R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Chandigarh
Mining: 29 FIRs in 3 days: As many as 29 FIRs have been registered against illegal miners in Punjab during the last three days, an official release said. The FIRs were registered at Amritsar (7), Pathankot (4), Ferozepur (2), Hoshiarpur (1), Ludhiana (8), Moga (2), Ropar (3) and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (2).

faridkot
Advocate kills son: In a fit of rage, an advocate allegedly killed his 20-year-old son by attacking him with a spade in Faridkot today. Ajmer Singh Brar, a senior advocate, allegedly hit his son with the spade after a heated argument killing him on the spot. The police have registered a murder case against the advocate.

Ferozepur
Illegal arms seized:Jawans of the Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday foiled a bid by Pakistani smugglers to bring firearms into the Indian territory. The firearms included .30 bore Chinese Mauser with a magazine and 64 rounds, one Pakistan-made Mark .32 bore revolver with 17 rounds, ammunition for AK 47, INSAS and 7.62 mm rifles, besides a pistol holster. Arun Kumar Dahiya, Commandant, 45 Battalion, said following a tip-off, the BSF launched a search operation on Friday morning and recovered the consignment of firearms from an area near border pillar 133/20 between zero line and the cobra fencing close to border outpost Kalsian.

kiratpur sahib
Bhatti’s ashes immersed: Jaspal Bhatti's ashes were immersed at Patalpuri Asth Ghat here today. Noted comedian and filmmaker Bhatti, 57, died in a road accident near Shahkot in Jalandhar district on Thursday. Bhatti's wife Savita Bhatti along with her son Jasraj, daughter Rabia and father Manmohan Singh reached here at 1 pm. They performed the 'ardas' and immersed the ashes. Later they paid obeisance at gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib and attended the 'kirtan' before returning to Chandigarh.

Nangal
Environment concerns:The construction work being carried out in areas adjoining national wetland and wildlife sanctuary here has raised concern among environmentalists. They said the area was the natural habitat of migratory birds and a breeding point of local birds. If the construction work in the area was not stopped, it would put its flora and fauna in danger, said environmentalist Prabhat Bhatti. They threatened to go to court if action was not taken. Punjab Chief Wildlife Warden Dhirendra Singh however found that no rules were violated in the area.

new delhi
Punish ’84 accused: The All India Sikh Conference (Babbar) has demanded action against the accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The Sikh outfit claimed that the Centre should view the attack on Lieutenant-General (Retd) KS Brar in London as an outburst of the community’s pent-up anger. Outfit president Gurcharan Singh Babbar said they had sought an appointment with the President and the Prime Minister to hand them over a memorandum of demands.

Muktsar
Five caught with drugs: The Muktsar police on Saturday caught five drug peddlers, including a woman, from various places across the district and seized narcotics and habit-forming drugs from their possession. Rajwinder Kaur, resident of Gurusar village, was caught with 14 kg of poppy husk. In another incident, Raja Singh of Gurusar Jodha village was caught with nearly 6-kg poppy husk. Gobind Singh of Malout was found carrying 90 gram smack. Mahesh Kumar of Malout was found carrying 13 cough syrup bottles and Rajwinder Singh of Doda village was caught with 3,700 habit forming tablets.

HARYANA

Bhiwani
HJC women’s protest:The women's wing of the Haryana Janhit Congress (BL) today staged a demonstration here against the recent cases of rape, inflation and land deals of Robert Vadra. Led by the wing chief, Kusum Sharma, they burnt the effigies of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Robert Vadra and Gopal Kanda.

A delegation of UK students at the Dharohar Haryana Museum in Kurukshetra University take a look at the bigkukka (hubble-bubble) with the curator. Tribune photo

Kurukshetra
11 drunkards held: During a campaign launched by the district police administration against drunkards, 11 persons were arrested while an accused, Balvinder, escaped. They were allegedly consuming liquor and creating nuisance at public places. The police seized two bottles and 20 quarters of wine and 11 quarters of country-made liquor from their possession on Friday night.

Sarpanch booked: The police has registered a case under Section 420 of the IPC against Shishpal, sarpanch of Garhi Langri village in the district, for allegedly contesting panchayat elections with his changed caste.

Lok Adalat held: As many as 38 out of 169 cases were settled on the spot in a Special Women Lok Adalat organised by the District Legal Service Authority on the premises of the local Judicial Complex here on Saturday. The Lok Adalat was presided over by the District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman District Legal Service Authority, Lalit Batra.

Rewari
Encroachment drive:To immunise the city markets from traffic jams during the ongoing festival season, the police administration led by DSP Anoop Singh Dahiya continued its drive for removal of encroachments at the Gokal Bazaar and other allied city markets for the second day on Saturday. While several of the encroachments were dismantled with the help of a JCB machine, some other shopkeepers, at their request, were given two days time to remove their encroachments by themselves.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
BJP manifesto flayed:The Himachal Pradesh State Pensioners’ Welfare Association has criticised the BJP manifesto regarding provision of 5, 10 and 15 per cent pension increase in pensions of those who attained the age of 65, 70 and 75 years and has said the BJP government had been denying this right to the over 1,40,000 pensioners. Talking to mediapersons here on Friday, association state general secretary Hari Chand Gupta said those BJP leaders who said they had fulfilled much more than the promises made in their last manifesto should prove it.

Anurag holds rallies:Anurag Thakur, MP and national president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, has said the Congress has become the “mother of corruption, price rise, unemployment and even terrorism” in the country. He was addressing a series of BJP rallies in various areas of Ghumarwin.

Nadda gives tips:JP Nadda, BJP national general secretary, has said Congress leaders were mostly neck-deep in corruption and they have not only destroyed the national economy by their economic policies, but are still continuing to lead nation to a “catastrophe” in the name of “correcting those economic blunders”. Nadda was addressing a meeting of BJP workers here recently. He was giving them tips to counter the Congress propaganda.

CHAMBA
Eight injured in road mishap:Eight persons were injured when a Bolero vehicle in which they were travelling met with an accident near Bharmour in the mountainous subdivision of the district on Friday night, according to an official report received here on Saturday. The injured persons were discharged from the Civil Hospital after providing them medical treatment.A case of rash and negligent driving against the driver of the vehicle had been registered at the Bharmour police station and further investigation in the mishap was on.

HAMIRPUR
Voters’ facility centre:A voters’ facility centre has been opened in the DC office, Hamirpur. DC, Hamirpur, Rajender Singh Thakur said people could contact this office on phone Nos. 0197-222610 and 225162 regarding any information or complaints.

SUNDERNAGAR
Unauthorised vehicle use:The police has registered a case for the unauthorised use of vehicle during a rally of the BJP which was addressed by Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj here on October 25. According to SDM-cum-retuning officer Vivek Chandel, a case under Section 171(h) of the IPC has been registered against Yog Raj, who was spotted using a vehicle during the rally. The vehicle was impounded and the owner instructed not to use the vehicle to campaign in the future.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

jammu
Man acquitted:Principal Sessions Judge, Kathua, M K Hanjura acquitted Jai Dev Singh, who was facing trial for more than 16 years in an attempt to murder case.

Bail plea rejected: Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Gupta rejected the bail of Ankur Bansal, who had allegedly kidnapped a girl student of BA-I. During investigation, call details of the mobile phones of the victim and the accused established that before the victim went missing, she had called the accused. The Judge said the accused took the victim towards Akhnoor and thereafter the victim had not been traced.

Srinagar
Three killed in accident:Three persons were killed and nine others injured in a road accident in Kulgam district of Kashmir valley, a police spokesman said. A minibus rolled down a gorge near Jawahar Tunnel in Kulgam district, resulting in injuries to 12 persons, he said.

DEHRADUN

ALMORA
Projects approved :The district administration has received an approval regarding the announcements made by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna for Almora on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Govind Ballabh Pant on September 10. Almora District Magistrate Akshya Gupta said, “The announcements include a degree college at Lamgara and drinking water and motor road projects in and around the town.

BAGESHWAR
3 constables suspended:Three constables have been suspended while a sub-inspector has been sent to the Police Lines on the charge of accepting bribe from various people. The action has been taken following various complaints received against them.

dehradun
Protest at Clock Tower:The Uttarakhand Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes Association continued with their protest at Clock Tower on Saturday. The demonstration pledged to continue with their protest till the state quota in promotions in government jobs for the SCs and STs was restored.

Rakesh's statement opposed:The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) has expressed strong opposition to the Uttarakhand Transport Minister and BSP leader Surendra Rakesh’s recent statement of ensuring reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at various police stations in each district. UKD leaders said this would adversely affect the morale of the police force in the state.

Public holiday on Oct 29:The Dehradun District Sports Office will be organising a number of sports events in the district from November 5 to 7 as part of the State Foundation Day celebrations. District Sports Officer Rajesh Mamgain said apart from a cross-country race, table tennis, football and basketball would also be organised. 

Heritage status for Ganga:Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti has sought national heritage status for the Ganga. Uma, who is in Uttarkashi district these days, strongly favoured for the continuity of flow of the Ganga water from the place of its origin in Gangotri till Ganga Sagar, where the river submerges into sea. She laid stress on making efforts towards making the Ganga a pollution-free river.

DINESHPUR
Two held with opium:On a tip-off, the Rudrapur police has arrested two smugglers and seized 2 kg of opium from their possession. Rudrapur SSP NA Bharane said the cost of the seized opium was Rs 10 lakh in the international market. The accused belong to Uttar Pradesh.

HALDWANI
Mishap victim cremated:Vice-president of the students' body of MB Postgraduate College, Haldwani, Pankaj Jalaj was cremated at the Ranibagh cremation ground here on Saturday. He was killed after falling into a gorge near the Dolmar hotel here last night. Various political and social workers visited his residence to mourn the death.

PITHORAGARH
Three die in accident:Three persons were killed while one sustained serious injuries when the jeep they were travelling in fell into a deep gorge in the Bankot area of Gangolihat subdivision on Friday night. The deceased have been identified as Narendra Bora (28), Jagat Ram (55) and Bharat Kumar (24).

Sharpshooter kills leopard:A sharpshooter hired by the Forest Department killed a man-eater leopard in the Lamgara block of Almora late Friday night.Almora District Forest Officer Prem Kumar said the leopard was killed by sharpshooter Joy Whikle from Pauri district. The DFO said a farmer in Huna village was feeding his buffalo when the leopard attacked him. However, the sharpshooter, who was deployed in the area by the department, killed it.

RUDRAPRAYAG
Hike in salaries sought:Demanding an increase in their salaries and other facilities, workers of Ganesha Ecosphere staged a demonstration in front of the factory here on Saturday. “Our salaries have not been revised for long. It should be raised to Rs 4,000 from Rs 3,000 at present. Besides this, the management should also provide us with uniforms and shoes. We are not even being paid for overtime,” said Ankur Dwivedi, one of the protesters.