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TOP STORIES

Singla positive on state’s fiscal health
Each MLA to get Rs 5 cr for development
Ferozepore, December 8
After putting the fractured economy back on rails, the Capt Amarinder Singh government has envisaged a massive plan for the overall development of the state for which all legislators would be provided with a special grant to the tune of Rs 5 crore each for undertaking developmental works in their respective Assembly segments, revealed Mr Surinder Singla, Finance Minister, while talking to mediapersons at Guruharsahai, 35 km from district headquarters here today.

CM advised against Dubai visit?
Chandigarh, December 8
A divided opinion has emerged around the Chief Minister’s proposed dual-purpose visit to Dubai. One, he is scheuled to see for himself the quality of infrastructure built by Emmar MGF Land Private Limited and the second is to attend the Doon School Alumni meet — both in Dubai.

Statewide strike by PSEB staff
Patiala, December 8
On a call given by the PSEB Employees Joint Forum, employees of the board observed a strike all over the state in protest against the non-implementation of their demands, including the proposed privatisation of the board.

Board to take action

DC seeks report on ‘violation’ by temple management 
Amritsar, December 8
The Deputy Commissioner, has written to the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation (MC), to implement the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding ‘status report of the action’ against 12 shops constructed on a prime land, worth crores, by the Durgiana Temple management in alleged violation of a lease agreement with the MC.

Did Vigilance Bureau frame Jail Superintendent?
Chandigarh, December 8
Was the Superintendent of Central Jail, Amritsar, Capt S.P. Singh (retd), framed by Vigilance Bureau officials in an alleged case of embezzlement? Yes, if one is to go by the ‘‘facts’’ of the case gathered by the Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Jails), Mr Malkiat Singh Birmi, who is all set to take up the issue with the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh.                      Capt S.P. Singh (retd)

Municipal Council eyes revenue, forgets safety

Pathankot, December 8 The sparse and costly land can force authorities to go to any extent in this town. The effort of the local Municipal Council to construct a shop around a working transformer of the PSEB is a clear illustration of the fact. The authorities of the Pathankot Municipal Council have employed men to dig the foundations of a shop on the Gulmohar Tourist Complex road here. Significantly, the foundations have been dug around a PSEB transformer which is being used to supply power to the surrounding areas. Labourers dig the foundation of poles of a PSEB transformer on the Gulmohar Tourist Complex road in Pathankot. — A Tribune photograph

POLITICS

Mann for defence varsity at Anandpur Sahib
Amritsar, December 8
Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), here today criticised the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, for pitching to establish a defence university at Patiala.

Sukhbir irrational, say two ministers
Chandigarh, December 8
Reacting to a statement of former Union Minister, Mr Sukhbir Badal, with regards to the proposed visit to Dubai by the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, two Congress Ministers of Punjab said Mr Sukhbir Badal was being envious and irrational because his father, former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, could not fetch such mega investments for the state.

COMMUNITY

25 per cent of development funds for SCs
Moga, December 8
The state government has decided to spend 25 per cent of the funds sanctioned for development works for the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SC), stated Mr Niranjan Singh, Chairman, Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Caste, at a meeting with administration officials and representatives of various social organisations here today.

War memorabilia to be housed in Ludhiana
Chandigarh, December 8
The Punjab Government has decided to collect World War I and II memorabilia from ex-servicemen who had fought in the two wars. Chief Parliamentary Secretary Malkiat Singh Birmi today said the memorabilia would be kept at a war museum in Ludhiana.

“Kaurs” launched 
Chandigarh, December 8
In a world changing at a fast pace, even the name has become a statement of one’s personality. In a country like ours, the name not only identifies one as a person but much more, including his or her religion and even sometimes caste. There are communities which use specific words as suffixes with their names which enables to reveal their identity. “Singh” and “Kaur”, is used particularly by the Sikh community because these relate to its religion.

Pak poets take part in fest
Wadala Veeram, December 8
Many renowned Punjabi poets from Pakistan today participated in the Second Shah Mohammad International Festival here today even as organisers vowed to retrace the heritage belonging to Shah Mohammad.

COURTS

high court
Contempt notice issued to Gen J.J. Singh
Chandigarh, December 8
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a contempt notice to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen J.J. Singh, and the Commanding Officer (CO) of 9 Mahar for April 28, 2006.

AGRICULTURE

Kalam to interact with cotton growers tomorrow
Bathinda, December 8
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam would be visiting Gehri Buttar village in the district on Saturday. He would interact with cotton growers of the village that had been adopted by the Vardhman group-led consortium of spinning mills under its village cluster adoption project.

CRIME

Blind murder case solved
Sangrur, December 8
The district police today claimed to have solved a blind murder case with the arrest of Jagtar Singh, alias Tara, a resident of Benra village, near Dhuri. As per the police, Jagtar Singh had “killed” Chaman Lal, a milkman, whose body was found near Benra village on the Sangrur-Dhuri road on October 5 last. Chaman Lal had gone to Benra village from Dhuri on his bicycle to bring milk from there.

Two held in murder case
Ropar, December 8
The Ropar police today claimed to have solved the three-month murder case of a Morinda resident with the arrest of two persons from Sangatpura village of Samrala. A city resident, Pritpal Singh, was arrested for murdering Karnail Singh while Hardeep Singh of Samrala was held for providing shelter to the murder accused.

Couple shot
Gurdaspur, December 8
Assailants murdered Jarnail Singh and his wife, Binder Kaur, both residents of Chan Chak village, near Gurdaspur, last night. The assailants entered the house of the couple in the village and locked the watchman in a room.

2 jawans killed

EDUCATION

SLIET alumni urged to promote education
Longowal (Sangrur), December 8
Delivering the convocation address at the eighth annual convocation of the Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET) here, Dr Swarn Singh Boparai, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, today called upon the post-graduate, degree, diploma and certificate courses alumni of the institute to contribute one per cent of their income as charity towards education.

Scholar honoured by Kalam
Sangrur, December 8
Prof D.D. Bhatti, a Sanskrit scholar from Malerkotla, was conferred Presidential certificate of honour from the President of India, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on December 6. A special function was organised in Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. He got it for his outstanding contribution to Sanskrit literature.

Material meant for disabled given to BEO
Tarn Taran, December 8
Items worth lakhs purchased under the Union Government’s Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and were lying undistributed at the Government Secondary School (Boys) here have now been handed over to the block elementary education officer no 1 and 2 for distribution.

Placement drive at engineering college
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 8
Punjlloyd, a New-Delhi-based 4000 crore construction company started its placement drive in Punjab at Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College (BBSBEC), Fatehgarh Sahib.