FATEHGARH SAHIB
Five arrested: The police claims to have arrested five members of a gang and recovered more than 10 quintals of wire from them, according to Mr Paramraj Singh Dhaliwal, SSP. He said the suspects revealed that they had stolen the wire near the railway lines at Rauza Sharif and from Amloh.

FEROZEPORE
Grant announced: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, on Thursday announced a grant of Rs 1.25 lakh for the building of DAV Public School, Talwandi Bhai. He announced the grant while presiding over the annual prize distribution function of the school.

Blood donation: Six students of the local DAV College for Women donated blood at a camp organised in the college on Thursday. The function was addressed by the state Vice-President of the ABVP, Dr Anu Bhardwaj.

HOSHIARPUR
Dharna: Members of the District Revenue Patwar Union observed a strike on Thursday in support of their demands which include basic pay scale of Rs 5480, time scale promotions and increase in their allowances. They staged a dharna and rally in front of the district courts.

JALANDHAR
Passports: Passport applications received in the passport office here up to serial numbers 402/101711/98 till November 23 have been processed. The passports have been dispatched to the persons concerned whose applications were complete in all respects till February 23.

KHANNA
Seminar: The local unit of the Indian Institute of Homoeopathic Physicians will organise a two-day seminar for homoeopathic graduates from Saturday. Dr Ajit Kulkarni from Satara, Maharashtra, will deliver a lecture on the new researches done by him and his colleagues.

MOGA
Scribe awarded: A local journalist, Tej Ram Gupta, has been awarded Rs 25,000 by the state government for helping the Vigilance Department in arresting a clerk of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. While taking a bribe.

PATIALA
Free eye camp: The Lok Chetna Samiti will organise a three-day free eye operation camp here from March 7 at Ramlila Ground, Raghomajra, according to the samiti’s President, Mr Lachman Dakala. A team of doctors from Government Rajindra Hospital will perform operations.

Appointed: Mr Inderjeet Boparai has been appointed Organising Secretary of the District Congress Committee (Urban), according to Mr Ved Parkash Gupta, President, DCC, here on Thursday.

Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the PSEB Employees Federation, Nabha division: President — Mr Kulbir Singh Gill; Secretary — Mr Gurjeet Singh; Senior Vice-President — Mr Sohan Singh; Vice-President — Mr Nahar Singh; and treasurer — Mr Vijay Kumar.

Refresher course: The Department of Forensic Science, Punjabi University, will organise a refresher course in criminology and forensic science from March 1 to 22. According to Dr R.K Garg, Head of the department, nearly 25 teachers from various states are likely to participate.

Awards: As many as 300 prizes, including 24 awards of roll of honour, 78 college colours, 17 medals and academic prizes, were given away by Mr R.P.S Pawar, Commissioner, Patiala division, at the annual prize distribution function of Government Mohindra College here on Wednesday. Prof. P.S. Sidhu, Principal, read out annual report of the college.

Dharna: The local unit of the Punjab Revenue Patwar Union staged a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here on Thursday in protest against the non-implementation of their demands. Mr Amrik Singh, president of the unit, said the union had been demanding a basic pay scale of Rs 5480/- Rs 8,925/-, time bound promotions after four, nine and 14 years, and travelling allowance of Rs 1,000.

TARN TARAN
Students’ union: The following have been elected office-bearers of the state body of the Students Federation of India (Punjab and Chandigarh): Presidents — Pargat Singh, Sawarnjit Singh and Kulwinder Singh Sherpur; Secretary — Hardev Singh; and Joint Secretaries — Harpreet Kaur and Mukhbain Singh.

Rape case: A case under Sections 376 and 342, IPC, has been registered against Sardool Singh (45) of Thathi Jaimal Singh village for allegedly raping a 14 year-old girl of the same village. According to police sources, he was arrested following a complaint by Mrs Jaswinder Kaur, mother of the victim.

Workshop: The Punjab Rural Education Promotion Council, Ludhiana, will organise a state-level seminar-cum-workshop on "Modernising Education" at Amritsar, on Saturday. Dr S.S. Pawar, honorary secretary of the council, said here on Thursday. Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Assembly, will be the chief guest and Dr G.S Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, will deliver a lecture.

Mapping exercise: As part of the Annual Science Day celebrations being organised by the Survey of India, North Western Circle, Sector 32, a ‘Map to ground exercise on bicycles’ would be held on Saturday. The exercise would start from the Survey of India Office premises and the participants will be given maps for the route to be covered. Attractive prizes will be given to the winners.

Criticised: Ms Lalit Joshi Bhardwaj, President, Chandigarh Territorial Mahila Congress Committee, on Friday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party Government at the centre for its failure on “all fronts”. Addressing a rally of party workers at Badheri village, she said Ms Sonia Gandhi had taken over the reins of the Congress at a juncture when the country was passing through a critical period. She also criticised the Government for its failure to control prices.

Literacy centre: World Peace Mission, in collaboration with the District Education Officer, UT, on Friday started the 13th literacy centre, for the benefit of children of construction workers at Sector 49-D, where construction of cooperative societies flats is going on. Ms Raj Baggai, Project Officer, Non-formal Education, UT, who presided over the function highlighted the importance of education. Among others who addressed the gathering, were Mr J Shastri, Mr Jaswant Singh, Mr IC Grover and Mr C.D. Mehta.

Interaction: Dr Jaswant Rai, head of the orthopaedic department, PGI, during an interaction with the officers and staff of the Department of Architecture, Punjab on Friday highlighted the causes for common orthopaedical problems like neck and back pain. He pointed out that body postured should be straight, upright, strong and flexible. He answered queries of enthusiastic participants, including those who suffer from some of these problems, due to continuously working on the drafting board. The talk, organised in the office of the Chief Architect, Punjab, was supported by a slide show.

PANCHKULA

Appointed: The State President of the National Congress of Youth, Mr Prithvi Singh Ravish, said on Friday that Ms Jasmeet Kalra had been appointed as the General Secretary of the state unit of the party.

NARAINGARH
Family welfare camp: A family welfare camp was organised at the local Civil Hospital by State Bank of India on Tuesday. As many as 82 operations were performed.

ROHTAK
Urged: The Haryana State Universities Non-Teaching Employees Federation has urged the government to remove anomalies in their pay-scales urgently. The federation also demanded to immediately consider and approve all matters relating to the universities in the state.

SIRSA
Cheating cases: Five cases of copying were detected by a supervisory team at Pipli village in this district during middle standard exams being conducted by the Board of School Education, Haryana.

Dharna lifted: Employees of the Municipal Committee, Mandi Dabwali, who were on dharna for last several days in support of their demands, suspended their agitation on Thursday on an assurance by the authorities concerned.

CHAMBA
Tree felling: Resentment prevails among local residents over the failure of the Municipal Council in lodging a complaint regarding illegal felling of three deodar and uprooting nine deodar tress in Chowgan recently. The residents demanded action against the guilty.

HAMIRPUR
Charge taken: Mr R.M. Sharma took over as the new SP of the district on Thursday. He succeeds Mr Jagjit Gupta, who has been posted as Commandant, IST Battalion, Junga. Mr Vimal Gupta has taken over as the new Deputy Superintendent of Police, Hamirpur.

Rally: Himachal Pradesh volunteer secondary teachers held a rally here on Thursday in protest against the non-acceptance of their demands. Their demands include regularisation of their services and pay scales on a par with their counterparts.