R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Pathankot
Rally held: More than 150 activists of the Technical Services Union of the Punjab State Electricity Board held a rally here on Wednesday in favour of their demands. Union president Harish Kumar urged the government to take steps to fulfil their demands, including implementation of the MoU between the board management and the united forum of employees. He also warned of a state-level agitation if it failed to meet their demands.

Tarn Taran
Aged woman found dead: Sumittra Devi (75) was found murdered at her house in Ghariala village, 35 km from here, falling under Valtoha police station on Thursday. The police has registered a case under sections 302 and 34 of the IPC. The accused have not been identified as yet. Police sources said the woman was killed with bricks being hit at her. Sumittra was alone in the house as she had been living separately from her children though she had 10 children. The police is tightlipped about the reason behind the murder.

Office-bearers: The district NRI Sabha, Hoshiarpur, elected Ajwinder Singh its president here on Wednesday. According to the assistant commissioner (grievances)-cum-returning officer of the election Capt Karnail Singh (retd). Lakhwinder Singh Lakhi was elected vice-president of the sabha.

CHANDIGARH

Mohali
Roof collapses: The roof of a booth, which was under construction, fell in Phase V here today. However, no one was injured. The incident took place early in the morning. The collapsed roof damaged a wall of the adjoining booth as well. The wall of the adjoining booth was constructed in “violation of the norms”.

HARYANA

CHANDIGARH
Lok adalats: The State Legal Services Authority has decided to hold special Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalats in all districts and subdivisional judicial complexes on February 14 for redressal and speedy disposal of cases relating to marriage and family affairs, including cases under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and Section 125 of the CrPC, 1973.

Jhajjar
Child killed in accident: A five-year-old child was killed and another sustained serious injuries when a car ran over them on the Barahi road in Bahadurgarh town last evening. The deceased has been identified as Paras. The condition of the other child, 7-year-old Sanju, was stated to be critical. The car driver escaped, leaving the vehicle on the spot. According to reports, Paras and Sanju were playing near the Barahi road when the car hit them. Both were taken to hospital,where Paras succumbed to his injuries. The police has impounded the car and registered a case in this regard.

KAITHAL
Idol installed: A white marble idol of Sai Baba of Shirdi was installed at the local Sai Baba Mandir in the presence of Swami Satyanad of Sai Mandir Ambala on Wednesday. The idol installation ceremony concluded on Wednesday after a weeklong worship of the idol. Earlier, Shobha Yatra was also taken out from the town. The temple was completed in 11 months at a cost of Rs 65 lakh.

Office-bearers elected: Ved Pal Sirohi was elected president of the District Bar Association, Kaithal, in elections held here. He defeated advocate PL Bhardwaj by a margin of four votes. Sirohi got 138 votes against 134 polled by Bhardwaj. Lavneet Bindlish was elected vice-president, who polled 231 votes as against 186 polled by Ved Parkash Dhull, his nearest rival. Gurpal Singh Habri was elected secretary unanimously and Suresh Mann was elected joint secretary.

KURUKSHETRA
UGC test: The UGC national eligibility test (NET) for the eligibility of junior research fellowship and lectureship is scheduled to be held on December 28 in Kurukshetra University. Controller of examinations and coordinator (NET) JS Kadian said the test would be held in two shifts from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm on the premises of Kurukshetra University. He said as many as 6,716 candidates, in 37 subjects, had registered themselves for the test and 21 examination centres had been created on university campus and National Institute of Technology (NIT) here.

REWARI
Three killed: Three persons died in separate road accidents in the district on Wednesday. Veterinary doctor Chander Rattan, a resident of Rasgan village, died when the motor cycle he was riding on reportedly collided with a truck on the National Highway 8 near Bakhapur village, 10 km from here. In a second incident, Daya Ram of Palwal district was killed when the motor cycle he was riding on reportedly hit by a truck on the National Highway 8 at Dharuhera. In another incident, Satish Kumar (19) of Jhajjar district died on the spot when the motor cycle he was riding on reportedly collided with a truck on the Rewari-Jhajjar raod near Ganagaicha Ahir village, 6 km from here. The police registered cases in this regard.

Blood donation camp: As many as 170 persons donated blood at a blood donation camp held under the auspices of the District Red Cross Society at Nahar on Wednesday. SDM Kosli Rajiv Ahlawat, who inaugurated the camp, said blood donation was a meritorious deed which could provide a new lease of life to an accidental victim in an emergency.

SIRSA
President elected: Suresh Mehta was elected president of the District Bar Association, Sirsa, on Wednesday. Amit Ganeriwala became the secretary of the association and Jai Bharat Lal Garg was elected vice-president of the association. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

NURPUR
One dies of cold: Jarnail Singh (57), son of Onkar Singh of Khazian village, died of severe cold on Wednesday night. According to the police, his body was noticed by a patrolling party of the Home Guards at the Dakki bus stop in the wee hours on Thursday. He was under the influence of liquor and injured when he fell on the road. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital and left it after treatment. He was unable to reach his home and lay on the roadside near Dakki bus stop and died due to severe cold in the night. He was serving in the Chamera hydel project in Chamba district.

Home Guards: Local unit of the Himachal Pradesh Home Guards Association has taken a exception of the order of the state Additional Director General of Police to hike the break period from two to 15 days in the service of home guards. The association convened its meeting here on Thursday which was presided over by its president Joginder Jaggi. The association expressed its resentment over 15-day break after 90 days of service of the home guards. It demanded to pay salary to the home guards for this break period so that they do not face any financial problem.

Annual function: Dr Kuldeep Agnihotri, director of the Regional Study Centre, Dharamsala, and national convener of the Indo-Tibet Sahyog Manch, called upon society to not consider teachers as merely government employees, but real gurus who had to shape future of our nation. He was presiding over the seventh annual prize distribution function of the Rose Public School at Suliali, near here. He said the teachers should impart best and qualitative education to inculcate the spirit of Indian culture in students. He also gave prizes to the meritorious students of the school. A colourful programme was also presented.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

JAMMU
ABVP to stage dharna: The ABVP will stage a “maha dharna” in front of the residence of Governor NN Vohra on Friday. In a press note, state secretary of the ABVP Suresh Magotra on Thursday said the government and the university authorities were not giving ear to the grievances of students who suffered academic loss on the account of Amarnath land agitation. He said the student association was going to organise a “maha dharna” on December 26 outside the Governor's residence to draw his attention towards the demand.

2 held on rape charge: Two youth were arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping a teenaged girl in Rajouri district, police officials said. Fazal Lone and Sherbaz Ahmed on Thursday abducted a 16-year-old girl, studying in Class X, and took her to an isolated place where they allegedly raped her, they said. The girl told the matter to her parents who made a complaint to the police in this direction, the police said. A case had been registered and the duo was arrested.

Couple dies in house collapse: An ex-serviceman and his wife died in a tragic incident when their house collapsed in Sunderbani area of Rajouri district. “An ex-serviceman identified as Kaka Ram (75) and his wife Najbanti (72) were buried when their kachha house collapsed on Wednesday resulting in their death in Mora Khabbal village in Sunderbani,” sources said. The Army and the locals on receiving the information rushed to the spot and evacuated the bodies. A case has been registered and investigations were underway.

SRINAGAR
2 labourers killed: Two labourers were buried alive under a landslide during a quarry in Baramulla district, a police spokesman said on Thursday. Rescue operation was immediately launched, but the labourers died before they could be rescued. The labourers identified as Bakshi Rashid and Mohammad Shafi Khan came under a landslide in stone quarry at Daran Gutli in Uri sector on Wednesday, he said.