Iraq victims’ kin to meet Jaishankar today

Chandigarh: The families of seven state youths stuck in Ebril, Iraq, for last several months will meet Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday at the behest of Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal to direct the Embassy for facilitating their return. Harsimrat said after she took up the matter with the External Affairs Minister, he had called the families to meet him on Thursday. She had written to the minister in detail, highlighting the plight of the youths and their families. tns

Sikh delegation meets Pak envoy for Gurpurb

New Delhi: A delegation of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee on Tuesday met an official of Pakistan High Commission in connection with the nagar kirtan to be taken out from Delhi to Nankana Sahib on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. After meeting, Sayeed Haider Shah, a senior official of the Pakistan High Commission, DSGMC chief Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the committee, SGPC, Takht Shri Patna Sahib Committee and Takht Shri Hazur Sahib Committee would jointly take out a nagar kirtan from Delhi to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan via Punjab. It will start on November 2. TNS

Protect Punjabis in Meghalaya, Cheema writes to Shah

Chandigarh: Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema has in a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah demanded that the life and property of the Punjabis living in Shillong (Meghalaya) for over two centuries be protected by all means. In the letter, Cheema said ever since the district administration issued a notification directing a large number of Punjabis living in Shillong to produce documents to prove their ownership rights of the landed property, the families are traumatised that they may lose their home. TNS

Rs 18L fake currency seized; 1 arrested

Fazilka: The Fazika police claimed to have arrested a person with fake currency worth Rs 18.1 lakh near the bus stand of Abhun village in the district. Sources said an informer told the police that Gurmeet Singh of Ferozepur district made fake currency and used to push it in the market in the Fazilka area. He added that the accused was on the way to Fazilka from Arniwala village with fake currency on Tuesday evening. Gurmeet Singh was produced before the Judicial Magistrate here on Wednesday, who sent him to police custody for a day. OC

Farmer ends life

Bathinda: A 72-year-old debt-ridden farmer from Khemuana village in the Goniana block allegedly committed suicide after consuming pesticide at his house here today. Unable to repay the loan, Mukhtiyar Singh was under mental stress for the past few years. He died during treatment at a private hospital in Goniana Mandi. According to the family members, Mukhtiyar had taken a loan of Rs 1.35 lakh from a co-operative society few years ago, but could not repay it with meagre income sources. tns