R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Ludhiana 
BVM students awarded: The students of Bharatiya Vidya Mandir, USN, brought pride and honour to the institution by excelling in Analysis and Development of Scientific Aptitude and Talent (ADSAT) competition exam 2008-09 held on Nov 30, 2008. The winners were awarded with gold medals and certificates.

Mansa
SAD (A) stages dharna: SAD (A) president Simranjit Singh Mann led the dharna staged at the court complex here on Friday against the alleged manhandling of a person by SHO Jogga Singh. Mann said that the ruling party was talking about Anandpur Sahib resolution but it was ignorant even of its basic premises. He demanded that SHO Jogga be suspended. Mann also threatened to block the movement of Orbit buses on February 18, if the government failed to do the same. 

Protect farmers, says SAD leader: SAD general secretary and president of kisan wing of the party Balwinder Singh Bhunder demanded wheat at the rate of Rs 1400 per quintal. He said that the increase of Rs 80 was comparatively less. The Union government should offer reasonable price for wheat. He further said it was the need of the hour to save the farmers from the economic crisis.

Samrala
State pensioners stage dharna:Punjab State Pensioners Mahasang held a dharna against the Punjab government for not implementing the 6th Pay Commission report in front of SDM Office, Samrala, under the chairmanship of Punjab president Prem Sagar yesterday. Speakers threatened to hold rallies against the government, if the report would not be implemented by February 20. 

CHANDIGARH

Appointed: The Chandigarh Administration has designated Assistant District Attorney Ritu Jain as the central public information officer in respect of the offices of the district attorney, UT, Chandigarh, and the district attorney, consumer protection, UT, Chandigarh. 

JAMMU & KASHMIR

JAMMU
Absconding rape accused held: A rape accused, who managed to escape from the police custody in November last year, was re-arrested by the police in Bhaderwah town of Doda district, sources said here on Friday. The accused identified as Sadbar Hussain of Thathri, Doda, was re-arrested by the police and a fresh case has been registered against him. The accused managed a slip from the police custody last year from a bathroom. He was booked under Sections 376, 363, 344 and 144 of the RPC. Meanwhile, two policemen accompanying the accused were also suspended and inquiry was ordered into the incident.

SRINAGAR
6 hurt in accidents: Six persons were injured in two road accidents in the valley, a police spokesman said on Friday. A Sumo coming from Pakerpora to Charar-e-Sharief skidded off the road at Zanipanchal near Charar-e-Sharief in Central Kashmir Budgam district on Thursday evening, resulting in injuries to three persons. In another accident, three persons were injured, when an unidentified car hit them at Kathpora in Shopian district of South Kashmir on Thursday. The injured were shifted to the hospital.

2 held with poppy powder: Two Punjab residents were arrested along with poppy straw powder in Pulwama district of South Kashmir on Friday, a police spokesman said. Yarvinder Singh and Jeswauth Singh were arrested by the police from Kakapora area of Pulwama district. At least 14 kg of poppy straw powder was seized from the arrested persons. A case has been has registered.