R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Volleyball championship: The Desh Bhagat Dental College and Hospital, Muktsar, won the Inter Medical and Dental College Volleyball Championship at the “Fest-09” organised by the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot. In the final match, the Desh Bhagat Dental College and Hospital defeated the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College with 25-7, 25-9, 25-20 points.

CHANDIGARH
Gur manufacturers to be registered: At a meeting of the Sugarcane Control Board, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has asked the Cane Commissioner to register all gur manufacturers in the state to check the sale of spurious quality of gur, especially prepared by roadside vendors. He also directed the Health Department to undertake frequent and regular sample checking to ensure quality production of gur. However, he said no registration fee would be charged from these gur manufacturers. To ensure availability of sufficient stock of sugarcane seed for the current sowing season, it was decided at the meeting to start crushing operations of sugarcane from November 25 for all sugar mills and private gur manufacturers.

Visit of panel for minorities: A team of the National Commission for Minorities, including HS Hanspal and Splazes Angmo, will visit Punjab and Chandigarh from October 20 to 22 to review the implementation of schemes for the welfare of minorities. According to an official spokesman, the team will meet the Chief Secretary and senior state government officials to discuss pending cases in the commission and will monitor educational scholarship schemes of students belonging to minority communities.

Gur manufacturers to be registered: At a meeting of the Sugarcane Control Board, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has asked the Cane Commissioner to register all gur manufacturers in the state to check the sale of spurious quality of gur, especially prepared by roadside vendors. He also directed the Health Department to undertake frequent and regular sample checking to ensure quality production of gur. However, he said no registration fee would be charged from these gur manufacturers. To ensure availability of sufficient stock of sugarcane seed for the current sowing season, it was decided at the meeting to start crushing operations of sugarcane from November 25 for all sugar mills and private gur manufacturers.

Hoshiarpur
Girl raped: A young girl of local Mohalla Kamalpur was raped by a youth of Machhian village. The Garhdiwala police has booked Harvinder Singh under section 376 of the IPC. According to the police sources, the girl has alleged that Harvinder Singh promised to marry her and used to take her to his village where he raped her time and again.

Sant pats NGO: Sant Seechewal has praised the Pooran Swarajya Sankalp Society, an NGO, which has been campaigning for water preservation and safety. Sant Seechewal said water was a precious gift of nature to the humanity but unnecessary interference in its natural process is leading towards its shortage.

JALANDHAR
Placement drive: Telecom software provider Tech Mahindra and IT company- Wipro-will conduct a joint campus placement drive for 2009 and 2010 batches graduate students. Tech Mahindra will conduct its placement drive on October 22 and Wipro on October 24 on the campus of the Chandigarh Group of College (CGC), Gharuan. Students can register online by filing a registration form available on the website of CGC.

Zonal youth fest: The three-day Zonal Youth Festival for Kapurthala and Nawanshahr districts began on the Guru Nanak Dev University Regional Campus here today. Advocate Prem Singh, who was the chief guest, inaugurated the function. Fourteen colleges affiliated to GND University participated in the day one events.

Ludhiana
Medical camp: A medical and dental check-up camp was organised by Christian Medical College and Hospital and the Guru Gobind Singh Charitable Trust at Manuke today. A team of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff examined about 1,954 patients of medical, ortho, eye, dental, paediatrics, skin, psychiatry and dietry OPD. The patients were distributed free medicines at the camp.

Nawanshahr
Money donated to trust: Gujjar Samaj Kalyan Parishad, Chandigarh, has donated a sum of Rs 3,78,500 to the Maharaj Brahamanand Bhuriwale Garibdassi Education Trust, Pojewal, which would be used in awarding scholarships to the meritorious students of various trust-run colleges in different districts of the state. The trust has lauded the gesture of the parishad saying the financial assistance would go a long way in enabling the rural youth to pursue higher studies.

PATIALA
Elected: Amar Singh has been elected as general secretary of the Associate Banks Officers' Association, unit, State Bank of Patiala, for the fifth consecutive time for 2009-12.

Suspended: SSP Ranbir Singh Khattra has suspended constable Karnail Singh, who was posted at CIA Samana. Besides, two other constables, Satpal Singh and Beant Singh, posted at CIA Samana, have been sent to Police Lines. Action against them was initiated on the report submitted by in charge CIA Inspector Jassa Singh. Khattra said without any prior information to senior officials, all the three cops had allegedly summoned some persons to the police station for questioning.

PSEB  attendants  to protest: Sub-Station Attendant (SSA) staff of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has flayed the board management for promoting PSEB linemen to the post of Sub Station Operator (SSO). SSA staff members have announced to stage a protest against the decision. Leaders of the Employees Federation, PSEB, said instead of promoting SSA staff, PSEB management has promoted diploma holders. The federation has called for a meeting on November 3 to chalk out a plan on the issue.

Appointed: The Punjab government has appointed Dr Avinash Goel, professor and head of urology department, Government Medical College, Patiala, as regular medical superintendent of Rajindra Hospital. Earlier, Dr Goel has been working as acting medical superintendent of the hospital.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

JAMMU
5 consume poison: At least five persons, including two women, allegedly consumed toxic substances at their respective houses, the police said on Monday. Police reports said Kiran of Gadla Gajansoo, Vikram Dass of Chack Majra in Bishnah, Badeswar Singh of Trikuta Nagar, Nitu Manhas of Kunjwani and Dev Raj of Gharota allegedly consumed poisonous substances at their houses. They have been admitted to the GMC here.

Chain snatching: Two motorcycle-borne youths snatched a gold chain from a woman here on Monday. Official sources said two youths snatched the gold chain from Meenakshi Dogra in a market at Satwari cantonment. She raised the alarm, but the duo escaped on a black motorcycle having no numberplate. However, a police officer from Satwari police station feigned ignorance about the incident.