Body beautiful fad reaches cities of Punjab. (28k, 56k)

43 PTU courses for troops
Jalandhar, October 24
Punjab Technical University has signed an agreement with the Army to introduce more technical, management and computer applications degree courses under its distance education programme for serving Army personnel.

Consumers pay hefty bills before Divali
Abohar, October 24
A large number of local consumers had to pay their water and sewerage bills at increased rates with arrears today, it being the last day for paying electricity as well as telephone bills.

POLITICS

Punjab BJP to campaign in Rajasthan
Chandigarh, October 24
The President of the Punjab BJP, Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, said today that the state unit had been told by the party high command to campaign in four constituencies — Ganganagar, Kesri Singh Pur, Sri Karanpur and Sangria — during the Assembly elections in Rajasthan.

COMMUNITY

Bhalla to stay as member of power board
Patiala, October 24
The Punjab State Electricity Board today claimed that Congress legislator Raman Bhalla continued to be Member, Administration, and that Akali leader Gurbachan Singh Bachi had joined the board as a member and would be delegated powers in due course.

IMA condemns registration of cases against doctors
Bathinda, October 24
The local branch of the Indian Medical Association has condemned the registration of “false” criminal cases against two Ludhiana-based doctors, Dr Baldev Singh Aulakh and Dr Navdeep Singh Khaira.

38 couples tie the knot
Faridkot, October 24
As many as 38 couples belonging to poor families from Moga, Muktsar, Ferozepore and Faridkot tied the nuptial knot in a mass-marriage function organised by the Gurmit Ragi Granthi Sabha at Khalsa Senior Secondary School here today.

Divali greetings from CM, Badal
Chandigarh, October 24
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Leader of the Opposition Parkash Singh Badal, President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress H.S. Hanspal, President of the BJP (Punjab) Avinash Rai Khanna, in separate statements have greeted the people of the state and the country on the eve of Divali.

Indian writers return from Pak Amritsar, October 24 A 10-member Indian delegation of Urdu , Punjabi and Hindi writers, led by Ajit Kaur, a Punjabi writer, returned from Pakistan through the Wagah joint checkpost after attending a literary association of SAARC nations held at Lahore. An Indian delegation of writers at Amritsar railway station after returning from Pakistan through the Wagah joint checkpost on Friday. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma

Pak child returns after surgery
Amritsar, October 24
A 19-month-old baby, Urja, left for Pakistan through Wagah joint checkpost today after a successful heart surgery in India.

Now, electric traction till Jalandhar
Phagwara, October 24
The much-awaited electric traction between Ludhiana and Jalandhar will be inaugurated on October 29 and thereafter, all the trains from New Delhi and other sides would have electric engines till Jalandhar.

• Badal calls on Punjab Governor

• Hike in dearness relief for pensioners

COURTS

Panchhi remanded in judicial custody
Jalandhar, October 24
Sukhwinder Panchhi, who was arrested on allegations of cheating and fraud in a human trafficking case on October 17, was today remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by a local court.

AGRICULTURE

Encourage alternative crops, says VC
SAS Nagar, October 24
“Diversification of crops in the state cannot be successful till the Punjab Government arranges for procuring the alternative crops which farmers are being encouraged to grow in the state.”

CRIME

DSP arrested on graft charge
Hoshiarpur, October 24
The Bulhowal police has arrested Parminder Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police of 4th Indian Reserve Battalion, Jalandhar Cantt, under Sections 7, 8, 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly taking Rs 1.50 lakh from Ms Rashem Kaur wife of Surjit Singh of Nandachaur village for getting her son appointed as a beldar in Municipal Corporation, Amritsar.

Two killed in accident
Hoshiarpur, October 24
Two persons were killed and three seriously injured in a road accident near Singhariwala on the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur road today. According to the police, the accident occurred when a car coming from Ferozepore collided with a truck.

• Undertrial escapes

EDUCATION

Pro-VC hits back at Registrar
Patiala, October 24
Punjabi University Pro-Vice-Chancellor R.N. Pal has made it clear that he is in no mood to give any explanation to Vice-Chancellor Swarn Singh Boparai. He chided the Registrar for asking him to explain whom he had asked before accepting the post of Honorary Editor of the Indian Council of Social Science and Research.

BUSINESS

Industrial unit owners block traffic
Jalandhar, October 24
Members of the Jalandhar Industrial Focal Point Extension Association have decided to observe a “black Divali” in protest against show-cause notices issued by the Pujab Small Industries and Export Corporation threatening to cancel the registration of their plots if they failed to deposit the enhanced cost.

Traders flout administration directions on Divali eve
Abohar, October 24
The district authorities had directed the traders that stalls for the sale of firecrackers would be allowed only in open spaces but the direction is not being followed. Traders, occupied half of the Circular road for setting up stalls to sell sweets, firecrackers, fruits and gift packs.