R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Sarai Rohila train to run daily: The Sarai Rohilla (Delhi)-Abohar-Sriganganagar superfast tri-weekly train will run on a daily basis from Sunday. Divisional Railway Commercial Manager Rajneesh Kumar has also confirmed that the Sriganganagar-Hanumangarh broad gauge rail link will be inaugurated on January 29.

Ludhiana
Nachhatar Gill’s remand up: Judicial Magistrate NK Singla on Saturday extended the police remand of noted singer Nachattar Gill and two others in a rape case till February 8. The trio were arrested on December 24, 2013. The victim alleged she was raped on the pretext of a modelling assignment and a role in a music album. The singer was also charged with preparing the girl's lewd MMS.

Muktsar
3 booked for rape bid: Three youths were booked for attempting to rape a minor Dalit girl on Friday. The girl is a class VIII student at Government Primary School in Gandhar village. The three have been identified as Baljeet Singh, Gurlal Singh and Manpreet Singh. Lakhewali police station SHO Mohan Lal said they were investigating the matter and awaiting the girl's viscera report. The accused are still at large.

Nawanshahr
Voters' Day celebrated: Various competitions such as seminars, poster making and declamation were organised to mark the National Voters' Day at educational institutes here in the district on Saturday. The events aimed at sensitising students about the power of a vote. A district-level function was organised at the Rayat and Bahra Group of Institutes, Rail Mazara.

Patiala
Blood donors felicitated: The Life Line Blood Centre, Patiala, celebrated its founder's day by honoring various voluntary blood donor organisations and blood donors at the local Delhi Plaza on Sunday. More than 100 voluntary organisations and voluntary blood donors, emergency donors, couple donors and family donors were honoured.

Sangrur
Arrears by Jan 31: Dhindsa: Finance Minister Parminder Dhindsa on Saturday claimed all arrears of the state government employees would be cleared by January 31. He was addressing a function in Lehragaga.

Tarn Taran
40 stolen trucks recovered: The police have busted an inter-state gang of vehicle thieves and recovered 40 stolen trucks. These trucks were allegedly sold by preparing fake documents. The police said four of the accused were nabbed with 600 gm heroin.

HARYANA

Chandigarh
Cong invites LS poll applications: The state Congress has invited applications from party leaders keen on contesting the 2014 general election. “Ticket aspirants can send applications by fax or e-mail to the party office by January 27,” a spokesperson said. Applications received after this date will not be entertained.

Kurukshetra
1 killed in mishap: Deepak of Ladwa was killed and another injured when a car was hit by a Canter near Mathana village today.

DEHRADUN

almora
Handicraft exhibition: A 13-day exhibition-cum-sale of handicraft items started at Ramsay Intermediate College in Almora on Saturday. The exhibition showcasing handicrafts from several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan, is being liked by the local people. "We are expecting to do a good business at this mart as it being the winter season people are coming to purchase woollen garments made in various states," said Fateh Bhadur Singh, deputy director, Uttarakhand Industry Department.

bageshwar
Block status for Dug area: Villagers continued with their agitation at Kapkot on Saturday in support of their demand for the grant of the status of a separate block to the Dug and Nakuri area of Bageshwar district. They said the administration was not paying heed to their demand. "The demand for the grant of the status of a separate block to the Dug-Nakuri area has been there even before Uttarakhand came into existence as a separate state. But due to the negligent attitude of the administration, it had not be fulfilled," said Hira Singh Chauhan, organiser of the agitation. The protesters said as the Dug area had not been made a block their demands of a degree college, an SBI branch and hot mixing of several local roads could not be fulfilled till date.

barakot
MLA felicitated: Local people felicitated MLA Puran Singh Fartiyal on Saturday for the upgrade of the Barakot area as a full-fledged subdivision of Champawat district. They hoped the long-pending problems of the area would be resolved soon. "We have also given a charter of demands to the MLA. We hope that doctors will be appointed at Barakot hospital, the 108 emergency service will be provided at the primary health centre and the drinking water and transport problems of the area will be resolved soon," said Sher Singh Adhikari, organiser of the programme.

Dehradun
Shisksha acharyas’ march: Members of Shisksha Acharya Sangh today staged a protest march towards the residence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister in support of their demands. The protesting shiskha acharyas were rounded up by the police at the parade ground before they could proceed towards the CM's residence. Later the polce officials accepted a memorandum of their demands addressed to the CM, demanding regularisation of their services.

The police take away a protester in Dehradun on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Drive against polythene: Students of St Joseph's Academy took part in the ongoing Dehradun district administration's polythene eradication drive here today and pledged not to use polythene.The students also cleared the waste polythene bags lying around their residences and created awareness among their neighbours about the ill-effects of using a polythene.

Orientation campaign: A state-level orientation for inter-personal media campaign under Saakshar Bharat Programme ( literacy programme) was held in the auditorium of RLEK here today . Senior functionaries from the state Election Commission, District Legal Services Authority, Disaster Management and civil/defence bodies, State Literacy Mission Authority and Mahila Samakhaya attended this programme. Director, SRC, Uma Bisht, gave a brief presentation to the participants, explaining the aim and expected outcome of the campaign.

haldwani
Sanitation workers' stir: The Safai Karmachari Sangh in Haldwani on Saturday announced its agitation plan against the government order to give sanitary works in all corporations of the state to private parties. It said the agitation would continue till the government takes action on their seven-point demands. "We have decided to stage a dharna from February 5 to 7 at every office the government. We will hold a march to the Legislative Assembly from February 10 followed by boycott of work throughout the world if our demands are met," said Ram Avtar Rajor, state president of the Safai Karmachari Sangh.

Rudrapur
3 acres each for landless: The Landless Welfare Committee of Rudrapur held a demonstration in front of the office of Nidhi Yadav, ADM, Udham Singh Nagar, on Saturday in support of their demand of three acres each to 1,000 landless families of the town. It threatened to launch a long term struggle if its demand is not fulfilled soon. "We have informed the district administration officers that we are expecting land for cultivation as the government and the district administration had long ago mad a promise in this regard," said Mukesh Sharma, leader of the delegation.

(Compiled by BD Kasniyal)