News / Author / Nikhil Sharma

Nikhil Sharma

Nikhil Sharma is a staff reporter who covers Faridkot district in the Mansa region of Punjab.

Articles by Nikhil Sharma

Sohana building collapse: MC chief recommends suspension of building inspector for dereliction of duty

The suspended official has been identified as Amarpreet Singh, who was on probation in the building branch

A probe has also been launched to identify other building inspectors who allowed illegal constructions in the city in the last four years. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 03, 2025 08:44 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Drunk Merc driver hits 2 deliverymen in Mohali’s 3B2 market, 1 critical

The accused, identified as Inderjit Singh, 26, of Sector 39-D, Chandigarh, was caught by onlookers and handed over to the police. The accused is the son of an assistant sub-inspector posted with Chandigarh Police.

The Mercedes (CH-01-CH-0533) jumped the divider and hit the second deliveryman before overturning. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 01, 2025 05:34 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

TRICITY: 25 GOOD THINGS TO EXPECT IN 2025

With the arrival of the New Year, tricity readers can look forward to the completion of pending infrastructure projects to decongest traffic on Airport Road, hope for safer public spaces with Mohali police installing CCTVs, and improved healthcare.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 01, 2025 05:30 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Aneesha Sareen Kumar, Nikhil Sharma, Mandeep Kaur Narula, Robert Abraham, Rajanbir Singh

Punjabi singer Ranjit Bawa gets extortion call

His manager, Malkit Singh, who is the complainant in the case, said on November 13, he was at the singer’s house in Mohali when they received the threat on a number that they had shared on all social media platforms for bookings.

Ranjit Bawa received an extortion call from an unidentified WhatsApp number on November 13. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 31, 2024 08:12 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Punjab bandh: 9 hours of harassment for tricity commuters as farmers block roads

Those coming from Chandigarh towards IISER crossing were sent back by Mohali police as the Bestech Chowk was barricaded. Those entering Punjab from Himachal Pradesh or other long routes, including Delhi, were asked to wait till the conclusion of the protest.

Vehicles caught in a traffic jam on the Panchkula-Yamunanagar highway during Punjab Bandh on Monday. (SANT ARORA/HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 31, 2024 07:54 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Punjab bandh: Commuters bear brunt as farmers block key routes in Mohali

Protesters blocked the road near Kharar bus stand, Kurali light point, Rani Majra cut, Barodi toll plaza, Dappar toll plaza, Handesra bus stand, Sarsini T-point, Sarsini railway crossing and IISER light point on the busy Airport Road in Mohali.

Farmers blocking Airport Road near the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, in response to the bandh call on Monday. (Ravi Kumar/HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Dec 30, 2024 12:27 PM IST

ByNikhil Sharma

Mohali sees nearly two-fold spike in extortion cases in 2024

A significant increase was also witnessed in kidnapping cases as 154 cases were already reported this year in the first 11 months as compared to 138 cases in 2023

While a total of 3,885 cases were registered last year in Mohali, 4,009 cases were registered across the district till November 30 in 2024. (HT file photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 30, 2024 08:22 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

From January, traffic violators in Mohali to get e-challans

Nearly 405 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, installed at a cost of ₹17.70 crore, will keep tabs on traffic violations on city roads. On detecting a violation, an e-challan will be promptly generated and sent to the vehicle owner’s phone number

Mohali logged 200 road mishap deaths this year. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 29, 2024 07:22 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali: 22-yr-old stabbed to death in brawl at liquor vend

Rajwinder had recently returned to India from Saudi Arabia and had come to Zirakpur in search of work. He stayed with the victim in a rented accommodation in Aggarwal Estate, Zirakpur.

What started as a confrontation over “staring” ended in a tragedy as a 22-year-old man was stabbed to death by a group of people outside a liquor vend near Patiala-Zirakpur Chowk around 9 pm on Thursday. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 28, 2024 09:02 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Sohana building collapse: Mohali MC identifies illegal high rises in five villages

Meanwhile deputy commissioner Aashika Jain on Tuesday asked the district local bodies to ensure that all the ongoing constructions are as per the building bylaws and issue violation notice to avert any untoward incident in future

Mayor Sidhu said only three-storey buildings are permitted in the villages but many people have built multi-storey buildings in violation of the rules. (HT file)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 25, 2024 09:14 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali: Ex-DSP among 3 convicted in 1992 fake encounter case

The court will pronounce the quantum of sentence on Tuesday; Anmol Narang, public prosecutor for the CBI, averred that the accused police officers staged a planned and cold-blooded murder and wrongly projected it to be a legitimate encounter by manipulating police files

(From left): (grey turban) the then SI Resham Singh, the then ASI Hans Raj(C), the then SI and SHO Gurbachan Singh. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 24, 2024 06:00 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Sohana building collapse: Toll climbs to 2, SDM-led panel to probe tragedy

1 held, another on the run; as per the National Disaster Response Team (NDRF) report, only two people were trapped under the debris

Sohana building collapse victims Drishti Verma and Abhishek Dhanwal. (HT Photos)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 23, 2024 08:20 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

1 killed, 1 critical, 3 feared trapped in Mohali's 4-storey building collapse

Sohana building collapse: Excavation on the adjoining plot caused the tragedy; building owners, who also own the said plot, booked for culpable homicide

DRF personnel carrying out rescue operations at the site in Sohana, Mohali, on Saturday. (SANJEEV SHARMA/HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 22, 2024 04:09 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali police ready plan to check mishaps in Dera Bassi

Mohali police have recommended installation of lights or reflectors at the beginning of the Dera Bassi flyover from Ambala side, and at the end of the flyover while going towards Chandigarh

Police have pressed for installing reflectors on the dividers near electricity board office, Saidpura, and reflector boards on the divider on the flyover near Hansa Park in Dera Bassi. (HT File photo for representation)

Chandigarh

Published on Dec 13, 2024 08:24 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Traffic police push for road widening to ease congestion in Mohali

Mohali police also pushed for the use of artificial intelligence-based traffic lights, which have cameras to capture the traffic volume and adjust the timer accordingly.

Police also highlighted the need for installation of traffic lights at seven chowks and time displays at the already installed traffic lights at 17 locations in Mohali. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 11, 2024 09:38 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Fraudulent sale of land in Kurali: SIT names seven in challan, says probe against ex-DGP Sumedh Singh Saini pending

Post investigation, appropriate action will be taken regarding Saini and the report will be submitted before the court, the challan filed before the court of additional district and sessions judge Ajit Atri has said.

Former Punjab director general of police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini was named in a September 2020 FIR over the alleged fraudulent land sale in Kurali in Mohali district. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 10, 2024 08:40 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Parmish Verma shooting case: Court denies bail to gangster Budha

In the plea, gangster Sukhpreet Singh, alias Budha’s, counsel contended that there was no evidence available with the prosecution to prove that he was involved in the present case and was in touch or had any link with other co-accused

The attack dates back to April 14, 2018, when Parmish Verma and his friend Kulwant Singh Chahal were going towards Homeland Apartments in the former’s Toyota Fortuner. (HT file photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 09, 2024 09:02 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

{Multani disappearance case} Trial court commits case involving ex-DGP Saini to sessions court

The court said since murder sections have been added to the case, the offences under Section 302 (murder) and 364 (abduction) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) are exclusively triable by the court of sessions.

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 09, 2024 07:46 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Traffic police push for heavy vehicle ban to ease increasing gridlocks in Mohali

Amid burgeoning traffic woes on major stretches like Airport Road, Mohali traffic police write to the deputy commissioner to ban entry of heavy vehicles during rush hours

A meeting for traffic decongestion has been called by the DC on December 10. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 06, 2024 07:32 PM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali to soon get more international flights: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

Currently, the airport offers only two international flights -- to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Until 2023, there was a direct flight to Sharjah. After it was discontinued, the airport’s only international link was the IndiGo flight to Dubai, which operates seven days a week.

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann unveiled a 30-ft-tall statue of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh at the airport on Wednesday. (Keshav Singh/HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 05, 2024 09:46 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali court acquits gangsters Dilpreet Baba, Sukhpreet Buddha in Gippy Grewal extortion case

Dilpreet Baba had allegedly threatened Gippy Grewal, saying he would meet the same fate as slain singer Amar Singh Chamkila and Punjabi singer Parmish Verma, who had been attacked by gangsters. Verma, who had refused to pay heed to extortion demands, had suffered a bullet injury in an attack by gangsters on April 14, 2018.

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 05, 2024 09:40 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Zirakpur: Driver, guard booked for stealing company’s ₹16.5L cash, car

The accused were booked under Section 306 (theft by a clerk, servant or employee of property belonging to their employer) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Zirakpur police station

The accused were identified as Sukhbir Singh of Barnala, Punjab, and Manpinder Singh of Sirsa, Haryana. (iStock)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 04, 2024 08:24 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

A digital shield: Soon, Mohali’s crime hotspots to come under CCTV surveillance

Out of the total 800 high definition CCTV cameras, including automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, to be installed in Mullanpur, Kharar, Zirakpur and Dera Bassi sub-divisions, police are going to install 568 cameras at crime hotspots

Police are also going to install 47 ANPR cameras at key identified locations in the peripheral areas. (HT File Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 04, 2024 08:16 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali: Retired Punjab Police inspector gets life term for abducting son-in-law

26-year-old victim has been untraceable since his disappearance in July 2010; his car was fished out from Bhakra Canal in Rupnagar in 2011

The Mohali court also imposed a fine of <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>10,000 on the convict, Jagvir Singh, who was SHO at Julka police station in Patiala, when the victim had gone missing. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 01, 2024 07:18 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Shambhu stir leaves Zirakpur battling daily traffic nightmare

As per police data, now over 50,000 vehicles pass through Dappar toll plaza daily, as compared to 38,000 vehicles before the blockade at Shambhu; 10,000 additional vehicles, including trucks and buses, are taking side roads, bypassing Dappar toll plaza towards Lehli, Ramgarh, Yamuna Nagar in addition to other diversions which remain choked especially during morning and evening hours

With the Haryana government blocking the Shambhu barrier protest site, NH44-bound commuters are forced to take long detours via Zirakpur, leading to daily traffic snarls. (Keshav Singh/HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 28, 2024 08:36 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali: 35-year-old teacher arrested for showing lewd videos to Class 5 girls

Mohali police apprehended the 35-year-old teacher from the school premises after being alerted by parents and school management

The school principal confirmed that following a zero-tolerance policy pertaining to such matters, the teacher’s services had been terminated. (HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 28, 2024 08:24 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

3 members of Manjeet Mahal gang arrested in Mohali

Mahal is currently lodged in Tihar jail. Police claimed that with the arrests they have averted two targeted murders which the accused were going to execute in the coming days.

Mohali police, along with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) on Monday arrested three aides of Delhi-based gangster Manjeet Mahal’s gang with two .32-bore pistols and 18 cartridges. Police have also impounded the vehicle, bearing a Delhi number plate, in which the accused were travelling. (Representational image)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 26, 2024 07:54 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

GMADA rethinks plan to build roundabouts on Airport Road

Four months after allotment of contract, unavailability of alternative routes for traffic diversion worries Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 25, 2024 08:40 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali: Stray bullet smashes mirror at singer’s flat

Singer Sukhjivan Singh, 27, professionally known as Beat Singh, is a Bathinda native and currently resides in a rented flat in SBP North Valley Society on Landran Road, Mohali

A team of Mohali CIA, besides a forensic team, reached the flat for spot analysis and to collect evidence. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 25, 2024 08:20 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Zambian national held for killing friend hangs self in Kharar police custody

Kharar police had arrested the youth on Wednesday, following which he was held up in the lock-up at Sunny Enclave police post, where he allegedly hanged himself from a bar using a thin nylon rope at midnight

According to Mohali police, the youth had earlier stabbed his female friend to death, following which her body was found in her flat on November 14. (iStock)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 22, 2024 09:44 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

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Nikhil Sharma

Nikhil Sharma is a staff reporter who covers Faridkot district in the Mansa region of Punjab.

The suspended official has been identified as Amarpreet Singh, who was on probation in the building branch

The accused, identified as Inderjit Singh, 26, of Sector 39-D, Chandigarh, was caught by onlookers and handed over to the police. The accused is the son of an assistant sub-inspector posted with Chandigarh Police.

With the arrival of the New Year, tricity readers can look forward to the completion of pending infrastructure projects to decongest traffic on Airport Road, hope for safer public spaces with Mohali police installing CCTVs, and improved healthcare.

His manager, Malkit Singh, who is the complainant in the case, said on November 13, he was at the singer’s house in Mohali when they received the threat on a number that they had shared on all social media platforms for bookings.

Those coming from Chandigarh towards IISER crossing were sent back by Mohali police as the Bestech Chowk was barricaded. Those entering Punjab from Himachal Pradesh or other long routes, including Delhi, were asked to wait till the conclusion of the protest.

Protesters blocked the road near Kharar bus stand, Kurali light point, Rani Majra cut, Barodi toll plaza, Dappar toll plaza, Handesra bus stand, Sarsini T-point, Sarsini railway crossing and IISER light point on the busy Airport Road in Mohali.

A significant increase was also witnessed in kidnapping cases as 154 cases were already reported this year in the first 11 months as compared to 138 cases in 2023

Nearly 405 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, installed at a cost of ₹17.70 crore, will keep tabs on traffic violations on city roads. On detecting a violation, an e-challan will be promptly generated and sent to the vehicle owner’s phone number

Rajwinder had recently returned to India from Saudi Arabia and had come to Zirakpur in search of work. He stayed with the victim in a rented accommodation in Aggarwal Estate, Zirakpur.

Meanwhile deputy commissioner Aashika Jain on Tuesday asked the district local bodies to ensure that all the ongoing constructions are as per the building bylaws and issue violation notice to avert any untoward incident in future

The court will pronounce the quantum of sentence on Tuesday; Anmol Narang, public prosecutor for the CBI, averred that the accused police officers staged a planned and cold-blooded murder and wrongly projected it to be a legitimate encounter by manipulating police files

1 held, another on the run; as per the National Disaster Response Team (NDRF) report, only two people were trapped under the debris

Sohana building collapse: Excavation on the adjoining plot caused the tragedy; building owners, who also own the said plot, booked for culpable homicide

Mohali police have recommended installation of lights or reflectors at the beginning of the Dera Bassi flyover from Ambala side, and at the end of the flyover while going towards Chandigarh

Mohali police also pushed for the use of artificial intelligence-based traffic lights, which have cameras to capture the traffic volume and adjust the timer accordingly.

Post investigation, appropriate action will be taken regarding Saini and the report will be submitted before the court, the challan filed before the court of additional district and sessions judge Ajit Atri has said.

In the plea, gangster Sukhpreet Singh, alias Budha’s, counsel contended that there was no evidence available with the prosecution to prove that he was involved in the present case and was in touch or had any link with other co-accused

The court said since murder sections have been added to the case, the offences under Section 302 (murder) and 364 (abduction) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) are exclusively triable by the court of sessions.

Amid burgeoning traffic woes on major stretches like Airport Road, Mohali traffic police write to the deputy commissioner to ban entry of heavy vehicles during rush hours

The accused were booked under Section 306 (theft by a clerk, servant or employee of property belonging to their employer) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Zirakpur police station

Out of the total 800 high definition CCTV cameras, including automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, to be installed in Mullanpur, Kharar, Zirakpur and Dera Bassi sub-divisions, police are going to install 568 cameras at crime hotspots

26-year-old victim has been untraceable since his disappearance in July 2010; his car was fished out from Bhakra Canal in Rupnagar in 2011

Mohali police apprehended the 35-year-old teacher from the school premises after being alerted by parents and school management

Mahal is currently lodged in Tihar jail. Police claimed that with the arrests they have averted two targeted murders which the accused were going to execute in the coming days.

Four months after allotment of contract, unavailability of alternative routes for traffic diversion worries Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA)

Singer Sukhjivan Singh, 27, professionally known as Beat Singh, is a Bathinda native and currently resides in a rented flat in SBP North Valley Society on Landran Road, Mohali

Kharar police had arrested the youth on Wednesday, following which he was held up in the lock-up at Sunny Enclave police post, where he allegedly hanged himself from a bar using a thin nylon rope at midnight

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