R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
PROTEST: Members of the Hindu College unit of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union organised a protest march and demonstration outside the college here on Wednesday against the alleged misappropriation of college funds by the principal. The teachers demanded an inquiry and also sought confirmation letters for the teachers who had completed probation period and the payment of their salaries.

Bathinda
PROTEST: Members of the Oriental Bank Employees Union and All-India Oriental Bank Officers Association staged a dharna in front of the regional office of the bank here on Wednesday to protest against the merger of Global Trust Bank with the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC). Mr Krishan Yadav, zonal secretary of the union, said the members also held a rally, which was addressed by Mr Pawan Goyal and Mr J.S. Sidhu.

Barnala
ALLEGED: Booksellers and agency holders have alleged that the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) is not providing sufficient examination forms for private students of matric and class XII. Mr Satish Sindhwani, agency holder of the PSEB, said the last date for submitting the forms without late fee was October 21, but the board had provided only 6,000 forms in the district while about 30,000 students were expected to appear in the examination.

LUDHIANA
KIRTAN DARBAR: A kirtan darbar, dedicated to the 400th Parkash Utsav of Guru Granth Sahib, will be held here on October 16 by the Ek Noor Welfare Society, according to Mr Harpal Singh, secretary of the society. Leading hymn singers, including Bhai Ajmer Singh from Amritsar , Bhai Davinder Singh Sodhi, Bhai Satinderpal Singh, Bibi Varinder Kaur Khalsa, will regale the audience with their devotional songs at the kirtan darbar.

DURGA PUJA: Bangiya Samsad, a Bengali cultural- cum-religious organisation, will hold competitions in rangoli, fancy dress and conch-blowing during its Durga puja programme which will be held from October 19 to 22. According to Mr Sujit Kumar Banerjee, general secretary of the samsad, a programme of dance, music and drama would also be held. A special puja of the Goddesses Durga and Laxmi would also be held at the Janj Ghar in Shashtri Nagar, added Mr Banerjee.

THANKSGIVING: The organising committee of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra held a thanksgiving ceremony here on Wednesday. Mr Satish Gupta and Mr Rajiv Duggal, president and general secretary of the committee, thanked the police department for the cooperation extended by it for making the rath yatra a success. Those present on the occasion were Mr Narinderpal Singh, SSP, Mr Mandip Singh SP (H), Mr. R.K. Jaiswal, SP City- I, Mr Pritam Singh, SP city-II and Mr Gurdial Singh, SP (Traffic) and several other police officers.

ASHIRWAD: Ashirwad (North India Cerebral Palsy Association), an NGO working for the welfare of children having developmental disabilities mainly cerebral palsy, held an exhibition at HSBC Bank. The main focus of the exhibition was to create awareness about the disability, during this exhibition. A painted tree was put up on a wall and thumb prints were taken by people depicting their attitudes towards persons with disability. Cards and shagun envelopes were also put up for sale to raise funds for Ashirwad.

ApoLLO CLINIC: The Apollo Clinic, Model Town, Ludhiana, has started a dental department with modern facilities.

COMPUTER EDUCATION: The Shri Raghunath Sewa Dal, an NGO, will launch a new project in the name of Shri Raghunath Computer Education Institute on October 18 at SCO 2/3 Aggar Nagar, B Block, (Near State Bank of India) at 9.30 am. The institute will train students in computer education in all respects at very nominal charges. The centre will be inaugurated by Dr Raj Kumar Verka, Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Punjab Government.

BURGLARY: The Sadar police has registered a case regarding a reported theft at Basant Avenue Site Office on Tuesday night. According to an FIR, lodged by Mr Amit Aggarwal, in charge of the office, the burglars took away Rs 2 lakh from an almirah. There was some confusion on Wednesday over the actual amount stolen by the burglars.

Phagwara
INAUGURATED: Mr Joginder Singh Mann, Chairman, Punjab Agro Foods Ltd, and Mr Sukhbir Singh Sandhar, Joint Managing Director, Wahid-Sandhars Sugars Ltd, inaugurated a new floor and a family hall of the City Club here. Mr Paramjit Singh Sethi, vice- president of the club, said NRIs donated Rs 6,30,000 for the club, while Mr Sandhar donated Rs 2.5 lakh, Mr Makhan Singh Sunar donated Rs 1 lakh and Mr Harjit Singh Dhillon, Mr Pritam Singh Kang, Mr Amarjit Singh Chana, Mr Harbhajan Singh Tank, Mr Harpreet Singh Bains contributed Rs 50,000 each.

HARYANA

AMBALA
Verdict hailed: Mr Om Prakash Malik, vice-chairman, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee legal cell, on Thursday welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court which has ordered the cancellation of 297 petrol pumps, LPG and kerosene outlets. Mr Malik said the order of the Supreme Court had established that there was favouritism in allotting petrol pumps and deserving persons were intentionally ignored.

SEMINAR: Vocational guidance and placement cell of SD College (Lahore) held a seminar on e-commerce on Thursday. Mr Sanjeev Kumar, senior adviser of Mahamaza e-commerce delivered the key note address. Mr Kumar said internet had brought about a revolutionary change in the working of trade and commerce.

WORKSHOP: Indian Public School, Ambala Cantonment will organise a workshop for girls students on October 16 on the school campus. According to the Principal of the school, it would impart in formation to them about the biological changes which they go through this period.