The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

MAILBAG

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
Promoting sports: The state government has chalked out a comprehensive plan for promoting sports at the grassroots level. This was disclosed by sports minister Gulzar Singh Ranike at a function organised by the Sports Department at Khalsa College here. The minister handed over equipment worth Rs 25. 50 lakh to sports officers of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran as the first installment.

Help sought: The state government is planning to invite international experts for the restoration and preservation of heritage sites in the holy city. This was stated by principal secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Geetika Kalha, while unveiling the ambitious plan with an outlay of Rs 150 crore for Amritsar.

BATALA
Road network: The coalition government has prepared a comprehensive plan for strengthening the road network in the state. This was stated by Qadian MLA Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal while interacting with journalists after laying the foundation stones of two link roads here on Monday.

Two killed in road mishap: Two persons, Vishal Kumar (38) of Thathairi Mohalla, and Ramandeep (24) of Sunder Nagar, Batala, were killed on the spot when their Alto car (PB-02-AR-9997) rammed into a stationary truck (HR-58A-9664) on the Batala-Gurdaspur road near Gillanwali village here last night. The driver of the truck, Surjit Singh, a resident of Sarhali Kalan in Tarn Taran district ran away from the spot, leaving behind the truck. SHO Sadar police station Sukhbir Singh told media persons here on Monday that a case under sections 304-A, 279 and 427, IPC, had been registered against Surjit Singh.

HOSHIARPUR
Two die: Heatwave claimed two lives here on Monday. According to official sources, a painter, Inderjit (30) of the local Sutehri road locality collapsed near the Government College chowk here on Sunday and died at the civil hospital. Such Singh (60) of Sukhiabad was the other victim, who collapsed on a road near his house.

Hoshiarpur
Woman dies in stove burst: A woman died while her husband suffered serious burn injuries here on Monday when their stove blew off while cooking meals. The victims have been identified as Rambha and Bhagwan Singh of Bihar. Police said Rambha’s clothes caught fire and her husband was injured while trying to save her. Both were admitted to civil Hospital where Rambha succumbed to her injuries.

Infant dumped near hospital: A six-month-old infant was found abandoned near the local civil hospital on Monday. According to sources, some people saw a couple abandoning the infant in the bushes. Before the two could be caught, they disappeared. Passers-by admitted the baby in the hospital.

Man booked: Hariana police has booked Balraj Singh alias Raja of Sarain village for allegedly compelling a person to commit suicide. According to the police, Balraj made false allegations of theft against Davinder Singh due to which latter became upset. The accused also took up the matter with the panchayat, which acquitted Davinder. Later, Davinder along with his wife went to the residence of Balraj to apologise but the accused allegedly threatened them with dire consequences. Davinder reached his house and committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree. On the complaint of deceased's mother, Harbans Kaur, a case was registered against Balraj.

Mother, youth die: A youth and his mother ended their lives by consuming some poison in Dasuya town of this district on Sunday. According to police sources, the bodies of Kamlesh Rani (45), wife of Khajan Singh, and her son Lakhwinder Singh (22) were found at their residence at Langarpura on Monday. The Dasuya police completed the proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC.

A promise: Twelve persons, including seven women of Maggopatti and Sarhala Kalan villages of Mahilpur block, appeared before SP(Headquarters), Hoshiarpur, Opinderjit Singh Ghuman in his office on Saturday and stated that they would give up smuggling of poppy husk and smack.

Sangrur
Urged: The Tarksheel society (Barnala zone) has urged the UGC to set up Shaheed Bhagat Singh chairs in all universities of the country. Society’s head (Barnala zone) Hardev Rathi said on Monday that the research work on martyr’s ideology could extensively be done if the proposal was accepted.

Seized: The Moonak police has seized eight bags of poppy husk (3.20 quintals) from a car near Alisher village in the Moonak area on Sunday.The police on Monday arrested Gurbhej Singh, resident of Harkishanpura village (Bhawanigarh) and occupant of the car, while another occupant Bikar Singh of Mattran village (Bhawanigarh), fled from the scene.

CHANDIGARH

CONFERENCE: An academic conference on "Polysystic Ovarion Disease and Hirsutism" was held at Parwanoo on Sunday. Renowned specialists, including PGI’s head of endocrinology department Dr Anil Bhansali participated in the conference. Hirsutism is the growth of long and coarse hair on the face and body of women in a pattern similar to that found in men, informed internationally acclaimed dermato-laser surgeon Dr Vikas Sharma. It may also signal the presence of a hormone imbalance or a hormone-producing tumour. The latest cosmetic technique to remove hair are lasers that kill the hair follicles very precisely, a process that is speedy, relatively painless, efficient and possibly permanent.

TRAINING: A 12-day in-service course for postgraduate teachers of English has started at Kendriya Vidyalaya No 2, 3 BRD, Air Force Station, here. Forty teachers from various KVs of Chandigarh, Delhi, Dehradun, Jaipur and Jammu regions are taking part. S.S. Shehrawat, Assistant Commissioner, KVS (CR), Chandigarh, inaugurated the course. “The academic training would be followed by three 3-day workshops spread over the current academic session”, informed Ranjana Bassi, venue Principal and the director of the course. The aims and objectives of the programme were highlighted by Amita Sharma, vice-principal of the school.

COURSE: The Institute of Correctional Administration (ICA), Chandigarh, on Monday began a six-day course on the “identification of best prison practises”, in collaboration with the Bureau of Police Research and Development, ministry of home affairs. Upneet Lalli, deputy director of ICA, said 30 prison officers from nine states are taking part in the course, which was inaugurated by former justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court J.C. Verma. Lalli said the aim of the course was improve human resource in Indian prisons. The training programme will not only sensitise the prison officials, but will also motivate them to bring about an attitudinal change.

BOOK RELEASED: An Urdu poetry book, "Aaj Ka Sach", by acclaimed poet Rajender Chand, was released at a function held at the Community Centre, Sector 15, under the aegis of Yuva Lekhak Manch, here on Sunday. This is the fourth literary creation of Chand, whose verses have been adored by all for highlighting social issues. Another Punjabi book "Aurat Ton Aurat Tak da Safar", complied and edited by noted litterateur Dr Sharanjit Kaur was released at a seminar organised by Writers Club at the Uttam complex. The book comprising of select articles, mostly contributed by Surjit Kalsi and other NRI writers, brought to focus the problems and controversies concerning "womanhood".

HIMACHAL PRADESH

KULLU
Priority to education: The Himachal Pradesh Government has given priority to education and implemented the ‘Himachal Pradesh Private University Act’ in the state. There are more than 16,000 institutions through which education is being given. This was stated by agriculture minister Raj Krishan Gaur, at a function in a school at Halan-1on Monday. He said seats had been increased in the polytechnic college from 570 to 950, and the government had nnounced provisions of free education to female children at all levels in the state.

DALHOUSIE
Health centre gutted: A government primary health centre and a post office building at Dradda village about 28 km from here was gutted by forest fire on Sunday. According to official reports, these offices were functioning in a rented building. All office records were burnt. Besides this, a private house, shop and a store of timber was also burnt. A loss of Rs 50 lakh was estimated.

Nahan
1 dies as earth caves in: Layak Ram (45) of Shimana village was buried alive while three others were critically injured as earth caved in at Kayarik village, about 110 km from here, on Sunday. About 18 persons of surrounding villages were performing shramdan for the construction of a building and ground in Middle School, Kayarik, when earth caved in burying four. While three of them were immediately rescued Layak Ram could not be rescued. Balbir Singh, Deep Ram and Kuldeep who were rushed to the Dadahu referral hospital in a critical condition were stated to be out of danger.