Jalandhar: Following the call of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, auto-rickshaw drivers under the banner of Bhagat Singh Auto-rickshaw Drivers Union on Wednesday took out a protest march at Company Bagh Chowk and Municipal Corporation office. Holding placards against the anti-labour laws and the three controversial agricultural laws, the auto-rickshaw drivers said the protest was carried out to mark the ‘Black Day’. They also demanded financial help amid the Covid crisis. Ranjit Kumar, president of the union, said: “Due to the pandemic, all our savings have exhausted. It is becoming difficult for the poor auto-rickshaw drivers to arrange two-square meals. The daily earnings have also reduced to Rs100-200. Hence, in line with the Delhi Government, we also demand from the government to provide sustenance allowance of Rs5,000, to cope with the financial crisis. tns

One booked for abetting suicide

Hoshiarpur: The Mahilpur police have booked a woman under the charge of abetment of suicide. Deepak Kumar (24), son of Ajay Kumar, a resident of Bharowal village, had committed suicide by swallowing some poisonous substance. The deceased’s father, Ajay Kumar, had complained to the police that a married woman Kamaljit Kaur of the same village was having an extramarital affair with Deepak. She used to blackmail him and had forcibly taken his new mobile phone too. He said Deepak committed suicide for being harassed by her. The police have booked the woman under Section 306 of the IPC. OC

Shanties gutted, 1K shelterless

Kapurthala: As many as 1,000 people were left shelterless after 250 shanties near Rail Coach Factory caught fire on Wednesday afternoon. The flames of the emanating fire and smoke could be seen from a distance of over 2 km. Four fire extinguishers and 25 firemen were pressed for rescue operation and fire was finally doused after two hours. SDM Sultanpur Lodhi Charumita confirmed that no loss of life took place and an arrangement of food and relief for affected families was being made through various organisations. DSP Sarwan S Bal said the cause of fire could not be ascertained. TNS

Travel agent booked

Hoshiarpur: The Tanda police have booked Harjit Kumar of New Deep Nagar here for allegedly duping a man of Rs8.27 lakh on the pretext of sending his son abroad. Satinder Pal Singh of Mohalla Lahoriyan, Tanda, had complained to the police that Harjit had taken Rs 8.27 lakh from him for sending his son Lovepreet to Canada, but neither he sent him to Canada nor returned the money. The police have booked the accused under Section 420 and 406 of the IPC. OC

DC honours 20 operators

Jalandhar: Keeping his promise to reward best performing operators who have generated maximum cards under the Ayushman Bharat-Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori on Wednesday felicitated 20 such operators at the District Administrative Complex here. The DC said Jalandhar had ensured around 87 per cent coverage of the total beneficiaries, which in turn has placed the district in a leading position. The operators who received reward and appreciation letters from the DC included Sangeet, Kesar, Varun, Tarlok, Anjali Bhatti, ManinderJit Singh, Kuldip, Vijaypal, Paramjit Singh, Kuldeep, Akash Kumar, Sukhbir Singh, Sonia, Kuldeep Kumar, Mandeep Kaur, Boota Singh, Bakshish Singh, Sandeep Singh, Jaswinder, and Deepak. TNS

Bank donates masks, sanitisers

Jalandhar: Coming to the aid of the administration in Covid times, State Bank of India officials on Wednesday donated Covid-related material for use in district health facilities and hospitals. Chief Manager JM Kalia and deputy Chief Manager Pawan Bassi said the bank had donated 15,000 masks and gloves, 65 sanitisers and 400 litres of hypochlorite to the Civil Surgeon. TNS

Woman dies of consuming drug

Garhashankar: A 29-year-old woman Sukhwinder Kaur, wife of Jaspal Singh of Chakk Raunta, died of mistakenly consuming some medicine. She was at her home when her condition deteriorated, she was taken to the Garhshankar Civil Hospital where she died during the treatment. The police have recorded proceedings under Section 174 on the statement of her family members. The body was handed over to the kin after post-mortem examination. OC