R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
AAP to support colony residents’ agitation: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would support the agitation by residents of Nai Abadi and neighbouring colonies here to demand the removal of barricades near the railway station. The aggrieved colony residents will protest at the railway station on December 24. AAP workers would participate in the dharna, party regional secretary Ashok Garg said. Councillor Prem Kalra, who presided over a meeting of an action committee, today said that the protest would be peaceful and rail traffic would not be disrupted.

Hoshiarpur
Five drug peddlers held: The police have arrested five drug peddlers and seizednarcotics and illicit liquor from them. The accused — Sonu, Gaurav, Gurnam Singh, Sandeep Kumar and Amarjit — have booked. Sonu was held with 4-kg poppy husk. Gaurav was nabbed with 520-gm narcotic powder, while Gurnam Singh was held with 12 bottles of illicit liquor. Sandeep was nabbed with 18 liquor bottles and Amarjit with 18 bottles.

Tarn Taran
200 bundles of Chinese kite string seized, one held: The police on Sunday arrested a shopkeeper on the charge of possessing lethal China-made kite string. In all, 200 bundles of lethal China-made kite string were seized from accused Sandeep Kumar's shopkeeper here. A case under Section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against Kumar.

Cold wave claims life of 45-year-old man: The cold wave has claimed a life in Sarhali village, 22 km from here. The police have lodged a report under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in this regard. The deceased has been identified as Chet Singh Chetu (45), who was found dead in his house on Sunday. The post-mortem examination was conducted at the Civil Hospital today.