GURDASPUR
Gang busted: The police has busted a gang of cheats who were allegedly involved in sale of kerosene in the black market. According to Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, Naresh Kumar and Parshotam Lal, both residents of Dina Nagar, were arrested in this regard on Monday.

One held: The police arrested Ashok Kumar on Monday for a rape case registered against him under Sections 364, 511 and 342 and 506, IPC, in the local police station on November 17, 1997. According to Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, the police has arrested Surain Singh of Islamabad Mohalla here and seized 2.5 kg of poppy husk from his possession.

LUDHIANA
Seminar: The Punjabi Sabhyachark Akademi, Ludhiana, organised a seminar on "Punjabi folk and pop music" here on Sunday. Dr Gulzar Pandher and Mr Daljit Singh Jassal highlighted the role of the akademi in preservation and promotion of Punjabi culture in India and abroad.

MOGA
Plea: Local residents urged the Moga Municipal Committee on Monday to impose a ban on the use of polythene bags in the city. They also urged the administration to look after the cleanliness of the town.

NAWANSHAHR
Proposed rally: The Punjab State General Category Welfare Federation will hold a state-level rally at Chandigarh on Friday in protest against the caste-based reservation policy in admissions, jobs and allotment of petrol pumps, according to Dr Brijmohan Barthwal, press secretary of the federation.

PATIALA
Gesture: The Punjab Medical Officers and Paramedical Staff Association has decided to donate their one day's salary to the Orissa Relief Fund. Dr Naresh Raj, president of the association, said they would contribute Rs 50,000 to the fund.

Honoured: The Punjab School Education Board, Chairman, Mr Kehar Singh, honoured Mr Hardev Singh Rosha, an employee leader, on behalf of the Punjabi Vikas Manch here on Sunday. He said there was need to conduct cultural programmes throughout the state. Noted theatre personality Harpal Tiwana was also present on occasion.

ROPAR
Rally: Members of the Ropar Thermal Project Contractor Workers Union held a rally in front of the plant on Monday demanding abolition of contract labour system and regularisation of services of about 1,700 workers employed through contract labour system. Among others who addressed the rally were Mr Radhey Shyam, vice-president of the PSEB Employees Federation, Punjab, and Mr Mehnga Ram, secretary, AITUC, Punjab unit.

Cultural fair: The Dhanas Cultural Club celebrated the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev by organising a cultural fair here on Tuesday. Mr S.K. Chandla, a yoga expert, suggested various postures and asanas to cure various ailments, especially neck and back pain. The fair was inaugurated by Mr R.S. Bhanot, Organising Secretary of the PPCC. Karnail Singh, Gurmeet and Sukhi presented religious songs on the occasion.

Birthday celebrations: The 74th birthday celebrations of Sathya Sai Baba were organised by the local unit of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation here at Old Age Home-cum-Seva Centre in Sector 30 on Tuesday. The celebrations began with a 'nagar sankirtan' in the morning. In the evening, a 'sarv dharam bhajan' programme was organised at the venue.

KHARAR
Painting contest: The finals of the Rainbow Young Talent Search and On-the-Spot Painting Competition was conducted here as the concluding part of Children's Day celebrations in a tourism complex here on Sunday, according to a press note issued here on Tuesday. Mr J.S. Kesar, Financial Commissioner of Punjab and the chief guest, gave away the prizes to the winners.

Free camp: A free eye-operation camp was organised by the Lions Club Kurali in collaboration with Punjab National Bank on Morinda Road here on Sunday. According to a press note issued here on Tuesday by Dr Anil Gupta and Mr Harinder Dhiman, Director and President of the club, respectively, 124 operations were performed, including 23 IOLs by Dr J.P. Singh and his team. In all, 380 patients were examined and given free medicine at the camp which was inaugurated by R.S. Saggu, Civil Surgeon of Ropar.

Centre: The Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has established an entrepreneurship development centre here which will be inaugurated by Mr Faquir Chand Aggarwal, Deputy Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, on Thursday.

BHIWANI
Meeting: A meeting of the executive committee of the district branch of the National Integrated Medical Association was held here on Tuesday under the presidentship of Dr Rajesh Sharma. The association expressed concern over the murder of Deepender Dalal (20), a son of Dr Indira Dalal, a member of the NIMA, at Charkhi Dadri.

Championship: Mr L.D. Narwal, Director-General, Home Guards, said here on Tuesday that the 15th inter-district Home Guard and civil defence sports championship, would be held from December 1 to 8 at Bhim Stadium, here.

ROHTAK
Cases solved: The district police claims to have solved as many as 14 cases of thefts, snatching and dacoity during the last month. It has recovered property and valuable worth about Rs 18.55 lakh, according to a press note issued by the police.

SONEPAT
Assault case: The district unit of the Pharmacists Association of Haryana on Tuesday demanded the arrests of miscreants responsible for attacking on Mr Z.S. Massey, a pharmacist of Community Health Centre, Ganaur, on November 19.

Liquor seized: Officials of the Excise Department and the police conducted a raid on a liquor vend in Janti Khurd village, 25 km from here, on Monday and seized a huge quantity of liquor. Mr K.P. Singh, SP, told mediapersons here on Tuesday that Dinesh of Dokery village in Nainital district was arrested in this connection.

Open darbar: Mr Ashok Yadav, Additional Deputy Commissioner, solved as many as 18 complaints at the open darbar held at Panchayat Bhavan here on Monday. Most of the complaints were relating to erratic power and water supplies.

Fire: Standing crop of sugarcane in about three-acre of land was destroyed in a fire which broke out at Mahipur village, 25 km from here, on Monday. The cause of the fire was not known.

JAWALAMUKHI
Campaign: The Vice-Chairman of the Khadi Board, Mr Vikram Singh Thakur, said here on Tuesday that the board would shortly hold seminars and camps in the state in order to educate youth.