R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
Constable shifted: A police constable deployed with the CIA staff here has been shifted to the Police Lines, sources confirmed on Thursday. According to information, the constable had allegedly forced entry into a house located in Dhaani Nathu Ram on Wednesday apparently with doubtful motive. He was drunk. The residents reportedly caught him and locked him in a room. DSP Parampal Singh has recommended his suspension to the district authorities, sources added. 

SANGRUR
CPI drive: The Punjab unit of the CPI will launch a special drive in the first week of August against the increasing rural indebtedness in the Malwa belt. In the first phase, the CPI will hold district-level conventions to educate people about the causes, ill-effects and remedies of rural indebtedness. This was stated by a member of the national executive of the CPI Joginder Dayal recently.

HARYANA

Ambala
Inaugurated: A branch of the Oriental Bank of Commerce was opened on the premises of the MM University, Mulana. A tree plantation campaign would also be launched soon. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Theft: Thieves decamped with gold and silver jewelry worth Rs 2 lakh and Rs 66,500 cash from the house of a farmer, Nand Lal, of Ratt village, from the Rajpura gram panchayat area on Wednesday night. The thieves broke the locks of three rooms of the house. ASP Vimal Gupta visited the spot after the theft was detected. A case has been registered. 

Charas seized: The CIA wing of the police here has arrested dhaba owner Lal Singh, alias Laloo, son of Harnam of Jagnala - Kuthala village (Jammu), under the NDPS Act on Wednesday evening after it recovered 1.2 kg Charas from the dhaba at Brahampukhar on the Bilaspur-Shimla road near here. The police raided the dhaba on a tipoff 

Condoled: The HP State Journalists Federation condoled the death of former district public relations officer K L Raina at his home village Gandhigram - Rainabadi near Baijnath in Kangra district President of the federation Jai Kumar said Raina had retired after service of 37 years in the Public Relations Department and was known for his commitment to duty. He also served as DPRO for several years here at Bilaspur. 

Chamba
Two killed: Two persons, including a woman, died in two incidents in the Bharmour tribal region of Chamba district on Wednesday evening. Sanjay Kumar, who was seriously injured while he lost control over a motorbike, succumbed to his injuries on the way to the local regional hospital. In another incident, Simro who had gone to graze her cattle was killed on the spot after she slipped from a hill slope in the Holi area of Bharmour. 

Salary: The Chamba District Panchayat Pradhan Union has urged the government to increase the salaries of members of panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) on the pattern of MLAs and ministers from time to time. Union president Kamleshwar Mahajan said addressing a meeting of the union here on Thursday that while the salaries and allowances of MLAs and ministers had been increased many times, those of members of PRIs had remained static. 

Shimla
Vidya upasaks: The vidya upasaks who have already completed 10-month training will be provided the balance two-month training from July 16 to September 15. Under the recruitment policy vidya upasaks were required to undergo one-year training. It had been decided that vidya upasaks serving in both the winter and summer closing schools would be imparted training during this period. 

Solan
Man shot at: The Baddi police has arrested Rishi for allegedly firing at Sham Lal, a resident of Kharkua village in Kalka tehsil, on Wednesday evening when the latter was standing at the shop of Man Singh. According to a complaint lodged with the police, Shyam Lal stated that Rishi came to the market with four friends, including Rajinder, in a Santro car (HP-12-2031) and fired at him. He, however, escaped unhurt. The police has registered a case and arrested Rishi.