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Only 10 women in fray
Chandigarh, April 27
Thirteen seats. As many as 141 candidates in the fray. Just 10 women contestants. An 83-year-old politician leading the brigade of seasoned leaders. A 25-year-old young politician eager to succeed. And over 1.65 crore voters. That is the final poll scene in the Punjab.

SAD (A) extends support to Tur

Amritsar, April 27 The contest for the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha seat today took a new turn as the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) extended unconditional support to rebel SAD leader Tarlochan Singh Tur at a press conference here today. Mr Tur is contesting as an Independent candidate.

(From left) Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur, an Independent candidate from Tarn Taran, Bhai Ram Singh, general secretary, SAD (A), Mr Prem Singh Lalpura, a former MLA, and Mr Satnam Singh Behru, president of SAD (A) Kisan wing, at a press conference in Amritsar on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Regulate exit poll system, says ex-CEC
Jalandhar April 27
The former Chief Election Commissioner, Dr Manohar Singh Gill, today advocated that the exit poll results should be declared after the final round of polling in the country to maintain the sanctity of the elections.

Local issues will get priority, promises Badal
Jhumba (Bathinda), April 27
The former Chief Minister and SAD president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today said that if his party came to power in Punjab, all facilities extended to people during his tenure but withdrawn by the present government, would be restored.

Bhatia had mediated between Indira, Bhindranwale
Amritsar, April 27
In a sensational disclosure, former Minister of State for External Affairs R.L Bhatia today said that he had been mediating between Indira Gandhi and Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale through Bhai Amrik Singh, the then president of the All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) for an amicable solution to the vexed Punjab problem.

CM to address rally in Dullo’s support
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 27
The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, will address a public rally on May 1 at Bassi Pathana to intensify the election campaign of Mr Samsher Singh Dullo, Congress candidate from the Ropar constituency.

NDA has conceded defeat: Ashwani
Amritsar, April 27
The All-India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesman, Mr Ashwani Kumar, today claimed that the NDA had already conceded defeat.

Disqualified candidate cries foul
Hoshiarpur, April 27
Mr Harjinder Kumar, Akali Dal (Amritsar) candidate whose nomination papers had been rejected by the returning officer of 6-Hoshiarpur parliamentary constituency during scrutiny on April 24, said his papers were rejected on account of the “negligent attitude” of the Election Commission.

Defacement of public property rampant
Bathinda, April 27
It is hard to believe that this is the same spot where couplets of Gurbani were written on the occasion of tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa in 1999 as now the SAD-BJP had got the wall of the local Government School for Girls painted with countless slogans.

Elections lead to labour shortage Patiala, April 27 Punjab is facing a shortage of casual labour because of the elections. Those associated with construction say that labourers in big numbers had gone to their native states to participate in the elections.

Bank employees to back Cong, Left AISSF dissolved following Gill’s exit Jagmeet Brar’s video van impounded

Industrialists to support Khanna ‘India Shining’ card losing sheen, claims Preneet SAD workers join Congress

Fresh order leaves BBMB staff fuming
Nangal, April 27
The fear of repatriation has once again started looming large over employees working in the BBMB with the personnel department releasing a fresh letter. In the letter issued on March 31, 2004, by the Additional Secretary (Personnel) directions have been issued to all departments of Punjab to direct its employees who are to retire in three years to report back to their parent departments after getting themselves relieved from the BBMB.

Ban follows burning of wheat stubble
Bathinda, April 27
Many farmers in this district have burnt wheat stubble in their field in preparation for the next crop, but district administration yesterday imposed a ban on the burning of stubble to check pollution.

COMMUNITY

Check terrorism for better ties, Jaitley asks Pak
Amritsar, April 27
Mr Arun Jaitley, Union Law and Commerce Minister, today announced that the stability of Indo-Pak relations would depend upon checking cross-border terrorism.

Pervez’s effigy burnt Amritsar, April 27 Activists of the Punjab Pradesh Youth Congress today burnt the Pakistan national flag and the effigy of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in protest against the militant attack on the Congress headquarters in Srinagar on April 23. Youth Congress activists burn the effigy of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Amritsar on Tuesday. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma

Shiv Sena burns Pak flag
Phagwara, April 27
Activists of the Shiv Sena today burnt the effigy of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the flag of Pakistan in protest against terrorist activities. A big protest march was taken out from Hanumangarhi and slogans were shouted against the Lashkar and the J&K Government for its failure to combat terrorism.

Laxmi flays police brutality
Amritsar April 27
The state BJP vice-president, Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, today decried the continued incidents of misuse of power by the police resulting in deaths as an unhealthy and undemocratic trend.

COURTS

High Court
Govt ready to provide car to Tanda MLA
Chandigarh, April 27
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today disposed of a petition filed by Mr Balbir Singh Miani, MLA from Tanda, seeking directions to the Punjab Government to provide a vehicle to him on security grounds. Mr Maini is a SAD MLA.

Custodial death case: bail pleas of 2 dismissed
Sangrur, April 27
Mr Jagroop Singh, Sessions Judge, Sangrur, today dismissed the bail applications of Sub-Inspector Yudhister Singh and constable Sohan Singh in a case registered under Sections 302, 323, 342, 34 of the IPC on January 19 at the Sherpur police station.

AGRICULTURE

38 wheat purchase centres closed
Faridkot, April 27
The district administration has closed 38 purchase centres out of 53 in the Faridkot district following the non-arrival of wheat. Some of them include, Kisukhiya, Chandbaja, Rattirori, Paccakalan, Machakkalan, Pakhi Kalan, Bichahal, Arainyawala, Pehluwala, Kabalwala, Dheemawali, Wadadadka, Gobindgarh, Khachran, Soorghoori, Dabrikhana, Jhakhrwala, Chandbhan, Kotliablu, Bajakhana, Rorikapura, Madak, Bishnandi and Rameana.

ADMINISTRATION

Sinha orders probe into fund collection
Bathinda, April 27
Mr K.A.P. Sinha, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer, and Mr G.S. Heera, Observer (Expenditure), have ordered a probe into the alleged collection of funds for the Lok Sabha elections from doctors posted in the local Civil Hospital by the state health authorities.

CRIME

Young couple dies in mishap
Barnala, April 27
A young couple married two months ago, died in a mishap at Pakho Kalan on the Barnala-Mansa road 20 Km. from here on Monday.

Two arrested for Minia clash
Moga, April 27
The police has arrested Gurmel Singh and Sukhdev Singh of Machhike village in connection with a clash among Congress workers and BKU (Ekta) members at a rally organised by the Congress at Minia village in Moga recently.

One killed in road accident
Kharar, April 27
One person was killed in an accident when his bicycle was hit by a car on the Kharar-Morinda road here today.

EDUCATION

Punjabi University condones lectures
Patiala, April 27
Punjabi University has given special relaxation to its students on the occasion of the 500th birth anniversary of Guru Angad Dev by deciding to condone lecture shortage of all students for this academic session.

Ban on entry of two former students goes
Patiala, April 27
Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Swarn Singh Boparai today lifted the ban on the entry of two former students of the university Bikramjit Singh Jatana and Gurtej Singh Teji.