R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar

Drug smuggler held: Avtar Singh Poonia of Jalandhar was arrested under the NDPS Act for attempting to smuggle 120 kg poppy husk in a tempo. The police said the tempo was intercepted near Jiwansar village on Rawatsar-Nohar road as it had no registration plate.

Four killed in accidents: Four persons were killed in separate accidents in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh. Prahlad Beniwal (25) died when his motorcycle collided with a truck on the Hanumangarh highway. Het Ram (62) was killed as his motorcycle hit stray cattle on Khanuwali Road in Rawla, Hanumangarh. Megha Singh (35) and Pappu Ram (31) of Surdhana village died when their motorcycle was reportedly hit by a car near Nokhra village.

Two arrested for blackmail: The police arrested Ram Swarup and Jagdish Chander of Chak 34MOD village for blackmailing Makhan Singh (30) of Nirwana village. The two were nabbed near Lalpura Paliwal village, where they had come to collect Rs 1 lakh from the victim. They had threatened to falsely implicate Makhan Singh in a sexual exploitation case. The victim had been receiving threat calls for the past three weeks.

Rape victim thrashed, 7 held: Seven persons, including three women, were arrested for thrashing a rape victim in a court complex in Sadulshehar in Sriganganagar district on Friday. The relatives were reportedly upset that the victim had gone to meet the accused, Bhala Singh, in the police station two days ago. The victim has been hospitalised.

Ropar

10-yr jail for carrying drugs: A court sentenced Ranjodh Singh of Bada Makkowal village, near Chamkaur Sahib, to 10-year imprisonment under the NDPS Act on Friday. He was caught carrying intoxicants in a can on his motorcycle near Dehar village on November 7, 2012. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh on him.

Protest against police: The relatives of a woman who died under mysterious circumstances at the house of her in-laws on August 8 staged a protest at Malikpur village on Friday. They alleged the police had failed to arrest the six accused in the case.

Sangrur

Saplings planted: A daylong camp was organised by NSS volunteers of Desh Bhagat College of Education, Bardwal (near Dhuri), on Friday. NSS programme officer Jagdhir Singh said volunteers planted saplings on college premises and in nearby Katron village. They cleaned the gurdwara and community centre at Katron village. 

HARYANA

Illegal sheds razed: The Municipal Corporation demolished 12 illegal sheds and kiosks on the Railway Road at Ambala City on Friday. Police restored to mild lathicharge to control the agitated shopkeepers.

Chandigarh

Gurdwara judicial panel: The state government has appointed Jora Singh chairman of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission for a period of five years. Balbir Singh and Surender Singh Moonak will be the members of the Commission. Ranjit Singh Baath has been appointed additional commissioner, Gurdwara Elections, for five years. 

Retirement age increased: The state government has raised the age of superannuation of its employees working in boards and corporations from 58 to 60 years. The age has been further raised to 62 for Group D employees. The retirement age for blind government employees has also been raised to 62 years from 60. 

2 HCS officers shifted: Two HCS officers have been transferred. Amrita Singh has been posted as Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner and Virender Singh, on re-instatement, has been posted as Joint Director (Administration), Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. 

Faridabad

Student raped: A local college student has been booked for allegedly raping a 19-year-old girl on the pretext of marriage. The victim said Anil Kumar proposed to her for marriage but later refused. 

panipat

INLD leader’s mother killed: INLD leader Kuldeep Diwana’s mother and their maid were murdered by robbers who reportedly decamped with cash and jewellery after stabbing both of them in Diwana village. Murti Devi (65) and maid Santosh (19) were alone at home when the accident took place. 

Sonepat

Man’s murder: A resident of Cholka village, Dholi, and her paramour, Ravinder, were arrested on Friday for murdering Nand Kishore, Dholi’s husband. Dharmender of the village lodged a complaint with the police after he found Kishore’s body lying in the fields. 

yamunanagar

3 die in road mishaps: Two youths were killed when a car hit them on the Badli road in Bahadurgarh town on Thursday. The deceased, Ketan and Naresh, were residents of Basant Bihar. The police have booked a case of rash and negligent driving against the car driver. In another case, Rishipal of Sandhali village fell from a bus near Chandpur Chowk and died.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Chamba

Book on wildlife released: State Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri released a new book "Wildlife of Himachal" written by Sanjay Kumar Dhiman, who is presently serving as the SDM at Churah. Bharmouri said there was a strong need to preserve the rare wildlife of Himachal, especially the snow leopard, state animal, and western tragopan, state bird, along with many others.

Kullu

Foreigner held with charas: The Kullu police arrested a Maldive national with 650-gm charas at the Tegari Nullah  near Manikaran, 45 km from here, on Monday. A case under Section 20 of the NDPS Act  had been registered. In yet another case, the police seized 305-gm charas and 16 bottles of English liquor from a shop  at Patlikul, 20 km from here,  on Sunday. 

Shimla

Screening test postponed: The screening test for the posts of ayurvedic medical officer, scheduled to be held on October 7, has been postponed to October 21 due to administrative reasons. The candidates are required to download the e-admit cards afresh from the website ww.hp.gov.in/hppsc of the commission.

Solan

Youth commits suicide: A youth hailing from Mandi district committed suicide by hanging himself from the fan at his rented accommodation on Wednesday. He was staying at Khera area in Nalagarh industrial area. Khazana Ram, DSP, Nalagarh, said the deceased, Amit Kumar (22), was upset as he was unable to find a new job. The DSP said Amit's roommates found the room locked from inside and after failing to get response from him they broke open the door and found his body hanging from the fan. A postmortem of the body was conducted.