ASI cremated; shock, anger among mourners
Rampura (Amritsar), Dec 7
Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Ravinderpal Singh, who was shot dead on Wednesday by youths harassing his daughter, was cremated at his native village today with state honours.

ASI Ravinderpal Singh’s son Navpreet and daughter Robinjeet at his cremation near Amritsar on Friday. CPS (Health) Navjot Kaur Sidhu is also seen. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Govt de-recognises archery association, suspends boxing body
New Delhi, December 7
Indian sports plunged into deeper trouble today when the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports today “de-recognised” the Archery Association of India (AAI) and “suspended” recognition of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) with “immediate effect”.

PAU convocation today, PM coming
Ludhiana, December 7
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be the chief guest at the golden jubilee convocation of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) tomorrow. The convocation will also witness the presence of Punjab Governor and Chancellor of University, Shivraj V Patil, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Union Minister Manish Tewari.

India wants Maldives to rein in elements harming bilateral ties
New Delhi, December 7
India today asked the Maldives to check the activities of elements who may be trying to harm bilateral ties in the wake of the termination of the Male airport development contract to Indian infrastructure major GMR.

Beijing plays down row over disputed map in its e-passport
New Delhi, December 7
China continues to indulge in double-speak in the latest map row with India, Vietnam and the Philippines, refusing to budge from its position that the move was purely a security measure and not aimed against any country. Chinese sources sought to play down the concerns raised by India and some East Asian countries over China’s new e-passport, the latest bone of contention between Beijing and its neighbours. “This is not targeted at any particular country,” they told The Tribune.

‘Sons of soil’ to guard China border in Sikkim New Delhi, December 7 India’s policy of integrating local soldiers or “sons of the soil” with the Indian Army in guarding the frontier with China will now be extended to Sikkim. This will complete an arch of locally recruited battalions to be integrated with the Army and stationed from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir in the North to Arunachal Pradesh in the East.