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TOP STORIES

Making babus accountable
60 cases dug up for scanning
Chandigarh, March 23
In the ongoing Operation Clean-up aimed at introducing accountability and sending a clear message to bureaucrats, the SAD-BJP government has dug up files of at least 60 cases where high-ups in the government feel the officer messed it up.

A Tribute to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev
CM announces Rs 1 cr for martyrs’ memorial
Ferozepur, March 23
Be it the fight against Mughal invaders or resistance to oppression unleashed by the British, Punjabis have always been in the forefront when it comes to sacrificing their lives for the cause of the nation.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal pays floral tributes at the samadhi of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at the National Martyrs Memorial, Hussainiwala, Ferozepur, on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Govt forgets sacrifices of ex-dam staff
Chandigarh, March 23
For years they worked as work-charged and other employees in the most hazardous conditions to build the Ranjit Sagar Dam project. Nearly 150 of them died while working at the project due to unsafe working conditions. But when the project was completed, the Punjab government has issued them notices slashing their salary. Their number is in hundreds.

2 Nepalese girls found dead in factory
Families hint at foul play
Jalandhar, March 23
Two Nepalese girls were found dead at a pipe-fitting factory at Gadaipur village under Maqsoodan police station. The fathers of the girls, Kamla and Luxmi (both around eight), suspected they had been killed by throwing them into a machine after rape or attempt to rape, whereas the police and factory owner termed the deaths as accidental.

It’s second birth for Navjot: Doc
Amritsar, March 23
The doctor attending on BJP MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu has said the “yogi” in him has helped him recover well in time and he will soon be back into active politics. Dr Rupinder Singh, consultant surgeon, has said this is actually a new birth to Sidhu and he is recovering fast.

Unscientific Storage
Veggies worth Rs 30,000 cr perish every year
Nabha, March 23
India, the second largest producer of vegetables in the world, loses Rs 30,000 crore every year as 25 per cent of the produce gets damaged because of poor and unscientific storage.

POLITICS

Skewed Central policies have hit state: Mann
Chandigarh, March 23
The SAD (A) said today that the skewed policies of the Union government and agreed to by the SAD-BJP government and the Congress were responsible for the fall of Punjab as far as its economic growth was concerned.

BJP to contest poll on party symbol
Sangrur, March 23
The Punjab unit of the BJP has decided to contest ensuing elections to the block panchayat samitis and zila parishads on party symbol in the state.

COMMUNITY

Khalsa College Convocation
Decide 10-yr-old criminal cases in year: CJ
Amritsar, March 23
Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Vijender Jain here today said he had directed courts in Punjab and Haryana to settle all criminal cases pending for 10 years or more in a year. Similarly, criminal cases lingering over five years be settled in two years from now.

Trident issue resolved: Govt
Chandigarh, March 23
The Punjab government today claimed to have resolved the stalemate on farmers' agitation over the high-profile Trident land acquisition issue which had rocked the state for more than two years.

Expert: Bloodless hip surgery becoming popular
Patiala, March 23
Bloodless hip surgery is becoming increasingly popular and being preferred over the open-surgery for hip replacement. This was stated here by internationally acclaimed orthopaedic surgeon Dr Gursharan Singh Chana in an exclusive interview with The Tribune.

Forest official alleges police highhandedness
Hoshiarpur, March 23
An incident of highhandedness of the Punjab police has come to light whereby a police party, led by an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of the Hoshiarpur police, conducted surprise raids at the Forest Rest House in Dholbaha and searched official vehicles of conservator of forests (Shiwalik Circle).

Where liquor is prasad
Amritsar, March 23
More than one lakh people visited the “samadh” (tomb) of Baba Rode Shah on the Amritsar-Fatehgarh Churian road today, where liquor is offered as prasad to mark the annual mela, a few kms from here.

Jatti Umra villagers appeal for Sarabjit
Jatti Umra (Tarn Taran), March 23
For people of sleepy village of Jatti Umra, Nawaz Sharif is a hero, even if he has made a name for himself in a different land. And given the political influence he now enjoys after the recent elections in Pakistan, they have made an appeal to him to press for the release of Sarabjit Singh, who is facing death sentence there.

German Bagpipers regale audience
Sangrur, March 23
On the occasion of Holi, a cultural and musical concert, Indo-German Friendship 2008, was organised by the local Society for Peace and Dance and Music Academy at the Ram Vatika complex here last night.

Members of the Happy German Bagpipers’ troupe present a programme at Sangrur on Saturday. — Photo by Sushil Goyal

‘Include chapters on female foeticide in syllabus books’
Sunam, March 23
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Satpal Gosain has urged the universities in the state to include a chapter against female foeticide in syllabus books of various classes of their respective universities.

CRIME

Man chops off brother’s ear, fingers over land
Gurdaspur, March 23
In a shocking incident on Holi, a Deriwal villager chopped off an ear and fingers of both hands of his brother over a land dispute near Pathankot yesterday.