The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

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PUNJAB

Abohar
Cong launches campaign: Even as the SAD (B) and the BJP remained indecisive over sharing of seats for the upcoming municipal council elections, the arch-rival Congress on Wednesday formally launched its campaign for the polls. To stake their claims, the aspirants for the party tickets assembled at the residence of Congress MLA Sunil Jakhar along with supporters.

Man commits suicide: One Jagga Singh (30) allegedly committed suicide by jumping into the water reservoir at the old water works, located near the office of the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board here, on Wednesday. The city police recovered the body and reportedly found a suicide note, purported to have been written by the victim, blaming two persons, Chhinda and Jassa, for abetting him to commit suicide. The police is investigating the case.

Two arrested under NDPS: The CIA staff here nabbed two residents of the Jalalabad West sub-division and recovered 35 gm smack from their possession. The police identified the accused as Harjinder Singh of village Kathgarh and Manjit Singh of Mahalam village. Both were arrested under section 21/61/85 of the NDPS Act.

AMRITSAR
Rs 1.60 lakh, 99 gold coins stolen:Theft of Rs 1.60 lakh in cash and 99 gold coins was reported from a money exchange shop at Chheharta, near here, on Tuesday night. The police reportedly detained Manmeet Singh, manager, Wiseman Flyex Limited, on the complaint of managing director Pardeep Kumar. He stated that some unidentified persons had broken open the locks of the office and taken away cash and gold coins. The police found locks of the outer gate open, while keys were found inside the cabin.

Faridkot
Ranjot tops in Faridkot: Ranjot Singh Viring, a student of Dasmesh Public School here, topped the district in the class X examination conducted by the CBSE. Nancy Grover and Rikita with 95.8 per cent marks stood second while Inna Gupta secured third position in the school by getting 95.6 per cent marks. As many as 68 students of the school secured above 90 per cent marks in the examination. In class XII, Harkirat Kaur bagged first position with 92.6 per cent marks, Tanveer Kaur Dhaliwal stood second with 90.8 per cent marks and Ashish Kumar Pandey secured third position with 90.4 per cent marks.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
Ban on noise: Deputy commissioner Ashok Kumar Singla has banned loud noise from 10 pm to 6 am. The DC ordered that the use of loudspeakers or any other music and firecrackers were banned in the district till August 11. In another order, the DC ordered a ban on the movement of vehicles at the temporary bridge at Bhakra river.

Ferozepur
Drive against Mealy bug: In order to prevent any kind of damage to cotton crop, the district administration here launched a special drive to eradicate Mealy bug from the area. The drive has been started in association with various departments like forest, PWD, irrigation, mandi board, Panchayat, rural development besides, several NGO’s has been roped in to provide assistance to spread awareness about the pest.While giving this information, DC Megh Raj said that a special program had been embarked to exterminate the effect of Mealy bug on cotton crop. DC said that in this connection, agriculture department had been arranging various seminars.

Khanna
Youth killed in accident: Amloh resident Gurpreet Singh (20) died in an accident near Galwaddi village in Khanna. Gurpreet had come to Khanna for treatment on his motorcycle. He was hit by an unknown vehicle while on his way back home and died on the spot. A case has been registered against unidentified person/persons.

Ludhiana
Scooter set afire: A fight between an electrician and a few migrant labourers over the issue of sitting on a parked scooter turned violent when the labourers allegedly set the two-wheeler on fire on the RK road near Oswal Spinning Mills today afternoon. The labourers, Irshad and his friend, along with electrician Narinderpal were admitted to a local hospital after they suffered injuries in the brawl.

Elected: Members of anti-larva scheme, Ludhiana, today convened a meeting in which. Amarjit Singh Pandher, co-convener, Para Medical and Health Employees, Punjab, was elected president of the Anti-Larva Swasth Sahyak Union for the seventh time. Shamsher Singh was elected general secretary. The post of finance secretary went to Himmat Singh and Balbir Singh became union vice-president.

MANSA
Teachers’ protest: The Unemployed BEd Teachers Front’s Mansa unit today held a demonstration in the city in favour of their demands. They marched from district courts to Gurudawara roundabout. District president of the front, Karamjeet Singh Taamkot said that the Punjab government was delaying the appointment letters of 14,000 BEd teachers, who were selected in April 2008. He demanded for immediate issuance of appointment letters. He informed that the government had promised to fill some 32, 000 posts of teachers, hence 1,8000 more posts should be advertised. A state-level rally of the front would be held at Bathinda on June 18.

Sit-in by Kisan Union: The Punjab Kisan Union held a sit-in outside the Boha police station for the arrest of Gurcharan Singh of Bakhrial village against whom a case was registered for rape. Addressing the sit-in, state president of the Punjab Kissan Union said that under the pressure of the Akali leaders, the Punjab police had not been doing justice in this case. Addressing the people, Communist Party of India (ML) leader Rajvinder Singh Rana blamed the Punjab police for protecting the guilty. Among others who addressed the sit-in were Balkaran Singh Balli, Gurnam Singh, Gamdoor Singh, Karnail Singh and Lakhvinder Singh.

SANGRUR
Seminar on role of chemists: Speaking at a seminar on “Role of chemists in revised national TB control programme (RNTCP)” district TB officer Dr Surinder Singla urged chemists to discourage sale of anti-TB drugs to patients and persuade them to opt for free-of-cost directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) under the RNTCP of the government of India. At the seminar, which concluded here on Tuesday evening, civil surgeon Satwant Bhalla urged the chemists to set up free treatment centres at their shops etc. Among others who participated in the discussion included district drug inspector Kamal Kamboj, president of local Chemists Association Narinder Gupta, Naresh Jindal from Sunam, Sandeep Kumar from Dhuri and Mansoor Alam from Malerkotla.

CHANDIGARH

Panchkula
700 jhuggis removed: The enforcement wing of HUDA demolished more than 700 jhuggis at Sector 5-B of Mansa Devi Complex here on Wednesday. HUDA officials equipped with JCB machines, trucks and 45 labourers backed by 60 policemen cleared around 6 acres of prime land. Four dairies set up illegally in Sector 21 and encroachments in Sector 3, besides markets of Sectors 4 and 9, were also removed.

HARYANA

Ambala
Inauguration: Dr R.P. Bajpai, vice-chancellor, Kurukshetra University, inaugurated a short-term training programme on recent advances in communication engineering on Wednesday. Faculty members of the engineering colleges from various states attended the programme that will continue till June 13.

Awareness through play: Drama party of DPRO’s office, Ambala, staged a performance along with bhajan parties in Nadiali village on Tuesday. Performers reminded the audience to stay away from dowry, female foeticide, alcohol and drugs through a melody of songs. Bhim Sain gave details of the government schemes for the poor in his Ragini. Yadvinder Singh Rana and Krishan Lal spread the awareness regarding Laadli and other schemes.

Chandigarh
Logo of women’s varsity released: Haryana Governor A.R. Kidwai released the logo and motto of BPS Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur Kalan, the only all-women university in the state, in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and education minister Mange Ram Gupta at a function held at Raj Bhavan here today. Hooda also presented a cheque of Rs 25,000 as award to D.S. Kapoor, the designer of the logo and the motto. The university’s motto - "Empowering Women With Education" is visible in the logo that describes the enlightenment of women through the power of knowledge.

REWARI
2 booked for abduction: Subhash Yadav (20), a nephew of Kanahiya Lal Yadav, a farm owner, allegedly eloped on May 23 with Bhoop Singh Bawaria’s teenage daughter. Bawaria was engaged on daily wages at a farmhouse near Bhatsana village. When repeated entreaties made by the girl’s parents for restoration of their daughter failed to evoke any positive response from the farm owner, the girl’s mother Lilawati on Tuesday registered a complaint with the police. A case of abduction coupled with seduction has been registered against the farm owner and his nephew.

SIRSA
Technical education: With a view to encourage technical education in the state, the Haryana government would spend Rs 351 crore this year. K.V Singh, officer on special duty to Chief Minister, said this at Engineering College in Panniwala Mota village near here on Tuesday. He said in order to give larger representation to the village youth, number of secured seats for them had been increased to 10 from four.

YAMUNANAGAR
Lok Sabha elections: The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) is ready to face Lok Sabha polls and will wipe out the Congress. Former Haryana chief minister and INLD supermo Om Prakash Chautala said this while addressing party workers at Jagadhri here on Tuesday. Ruling out an alliance with any other political party during the Lok Sabha elections, Chautala said, “We will contest the Lok Sabha elections at our own”.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Fire brigade staff union: The district unit of the Himachal Pradesh Fire Brigade Employees Union has expressed resentment over the delay in the inauguration of newly constructed four-storeyed building of the district fire brigade office. The complex had been lying unused for the past two years, said union general secretary Rajender Gautam.

Hamirpur
CM bereaved: Amaro Devi, mother-in-law of Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, who died this morning due to cardiac arrest, was cremated later at Anu here. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, his wife Sheela Dhumal, several of his Cabinet colleagues, MLAs and other prominent persons were present in the funeral.

MANDI
Artist threatened: The police has booked two persons, Sanju and Subhash, for allegedly threatening and illegally confining Mohinder, an artist associated with the Indian People Theatre (IPT). Sanju was arrested and bailed out on Wednesday. A complaint in this connection was lodged by IPT convener Lawan Thakur.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Jammu
One killed, 9 hurt: One person was killed and nine others injured in separate incidents in Rajouri and Ramban districts of Jammu, the police sources said here on Thursday. One person was killed and seven others were injured when the vehicle in which they were travelling plunged into a gorge at Dhanwara in Rajouri. The deceased has been identified as Harvinder Kumar.

Srinagar
Reservation for women: The state government has decided to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in panchayats, said minister for rural development Mula Ram during a public meeting at Dhara here on Tuesday. The government also decided to provide road connectivity to all the villages by 2012 and extend financial assistance for construction of houses in hilly areas.

Civilian shot: Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants have shot dead a civilian in the Ganderbal district. Mir Alam (42), a carpenter from Hayeen in Kangan police station limits, 40 km from here, died on the spot on Tuesday night, the police spokesman said on Thursday. Hizbul commander Ghulam Nabi War and his associate Mohammad Lateef Chowhan fled after committing the crime.

Jobs in compensation: The state government has provided employment to one member each of the families who lost their children in the Wullar tragedy on May 30, 2006 in north Kashmir. An official spokesman on Wednesday said Kupwara DC Kachoo Isfandyar Khan handed over the appointment orders to 11 beneficiaries. Twenty-one schoolchildren and a teacher died after the naval boat carrying them capsized in the Wullar lake.

Woman commits suicide: A woman allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance while another is battling for life in a hospital in Bandipora district, the police said here on Wednesday. Naseema Begum (32), wife of Ghulam Nabi Shah, was found unconscious at her residence at Papchan-Bandipora today, they said, adding she died on way to a hospital.

Security camps: As part of arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra, the government on Thursday decided to set up security camps along the route at Nunwan, Chandanwadi, Sheshnag and Panjtarni. A joint control room to be manned by district administrations concerned will be set up. Boarding, lodging and sanitation facilities will be available at the camps.