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TOP STORIES

Bhattal’s case adjourned to January 7
Chandigarh, December 18
Punjab Congress dissidents leader and Agriculture Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who is camping in Delhi, today got reprieve as the charges of corruption were not framed against her by a Chandigarh court.

Rebels’ issue can affect Cong chances, says Bir Devinder

Police inspector given premature retirement
Chandigarh, December 18
The SSP of Mansa, Ms V. Neerja, has sent controversial police Inspector Shamsher Singh Guddu ( substantive rank Sub-Inspector), against whom several criminal cases were registered during his service period, on a premature retirement.

Rights panel member’s order arbitrary,
rules HC
Chandigarh, December 18
An order passed by the Punjab State Human Rights Commission’s member has raised controversy. In less than two months after Mr B.C. Rajput reportedly entertained a complaint filed against a Gurdaspur-based police official on the expiry of the prescribed period of limitation, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today held that “prima facie it appeared that the order was patently arbitrary and beyond jurisdiction”.

Khalsa Diwan row: meeting on Dec 22
Amritsar, December 18
The five-member committee of the Chief Khalsa Diwan, constituted by Akal Takht, has convened a meeting at Gurdwara Raqab Ganj, New Delhi, on December 22 to find a ‘workable solution’ to the ongoing crisis in the institution which runs a chain of educational and other institutes.

Bail plea of Daler Mehndi’s kin, associate disallowed
Patiala, December 18
A court here today rejected the bail application of pop singer Daler Mehndi’s relative and an associate in the human trafficking case and also rejected their application for recall of proceedings started against one of them to declare him a proclaimed offender.

UGC chief for making education job-oriented
Jalandhar, December 18
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines to all universities in the country to introduce dual mode education programme to equip students with professional qualification for securing placements.

Plant yielding diesel-like retract grown in village Sanaura (Jalandhar), December 18 Brig (retired) K.S. Dhillon of this village on the Jalandhar-Pathankot road has become first farmer of this region for successfully growing Jatropha, also called “diesel plant” properties of which match with that of diesel. Brig K.S. Dhillon (retd) shows one of his 800 Jatropha plants on his farm at Sanaura village on the Jalandhar-Pathankot road on Thursday. — Photo by S.S. Chopra

POLITICS

Badal alleges police spying on him
Hoshiarpur, December 18
Mr Parkash Singh Badal, former Punjab Chief Minister and president, Shiromani Akali Dal alleged that Capt Amarinder Singh’s Government had deputed CID personnel near his residence to check his and his family members activities round the clock. His tour programmes were being noted and watched by the CID and his mobile phones were under surveillance.

COMMUNITY

Policy to curb tax pilferage on anvil, says Lal Singh
Jalandhar, December 18
The state government, in an effort to restructure the functioning of the Excise and Taxation department, will formulate a comprehensive policy to curb tax pilferage to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore per year and suggest measures to reduce the rate of tax on different items.

4 Pak MPs arrive

Wagah (Amritsar), December 18 The four-member delegation of members of parliament of Pakistan headed by Mr M.P. Bhandara today crossed over into India here. The delegation would attend a two-day seminar on ‘Peace in South Asia’ organised by the South Asia Peoples’ Forum and scheduled to be held in New Delhi on December 19. The four-member delegation of Pakistani Parliamentarians wave to mediapersons after entering India via Wagah joint check-post on Thursday. — PTI photo

Stray dogs maul boy to death Abohar, December 18 Five stray dogs consumed a six-year migrant boy near Chirag Dhaani outside Killianwali village 5 km from here on Wednesday evening. This is fourth such incident in less than a year. According to residents of the area Ram Kumar had come here with his family to pick cotton as daily wage earner from Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh.

11 students hurt in mishap
Moga, December 18
As many as 11 students were injured, three of them seriously, in an accident involving a Punjab Roadways bus, a truck and a maruti car last evening.

Villagers foil garbage dumping bid
Phagwara, December 18
Villagers of Kaulsar today foiled the attempt of the local nagar council to dump garbage there and burnt the effigy of the municipal authorities.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
PCS appointments to be subject to court order
Chandigarh, December 18
Acting on a petition seeking directions to the state of Punjab against issuing appointment letters to candidates successful in examinations conducted for selecting PCS — executive and allied — officers, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, headed by Mr Justice J.S. Khehar, today ruled that the appointments would be subject to the decision of the writ petition.

CRIME

3 booked for rape of 3 sisters
Talwandi Sabo, December 18
Three residents of this town raped repeatedly three sisters living here for months by making false promises of marriage to them.

Gang making fake currency busted, 7 held
Nawanshahr, December 18
The SSP, Mr M.F. Farooqui, in a press note here today, claimed to have busted an inter-district gang involved in the printing and circulation of fake currency by arresting seven persons. The gang was making fake currency on computer at a rented house in Ladhewali village near Rama Mandi.

Staff beat up railway policemen
Ropar, December 18
Employees of the Railway yesterday beat up railway policemen at the local Railway Colony when they intervened in a quarrel.

Fake certificate racket busted, three held
Amritsar, December 18
The CIA staff today busted a fake certificate racket with the arrest of three persons, including two ex-servicemen, who used to dupe job seekers by promising to secure jobs in the Army.

Pirated CDs seized, 4 held
Barnala, December 18
Four persons have been arrested by the Dhanaula police in the Barnala police district for possessing 552 pirated CDs and 15 pornographic films.

EDUCATION

Lecture on peace and harmony
Patiala, December 18
The Department of Philosophy of Punjabi University organised a lecture on the topic “Religion, peace & harmony”, by Acharya Samrat Dr Shiv Muni Maharaj here today. The Vice-Chancellor Punjabi University, Sawarn Singh Boparai was the chief guest.