R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
Elected: The following persons have been elected office-bearers of the Shiromani Akali Dal (B), rural: Mr Lakhwinder Singh Chinna and Mr Kulwant Singh, both senior vice-presidents; Mr Amar Singh Molnangal and Mr Kulbir Singh Gandiwind, both general secretaries; Mr Sucha Singh and Mr Jagtar Singh, both vice-presidents and Dr Harjinder Singh, joint secretary.

Hoshiarpur
Elected: Three Municipal Councillors of the SAD (B) instead of casting their votes in favour of their alliance partner, the BJP, favoured the Congress candidate in the election of the Council Vice-President on Tuesday. As a result the BJP candidate, Mr Ajit Singh Lucky , secured only five votes of his party councillors. The Congress nominee, Ms Harbhajan Kaur, was elected vice-president of the council. She secured 23 votes.

Phagwara
VAT on diesel engine: Punjab Finance Minister Surinder Singla on Tuesday assured a delegation of exporters and industrialists that diesel engine and its spares would be brought under 4 per cent VAT within a week, Mr A. K. Kohli, senior vice-president, Punjab Chamber of Small Exporters, has said. He was assured by Mr Singla when the latter met him in a delegation recently.

SAMRALA
Medical camp: A medical camp will be held on Sunday in the hospital of Dr Tej Pal Singh, according to Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, national general secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union here on Wednesday. Expert doctors of heart diseases, kidney diseases and bones problems will provide free consultation to patients. Medicines will also be distributed free of cost and a “langar” will be served, Mr Rajewal added.

Meeting: A meeting of the Anti-corruption Front of the tehsil will be held on Friday at Gurdwara Sri Sangat Sahib, according to Mr Malkiat Singh Ghuman, senior vice-president of the front, here on Wednesday. This was decided at a meeting of the front members, held under the presidentship of Mr Surjit Singh. Mr Mehma Singh Kang, general secretary, and Mr Darshan Singh Balion, press secretary, of the front appealed to litigants to participate in the meeting.

Tributes to lawyer: Tributes were paid to advocate Aarti Sharma in the local Durga Mandir, on Monday. Among others who highlighted her services were Mr Uttam Chand, President of the local Bar, Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, national general secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union, Senior Akali leader Jathedar Kirpal Singh Kheernian, member SGPC, local MLA Amrik Singh Dhillon, Mr Sandeep Verma, son of Parliamentary Secretary Harbans Lal Verma, and Mr Jasbir Singh Dhillon, President of the Municipal Committee.

Tarn Taran
Woman molested: Sadhu Singh (55), resident of the village of Chambal, 10 km from here, has been booked for allegedly molesting a married woman of the village. The local Sadar police has registered a case under Sections 452 and 354 of the IPC against the accused. Sadhu Singh has been sent to judicial remand till June 21.

Teenager raped: A 15-year-old girl of the local Mohalla Guru Ka Khuh was allegedly raped by her neighbour Gurdial Singh (21) on Monday evening. The city police has registered a case under Section 376 of the IPC against the accused.

Road mishap: Jaswant Singh (35) and his maternal nephew Jagwinder Singh (18), both residents of the village of Harike, died on the spot on Monday evening when their motor cycle hit a jeep. The driver of the jeep fled from the spot. A case under Sections 304-A and 279 of the IPC has been registered at the Harike police station.