R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
SEIZED: Acting on a tip-off, the CIA staff seized fake currency and booked two persons, Vikramjit Singh of Shakti Nagar and Darshan Kumar of Katra Bagihan. A case under Sections 429A, 429B, 429C and 420 of the IPC has been registered against the accused.

SNATCHED: Two motorcycle-borne youths reportedly snatched a bag containing Rs 50,000 from Shashi Bala, an employee of Oriental Insurance Company, Chheharta, when she was going on her way to depositing the money in Bank of Punjab, Putlighar Branch. No arrests have been made.

SEMINAR: The Indian Council of Astrological Sciences will organise a national-level seminar on April 24. According to a press note issued here on Thursday, astrologers from all over the country would participate in the seminar.

Bathinda
REHABILITATION CENTRE: A rehabilitation centre for mentally challenged children would be opened here by the state government with the help of district Red Cross society. This was stated by Mr D.P.S. Kharbanda, Additional Deputy Commissioner, while addressing a monthly meeting of the society. He said the first instalment of Rs 12 lakh had already been received and the site for the centre would be finalised soon.

BODY FOUND: An unidentified body was found on Thursday in the Sirsa railway line drain on the Bathinda-Dabwali road, about 6 km from here. Volunteers of Sahara Jan Sewa shifted the body to a local hospital for post-mortem. The deceased, who was aged about 50, could not be identified as his face was beyond recognition.

Hoshiarpur
CAUGHT WITH BRIBE: A team of Vigilance Bureau caught Patwari Lakhwinder Singh of Aban Ghore Shah area while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 1,000 from Manmohan Singh, son of Mangal Singh, a resident of Chohan village, on Thursday. The Patwari has been booked under Sections 7 and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Jalandhar
PROTEST: Striking vegetable commission agents of Jalandhar and surrounding areas staged a protest in front of the District Administrative complex here on Thursday and gave a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Ashok Gupta. They have been protesting against privatisation of collection of market fee by the Punjab Mandi Board.

Patiala
Symposium: The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Punjabi University, Patiala, in association with the Punjabi Vision will organise a symposium on novel written by Miter Sen Meet “Kaurav Sabha” on April 27 at the department. Dr Dilip Kaur Tiwana, a noted Punjabi writer, will preside over the symposium. Prof Kulwant Grewal, Dr Satish Kumar Verma, Prof Bhupinder Khera, Amarjit Grewal, Gurpal Sandhu and Dr T.R. Vinod will present their papers.

CHANDIGARH

GOLD FESTIVAL: The World Gold Council announced the commencement of the Baisakhi gold festival today at a press conference at CII, Sector 31. The month-long festival will be hosted across the state of Punjab by jewellery stores. It will showcase trendiest styles in gold jewellery.

Mohali
KILLED: An employee of an industrial unit in Phase VII here died after he fell from the roof of a building today. The deceased, Rangi Ram (46), hailed from Paonta Sahib. The family members of the deceased were informed about the incident. The body was sent for a post-mortem examination to the local Civil Hospital.

NOMINATED: Mr Albel Singh Shyan, a resident of Phase V, and a representative of various welfare bodies of the town, has been nominated a counselling member of the Women Cell, Mohali, which is managed by the police department.

HARYANA

JHAJJAR
RAPED: A minor girl was reportedly raped by a youth on the pretext of marriage in Bahadurgarh town of the district. The police has registered a case under Sections 376, 36, 350, and 506 of the IPC against the accused, who is an advocate.

PANIPAT
ROAD MISHAP: One person was killed and three injured when a cart in which they were travelling, collided with a truck near NFL on the GT road here on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as Prem Singh (35) of Rasalpur.

YOGA CAMP: A two-day free yoga camp will be organised on the premises of SD Vidya Mandir here under the aegis of Dev Murti Kaleswar Mutt on Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. This was stated by representatives of the mutt, Ms Amita Gulati, and Col S.P. Bakshi, here on Thursday.

Rewari
CHEQUES DISTRIBUTED: Ms Shashi Kalia, wife of the Deputy Commissioner, distributed cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to Ms Roopwati Devi of Dharuhera village, Ms Phoola Devi of Mohanpur village and Ms Krishna Devi of Alawalpur village, cheques of Rs 50,000 each to Ms Reena Devi and Ms Kamla Devi of Mastapur village and a cheque of Rs 25,000 to Mr Rattan Singh of Padla village under the Devi Rakshak Yojna here on Wednesday. The husbands of the first three beneficiaries had lost their lives in accidents recently.

SONEPAT
PROHIBITED: The District Magistrate, Sonepat, Mr Balbir Singh Malik, has passed an order under Section 144 of the Cr PC prohibiting farmers and cultivators from setting fire to the wheat straw after harvesting.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Dharamsala
RAPE ALLEGED: A 37-year-old Tibetan woman has alleged that two persons had raped her at a fruit shop on the temple road in Mcleodganj. The incident occurred on April 15 when one of the accused, Rikki, asked her to come inside the shop to choose fruit. The Investigating Officer, Mr Kamal Chand, said Sushil, the second accused, had been arrested. Police parties have been sent to different places in search of Rikki.

Kulu
ONE KILLED: One person was killed in a dispute near Sainj village, 50 km from here, on Wednesday. Devi Lal, a Nepalese, and Devi Singh, a resident of Chamba, who were working with a contractor on the Sainj-Raila road had not discussions. Devi Singh allegedly hit Devi Lal on his head with a hammer. Devi Lal was rushed to the Sainj health centre but the succumbed to his injuries on his way to the hospital. Devi Singh surrendered to the police on Thursday. A case has been registered.