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EC warns violators, tells police to take action
Amritsar, February 17
The Election Commission has directed the civil administration and the police to take action against the violators of model code of conduct during the run up to the Majitha byelection scheduled to be held on February 19. 

• 35 polling booths sensitive

PM to inaugurate Thein Dam
Amritsar, February 17
The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, will dedicate the prestigious Ranjit Sagar Dam known as Thein Dam to the nation on March 4.

Badal ‘flouting’ election norms
Moga, February 17
Even as about 24 trucks carrying supporters of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal were reportedly detained by the police, teams of Shiromani Akali Dal workers were despatched from Baghapurana in the district to Majitha to canvass for the SAD candidate.

Balbir Singh Pannu cremated
Naushehra Pannuan (Tarn Taran), February 17
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee Senior Vice-President, along with three others who died in a road accident yesterday near Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh were cremated here today at the native village of Mr Pannu.

Harika case: court records statement
Patiala, February 17
Mr Kesar Singh, the 92 year old ‘sewadar’ of former Patiala princely State Prime Minister Gurdial Singh Harika, today recorded a statement under section 164 in a local court in the case involving burial and subsequent ‘dacoity’ of 100 kg of gold in an old haveli in Bakshiwala village of this district.

Alternative to poly bags found
Chandigarh, February 17
An alternative has been found to non-degradable poly bags. Disclosing this, Mr Gurmeet Singh, Principal Chief Forest Conservator, Punjab, said that the department would use henceforth bio-degradable poly bags available in the market.

Faulty machine hits TB detection
Bathinda, February 17
The indifferent attitude of the Punjab Government has started creating bottlenecks in the National Tuberculosis Control Programme in this district as the local tuberculosis (TB) controlling authorities have not been given Rs 19,800 for getting repaired its X-ray machine attached with MMR unit.

POLITICS

SAD vehicles videographed
Majitha, February 17
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today made videotapes of all buses and other vehicles being used for transporting Akali workers from different parts of the state to Majitha.

COMMUNITY

Tota Singh’s son sparks off controversy
Moga, February 17
The distribution of cheques to felicitate the marriages of Scheduled Caste girls by the son of Punjab Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, at a public function here yesterday has sparked off a controversy.

Municipal reading hall in bad shape
BATHINDA: The Municipal Council reading hall located in the heart of the city has been crying for attention for the past many years, but without any success. A big room named Municipal Reading Room at the entrance of Veer Colony of Amrik Singh Road is in a bad shape.

Punjab to have friendly ties with California
Chandigarh, February 17
The Senate Rules Committee of California has passed a resolution to establish a “friendship state relationship between California and Punjab”.

BSF, Pak Rangers hold meeting
Amritsar, February 17
A delegation of the BSF, led by the DIG, Ferozepore, yesterday returned to India after holding meeting with Pakistani Rangers at Wagha checkpost on the Pakistan side.

Population growth, a growing concern
Patiala, February 17
Women would be targeted under a special drive being launched in Patiala district to create awareness about the need to control population in the city.

Youth conference on March 23
Sangrur, February 17
A delegates’ conference of the All-India Federation of Democratic Youth (AIFDY) will be organised here on March 23 and 24.

Fake-TV gang busted
Bathinda, February 17
The Bathinda district police has succeeded in seizing fake colour televisions with the arrest of four persons.

Patiala to have rehri market
Patiala, February 17
With a view to removing traffic congestion in the city, particularly front of the bus stand, the local Improvement Trust has proposed to set up a rehri market here on the lines of similar markets in Chandigarh. This market is proposed to be set up on a land of the Health Department in front of Mata Kaushalya Hospital.

ADMINISTRATION

Govt’s new guidelines for excise staff
Hoshiarpur, February 17
To avoid possibilities of harassment of the trade and industry by the unauthorised visits to small scale units by the Central Excise Officers, Government of India has instructed the Central Excise Authorities that the permissions to visit the SSI units be given by an officer not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner.

Managers seek promotion policy
Chandigarh, February 17
Managers working in the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation (PSWC) today demanded the constitution of a high-level committee for framing promotion policy and distribution of work among the corporation staff.

ASI booked for custodial death
Jalandhar, February 17
Bowing to the pressure by people and relatives of a resident of Dhariwal Dona village who had died at Kapurthala allegedly in police custody on Thursday night, the district police authorities have booked an ASI, a Head Constable and a Home Guard jawan posted at the Kapurthala city police station.

EDUCATION

Computers donated to students
Kapurthala, February 17
Non-Resident Indians (NRI) have come forward to help students of Kapurthala become computer literate by providing them with used and second hand computers.

Hostel for disabled inaugurated
Bathinda, February 17
The hostel of Mahant Gurbanta Dass School for Deaf, Dumb and Blind (MGDSDDB) was inaugurated today by Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman of the school.

Engg college lacks facilities
Bathinda, February 17
Giani Zail Singh Engineering and Technology College here set up in 1989 is still lacking in necessary facilities.

City girl wins national prize in dance
Patiala, February 17
Aarohi Walia has won the first prize at the National Youth Festival held at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi from January 29 to February 2. Aarohi, a second- year student of BA studying at the local Government College for Girls (GCG) brought laurels to the city as well as the Punjabi University whom she represented in the competition.

Kashmir students visit city
Patiala, February 17
35 budding youths and teachers from remote areas of South of Kashmir, including Badgam, Pulwama and Anantnag districts, from government as well as private schools came to the city from February 13 to February 17 as part of our Army’s two-year-old project, Jyoti-2000.