R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

ABOHAR
SMACK RECOVERED: The CIA staff has arrested Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Fazilka, under the NDPS Act after the recovery of 90 gm of smack from his possession, official sources said on Monday.

KRISHI CARDS: As many as 219 credit cards were distributed among farmers at a function organised by Punjab National Bank at Ramasara on Monday. This will entitle them to avail Rs 210 lakh as loan from the bank. Mr R.K. Narula, chief manager, regional office, presided.

CAMP: More than 225 patients attended a heart check-up camp organised by the Rotary Club, Abohar Midtown, on Sunday. Experts from Escorts Hospital, New Delhi, examined them. Free ECG was also done.

AMRITSAR
MEAT SALE BANNED: The District Magistrate, Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu, on Monday banned the sale of meat and fish within 500 metres of Ram Tirath here. The ban has been imposed on the appeal of various Hindu organisations.

BATHINDA
EXHIBITION: A painting and sculpture exhibition being held at the local unit of National Fertiliser Limited ended here on Tuesday. Seven leading painters and sculptors participated in the exhibition, which was inaugurated by the Chief General Manager, NFL, Mr C.M. Nagpaul. More than 100 paintings and sculptures were exhibited.

PRIVATISATION: Dr Harminder Singh, central committee member, Medical Service Centre, in a statement issued here on Tuesday, said the centre would oppose the privatisation of the health facilities by the state as well as the Union governments. He said a seminar on the new health policy would be held soon.

FARIDKOT
DRESS DESIGNING CENTRE: The Lions Club, Kotkapura, in collaboration with the District Red Cross Welfare Section Hospital has started a dress designing centre at Kotkapura. Mrs Vanita Prasad, wife of the Deputy Commissioner and chairperson of the hospital, inaugurated it on Monday.

GURDASPUR
ARRESTED: The police has arrested Balwinder Singh for his alleged involvement in stealing registration challans from the District Transport Office here. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, in a press note here on Monday said all stolen challans had been recovered.

KAPURTHALA
ACCIDENT: Aarti (16), a resident of the local Jatpura Mohalla, died in an accident on the Kapurthala-Nakodar road near Kala Sanghian village on Sunday. According to police reports, Aarti, a student of class X along with her family members, was coming here in a Maruti van from Nakodar when a bus coming from the opposite side hit the Maruti van near Kala Sanghian village as a result of which she received grievous injuries and died on the spot.

MANSA
ARRESTED: A party of the CIA staff , Mansa, led by the Assistant Sub Inspector , Mr Jagdish Sharma, arrested Gursewak Singh, a resident of Gharangna village in the district, near the bus stand and recovered 20 gm of smack from his possession. The Mansa Sadar police has registered a case against him under Sections 21/61/85 of the NDPS Act. He was produced in the court which sent him in judicial remand.

MOGA
ROAD REPAIR: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr G. Ramesh Kumar, said on Tuesday that he had directed the departments concerned to immediately get the 70 km stretch of the Moga-Ferozepore repaired. He was addressing the meeting of the district development committee.

NAWANSHAHR
BLOOD CAMP: The local unit of the Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, and the Blood Donors Council organised a blood donation camp at Anokherwal village, about 20 km from here, on Sunday to mark the birth anniversary of the founder of the sect, Shah Mastanaji. About 50 devotees donated blood.

INSTALLED: Lions Club (Nawanshahr Bist) organised its installation ceremony here on Sunday. Mr Parkash Singh, local MLA, presided over and Mr J.B. Singh Chaudhary, District Governor, installed the following office bearers: president — Lt Col Jernail Singh; secretary — Ms Nirmal Kaur; vice-presidents — Mr M.S. Rai, Mr Jaswinder Singh and Mr Chaman Singh; joint secretary — Mr Ravi Sareen, and cashier — Mr Rajiv Gautam.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Revenue Patwar Union, Punjab: president- Mr Gurmail Singh; general secretary- Mr Gurnek Singh Sher; senior vice- president- Mr Ajaib Singh; vice presidents- Mr Satnam Singh, Mr Harmeet Singh and Mr Gurdeep; additional general secretary- Mr Narinder Kumar; organising secretary- Mr Nirmal Singh; office-secretary- Mr Sukhmander Singh; treasurers-Mr Sukhdev Singh and Mr Palwinder Singh.

PATIALA
YOUTH FESTIVAL: The main aim of this festival is to bring out the hidden talent of students” said the director of DAV Public Schools, Ms Sheetal Sharma, while inaugurating the Regional Youth Festival (Patiala zone) in DAV Public School here. Nine teams of various DAV schools, including those from SAS-Nagar, Nabha, Kakrala, Kularan, Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Nangal, Patiala and Patran, participated in the festival. The festival began with the invocation of goddess Saraswati followed by singing of shabads, bhajans, poetry recital and a play. Ghazals were also presented.

ITBP RECRUITS: An attestation and passing out ceremony of the Indo-Tibet Border Police Force (ITBP) was held at ATC, here in which 221 candidates of 140-141 batches passed out. Mr D.P. Sinha, ADG (Railway Police), who presided over the function, lauded the role of the ITBP in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and said the force, which was raised in the wake of Sino-Indian conflict, had assumed a multi-dimensional role. Mr Sinha also distributed prizes to recruits for outstanding achievements in different disciplines. Mr Tejinder Singh was adjudged the best recruit of the batch.

CAMP: The Forum for Common Cause, a non-government organisation, organised a free acupressure medical camp here on Tuesday. More than 370 patients were provided free consultation by a team of doctors led by Dr Balwant Singh. The president of the forum, Mr Mahinder Singh Walia, said the main aim of the camp was to acquaint people with acupressure and colour therapy.

AWARENESS RALLY: The Punjab Eco-Friendly Association (PEFA) will organise an environment awareness cycle rally on Thursday. The state president of the association, Mr Paramvir Singh Bal, said the Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University would flag off the rally. He said the association would present a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Tejveer Singh, demanding steps to make the city clean. He said the rally aimed at making the general masses, especially students, aware of the importance of keeping the surroundings clean.

PHAGWARA
BJYM MEETING: Officer-bearers of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha Punjab, will meet here on November 27. The morcha will observe “sankalp divas” on December 13 on the first anniversary of the attack on Parliament and will renew its pledge to fight Pak-sponsored terrorism. Widows and kin of Kargil martyrs will be honoured.

TARN TARAN
SUSPENDED: Rajinder Kumar, a patwari posted at the local circle, has been suspended by the District Collector with immediate effect for making wrong entries in the revenue record by putting fake signatures of higher officials.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

HAMIRPUR
STRIKE: Private bus operators of Hamirpur district will take part in a day-long strike in support of their demands on November 25. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the private bus operators of the district with Mr Naresh Kumar Darji in the chair. Mr Dev Raj Sharma, state president of the union, was also present.

KUMARHATTI
ASSOCIATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the of the Solan District Pensioners Association: president- Mr K.L. Parasher; senior vice-president — Mrs Durga Bhardwaj; vice-president — Mr Bir Singh Assi; general secretary & — Mr C.L. Rajput; and finance secretary — Dr K.N. Dutta; secretary, public relations — Mr R.K. Vashishta; — and joint secretaries — Mr B.K. Sharma and Mrs Meera Sehgal.