BILASPUR
BKM leader breaks chain fast: Subhash Sharma, general secretary, state unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Morcha (BKM), broke his three-day-old protest fast at the Shahid Kumari Champa Park. Dehar Orphanage chief organiser Satya Prakaash Arya offered him juice in the presence of a large number of Kisan Morcha youth and HRTC Director Pt Gita Ram Sharma. Subhash was protesting against the “hostile attitude” of the Congress-led Central Government against the BJP state government in general and Bilaspur district in particular.

Six students faint in class: Six students of a private school fainted in their class after half time and were rushed to the local Civil Hospital and later to the Regional Hospital here on Tuesday evening. Reports said the students had taken some poisonous substance, named “dhatura seeds”, during their lunch time, which was given to them by someone not yet identified. The students were Shiv Kumar (15), Prince (15), Pramod (16), Amit (15), Pravin (16) and Saurabh (15). Five students are said to be stable, bu the condition of one of them is still not out of danger. 

CHAMBA
House gutted at Chamba village: A double-storeyed house was burnt to the ground at Tungli village in Chamba tehsil on Wednesday evening, according to a police report received here on Thursday. Officials of the civil administration, along with police force and Fire Brigade, rushed to the site to carry out rescue and relief operations. They doused the flames with the help of local people. The loss caused due to the fire had been put at more than Rs 5 lakh and relief was provided to the three fire-affected families. 

Police nabs proclaimed offender: A proclaimed offender wanted by the police for offences under various sections 498-A, 323 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was nabbed by a team of police officials, led by Sub-Inspector SS Pathania, on Thursday, according to a press note. Chaman Lal (32) of Drabla village in Chamba district had gone underground for the past about one year. He was arrested at Tadoli village. 

KANGRA
Man arrested for attacking wife: Housewife Chindu Devi (33) was attacked by her husband Sahil Din when they were working in their cousin’s house at Hinger village falling under Tissa police station of Chamba district. She received serious head injuries and was admitted to the emergency of DRPGMC, Tanda, from where she was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, by doctors.They were preparing for a marriage ceremony when there was an altercation between them and Sahil attacked Chindu with a sharp-edged weapon. Sahil has been arrested.

MANDI
Five houses gutted: Fifteen families were rendered homeless by a fire that gutted five houses at Sandha village in Banjar subdivision on Thursday night. Banjar MLA and Forest Minister Khimi Ram on Friday visited the village and gave Rs 10,000 each as an immediate relief to the fire victims. He also announced that the Forest Department would give 30 sleepers to rebuild houses and provide free ration for one month to the victims.

NURPUR
Thieves decamp with jewellery: A theft was committed in a locked house at Dakk village under Rehan police station Friday night. Following the complaint of Yodha Ram of the village the local police on Saturday registered a theft case under Sections 457 and 380, IPC. DSP Rajinder Jaswal said the burglars broke open the steel box lying in a room. They decamped with the gold and silver jewellery worth about Rs 2.50 lakh.

105 examined at eye camp: The Himachal Pradesh Rashtriya Kalayankari Parishad organised a free eye check-up and treatment camp here in the Municipal Council hall on Sunday. As many as 105 patients were examined by a team of doctors from Pathankot. They were given medicines free of cost. Twelve cataract patients will be operated by the parishad. TR Thakur, state president of the parishad, said till now 107 such eye camps had been organised by the parishad in the state. 

PALAMPUR
Use of helmet, seat belt from July 1: The Kangra police will effectively enforce the use of helmet and seat belt with effect from July 1. Instructions to this effect have already been issued to all one dozen police stations of the district and traffic controlling officers by SSP, Kangra, Daljit Thakur. Now it will be mandatory for vehicle owners to wear helmet and use seat belt, otherwise they will be fined heavily. Earlier, such offenders were allowed to go after paying a token fine of Rs 100. But now this fine can go up to Rs 2,000. 

SHIMLA
Scientist bags national award: The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education has conferred the National Award for Excellence in Forestry for 2008-10 on Ranjeet Singh, scientist at the Himalayan Forestry Research Institute. He has been given the award in recognition of his work in pheromone technology for containing forest diseases, which are on the rise due to global warming. He used pheromone formulation to control “Ips longifolia”, which is one of the most destructive pests of Chir pine plantations in India. The study was carried out during April 2010 in a severely infested Chir pine forest in Platu under the Barsar forest range of Hamirpur forest division.

Date extended for food licences: The government has extended the last date for the registration of food licences up to July 15. A spokesman of the Health and Family Welfare Department said here on Friday, traders and shopkeepers could contact the Director of Health Security and Regulation and the District Health Officer or the Food Security Officer concerned for further details.