R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
SEMINAR: Dr G.L. Nagpal, former Principal of the DAV College of Education, on Wednesday exhorted the government teachers to visit houses in the villages to identify girls who had not got admission in the schools. Addressing a seminar here he stressed the need of teaching each eligible girl irrespective of her economical condition to increase the literacy ratio for a better educated and civilised society.

Play: A theatre group, “SPARSH”, will stage a comedy play to raise fund to help tsunami victims. Mr Sonu Babbar, project in charge of the group, said in a statement that the play titled “Jad Kamla Hove Vehra” would be staged at Sunil Cinema here on January 22 and 23. The total savings from the play would be contributed to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

MES union: The MES Workers Union has taken strong exception to further curtailment in the rate of interest on the GPF. Mr Kartar Singh Sethi, president of the union, on Friday produced copies of statement received from the office of the Controller of Defence Accounts (Funds) to show the curtailment. The union sought immediate intervention from the Defence and Finance Ministers to stop discrimination of Defence employees.

Amritsar
SEMINAR: At least 100 delegates from various countries will participate in a two-day international seminar on “20th century immigration and immigrant literature”. The seminar will be held at Guru Nanak Dev University on Thursday. The seminar is being organised by the university. Dr Harchand Singh Bedi, coordinator of the seminar, said delegates would present their papers.

JOBS: The kin of victims of terrorism and unfortunate persons who lost their lives in the Operation Blue Star as well as the riot victims who have applied for jobs on compassionate grounds under the government scheme, have been directed to bring the necessary documents, including copies of FIR, red card, death certificate and documents relating to ability etc, at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on January 18.

ELECTION: The election for the presidentship of the Punjab State Pensioners and Senior Citizen Welfare Association would be held on January 15 at the association office. This was stated in a press statement issued here today.

COMPETITION: The Rashtriya Vigyan Evam Pradyogiki Sanchar Parishad, a subsidiary of the Department of Science and Technology, under its All-India Scientific Awareness Campaign, will organise a poster-making competition on January 18 at the Madhav Vidhya Niketan Secondary School here. Topics for the competition are water conservation, disaster management, food and health and biodiversity. There would be no entry fee for students. The students would be categorised under junior and senior groups.

LEGAL AID SEMINAR: As many as 25,178 cases have been amicably solved through quarterly ‘Lok Adalat’ in the city. Mr Varinder Aggarwal, Senior Judge, revealed this during a seminar on the free legal aid service at Bundala village. He presided over the seminar and spoke on the free legal services being provided under the Constitution. He said this was done to ensure justice for the weaker sections of the society.

CENTRE FLAYED: Ms Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, state vice-president, BJP, lambasted at the Central Government for its inability to control the rising prices of sugar. In a press statement issued here on Thursday, Ms Chawla said despite the repeated claims of the government of having enough quantity of sugar in stores it had failed to keep a tab on rising sugar prices. She said it seemed that some leaders of the ruling party were conniving with the sugar mill owners to give them benefits in lieu of election funds, as elections were due in some states.

Barnala
Dance contest: Mr Malkiat Singh Keetu, MLA from Barnala will inaugurate the 27th all-India play, giddha and group dance competition here on February 3. According to Prof Jai Parkash, the Mahashakti Kala Mandir will host this four-day one-act play, giddha, group dance contest at Mahashakti Kala Mandir Auditorium from February 3 to 6.

Bathinda
SUSPENDED: Piara Singh, a meter reader of the Punjab State Electricity Board, has been placed under suspension for his alleged involvement in charging excess bill and wrong recording of electricity meter reading. This was stated by the Superintendent Engineer (Distribution) here on Friday.

Faridkot
CAMPAIGN: Following directions from the state government, the District Health Department plans to launch a month-long special immunisation campaign from January 15 to check infant mortality rate (IMR) due to measles in Faridkot district. Under the programme 61 camps will be organised in rural areas where there was no government medical centre. Similarly, 15 and 12 camps will be held in urban and slum areas, respectively.

SEMINAR: The Kalpana Chawla Art Group, related with District Nehru Yuva Kendra, organised a seminar on the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda here on Wednesday. More than 100 youths from rural and urban areas participated in it. Mr Pawan Preet Singh, general secretary of the Faridkot district unit of the CPI, appealed to the youth to work for the eradication of social evils. Mr Raghbir Singh Khara, district coordinator, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Mr S.K. Gupta, a veteran Congress leader, and Mr Ranjit Singh Bitta, president of the art group, also addressed the seminar.

Fazilka
Raid: A team of the Health Department comprising Mr Ajay Singla, Drug Inspector, and Mr Mukesh Arora, pharmacist, along with a police party raided two unlicensed shops at Sukhera Bodla and Ghubaya villages, 25 km from here. Surinder Singh, resident of Jodhabhaini village, was arrested at Sukhera Bodla village and 3,840 intoxicating tablets and 11 injections were seized from his shop. In Ghubaya village, Lakhwinder Singh, resident of Lamocharkalan village, was arrested and 1,718 intoxicating tablets and three injections were seized from his shop. They have been booked under the NDPS Act and Indian Medical Council Act.

Hoshiarpur
WOMAN SET ABLAZE: Naresh Kumari, wife of Jaspal Singh, was allegedly set ablaze by her father-in-law, Parshotam Lal, at her house in Dholbaha village on Thursday. She was admitted to a local hospital for treatment. In a statement given to Magistrate she alleged that when she was working in kitchen, her father-in-law sprinkled kerosene on her and set her on fire. A case has been registered.

CASE REGISTERED: A case has been registered against Parkash Singh, Ujagar Singh Numberdar, Dilbagh Singh and Nirmal Kaur of Urmur Tanda on a complaint by Bhupinder Singh Komal, son of Fauja Singh, of the same town. Mr Bhupinder Singh alleged that the above persons had made bogus sale deed of his land.

SEIZED: The police has arrested Kulwinder Kaur, wife of Lakhbir Singh of Barian Kalan, and a driver of a Maruti van, Shamsher Singh, alias Sheera. At least 14 kg of poppy husk was seized from their possession. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered.

TRAINING COURSE: A 10-day farm training course concluded at Mona Kalan village here on Friday. It was organised by the Regional office, Save Grain Campaign. The aim of the course was to train women in scientific storage and preservation of foodgrains. Mr D.R. Bhagat, Additional Deputy Commissioner, presided over the valedictory function.

DHARNA: On the call of the Joint Action Committee of the Irrigation Department, Class III, IV employees and Junior Engineers led by their leaders, Mr Avtar Singh and Mr Ashok Kumar, staged a dharna in front of the Mini-Secretariate here on Thursday in protest against the nonpayment of their salaries for the month of December, 2004, and alleged corruption by the staff of the District Treasury Office. They shouted slogans against the staff of District Treasury Office for their anti-employee behaviour. Later, they presented a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur. They demanded immediate release of their salaries and strict action against the corrupt employees of the treasury office.

Jagraon
SHIKAYAT NIWARAN DIWAS: Three camps will be organised at Jagraon, Dakha and Raikot, respectively, on January 18 to redress public grievances received by the Jagraon police. Each camp will have a Sub-Divisional Gazetted Officer, SHO and inquiry officers. The exercise is named as “Sihkayat Niwaran Diwas” and aimed at speedy disposal of public complaints in a transparent manner. Mr Parag Jain, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ludhiana Range, is expected to visit the camps.

Khanna
SEIZED: The local police has seized 174 cases of liquor from a truck at a naka near Alaur village. Jagtar Singh and Jeet Singh, residents of Baghrana Vadali Wala village in Fatehgarh district, have been arrested in this connection. A case has been registered.

Moga
DONATION: The Deputy Commissioner has handed over a cheque for Rs 50 lakh towards the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for tsunami victims. The Deputy Commissioner has thanked all those who have contributed.

Muktsar
OPIUM SEIZED: The police has arrested five persons for trying to smuggle 12 kg of opium and 350 kg poppy husk in the district. Mr L.K. Yadav, SSP, said two groups of smugglers were carrying opium and poppy husk, when the police caught them.

Patiala
Relief fund: Mr Anil Kumar Shah, President, Rotary Club, and members of the club here on Saturday presented a cheque for Rs 2 lakh to the MP, Ms Preneet Kaur, for the victims of the tsunami tragedy. Speaking on the occasion Mr Priyank Bharti, SDM, Rajpura said the amount collected from resident of Rajpura had reached Rs 6.50 lakh. 

Celebrated: Residents of Bazigar Colony, Ambobal, celebrated Makar Skranti here on Saturday. Mr Naresh Duggal, Councillor of Ward No 50, was the chief guest. Students presented a cultural programme on the occasion.

Ropar
LEGAL AID: With a view to spread awareness about free legal aid among the needy in the district, the District and Sessions Judge, Ropar, Mr A.K. Sharma, on Friday held a meeting with various officials. He asked officials to erect hoardings at various places in the district, displaying information about free legal aid. He also informed that district courts have been providing free legal aid to weaker sections of society. Seventy nine persons had been given free legal aid in 2004, he added. 

SAMRALA
Lok Adalat: The Sub-Divisional Legal Service Committee held its quarterly Lok Adalat here on Saturday in the courts complex under the chairmanship of Ms Navjot Sohal, Additional Civil Judge, Samrala. As many as 58 cases were taken up, out of which 25 cases were disposed of. Meanwhile, Ms Sohal appealed to the public to get their cases decided in the Lok Adalat for speedy and economical justice.

Meeting: The monthly meeting of the Anti-Corruption Front was held here on Saturday under the presidentship of Commandant Rashpal Singh. The members observed two minutes’ silence in the memory of those who lost their lives in the tsunami disaster. It was also decided to contribute Rs 11,000 to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Mr Rashpal Singh said during this month 11 cases pertaining to bribery and marital disputes were solved. Mr Mehma Singh Kang, Mr Nirmal Singh Sandhu, Mr Darshan Singh and Mr Ajmer Singh also took part in the meeting. 

Sangrur
HOLIDAY: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Husan Lal, has declared that there will be a holiday on Wednesday in the district in connection with the martyrdom day of Sardar Sewa Singh Thikriwala, a freedom fighter.

DONATION: The local Shiv Shanker Birdh Ashram on Thursday gave shawls and blankets to 95 needy persons at a function here. The shawls and blankets were distributed by Mahant Sri Ganga Puri Ji Arunai Wale. Mr Mohan Sharma, Senior District Savings Officer, Sangrur, was the chief guest at the function. Mahant Ganga Puri Ji also donated Rs 5100 to the Birdh Ashram while Pandit Radhey Shayam gave Rs 2000 for the welfare of needy persons and maintain the Birdh Ashram.

CHANDIGARH

Celebrated: The Bihu festival was celebrated on Thursday with the traditional fervour, bonfire by 100-odd members of the Assamese community residing in the city. The celebration started with lighting of a traditional meji at Modern Housing Complex, Manimajra. The occasion was marked by traditional Bihu songs and other popular numbers of Dr Bhupen Hazarika and Jitul Sonowal.

Panchkula
AIDS camp: The district health authorities on Friday organised an AIDS awareness camp at Barwala to create awareness among truckers, of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. As many as 250 persons, including dhaba owners on the Highway participated in the camp.

pipe burst: Residents of Sector 15 here have alleged that the digging of roads by the BSNL and a private telecom operator, for laying telephone cable, has led to the bursting of a sewerage pipe. Mr S K Nayar, a resident of the area complained that the sewearge pipe burst this morning, spreading foul smell in the neighbourhood.

Polluted water: Residents of Sector 11 here have alleged that the water supply in the sector today had worms. They alleged that they have been getting a muddy water supply over the past ten days. They said that they have given numerous complaints to the HUDA officials, but no action has been taken to improve the water supply and proviode clean drinking water.

HARYANA

Fatehabad
SHOPS BURGLED: Thieves broke into five shops in the town on Wednesday night and decamped with cash and goods worth Rs 1.5 lakh. The police is investigating the matter and has arrested one person in this connection. The thefts were reported from a mobile handset shop in Palika Bazar, a grocery shop on the DSP road, two kiosks and another shop situated in the Hans market.

Hisar
SCIENCE CONGRESS: A team of PCSD Senior Secondary School, Hansi, participated in the 92nd Indian Science Congress organised in Ahemdabad recently. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Microsoft chief Bill Gates attended the Science Congress, which was organised by Nirma University, Ahemdabad. The school Principal, Mr Ashok Mittal, said on Thursday that two teachers of the school, Mr Sanjay Aggarwal and Mr Mohan Lal, as well as a student, Deepak Soni, represented Haryana in the event. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

PARWANOO
YOUTH ATTACKED: Vijay Kumar was attacked by a group of youths with sharp-edged weapons near Shiv Mandir here last night. Vijay Kumar who was riding Pawan Kumar’s scooter has sustained injuries on head after a group of four-five youths blocked their way and attacked with khukri. The youths fled the scene after Vijay Kumar fell. Sources said the accused attacked Vijay Kumar to teach him a lesson to tease a youth’s sister. A case under Section 307 of IPC has been registered.