Around Town

300 cops to trace on-the-run thief

PANCHKULA: A nimble footed thief has left the Panchkula police red faced prompting what could possibly be the largest manhunt in the region. The police have deployed 300 personnel to arrest the suspected thief who escaped from the Chandimandir police station on Monday afternoon. Initially the police were tight-lipped about the incident and said the deployment was a drill,but later admitted to it. The thief,Johny,a resident of Kishangarh,was arrested on March 5 after the police allegedly recovered a stolen motorcycle from his possession. He was sent to police custody on March 6 and was supposed to be produced in court on Monday. At the Chandimandir police station,Johny reportedly escaped through a window and fled towards Morni hills. Panchkula police spokesperson Inspector Raj Kumar said about 300 policemen were looking for Johny in Morni hills.

Aseemanand judicial custody extended

PANCHKULA: A Panchkula court extended the judicial remand of Swami Aseemanand till March 21 on the request of National Investigation Agency,which is probing the Samjahuta blasts. The blasts took place in the Samjhauta Express train in 2007 neat Panipat,killing 68 people. S K Sood,the counsel for NIA,submitted in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Ritu Garg that investigations were going on in the case and the accused was lodged in Central Jail,Ajmer.

7 held for forcibly entering NRI’s house

CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh Police on Monday,arrested seven people on charges of forcibly entering the house of an NRI couple in Sector 19-D and allegedly threatening,stealing and assaulting the couple,with intentions of taking over the house. On the complaint of one Gurmej Kaur Gill,who is settled in England,the police have arrested Amardeep Singh,Jaspal Singh,Deepak Kumar,Nitin Modi,Ajay Kumar,Bansi and Daljit. A case has been registered against the accused.

Minor boy dies in mishap

CHANDIGARH: Sunil Kumar (10) was crushed to death when a tractor driven by one Raj Kumar allegedly ran over him on Sunday. The boy’s father,Surinder Singh,told the police that Sunil was playing near the colony when the mishap occurred. A profusely bleeding Sunil was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. The driver was arrested on charges of rash and negligent driving causing death and later released on bail.

Fire in Sector 11 showroom

PANCHKULA: Goods worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed when a Showroom in Sector 11 caught fire on Monday. The fire department has blamed it on a short circuit. Responding to an emergency call around 7 am,the fire service pressed three fire tenders into action that took an hour to extinguish the blaze. Chairs,tables and computers in the showroom were destroyed.

Quarkcity engineer murder trial adjourned

MOHALI: The trial in the five-year-old murder case of Quarkcity engineer Sukhwinderjit Singh was once again deferred on Monday by a district court in Mohali. As Additional District and Sessions Judge S K Garg,who is conducting the trial,was on leave,further proceedings will be held on March 18. The defence in the case concluded its arguments on February 23.

Sector 76-80 allottees hold protest

MOHALI: The allottees of Sector 76-80 in Mohali,under the banner of Plot Allotment Sangharsh Committee,held a massive protest rally against the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) in front of PUDA Bhawan in Sector 62 on Monday. The protesters demanded a draw of lots for the remaining plots in the sectors and urged the administration to speed up development work in the area. The protesters blamed the GMADA for not developing their sectors.

Civic employees begin indefinite stir

KHARAR: The employees of civic bodies across Punjab began an indefinite strike on Monday to protest against the non-fullfilment of their long-pending demands and “apathy” of the state government. Members of the Punjab Municipal Employees’ Action Committee,Punjab Municipal Employees’ Organisation and Punjab Cleanliness Workers’ Union held a massive demonstration in front of the municipal office. Kharar Municipal Employees’ Union president Mann Singh said the local administration had earlier assured them of a meeting with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,but they were yet to meet him.

Lecture held on women’s Bill

CHANDIGARH: On the eve of International Women’s Day,a special lecture on “The Protection of Women Against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill,2010” was delivered by Joginder Singh Toor,senior advocate,Punjab and Haryana High Court. The lecture was organised by the Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP) in the ICSSR Complex. The lecture was chaired by Prof Shalina Mehta,Department of Anthropology,PU. After presenting highlights of the proposed Bill waiting in Parliament for a debate and approval,Toor pointed out the lacunae in it. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath on December 7,2010,and is slated for discussion in the ongoing session of Parliament. The CSSEIP constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Toor to discuss the loopholes of the draft Bill and send suggestions to the ministry for rectification.

Nurses hold gate meeting

CHANDIGARH: The Nursing staff of the Government Medical College and Hospital,Sector 32,held a gate meeting on Monday,urging the government to implement Central pay scales.