R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Patiala
Rally against drug abuse: Around 1,200 students on Saturday participated in the 3-km walkathon, "Patiala against drugs", organised by Columbia Asia Hospital.

Phagwara
NRI’s wife kills self, 3 booked: A pregnant woman, Rajwinder Kaur (28), reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling at her in-laws’ house in Dhaleta village on Friday. The victim's mother-in-law, Darshan Kaur, has been arrested while her husband Sarabjit Singh and father-in-law have been booked. The deceased’s father alleged her in-laws tortured her for dowry. Sarabjit is an NRI.

Youth booked for rape: The police on Saturday arrested a youth on the charges of abducting and trying to rape a four-year-old girl of Palahai Gate locality here. SHO Ravinder Singh said the victim’s mother alleged that last night the accused, Sonu, abducted her daughter and took her to a deserted house and tried to rape her.

Ropar
Couple booked as maid dies: A couple was booked on Saturday for alleged abetment to suicide when their maid, Poonia, died under mysterious circumstances. The couple's neighbours said the accused, Vijay Kalra and Irvinderjit Kaur, allegedly used to torture the girl.

HARYANA

Rewari
Bawal SDM takes charge: Yogesh Mehta took over as the first Subdivisional Magistrate of the newly created Bawal subdivision at Bawal, on Friday. He was accorded a reception by residents. Mehta said redressing problems of residents would be his top priority.

DEHRADUN

Dineshpur
Dharna for road: Residents continued with their dharna for the third day on Saturday demanding the construction of a road from Gadarpur to Matkota near Dineshpur town. According to the organisers of the dharna, they have the support of all political parties and the district administration has sent a doctor to medically examine the protesters. “As we have the support of all political parties and people residing in the area, we have decided to continue with the dharna till our demands are met,” said Anadiranjan Mandal, organiser of the agitation.

Haldwani
Tomato farmers seek relief: Tomato farmers of the Gaulapar area of Haldwani have demanded compensation for their crops damaged due to hailstone this year. A delegation of tomato farmers from the Gaulapar area on Saturday submitted a memorandum to the SDM, Haldwani, to be forwarded to the government demanding compensation. “Over 80 per cent of the tomato crops has been damaged due to the foggy conditions these days, making it difficult for farmers to repay bank loans,” said Vivek Sharma, a tomato farmer.

Nainital
Revenue official sent to jail: The District and Sessions Judge, Nainital, on Saturday sentenced a revenue officer to four years in prison under Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He also ordered registration of a case against the complainant who later withdrew his complaint even though the bribery charge was proved against the revenue official in the court. “While awarding the jail sentence to the culprit for taking bribe from a farmer, the court also ordered the registration of a case against the farmer for his act of negation in court that was found to be against the law of the land,” said Sihan Chandra Pandey, who pleaded for the negligent attitude of the appellant.

Pithoragarh
Lawyers boycott work: Advocates boycotted work on Saturday in support of their demand for opening the Commissioner’s office and the police range office in Pithoragarh district. According to the advocates, as the district shares border with China and Nepal, it needs a strong administrative presence. “If the police range office and the Commissioner’s office are opened in the district, development works will accelerate and the people of Champawat and Bageshwar districts will also be facilitated due to their proximity to Pithoragarh than Nainital district where the Commissioner’s office is at present situated,” said Mohan Chandra Bhatt, president of the District Bar Association.

Sitarganj
Sitarganj residents upset: Residents of Sitarganj are disappointed over the appointment of Harish Rawat as Chief Minister in place of Vijay Bahuguna. The Sitarganj people, especially the Bengali community, were hoping that they would be able to join the mainstream in the Terai region after Bahuguna had announced several schemes for them. “Most of the announcements made by Vijay Bahuguna, especially giving ownership rights of land where the Bengali people live,” said Gagan Mandal, a social worker.

(Compiled by BD Kasniyal)