R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
Anti-encroachment drive: The authoritites have launched a drive against encroachments on the Hanumangarh-Rawatsar-Pallu mega highway. Teams led by Tehsildar Bhanwer Lal and circle police inspector Anil Kumar Meena removed encroachments near the automobile market in Rawatsar.

A JCB machine in action along the Hanumangarh highway on Tuesday. Tribune Photo

Water samples fail test: Samples taken from water works at four villages of Sriganganagar district in Rajasthan have failed to pass laboratory tests for purity. Reports of samples from Dungersinghpura, Nehranwali, Chak 76 RB and Chak 77RB villages indicate presence of coliform bacteria in water. Deputy Chief Medical Officer IPS Poonia said such water could cause dysentery, abdomen pain, indigestion and daeheria. “We have informed the officials concernedand suggested immediate remedial steps, he said.

Pilgrims hurt in mishap: Several pilgrims, who were returning to Abohar after paying obeisance at Salasar Dhaam in Rajasthan, were injured as the Tata Tempo in which they were travelling overturned on the Hanumangarh highway on Tuesday. Indersain (23), Sandeep Kumar (28), Vijay Kumar (26), Himanshu (20) and Mohinder Bishnoi (28) of Azeemgarh locality here have been referred to the trauma centre, Hanumangarh. The others were shifted to community health centres in Pallu and Rawatsar.

Chandigarh
Panel for Kabaddi Cup: The state government has constituted an organising committee for the 5th Kabaddi World Cup. The tournament is set to be held from December 5. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has been made the chief patron and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal the chairman of the committee. An official spokesman said that Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MP, and Sikander Singh Maluka, Rural Development  Minister, would be the senior vice chairmen.

Muktsar
Bus driver thrashed: A bus driver of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) was allegedly stripped naked and thrashed by several people on the National Highway-15 in Gidderbaha on Monday. As per the complaint, the accused persons even snatched a bag containing Rs 40,000 from the bus conductor. A policeman also sustained minor injuries, when he reportedly tried to save the driver. A case has been registered.

Tarn Taran
Man booked for raping wife: The local city police have booked Amandeep Singh for allegedly raping his wife. The accused's father Gurdev Singh and mother Darshan Kaur, residents of Sudhar Rajpura village have also been booked. The victim alleged Amandeep raped her on August 18.