AMRITSAR
10 kg of smack seized: In a major haul, the Special Narcotics Cell on Thursday evening seized 10 kg smack from a Mumbai-based girl here. Priyanka Das (20) of Wasai, Mumbai, was held when she was waiting for a client to deliver a consignment concealed in a bag near a hotel on the G T Road here. A case has been registered.

Barnala
Sukhdev Muni acquitted: Mahant Sukhdev Muni, head of the Dera Baba Tek Chand of Sanghera, who was arrested recently for immoral activities under section 109 of the IPC, has been acquitted of all charges. Defense counsel Shiv Darshan Kumar Sharma informed that Mahant Sukhdev Muni was produced in the court of sub-divisional magistrate Pushpinder Singh Kehlay on Thursday. He presented sufficient evidence before the court that showed that the whole story made behind the arrest of the godman was false and baseless. While listening to his arguments, the court of SDM Kehlay acquitted him of charges framed under section 109.

SAD (B) chief thanked: Issuing a press release Om Parkash Sharma, district media-in-charge Shiromani Akali Dal (B), expressed happiness over the reconstitution of the party pyramid. He thanked party president Sukhbir Singh Badal for providing positions to Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan, Sikander Singh Maluka, Chiranji Lal Garg and Sarup Chand Singla. In another press note, members of the Arhtiya Association, Bathinda, mentioned that they had extended their warm wishes to former minister Chiranji Lal Garg thanked him for standing besides them in all their problems.

Democratic Teachers’ Front: The Democratic Teachers Front, Bathinda block, met block primary officer and presented their demands regarding Assured Career Programme Scheme (ACP)— 4-9-14 and GPF slips and entry of earned leaves. President of the Democratic Teachers Front, Major Basant Kumar, demanded that summer and winter vacations when teachers attended the camps should be entered as earned leaves. He also rued that teachers had to shell out money for the CD meant for income tax department.

Shopping mall: Best Group and Pearls Group of Companies would soon be coming up with a shopping mall-cum-four-screen multiplex named ‘City Walk’ on the Old Civil Hospital land at Mall Road here. A press conference for the same would be held at Hotel Sepal on Friday, which would be addressed by Harjeet Singh Arora, managing director, Best Group and Pearls Group of Companies.

BASSI PATHANA
BSP celebration: Hundreds of BSP workers of the area led by Karnail Singh, senior BSP leader, today celebrated the victory of BSP in UP by distributing sweets. Karnail Singh said BSP has won all the five by-election seats in UP, which indicates that the people of the biggest state in country wants to see Mayawati as the Prime Minister.

Condemned: All-India Brahmin Maha Sabha strongly condemned the derogatory remarks of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal terming Capt Amrinder as "Awara Gau (Cow)". Dr B.K. Dutt, working president, All-India Brahmin Maha Sabha, said sabha is not concerned about the conflict among both the leaders but they will not bear cow being called ‘Awara’. He said Badal should tender an apology by visiting any gaushala and worship the cow there.

Welcome: Hundreds of Congress workers from Bassi Pathana, Sirhind and Fatehgarh Sahib today accorded a warm welcome to Bir Devinder Singh on his arrival after his nomination as media in charge of PPCC. While talking to mediapersons, he said district-level media committees would be set up by the PPCC to put up the ideology of the party effectively before the people.

Batala
Teens’ kidnapping: Two women held: The Fatehgarh Churian police has arrested two women for allegedly kidnapping two Orissa sisters. The accused have been identified as Ratti and Sawaran Kaur. The victims Anita (18) and Seema (16), residents of Rourkela, disclosed that the accused promised them to marry in rich families. They were kept at Ratti’s house for five days and were later sold for Rs 20,000. A case has been registered.

Bathinda
Died: A drug addict, Tara Chand, who allegedly attempted to end his life at the railway track a few days back, died at the civil hospital here on Thursday. Volunteers of Sahara Jan Seva said that the man had been found in an injured condition on the railway track. Despite efforts made to find his family members, no one could be traced. In his statement, he had stated that he wanted to commit suicide as he could not live without drugs.

Plan to open school: In addition to water supply master plan and ring road for the people leaving across railway line, the Badal government has also planned one Adarsh School for the area, Chamkaur Singh Maan, press secretary said. As per a press statement, it was the result of the efforts of the former minister, Sarup Chand Singla. With the opening of Adarsh School, poor students would get quality education. Leaders of the SAD(B) have welcomed the move and thanked government.

Sodomy charge: A man allegedly committed sodomy with the six-year-old boy of a neighbour at his home in village Neor in the district on Thursday. Sources said the boy was playing in the street, when the accused lured him to watch television at his home. The boy narrated the incident to his family members, who then admitted him to a hospital. On the basis of the medical report received, the Dyalpura police registered a case under section 377 of the IPC against the accused. However, he managed to flee.

DERA BASSI
Farmer killed: A farmer working in the fields here was killed after being strangulated while tying stacks of husk, here on Thursday. According to the police, Ramesh Kumar (59) of Rampur Sainia village was tying stacks of husk on the trolley with the help of his brother. While tying the rope Ramesh got entangled in it and fell unconscious. He was rushed to the Dera Basi Civil Hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Body found: The body of a woman in her late thirties was found on the Ambala-Kalka railway tracks here on Wednesday night. The woman seemed to belong to a poor family and apparently had met with an accident. She was wearing a purple shirt, red salwar with a white dupatta. She was seen lying on the tracks by onlookers at about 11pm last night. Her body has been sent to the Dera Bassi Civil hospital for identification.

Ferozepur
Complaints redressal: The 68th Sangat Darshan programme was held here on Tuesday in which 46 complaints were received. DC Megh Raj informed that 13 complaints were redressed on the spot and the rest were sent to the departments concerned. He added that till date, 2,501 complaints had been received, of which 2,051 had been resolved. On the occasion, a delegation of PUNSUP chowkidars (watchmen) called upon the DC to ensure that the honorarium should be paid to them as per the Minimum Wages Act.

Hoshiarpur
Gold stolen: Some miscreants stole gold ornaments weighing 9.5 tolas, a video camera, a DVD player, five foreign-made wrist watches, two cameras from Harjinder Kaur’s house in Manavta Nagar.

Kharar
451 examined: Four hundred and fifty one patients were examined during eye camp held Swaraj Engines. Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib (C) eye institute and multi-speciality hospital Sohana held this camp as a part of Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Retinopathy Project funded by World Diabetes Foundation, Denmark. Eye surgeon Dr Mukesh Vats examined patients.

Mansa
Brick kiln workers: To raise the minimum wages and provide bonus to brick kiln labourers, a compromise was signed between brick kiln owners’ association of Mansa and the Lal Jhanda Bhatta Mazdoor Union on Wednesday. District president of the Bhatta Mazdoor Union, Sukhwinder Singh Hirewala, said it was agreed that 8.33 per cent bonus would be given over the minimum wages with 3.67 per cent increase in pay. This compromise would remain valid from April 10, 2008 to April 1, 2009.

Criticised: BSP Leader Dara Singh Aklia has criticised the Central government for the rising prices of essential commodities. In a statement issued here, he said the poor were feeling the burden due to the spiralling prices. He also demanded the immediate release of 6 per cent DA.

Office-bearers elected: The Bar Assocation, Budhlada, has elected Surinder Manshahia as its president, Amandeep Singh Mahal as vice-president and Munish Singla as joint secretary. The elected executive members are Ranjit Khudal, Sanjeev Kumar Mittal and Kamaljeet Kaur.

PATHANKOT
Office-bearers: At a meeting held under the chairmanship of Ashok Aggarwal here on Thursday, the following have been elected office-bearers of the Pathankot Paint Hardware Sanitary Iron Traders Association: President - Rajesh Sawal; general secretary - Rakesh Aggarwal; and treasure - Ashok Wadhera.

SANGRUR
Crop destroyed in fire: Wheat crop in three or four acres at Akoi Sahib village, near here, got burnt on Thursday. The fire brigade and villagers controlled the fire before it could spread further. Avtar Singh of the same village had sown the wheat after taking the land on contract. Fire official said it seemed that the crop caught fire due to sparks from power lines.