R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
5 cheating cases detected: A PSEB flying squad detected five cases of copying during the Punjabi (B) examination for Class X under the open school system at Government Senior Secondary Model School here on Saturday.

Amritsar
385 pilgrims denied Pak visa: SGPC secretary Roop Singh on Saturday said 385 pilgrims were denied Pakistani visa. He said 201 pilgrims were denied visas by the Union Government, while the remaining 184 were declined visa by the Pakistani High Commission. The pilgrims were to be a part of a Sikh ‘jatha’ that is to visit historic shrines in Pakistan on Baisakhi.

Chandigarh
MCI poll under scanner: The election to the Medical Council of India has come under a judicial scanner. Dr Parminder Brar of Khanna has sought directions from the High Court for the cancellation of the election. He has asked for a stay on the conduct of the poll on the grounds that a majority of the voters had not received the ballot papers. The next hearing is on April 7.

Fazilka
188 boxes of liquor seized: The police have seized 188 boxes of country-made illicit liquor and arrested Girija Masih, who was carrying these in a jeep on the Fazilka-Ferozepur road, 35 km from here, on Saturday. The liquor was reportedly meant for distribution during the elections. The estimated cost of the seized liquor is Rs 2.25 lakh.

Hoshiarpur
Man commits suicide: Dilbagh Singh (50) of Talwandi Jattan village committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance. In his suicide note, he blamed his wife Gita Rani for his death. Geeta allegedly harassed him for money. A case has been registered.

Phagwara
Teenager gang-raped: A teenaged girl from Model Town was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by four unidentified youths on Friday. Superintendent of Police Gursewak Brar said the victim was kidnapped on March 29 and abandoned at a deserted place on March 31. A case has been registered and the accused are still at large.

CHANDIGARH

Chandigarh
Desh Bhagat institute 2nd best B-school in North India: The Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences have secured the second position in the Top 10 B-Schools survey in North India. It was conducted by Business and Management Chronicle with its online partner CAT100 based on various parameters.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Srinagar
Panches, sarpanches join BJP: A group of panches, sarpanches and other residents from the central Kashmir district of Budgam joined the BJP at the party headquarters here on Saturday. A statement said BJP central Kashmir president Ali Mohammad Mir welcomed the entrants to the party.

Udhampur
Baisakhi Mela from April 14: The arrangements for the smooth conduct of the three-day Baisakhi Mela, commencing April 14 at the Devika Ghat, Udhampur, were discussed at an officers’ meeting held under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, Vikas Sharma on Saturday.

500 take part in heritage walk: Over 500 school students participated in a heritage walk on Saturday. The district administration has organised the walk under the SVEEP programme to encourage the people to register for the electoral list.

DEHRADUN

Gadarpur
Three illegal arms  factories sealed: The local police on Saturday sealed three illegal arms factories near Gadarpur forests and recovered several arms produced there. "The police reached the area on getting information that illegal arms were being manufactured at some local factories near the town for the past some days. However, we could not arrest the culprits as they fled after opening fire at the police team," said JS Pangti, Circle Officer, Gadarpur.

Kapkot
NSUI activistis demand shifting of liquor shop: NSUI activists at Bageshwar have asked the sub-divisional administration to shift the wine shop proposed at the Bahrari market to some distance from the town. The liquor shop at the Bharari market will cause inconvenience to local women and schoolchildren as drunkards will pass lewd remarks at them. "It will also have a bad effect on students who walk through the market to their schools," said Narendra Singh Garia, an NSUI leader.

Nainital
Legalising street vendors resented: Shopkeepers in Nainital have closed their shops and other establishments in protest against the Nagar Palika's order to declare Mallital as a vendor zone and legalising street vendors there. "While we pay taxes and other charges to the Nagar Palika for the businesses we are doing in our shops, these vendors are neither paying taxes nor any charges to the administration. They are catering to tourists and hindering the businesses of established traders," said Pramod Shah, a shopkeeper at Mallital Pant park. The traders have demanded that all vendors at the Flats ground be removed.

Pithoragarh
ITBP, SSB to help check forest fires: The district administration along with the ITBP and the SSB has started preparations for protecting forests from fire. It has created 60 crew stations to douse forest fires and deputed over 300 workers there. "We have told villages that anyone who ignites a forest fire will invite one-year imprisonment and a fine and the gram panchayats, which will cooperate in dousing fires, will get subsidy benefit from the government," said Jai Bharat Singh, SDM, Pithoragarh, after a meeting on the subject.

(Complied by BD Kasniyal)