Regional Beat — Chandigarh

Dissociation
Patiala: The Punjab State Services Federation, today, disassociated itself from the ongoing ministerial employees strike in the state, saying that the strike was against the interests of employees. In a press release issued here today, the federation appealed to the striking employees to resume their duties. According to the release, a decision in this regard was taken here today during a meeting of the district unit of the federation. The meeting was presided by Hari Singh Mal and Rattan Kumar Mattu. The two leaders charged that though the chief minister had already instructed the chief secretary to do the needful in the matter, however, it seemed that some vested interests had launched the strike only to obstruct the implementation of the agreed upon compromise.

Restructuring Power
Jind: The Haryana Government will spend a sum of Rs 50 crore for restructuring of power in district Jind, besides investing Rs 10 crore for setting up new power sub-stations and augmentation of existing sub-stations in Safidon area near here. Addressing a mammoth gathering at Safidon near here today, Chief Minister Bansi Lal said that Safidon sub-stations had been augmented to the capacity of 132 kv with a cost of Rs 90 lakh and a sub-station at Jind, with similar capacity, had also been renovated at a cost of Rs 2.30 crore.

Crime
Solan: The police arrested three persons on the charges of gambling and recovered Rs 42,000 from their possession in Ganj Bazar area of the town last evening.

HP police transfers
Shimla: The state government ordered the posting and transfers of a few senior IPS officers last evening. Ashwani Kumar, IG, headquarters and O.S. Singh, IG, Railways and Traffic will swap places while R.K.Singh, DIG, Wireless, has been posted as DIG, Prisons, K.S. Rana, DIG, Southern Range, has also been given the additional charge of DIG, Wireless. P.L.Thakur, SP, Enforcement, posted at Dharamsala, has been transferred as SP, Lahul and Spiti replacing Ashok Sharma from there. Sharma will be new SP, Security, in CID. The transfer of S.R.ohja from Dharamsala has been sanctioned.610 pouches of country liquor recovered
Shimla: Shimla police yesterday recovered 610 pouches of country liquor following two separate raids. According to SSP Shimla A.N. Sharma, 450 pouches of country liquor were recovered from the possession of Harender Kumar, Rajesh Kumar and Paramjeet, all residents of Manimajra and Chandigarh, and 160 pouches were recovered from Jagdishj Kumar of Bilaspur who was carrying these in Maruti van. Two separate cases under Excise Act have been registered against all the persons.

Second transfer orders in 5 months
Bilaspur: Though barely six months are left for the retirement of headmaster of Government High School Ghagus S.R. Azad from service, it is for the second time that he has been transferred in five months. According to the latest orders received by him yesterday, he stood transferred to newly upgraded school Bardhi in the district. Earlier, he was transferred to high school Chhat in April this year which was cancelled later as Azad had filed petition before the HP State Administrative Tribunal taking plea that he had very short period for retirement and more so he suffers from heart ailment. Tribunal directed the Education Department to give a station of choice to the affected person (Azad). In reply to a communication from the department, he informed as no vacant station was of his choice, he might be retained at his present place of posting. But neither the department has considered his case on human grounds nor has followed the guidelines of the government to transfer such a person only inexceptional circumstances.

Camps to be held for small savings
Bilaspur: District branch of HP State Small Savings Board has decided to organise awareness camps in rural areas of district to give thrust to programme of small savings. This was disclosed by Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Kapil while addressing district level officers meeting here yesterday. He said first such camp would be organized at Zhandoota on October 6 followed by camp at Ghumarwin on October 7 and 8 in sadar block. He said this would encourage villagers to deposit their savings in small savings accounts.

One booked for fraud
Bilaspur: Kot police have booked one Santosh Kumar of Nainadevi, the so-called agent of JVG Company allegedly playing fraud with Tarsem Lal and nine others alluring them to deposit their money with the company for 13 months for getting handsome rate of interests. In July 1996, Tarsem Lal opened two accounts one in the name of his son and one in his own name depositing a sum of Rs 16250 with the promise that after completion of the said period they would be paid back a sum of Rs 20,000. After completion of the period, Tarsem approached Santosh Kumar for several times. He offered excuse after excuse. Ultimately, Tarsem Lal lodged a complaint with the Kot police station. The police are making thorough investigation, according to Additional Superintendent of Police Sonam Chopal.

Four-yr-old raped
Dharamsala: A four-year-old girl of Indora was allegedly raped by a balloon-seller earlier this week. The police have arrested the culprit and registered a case against him. The victim was playing outside when she was reportedly taken to a place near Indora railway station and raped. The accused, Ashok Kumar, hails from Punjab.

Power shutdown in Dharamsala
Dharamsala: There would be a power shutdown in Dharamsala, Mcleod Ganj and Cantt area from 9 a m to 5 p m on October 6 and October 7 for reasons of repairs of electricity lines in the area, according to a press release by the Electricity Department here yesterday.

Dassehra sports meet
Kullu: BJP MP and chairman of the Kullu Dassehra Festival Committee Maheshwer Singh inaugurated the three-day sports meet being organised on the occasion of Dussehra here yesterday. The MP, while addressing a gathering, thanked Chief Minister for sanctioning a sum of Rs 50,000 for tournament.

He said that a stadium was likely to come up at Kullu by next year. Singh said that he had urged Union Minister of State for Sports Uma Bharati to sanction sufficient funds for Dassehra sports meet.