P U N J A B

Top stories | Politics | Community

Crime | Education | Business

TOP STORIES

Muslims turning to BJP: Advani
Jalandhar, October 23
Giving a clarion call to people of Punjab and Bihar to “throw away” Capt Amarinder Singh and Rabri Devi-led governments the BJP chief, Mr Lal Krishan Advani, today repeatedly reminded them about unparalleled contribution of Mahatma Gandhi towards uplift of Dalits of the country.

Debate telecast: Speaker’s permission ‘had been sought’
Chandigarh, October 23
A joint statement issued by six ministers of the Punjab Government today claimed that the state government had sought permission from the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Dr Kewal Krishan, for the re-telecast of the debate on “roots and causes of terrorism in Punjab”.

Health problems on the rise in cotton belt
Bathinda, October 23
Even as the Punjab Government is grappling to find out the exact cause of the rising incidence of cancer in the cotton belt here, a bunch of social activists and experts have found numerous health problems, including those related to reproductive system, among a large number of Malwa residents.

Crackers cause maximum pollution in Amritsar
Chandigarh, October 23
The highest volume of toxic gases, extremely dangerous to the health of human beings and vegetation, is released in the atmosphere with the bursting of crackers during the Divali. The maximum pollution by the bursting of crackers during Divali, which is only 10 days away, is caused in Amritsar city while Patiala, having a royal heritage, remains least polluted during Divali.

POLITICS

SGPC chief wants SP suspended, shifted
Amritsar, October 23
SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur today demanded the suspension and transfer of Superintendent of police Harmanbir Singh Gill for his role in yesterday’s incident in which Baba Gurpinder and his followers attacked shrine of Satlani Gurdwara to regain possession.

36 SAD (A) workers join SAD (Badal)
Moga, October 23
Over 36 Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) workers including three office-bearers of its youth wing joined SAD (Badal) in the presence of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, MP and party general secretary at Nihalsingh Wala last evening.

COMMUNITY

In the footsteps of his father Kapurthala, October 23 Theatre is vibrant and it is drawing towards it quite a few of those in limelight, feels Manpal Tiwana, who apart from being the son of Punjabi theatre doyen Harpal Tiwana, is also a performing artiste in his own right. A scene from “Sirhind Di Deewar” being staged during the Baba Jassa Singh Kapurthala heritage festival. — A Tribune photograph

Superstitious minister?
Ropar, October 23
The Punjab Government recently purchased luxury cars each for Rs 19 lakh for its ministers but the superstition of tying black tassel to a car continues in the belief that it will ward off mishap. This fact came to light when Education Minister Harnam Dass Johar visited here for a meeting of the district grievance committee.

Manipur Governor bereaved
Chandigarh, October 23
Mr Brijinder Singh Sidhu, a retired Inspector-General of Punjab Police and elder brother of the Governor of Manipur, Dr S.S. Sidhu, died here today after a prolonged illness. He was 81.

Homage paid to ’62 hero
Moga, October 23
Homages were paid to war hero Subedar Joginder Singh of Mahla Kalan in this district, a Param Vir Chakra winner (Posthumously) at a function organised by the Army at the memorial on the GT road this morning to mark the 43rd deatn anniversary of the 1962 China War.

Onions sell for Rs 20 a kg
Batala, October 23
Onions which were sold at the rate of Rs 10/12 a kg a fortnight ago are selling at the rate of Rs 18/20 a kg these days. Although the price is high but quality is very poor and one has to discard half of the purchased material as waste which pains the buyer.

Teenagers from J&K visit Amritsar
Amritsar, October 23
As many as 30 teenagers from terrorist-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir under Army’s Operation Sadbhavana scheme visited the holy city yesterday. Accompanied by Army officials, the children in age group of 11-14, visited the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir and partook of ‘langar’.

CRIME

2 die in mishap
Phagwara, October 23
Two persons — Nirmal Singh, (32) and Makhan Singh, (30) of village Bhawangarh in Bathinda district, were knocked down to death on the GT road near Kanshi Nagar yesterday.

VB nabs gunman, SHO gives slip
Moga, October 23
Vigilance Bureau officials nabbed the gunman of the Station House Officer of Dharamkot police station in the district and recovered Rs 7000 in cash from his possession last night.

Gang of dacoits busted, six arrested
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 23
The district police claims to have busted a six-member gang of dacoits, who were operating in this district. The police has arrested all six members of the gang and seized two pistols, cartridges, two swords, iron rods and various other items.

EDUCATION

Rai university leaves students in lurch
Gurdaspur, October 23
Students of the Rai university centre on the Gurdaspur-Pathankot road are in a bind. They are on the verge of losing two to three academic years and lakhs paid as fee to the university.

Punjab plans law to ban ragging
Faridkot, October 23
The Punjab Government plans to enact a law banning ragging in all colleges in the state. A legislation in this regard is likely to be taken up in the next Assembly session.

BUSINESS

Decision to dilute banks’ equity flayed
Patiala, October 23
The government’s decision to dilute the equity of nationalised banks up to 49 per cent came up for sharp criticism at the fifth conference of the All-India Oriental Bank Officers Association held at Guru Tegh Bahadur Hall, Punjabi University, here today.