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Conclave 
PM’s intervention did it
Amritsar, July 10
The timely intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh helped in defusing the Sikh-Dera Sacha Sauda impasse. He had conveyed his concern over the impending confrontation to Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, secretary-general, SAD, and Tarlochan Singh, a Rajya Sabha Member from Haryana , during their meeting in New Delhi yesterday.

Gabria gets cracking, visits Jalandhar Central Jail
Asks for reports on the condition of every jail
Chandigarh, July 10
Minister for Jails, Punjab Hira Singh Gabria finally visited the Jalandhar Central Jail, the oldest of Punjab jails, which houses inmates three times its capacity. The minister spent two hours inspecting the prison during his surprise visit, which was not a surprise after all as was evident from the freshly whitewashed berms in the entrance area.

Flood-hit farmers Sidhu pledges Rs 1.25 cr 

Ajnala (Amritsar), July 10 Farmers of most villages under Ajnala subdivision had suffered due to heavy rainfall last month, with the infamous Sakki drain virtually washing away their fields of paddy crop.

Navjot Singh Sidhu interacts with villagers in Ajnala subdivision on Tuesday. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma

Police holds flag march 
Bathinda, July 10
A pall of gloom descended in Paras Ram Nagar area of this town following the death of Sham Sunder Bansal, a follower of Dera Sacha Sauda who attempted self-immolation on July 8.

Four killed as truck overturns
Ropar, July 10
Four persons were killed and 26 injured when the truck carrying them overturned while negotiating a turn near Bazipur village here this evening, the police said.

Bhattal to launch anti-govt drive 
Ludhiana, July 10
The leader of opposition in the Punjab Assembly Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today warned the SAD-BJP government against victimising Congress workers and leaders in the state. She said she would lead a campaign against the government after the Presidential elections. She also warned Badal against fanning communal fire in the state.

COMMUNITY

Pallanpur Rest House Case
Dhanda writes to forest minister
Chandigarh, July 10
Defying ‘summons’ issued by chief parliamentary secretary Harish Rai Dhanda, forest department officials did not appear before him today. Dhanda had called the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) along with many other officers of the department to his office to explain why he was denied entry into the Pallanpur forest rest house.

Rehabilitation Centre Crossing the Red line Moga, July 10 Dressed in a sky blue dress, a woman aged about 35 years, entered the office of the local Red Cross Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre. The attendant handed over a packet of medicines to the woman. His inquiry about her health elicited a response in the positive and she instantly left the office.Upon asking, the attendant, without disclosing her name, said she was a mother of two children and had been taking medicine from here for detoxification regularly.

Anganwari workers block rail, road traffic
Sangrur, July 10
A large number of anganwari workers and helpers, led by state president of the Anganwari Mulazam Union Punjab (CITU) Usha Rani, gheraoed a passenger train for about 45 minutes at the local railway station today. They were protesting against the government’s failure to fulfil their long standing demands, including Class III pay scale to anganwari workers and Class IV scale to anganwari helpers.

Maintain unity, Vedanti to Sikhs 
Amritsar, July 10
In a ‘sandesh’ issued on the letterhead of Akal Takht, Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti has urged the Sikh masses, living in the state, India and foreign countries, to help maintain the unity and integrity of the country at all costs since some inimical forces are out to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere through their evil designs.

‘Govt wants MC poll before Aug 12’
Patiala, July 10
The government intends to get the corporation elections in the state conducted before August 12. The request in this regard will be sent to the Election Commission in the next two days.

Clash: Cops shifted to Police Lines
Ferozepur, July 10
In the aftermath of police-Sikh protesters’ clash, which saw several injured on both sides here last Sunday, SSP Dinesh Pratap has shifted erring policemen to the Police Lines after news appeared in a section of the media regarding police misbehaviour.

Attempt to murder case
Judge scolds Chahal for forwarding letter
Chandigarh, July 10
Troubles continue for Bharat Inder Singh Chahal. Facing contempt of court proceedings in a selection matter, the high-profile media adviser to Punjab’s former CM Amarinder Singh has landed himself in controversy again. This time, for forwarding the copy of a letter to a High Court Judge! 

Chahal to tender apology 
Ludhiana, July 10
B.I.S. Chahal on Tuesday got prepared an affidavit for tendering an unconditional apology to the court of Justice Uma Nath Singh in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Advance Notice on Custody
HC to hear Chahal’s plea today
Chandigarh, July 10
A petition filed by BIS Chahal, media adviser to Punjab’s former CM Amarinder Singh, seeking the grant of seven days’ advance notice in case his custody was sought by the police, will come up for orders before a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court tomorrow.

ADMINISTRATION

Liquor Sale to Youth
For excise dept, only 15 violators in 7 yrs
Sangrur, July 10
Believe it or not but it is on record that the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department has nabbed only 15 vendors, employees of liquor shops in the state in the past seven years on a charge of selling liquor to persons under the age of 25, though it is a known fact that hundreds of such youths buy liquor almost daily from liquor shops throughout the state.

CRIME

2 brothers killed in clash
Amritsar, July 10
Two activists of the SAD, Sarup Singh and Kewal Singh, both brothers, were killed while six others were injured, including one seriously, in an exchange of fire between the supporters of the Congress and the SAD at Dhariwal village under Rajasansi police station here this evening.

‘Harassed’ by in-laws, man commits suicide
Sangrur, July10
Allegedly harassed by in-laws, ex-serviceman Ranjit Singh, resident of Mehlan village, about 10 km from here, committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance on Sunday. The post-mortem of the body was conducted at the local Civil Hospital on Monday. Later, he was cremated at Mehlan village. He is survived by wife and three children.

Dimpa’s gunmen named in theft case
Amritsar, July 10
The case registered against former Congress MLA Jasbir Singh Dimpa and his accomplices for killing a SAD worker on the eve of Beas Assembly elections took a new turn today with the police naming MLA’s four police gunmen in a theft case registered in 2006 at Beas police station.

3 of family killed
Mansa, July 10
Two sisters Sarbjit Kaur and Veerpal Kaur and their brother Amrik Singh, all residents of the district, were crushed to death when a speeding private bus hit their scooter on the Mansa-Sirsa road this evening today.

Gurdwara clerk held with fake coupons
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 10
The district police today arrested and booked a clerk of Gurdwara Joyti Sarup Sahib for possessing fake parsad coupons worth Rs 4 lakh.

• 800 CDs seized, 1 held

• Cong councillor held

Bihar govt invites PTU VC
Jalandhar, July 10
Probably inspired by the success story of the Punjab Technical University (PTU), the Bihar government has invited PTU Vice-Chancellor Dr S.K. Salwaan to advise it on the improvement of technical education in the state and make it industry oriented.

Vigilance probe sought into teachers’ selection
Chandigarh, July 10
Certain candidates, who had applied for posts of inclusive education resource teacher, have alleged bungling in the recruitment of such teachers by the sarva shiksha abhiyan authority of the Punjab education department.