R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Barnala
Five arrested with three pistols: Following a tip-off, the Mehal Kalan police has arrested five persons while they were allegedly planning to commit a crime near a canal on the Dhaner-Chak Bhaika kutcha path. Barnala SSP Surjit Singh said three pistols and six cartridges were also seized. The accused, booked under Section 399 and 402 of the IPC and Section 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act, have been identified as Baldev Singh (Mehal Kalan), Pardeep Singh (Jagraon), Devinder Singh (Jagraon), Bhupinder Singh (Lopon) and Buta Singh (Mehal Kalan).

Bathinda
2 arrested with 1 kg of heroin: The police on Tuesday arrested two persons in Botianwala village of Ferozepur district after allegedly recovering a kg of heroin, valued Rs 5 crore in the international market, from their possession. Identified as Amritveer Singh of Bhikhiwind and Baj Singh of Gandiwind in Tarn Taran district, the accused used to supply heroin in Ferozepur, Zira, Makhu and Tarn Taran areas, the police said. A case has been registered. This year, the police has seized 13 kg of heroin, 32 kg opium, 14 quintals of poppy husk and 740 gm smack from the Malwa region.

Jalandhar
CPI-ML’s Punjab Bandh tomorrow: To protest against the Centre's decision on allowing FDI in the retail sector and the fresh taxes imposed by the state government, the state unit of the CPI (ML) has given a call for Punjab Bandh on September 20.

Punjab Youth Congress president Vikramjit Chaudhary launches the online membership programme in Ludhiana.

Ludhiana
YC launches online membership drive: Punjab Youth Congress president Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary here on Tuesday launched an online membership programme. Chaudhary said the objective of the programme was to strengthen the cadre base of the party. "The exercise will certainly help the party in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls," he said. Calling Youth Akali Dal chief Bikram Singh Majithia's cycle rally as a "drama", he claimed the idea had been hijacked from the Youth Congress, which had planned to hold cycle rallies in protest against the VAT levied on petrol by the Akali-BJP Government.

Nawanshahr
3 killed in road mishap: Three migrant labourers, identified as Manirul (25), Mohammad Rijwan (35), Pijul (19) died on the spot, while Eijal (18) received severe injuries when the motorcycle they were riding on was allegedly hit by a truck near Garcha village on the Rahon-Phillaur road here today.

HARYANA

Rewari
Toddler killed: Thieves broke into Vijay Singh Yadav’s house at Rao Abhey Singh Colony in Dharuhera on Monday night. While other inmates of the house were asleep, Yadav’s son, Chaman (4), abruptly woke up and was about to raise an alarm when the thieves instantly administered some drug to the boy, which caused his death. Then the thieves decamped without committing any theft. Irate housewives of the colony on Tuesday blocked traffic on the Dharuhera-Sohna Highway demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

SONEPAT
Motorcyclist killed: Rajinder of Gohana died on the spot when his motorcycle collided with another motorcycle driven by Ashok of Ahulana village on the Gohana-Meham road on Tuesday. Ashok who was seriously injured was referred to the PGIMS, Rohtak.

Two injured: Two youths, Satish and Sumit, of Khewra village were injured when a group of four youths of the same village fired at them in the village on Monday night. The injured were admitted to the PGIMS, Rohtak. Both are stated to be out of danger. Some old ill-will between them was stated to be reason behind the attack. A case has been registered.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Hamirpur
19 injured as bus rolls off road: Nineteen passengers were injured when a private bus they were travelling in rolled off the Deokhad-Bijahd road in Badsar subdivision this morning.

DEHRADUN

Dehradun
16 mini-fire tenders flagged off: DGP Vijay Raghav Pant today flagged off 16 mini-water tenders laced with the latest fire fighting equipment to be provided to fire stations in different districts. The vehicles were purchased for Rs 2.7 crore provided by the Central and state governments.