Two youths loot petrol pump
Ambala: Two young men, in their twenties, snatched a scooter and looted cash from a petrol pump in Ambala City last night. According to reports, the two came to Shiv Shakti filling station, near new Anaj Mandi, Ambala City, and asked the salesman for petrol. When the salesman asked for payment. They reportedly beat him up and escaped after snatching the bag containing cash from him. The police have registered a case.

Punjabi writer jagdish Armani dead
Patiala: Noted Punjabi writer and critic Jagdish Armani died here yesterday. Author of 15 Punjabi books and an eminent literary critic, Jagdish Armani was a well known figure in literary circles. He made a valuable contribution in the field of short stories. Prominent citizens and literary personalities attended his cremation. Punjab Languages Department director Madan Lal Hasija has expressed sorrow over his death.

Govt college heads want retirement at 60
Patiala: The Punjab Government College Principals Association today urged the Punjab government to raise the retirement age of principals working in government colleges from the present 58 years to 60. S S Chohan, president of the association, here today said that principals of government colleges retired at the age of 58, while their counterparts in private colleges retired at the age of 60. This was a discriminatory policy. Chohan said that the government should take immediate steps to rectify the anomaly as principals of both government and private colleges were governed by the same UGC and Punjab government norms and conditions.

Octroi collection auctioned at Rs 1.05 cr
Kharar: The Kharar Municipal Council today privatised collection of octroi in the township for one year. The octroi collection from July 16 to July 15, 2000, was auctioned at Rs 1,05,15,000 at an open auction held under the supervision Deputy Director Karamjit Singh Sra of Ludhiana Range Department of Local Government at the Municipal Council office here this afternoon. Giving this information, Kharar MC executive officer Gian Chand Gupta said the reserve price to privatise the octroi collection was fixed at Rs 1.05 crore. He said the contract has been allotted to a private company, Labh Singh and Company. The octroi collection in the township for the next one year was auctioned at Rs 1.27 crore at an open auction held here on June 15, but the contractor surrendered the advance amount deposited by him, following which the auction was again held today.