R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
DEMANDED: Mr Satya Pal Dang, a veteran CPI leader, in a letter to the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has demanded release of information regarding the present status in the kidney scam. He said a number of doctors and well-placed persons were involved in the scam. However, all of them were out on bail and the inquiry was going on snail’s pace, he pointed out.

BUS SERVICE: The All-India Hindu Shiv Sena (AIHSS) demanded a direct bus service from Amritsar to Katasraj (Pakistan), here on Thursday. Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, president of the AIHSS, in a letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, has also demanded the distillation of Amrit Sarovar Amar kund and allowing Hindu community to do the kar seva for this.

EXPELLED: The Sikh students Federation (SSF),(Mehta group) unanimously expelled Mr Iqbal Singh Tung from the federation here on Thursday. The decision was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of its president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Grewal. He said Mr Tung was ousted for anti-organisational and anti-panthic activities.

Batala
DISTRIBUTED: Mr Jatinder Kad, president, Sahara Club, Batala, said that the club distributed 25 pairs of shoes along with same number of socks pairs to the needy and poor girls of Government Girls High School, Gandhi Camp, Batala, here on Wednesday.

Doraha
POLLUTION CHECK: A free pollution check-up camp was organised by Doraha Fuel Centre at Doraha on Thursday. The owner of Doraha Fuel Centre, Mrs Saroj Rani, said that all types of vehicles, including four-wheelers and other heavy vehicles, were checked for pollution and were provided repairs free of cost. People were educated about the damage being caused by pollution to health of the people and environment.

Hoshiarpur
RESIGNED: Bibi Vinod Chadha, district president of the Mahila Wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (B)resigned from the membership of the party on Thursday and joined Congress. She made this announcement at an election meeting of Congress nominee, Mr Luv Kumar Goldy at Maili in the presence of Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab.

ACCIDENT: Jaswinder Singh, a student of 10+2 of senior secondary school, Bajwara and a resident of Kharkan Kalan, died on the spot, while Amandeep of Allahabad, also a student of the same school, was injured seriously when a mini bus of Doaba transport company hit their scooter at Chagran, 5 km from here, on Hoshairpur-Chandigarh road on Thursday. Amandeep was admitted to the Civil Hospital here.The Sadar Police has registered a case in this connection against the driver of the bus.

APPOINTED: Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, state president of the BJP, appointed Mr Vijay Aggarwal, as the new president of the district unit, here on Thursday. Mr Aggarwal has replaced Mr Sat Pal Sareen, acting president of the unit. Ms Ramba Sethi was appointed district president of the Mahila Morcha wing of the BJP.

Jalandhar
AGRI-GRADUATES’ MEET: The State Bank of Patiala organised a ‘Agri-Graduates’ meet’ here on Thursday, with a view to promote diversification and modernisation of agricultural practices in Punjab. A large number of agriculture graduates and postgraduates participated in the meet. Mr Avtar Singh Dhindsa, leading floriculturist and member, advisory committee, on agriculture of Punjab Government interacted with the participants and advised them to set up agri-clinics and agricultural business centres in the rural areas.

Mandi Gobindgarh
CANCER AWARENESS CAMP: Observing the Cancer Awareness Week, Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School organised a cancer awareness camp in the school in collaboration with Global Cancer Concern India on Friday. The Deputy Director of GCCI, Ms Savita Sodhi, told the students about symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment available for cancer. She appealed to the Sacred Heart family to donate generously for the noble cause. The Principal of the school, Ms A. Sakarsudha, said that the school would organise a health camp in the near future.

Phagwara
RECEIVED: Mr Ranjit Pal (43), who had got his name entered into the Limca Book of Records, by skipping 136 times in 15 seconds, received a letter from Records Research Service of the Guinness Book of World Records from their London office, to increae his slab of skipping to 1 minute.

ALLEGED: The Shiv Sena Hindustan, on Thursday, alleged that political parties in Kapurthala byelection were corrupting electorate by distributing money and liqour openly. Mr Ajay Mehta, district president of the party, called upon the voters to elect a candidate with clean image. Mr Shanjot Singh Kake was elected president of Kapurthala district (urban) in the meeting.

Samrala
SCIENCE FAIR: Taranjeet Kaur, a student of class XII (medical) and Shruti Khanna, a student of class XII (non-medical), of Nankana Sahib Public School, Samrala, have secured first and third positions, respectively, in the district-level Science Fair held at Baba Isher Singh Public School, Ludhiana. This was stated by the Principal of Nankana Sahib Public School, Ms Kuldeep Kaur, on Friday.

APPOINTED: Mr Puneet Bawa have been appointed general secretary, Block Youth Congress, Samrala, by Mr Ram Gopal Thapar, president of the Block Youth Congress, Samrala, here on Friday.

FUNCTION: The 6th annual gathering of the Punjabi Sath Barwali will be held under the patronage of Dr Nirmal Singh Lamba on November 7, according to Mr Avtar Singh Billing, secretary of the organisation. Mr Billing said that Mr Nirmal Singh Sarai from the UK will preside voter the function to be held to award the Bapu Kartar Singh, Bebe Harnam Kaur Memorial awards to Dr Gulzar Mohammad Goria, Dr Amarwant Singh and Mr Swaran Singh Bhangu. A book of stories “Ghuman Gherian” by Nirmaljit Kaur Guman will also be released.

CHANDIGARH

Cardiologist Saxena: Dr Sudheer Saxena, a cardiologist, has joined INSCOL as senior consultant. After doctorate (DM) in cardiology from PGIMER, Chandigarh, in 1995, Dr Saxena got fellowship in interventional cardiology from Royal Perth Hospital, Australia, where he was trained in angioplasty techniques. 

HARYANA

AMBALA
Debate contest: A debate and essay writing competitions on dowry was held at Government School, Jalbera, on Friday. SDM Satbir Saini said the Haryana Government has launched an awareness campaign against dowry. He said the lack of awareness was proving to be a hinderance but such programmes would go a long way in generating awareness in society. In debate, Raman Saini was first, Bhupender Singh was second and Harinder Kaur was third. Harvinder and Parvinder Kaur won the consolation prize. In essay writing, Bindu was first, Gurjant Singh was second while Sukhwinder Kaur was third. 

Office-bearers: A general body meeting of the National Integrated Medical Association, Ambala Cantonment unit, was held on Friday. The office-bearers of the Ambala Cantonment unit of the association were elected for the year 2004-05: president — Dr D.N. Sharma; general secretary — Dr Amolendra Trehan; joint secretaries — Dr K.C. Sharma and Dr Parmod Juneja; treasurer — Dr Ajay Pal Singh; vice-presidents — Dr Ved Prakash Chadha and Dr Ram Murti Markandey; and executive members — Dr Gulshan Rai Sharma, Dr Ram Nath Sharma, Dr Rajinder Sharma, Dr Sudhir Gupta, Dr Adiya Garg, Dr Shashi Bhushan, Dr Anil Gupta, Dr Dinesh Aggarwal, Dr Sanjive Kaushik, Dr Anil Duseja and Dr A.K. Longia. 

Kaithal
DIRECTED: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr H S Malik, during the monthly open darbar held at the local mini-secretariat on Wednesday, directed officials to attend and redress public complaints on priority basis. He said majority of the aggrieved people were not aware about the official procedures and complexities, so the officials have a responsibility to provide them with necessary cooperation and guidance.

CAMP: As many as 90 complaints out of 117, relating to the power board were settled at a special camp presided over by Mr Ram Pal, Superintending Engineer, Kurukshetra circle, held at 33 KV Pehowa chowk sub-station on Wednesday. The SE said such camps will be held on the 6th of every month, and matters relating to faulty meter reading, discrepenaices in bill distribution and interruption in power supply will be taken up and settled.

PADDY: The paddy arrivals in the mandis of the district till Wednesday had touched 42.84 thousand mt against the arrivals of 33.76 thousand mt during the corresponding period last year. Giving this information on Wednesday, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr H S Malik, said that out of the total arrivals, 21,832 mt has been purchased by the rice millers, 6,057 mt by dealers and rest by the government purchase agencies.

Karnal
MELA: More than 150 renowned artisans are expected to participate in the National Craft Mela being organised at Karnal from October 14 to 24. Disclosing this, the District Magistrate of Karnal, Mr R S Doon, said that besides the display of art works, these would also be available for sale at reasonable rates. He said that during the mela teams from different states would present cultural programmes.

Sonepat
MURDERED: A youth, Sandeep (22), was allegedly murdered by three persons at Tihar Kalan village on Thursday. The police has registered a case against three persons, Mintu and Anil of Tihar Kalan village and Dhanna of Kharkhauda. No arrest has been made so far.

TRANSFER: The Superintendent of Police, Mr Kuldip Singh, on Thursday transferred the entire staff of the Saidpur police post and sent them to the Police Lines, Sonepat. According to a report, the staff include an ASI, three head constables, and six constables. Further details are still awaited.

Karnal
DEAD: A middle-aged farmer allegedly died of pesticide poisoning in the district on Thursday. The local police has initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the IPC. Sources in the police said that Rishipal, a resident of Bahri village, in Assandh subdivision of the district fell unconscious while spraying pesticide in the paddy fields. He was immediately rushed to a hospital at Assandh where the doctors could not save his life.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
SWAJAL YOJNA: A sum of Rs 96.36 lakh is being spent on “Swajal Dhara Yojna” here, during the current financial year, which would provide drinking water to at least 50 villages of the district. Presiding over a meeting here on Thursday, Additional District Magistrate Jagdev Singh Pathania said villagers had to collaborate to raise only ten per cent of the funds for the schemes under this yojna, while 90 per cent the funds were being provided by the government. Handpumps would be provided under the scheme.

Kulu
REMAINS FOUND: The remains of the four victims who had died in a Maruti van accident near Kararsu village, a month ago, were found in the river Beas at Pirdi, near here, on Thursday. The body of Mer Singh was identified who was among the four who died in the accident when the van they were travelling in fell into the river.

CULTURAL NIGHT: Punjabi singer Dolly Guleria enthralled the audience on the cultural night held at Lal Chand Prarthi Kala Kendra here. The programme was held in connection with Kulu Dasehra. The guest artists were given traditional welcome by the members of the Dasehra Committee.

Hamirpur
MUSICAL SHOW: Led by Kheta Khan, Rajasthani folk artists of Manganiyaar and Langa communities enthralled the audience, especially the school children at a musical programme presented by them at the Him Academy Public School here. The programme was organised under the banner of Spicmacay. Mr Chandra Prabha Lakhanpal, the Principal of the school presented the artists with mementoes.