R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Batala
Three chain snatchers arrested:Police has nabbed three persons of chain snatchers gang at a nakka point along with a stolen motorcycle here today. While talking to the media persons, Narinder Bedi, SP, said police headed by Inspector Mehanga Singh arrested three persons, namely Rakesh Kumar aka Rozy, Sunny and Sikander Masih, when they were found riding a stolen motorcycle (PB-46H-2408). The police has also recovered three stolen motorcycles, a pair of gold earrings, a pair of gold jhumkas and a gold ring. A case has been registered under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC.

Ferozepur
Stone laid: The Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon laid the foundation stone of a building of primary agriculture development bank to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 3.5 crore in Ferozepur on Monday. Sekhon said the building would be eco-friendly and shall be completed within a year. 

Jalandhar
NRI woman robbed: Four women pickpockets robbed of gold ornaments and cash from an NRI woman here today. Victim Neelam Thaper, in her complaint to the police, said the incident occurred near Hanuman Chowk. She along with her daughter were going to her sister’s residence when they got stuck on the road due to shoba yatra. 

Illegal structure removed:The Jalandhar Improvement Trust officials today removed an encroachment from its park in Guru Gobind Singh Avenue. There had been reports that a resident had raised the boundary wall along 15 marla land in the park staking his claim on the area. The officials this morning razed the wall reclaiming the land as the trust property. 

262 cases settled in lok adalats: As many as 262 cases were settled during the monthly lok adalats held at Jalandhar, Nakodar and Phillaur of the district on Saturday. The District and Sessions Judge-cum-chairman, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Inderjeet Singh, said 497 cases were presented in the lok adalats.

Nawanshahr
Cash looted from petrol pump:Six miscreants allegedly looted Rs 26,000 at gun-point from employees of a petrol pump at Mahalon village on the Nawanshahr-Jalandhar highway here on Saturday. Before fleeing, the car-borne miscreants also took the CCTV recordings. 

Moga
Indira Gandhi remembered:Dr Malti Thapar, newly-appointed president of the Punjab Mahila Congress, paid glowing tributes to former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her 27th death anniversary here today. Dr Thapar said Gandhi brought in excellent changes in the development of the country by nationalising the banks, bringing in 20-point development programmes and many schemes for the removal of poverty. Earlier, she paid floral tributes to the leader and observed a two-minute silence in her memory. The local workers of the party accompanied her at the ceremony. 

HARYANA

ROHTAK
National conference: The Department of Chemistry of Maharishi Dayanand University (MDU), here will organise a three-day national-level conference on “Thermodynamics of Chemical and Biological Systems” under the auspices of the Indian Thermodynamics Society from November 2 to 4. Professor VK Sharma, organising secretary, said the function had a special relevance in view of the observation of 2011 as the Year of Chemistry. 

SONEPAT
Rs 5-lakh reward: The police has announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh on the arrest of accused who looted Rs 2.21 crore from Naresh Prashad Gupta of Gurgaon on the GT Road near Nangal Kalan village on Saturday. According to a police spokesman, the reward would be given to such person who would help in the arrest of the accused and his name would be kept secret. He added that five teams had been formed.

DEHRADUN

DEHRADUN
‘Janta milan’ programme: The “janta milan” programme of the Uttarakhand Chief Minister scheduled for November 2 and 3 at his residence here has been postponed. According to state government officials, the Chief Minister would be on a tour on these days. He would be visiting Dhumakot in Pauri Garhwal district on November 2 and Rishikesh on November 3. 

Punia to visit Doon: Dr PL Punia, Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Caste, along with other members of the commission, will visit Dehradun on November 3. They will meet employees and MPs belonging to the SC during their stay in Dehradun.

Kumaon Briefs

Youth found dead: Prakash Singh Rawat, a resident of Almora, was found dead on Sunday. According to information, he had come home on Diwali from Bareilley, where he was studying in a polytechnic. He had gone to a market on Saturday evening but did not come back home. Later, his family approached the police. On Sunday, his body was found in a gorge by villagers. They reported the matter to the police. The victim was identified by members of his family.

62-yr-old commits suicide: A man allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance in Hadeti village of Pithoragarh on Monday. The deceased has been identified as 62-year-old Raji Ram. He was taken to BD Pande Hospital by his family, but he died. The reason behind the extreme step is yet to be ascertained. Investigations are on in the matter.

Hawkers not to be allowed in villages: Peeved at the “inability” of the police and the administration to check the influx of junk dealers, hawkers and some suspected elements, residents of a large number of villages in Bageshwar have resolved not to allow any outsider into their villages. They have resolved that the junk dealer or hawker would be allowed inside a village only if the a Gram Pradhan grants permission for it. The decision has been taken following incidences of theft being reported from several villages. The villages of Gagrigol, Jainsar, Manyuda, Seemar, Seer, Laubanj and Kotakhet have decided to adhere to this collective decision.

Illegally distilled liquor seized: Carrying out a campaign against the sale of illegally distilled liquor, women of the Chakarpur area of Udham Singh Nagar confiscated more than 100 lts of such liquor and publicly destroyed it. The action was carried out by the women affiliated to the Savera Sangh and Mangal Dal. The women raided a house where such liquor was being manufactured on Sunday and confiscated it. They have warned the villagers that anybody indulging in the illegal activity would not only be fined but would also be handed over to the police.

Death anniversary observed: The death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was observed as Sankalp Divas in Udham Singh Nagar district on Monday. District Magistrate PS Jangpangi administered an oath of national unity to the officials and employees at the Collectorate in the morning. He said that every citizen of the country had a role to play in preserving the unity of the country. He underlined that all disputes must be resolved in a peaceful manner while adhering to the constitutional means of the land.

(Compiled by Rajeev Khanna)