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Heroin seizures hit cement import via rail
Akali sarpanch’s son ‘slaps’ cop
Mansa police book Daduwal in fresh case
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Poor canal water supply
Capt blames Badal for depriving Jats of quota
Chhotepur is AAP state convener
Youth can help fight graft: Kalam
Ramoowalia usurped property, alleges brother
A doctor briefs Rania villagers on ways to check the spread of suspected diarrhoea cases in the village. A Tribune photograph
CM orders probe against staff settled abroad
Residents plan stir to save historical site
Teams survey Bathinda village to explore job avenues
Farmers defer stir
Namdhari faction defers indefinite fast
Mexican beetle to tackle deadly weed
Mexican beetle being released to check Congress grass spread at a village in Patiala on Friday. Tribune photos: Rajesh Sachar
Recruitment of associate teachers
murder of Sikh in New Zealand
Inspector, ASI suspended for sloppy probe
Woman killed, 7 injured in car mishap
The mangled remains of the car that met with an accident near Khanna on Friday. A Tribune photograph
FIBA delays decision on turban ban
Life term for Babbar Khalsa man
12 booked for running drug ring in Faridkot jail
BSF seizes 4 kg heroin
Power corp SDO held for bribery
JE, XEN caught taking bribe
Three held for selling wheat meant for poor
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Heroin seizures hit cement import via rail
Amritsar, August 29 All India Cement Importers Association president MPS Chatha said, “There is hardly any cement import through the rail route now. The traders are apprehensive in view of various incidents of contraband smuggling in rail cargo from Pakistan. They are opting for the road route, which they find much safer.” He said the cement import was at its peak a couple of years ago as around 200 wagons used to arrive from Pakistan daily. At present, around 35 to 40 truckloads of cement have been arriving, a count that stood at 75 to 80 some time back, he said. Another cement trader, Pawan Arora, said though the import through the rail route had dropped considerably around one-and-a-half years back, it had completely stopped now. He said traders were now importing cement through land route. Arora said there was dire need to install full-truck scanners at the Integrated Check Post at Attari to tackle the incidents of heroin smuggling. He claimed the random scanning being carried out in the cement consignments right now was causing losses to traders. A series of instances of heroin seizure in rail cargo from Pakistan were reported between June and October 2012. Around 150 kg of the contraband was recovered during this period. Last year too, a couple of such incidents were reported. Though most of these incidents were reported in goods train from Pakistan, the smugglers also exploited the goods wagon of Samjhauta Express to sneak in 22 kg of heroin last year. The smuggling of contraband continued despite the fact that Pakistan Customs authorities were using one-time metal seal to lock the rail wagons. New one-time metal seals with same serial number were recovered in two such incidents along with heroin. These were kept probably kept to facilitate the replacement of the original seal after collecting the contraband.
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Akali sarpanch’s son ‘slaps’ cop
Muktsar, August 29 In her complaint to the police, Veerpal Kaur, wife of Gurjant Singh, head constable posted at Muktsar (City) police station, alleged that Gurbhej Singh slapped her husband before the village panchayat where they were called for the settlement of a dispute with their neighbours. Gurbhej is the son of sarpanch Gurmel Singh. “Our neighbours used to throw trash outside our house. The issue was brought to the notice of panchayat, which summoned both the parties. However, when we reached the sarpanch’s house, his son slapped my husband and passed casteist remarks,” she said. The sarpanch, however, said the policeman was drunk when he came to his house. “The head constable started abusing me and my family. We told him to go back to his house, but he did not relent. He even hit his car in our door… We neither slapped him nor passed any casteist remarks. This is an attempt by our rivals to defame us,” he said. The head constable was not available for comment. Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Chahal said, “I have marked an inquiry to Superintendent of Police Narinderpal Singh.”
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Mansa police book Daduwal in fresh case
Mansa, August 29 The police claimed it had found a Scorpio Jeep on August 27 carrying a few rounds, a fake number plate and Daduwal’s Aadhaar card. It also claimed that the vehicle number (Pb 03 AD 0005) was bought by Daduwal whereas the jeep belonged to his supporter Sukhwinder Singh, who lived in Spain. A number of Daduwal’s supporters gathered at the Gurdwara Chowk here today. Carrying black flags, they demonstrated inside the gurdwara complex for more than two hours but were not allowed to hold a march in the city. Daduwal’s counsel HS Tiwana said: “It’s well-known that the cases against my client arepolitically motivated. “The police have filed false cases against Daduwal who has been sent to
a 14-day judicial custody by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Kuldeep Singh
Cheema.”
TIMELINE Aug 22, 2014: The Faridkot police arrest Daduwal after booking him under the Arms Act. It claims to have seized seven rifles, two pistols and 300 cartridges from Daduwal August 27: The Mansa police register a case under
various Sections of the IPC and the Arms Act against unidentified persons; claim to have found ammunition and Daduwal’s Aadhaar card in a Scorpio Jeep August 28: Daduwal sent to one-day police remand in the Bhikhi case registered in January 2011 August 29: Daduwal sent to a one-day police remand in
a fresh case registered against him at the Mansa police station under the Arms Act
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Poor canal water supply
He said the authorities were biased in releasing water through the Sirhind Feeder and Abohar branch canal to this segment. “The officials are under pressure to divert our share of water to the neighbouring segments represented by top politicians,” he said. Slamming the government for not releasing
Rs 5 crore required to clean the canals in the sub-division for the past three years, Jakhar said this had given a big jolt to the agricultural economy. The much-publicised plans on diversification had fallen flat. The Punjab Mandi Board had been unfair to this segment in releasing funds for the repair of link roads and bridges. He said, “Since all the efforts made inside the Vidhan Sabha as well as outside have failed to urge the government to develop the area, we will have to raise our voice.”
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Capt blames Badal for depriving Jats of quota
Patiala, August 29 In a statement, Amarinder said Punjab missed the chance during the previous UPA Government when it failed to make timely recommendation to the National Commission for Backward Classes to implement quota in the state. “The quota was implemented in several states. Even the new BJP government at the Centre had upheld the UPA regime’s decision on Jat reservation. There was no reason for Badal to withhold the implementation in Punjab except for his own vested interest so that the economically weaker sections among the Jats do not get any benefit,” he said. The former Chief Minister asked the state government to set a deadline for implementing the reservation policy so that the youth could get benefits. He said once the Jat reservation was implemented, the state youth will be eligible for OBC quota in various jobs.
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Will resign as YAD chief soon: Majithia
Jalandhar, August 29 He was in the city for the concluding ceremony of the Punjab State Rifle Shooting Championship. “I am in the Council of Ministers. I am also president of the Punjab Rifle Shooting Association. I do not want to occupy too many posts. The post of Youth Akali Dal president is a big responsibility and I have tried to discharge my duty to the best of my ability during the past four years. It is now time for someone else to take over the reins of the youth wing. The YAD will get a new president soon,” he said. Later, Jangveer Singh, media advisor to the Deputy CM, clarified that Majithia had only said that he would not seek to be re-appointed as YAD president. This was Majithia’s first public appearance in Jalandhar after the party’s drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections.
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Chhotepur is AAP state convener
New Delhi, August 29 Chhotepur was the party candidate for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat. He has spearheaded several movements in the state. Chhotepur said though he had been given a free hand by the part leadership, he would consult all leaders and try build a strong party organisation in the state. “I will consult all activists, both senior and junior, to take the party forward.” He claimed he had the support of all party MPs. One of the main reasons for the party suffering a serious setback during the recent by-elections in Patiala(Urban) and Talwandi Sabo was the absence of an organisational structure. Both the party candidates lost their security deposit. At a meeting here, the party’s political affairs committee decided to take strict disciplinary action against those indulging in anti-party activities. Vowing to run statewide campaigns, the party said it was committed to a drug-free and corruption-free Punjab.
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Youth can help fight graft: Kalam
Ludhiana, August 29 Kalam was on a visit to Satya Bharti Adarsh Senior Secondary School at Sherpur Kalan, Sat Paul Mittal School and BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School in Ludhiana today. He said teachers played a pivotal role in shaping children’s life and giving wings to their dreams. He also administered 11-point “Teachers’ Oath” to teachers at Satya Bharti School. He urged the teachers not to reduce education to mere literacy, but to inspire the students to follow value system. “Teachers impact the life of students not only by what they teach in a classroom but also by the way they lead their life,” said Kalam as he talked about the turning point in his life. Kalam said as a 10-year-old boy studying in Class V, he learnt from his teacher Siva Subramania Iyer how a bird flew. “Our teacher took the class to seashore and explained the dynamics of bird-flight by making us watch seagulls flap their wings,” he said. The science of flight became part of 10-year-old Abdul Kalam’s dream. Years later, the dream was fulfilled when Kalam became a scientist and rocket engineer. The former President said teachers could play a major role in igniting the minds of the youth. “Ignited minds are the most powerful resource.” He said instead of directing all their attention towards brilliant students, the teachers should focus on the students who were at the bottom of the academic ladder.
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Ramoowalia usurped property, alleges brother
Chandigarh, August 29 Ramoowalia called the charges “baseless” and “fabricated”. He said it was an attempt to defame him. “Neither any court, nor the police nor the Delhi Development Authority have held me guilty of any misdeed.” He alleged that his brother had sold six acres of agricultural land that belonged to his mentally challenged brother-in-law, Sukhsagar Singh. Gill said that the flat on Shaheed Jeet Singh Road, Katwaria Sarai, Delhi, was allotted to his late mother-in-law Mukhtiar Kaur in 1989 under DDA’s self-financing scheme for the handicapped. “We granted Ramoowalia rent-free access to the flat till 2010. My mother-in-law’s name remained on the residents’ directory until 2009 when I last visited the flat. My mother-in-law died in 2003 and all DDA papers remained with Ramoowalia. He refused to hand these over to us, claiming the flat had been sold to him in 1992,” alleged Gill. He said information obtained under the RTI Act revealed that the sale and purchase agreement in favour of Ramoowalia, showing he had purchased the property from Mukhtiar Kaur for Rs 4.30 lakh, had been signed in the Devnagri script . But his mother-in-law had no knowledge of Hindi. “She was a teacher in the erstwhile PEPSU where Hindi was not taught,” explained Gill. He said despite complaints to to the police, the Lieut Governor, the Vigilance Commissioner and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, no action had been taken against Ramoowalia. The latter claimed that with actual papers in his possession, he had nothing to worry about.
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More diarrhoea cases pour in
Rania (Moga), August 29 At least 24 persons have reported of viral infections and dysentery in the past couple of days. They were admitted to various government hospitals for treatment. Two persons had died of suspected diarrhoea in the past one week. Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani and Chairman of the Punjab Health Systems' Corporation Barjinder Singh Brar discussed the situation on the phone today. "The Health Minister has asked the local health authorities to keep a watch on the situation and take all preventive measures to control the situation," Brar said. District Magistrate PS Gill asked Nihalsinghwala SDM Jyoti Bala Mattu to visit the affected village and take stock of the situation so that necessary steps could be initiated to control the situation. The officer visited the locality and asked the doctors to visit each and every house and conduct medical check-ups. She also asked the authorities concerned to make available potable water in the locality through tankers. Talking to mediapersons, she said most of the houses had underground cemented tanks to store water. These were linked to the water supply line. The water stored in these tanks was also being used for drinking. These tanks had hardly been cleaned by the people in the past couple of months. In some houses, it was also noticed that the water stored in these tanks was entering the water supply lines due to back pressure, which could have possibly led to this outbreak. Asking the people to plug the water tanks immediately, Jyoti Bala advised them to drink water from the water filter installed by the government. She said the underground water tanks constructed in houses were not legally allowed. Sarpanch Ajit Pal Singh has waived the security deposit of Rs 60 per household mandatory for getting water from the filter. He said the monthly charges of Rs 60 would also be paid by the panchayat to prevent the outbreak of any water-borne disease in future.
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CM orders probe against staff settled abroad
Chandigarh, August 29 A government spokesperson said the Chief Minister had directed the Chief Secretary to get the vigilance inquiry conducted and identify the truant staff. He has sought a report within two months. Badal also ordered an inquiry to get to the bottom of the case regarding the involvement of officials in the commercial activities of a society in Amritsar. — TNS
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Residents plan stir to save historical site
Fazilka, August 29 The bhawan is located in Seth Munshi Ram Aggarwal Colony on Freedom Fighter Road. It is being developed by the Improvement Trust. Lachhman Dost, a protester, said the government had failed to look after the building. He said successive governments had also not kept their promise of setting up a government school and a community centre for the poor in slum areas near the railway lines. The area is located close to the
bhawan.
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Teams survey Bathinda village to explore job avenues
Rattakhera (Lambi), August 29 Though the authorities have kept the project a secret, a visit to the village today revealed that a mini secretariat had been set up at the village sewing centre. At present, the state government is conducting a special survey. Officials were seen conducting health check-ups, distributing medicines, collecting water samples, conducting water potability tests, preparing lists of kutcha houses and testing the soil. Further, as per the advisory of agriculture experts, some tractors had been hired by the state government to plough the land and break its upper crust. The workers were told to irrigate it with canal water to remove the saline content from the land and make it useful for farming. A number of officers, including Deputy Commissioner Jaskiran Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Ramvir Singh, Gurcharan Singh, OSD to Chief Minister, were present in the village. Seeing the government machinery at work, villagers too were upbeat. Karaj Singh, sarpanch of Rattakhera village, said, “It seems preparations are on to make Rattakhera a model village.” Gurjeet Singh, son of a former sarpanch of Rattakhera, said, “Our village is severely affected by waterlogging. Badal during his sangat darshan programme last year had promised to develop it.” Deputy Commissioner Jaskiran Singh said, “We are conducting a socio-economic survey in Rattakhera village to explore the possibilities of employment.” Another senior officer said Rattakhera would be developed as a model village. He said the CM would make this announcement on Ambitious project n Rattakhera village is located in CM's constituency of Lambi n
The village with a total population of 1,617 people is severely affected by waterlogging nThough the authorities have not divulged their plans, a mini secretariat has been set up at the village sewing centre n
Officials were seen conducting health check-ups, collecting water samples and testing the soil
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Abohar, August 29 Duggal said that 12,500 cusecs of water were to be released from the Ravi and the Beas in September. —OC
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Namdhari faction defers indefinite fast
Ludhiana, August 29 The committee members said the followers would soon be informed when the protest would begin. Navtej Singh and Harvinder Singh, International Namdhari Sangat president and chairman, accused CM Parkash Singh Badal of fanning dissent between the two factions due to his alleged vested political interests. — TNS
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Mexican beetle to tackle deadly weed
Patiala, August 29 Congress grass is the deadliest weed in India. It reached the country along with the wheat that was imported from the US in 1950s. It harms both humans and animals alike. It is also dangerous for the flora of the region, including crops. Experts say one plant of parthenium can produce around 30,000 seeds that propagate rapidly with wind. They cause skin and respiratory allergies such as eczema, asthma, skin eruptions, itching in skin, allergy and many other respiratory problems in humans and animals, besides loss of crop productivity and biodiversity. "This grass is very common and it causes huge complications every year, especially after the monsoon," said Sanaur farmer Rajinder Singh. Principal Scientist and expert of biological control of parthenium from the Directorate of Weed Science Research (DWSR), Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), Dr Sushil Kumar said a particular kind of beetle that fed on parthenium was imported from Mexico, the native place of parthenium. At present, it was being provided free of cost to farmers in many states, he said. Dr Sushil Kumar visited some of the parthenium-affected parts of the district today and assured farmers of the remedy. "Scientifically named as Zygogramma biclorata, we today released about 25,000 beetles in Patiala," he told farmers. "We will regularly visit all districts and affected villages in Punjab and release these beetles to ensure an end to Congress grass," he said.
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Recruitment of associate teachers
Chandigarh, August 29 Information to this effect was furnished before the Bench of Justice Mahesh Grover before he disposed of a civil writ petition filed by Jagdeep Singh and other candidates. They submitted the recruitment was to be carried out for 5,078 posts of rural associate teacher. There were at least 423 candidates with degrees from far-flung varsities for the courses for which these institutions were not authorised. As the writ petition came up for arguments, counsel for the Punjab Government Sudeepti Sharma handed over a list of 623 candidates who had obtained educational qualifications through distance education courses. She said the state government had taken a conscious decision not to permit candidates with questionable degrees. She added the educational qualifications of all such candidates would be subject to verification from the University Grants Commission. Two committees had been set up already, she said.
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murder of Sikh in New Zealand
Amritsar, August 29 The delegation reportedly handed over a memorandum to the New Zealand High Commissioner in which it took up the case of Devinder Singh who was killed while on way to pick up his wife after duty. The delegation told Morton that the Sikhs were being targeted in European countries due to mistaken identity in the aftermath of 9/11 attack in the USA, which was a matter of grave concern. Morton told the delegation that the killing of Devinder Singh was not a racist attack, but the result of a domestic dispute. He said the culprits had been arrested and they would be punished as per the law. He accepted Makkar's invite to visit the Golden Temple.
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Inspector, ASI suspended for sloppy probe Jalandhar: The Nawanshahr SS, has suspended an inspector and an ASI with immediate effect. Dilbag Singh Pannu, SP (D), Nawanshahr, said the Mukandpur police booked mill owner Kiranpal Singh in December 2013 for siphoning 8,722 rice bags. “But Inspector Gopal Singh and ASI Parshotam Lal conducted investigations in a biased manner. They even tried to tamper with the official record to favour the accused,” he said. — TNS
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Woman killed, 7 injured in car mishap
Khanna, August 29 SHO Khanna (Sadar) Jagdev Singh said the car was being driven by groom's brother Sunny. Perhaps Sunny dozed off while driving the car and it rammed into another car moving ahead of their car. The collision was so powerful that groom's sister-in-law Nisha was killed on the spot. Rajesh, who was sitting on the front seat, was injured seriously. The injured were taken to Kular Hospital, Biza, and Apollo Hopstial, Ludhiana. Sunny, who was also injured in the accident, said he failed to asses the actual position of the car moving in front of their car and the collision took place. The occupants of the other car, including a woman and two minor children, also suffered some injuries, but their condition was out of danger.
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Life term for Babbar Khalsa man
Ludhiana, August 29 The court sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for life. A fine of Rs 20,000 was also imposed on him. He was also sentenced on the charge of attempt to murder and under the Arms Act. All sentences would run concurrently. The court, however, acquitted his alleged woman aide Sukhjinder Kaur for want of convincing evidence. Bhootna and his woman aide were arrested by the police after an encounter that lasted for more than three hours at the local railway station on August 25, 2009. Santosh, a tea stall worker, was killed in the exchange of fire while two Government Railway Police (GRP) constables, Karanpal Singh and Naranjan Singh, sustained bullet injuries.
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12 booked for running drug ring in Faridkot jail
Faridkot, August 29 The other accused comprise those who were smuggling drugs inside the jail in alleged connivance with some officials. They were receiving payment for these drugs from the relatives of the addicted inmates. The SIT has detected six bank accounts which were being used for transferring money. These accounts had been opened in the names of the relatives of the addicts lodged inside the jail. According to an FIR lodged today, Hargobind Singh Sodhi, an undertrial, was supplying drugs to the addicts, the payment for which was received in the bank account of his son, Jaskaran Singh Sodhi, in Amritsar. The police investigation found that the peddlers were allegedly using the owner of a dhaba, situated adjacent to the jail, to sneak drugs inside with the daily supply of vegetables in the morning. Lakhbir Singh, investigating officer, said dhaba owner Rakesh Kumar, who had been arrested, used to supply the vegetables in his tempo. Balbir Singh, Superintendent of Police, said they were investigating whether any jail official too was involved in the racket.
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BSF seizes 4 kg heroin
Amritsar, August 29 Addressing the media here today, MF Farooqui, DIG, said that BSF jawans noticed suspicious movement in fields along the border fence at 11.30 pm. They spotted a few miscreants who continued to move forward despite being warned. Subsequently, the jawans opened fired in self-defence. The DIG said the miscreants fled, leaving behind packets of heroin. — TNS
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Power corp SDO held for bribery
Patiala, August 29 A case has been registered under various Sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Officials said the SDO had sought Rs 8,000 from complainant Paramjit Singh for “taking care” of a fine of Rs 54,000 levied on him by the PSPCL —TNS
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JE, XEN caught taking bribe
Jalandhar, August 29 The flying squad of the Vigilance Department, Mohali, which arrested the XEN, was accompanied by a team of the Vigilance Department, Jalandhar. XEN Parshotam Kumar, posted at the Municipal Council, Kapurthala, was arrested following a complaint by contractor Pardeep Kumar, who said Parshotam was demanding Rs 15,000 to refund his security deposit. A trap was laid and Parshotam was arrested red-handed. In another case, Kapurthala MC Junior Engineer Naresh was arrested while taking Rs 15,000 from government contractor Nirmal Singh for adjusting the extended cost of a project completed by the contractor in 2012.
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Three held for selling wheat meant for poor
Sangrur, August 29 Ration depot holder Rajinder Kumar, however, managed to flee. A case has been registered against them under Sections 7 of the Essential Commodities Act and Sections 420, 411 and 120-B of the IPC at the Sunam city police station.
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New Delhi, August 29
Former President APJ Abdul Kalam today said the youth should be given greater responsibility in the nation’s affairs. He was replying to a query on how to end corruption in the country.
Kalam was on a visit to Satya Bharti Adarsh Senior Secondary School at Sherpur
Kalan, Sat Paul Mittal School and BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School in Ludhiana today.
Scientists have finally zeroed in on "Mexican beetle" to tackle the problems caused by
parthenium-locally called Gajar buti or Congress Grass. It is designated as one among the seven most devastating weeds in the world and is one of the most common problem faced by farmers in Punjab.
Marriage festivities turned gloomy for a family of Jalandhar when the sister-in-law of the groom died and seven members of the family, including groom Rajesh and bride
Isha, were injured when the car by which they were travelling met with an accident near Khanna today. They were returning home from Panipat after the marriage ceremony.
Abohar, August 29