R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
Workshop: The Centre for Genetic Disorders and Department of Human Genetics of Guru Nanak Dev University will organise a workshop on "Genetic disabilities and screening of films on disability" at the university auditorium on Monday.

BALACHAUR
Bar Assn's threat: The Balachaur Bar Association, at a meeting held on Monday under the presidentship of Mr Daulat Singh, resolved to protest against the move for inclusion of Balachaur subdivision in Ropar district. The association warned that if the Punjab Government did not desist from the move, it would go on an indefinite strike.

Barnala
Annual function: Cambridge Public School celebrated its annual function at Sri Maha Shakti Kalan Mandir here on Monday. Mr MK Gupta, Chief Manager, State Bank of India, was the chief guest.

Batala
Arrested: Dr Jatindera Jain, SSP, Batala, disclosed here on Monday that ASI Kewal Singh had busted a gang of gamblers who used to operate through computers. In this connection, Rakesh, alias Raju, and Sandip have been arrested under Section 13-A of the Gambling Act. In another raid, SI Fateh Faqir Singh arrested Deepak Kumar, a resident of Kapuri Gate, and Lali Kapur of Kaddi Hatti for a similar offence.

Bathinda
Police action flayed: Taking strong notice of the police reportedly laying siege to a Dharamshala at Kotha Guru, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar has flayed the police role and has sought appropriate action against the police officials responsible for it. In a statement released here on Monday, he said he had formed a three-member panel to probe the matter. He said the villagers told the committee that "by interfering in their religious programme the police had hurt their sentiments". They said if the police had to act against any VIP, it should have either intercepted him on his way or caught him at his residence.

Elected: Dr Amrit Sethi of Bathinda has been elected president of the IMA Punjab for 2007. According to a press note released here on Monday, Dr Sethi defeated Dr Ram Bhardwaj of Mansa by polling 106 votes out of a total of 112 valid votes. Dr Jagmohan Singh from Doraha and Dr Ravi Sharma from Jalandhar were elected vice-presidents.

HOSHIARPUR
Poppy husk seized; 2 held: The Hariana police, on a tip-off, intercepted a truck (PB-07D-9597) and arrested Jasbir Singh and Lakhwinder Singh of Jabowal village on Monday. During checking 28 kg poppy husk was seized from their possession. A case under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against them.

Suicide by housewife: Hoshiarpur: Mrs Ravinder Kaur, mother of two children and wife of Mr Avtar Singh of Talwandi village, allegedly committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance at Nariangarh on Monday.

Mandi Gobindgarh
Inaugurated: MC chief Jagmeet Singh Sahota appealed to the people of the town on Tuesday to cooperate with the council and the Health Department to contain the further spread of jaundice in the town. He was speaking at the inaugural function of the 20th tubewell in the area. He said the life of water supply pipes laid in houses was five years, their longer use may give rise to many diseases. These pipes should be replaced with plastic pipes which have much longer life. Ms Sushma Kakkar, councillor, welcomed the guests.

CHANDIGARH

Panchkula
POWER CUTS: The unprecedented frequent power cuts imposed by Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (UHBVNL) in Panchkula has virtually crippled the normal supply of electricity and water. Citizens Welfare Association president S.K. Nayyar said the electricity supply was disrupted four times today resulting in the delayed supply of drinking water. Despite various complaints made to the authorities by all citizen forums, constructive measures had not been taken by the authorities so far, rued Nayar, as per a press note.

HARYANA

Ambala
Hens found dead: Six hens were found dead at a house near the Ambala-Jagadhari road on Wednesday. Poultry experts reached the area and they took away the dead hen for carrying out tests. An official said there was nothing unusual about it. He said preliminary investigation did not show any signs of bird flu.

Cash snatched: Cash and documents were snatched from a TTE in Ambala Cantonment late on Tuesday. The TTE, Mr Ramesh Kanojia, was returning home at 1.40 a.m. after completing duty on board the Himalayan Queen. He was going home when he was accosted by two youths near Nau Gaza Pir. The youths beat up Mr Kanojia and snatched some cash and certain documents.

Seminar: A seminar was organised by ICFAI University “Emerging trends in Finance and Management” for working executives, professionals and students in Ambala on Wednesday. A presentation was also given on the emerging trends in finance.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Girl hurt in road mishap: Payal (6) daughter of Mr Premlal, was seriously injured when a truck hit her at Barmana, about 18 km from here, on Tuesday. She was immediately rushed to the district hospital from where she was shifted to the PGI at Chandigarh as both her legs were crushed and her condition was serious.

Probe welcomed: The HP State Truck Operators' Federation president, Mr Ramdass Thakur, has welcomed the magisterial inquiry into the incident of violence at Gwalthai three days back and has demanded that the probe should be completed soon and the guilty brought to 
book.