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

Man shot dead in Kharar over ‘staring’: Suspects switched cars during escape, reveals probe

The deceased, Gurpreet Singh, a Bathinda native, had been residing at Preet Enclave in Kharar; the victim, according to police, was a gym trainer in Kharar and also used to drive a cab in the tricity

Victim Gurpreet Singh had attacked one of the accused amid the brawl, following which the other group opened fire, said Kharar police. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Feb 03, 2025 08:10 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Pedestrian, biker fall prey to snatchers in Zirakpur, Dhakoli

In another case, Dhakoli police booked six unidentified men for snatching a bike and mobile phone of a food delivery company employee near DPS Chowk around 1.02 am

Snatchers are having a fearless run in Zirakpur and its vicinity in late hours even when the Mohali police have deployed permanent PCRs for night patrolling. (iStock)

Chandigarh

Published on Jan 31, 2025 09:52 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

{Khalistan referendum poster case} Court acquits 2, points to ‘shoddy’ police probe

The court of additional sessions judge (Mohali) Baljinder Singh Sra acquitted Gurpreet Singh of Sector 80, Mohali, in whose printing press those posters were allegedly printed, and Harpuneet Singh, alias Honey, of Mussa Chowk in Jammu, said to be Pannu’s accomplice.

On July 6, 2017, the police received a “secret” information regarding posters near religious sites in various locations across Punjab, including one near a college in Landran of Mohali. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Chandigarh

Published on Jan 31, 2025 06:04 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali MC slaps notices on 14 showrooms over property tax dues

Among the other government defaulters, PWD has to pay around ₹3 lakh, the excise and taxation department has to pay ₹2 lakh, Commando Complex has to pay around ₹1 crore, crime branch has to pay over ₹2.5 lakh, and the labour department has a pending tax amount of ₹3 lakh

So far, the MC has collected over <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>37 crore as property tax for the financial year 2024-25 against the target of <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>41 crore. (HT File Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Jan 30, 2025 09:02 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali MC finally allots five advertisement tenders in sixth attempt

Mohali mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu said, “This is a significant step for the MC as these five contracts are expected to generate huge revenue for the civic body. One tender, which required technical clarity, has been referred for legal advice and will be decided in the next meeting.”

However, Mohali MC failed to allot the sixth tender due to a major glitch. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Jan 29, 2025 10:16 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Ad tender: Mohali MC forms panel to evaluate bidders’ documents

The committee formed by Mohali MC includes a joint commissioner, who has been appointed as the chairman of the committee; an assistant commissioner, a law officer, an XEN, SDO, superintendent and deputy controller finance and account (DCFA)

During the past three Mohali MC House meetings, councillors accused the officials of corruption and of not initiating a vigilance probe into the matter deliberately despite passing the resolution. (File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 24, 2025 09:50 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali’s killer roads claimed 312 lives in 2024

Around half of the fatalities (150) have come from Zirakpur, Lalru and Dera Bassi, which leave much to be desired in terms of road infrastructure, whereas areas falling under Mohali municipal corporation (MC), where the road conditions are comparatively better, reported less than 30 fatalities in 2024

State road safety adviser Navdeep Asija attributed the high fatality rate to poor infrastructure development, including lack of pedestrian crossings and cycle tracks. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 23, 2025 09:26 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali ASI gets case property transferred in aide’s name; booked

The accused, ASI Jasvir Singh, had impounded a Mahindra Scorpio, bearing registration number CH-01-BD-2592, from Gurpreet Singh, the owner of an immigration firm in Phase-11, who was arrested on June 27, 2023, for allegedly duping a Patiala resident of ₹16 lakh on the pretext of sending him Canada.

The ASI, who was the investigating officer in the case, got the vehicle transferred in his aide, Renu alias Renuka’s name, using forged documents. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 23, 2025 09:18 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali property dealer gets ₹50 lakh extortion call

Extortion calls to industrialists, Punjabi singers residing here and businessmen is rampant in the district and in many cases, gangsters tend to warn and threaten their targets by firing outside their house or at their workplace

Mohali police have booked Dhillon under section 308(2) (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the IT City Police Station. (iStock)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 22, 2025 09:02 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Punjab: NIA court denies bail to accused in 2021 Ludhiana court blast case

The Punjab Police conducted the initial probe but later the case was handed over to the NIA in January 2022

The explosion had killed the improvised explosive device (IED) bomb handler, identified as Gagandeep Singh, and injured five others on December 23, 2021, according to the NIA. (PTI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 22, 2025 05:18 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

₹1-cr extortion demand: 2 Landa aides who opened fire at Mukerian bizman’s house held

Landa had threatened to kill bizman’s family; arrested accused also involved in Jan 8 Airport road firing and Sahnewal car-jacking incidents

The arrested accused in Mohali police custody. (HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 21, 2025 08:48 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali: Drunk 24-year-old returning from party fires gunshots on Airport Road, arrested

The incident occurred around 3.45 am, when the youth, travelling in a Toyota Fortuner with three others, including a female, turned towards Aerocity Road near the railway overbridge, where police were positioned

Arrested swiftly, the accused, identified as Mohit Grover, a resident of Sector 91 and a businessman, admitted to opening fire in an inebriated state, said Mohali police. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 20, 2025 07:52 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali: GPS tracker lands three carjackers in net in 60 minutes

Vigilant vehicle owner had already installed a tracker in the cab, which helped him trace the carjackers as they fled from Kharar towards Ludhiana

Notably, taking note of the increase in snatching and carjacking incidents during winter, mostly at night, Mohali police had increased the number of PCR vehicles across the district. Yet the accused managed to execute the carjacking. (HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 19, 2025 08:30 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

After 5 failures, Mohali MC gives ad tender another go

Mohali mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu said the tenders could not be allotted earlier due to the nexus of available players in the business

After five failed attempts to draw bidders, now, the MC has now divided the advertising sites into six separate tenders. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 17, 2025 09:34 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali ANTF files challan against Punjab cop, 8 others in drug case

The Mohali ANTF initially arrested two persons, constable Gurmeet Singh and Navdeep Kaur, reportedly carrying 440-gm heroin in Mauli Baidwan village, Sector 80, on July 17.

The Mohali Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) submitted a challan against nine persons, including a Punjab cop, allegedly arrested in a drug case on July 17 last year, in a local court on Thursday. (Representational image)

Chandigarh

Published on Jan 16, 2025 10:41 PM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Sohana building collapse: preliminary probe pins blame on Mohali MC, owners

Owners never obtained building plan approval, MC officials failed to enforce regulations, finds initial probe by Mohali SDM

The collapse had claimed the lives of a 20-year-old woman, who lived as a paying guest in the four-storey building, and a 30-year-old man who was working out in a gym housed in the structure. (Sanjeev Sharma/HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 16, 2025 08:56 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Forgery & graft case: Dismissed DSP Gursher Singh file bail plea

Sandhu claimed that the SP did not consider the fact that Mohali senior superintendent of police (SSP), a senior police officer, had already found the allegations to be false after conducting an inquiry

The former DSP also accused the superintendent of police (SP) investigation, Rupnagar, of conducting a probe to settle score with him on account of inter-department rivalry. (HT file photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 14, 2025 08:58 AM IST

ByNikhil SharmaNikhil Sharma, Mohali

One killed, another hurt as lanter of under-construction building collapses in Mohali

A labourer died and another was injured when a lanter collapsed at a construction site in Mohali. An investigation is underway.

The collapse site in Mohali on Monday. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 14, 2025 08:30 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali: Man gets 10-year jail term in 2017 drug case

Police had recovered 800 diphenoxylate hydrochloride tablets from Happy, which on an average, weighed 74 mg per tablet; the total of recovery of the contraband from the accused was 59.2 g, a commercial quantity, which lead to his conviction

During trial, Happy initially denied the allegations and pleaded his innocence, claiming that he had been falsely implicated. (iStock)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 13, 2025 08:36 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali: ‘Robbers’ open fire at car on Airport Road, 2 hurt

The car occupants, both from Patiala, were on their way to Chandigarh in a car when they were targeted on Airport Road in Mohali

A police officer said the installation of new CCTV cameras in Mohali will help trace the culprits quickly. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 10, 2025 08:58 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Sector 76-80 enhancement cost: Allottees liable to payinterest, says GMADA

GMADA has approached the state government, by sending a proposal, for reducing the charges by around ₹800 per square metre following objections raised by around 30,000 residents living in these five sectors

Enhancement charges refer to the additional amount paid to landowners against acquisition. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 09, 2025 09:44 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mohali DC urges urgent regulations for constructions in Lal Dora areas

The tragic death of 12-year-old Ashish Kumar in Mauli Baidwan village, who was struck by a falling iron grille from an under-construction building on Monday, has highlighted the critical lack of building regulations in the Lal Dora areas of Mohali

DC Aashika Jain has urged the Punjab government to frame regulations for Lal Dora areas. The Mohali administration has sent teams to inspect ongoing constructions and take action to prevent further risks to residents. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 09, 2025 09:40 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Unchecked construction in Lal Dora a threat in Mohali villages

Lal Dora is an extension of the village habitation, which can be used by the villagers for non-agricultural purposes only, like for keeping livestock; the land revenue department originally marked these areas by tying a red thread or lal dora as a boundary

GMADA officials said despite serving multiple notices and conducting demolition drives, illegal structures keep coming up in villages. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 08, 2025 09:36 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

Mahakumbh: Special flight to take devotees to Prayagraj till Feb 26

Alliance Air has dedicated a 70-seater plane for the flight which will depart at 4.30 pm and land at Prayagraj at 6.40 pm every Monday during the mega fair

According to the North Central Railway, around 40 crore people are likely to attend the mega fair, held every 12 years. (HT File Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 06, 2025 09:00 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

GMADA writes to govt for reduction of enhancement charges in Mohali’s Sectors 76 to 80

Enhancement charges refer to the additional amount paid to landowners against acquisition. At the time of the allotment of these plots, GMADA had obtained an undertaking from the allottees, for payment of enhancement charges as decided by the authority.

GMADA chief administrator Moneesh Kumar said the proposal to revise the enhancement cost was sent to the state government following which the same was sent to the finance ministry for the final decision. (REUTERS)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 05, 2025 08:36 AM IST

ByNikhil Sharma, Mohali

For second day, fog hits flight operations at Chandigarh airport

Departures from Chandigarh, including flight AI2638 to New Delhi and Indigo’s 6E146 to Lucknow, were delayed due to poor visibility in the morning.

Chandigarh

Published on Jan 04, 2025 12:18 PM IST

ByNikhil Sharma

Fog hits flight services at Chandigarh airport

10 flights behind schedule due to poor visibility on Friday morning. Flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Jaipur arrived hours behind schedule, while departures to Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Bengaluru and Patna were also affected.

Chandigarh

Published on Jan 03, 2025 01:18 PM IST

ByNikhil 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

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Nikhil Sharma

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

The deceased, Gurpreet Singh, a Bathinda native, had been residing at Preet Enclave in Kharar; the victim, according to police, was a gym trainer in Kharar and also used to drive a cab in the tricity

In another case, Dhakoli police booked six unidentified men for snatching a bike and mobile phone of a food delivery company employee near DPS Chowk around 1.02 am

The court of additional sessions judge (Mohali) Baljinder Singh Sra acquitted Gurpreet Singh of Sector 80, Mohali, in whose printing press those posters were allegedly printed, and Harpuneet Singh, alias Honey, of Mussa Chowk in Jammu, said to be Pannu’s accomplice.

Among the other government defaulters, PWD has to pay around ₹3 lakh, the excise and taxation department has to pay ₹2 lakh, Commando Complex has to pay around ₹1 crore, crime branch has to pay over ₹2.5 lakh, and the labour department has a pending tax amount of ₹3 lakh

Mohali mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu said, “This is a significant step for the MC as these five contracts are expected to generate huge revenue for the civic body. One tender, which required technical clarity, has been referred for legal advice and will be decided in the next meeting.”

The committee formed by Mohali MC includes a joint commissioner, who has been appointed as the chairman of the committee; an assistant commissioner, a law officer, an XEN, SDO, superintendent and deputy controller finance and account (DCFA)

Extortion calls to industrialists, Punjabi singers residing here and businessmen is rampant in the district and in many cases, gangsters tend to warn and threaten their targets by firing outside their house or at their workplace

The Punjab Police conducted the initial probe but later the case was handed over to the NIA in January 2022

Landa had threatened to kill bizman’s family; arrested accused also involved in Jan 8 Airport road firing and Sahnewal car-jacking incidents

The incident occurred around 3.45 am, when the youth, travelling in a Toyota Fortuner with three others, including a female, turned towards Aerocity Road near the railway overbridge, where police were positioned

Vigilant vehicle owner had already installed a tracker in the cab, which helped him trace the carjackers as they fled from Kharar towards Ludhiana

Mohali mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu said the tenders could not be allotted earlier due to the nexus of available players in the business

The Mohali ANTF initially arrested two persons, constable Gurmeet Singh and Navdeep Kaur, reportedly carrying 440-gm heroin in Mauli Baidwan village, Sector 80, on July 17.

Owners never obtained building plan approval, MC officials failed to enforce regulations, finds initial probe by Mohali SDM

Sandhu claimed that the SP did not consider the fact that Mohali senior superintendent of police (SSP), a senior police officer, had already found the allegations to be false after conducting an inquiry

A labourer died and another was injured when a lanter collapsed at a construction site in Mohali. An investigation is underway.

Police had recovered 800 diphenoxylate hydrochloride tablets from Happy, which on an average, weighed 74 mg per tablet; the total of recovery of the contraband from the accused was 59.2 g, a commercial quantity, which lead to his conviction

The car occupants, both from Patiala, were on their way to Chandigarh in a car when they were targeted on Airport Road in Mohali

GMADA has approached the state government, by sending a proposal, for reducing the charges by around ₹800 per square metre following objections raised by around 30,000 residents living in these five sectors

The tragic death of 12-year-old Ashish Kumar in Mauli Baidwan village, who was struck by a falling iron grille from an under-construction building on Monday, has highlighted the critical lack of building regulations in the Lal Dora areas of Mohali

Lal Dora is an extension of the village habitation, which can be used by the villagers for non-agricultural purposes only, like for keeping livestock; the land revenue department originally marked these areas by tying a red thread or lal dora as a boundary

Alliance Air has dedicated a 70-seater plane for the flight which will depart at 4.30 pm and land at Prayagraj at 6.40 pm every Monday during the mega fair

Enhancement charges refer to the additional amount paid to landowners against acquisition. At the time of the allotment of these plots, GMADA had obtained an undertaking from the allottees, for payment of enhancement charges as decided by the authority.

Departures from Chandigarh, including flight AI2638 to New Delhi and Indigo’s 6E146 to Lucknow, were delayed due to poor visibility in the morning.

10 flights behind schedule due to poor visibility on Friday morning. Flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Jaipur arrived hours behind schedule, while departures to Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Bengaluru and Patna were also affected.

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.

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