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Punjab set to hike MLAs’ pension
Increase in limit for house, car loans also on cards
Chandigarh, September 5
A hike in the pension of Punjab MLAs is on the cards. Besides, there will be an increase in the limit of loans for building a house, purchasing a car, etc. Sources said the state Finance Department had cleared the proposal to increase the pension of the MLAs who would get elected the second time.

Sukhbir doles out promises, blasts CM
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 5
Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, MP and general secretary of the SAD(B), addressed four rallies during his whirlwind tour of the district today. While talking to The Tribune after paying obeisance at Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib, he unfolded his party's agenda if voted to power.

Assistant warden suspended
Students’ unrest at GND University
Amritsar, September 5
Succumbing to the pressure of agitating students, who observed Teachers' Day as “black day” by observing complete strike on the second consecutive day here , the Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr Jai Rup Singh, today placed the assistant warden and the nurse, who were on duty on September 3 in the girls hostel, under suspension.

Jobless B.Ed teachers go begging in protest Bathinda, September 5 While activists of the Unemployed BEd Teachers Front today went begging as a mark of protest against the state government policies, jobless art and craft teachers observed Teachers Day as black day here. Unemployed B.Ed teachers go begging in protest against the government policies in Bathinda on Tuesday. — Photo by Kulbir Beera

Re-employed teachers not paid salaries
Gurdaspur, September 5
School teachers who have been re-employed by the Punjab Government have not been paid their salaries for the past three months. The Governor, Punjab, in an ordinance issued on May 23 this year had ordered that the teachers retiring at the age of 58 years would continue their services till the end of the session in March next year.

POLITICS

Brar on firm ground after revocation of supporters’ suspension
Chandigarh, September 5
The political standing of Mr Jagmeet Brar has got a boost with the suspension of his four staunch supporters from the Congress being revoked by the party’s disciplinary action committee here today.

Ministers to meet today
Chandigarh, September 5
The Punjab Council of Ministers’ meeting tomorrow will be crucial for employees and farmers. Also the council is slated to give its consent for turning the ordinance on the Punjab Vigilance Commission into a bill for formal approval in the coming session of the Vidhan Sabha on September 14.

COMMUNITY

Immersion of idols polluting water bodies Chandigarh, September 5 Environment related issues are yet to find a place in the heart of the common man. During the festive period beginning with the 10-day celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi and ending with Divali, diverse religious activities lead to a rise in pollution. A file photo of the immersion of Goddess Durga in the Ghaggar. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Villagers block traffic over poor water supply

Dhar (Gurdaspur), September 5 Residents of Dhangu Sran village today blocked traffic on the Pathankot-Dalhouise road to protest against the shortage of drinking water. Hundreds of villagers, including a large number of women, sat on dharna on the road in the morning at about 10 am, raising slogans against the state government. Residents of Dhangu Srar village stage dharna on the Pathankot-Dalhousie road in protest against the shortage of drinking water. — Photo by Jangi

Mann rejects Tandon’s statement
Chandigarh, September 5
In a rejoinder issued here today the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) said the former president of the Punjab unit of the BJP, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, had made a statement to divert people's attention from the facts and reality about Punjab and Punjabis.

Sikh Regiment battalion celebrates Raja Day
Chandigarh, September 5
The Second Battalion of the Sikh Regiment is celebrating Raja Day to commemorate the capture of the strategic Raja Picquet in Poonch during the 1965 Indo-Pak war. Several events spread over two days have been organised to mark the occasion.

Punjab gharana tabla player from Pakistan, Sattar Tari, performs at a show in Patiala on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Rs 20 lakh grant for jail expansion
Amritsar, September 5
The Central Jail administration has drawn out major expansion plan to provide more accommodation to prisoners. DIG (Jails) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said here today that BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu offered Rs 20 lakh from MPLAD funds to add more rooms, dining room and toilets.

Appeal to President for amnesty to Bhullar
Amritsar, September 5
The Khalra Mission Organisation here today appealed to President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for amnesty to Davinder Singh Bhullar awaiting death sentence. Mr Harmandeep Singh Sarhali, President, KMO in a missive to the President has appealed for remitting of the sentence of Mr Bhullar, which had been pending before this office since January 14, 2003.

• Two die in mishap
• Traders end relay fast
• No equipment damaged, says BBMB
• National oral health programme

COURTS

high court
Notice issued to Chief Secretary
Chandigarh, September 5
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion for December 11 on a writ petition filed by Mr Joga Singh and others, working as Project Managers in the Industries Department, Punjab.

63-year-old gets life term for murder
Sangrur, September 5
Mr S.K. Goel, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ), Sangrur, has awarded life imprisonment to Jagdev Singh (63), of Banbhauri village (Dhuri), in a murder case registered at Dhuri police station on September 29, 2001.

Sukhbir told to join probe
Faridkot, September 5
A local court today directed the Akali Rajya Sabha member Sukhbir Singh Badal to join the police investigations into the case of assault registered against him at the Kotkapura police station in the district.

ADMINISTRATION

Medical Officer suspended
Patiala, September 5
Dr Darshanjit Singh Walia, Medical Officer at the Community Health Centre, Model Town, was placed under suspension by the state health authorities following allegations of misbehaviour by a woman patient.

CRIME

Another Pathankot councillor booked
Pathankot, September 5
Another Pathankot Municipal Councillor, Mr Manjit Singh, was booked yesterday for threatening Mr Raj Kumar, a Section Officer of the council. Mr Raj Kumar, in his compliant to the police, alleged that he was passing through the market when the accused councillor stopped him.

Mumbai man poisoned, says police
Amritsar, September 5
The person, who was found dead in the room of a hotel here on Monday was killed after administering poison. The poison was administered through intravenous injection on his right arm, said a police official.

Abducted baby found abandoned
Sangrur, September 5
The 10-month-old baby, abducted from Shahpur village on September 2, was found abandoned at a tomb in Sunam, 13 km from here, last night. The police found him while it was searching deras and tombs, apprehending that the infant might have been abducted for child sacrifice.

Husband booked in dowry case
Muktsar, September 5
On a complaint of a woman, the police has booked her husband and her mother-in-law for demanding dowry from her family. According to sources, Jagmeet Kaur got married to Gurdeep Singh on February 13, 2005.

EDUCATION

Children present roses to their favourite teachers on Teachers’ Day at a school in Patiala on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Rajesh Sachar

Teachers’ Day celebrated
Amritsar, September 5
Mr Ajit Singh of the Citizen Forum, Vidya Mandir School, Maqboolpura, was honoured by the Springdale Public School at a function ofganised to celebrate Teachers’ Day here today.

Blood donation marks Teachers’ Day
Patiala, September 5
On the occasion of Teachers’ Day a blood donation camp was organised at M.M.Modi College here today in which nearly a 100 volunteers and cadets donated blood.

PSHRC takes note of fainting of students
Bathinda, September 5
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission has taken a serious note of fainting of 12 schoolchildren during rehearsal for Independence Day function at local stadium on August 11.

BUSINESS

SBoP loan mela
Patiala, September 5
A loan mela was organised by the State Bank of Patiala, Bhattiwal Kalan branch, near here today. Mr C.S.Jagadish, deputy general manager of Patiala zone, and Mr Vinod Kochhar, assistant general manager of the bank deliberated upon various schemes of agricultural and personal segments.