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Rampant weed growth worries wheat farmers
NHAI apathy may cause sewage mess in Phagwara
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Forest cover up by 100 sq-km in state
Assembly poll
State cops to man Goa polls
Vehicles to have tamper-proof number plates
CM’s Budget wish
Stay on DSGMC poll
Violation of building bye-laws continues
Drugs trade on rise in Patiala
No chemist shop at Mata Kaushalya Hospital
Computer teachers to get salary soon, says DGSE
Yuvraj’s malignant tumour hereditary: Pathologist
HC for fresh inspection of ayurvedic colleges
Akali sarpanch among 4 booked for axing trees
Moga girl abducted by co-villager
2 travel agents booked for duping youth
Petrol pump looted in Hoshiarpur
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Rampant weed growth worries wheat farmers
Muktsar, February 7 A visit to the fields reveals that most of the farmers are busy spraying herbicides to remove the weeds. The farmers said this year, there were 15 per cent more weeds as compared to the last year. Pritam Singh, a wheat grower at Aspal village, said, "Weeds are proving hard to control because they grow rapidly, produce vast number of seeds and spread aggressively. We are spraying some herbicides so that the moisture in the fields could be saved". He added, "The presence of weeds is not a new phenomenon, but the problem is rampant this year. Still the Agriculture Department has not yet advised us about any method to easily get rid of it". Similarly, Harpreet Singh, another farmer, said, "Earlier, I used to pluck the unwanted growth, but this time it seems impossible to control it using the traditional method. So, I am spraying herbicides in the fields so that the growth can be controlled and a proper moisture level can be maintained for the wheat crop". He added that the weeds would affect the yield of wheat. Kuldeep Singh, Agriculture Development Officer, Muktsar, said, "The problem is a routine and if the quantity of weeds is more as compared to the previous years, the farmers should spray some herbicides to control it". He further said the department had recommended a few herbicides, namely Leader, Topik etc to keep a check on the growth of weeds. He, however, added, "A majority of the farmers do not sow graded seeds, as it costs more. So, they normally face the problem of weeds at this stage of the crop".
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NHAI apathy may cause sewage mess in Phagwara
Phagwara, February 7 This might spell trouble for Phagwara town in near future as more than 70 per cent of the residents could face the problem of sewerage blockade. It has been observed that the employees engaged in the construction work are raising the level of the road without shifting the sewer pipes, which are being buried beneath the highway. Phagwara Nagar Council Executive Officer Adarsh Sharma told The Tribune that on the recommendation of the NC, the Sewerage Board had submitted a detailed estimate of Rs 96 lakh to the construction agency engaged by the NHAI for shifting the sewer pipes two years ago, but the company did not sanction the amount nor did it initiate the work. He admitted that more than 70 per cent population of the town could have to suffer a severe problem due to the “negligence” of the NHAI. Sharma, meanwhile, has asked NHAI officials to initiate the work before completion of the earth filling process.
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Forest cover up by 100 sq-km in state
New Delhi, February 7 As per the biennial assessment report released today, the forest and tree cover in the country stands at 78.29 million hectares, 23.81 per cent of the geographical area. This includes 2.54 per cent very dense forest, 9.76 per cent moderately dense forest and 8.75 open forest. The tree cover in the country is 2.76 per cent. While 15 states registered increase of 500 sq-km in forest cover, 12 states and Union Territories, mainly from the northeast, showed a decline of 867 sq km. The survey, flaunted by the government as the most authoritative assessment of the country's forest cover, however, does not make any effort to differentiate natural forest from plantations in the open forest category. The figures also indicate that the country will not be able to achieve its self-set goal of 33 per cent forest cover by 2012. The Ministry of Environment and Forest officials admit that if "we are able to complete Green India Mission successfully in next 10 years, India may be able to bring 29 per cent area under green cover". Meanwhile, apart from Punjab, gainers in the list also include Haryana (14 sq-km), Himachal (11 sq-km), Jammu and Kashmir (two sq-km), Jharkhand (83 sq-km), Rajasthan (51 sq-km), Orissa (48 sq-km), Tamil Nadu (74 sq-km) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (62 sq-km). The nature of the green cover in agrarian states Punjab and Haryana though has the potential to worry environmentalists. A majority of the 100 sq-km increase in Punjab is due to enhanced agro-forestry and plantations like poplar and eucalyptus-monoculture cash crops-highly cyclic and discredited by environmentalists for impoverishing soil and causing erosion in the long run. Environment Secretary T. Chatterjee says Punjab's 100 sq-km increase is due to enhanced plantation activities undertaken in the recent past by the state Forest Department and spurt in agro-forestry practices. Appreciative of the state government's efforts, he says that agro-forestry practices have great economic potential and since plantations are outside the forest area and largely on degraded land, they do not harm the biodiversity or top soil in any way".
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Assembly poll
In the constituencies that are considered People's Party of Punjab (PPP) strongholds, the polling percentage has dipped. This is in contrast to the earlier belief that a large number of youngsters went out to vote for the PPP. Similarly, areas with strong influence of Dera Sacha Sauda have also seen a dip in polling. Now, the implications of these are for anyone to guess and cannot be interpreted with precession. But if one is to believe that the Dera "Premis" voted for the Congress or the PPP would bite into the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) vote base, the polling trends can upset many calculations. A detailed look at the 117 segments of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha show that there are 28 segments where there has been an increase of over five per cent polling, some even touching 10 percent mark. In 34 segments, the polling percentage increased in between 1 to 5 per cent and in the remaining 13 constituencies, the increase is only fractional between 0 to 1 per cent. Of the 42 constituencies in Punjab where the polling percentage has dipped, 21 constituencies are currently being held by the SAD-BJP alliance, 20 by the Congress and one by an Independent. Of the 28 segments where there is more than 5 per cent increase in polling, 22 are held by the SAD-BJP alliance. It could mean either anti-incumbency or revalidating the SAD-BJP government. The trends show a very clear urban and rural divide when it comes to polling trends. In Majha, for example, the two constituencies that have recorded an increase of over 5 per cent polling are both urban. These are Gurdaspur and Amritsar (North). Again there are only six semi-urban segments of Dina Nagar, Mukerian, Ajnala, Majitha, Attari and Khadoor Sahib that have registered a 1 to 5 per cent increase. In Doaba, only six urban and semi-urban segments of Jalandhar (West), Jalandhar (North), Jalandhar (Cantt), Phagwara, Chabbewal and Garshankar have recorded an increase of more than 5 per cent polling. Here the increase between 1 to 5 per cent polling is only in 6 segments, which are Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, Nakodar, Adampur, Nawanshehar and Balachaur. There has been an increase in polling in central and eastern Malwa, but there are an equal number of constituencies in southern and western Malwa that have recorded a decrease in polling. The PPP and Dera Sucha Sauda have considerable influence in areas like Moga, Muktsar, Faridkot, Bathinda, ect. In the Malwa region the constituencies that have recorded more than 5 per cent polling include Firozepur (Rural), Dharamkot, Ludhiana (West), Khanna, Samrala, Sahnewal, Gill,Bathinda (Urban), Sangrur, Shutrana, Patiala (Rural), Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Ghanaur, Sanour and Patiala. The polling increased in constituencies where there was either a rebel from the Congress or the SAD in the fray. There are about 10 segments where the rebels can be considered to be in the reckoning. It is estimated that four to six Independents (read rebels) may actually win. As urban and semi-urban segments that have seen higher polling than rural areas, this could be interpreted as a pro-Congress or anti-incumbency against the ruling areas. Or at the same time it could also mean pro-BJP vote. The lower polling in rural areas could also be interpreted both as disillusionment against the ruling alliance as well as lack of enthusiasm in favour of the Congress. It is for the first time in Punjab's history when the candidates are still guessing the outcome.
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State cops to man Goa polls
Jalandhar, February 7 Eight companies of all three formations of the PAP, including the PAP Commandoes and the India Reserve Battalion (IRB), would be leaving for Goa on February 25 to perform election duty. They would remain stationed there till the declaration of the results on March 6, said PAP AIG Jaskaran Singh. It is not for the first time that PAP jawans are being summoned to perform poll duty in another state. They are being relied upon and have remained in high demand in states like Bihar to accomplish sensitive tasks. Jaskaran Singh said 10 companies of the Punjab Home Guards had also been requisitioned for poll-bound
Goa.
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Vehicles to have tamper-proof number plates
Jalandhar, February 7 The Supreme Court had recently directed the states to complete the HSRP project within two years. Transport Commissioner Harjit Singh said, "Punjab has given an undertaking in the Supreme Court that the project will be completed in two years. Tenders were called and the project was allotted to a Noida-based company." The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had recently amended Rule 50 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989, which seeks to ensure a uniform pattern of displaying vehicle registration mark throughout the country. The work to ensure affixing of HSRPs had started in Chandigarh and New Delhi but it got stuck later due to some technicalities. As per new norms, no vehicle owner would be allowed to paint registration mark in fancy style. The HSRP system, Transport Department officials said, would also ensure the display of registration mark at rear and front glasses of a vehicle. The new plates would be protected against counterfeiting with the help of chromium-based holograms. The process for affixing new number plates is likely to take off from March 31. The owners of two-wheelers, four-wheelers, tractor trailers, heavy and commercial vehicles would have to shell out an amount ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 315. Officials say once the project was implemented, considerable dip in the incidents of vehicle theft could be expected. At the same time, there would be less risk in the sale or purchase of used vehicles as identifying stolen vehicles would become easy. Security first n The high-security registration number plates would use chromium-based holograms, which would make them temper-proof n
The process for affixing new number plates is likely to take off from March 31 onwards n
The owners of two-wheelers, four-wheelers, tractor trailers, heavy and commercial vehicles would have to shell out anything between Rs 100 and Rs 315 n
Once the project is implemented, claim officials, a considerable dip in the incidents of vehicle theft could be expected
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CM’s Budget wish
Chandigarh, February 7 The Chief Minister in his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has urged him to give directions to the Finance Ministry to include road safety investments for income tax exemption. He sought the exemption on the lines of concessions extended under provision of section 82 of the proposed Direct Tax Code for incentives to companies spending on promotion of family planning and prevention of HIV-AIDS. Badal said: “India has reported the highest number of road fatalities among all countries in the world. In 2010, there were about 1.33 lakh deaths and 5 lakh injuries on Indian roads. These numbers translate to economic loss to the tune of Rs 1,00,000 crore every year”. Improved road design and a focus on pedestrian safety, safer vehicles, motorcycle helmets, seat belts, action on drunk driving, driver training and licensing and tackling speed, better road engineering, regular road audits, making road safety part of school curriculum can help reduce fatal road accidents,” he said. Badal lauded the role of International Road Federation for promoting road safety worldwide and supporting the United Nation’s Decade of Action plan for Road Safety across the world.— PTI
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Stay on DSGMC poll
Amritsar, February 7 "They could not find candidates to field against our party in Delhi. Moreover, two of their sitting DSGMC members — Malkinder Singh from Motinagar and Kultaran Singh from Janakpuri — had recently joined us," he said. Sarna claimed that the SAD had got a survey done and found that they could only win three out of the total 46 seats in the DSGMC elections. He alleged that the SAD also apprehended that the poll results of Punjab, which are to be declared on March 6, would have an adverse impact on its poll prospects in the DSGMC elections, which were to take place on March 11. "Now, they are merely buying time to salvage their prestige," he said. The DSGMC chief said they are going in for an appeal against the stay as they are totally in an election mode. "The government too will appeal against it," he said. On the political implications of the court order, he said the SAD would face even worse route whenever the DSGMC elections take place now, as the electorate "understood each and everything". On the other hand, SAD secretary Daljeet Singh Cheema alleged that Sarna had got the DSGMC elections declared in February, thinking that the SAD leadership would be busy in Punjab Assembly polls and he could exploit the situation in Delhi. "However, his game plan failed as the Election Commission announced January 30 as the polling day in Punjab. Sarna is behind moving the petition seeking a stay on the elections," he said, adding today's developments had once again brought to the fore the "Congress's interference in the Sikh affairs". "The Congress wants to grab the management of Sikh shrines and this fight is more evident in Delhi where Sarna is openly siding with the Congress," he alleged. On the political implications of the stay on DSGMC polls, he said it would only add to the already growing resentment among Sikhs against the Congress. The SAD is already blaming the Congress-led UPA government for delaying the election of office-bearers of the SGPC, the elections to which were held on September 18 last year.
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Violation of building bye-laws continues
Patiala, February 7 Inquiries brought to light that major chunk of commercial establishments do not comply with the prescribed norms for having proper parking space. Apart from this, instead of using basement of the building for the parking purpose, a large number of commercial outlets and showrooms are using basement for commercial activity. For the multi-storey commercial buildings, emergency exit point and open staircase connecting all floors for fire safety, is a mandatory requirement. However, information gathered by the TNS shows that majority of the commercial showrooms on the busy Bhupindra Road have grossly flouted the building bye-laws. Likewise, commercial outlets on Sirhind Road, Bus Stand Road, Model Town, Tripuri and many other areas have also come up in violation of the building norms. Some of the commercial establishments have even indulged in violation of the Floor Area Ratio and the houseline and had not left the open space, as per the prescribed norms. Sometime back, Municipal Councillor of Ward Number 7 Sarita Gera had alleged that rampant corruption was prevalent in Patiala MC, because of which commercial buildings in violation of the building bye-laws were coming up. Gera, who resigned from the councillorship a year ago, alleged, "I had demanded information under the RTI Act about certain buildings that had come up in violation of the building bye-laws, but so far the MC has not supplied it." Gera further said, "Action against small shopkeepers by the civic body is mere eyewash and in reality big fishes are never touched." Patiala Municipal Commissioner GS Sidhu's precise reply on the matter was, "Right now I am driving and can not comment on the issue." While Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli was out of Punjab, Senior Deputy Mayor Anil Bajaj admitted that violation of building bye-laws was on. "MC did issue notices to some of the violators, but later no action was taken", he admitted. However, he was quick to add, "Civic body is short of staff. We have just two ATP's and four JE's for the entire Patiala city. Because of staff scarcity, it becomes virtually impossible to monitor that each and every building is coming up in accordance with the sanctioned building plan."
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Drugs trade on rise in Patiala
Patiala, February 7 During the tenure of former SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill (who was shifted a month before the elections), the district police made rich haul of opium, poppy husk and other contrabands by relying on informers and ensuring that all entry points in the city were closely monitored. However, with cops busy in elections and presently taking a breather, drug trade is again on the rise. Ahead of the elections, stringent measures were taken to ensure that the drug trade was curbed. Patiala alone had accounted for over 150 quintal poppy husk and whopping 350 kg opium in the past few months. Only yesterday, the police recovered 2 kg opium under Shambhu police station. The recent recoveries especially that of opium and poppy husk have astonished not only the state police but also the intelligence agencies. The recoveries become more important in view of the fact that Patiala is an educational hub with three universities and over two-dozen colleges in vicinity, where youth is the prime target of these gangs. "The borders are porous and there is rich production and smuggling from Haryana, Rajasthan and even across the border, which means the supply chain is difficult to break", said a senior police officer. Interestingly, the TNS team could procure numerous psychotropic medicines, opium and poppy husk with little efforts from within the city, with drug peddlers ready to supply everything in lieu of money. "You are a new customer and if you need smack you will have to deposit Rs 1,000 with us and come after a couple of days", claimed a supplier who met the TNS team near a prominent college, but refused to deal further after he became suspicious. Patiala SSP DP Singh said that it was almost impossible to seal the entire drug trade, but steps were being taken to ensure that drugs do not find its way inside the district. "There are some areas where drugs are sold, we are trying to identify the supply chain as merely arresting a small time drug seller will not solve any purpose", he added. While the SP (D) could not be contacted despite repeated attempts, an officer deputed with the Crime Investigating Agency confirmed to TNS that peddlers had recently adopted another method of smuggling wherein they use couriers to send contrabands. "Couriers are easily available for a few thousand rupees and once they deliver it in Punjab, the amount they make is big", he said.
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No chemist shop at Mata Kaushalya Hospital
Patiala, February 7 Patients rue that the hospital, which is being run by the Health and Family Welfare Department, does not have a single chemist shop to supply medicines at subsidised rates and outside chemists are charging money as per their whims and
fancies. Beena, who had come for the treatment of her 8-year-old daughter, said that the doctor suggested few tests before starting treatment and asked her to bring some syringes and other stuff. "After I brought that, the doctor said I could get remaining things from the hospital lab, but when I went there, staff members of the lab said that they didn't have anything and asked me to get everything from the outside chemist shop again. My daughter was so unwell still I had to leave her alone and went outside twice for getting medicines. Tired of moving between chemist shop and hospital, I took her to Rajindra Hospital where she is under treatment," she
added. Jagmohan Singh, who had come for a few tests, said that he was illiterate and could not even read the prices of medicines. "I had purchased a few medicines and vials for Rs 150, but when I showed it to a fellow patient; he said that the medicines were worth Rs 100 only. This is really annoying, but we cannot help it. The government should ensure that they at least have one chemist shop in all hospitals so that we could get cheap medicines." Another patient, Nirmal Kaur from
Bhawanigarh, rued that what was the point of coming to government hospitals if they had to get everything from outside chemists. "Most of the patients who come to government hospitals are very poor and cannot afford to purchase expensive medicines," she added. While Medical Superintendent of hospital Dr Madhurima Chawla could not be contacted despite repeated calls and messages, sources said that the Jan Aushadhi Kendra in the hospital was closed nine months ago due to some court case and as a result patients had to suffer a lot.
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Computer teachers to get salary soon, says DGSE
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 7 Singla was here to inspect school buildings being constructed by the PUDA under the Rashtrita Madhmik Siksha (RMS) scheme. The Union Government had allocated a grant Rs 58.22 lakh for five school buildings in the district. He along with senior officials of the Education Department inspected Government Senior Secondary Schools at Khalaspur, Ganduan, Noorpura, Chatar Pura and Patton. Under the scheme, new computer and science laboratories and libraries are being constructed in schools. Reacting to media reports that inspection of government schools had been withdrawn, he said that inspection of schools would be carried out as usual to check absenteeism and quality of education etc. He said that education was the top priority of the government and there would be no shortage of funds and staff. He directed the District Education Officer (DEO) to conduct surprise checking of schools and send report regularly to his office. Paramjit Kaur Chahal DEO (Secondary) highlighted the problem of vacant post of peons and chowkidars in schools. She told the DGSE that due to non-availability of chowkidars thefts of computers, mid-day meal utensils, gas cylinders were being reported from schools in rural areas.
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Yuvraj’s malignant tumour hereditary: Pathologist
Patiala, February 7 A graduate from Medical College Patiala, Dr Poonam, who did her MD from University of California, said she was very happy to visit her alma mater and after interacting with current postgraduates in pathology, she advised the students to work hard and put more and more time and efforts to learn the latest techniques in the diagnosis of various diseases like cancer other non-cancerous diseases. Earlier, Dr Manjit Singh Bal, Head of Pathology Department and Principal Investigator, Population Based Cancer Registry (ICMR), welcoming the speaker, deliberated upon the disease of cricketer Yuvraj Singh. He said that Yuvraj was suffering not from lung cancer but a malignant tumour of mediastinum, the space between both lungs, (where heart and major blood vessels are located). Technically speaking, Dr Bal said that Seminoma was a malignant germ cell tumour, which usually arise from gonads (testis in males and ovaries in females). He said initial researchers used to think that these were isolated metastasis from an undetected primary tumor in a gonad (testis). "But it is now known that many germ cell tumors are congenital and originate outside the gonads. "This kind of disease runs in families and Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj, in an interview had also told that his father and grandfather also had this kind of tumour. The prognosis of this mediastinal malignant tumour is good and patients usually respond well to chemo and radiotherapy," he added.
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Balle balle behind bars
Patiala, February 7 This is now the everyday routine at the Central Jail, Patiala, where bhangra beats have been helping the old and the not so old to start their day on a rather vigorous note. Inmates of 14 barracks of the jail participate one after the other in this dance feat. In news in the recent past, numerous jails of Punjab are considered as a place where a majority of the inmates are drug addicts. This has forced the jail authorities to think differently to ensure that inmates voluntarily give up drugs. The dhol session is one such step in this regard. “The idea is to keep the inmates mentally and physically fit. There is nothing more relaxing in the morning than to start your day on foot-tapping bhangra numbers,” claimed Additional Jail Superintendent Rajan Kapoor. “There are two sessions in the day, one early morning almost a little after the wakeup call and the second is in the late afternoon, just before the outdoor activity time,” he stated. Talking to The Tribune, an inmate said he had never danced in his entire life as he entered the world of crime early. “It is relaxing and helps me forget the trouble I am in due to my crime record,” he added. The result of the exercise has been amazing. With an inmate trained on dhol, the inmates have formed a bhangra troupe that performs for the visiting VIPs. “There are nine men in the team and their performance can leave anyone spellbound,” Kapoor said. Punjab DGP (Jails) Shashi Kant said dancing was one form of relaxation and it might help inmates get rid of drug abuse. “This model can be replicated in other Punjab jails,” he added.
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Amritsar Jalandhar 2 killed in road accidents: Ludhiana Jagraon Bathinda Women voters take lead in Bathinda:
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HC for fresh inspection of ayurvedic colleges
Chandigarh, February 7 Taking up an appeal filed by the Union of India against Muktsar-based Mai Bhagon Ayurvedic College and Hospital and other respondents, the Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice AN Jindal asserted: “The inspection carried out in the month of March 2011, to find out whether the ayurvedic colleges have the infrastructure in place, cannot be said to be fair as then there were almost six months left for academic session to commence.” The significance of the judgment can be gauged from the fact that the Bench has disposed of as many as eight appeals by a single order. A circular laying down minimum standards and norms for granting admission to ayurvedic sidha and unani colleges for academic sessions 2011-12 was issued on March 18, 2011, by the Government of India. Soon after, the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) conducted an inspection of the colleges on March 28-29, 2011, for admission to academic sessions 2011-12, though the last date for admission was October 31, 2011. Taking up the matter, the Single Judge found not enough time was available with the ayurvedic colleges to comply with the revised norms circulated on March 18, 2011, as the inspection was carried out just after 10 days. As the appeal by the Centre came up for hearing, the Division Bench observed: “The Single Judge ordered carrying out a fresh inspection of the colleges in order to ensure that the minimum standard norms as revised vide circular dated March 18, 2011, by the Central Government are complied with and made available by these Colleges as observed in the order.” The Bench concluded: “The direction of the Single Judge to carry out the fresh inspection in respect of the infrastructure and the deployment of the staff is fair and reasonable and in the interest of the ayurvedic colleges as well as the students. “By carrying out the fresh inspection, the Government of India or the CCIM is not to suffer any prejudice and inspection at this stage will ensure compliance of the regulations in proper perspective. Consequently, we do not find any patent illegality or irregularity in the impugned order passed by the Single Judge, which may warrant interference by this court in the present appeals. Hence, all the appeals are dismissed”.
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Akali sarpanch among 4 booked for axing trees
Muktsar, February 7 Acting upon a complaint filed by a few villagers and the local Block Development Officer, the police has registered a case against sarpanch Gurmukh Singh and seized the tractor-trailer that was being used to ferry the axed trees. The incident took place on Sunday night when the accused, Harpal Singh, Gurdev Singh and Baldev Singh, all residents of Chak Badai village, were allegedly axing the trees standing on the government land and a security guard deployed at a nearby factory caught them red-handed. The guard raised the alarm, following which the villagers gathered at the spot. The sarpanch, who too reached the spot, allegedly sided with the accused and helped them escape. The next morning, the villagers complained to the officials concerned who filed a complaint with the Sadar police station in Muktsar. Acting upon the complaint, the police registered a case under sections 379 and 120-B of the IPC against the four persons. Investigating officer ASI Gurtej Singh said, “A case has been registered but the accused, including the sarpanch are still at large. Efforts are on to nab them.” He added that axed trees worth Rs 30,000 had been seized.
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3 migrants killed in accident
Hoshiarpur, Feburary 7 The accident reportedly took place when the driver of the Jalandhar-bound bus was trying to overtake a car, an attempt which resulted in a head-on collision between the bus and the tractor-trailer. Hailing from Bihar, the migrants were headed to Gambowal village to plant poplar trees there. While Baleshwar alias Rupal Mahto, his six years old daughter Jailesh and another migrant Ramji Mahto died on the spot, Rupal's wife Samindera Devi, his daughter Preeta, Vishal Kumar and tractor driver Hazara Singh sustained serious injuries. The driver of the bus managed to flee after the accident. The Tanda police has registered a case against him on the basis of a statement given by tractor driver Hazara Singh. The injured were referred to Hoshiarpur Civil Hospital after being given first aid at
Tanda.
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Moga girl abducted by co-villager
Moga, February 7 A case has been registered by the girl’s parents against the youth, Gursewak Singh, his father Buta Singh, mother Baljit Kaur and one of his friends, Beant Singh, all residents of Mehna village. Sub-Inspector Malook Singh, who is investigating the case, said raids were being conducted to arrest the accused. However, the police was also working on another angle that the girl might have eloped with the youth to marry him as Rs 50,000 in cash, besides some jewellery, was also missing from her house, the investigating officer said.
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2 travel agents booked for duping youth
Phagwara, February 7 Rawalpindi SHO Shiv Kamaldev Singh said Gulshan Nanda of Panchhatt village and his brother-in-law Radhya Shyam of Jalandhar were booked under Sections 420 and 406 of the IPC and 24 Immigrations Act. He said that Gurmit Singh struck a deal for Rs 16 with the accused to send his son Amandeep to Canada and he gave the money along with passport to the accused on August 31 last year. The SHO said on October 5,2011, the accused handed over the passport with visa stamp of Canada to Amandeep, which was fake. Gurmit said that the accused neither sent his son to Canada nor returned the money despite repeated reminders.
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Petrol pump looted in Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur, February 7 In his complaint to the police, petrol pump manager Mohinder Pal stated that two unidentified youths carrying a pistol and a sword entered his office and Rs 56,000 in cash and a gold ring from him. Before fleeing on a motorcycle parked outside the petrol pump, they also snatched a bag containing cash from the salesman of the pump. Mehtiana police has registered a case under Section 392 of the IPC against unidentified persons and started a manhunt to arrest the accused.
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The rapid growth of weeds in wheat fields is troubling farmers of the district these days. 
Grain bowl Punjab recorded a 100-sq km increase in the forest cover, leading the 15 states which collectively registered aggregate increase of 500 sq-km in the country that otherwise showed a decline of 367 sq km since the last survey in 2009, says the India State of Forest Report, 2011.
Chandigarh, February 7
DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna alleged that some pro-SAD forces had filed the case, contending that voter ID cards didn't have photographs and that delimitation should be done before the elections. He alleged that this was done at the behest of the Badals as they had foreseen their imminent defeat in the DSGMC elections.