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Flying club instructor shown taking bribes
Tehelka expose halts flying operations
Patiala, December 16
Flying has come to a grinding halt at the Northern India Flying Club here after a Tehelka sting operation released spy cam images of its Chief Flying Instructor Capt S.S. Kang receiving bribes for issuing a Student Pilot’s licence without the requisite oral or cockpit test and also shockingly beginning the process for acquisition of a Commercial Pilot’s Licence by logging in flying hours without getting off the ground.

Two police officers face land grabbing charges
Ludhiana, December 16
Two officers of the Punjab Police — one IPS officer, who has served in Ludhiana as SSP and another DSP, now posted in a neighbouring district — are learnt to be under a cloud over the allegation of grabbing land belonging to one Dilbag Rai, who headed a religious dera in Jaspal Bangar village.

Khanna’s appointment as state BJP chief challenged
Hoshiarpur, December 16
The ongoing infighting between Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, MP and Punjab BJP chief, and Mr Tikshan Sud, a BJP MLA, in Hoshiarpur district has intensified on account of the recent challenging of validity of the appointment of Mr Khanna as a state chief of the party in the Court of the Senior Division Judge, Mr Kishore Kumar.

PSEB field staff go on strike
Lukewarm response in Patiala
Patiala, December 16 
A large number of Punjab State Electricity Board employees today did not attend their offices all over the state on a call by the PSEB Employees Joint Forum. Employees in the Secretariat here, however, did not go on strike and electricity supply was also not affected.

• PSEB staff go on strike
• Strike by PSEB staff

War veterans still hope for pension Bathinda, December 16 Mr Chet Singh of Gill Patti village of this district, who sacrificed his youth fighting wars in the pre-Independence era, has not lost hope for his pension. At the age of 100 he has been fighting for pension being given to other war veterans. Vijay Divas celebrated
War veterans of Bathinda and Mansa districts being assisted by their kin to reach the venue of war veteran meet organised in Bathinda cantonment on the occasion of Vijay Divas on Thursday. — Photo by Sonu

Work at Khalsa heritage complex at standstill
Anandpur Sahib, December 16
Work at the prestigious Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex project at Anandpur Sahib has come to virtual standstill due to failure of the Punjab government to shell out its share finds for further development.

Ganga Sagar to reach Amritsar today                                                    Amritsar, December 16 The ‘Ganga Sagar’, a rare gift presented by Guru Gobind Singh to Nawab of Raikot, will be brought here from England by Rai Azizullah, member of Lahore National Assembly, tomorrow. The Ganga Sagar, a rare gift given to the Nawab of Raikot by Guru Gobind Singh, which is being brought from England to Amritsar on Friday. Book captures ‘corruption’ in SGPC, universities Amritsar, December 16 After an IPS officer Swarajbir, who had enacted one-act play (Medni) on the SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, a collection of short stories: “University of Lilliput”, authored by Amanpreet Singh Gill, is likely to create ripples in the academic and Panthic circles.

COMMUNITY

CCI takes up power issue with govt
Bathinda, December 16
The Cotton Corporation of India has taken up the matter pertaining to the power cuts being imposed in the state with the Punjab Government to get exemption for the ginning and pressing mills from the same so that their production could not be affected.

Police drive to check crime against women
Ferozepore, December 16
Punjab Police will initiate a special drive to check crime and atrocities against women. Stating this, Dr P.M. Dass, Inspector-General of Police, Ferozepore zone, said here today that to start with, this drive would begin in Ferozepore zone from Deecmber 20 for which special training was being imparted to police personnel selected for the purpose.

Punjab police tie-up with Escorts
Chandigarh, December 16
The Punjab Police has tied up with Escorts Hospital at Amritsar for treatment of police personnel and their families at the rates laid down by the state government. The move will facilitate “100 per cent reimbursement” of expenses incurred by the officials on treatment at the hospital.

Pak artistes for Harballabh sammelan
Jalandhar, December 16
Ustaad Tafu Khan, a tabla maestro and music director of large number of Punjabi films of Pakistan, and Pakistan-based vocalist Ustaad Hussain Baksh Khan of Sham Churasi Gharana are likely to participate in the 129th annual three-day Shree Baba Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan, scheduled to be held from December 24 at local Shree Devi Talaab temple.

Army closes colony’s gate, say residents
Patiala, December 16
Eight house owners of Sant Colony on the outskirts of the city, who have built houses on erstwhile 'dera' land, today alleged that the local army authorities had forcibly closed an entry gate of their colony last night.

Elahi expresses grief over train mishap
Chandigarh, December 16
The West Punjab (Pakistan), Chief Minister, Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi, today expressed grief over the train accident near Mukerian. Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi has expressed his sympathies with the members of the bereaved families.

• Chargesheet to three BDPOs
• B.K. Gupta gets President’s medal
• Son of top official of GND varsity flees?

COURTS

Chahal exempted from personal appearance Chandigarh, December 16 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today exempted Mr B.I.S. Chahal, Media Adviser to the Punjab Chief Minister, from personal appearance in the court during hearing of the contempt proceedings against him.   Mr B.I.S. Chahal, Media Adviser to the Punjab Chief Minister, coming out of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after the hearing of the contempt case against him, in Chandigarh on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

ADMINISTRATION

Revenue officers suspend strike
Phagwara, December 16
On an assurance of justice by the Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rakesh Verma, the circle revenue officers, including Tehsildars-cum-Executive Magistrates and Naib-Tehsildars-cum-Duty Magistrates of districts Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Nawanshahr, and ministerial and revenue staff, today suspended their week-long stir and resumed their work this afternoon.

CRIME

Case registered against district transport office
Bathinda, December 16
A criminal case was registered against the local district transport office by the Vigilance Bureau on the direction of Mr D.S. Malwai, Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Motor Accident Claims Tribunal for its alleged involvement in number of bunglings made in the official record pertaining to the issuance of driving licences and registration certificates.

EDUCATION

CM blamed for poor conditions in schools
Ropar, December 16
The Education Minister, Mr Harnam Dass Johar, has blamed the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for the poor infrastructure in government schools. While answering query about shortage of the teachers and deteriorating education standard in government schools in the state, Mr Johar said he was doing his best to raise the standard of education and fill-up the vacancies, but Capt Amarinder Singh was not releasing the funds for development.

SGPC plans college, museum
Ropar, December 16
The SGPC will set up a college, a school, a museum and a children park at Chamkaur Sahib to mark 300 years of martyrdom of the Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh, the President of the SGPC, Bibi Jagir Kaur, said here today.