R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
College organises  IT festival
An IT festival was organised at Bhag Singh Khalsa College in Fazilka’s Kala Tibba village on Tuesday. A tech walk, choreography depicting life of software engineers and one-act play were oraganised. Chief guest Sonica Narang appreciated students’ performances.

Faridkot
Three shops gutted
Three shops were gutted in a fire that broke out on Thandi Sadak of Faridkot on Tuesday. While property worth several lakhs was destroyed, no casualty was reported. Two fire tenders from Ferozepur and Kotkapura town doused the fire in two hours. The cause of the fire could not be ascertained.

Patiala
PSEB engineers protest
The executive committee of PSEB Engineers' Association on Tuesday decided to intensify its stir against extension to KD Chaudhri, PEPCL Managing Director. They will hold protest rallies in Patiala, Jalandhar and Bathinda on February 6.

Phagwara
Travel agent, kin booked
The police have booked travel agent Davinder Singh, his wife Kulwant and their son Mani on the complaint of a resident of Moro village, who said they had taken Rs 13 lakh from him on the pretext of sending him abroad.

Phillaur
Book released
A book on the life of freedom fighter Ujagar Singh Bilga was released by Dr Gauri Datt Sharma, Director, DD Jalandhar in Phillaur on Monday.

Freedom fighter's bio released
A book on the life of freedom fighter Ujaggar Singh Bilga of Bilga village was released by Dr Gauri Datt Sharma, Director, Doordarshan Jalandhar in Phillaur on Monday.

Tarn Taran
Activists lay siege to police station
Activists of social organisations on Tuesday protested against alleged police atrocities and lay siege to the police station in Chohla Sahib, 25 km from here. Activists of the CPM-Punjab, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Naujawan Sabha and Dehati Mazdoor Sabha participated in the protest. Pargat Singh Jamarai condemned the police for registering false cases.

1,150 patients examined at free camp
In all, 1,150 patients were examined during a free medical camp organised at Muradpur locality by the Punjab AYUSH Department on Tuesday. Ayurvedic and homoeopathic medicines were given to the patients.

CHANDIGARH

Netball trials: The Netball Association of Chandigarh will conduct trials at KB DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, on February 7 at 1 pm. Men’s and women’s teams will be selected. Players will attend a coaching camp before participating in the 31st Senior National Netball Championship to be held at Patliputra Sports Complex, Kanakberg, Patna, from March 1 to March 4. The players residing or studying in Chandigarh are eligible to take part in the trials. Interested players can register themselves with Dr GP Pal, director, Physical Education, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 20, on or before February 6 (3pm). Only the registered players will be allowed to participate in the trials.

HARYANA

Karnal
State TMC vice-president joins BJP: Subh Lakshya Bansal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) state vice-president and convener, Himachal Pradesh, today quit the party with his supporters and joined the BJP. Suresh Bhatt, organising general secretary of the state BJP, welcomed Bansal and other leaders in the party. Bansal appreciated the policies of the BJP. He said he and his team would do their best to make Narendra Modi as the next Prime Minister.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Mandi
AAP to start indefinite dharna in Mandi: The state unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will start indefinite dharna at Mandi from February 10 to press for the fulfilment of their demand charter submitted to the state government. AAP national council member Desh Raj Sharma in a statement said the party had submitted a demand charter to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner, Mandi. He said the state government had failed to address their demands. — TNS