Gunman at large in Australia after leaving 3 dead, 1 wounded
Melbourne (AP): A gunman was at large after a shooting in a town in Australia's New South Wales state on Thursday left three people dead and another wounded, police said.
Emergency services were called to two locations at Lake Cargelligo, a town of around 1,500 people, after 4 pm. Two couples, a man and woman, had been shot in each location within minutes, Police Assistant Commissioner Andy Holland said.
Both women and a man died. Another man was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition, he said.
Police knew the identity of a suspect, but did not know his relationship with the victims, who were all Lake Cargelligo locals, Holland said. The suspect's name has not been released.
The victims were the suspect's former partner, two of her relatives and her new partner, Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported, citing unnamed police sources.
State police were working to locate the suspect and had sent resources from neighbouring districts to the town, including heavily armed tactical police, Holland said. The town had been cordoned off to prevent the suspect's escape.
Police used geo-targeted text messages to urge the public to avoid the area and for local residents to stay inside. The Commercial Hotel, a local pub, was closed by 6 pm.
“The offender is believed to have fled in a vehicle,” Holland told reporters. “The offender is mobile, hence … we're asking people in those areas to remain inside their premises for their own safety.”
Local state parliament lawmaker Roy Butler, described the shooting as “tragic news” for the town, which is a 600-kilometre (370-mile) drive west of Sydney.
“It's a terrible situation, and it's still live, so we don't have much information. My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” Butler said.
The shooting came on a National Day of Mourning as Australia remembers the 15 people shot dead in Sydney at a Hannukah celebration on December 14.
Authorities say the two alleged Sydney gunmen were inspired by the Islamic State group to carry out Australia's worst mass shooting since 1996.
The Australian Parliament on Tuesday passed new gun restrictions in response to the tragedy.
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15 IAS officers transferred in Haryana
Chandigarh (PTI): The Haryana government transferred 15 IAS officers with immediate effect on Wednesday.
Among those who have been transferred are Vineet Garg, Chairman, Haryana State Pollution Control Board. He has been posted as the additional chief secretary to the government's printing and stationery department, relieving Raja Shekhar Vundru of the charge, a government order said.
Ajay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram, has been transferred and posted as the deputy principal secretary-II to the chief minister against a newly-created post.
Pankaj Agarwal, Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, has been posted as the principal secretary in the architecture department, relieving Apporva Kumar Singh of the charge.
Saket Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Commissioner and Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department, has been transferred and posted as the commissioner and secretary in the archives department, relieving Shekhar Vidyarthi of the charge.
Mani Ram Sharma, Registrar, Cooperative Societies, has been posted as the secretary in the health department, relieving Rippudaman Singh Dhillon of the charge.
