R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
Case against Satguru's supporters: The Civil Lines police has registered a cross case regarding a clash between two groups of the Namdhari sect here on Monday in which five persons were injured. Police Commissioner Ram Singh said: " A cross case against supporters of Thakur Uday Singh has been registered. Every aspect is being scrutinised. A report is being made in this regard.” 

SGPC to make films to promote Sikhism: The SGPC has decided to use the medium of films and theatre for promoting and propagating the philosophy and tenets of Sikhism. The decision was reached at a meeting of the SGPC Dharam Prachar Sub-Committee here. It was decided that the SGPC would produce films aimed at propagating and spreading awareness about Sikhism by roping in prominent production houses, directors and producers. 

Chandigarh
'Liquor-free' villages to get Rs 2 lakh: As many as 42 Sangrur villages and 14 villages in Barnala, which passed a resolution to become liquor-free, would get a grant of Rs 2 lakh each. Lok Sabha MP Vijay Inder Singla on Tuesday announced the grant from his discretionary quota. Panchayats in Punjab have now started using their right under Section 40 of Panchayati Raj Act to adopt resolutions prohibiting the sale of alcohol. Singla said the Excise Department was rejecting several of these resolutions passed by village panchayats. He said the discretionary powers given to Excise and Taxation officials to reject such resolutions be withdrawn. 

Dera Bassi
Shiksha Ratna for engineering institute: Swami Parmanand Group of Colleges, Lalru, was conferred the Shiksha Ratna Award 2013 at the State Education Summit in Chandigarh. Over 1,500 school and college principals and representatives of educational regulatory bodies attended the two-day summit. 

One dies in mishap: A 32-year-old man was killed in a road accident on the national highway near hear on Sunday night. The deceased, Surmakh Singh of Urdan village in Patiala, was visiting Devinagar village to attend a wedding. When he was crossing the national highway near the village, a speeding car reportedly hit him. The victim died while being shifted to the civil hospital here. The police has arrested the driver and booked him under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC.

Youth hangs self to death: A 19-year-old youth allegedly committed suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan at his residence in Sardarpura colony, Lalru Mandi, yesterday night. The deceased had been identified as Tikku, son of Prem Chand. Tikku, reportedly, had returned to his house late last night under the influence of drugs, and his father had objected to it. The body was handed over to relatives after conducting an autopsy. The police has booked a case under the Section 174 of the IPC.

Fatehgarh Sahib
Drug peddler arrested: The police has arrested a drug peddler and recovered 2,500 intoxicating tablets and 648 capsules from his possession. SSP HS Mann said under a special drive, the Mandi Gobindgarh police had erected a checkpoint. During the search of a scooter, the contraband was recovered. The accused has been identified as Ravinder Singh of Mandi Gobindgarh. He has been booked under the NDPS Act.

Faridkot
Youths pour boiling oil on sweet maker: A group of youths allegedly poured boiling oil on the face of a sweet maker (halwai) in Dogar Basti area on Tuesday evening. The condition of the sweet maker, remains critical. He has been admitted to the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital. The police said a tiff took place between two groups of youths. One of the youths snatched an equipment from the sweet maker and attacked his opponents. The other group accused the sweet maker of aiding the assailant. Though the sweet maker denied this, the youths poured the boiling oil on his face and fled. 

Hoshiarpur
Three fake travel agents booked: The Dasuya police on Monday evening booked three fake travel agents under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC for duping a man of Rs 8.50 lakh in the name of sending his grandson to Italy. According to the police, Amar Singh of Behvowal Chhanian alleged that Bhupinder Singh, Mohan Singh and Raja, all of Sarhala Kalan, took Rs 8.50 lakh from him in the name of sending his grandson Sandeep Singh, resident of of Langarpur, to Italy. Instead of sending him to Italy, they sent him to Malaysia, where after staying for quite sometime, Sandeep Singh returned to India. When he asked them to return his money, they refused to do so.

Prisoner booked for suicide bid: Thje city police has booked a prisoner, Gurpreet Singh, resident of Thandian, Banga police station, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, under Section 309 of the IPC for attempting to commit suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling on the intervening night of February 24 and 25. Superintendent of the the district jail Balbir Singh Beesla stated that Gurpreet Singh was serving life imprisonment in the district jail. Gurpeet Singh attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling on the jail premises. 

Man held with 200 gm heroin: The Garhshankar police on Monday evening arrested Lal Singh of Gurbari Gate, Gujjarpur, Ward 37, Amritsar, presently residing at Abadpura 16, Division No 6, Jalandhar, and seized 200 gm heroin from him. According to the police, while patrolling in the area of Garhi Matto village, a police team intercepted a man, Lal Singh, and on his search 200 gm heroin was found. He was booked under Sections 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act. 

MP thanks Bansal: Santosh Chaudhary, local MP, thanked Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal for announcing to ply weekly mail train between Hoshiarpur and Delhi and vice-versa in his annual Rail Budget on Tuesday. 

Moga
Couple dies in road accident: A man and his wife were killed when their motorcycle was allegedly hit by a jeep coming from the opposite direction in Nihalsinghwala sub-division on Tuesday. Station House Officer Rashpal Singh said Gurajit Singh (38) and his wife Ranjit Kaur (34) were going from Patto Hira Singh to Raonta village when a Bolero hit their motorcycle. He said the couple victims died on the spot. 

Muktsar
Body identified: The Malout police on Tuesday claimed to have identified the man, who was found dead in a rivulet near village Mahuana on Monday. The deceased has been identified as Sanjay Kumar (25), a resident of Ekta Nagar in Malout, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Manwinderbir Singh said. Sanjay had gone to attend a religious ceremony on Monday but did not return home, the DSP added. Meanwhile, the police was trying to trace the criminals, but they are absconding. 

Man jumps before moving train, dies: A resident of Malout allegedly committed suicide after jumping before a moving train late on Monday night. Sources said the deceased was identified as Krishan Kumar, 33, a scrap dealer. They further said that he took this extreme step due to penury. He is survived by three children and wife. The police has initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC. 

Patiala
Red Cross to pay BPL families more: The Patiala District Red Cross has increased the amount it pays BPL families to purchase medicines from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000. Patients suffering from serious ailments will also be provided medicines worth Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 2,000. This was announced by GK Singh, president of the District Red Cross and Patiala Deputy Commissioner, on Tuesday. He said Red Cross would soon have its own website and would provide a 24-hour helpline to all needy patients so they could avail medical facilities any time of the day. 

Sangrur
Labourers protest poor PDS supply: A large number of persons, including women, from Kherri Kalan village on Tuesday staged a dharna in front of the Food and Supply office at Sherpur. They alleged that the ration depot holders did not distribute wheat, kerosene and other commodities among labourers properly. The protest was led by Naujwan Bharat Sabha. The protesters demanded that the distribution system be improved so that the labourers got their rightful share of commodities. They threatened to intensify their agitation if the matter was not resolved by March 5. An official of the Food and Supply Department assured the protesters that their demands would be met soon. 

Zirakpur
Man ends life by jumping before train: A 42-year-old man ended his life by jumping before a train near Dhakoli on the Ambala-Kalka railway line yesterday night. The deceased was identified as Gian Singh, resident of Ajror village in Patiala district. He was presently living at Dhakoli village. The police said he took the extreme step due to some family dispute. The police said the deceased had recently solemnised a second marriage.

air Passenger fined for leaving bag unattended: A passenger who left his bag unattended near the entry to the Chandigarh Airport on Tuesday ended up paying Rs 500 as fine. Sources at the airport said an unattended bag was noticed near the entry gate around 11.30 am that led to panic. The security staff and local police were alerted; however, soon the owner of the bag returned.

CHANDIGARH

Chandigarh
Building sealed: The UT Land Acquisition Collector (LAC), Tilak Raj, today sealed a five-storeyed building on the outskirts of Khuda Jassu village. The building, which was constructed in violation of the periphery Act, could not be demolished due to safety reasons. The collector said around three more buildings had been identified that would be sealed in the coming days. He said the buildings which could not be demolished due to safety reasons would now be sealed. 

4 held for shoplifting: The Chandigarh police has arrested four people for allegedly committing theft of branded clothes at a showroom in Sector 35. In his complaint, Divas Bhatia stated that Rajat Sharma, a resident of Sector 41, along with Rahul Arora, Gautam Sachdeva and Sahil Kumar, all residents of Karnal, were caught red-handed while stealing branded clothes. DSP (South) Surjit Malik said the accused tried to leave the store wearing the stolen clothes. A case has been registered at the Sector-36 police station.