R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Chandigarh
Ludhiana rape victim stable: The two-and-a-half-year-old Ludhiana girl, who was gangraped on Tuesday, is now learnt to be stable. She underwent a surgery at the PGIMER here on Wednesday. However, her father has been struggling to bear the expenses of her treatment. He is a labourer. He claimed that his life's savings were stolen by the rapists. "The doctors say my child is now out of danger. But, she needs to be under observation here for a few more days. I do not have any money left, I don't know how will I manage," said the child's father Mohammad Raju.

Fatehgarh Sahib
Rice millers seek refund: Rice millers of the state demanded that their custom milling securities withheld by procurement agencies of the state be released as soon as possible. Nakesh Jindal, press secretary, Punjab Rice Millers Association, said even though they had met Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Food and Civil Supply Minister in this  regard, their pending payments had not been released.

Hoshiarpur
Mother, son booked for murder: The police has booked Amit Kumar, alias Bali, and his mother Bhagwanti, wife of Inder Mohan Bali of Mahilpur under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for murdering Vijay Kumar. According to the police sources, Amit Kumar used to harass deceased Vijay Kumar's daughter Nancy for which the latter along with his father had made a complaint to the police. The official concerned of the police station called both the parties at 5 pm in the police station. When Vijay Kumar along with his daughter and some persons reached near police station gate, Amit Kumar and his mother Bhagwanti picked a quarrel with them and started calling them bad names. Amit Kumar allegedly punched on the chest of Vijay Kumar with his fist due to which the latter fell on the ground. Vijay Kumar was immediately shifted to a hospital where he breathed his last.

Man booked for fraud: Travel agent has duped Rs 5 lakh of gullible persons on the pretext of sending them to Malaysia on work permit visa. Chabbewal police has booked Ram Pal of Kangna Bet under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC for duping Rs 5 lakh of Lachhman Singh, son of Kabal Singh, Shingara Singh, son of Amrik Singh, both of Bhuno, Nirmal Singh, son of Mast Ram of Bhilowal and Rajesh Kumar, son of Hari Ram of Jhanjowal. Lachhman Singh and others alleged that Ram Pal took Rs 5 lakh for sending them to Malaysia on work permit visa. But instead of providing work permit visas he got tourist visas for them.

Patiala
Dengue case reported: The Health Department sprung into action after a fresh case of dengue was reported at Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, on Thursday. After the patient, Akashdeep Singh, tested positive, Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Virinder Singh Mohi constituted rapid response teams. The teams collected samples of over 50 suspicious persons in nearby areas and sent them for testing.

Senior Deputy Mayor challaned: The Patiala police on Wednesday challaned former PUNSEED chairman Surjeet Singh Abhlowal and Patiala Senior Deputy Mayor Jagdish Rai Chowdhary for illegally using red beacons atop their vehicles. Hardeep Singh Badoongar, Traffic Inspector, Patiala, said they would crack down on those misusing red beacons.

Atta-dal scheme for more people: Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon on Wednesday said the state government would double the number of beneficiaries under the atta dal scheme from the existing 15.40 lakh persons. He said the state government had spent roughly Rs 2,013 crore on this. Kairon claimed that the state’s atta-dal scheme was much better than the food security Bill. He was in Patiala to send 25 trucks loaded with relief material to Uttarakhand.

Rajindra Hospital gets free medicines : Government Rajindra Hospital Emergency services got a shot in the arm on Thursday as the Punjab Medical Representatives Association (PMRA) contributed medicines worth Rs 40,000 to the hospital. The PMRA has decided to contribute medicines worth this much every month. Rajan Sharma, president of the Patiala unit of PMRA, handed over the first lot of medicines to Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Harshinder Kaur, in charge of the emergency. The hospital  is often under scanner for short supply of free  medicines.