R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Fatehgarh Sahib
2013 as 'Year of Education': The Punjab Government has decided to observe the next financial year as the "Year of Education". Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, who was here to attend a prize distribution function at a school, said the government had earmarked 12% of the total budget to upgrade educational infrastructure in Punjab. He also exhorted the teachers to create awareness among the masses against drug abuse, female foeticide, dowry and other social evils.

Jalandhar
Stay on PTU exams goes: Scores of students pursuing their studies through the Punjab Technical University’s distance education programme are in for relief as the Delhi High Court has vacated its stay on the holding of examination. The university will now conduct the examination from April 1 (as per the datesheet already notified).


                                                              The PTU campus in Jalandhar

Ludhiana
Man held with pistol: The city police has nabbed a person with illegal pistol on the Gahlewal Rahon road. The police said the accused was held while crossing a check post last evening. He was been identified as Bablu. The police said that the accused, was walking when we it noted his activates suspicious. The police recovered a .315 bore pistol and three live cartridges from his possession. 

Muktsar
Protest on highway: A large number of people on Saturday blocked the Malout-Delhi national highway at Abul Khurana village in protest against the state government's decision to merge government primary schools. The schools within one-km radius of one another will be merged. The protesters said the decision would worsen the standard of education in government schools which were already suffering due to lack of infrastructure.

8 held with illicit liquor: Eight persons were arrested from various parts of Muktsar district on Friday for allegedly smuggling illicit liquor and narcotic substances. The police said 650 boxes of illicit liquor, 14 kg of poppy husk, 500 gm of opium and 330 capsules of habit-forming drugs were seized from the accused.

Sangrur
Sarpanch's kin attacked: An Akali sarpanch's husband Talwinder Singh (30) was allegedly attacked by two persons at Loha Kherra village on Saturday afternoon. Gurmeet Kaur, sarpanch of Loha Kherra village, along with her husband was distributing pensions when her husband was attacked. Talwinder was taken to Civil Hospital, Sangrur. He alleged Kaka Singh and his son Sukhjinder Singh attacked him with rods and took Rs 1.25 lakh from them. The emergency medical officer at the civil hospital said Talwinder had suffered injuries on his head and legs.

New sports scheme: Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa on Saturday said the state government under a new scheme would select 2,000 sportspersons in 10 categories throughout the state. He said the government had earmarked Rs 135 crore in the current budget to cover their expenses. The selected few would be prepared for world-class competitions, including the Olympics, he said. He also distributed cheques worth Rs 1 lakh each to 57 village panchayats to promote sports.

HARYANA

Chandigarh
Courts inspected: The Administrative Judge of Jhajjar district, Justice Jitender Chauhan, carried out an annual inspection of Jhajjar courts and Bahadurgarh Subdivisional Courts on Saturday. He also heard the suggestions of lawyers and met a large number of litigants present in the courts. He also inspected the district jail, and listened to the grievances of the inmates. Earlier, on the Martyrs' Day (March 23), the foundation stone of the new court compound at Bahadurgarh was laid. The court will be constructed in 5.5 acres of land within two years. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

KANGRA
Woman commits suicide: Kamlesh Kumar (38) committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance following alleged torture by her husband at Churtha village under the Shahpur police station, the police said here on Saturday. Kamlesh, a mother of three, was married two decades ago to Kartar Singh. Suti Devi, mother of the deceased, lodged a complaint with the Shahpur police that her daughter was tortured by her husband from the beginning of her married life. She alleged that Kamlesh was forced to commit suicide. The police rushed her to DRPGMC, Tanda, where she died. The police registered a case and arrested Kartar Singh. 

Poison taken by mistake: A 45-year-old woman from Tala Lagdoo village falling under the Khundian police post consumed some poisonous substance by mistake. She was rushed to DRPGMC Hospital, Tanda. 

SHIMLA
Judge given farewell:The HP High Court bid farewell to Justice VK Ahuja, who demitted office on Saturday on superannuation after putting in more than 38 years of service in judiciary. He was appointed judge of the HP High Court on November 27, 2006. He joined the HP Judicial Service in 1974 as Sub-Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate at Sundernagar. He served as Senior Sub-Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate, Additional District and Sessions Judge and District Judge at various stations. Acting Chief Justice RB Misra, Advocate-Gen Sharwan Dogra, Bar Council Chairman Rajinder Dogra, HC Bar Association president BC Negi and Assistant Solicitor-Gen of India Sandeep Sharma spoke on the occasion. A farewell party in honour of the outgoing Judge was held. Acting Chief Justice RB Misra and Justices DD Sud, Surinder Singh, Sanjay Karol, Kuldip Singh, Rajiv Sharma, VK Sharma, DC Chaudhary and members of the Bar and staff were present among others.