Briefs: Over 2.39 lakh cases settled in Lok Adalat

More than 2.39 lakh cases were settled in the third national Lok Adalat across Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, an official spokesman said. The J&K Legal Services Authority organised the third National Lok Adalat of this year across the Union Territory, the spokesman said. He said the Lok Adalat was organised to promote amicable settlements in a wide range of cases, including MACT claims, matrimonial disputes, cheque bounce cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, money recovery, commercial disputes, and compoundable criminal offences. The spokesman said that out of total 3,06,851 cases taken up by 167 benches in the day-long Lok Adalat, 2,39,533 cases were amicably settled and disposed off.

Police arrest drug peddler in Pulwama

Police on Sunday arrested a drug peddler in Awantipora area of Pulwama district following recovery of a huge quantity of contraband substance from his possession. On receiving information, a police party raided the house of Showkat Ahmad Wani and recovered 50 kg of cannabis powder (Bhung) there, the spokesman said. He said the drug peddler has been arrested and shifted to Police Station Awantipora where he remains in custody.

Man shoots himself dead in Doda

A 26-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself inside his house in Doda district, police said on Sunday. Ravinder Katoch used the licensed rifle of his father Joginder Kumar, a village defence guard, to end his life at village Humbal on Friday evening, a police official said. Deputy Superintendent of Police Ajay Anand said police have started inquest proceedings to ascertain the details of the incident. The body of the deceased was shifted to Government Medical College (GMC), Doda, for postmortem and was being handed over to his family for last rites, he said. The officials said the motive behind his taking such an extreme step was not known immediately.