R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Bathinda
Stir by Jats hits rail passengers: For the second consecutive day on Tuesday, the Railways had to cancel trains touching the city in view of the pro-reservation agitation launched by the Jats at Hisar in Haryana. The passengers were the worst hit as two trains (19781 and 19772) running between Jaipur and Amritsar were cancelled. The Kisan Express that runs between Bathinda and Delhi, too, could not follow its normal route. The train was diverted to the Rohtak-Jind-Jakhal-Mansa route. 

RS MP suffers heart attack: Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Balwinder Singh Bhunder suffered a severe heart attack at his residence in Sardoolgarh area of Mansa district on Tuesday. Bhunder was rushed to a local hospital from where he was shifted to Pragma Hospital in Bathinda where his condition was stated to be stable. An angiography was done on him first, which was followed by an angioplasty and the subsequent insertion of a stent in his body. Dr GS Gill, who operated upon the MP, said Bhunder had suffered a severe heart attack around 5 am. 

City doctor included in TAG: Assistant professor, department of medicine at Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Dr Vitull K. Gupta has been included as a member of technical assistant group (TAG), India, by the Scientific Committee of The International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG). He would take part in a a conference in the said capacity from February 24 to 26 at Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He is the first doctor from the region to be selected. 

Chandigarh
National award  for state writer: A Hindi epic, Guru Mileo Ravidass, has been selected by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry for the 'National Award for Writers of non-Hindi Speaking Areas' of the country. The book has been composed by Siri Ram Arsh, an eminent writer of Punjab. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. Arsh is a retired Joint Director of Information and Punjab Public Relations Department. 

Ferozepur
Gang busted: Ferozepur police today claimed to have busted a gang of robbers who were allegedly involved in several cases of theft of vehicles. Police arrested two persons Jasvir Singh and Sukhdev Singh and recovered 11 motorcycles. 

Hoshiarpur
Two arrested for youth’s murder: With the arrest of two persons, the district police claims to have solved the murder case of Sohan Singh of Dholbaha who was killed on February 3 in Bhatolian village. 

Ludhiana
‘Season to plant amla’: "Amla (Aonla), the Indian gooseberry, is an important fruit crop of the tropics and subtropics. It is planted during February-March and August-September," said the horticulture experts of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The experts have advised the farmers, "As amla is basically a cross pollinated crop, to get proper yield, plants of two or more varieties should be planted together." Dr GS Kahlon, head of the horticulture department, informed that the PAU has developed three new amla varieties which include ‘Balwant,’ ‘Neelam,’ and ‘Kanchan.’ 

Moga
Moga man let off in honour killing case: The District and Sessions Court on Tuesday acquitted a man of the charges of killing his 17-year-old daughter after she planned to elope with her lover belonging to the same community at Mallke village in Baghapurana subdivision of Moga on March 7, 2011. The minor girl was allegedly strangulated to death by her father Pal Singh even as another theory cropped up at one stage of the investigations that the deceased had consumed poison.

DEHRADUN

Governor expresses grief over mishap: Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva has expressed grief and shock over the road mishap that took place today in Jaiti tehsil of Almora District. She prayed to God for the families of those killed in the accident to give them strength to bear the loss. The Governor wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the mishap. 

Kumaon Briefs

Devotee dies on way to Chhota Kailash shrine: A Shiva devotee died while he was going to the Chhota Kailash shrine near Bhimtal on Shivratri. It is learnt that 45-year-old Ajmer Singh of Faridabad was going to offer prayers at Chhota Kailash along with his family when suffered a heart attack. He had gone till Bhatanala on his vehicle and was undertaking a four kilometre-long trek when he suffered the attack. He died on the spot.

Bank consumers put to inconvenience: A large number of bank consumers, who used ATMs installed by the State Bank of India (SBI) in Nainital, have been put to inconvenience since Monday. While the ATMs did not process their transactions, the money was, however, shown debited from their bank accounts. A large number of consumers were seen handing out applications in their banks seeking that their accounts should be set right at the earliest and the money, which has been unduly shown, to be credited back. The bank authorities have promised to look into the matter and put the things straight.

Purse snatched in Haldwani: Yet another case of purse snatching has been reported from Haldwani. This time, the incident took place near Panchayat Ghar at Peeli Kothi. A woman was on the way to her home along with her child on a rickshaw when two motorcycle-borne youth snatched her purse and fled. Th purse contained Rs 3,000, a mobile phone and some important documents. The victim raised a noise but the accused had fled the spot by the time some people could gather there. The police is investigating the case.

Man dies mysteriously: A man employed in a resort in Ramnagar died under mysterious circumstances. It is learnt that 40-year-old Jawahar Singh Tadi of Jagthana village in the Kapkot area of Bageshwar was found injured in a bathroom of the resort with injuries on his face, nose and forehead. He was rushed to a hospital where he died while being treated. Police investigations are on in the matter.

Youth killed in accident: A youth was killed in a road accident in the Jhanghat area of Udham Singh Nagar district. The accident took place when two speeding motorcycles collided head-on. The deceased has been identified as 18-year-old Chhote Singh of Badi Ananiya village. He is learnt to have died on the spot after the accident. The second motorcyclist Suresh of Sarisariya has been admitted to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Khatima with serious injuries.

(Compiled by Rajeev Khanna)