R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Chandigarh

Maluka warns absentee staff: The state government has taken a serious view of absentee teachers and other employees in government schools working for non-government organisations (NGOs). The Education Department has issued directions to the authorities concerned to keep a check on shirkers. Sikander Singh Maluka, Education Minister, said strict action would be taken against the erring staff. The minister said the state government was committed to improve the quality of education in government schools by taking certain steps in the academic 
as well as the non-academic spheres.

Tarn Taran

Man held with drugs: The police on Monday night arrested Surinder Singh alias Rahul of Pattar Khurd village and seized 500 gram of heroine worth Rs 2.5 crore from him. The police said the accused had links with drug smugglers Harwinder Singh from Jammu and Kuldeep Singh Manak lodged in Kapurthala jail. The Mahilpur police seized 810 gm of heroine worth ~4.05 crore and arrested two drug paddlers carrying the contraband in a car. A country-made .315 bore pistol and three cartridges were also recovered from them.

Woman’s in-laws booked: Lovepreet Kaur (30) of Khadur Sahib village, who was harassed by her husband and mother-in-law, attempted suicide. Her husband Gurbir Singh and mother-in-law Balwinder Kaur have been booked under Sections 306, 511 and 34 of the IPC by Goindwal Sahib police. SHO Paramjit Kaur said Lovepreet was married to Gurbir about four years ago and had a two-year-old daughter.