J&K youth booked for rape

Chandigarh: A 17-year-old youth of Jammu and Kashmir has been booked on a charge of raping a minor girl in Chandigarh. The accused befriended the victim on Facebook around a year ago after which they started meeting. Police sources said the victim alleged that the accused met her a few times and took her to a hotel in Burail where she was raped. He then returned to his native place. Later, the victim approached the police. A case of rape has been registered against the accused at the Sector 34 police station. Sections of the POCSO Act have also been added. Sources said the father of the accused was a school principal in Jammu and Kashmir. A police team went to Jammu and Kashmir, but could not arrest the accused. TNS

Second swine flu death in city

Chandigarh: Swine flu has claimed the life of a 60-year-old woman from Maloya. She was brought to Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, in a serious condition on Monday night from where she was rushed to the GMCH, Sector 32. Dr Gaurav Aggarwal said her condition was critical when she was brought to the hospital. She died on Tuesday. This is the second swine flu death in the city. Earlier, Sham Verma had died due to swine flu. TNS

Woman ends her life in hotel

Chandigarh: A 19-year-old newly married woman, a native of Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, who, along with her husband, had hired a room at a hotel in Burail, Sector 45, reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself. They were a runaway couple who had tied the knot around four months ago against the wishes of their parents. Sources said the victim had been identified as Nisha. Her husband, Anuj, alias Vijay Kumar (19), is a native of Uttar Pradesh. The police said the couple had checked into the hotel three days ago. Anuj had gone to get food from a nearby market when the victim took the extreme step. A police team reached the spot and rushed the victim to hospital where doctors declared her brought dead. The police said no suicide note was recovered from the spot. Inquest proceedings have been initiated at the Sector 34 police station. The police have informed the victim’s family about the incident. TNS

Campaign inaugurated

Fatehgarh Sahib: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Kripal Singh Badungar inaugurated the “Dharam Parchar” campaign on Tuesday. On the occasion, he urged the Central Government to return the historical books and other materials of the Sikh Reference Library taken away by it during Operation Bluestar in 1984. He said the issue to construct memorial for religious soldiers would be decided in the executive committee meeting and added that any decision in this regard would be taken soon. TNS

Unidentified body found

Kalka: The Pinjore police have recovered a body of an unknown person here on Tuesday. The police said the body was witnessed by officials of the Pinjore Gardens, who informed the police about the same. After getting information, ASI Raj Kumar reached the spot. The body has been kept at the Kalka CHC mortuary for identification. The police were investigating the case. OC

Three booked for fraud

Kharar: The Kharar police have booked three travel agents — Pardeep Kumar, Richa and Phalk — on the charge of committing a fraud with Kirandeep Singh on the pretext of arraigning work permit for Canada for him. A case under Section 406, 420 and 120 B of the IPC has been registered against them. The complainant alleged that after seeing their advertisement in a newspaper, he along with his friend went to their office at Mundi Kharar. They promised to arrange work permit and visa for him and he paid around Rs 1 lakh to them. Despite repeated requests, neither the Visa was arranged for him nor did they return his money. When he visited their office, it was found locked. OC