ABOHAR
Tributes paid: Tributes were paid to Swami Keshwanand, former MP and torch-bearer of literacy in the 19th century, during a function held on his 35th death anniversary at Sahitya Sadan here on Friday. His associates, including former MLA Hans Raj Arya, city Congress president Banwari Lal Nagpal, principal G.L. Nagpal, social activist Charan Dass Rassewatt and educationist Ved Parkash Rustogi, remembered how Swamiji visited the region to supply books and fought against the social ban on educating women after centralising activities to promote the national language. Principals of different educational institutions jointly released a book on Swamiji’s life written by Prof Jawahar Lal Aggarwal of DAV College.

Clerk held for fraud: The police has registered a case against Ashok Kumar, a clerk in block primary education officer (BEPO) block-1 office, for alleged fraud. BEPO Shyam Sunder Sharma said Rs 65,000 had been withdrawn from a bank by removing two cheques from the official chequebook. Someone had not only forged the BEPO’s signature, but also made fake verification of the signatures to withdraw the amount. Sources said Ashok Kumar had been transferred to Bathinda on the basis of a memorandum submitted by teachers’ organisation. ASI Gurmeet Singh will investigate the case against him.

BATHINDA
Girl abducted: Five persons, including a woman and her son, of Harraipur village allegedly abducted a minor Scheduled Caste girl of the same village on September 3. Police sources said a case had been registered against Sandeep Singh, alias Sunny, his mother Harbans Kaur, Gurdev Singh, Boota Singh and Meeta (all three brothers), on the statement of Darshan Singh, girl’s father. The police said a case under Sections 363, 366-A and 120-B, IPC, had been registered against the accused. Nahainwala SHO added that efforts were on to nab the culprits.

Jail inmate dies: Manjit Singh, who has been undergoing 20-year imprisonment after being sentenced into a narcotic smuggling case in the local central jail, died under mysterious circumstances on Friday. Harbhajan Singh, brother of the deceased, has alleged that Manjit had been beaten to death by jail staff. The body of Manjit carried injury marks when they saw the same at the local civil hospital, he alleged. Harbhajan said his brother had informed him on September 10 that jail staff had been demanding bribe for forwarding his leave application to higher authorities.

Doraha
Second position: Pawanjot Kaur, a student of BBA IInd semester, brought laurels to the Doraha Institute of Management and Technology by securing second position in the Punjab Technical University examination held in May. She secured 511 marks out of 600 in the second semester. DIMT chairman Sukhpal Singh awarded her a cash prize of Rs 3,100.

Jagraon
Investigation sought: The members of Kirti Kisan Union on Friday demanded thorough investigation in the murder case of Harjit Kaur of Malah who was married at Rauke. They alleged that the case was not being investigation properly. Hardev Singh Sandhu, president of the union, pointed out deficiencies in the police investigation at Badhani after which Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, SSP, Ludhiana (Rural), assured proper investigation in the case.

Two booked: Charanjit Singh and his brother Kulwinder Singh of Halwara in an inebriated condition allegedly misbehaved and threatened Prem Singh of the same village. The Sudhar police has registered a case under Section 295-A, 506 of the IPC.

Hoshiarpur
Traffic talk: Deputy commissioner D. K. Tiwari convened a meeting of the representatives of traders, political parties and officials at mini secretariat here . SSP Anita Punj also attended the meeting. Tiwari appealed to the public to cooperate in controlling the traffic and suggested them not to park two-wheelers and cars, etc, in the narrow markets of the city.

Phagwara
More powers for SDMs: State government has designated sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) in the state as child marriage prohibition officers. Stated this social security and development of women and child minister, Ch Swarna Ram, said the SDMs would also perform their duties and exercise powers under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and will be required to act in the areas lying in their respective sub-divisions. He further said that child development and project officers (CDPO) of the department in the various sub divisions would also assist the new child marriage prohibition officers.

Railway meet: Northern Railway Mens Union will organise 39th Shaheedi Samellan at Pathankot on September 19. Stating this, NRMU leader Karamjit Singh said the convention would be addressed by national president Shiv Gopal Mishra and national general secretary J.P.Chobey who will raise the issues related to railway employees.

Samrala
Cattle census: Dr Ashok Sharma, senior veterinary officer, Samrala, said the 18th cattle census would start from September 15. The deputy director of animal husbandry, Dr Paramjeet Singh, who specially visited the centre here on Thursday, said the census would be completed within one month. He explained the procedure in detail to the staff. He was fully satisfied with the training being provided to the staff and appealed the public to cooperate with the staff for proper census.

Lal Singh Dill Seminar: The Lal Singh Dill Yaadgiri Manch, Samrala, will organise a seminar in the memory of Lal Singh Dill on September 16, said the president advocate N.K. Sharma. The general secretary of the manch, Jagdeesh Neelon, said a paper will be read by Sarbjit Dhillon and the library will also be inaugurated in Aarti Yash Sewing Centre near Masand Darwaza.

BILASPUR
Exhibition: DC Rajender Singh while inaugurating the two-day state-level Science exhibition organised at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalya on Friday, said extra-curricular activities like debates, declamations and exhibitions helped students develop their all-round personality and should be an essential part of the curriculum. He said such exhibitions provided extensive knowledge of subjects and made students practical. Principal Prem Lata Baunthiyal said 150 students from ten districts of the state were participating in the exhibition.