Workshop: The Department of Biotechnology of Guru Nanak Dev University organised a two-day workshop on role of networking in scientific information processing" in which more than 20 research papers were presented by prominent information technologists. Dr Inder Pal Singh, Pro Vice-Chancellor, presided over the concluding session and gave away certificates to the participants.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
Protest march: Hundreds of medical practitioners of the district on Thursday organised a protest march and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner against the "raids" being conducted on their workplaces and the cancellation of the health volunteer training interviews by the Civil Surgeon without any notice and without giving any further date. They demanded that new dates should be fixed for the interview immediately and the "raids" should be stopped.

‘Black week’: On the call of the Punjab State Engineering College Teachers Federation, teachers of the local Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College wore black badges to observe ‘black week’. In a press note issued here on Thursday, Prof Harpreet Singh, president of the federation, said the ‘black week’ was being organised throughout the state in protest against the delay in the implementation of the new pay scales. He said on November 12, a ‘chalk down’ strike would be held and on November 24, all teachers would go on casual leave.

GURDASPUR
Arrested: The police on Wednesday arrested Sohan Singh, a resident of Virk, in the district, and seized 80 kg of poppy husk from him. A case has been registered. In another case, the police arrested Raman Kumar, who was involved in a cheating case registered against him on October 24.

HOSHIARPUR
Demonstration: Members of the local Municipal Employees Action Committee, headed by Mr Pawan Kumar Adia and Mr Kulwant Singh Saini, staged a protest demonstration in front of their office on Wednesday in support of their demands, including removal of shortage of staff, payment of DA instalment in cash and providing jobs to the kin of employees who died during service.

JALANDHAR
Chief Engineer: Mr K.S Gill assumed charge of Chief Engineer (Operation) North, PSEB, on Wednesday He was given a warm welcome by PSEB employees and some industrialists of the town.

KAPURTHALA
Jeep thieves held: The local CIA staff has arrested two members of a gang of jeep thieves. According to the SSP, Mr Iqbal Singh, the arrested were Amarjit Singh, alias Kaka and Narinder Sharma. Two jeeps, bearing fake registration numbers, were recovered from them.

Ban on loudspeakers: The District Magistrate, Mr V.K Singh, on Wednesday extended the ban on the use of loudspeakers in the district in order to check noise pollution. The orders would remain in force till November 30. However, loudspeakers could be used on special occasions with the permission of the Subdivisional Magistrate.

LUDHIANA
Held: The police has arrested Satnam Singh under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act, allegedly for being in possession of 22 bottles of English wine without having any licence.

Holiday sought: The Indian National Council of Young Workers (youth wing INTUC) and National Organisation of Government Employees, in a press note issued here on Wednesday, appealed to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to declare a holiday on the eve of Vishvakarma Day on November 8 under the Factories Act and the Negotiable Instruments Act.

MOGA
Compensation sought: Parents of Bikkar Singh of Jaimalwala village under the Baghapurana police station, who was electrocuted while helping employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board in lifting a girder, demanded compensation for the death of their son on Wednesday.

Impounded: The district transport authorities have impounded three-buses of private transport companies and two of Punjab Roadways, which were plying without valid permits on various routes. According to reports available here on Wednesday, the Transport Department has launched a drive to check vehicles, including cars, trucks and tankers, in the district plying without valid permits.

PHILLAUR
Panches: In the elections for panches of five different villages in the subdivision, Mr Hem Raj has been elected unanimously from Indira Colony while Mr Malkiat Chand and Bhago were elected unanimously from Laddhhian village on Wednesday. According to official sources, three candidates filed their nominations from Chhokkra village and four from Ganna Pind village.

Raffle draw: The lucky draw for the Air Force raffle will be held on November 10 at the Air Force Institute, Sector 31, an IAF spokesman said here on Thursday. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ramsekhar, will be the chief guest. The draw was earlier scheduled for October 31

Festival: The Defence Services Officers Institute, Sector 36, organised a colourful festival on Divali eve on the institute premises. A statement issued here said that as many as 2,500 members, their families and guests attended the festival, which included tambola, fireworks and a cultural perforamce by Rajinder Mohini's troupe.

SAS NAGAR
Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the North Zone Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Federation: President — Mr Viru Mal; Chief Adviser — Mr Bharpoor Singh; General Secretary — Mr P.D. Bhatia; Press Secretary — Mr Ram Arsh; and Cashier — Mr S.R. Mal.

Injured: One person was seriously injured when he was hit by a vehicle on the Ambala-Hisar road near Durga Nagar on Wednesday. The injured, Balwinder, was admitted to a local hospital.

KARNAL
Medicare van: The HelpAge India has provided a mobile medicare van to the local Mahabir Dal Hospital. The van, priced at Rs 6 lakh, would be equipped with all modern facilities like the ECG apparatus etc.

SONEPAT
Cracker sale banned: The District Magistrate, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, on Thursday enforced the Explosive Act prohibiting the sale of crackers and other explosives in municipal towns at places other than those fixed by the district administration. According to official sources, the orders would remain in force till November 10.

Pistols seized: The police has arrested four youths and seized three country-made pistols and a 'kamanidar' knife from them. The SSP, Mr K.P. Singh, told newspersons here on Thursday that the arrested were Munish of Ganaur, Rahul of Guhna village, Jagvir of Bhawar village and Bhupinder of Sonepat. A case under the Indian Arms Act has been registered against them.

Charas seized: Joginder, alias Bhunda was arrested by the city police here on Thursday following the alleged seizure of 60 gm of contraband charas from him.

JAWALAMUKHI
Suicide: Krishna Devi of Kalyara village of Kangra district allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison. The reason for the suicide was not known. A case has been registered.

Lawyers' protest: Lawyers of the Dehra subdivison of Kangra district on Thursday held a protest march in the town against the Naib Tehsildar, Mr Parkash Azad, in connection with the arrest of an advocate, Mr Anil Rana. Mr Rana was arrested by the police for allegedly manhandling the Naib Tehsildar during court proceedings.

KANGRA
Mushroom cultivation: The 10-day 22nd training course on mushroom cultivation organised by the Indo-Dutch Mushroom Project in coordination with the Directorate of Extension, HP Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, concluded at Palamapur on Thursday. Mr U.K. Bakshi, project coordinator, said farmers from Mandi, Kulu, Kangra, Chamba, Hamirpur and Una districts participated in the training course.

Inaugurated: The third extension counter of the State Bank of Patiala in the district was inaugurated on Thursday at Dr R.P. Medical College, Tanda, by the Principal, Dr. R.L. Gupta.

NURPUR
Hunter found dead: A 50-year-old man of Masatgarh village, who had gone for hunting in a nearby forest on Monday, reportedly became a victim of another hunter. His body was found by the police on Tuesday with bullet injuries on the back. A case has been registered.

Burglars: Burglars broke into a tyre shop at Jassur, near here, on Tuesday and decamped with truck tyres. According to the police, tyres worth Rs 2.83 lakh were stolen. A case has been registered.

SHIMLA
Essay competition: The Nehru Bal Samiti has announced the results of the essay competition organised by it on checking pollution. According to Mr Sriniwas Joshi, chairman of the samiti, 277 entries of schoolchildren were received. In category a (Classes XI and XII), Mamta Kumari, of Government Senior Secondary School, Kothera (Bilaspur), secured the first position, in category B (Classes IX and X), Gauri Mahajan of Bharatiya Public School, Chamba, came first and in category C (Classes VII & VIII), Sapna Kaushal of Government High School, Boileauganj (Shimla) was adjudicated first.