R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
Youth's body found in canal: The body of a youth tied to a concrete block was found in a canal near Roranwali village on the Abohar-Hanumangarh road on Saturday. Hanumangarh police station in charge Narayan Singh said prima facie, it appeared that the youth was strangled to death in Punjab and his body was thrown into the canal about five days ago.

Amritsar
Riot victims launch campaign: Victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots launched a campaign, "Torch of Justice", after paying obeisance at Akal Takht here. They will undertake a journey carrying the torch from Delhi to the United Nations headquarters in New York. AISSF president Karnail Singh Peermohammad said the month-long campaign would pass through all the states where Sikhs were massacred during November 1984.

Barnala
Prisoner commits ‘suicide’: A prisoner lodged in Barnala sub-jail, Parwinder Singh (25) of Alipur Khalsa village (near Sherpur), allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a bathroom on Friday night. Barnala Deputy Superintendent of Police Harpal Singh said Parwinder had been convicted in three cases and was an undertrial in two cases.

Hoshiarpur
VC to be awarded: Guru Ravidass Ayurvedic University Vice Chancellor Om Parkash Upadhyaya will be felicitated by the President of India for his contribution in the field of Sanskrit literature. He will be awarded Rs 5 lakh besides the citation. Upadhyaya, a doyen in the field of ayurvedic medicine and a renowned scholar of Sanskrit, is a Padma Shri awardee.

Mukstar
Dera followers plant saplings: Dera Sacha Sauda followers celebrated the birthday of dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan at a gurdwara at Assa Buttar village in Gidderbaha sub-division on Friday. They planted saplings.

UTTARAKHAND

Banbasa
4 women smugglers held: An SSB patrolling party at Banbasa in Champawat district today arrested four women smugglers from Nepal on the border today. The women were carrying goods worth Rs 1.6 lakh from India to Nepal without paying custom taxes. According to the SSB sources, the goods included pulses and parts of bicycles. “We could nab only four women and three of their companion fled taking advantage of the night,” said Harsukh Chauhan, an SSB officer.

Nainital
Govt to challenge HC order: Rejecting a review petition of the state government, the Nainital High Court ordered that admissions in colleges be according to the UGC norms from this academic session. The court also opined that infrastructural facilities be reshaped in colleges situated in remote areas of the state. “The state government has now decided to move the Supreme Court to give admissions to all students in colleges,” said Indira Hriydesh, Minister of Higher Education.

Pithoragarh 
Engineers told to complete projects in time: “Matters pertaining to release of forest land for developmental activities are to be reviewed on a daily basis in the district and review reports be sent to the government immediately,” this has been ordered by Principal Secretary SS Sandhu via video conferencing here today. He has also ordered the PWD and PMGRY engineers that small objections on related projects of roads and other infra works be cleared immediately so the projects could be completed in time.

Tanakpur
Herd of elephants: Residents of Uchholigoth village on the Indo-Nepal border in this subdivision of Champawat district are in panic as a herd of wild elephants ventured around some shops and crops in nearby fields last night. Villagers of Thawalkhera and Ucholigoth have given a representation to the Forest Department.