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PUNJAB

Amritsar
Goodwill gesture: 18 fisherman released: On the eve of a crucial meeting between the Home Secretaries of India and Pakistan, the Pakistan Government today released 18 fishermen from a Karachi jail as a goodwill gesture. The fishermen crossed over at the Attari-Wagah check post. All of them belonged to Junagarh in Gujarat. One of the fishermen, Hari, who served a 15-month jail term, said there were 450 more fishermen in Pakistani jails waiting to be released. Among them, two had lost their mental balance.

BSNL’s new facility: The BSNL today launched video and voice over broadband (VVOB) facility in the holy city. BSNL General Manager Labh Singh to avail the service, a broadband connection is must besides one has to shell out Rs 150 as monthly rent. The voice call would be charged at Re one per minute and video at Rs 2.50 per minute, including STD. — TNS

Moga
Robbers’ gang busted in Moga: The Moga police claims to have busted a gang of robbers following the arrest of four criminals. The police has recovered three motorcycles and some sharp-edged weapons from their possession, said Surjit Singh Grewal, Moga SSP. He said the arrested gang members were Baljinder Singh of Ghodewala, Balwinder Singh of Bughipura, Balraj Singh of Vishkarma Nagar and Hardeep Singh of Nanak Nagar. An FIR under sections 399 and 402 of the IPC had been registered against them, he added.

Nawanshahr
Brick-kiln owners oppose 'green' law: A meeting of the Brick-Kiln Owners Association was held here on Wednesday to discuss problems being faced by the owners in running brick-kilns under the Mines and Minerals Act, which makes it mandatory for them to obtain no objection certificates from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The owners said the new law would bring the industry on the verge of closure. Ashok Laroyia, district president of the association, said the industry had been reeling under problems like scarcity of coal and its rising prices. "We will urge the authorities to relax the norms". He said they would apprise the authorities of problems like unemployment and halt in development process which would arise due to the closure of brick kilns.

HARYANA

Ambala
Man arrested: The police has arrested Mahender Kumar of Mankaya village for raping a minor on May 16. The victim's father said the youth abducted his five-year-old daughter from his house while she was sleeping. He took her in a field and raped her. He then dropped her near her house in the night. Next day the girl told her mother that an uncle had taken her in the field where he raped her. A medical examination of the victim confirmed rape.

Jind
Parole jumpers: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the police to arrest two murder convicts in the district who have not returned for several years after being out on parole. Both convicts, Ramlal and Rajendra, were serving jail terms on charges of murdering their wives and had been out on parole since 2003 and 1998, respectively.

KAITHAL
Blood donation: On Anti-terrorism Day and the 21st death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, PWD and Industries Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala inaugurated a blood donation camp at the Community Health Centre, Rajound, on Monday. As many as 70 persons donated blood. Surjewala said Rajiv Gandhi was a visionary leader and he laid strong industrial foundation to make India self-reliant.

Panipat
Road safety: Rohtak Range IG Alok Mittal on Monday inaugurated a Road Safety Knowledge Centre here aimed at promoting better driving skills. Mittal said it had now been made mandatory to get a road safety knowledge certificate before applying for a driving licence. It was the fourth knowledge centre of the state after Faridabad and Karnal.

Rewari
Husband booked: The police has registered a case of dowry death against the deceased Deepika’s husband, Chander Kant, father-in-law, RK Rohilla, and mother-in-law, Rajni Devi, all residents of the Rohini area in Delhi. Besides, Ram Autar Gupta, a close associate of RK Rohilla, has also been booked on the charge of abetment to suicide . The case has been registered on a complaint filed by the victim’s father.

Sirsa
Cop dead: A policeman, who was suspended recently for drinking in the police station during daytime, died of a heart attack at his residence in Begu on Saturday. ASI Tarender Paul Singh was caught consuming liquor with his colleague when a police party sent by SP Satinder Kumar Gupta raided the police station on a tip-off on May 14. Singh had gone to his village after the suspension and was taking his meals when he suddenly complained of uneasiness and died of a heart attack.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

DALHOUSIE
PWD beldar dies of injuries: A beldar of the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HP PWD) succumbed to his injuries on way to the Regional Hospital, Chamba, on Monday. A report revealed that the deceased, identified as PWD beldar Bashesar Mohammed (50), had slipped down a hillside near Telka in Salooni tehsil of Chamba district. He belonged to Choohan village.

KANGRA
Nepalese woman dies of burns: A 27-year-old Nepali woman succumbed to her burn injuries at the DRPGMC Tanda on Wednesday. She had been struggling for life for the past five days. The police said Roma Devi was residing at Chowki and on May 17 last while working in the kitchen the stove burst leaving her with more than 95 per cent injuries.

MANDI
Patwari challaned for taking bribe: The state Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau on Tuesday challaned patwari Sohan Lal, who was caught redhanded with Rs 2,000 bribe, in the special court of Mandi. The Vigilance said the team had caught Sohan Lal posted at Chattar (Balh) with the bribe he had accepted from complainant Parma Ram on January 13, 2011. He was arrested and the challan had been put in the court, Mandi SP Virender Sharma said.