R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
Id-ul-Zuha celebrations: Id-ul-Zuha was celebrated in Abohar and the neighboring areas of Sadulshehar, Sriganganagar, Tibbi and Hanumangarh on Saturday with religious zeal and fervour in commemoration of the supreme sacrifice offered by Hazrat Ibrahim Khalilullah and his son Hazrat Ismail Zabiullah in fulfillment of a  divine order.

BATHINDA
Brills Institute: Local Brills Institute has been made a Silver member of the British Council IELTS Partnership Programme for the remaining financial year 2009-10. Head of the Examination Services, North India, Manish Joshi informed this through a letter to head of the Brills Institute, Bathinda, Ashok Sadiora.

Insaaf march: Members of the Khalsa International Fauj have decided to take part in the “Insaaf march” to be taken out from Bathinda to Badal village on December 7 favouring release of Sikhs held in connection with cases related to Dera Sacha Sauda–Sikh conflict. The decision was taken at a meeting held under the presidentship of Ramandeep Singh Sunny here. It was also decided that 200 members would participate in the march on motorcycles. The meeting also extended full support to the Khalsa Action Committee, the organiser of the ‘Insaaf March’.

Sanawar sports meet: The Ravi House of a local Sanawar Institute for Children won the overall champion House trophy at the annual sports meet of the institute that concluded here on Thursday. Lovedeep Singh clinched the champion (boy) trophy while Amneet Kaur bagged the champion (girl) trophy.

95 examined at eye camp: The Bathinda Vikas Manch organised an eye check-up and eye donation awareness camp at the Central Jail here. At the camp, 95 patients were examined and given medicines. Besides, the patients were educated on eye care. On the occasion, undertrials and prisoners were inspired to fill forms to pledge their eyes for donation after death.

Dental check-up camp: The Desh Bhagat Dental College and Hospital, Muktsar, organised a free dental check-up camp at Mallan village, where a team of doctors checked 135 patients. Free medicines were also provided to the patients.

Woman falls unconscious: A woman, who had come to local court complex to attend a hearing in a court, fell unconscious. On receiving the information, members of the Sahara Life Saving Brigade reached the complex and rushed the woman to the emergency ward of the local Civil Hospital for treatment. The woman has been identified as Usha Rani, a resident of Railway Colony.

3 hurt in separate mishaps: In separate mishaps, three persons sustained injuries. A youth driving scooter suffered injuries when an unidentified vehicle hit him on local Bibiwala road on Thursday night. In another case, a biker sustained injuries when his motorcycle slipped on the Naruana road. Meanwhile, a cyclist sustained injuries after he fell from his bicycle near Rose Garden. Members of the Sahara Jan Sewa extended help to all the injured.

Kotkapura confluence: Thousands of devotees from the US, Canada, England and other countries besides India have gathered at Kotkapura for lessons in spirituality and divinity from Brahmarishi Shri Kumar Swami. Addressing the gathering, the spiritual leader said that it was an irony that while people from foreign countries were heading for India for inner peace and enlightenment, the Indians were turning to the West in their pursuit for wealth, name and fame. He said al religious scriptures contain messages of public welfare and exhorted people to follow it and imbibe its essence.

Mansa
BKU to hold dharna on Dec 1: Bhartiya Kissan Union Ekta (Ugrahan) would hold a dharna at district headquarter on December 1 against the arrest of farmers regarding the default in loans. District president of union Ram Singh Bhaini Bagha criticised the act of arresting farmers and demanded the loan waiver for those farmers who are not in a position to return loan. He further said farmer related issues such as releasing the arrested farmers, rejection of warrants, issued against the farmers and loan waiver for poor farmers would be raised during the dharna. He said farmers were not able to return loans due to anti-farmers policies of government.

Phagwara
Peddler held: The Bilga Police arrested one drug smuggler, identified as Sat Paul of Gadra village and seized four kg of opium from his possession. The arrested has confessed to crime. He has told the police that he had been purchasing opium from Madhya Pradesh on cheaper rates and was selling in the areas of Phillaur, Bilga and Noormahal on higher rates. The police has registered a case under sections 18, 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Akhnoor
Minister lauds role of NGOs: Minister for Health and Floriculture Sham Lal Sharma today lauded the role of NGOs in providing solace to the ailing masses by organising health camps in rural and far-off areas. He was speaking on the concluding day of a four-day eye camp here. The camp was organised by the Viklang Chhattra Trust Blindness Control Society in collaboration with the Sant Narikari Mandal Branch, Akhnoor. As many as 20 patients were operated upon while others were advised to attend the next camp commencing from December 10.

Jammu
Students hold protest: Protesting against the celebration of Kashmir Day by some leaders in New Delhi recently, the Jammu Joint Students’ Federation (JJSF) held a demonstration at MAM College here on Thursday. The JJSF activists along with other students boycotted classes and held a demonstration on the college ground. The protest was headed by Varinder Singh and Harpreet Singh, president and vice-president, respectively, of the college unit of the JJSF. “All leaders, who celebrated Kashmir Day, were from the state. Why these leaders are always against Jammu? J&K is one state, but no such day is celebrated in the name of the unity of the entire state,” said Varinder addressing the gathering.

JJSF unit constituted: The Jammu Joint Students Federation (JJSF) under the leadership of Partap Singh Jamwal, vice-president of the JJSF, constituted a unit in the Government College of Engineering and Technology (GCET), Jammu, on Friday. The office-bearers elected are Sunil Rajput-president; Dushyant Singh Jamwal-vice-president; Rohit Sangral-secretary; Ejaz Ahmed-general secretary; Jaise Maine-coordinator; Kewal Sharma-joint secretary; Shubam Dubey-press secretary; Ankit Gupta-organising secretary; Azam Choudhary-treasure; Manjeet Singh Manhas-chairman; Jagat Singh Charak-working president and Vishal Bhat-cashier.

MATSIGO-DO championship: Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand inaugurated the two-day state-level MATSIGO-DO Championship being held at Jodhamal Public School here on Saturday. The J&K MATSIGO-DO Association in collaboration with Jodhamal Public School is organising the championship.

Kathua
New water supply projects: Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohi-Ud-Din has called for formulating new water supply projects close to the source of water so that only one lift is required for water supply. Reviewing the functioning of the PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Departments here on Thursday, the minister said to reduce the wastage of water, a public stand port (PSP) would be installed at the user-end along with timers. The minister said under centrally-sponsored schemes, 59 programmes were being implemented in the rural areas.