R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
AYURVEDIC BUDGET: The Punjab State Ayurvedic Medical Officer Association at a meeting held here on Tuesday urged the state government to increase the annual Budget of ayurvedic medicines for dispensaries. The association also decided to nominate Dr Suman Sharma as chief patron of the association.

BODY FOUND: The body of an unidentified man was found near Khasa here on Monday. The injuries on the body revealed that the victim was allegedly crushed by a speeding vehicle, the police said. A case has been registered under Section 304A at Lopoke police station.

SIX BOOKED: The police has booked six persons namely, Gaurav, Dharam Pal, Rakesh Kumar, Umesh Sial, Buta Singh, Jaspal Singh in separate incidents for gambling. A case has been registered against them under the Gambling Act.

ARRESTED: Sarbjeet Kaur, a resident of Gandhi Nagar, was arrested by the police for allegedly possessing 6570 ml of illicit liquor. A case has been registered against her under the Excise Act.

BATHINDA
EYES DONATED: The eyes of Madan Lal Bhatt, chief organiser, district unit of the RSS, who died after a brief illness here on Monday, were donated to the medical authorities. Mr Vijay Bhatt, president, United Welfare Society, had motivated his relatives to donate the eyes.

BKU’s PLEA: Members of the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union on Thursday urged the state government to make the Kinewan canal passing through a large number of villages in the district perennial. While talking to mediapersons here on Thursday the general secretary of the union Mr Bhupinder Singh Mahasan, said water being supplied through this canal was insufficient to meet the requirement of farmers.

BARNALA
POPPY HUSK SEIZED: The Barnala police has seized 100 kg of poppy husk, 100 kg of lahan, 1737 intoxicant pills and 568 intoxicant capsules and 11 IMFL bottles during raids conducted in Barnala, Kehal Kalan and Dhanaula police station area. Disclosing this here on Tuesday, Mr Kanwarjit Singh Sandhu, SSP, said the arrested had been identified as Dalbara Singh of Bilaspur, Jagdish Chand of Barnala, Jagtar Singh of Aaklia village, Kuljit Singh of Tapa and Chain Singh.

POSTER-MAKING CONTEST: The local Civil Hospital authorities under the patronage of Dr Tarzan sharma on Monday organised a poster and painting making contest at Sarv Hitkari Uch Vidya Mandir Complex. It was sponsored by State Bank of Patiala, S.D. College branch. Mr V.A. Ghai, Assistant-General Manager, State Bank of Patiala, Sangrur, was the chief guest.

HOSHIARPUR
BODY FOUND: The body of a married woman was fished out of the Mukerian Hydel Project on Thursday. A police report stated that the body fished out of Power House Number 4, was later sent to a post-mortem.

STRIKE: The clerical staff of the Civil Surgeon’s office here observed a pen-down strike on Monday in protest against the direct recruitment of a senior assistant in violation of rules and regulations. In a press note, Mr Jeet Singh, president, and Mr Jagdish Singh, general secretary of the Clerical Association of the Health Department, stated that senior assistants were promoted from clerks and there was no provision of direct recruitment. They demanded cancellation of the appointment.

JAGRAON
DIVALI CELEBRATION: Divali was celebrated with fervour in the urban area. The bursting of crackers till late in the night belied the imposition of ban on its sale. Decorated shops selling gifts, sweets, crackers attracted a large number of buyers. The entire city gave a festive look with different types of light, candles and earthen lamps lit all over. However, in many villages the festival was not celebrated due to the burning of birs of Guru Granth Sahib.

ONE KILLED: Kala Singh (25), a labourer of Ranida Khuh, was killed when an unknown vehicle hit the rickshaw in which he was going to his house with his companion, Vicky, at the G.T. Road, near Gurusar Konke, 6 km from here. Janta, the rickshaw puller and Vicky sustained injuries and have been admitted to the local Civil Hospital. The deceased in survived by his wife and a son. 

VISHWAKARMA DAY: The Local Building Contractor Union celebrated Vishwakarma Day at Gurdwara Ramgarhia near Municipal Office here. The bhog ceremony of Sri Akhand Path, was performed on Thursday. Pandit Balwant Rai of Haridwar recited puja while kirtan was performed by Giani Mehnga Singh.

LUDHIANA
APPOINTED: The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amrtisar) President, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, has appointed Mr William Bansi Lal Matoo, Moderator, United Church of Northern India as president of the Christian Wing of the party. Mr Matoo has been empowered to set up units at village, circle and district levels in order to mobilise Christian community in favour of the party. 

CAMP POSTPONED: A gurmat training camp, scheduled for Thursday has been postponed indefinitely due to preoccupations of some of the senior leaders of the All-India Sikh Students Federation, who were to participate in the camp. This was decided at a meeting of the AISSF, held at Simpalpuri here, with Mr Tejinder Singh Sandhu in the chair. Members of the policy formulation committee — Mr Sukhwinder Singh Binder, Mr Sukhchain Singh Sandhu, Mr Gurmel Singh Khalsa, Mr Rajinder Singh Sandhu and Mr Ajaipal Singh Sandhu — also attended the meeting. According to Mr Sandhu, the fresh dates would be announced later. 

POST ABOLISHED: The State Unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has abolished the posts of Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) and Public Relations Officer (PRO) on the directions by the central leadership of the party. In a press note issued here on Thursday by Dr Balwant Singh, convener, Kisan Cell, on behalf of the state president, Mr Swarn Singh, it was stated that Mr Ramesh Nanchahal and Mr Charanjit Vaid, acting as CPRO and PRO of the party, respectively, would be given alternative posts soon. 

BJP MANDAL BIFURCATED: Under the directions of the party leadership to bifurcate the mandal units of the party, the district unit of Bhartiya Janata Party has divided the south mandal, comprising 35 wards of the city, into south mandal (udyog) and south mandal (B). According to Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, district (urban) president, the south mandal (udyog), comprising ward nos 15 to 32, will be headed by Mr Ruldu Ram Garg, with Mr Taranjit Singh as its general secretary. The south mandal (B), covering ward nos 1 to 3, 5 to 14, 40, 42 to 44, will have Mr Balraj Singh as its president and Mr Jatinder Mittal as general secretary.

EXHIBITION: Mandeep Singh and Tajinder Singh, + 2 students from Everest Public Senior Secondary School, have won the best model prize at an exhibition on the theme ‘Entertainment and science technology’ in the district- level science exhibition. Mr Rajinder Sharma, director of the school, congratulated the students on their success.

ANNUAL FUNCTION: Tiny tots of the Shishu Vatika of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir organised annual cultural programme and prize distribution function here on Wednesday. The programme began with Saraswati Vandana, following by a welcome song. Various, dance and action songs were also staged by the students. Ms Parkash Kaur, District Education Officer (primary), was the chief guest. Dr Ashok K. Setia, Director, and Ms Neena Sangar, headmistress, were present on the occasion.

CHILDREN’S DAY: Students of Harsh Vidya Mandir, New Subhash Nagar, celebrated Children’s Day here on Wednesday. They presented dance items on various songs. A skit depicting school life was also presented. The students of the Middle section performed bhangra. Mr D.P. Sharma, director, and Ms Meena Sharma, principal, distributed sweets among the students.

MANSA
BODY FOUND: The Bareta police of the district has found the decomposed body of a dera owner which was allegedly buried near water works at Bareta about a month ago. According to information reaching here on Thursday, the dera owner was allegedly poisoned to death by Jagdish Singh of Bareta, Chaina Singh of Sangreri village and Jaggu Singh of Chotian village. Jagdish Singh who had been arrested confessed having committed the crime.

MACHHIWARA
VISHWAKARMA DAY: Vishwakarma Day was celebrated with enthusiasm by the Baba Vishwakrama Committee here. In a programme held on premises of Vishwakarma Mandir various bhajan mandalis recited bhajans and chanted songs. Mr Anil Sood president Nagar Panchayat, and Mr Sushil Luthra, councillor of ward no. 6, were present on the occasion. Later a community kitchen was also organised. Divali was also celebrated with religious fervour. Mr S.S. Brar, SDM, and Mr Sushil Kumar,DSP, kept a close vigil to check the violation of the ban on fire crackers.

POLICE POST UPGRADED: According to a notification issued by the Department of Home Affairs, Punjab, the Koomkalan police post falling under Sahnewal police station Ludhiana district, has been up graded to a police station. Mr Niranjan Singh, SHO, said the Matterwara police post will fall in the periphery of the police station.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
ORDER ISSUED: The Sub-divisional Magistrate, Mrs Ragubir Kaur, has asked migrant labourers to report their arrival in the city to police station and give their current and permanent addresses under Section 144 of CRPC 1973. She has also asked the owners of houses, shops, factories, restaurants, hotels and dhabas to report about migrant workers working under them along with their photographs and addresses. Similarly, the BDPO, tehsildar and police administration have been asked to implement the order.

MEDICAL CAMP: Desh Bhagat Ayurvedic College and Hospital and the Walia Welfare and Sports Youth Club, Machrai Kalan, organised a free medical camp here. The camp was inaugurated by coordinator of the Nehru Youth Club Uttamjeet Singh. Nearly 280 patients were examined in the camp and free medicine were provided to them. 

MOGA
EYES TRANSPLANTATION: The Seva Bharti has so far transplanted as many as 148 eyes into blind persons of the district. This was stated here on Thursday by general secretary Vishva Mitter Dada.

PATHANKOT
SENTENCED: Mr Karnail Singh, Judicial Magistrate, here on Monday sentenced Raj Kumar, alias Raja of Jalandhar, to one year in prison and also imposed fine. The police had recovered a pistol and 15 cartridges allegedly wrapped in a glazed paper from the accused. A case has been registered.

CHILDREN'S DAY: Functions to mark the Children's Day were organised here at Shri Guru Hari Kishan public School and St Joseph Convent School on Tuesday. Cultural programmes were also organised on the occasion.

FUNCTION: The Old Students Association of Government Senior Secondary School, Lamini, will organise function on November 25 to honour the old students of the school. In a joint statement issued on Tuesday Mr B.R.Gupta, president and Mr S.P. Verma, general-secretary of the association, said Mr Joginder Singh, former director, CBI, would be the chief guest and Mr Mohan Lal, Higher Education Minister, Punjab, will preside over the function.

TARN TARAN
OPIUM SEIZED: The Chabal police has recovered 1 kg opium from the possession of Sohan Lal of Jamba village falling under Jodhpur district in Rajasthan. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused.

CHANDIGARH

SAS NAGAR
COMMITTEE: The following have been elected office-bearers of the executive committee of the Citizens Welfare Council (CPO): president-Dr Pritam Singh Doad; general secretary-Mr Harcharan Singh Saini; joint secretary-Capt Jasbir Singh Dhillon; treasurer-Mr Mohinder Singh Khangura; executive members-Mr S. Chaudhary, Mr Jaswinder Singh Kler, Mr Ajaib Singh Sandhu and Mr Darshan Singh. OC

HARYANA

AMBALA
MEDICAL CAMP: The All-India Indian Medicine Graduate Association will hold its fifth free medical-cum diabetes camp on November 18. The health camp will be held at Jandli, Model Town, in Ambala city. The camp will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free medical check-up for blood sugar and urine sugar will be conducted. Information and awareness campaign about hepatitis B and AIDS will also be given, general secretary of the association, Dr Ashwani Sharma said.

BHIWANI
EX-SERVICEMEN TO MEET: A meeting of ex-servicemen will be organised at Badhra Rest House on November 25. The meeting would be presided over by Colonel Brahmanand, vice-president, Haryana Ex-Servicemen League.

SONEPAT
DEMONSTRATION: Residents of Bindrauli village held a demonstration in front of the office of the Superintendent of Police here on Thursday in protest against the stoppage of drinking water supply to the village. They also raised anti-police slogans.

MURDERED: Rohtas (45) was found murdered in his house at Jagdishpur village, about 8 km from here, on Wednesday. The police has registered a case.

PROBE ORDERED: Representatives of various political parties, social and voluntary organisations and trade unions on Wednesday urged the district administration to order an inquiry into the embezzlement in distribution of old-age pension in the city and elsewhere in the district. In a joint press note they alleged that several pensioners had been deprived of these benefits.

DIRECTIVE TO LANDLORDS: The local police has directed the landlords to provide information about the foreigners living in their houses as tenants. Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat , SP, told mediapersons here on Thursday that it was obligatory for the landlords under Section 7 of the Foreign National Act, 1946.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

HAMIRPUR
SMALL SAVINGS: The HP Parliamentary Secretary, Ms Urmila Thakur, honoured 50 small savings agents and officials on Monday. The function was organised by the district administration at the Bachat Bhavan here. She said it was a matter of great pride that Hamirpur district had topped in the state not only in the per capita savings but also in the collection of money under the small savings schemes.

KANGRA
ANNIVERSARY: The Tibetan people would celebrate the concluding ceremony of the 60th enthronement anniversary and the 50th anniversary of Tibetan spiritual leader and temporal head Dalai Lama from November 20 to 22 at McLeodganj near Dharamsala. Disclosing this Tubten Samphel, Information Secretary, Tibetan Government-in-exile told mediapersons here on Tuesday that the function would be held at Tibetan temple.

FOUR ARRESTED: The Kangra police on Tuesday arrested four persons under the Gambling Act and recovered Rs 230 from their possession near Dharamsala taxi stand. The Additional District Police Chief, Mr N.D. Sareen, said at least 17 persons had been arrested under the Gambling Act so far. Those arrested had been identified as Vinod Kumar, Susheel Kumar, Rakesh Kumar and Ramesh Kumar.

PALAMPUR
DEAD: Mr Krishan Lal Shawney, president of the local Beopar Mandal, died here on Thursday following a massive heart attack.