R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
Husband sentenced: A special court at Sriganganagar, on Thursday, sentenced the husband in a dowry harassment case to five years rigorous imprisonment. Sources said Jarnail Singh, a resident of 9DD village had lodged a FIR on December 10,2003 stating the marriage of his daughter Ramandeep Kaur was solemnised with Arvinder Singh son of Pal Singh of 2PS village on March, 31, 2002. He claimed that Rs 11 lakh was spent on arrangements and dowry but the in-laws allegedly demanded a substantial amount for settling the couple in the USA. Jarnail Singh reportedly informed the complainant on September 4, 2003 that Ramandeep had committed suicide.

Amritsar
Orientation course: Dr J.S. Puar, former Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, will inaugurate a four-week general orientation course-67 on Monday at Academic Staff College, Guru Nanak Dev University. More than 35 teachers from various colleges and universities are expected to participate.

Dera Bassi
Medical camp: The Dalit Chetna Manch today organised a free medical and drug de-addiction camp at Tasimbli village, near here, on Saturday. According to a press note, over 240 patients were examined at the camp and 22 shortlisted for eye operations by doctors. The vice-chairman of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC), Mr Deepinder Singh Dhillon, was the chief guest.

Hoshiarpur
Lok Suvidha camp: Mr D.K. Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, inaugurated the 15th Lok Suvidha camp at Government Senior Secondary School, Dholbaha, on Friday. As many as 24 counters of various departments had been set up to deal with cases of general public on the spot. Mr Tiwari said as many as 38,959 applications from the public for various works were received of which almost all were disposed off.

Computer teachers sore: Resentment prevails among members of Government Computer Teachers’ Union against the Punjab Government for not providing them prescribed salaries according to their qualification. In a press release here on Friday, Mr Gurwinderjit Singh leader of the union, stated that computer teachers were being recruited by the state government on a contract basis on a monthly meager salary of Rs 4,500 of which Rs 540 was deducted as provident fund, thus a computer teacher was Rs 3960 which was less than even the basic salary of a class IV employee of the state government.

Three arrested: The police has arrested three members of a gang of thieves and has recovered stolen articles. Mr R. N. Dhoke, SSP, in a press release here on Friday stated that during checking of suspicious persons on the Mahilpur-Jaijon road, the police arrested Bhupinder Singh, his brother Iqbaljit Singh and Jaswinder Singh, alias Satbir, and seized five stolen computers, 5 UPS, one scanner and one colour television from them. He said they had stolen the articles from Advance Computer Centre at Mahilpur.

JAGRAON
Lok Adalat held: As many as 20 cases were settled during a Lok Adalat held here on Saturday. A total of 43 cases were listed for the adalat, which was presided over by Ms Jitender Walia, SDJM, Jagraon. An amount of Rs 5.86 lakh was also awarded. In another Lok Adalat, presided over by Mr Gopal Arora, four civil suits were settled. 

Jalandhar
Thieves held: The police has arrested one Sanojram from district Palamu and his nephew, Umesh Rai, from Jharkhand on charges of conducting robbery at a house of a farmer from Gadaipur village on April 14 last. The police also recovered Rs 2.60 lakh cash from the duo.

Protest: Nine organisations of roadways’ employees have announced that they would hold a protest against the Minister of State for Transport, Mr Mahinder Singh Kaypee, on April 27.

Moga
Annual function: The annual function of Lala Lajpat Rai Group of Institutes, Vibrations 2k6, was held here on Friday. The students gave a scintillating performance comprising songs, dances, mimicry etc. 

Phagwara
Suvidha camp: A Lok Suvidha Camp would be organised at Khajurla village in Phagwara subdivision on April 27, the Phagwara SDM said on Friday. Various counters would be set up for driving licences, pension, birth and death certificates, ration cards and other documents.

CHANDIGARH

Zirakpur
Programme: Saint Vivekananda Public School, Pabhat, organised a parent-orientation programme on Saturday. The principal sought the cooperation of the parents in making children confident citizens of the nation.

HARYANA

AMBALA
Annual function: The annual function and prize distribution ceremony was held at Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2, Ambala Cantt on Saturday. Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Ambala, Air Commodore H.H. Patel was the chief guest. A cultural programme was held. The students presented Rajasthani, Bhojpuri, Shiv Aradhana, western dance and bhangra. An English skit ‘necklace’ was presented. School Principal Mr R.V.S. Shishodia presented the annual report. Vice-Principal Asha Sachdeva was also present. 

Workshop: A regional workshop on positive class room management technique was held at the Darshan Academy, Ambala Cantt on Saturday. School Principal M. Varghese said 80 teachers from various Darshan Academies of Haryana participated in the workshop. The resource persons for the workshop were Dr Handoo, Mr S.K. Windlas, Mr B.L. Verma and Mr R.P. Singh.

Honoured: A function was held on Saturday to honour blood donors. The function had been organised by the Young Services Club, Ambala City, at Kingfisher complex. 150 blood donors were honoured. Among others, PNB Kutchwery Road Branch Banager Mr Goel, Dr Jolly and Dr Neelam Marwaha were present, a press note issued said.

Jagadhri
Students stage protest: Protesting against the government move to privatise ITIs in the state more than 100 students and teachers of the local ITI under the banner of Students Federation of India (SFI) sat on a one-day fast in the ITI’s premises on Friday. Later, they held a demonstration at the mini secretariat. 

Jhajjar
Body found: A CRPF jawan hailing from Fatehpur village was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Friday. His body was recovered from a well situated outside the village. According to information, Rajender Singh arrived in the village on leave on April 16. However, he went missing the next day. The police has sent the body to the PGIMS at Rohtak for autopsy. 

Dowry death: A married woman was found dead in a well at Shahjahanpur village on Friday. The father of the deceased in his complaint alleged that she was killed by her husband and in-laws for more dowry. The police has registered a case under various Sections of the Dowry Act.

Rohtak
Intervention sought: The state unit of the CPM has demanded the immediate intervention by the Food and Supplies Department in curbing hoarding of foodgrains and cereals because of which prices of wheat flour and most common cereals were rising at an unprecedented rate. In a statement here on Friday Haryana CPM secretary Inderjit Singh said the state government was indifferent to the problems which had made life difficult for the common man.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Nahan
Inaugurated: The Speaker of HP Vidhan Sabha, Mr G.R. Musafir, on Friday inaugurated an irrigation and drinking water scheme and laid the foundation stone of a pharma unit at Chhandoli village. Addressing a public meeting, at Chhandoli he said Rs 1.5 crore had been spent in the past three years in the Pachhad area through horticulture mission for promotion of horticulture, floriculture and medicinal plant cultivation practices.