R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Batala
250 students get degrees: The R.R. Bawa DAV College for Girls conferred 250 students with degrees during the 42nd annual convocation in the college here today. Punjab Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan, the chief guest at the function, announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the uplift of the college. 

Bathinda
Annual function: Delhi International School (Faridkot) celebrated its annual function on Saturday. Faridkot DC S. Balwinder Singh was the chief guest on the occasion. He was welcomed by the members of the school management Saroj Tola, Ashish Tola, Amit and Anuj Tola, besides the principal Navneet Thakur and senior staff members. 

CHANDIGARH
PCC rallies: The PPCC on Saturday clarified that there was no change in the schedule of rallies being organised at different district headquarters. Reacting to reports in some newspapers about the change in the schedule and the cancellation of some rallies, senior party leader Lal Singh said only one rally in Ferozepur had been postponed from January 31 to February 9 because of Surinder Jakhar’s death. 

Doraha
Seminar on moral concerns:G.H.G.Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar, organised a U.G.C.-Sponsored two-day national seminar on “Social Realism and Moral Concerns in Modern Drama” in the seminar hall of the college yesterday. A number of principals, teacher delegates and students participated. 

Nawanshahr
3rd arrest in assault case: The police arrested Ajay Kumar, alias Ajju, of Makhupur village, an accused in the Shamsher Singh assault case. He is the third accused arrested in this case. Gang leader Narinder Bhoda is still at large. 

Pathankot
One held with stolen mobile phones: The GRP arrested Jaswinder Singh of Basti Tankawala, Ferozepur Cantonment, with seven mobile phones during a routine checking at Chakki railway station here today. Jaswinder revealed that he had snatched these phones from various parts of the state. A case under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC has been registered. 

SANGRUR
Opium seized: The district police on Saturday arrested Gurjant Singh of Brahmin Wala village in Ratia (Haryana) and seized 3.4 kg of opium from him. A case has been registered against him under the NDPS Act. In another case, Ram Singh of Chhajali was arrested from Amru Kotrra village in the district and 10 kg of poppy husk as well as one and a half kg of intoxicating powder was seized from his possession. he has been booked under the NDPS Act. 

HARYANA

Fatehabad
Dalit youth paraded in village over elopement: A married youth, who had eloped with a married woman from Swami Nagar village here, was paraded in the village after blackening his face on Friday. The youth, a Dalit, had eloped with a woman living in his neighbourhood some days ago and the two returned after three days on January 25. A panchayat held here decided to punish the youth. — TNS

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Srinagar
27 employees found absent: On the instructions of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon, a team of officers headed by Additional Commissioner Abdul Majid Wani conducted a surprise inspection of 16 offices in Pampore, Awantipore and Tral areas of Pulwama district on Friday. As many as 27 employees were found absent from duty and action under the rules was initiated against them. The team,found only two Class IV employees present at the Block Development Office at Pampore, an official spokesman said.