R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
RELEASED: Four books of Guru Nanak Dev University were released in the syndicate meeting held here on Wednesday. The books were "Police Sub-Culture" by Dr A. A. Siddiqui, former DGP, "Parvasi Punjabi Sahit Sandharabh Kosh" by Dr Harchand Singh Bedi, "Panjabi Lokdhara Vivharik Adhian" by Dr Harjit Kaur and "Guru Granth Sahib De Vividh Paripekh" by Dr Jaswinder Kaur Dhillon.

Bathinda
PROTEST: Activists of the Joint Coordination Committee of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union organised a rally here on Thursday in protest against the non acceptance of their demands which include, alleged failure of the government to bring employment scheme for farm labourers.

Jalandhar
SHOT AT: Birbal Kumar was allegedly shot at by one of his two accomplices at Bajuha Khurd village near here on Thursday. The incident occurred when all three, stated to be drug addicts, were taking a doze of smack. A case has been registered against the accused, Kala, who fled the spot.

Ludhiana
SPORTS DAY: Students of Kiddies Paradise School, Model Town, took part in fun games during their annual sports day on Thursday. The results are forg race — Dhruve 1, Sehaj 2 and Tushar 3; lemon in spoon race — Daman 1, Alamjot 2 and Rachit 3; cycle race — Daman 1, Harman 2 and Ritika 3; and tricycle race — Alamjot 1, Sanjam 2 and Gautam 3.

FAREWELL: Students of Sacred Heart Convent School, Urban Estate, gave farewell to the students of Class X here on Thursday. A cultural programme was held on the occasion that included a prayer song, a farewell song and bhangra.

Nawanshahr
ELECTED: The following have been elected as office-bearers of the Lions Club (Nawanshahr City): president — Mr Iqbal Singh; vice-presidents — Mr Gurcharan Singh, Mr Gurjit Singh Saraf and Mr Kulwinder Singh; secretary — Mr Dilbagh Singh Pabla; treasurer — Mr Vijay Parmar; directors — Mr Sohan Singh, Mr Jarnail Singh, Mr Ashwani Arora, Mr Joga Singh, Mr Paramjit Lal, Mr Onkar Singh and Mr Gurmail Singh; and PRO — Mr Tarlochan Singh.

Phagwara
DENTAL CAMP: The local Rotary Club South-East, headed by Mr Mohinder Sethi, organised a free dental check-up camp at Government Elementary School, Chachoki village here, on Thursday. SDM Pritam Singh presided over and Mr Saroop Singh was the special guest.

MEDICAL CAMP: The local Rotary Club South-East and the Indian Immunological organised a free anti-rabies camp at the Veterinary Hospital here on Thursday. As many as 90 pet dogs vaccinated.

NABBED: The Kapurthala police on Friday arrested a proclaimed offender, Balbir Singh, alias Moma, wanted in several cases of fraud and forgery, said SSP Arun Pal Singh. The accused, who belonged to Kutbewal village, was nabbed from Dharamkot village in Moga district.

Hunger strike: The relay hunger strike by the Nagar Sudhar Sangharsh Committee of mohalla Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar Tibbi entered the fourth on Thursday. The protestors continued the fast in front of the Nagar Council’s office in Town Hall area opposite the G.T. road. However, leaders of the committee Jaswinder Singh Patwari and Rameh Mittal told Mr Mann that only a time-bound decision to redress their grievances could make them leave the path of agitation. The protestors declared to hold a massive rally on Friday.

Phillaur
TELEPHONES DEAD: More than three hundred telephone connections of Sangh Dhesian, Nawan Pind and Dhadhey villages were lying dead for the past one week. The authorities said lightening struck telephone wires last week and the repair work was continued.

Sangrur
HOSTEL: The construction of the girls' hostel of the district Pingalwara, a branch of the All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society, Amritsar, has been completed. The building, constructed in the Pingalwara complex on the Sangrur-Dhuri road here, is expected to be inaugurated in March, said Mr Tarlochan Singh Cheema, chief administrator.

HARYANA

AMBALA
Exhibition: St Joseph School, Ambala City, held its annual science and handicrafts exhibition on the school premises on Wednesday. Mr Anil Banerjee, manager of the school, said students from nursery to Class X displayed art and craft items made by them. The students also displayed science, mathematics and social studies models.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Hamirpur
Ban order: District Magistrate Devesh Kumar has banned the sale and storage of rotten vegetables, fruits, ice-cream and ice candy in the district to prevent outbreak of cholera and gastroenteritis in the district. The District Magistrate has taken this step in view of the coming summer season.

Economic census: The Department of Economics and Statistics has decided to conduct an economic census of various enterprises in the district in May, Deputy Commissioner Devesh Kumar said here on Wednesday. He said that services of the employees of the Departments of Education and Health would also be taken to conduct the survey.

Road maps: Road maps of Hamirpur, Touni Devi and Barsar divisions would be completed by the month-end, Deputy Commissioner Devesh Kumar said here on Wednesday. A meeting to this effect was held here in which senior officers of the Public Works Department were present. The road maps are being made on the instructions of the HP High Court.

Solan
PO arrested: A proclaimed offender, Rakesh Kumar, accused of raping a minor girl belonging to the Dalit community in September 1, 2002, has been arrested by the Kandaghat police. The accused, who had been on the run after committing the crime, was learnt to have fled to Delhi. The police arrested him at Vaknaghat when he was just returning home from Delhi.

Shimla
Grant: A grant of Rs 40 lakh has been given to the biosciences faculty of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) by the Department of Science and Technology for strengthening teaching and research work, said Chairman of the Biosciences Departmet Surender S. Katoch.