R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
Rs 1.25 cr for gymnasium: Guru Nanak Dev University will soon upgrade its multipurpose indoor gymnasium by spending Rs 1.25 crore. It also plans to provide world-class sports facilities. Dr Jai Rup Singh, vice-chancellor, stated this on Tuesday. The VC said a velodrome of international standard with an estimated cost of Rs 75 lakh would also be constructed at the university campus. After the completion of this stadium, inter-varsity and national-level cycle competitions would be organised here.

3 arrested: Three persons have been arrested by the narcotics cell for possessing 1.5 kg of heroin and $ 10,000 (US), while they were on their way to Amritsar from Chandigarh. The main accused, Ramesh Kumar, who was earlier arrested by the police in 2003 in a similar case, had been lodged in the Amritsar jail and was recently admitted to the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital for treatment. The police has registered a case.

BARNALA
100 pc result: Baba Gandha Singh Public School has got 100 per cent result in the class 10th examinations conducted by the CBSE. All 258 students of the school have passed their exams securing good marks. Vakul Jindal and Manu Garg have secured 100 per cent marks in Mathematics and General Science whereas, Vaishali Bansal has topped the school securing 95 per cent marks. The Principal, S. J. S. Chahal, applauding the role of its staff said the school has got 100 per cent result for the first time.

FEROZEPORE
Opium seized: The police has arrested three inter-state drug carriers identified as Mahavir, Sukhmander Singh, alias Pappa, Mohammed Din and recovered 1.5 kg opium from them. The SSP Dinesh Pratap Singh said a police team in the Guruharsahai area had arrested the smugglers. The jeep in which they were travelling has also been seized.

Hoshiarpur
Six shops burgled: Six shops were burgled in village Golra of Mukerian on Monday night. According to the police, a gang of robbers first broke into a photo studio followed by a liquor vend and a tea shop. Subsequently, a welding unit, a wheat flour mill and another shop was also burgled. The thieves decamped with a camera, a sound-system, liquor, cash and some welding goods.

Four nabbed: The police has arrested four persons under the NDPS and Excise Acts. The cops also recovered 160 gm charas and 1 kg poppy husk from their possession. Similarly, Mahilpur and Tanda police seized 4.5 Kg poppy husk and some illicit liquor.

Jalandhar
DCC president: Kailash Khanna, a resident of Master Tara Singh Nagar here, has been appointed as general secretary and media in charge of the District Congress Committee, Jalandhar Urban.

New bank branch: HDFC Bank has opened its fourth branch at Sodal Chowk in Jalandhar. Vineet Arora, cluster head, said the customers would be able to avail banking services, including savings account, fixed deposits, current account, mutual funds, lockers, NRI services, demat, ATM, phone banking, net banking and international credit and debit cards.

Ludhiana
Art workshop: Creative Arts Institute, BRS Nagar, Ludhiana, organised an art workshop for school teachers and students here today. The workshop was conducted by Ravinder Sharma from Chandigarh. Amita Gupta, principal of the institute, said as many as 40 participants attended the workshop in which they were taught various methods of painting on canvas, cloth and paper.

PAU director bereaved: Jai Singh Malhi, father of PAU director, Extension Education, Dr. N.S. Malhi expired at his native village Raunta in Moga district. He was 86. In a condolence meeting held today in the university under the chairmanship of Dr Satpal Mehra, tributes were paid to the departed soul. Last prayers for the departed soul will be held on June 3 at 12 noon at Raunta village.

Anglo-Sikh War commemoration planned: Anglo-Sikh War Victory Memorial Trust, Badhowal, is going to commemorate the 161st anniversary of the first Anglo-Sikh War on June 2 at Badhowal village. President of the trust, Surjit Singh Khalsa, said this was the first war of India's independence and its commemoration would be organised at a grand scale. Badhowal and surrounding areas were severely affected during this war in which the British army was made to suffer heavy losses. The trust has been celebrating the anniversary every year.

MANSA
1 arrested: The district police arrested Natha Ram, a local resident, and recovered 1 kg opium from him on Tuesday. Ram Singh, SSP, stated this in a press note issued here, Natha Ram was rounded up on the basis of suspicion and when a search was carried out, 1 kg opium was recovered from him. A case in this connection had been registered.

Nawanshahr
One arrested: The district police claimed to have busted a racket of fake currency by arresting Raju Gadaria of Rampur in Saharanpur district (UP) at Rattewal village on Monday. The fake Indian currency worth Rs 3 lakh was recovered from Raju. Meanwhile his accomplice Avtaar managed to flee.

SANGRUR
133 get 1st div: As many as 133 students of the local General Gurnam Singh Public School, who appeared in the CBSE class X examinations in March 2007, have passed their matriculation examination with first division. Twentythree students scored more than 90 per cent marks. The principal said Arushi Goyal had topped the list by securing 95 per cent marks.

Cash looted: Two unidentified persons snatched a bag containing Rs 64, 165 from Sunil Sharma, an employee of a flourmill, situated at Sunam, when he alighted from a bus at Longowal village, about 20 km from here, on Tuesday. The Longowal SHO said Sunil had reached the village for the purpose of collecting money from shopkeepers. A case has been registered.