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Bajwa, Jakhar lead separate delegations to EC
tardy lifting of wheat |
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Wheat lifting: Farmers in Ferozepur a harried lot
NRI youth’s death in Hoshiarpur
Get ready for power cuts, tariff
hike in peak summer season
Congress issues notice to Danny
poll expenses
Gurdwara land row: Tension persists in village
CM clears proposal seeking rise in MSP
Pick fertilisers carefully, farmers told
Ex-Divisional Commissioner appears before ED
No ACs at exhibition hall, Pak traders protest
Centre forms panel to observe Komagata Maru’s centenary
supply of contaminated water
Despite ban, liquor vends operating along highways
Govt declares Pathankot-Dinanagar belt a litchi zone
Jassi Honour killing
Three get life term for killing dera follower
Bribery case: Jail for former MC Commissioner
Cops booked as undertrial flees
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Bajwa, Jakhar lead separate delegations to EC
New Delhi, May 9 While one delegation was led by state Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa, the other was led by Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar. Bajwa demanded time-bound declaration of results immediately after counting to prevent any possibility of irregularity on the part of the district administration. Jakhar, on the other hand, petitioned the poll body on the “false” criminal cases slapped on Congress workers by the SAD-BJP dispensation in Punjab. Jahkar, who was accompanied by MLAs Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Tript Bajwa, spoke to the EC about nine such cases and sought an independent probe. Jakhar was accompanied by party workers against whom FIRs have been registered in Gurdaspur, Moga, Fazilka, Bathinda and Muktsar. Jakhar, when questioned on the lack of coordination, said: “The state Congress president should have spoken to us. There should have been better coordination.” Randhawa, Baba Dera Nanak MLA, said: “It is the responsibility of the state party chief to approach us.” Bajwa, however, said he had sought time from the EC earlier and had learnt of Jakhar’s visit only on arriving at the EC’s office this morning. “We have been busy post-elections and have not been in touch. It is good that two different but important issues were raised. There is no question of lack of coordination,” he added.
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tardy lifting of wheat
Faridkot, May 9 These procurement agencies had been warned to lift about 21 lakh quintals of wheat, lying in the mandis, or face action. Unexpected rains and hailstorms have damaged the grain lying in the open. As per the rules, private contractors, hired by the District Food and Supplies Department for various agencies, have to lift wheat from the mandis within 72 hours of procurement and shift it to its stores. Any delay beyond 72 hours invites a penalty of 25 paise per bag (50 kg). “At present, more than 42 lakh wheat bags lying in the open in Faridkot, Kotkapura, Jaitu and Sadiq purchasing centres are yet to be lifted in Faridkot district,” said Kulbir Singh Matta, district mandi officer. The district has already surpassed the target of procuring 42.25 lakh quintal of wheat by purchasing 42.66 lakh quintal this
season. Sukhwinder Singh, a farmer from Machaki Mal Singh village, said he had to wait for four days to get space to unload his produce in the mandi. He said despite Punjab’s agrarian economy, the ruling alliance leaders had failed to raise the issue in the run-up to the elections. “This is so because all private contractors are well-connected and pay little heed to the authorities,” a commission agent said. “These private contractors have an agreement to lift and transport wheat bags from the mandis to the godowns of procurement agencies within 72 hours of procurement. “But these contractors with connections, force commission agents and farmers to transport wheat to the stores on their own,” said Makhan Singh, a farmer from Kaler village. The commission agents did not speak against the contractors, fearing a backlash, he claimed. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tayyab said: “We are making efforts to speed up procurement.” The rulebook says
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Wheat lifting: Farmers in Ferozepur a harried lot
Ferozepur, May 9 Om Prakash of M/s Ramji Lal Basant Lal said, “Only we can understand the ordeal we are going through. Our 15,000 wheat bags are yet to be lifted." A visit to various grain markets in Kulgarhi, Sandhe Hasham, Sher Khan, Lohgarh, Changali Kadim, Ferozepur Cantonment and City showed that thousands of wheat bags were lying in the open for many days. Though top officials of the district administration and various procurement agencies had assured the farmers that lifting would be done soon, the patience of farmers and commission agents is giving away. Another farmer, Jatinder Singh of Malwal Jadid village, claimed that out of 14,000 bags which had been procured, around 7,000 bags were yet to be lifted. Having already spent 20 days in the grain market, Jatinder said he could not relax till the last bag was lifted. Kulbir Singh said, “We have to pay money to our labourers even though they have no work to do. Due to the shortage of labourers, we cannot afford to let them go as they might not come back.” Manjit Singh Narang, Deputy Commissioner (DC), said the lifting process was affected earlier due to the elections and later due to the infighting among transporters of different political groups within the ruling alliance. “However, we have now expedited the process and almost 63 per cent
lifting has been done,” he added. He said till date, 7.24 lakh MT wheat had been procured, against which 79 per cent of the payment amounting to around Rs 700 crore had been done. He claimed that the entire produce would be lifted within the next four to five days. VK Sharma, Commissioner, Ferozepur and Faridkot divisions, who visited various grain markets along with the DC and other officials, issued a warning to the erring officials and transport contractors for the delay in lifting.
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NRI youth’s death in Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur, May 9 ASP Nanak Singh and naib tehsildar Manohar Lal
reached the spot and assured the protesters that the accused would be arrested
within a week. The protesters then lifted the blockade. The police had booked
two youths for the murder of an NRI youth, Jatinder Singh, who was found dead
the day he had to return to Dubai. Father of the deceased Balwinder Singh of
Khanpur village said Jatinder was residing in Dubai and had come home about six
months ago. He was at home when Raman Singh and his brother Amandeep Singh
called him up. He went to meet them and did not return. “When I went to
Raman’s home and asked him about my son, he said he knew nothing about him.
Later, we found him lying unconscious on the roof of Raman’s house. He was
referred to the Mukerian Civil Hospital where he died,” he said. The police
had booked Raman and his brother Amandeep Singh under the IPC. “The police
have been pressuring us to take Rs 50-60 lakh and compromise with the accused.
They said we would get nothing out of the case,” alleged Balwinder.
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Get ready for power cuts, tariff
hike in peak summer season
Patiala, May 9 It has sought permission from the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) to purchase 5047 million units (MUs) of power worth Rs 2,000 crore to meet the demand from May to September. The PSPCL, in its petition to the commission, has maintained that the state thermal plants will not be able to run to full capacity owing to coal shortage. According to the petition filed by the PSPCL, only 800 MW of power could be generated of the total 2,640 MW capacity of the thermal pants due to coal shortage. "The PSPCL will be short of 1,840 MW. Moreover, due to transmission constraints, the PSPCL will be getting 1,823 million units (MUs) of less power under the banking system," says the petition. Serious transmission constraints have been imposed by the North Load Dispatch Centre during the impending summer season. Thus, only 727 MUs will be available under the banking system instead of 2,550 MUs, the petition adds. PSPCL officials said the power purchase bill would come out to be Rs 2,000 crore. "The same amount of power from own plants would have cost Rs 1300 crore. Therefore, there is an additional burden of Rs 700 crore, which will be passed on to the consumers. Besides tariff hike, the consumers will also have to face power cuts," they said. The said during the paddy season in 2012, 3,554 MUs were purchased at Rs 3.78 per unit while in 2013, 2,691 MUs were purchased at Rs 3.88 per unit. The rate is likely to be more this year. Despite repeated attempts KD Chaudhri, CMD, PSPCL, could not be contacted. Padamjit Singh, patron, All-India Power Engineers Federation, said the PSPCL should not have let the coal firm to dictate its own terms. "Besides, poor quality coal is being supplied in connivance with PSPCL officials. There is a need to probe the matter", he said. Grim scenario
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Congress issues notice to Danny
Chandigarh, May 9 In order to crush rebellion within the party, the Punjab Pradesh Congress disciplinary action committee today suspended and issued a show-cause notice to Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Congress leader from Faridkot, who had raised a banner of revolt against party candidate Joginder Singh Panjgraian. The disciplinary action committee headed by Gopal Krishan Chatrath found him guilty of acting against the party’s interests during the Lok Sabha election. “The message to all party workers is that anybody who works against the party will not be spared,” Chatrath told The Tribune. The Pradesh Congress has decided to take on the Akalis regarding the “false” cases slapped on Congress workers and polling agents. Since April 30, Congress workers have been booked for serious offences in Jalalabad, Gidderbaha, Malout, Rampura Phul, Fatehgarh Churian, Dera Baba Nanak and Sangatpura. Yesterday, party workers in Malout were booked for blocking the highway.
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poll expenses
Sangrur, May 9 The officer said in case of Singla, there was a difference of
Rs 19.06 lakh in his poll expenditure. The authorities had calculated his expenditure as
Rs 35.91 lakh. He too has replied to the notice. In case of Bhagwant Mann, there was a difference of
Rs 19.02 lakh in his poll expense account. The authorities have claimed that he spent
Rs 24.33 lakh. Mann has not replied to the notice so far. “We have considered that he has accepted the expenditure as calculated by the poll officials,” she said.
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Gurdwara land row: Tension persists in village
Bathinda, May 9 On May 7, staff of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) and residents of the village clashed. The villagers, including members of the local gurduwara management committee, took out a protest march today against the registration of a case against 16 persons. A large number of villagers participated in the protest march, demanding cancellation of the case. They alleged that the persons named in the FIR had been falsely implicated. They held a meeting in the gurdwara and resolved to intensify the agitation if the police did not cancel the FIR. The SGPC workers have accused the police of going slow on the arrest of the accused. Rajwinder Singh, president of gurdwara committee, alleged that the SGPC workers were spreading terror in the village. SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the accused would be arrested soon.
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CM clears proposal seeking rise in MSP
Chandigarh, May 9 A spokesperson in the CM's office said the state Agriculture Department had sent a detailed proposal to the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP), seeking a hike in the MSP for wheat from Rs 1,400 in 2013-14 to Rs 1,900 per quintal in 2014-15. Likewise, it had sought an increase in the MSP for barley from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,517 per quintal. The CM has demanded that the MSP for gram be hiked from Rs 3,100 to Rs 3,627 per quintal and that of rapeseed and mustard from Rs 3,050 to Rs 3,484 per quintal. The CM has said that this was a must to boost crop diversification. The move would not only benefit the farmers, but also help the state to arrest the declining ground water. The government plans to reduce the area under paddy from 28 lakh hectares to 12 lakh hectares in five years.
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Pick fertilisers carefully, farmers told
Moga, May 9 The directions for the programme were given by Principal Secretary, Agriculture Department, during a meeting with district heads of the department on May 7 in Chandigarh. The officials were of the view that there was no need of DAP fertiliser for paddy crop, but if farmers felt it was required to ensure good yield, then they should go for soil testing in government laboratories. At Rode village in the Baghapurana subdivision of Moga district yesterday, farmers were apprised of the importance of soil testing. Soil samples were also collected from Saleena village today.
—TNS
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Ex-Divisional Commissioner appears before ED
Jalandhar, May 9 Dr Swarn Singh, who has remained Principal Secretary, Cultural Affairs, and Chairman, Punjab Arts Council, was indicted by a VB inquiry for committing irregularities to the tune of Rs 1.96 crore during Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s birth centenary celebrations in 2008. The case had come to light when the Human Empowerment League of Punjab (HELP) sought details of the expenditure incurred on the celebrations at Khatkar Kalan. Activist Parvinder Singh Kittna had filed a complaint with the VB in October 2009 which found that bogus bills were raised in the name of event managers, suppliers and Bollywood artistes.
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No ACs at exhibition hall, Pak traders protest
Amritsar, May 9 The traders raised slogans against the organisers. Amir Ali said the traders had paid US dollars 1,000 to 3,000 for each stall. Another trader, Mohammad Azim Kasuri from Lahore, said that four portable ACs were installed this morning but only one was functioning. The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, Sohail Lushari, claimed that after the management of the shopping mall was told about the problem, another potable AC was made functional. Fawad said he had paid US dollars 1,300 as rent and spent another US dollars 2,500 on the beautification of the stall. It was the second day of the show and yet there were no customers.
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Sangrur, May 9 “The talks failed as brick kiln owners were ready to give not more than 19 per cent bonus on minimum wages from January 1, 2014. The workers, however, demand 25 per cent bonus from September 1, 2013,” CITU state general secretary Dev Raj Verma said. In the afternoon, they held a rally outside the ALC’s office. Later, they took out a protest march through the city to the district administrative complex that houses the DC’s office. The ALC, Mona Puri, said: “The brick kiln workers are already getting 19 per cent bonus on the minimum wages of Rs 484 for moulding 1,000 bricks.” — TNS
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Centre forms panel to observe Komagata Maru’s centenary
New Delhi, May 9 The committee, headed by Minister of Culture, will have 12 other members, including eminent historians. It was notified on May 5, a few days ahead of the formation of the next government after the General Election conclude on May 12. Among members of the committee who hail from the region are former MP Tarlochan Singh; Punjabi University VC Jaspal Singh; Harish Puri of the BR Ambedkar Chair, Department of Political Science, GNDU, Amritsar; and Indu Banga, Honorary Secretary, Institute of Punjab Studies, Mohali. Other members include Mahesh Rangarajan, Director, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi; Suranjan Das, VC, Calcutta University; Basudeb Chatterjee, Chairman, Indian Council of Historical Research; Ravindra Singh, Secretary, Culture Ministry; KK Mittal, Additional Secretary, Culture Ministry; Director General, National Archives; and one representative from the Komagata Maru Memorial, Budge Budge Ghat, Kolkata. The committee, as per the terms of reference, will be responsible for chalking out the programmes and activities and also to implement its decisions; it is empowered to co-opt members. The constitution of the panel comes close on the heels of another tribute to the memory of Komagata Maru martyrs which the Centre paid last year by naming the Kolkata railway station, the location of the bloodshed 100 years ago, after Komagata Maru. It was here at this station (formerly Budge Budge) that several Indians, primarily Sikhs, were shot dead by the British after the Canadian authorities returned their ship, Komagata Maru, to Indian waters. The ship sailed to Kolkata; its passengers, most of them influenced by the Ghadar Movement of the time, were caught in the tragedy. It was from Budge Budge railway station on Kolkata’s outskirts that the British forcibly tried to send back Indian passengers of Komagata Maru to Punjab to foil their bid of landing in Bengal. Who’s on committee
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supply of contaminated water
Abohar, May 9 Chairman of the RHRC HR Kuri said today that the district collectors of Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh were consulted in compiling the report. “The fact remains unchallenged that polluted canal water is responsible in the spread of cancer in West Rajasthan. Since both districts are solely dependent on the canal water, urgent measures are required to keep a check on it. The problem can be solved with the coordinated efforts of Punjab and Rajasthan governments,” said Kuri. Reacting to the report, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (KSS) spokesman Subhash Sehgal said former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the present CM Vasundhra Raje had not only expressed concern over Punjab Government’s apathy during their public rallies, but had also sent letters to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Unfortunately, the industrialists who discharge chemical waste in the Sirhind feeder and other water bodies had influenced action by the Punjab Pollution Control Board even as the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued specific directions in the matter. The KSS urged Rajasthan CM Vasundhra Raje to approach the National Human Rights Commission, National Water Pollution Control Board and apex court since the Punjab CM had not responded to her letters.
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Despite ban, liquor vends operating along highways Ludhiana, May 9 Earlier, the High Court had asked both the Haryana and Punjab Governments to ensure that their new excise policies had a clause that ensured that there should be no liquor vend along the highways. But vend owners have adopted new methods to carry out their business. They have closed the shutters, but continue to operate through the side or back doors. Huge banners outside the liquor vends can be seen, directing people to the side doors. One of the excise contractors, requesting anonymity, said they cannot shut down vends and suffer losses. “We are not advertising about the location of vends. The shutter is down and there is no board outside and, hence, we are not violating the excise policy.” Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner Amrit Kaur Gill said, “No vend is operational along the national highway in the district.”
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Govt declares Pathankot-Dinanagar belt a litchi zone
Pathankot, May 9 The development has galvanised orchard owners which form a part of the litchi zone stretching from Pathankot-Sundarchak-Dinanagar-Muradpur-Mallikpur-Gurdaspur-Mukerian-Dasuya. At present, the plant is grown on 8,000 acres. With the government now coming declaring it a zone, more farmers will benefit from it as the state Horticulture Government will provide them with latest export facilities. Keeping in view its immense potential and lucrative returns, a group of Pathankot and Gurdaspur-based litchi farmers, led by Rajeev Mahajan, impressed upon the state government to declare the area a ‘litchi zone’. “There are many farmers who want to come out of the vicious wheat-paddy circle, but they are afraid to do so due lack of knowledge. They had developed a sort of fear psychosis that if they stopped growing wheat and paddy, they would be ruined. However, now the state government will provide them with proper technical expertise in this area,” he claimed. Lally Cheema, a Gurdaspur-based litchi farmer, averred, “One needs patience while cultivating the fruit. Litchi is grown in September and October. After five to seven years, the tree grows up to an average height of 30 feet and starts bearing fruit. On one acre, 50 trees can be grown and going by conservative estimates, a farmer can get anything between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.50 lakh per acre. Compare this to the Rs 20,000 he gets from his wheat-paddy crop per acre.” However, Mahajan claimed that the wait could be neutralised by simultaneously growing peaches and plums. “I have grown 50 litchi trees in my orchard. I also have peache and plum trees
on the same land. These trees start bearing fruit after two years.” Kartik Wadhera, another orchard owner, said if the state government was interested in giving litchi cultivation a massive boost, it should also establish a processing plant as part of the litchi zone. Experts opine that the fruit contains a good amount of minerals such as copper and potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids and helps in managing heartbeat and blood pressure. It offers protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells.
Crop diversification There are many farmers who want to come out of the vicious wheat-paddy circle, but they are afraid to do so due to lack of knowledge. They have developed a sort of fear psychosis that if they stop growing wheat and paddy, they will be
ruined. Rajeev Mahajan, litchi cultivator
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Jassi Honour killing
Bathinda, May 9 The verdict by a British Columbia court came late this evening was reported by Vancouverdesi.com. Jassi and her husband Sukhwinder Singh alias Mithu were allegedly attacked by contract killers believed to have been hired by her mother, Malkit Kaur Sidhu, and her brother Surjit Singh Badesha. Mithu and Badesha belonged to Kaunke Kalan village near Jagraon. An elated Mithu said: “I now see a ray of hope. I would often dream of confronting Jassi’s mother and asking her why she had killed her own daughter. She could have killed me." Mithu, who is unemployed, has not remarried. “Ever since they took Jassi away from me, I have been living in the hope that she will get justice one day. Her soul will not rest in peace till that happens,” he said. Saluting the Canadian court, he said he had feared that his extradition plea would be declined. “I wanted to depose in court as I was the main victim and the witness,” he said, his voice choking. Jassi’s mother and uncle are charged with murder and conspiracy in India. According to the prosecution, they hired contract killers, one of them a police inspector. Police records show that Malkit Kaur had talked with Jassi over the phone while she was in the captivity of the killers, minutes before she was stabbed to death. The prosecution had sought Malkiat Kaur and her brother’s extradition on the basis of police investigation that said Jassi had been murdered almost 14 years ago as she had married Mithu against the wishes of her family and that it was a case of honour killing.
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Warrants against Minister Joshi in dual vote case
Amritsar, May 9 The orders were issued after they failed to appear before the court today. The court has fixed June 11 as the next date of hearing. Advocate Sandeep Gorsi, the complainant in the case, said the court had issued bailable warrants as Joshi and his family members has dishonoured the court summons issued to them repeatedly. Earlier, a criminal case was filed in the court against the minister and his family members by the district administration following orders of the Election Commission. Two city-based advocates Gorsi and his colleague Vaneet Mahajan, who are also Congress workers, had brought the matter to the EC's notice. Earlier in three other separate cases, a local court had issued non-bailable warrants against the minister on May 3. The minister had sought anticipatory bail in these cases. His plea was submitted before the District and Session Judge Gurbir Singh yesterday. The court has fixed May 12 as the next date of hearing on the plea.
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Three get life term for killing dera follower
Mansa, May
9 Daljit Singh Taini, Mithu Singh and Dr Shinda were found guilty of murdering Lilly Kumar. The latter was facing trial for an acid attack on a group of Sikhs. The three convicts were earlier given a clean chit by the police during preliminary investigation. They were summoned by the court after eyewitnesses alleged that the police were implicating “wrong persons” in the case. The court acquitted 10 other accused. They are Daljit Singh
Bittu, Makhan Singh, Gamdoor Singh, Karam Singh, Amritpal Singh, Raj Singh, Balbir Singh
Bhootna, Gurbir Singh and AISSF member Mandhir Singh. The latter had fought the 2007 elections on the Simranjit Singh Mann- led Shiromani Akali Dal
(Amritsar) ticket from the Balachaur Assembly seat. Time line
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Bribery case: Jail for former MC Commissioner
Pathankot, May 9 JP Singh was caught red-handed by a team led by Opinderjit Singh, then SSP (Vigilance), Amritsar, from his native village of Chak Madho Singh while accepting a bribe of Rs 2.50 lakh from builder Prabhal Sharma. The VB had acted on the latter’s complaint. The officer was found to have purchased an SUV (Fortuner) worth Rs 22 lakh though it was not registered in his name. Also, an amount of Rs 60,000 in cash and 300 gm of gold was recovered for him. His wife Balwinder Kaur had written to the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court that her husband had been framed at the behest of some influential persons. She had claimed that as Commissioner of the Pathankot MC, her husband had got 600 encroachments removed and this had irked some powerful persons. A day after he was arrested, various unions of the Pathankot MC had pledged their support to JP Singh, claiming that he was a victim of a conspiracy.
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Cops booked as undertrial flees
Anandpur Sahib, May 9 The team stopped to have lunch when two youths came on a motorcycle and took Dara away. Sub-Inspector Tara Chand and head constable Kulwinder Singh have been booked. — TNS
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Poor coordination in the Punjab Congress over important matters was evident today with two separate delegations of the state unit meeting the
Election Commission here.
Faridkot, May 9
Farmers wanting to sell their produce in grain markets of the Ferozepur region are a harried lot. Not only is the lifting tardy, an overcast sky and the danger of burglary is keeping the farmers on tenterhooks, forcing them to spend sleepless nights. Even the commission agents and labour contractors are feeling the heat.
Khanpur
villagers today blocked the National Highway for around two hours over the
alleged pressure of the police on the family members of an NRI, who was
murdered a month ago. They said the police were pressuring the family to
compromise with the accused.
Fourteen years after Jaswinder Sidhu alias Jassi was found stabbed to death in a village near
Malerkotla, a court in Canada today ordered the extradition of her mother, a Canadian citizen, and her maternal uncle to India for facing a murder trial.
Kavita Singh, Returning Officer, said all candidates were issued notices on May 1. She said Dhindsa had claimed to have spent
Rs 23-24 lakh while the authorities said he spent Rs 53.74 lakh. In his reply, Dhindsa has stated that in some cases, the authorities had calculated a higher amount while in others, he was yet to get bills for making payments. She said they were examining his reply.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has cleared a proposal asking the Centre to increase the minimum support price (MSP) for rabi crops.
Giving two hoots to the Punjab excise policy, liquor vends are still operational on the national highways in the state. This is in spite of the state government informing the Punjab and Haryana High Court that according to the new excise policy, liquor vends cannot be set up along the state and national highways from April 1.