R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BILASPUR
Temple gets Rs 2.5 lakh: Deputy Commissioner Ritesh Chauhan while inaugurating the Gugga Gehadwin mela at Gehadwin on Thursday said gram panchayats should take up development of villages by going in for MNREGA schemes. The fair is held in commemoration of legendary hero Gugga Zahar Vir. He announced a grant of Rs 2.5. lakh for construction of a commercial complex at the Gugga temple.

Chandigarh
Ripjit gets notice: The Punjab Pradesh Congress on Saturday issued show-cause notice to Kotkapura MLA Ripjit Singh Brar for undermining party programmes. The notice has directed Brar to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for claiming that the proposed party agitation against land acquisition at Gobindpura village in Mansa district would not solve any purpose. Brar has been given one week to reply to show-cause notice.

Ferozpur
Hospital property damaged, 22 booked: Following an eve teasing incident that later snowballed into clash between two groups, more than 100 persons entered the local civil hospital late Friday night and thrashed a few people from the opposite group admitted there and ransacked the property of the hospital. In protest against the incident, the doctors on duty and other paramedical staff of the hospital today went on strike and held a demonstration. A case under Section 452, 323, 324, 148/149 (IPC) has been registered against 13 persons and 9 unidentified persons, said SSP Surjit Singh.

Moga
Dalit youth commits suicide in Moga: A Dalit youth and a resident of Wara Pohwindia village of the Ferozepur district, Chinder Singh, has committed suicide on being allegedly insulted by his employer. The police has booked Dr Veer Bhan Garg, who is running Garg Nursing Home here, under Section 306 (IPC) on the statement of Pinky, the deceased’s wife. Veer is yet to be arrested, said ASI Surjit Singh.

Muktsar
ASI, head constable get 7-year jail term: District and Sessions Judge Hemant Gopal sentenced an Assistant Sub-Inspector and a head constable to seven years rigorous imprisonment for lodging a wrong FIR under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. ASI Krishan Lal and head constable Balvir Singh were convicted under Section 18/61/85 of the NDPS Act and awarded two years rigorous imprisonment with Rs 10,000 fine. A complaint in this connection was lodged by Paramjit Singh from Malout.

Tarn Taran
Veterinary varsity: Trying to increase its sphere of extension services, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary University, Ludhiana is establishing its regional centre at village Booh near here with its first animal welfare and exhibition camp on August 30. The proposed centre would be third in the state with earlier two at Kaljharani in Bathinda and Talwara in Hoshiarpur.

CHANDIGARH

Chandigarh
Project to upgrade roadside eateries: The College of Hotel Management, Chandigarh Group of Colleges, and the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board have launched a Project for Upgradation of Roadside Eateries. Over 10 dhaba owners across Mohali, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr and Ludhiana are being trained under the project. Under the project, students interact with the cooks, waiters and owners of these eateries, said college director Satnam Sandhu.

150 units of blood donated: The AIDS and Health Awareness Society in Association with the Rotary and Blood Bank Society Resource Centre of Postgraduate Government College for Girls, Sector 42, organised a blood donation camp on the college campus on Wednesday. The students and staff of the college donated more than 150 units of blood. Mani Bedi, principal of the college inaugurated the camp.

HARYANA

Chandigarh
New Sainik School principal: Group Captain LN Sharma has assumed charge as principal, Sainik School, Kunjpura, near Karnal. A postgraduate from Kurukshetra University, he was commissioned into the Air Force in June 1986. Prior to this assignment, he was chief instructor at the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, the alma mater of all IAF officers. During his career, he held several prestigious appointments.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Srinagar
Moderate quake hits state: An earthquake of 5.4 magnitude with epicentre in Hindukush in Afghanistan hit the state around 2 am on Saturday. According to Aamir Ali, coordinator, Disaster Management, Kashmir, the epicentre was far off and no loss had been reported from the state. “We live in the Seismic Zone V, which is vulnerable to earthquakes,” he said. “Earthquakes are a natural phenomenon caused due to the movement of techtonic plates,” Ali added.

DEHRADUN

DEHRADUN
Rispana water level up: Disaster Management Officer Neeraj Kherwal on Saturday said the cloudburst-hit families in Karligaad village had been temporarily shifted to Chamasari Primary School. Meanwhile, incessant rain has also damaged a building in the area and the water level of the Rispana river has also increased. Residents of Baswal and Sera village situated near the river had been asked to vacate the place.

Guidelines for NGOs: The state Forest Department will frame guidelines for NGOs working for wildlife conservation. Uttarakhand Environment Advisory Committee chairman Anil Baloni said the decision had been taken as they were suspicious about the activities of certain NGOs.

Three kutcha houses razed: A team of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation razed three illegal kutcha houses at Brahama Puri here on Saturday. Officials said the remaining four houses would also be demolished soon.

Man held for waving revolver: A man has been arrested for waving his revolver from his car near Inamullah Building here. The revolver has been seized the police. He has been identified as Himanshu Arora and is the son of a local lawyer.

Kumaon Briefs
Implementation of welfare schemes: Chairperson of the Zila Panchayat, Udham Singh Nagar, Sushila Gangwar has asked officials to implement welfare schemes in letter and in spirit. At a meeting of the Zila Panchayat held at Rudrapur on Saturday, she said the schemes were of no use till they reached the last man of society. District Supply Officer NC Semwal gave details about the monitoring committee set up to keep a vigil on PDS outlets. He said members of the committee could inspect the outlets anytime. Emphasis is being laid by the government for making its flagship programme,the Atal Khadyann Yojana, a success.

Probe into poor construction of road: Almora District Magistrate DS Garbyal has called for the blacklisting of the contractor responsible for constructing a stretch of the road between the Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (VPKAS) and the AIR office. The DM also carried out an on-the-spot inspection of the road that has started caving in once again. He said the pipe laid down beneath the road for the exit of water is not correct. He has ordered a probe into the matter, which will be conducted by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM). Stating that this road is among the most important roads of the district, Garbyal has underlined that any compromise with quality will not be tolerated.

DM for early disposal of pending cases: Almora District Magistrate DS Garbyal has called for the early disposal of pending cases in courts and for the early issuing of summons in various matters. He has ordered that a special drive be carried out and underlined that action will be taken against lower-rung administrative officials for not sending reports on the basis of the crime register and for being careless in these matters. He has also underlined that all SDMs would be held responsible for the prevailing law and order situation in their respective areas.

Mystery shrouds man’s death: A resident of Ujala Nagar locality, Haldwani, died in mysterious circumstances. The deceased has been identified as Ram Singh (50). According to members of his family, he had come home in an inebriated state on Thursday night and started throwing up. He was rushed to a hospital where he died while being treated. Investigations are on.

(Compiled by Rajeev Khanna)