BATALA
Grants announced: The local Seva Bharti, a social organisation, organised a function here on Sunday. Mr Mohan Lal, Forest Minister, Punjab, was the chief guest. He announced an ex gratia of Rs 30,000 for the samiti. Mr Dev Raj, General Secretary, BJP, Batala district, also announced a grant of Rs 50,000 on behalf of Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, MP.

LUDHIANA
Seminar: Punjab and Sind Bank organised a seminar on "Future Challenges and Leadership" at Punjab Agricultural University on Saturday. Mr H S Lamba, Deputy General Manager, Ludhiana zone, called upon them to establish close relationship with customers.

Peace march: The Council of Ludhiana Churches has condemned the killings of Christians in different parts of India. In its executive committee meeting held on Friday, the council has decided to take out a peace march on February 13 in this regard and submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

MALERKOTLA
Eye operation camp: About 55 operations were performed and 600 patients examined at a free eye operation camp organised by the local Sohrab Group of Companies here on Sunday. Medicines were given free of cost to the patients.

Annual function: A prize distribution function of Cambridge High School, Dhuri, 20 km from here, was held on Sunday. Mr Hussan Lal, SDM, was the chief guest. A cultural programme was presented by the schoolchildren.

Id-Milan: An Id-Milan function was organised by the Anjuman-e-Himaytiya here on Sunday. Mr Arpit Shukla, SSP, Sangrur, was the chief guest. Some local outstanding students were honoured on the occasion.

MOGA
Preventive measures: The administration has made elaborate arrangements to deal with jaundice in the district. A spokesman of the Health Department said this here on Monday that arrangements have been made to check the drinking water.

Elected: Mr Nirmal Singh Vehniwal and Mr Harvinder Singh were elected President and Vice-President, respectively of the Rania Sahkari Sabha at a meeting held here on Sunday. Mr Daljit Singh, Secretary of the sabha, presided.

PATHANKOT
Office-bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Punjab Government Employees of Welfare Forum, Shahpur Kandi: President - Mr Mohinder Singh; Secretary - Mr Rakesh Bagga; Chairman - Mr K S Verma and Senior Vice President - Mr Gurbag Singh.

PATIALA
Books released: "Meri Chownvian Kahaniya", a collection of stories, by Jagdish Armanni and "Uttar Katha" by Joginder Singh Nirala were released here on Sunday by Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, at a function organised by the Punjabi Sahit Sabha at the Language Department here. Punjabi writers, Dr Jaswinder Singh, Mr Ramnath Shukla, Mr Karamvir Singh and Mr Satinder Nanda were also honoured.

Price hike criticised: The Punjab and UT Employees Joint Action Committee has criticised the recent hike in prices of essential commodities. Mr Darshan Singh, General Secretary of the committee, said the committee had demanded a relief to the employees by raising income tax limits to Rs 1 lakh from the existing Rs 60,000.

Demand: The Account Officers Association, PSEB, has demanded pay parity with Under Secretaries and a hospitality allowance of Rs 200 per month. These demands were sought at an executive meeting of the association held here on Sunday, according to Mr J S Kalsi, President of the association.

TARN TARAN
Demanded: Mr Hari Singh Thakur, Secretary, Labour Law Practitioners Association, Amritsar, in a press statement issued here on Sunday demanded to transfer Mr M S Lubana, Presiding Officer, Industries Tribunal, who has been boycotted by the association as a mark of protest for not solving workers' cases.

CTCC Minorities Cell chief: Mr Salim Akbar, a social worker, has been appointed the Chairman of the Minorities Cell of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee by its President, Mr Venod Sharma. He has a long record of public service.

Injured: Om Parkash, a shopkeeper of Mangalia village in the district, was injured when four persons, including Satnam Chand, a customer, attacked him with weapons on Sunday. The cause of the assault was stated to be a financial dispute.

Opium found: The police here recovered 1 kg of opium from the house of Baburam at the local Subhash Basti here on Sunday. According to informed sources, Baburam had been arrested a couple of days back in connection with a case, but he had absconded.

SONEPAT
Arrested: The police here has arrested seven persons, including the prime accused in the murder of Birender, a police Constable in Delhi, on January 17 at the bus stand of Bidhal village on the Sonepat-Gohana road.

Seminar: The district unit of the UTUC organised a seminar on the constitution of the labour commission here on Sunday. Mr Hari Parkash, Secretary of the state unit of the party, and Mr Ishwar Singh, President of the district unit, addressed the gathering.

Murder case: With the arrest of Surinder, alias Baba, of Hassanpur Kurar village, the Sadar police claims to have solved the alleged murder of a truck driver whose body was found in a jungle on January 20, Mr K Selvraj, SP, told mediapersons here on Sunday.

Protest: The Daily Bus Passengers Association on Sunday protested against the erratic bus service of Haryana Roadways between Sonepat and Gohana. The association urged the General Manager of the roadways to take steps in this regard.

JWALAMUKHI
Case registered: A 22-year-old newly wedded woman, Suman Lata, was burnt alive under mysterious circumstances on Monday. She died in a hospital. A case has been registered.

NURPUR
Flayed: Mr Sat Mahajan, chief, Pradesh Congress Committee, has criticised the government for its failure to start any project for the development of Kangra district. He said this while addressing a press conference here on Monday. He alleged that the state government had even failed to deliver social services to the people.