R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

KAPURTHALA
SENTENCED: Mr Gurdev Singh, Sessions Judge, on Thursday sentenced Baldev Singh of Pamma village, Sultanpur Lodhi subdivision, to life term and fined him Rs 10,000 for killing Baldev Singh of the same village. In case of default he would have to undergo an additional imprisonment for six months.

LUDHIANA
TALENT HUNT: Shaheen and Rimmi of the Niharika Ladies Club got the first prize for their performance during an inter-club talent hunt competition organised by the Sarabha Ladies Club here on Thursday. Jyotsna and Divya of the Sarabha Ladies Club were given the second prize for their performance on Bolen churian’ and Main to laaj ke maare’ and the third prize was won by Neetu and Bawa Maggo of the Aar Cee Ladies Club. Participants from more than eight ladies club, including Venus, Sarabha, Geetanjali, Gayatri, Aradhna, Roopika and Niharika clubs, participated in the contest. Ms Mahender Kaur Bal and Ms Raman Gujral were the judges on the occasion. Rimmi of the Niharika Ladies Club was given the title of ‘Mrs Talented’ for her mono-acting while the consolation prizes were given to Pammi Sidhu (Roopika Club) and Bindiya (Venus Club).

BOOK FAIR: Poetry-recitation, poster-making and creative-writing contests marked the book fair organised by the Scholastic India Private Limited at Tagore Public School on Thursday. Students of Class I and II participated in poetry recitation contest. Harvineet Kaur (Class II), Malvika and Vaibhav (both of Class II) and Irene Nandi (Class I) bagged the first, second and third prizes, respectively. In creative-writing contest, students from Classes III to V participated. Shreya Bhardwaj of Class IV, Sahil Bhardwaj of Class V and Neha Bedi of Class V won the first, second and third prizes, respectively. In the poster-making contest, Sukhjeet Kaur of Class VIII, Taranjeet Kaur of Class IX and Navjot Grewal of Class VIII were declared top three winners. During the fair, more than 1,000 books were on display. Several interactive CDs were also on sale. Mr D.J. Jain, president of the school, Mr Amrit Lal Aggarwal, manager, Ms Manju Parkash, Principal, were also present on the occasion.

CEREMONY: The Shri Shiv Shakti Mandir Dharamarth Trust is holding a week-long idol installation ceremony beginning on Friday, according to a spokesman of the trust. During the celebrations which would conclude on May 10, Shri Virender Hari Ji from Kotkapura would render Shri Bhagwat Katha from 2 pm to 5 pm and then from 8.30 pm to 11 pm. A kalash yatra would also be taken out on May 13, added the spokesman.

RELIEF TO WIDOWS: Shri Gyan Sthal Mandir Sabha and Lala Jagat Narayan Nishkam Sewa Sangh would jointly distribute relief to 561 widows on Sunday, according to a press release here on Friday by the temple management. Mr Vijay Chopra, Editor-in-Chief, Hind Samachar Group of Newspapers, would preside over the function. A satsang-cum-discourse session would be held from 9 am to 10 am before the start of the distribution function which would conclude in the afternoon, added the release.

GURBANI KIRTAN: A gurbani kirtan was performed by Bhai Jasbir Singh Khalsa here on Thursday at Gurdwara Dukhnivaran in Field Ganj on the occasion of the completion of a new building in the gurdwara premises. Mr Pritpal Singh, head priest of the gurdwara, later presented siropas to the Panj Piaras leading the construction team and Mr Raminder Singh, Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana. 

AKHARA STARTED: The Krantikari Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal, New Tagore Nagar, Haibowal, has started an akhara with the purpose of combatting drug abuse among the youth, according to the dal president Mr Sarwan Kumar Attri. The akhara would motivate the youth to stay away from drugs and lead a healthy, normal life, he added. 

NOMINATED: Mr Nirmal Singh Billa has been nominated general secretary of the Punjab Youth Congress (Beopar Cell). The appointment has been made by the PYC President, Mr Devinder Singh Babbu, on the recommendation of the local YC activist, Mr Pawan Diwan.

APPOINTED: The State President of Bharatiya Janata Party Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, has appointed a noted writer from the city, Mr Harminder Malik, as the co-convenor of the media wing of the state unit of the party.

RELIEF FOR STUDENTS: The Shri Sidh Sewa Mandal would organise 15th annual function on Sunday at Sidh Baba Balak Nath Temple on the Dhuri Line at which needy school children would be given relief in the form of school fees. Mr Jagmohan Sharma, President, Pradesh Beopar Mandal, Punjab, would inaugurate the function and Ms Sudesh Chopra, wife of Mr Vijay Chopra, Editor-in-Chief, Hind Samachar group of newspapers, would be the chief guest. Mr Surinder Dawar, MLA, would distribute the relief after which a cultural programme would be presented by the children, according to a press release here on Friday.

ELECTED: Mr Sucha Singh Cheema and Mr Paramjit Singh were unanimously elected president and general secretary, respectively, of the Excise and Taxation Officers Association, Punjab. Other office-bearers of the association are: Mr H.L. Chadha — senior vice-president; Mr Pritam Singh Sidhu, Mr R.K. Grover, Mr Jasmel Singh — vice presidents, Mr Amrit Lal Bansal — finance secretary; and Mr P.S. Randhawa, Ms J.K. Mander, Mr Dev Raj Nayyar, Mr P.C. Paul, Mr Raghbir Singh and Mr Rajinder Singh — members of executive committee.

MALERKOTLA
OBSCENE POSTERS: Mr Munish Jindal, president, Malerkotla Welfare Associaton, has written to the administration to take action against cinema owners who were displaying obscene posters at the cinemas in violation of the DC’s orders.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Bharat Vikas Parishad: president — Mr R.K. Mehta; general secretary — Mr Pawan Sood; vice-president — Mr Anil Kumar; press secretary — Dr Kamal Bharti

PHAGWARA
TELEPHONE BILL: Mr Mohinder Singh having a residential telephone number 62292 got a bill of Rs 4,309 on Wednesday, which shows 20 overseas calls which were never made. The subscriber has sent representations to the Union Minister Mrs Sushma Swaraj and Chief Telecom Manager, Chandigarh in this regard.

FIRE: Stubbles and straws of the harvested wheat got burnt on Thursday at Hardaspur village. The local fire brigade and police reached the site and doused the fire which was threatening the residential areas.

PHILLAUR
DEMOLITION DRIVE: A railway team demolished about 30 kiosks and vends which had encroached on railway land near Phillaur railway station on Thursday. Though several citizens expressed their protest against the demolition drive, but railway official said one-month notice had already been served to encroachers.

SAMRALA
MEETING: A meeting of the Arms License Holders, prominent citizens and representatives of the mediapersons held here on Friday in the local police station under the presidentship of Mr Harinderjit Singh Sidhu, Superintendent of Police. At the meeting, the SP heard the problems of the villagers who participated and directed the police officers to solve the same on priority basis. The SP also directed the participants to hold thikri pehras in the villages

APPOINTED: Mr Daljit Singh have been appointed Harijan Lambardar in Mutton village by the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, Mr Anurag Aggarwal. The post became vacant due to the death of Mewa Singh and there were four candidates. Later two withdrew their applications and the local Tehsildar Hari Singh and the SDM, Mr S S Brar, recommended the name of Daljeet Singh against Arminder Singh.

HARYANA

AMBALA
FREE MEDICAL CAMP: A free medical check-up camp for nervous and heart disease patients will be held at Kumari Rukmini Devi hall on Saturday. Patients will be examined by Dr Satwant Sachdev and Dr V.K. Goel. The Akhil Bharatiya Shri Sangmeshwar Sewa Dal, Ambala Cantt, is organising the camp. The camp will be held from 8.30 am to 1 pm. Meanwhile, the local Rotary Club on Friday organised a free medical camp for persons suffering from knee and hip problems. The camp was held at Rukmani Devi memorial hall under the guidance of Dr Ashok Nandra.

LIC AGENT TOPS: Mr Vikram Yadav, LIC agent, has topped the branch Unit-II, Chandigarh, by registering 247 policies in the financial year 2001-2002. He also figures in the top list for the month of March, 2002, by registering 103 policies.

FATEHABAD
10-YEAR-JAIL: The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Darshan Singh, on Thursday sentenced Bhupinder Singh to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs 2 lakh in a case under the NDPS Act. The convict will have to undergo an additional imprisonment of two years in case he fails to pay the fine.

YAMUNANAGAR
DHARNA: A team comprising five members of the Jaagruk Chhatra Morcha staged a dharna here on Thursday demanding the arrest of Narender Modi, Chief Minister, Gujarat. They also demanded a ban on the RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
DEMANDED: The district unit of the Non-Gazetted Employees Association here has warned the district administration that it would start an agitation without any notice and may even cripple the entire drinking water supply in the Ghumarwin area if two influential persons who on Thursday night assaulted and mercilessly beat up a helper, Shaligram, who is posted at a lift drinking water supply scheme near Ghumarwin, are not arrested and punished.

MANDI
SEMINAR: Dr O.P. Sharma, Director of Education, has said the Education Department would take steps to set up a Himachal scouts and guides training centre in the state so that the network of this institution was expanded up to the primary-school level. Inaugurating a one-day state-level seminar of Himachal Scouts and Guides here on Friday, Dr Sharma said qualitative education would be further vindicated when new generation — with high virtue of selfless service, discipline and dedication — joined the mainstream.

NAHAN
RECRUITMENT: Mr S.P. Singh, Superintendent of Police, Sirmaur district, said here on Thursday that the recruitment for 23 posts of constable would take place here from May 29 to June 3. He said 5 per cent reservation would be for Home Guards.

SEIZED: During a raid conducted at Manpur Devra village in Paonta subdivision the police arrested Naresh Kumar and seized a working still along with 12 kg of lahan and three bottles of illicit liquor.

HEALTH CAMP: A health awareness camp under the aegis of the district AIDS Control Society was organised by SWATI, a voluntary organisation, at the Night Queen complex at Kala Amb on Wednesday. Medicines were distributed free of cost to patients.

SHIMLA
ELECTED: The following have been elected office bearers of the Municipal Workers Federation. president — Mr Kishori Lal Sharma, Sr. vice-president — Mr Som Nath Bhatia, vice-presidents — Mr Bhagwan Dass and Asha Ram, general secretary — Mr Sukh Dev Matto, joint secretary — Mr Partap Thakur; Finance Secretary — Mr Dinesh Chander, and press secretary — Mr Susheel Kumar.

ANTI-TERRORISM DAY: A spokesman of the state government said here on Friday that May 21 would be observed as “Anti-Terrorism Day” in the state with the objective of warning the people, especially the youth, away from the cult of terrorism and violence. An anti-terrorism oath will be administered to officials at all state government offices, public institutions and public sector undertakings on that day.

URGED: A local lawyer, Mr Devinder Chauhan, has urged the Election Commission of India to reject the proposal of the Himachal Pradesh Government to hold byelection to the Kumarsein Assembly seat which fell vacant following the death of Mr J B L Khachi of the Congress.