R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
REFRESHER COURSE: An eminent historian and former Pro-Vice Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Mr Prithpal Singh Kapoor, on Wednesday exhorted history teachers to adopt international perspective to update their knowledge. Mr Kapoor was here to inaugurate a three-week refresher course in history jointly organised by the Academic Staff College and the Department of History of Guru Nanak Dev University.

FARIDKOT
DEAD: Vidya Devi, widow of a former Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, Bhagwan Dass, died at Jaitu in this district on Wednesday. She was 79. She leaves two daughters and three sons, including Mr Pawan Goel, senior vice-president, District Congress Committee, Faridkot. People from all walks of life attended her funeral at Jaitu on Thursday.

GIRLS COLLEGE: The Major Ajaib Singh Educational and Social Service Society has decided to start a girls college at Jiwanwala village, about 20 km from here, to promote education particularly among the rural girls. This was stated by Mr Sukhchain Singh, director of the society, here on Thursday.

GURDASPUR
PENSIONERS’ CONCERN: Mr Surinderjit Singh Jaspal, president of the Punjab Government Pensioners Association, while talking to newsmen here on Wednesday, urged the Punjab Government to withdraw its letter (pay and accounts) issued on November 18, 2002, as its implementation would create problems for ailing, old and rural pensioners. According to the letter, the pension would be disbursed only till the 10th of every month. ARRESTED: The police on Wednesday arrested Sampuran Singh of Bahlol Chack for selling drugs in violation of the orders of the District Magistrate issued under Section 144, Cr PC. It also seized some quantity of banned drugs. A case under Section 188, IPC, has been registered against the accused.

TWO KILLED: Narinder Kumar, a resident of Daburji, who was working as a Technical Officer with Markfed, and Manjinder Singh, a resident of Bhoom, died on the spot when their new Indica car skidded off the road and overturned here on Tuesday.

HOSHIARPUR
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Asha Deep Welfare Society, Hoshiarpur: president — Dr Kuldip Singh; vice-president — Mr Kamaljit Chopra; general secretary — Mr Harish Arey; joint secretary — Mr B.R. Saini; and cashier — Mr S.S. Bajwa.

PAINTING CONTEST: The Lions Club 321-D in collaboration with the Lions Club, Hoshiarpur Royal, organised a painting competition on wildlife conservation at the local SAV Jain Day Boarding School on Wednesday. Amandeep Kaur, Sahil and Mohit Kumar were adjudged first, second and third, respectively.

KHARAR
KHATRI SABHA: In a meeting of the Khatri Sabha Kharar, it was decided that the settlement of minor disputes among members shall in future take place through mutual settlement instead of going to the courts or the police station. In a press note released by the secretary of the sabha Mr Lal Chand Sethi, a minor dispute between, Mr Anish Kumar and Navneet had been solved by the sabha in a meeting and the case was withdrawn from police station. The sabha has also constituted a fund for providing medical care to the needy. Under this fund the sabha had sent a sum of Rs 570 for a kidney transplant and Rs 1,700 for heart surgery. The sabha will also provide financial assistance for the marriage of poor girls.

LUDHIANA
FACE TO FACE: The Punjabi Literary Society of Ramgarhia Girls College had invited Prof Mohinder Singh Cheema, a well-known columnist, for a face to face with students. He spoke about literature and its benefits to mankind.

SPECIAL TRAIN: Begumpura Express will leave from Jalandhar to Varanasi, the birthplace of Guru Ravidas. Sant Niranjan Dass of Swami Ramanand Dera Sachkh of ‘Ballion’ Jalandhar along with thousands of followers are accompanying the train.

INTER-COLLEGE CONTEST: In a inter-college competition titled ‘Geetan Bharea Savera’ held in Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Gujarkhan Campus, on Friday, two students of Shanti Tara College, Ahmedgarh, bagged the overall trophy in music. Jaswinder of BA II won the first prize in ‘vaar gayan’, while Gurvinder Singh of BA III won the first prize in folk songs.

SHOBHA YATRA: A shobha yatra was taken out here on Wednesday after the completion of mahayajna, organised by the Swami Onkarnand Ashram Trust. Devotees sang devotional songs and danced to the tunes of bhajans in the yatra.

LECTURE: The Department of Foreign Trade Practices and Procedures of GGN Khalsa College organised an extension lecture on Role of ECGC in promoting exports in India, on Thursday. Mr B.L. Bhatacharya, assistant general manager, Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC), Ludhiana, was the guest speaker. He was given a warn welcome by Principal Gurdip Singh. Mr Bhatacharya discussed the role of ECGC of India covering various aspects, including pre-shipment and post-shipment finance terms, bank guarantee scheme, insurance cover etc. Students were given booklets published by ECGC containing information about small exporters’ policy and standard policy of ECGC. Moreover, students were also made aware of various technical terms used in export negotiations. The guest speaker was thanked by the coordinators, Prof Parneet Singh and Prof Mukta Kalra, Prof T.S. Arneja and Prof Jatinder Kapoor were also present on the occasion.

MEDICAL CAMP: SDP College for Women organised a medical check-up concerning thalaessemia on Thursday. Mr Parminder Mehta, president of the District Youth Congress, inaugurated the camp. They conducted tests on more than 200 students. Mrs S. Verma, Principal, said such tests should be done every year.

GURMAT TEST: Over 1500 students from 35 schools participated in a Gurmat test organised by Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle here recently. Declaring the results, Mr Jaspal Singh, zonal secretary, said Harmanpreet Singh (DAV Public School) had stood first followed by Simranpreet Kaur from Sargodha Girls Senior Secondary School and Prabhinder Singh from DAV Public School.

COURSE: A two-day course for gender sensitisation for police officers was held at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, from Tuesday. A total 24 police officers, including six SPs and 18 DSPs participated in the course.

PRINCIPAL APPOINTED: The management of the Mata Sahib Kaur Girls College, Bharowal, has appointed Mr Gurcharan Singh as Principal of the college.

HARYANA

AMBALA
DEMONSTRATION: The Haryana Rajkiya Adhyapak Sangh held a demonstration near the office of the District Education Officer here on Thursday. The demonstrators were led by sangh’s senior vice-president Kulwant Singh. They protested against the rationalisation policy of the state government and demanded that the ad hoc and contract teachers, who had been working for more than eight years, should be regularised.

LIQUOR SEIZED: The district police has seized 200 pouches of country-made liquor from the possession of Sonu in Ambala Cantt. Twenty bottles were seized from the possession of Gama. Both have been arrested. 

DEMAND: The Citizens Council, Ambala Cantt, has demanded the carpeting of the Jagadhari road from Ambala Cantt to Saha. In a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, the council said: “Although the road has been repaired a number of times, but the work has been carried out so carelessly that it does not last ever for a month. It is requested that thick carpeting of the road should be carried out and the extension of the road on both sides should be carried out in a phased manner.”

EIGHT ARRESTED: Eight persons have been arrested in an incident in which a car was set on fire and an other badly by some youth near police post number 3 at Ambala city on February 10. On a complaint lodged by Mr Manmohan Bajaj, alias Banti, whose car was set ablaze, had filed a complaint with the police a case was registered against several persons.

RAIDED: The Income Tax Department conducted raids on two jewellery shops and a plywood shop in the Sarafa bazaar at Ambala city on Thursday. The Income Tax officials conducted the raided simultaneously. No official was available for comment.

HISAR
FIVE HURT: Five persons, including two women, were injured in a road accident at Talwandi Rana village, near here, on Wednesday. All injured were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. According to the police, a Haryana Roadways bus was on its way from here to Barwala. As soon as the bus reached near Talwandi Rana village, situated on the Hisar-Chandigarh road, the driver lost control over it and hit two cyclists Sukhbir and Sube Singh, residents of the same village, and two women Lajwanti and Kamla Devi from behind. After this the bus overturned. Bus driver Sadhu Ram also received injuries. A case has been registered.

KARNAL
DEAD: Sher Singh Jain, a news agent of The Tribune, died here on Wednesday. He was 68. He leaves his wife, three sons and two daughters.

YAMUNANAGAR
KILLED: Dr Mohan Lal Kamboj (45), posted at Shahpur village of Karnal district, was returning here on Tuesday evening on his motor cycle when his vehicle collided with a cart near Radaur, about 18 km from here. Dr Kamboj was taken to hospital in a serious condition where he succumbed to his injuries.