PunjabENews

Category: Crime

  • Lady constable granted bail in heroin case after month-long custody

    Lady constable granted bail in heroin case after month-long custody

    Chandigarh: Lady constable Amandeep Kaur, who was arrested with heroin and later dismissed from service, was granted bail by a Bathinda court on Thursday. She was released after furnishing a surety bond of Rs 50,000.

    On April 2, Bathinda police arrested Kaur with 17.71 grams of heroin and a black Thar vehicle. She was posted at the Bathinda police lines at the time of her arrest.

    Known for frequently posting reels on Instagram, Kaur was remanded to police custody for two days initially, which was later extended by another three days.

    During the investigation, police said they found no additional evidence against her. An accomplice named in the case was also taken into custody but was later sent to jail after nothing incriminating was recovered from her. Kaur remained in jail for nearly a month before securing bail.

  • Pakistan-trained Kashmiri militants involved in Pahalgam attack, say intelligence sources

    Pakistan-trained Kashmiri militants involved in Pahalgam attack, say intelligence sources

    New Delhi: Though Pakistani terrorist Hashim Musa has been identified as the main conspirator behind the recent Pahalgam attack, intelligence agencies have found clear evidence of the involvement of local Kashmiri militants trained in Pakistan, highly placed sources said.

    Sources familiar with the investigation said while the exact number of militants involved in the attack remains unclear, there is no doubt that local militants with Pakistan-based training participated in the assault.

    Amid fears of a possible Indian retaliation, several terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have reportedly been relocated, sources added.

    The Jammu and Kashmir Police earlier released photographs of three terrorists based on eyewitness accounts.

    These were matched with original photographs, identifying the suspects as Hashim Musa, Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai—both Pakistani nationals—and Adil Hussain Thokar, a resident of Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Musa is believed to be a former member of Pakistan Army’s para-forces and is said to have received elite para-commando training.

    While his role as the main conspirator is established, agencies are still collecting concrete evidence to link both Musa and Ali Bhai directly to the attack.

    Meanwhile, Thokar’s involvement has been confirmed, and sources indicated that other local militants trained in Pakistan were also part of the operation.

  • Zero tolerance against corruption: VB nabs General Manager PUNSUP red handed accepting Rs 1 lakh bribe

    Zero tolerance against corruption: VB nabs General Manager PUNSUP red handed accepting Rs 1 lakh bribe

    Official car also taken into possession

    Punjab News: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state arrested General Manager PUNSUP, Ajit Pal Singh Saini, who also holds charges of Procurement, Storage, Commercial, Construction and Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), red handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs one lakh.

    Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the arrest has been made following a complaint lodged by a resident of Ferozpur district.

    He further informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the aforementioned General Manager of PUNSUP has been demanding bribe of 10% of total embezzled amount of about Rs 1.25 crore, the price of 14090 paddy bags allegedly shown under bogus purchase, and had demanded Rs 2 lakh as a first instalment. However, the deal was settled for Rs one lakh after negotiations.

    The complainant is a commission agent at Mandis in Shahzdi and Mana Singh Wala, in Ferozepur. During purchase of paddy by PUNSUP in year 2024, total about 34,250 paddy bags were found less during physical inspection of stocks in concerned rice mills.

    The commission agent (Ahartiya) firm of the complainant was alleged to have been involved in reporting bogus purchase of total about 34,250 paddy bags. Subsequently, he was directed to deposit the deficient amount of Rs 2.97 crores, subsequently, the complainant has deposited Rs 2.50 crores with PUNSUP as recovery.

    Eventually, the complainant filed a representation with Managing Director, PUNSUP that gate passes of about 19040 paddy bags were deleted later from online portal by District Manager, Ferozepur and Inspectors of PUNSUP Ferozepur, as such he was wrongly fined for these bags. Thereafter, accused Ajit Pal Saini, GM approached the complainant through a common acquaintance Kanwal Deep and demanded bribe for settling the matter in the favour of the complainant.

    The complainant has recorded an audio conversation of the accused wherein he demanded Rs 2,00,000 as first instalment. Earlier District Manager Ferozepur and 2 Inspectors of PUNSUP Ferozepur have also been suspended by the Department in the same matter.

    The spokesperson added that preliminary verification of allegations were conducted discreetly and after finding the allegations prima facie to be true, a VB team from flying squad laid a trap during which the aforementioned General Manager was caught red handed in the Parking of Max Hospital, phase 6, Mohali while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered VB police station, Flying Squad-1, Punjab at Mohali.

    The VB team has recovered Rs 1,00,000 bribe money from his possession and official car of the accused in which he came on the spot to receive money, was also taken into possession. He would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress, he said.

  • Bike rider killed after being run over by Thar in Ludhiana, woman driver absconds

    Bike rider killed after being run over by Thar in Ludhiana, woman driver absconds

    Ludhiana: A man was killed after being run over by a Thar in Ludhiana on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred near Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), when a woman, allegedly driving the SUV at high speed, took a U-turn and lost control, hitting an oncoming motorcycle.

    The bike rider was crushed under the rear wheel of the Thar. Locals said the vehicle also rammed into a closed shop after the collision, damaging the property.

    People nearby rushed to the scene and managed to pull the injured man from under the vehicle. He was taken to DMC Hospital by the woman driver, but she fled after doctors declared the man dead.

    The deceased was identified as Sukhwinder Singh alias Dimple, son of Akali leader Balbir Singh. He is survived by two children. Following the incident, Parankar Singh Ghumman, an election candidate, also reached the spot.

    Police have registered a case and launched a search for the accused woman driver.

  • Pregnant woman’s body found in Yamunanagar, police suspect murder

    Pregnant woman’s body found in Yamunanagar, police suspect murder

    Yamunanagar: The body of a pregnant woman was discovered on Wednesday morning in Yamunanagar’s Chaneti village, triggering a police investigation. The body was spotted by women who had gone to cut grass in the fields near Saini Farm. They immediately alerted villagers and the police.

    According to police, the woman is suspected to have been murdered. Her face had been crushed with a heavy object, likely to prevent identification. Sharp weapon injuries were also found on her body. The deceased was wearing red bangles and had henna on her hands, suggesting she may have been recently married.

    Eyewitness Suman Rani, a local farm worker, said she initially thought a man was lying in the field, possibly in a drunken state. Upon closer inspection, she realised it was a woman, with only her stomach visible. There were also remains of flesh nearby, leading some to initially think a child had been abandoned.

    Police have launched a probe and are making efforts to identify the victim. The area has been cordoned off, and forensic teams have been called in. Authorities suspect foul play and are investigating the possibility of a planned murder.

  • Encounter in Haryana: Wanted criminal injured in police firing

    Encounter in Haryana: Wanted criminal injured in police firing

    Sonipat: An encounter broke out between police and a criminal on Murthal bypass in Sonipat on Wednesday, during which a wanted miscreant was shot in the leg. Police said the accused opened fire upon being surrounded, prompting the police to retaliate.

    The injured criminal, identified as Amit, has been admitted to the civil hospital. A country-made pistol was recovered from his possession.

    According to officials, Amit is a notorious offender with multiple cases of robbery and theft registered against him. He had been on the police radar for some time.

    The CIA Kundli team had received a tip-off about a suspicious person near Murthal bypass. When the team reached the spot, Amit reportedly began firing. In the exchange, police shot him in the leg and subsequently arrested him.

    Investigations are ongoing to determine if others were involved in the incident. Security in the area has been tightened, and officials said a detailed interrogation will be conducted once the accused’s condition stabilises.

  • Man shot dead near Sri Darbar Sahib in Amritsar

    Man shot dead near Sri Darbar Sahib in Amritsar

    Amritsar: A man was shot dead in a crowded marketplace near Sri Darbar Sahib on Tuesday evening, police said. The victim, identified as Ravneet Singh alias Sonu Mota, was attacked by unidentified assailants at Kathianwala market, a narrow and congested area known for heavy foot traffic.

    Eyewitnesses reported that gunshots were fired from both sides of the street, leaving Ravneet Singh critically injured. He later succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

    ADCP Vishaljit Singh said the accused has been identified as Abhiraj Singh, who is currently absconding. “Efforts are underway to arrest him,” he said, adding that forensic teams have been deployed to the site and a case has been registered.

    According to police, two persons riding an Activa scooter were targeted by the shooters. Singh, who had multiple criminal cases against him, was reportedly returning from Sri Darbar Sahib when he was surrounded and shot in the narrow lane.

    Locals described the scene as chaotic. A shopkeeper near the incident said he fled inside his shop to save his life as bullets rang out. “The bullet could have hit anyone,” he said.

    Abhiraj Singh, the key suspect, is the son of former councillor Gurdeep Singh, who was shot dead some time ago. Police are probing the possibility of rivalry and revenge as a motive behind the attack.

  • NIA takes over probe into grenade attack on BJP leader’s house, key accused shifted from jail

    NIA takes over probe into grenade attack on BJP leader’s house, key accused shifted from jail

    New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has officially taken over the investigation into the grenade attack on the residence of BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia in Punjab. The move comes following directions from the Union Home Ministry to transfer the case from Punjab Police to the central agency.

    The NIA has now taken custody of 19-year-old terrorist Saidul Amin, the main accused in the attack, from Kapurthala jail. Amin had earlier been arrested by Delhi Police and brought to Punjab on a production warrant. He has been remanded in police custody for seven days.

    Investigators believe the attack may have been orchestrated with cross-border support. Sources suggest that the NIA’s probe is expected to uncover deeper links to a terrorist module and gangster network operating with foreign handlers.

    During the initial probe, Punjab Police found that Abhijot Jagra, a resident of Shastri Market in Kurukshetra and reportedly close to gangster Kaka Rana—an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi—had transferred Rs 3,500 to two other accused in the case.

    The NIA is now expected to expand the investigation to explore the wider conspiracy, including any cross-border connections and the role of organized crime syndicates in aiding terrorist activities in India.

  • Gangster injured in encounter with police in Amritsar

    Gangster injured in encounter with police in Amritsar

    Amritsar: The Amritsar Commissionerate police on Monday arrested a gangster following an encounter in the Verka Bypass area. The accused, identified as Shivam Singh, sustained bullet injuries during the exchange of fire and was admitted to Civil Hospital Amritsar, where he is undergoing treatment.

    According to police officials, a case under the Arms Act had already been registered against Shivam Singh at Ranjit Avenue police station. He is also facing around four other serious criminal cases.

    A special operation had been launched to apprehend him after police received information about his movements.

    On Monday, when the police tried to track and corner him at Verka Bypass, Shivam Singh attempted to flee. Upon seeing the police team, he opened fire. In retaliation, the police fired back, injuring and overpowering him.

  • Police officers withdraw consent for polygraph test in Lawrence interview case

    Police officers withdraw consent for polygraph test in Lawrence interview case

    Chandigarh: Three years after a TV interview of gangster Lawrence from police custody sparked controversy, a new twist has emerged in the case. Six police personnel, who had earlier agreed to undergo a polygraph test, have now withdrawn their consent. The accused filed an application in the Mohali district court, alleging they were pressured into agreeing to the test.

    Following the application, the court has put a stay on the polygraph tests. The matter is scheduled for hearing again today, during which the police officers are expected to appear and submit related records before the court.

    The case is being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Punjab and Haryana authorities. The court has indicated it does not intend to allow any leniency in the proceedings.

    Advocate Sultan Singh Sangha, representing five of the policemen, filed a revision petition in the court of the Additional District Judge (ADJ). He argued that his clients gave consent for the polygraph test under pressure from senior officers.

    Earlier, on April 5, a notice was issued for the officers to appear before the SIT at the court premises. At that time, an ADGP-rank officer was present in court, allegedly creating pressure on the policemen to agree to the test. It was also claimed that no lawyer was present on behalf of the police personnel when their consent was recorded.