R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

5 dowry seekers booked: The police has booked five residents of Patti for demanding dowry and torturing Harpreet Kaur (24). The police said on Friday that the accused were Vijay Kumar, husband of Harpreet, Ashwani Kumar, father-in-law, Madhu Bala, mother-in-law, Jyoti Bala, sister-in-law, and Ajay Kumar, brother-in-law. Harpreet was married to Vijay about nine months back. 

CHANDIGARH

Bankers’ Meet: Over 2,000 delegates representing 2.50 lakh officers working in the banking industry across the country, will assemble to participate in the 8th triennial general council of the All-India Bank Officers Confederation that begins tomorrow. Addressing mediapersons here today, V Easwaran and Amal Pal, president and general secretary of the confederation, said the conference would deliberate on the role of the banking industry in ensuring economic development of the common man. The conference would be inaugurated by Pawan Bansal, minister of state for finance and M B N Rao, chairman of the Indian Banks Association, will be the guest of honour.

PANCHKULA
Loud speakers banned: The district administration has banned the use of loud speakers at high volume all over the district. In addition to it, playing of music in shops and houses in the district has also been banned till further orders. According to deputy commissioner Rajinder Kataria, using loud speakers and DJs between 10 pm to 6 am in markets, religious places, marriage ceremonies, jagrans and other social functions had been banned. 
 

HARYANA

AMBALA
Shops sealed: The health department sealed two chemist shops located on the civil hospital premises on Friday. Principal medical officer Dr O.P. Aarya said the step was taken on directions of the High Court. He said the shops were auctioned a few months ago by the hospital authorities, but existing shopkeepers were not vacating it. However, owner of one of the shops Titu Ghai said the matter was pending with the high court. 

Trains delayed: Rail traffic was disrupted on Friday due to a fault in the northern grid. Around one dozen trains including Shaan-e-Punjab, Amarpali Express, Intercity Express, Lohit Express, Sadbhavna Express and several passenger trains reached the Ambala Cantt station two to three hours late, which caused great inconvenience to the passengers. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
IR release hailed: The Himachal Pradesh state non-gazetted employees federation has welcomed the declaration of the Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal for the release of 5 per cent interim relief to all Himachal employees in the annual Budget presented in the HP assembly on Friday. Ram Singh, newly elected president of state federation, said here the Chief Minister had fulfilled his another election promise through this announcement. 

Self-employment scheme: ADC Hans Raj Chauhan has exhorted village youths to come forward to take full advantage of the “Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Yojna” and thus get self-employment and also help their areas develop at a faster pace. Presiding over a day-long seminar organised by the district industries centre for panchayat representatives at Kutheda, Chauhan said the panchayat representatives could play an important role in inspiring youths of their areas. 

HAMIRPUR
Leopard attacks boy: A boy was injured by a leopard in Jijvein village under Bhoranj block on Thursday. Ashwani Kumar son of Shiam Lal was attacked by the beast when he had gone to ease himself out. He was taken to the community health centre Bhoranj in a serious condition. The boy had raised an alarm after being pounced by the leopard and later managed to come out from its claws. Keeping in view his serious condition the boy has been referred to the medical college hospital, Tanda. The villagers have demanded immediate lying of trap to save them from the leopard to save the lives and cattle of villagers. 

Leaders criticised: The state vice-president of an NGO federation P.C. Verma has criticised the attempt of few leaders to capture the union by holding election in the name of joint action committee. In a release issued here on Friday Verma said if elections of joint action committee are given recognition by the state government as the election of state NGO federation it would be sad day for the employees of the state and end of the NGO federation. Blaming NGO leaders Ganga Singh Thakur, P.S. Bharmouri and L.S. Macchian for the present state of affairs in the NGO federation he has appealed to all right thinking people to come forward to save the NGO federation. 

SHIMLA
Police modernisation: The Centre has released Rs 6.11 crore to the state for modernisation of the police. An official spokesperson said the Central government was implementing a Rs 10.67 crore scheme for modernising the police force under which the expenditure was to be shared by the Centre and state in the ratio of 75 is to 25. He said Rs 1.13 crore would be spend on mobility, Rs 85.24 lakh on communication equipment, Rs 2.04 crore on strengthening of forensic laboratory, Rs 28.65 lakh on training equipment, Rs 43.37 lakh on modern traffic control equipment, Rs 19.92 lakh on security equipment, Rs 77.20 lakh on office equipment and Rs 40 lakh on home guards. 

Suicide: Nitin Kumar (18), student of class XII committed suicide. His body was found hanging from a tree in Phagli area, on Friday morning. According to the police, Nitin’s body was spotted hanging from a tree by a water lineman at about 6.30 am. His father is an employee in the Excise Department. The family was living in Bhatt Cottage in Lower Phagli area. Though the exact cause of the suicide is not known but Nitin was reportedly facing difficulty in his studies.