Truck driver dies in mishap

Malout: A truck driver died and six others were injured in a road mishap near Aulakh village on the Malout-Muktsar road on Saturday last night. The incident took place when two trucks and a pick-up vehicle collided with each other due to a pothole. The injured were taken to the Malout Civil Hospital. Later, they were referred to Faridkot. The deceased, identified as truck driver Jagjit Singh of Malout, was going to Pathankot. According to sources, the vehicles collided when the other truck, going towards Malout, tried to take a turn from a pothole. A pick-up vehicle carrying watermelons also collided with them from the rear side. The Malout Sadar police have started an investigation into the accident. TNS

Nine booked on assault charge

Malout: The police on Sunday booked nine persons, five of them are yet to be identified, for allegedly stealing Rs 45,000 and a gold chain from a shop on Saturday. The accused have also been booked for thrashing the shop owners. Rakesh Kumar, a shop owner, said, “A youngster had exchanged heated arguments with my son. Thereafter, we went to the youngster’s house to lodge his complaint. However, the accused came to our shop on Saturday and thrashed us. Some people even tried to save us. But before leaving, they stole Rs 45,000 and a gold chain.” The accused have been identified as Shambhu, Noni, Buta and Ravi Kumar. Notably, CCTV footage of the incident has gone viral on social media. TNS