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Act in time to avoid Talhan-like situation: DIG
Jalandhar, January 22
“Look for early warning signals and act for God’s sake to avoid allowing a Talhan-like situation take an ugly turn.” This is not a piece of advice extended by some sage, but, is the result of introspection and a good deal of deep thought given by Mr Dinkar Gupta, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jalandhar Range. He has come out with an exhaustive report about the Talhan problem.

No tinkering with Cabinet
Chandigarh, January 22
The Congress high command today finally decided against any reshuffle or expansion of the Punjab Council of Ministers, thus putting the so-called “package” in the deep-freeze. This was worked out by the high command between Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and the dissidents, who were led by the Deputy Chief Minister, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.

Five declared POs in Daler case
Patiala, January 22
A local court today declared five accused in the human trafficking case registered against pop star Daler Mehndi and his brother Shamsher as proclaimed offenders after they failed to answer repeated warrants issued to them.

Sidhu’s sureties fail to measure up
Patiala, January 22
The sureties for ousted PPSC Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu today failed to match up to the stipulations following which District and Sessions Judge A.N. Jindal put off the hearing of the application for furnishing of bail bonds for tomorrow.

69,000 hectares wrongly declared forest land
Chandigarh, January 22
Thousands of families in 470 villages of four hilly districts of Punjab are finding themselves embroiled in a legal battle as the Department of Forest has wrongfully declared 69,388.90 hectares of their agricultural and habitation land as forest land. Though the department has accepted its mistake, but these families cannot relax till the matter is resolved by the Supreme Court.

Rs 10 cr increase in tax collection
Bathinda, January 22
Mr I.R. Nayyar, Commissioner, Income Tax, said here today that during the current financial year up to December 31, 2003 there was an increase of Rs 10 crores in the collection of income tax in the Bathinda region as compared to the income tax revenue generated in the previous year.

Pak MPs return via Wagah post
Amritsar, January 22
Eleven Pakistan senators and MPs returned to their country via the Indo-Pakistan checkpost at Wagah here today.

POLITICS

Akali Dal to form committees
Bathinda, January 22
As many as 20 committees comprising experts from different areas and fields will be constituted by the Akali Dal headed by former Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Ravi Inder Singh to evolve new political and administrative system by replacing the existing systems.

COMMUNITY

Gallantry awards presented
Bathinda, January 22
At an impressive investiture ceremony held here yesterday, one Yudh Seva Medal, one Bar to Sena Medal, 24 Sena Medals (gallantry), four Sena Medals (distinguished) and three Seva Medals were presented to armymen. Out of these 33 medals, five were given posthumously. The Goc-in-C, Western Command, Lieut-Gen S.S. Mehta, gave away the medals.

Nanakshahi calendar released
Amritsar, January 22
In a significant development, Giani Puran Singh, Head Granthi, Golden Temple, was present when the new Nanakshahi calendar was released by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, giving broad indications of his “mute acceptance” to the controversial ‘jantri’ here today.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti (L) releases the new Nanakshahi calendar in Amrisar on Thursday. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma

Engineer denies misappropriation of funds
Bathinda, January 22
The PWD Field and Workshop Union (Punjab), Bathinda Zone has alleged that Mr M.L. Bansal, Executive Engineer, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB), Bathinda, had indulged in irregularities in the use of funds spent on AICC chief Ms Sonia Gandhi’s visit to the town on January 15.

Villagers protest against police functioning
Fazilka, January 22
Residents of over eight villages staged a dharna in front of the Sadar police station here today in protest against the police dropping the name of an accused from the list of those involved in a murder case in Hauz Khas village.

Economic reasons led to ’47 killings: poet
Amritsar, January 22
The recent research on the Partition of the country has revealed that the basic reason for the mass killings of Hindu and Sikhs in Muslim-dominated areas was economic rather than communal.

Urdu poets all the way
Patiala, January 22
It took 10 long years to renew the connection but the tireless efforts of poetry lovers of the region did make possible the resumption of the Indo-Pak mushaira which was held in the city last night after a whole decade.

Indian, Pak poets should interact more: Bir Devinder
Patiala, January 22
Punjab Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh has called for promoting closer interaction between poets of both India and Pakistan at the Indo-Pak mushaira organised by the Mehak Cultural Forum at the Central State Library in the city last night.

DC recommends suspension of Welfare Officer
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 22
Mr S.K. Ahluwalia, Deputy Commissioner, has recommended the suspension of the Tehsil Welfare Officer, Ms Gian Kaur, for allegedly recommending the names of “ineligible” candidates for sanctioning Rs 20,000 to construct pucca houses under a scheme for Scheduled Castes.

Parking lot inaugurated
Ropar, January 22
Mr Ramesh Dutt Sharma, the state Minister for Grievances, Transport and Cooperation, today inaugurated a parking lot and a fountain built at a cost of Rs 5 lakh in the old Anaj Mandi of the town.

COURTS

High Court
Notice issued in disappearance case
Chandigarh, January 22
Taking up a petition seeking directions for producing Harmanpreet Singh Randhawa — relative of a senior Punjab police officer — a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the state of Punjab and other respondents.

• Recovered

• Sportsman’s case

• Encounter case

SDM orders probe into adoption of abandoned baby
Kharar, January 22
The SDM here today ordered an inquiry into the alleged adoption of a three-day-old infant found abandoned on the Kharar-Ludhiana road.

CRIME

Two shops burgled

EDUCATION

Don for strengthening national integration
Patiala, January 22
On the fourth day of the first All-India National Integration Camp being hosted by Punjabi University, Maulana Fuzail -ur- Rehman Hilal Usmani, Mufti-e-Azam of Malerkotla, delivered a thought-provoking lecture on “Minorities and national integration,” here today.

Career conference on various courses
Patiala, January 22
To impart information about various courses, training facilities and job opportunities, the office of the Deputy Director Employment organised a career conference at Government College, Dera Bassi here today. Mrs Surjit Kaur, Deputy Director, Patiala division, presided over the function.

Meeta of Punjabi varsity excels in declamation contest
Patiala, January 22
The Computer Science Department of Punjabi University won the trophy in the TN Bhatnagar Memorial Inter-College Declamation Contest organised by the Rotary Club at Bhasha Bhavan here today.

Youth festival postponed