Pak trucks roll in to a welcome
Bring dry fruits, lemons from Afghanistan
Attari (Amritsar), October 3
Reciprocating the gesture shown by India in allowing the free movement of trucks across the Indo-Pak joint checkpost, the first lot of three trucks from Pakistan here today rolled into the Indian territory to a tumultuous welcome.


Indian porters unload boxes of fresh melons imported from Afghanistan via Pakistan at the Attari joint checkpost. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma

Commission directs dept to amend service rules
Chandigarh, October 3
The Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes today directed secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayats to amend Punjab Panchayati Raj Primary Teachers (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2006 in the light of the reservation policy as conveyed by the Department of Welfare for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.

Both parties claim possession in Nayagaon land controversy
Kharar, October 3
The Nayagaon land controversy that erupted on Saturday night wherein six people were arrested, took a new turn today with both the parties holding press conferences and accusing each other of highhandedness and claiming right possession of land.

Vehicle carrying newspaper supply fired at
Sangrur, October 3
Three unidentified persons opened fired at Sirsa-based Sach Kahun newspaper’s supply vehicle on October 1 night at Cheema Mandi, near Sunam.

 

POLITICS

Power tariff hike to be discussed 
Chandigarh, October 3
Within days of the BJP protesting against power tariff hike in urban areas, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the concern of the BJP would be addressed and the matter would be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the Cabinet.

SAD wins nagar council election
Faridkot, October 3
Following Congress members’ defection to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) at the 11th hour, the latter managed to get president and vice-president posts of the nagar council here today.

Kewal Dhillon given ‘clean chit’
Chandigarh, October 3
Industrialist Kewal Dhillon, who is also the Congress MLA from Barnala, has been given a “clean chit” by the inquiry officer conducting a probe into the alleged recovery of “liquor and drugs” during the assembly elections in Punjab in February last.

COMMUNITY

Punjab gives promotion to Major after 20 years
Chandigarh, October 3
Twelve years after he retired from the Punjab Government, a Major who had served in the Army during the emergency period has been granted his due seniority in the state cadre along with consequential benefits. The notional promotion comes 20 years late.

PCS officers’ appeal to govt
Chandigarh, October 3
The executive committee of the PCS officers association met here tonight and decided to “appeal to the government to ensure that no innocent officer is victimised.”

Govt committed to jail reforms, says Gabria
Amritsar, October 3
The Punjab government is drafting a new jail policy under which centers for vocational training will be built inside the jail premises to impart skills to prisoners that can be helpful for them in becoming better citizens after their release, said Hira Singh Gabria, Punjab minister for tourism and jails, during a programme at the Amritsar Central Jail here today.

Wildlife Week
Chhatbir roars with delight
Kharar, October 3
The Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park, Chhatbir, witnessed a heavy rush with as many as 20,000 people visiting the zoo on the first day of Wildlife Week celebrations today.

Who listed officers’ properties?
Chandigarh, October 3
Who was the author of the two-page neatly typed note in Punjabi, listing properties of some of the senior police and civil officers of Punjab, recovered from the briefcase of DGP Sarabdeep Singh Virk?

Did Bhagat Singh visit Bara Makana? 
Amritsar, October 3
Had Bhagat Singh and Sukdev visited “Bara Makana” (cluster of dozen houses) in the Shaheed Islamabad locality here and taken shelter in the house of freedom fighter Sohan Singh Josh in 1928 after shooting ASP of Lahore J.P. Saunders?

UK elderly Sikhs plan march
To fight corruption in India
Bathinda, October 3
The decision taken by a section of Indian-origin Britons to launch a fight against corruption in India smacks of irony.

Ancient temple found
Hoshiarpur, October 3
People have started visiting Kalewal Bhagtan village in Mahilpur block of this district to have a glimpse of the remnants of an ancient temple, recently found during an excavation in the village.

Mystery shrouds prof’s death
Amritsar, October 3
Mystery shrouds the alleged suicide by chemistry professor Parveen Kapoor (38) of DAV College whose body was found outside the college premises in the walled city here this afternoon.

Train hits truck;one killed
Sangrur, October 3
A person was killed and at least four were injured when an express train, going towards Bathinda from Patiala via Dhuri, hit a truck at the Dohla railway level crossing, Dhuri, this evening. The level crossing was open leading to the accident. The train hit the truck, which rammed into other vehicles.

COURTS

City Centre Scam
Amarinder aide Gill gets interim bail
Chandigarh, October 3
Issuing notice of motion on a petition filed by advocate R.S. Gill accusing the state government of turning its guns on him in the Ludhiana City Centre scam as he was a part of Punjab’s former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s legal team, Justice Surya Kant of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ruled that the petitioner shall be released on interim bail by the investigating officer in the event of his arrest.

Warning by Judge
Chandigarh, October 3
Less than a week after the Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrested a former law officer in the Ludhiana City Centre case, Justice Ranjit Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today verbally observed in the open courtroom that action would be taken against officials concerned, which may be in the form of suspension, if any lawyer of the court was taken in custody. The Judge also took note of the media briefing by the Vigilance Bureau before court hearings.

Disproportionate assets case against Badal
Notices issued to Punjab, chief secy, hostile witnesses
Chandigarh, October 3
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, comprising Chief Justice Vijender Singh and Justice Mahesh Grover, today issued notices to the State of Punjab, chief secretary, vigilance bureau and all 23 witnesses who have turned hostile in the alleged disproportionate assets case against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Notice to UT on Hawara’s plea
Chandigarh, October 3
Taking up a petition filed by Jagtar Singh Hawara alleging segregation from others after being sentenced to death penalty in Punjab's former Chief Minister Beant Singh assassination case, Justice Surya Kant of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the Chandigarh Administration.

AGRICULTURE

Farmers to get land status cards
Moga, October 3
With a view to helping farmers choose suitable crops for their fields, the Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) would soon launch a plan to record fertility status of land.

CRIME

Road Rage
Man shot at
Ludhiana, October 3
In a case of road rage, a car-borne man shot at a truck driver in the Shivpuri area late this evening.