Bathinda
38 kg of poppy husk recovered from train: Officials of the Railway Protection Force on Friday recovered 38 kg of poppy husk from the Punjab Mail that reached Bathinda from Mumbai. The train was running behind schedule and reached Bathinda railway station around 6.30 am. The officials found two small bags and a sack lying unattended in the train.

Chandigarh
New varsities notified: The Punjab Government has notified two new universities, including DAV University, Jalandhar, and Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib. A formal approval has been accorded by Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil.

Rajinder Gupta made adviser to CM: The Punjab Government on Friday allocated additional responsibility to Punjab Planning Board Vice-Chairman Rajinder Gupta by attaching him as adviser with the Chief Minister. An official statement said Gupta, who was earlier heading Abhishek Industries (having an annual turnover of Rs 800 crore), had been appointed adviser for governance reforms, employment skill development, technical education and industrial investment and infrastructure.

Ferozepur
Women strangled: A man allegedly strangulated his wife following an argument between the two on Thursday. Sources said Paramjit Kaur of Nurpur Sethan village was married to Jagjit Singh of Killi Guddha village five years ago. A case has been registered on the complaint of Major Singh, the deceased’s brother.

Jalandhar
BKU holds protest: To lodge their protest against the Centre for turning a deaf ear towards their grievances, members of the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) disrupted traffic for almost an hour here on Friday. Led by BKU chief Balbir S Rajewal, they also held a protest march in the city.

Malout
SHO suspended in minor’s rape case: The police has suspended Kabarwala police station SHO Gursewak Singh and initiated an inquiry against him in the alleged abduction and gang-rape case of a minor Dalit girl of Chhapianwali village in Lambi constituency. The police has also arrested six persons, including two women who allegedly aided the girl’s abduction.

Moga
Man booked for fraud: The Nihalsinghwala police has registered a case against Gurlabh Singh of Daraj village in Barnala for allegedly defrauding Sadhu Singh of Lohara village. Sadhu Singh alleged that he had given Rs 62 lakh to Gurlabh for purchasing 64 kanals of land in Saidoke village.

Sangrur
Students protest over PTA funds: Responding to a call by Punjab Students Union, students of government colleges in Sangrur and Malerkotla on Friday held protest rallies and burnt an effigy of the state government. The protests were organised to oppose the collection of PTA (Parent Teacher Association) funds by colleges from students.