Saifdipur joins SAD Patiala, August 31 The Congress today suffered a jolt when Mr Balwinder Singh Saifdipur, a close confidant of the Chief Minister, joined the SAD at a rally in Sanaur, near here. SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal along with Balwinder Singh Saifdipur of the International Bhau Bhaichara Organisation at a rally in Sanaur on Thursday. — Photo by Rajesh Sachar

POLITICS

Lalru incident to figure in Assembly session: Capt Kanwaljit

Dera Bassi, August 31 Setting the agenda for the forthcoming elections to the Punjab Assembly in 2007, the Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) today announced that the party would raise the Lalru incident in the coming Assembly session to "expose" the law and order situation under Congress regime. Senior Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) leader Capt Kanwaljit Singh acknowledges the greetings of his supporters during a rally at Dera Bassi on Thursday. — A Tribune photo

DGP’s letter admission of guilt: Badal
Chandigarh, August 31
Reacting to a report in The Tribune about the DGP asking the Punjab Police to mend its ways, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said today it vindicated the stand of the SAD that the police was being used by the ruling Congress to intimidate SAD workers and register false cases against them.

COMMUNITY

Man forced to chain mentally ill daughter
Muktsar, August 31
He took premature retirement from his class IV job in a bank and spent his life's savings on the treatment of her 16-year-old mentally ill daughter. Left with no money and patience to look after her, today he looks helplessly at his chained daughter.

Rallies by PSEB staff
Abohar, August 31
Members of the Technical Services Union yesterday held protest rallies at the subdivisional offices of the Punjab State Electricity Board in the Abohar circle to express resentment over the suspension of two employees in Malout subdivision.

Environment protection squad formed
Chandigarh, August 31
The Punjab Government has constituted an environment protection squad in the state to keep surveillance on the industry to ensure the proper implementation of pollution control laws.

Punjab dispels doubts on vet pharmacists
Chandigarh, August 31
Taking cognizance of apprehensions expressed by the Punjab State Veterinary Officers Association in sections of the press regarding recruitment of veterinary pharmacists as service providers in the rural dispensaries of the state, a spokesman of the Punjab Government elucidated that by this there would be no question of violation of the Indian Veterinary Council Act.

Expired medicines found at hospital
Ropar, August 31
Raising doubt about medicines being given to poor villagers in Government Hospitals, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau has recovered expired medicines worth Rs 3 lakh kept in a store in government hospital, Nurpur Bedi. The medicines found expired in the storeroom include paracetamol and septron said to be purchased in 2003-2004.

COURTS

high court
Abolition of octroi challenged
Chandigarh, August 31
At least three petitions, including two PILs, have been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the decision of the Punjab Government to abolish octroi as per the ordinance issued on August 23.

CRIME

Railway police nabs 3 thieves
Phillaur August 31
In its compaign against miscreants, the railway police nabbed three persons in Firozepore division of Northern Railway. The three have been identified as Tameel of Deoband in Saharanpur, Bachitar Singh of Sohian in Majitha and Surinder Paul of Jammu. Several stolen articles were recovered.

Valuables stolen
Barnala, August 31
Unidentified persons broke into the house of a widow last night. The thieves broke open the main gate of the residence of Janak Dulari in Khattian Wali Gali on K.C. Road. Ms Dulari was away to Patiala. The thieves stole 150 gm of gold jewellery, 100 gm of silver jewellery , Rs 55,000 and other articles. Ms Dulari claimed that the thieves stole articles worth Rs 2.5 lakh. A case has been registered. — OC

Man murdered
Abohar, August 31
A youth murdered his father for refusing permission to meet the guru. Waryam Singh (54) denied permission to son Bhagwan Singh yesterday at Tibbi village to go to meet the guru at Mirzapur village in Haryana.

BUSINESS

Petrol, diesel to be cheaper from midnight
Chandigarh, August 31
The Punjab Government today issued a notification reducing the prices of petrol and diesel with effect from September 1. In other words, the price would come down from midnight. However, the government did not state by how much the prices of petrol and diesel would come down.