No direct payment to farmers: Singla
Chandigarh, November 13
The Punjab Government today took an important decision to continue giving all payments for agricultural produce to farmers through arhtiyas (commission agents). No payment will be made direct to farmers through cheques, said the Finance Minister, Mr Surinder Singla.

Dairy farming not profitable in Punjab

Padiala, November 13 Inspite of its vast potential, dairy farming in this land of milk - Punjab, continues to remain unprofitable. Though dairy is yielding good profits for the dairy-processing companies, dairy farming is by and large considered economically non-viable. Dr Arun Purshottam Phatak (right) interacts with Mr Hardev Singh, a dairy farmer, at Padiala village on Monday. — Photo by Vicky Gharu

Don't sit on graft cases, vigilance tells depts
Chandigarh, November 13
Various departments of the Punjab Government which are "protecting their corrupt employees” from facing the law have been told by the newly formed Punjab Vigilance Commission to decide all pending cases in which "permission to prosecute" has been sought to start proceedings against such employees.

POLITICS

BJP threatens to boycott poll
Patiala, November 13
The district BJP has threatened to boycott the municipal elections to Ward No 32, which were countermanded on October 28 after alleged booth capturing.

COMMUNITY

AFDR indicts cops for atrocities
Sangrur, November 13
In its report on a clash between the police and the residents of Bhadaur (near Barnala) on October 11 last over the demarcation of 26 kanals of land of a religious place, the Association for Democratic Rights has indicted the police for beating old persons, children and women in a revengeful manner.

Farmers repair canal banks
Gurdaspur, November 13
With the Department of Irrigation failing to level the banks of the Upper Bari Doab Canal, farmers of the district have themselves started repairing the banks of the canal with their tractors in many areas.

Dharna against land sharks
Abohar, November 13
Lt Col Onkar Nath Chopra retd, chairman of the Land Grabbing Victims Association said the incidents of land grab had increased manifold. He alleged it appeared land mafia was working as election fund collectors for political bosses.

Bus gutted at bus stand
Jalandhar, November 13
A Punjab Roadways bus belonging to Amritsar Depot was gutted in a fire at the local bus stand at around 1 am today. The district police claimed that it was a mere accident but at the same time it did not rule out the possibility of any terrorist hand behind the fire.

COURTS

Quarterly Lok Adalat settles 1,018 cases
Patiala, November 13
A quarterly Lok Adalat, in which 12 benches were constituted, was organised in the Judicial Courts Complex here today under the chairmanship of Mr Justice Inderjit Singh, District and Sessions Judge-Cum-Chairman District. Legal Service Authority.

3 get RI for contract killing
Amritsar, November 13
Three persons, including a former junior engineer of the Punjab State Electricity Board, were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life for murdering his wife by giving “supari” to two persons.

ADMINISTRATION

ASI suspended after scuffle with DSP
Amritsar, November 13
The Police Department today placed Mr Amrik Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector, Kotwali, under suspension following a scuffle with the DSP, Mr Amarjit Singh Bajwa, last night.

CRIME

5 kg opium seized, 2 held
Ferozpore, November 13
The local police has arrested two persons hailing from Rajasthan and seized 5 kg opium from them. Those arrested have been identified as Jasbir Singh, main supplier of drugs and psychotropic substances in this area.

EDUCATION

300 selected as maths teacher
Chandigarh, November 13
The Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board today released the first list of 300 candidates who have been selected as teachers. The list has the names of mathematics teachers.

BUSINESS

Meeting to discuss waiving of interest to industrial unit
Chandigarh, November 13
The Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation has waived off about Rs 10 crore which was to be paid back to the corporation by a private steel company owned by Mr G.S. Kairon, son of late Chief Minister Pratap Singh Kairon.