Amritsar
Sweet sellers get warning: The health department has warned food item and sweet sellers against indulging in adulteration in view of the coming festive season. District Health Officer Dr Shivkaran Kalhon said the raids have been initiated to check adulteration of food items. He said last week, the department had destroyed 60 kg of khoa besides collecting samples of synthetic milk. In a separate drive, 23 samples of adulterated food items were collected from various places. He advised the public to buy sweets only from trustworthy shops. "It would be better if sweets are prepared at home," he said. Acting tough against the adulterators, he warned them that strict actions would bee taken against them if the substandard products are seized from their shops.

Chandigarh
e-transfer of funds to panchayats: The Punjab Government on Wednesday issued instructions for the release of funds to panchayats and other beneficiaries through the electronic transfer system, instead of the existing cheque system. Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa said the orders had been issued in pursuance of the directions given by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Subsidised notebooks for students: Students of classes VI to X will get practical notebooks at subsidised rates in government schools across the state. An official spokesman of the education department said practical notebooks costing Rs 190, Rs 80 and Rs 60 would be made available to students at Rs 50, Rs 39 and Rs 28, respectively.

Moga
12 acquitted of killing Dalit youth: Additional District and Sessions Judge Harpal Singh has acquitted 12 persons of murdering a Dalit youth and declared one of the alleged accused a proclaimed offender. They were accused of murdering a 22-year-old Dalit youth, Gurjant Singh, of the local Indira Colony. He was working with a labour contractor in a local manufacturing unit of Nestle. He was shot dead by unidentified car-borne persons as he emerged from the factory premises on February 14.

Bar members meet Law Minister: Members of the district bar associations of the state met Union Minister of Law and Justice Salman Khursheed in the presence of Union Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Preneet Kaur in New Delhi on Wednesday. They urged the minister to discontinue evening courts and functioning of the courts at district headquarters and sub-divisions on Saturdays. Sunil Garg, convener of the delegation, said the minister had agreed to declare Saturday as a non-working day. "He also assured to consider our demand on evening courts," Garg said.