Tractor non-transport vehicle again

Chandigarh: Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Thursday thanked the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for withdrawing the notification of a draft rule that had taken away the status of tractor as a non-transport vehicle. The move will save farmers from paying an additional registration fee for their tractors, besides the additional requirements of permits and certain related conditions, a press release said. Gadkari wrote to the Union Minister on Thursday informing her that following her request, it had been decided to keep tractors out of the purview of commercial vehicles. TNS

Protesters booked for blocking NH

Muktsar: The Lambi police on Thursday booked 70 members of the ETT-TET Pass Unemployed Teachers’ Union for blocking the national highway on Wednesday to lodge their protest. Those booked by name included Jagdish Singh, state president of the union, and 13 others. A case under Section 283 of the IPC has been registered. TNS

Istri Akali Dal names office-bearers

Chandigarh: Istri Akali Dal president Bibi Jagir Kaur on Thursday announced a new core committee while releasing the first list of changes made in the woman wing of the SAD. The list included Satwant Kaur Sandhu, Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Rajinder Kaur Bulara, Mohinder Kaur Josh, Gurdev Kaur Sangha, Rajinder Kaur, Gurdial Kaur Mallan, Balbir Kaur, Harpreet Kaur Mukhmailpur, Gurinder Kaur Bholuwala, Kartar Kaur, Surinder Kaur, Gagandeep Kaur Dhindsa, Harjit Kaur Talwandi Sidhu, Kuldip Kaur Kang, Pushpinder Kaur Mazboor and Parminder Kaur Pannu. TNS

Arhtiya dies after car falls into canal

Muktsar: The car of former president of Gidderbaha Arhtiya Association, Shaminder Singh (45), a native of Rukhala village, plunged into the Rajasthan Feeder canal near Gurusar village here on Thursday. It is suspected to be a suicide. Jaswant Singh, his relative, said  Shaminder had been under depression for about two years. The police have started the rescue operation. TNS

Bribe case: Escapee driver nabbed

Chandigarh: The Vigilance Bureau arrested Naib Tehsildar Surinder Kumar Pabby’s driver Jagjit Singh Jagga, who had been absconding with the bribe money of Rs 1 lakh since the arrest of the latter in a Vigilance trap on December 5 at Ajitwal in Moga district. The accused had allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh as bribe from an NRI for transferring his ancestral land in Moga in his name. TNS

2 more held in molestation case

Abohar: The police on Thursday arrested two more accused of molesting a 23-year-old girl and assaulting her father on August 28. The girl alleged that the accused, all residents of Chandigarh Mohalla, forced entry into her family cattle shed and molested her. Bittu Singh was arrested the next day. Pratap Singh and Jagga Singh were arrested on Thursday. Others are still at large. OC