R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Fatehgarh Sahib
Stolen goods seized:The police on Saturday recovered a truck carrying 12 tonnes of stolen steel worth Rs 70 lakh. The four accused, who had stolen the truck, managed to escape. Truck driver Satish Kumar had complained to the police that four persons had stolen his truck.

Muktsar
Helpline for women: The Muktsar police on Saturday launched a 24-hour helpline (01633-265855) for women facing any kind of threat in the district. A police spokesperson said female police personnel had been deployed for this service who would receive the calls and inform the nearest police station to respond immediately.

One held with narcotics: The Kotbhai police claimed to have caught a drug peddler and seized nearly 10 kg of poppy husk from his possession. Acting on a tip-off, the police caught the accused Sahib Singh of Chak Bir Sarkar area in Muktsar town on Friday evening. A case under various sections of the NDPS Act has been registered in this regard.

Patiala
Tributes to Narinder Singh: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal paid tributes to Narinder Singh, who passed away on December 19. Speaking at the antim ardaas of Narinder at Nabha, Badal said Narinder Singh devoted his entire life to the Shiromani Akali Dal and helped the party grow from strength to strength.

phagwara
2 held in dowry case: On the complaint of Manjit Kaur, daughter of Kewal Ram of Bhabhiana village in Phagwara, the police has arrested her husband Jagjit Singh and his father Swaran Singh of Aiapur village in Tanda tehsil on charges of demanding dowry. Manjit has alleged she was married to Jagjit seven years ago, but he and his family had been torturing her for seeking more dowry.

3 booked for land fraud: On the complaint of Kashmir Singh, the police has registered a case under against his wife Rajwinder Kaur, her father Kehar Singh and mother Kulwant Kaur on the charges of duping him of Rs 55 lakh by allegedly selling his land in a fraudulent way. The police is investigating the matter. No arrest has been made so far.

HARYANA

SONEPAT
Man, 3 sons get life for murder: The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Pramod Goyal, on Saturday sentenced Narain of village Matindu and his three sons Mahipal, Rishi Pal and Ashwani to life imprisonment in a murder case. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 14,000 on each of them, which if unpaid will cost them additional imprisonment of nine months.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Stag dies of injuries: A stag died of injuries on Tuesday. It was found seriously injured in a jungle adjoining the mining area of the ACC cement factory at Barmana, near here. It seemed to have fallen down from a hill and was lying crippled. Forest and police officials reached the spot after getting information about it. Forest officials tried to save the animal with the help of a veterinary doctor, but it was a difficult task to lift the heavy and scared animal forcibly, and despite all help provided to the animal, it could not be saved. The stag was buried in the jungle in the presence of forest, police and panchayat officials.

Man held for tax evasion: A flying squad of the state Excise and Taxation Department, led by Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner Dev Raj Sharma and Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner Amar Nath Sharma, caught gold trader Pawan Walia of Hoshiarpur, Punjab, selling gold jewellery to an old merchant without having any valid documents and tax payment and charged from him Rs 6,82,770 as tax and penalty for this breach of law. Walia was trying to sell 22-carat gold jewellery weighing 931.220 gm worth Rs 26,26,040 to a gold merchant in Hamirpur earlier in the day when the tax evasion was detected. 

KULLU
4 hurt in road mishap: Denchen Palden and three other family members, Rinzin Chhopal, driver Sonam Kolang and Denchen Tinam, all from Lahaul-Spiti, were injured when the car (HP 66-3219) they were travelling in fell into a nullah near Manali on Thursday. Sonam, wife of Tenzin Kolang, and Denchen, daughter of Doyant Phunlchog Tinam were under treatment at the Community Health Centre, Manali, and reported to be out of danger.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Jammu
3-yr jail for accused: Kathua Principal Sessions Judge MK Hanjura has awarded three years rigorous imprisonment to Prem Singh who was facing trial in an attempt to murder case for the last 10 years. On August 18, 2002, victim Kuldeep Singh had gone to take a bath in a nearby spring. The accused, Pawan Singh, with an intention to kill Kuldeep, hit him with a sickle on his head, resulting in injuries to his head and arms.

Rajouri
Excursion for students: The Army organised an excursion-cum-picnic for students of Government High School, Bamaliyan, on Saturday to educate them about historic places of the border Rajouri district. The motto of the excursion was ‘education with fun’. It was planned and organised by Rashtriya Rifles Battalion at Kalakote. The excursion included visit to Army Hall of Fame and Dhanidhar Fort in Rajouri. 

DEHRADUN

Dehradun
Annual day celebrations: Kendriya Vidyalaya, Indian Institute Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun, on Saturday celebrated its annual day. Director, IIP Dr Madhukar Omnath Garg, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the KV, IIP, was providing quality education to the students. He said the school was also excelling in other curricular activities. Alka Garg, who was the guest of honour, presented awards to the winners. Principal SR Vishnoi read out the annual report. Vice-Principal Basti Ram presented a vote of thanks.

Memo submitted: The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Democratic) has demanded a permanent capital status for Gairsain. In a memorandum submitted to Governor Aziz Qureshi, UKD (D) leader BD Raturi said Gairsain was a centrally located place between the Garhwal and Kumaon regions and was most suited for becoming the capital of the state.

Youth parliament: Gautam International School organised a youth parliament, which discussed Jan Lokpal at length. Students from classes IX and XII participated in the discussions. President of the Gautam International School Society AK Sharma was also present on the occasion. 

Gairsain
New Assembly building: The Bhrarisain area has been found best for the construction of the new Assembly building at Gairsain by the 10-member technical committee that visited the area. “Of the five main places, the team found Bhrarisain best for the construction of the Assembly building,” said DS Garbyal, head of the selection committee.

Haldwani
Sugar shortage: Ration card holders in the Kumoan region will get 100 grams less sugar per unit from next month as sugar mills of the state have failed to meet the levi sugar requirement for the Public Distribution System. “As the sugar requirement for the state is being met by sugar mills of Uttar Pradesh, we are facing a shortage of 2,121 metric tonnes of PDS sugar for the next three months. This will result in fall in sugar quota by 100 grams per unit for the next three months,” said ND Pant, Regional Marketing Officer, PDS, Kumoan.

Kashipur
Radio station: To educate students of the Indian Institute of Management, Kashipur, about social concerns, the institute is going to set up a radio station on its campus by March 31, 2013. “The 15 km radius capacity radio station will broadcast programmes for one hour daily on education, self-employment and social issues,” said Gautam Sinha, Director, IIM, Kashipur.

Pithoragarh
Protest against power cuts: Members of the All India Students’ Association, the Lok Manch and traders held a demonstration in front of the District Magistrate office against frequent power cuts in the district. For the past 24 hours, the district has been without power supply. Moreover, cuts ranging from six to 10 hours are being imposed every day. “Students and small traders, besides the public are the worst affected by the frequent unannounced power cuts in the district,” said Bhagwan Singh Rawat, convener of the Pithoragarh Lok Manch.

(Compiled by BD Kasniyal)