R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Chandigarh
Phillaur gets charge of animal husbandry: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal allotted the portfolios of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development and Welfare of SC/BC to Tourism Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur. The development is significant as it indicates that the three vacancies in the state Cabinet might not be filled soon. The additional portfolios allocated to Phillaur were earlier held by Gulzar Singh Ranike who was forced to resign following allegations of wrong doing by his personal assistant.

Stop playing politics on FDI, says MLA: The Punjab Congress on Thursday asked the SAD to rise above its "petty political considerations" and usher in a second green revolution by implementing FDI in the retail sector. State party vice-president and Barnala MLA Kewal Dhillon said the move would create multiple job opportunities in the state. It was unfortunate that the SAD was working under "undue" influence of the BJP and was only thinking in terms of holding on to power in the state, he said.

School timings: The government today announced a change in the timings of all government, private and aided senior secondary and primary schools from October 1 till March 31. The schools would now open at 9 am and close at 3 pm.

Sangrur
Ex-servicemen resent one rank, one pension: At a state-level rally organised by the Indian Ex-Services League (Punjab and Chandigarh) at the War Heroes Stadium here on Thursday, a large number of ex-servicemen expressed dissatisfaction over the one rank, one pension. They said the Central Government had not implemented it in real terms. There were many discrepancies in the pay structure of serving armymen and pensions of the ex-servicemen, which should be removed immediately, they said.

HARYANA

Kurukshetra
PO arrested: The police has arrested a proclaimed offender (PO) Parvez of Ladwa. A case was registered at Thana Ladwa on July 24, 2007, where the court had declared him a proclaimed offender on September 4, 2010. He was produced in the court on Wednesday and sent to judicial custody.

Poppy seized: Ramesh Chand and Ram Pal, both residents of Pabnawa village, have been arrested for possessing 80-kg poppy husk, which has been recovered from their possession. The court remanded them to judicial lock-up.

Sirsa
Malaria cases rise in Sirsa: Malaria menace continues unabated in Sirsa with the health authorities having detected 2,540 cases of malaria in the district so far. Last year, 2,525 cases were found in Sirsa in the entire year. Deputy civil surgeon (vector-borne diseases) Sheel Kaushik, said that fewer cases had come to the fore after September 15.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Nurpur
Man killed in accident: Baldev Singh of Koot village under the Fatehpur police chowki died on the spot when he met with an accident at Luhara last evening. He was returning to his home from his workplace. A case has been registered.