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TOP STORIES

Tapping cast, community and floating vote
Chandigarh, April 29
Cast and community have emerged as dominating factors in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Punjab. It is a different matter that successive elected governments have seldom done justice to the social welfare and economic uplift of this important segment of the population.

Cong has to work harder for 2 seats: Amarinder
Kartarpur (Jalandhar), April 29
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today admitted that the Congress was facing problems at one or two seats and would have to put in more efforts to ensure its victory.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh (centre) shares a point with members of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust during a rally at Kartarpur near Jalandhar on Thursday. — Photo by SS Chopra

• Check malpractices, Cong urges CEC

• Cong, CPI form coordination panel

Akali Dal (A) manifesto talks of Punjab ‘problem’
Ludhiana, April 29
The Akali Dal (Amritsar) today said that its mission was to “uphold the distinct identity of the Sikh nation and earn a respectable place for Punjab in the comity of nations.” 

The area which campaigners avoid
Dhar (Gurdaspur) April 29
This area seems to have been forsaken by God and men alike. Apathy towards the people and the area can be judged from the fact that for the past one and a half year no Sub-Divisional Magistrate or tehsildar has been posted here.

Economic issues not being debated: Gill
Amritsar, April 29
“It is unfortunate that economic issues, which should be the main topic of discussion in the Lok Sabha elections, are not being debated openly” said Mr M.S. Gill, a former Chief Election Commissioner and member, Rajya Sabha, at a press conference in Gurdaspur today.

Special court’s jurisdiction challenged
Corruption case against Badals
Ropar, April 29
The proceedings in the corruption case against former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal today dealt with an application filed by the defence challenging the jurisdiction of the Special court here.

• Badal seeks dissolution of Nehra Commission

Protest against French ban on turban in schools

Amritsar, April 29 The Sikh Nation Organisation and the Culture and Heritage Conservative Initiative today held a demonstration at Ram Bagh Gardens near statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, against the Sikh leadership and other political parties for ignoring the issue of “ban on turban” and religious symbols in schools by the French government. Members of the Sikh Nation Organisation raise slogans against the ban on the turban in French schools, in front of the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at the Ram Bagh gardens in Amritsar on Thursday. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma

COMMUNITY

Commendable job by Punjab Police
Patiala, April 29
Often the Punjab Police is criticised for inefficiency and indifferent behaviour. But retired Lieut-Col Mohinderjit Singh Mann had a heart-warming experience while dealing with various officers of the state police in the past two days.

Inquiry absolves SMO
Bathinda, April 29
Mr K.A.P. Sihna, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer, today said that election funds had not been collected from any doctor posted at the local Civil Hospital by the Senior Medical Officer, Dr J.S. Sandhu, as alleged in a news item that appeared in an English daily.

Poll duty ignores service protocol, alleges manch
Abohar, April 29
Mr Kulwant Singh Bhatti, president of the All-India SC, BC, ST and Minorities Ekta Bhalai Manch, said here today that the deployment of employees on election duty in far-flung areas smacked of suspicion that they could favour a particular party.

Holiday on May 3 Chandigarh, April 29 The Punjab Government has declared a holiday on May 3 on the occasion of Id-Milad-un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed. In a press note issued here today, it said the holiday which was earlier scheduled for May 2 will now be on May 3.

Punjab to ban smoking in public places
Chandigarh, April 29
Effective May 1, The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, will become operative throughout the Punjab.

Book those responsible for suicide: union
Bathinda, April 29
Mr Harbans Singh, general secretary, of the district unit of the Class IV Government Employees Union, on Tuesday urged the Principal of Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering and Technology, to make arrangements for the registration of criminal cases against those, who were responsible for forcing two employees of the college, Balbir Singh and Swaran Singh, to commit suicide.

Sikh ‘freedom march’ by Dal Khalsa
Amritsar, April 29
After a gap of 18 years the Dal Khalsa today made an attempt to revive the movement of “Khalistan” by launching “Sikh Freedom March” from Akal Takht with for a Sikh sovereign state.

Former Pepsu CM Brish Bhan remembered
Sangrur, April 29
On the occasion of 16th death anniversary of freedom fighter and former Chief Minister of Pepsu Babu Brish Bhan, a function was organised at the Babu Brish Bhan DAV School at Moonak today.

COURTS

High Court
Shooting of birds by SDM: notice issued to Chief Secretary
Chandigarh, April 29
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the various functionaries of the Punjab Government, including the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Forest), Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur, and SSP, Gurdaspur, over the recent case of alleged shooting of six birds by SDM, Pathankot, Puneet Goel.

Insurance firm told to pay Rs 1.65 lakh
Pathankot, April 29
Holding the New India Assurance Company “deficient in service”, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Gurdaspur, has ordered it to pay Rs 1.65 lakh with 9 per cent interest from May 1, 2003, to Mr Prem Nath Bhatia, an advocate who underwent “Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting” on February 7 last year.

PPSC scam: Vigilance files another chargesheet
Patiala, April 29
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau today filed another chargesheet in the local court against former Chairman of the Punjab Public Services Commission, Ravi Sidhu and 13 other persons.

AGRICULTURE

District achieves target procurement
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 29
The district has achieved procurement target as 2,44,802 MT of wheat has arrived in the mandis of the district, compared to last year when 2,44,749 MT of wheat was purchased.

CRIME

Hooch claims 4 lives
Muktsar, April 29
At least four persons died after consuming illicit liquor and the fifth was struggling for life in the hospital in Gurhi Sangar village of Muktsar district, the police said today. Senior Superintendent of Police R.S. Khatra said at Muktsar that three died on the night of April 27 while the fourth died in a hospital yesterday.

Jail inmate gives cops the slip
Jalandhar, April 29
An inmate of the local Central Jail reportedly fled from police custody after participating in a cremation ceremony of his father at Jajjan village, near here, today.

Man attacks wife with knife
Kharar, April 29
A woman living at Belongi village, near here, was injured when she was allegedly attacked by a knife by her husband last night. The injured woman, Kamla Devi, was taken to the Kharar Civil Hospital by neighbours.

• Woman poisoned to death

• Commission agent attacked

• 3-yr-old crushed to death

• Two injured in bus-jeep collision

EDUCATION

MA (Punjabi) paper not as per guidelines, allege students
Bathinda, April 29
The third paper of MA Punjabi (first year) is reported not according to the guidelines given in the syllabus, of Punjabi University (Patiala) alleged thousands of students who appeared for the examination of this paper this evening.