Amritsar
Campaign launched: As part of the “chhoti kisani bachao” campaign launched by the Kirti Kisan Union, small-time farmers from the area staged a dharna outside the deputy commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum to him. The union demanded that the debts of small farmers be waived and they should be offered interest-free loans.

Elected: S.S. Chhina, security officer, Guru Nanak Dev University, has been unanimously elected as chairman of the Punjab Police Pensioners Welfare Association for the sixth consecutive time. He was elected chairman at the general body meeting held here on Saturday.

Bathinda
Man killed in accident: Harbir Singh, who was driving a car, died on the spot when a van collided with his vehicle near Jeeda village on the Bathinda-Kotkapura road here on Saturday. Anmol Singh, who was accompanying him, was injured. The driver of the van fled from the scene. A case has been registered.

Bijli Darbar: As many as 135 complaints of power consumers were solved at the Bijli Darbar held at Bhagta Bhai Ka in this district on Saturday. J.S. Sekhon, member, distribution (PSEB), presided.

Hoshiarpur
Arrested: Inderjit of Hariana and Daljit Singh of Nangal Kanogo were arrested on Saturday following a scuffle with a police naka party, in which some policemen were injured, near the bus stand, Hariana, 15 km from here. Their accomplice Happy managed to escape. The incident happened after they teased a female constable, Neeta Rani. A case has been registered.

Dowry cases: The Sadar and Mukerian police registered two cases of harassment and torture against in-laws for dowry. As per Gurinder Kaur, one of the victims in Chhauni Kalan, her husband Amandeep Singh and mother-in-law Kulvir Kaur tortured and maltreated her for more dowry. The Sadar police registered a case against the son and the mother. In the second case Meenu of Railway Colony, Bhangala, has a same story against her husband Ravinder Kumar, father-in-law Bachan Lal and mother-in-law Lajaya Devi. A cse has been registered.

Jalandhar
1.5 lakh looted: Four robbers, one of them armed with a pistol, reportedly looted Rs 1.50 lakh from Ashok Kumar of Lasoori Mohalla in Basti Bawa Khel at Shamipur village on the Nakodar road. He was going on a scooter to hand over the money to his sister in Nakodar when the robbers intercepted him, beat him up and snatched the money. He became unconscious. After gaining consciousness, he informed the police.

20,400 take CET: Nearly 20,400 candidates appeared for the CET conducted by Punjab Technical University at various centres in the region today. Candidates seeking admission to engineering, architecture and pharmacy colleges of the state appeared at 73 centres of the region.

Khamano
DEAD: A migrant labourer, who was living at Raipur village, died under mysterious circumstances on Friday. According to reports, Mahesh Rai, a native of Bihar, was working with his group at a motor of a farmer, Lal Singh, at Raipur village. The group was at work during daytime and at around 6 p.m. Mahesh returned to the motor to cook food for himself and his companions. But when other labourers returned they saw Mahesh lying on a bed. A bottle was lying near his bed and it appeared that he had consumed some insecticide. He was unconscious and died later in the night. The police sent his body to post-mortem to know about the exact cause of death.

CHEQUE PRESENTED: Parliamentry secretary and MLA of Khanna, Bikramjeet Singh Khalsa, presented a cheque for Rs 30,000 to Nasib Singh for the treatment of his son Kulbir Singh at a sangat darshan programme on Friday. The youth, who belongs to a very poor family, has been unconscious for the past two months. Kulbir Singh is the only son of Nasib Singh. Mr Khalsa had helped the family earlier also. The villagers are also helping the sick youth. Mr Khalsa said the money had been given from the quota of Punjab Chief Minister. Several persons from Bhathan, Saidpura, Kotla Badla Bhari Mohan Majra, Luhar Majra and Bhamian villages presented their problems to the parliamentary secretary at the sangat darshan. Mr Khalsa announced that a dispensary will be constructed and primary school at Bhamian village will be upgraded to middle level and village sports clubs will be given grants soon.

Sarv Sikhya Abhian: Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan: A 12-day seminar is being organised under the Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan at Government Senior Secondary School, Khamano, under the command of co-ordinator-cum-resource person Darshan Singh Ghuman. As many as 70 primary and 63 up to primary teachers are participating in the seminar. Teachers are being given training in modern techniques of education, computer education, civil services rules, education of girls, health education and traffic rules. Principal Sharanjit Singh, lecturer Satwinder Kaur, lecturer Amarjit Kaur Litt and lecturer Sunila Joshi, are also participating in this seminar as resource persons.

VISIT: Balwant Singh Shergill, ADC (D), Fatehgarh Sahib, visited block development and panchayat office at Khamano on Saturday and took stock of the development schemes of different development works. He gathered information about Punjab Nirman Scheme, rural dispensary, school roads to deras and ordered the offices concerned to complete development works as soon as possible. He also directed them to send him the certificates of completed works. He planted five saplings of different trees at the office and appealed to the workers to plant more saplings. BDPO, Khamano, Baljit Singh Kainth, panchayat officer Balwinder Singh, superintendent Rajinder Kaur, secretary Lakhvir Singh, Gurdeep Singh and Nahar Kheri were also present with staff on the occasion.

Nawanshahr
Stone laid: Bhawana Garg, deputy commissioner, laid the foundation stone of the extension of the Blood Donors Complex here on Saturday. She lauded the contribution of the donors council in the field of voluntary blood donation and safe blood transfusion movement in the state.

Phagwara
Kidnap attempt foiled by public: Panic spread in the Model Town area last night when some unidentified youths made an attempt to kidnap two children. While one of the accused was arrested, the other three fled. The incident took place at around 8 pm. According to sources, Jyoti (10) and Shiva (9) were returning home after their tuition classes when suddenly the accused, who were waiting on a motor cycle, tried to overpower them. The girls raised a cry following which some passers-by came to their rescue.