Farm activists acquitted in 2015 rail blockade case

Moga: Six years after a criminal case of disrupting the movement of railways was registered against six senior activists of farm unions, Moga Chief Judicial Magistrate Preeti Sukhija acquitted all of them after the prosecution failed to prove the charges. In 2015, the farm unions launched a widespread protest over the 2015 pesticide scam, demanding compensation. tns

Brothers accused of sacrilege seek DGP’s replacement

Faridkot: Two brothers of Panjgrain Khurd village here, who were arrested and allegedly tortured by the police in Oct 2015, are approaching Cabinet ministers, seeking DGP Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota’s removal. Saying Sahota’s appointment was like “rubbing salt into their wounds”, Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh said they had approached many Congress leaders. tns

Protest near FM’s house

Muktsar: Farmers and farm labourers continued to protest near Finance Minister Manpreet Badal’s residence at Badal village, demanding compensation of Rs60,000 per acre for farmers and Rs30,000 for each family of farm labourers for the loss to the cotton crop. The farmers have pitched a tent on the road leading to Manpreet’s house and refused to budge until demand met. tns

BJP dist vice-president dies

Fatehgarh Sahib: BJP district vice-president-cum-industrialist Gagandeep Jain died, while two of his companions got seriously injured in a road accident on Tuesday night near Nandpur Kalour area of Bassi Pathana sub-division. He was coming from Chandigarh side when a car hit his vehicle. Gagandeep was referred to PGI but he succumbed to his injuries on the way. oc

New voter registration drive

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Dr S Karuna Raju has launched a new voter registration campaign for the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha elections. The campaign has been launched as per the instructions of the Election Commissioner. tns