R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Barnala
Drug peddlers held:Barnala police have arrested two drug peddlers and recovered 20 kilograms of Bhukki powder from their possession during raids here on Friday. Harvinder Singh Virk, DSP, Tappa, said a team from police station Shaina led by SHO Buta Singh raided different hideouts of drug peddlers and arrested two drug peddlers Balwinder Singh and Krishna Singh. The police have registered a case against the accused. Investigation is in progress in the case. 

Bathinda
Liquor vends to remain closed: Additional District Magistrate, Bathinda, Bhupinder Singh has ordered the closure of liquor vends in Misarkhana village (Talwandi Sabo) on October 2. The order has been issued under Section 54 of the Punjab Excise Act in view of a religious fair to be held in the village on the day. 

MBA students visit stock exchange: MBA students of the Baba Farid Group of Institutions visited the Ludhiana Stock Exchange. The visitors, accompanied by training coordinator Sadhu Ram and executive director Pooja M Kohli, learnt about the exchange that is one of the leading regional stock exchanges.

Life-time award for advocate: Advocate JS Sandhu, a retired telecom revenue inspector, will be given Life Time Achievement award by the National Federation of Telecom Employees for his distinguished services in the trade union movement and social work, at the Teachers’ Home on September 18.

Lok Adalat on Sept 24: A legal aid mobile van of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority has been publicising various legal aid schemes in the district. District and sessions judge SK Aggarwal said the main aim was to educate people about the legal aid schemes at their doorsteps. He informed that a monthly Lok Adalat was being held at the District Courts, Bathinda, on September 24.

Freshers’ party: On the occasion of the Engineer’s Day, students of the Guru Ram Dass Institute of Engineering and Technology (GRDIET), Bathinda, organised a freshers’ party to welcome new students. Harbhajan Singh, chairman of the GRDIET, was the guest of honour. Poonam Pabbi, a student of electrical engineering, was adjudged Miss Fresher while Jaideep Kumar another student of electrical engineering, won the Mr Fresher title.

Fazilka
Man killed: One Purshotam Lal (32), a resident of Oddanwali Basti here, was killed in a roof collapse following incessant rain, last night. The deceased was reportedly asleep with his family at his home. Suddenly, the roof of the room caved in and the iron girder hit Purshotam Lal on his head resulting in his death on the spot. While his wife and two minor kid escaped with minor injuries. Municipal Councillor Dharmapal Gandhi sought compensation for the victim’s family. ADC Charandev Singh Mann has assured suitable financial assistance under the rules. 

Ferozepur
Meeting held: The sanitation staff held a meeting in connection with their demands on Friday. Hari Ram Sood, Member, National Commission for Safai Karamchari, presided over the meeting. On the occasion, DC S Karuna Raju assured the Commission that the administration would look into all concerning issues. DPS Kharbanda ADC-cum-Deputy Director, Local Government, SSP Surjit Singh, ADC GS Pannu were present during the meeting.

Pathankot
Two cops suspended: Head munshi Jagdish Singh and constable Dinesh Chander posted at police division-1 were suspended for dereliction of duty here today. SSP SK Kalia said two chain snatchers Rohit, who was arrested on Thursday under sections 457 and 380 of the IPC, escaped from the lock-up in the night. Head munshi Jagdish Singh and constable were suspended for negligence while performing their duty, said the SSP.

Man crushed to death: Raj Kumar, a resident of Khobha village, was crushed under a train here today. The police said the accident occured as Raj Kumar could not see speeding train approaching from the Amritsar side while crossing the track. The Railway Police has initiated proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC, and sent the body for the post-mortem examination.

Patiala
Swimming meet at NIS: The two-day inter-college swimming championship of Punjabi University, Patiala, began at NIS, Patiala. Nine events were held yesterday. Kunal of Punjabi University campus came out with flying colours to win five golds and one silver medal. Kesar Thakur of Yadwindra College, Talwandi Sabo, won two gold medals.

Phagwara
2 car thieves held: The police has arrested two Maharashtra residents, identified as Rohit Dubey and Rahul Sharma, and recovered a stolen car from their possession. Phagwara SP Kamaljit Singh Dhillon said both accused were nabbed near JCT Mills here last night.

CHANDIGARH

Chandigarh
Khalsa college win in kho-kho: Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd, Ludhiana, secured first place in the team event of Panjab University Inter -College Kho- Kho (A Division) Tournament for Women being held at PU grounds, here today. Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, secured second place while PG Government College for Girls, Sector 42, and Government College for Women, Ludhiana secured third and fourth place respectively.

World Ozone Day: Chandigarh: World Ozone Day was celebrated at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, on Friday. A poster making competition was organised. Chandni and Tulsi were adjudged first and second, respectively. A rally was taken out by students and in-charge of the eco-club.
Students of Dikshant International School take out a rally at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: S Chandan

HARYANA

AMBALA
Two electrocuted: Two persons were electrocuted in Ambala City following heavy rain in the city and the adjoining areas on Friday. An unidentified migrant labourer was electrocuted in Dadyana village when he was passing through a field and came into contact with live wires. In another incident, Ram Singh, a resident of the Kanchghar area got electrocuted when his bicycle came in contact with a live electric wire, which was lying in the water on the roadside.

FATEHABAD
Advani’s yatra: Sirsa MP Ashok Tanwar described veteran BJP leader LK Advani’s proposed rath yatra against corruption as a political drama of a “power-hungry” leader on Thursday. The MP said the people were wise enough to see the real motive behind the yatra and they would not fall into the BJP leader’s trap.

FARIDABAD
Protest held: Class III and IV employees of the local Excise and Taxation Department staged a protest, absenting themselves from work in the morning session on Thursday. The employees held the agitation under the banner of the Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh. According to Amar Singh Yadav, a leader of the mahasangh, the agitation was in protest against “corrupt” practices and “high-handedness” of senior officials of the department.

CHANDIGARH
Govt decision: The Haryana government has decided that the absence period of those employees, who had participated in a strike on February 2 would be regularised as leave of the kind due. An official spokesman of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam said the decision to this effect was taken on a request of the Haryana Bijli Karamchari Joint Action Committee, comprising the Haryana State Electricity Board Workers Union and the All Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union.

KURUKSHETRA
Man killed: One person was killed and another was injured when a trolley collided with a car near Mathana village here on Wednesday. The car owner, Ashok Kumar, said when he was passing near Hanuman Mandir, Mathana, when the trolley collided with his car due to which Virender, of Krishana Nagar Gamri, was killed on the spot while the complainant was injured seriously. The trolley driver is reported to be at large. A case has registered in this connection.

Thieves held: The police has arrested Praveen Kumar and Neeraj for stealing a motorcycle. Parul Kush, district police chief, said the police had already launched a special campaign to nab the motorcycle thieves. She said under this special campaign, the police had laid a naka near Mirzapur village. During interrogation, the duo could not reply the queries by the police properly and confessed that they had stolen the motorcycle from Saini Samaj Dharamshala.

REWARI
7-year jail: Sneh Prashar, District and Sessions Judge, has sentenced Sanjay Singh to rigorous imprisonment of seven years, holding him guilty of raping a 17-year-old girl at Dharuhera in September last year. Besides, the Judge has imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the convict. The verdict was pronounced by the court here on Monday.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
Mahila mandals plant saplings: Three Mahila Mandals of Jai Mata Jalpa, Adarsha Mahila Mandal Saai Phardyan and Mahila Mandal Gaaliyan have planted more than 1,000 saplings in their respective village areas under a campaign, “Meri Dharti, Mera Kartavya”, launched by the district Nehru Yuvak Kendra. Villagers and school students also participated in the campaign and planted about 250 saplings

Hamirpur
1 killed in mishap: A motorcycle rider died in an accident here today under the Badsar police station. Tilak Raj (24) was going towards Mehre from his native Samela village when the bike skidded. He died on the spot near Jyoli Devi.

Mandi
Writers want library shifted: The state RTI Bureau, writers and intellectuals have urged the government to shift the district library from the present ground floor of the Mini-Secretariat to the Vijay High school building after it is restored. RTI bureau president Lawan Thakur stated that the books were rotting in the present building due to rampant water leakage.

Nurpur
Five die of epidemic: Five persons, all residents of Paral village in the Mand area have died of a mysterios epidemic. The state Health Department has rushed a team of doctors to the affected village. Dr Dev Raj Riyal, the block medical officer, Indora, said no specific reason of the ailment could be found but it was suspected to be some viral or chronic disease. The deceased have been identified as Malkiat (40), Bimla Devi (22), Jeet Singh (55), Jeet Kaur (65) and Promila Devi (26).

Office-bearers take oath: Office-bearers of the newly elected Students Central Association (SCA) of Arya Government College were administered the oath by college Principal Hardev Katoch on Friday. Local MLA Rakesh Pathania presided over the ceremony and announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the college welfare activities.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Srinagar
Students visit Raj Bhawan: A group of 95 students from Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School, Srinagar, visited Raj Bhawan on Friday and met Governor NN Vohra and First Lady Usha Vohra. The students were delighted on going around the Raj Bhawan lawns.

DEHRADUN

DEHRADUN
Teacher’s death mourned: Chief Minister BC Khanduri has mourned the death of Sangeeta Aggarwal, a teacher of Halduwala Government School, who was drowned in a river in Halduwala on Thursday. The incident took place when she was trying to save a schoolboy from drowning.

Lathicharged: The Nainital police lathicharged members of two warring groups of students of DBS College for indulging in a clash after the results of the students’ council election. According to information, the clash took place between supporters of elected president Saurab Rawat and his opponent, Himanshu Khanayat.

Demanded: A delegation of people from the Mori and Purola blocks of Uttarkashi on Friday met Chief Minister BC Khanduri and demanded district status for their areas. They also congratulated him for his elevation.

Students of the National Institute of Visually Handicapped go around the Indian Military Academy museum in Dehradun on Friday.

Visit to IMA: A group of 40 students and three teachers accompanied by Brig BB Sharma (retd) from the National Institute for Visually Handicapped, Dehradun, visited the Indian Military Academy on Friday. The institute was christened St Dustans’ hostel for war blinded in 1943, which was taken over by the Government of India on January 1, 1950, and renamed the Training Centre for the Adult Blind (Men). The students showed keen interest in their visit. They were made to feel artifact by touching them during their trip to the IMA Museum.

Kumaon Briefs
Flooding in Terai areas: Incessant rain has brought life to a standstill in Kumaon. While there has been flooding in the areas of Terai like Kashipur, Haldwani, Bazpur, Sitarganj etc, there has been a series of landslides leading to further road blockades in the districts located in the hilly terrain. The worst affected have been the roads leading to Pithoragarh. Bageshwar has also witnessed a widespread damage as 10 roads in the district are blocked and panchayat ghars in the Ramganga and Mahrarghati areas have damaged. In Nainital district, roads leading to Almora and Ranikhet have been facing frequent closures on account of rain.

Narrow escape for five persons: Five persons had a narrow escape when the debris fell on the car they were travelling in, on the Haldwani-Bhimtal road in Nainital district on Thursday. Showing presence of mind, the driver of the vehicle asked the passengers to get out of the car from the left side as stones had started falling on the vehicle. The car was crushed under the stones and mud that came down from the hillside.

Snatching incidents on the rise: Snatching incidents are on the rise in Haldwani. On Thursday, two motorcycle-borne youths allegedly snatched the chain of Rajendri Rajesh when she was strolling in the Shisham Bagh area. When she resisted their move, they allegedly threatened her of dire consequences. In another incident, motorcycle-borne youths allegedly snatched a bag from Puran Chandra Sharma, an employee of Nari Niketan. The incident took place near Base Hospital. He was going to deposit Rs 5,000 in bank. Investigations are on in the matter.

One more held in double murder case: The fourth and the last accused in a double murder case that was reported from the Shyamkhet area of Bhawali has been arrested. The accused, Prakash Bora, was arrested on Thursday and the car used in the crime has also been impounded. The police had earlier arrested an NSG commando Lakshman Singh, Hridayesh Kumar and Manish Kumar of Haldwani for having allegedly murdered Raju Pargain and Amit Arya of the same town. The bodies of the duo were found lying in a car on September 4 in the Shyamkhet area of Bhawali.

Residents gherao Jal Sansthan office: Residents are agitated over the alleged failure of the administration to restore proper supply of drinking water to several localities in Haldwani. In protest, a large number of women residents of the Rupnagar area gheraoed the Jal Sansthan office on Thursday afternoon.

(Compiled by Rajeev Khanna)