In Brief

Passport office to be inaugurated
The passport office at Ludhiana is all set to start work within a fortnight as all arrangements have been put in place at the local office near Rarewala Market. Ludhiana MP and national spokesperson of the All India Congress Committee,Manish Tewari,accompanied by Regional Passport Officer Vithul Kumar reviewed the arrangements on Friday. Officials said the Ludhiana Passport Office will be operated by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and would be headed by a passport officer from the Ministry of External Affairs. Besides,a special escalating chair has been arranged for the old and disabled. Vithul Kumar and TCS officials maintained the Ludhiana office will cater to applicants from entire Punjab and this will reduce the burden on Chandigarh Passport Office.

Undertrials clash in court premises
Two rival groups of undertrials clashed inside the court premises on Friday,while they were being taken for hearing. Daljit Singh,who faces rape charges,was attacked by a rival group with a knife. The prisoners had allegedly brought the knife from the jail without the knowledge of the staff. Singh got head injuries and was taken to the civil hospital. Both groups had clashed inside the jail premises a few days ago as well.