900-kg poppy husk seized, 5 held

Barnala: The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) seized 25 bags of poppy husk (900 kg) from a truck and arrested five persons. The accused had brought the narcotics from Rajasthan and were trying to distribute them in Khudi Kalan when the police arrested them. Barnala SSP Harjeet Singh, stated that on a tip-off, a police party from the CIA raided the grain market of Khudi Kalan on Wednesday night and found a truck parked there.

“During a search, the bags of poppy husk were seized. We have arrested Gurbinder Singh, Balpreet Singh, Gurjoban Singh, Gurcharn Singh and Kuldeep Singh,” he said. TNS

Construct Udham’s memorial soon: AAP

Sunam: State AAP convener Bhagwant Mann and Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Khaira on Thursday demanded that a memorial to Shaheed Udham Singh should be constructed in Sunam soon. “Shaheed Udham Singh is known across the world for his contribution to India’s freedom struggle. But unfortunately, the state government has failed to recognise his contribution by not building a memorial in his native town Sunam. It shows the non-serious attitude of the government,” Mann said after attending a blood donation camp at a college here. Last year, the-then SAD-BJP government had announced a memorial after repeated demands by locals. TNS

Two injured in Harike shootout

Tarn Taran: Two persons were injured in a shootout between two groups of fish contractors at Harike, 35 km from here, on Wednesday night. Sub-Inspector Baljinder Singh said the injured were identified as Jaspreet Singh of Harike and Gurdev Singh of Balehar village. Sources said Jaspreet, a SAD supporter, had held the contract for fishing at the confluence of Beas and Sutlej rivers. Congress leader Gurdev Singh was recently allotted the contract for the coming season for Rs 2.97 crore.  They had a face-off in the fish market of the township. A verbal duel was followed by a shootout. OC

PIL seeks policy on processions

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday asked the Punjab Government to respond to a petition filed in public interest seeking directions for framing a policy on processions. Directions have also been sought for probe into a road accident during a Ram Navmi procession in Jalandhar in April. A PIL, filed by a Jalandhar-based NGO, said political or religious processions were required to be regulated by a policy or law to prevent incidents. The petitioner claimed that the administration played a passive or insignificant role during the processions leading to loss of public property and human life. TNS

Woman, paramour held for daughter’s murder

Sangrur: The police have arrested a married woman along with her paramour from Cheeniwal Khurd for the murder of her daughter. On April 26, Jaspal Kaur with the help of her paramour Parmjit Singh first strangled  her 17-year-old daughter and then threw her body in a canal and lodged a false FIR of missing person. “After the suicide by Manjinder Singh last year, husband of accused Jaspal Kaur, her daughter Arshdeep Kaur started opposing her relationship with Parmjit Singh. On April 26, both Jaspal and Parmjit Kaur strangled her and threw her body in a canal. We arrested them on Wednesday,” said Kamaljit Singh Gill, SHO. TNS

Debt-ridden farmer consumes poison 

Amritsar: A farmer committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance at Talwandi Nahar village on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Randhir Singh (55). According to his family, he had a debt of around Rs 12 lakh, which he had taken for the higher education of his children. Karamjit Singh, son of the deceased, said his father had opened a shop in the village for making ends meet. He said his father also mortgaged the house and land for the same purpose. TNS

Cops held for graft

Chandigarh: An ASI and a head constable were caught accepting bribe here on Thursday. ASI Chain Singh was held taking Rs 10,000 from Jaswinder Singh of Ludhiana’s Pratap Singh Wala village for allowing the complainant to ferry sand without permission. Head constable Jeet Singh, posted in Ferozepur district, was caught accepting Rs 3,000 from Mukhtair Singh of Aavan village for presenting challan of his case in the court. TNS

Cong ex-MLA dies

Kharar: Former Congress MLA Raja Singh (95) died on Thursday. He was cremated in Kurali. Raja Singh had been elected from Morinda Assembly constituency in 1969. Cabinet minister Charanjit Singh Channi, former minister Jagmohan Singh Kang and ex-MLA Ujjagar Singh Badali attended the cremation. OC

Ex-India leave

Chandigarh: The Personnel Department has announced that three months’ ex-India leave will be approved by the competent authority of the department. Earlier, an approval was needed from the minister concerned. TNS