R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
Khalsa meets Jathedar:Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, who fasted for more than 40 days for the release of Sikh detainees, met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh on Monday. He expressed concern over the delay in the release of six Sikh detainees. He was told that the SGPC was in touch with the Punjab Government  which was making efforts to secure their release.

Chandigarh
5 police officers shifted :In view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Home Secretary DS Bains on Monday ordered the transfer of three IGs and two DIGs. Nirmal Dhillon, Commissioner of Police, has been replaced by Paramjit Singh Gill. Dhillon has been posted as IGP (Patiala Zone I). IGP Lok Nath has been transferred as IGP (Zone II, Jalandhar), DIG Amar Singh Chahal as DIG (Ferozepur range) and DIG Yurinder Singh as DIG (Bathinda range).

HARYANA

Jhajjar
HUDA clerk held taking bribe: The Vigilance Bureau today caught a HUDA clerk accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 for the transfer of a plot in Bahadurgarh town. Sources said Dayanand Chhikara of Mukundpur village had lodged a complaint with the bureau that Rajesh had been demanding Rs 3,000 in lieu of transfer of the former's plot.

Chandigarh
Date to avail property tax rebate extended: The state government today extended the period to avail one-time rebate on property tax dues up to February 28. A spokesman for the Haryana Urban Local Bodies Department said earlier the period for one-time rebate was up to February 15. He said people can now avail the rebate till the end of this month.