R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Anandpur Sahib
Gang of robbers busted, 4 held: The district police has claimed to have bust a four-member gang allegedly involved in robbing people of their belongings. The police has arrested Love Avasthi of Delhi, Deepam of Jabalpur (MP), Ravi Kishan of Patiala and Gurjeet Singh Monu of Anandpur Saihb. They had allegedly looted a student of Lovely University on February 25. A number of mobile phones and bags were recovered from the accused. A case under Section 394 of the IPC has been registered.

Ludhiana
PAU releases six new crop varieties: The Punjab Agricultural University has released four new high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties of rice and one each of maize and guar for general cultivation in the state. The varieties include "PR 121" and "PR 122" of 'A' grade paddy, "Punjab Basmati 3" and "PUSA Punjab Basmati 1509" of basmati rice, "PMH 7" of maize and "HG 365" of guar.

Patiala
Police acted in haste: Maluka: Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka, district in charge of the SAD, today slammed the Police Department for “acting in haste” and pressing murder charges on former Patiala Mayor Jaspal Pardhan following the mysterious death of his “daughter-in-law” Parampreet Kaur.  Maluka said: “Registering a murder case on the basis of allegations alone was not justified. The police should have done an enquiry before slamming such serious charges against Pardhan. I have learnt that Pardhan was not present at the crime scene and reached the spot only after he was called by his son Preetinder Singh,” he said.

Sangrur
11-year-old raped in Sangrur dist: An 11-year-old girl was allegedly raped by 21-year-old Gogi Singh in Bhutal Kalan village, near Moonak, on Wednesday. The police has registered a case against Gogi under Sections 376 and 452 of the IPC. The accused is yet to be arrested. In her complaint, the victim’s mother stated the family had gone to attend a marriage when Gogi, finding her daughter alone in the house, raped her.

Life term for two in rape case: Two youths, Arjun Singh (19) of Mangwal village and Amritpal Singh Sekhon (20) of Sangrur, were awarded rigorous imprisonment for life and a fine of Rs 5,000 each by Additional Sessions Judge Virinder Aggarwal on Thursday. The victim was a 19-year-old college student. Another accused Mandeep Singh is facing trial in a juvenile court here. On the statement of the girl, a case was registered against Arjun, Amritpal and Mandeep on September 17, 2012 under Sections 376, 506 and 120-B of the IPC at the City police station.