a meeting presided over by former senior vice-president of the municipal council, Faquir Chand Goyal, has resolved to open a sewing training centre for women as a tribute to an engineer, Surinder Nagpal. The project in-charge, Bimla Devi and Saroj Gupta, informed on Tuesday that the centre would be inaugurated on Wednesday evening at the Chintpurni temple in Prem Nagar here.

Amritsar
Mansi tops multimedia exam: Mansi Malhotra of Hindu College who has stood first in the bachelor of multimedia (first semester) examination conducted by Guru Nanak Dev Universty securing 830 out of 950 marks. Stating this to the media here, principal V.P. Lumba said that another student Jaspal Singh had secured the second position in the multimedia course which was introduced by the college recently.

Aid for widows: The Chinmayya Mission organised its 70th widow pension and ration distribution programme at Bhavan’s S.L. Public School here on Tuesday. N.S. Manshaiya, executive engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Avinash Mohindru and Ashwani Malhotra, president and secretary, respectively, of the Chinmayya Mission inaugurated the programme by lighting lamps.

Novel released: The second novel of Pardeep Raju, “Sakoon,” was released at a function organised by the Hindi Sahitya Kala Parishad here. Dr Neelam Kamra, principal, BBK DAV College for Women, was the chief guest. Earlier, Pardeep Raju wrote “Safar Tanhaian.” Raju said his third novel, “Darar,” was also under publication.

5 Lankan women held: Immigration authorities at the Rajasansi Airport here on Monday reportedly arrested six persons, including five Sri Lankan women nationals, for allegedly possessing fake visas. They were going to Italy and were caught during the checking. The accused were identified as Diana, Nishan, Verna Cula, Shalini and Samniti.

Barnala
Youth commits suicide: A youth allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at his house in Bhadaur, about 24 km from here, on Monday evening. According to the police diary, Pintu Singh (17), son of Bhagwan Singh, was under stress for the past couple of days. ASI Jaswant Singh said that a case under section 174 of the IPC has been registered. The dead body has been handed over to the family members after the postmortem.

Batala
Lineman killed: President, Technical Services Union, Sarabjit Singh told mediapersons here on Tuesday that Sukhchain Singh, resident of Gajjian Wali village, who had been working as an assistant lineman in the Punjab State Electricity Board at Fatehgarh Churian, died in a road accident on Monday. After completing his duty, he was going back to his village on bicycle when he was run over by a fast-moving vehicle. A case has been registered.

Ferozepur
Wheat purchased: Various procurement agencies have purchased over 11,00,020 MT wheat from 183 grain markets of the district so far. Deputy commissioner Megh Raj gave this information after presiding over meeting with officials from various procurement agencies. DC said that Markfed had recorded the highest purchase with 270345 MT wheat for central pool and another 86029 MT for state pool. He said that other agencies which have purchased wheat for central pool included Pungrain 201351 MT , PUNSUP 241736 MT, Warehousing 133083 MT, Punjab Agro 99913, FCI 123043 MT and Markfed 270345 MT. DC said that besides agencies, private agents had also purchased around 12354 MT wheat.

Hoshiarpur
Lightning deaths: As many as four animals perished by lightning which struck at the house of Jasbir Singh of village Sakroli on Monday night. According to police sources, the lightning struck at the house of Jasbir Singh and burnt four big bales of straw, a buffalo, a cow, an ox and a calf.

Two booked: The Mahilpur police, on Monday night, booked Parwinder Kaur of Panchhta and Karnail Singh of Dekoha Avenue, Jalandhar, under sections 420, 468 and 471 of the IPC. According to police sources, the duo had allegedly withdrawn Rs 3 lakh from the account of Balrishan Parmar of village Binjon. The money was withdrawn from the Punjab National Bank, branch Kot Fatuhi, by using forged signatures of the latter.

Jalandhar
Pilot project for currency exchange: The department of posts has entered into an agreement with the Centurian Bank of Punjab to launch a pilot project in 31 head post offices in the country for sale of foreign exchange and other services like buying and selling of foreign currencies, travellers cheques/cards, dispensing of cash against international credit cards, sale of foreign currency demand drafts, telegraph transfers and sale of store value cards, etc. Stating this in a press releases here, senior superintendent of post offices of Jalandhar division N.R. Meena said that after the launch of this tie-up in Delhi, these services would now be available at Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana. The services are already available at the Jalandhar head post office since April 30, 2008.

Compensation sought: Condemning the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), members of the Punjab Kisan Sabha (PKS) said farmers in the state were not being provided adequate power due to which yield was being affected. PKS general secretary Lehmber Singh Taggar said the SAD-BJP combine should provide a compensation of Rs 15,000 per acre to the farmers whose crop was burnt due to sudden fire. Besides, Rs 10 lakh should be given to the affected families.

Aggarwal appointed board member: Kamna Raj Aggarwal, a leading exporter from the city, has been appointed a member of the Advisory Board for Small Scale Industry, Punjab. This is for the first time that a board has been constituted for the direct interaction between the small-scale industry and the government. She said promoting the industry, technical upgradation and issues like entry tax on the goods and VAT would remain her priority. “Even the government is also keen on giving a fillip to the small scale industry”, she said.

Workshop on English: The local ICFAI National College will organise a free summer workshop on spoken English from May 5 to 7. College senior administrative officer Baljit Singh said here on Saturday the workshop aimed at improving the spoken English of youth.Persons from 14 to 80 years of age could attend the workshop.

PCCTU poll preponed: The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) elections have been preponed after the members took a unanimous decision to hold the poll on May 8 instead of May 11 in the wake of election duties of the staff on that day owing to block samiti elections. General secretary of the union Dr Kuldip Singh said the elections would be held from 9 am to 3 pm at R.K. Arya College, Nawanshahr.

KHANNA
3 die in road mishap: Three persons died in an accident and two others were rushed to the local Civil Hospital in a critical condition, when a tractor-trailer was hit by a speeding tempo here on Monday. The incident took place near Dhareu, 6 km from here. The deceased have been identified as Anup Singh, Buta Singh and Chhinder Kaur.

MOGA
Last rituals performed: The last rituals of Bibi Daljit Kaur, mother of former union minister and president of the Lok Bhalai Party Balwant Singh Ramoowalia were performed at their native village Ramoowala village, near here, on Tuesday. She had died a few days back due to prolonged illness. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal visited the residence of Ramoowalia early in the morning to express grief.

HARYANA

Fatehabad
Farmer killed: A farmer was killed when the tractor he was driving was hit by a car near Dhani Majra village today. The incident happened when the farmer, Balwant (40), was going towards his fields on his tractor. Balwant fell from his seat and was run over by his own tractor. He succumbed to his injuries on the way to a hospital.

PANIPAT
Youth found murdered: Jatinder Kumar alias Kala, who owned a tea stall in the local Sanjay Colony, was found dead under mysterious circumstances near his tea stall on Tuesday morning. According to the police, Jatinder’s father Krishan Lal alleged that his son was murdered by Krishan, a resident of Azad Nagar locality. The police said following the allegations, a case had been registered against Krishan.

REWARI
Government Women’s College: Classes of the newly sanctioned Government Women’s College, Rewari, will be held in the new building of the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 4, here from the forthcoming academic session. The local minister Ajay Singh Yadav said till the completion of the college building, the classes would be held in the building of the Girls Senior Secondary School.

Burglary cases on rise: Cases of burglary are increasing in the district. Thieves broke into the house of Rakesh Kumar in the Qutubpur colony here on Monday night and reportedly decamped with Rs 25,000 as well as jewellery. In a second incident, Ravinder Kumar’s house in Vikas Nagar here was burgled on Friday night by thieves, who took away ornaments and valuables worth over Rs 40,000. The police has registered cases of burglary.

Proposals for pvt varsities: The state government has received four proposals from different persons and private organisations for the establishment of universities in the private sector. This information was given by the education minister Mange Ram Gupta at a press conference here today. He said a high-level committee of top officials had been constituted, which was now examining the proposals.

SIRSA
Sixth pay panel flayed: Members of the State Fourth Class Employee Union censured the 6th Pay Commission for ignoring the interests of the employees of the category. They held a day-long protest outside the office of deputy commissioner office here on Monday. J.C Pandey, state president of the union, said they were the lowest paid segment and had to reel under the impact of inflation.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA
FASPA submits memo to Central Govt: The Federation of All-States Pensioners Association of India (FASPA) recently submitted a memo to the Central Government with regard to the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission and many other items which remained untouched relating to qualifying service, commutation, gratuity, encashment of leave, family pension, Central Civil Services Extra-ordinary Pension Rules, 1939, ex-gratia grant, and many others. This was divulged in a very significant meeting convened at Bachat Bhawan Shimla by the state Pensioners Welfare Association to discuss the panel’s recommendations. The meeting was attended by delegates of 20 states of the country and was presided over by Jiwanand Jiwan, state president of the HP Pensioners Welfare Association.

Office-bearers: The following have been elected as the office-bearers of the District Ambedkar Mission Society in its biennial elections held here. President Karam Chand Chandra, vice-president Karam Chand Chauhan, general secretary Bhola Singh Bhatt, assistant secretary Champa Aheer, organising-cum-press secretary Avinash, cashier Ram Sharan Chandra, advisers Govind Chand Luharch and Mani Singh Bhatt.

DALHOUSIE
One killed, another wounded: One person was killed on the spot and another wounded when a truck loaded with sand went out of control and fell into a deep gorge near Kakira about 30 km from here on Monday according to a report received here on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Pawan Kumar and the injured as Suraj Kumar, both residents of Bhadela village of the district. They were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, the report said. The concerned officials had given an immediate relief of Rs 5,000 to the deceased’s family and Rs 2,000 to the injured, the report added.

KANGRA
Held with fake documents: Two brother were arrested on Monday night after the police conducted a raid on their residence at Sidhbhari village and seized fake documents of some vehicles, foreign registration certificates, licences, ration cards and rubber stamps of executive magistrates, income tax officers and village pradhan from their possession. DSP Umapati Jamwal said an Indica car was found abandoned near Kanaid village on April 28. When its owner came to get it released, it came to the notice of the police that the ownership documents were fake. Those arrested were Jagan Nath and Triloki Nath. A case has been registered.

MC ex-chief cremated: The body of Kamal Kant Manocha, a former chief of the Dharamsala Municipality and prominent BJP leader who passed away on Monday following a cardiac arrest, was consigned to flames on Tuesday. He was 55. He was elected to the municipality four times and remained its president twice. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. At present, he was the president of the Sanatan Dharam Sabha. A large number of people joined his funeral procession.

NAHAN
Shobha yatra taken out: On the eve of Parshuram Jayanti palanquins of Lord Parshuram were brought to Renuka Ji from the ancient Parshuram temple situated in Jamu Koti village and another from the famous temple of Katahan, at Sheetla village of the Renuka area, on Tuesday evening. The palanquins had been kept in the ancient temple of Lord Parshuram ‘Purani Devthi’, on the bank of Shri Renuka Lake. Tomorrow on the occasion of Parshuram Jayanti, yajna would be organised in the complex of Parshuram temple. Dev Sanan and religious programmes like Dev Parikarama would take place.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

JAMMU
2 children die: Two children died after a heavy tree fell over them in Samba district, officials said on Tuesday. The two identified as 5-year-old Riya and Bittoo Sharma (7) were buried under a tree which had been uprooted by strong winds, fell over them, they said. They had gone to attend a function in Samba village and were having their food near the tree when the incident occurred.

Man stabs sister's abductor: Seven years after his sister was abducted, a man stabbed and injured the alleged kidnapper, who was out on bail, in Udhampur district on Tuesday. Virender Singh, alias Vicky, wanted to settle scores with Aftab Ahmed (34), who had kidnapped his sister Meenakshi in 2001. He attacked Aftab with a knife and fled after injuring him, the police said. Aftab was rushed to the hospital, they said, adding that a case has been registered.

Notice to Mirwaiz Farooq: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has issued a notice to the chairman of All Party Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and his associates for allegedly raising anti-India and pro-Pak slogans. The petitioner filed the complaint before Principal Sessions Judge Jammu which was transferred to the 2nd Additional Sessions Judge Jammu.

SRINAGAR
Rules committee: Legislative Assembly Speaker Tara Chand has nominated members of the Rules Committee of which he will be ex officio chairman himself. The members of the committee include leader of opposition A.R. Rather, Harsh Dev Singh, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, G.A. Mir, Yogesh Sawhney, Prem Sagar Aziz, Mir Saifullah, Mohammad Sartaj Madni, all legislators.

Indo-Pak ties: President of the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and minister for transport Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen has expressed hope that India-Pakistan ties will strengthen under the democratically elected government in Islamabad adding that a conducive atmosphere is imperative to resolve the issues relating to Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a public gathering at Kanier in Chadoora constituency near here on Tuesday, he underlined the need for carrying forward the dialogue process.

CGMT office: The office of Chief General Manager Telecommunication (CGMT) Jammu and Kashmir Circle started functioning here on Monday like the offices of the state government’s shifting of Durbar move. It had observed this practise on the pattern of the Jammu and Kashmir state government offices, an official spokesman here said.