M A I N   N E W S

Lathi charge on farmers, cops stoned
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, May 25 — A mild lathi charge at two places by the police on the activists of five farmers’ organisations and workers of political parties and pelting of stones at the police by the protesters marked ‘chakka jam’ agitation in this region today. Few protesters were injured in the lathi charge in Muktsar district.

According to information gathered by this correspondent, the police authorities took more than 300 activists of different farmers’ organisations and political parties into preventive custody, also resorted to a mild lathi charge in Bathinda city and Singewala village.

Reliable sources said that the police started rounding up the workers and leaders of different organisations last night. Those who were arrested last night included Mr Darshan Mehraj, Secretary, CPM, Bathinda, district, Mr Jagmel Singh, Lok Morcha leader and activists of the BKU (Ekta).

Rupee touches all-time low

NEW DELHI May 25 (PTI) — The government today said it was for the RBI to take necessary steps to stabilise the rupee, which touched an all-time low against the US dollar today.

“It is really a subject handled by the RBI and any steps need to be taken, they will be taken at the appropriate time in their (RBI) own judgement,” Finance Secretary P.G. Mankad told reporters here.

The rupee, which plunged to Rs 44.2050/2250 to the US greenback early today, made a recovery later to less than Rs 44 following RBI induced buying of the rupee.

The rupee closed at a historic-low of Rs 44.14/16 on Wednesday.