AMRITSAR
Afforestation drive: Land banks comprising large tracts will be offered to NGOs and corporate houses for planting saplings and their subsequent maintenance for three years or more. Divisional forest officer Nirmaljit Singh Randhawa said this and added that a large-scale afforestation drive would be launched in the city soon.
BARNALA
Sangat darshan: Ten cases out of 30 were settled a sangat darshan programme held here on Wednesday. Deputy commissioner
V.K. Ohri presided over it. It was held at the Community Policing Resource Centre here. SSP Paramjit Singh
Grewal, ADC(development) Harpreet Singh Garcha, civil surgeon Balbir Singh, SDM Pushpinder Singh Kailey were among those present.
BATHINDA
Rally: Activists of the National Federation of Telecom Employees Union on Thursday held a rally in front of the local telephone exchange to press the authorities concerned to accept their demands. Uddam Singh, district secretary of the union, said the main demands of the employees included merger of 50 per cent DA into the basis salary of the employees, payment of interim relief from January 1,etc.
FARIDKOT
Found absent: Thirty government officials, including heads of a few departments, were found absent from their duties when deputy commissioner V. K.Meena visited various offices on Thursday. Meena has sought explanation from these officials within three days. He said if the explanation were found to be unsatisfactory, legal action would be taken against such officials.
HOSHIARPUR
Probe demanded: In a representation to the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, member of the national executive of Janta Dal (Secular) Balwant Singh Khera today demanded a CBI probe into the alleged involvement of the SGPC in human trafficking. He urged the President that a high-level inquiry by the CBI should be initiated and embassies of other countries should be asked not to consider recommendations of the SGPC in future.
MANSA
Arrested: In its campaign against drug peddlers, the district police on Thursday arrested Telu Ram, a local resident, and seized 3.5 kg of opium from him. A case has been registered against him.
TARN
TARAN
Gang busted: Mangal Singh, Jarmanjit Singh, Gurvail Singh, Mangal Singh and Malkiat Singh of Sanghar village were arrested by the local police while Jawahar Singh and Jatinder Singh were arrested by the Gurdaspur police for stealing tractors. Four members managed to escape. They used to steal tractors from here and sold these in other states. Two revolvers and six cartridges and two tractors were recovered from them. A case under has been registered.
