Briefly region

Khanna blast: Victims' statements recorded

LUDHIANA:The statement of four survivors of the Khanna factory blast was recorded by SDM Purshotam Singh Sodhi at PGI Chandigarh on Wednesday. Sodhi is holding a probe into the explosion triggered that a massive fire in a solvent extraction plant owned by a prominent local businessman in Ludhiana, leading to the death of 13 workers. "The statements of all the four victims are more or less the same. They said there was an explosion in batch number 10, following which, all of them ran outside. There was no one near this batch at the time of the explosion. The victims claim that they got caught up in flames outside the factory premises and sustained burn injuries. Thus, it is clear that there was an explosion first and a fire later," Sodhi said.

Four arrested in sex racket case

SHIMLA:With the arrest of four people, the Shimla Police on Wednesday claimed to have busted a sex racket in the city. A case has been registered against the main accused Hansraj Bhatia, a driver and his wife under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. Police said among the arrested include Rajesh Kumar and Raman Kumar, who are employed in a local hotel.

Majithia conducts surprise raid, transfers 3

AMRITSAR:Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Wednesday ordered the transfer of three officials for dereliction of duty in registration of land deals after conducting a surprise raid at the Amritsar Tehsil Complex. During the raid, the minister checked land registration records and heard the problems being faced by people who had come to the Tehsil. Majithia warned officials that if they are found demanding money, they will be dealt with severely.

Father's death forces youth to commit suicide

AMRITSAR:A 22-year-old Amritsar youth allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday after he could bear his father's death. Police said Amarjit Singh, a resident of Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar, jumped from the roof of a multi-storey flat as he could not bear the loss of his father, who died after suffering a heart attack on Monday.

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