The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

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R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

GURDASPUR
Petrol station looted: A petrol pump located near Babehali village of this district was looted by two motorcycle persons at gunpoint late Thursday evening. Sources said two persons came to the petrol station to get the tank of their motorcycle filled with petrol. They returned again after sometime and asked the workers at gunpoint to part with the cash they were carrying. They took about Rs 3,400. Lok Nath Angra, SSP, said a case had been registered.

NABHA
Eye donation camp: A seminar on eye donation was organised under guidelines of the District Control Blindness Society at Govt Senior Secondary School of Girls here on Friday. District programme manager Dr P.D. Goyal, along with Dr Mahesh Abuja and ophthalmic officer H.S. Randhawa, highlighted the importance of eye donation. An eye check-up camp was also organised. Free spectacles were given to needy students.

PATIALA
Share trading: Fairwealth Securities Private Limited will impart training to investors on stock market and mutual funds. The Rs 7,934.30 crore turnover company has opened its office in Patiala and has its presence in Amritsar and Jalandhar. “In their desire to earn more, investors often land in trouble. Though nobody can predict the share market, people lose money mostly due to lack of knowledge. We will offer short courses for investors of Punjab,” the company promoters said.

Relief fund: Following an appeal by general secretary of Associate Banks Officers’ Association Amar Singh, the officers of State Bank of Patiala have decided to donate their one day’s salary to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Union leaders said that the efforts of the government alone would not suffice and people should come forward to help the flood-hit people in Bihar.

SANGRUR
Insurance co. to pay relief: In a claim case of damage to Safed Musli plantation due to pest and disease, the local District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Oriental Insurance Company Limited to pay Rs 7,79,543, along with interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from the date of repudiation i.e. August 7, 2007, till realisation to Shiva Hi-Tech Agro Farms, Dhuri. In the order, the insurance company has also been directed to pay Rs 3,000 in lieu of consolidated amount of compensation. The order of the forum shall be complied within 60 days of communication.

Steps to check eve-teasing: To check eve-teasing, drug abuse and traffic violations, the traffic police wing and the police control room (PCR) parties will be strengthened by way of providing more personnel to these wings. Stating this here yesterday, SSP Naunihal Singh said a review meeting would be held next week to control these evils. He said the district police would also end the compromise system between the two parties, as this system always proved harmful for the weaker party. FIRs would be registered in all cases against guilty persons, as security of common person was vital.

CHANDIGARH

MOHALI
Remove illegal jhuggis: A deputation of House Owners’ Welfare Association, Phase I, led by P.S.Virdi, met the GMADA chief administrator and urged him to get the illegal jhuggis removed from Phase I. They alleged that jhuggi dwellers had created unhygienic conditions in the area. Moreover, a community centre could be constructed on the land encroached upon by the jhuggi dwellers.

Bill collection: The Consumers’ Protection Forum has demanded that the employees of telecom companies should be banned from entering the houses at odd hours for collection of bill payments. President P.S. Virdi said that some employees who come to collect payments do not even have identity cards. In a letter to the SSP, urged the police to direct the telecom companies not to send their employees to houses at odd hours.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Health camp held: A free heart treatment and consultation camp was organised by the local Sanjeev Medical store here on Thursday. A renowned heart specialist, Dr Deepak Kaushal of Grecian hospital, Mohali, said people should avoid smoking and walk at least 4 to 5 km daily. Around 120 patients were examined.

CHAMBA
Driver killed: A tuck driver was killed on the spot when the truck he was driving fell into a gorge at Berian Gala on the Chamba-Shimla Highway in Bhattiyat subdivision of Chamba district on Wednesday. The truck was loaded with cement and was on its way to a power project at Dharwala in the district. The deceased was identified as Rajesh (50), a resident of Heera village in Haryana.

HAMIRPUR
Hamir festival: The state-level Hamir festival would be celebrated this year on November 1 and 2 at Hamirpur. After holding a committee meeting here on Thursday, ADM Vijay Chandan said exhibitions by government departments and cultural programmes would be other highlights of the festival, he said.

NAHAN
Villager opens fire: V.S. Thakur, Paonta DSP, said on Thursday that Amarjeet Singh, a resident of Gond Pur village opened fire on his opponent after a quarrel on Wednesday. Thakur said his licensed gun was ceased. He said a clash broke out between two groups in Gond Pur village after the way of Jagtar Singh and his brother Charan Singh was blocked by Charan Singh, Sher Singh, Jeet Singh, Amarjeet Singh and others on Wednesday. When Jagtar Singh and his brother were running for a shelter after a clash, Amarjeet reportedly fired at them with his licensed gun. However, none was hurt in the firing. Cross-FIRs were registered and persons of both groups were arrested.