Abohar
Free camp: About seven doctors and more than 25 paramedical workers were honoured at a function held in Sai Mandir here on Sunday for rendering round-the-clock services during the 10-day free surgery camp organised by the Shri Satya Sai Seva Society here. Earlier, 82 units of blood had been donated during a camp, V.P. Sethi, spokesman of the organisation here, informed.

Students of Little Heart School take part in Christmas celebrations in Patiala on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Held: The in charge of the anti-goonda staff, Chhinder Singh, claimed having nabbed one Makhan Singh, son of Chiman Singh and resident of village Chak Chhanga Rai Hithad of the Guruharsahai area, with 20 gm heroin near the seed farm here. The culprit, however, reportedly said that he was an addict and had arranged the heroin for self-consumption.

Bathinda
Protest: Hundreds of teachers organised protest rallies and sit-ups to boycott the refresher camps organised at various schools in the district today. The protesting teachers raised slogans against the government policies and the teachers’ union leaders addressed these camps. In a press release here, Sukhdev Mittal of the Math Teachers’ Association, quoted as addressing the teachers, said, “These refresher camps are of no use and are aimed at harassing the teachers only, as the teachers already know a lot about the subjects raised at the camp and are compelled to attend these camps. It is a sheer wastage of money.” Mittal informed the teachers that a protest march would be organised on December 26 in which the effigies of the chief minister would be burned.

Annual Day: The annual day prize distribution of Different Convent School got off to a dazzling start with Ganesh Vandana, followed by jingle bell by the tiny tots.The captivating play by the students of senior wing spreading that message that unity is strength also enthralled the audience. On the occasion, 130 students who scored more than 90 per cent were honoured by the chief guest, Saroop Chand Singla, SAD (B) in-charge Bathinda. ‘Virsa Punjab Da’, a play depicting the legacy of Punjabi culture was the main highlight of the function. Bhushan Kumar, MD, Acharya Institute who presided over the function, gave his best wishes to the students for their successful career.

Workshop held: To apprise the directors elected by the Central Cooperative Banks of Bathinda and Mansa districts, of their rights and duties, the Puncofed organised a cooperative workshop here. At the workshop, Dalip Singh Nahar, deputy registrar, Cooperative Societies, Bathinda, said that in today’s competitive world, it was quintessential for the elected directors to be aware of their rights and duties. The workshop asked the cooperative banks to provide their customers with modern banking facilities.

Elected: The Mini-Bus Operators Union of Bathinda unanimously elected Baldev Singh ‘Wander’ as its president and Major Singh Bhullar as vice-president. Baldev Singh has been elected to the post for the 13th time. Parminder Singh and Baldev Singh Daula have been elected as treasurers of the union. A 12-member executive committee has also been named.

AIDS campaign: To educate people about AIDS and create awareness among all sections of society about the deadly disease, a ‘Jaggo rally’ was organised by the composite target intervention project team of Ambuja Cement Foundation on Monday. Bhola Singh Gillpatti, president, Youth Akali Dall, Bathinda, flagged off the rally.

Faridkot
Peace march: The local chapter of the Lions Club held a peace march, which began from here and concluded at Hussainiwala border, Ferozepur, on Monday. A press release said that apart form members of the club, their families also participated in it. Its purpose was to spread message of peace among the masses, including people across the border.

Homoeopathy camp: The Lions Club organised the 9th Free Homoeopathy Camp at Dhudi village here on Monday. As many as 70 patients benefited from the camp. It was held in the memory of late R.C. Monga.

Fatehgarh Sahib
Devotees throng Shaheedi Jor Mela: Devotees on Monday turned up to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib as the three-day Shaheedi Jor Mela got underway amid religious fervour. The mela commenced with the holding of an akhand path at Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup Sahib where Bhai Harpal Singh, head granthi of Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, performed the ardas. The Punjab Public Relation Department, district administration and Harpal Tiwana Foundation organised a play, “Sirhind di Deewar” in this regard at the Aam Khas Bagh.

Jalandhar
Science serial: To celebrate International Year of Planet Earth, All India Radio would broadcast 52-episode science serial “Dharti Meri Dharti” from next month. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect has been signed between Prasar Bharti and Vigyan Prasar. Stating this in a press note here today, AIR station director D.P. Malik said the UNO had declared the year 2008 as International Year of Planet Earth and under the MoU AIR would broadcast 52 episodes of the science serial.

Lalru
Police-public meet: Mohali SSP R.S. Khatra held a police-public meet here and at Handesra village on Monday. Residents of the area brought their problems to the notice of the SSP. They expressed concern at increasing incidents of petty theft and the menace caused by a stray Nilgai on roads. Some residents highlighted the need for a better mechanism to curb drug trafficking and its use among the youth.

Mansa
Blood donation: Balwinder Singh Bhunder, general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), appealed to the teachers and parents to give moral and religious education to students. Bhunder was addressing a gathering at the local National College where a blood donation camp was organised in the memory of Balraj Singh Bhunder. Bhunder said blood donation was precious than other donations.

Elected: Ajit Singh Bhangu was elected president of the Bar Association of Mansa here on Monday. Bhangu received 87 votes while his rival candidate Sarbjit Singh Grewal received 71 votes and the third candidate Jaswant Singh could get only 4 votes. There were total 71 votes of the Bar Association. Before this, Sunil Kumar Bansal, general secretary, Manjit Kauar, joint secretary, and Ravi Shankar Sodhi, vice-president were elected unanimously.

Nawanshahr
3 drug peddlers nabbed: Jagtar Singh Kainth, SP (HQ), while addressing mediapersons here on Monday said three drug traffickers namely Sucha Ram, Gurvinder Singh alias Latti residents of Jabbowal village in Nawanshahr district and Jaswinder Kumar of Kingra choe near Bhogpur in Jalandhar had been nabbed by the CIA staff - and 3.84 quintals of poppy husk had been seized from them. Kainth said the CIA staff, acting on a tip off, put up a naka at a canal bridge near Jabbowal village on Monday morning.

Loan camp: The local branch of the Bank of India organised a loan disbursement camp here on Monday. PK Aggarwal, AGM, Ludhiana zone presided over and disbursed loans amounting to Rs1.50 crore among 25 beneficiaries, informed SC Bhagat, branch manager.

Blood donation: Pushap Raj Kalia, founder secretary of the local blood donors’ council, organised a voluntary blood donation camp to observe the 25th anniversary of his shop. Ramandeep Kaur, district drug inspector, inaugurated the camp by donating blood herself. As many as 51 units of blood were collected.

Cultural show: Cultural extravaganza and science exhibitions were the highlights of the concluding day of Amardeep Mela on Monday. The fest was inaugurated by the chief guest Dr Jagjeet Singh Sanghera and Kashmir Kaur Sanghera. Scholarships were awarded to the meritorious students.

Sangrur
Teachers oppose seminars: Teachers of Sangrur block on Monday opposed the holding of seminars under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan during the on-going vacation in schools at a rally held at the Government Girls Senior Secondary School here. State general secretary of the Punjab Pardesh Teachers Union Sanjiv Bhushan said they were not opposing the seminars but were only against holding of the same during the holidays.

Pensioners’ day celebrated: Government pensioners of the district on Monday asked the state government to enhance their monthly medical allowance to Rs 500 from Rs 250. They also sought the construction of a pensioners bhawan in Chandigarh. These demands were made by them at a pensioners’ day function organised by the district unit of the Punjab State Pensioners Union at a temple complex here. A deputation of the pensioners also submitted a memorandum regarding their demands to ADC Indu Malhotra to forward it to the state government.

Tarn Taran
Gang of smugglers busted: The Patti police has busted a gang of international smugglers involved in fake currency, drugs and arms smuggling from Bahmaniwala village. P.K. Rai, SSP, said here on Monday that five .30-bore special mousers, 35 cartridges and a mobile have been recovered from them. Those arrested have been identified as Kuldeep Singh, Satnam Singh (brothers), Manoj Kumar, all residents of Patti, and Shamsher Singh of Thatha. A case has been registered.

Office-bearers elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local district unit of the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation: president - Dharam Singh Patti; senior vice-president - Kashmir Singh Gill; vice-presidents - Gurmit Singh and Ashwani Kumar; general secretary - Shangara Singh; joint secretary - Narinder Kaur; treasurer - Onkar Singh; and press secretary - Jodhbir Sharma.