R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Drivers booked for fraud: The Sirhind police have booked two truck drivers Bhamvar of Udaipur (Rajsthan) and Satnam Singh of Batala under Sections 407 and 420 of the IPC for allegedly disappearing with trucks loaded with wine. Bhupinder Singh, a wine contractor in Barnala, in his complaint to the Sirhind police said he had loaded two trucks bearing numbers MH-18-AA-6100 and GJ-6-ZZ-2744 with wine on February 2 and the consignment was meant for AK & Company. 

Labourer killed: Tarn Taran: A labourer, Satnam Singh (44), died in a road accident near his native Sursing village, 25 km from here, on Sunday. Satnam was riding his cycle when he was hit by an unidentified vehicle. A case has been registered. 

Ferozepur

2 Chinese pistols, fake currency seized: In a joint operation, the Punjab Police and the BSF on Monday seized two .30 calibre Chinese pistols, two magazines, 74 rounds and fake currency notes worth Rs 4 lakh from DT Mal border outpost along the Indo-Pak border, said Manminder Singh, Ferozepur SSP. 

Contest: A biography reading competition was organised at Green Grove Public School. JPS Jolly, president of the school, graced the occasion. Students of classes V to VII participated in the competition.

Filling station sealed: The district administration on Monday sealed a filling station of Bharat Petroleum on the Defence Road in Malout. Sources said people had lodged a complaint that the filling station staff had been mixing water in fuel. A team conducted a raid and sealed the station after taking fuel samples

Tarn Taran

BJP leader held for molestation: BJP leader Harbhinder Singh has been arrested on the charge of molestation. Harwinder Kaur of Dial Rajputan village, in her statement to the police, alleged that Harbhinder had forcibly entered her room at the local Civil Hospital, where her son is admitted, on Sunday evening. He allegedly bolted the room from inside and started molesting her. When she raised an alarm, some patients in the vicinity caught him and handed him over the police.

CHANDIGARH

Samsung launches new refrigerators: Samsung today launched its new smart refrigerator range with the addition of new models that are eco-friendly, stylishly designed and equipped with smart innovative technology. The range also offers a differentiated floral orcherry design in peach silver, garnet red, coral white and pebble blue in addition to real stainless, platinum inox, metal graphite colour patterns. With the launch of the new Frost free models, Samsung total Frost Free refrigerator range has 45 models in 255L to 555L capacity priced between Rs 20,100 to Rs 2,09,000. It reduces electricity bills by using less energy to operate and comes with a 10 year warranty, said Rajeev Bhutani, Director, Consumer. 

HARYANA

Live tank shell found: A live tank shell was found near a police station on Sunday and was detonated in a deserted area by an Army team. The 3.5-feet shell was found 100 yards away from the Kherki Daula police station on a vacant plot on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway. "We called an Army team from Delhi and they said that it was a tank shell used in the 1960s. An ordnance team of the Army detonated it in a deserted area," said DCP Rahul Sharma. 

Hisar

Labourer found dead: A migrant labourer was found dead near Sector 14 here on Saturday. Sudhir Kumar, 35, had gone missing from his house on Friday evening and his body was found lying in the bushes near Sector 14 the next day. The police have registered a case in this regard. 

Panipat

Two transformers stolen: Two transformers installed at Bhaupur and Karad villages in the district were stolen on Sunday. The stolen transformers were of 16 kVA and 6.3 kVA. The SDO, Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, Israna, said the value of the stolen transformers was about Rs 53,000. An FIR has been registered against unknown thieves under the Electricity Act at the Israna police station on the statement of the SDO. 

Rohtak

Special chance for MDU students: The MDU authorities have provided a special chance to students registered in or after 2000 to complete their courses or improve their result if there is a provision for it. The Controller of Examinations said online forms for the special chance could be submitted up to February 20. 

Sena Medal for officer: Col Yashdeep Sangwan of Rohtak has been awarded the Sena Medal by the Army for his distinguished role and exceptional leadership in containing militancy in the trouble-torn areas of lower Assam. As of now, he is commanding 19 Madras Regiment which, during its deployment in Dhubri, Kokhrajhar, Bongaigaon and Chirang districts for counter-terrorism duties, eliminated and apprehended many NDFB and ULFA militants.
Col Yashdeep Sangwan being awarded the Sena Medal.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA

Proposal to hike fees in colleges opposed: The ABVP has opposed the proposed move of HPU to increase the fees in colleges. Members of the ABVP have protested the 25 per cent hike in the fees which will put more burden on poor students. Similarly, the SFI has also warned that it will launch an agitation if the university administration fails to withdraw the proposed fee hike. 

KULLU

Logs worth ~35 lakh recovered: In a breakthrough in the case of illicit felling of trees in the Najan forest reserve reported on February 3 by the Forest Range Officer at Hurla, the police recovered 26 deodar and 5 kail logs of different volumes till on Friday, Kullu DSP Sanjay Sharma said. The value of the recovered logs was said to be around Rs 35 lakh. Further investigation was on, he added. Despite heavy snowfall and rain during the past few days, the police were able to recover the trees.

NURPUR

Youth gets bail in obscene MMS case: Gourav Pathania of Madhopur Lal Kothi (Pathankot), arrested by the police for allegedly uploading an obscene MMS of a 23-year-old girl of Indora on Facebook, was produced in the local court on Friday. The court granted him bail with a surety bond of Rs 25,000. As per police information, the victim's father had registered a case against the culprit on December 7 last year. The police had registered an FIR under Sections 292, 509 and 201, IPC, and Section 67, Information Technology Act. He had been arrested on Thursday evening from his native village.

Volleyball tournament concludes: A two-day volleyball tournament, organised at the Golwan Government High School by the Karam Singh Youth Club, concluded here on Monday. Ten teams from Himachal and Punjab took part in the tournament. Teams from Manwal (Pathankot), Romi Club (Pathankot) and local Panjrori Club were declared first, second and third and awarded Rs 11,000, 8,000 and 3,100. The event was organised in memory of Nurpur Block Development Committee late chairman Karam Singh, who took a keen interest in rural sports and youth affairs.

SOLAN

Labourer beaten to death: A migrant labourer, Suresh Shah (45), was brutally beaten by unidentified miscreants in his room at Salliwal village in the Nalagarh industrial area on Friday night. Nalagarh DSP Nischint Negi said Shah had come home after being refused entry due to being late by the company security. Later, he was attacked and left grievously injured by the miscreants. He was sent to the PGI, Chandigarh, where he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday. The police registered a case under Section 302, IPC.