R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Bathinda
Pension adalat on April 25, 26: A state-level pension adalat for retired defence personnel of Punjab will be held here on April 25 and 26. An Army spokesman said among others, several senior officers and the Controller of Defence Accounts would participate in the adalat to resolve the problems of the ex-servicemen. 

Chandigarh
Facility for NRIs sought: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday sought the intervention of Union Minister of Communication and Information Technology Kapil Sibal to put in place a mechanism to issue local mobile SIM cards to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) on the basis of their (non-Indian) passport. 

Election Commission bans transfers: The State Election Commission has banned transfers of government employees in view of the upcoming panchayat elections. A commission spokesperson said the block samiti and zila parishad elections would be conducted before May 15 whereas election to panchayats would be held before May 31. 

Ludhiana
High drama over student's disappearance: High drama was witnessed at a school situated on the Jassian road on Tuesday morning after a student of class IV went missing. A student of class IV, Rahul, and his brother Raman, a student of class II, went to the school. The school authorities allegedly denied Rahul entry to the school as he reached late but Raman was allowed to enter the premises. Instead of returning home, Rahul started roaming around in the area. When Laxmi Devi, a resident of Thapar Colony, reached the school to deliver lunch boxes to her sons, she was shocked to find that his elder son was not present in the school. After two hours, the boy was found roaming around in the area.

Godman booked for RS 59 lakh fraud: The police has nabbed a godman-turned-travel agent, who had allegedly duped 19 innocent boys and girls of Rs 59 lakh on the pretext of sending them abroad. The Shimlapuri police today arrested Baba Satwant Singh, who had been evading arrest in a case registered against him on July, 2011.

Two cars stolen: Two cases of vehicle theft were registered in the city on Tuesday. Thieves stole a Gurpreet Singh's Maruti Swift while he was visiting a shopping mall on the Ferozepur road. In the second incident, attending a cremation proved costly for Rajinder Kapoor of Jamalpur Colony. According to Rajinder, he went to attend a cremation at the Model Town cremation ground and parked his car outside the ground. When he returned he found his car missing.

One killed in accident: One person was crushed to death in an accident that took place here on Monday evening. The victim has been identified as Bulai, a resident of Focal Point. According to Mansa Ram, the victim's friend, they were going to the Dhandari railway station in an auto-rickshaw. Bulai alighted from the vehicle and started crossing the road. While he was crossing the road, an Indica car hit him. He was rushed to Apollo Hospital where he succumbed to injuries. The car driver fled the scene. A case under sections 279 and 304, IPC, has been registered against the driver for reckless driving resulting in death.

Man booked for abducting minor girl: The focal point police has booked a person for kidnapping a 13-year-girl on the pretext of marriage. The accused has been identified as Ram, a resident of Sherpur Kalan. The victim's father said the accused kidnapped his daughter on the pretext of marrying her on March 1. He reported the matter to the police on Tuesday.

Patiala
IT Dept raids real estate agent: Income Tax officials on Tuesday raided the offices owned by JP properties, Patiala, and confiscated documents related to various land deals. A team headed by Raman Garg, Deputy Director (Investigations) and Hakam Singh, Income Tax Inspector, conducted the raids which were on till the filing of the copy. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Hamirpur
Woman dies as car overturns: Saran Devi of Dugha Khud died when the car driven by her son, in which they were travelling, overturned after hitting a tree near Dosarka today. Surinder Kumar who was driving the car was also injured in the accident. 

DEHRADUN

Guv's greetings on Mahavir Jayanti: Governor Aziz Qureshi has greeted the people of the state on Mahavir Jayanti. In his message, he said, "The teachings of Lord Mahavir inspire us to inculcate the qualities of mercy, compassion, peace and brotherhood for the welfare of humankind."