R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Phagwara
New OPD timings in state: The Punjab Government changed the timings of the out patients departments in all civil hospitals and dispensaries in the state. Senior Medical Officer Dr Rajeev Gupta said the new OPD timings would be applicable from Monday. OPDs will be open from 8 am to 2 pm.

Shift wine shop: Residents to SDM: Resentment prevailed among the residents of local Chahal Nagar, Green Park and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar Colony of Improvement Trust on the opening of a wine shop near the localities. A deputation of the residents met SDM Amarjit Paul urging him to shift the wine shop. The SDM assured them of an early action.

Sangrur
Driver commits suicide: Sukhwinder Singh, a driver who had bought a load carrier on loan, allegedly committed suicide on Friday evening after the showroom — Krishna Motors Patiala — from where he had bought a Tata Tempo load carrier refused to repair or replace the vehicle which had developed serious problems within months of its purchase. In his suicide note, Sukhwinder had held the showroom owners responsible for his death. Family members and relatives of the victim blocked the Sangrur-Delhi highway in protest. The police has registered a case against six employees at the showroom.

CHANDIGARH

CHANDIGARH
Free ambulance service: Sri Krishna Bhakti Aashram Mandal, Sri Maha Kali Mandir, Sector 30 A, has introduced free ambulance facility for evacuation of patients in cases of emergency and accident. The ambulance was donated by a social activist, Mukesh Mittal, a resident of Sector 18, through Sri Ram Darmarth Trust, Morinda. The residents of Panchkula, Chandigarh and Khuda Lahora can avail this service by calling on 0172-2654180 and mobile number 7508298400.

MOHALI
Painting contest: In an effort to inculcate the spirit of competition among children, the Resident Sarbat Da Bhala Association, Phase VII, here organised a painting competition in the locality’s park on Saturday. Over 75 children took part in the competition. Association president GS Boparai said they were also honouring women of the area, who have given birth to girls recently.

Medical camp: As many as 450 patients were examined at a free medical check up camp organised by the Citizen Welfare and Development Forum at Phase II Community Centre here on Saturday, said PS Virdi, executive president of the forum. NK Sharma, chairman of the District Planning Board, inaugurated the medical camp, which was conducted by doctors from Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital.

HARYANA

BHIWANI
Seminar marks Mahavir Jayanti: A seminar and sant congregation was held at Jain Muni Ashram to mark the Mahavir Jayanti in Bhiwani on Saturday. Jain Saint Manak Muni presided over the seminar. Mahant Vednath of Jogi wala Shiv temple said saints were not of a particular sect, caste or society and their message was always for the entire mankind.

HISAR
Bar assn chief assaulted: Suraj Mal Jakhar, president of the Bar Association of Hansi, was seriously injured when he was assaulted in the courts complex at Hansi, 25 km from here, on Saturday. He was taken to the government hospital at Hansi from where he was referred to Hisar. He alleged that he was assaulted by two lawyers and five others while he was getting a petition signed by lawyers for observing a strike in view of the threat to life received by a Hisar lawyer on Friday. The police has registered a case under Section 307 of the IPC. One of the lawyers named by Jakhar has in turn lodged a complaint with the police alleging that Jakhar assaulted him.

KAITHAL
Minister lays stone of community centre: PWD and Industries Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala laid the foundation stone of a community centre in Mandi township on the Jind road here on Saturday. Surjewala said the demand for the construction of a community centre in the area would be fulfilled with the completion of the project within the next six months. He said another community centre would be constructed on the Sirta road, which would be named after Maharishi Balmiki. The Dussehra ground in the Chandana gate area would also be developed for public use. He said steps had been taken to provide best amenities to the people of the area.

Rewari
Kidnapped youth found dead: Some youths, who had allegedly kidnapped Krishan Sharma (27), son of Pushpa Sharma, a clerk in the ADC’s office here, from Anand Nagar Colony here on April 13, allegedly killed the youth and dumped the body at a place in Neem Ka Thana town of Rajasthan. The body was recovered here on Friday.

ROHTAK
Urology workshop begins at PGIMS: At least 16 operations will be performed during a two-day international live operative urology workshop that commenced at the PGIMS here on Saturday. This is the first such event in which participants will be able to have a look at surgical operations with the help of latest methods, including the laser technique. “While experts and urology surgeons will share their experience at the meet, the workshop will be able to bring a transformation in the treatment of patients suffering from urology disorders,” said Dr Santosh Singh, head of the urology department of the PGIMS, which is organising the workshop.

SONEPAT
Man shot dead by stepson: Jai Pal, a resident of Patel Nagar here, was allegedly shot dead by his stepson Vikki at his residence here on Saturday. The victim’s refusal to transfer his house in Vikki’s name is stated to be behind the murder. Vikki had allegedly attacked Jai Pal with knife 10 months ago. The police has registered a case of murder against Vikki and two other persons.

Rs 3.50 lakh looted at gunpoint: Three motorcycles-borne armed miscreants looted Rs 3.50 lakh at gunpoint from the Batra filling station near Bai village on the GT Road on Friday. On the complaint of station manager Jai Prakash, a case has been registered against the miscreants, who sped with the looted cash. The miscreants entered the office of the manager and looted the cash at gunpoint from the cash box kept in the manager’s room. During investigations, it was found that the CCTV cameras installed at the filling station were switched off.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Decision on DA hailed: The HP State Employees’ Federation, led by Ram Singh, has hailed the declaration of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal for releasing 6 per cent DA from January this year to all employees and pensioners of the state during the Himachal Day function in Una district on Friday. Ram Singh, accompanied by other leaders, said here on Saturday that the Dhumal government had always been benevolent to employees since it came to power in the state more than three years ago.

Rs 39 cr for water scheme: A sum of Rs 39 crore will be spent on the construction of a lift drinking water supply scheme from the Seer khud to Neras village. Deputy Speaker Rikhi Ram Kaundal said this on Wednesday while addressing a villagers’ meeting at Neras after hearing grievances of the people of the area.

SHIMLA
64 JEs promoted: Public Works Minister (PWD) Gulab Singh said here on Saturday that the government had decided to fill the vacant posts of assistant engineer in the PWD in tribal and other hard areas of the state by promoting junior engineers (JEs). He said 64 JEs had been promoted to fill the vacant posts of assistant engineer. He said the promoted engineers had been posted in Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur and Bharmaour, Rohru, Anni and Sirmour district to help accelerate road construction work.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Srinagar
22 on poll duty suspended: The District Panchayat Election officer, Anantnag, has placed 22 government employees of various departments under suspension for abstaining from election duty unauthorisedly and violating the election process. The sectoral officers concerned have been asked to charge sheet the suspended employees separately.

Udhampur
Panchayat poll in Chenani block: In the second phase of the panchayat elections in the state, the polling in the Chenani block will be held on Sunday. According to the Block Development Officer, Chenani, there are 49 panchayats in the block having a total of 69,985 voters.

DEHRADUN

ALMORA
Standing rabi crop damaged: Heavy rain and hailstones damaged the standing rabi crop in the fruit belt of the Bassoli area near the district headquarters of Almora on Friday. Villagers also lost the standing vegetables crop, which is the only cash crop in this season Villagers have demanded compensation for their damaged crops.

DEHRADUN
Literary figures honoured: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Saturday honoured eminent Hindi literary figures at a function organised by the Uttarakhand Bhasha Sansthan. Devi Dutt Sharma, Hari Dutt “Shailesh”, Shivraj Singh Rawat, Sher Singh Pangti and Dr Shiv Parsad Bhardwaj were awarded for their literary contribution to Hindi language.

Release of Sen hailed: The Uttarakhand Parivartan Party (UPP) has hailed the Supreme Court’s verdict on releasing social activist Binayak Sen. At a meeting of the party held here, party leader Kuldeep Madhwal said the verdict was a lesson to those forces that wanted to brand Sen as a terrorist. Jaiprakash Uttarakhandi, Rajiv Kothari and Mahendra Dhonidyal were also present.

Music academy: Famous musician and lyricist Ravinder Jain has planned to open a music academy in Dehradun. At a meeting with Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Saturday, he emphasised the need to preserve the rich folk culture of Uttarakhand and said he would open a sangeet academy in the state soon. On the other, Nishank said the government was committed to preserving the rich cultural and art heritage of Uttarakhand.

Hike in fees flayed: The Rashtriya Rajeev Gandhi Sena here has resented the hike in public schools’ fees here. It has also threatened to launch an agitation in protest against it.

GANGOLIHAT
Potable water sought: Residents of Balpatti in the Gangolihat subdivision have threatened to launch an agitation to demand potable water in their area that comprises 30 villages having a population of 40,000 persons. “Despite being situated between the Saryu and the Ram Ganga, the residents of Balpatti could not get a water lift scheme for the past 62 years. The local Jal Nigam officer has sent a Rs 17 crore scheme to the government, but it has not been sanctioned by the authorities concerned so far,” said Rajendra Singh Bora, a local leader.

PANTNAGAR
Harvesting of wheat crop: Pantnagar Agriculture University has started harvesting wheat crop at its farm meant for seed purposes. “We had sown 10 varieties of wheat this year, which are more protective and resistant to various diseases. The harvested crop will be given to the Uttarakhand Seed and Terai Development Corporation. These seeds will be processed and thereafter will be made available to farmers,” said a spokesman for the university.

PITHORAGARH
AIR station inspected: Almora MP Pradeep Tamta on Saturday inspected the All-India Radio (AIR) station built in 1995 here and assured the people of producing programs in the station soon and also starting the FM service from the station.

RAMNAGAR
CM’s ‘Vikas Yatra’: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank will reach Ramnagar town on April 17 under his “Vikas Yatra” and will take part in different programmes. “The CM will also take part in a multipurpose camp meant to listen to the grievances of the people,” said Manish Agarwal, a BJP leader from Ramnagar.

TANAKPUR
Woman ends fast: A woman, who was on a fast for the past three days in the Sukidang area of Tanakpur in protest against the opening of a liquor shop in their locality, ended the fast on Saturday after Tanakpur SDM Shivcharan Diwidi gave her an assurance that the shop would not open in their area. “The SDM has assured us that after April 18, when the District Magistrate returns from leave, a decision will be taken in this regard,” said the woman, Hema Kanwal.

(Compiled by BD Kasniyal)