ABOHAR
PSEB privatisation decried: The Technical Services Union on Wednesday has condemned the Punjab State Electricity Board Management for misleading employees as well as consumers on privatisation in a resolution adopted at a meeting here said struggle would continue till the Electricity Bill 2003 was scrapped. Hem Raj, circle president Muktsar, vice-president Krishan Kumar Ghayal, secretary Balwinder Singh, joint secretary Lajja Ram, divisional presidents Piara Lal Gidderbaha, Mukhtiar Singh Malout, Amarjit Pal Muktsar, Shiv Charan Abohar, Sunder Pal Badal and Suresh Singh convener Fazilka division also attended the meeting. 

AMRITSAR
Man beaten up, dies: A person of Uthia village under Ajnala police station died when some residents of the same locality beat him up here late on Monday in a property dispute between three brothers to which he was not linked. Three brothers Gurvinder Singh, Pritam Singh and Kulwinder Singh of the same locality had a dispute. Kulwinder Singh ran away and hid himself in a dera run by Kashmir Singh and Baldev Singh. When Pritam and Gurvinder reached the dera they asked the dera owners to handover their brother to them. But the dera owners said their brother was not hiding in the dera. Gurdev Singh along with others arrived on the site and after arguments Gurdev Singh fired in the air from his revolver. People gathered at the site beat him up and due to severe beating he collapsed on the spot. The police have registered a case.

PCCTU unit office-bearers: Elections of the office-bearers and delegates of DAV College unit of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ union (PCCTU) were held on Tuesday. R.K. Kaushal was elected president, and Rajneesh Popi Secretary, Sameer Kalia Joint secretary, Vivek Aggarwal finance secretary. Ashima Walia was nominated vice-president, Following were elected delegates R.K.Kaushal (political science); Baldev Sachdeva (Commerce); Gurdas Das Sekhon (economics), B.B.Yadav (Physical Education), Kapil Goyal (Computers) and Vikas Bhardwaj (Physical Education).

Fatehgarh Sahib
MINISTER URGED: The Assistant Public Relation Officers’ Association has urged minister for public relation Bikram Jit Singh Majithia to fulfil their demands. President of the association Jai Krishan has said the vacancies in the public relations department, particularly of DPROs, have been affecting work.

Hoshiarpur
Nawanshahr man looted: Two unidentified persons snatched Rs 3,400 cash, a mobile phone and a tool-kit from a Nawanshahr resident while the latter was on his way from village Mohawal to Mola Bahadpur. According to the police, the victim identified as Pawan Kumar, was on his weekly tour, selling prepaid cards to dealers in the Garhshankar area. At around 5 pm, the accused confronted him while he was on his motorbike and forcibly took away cash and valuables.

‘Diesel’ thief: Gagan Singh, a salesman at Surjit Petrol Pump, Miani Road, Dasuya, has complained to the police that a truck came to the filling station at around 3 am on Tuesday morning and its driver asked him to fill a 3,200-litre diesel tank lying in the vehicle. After getting it filled, the driver demanded a bill and when Gagan went inside to fetch it, the latter allegedly sped away with the vehicle. The cost of diesel is stated to be Rs 94,592. A case has been registered.

Drug sale to be regulated: The sale of Sildenafil Citrate tablets, which are used for sexual enhancement, will now be made available only on the prescription of competent authority and chemists will have to maintain a complete record of their sale. This decision was taken in the meeting of state drugs advisory committee held at Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Dr Sukhdev Singh, director health services, Punjab recently. According to Dr Dharambir Kapur, a panel member, who attended the meeting, said to curb the illegal sale of medicines it has been decided that stern action would be taken against the chemists who flout norms. “Their licences would be suspended for 15 days for the first offence. For subsequent violations, a three-month suspension or cancellation has been proposed. Also it has been proposed that not more than 2 retail licences should be granted up to population of 2,500. For proper storage, the druggists have been asked to install air conditioners in their shops.

Liquor seized: The Hoshiarpur police on Tuesday arrested Bhajan Lal of local Naloian area and seized 17 boxes of country-made liquor and rum from his possession. His accomplices, Ravinder Singh, son of Harjinder Singh of local Roopnagar, and Sanjiv Kumar managed to flee.

Patiala
DEMANDED: The Punjab State Karamchari Dal has demanded a 6 per cent increase in the DA instalment with immediate effect on the pattern of the Central Government. General secretary of the association Kulbir Singh Sidkheri told this to mediapersons here on Wednesday.

FELICITATED: A national-level function of DAV institutions was organised in New Delhi in which nearly 20,000 students participated. Students of DAV Public School, Patiala, who qualified their CBSE examination with 90 per cent marks and above, were felicitated. The students are Sonia, Simrat, Parul, Harshbir, Anshul, Gitanshu, Sanya and Diksha.

CHANDIGARH

honoured: The fourth Yuva Patrakar Samman Divas was organised by Simmi Marwaha Charitable Trust on the 29th birth anniversary of late journalist Simmi Marwaha. Panjab University topper Ambika Bamezai of Delhi, Sachin Arora of Jalandhar, Madurendra Kumar and Kuljeet Dyalpuri were honoured with silver mementos. Writer Santokh Singh Dheer and Vipan Pubby, resident editor, Indian Express, were present on the occasion and honoured the young journalists. — TNS

Deaddiction camp: More than 80 per cent people suffering from drug and alcohol abuse do not seek treatment due to the high cost of treatment, and loss of wages. This was revealed by professor B.S. Chavan, professor and head of department of psychiatry, GMCH, at a de-addiction camp at Khuda Ali Sher village, here on Thursday. 29 patients were admitted at the camp, including seven children. The 10-day camp was conducted by the GMCH with help from the village panchayat at a dharamshala near the gurdwara in the village. — TNS