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Amritsar
Flesh trade racket busted: The city police today claimed to have busted a flesh-trade racket and arrested four persons in this connection while two women escaped from the spot. Among those arrested included Pardeep Kumar of Bhikhiwind, Kuldip Singh of Tarn Taran besides two women, Daljit Singh of B-block and Mintu Pandit, who managed to slip away from the scene.

Chandigarh
Czech Republic envoy visits: The ambassador of Czech Republic, Miloslav Stasek, called on Industry Minister Madan Mohan Mittal on Wednesday and discussed cooperation in the field of renewable energy, biomass and water treatment. Stasek said a Czech Republic delegation would visit the state in May.

CM's Shivratri greetings: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday sent Shivratri greetings to the people. He asked the people to celebrate the festival with fervour and gaiety "as such festivals promote communal harmony and goodwill”.

Moga
Woman found dead: woman, Poonam (40), was found dead at her house here today. Her family said she died of cardiac arrest, but police suspected that it could be a suicide or a murder.

Muktsar
9-year-old girl raped: A nine-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a youth of Fattanwala village near here on Tuesday. The victim's parents alleged that the girl, studying in Class III, was returning home from school when the accused abducted her and raped her. The police is awaiting the victim's medical report.

Patiala
PRTC pensioners protest: Activists of the PRTC Pensioners Association held a gate rally at the Patiala depot on Wednesday demanding release of pending arrears, medical bills and DA installments. Threatening to intensify the stir, association president Bhagwant Singh said the authorities failed to distribute pension despite High Court orders.

Ropar
Man gets 10 yrs under NDPS: The special court of additional district and sessions judge Jatinder Kaur sent a local resident to 10 years of imprisonment under the NDPS Act on Wednesday. The convict, Harjinder Singh of Railon village, has also been fined Rs 1 lakh. In 2010, 52 bottles of sedative were recovered from him.

Rly station reopened: The Bhanopli railway station near Anandpur Sahib was reopened on Tuesday after a gap of 27 years. Local Member Parliament Ravneet Singh Bittu inaugurated the railway halt. The railway station, which is situated between Nangal and Anandpur Sahib, was closed down in 1986 due to militancy. Since then, the residents of more than 40 villages in the surrounding areas had to cover a distance of about 15 km to board a train.

Tarn Taran
Doc booked under MTP Act: A doctor and five persons of a family have been booked under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act by the Bhikhiwind police. The case was registered on the complaint of Rajbir Kaur, wife of Avkar Singh, whose pregnancy was allegedly terminated by the accused.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Kangra
Pilgrims denied visas: Resentment prevails among visa seekers who want to visit Katasraj at Chakwal in Pakistan. The Pakistan government has denied them their visas, despite the completion of all formalities. Rakesh Kathuria, spokesperson, Sanatan Dharam Sabha, said the pilgrimage was scheduled to begin from Tuesday. Kathuria said five persons from Kangra had applied for visa more than a month back, but on February 22 they were informed that their visas had been rejected. He said the rejection had hurt sentiment of the pilgrims.

KULLU
Man gets 10-yr RI for rape: Public prosecutor Mahesh Sen on Wednesday said Additional District and Sessions Judge Purender Vaidya had sentenced Vipin Chand of Nagrota village in Kangra district to 10-year rigorous imprisonment (RI), besides imposing a fine of Rs 20,000 on him. The District Attorney said the accused was found guilty of raping a differently abled girl (13) near Dayar village in this district on August 9, 2012.

Karate coaching for scribes: Media personnel of the valley will be provided with karate coaching at a camp organised by Nihal Karate School, which was inaugurated by SP Vinod Kumar Dhawan here on Monday. The SP said techniques of self-defence would assist journalists to face untoward challenges and perform their duties more fearlessly. Participating media personnel said besides skills of martial arts, the camp would help them to maintain personal fitness. District PRO Sher Singh, president, Karate Sangh, Ved Prakash and Nihal Chand were present on the occasion.

SHIMLA
Prof Manu is UIIT Director: Prof Manu Sood on Wednesday joined as the Director of the University Institute of Information Technology (UIIT), HPU. He holds a Bachelor's degree in engineering, MTech (with a gold medal) and has done his PhD from Delhi University. He has been working in the Department of Computer Science, HPU, since 1993.