Briefly Region

Shimla to get 24X7 coffee shop

Shimla: Shimla is set to have its first 24X 7 coffee shop. “The Tourists’ Reception Centre on Shimla’s entry point,barely a few hundred metres from new ISBT,will be the spot for late night activity for locals and tourists looking for a for a place to hang out during late hours,” said Director (Tourism) Arun Sharma. The tourism department has finalised a plan to completely rebuild the complex and add new facilities,including toilets and ATM. The department has also finalised an ambitious project to open 43 wayside amenities-cum-tourists information centres in the state on national highways.

ETO caught taking bribe

Nahan: Suresh Sharma,an Excise and Taxation officer (ETO) at Paonta in Sirmaur district was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a local cloth merchant,Jasbir Singh. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau) Babita Rana said the accused has been under scanner for quite some time. “After he asked for a bribe from Jasbir Singh,the police laid a trap and arrested him with Rs 5,000,” she added.

4-yr-old killed in lightning strike

Nahan: A four-year old child died due to lightening in Nahan on Thursday. The deceased,identified as Akhita,was in her classroom at the Saroga Government Primary School when the incident took place.

Maj General visits RMS Chail

Shimla: Major General Chander Prakash,General Officer Commanding HQ (PH & HP) — I Sub Area (Ambala Cantt) — on Thursday completed his three-day visit to the Rashtriya Military School,Chail. He presided over the local board of administration meet to finalise plans for new development activities and academic plans of the school.

Seven year RI to rapist

Rewari: A local court has sentenced a person to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment for raping a teenaged girl in Dharuhera area last year. District and sessions judge,Rewari,Sneh Prashar sentenced Sanjay Singh holding him guilty of raping the 17-year-old girl in September,2010. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on him. Sanjay Singh and the girl’s father were acquainted with each other and are natives of Kundal village,the prosecution said.

Hooda’s chopper fails to take off

Ambala: The helicopter,which was to carry Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda from Delhi to Chandigarh could not take off due to bad weather conditions in Chandigarh. The district administration had made all arrangements after they were alerted that Hooda’s chopper could land here as weather was bad in Chandigarh,sources said.