Briefs: Govt notifies date for paddy transplantation in state

Chandigarh: The government on Wednesday issued a notification advancing the date for paddy transplantation to June 1. The move comes despite objections by agricultural experts and farm unions. According to the notification, the direct sowing of paddy will be done from May 15 to 30; transplantation in Ferozepur, Muktsar, Fazilka, Bathinda and Faridkot will be done from June 1; in Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ropar, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib and Hoshiarpur from June 5; and in other districts from June 9. TNS

Teachers’ union to stage two-day statewide protest

Chandigarh: Terming the alleged police brutality against teacher recruits as a “blatant misuse of state power” to suppress democratic dissent, the Democratic Teachers Front has announced a two-day statewide protest on April 24 and 25. The incident, which occurred on April 19 in Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains’ native village Anandpur Sahib, had triggered outrage across the teaching community. TNS

Farmers duped by traders

Abohar: Farmers from Kerakhera and Rajpura villages have complained that some traders, who had procured about 50 tonne wheat from them, had fled shutting their shops. The farmers said the traders had promised them an incentive, but they disappeared without releasing their payment. oc