Sand mafia has free run in Punjab
Chandigarh, August 18
As the sand and gravel mafia continues to have a free run in various parts of the state, the Punjab government authorities have become a silent spectator to the loot of the state’s precious wealth. Gangs, which have the support of influential politicians, remove sand and gravel unauthorisedly from various rivers, rivulets, nadis and choes in the state.

Harassment of Doctors
CM assures IMA of action
Bathinda, August 18
Amrit Sethi, president, Indian Medical education, Punjab, yesterday said Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal had assured a delegation of the organisation that the state government would issue instructions to district police chiefs to bring unnecessary harassment of doctors to an end.Sethi said the Chief Minister gave this assurance to the delegation when it met him at Chandigarh.

Dealers’ body opposes move to hike tax on petrol, diesel
Chandigarh, August 18
While the Punjab government authorities have begun the process of issuing an ordinance to amend the VAT Act to raise the prices of petrol and diesel, the state Petroleum Dealers’ Association has opposed the move saying it will not only have an adverse effect on petrol station owners, but also hit the sale of petroleum products.

Now, Rai Sikhs seek share in governance
Ferozepur, August 18
Rai Sikhs, buoyant over the grant of SC status, the Bill which was passed in both Houses of Parliament recently, are now demanding representation at various levels of the governance. The community which has over 8 lakh population in this border state had been clamouring for grant of the SC status at par with Sikribands since 1959.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Centre gives nod for centenary celebrations Amritsar, August 18 The Central government has in consultation with the state government decided to celebrate the birth centenary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh from next month. A comprehensive plan has already been chalked out to give celebrations a wider canvas involving youth, freedom fighters and people from India and Pakistan.

COMMUNITY

Police to focus on curbing smuggling
Phillaur August 18
After curbing terrorism, the Punjab police has diverted its focus to curb crimes like smuggling, drugs, fake currency, cheating by fake travel agents etc. As part of this drive, DGP Aulakh initiated the "Seminar on the Provisions of SAFEM (FOP) Act 1976 and NDPS Act 1985" at Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, yesterday.

Efforts on to plug breach in Ghaggar
Patiala, August 18
Work is advancing on a war footing to plug the 120-feet breach that had occurred in Ghaggar rivulet near Chandu village in Sangrur district and had threatened to flood scores of nearby villages.

Stone for 66 kv substation laid
Bathinda, August 18
Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal laid the foundation stone of a 66 kv substation at Nandgarh Ghudda in this district here today. The land for the substation has been given free of cost to the Punjab State Electricity Board by the panchayat of Nandgarh Ghudda.

Missing student recovered from Fatehgarh Sahib
Kharar, August 18
Eighteen-year-old Jagrup Singh alias Bunty, a resident of Kharar, who had gone missing on August 17, was recovered by Fatehgarh Sahib police from Kalyan village near Patiala.

Cultural extravaganza
Patiala, August 18
The Vishwakarma Mandir Committee, Lahori Gate, organised a colourful function in the premises here today. Charanjit Kaur Grewal, wife of deputy commissioner of Patiala, and the chairperson of the District Red Cross Society, presided over the function.

COURTS

PSEB recruitment scam hearing on Aug 28
Rupnagar, August 18
The court of special judge G.S. Saran has fixed August 28 as the next date for hearing in the PSEB recruitment scam after the state failed to file reply today. On August 2 two of the accused, the then deputy director (education) Pavittar Pal Kaur and private secretary to the then PSEB chairman Amar Singh had filed an application in the court, challenging the charge sheet.

LIC told to pay Rs 50,000 to widow
Sangrur, August 18
The local District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, headed by its president M.D. Sharma, has directed the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India to pay Rs 50,000 along with interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from the date of repudiation (i.e. September 30, 2005) till realisation to Kartar Kaur, widow of Darshan Singh, resident of Punanwal village in Dhuri Tehsil (Sangrur district).

Order on Bittu’s bail reserved
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 18
Fatehgarh Sahib Additional Sessions Judge today reserved for August 20 the orders on the bail plea filed by SAD (Amritsar) senior vice-president Daljit Singh Bittu. Police had arrested Daljit Singh Bittu on July 22 in connection with a sedition case registered on May 31 against him and his associates. 

AGRICULTURE

Relief for Trident-hit farmers
Chandigarh, August 18
The Punjab government today decided to release the relief among farmers who had been agitating against the acquisition of their land by the Trident group in Barnala. A Punjab government spokesperson in a press note released here today said families of two farmers who lost their lives during the agitation had been paid Rs 5 lakh each while 34 others who sustained injuries had been given compensation worth Rs 25,000 per head.

EDUCATION

College panel election put off to Aug 19
Hoshiarpur, August 18
Controversy over the election of local DAV College Managing Committee, an offshoot of Arya Samaj, here under which 12 schools and colleges function, has started between two rival groups. Former MP and member of DAV College Managing Committee Kamal Choudhary reacted to the postponement of the election to August 19, by the group governing the body.