R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
Shop gutted: A shop near Tagore Chowk in Hanumangarh was gutted in a fire on Friday night. Sub Divisional Magistrate Prabhudan Charan monitored the firefighting operation. Sources said a short circuit triggered the fire.

Chandigarh
SAD gen secy appointed:Renowned industrialist, social worker and Punjab State Planning Board vice-chairman Rajinder Gupta has been appointed SAD general secretary. In a statement, SAD chief Sukhbir Badal said the step had been taken in view of Gupta's "contribution towards the society".

ferozepur
Veteran Cong leader dead:Veteran Congress leader and former District Congress Committee (Ferozepur) president Anoop Singh died on Saturday evening following a prolonged illness. He was 87. Anoop Singh remained the district unit president for two terms and was associated with several NGOs. He is survived by his two sons and three daughters.

Hoshiarpur
Gang of thieves busted:Six of the seven members of a gang of thieves and drug peddlers have been arrested. On a tip-off, Assistant Sub-Inspector Kailash Chander held the six from a car at a naka. The accused have been identified as Sunil Kumar, Rohit Kumar, Naresh Kumar, Mandeep, Vishal and Neeta. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered.

Mansa
Theft at MLA’s office:The police said an LED was stolen from the office of Akali MLA Prem Kumar Mittal at the grain market in Mansa on Saturday. Harvinder Singh, a computer operator at the MLA’s office, lodged the complaint.

Muktsar
Ex-bank manager booked:The police have booked a former manager of Punjab State Cooperative Bank's Thandewala branch, Sukhdev Singh, on the charge of embezzlement of about Rs 2.5 crore between 2008 and 2011. The bank authorities had detected the scam pertaining to agricultural loan in January.

Dairy training camps:The state government would organise 1,000 dairy training camps in all the 22 districts, said Dr G Vajralingm, Financial Commissioner, Animal Husbandry, Fishery and Dairy Development Department. He was presiding over a seminar at Integrated Farmer Training Centre at Abul Khurana village.

DEHRADUN

Almora
Run for unity in Kumaon:People in Kumaon took part in the run for unity on the birth anniversary of first Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Friday. Congress workers paid tributes to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 30th death anniversary as well as Sardar Patel. “We remembered both great leaders of our country as both had made vital contributions to our nation building,” said Rajendra Barakoti, district president of the Congress in Almora. The run for unity was also organised in Nainital, Bhimtal, Ramnagar, Rudrapur, Sitarganj, Champawat, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Kiccha, Tanakpur and Ranikhet.

Haldwani
MBPG College Students’ Union poll:Efforts by students groups of the BJP and the Congress went in vain as an Independent candidate won the election to the post of president of the MBPG College Students’ Union in Haldwani. “Sanjay Singh Rawat, an Independent candidate, was elected president. He defeated his nearest rival NSUI candidate Suraj Singh Nula by 50 votes,” said Dr DK Pant, chief election officer. Rohan Kapkoti, Shubham Varshney and Kilam Jayaswal were elected vice-president, joint secretary and secretary, respectively, while two officer-bearers had already been elected unanimously.

Khatima
Elephants enter paddy fields:Herds of wild elephants, which had entered villages in forest areas, near Khatima town, on Saturday and ventured into paddy fields on several acres and temporary houses made by villagers. “We had to flee with our families. Herds of elephants, enter the village every day  after dawn,” said Khem Ram, a resident of Panthagoth village, near Khatima town.

Nainital
National Sailing Regatta:The Nainital Yachting Club and Indian Navy teams grabbed the first position on the first day of the yachting competition at Naini Lake in Nainital on Saturday. Governor Aziz Qureshi inaugurated the annual yachting competition National Sailing Regatta. “Water sports will attract more tourists to places which have the potential of tourism,” said the Governor. According to organisers of the annual competition, several national sailing teams, including from Tamil Nadu and the Indian Navy, are taking part in it.

(Compiled by BD Kasniyal)