AMRITSAR
Shiv Sena (Hindustan) threatens bandh: The Shiv Sena (Hindustan) will organise a statewide bandh on December 14 if the state government failed to remove the portrait of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the Golden Temple museum. Stating this to the media here on Monday, national president of the party Pawan Gupta said the government should ask the SGPC to remove the portrait by December 13.

BATHINDA
Two killed in mishaps: A cyclist, Sukhdev Singh of Maluka village was killed in a road accident on Sunday evening. Police sources said the deceased was on his way to Maluka, when all of a sudden, a tractor-trolley hit his cycle causing critical injuries to him. Sukhdev succumbed to his injuries on the spot. Bhagta police post team brought the body to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda. The body has been handed over to the kin of the deceased after post-mortem. Acting upon the statement of the deceased’s father Gurtej Singh, police has initiated proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC. In another mishap, 45-year-old, Raghuvir Singh of Naruana village was killed when a vehicle hit him on Sunday. Sources said that the deceased was on his way home. After post-mortem the body was handed over to his family members.

Oil tanker seized: A joint team of the CIA staff and the food supply department seized an oil tanker for illegally carrying kerosene at Bathinda-Bhucho road, on Monday. The police has arrested two persons and booked three partners of a petrol pump in this connection. Sources in the department said the truck bearing the number PB-13P-5129 was plying near Roomi Wala Chowk, when it was found to be containing about 11,000 litres of kerosene, when inspected. Sources said the kerosene was to be mixed in the petrol tank of a petrol pump at village Vading Khera. On the basis of the statement of the arrested person, Cantonment police has registered a case against three partners of the petrol pump, Rattan Bansal, Harbans and Sushil Kumar. They were yet to be detained.

Elected: The School Bus Union, Bathinda, was formed at the Rose Garden here on Monday. After the formation of the union, the members held its first meeting where the members unanimously chose office-bearers with Sukhwinder Singh as president, Gurinder Singh as cashier, Avtar Singh as secretary, Lakhwinder Singh Mehta as vice-president and Vijay Kumar  as secretary of the  union.

FAZILKA
Eye donation:  On the initiative of Social Welfare Society here, local resident Sanjeev Kumar Madaan donated the eyes of his father Topan Lal Madaan (65) after his death. The president of the society said he was the 21st eye donor in the past six months. Around 42 people got their vision restored with the grafting of cornea by eye donations made from the Fazilka area.

Ferozepur
Booked: The police has registered a case against Mohinder Kumar and Rajinder Kumar for allegedly cheating Jatinder and Raman, both residents of the city, of Rs 4 lakh against false assurance of getting them permanent jobs in a railway department.

Hoshiarpur
Cold claims 55-yr-old’s life: The ongoing severe cold wave claimed a life in the district on Sunday night. The body of an unidentified person aged about 55 years was found in the Sant Jawala Singh Charitable Hospital complex, Attowal, on Monday morning. The police sent the body to the civil hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Kharar
Woollens distributed: Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib (C) Eye Hospital Trust, Sohana, on Monday distributed 150 woollens to inmates of Mother Teresa Home, Sector 23, Chandigarh. Earlier, at the launch of “Operation Fateh”, trust head Bhai Devinder Singh Khalsa and secretary Gurmeet Singh had distributed sweaters to over 250 students hailing from slums studying in Sardar Hari Singh Memorial School and 70 sweaters to residents of Vishav Apahaj Sewa Sanstha at Padiala village.

MALERKOTLA
Medical camp organised: The local Lions Club organised a free eye camp at Shri Ram Kutia in Chomo village on Sunday. According to Dr Kamal Bharti, spokesman for the club, 540 patients were examined. Medicines were provided free of cost to the needy patients.

PATIALA
Urged: The Senior Citizens Welfare Society has urged the district administration to check the high density of traffic of the busy Patiala-Rajpura road, especially in the Urban Estate area. Office- bearers said two citizens had recently met with fatal accidents. They urged the authorities concerned to enforce speed limit on the Punjabi University-bus stand road. They also sought traffic police vigilance in the area to check overspeeding. They also sought trafficlights at all major points on the road and a roundabout at mouths of Sirhind bypass.

Appointment welcomed: The Sikh Intelligentsia Forum, the World Sikh Intellectual Council and the Gobal Punjab Foundation on Monday welcomed the appointment of Dr Jaspal Singh as vice-chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala. They appreciated the decision of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to appoint an academic, diplomat and Sikh scholar to the post. They hoped that the problems of teachers and employees would be solved amicably under the leadership of Dr Jaspal Singh.

Phagwara
2 POs arrested: The police arrested two proclaimed offenders (POs) Kanti of Goraya and Harbhajan Kaur of Bahani village. DSP H.P.S. Khakh said both POs were wanted in two different cases since 2000 and 2005, respectively.

Ohri is selector: Phagwara cricket coaching centre in charge Amit Ohri has been appointed selector by the Punjab Cricket Association for Kapurthala district and minor district zone-B. The appointment has been made with the consent of District Cricket Association president Krishan Lal Saraf, general secretary Harish Passi and district selection committee chairman Suresh Bhasin and vice-president Kamaljit Kherra.

‘B’day wastage’: Several Congress leaders, including former Congress ministers Ch Santokh Singh and Joginder Singh Maan, along with PPCC secretary Parminder Mehta have strongly condemned the government-level celebrations to mark the birthday of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at Bhatinda.

SANGRUR
ETT teachers flay govt move: The district unit of the ETT Teachers Union has flayed the Punjab government for allowing a private mobile phone company to open its schools in villages. District president of the union Sukhvir Singh said here on Monday that it seemed the government wanted to wipe out government schools in the state. He said a meeting of the Sarkari School Sikhia Bachao Manch would be held on December 16 in that connection.

Tarn Taran
Sweaters distributed: As many as 600 school students of different villages were given sweaters and shoes at the annual function organised on Monday by the Sanatan Dharam Children Welfare Society at the local Sewa Devi S.D. College of Education. Rajmohinder Singh Majathia, member, Rajya Sabha, was the chief guest while local MLA Harmit Singh Sandhu presided over the function. Majathia announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the college. Students presented a colourful programme on the occasion.