Six
baratis among 7 killed in accident
Amritsar,
January 25
A wedding in the sleepy border town turned into a tragedy when as many
as six baratis, including a seven-month-old female child and a
Canter-borne person, were killed on the spot, while 13 others
sustained injuries, about 45 km from here today.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee delegates with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi after presenting a siropa to Mrs Gandhi at the plenary session of the Congress in Hyderabad on Monday. |
Inside
Babudom
2 more CRPF officers absorbed in police
Chandigarh,
January 25
In less than 24 hours of the High Court’s direction to the Punjab
Government to absorb Ms Amrit Brar, Assistant Inspector-General,
Welfare and Litigation, two more officers from the Central Reserve
Police Force (CRPF) have been ordered to be absorbed in the state
police.
SHO, 5
others held for extortion
Bathinda,
January 25
Following charges of blackmailing and extortion, the SHO of Sadar
police station, Ajay Pal, was arrested and placed under suspension
last evening. Five others were also arrested in this connection. The
process for the SHO’s dismissal has also been started.
SAD activists stage dharna
Patiala, January 25
Hundreds of activists of SAD (Badal) today brunt the effigy of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh after staging a dharna near the bus stand to lodge their protest against the failure of state government to provide justice to Gopal Krishan Kashyap, a Congress worker and president, Rajiv Gandhi Prontha Rehri Union, Patiala, who set himself on fire in full public view and in the presence of the police yesterday.
Singla hints at addressing employees’ issues in Budget
Bathinda, January 25
The Punjab government is all set to woo industries and government employees in its last budget before the forthcoming Assembly elections. Finance Minister Surinder Singla today announced that he would make a budgetary provision of Rs 600 crore for funding industrial subsidy interest-free bond. He said issues relating to government employees would also be addressed in the Budget.
Anganwari workers raise slogans against ADC
Sangrur, January 25
Anganwari workers and helpers (all women) from all parts of the district under the banner of the Anganwari Mulazam Union Punjab, led by Ms Usha Rani, finance secretary of the union today held a rally, demonstration and blocked traffic in support of their demands here. They raised slogans against the Sangrur ADC and the Punjab government outside the office room of the ADC in the district administrative complex (DAC) here when Mr H.S.
Pabla, ADC, declined to take a memorandum from them by coming out of his office.

The Punjab Director-General of Police, Mr S.S. Virk, who has been awarded the President’s Police Medal for distinguished service. |
PFC submits interim report
Chandigarh, January 25
The Punjab Finance Commission, which handed over today its interim recommendations regarding the devolution of funds, to the Governor, Gen S.F.
Rodrigues (retd) here, has approved the allocation of 4 per cent of funds accruing from various taxes to local bodies in the state. In addition, it has also recommended the allocation of 10 per cent of the proceeds of auction of country liquor and 16 per cent excise collection from IMFL to these bodies.
Infant dies in police station
Amritsar, January 25
A six-month-old child, Mukhpreet Singh, allegedly died in the custody of CIA staff falling under Majitha police district. Alleging this, Balwinder Kaur, mother of the child, and Mr Jagtar Singh Karampura, Communist leader today demanded registration of a case against the accused police officials.
Republic Day celebrated in jail
Amritsar, January 25
Republic Day celebrations have no meaning for one and a half month old baby born in central jail here, oblivious of festivities in the air.
Revised budget approved
Kharar, January 25
The local Municipal Council approved a revised budget for Rs 1 crore at a monthly meeting of the civic body held here.
13 outfits seek relief for Bant Singh
Mansa, January 25
Activists of 13 political and farmers’ outfits today protested in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here and sought relief for Bant Singh, a resident of Burj Jabbar, whose three limbs were amputated following an attack on him on January 5.
Forum quashes notice of Rs 1.62 lakh to consumer
Hoshiarpur, January 25
Mr B.C. Gupta, President of the Hoshiarpur Consumer Forum, accepted the complaint of Mr Narinder Singh of Kotla Naudh Singh village against the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) and quashed the demand of Rs 1,62,060/- of the latter raised by it on account of arrears of bills of the chakki (grinding mill) of the complainant.
Magistrate orders framing of charges against Tehsildar, others
Pathankot, January 25
The Subdivisional Judicial Magistrate, Mr
R.K. Garg, has ordered framing of charges against five persons, including the Tehsildar, for allegedly registering a sale deed on the basis tampered court orders.
Illegal felling of trees: HC orders govt to reply
Gurdaspur, January 25
Issuing a notice on the petition filed by former honorary wildlife warden Sukhdeep Singh Bajwa, on the illegal felling of trees in the forests of Punjab the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Government of Punjab to file reply within 15 days.
Kharar shootout case adjourned till Feb 7
Ropar, January 25
The hearing of the contempt petition filed by the accused in the Kharar shootout case—Kiranbir Singh Kang against the state—was today adjourned for February 7 by the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr G.S Saran. The Judge has also directed Kang to appear in person in the court on next hearing in the case.
BDPO assaulted
Kharar, January 25
The Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) was allegedly assaulted by the husband of the sarpanch of Kumbra village here last evening.
2 travel agents booked
Hoshiarpur, January 25
A case of two travel agents duping a person of Rs 2 lakh was reported in Mahilpur police station last evening.
4 held for theft of power motors
Batala, January 25
The police today arrested four persons for stealing motors of tubewells. They were identified as Hira Masih son of Lal Masih, Manga Masih son of Shingara Masih and Sonu son of Sucha Masih of Ghoga and Lakhwinder Singh alias Khido son of Sharan Singh of Kotla Bama village, by the police.
MBBS students allowed to attend classes
Chandigarh, January 25
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Principal of Sri Guru Ram Das Medical
College, Amritsar, to allow 23 students of MBBS (pre-final professional) to attend their classes with immediate effect. These students had sometime back been restrained by the authorities of the SGPC-managed institute from attending classes.

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