R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Ludhiana
Histry-sheeter nabbed: The city police nabbed a recidivist vehicle-lifter Balwinder Singh and recovered four stolen motorcycle from his possession. The accused, who was recently acquitted on bail, was visiting Patiala for hearing in a vehicle lifting case. On returning home he stole a motorcycle. The police received a tip-off that Balwinder Singh was roaming with a stolen motorcycle. Following the information, the police laid a trap near Shastri Nagar area in Jodhewal Basti and nabbed him. During the investigation, the suspect cracked and told the police about the location where he had hidden stolen motorcycles.

Two brothers arrested in murder case: Shanty and Bunty, two of the three persons booked for thrashing Krishan Kumar to death following a spat on Lohri night, were nabbed by the police. The arrest was made after the family members of the victim staged dharna at NH-I yesterday and blocked traffic. While Shanty Bunty were nabbed, the third accomplice Bittu is still on the run.

Pathankot
Observers deputed: The District Electoral Officer Siban C said K Ellangovan, Vikram Wani and Madi Reddy Partap have been deputed as observers for the three Assembly segments, namely Sujanpur, Pathankot and Bhoa of the Pathankot district. They would ensure free and fair election.

Phagwara
Woman kills self: Amandeep Kaur reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself with a ceiling fan in her in-laws house in Dameli village on Monday. Gurdip Singh husband of the deceased said mental stress was the cause of suicide. The couple was married recently. A case has been registered and the body was sent to the local Civil Hospital for post-mortem.

Minor gang raped: A 13-year-old was allegedly gang raped by youths near Bhabhiana village in Phagwara on Sunday. The victim was admitted to the local Civil Hospital for medical examination. SHO Rawalpindi Shiv Kamal Singh said, “The victim in her statement to the police said she was working in the fields when a car stopped there. Few youths got down from the car and pushed her inside the car and raped her.” Police has registered a case under relevant Sections of the IPC.

HARYANA

Hisar
Bush fire on HAU campus: A big bush fire broke out on Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) campus here on Sunday. The fire, which spread swiftly threatened the Livestock Farm and the pathogen laboratory. When security personnel failed to douse the flames, the fire brigade was summoned. Two fire engines brought the fire under control in about two hours. It is suspected that a cigarette or ‘beedi’ stub began the fire.

Kurukshetra
Blood camp: As many as 58 units of blood was donated at a blood donation camp jointly organised by the district police and the Road Safety Organisation in collaboration with the Red Cross Society on the premises of the Police Lines here on Sunday. Parul Kush, district police chief, gave away certificates to blood donors.

Sirsa
6 motorbikes seized: The police has recovered six motorcycles stolen from various areas of Sirsa town on the information given by members of a gang of bike thieves during their interrogation. A spokesperson said the accused had sold four stolen bikes to Jagpreet Singh of Panniwala Mota. The police had also arrested Jagpreet Singh after these revelations. In another case the police has arrested eight persons on the charge of disturbing peace of the citizens by making hooliganism at a public place in Dabwali.

Poppy seized: The police has arrested a scooter rider with four kg of poppy husk from the bus stand, Mangiana. The accused has been identified as Lakhwinder of Desujodha. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act has been registered against the accused.

DEHRADUN

DEHRADUN
BSNL officials stage protest: BSNL executive officials protested before the office of the Chief General-Manager, BSNL, in city on Monday against taking outsiders on the post of Dy General Managers. The protest was made on the call given by the United Forum, BSNL, situated in New Delhi. They also demanded higher pay scale of E2 and E3 for the junior telecom officers (JTO) and sub division (SD) engineers. Those who joined the protest included circle secretary SS Rothan and Vivek Tiwari, JP Saxena, Kamlesh Kumar, Naeem Ahmad, Ranvir Chauhan and Narender Gangwar.

Kumaon Briefs
Tanakpur station to be linked with Pilibhit: The North Eastern Railways plans to link the Tanakpur station with Pilibhit through a broad gauge line by 2014. At present, the two stations are linked by a metre gauge line. General-Manager of the North Eastern Railways KBL Mittal said this during his inspection of the Tanakpur and Banbasa railway stations. He has ordered that the work on 13 big bridges that are being constructed for the purpose be completed well in time and steps be taken to remove encroachments on the railway land in the area.

Body found: The body of an 18-year-old youth, who had been missing since December 31, was found in the Bahla river in Kashipur. The victim, identified as Sunil Yadav alias Sonu of Himmatpur village, was killed by two of his neighbours. The accused had been demanding a ransom of Rs 20 lakh. The matter was reported to the police by deceased’s father on January 9. The police has arrested the two accused, identified as Shera and Guddu. Third accused Sukhram, who was the mastermind behind the kidnapping, is still to be traced. The accused have told the police that they had lured the victim to a weekly market and subsequently to a field where they strangulated him and dumped the body into the river after putting it in a sack. Further investigations are on in the matter.

Woman killed in accident: A woman-pillion rider was killed when the motorcycle on which she was travelling was hit by an unknown vehicle near the Mota Haldu gas plant in Haldwani. The deceased has been identified as 35-year-old Suman. She was going with her husband to participate in his father’s cremation in the Devnariya area of Bareilley. Her husband, Prem Singh, who a soldier, has sustained major injuries in the accident.

Labourer raped: A case of rape of a woman working as a labourer at a brick kiln has come to light from the Khatima area of Udham Singh Nagar district. According to Pappu, who is the husband of the victim, two persons- Ramcandra and Rajvir, had allegedly dragged his wife to a ditch and had raped her while he had gone out of his house in Bhanga village. The accused had allegedly stuffed her mouth with a cloth to block her noise. The police has registered a case and has got the medical examination of the victim done. Efforts are on to nab the accused.

Snowfall in Nainital: The town of Nainital witnessed yet another snowfall on Monday morning. The residents of the Lake City woke up to find the higher reaches of the town covered with white cover while the snowflakes fell amid intermittent raindrops. The entire Kumaon region is witnessing a cold wave over the last two days with the temperatures plummeting. While the tourists are thronging the region to witness snow, the local residents are facing a tough time.

(Compiled by Rajeev Khanna)