R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

JALANDHAR
BDPO APPREHENDED: The Bhogpur Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Kanwaljit Singh Dhaliwal, was caught by the Vigilance Bureau, while accepting a bribe of Rs 8,500 from a resident of Kinga Choewala village here on Wednesday. Mr Jaskaran Singh, SP (Vigilance), said the accused demanded Rs 10,000 from Mr Hans Raj to issue a letter for police assistance for removing encroachment from a public pathway in the village.

LUDHIANA
APPOINTED: The Punjab Government has appointed Mr Kulwinder Singh Dahi, senior vice-president of the District Akali Jatha (Urban) as a non-official visitor to the Central Jail, Borstel Jail and the Women Jail in the city for a period of two years. This was stated in a government notification, issued by the Principal Secretary, Home, Punjab, Mr Bikramjit Singh.

YUVA MORCHA: The District President of Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Mr Kamal Chatley has appointed Mr Jiwan Gupta, an activist of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, during his college days, as general secretary of the district unit of the morcha. A large number of BJP and BJYM functionaries have hailed the appointment of Mr Gupta. According to Mr Chatley, the appointment has been made with the approval of Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, district president of the BJP.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been nominated office-bearers of the district unit of Janata Dal (United), headed by the Union Minister Mr Sharad Yadav. Mr Raghbir Singh Panesar — President, District (Urban) assembly segment Mr Joginder Pal — President, Ludhiana Rural assembly segment, Mr Major Singh — President, District (Rural), Mr Balwant Singh, General Secretary, District (Rural), Mr Charan Singh, President, Jagraon assembly segment, Mr Narinder Sharma — President, Raikot assembly segment. According to Mr Mehar Singh Devgun, State Secretary of the party and in charge of Ludhiana District, the appointments have been made on an adhoc basis. 

ATWAL LAUDS SAD-BJP GOVT: The Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal has claimed that the state of Punjab had witnessed an unprecedented era of development during the last five years under an SAD-BJP government, headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Addressing a religious congregation at Gurdwara Damdama Sahib, where bhog of a ‘sehaj path’ was performed for the speedy recovery of Mr Badal, he expressed confidence that the people of Punjab would once again vote in favour of the ruling combine and the next government would be given another term in office. Mr Atwal presented cheques for Rs 71,000 to Harijan Dharamshala in Doraha and Rs 31,000 for Satnam Nagar Harijan Dharamshala at this occasion. The new SGPC chief Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar also addressed the gathering and announced a grant of Rs 4 lakh for Gurdwara Damdama Sahib.

MALERKOTLA
BODY FOUND: The body of an unidentified man was found near Sandour village, about 10 km from here, on Wednesday. The victim was reportedly crushed by a speeding vehicle.

DENTAL CAMP: The health authorities, in collaboration with NGOs, organised a dental camp at the Civil Hospital on Wednesday. Dr Mohd. Shabbir, CMO (Dental), said about 5,000 patients were examined and given medicines free of cost. As many as 52 patients were also provided dentures.

OCTROI : Ms Razia Sultana, executive member, PPCC, called the SAD-BJP government’s decision to abolish octroi as ‘‘hijacking of an idea ’’. In a press note issued here on Wednesday, Ms Sultana alleged that octroi abolition was announced by the Congress when Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was the Chief Minister.

MANSA
SPURIOUS DRUGS: The sale of substandard and spurious medicines is going on unchecked in the district. The district administration has failed to put a stop on their sale despite several complaints from the residents. It may be mentioned that there is only one drug inspector for several districts in the state, who reportedly visits each district only once in a week.

SUICIDE: Lakha Singh, 35, a constable posted at the police control room , reportedly committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a goods trains on Wednesday. The Railway police has sent the body for a post-mortem examination. The cause of the suicide could not be ascertained.

PATHANKOT
MAN ARRESTED: The police has arrested Rajesh Wadhawan, husband of Bindhu Wadhawan, and Sumeem Bano, his second wife. According to the police, Bindhu Wadhawan had lodged an FIR stating that her in-laws had been demanding dowry. She also alleged that her husband had entered into a second marriage. 

PATIALA
HONOUR FOR BRAVERY: The Baba Alam Singh club would honour Mr Jaswinder Singh Gir for exceptional bravery shown by him while saving more than 100 persons from drowning in Bhakra canal. In a press note, the president of the club, Dr D.S. Bhullar, said the club would honour him on January 7, the remembrance day of Baba Alam Singh.

NSS DAY OBSERVED: Dhudial Khalsa Senior Secondary School, on Thursday celebrated international NSS Day. A debate and writing competition was held on the occasion where NSS volunteers from several schools participated. The first prize in debate was earned by Gitanjli Verma, of SD Girls School, while the second prize was won by Reema Puri of Siyo School, Barso. The first prize in writing competition was won by Namrita of Veer Hakikat Rai School and second prize went to Sandeep Rawat of Atma Ram Kumar Sabha School.

APPEAL: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, who is also the president of the District Soldier Welfare Fund, has appealed the public to come forward and donate generously towards the fund on the raising day of the Armed Forces that falls on Friday. The money would be distributed among disabled soldiers, war widows, orphans, destitute soldiers and their families.

SANGAT DARSHAN: The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Gagan Deep Singh, presided over a sangat darshan held on Thursday. Officers belonging to various departments settled most of the public grievances on the spot while others would be settled within a specific period. 

ROPAR
FORWARD BLOC: The Forward Bloc will raise issues concerning the residents of villages located around the Ropar thermal plant and Gujarat Ambuja plant during the ongoing session of the Parliament. According to Mr Naren Day, Minister for Cooperative Consumer Affairs, West Bengal, villages in the area had not been appropriately compensated for dislocation due to the plants.

HARYANA

AMBALA
ROBBERY: Around five robbers took away ghee worth Rs 80,000 from a wholesale shop at Naseerpur on the Ambala-Hisar road on Thursday morning. According to information, five persons came early in the morning in a four-wheeler. They broke into the shop and loaded boxes of ghee in their vehicle. The police has registered a case.

2 TRUCKERS KILLED: Two truckers were killed in a road accident near Adhoya village, around 30 km from here on Thursday. The deceased were identified as Mukesh and Babu.

ANTI-POLYBAG CAMPAIGN: The District Administration has launched an anti-polythene bag campaign in the district. The Deputy Commissioner said municipal council officials have been directed to take action against those who littered at public places.

CULTURAL FESTIVAL: An inter-zonal railway cultural festival concluded at the Railway auditorium here on Thursday. The Divisional Railway Manager, Mr Deepak Krishan, was the chief guest. In folk dance, Ferozepur came first, Jagadhari Workshop was second and Bikaner finished third. In classical, Allahabad came first and Jodhpur finished second. The teams put up a scintillating performance and the folk dances were well received by the audience. Specially selected events were presented at the concluding ceremony. The items included light vocal, ghazal and kathak.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

AGRICULTURE DAY: ‘‘Women in Agriculture’’day was celebrated in CSK H.P. Agricultural University here on Thursday. Dr Tej Partap Kaushal, Vice-Chancellor, said the real farmers in the mountains were women. He said women should not underestimate themselves and help towards improving the socio-economic conditions of the farming class.