R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
FAREWELL PARTY: Mr Kamlesh Kumar Chhiba, secretary market committee, was given a farewell party by the Arhtia and Rice Shellers Associations Amloh here on his superannuation after putting in 32 years of service on Tuesday. Earlier, members of the Apni Kisan Mandi of Mandi Gobindgarh also organised a farewell party.

AMRITSAR
COURSE: A refresher course on history, “The idea of India”, was organised by the Department of History and the Academic Staff College of Guru Nanak Dev University on Monday. Prof Irfan Habib, a distinguished historian and vice-president of the Indian History Congress, addressed it.

BATHINDA
KILLED: A rickshaw-puller was crushed to death by an Army vehicle near the Bibiwala Chowk area of the city on Tuesday. The victim would not be identified so far.

HOSHIARPUR
RAPE: A case of rape of a girl by her uncle has been reported under Garhshankar police station. According to police sources, the girl was raped by her uncle at Badesron village on the night of February 28. The police has registered a case under Section 376 of the IPC against the accused.

CASES: The Mahilpur police has registered two separate cases under Section 420, 120 B of the IPC against Tarsem Singh and his son, Sanjiv Kumar of Nandipur, for cheating Sohan Singh of Maksudpur and Mohan Singh of Pandori Ganga Singh. Tarsem Singh and his son allegedly took Rs 1,15000 from Sohan Singh and Rs 80000 from Mohan Singh for sending them abroad. They neither sent them abroad nor returned the money.

KHAMANO
CAMP: A two-days camp on food and nutrition was organised in Saidpura village near here. A spokesperson spoke about the importance of breast milk for new-born babies and also about importance of nutritious food during adolescence about which parents were often unaware. Stress was laid to provide nutritious food to adolescent girls who were normally ignored by our society. Mr Anant Ram gave a presentation on making of healthy food and its importance. Ms Harwinder Kaur, CDPO Khamano, the CDPO Amloh and SMO Baldev Singh also spoke.

LUDHIANA
ORATION: Dayanand Medical College and Hospital will organise the sixth Sat Paul Mittal Oration in association with the Nehru Siddhant Kendra at Dumra Auditorium on Thursday. Dr Abid Hussain, former Indian Ambassador to the USA, will speak on “Fault Lines of Indian Democracy”. Late Sat Paul Mittal, MP, had participated in the freedom struggle as a student leader.

STUDENTS HONOURED: Outstanding students of Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Gujarkhan Campus, received prizes for their all-round achievements at a function held on Tuesday. On the occasion, academic position holders of plus one and plus two students from arts as well as commerce streams were honoured. Over 100 members of the NSS, Youth Club and gidha team also won prizes. Students presented various songs, folk songs and skits. Neha from BA I gave a talk on ‘Women power’. Ms Veena Dada, OSD for the post of chairman, Punjab School Education Board, was the chief guest. Prof Gurbir Singh Sarna, general secretary of the college managing committee, was the guest of honour. Dr Anoop Kaur Bansal, Principal, presided over the function.

ANNUAL DAY:The Political Science Association of SCD Government College organised their annual day on Tuesday. Students presented various dance, drama and music items. Over 20 students of the college received prizes for their achievements. Mr V.P. Gaur, Principal of the college, was also present on the occasion.

UNION RALLY: Members of the Moulder and Steel Workers Union organised a rally here on Tuesday in protest against the proposed labour policy of the government. Mr Vijay Narain, president of the union, said the proposed policy would be against the interests of the workers. The workers raised slogans against the government and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

WORKSHOP: “The Rehabilitation Council of India-Zonal Advisory Committee, in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Council of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, will conduct a workshop for health administrators and officials of Punjab at the Vocational Rehabilitation Training Centre for Blind, Disabled, Haibowal Road, on Wednesday. Dr E.M. Johnson, Director and consultant on rehabilitation and Chairperson, RCI North Zone, said that Mr Anurag Aggarwal would preside over the function while Ms Rupan Deol Bajaj, Principal Secretary, Punjab, Health and Family Welfare, would inaugurate the workshop. The medical officers of Primary Health Centers, who had attended the national programme on orientation, will be given certificates.

DRIVE HAILED: The Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers Association has welcomed the drive of the Ayurvedic Department to curb the sale of unauthorised and spurious drugs and flourishing of unlicensed manufacturing units. The representative of the association said the main causes of these malpractices were corruption by the department officials and the absence of a technical licensing authority. 

STRIKE: Protesting against the non-fulfillment of their demands, students of Guru Nanak Engineering Diploma College, went on strike on Tuesday. Various demands of the students included roll-back in fee hike, opening of a PCO, common room for girls, provision of bus passes and changing of college timings. The students held a dharna in front of the principal’s office and gave him a memorandum. Principal Sikander Singh Gill assured the students that he would strive to fulfill their genuine demands. OC

PROPOSALS FLAYED: The Punjab state committee of the MCPI has criticised the Budget proposals presented by the Finance Minister in Parliament, alleging that these are pro-rich, pro-industrialist and pro-trader. Mr Kuldip Singh, state secretary of MCPI, in a communique alleged that the budget reflected the directions of the IMF and WTO.

KISAN MELA POSTPONED: The main kisan mela at Punjab Agricultural University campus will now be held on March 22 and 23 instead of March 21 as announced earlier. Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director of Extension Education, PAU, said that the change had been made due to some unavoidable circumstances. Dr Kolar appealed to the farmers to note the change and attend the Kisan Mela in large numbers along with their families. Meanwhile, the first Kisan Mela of this month would be inaugurated by Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab, on March 5, at Regional Station, Bathinda. Dr Kolar further said that Kisan Mela at Rauni, Patiala, would be held on March 13 and at Regional Station, Gurdaspur on March 25. The main features of these melas would be agro-industrial exhibitions, field demonstrations, question-answer sessions and farm-produce competition. Besides, arrangements for the sale of improved seeds, farm literature and fruit plants would also be made. The visiting farmers would also be given on-the-spot advice about various plant disorders on the basis of the examination of the samples brought by them.

MANSA
DISMISSED: Sukhminder Singh, Revenue Patwari of Date was in Budhlada subdivision, who had been under suspension was dismissed on Tuesday by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Ahluwalia. The Patwari made a false entry in the revenue record. Another Revenue Patwari, Buta Singh, of Burjdhilwan in the district, was placed under suspension for the same offence he had committed during his posting at Malakpur.

SECTION 144: In view of the impending municipal elections and annual examinations, the District Magistrate, Mr S.K. Ahluwalia, has issued orders under Section 144 of the Cr PC, prohibiting the use of loudspeakers in the district. However, loudspeakers, with sound restricted to the compound, will be allowed to be used with the permission of the SDM concerned. The order will remain in force till May 1. The ban includes public assemblies, raising slogans and carrying weapons in public places.

PHAGWARA
LOOTED: A liquor vend on the Jandali road, near Khothran was looted on Monday. Nearly Rs 2,000 and a large number of bottles of liquor were looted by some scooterists at gunpoint. They also injured a person after mistaking him for a home guard. The injured was identified as Roshan Lal, a driver in a factory.

HARYANA

AMBALA
QUIZ: An inter-college quiz was held in Gandhi Memorial National College, Ambala Cantt, on Tuesday. Students from Ambala City, Ambala Cantt, Samalkha, Naraingarh, Yamunanagar, Mithapur, Kurukshetra and Karnal participated in the quiz which was presided over by college management committee vice-president Laxmi Sagar. The running trophy was won by S.D. College, Ambala Cantt, while the Engineering College, Samalkha and Arya College, Ambala Cantt, won second and third positions respectively. DAV College Ambala City, and TMT College Yamunanagar were given consolation prizes. Excise and Taxation Commissioner D.P. Sirohi, gave away prizes.

TRAINING CAMP: A district-level training camp for farmers was organised by the Agriculture Department at Matheri Sekhan on Monday. Haryana Minister Jaswinder Sandhu said the government was developing food parks at Dabwali, Saha, Narwana and Rai. He said food parks would help solve marketing problems of farmers, a release said.

STATUE ROW: District Congress Committee, Ambala Cantt, president Ashok Jain said the district administration is going to reconsider the suspension of a resolution seeking to put up a statue of late Indira Gandhi in Indira Park. This was stated by Mr Ashok Jain, Ambala Cantt, Congress Committee president, on Tuesday. Mr Jain on Tuesday headed a delegation which met the Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, Mr D.D. Gautam. The Deputy Commissioner has assured them that the suspension will be reconsidered, he said.

HISAR
INJURED: Three persons were injured in a road accident at Mayar village, near here, on Sunday. They were admitted to a local private hospital. Workers of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) were returning here from Rohtak after attending a party rally there in a mini truck. As soon as they reached near the village, a truck, coming from the opposite direction, hit their vehicle. Two INLD workers and the driver of the vehicle received minor injuries.

MARCH: Employees of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) observed Sunday as a black day and held a procession in the town. They raised slogans against the state government. The Haryana Employees Joint Action Committee had given a call in this regard.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

ARRESTED: Kunwar Virender Singh, Additional Superintendent of police, said here on Monday that the police had succeeded in arresting an accused, Kehar Singh, in a case of murder which took place on February 23. The victim was identified as Tirath Ram, son of Mangdu Chuje of Malana village.