R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
OFFICE-BEARERS: Bharishtachar Virudhi Manch has announced its new district unit office bearers. They are: Mr Gurnam Singh Varpal, president; Mr Kirpal Singh Nazari and Mr Manjit Singh; senior vice-presidents; Ms Rajrani, Mr Kashmir Singh Vallah and Ms Sukhpal Kaur, vice-presidents; Mr Sulakhan Singh and Mr Amanbir Singh Khokhar, general secretaries.

EXHIBITION: A two-day Regional Social Science Exhibition was organised by the Social Science Committee in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) on the Kendriya Vidyalaya-I school premises on Thursday. Mr S. Vijay Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, KV’s Jammu region, was the chief guest. A group song, folk dance and various other competitions were organised.

INVITED: Dr Surinder Singh Parmar, Senior Professor of Radiation and Nuclear Geo-Physics, Guru Nanak Dev University, has been invited to present his research papers at the 22nd International Conference on Nuclear Tracks in Solids, being organised by the International Nuclear Track Society at Unveritat Autonoma de Barecelona, Spain, from August 23-27.

Bathinda
DEMAND: About 200 students of the local Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering and Technology on Thursday urged the Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Technical University, not to implement the 1 to 3 rule against the 1 to 5 rule which was applicable earlier in engineering colleges. They also demanded the withdrawal of proposed three sessions of in-course training as against full-fledged six months’ training at the end of the third year of their respective degree courses.

COMPETITION: Mr DPS Kharbanda, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), on Thursday said painting and essay writing competition on the use of non-conventional sources of energy were held in different schools in connection with the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, which was being celebrated as “Akshay Uday Divas” in the country.

SUICIDEs: Veena, a mother of two and her nephew Zila Singh, who was unmarried, both residents of Mehraj Patti Karam Chand village, died under mysterious circumstances on Thursday. The deceased were suspected to have committed suicide after consuming poison.

Fazilka
CELEBRATIONS: The Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) celebrated breast-feeding day here on Friday as part of the week-long celebrations of AWWA at the local military station. The importance of breast-feeding was highlighted in a seminar. Capt. Dr Alok Jaiswal, Medical Officer, gave a detailed account of the benefits of breast-feeding. A one-day medical camp was also held.

Hoshiarpur
EX-GRATIA: The Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, gave an ex-gratia of Rs 5,000 each to the families of deceased Mohan Lal and Sheetal Singh, who were buried alive while taking out bricks from an old well at Bhuno village.

Nabha
FLOOD RELIEF: The Block Samiti Nabha, has donated Rs 1 lakh towards Chief Minister's Flood Relief Fund. Its chairperson, Mrs Nachatar Kaur Paharpur has given the cheques to BDPO Nabha. APPOINTED: Amardeep Khanna, a local Municipal Councillor, has been appointed assessor with the Land Acquisition Tribunal, for Improvement Trust, Nabha by the Punjab Governor Punjab for one year.

PaTIALA
EXAM DATE: The supplementary examinations being conducted by Punjabi University would begin from September 29. The last date for accepting forms with late fee is August 31. After this, no form and fee would be accepted. This was stated by Dr Baldev Singh, Chief Coordinator, Exams, in a press note issued here on Saturday.

SEMINAR: The National Service Scheme (NSS) Department of Punjabi University would organise a seminar-cum-camp on “blood donation” at the local Khalsa College on Saturday. Mr Tejveer Singh, Deputy Commissioner, will inaugurate the camp and Dr Param Bakhshish Singh, Registrar of the university, would preside over the function. The Principal of the college, Dr Harbir Singh, will be the guest of honour. The seminar is being organised in association with the State Bank of Patiala in which more than 100 NSS volunteers are expected to take part. An exhibition on theme would also be organised.

Magazine released: The railways released a special issue of its magazine “Indian Railways” with a focus on Diesel Loco Modernisation (DMW) works here on Friday. It was released by Chief Administrative Officer A.K Gupta. Editor Indian Railways Magazine M.R. Kalyani and other senior officials were also present. The issue covers various features of the DMW, including production activities, finance management, material management, IT, sports, welfare activities, healthcare and future plans. 

Phagwara
CASH PRIZES: Dera Sant Hans Raj Pandwa village, will on Saturday present cash prizes, shields, siropas and medals to outstanding rural students of seven villages: Pandwa, Mauli, Khera, Nangal, Jagatpur Jattan, Bhanoki and Nihalgarh. Sant Mohinder Pal, present dera head on Thursday informed that meritorious students of class V would be given Rs 1,100, of class VIII Rs 1,500, of class X Rs 2,100, besides shields and siropas, while class XII students would be awarded a gold medal.

SAMRALA
SPORTS CLUB: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Shri Guru Nanak Dev Sports Club, Kot Gangurai: chairman- Mr Nagar Singh (USA); president-Mr Rajinder Singh Kooner; vice-president-Mr Sukhjinder Singh Kooner; general secretary-Master Mewa Singh; joint secretary-Mr Gurmeet Singh Grewal; cashier-Mr Sickander Singh Kooner; and Assistant Cashier-Mr Baljinder Singh Kooner.

programme: A Community Policing Programme, as an extension of the public redressal system, is being organised by the Khanna police district at Samrala on Saturday, said Mr Prasad Barn, SSP Khanna. The objective of this programme was to take up the pending complaints in the presence of persons concerned. The supervisory officer would monitor the inquiry process. A suitable decision regarding the pending matters would be taken at the spot, he added.

DEAD: A social worker and lambardar of Bharthala village Labh Singh (66) died here on Friday morning due to a heart attack. A condolence meeting by the Punjab Lambardars Union was held on Friday at the local civil rest house, under the chairmanship of Tehsil presidents Mr Sohan Singh Guron.

BOOKED: The police has busted a second gang of smugglers in less than a week. The Voltoha police nabbed a six-member gang. Earlier the Khalra police had arrested 11 smugglers, including two BSF personnel.

HARYANA

AMBALA
KV WORKSHOP: A three-day workshop for English teachers of the Chandigarh region began at KV No 2 here on Friday. Course director T.P. Gaur, Principal KV Rekong Peo, apprised the participants of the objectives and thrust areas of the workshop. Ms Jatinder Kaur of KV No.2, Ms Reena Bose of KV 3BRD and Ms Baljeet Kaur of Faridkot are the resource persons. KV No. 2 principal R.V.S. Shishodia stressed the importance of the workshop. Fortysix teachers from various KVs are participating in the workshop.

VANAMAHOTSAVA: Vanamahotsava was celebrated by Punjab National Bank and DAV Public School here on Friday. Senior manager, PNB DAV branch, Chetan Sethi said saplings were planted by school Principal Reena Nagrath. Among others, Mr Satish Bansal and Mr IS Bedi were present. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Nagrath said trees were important natural resource which provide ecological balance and clean environment. Mr I.S. Bedi said the bank planned to plant five saplings per staff member in the country.

Bhiwani
COWS RECOVERED: The police recovered as many as 27 cows being illegally transported for slaughter from a truck on Wednesday. The police impounded the truck and arrested three persons in this connection.

Jhajjar
SEIZED: Officials of the Agriculture Department and the Bahadurgarh police raided the premises of a pesticides manufacturing factory at the Modern Industrial Estate in Bahadurgarh on Monday and seized 80 drums of pesticide and arrested one persons.

Panipat
POLL STUNT: The announcements made by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, regarding concessions in house and fire taxes are a poll stunt. This was stated by the district president of the HVP, Mr Surendra Singh Ahlawat, while addressing public gatherings at Saksera, Budanpur, Kat Kauli, Hathwala and Khojkipur villages on Thursday. The public gatherings were organised by the HVP in connection with is proposed rally at Delhi on August 25.

Rewari
NABBED: The Dharuhera police on Wednesday raided a hideout near Kharkhara village and nabbed four gangsters who were reportedly planning to loot a petrol station. The police also seized a country-made pistol, one live cartridge, several iron rods and a van. They have been identified as Sarjit, Nawab, Inderpal and Mubarik. Their fifth accomplice Mukesh, however escaped.

Sonepat
BOOKED: The Kharakhauda police on Wednesday registered a case under Sections 406, 409and 420, IPC, against Mr Sathir, sarpanch of Saidpur village, on the charge of misappropriation of panchayat funds. The action followed the receipt of a complaint from Mr Ishwar Singh Lathar, Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Kharakhauda, alleging misuse of panchayat funds.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Chamba
WATER SCARCITY: Residents of the Sarol area comprising Sarol, Bhadrum and Haripur villages in the suburb of Chamba town are facing an acute shortage of drinking water. The existing water supply scheme for the Sarol vicinity is insufficient to meet the requirements of the area.

Dharamsala
HONOURED: Archana Dwivedi, a student of BA II of Government College, Dharamsala, has won first prize in the all-India Daya Krishna Nibandh Pratiyogita 2003, held at the Department of Philosophy and Religion, Vishava Bharti University, Shanti Niketan, Students from all over the country had taken part in the competitions.

Hamirpur
DENTAL CAMP: As many as 173 patients suffering from various dental diseases were examined and treated at a three-day camp organised for ex-servicemen and their families of Hamirpur district and ended on Thursday. The camp was organized by the Medical Corps of the Western Command, Chandimandir Medicines free of cost were given to the patients.

Kumarhatti
BODY FOUND: A man was found dead in a khud near Kuinakala village under Bhojnagar panchayat from here on Thursday. The deceased has identified as Dhani Ram. In an another incident, Jagar Ram, a pillion rider was killed when a jeep has hit the motor cycle near balehar village on Wednesday. A case has been registered.