R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Batala
Two injured in attack: Two persons were critically injured after a group of nearly 25 persons equipped with sharp-edged weapons and firearms attacked them at Ghoman village. Both the warring groups were close to former Cabinet Minister Balbir Singh Bath and had developed enmity during the panchayat elections. Two days ago, both the groups had entered into an altercation over disposal of sewage in the village. The injured have been identified as Rimple and Baljit Singh.

Moga
Addict kills father in Moga: An elderly man was allegedly killed by his drug-addict son with a sharp-edged weapon on the outskirts of the city after the former refused to give him money. The deceased, Jangir Singh, originally hailing from Mudki in Ferozepur district, was working as a labourer.

Sangrur
Tension grips Dirba: Tension gripped Dirba town on Saturday as a stationary truck with animal carcasses was discovered by residents. Over a hundred police personnel were deployed in the town to stop a mob from setting the truck on fire. The truck was reportedly parked in the area three days ago. A case under the Cruelty to Animals Act and the Cow Protection Act has been registered.

Tarn Taran
Family booked for dowry: The Bhikhiwind police has booked four members of a family for allegedly harassing a woman for dowry. In her complaint, Rashni alleged that her husband Chetan Sohi, father-in-law Rajinder Sohi, mother-in-law Ramma Sohi and brother-in-law Kushal Sohi, residents of Gurdaspur, had been allegedly torturing her for dowry since her marriage two years ago.

Man killed in accident: Sarwan Singh (35), a resident of Sarli Khurd village near here, was killed in an accident after the motorcycle he and his brother were riding was hit by a 'gharuka' (an illegal vehicle) near his house. The driver of the vehicle, Sukhdev Singh, has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

HARYANA

Kurukshetra
Man arrested for rape: The police has arrested Vinod Kumar of Sudhpur village for allegedly raping a minor girl. District police chief Rakesh Kumar Arya said a person had lodged a complaint at Thana Shahabad, alleging that Vinod Kumar had raped his minor daughter. He was produced in a court here on Saturday, which remanded him in judicial custody, Arya added.

Rewari
Gangrape accused held: The police has arrested Vivek Sharma, a gangrape accused, from Narwana. Vivek had allegedly raped a young woman (23), who was having a live-in relationship with his associate Sunny Ashnath at Dharuhera. Vivek was on Friday produced in a local court, which remanded him in judicial custody. The main accused, Sunny, a resident of Moradabad district, was still at large. He allegedly sexually exploited her on the pretext of marriage.

Sirsa
4 booked for sodomy: Four youths have been booked for sodomising a 13-year-old boy in the Chatargarh Patti area of Sirsa. The victim, a student of a private school here, was returning home when four youths, including Sagar, Deepak, Raman, took him to a secluded place and sodomised him. The police has got the boy medically examined. — TNS

DEHRADUN

Champawat
Bagwal fair from Aug 17: The Bagwal fair, known for its stone war at Devidhura, will be held from August 17to 28. The stone war between different ethnic groups will be on August 21, under strict observation of the police and administration, Champawat zila panchayat chairperson Prema Pandey said. “We will hold a separate meeting on the subject of animal sacrifice at the fair with consultation of villagers of the area,” said Pandey.

Dehradun
Uniyal’s book released: Storywriter Dr Prabhakar Uniyal’s book “Aloo Ka Jhol” was released in Dehradun on Saturday. State Information Commissioner Vinod Nautiyal released the book and said, “It throws light on how an honest person keeps himself satisfied even with little earnings.” Eminent literary personality Dr Atul Sharma expressed concern over the declining habit of reading among people. Pitambar Barthwal and secretary of the Hindi Academy MR Saklani were other prominent persons present on the occasion.— TNS
The Book "Alu Ka Jhool" written by Dr Prabhakar Uniyal being released at a function in Dehradun on Saturday. A Tribune photo

Aadhaar cards: Member of the Uttarakhand Minorities Commission Sanjay Jain has demanded speedy preparation of Aadhar cards for the minority communities. In a letter written to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Jain said in the absence of Aadhar cards students from the minority communities were unable to avail of several beneficial schemes.

Freedom fighter’s death mourned: The Defence Employees Coordination Committee, Dehradun, has mourned the death of freedom fighter and Leftist leader Samar Mukherjee. At a meeting of committee held in Dehradun on Saturday, Puran Singh said Mukherjee’s contribution to the freedom movement and his concern for the working classes would be remembered long.

EPFO officials plant saplings: Officials of the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) planted a number of saplings on GMS Road in Dehradun on Saturday as part of the Van Mahostava programme. Commissioner, EPFO, New Delhi, VN Sharma inaugurated the programme by himself planting a sapling. Senior PF Commissioners SK Aswal, MM Ashraf and Rakesh Kumar and a large number of EPFO employees were present.

Havan for disaster victims: Residents of Shyampur, Thakurpur and Luximpur villages in Dehradun performed a hawan on Saturday for peace of the victims of the calamity at Kedarnath. The hawan was performed at Maa Durga Mandir, Shyampur, and a large number of villagers took part in it. Yudhveer Singh conducted the programme.

Nainital
Cooking fuel crisis: Over 1,82,120 ration card holders in the district are facing shortage of fuel for cooking as the quota of the kerosene oil has not been released by the government since July. According to the district Supplies Department sources, the government is issuing only 313 kilolitres of kerosene oil against a demand of 990 kiloliters in the district. “Out of 2,80,120 ration cards in the district, only 98,000 have LPG connections. The rest are dependent on kerosene for their cooking fuel needs, but due to rationing of the fuel, we are issuing only 1 to 3 litres of kerosene to these card holders against their quota of 7 litres per card,” said Rahul Sharma, district supply officer.

Pithoragarh
TET teachers hold protest: Teachers Elegibilty Test (TET) qualified teachers on Saturday demonstrated before their training institute at Didihat and at administration offices in protest against the lath-charge on their compatriots in Dehradun on Friday. They announced that they would continue to oppose the government and boycott the training schedule all over the state until they were given permanent appointment. “We are peacefully demanding our rights. The government is exploiting trainee teachers. We will no longer tolerate it," said Lokesh Dasila, a leader of the protesting teachers at Didihat.

Families living in tents: As many as 443 families who were rendered homeless due to last month’s rain fury in the district have been housed in tents at various places, district disaster control room sources informed. According to information, till date 2369 stranded villagers and outsiders have been evacuated. The disaster has affected 473 families of 14 villages of Dharchula and 25 villages of Munsiyari subdivisions in the district, said RS Rana, chief coordinator of the control room.

Rudrapur
Alert on mid-day meal: The Education Department in the Kumaon region has sounded an alert on the quality of mid-day meal being served in the schools in the region after Bihar mid-day meal deaths. “We have ordered block-level coordinators to check food being served at all primary and secondary schools once in every three months, besides ordering deputing education officers to check 10 schools and district education officer 5 schools for quality of the mid-day meal,” said PS Jangpangi, Director General.

Sitarganj
Flood water enters houses: Heavy rains have resulted in flood water entering houses in Sitarganj, Nanakmatta and Kashipur towns, forcing residents to vacate them. “The Arvindnagar locality in Sitarganj, Siddha Navadia area in Nanakmatta and Katoratal, Sabjimandi area of Kashipur subdivisions witnessed two feet of water, which made these colonies waterlogged for next 24 hours,” said Prem Singh Rana, MLA, Nanakmata.

(Compiled by BD Kasniyal)