R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Four held for illegal mining: The police on Tuesday arrested four persons on the charge of excavating sand from Kalra “choe” (rainwater drain), violating the Mining Act. A tractor-trolley used in the crime was seized. The accused have been booked under Section 21 (1) of the Mining Act.

phagwara
2-day Ayush fair begins: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Santosh Chowdhary inaugurated the two-day Ayush Health Fair on Ayurveda, Yoga, Homeopathy and Unani in Phagwara on Tuesday. Ayush Secretary N Sanyal and state Health Secretary Husan Lal also addressed the gathering.



Union Minister Santosh Chowdhary inaugurates the Ayush Health Fair in Phagwara on Tuesday. Tribune photo

Train halt at Phagwara: Keeping in view the demand of Hoshiarpur and Phagwara residents, the Northern Railways has agreed to provide a two-minute halt of the Inter-City Express Train running between Amritsar and Chandigarh at the Phagwara railway station from February 10. This was announced by Union Minister Santosh Chaudhary here on Tuesday.

Sangrur
Govt staff stage protest: Hundreds of government employees under the banner of Punjab and UT Mulazam Sangharash Committee staged a protest dharna outside the district administrative complex here on Tuesday. They blocked traffic and burnt an effigy of the state government, protesting against thousands of posts lying vacant. Swaranjit Singh, district convener of the committee, said they would hold a state-level rally in Chief Minister's constituency Lambi on February 9.

Jain Group in IT Department net 
Ludhiana: The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey at Jain Group. Surveys were conducted on the directions of BB Nanavati, Commissioner of Income Tax (I). Surveys were conducted at nine premises of Jain Group at Gandhi Nagar, Daresi, Rahon Road, Jalandhar bypass, Noorwala Road. Surveys were on till the filing of the report. The team checked documents, computers and balancesheets. — TNS

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA
BJP gears up for Modi’s February 16 rally: The district unit of the BJP is gearing up for its participation in Narendra Modi’s rally scheduled to be held on February 16 at Chowgan of Sujanpur in Hamirpur district. BJP district president DS Thakur said this would be the biggest rally ever held so far in the state.

KANGRA
Man consumes poison by mistake: A 33-year-old tuberculosis (TB) patient on Tuesday consumed poison by mistake. He was admitted to the DRPGMC at Tanda, the police said here. The police said Rajeev of Tanda village in Palampur was taking anti-TB drug regularly. The case was being investigated.

MANDI
Yudh Seva Medal for Mandi man: Brig SK Sharma, who hails from Sarkaghat in the district, was awarded the Yudh Seva Medal on the Republic Day. President Pranab Mukherjee presented the medal to Brigadier Sharma in New Delhi. The Brigadier, currently posted in Manipur, was given the award for leading the Mountain Brigade during a counter-insurgency operation in the troubled state.

Man commits suicide, 2 arrested: The Balh police have arrested Devi Singh, a resident of Kangru, and his son Devinder Singh, on the charge of abetting his son-in-law Ravinder Singh to commit suicide. They were held under Section 306 of the IPC. Kashmir Singh, father of the deceased, in his complaint to the police said they had beaten and humiliated Ravinder. He committed suicide in his house on Monday.

NURPUR
One booked in rape case in Nurpur: The Jawali police on Monday registered a rape case against Rahul Chowdhary of Pattan village here under Section 376, IPC. The police said the victim, hailing from Pangi in Chamba, alleged that the accused had promised to marry her. She stated that they had stayed together in a rented house for around five months in Hamirpur. But the accused raped her at his sister’s house at Bharmar in Jawali subdivision. DSP, Jawali, DC Verma said a rape case had been registered against Rahul and the victim sent to the Nurpur Civil Hospital for medical examination.

Rs 1.40 lakh, jewellery stolen from house: Burglars looted a locked house in the Khushinagar locality of the town on Sunday. House owner Deepak Pathania registered a case with the local police in which he stated that he, along with his family members, was not at home at the time of the crime. The burglars had decamped with Rs 1.40 lakh, gold jewellery, a laptop and a camera kept in a cupboard. A police team, led by DSP Rajiv Atre, rushed to the spot. A case under Sections 457 and 380, IPC, had been registered.

PALAMPUR
Rs 26 cr allocated for sports activities: The state government has allocated Rs 26 crore for sports activities in schools and colleges for this financial year. This was disclosed by Ram Lal Thakur, Chairman, 20-Point Programme and Planning, while inaugurating a two-day annual athletic meet at the CSK HP Agriculture University, here on Thursday. V-C KK Katoch said efforts were on to provide best facilities to students so that they got time for sports and cultural activities. Students’ Welfare Officer Vidyasagar, KCCB Director Anil Verma, Palampur MC councillor Harinder Parwana, statutory officials, staff were present at the inaugural ceremony.