R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
Jakhar flays govt on VAT hike: Taking a strong exception to the major VAT hike proposal on petrol by the state government, Sunil Jakhar, a member of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, said here recently that the saffron party, being an alliance partner in Punjab, was adopting different yardsticks on price rise. The BJP was storming Parliament blaming the UPA government for the price rise but was a partner in the decision taken here at Chandigarh to shoot up the price of petrol that was being used even by students daily, he said. He further added that the saffron party had failed in preventing the state government from making a hike in electricity tariff.

Blood donation camp held: A total of 25 units of blood was collected during a camp, organised by the District Red Cross Society at the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital here on Monday.

Batala
BDPO, clerk held for graft: Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) Gurmeet Singh and Dilbagh Singh, accounts clerk in the same office were caught accepting a bribe of `4,000 and `1,000, respectively, from Amrik Singh, a retired panchayat secretary, for releasing of his retrial benefits. Confirming this, DSP Vigilance, Gurdaspur, Manohar Lal said a case under sections 7, 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered.

Bathinda
12-yr-old drowns in water works: A 12-year-old boy of village Lehari drowned in the water works tank in the village. He slipped while he was playing with a paper boat in the water tank. According to villagers, Inderjeet Singh, a student of government school in the village, was playing with water during the recess in the school. The body was pulled out after it came to the surface of the water works. Acting upon the statement of villagers, the police launched the inquest proceedings.

Engg college gets third rank: Desh Bhagat Engineering College has been ranked third among the top 10 promising engineering colleges of India by the CSR-GHRDC Engineering Colleges survey 2010. This was disclosed by Dr Arjan Singh, director principal, Desh Bhagat Engineering College, Mandi Gobindgarh. Dr Zora Singh, chairman of the Desh Bhagat Group of Institutes said the endeavor is to achieve an exclusive excellent quality of life, through the real life education. Tajinder Kaur, vice-chairperson, Shalini Gupta, director general, Arjan Singh, director principal and Tejwant Singh, principal, engineering college, also congratulated the teachers and students on their success.

DERA BASSI
2 students hurt in accident: Two students of Longowal, ITI, Dera Bassi, were injured in a road accident near here when their motorcycle was hit by a bike. Injured students had been admitted in Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh in serious condition. The injured were identified as Manjit Singh of Lalru and Paus of Dappar village. Another motorcyclist, Mewa Singh, was also admitted in GMCH, Sector 32, Chandigarh. Injured students of the ITI were returning from their examination centre.

Fire at factory: A major fire had gripped the JCBL plant 1 near Lalru on Sunday night and damaged the machinery and raw material worth lakhs of rupees. Nearly five fire tenders of Dera Bassi, Ambala, Chandigarh and Dappar arrived on the spot and controlled the fire. The cause of the fire could not be established. The fire was noticed by security personnel in the earlier stage. According to the factory management, the estimate of loss could be known later and reason of fire could be short-circuit in the plant.

Hoshiarpur
Youth held for molesting girl: The police arrested Harwinder Singh of Kulian under sections 376, 452, 506 and 511 of the IPC for molesting a girl. Harwinder went to the house of the girl yesterday. He allegedly made a sexual assault on her and when she raised an alarm he tried to strangle her with a handkerchief.

Ludhiana
Awareness drive: The ministry of corporate affairs and the National Stock Exchange in association with the Citizen Awareness Group organised an awareness programme on investment opportunities available in security market at University Business School in Ludhiana. Renu Bhandari from the National Stock Exchange and Surinder Verma, chairman, Citizen Awareness Group, delivered lectures on the occasion. Dr Ravi Inder Singh, resident coordinator, University Business School, welcomed the delegates.

Moga
Medical camp on in Moga: Regional multi-specialty SD Thapar Hospital, Talwandi Bhangerian on the outskirts of Moga has begun the medical camp from August 1. The camp would continue till August 7 offering discounted rates to facilitate ECG, ultrasound, lab test, delivery fee and all types of surgeries. Dr Tejinder Gupta, medical superintendent of the hospital, said that a minimum of 50 per cent discount will be provided to the patients on these facilities. During the camp, specialists of surgery, medicine, gynecology, ENT, ophthalmology, pediatrics and physiotherapists will provide treatment to the patients. Free bus service will be provided to patients from Moga bus stand and main market of the town to bring them to the hospital and ferry them back.

Patiala
15 get  scholarship: Surjit Singh Rakhra, chairman of the District Planning Board, Patiala, awarded scholarship to 15 meritorious and needy students during a function held at Guru Hargobind Sahib Khalsa Girls College, Karhali Sahib, Patiala.

A student of Guru Hargobind Sahib Khalsa Girls College, Karhali Sahib, Patiala, being awarded a scholarship on Monday. A Tribune photograph

CHANDIGARH

100 saplings planted: About 100 saplings were planted during a tree plantation drive organised at the AIE Centre, GMSSS-21. Sachin Sharma, an NGO coordinator of the centre, apprised students of the benefits of a greener earth. Saurabh Kumar, deputy conservator of forests appreciated the efforts of students.

Workshop: A seven-day workshop on research methodology, statistics and use of SPSS commenced at Government College of Education, Sector 20-D, here on Monday. Prof DN Sansanwal, a renowned resource person for various education and research workshops, emphasised the need and importance of research methodology for teachers of higher education institutions. He reiterated the need to narrow down the gap between theory and practice of education. The function was attended by Dr Harsh Batra, principal, Government College of Education, Sector 20-D, Dr SS Dahiya, director, State Institute of Education, Sector 32, KL Sodhi, principal, Government College of Yoga, Education and Health, Sector 23.

Results declared: The list of students who have cracked the MBA (off-campus) entrance examination of Panjab University, is put on the website. The last date for submission of admission and examination forms at USOL is August 3, 2010, without late fee.

Interview: Interview for admission to certificate, diploma and advanced diploma courses in Urdu and Persian for the session 2010-11, will be held on August 4, 2010, at 10 am at the department of Urdu. The university officials have advised students to bring along their original DMC, certificate and other relevant documents.

Applications invited: Candidates interested in applying for seats in masters in women’s studies and development (first semester) under general, SC, defence and sports categories must submit their applications to the department-cum-centre for women’s studies and development, Arts Block-VI, Panjab University, Chandigarh, by August 10, 2010 till 5 pm. Counselling for the course will be conducted on August 12, 2010, from 10 am to 1 pm.

Release of arrears sought: Dr RPS Josh, Fellow, Panjab University, today urged the Punjab government and Chandigarh administration to release the arrears of teachers working in private, aided and government colleges immediately.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
1 hurt in families’ scuffle: Vijay Kumar of Palthin village, near here, received pellet injuries and was rushed to the Regional Hospital here when two families entered into a scuffle over a land dispute at Majhon village, near Kandraur, yesterday. Vijay’s condition was stated to be stable. However, both parties have got registered cross cases against each other at the Ghumarwin police station.

Shimla
Attack on SDM 7 accused get bail: The seven persons who have been booked by the Chopal police in connection with the attack on the local SDM were today granted interim bail by the court till August 7. The seven persons had been named in the FIR after the Chopal SDM  had filed a complaint against them, accusing them of manhandling him at the site of the bus accident, near Nerwa.