POLITICS

Beant function axed due  to Congress rift
Ludhiana, August 30
For the first time since the assassination of former Chief Minister Beant Singh, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) is not holding any function at Kotli, near Payal, his ancestral village. This is being attributed to the acute factionalism within the PPCC, which is practically leaderless this time. Only a sarva dharam sabha is being organised at Chandigarh.

COMMUNITY

Panel to inspect health institutions
Chandigarh, August 30
A high-level panel was set up today under the command of Dr J.S. Bajaj, vice-chairman of the Punjab State Planning Board, to review the functioning of district, sub-divisional hospitals, community health centres and certain health and medical institutes in the state.

Is Bhasaur water not potable? 
Probe ordered
Sangrur, August 30
Has the underground water of Bhasaur village, near Dhuri, become unfit for human consumption?

‘Mindset of officers a hurdle in implementing RTI Act’
Bathinda, August 30
Rajan Kashyap, chief information commissioner (CIC), Punjab State Information Commission, today said a particular mindset of officers of the state had been creating problems in the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in proper manner.

He protected Takht podium Amritsar, August 30 When the two-and-a-half-century old ivory mosaic work, priceless murals, naqqashi and paintings, depicting mythological scenes were being destroyed in the demolition of Akal Takht in January, 1986, by radical Sikhs, it was on the intervention of Giani Mohinder Singh, former SGPC secretary, that the original podium where Guru Hargobind used to address the Sikh Sangat was protected.

Giani Mohinder Singh

Turban Screening

US govt effigy burnt Amritsar, August 30 Activists of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) today burnt an effigy of the American government in protest against its decision for screening Sikh turbans at airports there. Activists of the SAD protest against the US government for checking turbans at airports, in Amritsar on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

‘Draft Bill a rehash’
Chandigarh, August 29
“The 1999 All-India Sikh Gurdwaras Bill (draft) will destroy the consolidated religious power of the Sikhs in the form of SGPC, ” Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, member of the committee set up by Chief Minister to review the draft of the proposed Bill, said today.

Economy-based quota proposed
Barnala, August 30
To create awareness among the public about the drawbacks of caste based reservations, the General Category Association (GCA) organised a seminar on the issue of reservation here today. 

Remains of Rakesh brought to Amritsar
Amritsar, August 30
The mortal remains of Rakesh, alias Lara, a Dalit youth, who had allegedly died in police firing in Gohana township in Sonepat district of Haryana on August 28, was brought to the city here today. Darshan Rattan Ravan, dalit leader and president Adi Dharam Samaj informed that male members of Lara’s family including his brothers Mithun, Sanjay, Deepak and Ved Parkash brought the mortal remains to the city to pay obeisance at Valmiki Tirath (Ram Tirath) after which it would immersed in the river Beas. 

Freedom fighter’s wife cremated
Barnala, August 30
Jagir Kaur, wife of a freedom fighter Hardit Singh Bathal, was cremated with full official honour here today at Dhanula. The SDM, P S Kehlay laid the wreath on her body amidst gun salutes. Former minister Gobind Singh Longowal From the Akali party and Chand Singh Chopra from the Communist Party also attended the funeral. Various people paid their tributes to the departed soul. — TNS

COURTS

Chahal, Today Homes officials bail plea adjourned
Chandigarh, August 30
The bail pleas of B.I.S Chahal and four Today Homes officials were taken up by Justice Surya Kant today. The Judge, after hearing their counsel’s arguments for over three hours, adjourned the matter for further arguments. Also, one of the main reasons for the adjournment was that the Punjab government’s investigating officer (IO) was not present in the court.

• Beant case

AGRICULTURE

Pay Rs 728 per quintal more for wheat to farmers: Rajewal
Chandigarh, August 30
The Bharti Kisan Union president Balbir Singh Rajewal today urged the union government to pay Rs 728 per quintal more to Punjab farmers for the wheat which was procured from the state in April.

ADMINISTRATION

Punjab cancels ‘sifarshi’ transfers
Chandigarh, August 30
The government has scuttled the plans of thousands of government employees seeking out-of-turn transfers by using political clout.

CRIME

Acid Attack
Sister, lover hatched plot
Amritsar, August 30
With the arrest of two persons, the local police today claimed to have cracked the case pertaining to an acid-attack on two girls here two weeks ago.

Four Bangladeshis sneaking into Pak held
Amritsar, August 30
Alert Border Security Force (BSF) jawans arrested four Bangladesh nationals while they were trying to sneak into Pakistan through border fence in the wee hours today.

Illegal drugs godown unearthed
Patiala, August 30
A team of drug department consisting Dr Vikas Goel and Dinesh Gupta conducted a surprise raid in Vikas Colony.

Fight over pet lands man in PGI
Kharar, August 30
A fight over a pet dog landed a resident of Guriya Patti area under Gharuan police post in PGIMER Chandigarh.

3 booked in dowry case
Kharar, August 30
Three people have been booked in a dowry case today. In her complaint to the Kharar police Balwinder Kaur, a resident of grain market Mohali, alleged that her father in law Prakash Singh, mother-in-law Surjit Kaur and brother-in-law Ranbir Singh have been pestering her for dowry. — TNS

EDUCATION

Mahal group sweeps PAUTA poll
Ludhiana August 30
The "neutral" group led by Manjit Singh Mahal has swept the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association elections held here today. The group won all the posts of vice-president, Baldev Singh, secretary Mukesh Siag, joint secretary, JS Kang and treasurer RC Sharma.

Public ad teacher checks sociology papers
Patiala, August 30
Can the teachers of public administration check the examination papers of sociology, the subject with which they are out of touch since long? Believe it or not this kind of callousness with the future of students is possible in Punjabi University.

Badal institute to start new courses 
Lambi (Muktsar), August 30
Four new courses in the State Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences, located at Badal village of this district, would be introduced in the next academic session to make it more relevant to the needs in the health sector.

Ex-VC hiding facts: Mann
Chandigarh, August 30
Reacting to a statement of former vice-chancellor of Punjabi University J.S. Ahluwalia, Simranjit Singh Mann has alleged the former was hiding facts.

Varsity registrar resumes duty
Patiala, August 30
The registrar of Punjabi University B.S. Sandhu resumed his official duties today after remaining in police and judicial custody for about 20 days.

Punjabi varsity to organise Gurmat Sangeet competition
Patiala, August 30
The department of gurmat sangeet of Punjabi University has introduced an open Gurmat Sangeet Competition on September 20 to 22 in collaboration with the Centurian Bank of Punjab, the sources disclosed here today.

Students conduct anti-polythene drive
Banur, August 30
A group of 20 students from Vivek High School alongwith Parminder Kaur, in-charge of the eco-club today visited the MC Zoological Park, Chhatbir, as a part of a collaborative anti-polythene campaign. This is part of an anti-polythene initiative of the zoo to educate the visitors about the ill-effects of polybags, plastic bottles and other plastic packaging materials.

BUSINESS

Wheat stocks substandard, says Vigilance
Nabha, August 30
The vigilance team checking the stocks of wheat in the godowns of Punjab Agro has found it substandard and unfit for human consumption. Anil Kumar Sharma, DSP and head of the investigating team, said the wheat stocks had been found infested with fungus and was in germinating condition because of the irresponsible approach of the officers of the agency. He said 15 per cent of the crop lying there had already been damaged whereas the rest was on the verge.