Abohar
Collision: Death toll reaches 4: With Heeran Bai of Koyalkhera village, a farm worker, succumbing to injuries last night at the Civil Hospital here, the death toll in the November 12 train and tractor-trailer collision on the Abohar-Sriganganagar section has reached four. The body was handed over to her parents after a post-mortem examination. The Udyan Abha Toofan Express train had hit a tractor-trailer at an unmanned level crossing, near rural railway station, Bakayanwala, killing one farm worker on the spot while two died later. The GRP has arrested Sandeep Kumar, the driver of the tractor-tractor, who had earlier escaped. However, the Railways has turned down demand for giving compensation to the bereaved families stating that the driver was responsible for the mishap.

BATHINDA
3 gold necklaces looted: Two unidentified persons allegedly looted three gold necklaces at gunpoint from a jewellery shop located at the hospital bazaar on Sunday. Owner of the shop Gurmeet Singh said a youth came at his shop at 4 pm and asked for some gold necklaces. He showed him about seven-eight sets and the youth selected three of them. Meanwhile, he called up someone over the phone and said he would buy only one necklace. On the pretext of selecting the necklace, he put all three sets one over another in a jewellery box. Later, he took the box and ran away with his accomplice. However, a case was yet to be registered.

Batala
Pig iron stolen: About 12 tonnes of pig iron was stolen from the premises of Duggal Traders, GT Road here on Friday night. Pawan Duggal, owner of the factory, disclosed that miscreants jumped across the factory wall to steal pig iron. Though this is the second such incident in the area during the week and about dozen other factories have been burgled to steal pig iron this year, the police has failed to crack any burglary.

Fazilka
Petrol pump looted: Motorcycle-borne unidentified dacoits looted a patrol pump and fled away along with a cash of Rs 39,000 and a mobile phone during the wee hours today. As per the details and FIR lodged with Sadar Police, Fazilka, four unidentified persons attacked the glass office cabin of Bholla Sons patrol pump on Fazilka-Ferozepur road about five kilometers from here near village Chandmari with iron rods and forced entry into the cash room. They forcibly locked the patrol pump attendants Gopal Ram and Daljit Singh in bathroom of the pump and thereafter took away a cash of Rs 39,000 and a cell phone. An FIR has been lodged with the Sadar Police, Fazilka by Gopal Ram under sections 457,380 and 342 of IPC against unidentified persons.

Hoshiarpur
Youth abducted:After assaulting Navjot Kumar of Marule, Gurpreet Singh, Varinder Singh and others of Chansu Brahmina abducted the former from Adda Chabewale last evening. According to police sources, Rakesh Kumar, uncle of Navjot Kumar, alleged that Gurpreet Singh, Varinder Singh and others assaulted his nephew and forcibly took him on their motorcycle to some unknown place. A case has been registered.

Ludhiana
Declamation contest: To provide a platform to young orators and to boost their linguistic abilities, Eloquent Minds-2009, a trilingual declamation contest was organised by BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar under the aegis of JCI India, Zone I. Nearly 30 budding speakers displayed their talent and public speaking skills in three languages viz Hindi, English and Punjabi.

Mansa
Annual election held: Annual election of Sabhyachark Chetna Manch, Mansa, was held yesterday. Kamaljit Malwa was elected president for the fifth term continuously. Among others, Hardeep Singh Sidhu, Varinder Kumar, Gora Lal and Chunni Lal were elected senior vice-president and cashier, respectively. It is notable that the club has been organising Lohri for girls and campaigns against social evils like addiction and femicide.

NAWANSHAHR
Move opposed: The Punjab Un-aided Technical Association has opposed the proposed move of shifting the AICTE’s office to New Delhi from Chandigarh. It has decided to submit a representation to the Human Resource Development Minister through the state Chief Minister. Vice-chairman of the association Manjit Singh said the decision was taken at a meeting held in Chandigarh.“The Chandigarh AICTE regional office is at present rendering services to eight states of the north-west region. The shifting of the office will cause inconvenience to technical education institutions in the region,” he said.