R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
MEETING ADVANCED: The Syndicate of Guru Nanak Dev University will meet on August 23 at 11.30 am instead of on August 24 in the syndicate room of the university, according to an official press note issued here on Thursday.

HOSHIARPUR
DIRECTIONS ISSUED: Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, in a press note said the Election Commission had given on extension of seven days for making amendments in the voter lists. The amendments would be done up to August 21. However, there would be no change in any other programme, the press note said.

ROAD MISHAP: Ashok Kumar of Bhagaran village died on the spot while Jatinder Singh of the same village was seriously wounded when a truck (HP-33-5187) hit their scooter on the Dasuya-Hajipur road on Friday. Jatinder Singh was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Mukerian. The truck driver has absconded. The Mukerian police has registered a case.

POPPY HUSK SEIZED: The Sadar Police, Hoshiarpur, arrested Sunder Singh of Manan village under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act for being in possession of 4.5 kg of poppy husk.

KHARAR
EYE CAMP: As many as 30 patients were operated on for implant of intra-ocular lenses and more than 400 patients examined at a free eye camp organised by the local Lions Club (Top) at the Civil Hospital, Kharar, on Friday. The camp was organised in collaboration with the District Blindness Control Society, Ropar.

LUDHIANA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office bearers of the Indian Veterinary Association: president — Dr R.K. Sharma (Delhi), secretary general — Dr P.K. Kulshrestha (Delhi), Treasurer — Dr Sher Singh (Haryana); vice-presidents — Dr G.S. Chahal (Punjab); Dr Biresh Prasad Sinha (Bihar), Dr Bhawani Singh (Rajasthan), Dr M. Om Murugan (Tamil Nadu); and zonal secretaries — Dr Dharmendra Sinha (Bihar), Dr Ashok Mantroo (Chandigarh), Dr T. Srinivasan (Andhra Pradesh), Dr Tejwinder Singh (Punjab).

TALENT HUNT: To mark the Independence Day, the Pranayam and Laffing Club organised its second ‘talent hunt’ programme at Mini Rose Garden here on Saturday in which 14 students from seven government schools were selected for monthly scholarships, including text books, exercise books and uniforms. According to Mr S.S. Kapoor, secretary of the club, several dignitaries, including Mr Surinder Dawar, MLA, Mr Sat Pal Gosain, former Deputy Speaker of Punjab Assembly, Mr Parveen Bansal, Mr Kailash Kapoor and Mr Gurdeep Singh Neetu, all councillors, attended the function.

MEDICAL CAMP: The Bhai Ghanaiya Ji Sewa Sanstha, Haibowal Khurd, organised 190th free medical camp at Primary School, Kaind village, on Saturday. Mr Shamsher Singh, president, in a press note stated that 220 patients were examined for various eye problems and 205 children were examined for different ailments. Free medicines were distributed among needy patients. Amongst others present on the occasion were Mr Surinderpal Singh, Mr Gurdev Singh, Mr Sajjan Singh, Mr Gurmel Singh and Mr Shamsher Singh Khaira.

CASH COUNTER OPENED: Mr G.S. Julka, General Manager, Telecom, on Saturday inaugurated a cash counter for depositing telephone bills at telephone exchange, Badewal. According to a press note, the 16th cash counter in the city was opened for the convenience of the telephone subscribers while depositing their telephone bills.

I-DAY CELEBRATED: Guru Nanak Ayurvedic Medical College and Research Institute, Gopalpur, celebrated Independence Day on Thursday. Dr Balwinder Singh Walia, chairman, hoisted the National Flag. The students presented a colourful cultural programme. The participants were also given prizes on the occasion.

MALERKOTLA
CINEMA FIRE: Property worth lakhs was destroyed in a fire which broke out in Kamal cinema, near Satta Chowk, here on Friday. A short circuit is stated to be the cause behind the fire. A local fire brigade was called but due to the shortage of staff, the firemen failed to control the fire.

PHILLAUR
AID SOUGHT: The president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Punjab, Mr Sukhminderpaul Singh Grewal, on Saturday urged the Union Government to provide financial assistance to the border state of Punjab on the pattern of Jammu and Kashmir. He also demanded adequate financial help for the state which had been affected by drought.

SAMRALA
DECLARE ASSETS: Prof Hamdardvir Nausheharvi, a noted Punjabi writer, has asked the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to declare the assets and properties of the Congress party ministers and MLAs.

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT: Mr B.S. Pannu, a retired college teacher, has urged the authorities of the Education Department to give severe punishment to the teachers and principals involved in child-beating in schools. The erring teachers should be suspended, heavily fined or even dismissed in severe beating case, he said.

APPEALED: The Punjab Government has not fulfilled its decision to abolish six additional police districts created during the period of terrorism. Mr Kuldeep Khullar, a social worker, has appealed the government to abolish the six additional police districts and spend money on development works. 

ARRESTED: Three persons have been arrested under the NDPS Act for being in possession of smack. This was stated by Mr Narinder Bhargav, SSP, in a press note issued here on Thursday. Those arrested have been identified as Sahib Singh of Choongan village under Bhikhiwind police station, Harjit Singh of Khawaspur village and Angrej Singh of Fatehbad village. The Valtoha police has seized 9.5 kg of smack from Sahib Singh while the Goindwal police seized 4 gram of smack from Harjit Singh and 8 gram from Angrej Singh.

HARYANA

AMBALA
SEMINAR: A seminar on banking finance was held here on Saturday. The Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ambala branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India organised the seminar in which Mr U.S. Bhargava, General Manager, Punjab National Bank, Chandigarh, was the chief guest. The members of the General Merchant Association demanded that improvement in the working of various bank branches like installation of counting machines, change in the system of depositing cheque drafts for clearing in box, also, soiled and spoilt notes should not be issued. They said that the customer service was poor and it should be improved. The Haryana Exporters Association demanded that the export finance be made to the exporters according to the rules and regulations framed by the Foreign Exchange Dealers Association. Guarantee charges should be reduced and should be available to the exporters without any security. The processing charge of letter of credit should be reasonable and the person handling the business should be well conversant with the day-to-day functioning of foreign exchange.

FATEHABAD
MEETING HELD: A meeting of an NGO, Parivartan, was held here on Friday in which concern was expressed over the deteriorating sanitary conditions in the town. The meeting, which was presided over by the president of the NGO, Mr Ramesh Monga, also criticised the levy of fire tax. The secretary of the NGO, Dr Ramesh Sethi, said 16 out of 19 municipal councillors had signed a memorandum seeking the waiver of the tax. The memorandum would be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, he said.