Glitz ‘n’ Glamour

Models showcase traditional wear during a fashion show organised by the Centurion Bank of Punjab at Phagwara on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Extra-judicial killings by police
Majha Human Rights Front for probe by HC judge, CBI
Amritsar, May 13
Extra-judicial killings of innocent youths in Punjab during militancy by security agencies required a probe by the CBI or a sitting Judge of the High Court to unearth the truth.

18 inquiries against varsity officials
Amritsar, May 13
Many heads are likely to roll in wake of the spate of inquiries ordered against senior officials of Guru Nanak Dev University by the vice-chancellor and the Syndicate. Some of the inquiries pertain to alleged financial irregularities.

Punjab to develop freedom fighters’ sites
Centre sanctions Rs 8 crores for the project
Chandigarh, May 13
Punjab is all set to immortalise the sites connected with the memories of freedom fighters. With the Government of India offering support to the state government’s ambitious project that seeks to develop freedom fighters’ trail from Delhi across to Punjab, all locations of historic importance will stand preserved in the coming times.

International money transfer
Post offices earning huge profits
Chandigarh, May 13
International money transfer has become the biggest revenue grosser for the post offices in Punjab circle. In the past one year, the Punjab postal circle has more than doubled the number of remittances with an increase of Rs 96 crore in the remitted amount.

POLITICS

Haryana vexed over SGPC rallies, says Avtar
Amritsar, May 13
SGPC president Avtar Singh today said the Haryana government was irritated with the peaceful meetings being organised by the SGPC in the state. In a statement issued from Gurdwara Hazoor Sahib in Maharashtra where Avtar Singh has gone to hold meetings regarding the installation anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib.

COMMUNITY

Govt considering increase in retirement age
Muktsar, May 13
The Punjab Government has been seriously considering increasing retirement age of its employees from 58 to 60 years. Stating this here today, finance minister Manpreet Badal said the alliance government was willing to fulfil this promise made to the employees.

‘Implement’ reservation policy
Nawanshahr, May 13
The General Categories Welfare Federation, Punjab, at its executive meeting held here at JSFH Khalsa Senior Secondary School today, has decided to serve an ultimatum to the state government for the implementation of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the reservation policy given in October last year.

Cops feel the heat
Policemen asked to vacate houses at earliest
Bathinda, May 13
In a significant step, deputy commissioner Rahul Bhandari has cancelled the allotment of government houses, which were in possession of about 35 policemen in town.

• SHO suspended for conniving theft

Patiala to have parade ground soon
Patiala, May 13
The city is all set to have a parade ground which would be used exclusively for staging protests with a view to saving the local population from inconvenience that it suffers on account of traffic blockades by agitators.

N-deal casts shadow Army goes soft on ‘Shatrunash’

Dakha (Ludhiana), May 13 Four tanks crossing an Army-made bridge across Sidhwan Canal and three helicopters making a few rounds above the same site. This sums up the war exercise ‘Shatrunash’ conducted by the Vajra Corps that was presented before the media along the canal at Dakha in Ludhiana here today. Army tanks move on to capture the enemy area during war exercise “Shatrunash” at Dakha in Ludhiana on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Thousands pay tribute to Libra
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 13
Political leaders cutting across party barriers and thousands others today gathered at Diwan Todar Mal Hall, Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara, to pay tributes to former MLA Kirpal Singh Libra on a bhogh ceremony.

Revival of sick drug companies sought
Sangrur, May 13
The immediate revival of sick public sector drug companies, mainly Indian Drugs Pharmaceuticals Limited and Hindustan Antibiotics Limited, was demanded at the state conference of the Punjab and Chandigarh Medical and Sales Representatives’ Union here yesterday.

Work on AIR Amritsar starts
Amritsar, May 13
People of Amritsar will soon be able to listen to their favourite Punjabi programmes relayed through a local radio station, as the work on the setting up of a 300-metre-high transmission tower has been started. It is likely to start functioning by 2008.

Hindu Shiv Sena stages protest
Amritsar, May 13
Activists of various organisations, including the Hindu Shiv Sena and the Bajrang Dal, burnt the effigy of civil aviation minister Praful Patel to protest against the non-installation of a model of the Durgiana Temple at the Rajasansi International airport here today.

AGRICULTURE

Using treated water for organic farming
Kapurthala May 13
Several farmers of Sultanpur Lodhi using treated water for organic farming shared their experiences with their counterparts of Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts. Farmers Santokh Singh Bhagorian and Jaswant Singh Kaura of Sultanpur Lodhi told a large gathering of other farmers gathered at a seminar

Farmers’ suicides
Govt to strengthen cooperatives: Minister
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 13
Farmers in the state are facing financial crisis as the agricultural sector has failed to sustain growth due to increased cost of production. At the same time, the price of their produce has not increased proportionately.

CRIME