R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

ABOHAR
SEARCH INTENSIFIED: With the recovery of the body of Amrik Singh (21), member of the state kabaddi team, from the Sadhuwali headworks of the link canal, the police has intensified search for those named in the FIR, official sources said, here, on Monday. The father of the victim, Mr Sadhu Singh of Bahawwala village, had alleged that five persons, including a woman, had kidnapped his son.

AMRITSAR
INAUGURATION: Mr Jaspal Singh Kapoor, president of the state unit of the Janta Dal, inaugurated a premix project on Sultanwind road, here, on Sunday. He also heard the grievances of residents.

NAGAR KIRTAN: A nagar kirtan was held by ‘Akal Takht ki fauj’ to mark the three-day convention here on Sunday. The procession passed through the main areas of the city, demonstrating against the evil of drug addiction.

HOUSING SOCIETY: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Dhingra Housing Welfare Society: president — Mr Avtar Singh; senior vice-president — Mr S.K. Bansal; vice-president — Mr N.M. Lamba; general secretary — Mr S.D. Sharma; joint secretaries — Mr P.P.S. Tuli, Mr M.M. Mehra and Mr R.K. Bhagat; and treasurer — Mr S.K. Mahajan.

CONSUMER DAY: National Consumer Day was celebrated by the Amritsar Consumers Welfare Forum and Teachers Union on the premises of DAV Senior Secondary School, here, on Sunday. Mr Bakshi Ram Arora, Chairman, Improvement Trust, was the chief guest. Speakers talked about the legal rights of consumers. Mr Makhan Singh, District Food and Supply Controller, also addressed the audience.

CONVOCATION: On the 29th annual convocation of S.R. Government College, the chief guest, Dr S.P. Singh, expressed concern over the deplorable condition of educational institutions, especially government colleges. He said that such institutions needed to be upgraded. As many as 400 students were given degrees on the occasion. Ms Veena Khanna, Principal, presented the annual report and highlighted the major achievements of the college.

BATHINDA
GRANTS: Deputy Commissioner, R. Venkatratnam has said that the state government had issued guidelines that grants from the municipal councils, panchayats and other institutions, which could not complete or start their respective works of development be withdrawn. Addressing a meeting here on Sunday, he said the district authorities would make inquiries into the matter.

FARIDKOT
PENSION: Deputy Commissioner A. Venu Prasad distributed cheques for Rs 1.75 lakh as pension to 42 ‘sangarshi yodhas’ who had been imprisoned from three to six months for taking part in ‘dharam yudh morchas’ launched by the SAD in Punjab. Mr Prasad said the district administration had received 136 applications and 69 cases were under consideration.

HOSHIARPUR
AYURVEDIC MEDICINE: The birth anniversary of Lord Dhanvantri, father of ayurvedic system of medicine, was celebrated here on Sunday. The state-level function was presided over by Mr Mohinder Kaur Joshi, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Punjab. More than 500 vaids and hakim from the state participated in the function.

VIDYA MANDIR: The golden jubilee of Vidya Mandir was celebrated here on Sunday. Some old students, including Mr Tikshan Sud, State Minister of Excise and Taxation, Punjab, and prominent citizens participated in the programme. A colourful cultural programme was organised and Mr Sud gave prizes to students who had distinction in academics and sports.

MALERKOTLA
2 INJURED: Two persons were injured seriously when their scooter collided with a car at Flaund village, near here, on Sunday. According to the police, Jeet Singh and Pappu Singh were on their way to Malerkotla when the car hit them. They have been admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

EYE CAMP: An eye camp was organised by the local Rotary Club at Kali Mata Mandir, here, on Sunday. According to Mr Raj Kumar Jindal, secretary of the club, Dr G.S. Randhawa and his team examined about 1,000 patients and operated upon 81 others. Medicines were also provided free of cost.

NAWANSHAHR
EX-SERVICEMEN CELL: A meeting of the district unit of the Ex-servicemen cell of the PPCC was held at Punjab Mata Vidhyawati Bhavan, here, on Sunday under the chairmanship of Lieut-Col Jernail Singh (retd). Problems faced by ex-servicemen were discussed at the meeting. The cell also demanded that a full-time District Sainik Welfare office be set up at Nawanshahr.

NOMINATED: Mr Lalit Mohan Pathak, local Congress leader, has been nominated to the PPCC as special invitee. He has also been made the general secretary of the Punjab Youth Congress.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of the Gazetted and Non-Gazetted SC/BC Employees Federation: president — Mr Charan Singh; senior vice-president — Mr Kashmiri Lal; vice-presidents — Mr Desh Raj and Mr Sarabjit Lal; general secretary — Mr Dinesh Kumar, and treasurer — Mr Harmesh Lal.

POWER SUPPLY: In order to improve quality and reliability of power supply to its customers in the state, the Punjab State Electricity Board is laying emphasis on strengthening its transmission and distribution system. This was disclosed in a press note released by the PSEB. 

CHANDIGARH

CULTURAL FUNCTION: A cultural function was organised in Sector 38 (West) by the Joint Action Committee Residents Welfare Association of the area here on Monday. Dances, songs and a puppet show by the artist of the Song and Drama Division enthralled the audience. Vanita Jagdish, Anita, Abhinav Singla and Apoorva, all local children, also performed at the function. Mr Surinder Mohan, Punjab Inspector-General of Police, was the chief guest.

HARYANA

KURUKSHETRA
ELECTED: The following were declared elected office-bearers of the District Bar Association, Kurukshetra, on Saturday: president — Mr Brij Gopal Sharma; vice-president — Dr A.N. manocha; secretary — Mr Jaswinder Singh Banger; joint secretary — Mr Ravinder Bhardwaj; and treasurer — Mr Om Prakash Proothi.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

NURPUR
NOMINATED: To implement the National Agriculture Technology Project in Kangra district, the state government has nominated seven non-official members to the governing board of the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA). According to a notification issued by the Department of Agriculture, Mr Manoj Katoch, Mr Mast Ram Bhandari, Mr Bir Singh and Mr Krishan Kumar have been nominated as representatives of livestock, farmers, horticulturists and sericulturists, respectively.