AMRITSAR
VCs interact: Prof John W. Hepburn, vice-president (research), University of British Columbia, Canada, who visited Guru Nanak Dev University here on Monday, met vice-chancellor Dr Jai Rup Singh to identify areas of collaboration at the university and its constituent colleges.Dr Jai Rup Singh apprised Professor Hepburn of academic programmes available at the university.They discussed a joint degree programme at the postgraduate level for exposure to students.

BARNALA
Fire crackers banned: Keeping in view the heavy noise pollution, District Magistrate R. L. Mehta has banned bursting of fire crackers near hospitals, schools and colleges, all silent zones, where noise pollution impairs the routine work of students and causes problems to patients. While inside the city limits, bursting of fire crackers has been banned between 10 pm to 6 am. The order would remain in force till November 30. The District Magistrate has also directed the municipal committee to keep fire tenders in order to avoid any untoward incident. Meanwhile, retail sellers of crackers have been advised to keep water storage tanks and buckets full of sand near the sales point.

Youth injured: A youth of Sadhowal village lost his arm in a thresher here on Tuesday. Sohan Singh, a resident of the village, said that Gurpreet Singh (21) was working on thresher to extract pulses. Suddenly, his arm was caught in it. Gurpreet, whose father passed away last year, has three sisters who are of marriageable age. The village panchayat has, therefore, demanded financial help for this handicapped youth so that he can meet his medical expenses.

Ram Udasi remembered: To observe the 20th death anniversary of noted Punjabi poet Sant Ram Udasi, a symposium was held on Friday at Dukh Niwaran Aushdhalya. The symposium was presided over by Pritam Singh Rahi, president, Likhari Sabha, Barnala. Haqam Singh Noor presented the details of the ideology adopted by Udasi in his poetry. He said that Udasi has beautifully portrayed the excesses on Dalits and the poor. He raised his voice for the labour class who toil hard for their earning. A class division of rich and the poor, capitalist and proletariat society can easily be seen in his poetry. Jagraj Dhaula presented patriotic songs to pay tributes to the noted poet.

BATHINDA
Sports meet: Silver Oaks School, Bathinda, held its annual sports and athletic meet on November 4. The function commenced with the hoisting of flag by the chief guest Ripudaman Singh, a Dronacharya awardee. This was followed by a march past by the contingents of all four houses. Then, the best athlete Amarpal Singh lit the flame and Garima Verma followed it up with the oath taking ceremony. The students of middle and senior classes participated in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m events. The junior classes took part in drills, blind fold race, dumb bell balance race, tied back-to-back race. Arvind Kaur Brar, the director of Silver Oaks School, proposed the vote of thanks.

Cultural programme: Punjab National Bank (PNB), regional office Bathinda, organised the intra-bank cultural competition at MSD School, which included solo song, group song and instumental music competitions. Regional Manager of PNB, Ajit Jaitly, was the chief guest. Devinder Bhatti and his wife were the judges on the occasion. The vote of thanks was proposed by R.K. Dhawan, president of Bathinda’s cultural sub-committee.

Bank meeting: Bankers Club, Bathinda, organised its meeting on Monday. The contribution of banks in the development of the area was discussed. It was also decided to support labour intensive industries. Bankers Club secretary Ajit Jaitly informed that N.K.Mehta, deputy director of SBI has been elected president of the club.

Kavi Darbar: The Public Library, Bathinda, is organising a Punjabi Kavi Darbar in the morning and a mushaira in the evening on November 25. Prominent Urdu poets from UP, Punjab and Delhi are participating in the mushaira. The list of Urdu poets will be released soon. The Punjabi Kavi Darbar will be presided over by Dr Surjeet Patar. Besides, Manjeet Indra, Sukhwinder Kaur Aahi, Neeru Azim, Buta Singh Chauhan, Tarlochan Lochi and Dr Labh Singh Kheeva are also arriving to take part. On this occasion, an exhibition of the rare portraits of Bhagat Singh will also be on display.

Donation of human organs: The Bathinda Vikas Manch, which is carrying out an awareness campaign regarding the donation of human organs so that those who are in need of it can benefit, has motivated 10 persons to donate their organs to this noble cause. Headed by Rakesh Narula, the Manch has also condemned the practice of giving away gifts on Diwali, as according to them, it is another form of corruption.

Died:A woman succumbed to her burn injuries at Bhucho town here on Tuesday. Harjeet Kaur (25) was burning rags at her house when suddenly the flames engulfed her. She was admitted to a private hospital where she succumbed to her burn injuries, police sources said. Investigation officer, ASI Gurjeet Singh, said, “It is a mishap and no one has been found to be guilty.”

Hoshiarpur
2 held with poppy husk: The Mahilpur police seized huge hauls of poppy husk and arrested two persons here on Tuesday. The police laid a special check post on the Mahilpur-Hoshiarpur road and nabbed Puran Singh of Cheema village with 3.20 quintal poppy husk packed in eight gunny bags. Puran’s accomplice Bhag Mal of Barian Kalan managed to escape. The police, in the second case, intercepted an Alto car at Harbans Singh Gate check post on the Mahilpur-Kotfatuhi Road and seized 1.20 quintal poppy husk from the driver Kuldip Singh of local BDO colony.

One booked  for stealing:The police on Tuesday booked Onkar Singh of Garhi Matto under Section 380 of the IPC for allegedly stealing a cash box from a village temple.

Nawanshahr
Book on environment: Narinder Kumar Bhangu, a schoolteacher in the district, has written a book, “A wakeup call to save environment,” to further the drive launched jointly by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) and education department to mobilise students for generating awareness among masses regarding the  hazards of environment  pollution.

PATHANKOT
Notices  issued: The local Block Samiti has issued notices to 119 shopkeepers for not paying rent money of their business establishments belonging to the Samiti. Money is due from owners of 71 shops, 28 sheds and 15 booths in Pathankot, and nine in Gharota.The Samiti authorities have asked the shopowners to make payments of the due  money within 10 days  from the issuance of the notices or face the consequences.