Few takers for job scheme
New Delhi, September 30
Punjab is the only state in the country where almost half the number of people seeking employment under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) have opted out.

Beating up of farmers: action sought against cops
Chandigarh, September 30
The People’s Democratic Front of India, the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) and the Milkmen and Dairy Union, Punjab, have urged the Punjab Government to stop acquiring agricultural land and take action against the policemen involved in beating up farmers in Raipur village in Mansa district on September 11.

Debt-ridden farmer ends life
Malerkotla, September 30
Sukhminder Singh (35), a farmer of Khurd village, near here, today committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan.

Amarinder wins PM’s confidence
Ludhiana, September 30
Although the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, did not give any sops to Punjab on his visit to Ludhiana on Wednesday and there was disappointment among businessmen and the industrialists of the state, yet he gave a clear signal to the Congress men of Punjab that Captain Amarinder Singh would lead the Congress campaign in the ensuing elections to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

Lalu to flag off Garib Rath on Oct 4
Amritsar, September 30
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad’s pro-poor train “Garib Rath” connecting Sahrasa in Bihar with Amritsar is ready for its scheduled inauguration on October 4. The 18-coach fully air-conditioned train, comprising 12 sleeper coaches, four chair cars and two power vans, is all set to leave platform number one of Amritsar station.

POLITICS

Black flags greet Cong MLA
Abohar, September 30
Some residents of Ghuriana village, including Mr Jagmail Singh, Sarpanch, and Mr Uday Singh, district convener, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhpur), yesterday held a black-flag demonstration against Mr Parkash Singh Bhatti, Congress MLA from Balluana constituency.

Alleging fraud, Batala Trust chief quits
Cong expels him
Amritsar, September 30
In a major jolt to the Congress government, Mr Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal today announced that he was stepping down from the post of Chairman of the Batala Improvement Trust.

COMMUNITY

Woman bleeds to death
Kin allege doc’s negligence, probe initiated
Kharar, September 30
A young woman died within hours of delivering a baby boy allegedly due to negligence at the local Civil Hospital last night. Narinder Kaur (29), a resident of Kalewal village, was admitted to the hospital in the afternoon yesterday. She delivered a healthy baby at night but soon after started bleeding profusely. She was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, but reportedly died on the way.

656 go to state information panel with grievances
Chandigarh, September 30
As many as 656 persons have so far approached the Punjab State Information Commission for the redress of their grievances against various authorities of the state government for failure to supply information demanded by them.

Demand to restore Gajinder Singh’s civil rights
Chandigarh, September 30
Twentyfive years after former Dal Khalsa chief Gajinder Singh along with a few others hijacked an Indian Airlines plane to Lahore, representatives of various Sikh organisations, at a meeting here yesterday, demanded that the civil rights of Gajinder Singh should be restored and he be allowed to live in a country of his choice.

Conference on prohibition of child labour starts
Amritsar, September 30
Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Labour and Employment Minister, inaugurated the fourth zonal conference on prohibition of child labour at Circuit House here yesterday.

PSEB signs agreement for power purchase
Patiala, September 30
The PSEB management has signed an agreement for the purchase of 101.5 MW power for 25 years from the 1015 MW Nagarjuna thermal power station to be constructed in Karnataka and to be commissioned in the last quarter of 2009.

Move to close DD centre opposed
Abohar, September 30
NGOs and viewers clubs in this region have started opposing the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s decision to close the local Doordarshan (DD) relay centre.

Maj Gen Talwar cremated
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 30
The mortal remains of Maj Gen H.S. Talwar (retd), father of Fatehgarh Sahib Deputy Commissioner Jaspreet Talwar and father in-law of Mohali Deputy Commissioner Tajveer Singh, were consigned to flames at Chandigarh cremation ground today.

Tax relief for Punjabi film
Amritsar, September 30
Acting on an appeal by the makers of Punjabi religious picture ‘Anokhe Amar Shaheed Baba Deep Singh,’ the state government today granted exemption to the movie from entertainment tax.

Exhibition on women empowerment
Patiala, September 30
“A woman herself is responsible for this increasing crime of female foeticide. Besides her family, her husband and society, she herself plays a big role in aggravating such a crime. A woman should try to strengthen her will against this sort of exploitation.

One-day House session likely
Chandigarh, September 30
There are reports that the Punjab Government is contemplating summoning a session of the state assembly for a day in October.

CRIME

7 nabbed with police uniforms, I-cards
Batala, September 30
The police has conducted a raid and arrested seven persons, including a woman, for cheating and conspiracy.

Ultrasound centre sealed
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 30
To implement the PNDT Act effectively in the district, Dr M.S. Sidhu, Civil Surgeon, conducted surprise checking of ultra sound centres in the district. During inspection the record of Dhillon Hospital, Sirhind, was not found in order. The Civil Surgeon sealed the ultra sound centre for a month.

Three youths killed in road accident
Tarn Taran, September 30
Three persons were crushed to death by some unidentified vehicle on the Amritsar-Ferozepore road near Gandiwind-Dhattal, 30 km from here, yesterday. The deceased were on a motor cycle (PB-38 A3647).

44 POs nabbed
Abohar, September 30
SSP Arpit Shukla said here today that 44 proclaimed offenders (POs) were arrested during the past two and a half months in this district under a special drive launched on the instructions of the ADGP Intelligence Punjab.

Shopkeeper ends life
Hoshiarpur, September 30
Financial crisis has compelled a shopkeeper of Dasuya to commit suicide.

EDUCATION

Lecture held on SC judgements
Patiala, September 30
The Department of Law, Punjabi University, organised an extension lecture today in its Senate Hall on the topic Latest landmark judgements of the Supreme Court.

Vocalist, sitarist give tips to students
Patiala, September 30
A five-day workshop on classical music concluded at the Department of Music, Punjabi University, today.

BUSINESS

Bank reviews progress of schemes
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 30
The State Bank of Patiala (SBoP today organised a meeting of the standing committee under the chairmanship of Mr B.S. Shergill, ADC (D), to review the progress of various government sponsored schemes.

Pvt airline to link Amritsar, Toronto
Chandigarh, September 30
A private Russian airline, Transaero, is all set to launch its Amritsar-Moscow-Toronto flight from early next week. Transaero thus becomes the second Russian carrier after its national carrier, Aeroflot, to operate out of India.