Chandigarh: Despite a ban, firecrackers were burst in different parts of the city on Gurpurb. The UT had imposed a ban on the sale and use of crackers earlier this month. The directions were issued as a containment measure to check the spread of Covid-19 due to a polluted atmosphere created by the bursting of crackers. While 113 calls regarding bursting of crackers were received by the police, only 12 FIRs were registered. tns

Scooterist hit by vehicle, dies

Fatehgarh Sahib: An unidentified vehicle hit a scooter on the Sirhind-Patiala road near Madhopur Chowk on Monday morning, resulting in the death of the scooterist on the spot. Sashvir Kumar, ASI, Sirhind police station, said the deceased had been identified as Baljit Singh (54), a resident of Husainpura village. He said the victim was coming from his village to Sirhind on the scooter and as he reached near Madhopur Chowk, an unidentified vehicle hit his scooter and crushed him. The vehicle driver sped away from the spot. He said the police had registered a case against the unidentified vehicle owner. The body was handed over to the family after a postmortem.

Man held with 140-gm opium

Chandigarh: A Hallo Majra resident has been arrested by the police with 140 gm of opium. The police said Vijay Kant (38) was nabbed from near the Poultry Farm chowk on November 29. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against him at the Sector 31 police station. TNS

Hostels unlikely to open today

Chandigarh: Local colleges are unlikely to open hostels for final-year students from Tuesday as instructed by the Director Higher Education (DHE) amid low attendance in the ongoing physical classes, which restarted on November 23. “Hostels are unlikely to open from December 1 as we are yet to receive consent from students and their parents. For the time being, physical and online classes will continue as per schedule,” said a college principal. “The process to allot seats in hostels will also take time. At present, not many students are willing to stay in hostels,” said a teacher. TNS

Protest by NSUI at Panjab varsity

Chandigarh: A protest was held at Panjab University to support the ongoing farmers’ agitation. NSUI national media in charge Manoj Lubana said, “Many students came together to support farmers’ call because members of their own families living in Punjab and Haryana are related to farming.” “We appeal to all people to come forward in support of the farmers’ cause,” he added. TNS

Constitution Day celebrated at PU

Chandigarh: Panjab University celebrated the 71st Constitution Day by organising a webinar on “Fundamental rights and duties” on Monday. Prof Jyoti Rattan introduced the theme of the webinar. Prof Raj Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, welcomed chief guest Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Supreme Court, who talked about the success of the Indian Constitution in establishing the ideals of universal justice and democracy. Prof RK Singla, DUI, Vikram Nayyar, FDO and officiating Registrar, Dr Jagat Bhushan, officiating CoE, DSWs, chairpersons, directors of regional centres, college principals, teachers and students attended the event. TNS

500 boxes of sweets gifted

Chandigarh: On the occasion of Gurpurb, Sukhjit Singh Gill, president of Rotary Club, along with other members, gifted 500 boxes of sweets to police personnel at the Police Lines, Sector 26, here as a mark of gratitude and appreciation to the brave and vigilant. TNS

Two arrested for theft incidents

Zirakpur: With the arrest of two persons, the police claimed to have solved three theft incidents in Baltana here on Monday. The police also recovered Rs90,000 and 27 gold and silver jewellery items worth Rs 9 lakh from the suspects. Household items, bed sheets and clothes were also recovered from them. Hari Das was arrested on November 26 while Manna, alias Raju, was caught red-handed while stealing Rs1 lakh and jewellery worth Rs5 lakh from a house at Harmilap Nagar on November 23. The suspects are residents of New Indira Colony, Mani Majra. One of their accomplices is on the run. TNS

New spokesperson of Ramgarhia Board

Patiala: Manmohan Singh, under secretary, public relations, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, has been appointed spokesman-cum-press secretary of the All India Ramgarhia Board. Mohan Singh, president, All India Ramgarhia Board, said Manmohan would provide his services as spokesman-cum-press secretary of the board. TNS