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Amritsar
Debtor attempts suicide: Unable to return loan, Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Laxmi Vihar, tried immolation before the Vijay Nagar police station here today. After pouring kerosene on himself, he had just lit up the fire on his arm when the policemen along with several people caught him and doused the fired. He sustained burn injuries and was rushed to a hospital.

Bathinda
Elected: In a recently held executive meeting of Sanatan Dharam Mahavir Dal, Pawan Kumar Bhucho was unanimously elected as the president of the organisation. To constitute the general house of the committee, all units of the organisation will assemble at 11 am on August 16 at MSD School here in the city.

CHANDIGARH
336 mega projects okayed: The Punjab government has approved 336 mega projects with the private investment of Rs 97.163 crore, which will provide employment to more than 12 lakh persons. Disclosing this here on Tuesday, Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia said four textile parks, foundry and machine tolls cluster at Batala had been approved by the government of India. He said 20 clusters for micro, small and medium enterprises were proposed to be set up in the state. The minister further said two centres of the Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology had been opened at Ludhiana and Jalandhar.

Hoshiarpur
Shabad competition: The Sikh Welfare Society organised a shabad recitation competition at Gurdwara Kalgidhar here on Monday evening. More than 100 students, including girls, of various schools participated in the competition. Paramjit Singh of Mount Carmel School secured first position in senior group, whereas Palwinder Kaur and Harmanjit Kaur of Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School secured first position in junior and sub-junior groups, respectively.

Police remand for spurious edible oils’ seller: The police today produced Jagdish Lal Aggarwal, who was arrested following the recovery of a haul of spurious edible oils from a godown at the local Ekta Nagar, was produced in the court of Assistant Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) today. The ACJM remanded him in police custody for one day. DSP (R) Jasbir Singh said investigation into the seizure of spurious edible oils was under progress.

Jalandhar
Workshop on ‘Jalandhar an emerging metro’: A workshop on “Jalandhar an emerging metro” was organised by the Jalandhar Study Centre of Panchnad at SD Phullarwan Wala Senior Secondary School, Ladowali Road, here today. The aim of the workshop was to present the views of the intelligentsia about Jalandhar of 2025. As many as 100 academicians, CAs, engineers, doctors, industrialists and businessman participated in the workshop. Brig J.K. Gagneja (retd) , Principal of INC MBA College, explained the significant aspects of education, infrastructure and industry. Issues pertaining to wide roads, flyovers, parking, general and specialised health care were discussed at large. Ajay Trehan of NIT, Jalandhar, spoke on the city as an emerging destination for the education sector in India.

‘Sikh Jago’ released: A book, “Sikh Jago”, was released by Gurcharan Singh Grewal, president of the Sikh Students Federation, at a function held at the Punjab Press Club here today. The book has been authored by Kashmir Singh, who claims to be a Sikh activist. A number of federation leaders and some SGPC members, including Gurbax Singh, were present. On the occasion, Bhai Kanwar Ajit Singh from Patiala was honoured with Giani Dit Singh Award.

MANSA
Banker suspended: Darshan Singh, branch manager of Cooperative Bank, Wareh, in Mansa district, has been suspended for the alleged fraud of over Rs 3 crore. Officials said the manager had done forgery in bank accounts of his family members. The victims included his father Gurdev Singh, Baldev Singh and Bahadur Singh, both uncles, and Ajmer Kaur.

Nawanshahr
PFUCTO members cease work: On the call given by the Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (PFUCTO), teachers of different colleges in the district observed “cease work” and held a dharna in front of the offices of principals of respective colleges on Tuesday to protest against the alleged dilly-dallying attitude of the state government in issuing pay notification. Vinay Sofat, finance secretary of the Punjab Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), warned the government of an intensified stir if their demands were not met.

SANGRUR
Farmers gherao PSEB office: The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) on Tuesday gheraoed the office of the executive engineer of the PSEB (rural) for about four hours at Sunam, 13 km from here. They alleged the official was not issuing orders to replace a damaged transformer (domestic supply) of Dhindsa village, near Lehragaga, though the government and farmer organisations had reached an agreement regarding replacement of damaged transformers recently. The gherao was lifted after an SDO assured them that their demand would be fulfilled.

Student’s body found: The body of Navjot Singh, a BA (I) student and resident of Gharachon village, was found in the Banasar Bagh here on Tuesday. SHO (City) Sanjiv Goyal said according to the deceased’s father, his son was mentally sick and taking medicines for the past some time.

Tarn Taran
PSEB employee electrocuted: Gurbachan Singh (50), an assistant line man in the PSEB posted at 66 KVA sub-station, Naushehra Pannuan, was electrocuted late last night when he was on duty. According to information, Gurbachan was switching off the power supply when he was electrocuted.

CHANDIGARH

Mount Carmel wins singing contest: An inter-school group singing competition was organised by the Carmel authorities for students of the age group of 5-6 years today. Various schools participated in the competition. Alpana Khosla, a teacher in Euro Kids, said, “It is a good experience for the kids and gives them a chance to improve their recitation and linguistic skills.” The first prize was bagged by Mount Carmel School, second by Vivek High School and the third prize by Guru Nanak Public School.

150 saplings planted: SE Yogesh Gupta, B&R Circle, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, planted saplings of neem and bahera in front of Government High School, Sector 46, here today. Area councillor Ravinder Pal Singh, office-bearers of Residents’ Welfare Association and XEN horticulture Arun Kumar Kansal also planted saplings.

HARYANA

CHANDIGARH
Batra quits Vidhan Sabha: Shadi Lal, MLA from Rohtak, on Tuesday resigned from the Assembly following his election to the Rajya Sabha on August 3. Raghubir Singh Kadian, Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, has accepted his resignation.

REWARI
Husband, in-laws booked: The police has booked Sharmila Yadav’s husband Navin Kumar Yadav, father-in-law Karan Singh Yadav, mother-in-law Vidya Devi and sister-in-law Saroj Devi, all residents of Dakhora village, on the charge of harassment for dowry, causing hurt and criminal intimidation. A case has been registered against them following a complaint filed by Sharmila (20), daughter of Rohtash Singh Yadav of Jharli village, near Kosli. Sharmila, who got married to Navin on March 11, 2008, alleged that she was recently thrashed for more dowry by her in-laws.

Youth held for abduction: The police has arrested Prahlad Singh Yadav (21) for allegedly abducting a teenaged girl, student of class IX, who was enticed away from Konsiwas village, 3 km from here, on August 8. Simultaneously, the police has recovered the girl as well. The duo was apprehended from the railway station here on Tuesday. The medical examination of the girl was conducted at the local Civil Hospital. Consequently, Section 376 of rape has now been added to the FIR, which was earlier registered for abduction, coupled with seduction following a complaint filed by the girl’s uncle, Mahipal Singh Yadav.

SONEPAT
HJC criticises Cong: State president of the Mahila wing of the HJC Sumitra Dahiya on Monday criticised the UPA government at the Centre and at the state for making it difficult for the poor to have a two-time meal because of soaring prices of essential commodities. Addressing a meeting of party workers here, Dahiya blamed the government for deteriorating law and order situation. Claiming that the HJC-BSP alliance in the state would sweep the poll, she exhorted the party workers to get ready for early poll in the state.

Shifting of HT lines: A large number of residents of Rishi Colony here led by district president of the United Women Front Rajkala on Tuesday met Deputy Commissioner Ajit Joshi and demanded immediate shifting of the high tension lines passing over the roofs of the houses in the colony at the government expense. A similar demand has been made to Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the power nigam authorities with a plea that these lines should be shifted at the government expense as most of the residents were in the category of poor. In the memorandum, they said three persons of the colony had become victims of these electricity lines in the past.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Rajouri
Goods traded: Traders have exchanged goods worth over Rs 1 crore with PoK traders on the first day of the weekly cross-LoC trade through the Poonch-Rawlakote road in Poonch on Tuesday. Traders reportedly sent trade goods worth more than Rs 30 lakh to their counterparts in the PoK. The goods comprised coconut and fruits. The PoK traders exchanged goods worth over Rs 1.53 crore. The goods comprised moong dal, Peshawari chappal (Sandal) and dry fruits.

Security beefed up in Rajouri: With just three days to go for the Independence Day celebrations, the authorities are taking no chances and have beefed up the security to prevent any untoward incident. The Rajouri ASP said the security had been beefed up across Rajouri district for the smooth conduct of Independence Day celebrations. He said besides policemen had been deployed in plain cloths to maintain a vigil.

Srinagar
Steel-trussed bridge: A 45-metre long steel-trussed bridge constructed over Ferozpora nallah at Drung Tangmarg at a cost of Rs 2.13 crore was inaugurated and opened by Minister for R&B GM Saroori on Tuesday. It would provide connectivity to 50,000 people of a score of villages of Drung and adjacent areas.

Health care facilities: The Centre has released an amount of about Rs 2.66 crore under the NRHM to improve health care facilities in the state. This was stated by Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma in the Assembly on Tuesday. The Minister said an amount of Rs 3.52 crore had been released under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan for creating necessary health infrastructure.

Ration supply: Serious efforts are being made to further improve and streamline the ration supply and the distribution system in the state. Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution and Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon said the state had sought addition 20, 000 MT ration from the Centre for improving ration position. The state is hopeful about positive response from the Centre in this direction. He said the government was committed to make ration available in all areas and corners of the state.