R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
Army store burgled: An unidentified person decamped with wire, recovery units, electricity cables and conductors from an Army store in the city cantonment area here last night. Head constable Abhishek Kumar of 270 Engineering Regiment said the thief decamped with the material after breaking open the windows of the regiment's store. The police has registered a case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC against unidentified person in this connection.

Four arrested with drugs, liquor: The police has arrested four persons with drugs and illicit liquor. Anil Saini, wanted in many criminal cases including attempt to murder, robbery etc, was arrested with 700 grams of intoxicant powder. He has been booked under Sections 22, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against him. Investigating Officer Arjun Singh said Anil had come out on bail after he was caught under Section 110 of CrPC. In another incident, the Chheharta police arrested Deepak of Ranjit Pura for possessing habit-forming drugs. The police also arrested Kuldip Singh of Guru Ki Wadali and Ajay Kumar of Ram Nagar Colony with illicit liquor.

Man who attempted self-immolation booked: The police has booked Surinder Kumar, a resident of Pishoria Mohalla, Chheharta, who had tried to commit suicide by self-immolation in the Hall Gate area on Sunday evening. The police has registered a case under Section 309 of the IPC (attempt to commit suicide) against Surinder in this connection, said Sukhdev Singh, in charge of Hall Gate police chowki and investigating officer in the case. The reason for Surinder's act is still unclear as he was declared unfit by doctors attending on him.

Chandigarh
Illegal mining: At least 217 FIRs on illegal mining have been registered in different districts in the past one month. Mining officers have been directed to initiate action against the offenders.

Sanjha Morcha protest from today: Manpreet Badal-led Sanjha Morcha will launch a statewide campaign from Tuesday against the alleged criminalisation of politics and politicisation of police in the state. "We will hold demonstrations from December 11-17 to protest against the entry of criminals in politics," said Dr Joginder Dayal, a senior Morcha leader. "The way police official was killed in Amritsar by a youth associated with the ruling party is a wake-up call for checking the menace," he said. He alleged that the main parties in the state had completely destroyed the administrative system, especially the police set up, by politicising the postings and transfers of officials at all levels. "Criminals have taken shelter in political parties. During the campaign, we will urge people to raise their voice against the politicisation of posting and transfer system."

Gurdaspur
Emergency landing: An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter carrying 17 staff personnel was forced to make an emergency landing due to a technical snag. The helicopter landed in the fields at Bagranian village, 15 km from here, the police said. The IAF chopper, that took off from the Adampur air base, was headed for the Halwara air base.

Jalandhar
Traders attacked for stopping youths from harassing girl: Four shopkeepers were attacked by drunken youths when they tried to stop them from harassing a girl near Bhagat Singh Chowk here, less than a kilometre from the city's Police Station No 3. The youths are reportedly close to an Akali leader. The shopkeepers, who were reportedly attacked with swords and sharp-edged weapons, were taken to the Civil Hospital. A large number of shopkeepers staged a dharna in protest against the incident. Senior officials reached the dharna site and pacified the protesters. The police conducted a raid on a marriage hall and arrested eight assailants.

Moga
Man gets life term for killing wife: The District and Sessions Court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of killing his wife. A fine of Rs 5,000 was also slapped on him. The murder case was registered against Gurcharan Singh alias Charna of Buttar Kalan village on June 16, 2010. He had killed his wife Surinder Kaur and buried her body body at his residence. The reason was that his wife could not conceive even after 22 years of their marriage.

Ropar
Woman killed as roof caves in: A 40-year-old woman was killed when the roof of her rented house caved in here on Monday. The victim, Rita, wife of Naresh, a labourer, was watching television at her house in Mata Rani locality when the incident occurred. The couple's daughter, Luxmi (10), had a narrow escape as she was near the door of house. She rushed outside the house when wooden planks of roof started falling on the floor.

Rs 5.07 cr received under job Act: The district administration has received a Rs 5.07-crore grant under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act for various developmental works being carried out by 357 panchayats in their areas during the current financial year. Deputy Commissioner PK Aggrawal said Rs 3.84 crore had already been spent in different blocks of the district, including Anandpur Sahib (Rs 144.45 lakh), Nurpur Bedi (Rs 90.47 lakh), Ropar (Rs 61.42 lakh) and Chamkaur Sahib (Rs 37.23 lakh).

HARYANA

Kurukshetra
Medical camp: To pay tribute to journalist and freedom fighter Dr Shanti Swaroop Sharma, the Sthanu Sewamandal will organise a free medical camp on Tuesday at the Nagli Kutiya Ashram here. Blankets will also be distributed among the poor. Additional Deputy Commissioner Sumedha Kataria will preside over the function and Barahmchari Brahamsawroop of Shri Jairam Vidyapeeth will be the chief guest.

Rewari
Police custody: While patrolling on the Narnaul road, the police apprehended three armed youths who were reportedly planning to loot passersby. The police has seized a country-made pistol and a cartridge from them. The accused were produced in a local court on Monday, which remanded them in two-day police custody.