R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
Cellphone recovered: A mobile phone was recovered from an undertrial during a search by the Amritsar Central Jail authorities. Deputy Superintendent (Jail) said a mobile phone had been recovered from undertrial Amandeep Singh. A case has been registered.

Chandigarh
Declare stand on Bluestar, BJP tells Khaira: BJP national executive committee member and former Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia today asked Congress spokesman Sukhpal Khaira to spell out his stand on Operation Bluestar before taking a dig at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for demanding Bharat Ratna for former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Khaira had objected to Badal's demand for the top civilian award for the BJP leader alleging the party toed a communal agenda.

Kaushal re-elected  IAS body chief: Sarvesh Kaushal has been elected president of the Punjab IAS Association for the fifth time in a row following polling through secret ballot. Suresh Kumar and NS Kang have been elected as senior vice-president and vice-president, respectively. General Secretary and other office-bearers will be nominated by the president.

Hoshiarpur
5 professors found absent during surprise check: Five professors were found absent during a surprise check conducted by a Vigilance Bureau team led by Superintendent of Police Baldev Singh Parmar at Mahant Ram Parkash Dass Government Arts and Science College, Talwara, on Wednesday afternoon.

Two get 3-yr jail for assaulting cops: Two persons have been sentenced to three years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000 each for trespassing and deterring public servants from discharging their duty. The complainant, Hardeep Singh of Kila Barun, had stated that Charanjit Singh of Kila Barun village and Kulwinder Singh of Bajwara had attempted to forcibly enter his house. He stated when the police reached his house, the accused assaulted them with sharp-edged weapons.

KAPURTHALA
Minor siblings run over by train: Two minor siblings, Jasmine (13) and Arsh (5), were run over by a train near Wadala crossing here on Thursday evening. Residents said the deceased were returning home along with their mother. While their mother crossed the railway track, the duo failed in doing so. The minors were run over when they attempted to cross the track again.

Nawanshahr
10,867 applications  for Lok Adalat: As many as 10,867 applications have been received for redressal in the National Lok Adalat scheduled to be held on Novemebr 23 at Nawanshahr and Balachaur in the district. District and Sessions Judge Satwinder Singh Chahal said litigants could submit their applications latest by the morning of November 23.

Students to get free uniform soon: Deputy Commissioner Anindita Mitra said all the girls and SC boy students of the district would be provided with free school uniform for which a grant of Rs 2 crore had been received. The grant would be disbursed to the schools shortly.

Ropar
Accused in sexual assault case surrenders: Morinda resident Lakhan, accused of attempting to rape an 11-year-old girl, surrendered at district court on Wednesday. He was sent to police custody for a day. Chamkaur Sahib Deputy Superintendent of Police Wazir Khaira said the accused would be medically examined and interrogated. Lakhan had fled the spot after allegedly attempting to rape the minor on Tuesday. Two policemen were also suspended in the case.