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TOP STORIES

Cong factions assure support to CPM in Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur, April 10
Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Secretary CPM, who is touring the Hoshiarpur parliamentary constituency these days in connection with the election campaign of the CPM-Congress candidate, Mr Darshan Singh Mattu, said here today that despite infighting with the party, factions of the Congress has assured him their full support to Mr Mattu.

SAD (A) leader stages walkout from DC’s meeting
Bathinda, April 10
Mr Brinder Singh Mann, president, SAD (Amritsar), Bathinda district, today staged a walkout in the meeting of representatives of all political parties convened by the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, Mr K.A.P. Sinha, to lodge protest against the non-acceptance of their demands by the Election Commission.

Call for Indo-Pak venture in medical care

Wagah, April 10 The cardiologists attending the first Indo-Pak heart summit which opened here today were unanimous in their view that the medical fraternity must jointly prepare a comprehensive plan for health and heart care for the people of the two countries.

Two Pakistani doctors are welcomed on their arrival at Wagah on Saturday. A team of 20 doctors from Pakistan is in India to attend the first Indo-Pak Heart Summit being held in Amritsar. — PTI

Pak Sikh jatha fails to arrive

Poolha changed identity: Sandhu
Chandigarh, April 10
Chairperson of the Majha Ex-Servicemen Human Rights Front (MEHRF), Col G.S. Sandhu (retd), today claimed that self-proclaimed chief of the Nihang Tarna Dal Ajit Singh Poolha had changed his identity after the Ludhiana police had declared him a proclaimed offender in 1980.

Confusion over liquor vends’ reauction
Chandigarh, April 10
Confusion continues to prevail regarding the reauction of liquor vends in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr districts due to different interpretations of a Supreme Court order.

Crores gone and still not motorable
Bathinda, April 10
A 5.3-km-long stretch of the national highway passing through this city has earned the distinction of being called a blot on the face of the “future town of Punjab”.

Employees resent delay in DA merger
Chandigarh, April 10
How long will it take to merge the dearness allowance of Punjab employees in their basic pay? This question has been repeatedly asked by various employees’ organisations from the authorities concerned.

Tohra set for bhog function
Tohra (Patiala), April 10
Villagers across this district and Fatehgarh Sahib are gearing up to give a people’s farewell to Gurcharan Singh Tohra — their pradhanji for decades. They are raising welcome arches, a huge ‘pandal’, and organising langar for the bhog ceremony of Pradhanji. Many are just standing guard outside Pradhanji’s house.

Justice after 11 years Patiala, April 10 The fact that she has got justice more than 11 years after the murder of her husband by his professional colleagues is still to sink in for Dr Suman Goel. “I had an idea that my life’s mission would be fulfilled today but even after getting justice, I am feeling numb,” says the doctor who has, after an 11-year fight, ensured life sentenced for two fellow doctors who had hired a professional killer to murder her husband.

Dr Suman Goel and her daughter after the court decision in Patiala on Saturday. — Tribune photo Rajesh Sachar

Tree ‘speaks’ of Guru’s life Khadoor Sahib, April 10 The 600-year -old ‘speaking tree’, near Darbar Sahib here, relives the childhood memories of the second Sikh master, Guru Angad Dev, apart from narrating the story of invasion by Mughal Emperor Babar, through a unique sound system fitted on it .

POLITICS

No development during Cong rule: Akali MLA
Nawanshahr, April 10
Mr Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, SAD MLA from Kum Kalan and son of SAD-BJP nominee for the Phillaur parliamentary constituency, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal former Speaker, Punjab, at a public meeting here yesterday asked the voters to compare the performance of Vajpayee government with the 45 years of Congress rule. He urged them to vote in favour of the SAD-BJP nominees.

Karan promises to give tough fight to Sukhbir
Faridkot, April 10
Ms Karan Brar, daughter-in-law of former state Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar and Congress nominee from the Faridkot parliamentary constituency, has promised to give fight to her opponent candidate, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, general secretary of the SAD and son of former state Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Lok Jan Shakti Party leader to support Mann
Sangrur, April 10
Mr Kuku Gill, a senior leader of the Lok Jan Shakti Party, who contested the Assembly election from Sangrur, but lost, in the recent past, has extended his support to Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, candidate of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Mann) from Sangrur Parliamentary Constituency.

NSUI plans campaign against NDA govt
Faridkot, April 10
The Punjab unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) plans to launch a campaign ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll to make people aware about the “misdeeds” of the BJP-led NDA combine in the state.

SJP candidate criticises malicious advertisements
Hoshiarpur, April 10
Mr Ajeet Singh Parmar, Samajwadi Janta Party, candidate from the Hoshiarpur Lok Saha seat has criticised the Akali-BJP and the Congress CPM alliances for giving advertisements against each other in newspapers.

COMMUNITY

Pensioners’ protest on April 20, May 3
Sangrur, April 10
Punjab Government pensioners, under the banner of the Punjab State Pensioners Confederation, will take out protest marches carrying black flags in Patiala, parliamentary constituency of Ms Preneet Kaur, wife of Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab Chief Minister, and Sunam on April 20 and May 3, respectively, against the Punjab Government for not fulfilling their demands, mentioned in the Congress manifesto of the February 2002 Assembly elections.

Junoon star in his ancestors’ city
Patiala, April 10
The city could not have asked for a better ambassador. Just two months back Junoon group lead member Salman Ahmed had come to the city to participate in the Heritage Festival and also visit the house of his ancestors. A misty eyed Salman had claimed that he would be back but none counted on it being so soon.

Admn fears trouble at temple kar seva
Ram Tirath (Amritsar), April 10
Anticipating trouble following the call for “large-scale” kar seva tomorrow for the sarovar of the ancient temple here by the Bhartiya Valmiki Dharm Samaj, despite stay orders on any new construction till April 20, heavy police force has been requisitioned.

Protest against temple ‘demolition’
Bathinda, April 10
Residents in the city, including members of the Mahadev Amarnath Seva Samiti, today took out a march to lodge their protest against the demolition of a temple being constructed in the Bhupindra Mill area without getting its site plan sanctioned by the Municipal Corporation.

Slump in demand for campaigning material
Jalandhar, April 10
While most of the political parties have announced the names of the candidates for the LS poll, and the latter have been kicked off their campaign, local businessmen dealing in election material including banners, posters, badges, stickers etc are still to get any order.

Extend ‘dastar’ days till April 15, urges Sikh body
Amritsar, April 10
The Sikh Nation Organisation (SNO) today made an appeal to all Sikh saints, religious bodies, Damdami Taksal, SGPC, Gurdwara Management Committees, Chief Khalsa Divan, Singh Sabhas, Sukhmani Sahib Seva Societies, Sikh Student Federations and all religious, social and political organisations to join hands to propagate Sikh identity and ideology on Baisakhi.

Safai karamchari commits suicide
Abohar, April 10
Sheeshpal (28), a sanitation employee of the Municipal Council died at the civil hospital here last night. He had reportedly consumed insecticide, sources said.

Ad against Ashutosh Maharaj flayed
Jalandhar, April 10
The All-India Divya Jyoti Students Federation today criticised the Khalsa Panchayat, Ludhiana, for allegedly inserting advertisements against the Nurmahlia sect chief Ashutosh Maharaj in some Punjabi newspaper.

COURTS

Lawyer held for breach of peace
Kapurthala, April 10
The agitation by members of the District Bar Association today took a new turn when Mr Harjit Singh Sandhu, lawyer, was arrested by the city police last night in a criminal case under various sections of the IPC on the charge of manhandling abusing and threatening Mr Sandeep Oberoi, a correspondent with Punjab Today.

AGRICULTURE

Crop destroyed in fire
Batala, April 10
Standing wheat crop in 14 kilas was burnt today at Chahal Kalan village, 10 km from here, on the Batala-Jalandhar road.

ADMINISTRATION

Probe against ADC starts
Gurdaspur, April 10
Deputy Commissioner Harjit Singh today confirmed that he was holding an inquiry into a complaint against the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Bahadur Singh, accusing him of tardy utilisation of the MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund.

Power board control room
Sangrur, April 10
The Punjab State Electricity Board has set up a central control room in the office of the Superintending Engineer, Distribution Circle, on the Sohian road here.

CRIME

3 of family die in road mishap
Sangrur, April 10
Three members of a family of Kal Banjara village, near Lehragaga, about 40 km from here, were killed today when the motor cycle they were riding on collided with a truck near Khai village, a few kilometres away from Lehragaga.

Spate of thefts in town
Phagwara, April 10
Jewellery was stolen from the Adarsh Nagar residence of Mr S.K. Sharma today, Thieves broke open the locks of two almirahs and decamped with jewellery and some cash.

One arrested for armed robberies
Jalandhar, April 10
The district police today claimed to have arrested a criminal wanted in cases of two armed robberies.

Journalist held for extortion
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 10
The district police has registered a case against Parminder Bakshi, a Sirhind-based journalist, for allegedly extorting money from CIA Inspector. The police has arrested him.

Red alert to nab Pak smuggler
Amritsar, April 10
A red alert has been sounded in Amritsar and nearby areas to nab a Pakistani smuggler, Abad Ali, who had fled from the court premises here yesterday after intoxicating policemen accompanying him.

Two hurt in clash over land
Dera Bassi, April 10
Two persons were injured in a clash between two groups of residents of Dera Jagadhari village near here today.

EDUCATION

Botanist Vasudeva retires
Patiala, April 10
Prof S.M. Vasudeva, renowned botanist and academician, was accorded a warm send-off on his superannuation as professor of botany by members of the Botany Teachers Club, Department of Botany, Punjabi University, yesterday. Professor Vasudeva retired on March 31 after putting in over 30 years of service. A farewell party was also organised in his honour by members of the Botanical Society of the Department of Botany and students on Thursday.

BUSINESS

Workshop focuses on industry-institute partnership
Malout, April 10
A two-day national-level workshop on industry-institute partnership in training and development began at the local Malout Institute of Management and Information Technology (MIMIT).