R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Woman’s body recovered: The police on Friday recovered a body of a woman from the Indira Gandhi canal near Gobindsar village in Sriganganagar district. The police said the deceased, identified as Ritu Daman, committed suicide by jumping into the canal. Her father Indraj Meghwal alleged that she had been harassed over insufficient dowry. Her husband Sheopat Rai Meghwal and his father Dula Ram have been booked.

Father booked for murder: The Sriganganagar police have booked Raj Kumar for killing his 18-month-old son Lokesh. His father Ramji Lal, mother Gora Devi and brother Lokesh of Gharsana have also been booked. Raj Kumar's wife Suman alleged that when she refused to give money to her husband for buying poppy husk, he smothered his son Lokesh with a pillow.

Chandigarh

President awards ED official: An assistant director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Niranjan Singh, was honoured with the highest award for "meritorious performance" in his department by President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi, a press release said here on Friday. He was involved in top cases of the region, involving Raja Kandola, Jagdish Bhola and Anoop Singh Kahlon, all of whom are accused of supplying illegal drugs in the state.

Chief secy reviews work: Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh and Principal Secretary, Irrigation, Sarvesh Kaushal on Thursday inspected various ongoing works in Ropar and Pathankot districts. A hydel channel is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 2,200 crore at Shahpur kandi near Pathankot. An official spokesman said the work on the project that included irrigation and power generation would be completed by 2016.

Hoshiarpur

Two motorcyclists killed: Two motorcyclists were killed when they were hit by a car on the National Highway on Friday. Jasbir Kaur, Assistant Commandant, CRPF, was on her way to Jalandhar from Srinagar in her private car, which was being driven by constable Umed Singh. The car hit the motorcycle and the bikers died on the spot. They have been identified as Karandeep Singh of Shahpur in Dasuya and his brother-in-law Tarjit Singh of Haryana.

Muktsar

Breach in R’sthan feeder canal:  A major tragedy was averted on Friday when a breach was located in the Rajasthan feeder canal along the Malout-Gidderbaha highway. The water level in the canal was low and no untoward incident occurred. Sources said the breach occurred when some farmers were lifting water from the nearby Sirhind canal and the pipe leaked. 

Moga

Man 'poisoned' by brother: Nirmal Singh was allegedly poisoned by his younger brother Gurcharan Singh and his wife Pritpal Kaur in Moga. Bachan Kaur, their mother, alleged that Gurcharan had borrowed Rs 19 lakh from Nirmal. Nirmal had gone to his brother’s house on Wednesday to ask for his money. He was served tea and dinner, following which there was an argument during which he was beaten up by the couple. Gurcharan said Nirmal went to sleep but did not wake up.

Patiala

Chamar body 'threatened’:The Chamar Maha Sabha has alleged that they had received threat calls from various quarters, saying that they had made a mistake in supporting the Akali-Dal BJP combine in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. Sabha president Paramjit Singh Kainth said, "Some persons are posting threats on Facebook.”

Ropar

Murder bid: Two convicted: District and Sessions Judge Amarjot Bhatti has awarded five-year imprisonment to two youths for attempt to murder. Those convicted are Joga Singh and Surmukh Singh of Shyampura village. They had attacked Deepinder Singh of the same village last year on May 31. They were booked under Section 307 of the IPC.