Man killed

TAXILA, Aug 13: Lack of implementation of safety measures by the powerful stone crushers’ mafia and poor check by the authorities concerned cost a worker his life at a crushing site of Margalla in limits of Taxila police station on Sunday evening.

Police and hospital sources said that 22-year old Hashim Shah, a local resident,  who was employed as crane operator at local stone crushing industry got buried under the heavy stone that crumbled from hill due to land sliding after powerful blast in a nearby mine.

Soon after the incident, the locals and co-workers on self-help basis launched rescue operation and the torn-in-parts body of the poor worker was retrieved after hours-long efforts.

Later his body was shifted to THQ hospital Taxila for autopsy and was dispatched to his native town in Azad Kashmir. Taxila police registered a case and started further investigation. — Correspondent

Body still missing

ATTOCK, Aug 13: The dead body of the health official who drowned a fortnight ago could not be traced from the Ghazi Barotha Hydropower (GBHP) Channel, it has been learnt.

A vaccinator of health department, Akram Qureshi had drowned in the channel while swimming on July 28. Since then, rescuers had been making all out efforts to fish out his body after locating it, but to no avail. — Correspondent

2 motorcyclists killed

FATEHJANG, Aug 13: Two motorcyclists were killed in a road accident some nine kilometres from here on Sunday. According to police sources, Mohsin Abbas along with Masood Ahmed was coming towards Fatehjang when their motorbike collided with a truck and both of them died at the spot. — Correspondent

Constable arrested

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: A constable was arrested for snatching cash from a citizen at Islamabad Highway security checkpoint, police said on Monday.

Raja Fazal, a resident of Kharian, in his complaint to the Industrial Area police said that he came to Islamabad on Thursday and was intercepted at the checkpoint, set up at the Islamabad Highway near Faizabad. During his physical search a constable picked Rs10,000 from his pocket.

According to sources, he resisted but could not succeed in getting back his money. Later he approached the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Industrial Area and lodged the complaint.

In response the police officer ordered inquiry, which alerted the constable who late at night called the victim and delivered the amount at a designated point, the police said.

However, the constable was arrested later and detained in the police station. — Staff Reporter

Salt processing unit sealed

TAXILA, Aug 13: The health authorities on Monday sealed a salt processing unit over allegedly producing substandard and hazardous salt in residential area of the city here.

According to sources, a team of heath department led by Food Inspector, Shahid Mehmood raided the unit and during search it was found that substandard salt meant for animal consumption was being processed and supplied for human consumption.

Health authorities also took into custody a huge quantity of the salt. Talking to newsmen, Shahid Mehmood said that the unit working under the pretext of supplying salt for animal consumption and it was actually packing it for sale in open market to masses. He said the owner of the unit was booked under Food Act and stern action would be taken against the accused for playing havoc with human health. — Correspondent

Vehicle lifter held

TAXILA, Aug 13: The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) foiled a bid to smuggle a stolen car from Lahore to Peshawar and arrested an alleged car lifter on Monday.

NHMP spokesman Umar Shoaib told newsmen here at camp office Burhan that during patrolling on Islamabad- Peshawar motorway (M-1) police foiled the bid and arrested the alleged car lifter later identified as Saqib Khan, stated to be a member of inter-provincial gang of vehicle lifters. He was handed over to local police with the seized vehicle for further legal action. — Correspondent

Liquor seized

ATTOCK, Aug 13:  Attock Sadder police arrested two persons along with the recovery of local made liquor after a raid on illegal distillery in Shakardara village.

Police claimed here on Monday that a raiding team seized 60 litres and 32 bottles of local liquor. Police also arrested two residents of the village in this connection and also registered a case against both of them on the charge of running illegal distillery.

COP SUSPENDED: The District Police Officer (DPO) Mohammad Hilal Khan suspended Constable Fateh Alam of Hattar police post of Fatehjang police station over the public complaints of missing authority. He had been asked to report at district police lines till further orders. — Correspondent

Fake soft drink factory

RAWALPINDI, Aug 13: The health department and local police on Monday unearthed a fake soft drink factory at Hazara Colony and arrested its owner besides recovering 4,000 bottles of fake drinks.

According to details, Tehsil Food Inspector Shahid Mehmood received information that the factory was working in private house No. 665/B, Street No. 3, Hazara Colony and preparing fake soft drink and selling it in the name of multinational company’s brand name.

Upon this, the food inspector with help of Ratta police raided the factory.

The health and police team found over 700 cartons of bottles of Pepsi, Moutain Dew, Amrat leman, Amrat Orange, machine and packing material. Spurious chemicals were also recovered in huge quantities. Police have registered a case under Food Ordinance.—A Reporter

Leaves of rescue staff cancelled

MURREE, Aug 13: To handle any untoward incident emergency service, Rescue-1122 Murree, chalked out a security plan for Pakistan Day and Eidul Fitr.

It is pertinent to mention that during the holidays, a large number of tourists throng Murree every year. According to Rescue-1122 Chief Murree Farooq Khan, during these festivals leaves of all staff had been cancelled and emergency centres had been established at different places of the hilly resort including Charra Pani, Tret, Jheeka Gali, The Mall, Expressway, Salgran and Lawrence College Road.

Rescue vehicles including emergency vans, fire vehicles and other rescue equipment-carrying vehicles would be there to provide relief to the masses, in case of any emergency.—Correspondent