R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

SANGRUR
Man found dead: Jasbir Singh of Jharon village (near Longowal) was reportedly found murdered in his in-laws’ house at Uppli village, near here, on Thursday. Jasbir, along with his friend, had gone to his in-laws’ house on a scoote. His friend at about 4 am left the house. At about 7 am when a family member went to the room to offer tea to Jasbir, she found him murdered with a sharp-edged weapon. 

CHANDIGARH

Dhawan's claim false: Cong: The Congress yesterday contested the claims of BSP convener Harmohan Dhawan that the party had the support of seven sarpanches and 71 panches. Bhupinder Singh Badheri, Congress general secretary, termed Dhawan's claim as "false and frivalous". 

Approved: The roads committee of the municipal corporation has approved various agenda items, including providing 40 mm thick mat-finished interlocking paver blocks in the main market of Rehabilitation colony at Dadu Majra for Rs 19 lakh.

Dead: Sardar Amrao Singh, PCS (retd), former under secretary, revenue, passed away on Wednesday. The cremation will take place at 12 pm on December 21 at Sector 25 cremation ground.

Basketball tourney from Dec 22: The Chandigarh Basketball Association (CBA) is conducting the Senior State Basketball Championship from December 22 to 25 at New Public School, Sector 18. Teams desirous of participating in the above said championship should send their entries duly attested by the head of the institution/ club along with the entry fee of Rs 100 to Jugraj Singh, general secretary, the CBA, before December 20. 

Tennis meet from tomorrow: The Chandigarh sports department is sending a five-member team to participate in All-India Civil Services Lawn Tennis Tournament to be held at Jalandhar from December 21 to 24. Team: Harish Kumar Saini (captain-cum-manager), Surinder Kumar, Parmjeet Singh, K.P.S. Shante and Rajesh Dhiya.

Mohali
Minister denied entry: Cabinet minister Master Mohan Lal, who holds transport portfolio, had to taste the wrath of security personnel at the PCA stadium when he was denied entry from the gate no.1. The minister, who was accompanied by his family members, was allowed entry through an adjoining gate.

CCTV cameras: Performance of the closed-circuit television cameras installed on the outer cordon of the PCA stadium did not match with the preparedness of the cops. By 1 pm, the technician was busy making the cameras operational by connecting the wires. The Tribune found that the footage of some of the cameras was missing on the TV screens installed in the control room.

Baton-wielding cops: While cops armed with light machine guns were stationed in the security cordon around the PCA stadium, the main entry points leading to the stadium were manned by just baton-wielding cops.

HARYANA

CHANDIGARH
Free travel on cops’ ID cards: Inspectorate staff of the Haryana Roadways during a surprise check have collected some colour photostat copies of the identity cards of police personnel which were being used by persons known to the holders for free travel in roadways buses. A spokesman for the department here on Thursday said the department had taken a serious note of this activity and decided to send such copies to the director-general of the police for taking disciplinary action against the police personnel concerned. 

JHAJJAR
Five hurt in clash: Five persons, including three women, were injured in a clash between two groups in Samaspur village here on Thursday. Two of them were referred to the PGIMS, Rohtak, from the civil hospital due to their critical condition. Dispute over the drainage of water is said to be the reason behind the incident. Those who sustained injuries include Ishwanti, Lila, Hosiyari, Sudesh and Sonia. The police has started investigation in this regard. 

KAITHAL
Office-bearers elected: The elections to the governing body of Indira Gandhi Mahila Mahavidyalya, Kaithal, concluded here on Thursday. All office-bearers were elected unanimously. According to the returning officer, till last date for withdrawal, only one candidate remained in the field for each seat for which elections were declared, which paved the way for unanimous elections for all four seats. Returning officer Ramesh Dua assisted by Sudesh Goel and Sadhna Thukral, assistant returning officers, declared the following as office-bearers. President Surjit Bahadur Khurania; vice-president Ram Bahadur Khurania; secretary Dev Raj Miglani and treasurer Hans Raj.

Health check-up camp: As many as 75 students were medically examined at a free of cost health check-up camp organised by the Lions Club Gold at Government Primary School, Sector 19-1, HUDA, on Friday. A medical team led by Dr Ashwani Garg examined the students and gave them required medicines. Lion Jagdish Bahadur Khurania, zonal chairman of the club, who was present on the occasion said the club had launched various social welfare schemes for benefit of different sections of society. He said an ayurvedic camp would also be organised in Khurana village on December 20. 

REWARI
In-laws booked for  harassment: The Khol police has booked Meena Yadav’s husband Om Prakash Yadav, father-in-law Ramji Lal Yadav and mother-in-law Ram Kala, all residents of Pali village, near Khol, on charges of attempt to murder and harassment for dowry. A case under Sections 498-A and 307 of the IPC has been registered against them on a complaint filed by Meena’s father Sube Singh Yadav, a resident of Bhangrola village in Gurgaon district. Sube Singh alleged that his daughter Meena (23) was set on fire after sprinkling kerosene, by her in-laws on December 14. 

SIRSA
Physician to get award: Dr Ved Beniwal, a local physician, has been selected for “IMA President Community Service Award For Individuals” for the year 2007-08. Dr S.N. Misra, honorary secretary of the Indian Medical Association, said in a communication to Beniwal that his selection had been made by the IMA National Awards Committee. The award would be conferred at a special awards function to be held on December 27 during the annual conference of the IMA. Dr M. Abbas, national president of the IMA, will confer the award on Beniwal. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

HAMIRPUR
Prize distribution: Education minister I.D. Dhiman said it is the duty of every teacher to nurture the students and bring out their hidden calibre by providing them equal opportunities in every activity in the educational institutions. He stated this while addressing students at the annual prize distribution function of the Government Degree College, Tarakwari. President of the Central Students Association Anu Kumari demanded a fence around the college building be constructed and the college should be made a centre for supplementary examination. 

Rotary Club: District governor of the Rotary Club Dr Vinod Sharma said the club had undertaken several activities for the welfare of common people in this region. Addressing mediapersons here on Friday he said, “The club has started a drive to bring down mortality rate among children, provided a phototherapy unit and incubator at the Government Hospital, Bhareri.” He said 2,500 dictionaries have been distributed among school students to improve their knowledge, giving scholarships to needy students etc.” 

PALAMPUR
Charas seized: The police on Friday seized 1.75 kg of charas amounting to Rs 1 crore and arrested one person during a naka at Andhreta. Palampur subdivisional police officer Rakesh Singh said Lal Babu Chaoudary, a resident of Bihar, was nabbed during a naka and charas was recovered from a bag he was carrying. He was arrested under the NDPS Act and was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.

SHIMLA
One dead: Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Sheel village, near Fagu, died along with his two horses after being hit by an unidentified vehicle, on Thursday night. According to the police, it was in the morning that the body of Ramesh and his two horses was found lying in a pool of blood on the road. Ramesh used to go everyday to Kufri with his two horses to earn a livelihood. A case has been registered. The vehicle, which hit Ramesh and the animals, still remains unidentified.

SUNDERNAGAR
Stone laid: Nachan MLA Dile Ram laid the foundation stone of the examination hall at the Senior Secondary School, Mahadev, near here oh Friday. He sanctioned Rs 3 lakh for this. He was the chief guest at the annual prize distribution function of the school. While addressing the gathering he said a scientific laboratory would be constructed in the school campus. Afterwards he distributed prizes to meritorious students and also sanctioned Rs 2,000 to the students who took part in the cultural programme presented by on the occasion. 

JAMMU & KASHMIR

JAMMU
Pak national held: The troops of 26 Battalion BSF apprehended a Pakistani national from near Indo-Pak International Border (IB) in Akhnoor sector, sources said here on Friday. “The BSF, when noticed suspicious movement on the border near Garkhal in Akhnoor sector, laid a trap on Thursday and arrested a youth while he was trying to ex-filtrate to other side of the border,” sources said. The youth has been identified as Pohlaz Theel (18) of Sindh, Pakistan. During preliminary investigation, the youth disclosed that he came to India after crossing over the border via Rajasthan in 2005 and also worked at several places in metro cities. 

SRINAGAR
IED defused: Troops of the 23 Punjab Regiment on Friday averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) in north Kashmir, sources said. They said the troops during a routine patrolling at Nadihal on the Bandipora road noticed a packet on the roadside. The area was immediately cordoned off and traffic was stopped on the highway. Later, the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) defused the IED without causing any damage.

Exams postponed: The authorities on Friday announced postponement of all examinations scheduled for December 20 and 21 in the valley. Although no reason was cited for the postponement of the examinations, the step has been taken in view of stringent security measures being implemented in Srinagar in view of the polling in the eight assembly constituencies in the city on December 24. “All board examination of class XI, XII and elementary teachers training course (2nd year) scheduled for December 20 and 21 stand postponed,” an announcement by the state board of school education said. Fresh dates for the examinations would be announced later on.