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30 lakh tonnes of wheat lie in open
State also faces paddy stocking
Chandigarh, October 22
Punjab, which has 50 per cent of the country’s buffer stock of both wheat and paddy in its territory, is facing a severe problem of stocking the ongoing paddy being procured in the state with 30 lakh tonnes of wheat lying in the open. According to food and civil supplies minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, there is about half of the 72 lakh tonnes of wheat lying in the state.

FCI not procuring its share, says govt
Chandigarh, October 22
Extremely slack procurement of paddy by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) seems to be adding to the woes of the state government, which has already stepped up pressure on its procurement agencies as well as senior bureaucrats to ensure that all paddy arriving in mandis is procured without any hitch.

Khangura flays SAD-BJP for delay in procurement
Chandigarh, October 22
The SAD-BJP government has come under a sharp criticism over the issue of the smooth procurement of paddy during the current season. The latest in the series to take on the government, Jassi Khangura, Congress legislator from Kila Raipur, has written to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal saying that the government has failed to plan effectively for this kharif paddy procurement season.

Book Raj for sedition, demand Purvanchalis
Jalandhar, October 22 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNC) president Raj Thackeray might have got interim anticipatory bail today in different cases filed against him in connection with the assault on candidates appearing for a railway examination on Sunday, Purvanchalis-migrants from UP and Bihar here today upped the ante against him and demanded that he should be booked on the charge of sedition.
Members of the Purvanchal Vikas Mahasabha submit a memorandum to ADC S.S. Murar in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Photo: Suryakant

Raj’s statements threat to nation’s integrity: Shankracharya
Amritsar, October 22
The statements of Raj Thackeray, president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), are a threat to the nation’s integrity and there is a need for taking steps to resolve the issue peacefully in Maharashtra.

COMMUNITY

6 PCS officers’ promotion cleared following SC order
Jalandhar, October 22
Decks have been cleared for the promotion of six Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officers to the IAS following an order passed in this regard by the Supreme Court today. Gurminder Singh, an advocate, who represented the PCS officers in the Supreme Court, told The Tribune today that the apex court had modified the orders issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on March 24, April 3 and April 10.

300 immigrants return, feel cheated by agents
Pathankot, October 22
Mahesh Kumar (name changed) of this city made his parents sell their assets to arrange Rs 7 lakh to be paid to a travel agent so that he could go to Greece for better prospects. Before he could reach his dream destination, he was caught by the police in Gini Kanakari city of West Africa.

Shortage of DAP fertiliser to end soon: Chief secy
Sangrur, October 22
There will be no shortage of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser in the days to come in the state as the Punjab government has made arrangements to procure 5.50 lakh metric tonnes of the required DAP for farmers.

Tribune Impact
Acid Attack on Dalit Woman
Human Rights panel seeks report from SSP
Moga, October 22
Taking a suo moto notice of the news item, titled “Accused throws acid on rape victim”, that appeared on the front page of The Tribune on October 15, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has asked its ADGP (Internal Vigilance Cell) to investigate the incident.

Manpreet bans gifts on Diwali
Jalandhar, October 22
Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal yesterday directed officers and others concerned of his department not to accept any gift from anyone on Diwali. He has instructed senior officers of his department to tell officials working in their respective offices to abide by the order regarding gifts.

Amarinder foresees coal shortage
Patiala, October 22
Visualising coal shortage for Punjab-based power plants, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has sought the shifting of super thermal plant projects of Punjab to Bihar and Jharkhand-based coal mines.

Now kar sewa for 200-bedded hospital Tarn Taran, October 22 After kar sewa of Sikh shrines in Pakistan and India, Dera Baba Jagtar Singh has taken up constructing a 200-bedded Rs 100-crore super-specialty hospital, a first of its kind in the border belt. A view of the 200-bedded hospital being built by the Dera Kar Sewa at Tarn Taran.

Depts differ over land use, approval of building plans
Chandigarh, October 22
A serious difference of opinion has once again cropped up between the Departments of Housing and Industries, Punjab. This time it is over the issue of ascertaining who is the competent authority for allowing the change of land use and approval of building plans.

COURTS

Judge fights legal battle for reinstatement
Chandigarh, October 22
An additional civil judge (senior division), retired prematurely by the State of Punjab, is fighting a legal battle for his reinstatement. In a petition filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ex-civil judge Satpal has also challenged the registrar-general’s order, whereby, judicial work was withdrawn from him.

Moga Sex Scam
Bail plea of former minister’s son rejected
Patiala, October 22
The special CBI court, Punjab, has rejected the bail plea of Barjinder Singh, son of senior SAD leader and former Punjab minister Tota Singh, saying his custodial interrogation was required in the money extortion scandal surrounding the ill-famed Moga sex scandal.

CRIME

Two sisters injured in acid attack
Ferozepur, October 22
Two motorcycle-borne youths threw acid on two sisters of Panditawali Gali, while they were going to their respective jobs this morning. According to information, sisters Nidhi Nanda and Jyoti Nanda were commuting on a scooter when two boys riding a motorcycle halted near them and threw acid on them.