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Squall flattens paddy on 500 acres
Gurdaspur, October 6
Heavy rain, followed by squall, which hit this border district early morning today, caused huge damage to standing crop of paddy and fodder apart from uprooting number of trees.

Paddy crop flattened by a squall in Gurdaspur district on Monday. Photo: Narinder Mohan

Gobindgarh Fort handed over to govt
Amritsar, October 6
It was an emotional moment for the Army garrison stationed in Gobindgarh Fort, which had been in its possession for 50 years, as it handed over its keys to the state’s Tourism Department today.


GOC, Panther Division, Major-Gen P.S. Paul, hands over the key of the Gobindgarh Fort to special secretary, Tourism, D.P. Reddy (right) and DC Kahan Singh Pannu (centre) in Amritsar on Monday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

18 years on, ‘ex-militant’ acquitted in TADA case
Jalandhar, October 6
A city court acquitted a former “militant” today after 18 years of registration of an FIR against him under various sections of the IPC and Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (TADA) Act at the Bhogpur police station in the district.

102 PCS posts vacant
Jalandhar, October 6
With as many as 102 posts of PCS officer, who can serve as returning officer or assistant returning officer, lying vacant in the state, a smooth conduct of the coming parliamentary elections is likely to get affected.

CCI participates in cotton procurement
Chandigarh, October 6
Distress sale of cotton may end soon as union textiles minister Shanker Singh Vaghela has assured Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of the participation of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in procurement operations.

POLITICS

PPCC working to silence Bir Devinder
Chandigarh, October 6
The Punjab Congress is moving to limit the damage being caused to the party due to the war of words among former deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh and leaders from the Majha region with PPCC acting president Mohinder Singh Kaypee speaking to the former deputy speaker today.

Probe into gunny bags supply: Cong
Chandigarh, October 6
The Punjab Congress has sought a probe by a Central agency into the purchase of gunny bags (bardana) for paddy saying the material being supplied is below the prescribed standards and of very poor quality.

Now, CPI seeks ban on Bajrang Dal
Amritsar, October 6
A national executive member of the CPI, Dr Joginder Dyal, today demanded the removal of the Orissa government if it failed to ensure the safety of innocent people and minorities.

COMMUNITY

State of Primary Education
Govt survey shows the seamy side
Chandigarh, October 6
The first-ever survey of basic education skills among government primary schoolchildren in Punjab shows that more than 50 per cent of class V students do not know how to read a story in Punjabi, over 25 per cent cannot write even Punjabi letters, almost 40 per cent do not know how to subtract and almost 70 per cent do not know how to divide.

Seechewal is Time hero
Jalandhar, October 6
It has been a long journey for Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal from a small town to figure among 30 environmental heroes feted by the Time magazine in its latest issue. He and Mohammad Dilawer, the sparrow man from Nasik, are the two Indians who have it in them to confront the threats facing the earth today.

A file photo of Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal standing alongside a rejuvenated Kali Bein.

SGPC sends task force to Haryana gurdwaras
Amritsar, October 6
The SGPC has deployed around 400 employees, including members of its task force, from Punjab at all seven historical gurdwaras in Haryana in view of the 30-day ultimatum given by the Haryana Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (Ad hoc) to form a separate shiromani committee. The SGPC employees were given the orders to report at Haryana’s gurdwaras this morning.

‘Don’t tamper with Jallianwala Bagh’
Amritsar, October 6
On the call of the Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Committee based at Jalandhar, various organisations and Communist leaders today held a rally and march at Jallianwala Bagh here demanding restoration, beautification and modernisation of the monument.

Plea to link Amritsar, Delhi to Nanded airport
Amritsar, October 6
The Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for linking Amritsar and New Delhi with the newly constructed Nanded airport to facilitate the visit of devotees to the holy shrine Sachkhand Abchal.

Missing man’s body found
Anandpur Sahib, October 6
Body of Amar Singh, a resident of village Ghanaru, was found in the Bhakhra canal in his car today. A karyana merchant, Amar Singh had been missing from his home since Sunday evening. His family members told police that his mobile was also switched off.

13 injured in road mishap
Anandpur Sahib, October 6
Thirteen persons were injured as a bus overturned near village Mohiwal here today. The incident took place at around 5.30 am when the bus with pilgrims was returning from Naina Devi. 

COURTS

Beant Case
UOI seeks dismissal of compensation suit
Chandigarh, October 6
Replying to civil suit for Rs 50 crore compensation filed by 39-year-old Navjot Singh who was acquitted in the Beant Singh assassination case, the Union of India has stated that the suit was not maintainable. It should be dismissed due to insufficient court fee.

CRIME

Heroin Seizure
NRI remanded, wife let off
Amritsar, October 6
The NRI couple, Raminder Singh Nagra and his wife Harinder Kaur, were interrogated by DRI officials today. Later, Raminder was remanded in Customs’ custody for investigation. However, Harinder was let off.

The NRI couple, who were detained for possessing heroin, being taken to court in Amritsar on Monday. Photo: Vishal Kumar