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TOP STORIES

’84 riots were pre-planned: Badal
Ludhiana, November 2
The former Punjab Chief Minister and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has termed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as a pre-planned massacre organised by politicians for political gain.

• Police remand of Badal’s aide extended

Letter on fee hike kicks up row
Chandigarh, November 2
A letter written by Mr N.S. Rattan as Punjab Principal Secretary, Higher Education, who has since retired, on the hike in the fee and funds in colleges to the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development against Panjab University, Chandigarh, has kicked up a row.

Encroachments galore on govt land
Jalandhar, November 2
As many as 11,321 properties of different government bodies and departments have been encroached upon by unscrupulous elements in Jalandhar district and the local Municipal Corporation and the Improvement Trust top all of these bodies with the maximum number of encroachments on their land.

Students of various schools dressed in traditional Punjabi dresses at a function organised by the Diamond Welfare Society at Bathinda on Sunday. — Photo by Kulbir Beera

Teams deputed to arrest Daler
Patiala, November 2
The Patiala police today deputed four teams to arrest pop star Daler Mehndi in the human trafficking case following the expiry of the interim bail secured by the singer from the Delhi High Court.

Punjab BJP workers fan out in Rajasthan dists
Bathinda, November 2
Even as Central leaders of the BJP are yet to formally launch a campaign in Rajasthan for the coming Assembly elections, party workers of Punjab have started fanning out in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts.

8-year struggle, yet no justice
Chandigarh, November 2
Mr Mohinder Singh, 71, whose son was allegedly killed by the Punjab police in a fake encounter about nine years ago, is running from pillar to post to get justice. He has sought intervention of the CBI Director in New Delhi as well as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, alleging that the investigating agency had caused delay despite court directions.

POLITICS

Expansion of Cabinet ruled out
Phagwara, November 2
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh today ruled out expansion of the Cabinet in the near future. Whenever the expansion took place it would be after consulting the party President Mrs Sonia Gandhi, he added.

BJP to stand by Akalis
Amritsar, November 2
The Punjab state BJP chief, Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, has said the state party unit would fully support the Shiromani Akali Dal in case their leader was arrested.

COMMUNITY

Defence Dept wants beneficiaries to return land money
PATHANKOT: Land measuring 1000 acres notified to be acquired by the Department of Defence for military installations has become a bone of contention for landlords and residents of Karoli village of this subdivision. The notification authorising the Defence Department to acquire the land was made in 1991.

Upper-Bari Doab case probe hampered
Pathankot, November 2
The investigation into multi-crore upper-Bari Doab case is going on at a snail pace due to the non-availability of technical experts. The Sadar police here on July 4 this year registered an FIR against certain officials following a report of the Adviser (Irrigation) to the Chief Minister, Punjab.

Mann flays Centre for ‘discourtesy’ to Canadian PM
Amritsar, November 2
The SAD (Amritsar) president, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, has flayed the Central Government for deliberately showing discourtesy during the recent Punjab visit of the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Jean Chretien.

I-G asked to probe land-grab by Punjab cop
Chandigarh, November 2
Taking cognizance of a complaint of harassment, extortion and land grabbing by a Punjab Police Sub-Inspector by an Amritsar resident, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission has issued directions that a case be registered and the Inspector-General of Police (Litigation) should look into the matter personally.

Move to revert irrigation staff
Ropar, November 2
The Punjab State Electricity Board has initiated a move to revert the staff of the Irrigation Department maintaining the Anandpur Sahib and the Mukerian hydel canals. The data regarding the staff has been sought by the board.

Society honours martyrs’ kin, soldiers
Kapurthala, November 2
The local Jai Jawan Welfare Society organised a function at the auditorium of Sainik School here last night to honour wounded soldiers, families of martyrs and those soldiers who had been awarded Paramvir chakras and other medals and chakras.

Rice millers’ plea to govt
Patiala, November 2
The urban and rural units of the Patiala Rice Millers Association have alleged that the state procuring agencies have violated the policy of the state government in storing paddy among the rice millers for custom milling at Patiala Centre.

Unemployed linemen call off stir
Patiala, November 2
The agitating unemployed linemen today decided to call off their agitation and fast unto death continuing for the past 45 days before the office of the Punjab State Electricity Board on being offered juice by the Chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board.

Writer’s death mourned
Patiala, November 2
Various writers of the state organised a meeting to mourn the death of Prem Prakash Singh (77), renowned litterateur, here recently. Prem Prakash Singh, has contributed a lot in the field of Punjabi and Hindi literature. He was deep into reading and writing.

Six hurt in clash over land
Patiala, November 2
Six persons belonging to two different castes were injured in a clash at Mallomajra village, a few kilometres from the city, on the Sangrur road today. Sources said the clash occurred at 11 am today when a family from a weaker section of society ploughed some land claiming that it belonged to them.

Encouraging uninhibited expression is his motto
PATIALA: At times a little inspiration from the right source entirely change the course of a life. The bubbly enthusiasm and exuberance of a little girl, Anu Dhillon, inspired art educator Manmeet Singh with the vision of an uninhibited environment for children where they could express themselves freely through their painting without bothering about the judgement pronounced upon their works by grown-ups.

• Breach in Narwana canal

• Tohra heading to USA for treatment

• Pakhoke to head jatha to Pak

• Mass marriage solemnised

• 80-ft statue of Hanuman unveiled

• One dies of dengue

COURTS

Cases being delayed for want of addresses
Jalandhar, November 2
Hundreds of industrial dispute cases are piling up in the Regional Labour Court here due to the alleged failure of factory workers and labourers in furnishing their addresses and other documents within the stipulated time.

CRIME

Pak national shot at
Amritsar, November 2
A Pakistani national, Mohammad Rasiq was shot at when he tried to cross over to India, at Amar Chowki about 15 km from here, last evening. According to a complaint lodged by the company commander of the BSF, Mohammad Rasiq of Jhang district in Pakistan was trying to infiltrate into Indian territory.

Travel agent, mother booked
Gurdaspur, November 2
The police has booked a travel agent Ashish Aggarwal and his mother for allegedly taking Rs 10 lakh from Sudarshan Pal Singh of Bhole village on the pretext of sending him abroad.

LIC cashier held for theft
Amritsar, November 2
A Life Insurance Corporation cashier was arrested today for allegedly stealing Rs 4.89 lakh from the Albert Road branch of the LIC here on October 31.

EDUCATION

37 teachers honoured

Bathinda, November 2 Dr Kehar Singh, Chairman, Punjab School Education Board, while addressing a function here this afternoon, urged the teachers to teach the students with a missionary zeal. Dr Kehar Singh, Chairman, Punjab School Education Board, gives away a certificate to a ward of a government schoolteacher for getting good marks in board exams, during the 25th annual function of the Teachers Home Management, Welfare and Educational Trust at Bathinda on Sunday. Mr Jagmohan Kaushal (extreme right), Chairman of the Trust, and Mrs Kushal Bhaura, wife of CPI MP Bhan Singh Bhaura, are also seen in the picture. — Photo by Kulbir Beera

UK students given farewell
Ropar, November 2
Eight students from Pries Thorpe School, Leeds, in England visited Sahibzada Ajit Singh Academy here. The students falling in the age group of 16 to 18 years visited their twin school, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Academy, as part of a cultural exchange programme.

• Students begin relay fast