Manisha gulati is women panel head

Manisha Gulati has been appointed Chairperson of the Punjab State Women’s Commission. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Minister for Social Security and Development of Women and Children Razia Sultana handed over the appointment letter to her in Chandigarh on Monday. Former Union Minister Preneet Kaur was also present.

Labourers protest

Muktsar: Members of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union on Monday started a three-day protest outside the District Administrative Complex (DAC) regarding their various demands, including debt waiver, relief for suicide victim families and free-of-cost plots. TNS

Teachers stand by suspended colleague

Muktsar: Several teachers’ unions on Monday opened a front against the state government after the head teacher of Government Primary School at Tappakhera village in Muktsar was suspended on Sunday for allegedly lodging protest against the government policies. Rajpal Singh was suspended on Sunday without giving any reason. In his support, a large number of teachers gheraoed the district education office on Monday. They demanded the revocation of suspension order with immediate effect.  They also threatened to do examination duty wearing black badges and the boycott of marking the answer sheets. 

Rural workers start indefinite strike

Muktsar: Workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) started an indefinite strike outside the Zila Parishad office here on Monday. The protesters said they were neither getting work nor their arrears since long. They said five members of their union would observe hunger strike every day. TNS

Two FCI officials arrested for graft

Moga: The CBI on Monday arrested two FCI officials for allegedly taking Rs 80,000 from a rice miller of Baghapurana. The bribe money was recovered from Krishan Chand and Varinder Singh, both managers. The complainant, Rohit Kumar, alleged that the duo had sought bribe from him for clearing custom-milled rice. The CBI has also received complaints against other FCI officials. TNS

Four arrested for axing trees

Abohar: On a tip-off, a Forest Department team on Sunday night intercepted a tractor-trailer and nabbed four persons. The officials alleged that Nopa Ram of Kallarkhera village, who had been fined earlier also, was the kingpin of the racket. He, Surjit and Gurmeet of Gidderanwali and Gopal have been nabbed. Legal proceedings have been initiated against them. They had allegedly axed trees few days back near canals and uploaded those last evening to sell it through the wood mafia at the new grain market here. The team took the vehicles in custody on the Alamgarh-Dharampura link road. OC