NAWANSHAHR
Telephone subscriber: Resentment prevails among the telephone subscribers of the local Nai Abadi mohalla at Musapur road over the functioning of the local telephone exchange. Subscribers complained that their telephones are non-functional for the past 12 days but authorities concerned are not paying any heed despite repeated complaints.

Demand: A deputation of the district unit of Democratic Teachers Front led by its President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Warraich, met the local treasury officer and demanded that the ban imposed on the clearance of arrear bills of pensions, gratuity be lifted.

PATIALA
Cultural programme: The local National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS), organised a cultural programme entitled "Suneha Piyar Da" at Khushdeva Singh leprosy patients colony on Independence Day. The Chief Guest Dr N.S. Sodhi, former Professor and Head, Department of Social Work, Punjabi University, Patiala, inaugurated the programme by unfurling the National flag.

Exhibition: Dr Saroj Chaman, Head, Department of Fine Arts said an exhibition of photographs taken by Mark Lockett from Shropshire, England, would be displayed by the museum and art gallery of Punjabi University here, from August 24 to September 10. His pictures represent rural English country and industry.

Gang busted: The Sangrur police has busted a gang involved in extortions, robberies and dacoities and arrested three others wanted in cases of pickpocketing and chain snatching. Mr Arpit Shukla, SSP, said here on Wednesday that five members of a gang were arrested and a large number of stolen goods were recovered from their possession. Three pickpockets, Jagiro, Surjeeto and Tejo, of Bagrian were also apprehended by the police.

PHAGWARA
Armed forces: Lt-Gen Kamal Dawer, GoC,11 corps (Bajra), on Wednesday called upon young women to join the Armed Forces. At a function organised by the local Kamla Nehru College for Women to commemorate the sacrifice of the Kargil martyrs, he said next millennium belonged to India.

Sapling plantation: The local Rotary Club (South-East) on Wednesday planted 100 saplings and provided 25 tree guards. Mr P K Gupta, EO, Municipal Council, launched sapling plantation drive. The Lions Club (Service) adopted Mehtan village and provided study kits to students of the school. The SDM, Mr Pritam Singh, presided over the function.

ROPAR
NCC cadets: Three cadets of the local NCC unit, Harkirat Singh Tiwana of Yadwindara Public School, SAS Nagar, Gursharan Singh and Shiv Mohan of NFL School, Naya Nangal, were awarded certificates of appreciation on Tuesday by the Deputy Commissioner for their valuable contribution to the activities of the NCC.

Accidents: Subhash Chander, was killed and his daughter, Anandata (19) and son, Kartik (17), were injured when their car collided with a truck near Bharatgarh village, 20 km from here, on Wednesday. In another accident near Behrampur village, 7 km from here, Gian Chand, was killed while Raj Kumar, his son, and Santosh Kumari, his daughter-in-law, were injured. The police has impounded both trucks, involved in the accidents. No arrest has been made so far.

SAMANA
Poppy husk: The local police on Wednesday seized 28 bags of poppy husk worth Rs 5 lakh from the outskirts of Badanpur village, 6 km from here.

Body recovered: Mr Paramvir Singh Gill, DSP, said the Patran police recovered the body of a man from Dogal village on Wednesday.

SAMRALA
Office-bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Akali Dal (A): President — Mr Charan Singh Bagli; Senior-Vice-Presidents — Mr Mohinder Singh Noorpur and Mr Balhar Singh; Secretary General — Mr Sukhpal Singh; General Secretary — Mr Amarjit Singh Rurewal; Treasurer — Mr Mohinder Singh Mithewal.

Poppy husk: The local police here on Wednesday seized 28 bags of poppy husk worth Rs 5 lakh on the outskirts of Badanpur village, six km from here.

Awarded: Prof B.M. Deb, Chairman of the Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, has been awarded the 'Professor Sadhan Basu Memorial Lecture' (1999) by the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi. The award is given once in three years to a scientist who has made pioneering contribution in chemical sciences.

PANCHKULA
Monkey menace: Residents of several villages, including Ramgarh, Krishangarh, Bhannu, Moginand, Kotbilla, Morni and Nada have criticised the Haryana wildlife and forest department for not taking appropriate measures against hundreds of monkeys which invade their villages every year. these monkeys bite people, spoil crops and pose a traffic hazard, especially on Ramgarh highway.

Resented: The villagers of Mahadevpur near Saketri expressed their resentment on Thursday over the attitude of the authorities concerned towards their pending demand of extending the 'lal-dora' limit to the village. In a letter to the Chief Minister, they urged to extend the limit as was done earlier for the villages in Kalka and Pinjore.

SIRSA
Milch cattle: Sukhvinder Singh, Satnam Singh and Bhola Ram Rajpoot of Vaidwala village were arrested by the CIA on Wednesday for stealing two milch cattles worth Rs 50,000. The police has registered a case under Section 457/380 of the IPC against them.

Liquor smuggler: The local police busted a gang of liquor smugglers on Wednesday with the arrest of Manjeet Singh of Indore, Subhash Chander Doda of Joon and Rajinder Singh of Jakhod Khera village in Hisar district. The police also seized 6800 bottles of liquor packed in 650 boxes.

Murdered: Phoosa Ram of Sargana village was murdered by Bhag Singh at Dhani Sirvn near Chautala village in this district on Wednesday. The Dabwali police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC and arrested the accused.

Nominated: Mr Bhupinder Dharmani and Mr Indermohan Sharma were nominated as state organising secretary and secretary of the Haryana Patrakar Sangh by the President, Mr K B Pandit. Dr O P Bansal, Mr R K Bhardwaj and Mr Sanjay Arora, have been nominated members of its executive body by the district president.
Victimised: Resentment prevail among the private transporters who have alleged victimisation of their drivers and conductors by passengers in villages. A bus driver of a cooperative society was beaten up by residents of Dhoter village.

Dharna: Pahalwan Mahabir staged a dharna outside the residence of the deputy commissioner to protest against gambling and betting. He alleged that the police was giving protection to those involved in it.

SONEPAT
Killed: Phooman Singh (25), of Daboli village in Una district of Himachal Pradesh was killed on the spot when a truck overturned on the GT road near Rai village, 15 km from here on Wednesday. Ved Parkash (40), a truck driver was also killed when his truck collided with another truck on the GT Road near Kundli village, 25 km from here on Wednesday.

Suicide: Vikki (16), reportedly committed suicide by taking insecticide tablets in house at Garhi Brahminan village near here, on Wednesday. A family feud is stated to be the cause of the suicide.

Raped: A 31-year-old woman employed as a helper in "Anganbadi", has alleged that a friend of her husband, raped her. In a representation to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ramesh Kapil, here on Tuesday, she said Namhole police had refused to register an FIR against the rapist.

Rally: Mr Pradeep Kumar, regional organising secretary, and Mr Inder Singh Thakur, chief, State Sangharsha Vaahini Swadeshi Jagran Manch held a rally here on Tuesday. They urged people to prefer local commodities instead of foreign ones. They also criticised the foreign cable channels and said these were destroying our culture and were leading our youths to all types of vices.

Three arrested: Forest officials along with the police here on Tuesday arrested three persons, who were transporting 88 logs of precious "Khair", wood to Punjab. The Divisional Forest Officer, Mr Nagesh Guleria, said a truck was intercepted at Suharghat, 40 km from here, on the national highway and was impounded along with the "Khair" wood. The market value of the logs is estimated to be Rs 40,000.

JAWALAMUKHI
Drowned: Pankaj Sharma (13), of Hargovind Nagar, Ludhiana, was drowned in the rivulet near here on Wednesday.

NAHAN
Doctor released: Ajit Singh Faujdar doctor and incharge of the ESI dispensary at Kala Amb was released on bail by the Additional Sessions Judge here on Wednesday. He was booked by the Kala Amb police on a charge of attempting to rape a young woman of Nagal village on August 16. He was produced before the CJM on August 17 who sent him to judicial custody till August 30. The police had earlier registered a case against him under Sections 376, 354 and 511 of the IPC on a complaint lodged by a 25-year-old woman.