Non-stop flight to London
Amritsar, August 3
The Jet Airways (India) will launch the first non-stop flight to London from Amritsar at Amritsar International Airport on August 4.

POLITICS

Congress leaders list achievements at rallies
Pathankot, August 3
The Congress today held rallies at Pathankot and Sujanpur attended by Mr Amarjeet Samra, Minister for Cooperation besides local representatives of the ruling party.

Panthic panel formed
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 3
Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President, SAD (A), today organised a meeting of all Panthic organisations and political parties except the SAD (B) at Aam Khas Bagh in Sirhind today. Leaders from various Panthic organisations attended the meeting.

Badal pulls up Congress
Chandigarh, August 3
President of the Shiromani Akali Dal Parkash Singh Badal yesterday described the conviction of Congress MLA from Majitha Sawinder Singh Kathunangal as “the beginning of the end of the Congress regime”.

COMMUNITY

Attari to be world-class station
Obsolete magnato phone may be replaced
Amritsar, August 3
The Indian Railways has prepared the blueprint for upgrading the Attari railway station to world class by providing all ultra-modern equipment and facilities.

PSHRC to rescue of harassed scribes
Asks IGP to investigate case
Chandigarh, August 3
Coming to the rescue of two Muktsar-based journalists, who were allegedly harassed by the Punjab Police, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the case. The report has been sought within three weeks.

Proclaimed offender tries to flee; hurt
Amritsar, August 3
Avtar Singh of Lakha Singh Walla village, who was declared a proclaimed offender, reportedly jumped from the second floor of the district court complex while trying to escape here today.

CM’s package puts bankers in a spot
Bathinda, August 3
While the Chief Minister’s announcement of a possible debt relief package may have brought cheers to the farming community, the loan recovery scenario has turned gloomy in various banks. Senior Regional Manager of Punjab National Bank Ajit Jaitley, said: “Our loan recovery rate has gone down following media reports on the package.”

Reservation within reservation sought
Ludhiana, August 3
Valmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs in Punjab have demanded that the state government must ensure that their share of 12.5 per cent remains reserved within the quota reserved for Scheduled Castes. They had been granted "reservation within reservation" during the chief ministership of Giani Zail Singh.

Freedom fighter Amarnath Indori dead
Patiala, August 3
Freedom fighter Comrade Amarnath Indori died here today. He was 96.

COURTS

High Court
DGP asked to probe charges against SP
Chandigarh, August 3
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the DGP, Punjab, to nominate an officer to inquire into the complaint filed by one Hans Raj, levelling serious allegations of fraud, cheating, threats of intimidation and registration of false cases against Mr Kewal Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Majitha, and his son, Kumar Amit.

Land case: petitioner alleges threat to life
Chandigarh, August 3
Two days after Congress MLA S.S. Kathunangal's conviction by a court in Amritsar in a land case, the petitioner in the case today alleged threats to her life by the legislator and sought protection from government agencies.

ADMINISTRATION

Encroachment stays despite SDM’s order
Pathankot August 3
The Improvement Trust here has failed to abide by the orders of the local administration to remove the encroachment raised on the Dalhousie road. SDM Amarjeet Paul had written to the trust authorities to remove the encroachment more than a week ago.

Rural areas to have more dispensaries
Jalandhar, August 3
The Punjab Health Department has decided to increase rural dispensaries from about 1,300 to 2,600.

CRIME

4 die as Sumo collides with bus
(Himatpura) Ropar, August 3
Four pilgrims from Handyaya village in Sangrur district were killed and seven injured, one of them seriously when their Tata Sumo collided with a CTU bus coming from opposite direction about 15 km from here, this afternoon.

Zila Parishad chief accuses ADC of fraud
Hoshiarpur, August 3
Mr Arjan Singh, chairman of zila parishad, Hoshiarpur, stated here today that Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development)-cum-Chief Executive Officer of the zila parishad and officials of the zila parishad had distributed grants under Indira Avas Yojna without taking him or any member of the zila parishad into confidence.

Two cops suspended
Amritsar, August 3
The Majitha police has suspended constable Hardev Singh and SPO Baljinder Singh for negligence as undertrial Vikramjit Singh escape from their custody.

Booked for using loudspeaker
Abohar, August 3
The city police has booked Ram Avtar, president of the Parvasi Mazdoor Sabha, Munshi Ram and others under Section 188, IPC, and the Noise Pollution Control Act for violating the prohibitory orders imposed by the District Magistrate, Ferozepore, regarding use of loudspeakers without valid permission.

EDUCATION

B.Ed counselling from Aug 10
Chandigarh, August 3
The first joint BEd and BEd yoga counselling for the colleges in Punjab and Chandigarh will commence from August 10, 2006, and go upto to August 31, 2006, at Gymnasium Hall, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Governor asks CM to probe ‘lapses’ at GND varsity
Chandigarh, August 3
The Punjab Governor, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), has asked the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to hold an inquiry into various alleged lapses committed at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, in the past years.

DEO (E) office working under cloud
Bills submitted for clearance under mid-day meal scheme
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 3
The working of the DEO(E) office has come under a cloud over some pending bills worth Rs 20 lakh, which had been submitted by some Block Primary Education Officers at the office for clearance.