AMRITSAR
Prohibitory orders: The District Magistrate, Mr Narinderjit Singh, on Thursday banned the entry of any person in an area of 200 metre around the 27 examination centres set up here for the entrance test of the elementary teachers training course to be held on February 17. The order will remain in force on February 16 and 17.

BARNALA
Meeting: A meeting of the district Sangrur Congress Committee (Legal Cell ) was held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Mr Bharat Bhushan Menon, Chairman of the committee. Members hailed Ms Sonia Gandhi's decision to nominate Ms Ambika Soni as a member of the Congress Working Committee.

FEROZEPORE
Octroi posts: the local Municipal Council (MC) has decided to auction its octroi posts on contract. The Executive Officer of the MC, Mr Jagir Singh Thind, said here on Thursday that the posts would be auctioned for the period starting from February 15,1999, to February 14,2000. He added that the auction would take place at the Deputy Director local government office here on February 11.

GURDASPUR
Two arrested: The local police arrested Kameshwar Paswan of Adler village in Bihar on Thursday and recovered one pistol and three cartridges from him. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said the accused was a proclaimed offender, since 1994 in the murder case of his neighbour. In another case the police arrested Balbir Singh of Marara and recovered one pistol and two cartridges from him.

Krishi cards: Mr C.L. Mahajan, Assistant General Manager, Punjab National Bank, issued Krishi Cards to 101 farmers who were entitled to withdraw up to Rs 1 lakh from any branch of the bank in the district. The cards have been issued to literate farmers and are valid for three years.

Case registered: The police here has registered a case against Satnam Singh for forcibly reaping the sugarcane crop of Rashpal Singh of Bahian village and transferring the tubewell connection of Rashpal Singh in his name. The case is registered under Sections 379, 427, 511, 506, 148, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B, IPC.

Criticised: Mr Darshan Singh Khatkar, state Secretary, CPI (ML), condemned the statement of Bhai Ranjit Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht, on Friday on his removal from his post. He said the agenda being imposed by the Jathedar on the people of Punjab was the same as was during the time of terrorism and could lead to its revival in the state.

LUDHIANA
Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local chapter of the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists: President — Mr F.C. Shukla; Vice- President — Dr G.S. Padda; Joint Secretary — Dr K.S. Minhas; and Treasurer — Ms Preeti Ahluwalia.

MALERKOTLA
Block inaugurated: The new block Sahibzada Fateh Singh Senior Secondary Public School was inaugurated here on Thursday by Mr Anirudh Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur. He also announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the development of the school.

MOGA
Tercentenary celebrations: Members of the managing committee and staff of Guru Nanak College celebrated tercentenary celebrations here on Thursday. Mr Surjit Singh Gill, Principal of the college, presided.

PATIALA
Protest: Teachers of Punjabi University here on Thursday wore black badges on a call given by the All-India Federation of University Teachers' Association. They urged the Punjab Government to immediately release the notification for the new pay scales without any dilution.

PHAGWARA
Cremated: Kampta Prasad Sood (70), an educationist, died here on Thursday. He was an ex-Principal of the local Ramgarhia College.

Strike: The non-teaching employees of Kapurthala district , including Phagwara , began their three-day protest on Wednesday Mr Gurparshad Chadha, District President, Private College Non-Teaching Employees Union, said the demands included the revised pay scales as per the Fourth Pay Commission's recommendation.

Congress committee: Mr Madan Mohan Bajaj was nominated the President of the local Block Congress Committee ( Urban) on Thursday by the PPCC chief, Capt Amarinder Singh. Mr Bajaj replaced Mr Harjit Singh Walia.

Eye camp: As many as 150 residents of Kaimbala and Kansal villages were examined during a free eye camp organised by the Lions Club Kansal. The club members also motivated people to pledge their eyes and around 250 donors came forward.

BHIWANI
Operations performed: Mr K.S. Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, said here on Thursday that surgeons of the PGI, Rohtak, and the local General Hospital on Wednesday performed operations of 40 polio-afflicted persons. The Rehabilitation Centre here provided them medicines free of cost.

FATEHABAD
Committee set up: A committee for controlling blindness in the district has been set up under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr V Raja Shekhar, at a meeting of the officers of the Health Department and representatives of various social organisations here on Thursday.

Open darbar: An open durbar was organised here on Thursday under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr V Raja Shekhar. The S.P., Mr Rajbir Deswal, and senior officers of the Haryana government departments were also present.

Escape bid foiled: The police here has arrested a person who helped an undertrial in an escape bid in June, last year. The SP, Mr Rajbir Deswal, said the accused, Dilbag Singh, along with Randhir Singh, Inder Singh, Baljit Singh and Rajesh had hatched a conspiracy to help Kuldeep of Gorakhpur village who was lodged in Hisar Jail, escape from the police custody. Randhir Singh and Inder Singh have also been arrested.

KURUKSHETRA
Delegation: A delegation of the Haryana Non-Government Colleges Principals Association called upon Dr M.L. Ranga, Vice-Chancellor, Kurukshetra University here on Wednesday and apprised him of the problems being faced by these colleges. Earlier the association's executive body had expressed resentment over the unnecessary delay in releasing the grant-in-aid for the salary of the staff.

SIRSA
Arrested: Deepak Kumar of Gurusain village in Punjab was arrested by the local police on Thursday and recovered a scooter from him. According to informed sources, the accused had stolen the scooter of Mr Surinder Sharma when he had gone to the local post office for some work.

Suicide bid: Kaluram, an alleged accused in a theft case, reportedly consumed poison on Thursday. According to informed sources, he along with his accomplices had stolen some electronic goods from a shop at Dhudianwali village, a few days back. He has been hospitalised and his condition is stated to be stable.

Highway blocked: Students of Navodya Vidyalaya in the district blocked the national highway in protest against the recent beating of a student by the art teacher of the school for not coming in the school uniform. They sought that the teacher should feel sorry for his action.

Arrested: Rajesh and his mother, both residents of Friends Colony, were arrested by the police here under Section 304-B, IPC, in connection with the death of Meena, wife of Rajesh. Meena had died in her in-laws house, a few days back. Her brother complained to the police that his sister was being tortured for dowry.

SONEPAT
Transfer: The Haryana Government has ordered the transfer of Mr Partap Singh Lathwal, Secretary, Market Committee here. Mr Rattan Lal Aggarwal will take over the charge with immediate effect. According to official sources, the government has taken the action on public complaints regarding the evasion of market fee.