R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
Doctor honoured: The father figure of medical fraternity, Dr Harcharan Singh, was honoured with the lifetime achievement award by the Indian Medical Association here on Thursday. The chairman of the Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers’ Association, Dr B.S. Dhillon, said Dr Harcharan Singh achieved acclaim in the medical profession and was a torch bearer for the younger generation.

Hoshiarpur
Man commits suicide: Jaswant Singh, alias Bittu, died at Civil Hospital, Mukerian, on Wednesday after allegedly consuming a poisonous substance following a threat from his aunt. The police has registered a case under Section 306 of the IPC against Rita Devi, aunt of the deceased. 

DM’s directive: Mr D.K. Tiwari, District Magistrate, has banned the sale of sweets, cakes, bread, lassi, sharbat, sugarcane juice and other edibles which are not properly covered. He has also banned the sale of over ripe and rotten fruits and vegetables. He has also ordered the municipal councils and Public Health Department to ensure chlorination of water at source. 

JAGRAON
One held: Kulwinder Singh of Kukkar Bazar was arrested by the local police on a tip-off while alluring people to multiply their money by investing in a number game. A sum of Rs 310 and other articles were seized from his possession. A case under Sections 13-A, 3 and 67 of the Gambling Act has been registered.

Four booked: Amandip Singh, Paramjit Singh, Baldev Singh and a resident of Talwara village allegedly entered the house of Surjit Singh and assaulted him with an iron pipe. On a complaint of Surjit Singh, the Sidhwanbet police has registered a case under Sections 452,323 and 34 of the IPC. No arrest has been made so far.

Octroi posts: Some of the octroi posts here are without municipal employees who check and collect octroi, causing loss to the local municipal corporation. It is being alleged that officials of the corporation are trying to get rid of their responsibilities by claiming shortage of staff.

Kapurthala
52 aluminium sheets found: Fifty-two aluminium sheets were found buried in the fields near Rail Coach Factory, here on Friday. According to information, Buta Singh, Sarpanch of Gossal village, informed the Sadar police station that 10-feet-long and 2.5-feet-wide sheets, weighing 20 kg each, were found buried under the fields by a farmer when he was digging his fields in Pakhowal village. The police reached the spot and took the sheets in its possession. The police said it had inquired from the management of the Rail Coach Factory about any missing stock. But the RCF management denied the knowledge of any stock missing from the factory, the police added.

Anniversary celebrations: The three-day celebrations of the 288th birth anniversary of the founder of Kapurthala state and warrior of Ahluwalia Misl started today at State Gurdwara here. Tikka Shatrujit Singh, the descendent of Kapurthala royalty, along with other members from the royal family, would also participate in the celebrations. On April 30, a kirtan darbar would be organised from 7 pm onwards to mark the closing of the celebrations.

Ludhiana
Elected: Lion H.J.S. Khera was elected vice-governor of the Lions Club for 2006-2007 on Thursday. Lion Sheikh Kabir Hussein ( Bangla Desh) and Lion Naresh Aggarwal from Delhi were present on the occasion.

Teachers’ strike : The strike of the Teachers Association of Nankana Sahib Public School entered the seventh day with Ms Satnam Kaur and Ms Sarpreet Kaur Saini observing fast on Friday. The teachers are on strike for the ouster of Mr Mahesh Inder Singh from the post of additional secretary of the trust. They also burnt the effigy of Mahesh Inder Singh. Meanwhile, Mr Major Singh Khalsa of the Shriomani Khalsa Dal in a press note issued on Friday said they support the strike.

Chain snatched: Two motorcycle-borne youths snatched a chain from a woman in Guru Hargobind Nagar here on Thursday night. According to sources, the victim, Riya, a resident of Hargobind Nagar locality, was travelling on a rickshaw along with her minor children, when two youths riding a red-coloured Pulsar motorcycle snatched her chain and fled away. They were even chased was by some youths and by PCR personnel, but they could not be nabbed. The snatchers disappeared under the cover of darkness. 

Tarn Taran
Bail plea rejected: The application for anticipatory bail of Dr Lakhbir Singh Randhawa, Senior Medical Officer-cum-in charge, Cvil Hospital, has been rejected by the Court of District and Sessions Judge, Amritsar. Sources told this correspondent on Thursday that Dr Randhawa along with three other persons, has been booked under Section 420, 468, 471, 218, 120B by the Sarhali police. It is alleged that Dr Randhawa admitted Dilbag Singh of Khasa who was booked for possessing 1 kg of heroine by the Chheharta police, to the Community Health Centre, Sarhali, where he was then SMO, in a back date. The matter was probed by Mr B.K. Uppal, DIG, on instructions from the DGP.

CHANDIGARH

Income tax body: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Bar Association, Chandigarh. President — Mr M.L. Garg; vice-president — Mr Ashwini Kumar; secretary — Mr Tej Mohan Singh; joint secretary — Mr Harry Rikhy; and treasurer — Mr Ashok Goel.

OFFICE-Bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the All-India National Cadet Corps Defence Civilian Employees Association, NCC Directorate, Chandigarh: UDC branch secretary — Mr Raj Kumar; treasurer — Mr Anil Kumar Chandel; member — Mr Jagdish Singh; and daftary member — Mr Narinder Singh.

HARYANA

Kaithal
Residents protest: A large number of residents of Pai village held a demonstration outside the Mini Secretariat here on Thursday to protest against the registration of a criminal case against nine persons of Pai who had been booked for allegedly firing shots at Vijender on Tuesday night and injuring him. Vijender was working in his fields when some motorcycle-borne persons reached there and opened fire on him. The agitated villagers alleged that some innocent persons had been booked while the real culprits were spared. The SP, Mr Navdeep Singh, arrived on the scene and assured the gathering that the matter would be investigated thoroughly. 

Wheat arrivals: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr B.S. Malik, said here on Thursday that 45,793 metric tonnes of wheat had arrived in 33 mandis and purchase centres set up in the district. Giving further details, he said that 397016 metric tonnes had been purchased by government agencies and 60405 by traders. 

HIMACHAL

CHAMBA
Nature study camp: The Youth Hostels Association of India organised a national-level nature study camp at Youth Hostel, Dalhousie, for the second year in succession. The first batch of students for this year’s nature study camp was flagged off on Thursday by Mr M.K. Raina, Executive Director, NHPC, from Youth Hostel, Dalhousie. Addressing the students, Mr Raina praised the youth hostel authorities for organising such programmes and said students nowadays spent most of their time watching TV. Such programmes bring them closer to nature, he said. Mr Mahendra Goyal, co-ordinator of the association, explained the salient features of the programme and said nearly 400 students were expected to participate in the camp comprising eight batches. The warden of the hostel welcomed the gathering while Mr tushar Kota proposed a vote of the thanks. 

KUMARHATTI
Officials clash at SDM’s office: The SDM’s office, Nalagarh, turned into a wrestling arena when two officials started beating each other on Wednesday. The scuffle ensued in the presence of the other employees who remained mute spectators. Mr Ram Gopal, a reader in the office, asked Mr Yogesh Bali, registration clerk, about the status of the RC of a vehicle who told him that it was not ready. This infuriated Mr Gopal who allegedly slapped Mr Bali. This led to physical and verbal duels between the two. The police registered a case under Sections 341, 323 and 324 of the IPC against Mr Gopal. A case has also been registered against Mr Bali. 

NURPUR
Father, son held for firing in air: The local police arrested Mr Mahinder Singh and his son, Rashpal, of Bhadwar village, near here, on Thursday for allegedly scaring Pintu of Rinna village by firing in the air from their licensed gun. The complainant, a truck driver with the accused, had an altercation with his employers over his salary and the accused scared him by firing shots in the air. The police has seized the gun of the accused and lodged an FIR under Sections 336, 506 and 34 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.

SUNDERNAGAR
Woman sentenced: The Sessions Judge, Mandi, Mr A.C. Dogra, has convicted Roshani Devi, a resident of Khandbahan, Jogindernagar, for setting on fire the parental house of her husband in 2004 and sentenced her to rigorous imprisonment of two years along with a fine of Rs 2000. In default, the convict will undergo further imprisonment of one month. The prosecution examined 13 witness. 

SOLAN
Two held for stealing gas: The Kandhaghat police in a joint raid caught a truck driver, Suresh Kumar, and cleaner Bhagwan Dass red-handed while stealing LPG from sealed cylinders near Kandhaghat on Thursday. The truck (HP-12-3257) was on its way from gas godown, Baddi, to Thoeg. The joint team of policemen and DFSC officials recovered 20 cylinders with broken seals out of which five were found empty while 12 were partially filled. A unique metal pipe used for stealing gas by connecting two cylinders and facilitating movement of the gas from high to low pressure was also recovered. They have been booked under Section 4(1) A and 4(1) D of the LPG Regulation of Supply and Distribution Order 2000.