In brief

Ludhiana girl sexually assaulted,hurt in Mohali
MOHALI: A Ludhiana resident was sexually assaulted and left injured in Mohali,the police said on Wednesday. The paramour of the 25-year-old victim’s cousin allegedly tried to rape her at her cousin’s place in Sector 71 here. As the victim strongly resisted,the accused left her injured and threatened her with dire consequences before fleeing away. Devinder Singh of Sector 44-C,Chandigarh,has been booked under Sections 376 (rape),323 (voluntarily causing hurt),511 (attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC,Investigating officer (IO) ASI Joginder Pal told Newsline. No arrest was,however,made as yet.The victim told the police that she,along with her friend,had gone to her cousin’s place to attend a party and both the friends went to another friend’s place in Chandigarh for a night stay. She revealed that around 11 am on Wednesday,her cousin called her to her house again and when she (victim),along with her friend went,the accused tried to rape her.

House burgled in Sector 23
CHANDIGARH: Thieves decamped with Rs 40,000 cash,17,000 sterling pounds,two laptops and two digital cameras after they broke into a Sector-23 house on Tuesday night. Investigating officer Harbhajan Singh from the Sector-22 police post said the family of Ravi Kant had gone to attend a function in Delhi when the burglars struck at night. The jewellery,however,remained intact as it was hidden away in a pouch,the police said. A case was registered and investigations are on.

Two held with 200 gram heroin
MOHALI: Two youths were held with 200 grams of heroin in Mohali,the police said on Wednesday. Ajay Kumar of Una in Himachal Pradesh and Vijay Sharma of Sohalpur in Rajasthan were found possessing 100 grams of contraband each,Mohali Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff in-charge Sub-Inspector Guacharo Singh told Newsline. He said the duo was standing under suspicious circumstances on the road leading from the Dara Studio Chowk to the Truck Union waiting for customers when the CIA staff team,on a tip-off,swooped on them and caught them unawares. Both the alleged drug peddlers were remanded in judicial custody till December 1 by a local court.

Woman sustains burns,narrow escape for toddler
MOHALI: A woman sustained burn injuries while her one-year-old daughter had a providential escape when fire engulfed their hutment in Desumajra village near here on Tuesday night. Sita was admitted at the Civil Hospital and her condition was stated to be critical. Her husband Ramveer told the police that as usual,they slept in their hutment with a lamp left lightened inside. Somehow,Sita’s clothes came in contact with the lamp and caught fire. The police were investigating the case.

Heist at 5 shops: Goods worth Rs 4 lakh stolen
PANCHKULA: Thieves decamped with cash and goods worth Rs 4 lakh from five shops in the Shivalik Shopping Complex showroom in Sector 11 on Tuesday night. The showroom has been sub-let to different shopowners. It was only in the morning when the locks of the shops inside the showroom were found broken,that the theft came to light. “Last night,thieves entered the showroom from the rear side of the complex using the space meant for the air-conditioner. While Rs 2 lakh was taken away from a mobile store,cash worth Rs 1 lakh and goods worth Rs 25,000 was taken away from a cloth shop inside the complex. Various goods from other shops have also been taken away by the thieves,” said a police officer. It was added that the forensic team visited the spot and a case has been registered.

250 underprivileged students get woollens
MOHALI: As many as 250 students from the economically-weaker section were given woollens at a special function held at Landran village on Wednesday. Sponsored by the Dalit Chetna Manch,an NGO,the woollens were distributed by District Planning Committee Chairman N K Sharma. He lauded the services of the NGO in the field of social service. Manch president Shamsher Singh said it was an aim of the NGO to help deprived persons. The marriage of poor girls,imparting stitching and embroidery training to needy girls and providing woollens,books and stationery to the underprivileged were the main initiatives undertaken by the NGO in the past.

Citizens’ groups to meet PM
Chandigarh: Citizens’ groups in the city have decided to meet the Prime Minister and Home Minister to air their grievances as well as apprise them about the issue of alleged land scams in the city. In a meeting held on Wednesday,members of various resident groups demanded the immediate removal of UT Administrator General S F Rodrigues (Retd). They also demanded the arrest of Rodrigues as well as bureaucrats involved in the scam.

Anti-terrorist front protests killing of BSF DIG in Jammu
Ambala: The Anti-Terrorist Front India (ATFI) activists led by president Veersh Shandilya held a demonstration and burnt the Pakistan flag to protest against the killing of BSF DIG in Jammu sector at Dokhambha Chowk in Ambala City on Wednesday. Shandilya said the UPA government should make efforts to get Pakistan declared as a terrorist state. He also demanded that Mohammed Afzel Beg should be hanged as per the decision of the court.

Ex-servicemen rally on November 29
Ambala: Kharga Corps will organise an ex-servicemen rally for Ambala district on November 29 at the Kharga Stadium in Ambala Cantonment. Kharga Corps GOC Lt Gen Chetinder Singh would be the chief guest on the occasion. The problems being faced by ex-servicemen war widows and their family members would be addressed after listening to their grievances.

Fish die in Sutlej due to release of toxic wastes
Ropar: Tonnes of fish died in the Sutlej river near Nangal allegedly due to the release of toxic wastes from the industries located in the area. Fish mortality in the river came to notice near Bela Dhiani village on Wednesday morning when residents found dead fish floating on the river. Meanwhile,water samples have been taken for testing.