New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) These are the top stories from the northern region at 8.30 pm.

These are the top stories from the northern region at 8.30 pm. DEL79-PB-LD RESHUFFLE Punjab Cabinet rejig: Sidhu divested of crucial local govt dept, gets power portfolio Chandigarh: Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is at loggerheads with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, was divested of the crucial Local Government department and was given the Power and New and Renewable Energy Sources portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle on Thursday.

DEL70-RJ-CONG MLA-NOTICE Cong serves notice to R'than MLA over remarks against Gehlot New Delhi/Jaipur: The Congress Thursday issued a notice to its MLA from Rajasthan's Todabhim over his remarks against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot after the party drew a blank in the recent Lok Sabha elections in the state. DES36-RJ-BJP-SAINI-AKBAR Raj BJP chief targets Mughal emperor Akbar, triggers row Jaipur: Rajasthan BJP chief Madan Lal Saini Thursday claimed Mughal emperor Akbar tried to misbehave with a Bikaner queen in an all-women Meena Bazaar, which he used to frequent in disguise.

DES37-RJ-NIPAH-ADVISORY Nipah virus: Raj health min asks officials to remain alert Jaipur: Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma Thursday gave directions to health officials for the prevention and control of Nipah in the state, days after the deadly virus was detected in Kerala. DEL66-JK-ENCOUNTER Encounter breaks out between militants and security forces in in Pulwama Srinagar: An encounter broke out Thursday between militants and security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

DES41-HP-WEATHER Rains bring respite from heat in HP Shimla: Rains over the last 24 hours in isolated places in Himachal Pradesh brought respite from heatwave conditions, bringing the mercury down by 3 to 7 notches, the Shimla Meteorological Centre said Thursday..