JALANDHAR
Mass casual leave: Employees of state foodgrain procurement agencies, except for the FCI, have decided to go on a 10-day mass casual leave to boycott wheat procurement from April 1 onwards. Up in arms over the state government for its “anti-employee” policies, members of the state Foodgrain Agencies Employee Coordination Committee will also organise a rally in Chandigarh on April 1 in support of demands. The committee has taken the decision after the state government “failed” to respond to its memorandums given on March 15. 

BSP to launch stir: The BSP has decided to launch a nationwide agitation against the recently passed Women Reservation Bill. National general secretary of the party Narinder Kashyap and party’s state president Avtar Singh Karimpuri said a state-level dharna would be staged here on April 14. At a meeting of party workers here, Kashyap said a call in this regard had been given by BSP supremo Mayawati. 

Ludhiana
MCPI flays restrictions: The MCPI has taken exception to the imposition of Section 144 of the CrPC purportedly to prevent the proposed peaceful dharna by organisations of farmers and other democratic bodies at the office of the IGP at Amritsar on March 25. They are demanding the arrest of culprits behind the brutal murder of farmer leader Sadhu Singh Takhtupura. 

Mandi Gobindgarh
RIMT team’s software shortlisted:A software, UNET (University Networking System Technology), developed by a team of three students of RIMT Maharaja Aggrasen Engineering College (MAEC) has been shortlisted for the final round of ‘The Greatest Mind Challenge-09’ to be held in Delhi shortly. The team, “Black Eye” of Preetinder Rooprai, Nitish Verma and Radhika Modgil had taken part in the national-level contest organised by the IBM. 

NABHA
Stoppage of trains: Residents of 20 villages around here demand the stoppage of three express trains in Chhintanwala village, 12 km from here. Panchyats of villages Chhintanwala, Alipur, Mehsumpur, Samundgarh Chhana, Bhari Mansa, Faizgarh, Kot Lakan, Kot Khurd, Hasanpur, Tunga, Bhatian Khurd, Achal, Kakrala, Binaheri, Malkn, Gahlan and Himatpur have written to the zonal in charge, North India, Ambala, to halt Sri Ganganagar-New Delhi; Sri Ganganagar-Haridwar and Dadar-Amritsar express trains at their nearest railway station Chhintanwala. 

HISAR
Businessman robbed: A businessman identified as Krishan Garg was robbed of Rs 4 lakh in Hansi, 25 km from here, on Monday. According to the police, the incident took place when Garg was on his way to Punjab National Bank located near Delhi Gate to deposit the money. As he neared the bank, three youths on a motorcycle snatched the bag containing the money from him and escaped. No arrests have been made as yet. 

JHAJJAR
2 killed in accident: Two persons were killed and three sustained serious injuries in a road accident on the Jondhi-Girawar road here on Monday. The deceased have been identified as Jagbir Singh, a resident of Girawar village, and Dinesh of Chharra village here. The incident took place when Jagbir along with his wife Promila was on the way to Chhara village. The motorcycle they were travelling on collided head-on with another motorcycle. Consequently, Jagbir and Dinesh, who was riding the other motorcycle, reportedly died on the spot while Promila, Jummy and Manjeet were seriously injured. 

KURUKSHETRA
Training workshop: A six-day UGC-sponsored third northern region training workshop on “Capacity building of women managers in higher education” organised by the Women’s Studies Research Centre, Kurukshetra University, was inaugurated by Prof Susheela Kaushik, co-chair, UGC National Consultative Committee, here on Tuesday. In her inaugural address, Prof Kaushik said over 2,000 women teachers had been trained at 79 workshops in nine regions. She said unless they reach thousands of women in higher education, especially academicians, they would not reach the ultimate goal of equitable participation of women in the management of higher education and development of policies. 

Media Utsav: The Institute of Mass Communication and Technology and Media Technology, Kurukshetra University, is going to celebrate its two-day annual function “Media Utsav” on March 25 and 26. Prof Rajbir Singh, director, IM and MT, Kurukshetra University, here on Tuesday said the fest would provide a platform for students to exhibit their skills in various media competitions and cultural activities. 

REWARI
Jawan looted: Some armed miscreants, who were travelling in a pick up van, looted a bag from jawan Banwari Lal at gunpoint on the Khori-Gumina road on Tuesday. The bag reportedly contained Rs 1,250, a smart card, a PAN card, a passport and a driving licence. The incident took place when Banwari Lal, after alighting from the train, was going from Khori station to Dhani Bhandor village. A case has been registered. 

Woman commits suicide: Nisha Yadav (23), wife of Jitender Yadav, committed suicide reportedly by setting herself on fire at Natheda village, near Kosli, on Wednesday. In a fit of desperation, simultaneously, her husband Jitender Yadav, too, made a bid to end his life by consuming poison and has been admitted to a private hospital here. Kosli DSP Ram Phal said Nisha’s body had been sent to Rewari Civil Hospital for postmortem.