R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
Power corp lineman killed: Power corporation lineman Jagir Singh (33) of Mammukhera village was killed and his associate Mangi Ram (31) sustained injuries when the motorcycle they were riding on was allegedly hit by a Bolero van near Chakda village on the Seetogunno road on Saturday night. Some onlookers informed the power corporation officials and the police. The latter seized the vehicle after a chase. However, the driver managed to escape. A case under Sections 304, 279, 337 and 427 of the IPC has been registered.

63 kg poppy husk seized: The police have seized 63 kg poppy husk from Bhajan Kaur, Daljit Kaur of Talwandi Bhai, Nirmal Singh of Moga, Jaswant Singh and Baldev Singh of Ghalkhurd and Buta Singh of Qabarwala village (Malout) on different roads. The contraband had been smuggled from Rajasthan, the investigation indicated.

Bus stand gets ceiling fans: A member of Nar Sewa Narayan Sewa, Raj Kumar Jalhotra, on Sunday donated 15 ceiling fans to the bus stand complex. The cash-strapped Municipal Council and the “adda fee contractors” had failed to replace the non-functional ceiling fans in the waiting hall of the main bus stand here for the past eight years. NGO president Raju Charaya said the fans had been donated on death anniversary of Raj Kumar's mother Vidya Bai. Commuters and vendors lauded the initiative.

Chandigarh
Free medicines for addicts: The state government on Sunday said all patients opting for de-addiction treatment at the community health centres, sub-district and district hospitals would be provided free medicines. An official spokesperson said the medicines to be provided free of cost were as per the guidelines and recommendations of the PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Bicycles for poor kids: The state government on Sunday started a scheme to provide free bicycles to the children of construction workers. The wards of labourers registered with the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board would be eligible. Chuni Lal Bhagat, Labour Welfare Minister, said the scheme would cover wards of registered labourers studying in Classes IX to XII who had been awarded scholarships by the board.

Ludhiana prof on tax panel: Professor Devinder Joshi, Head, PG Department of Punjabi, Arya College, Ludhiana, has been nominated as one of the members of the Regional Direct Taxes Advisory Committee (RDTAC) by the Union Ministry of Finance, an official release said on Sunday. He is also the president of Arya College Teachers Union. Prof Joshi is also the general secretary of District Congress Committee, Ludhiana.

Fatehgarh Sahib
Three peddlers held: The police arrested three drug peddlers and seized 540 sedative tablets from them on Saturday night. The accused have been identified as Nirmal Singh alias Nimma of Sirhind, Manpreet Singh of Khanna and Ramzan of Fatehpur (Uttar Pradesh). The three were nabbed at a naka laid near Badla Chowk in the town. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered.

Phagwara
Man held for killing wife: The Sadar Police on Sunday booked a travel agent, Vikas Nanda for allegedly murdering his wife Harpreet Kaur (35) in connivance with his driver Vikki. The accused, a resident of Urban Estate, had married Harpreet, a divorcee and mother of two sons, recently. Both the accused have been arrested.