R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
Puducherry Lt Guv to visit Golden Temple: Puducherry Lieut Governor Virendra Kataria will visit his home state Punjab for the first time after taking over the new assignment on Saturday. Sources said Kataria would pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir on July 27 before attending a reception at Jallianwala Bagh. Kataria was recently appointed a member of the Jallianwala Bagh Trust by the Central Government. Earlier, at a function in Puducherry, Kataria had promised the Sikh community to provide land for gurdwara there.

Amritsar
SGPC told to form cyber cell: Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh on Wednesday held a meeting with Sikh intellectuals to deliberate on the rising trend of tampering with Sikh gurus’ photographs and gurbani on social networking sites. The intellectuals stressed on the need for setting up a cyber cell, monitored by experts, by the SGPC. The Jathedar said the suggestions would be discussed in a meeting of the Sikh clergy.

Chandigarh
Use RTI as weapon, says BJYM chief: BJYM president Anurag Thakur has exhorted the youth to make use of the RTI. “Flood the RTI commission with queries on as many public issues as possible to bring the information in the public domain,” he said. Addressing the first meeting of Punjab's new BJYM executive here, Thakur also asked the youth to make use of the social media in a positive manner. The social media had best been seen in action during the 'Arab Spring’.

Ludhiana
Ashima tops university: Partap Colleg of Education, Ludhiana, added another feather on its cap when a student, Ashima Jain, topped Panjab University, Chandigarh, in BEd annual examination by securing 85 per cent marks. Swati Arora and Monia Sharma secured second and third position in the college, respectively. The college staff felicitated the students.

Ropar
Quality check for mid-day meal: Following the recovery of insect-infected ingredients meant for mid-day meals in schools in the district, the Ropar Deputy Commissioner has deputed 150 officials to inspect the quality of meal served to students. Each official will visit one school and after an inspection, submit a report to the Deputy Commissioner. After the exercise is over, recommendations made by the officials will be considered to improve the quality of mid-day meal, said Additional Deputy Commissioner SS Marar.

Sangrur
Motorcyclist dies in mishap: Karamjit Singh (52) of Ram Nagar Sibia village was killed when he allegedly rammed his motorcycle into a stray bull near Nankiana Sahib Chowk. He was taken to the Civil Hospital, but later shifted to DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, where he succumbed to his injuries.

56-kg poppy husk seized: The local police on Tuesday arrested a local resident and seized 56 kg of poppy husk from his car on the Sangrur-Ubhawal road. Station House Officer of the city police station Harinder Singh said accused Buta Singh was produced in a local court on Wednesday that remanded him in police custody for one day. — TNS