PunjabENews

Category: Crime

  • Drug smuggler held with 18 kg heroin in Amritsar; consignment suspected to have come from Pakistan via drone

    Drug smuggler held with 18 kg heroin in Amritsar; consignment suspected to have come from Pakistan via drone

    Amritsar: The Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ATF) has arrested a drug smuggler with 12 packets of heroin weighing 18 kg as part of its ongoing crackdown on narcotics in Punjab. The accused, Hira Singh, is a resident of Khaira village under the jurisdiction of Gharinda police station.

    According to officials, the seized heroin is worth crores of rupees and is believed to have been delivered from Pakistan using drones. Authorities said the operation has dealt a major blow to cross-border drug trafficking networks.

    The arrest comes a day after Inspector Manjit Singh from the Intelligence Department and his associate Ravi were caught with 1 kg of heroin. They were arrested by a CIA team in Amritsar.

    Inspector Anmolak Singh of the CIA said that a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered against them under FIR number 36 at Ranjit Avenue police station.

  • 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana brought to India, to be produced before NIA court

    26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana brought to India, to be produced before NIA court

    New Delhi: Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been brought to India and arrested. He arrived at Palam Technical Airport in New Delhi and is being taken to the Patiala House Court under heavy security.

    Rana will be produced before Special NIA Judge Chandrajit Singh after 8 pm.

    Following his arrival, officials completed paperwork related to his extradition, which took several hours.

    He is being escorted by National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials along with Delhi Police commandos. Security has been tightened at Patiala House Court in anticipation of his appearance.

    The NIA is expected to seek custody of Rana from the court. Once the court grants approval, he will be taken to the NIA headquarters.

    The Delhi Traffic Police has implemented special arrangements for Rana’s movement. Three routes have been identified—one primary and two alternatives—in case of any disruption.

    While a green corridor is not being created, traffic signals on his route will be synchronized to ensure a clear passage.

    The distance from Palam Technical Airbase to the NIA Headquarters is 17 km, while the route to the Patiala House Court measures around 14 km.

    Meanwhile, Gate No. 2 of the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Metro Station has been closed, and public movement in the area has been restricted.

  • Woman elopes with daughter’s fiancé ahead of wedding in Aligarh, takes jewellery and cash

    Woman elopes with daughter’s fiancé ahead of wedding in Aligarh, takes jewellery and cash

    Aligarh: In a shocking incident from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, a woman allegedly eloped with her daughter’s fiancé days before the wedding. The incident has sparked outrage in the local community and left the family devastated.

    The wedding was scheduled for April 16, and preparations were underway when Anita Devi, the mother of the bride-to-be, reportedly fled the house with her future son-in-law, Rahul alias Shiva. According to the family, the woman also took jewellery worth Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3.5 lakh in cash.

    The incident came to light after the family found cupboards empty and the daughter in a state of shock. She is currently undergoing treatment. “I have no relation with my mother anymore. She took away all my happiness. Now whether she lives or dies, I don’t care. We just want our money and jewellery back,” the woman’s daughter told reporters.

    Jitendra Kumar, the husband of the absconding woman, said they initially tried to contact Rahul, who denied involvement. However, he later allegedly responded, “You guys harassed her a lot for 20 years, now forget.”

    Police have registered a case of disappearance at Madrak police station and launched a search for the duo. Circle Officer Mahesh Kumar said that an investigation is underway and efforts are being made to trace the woman and the youth.

    According to media reports, Anita and Rahul had been in regular contact for the last three to four months. The woman had allegedly gifted him a smartphone through which they communicated for long hours. Her daughter claimed the two would talk for up to 20 hours a day, while Rahul barely interacted with her.

  • 50 booked, including AAP sarpanch, for murder of sub-inspector in Tarn Taran

    50 booked, including AAP sarpanch, for murder of sub-inspector in Tarn Taran

    Chandigarh: A case has been registered against 50 persons, including an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch, in connection with the murder of Sub-Inspector Charanjit Singh in Tarn Taran district.

    The incident occurred late last night when a police team from Goindwal Sahib police station was attacked while attempting to resolve a dispute between two parties in Kot Mohammad Khan village. Sub-Inspector Singh was killed in the assault.

    Sub-Division Goindwal Sahib DSP Atul Soni confirmed that a case under various sections, including murder, has been filed against the accused.

    Among those named are Kuldeep Singh, Rajbir Singh, Amandeep Singh, Gurdial Singh, Jagroop Singh, Baljinder Singh, Resham Singh, Harmanjit Singh, Rajdeep Singh, Gursewak Singh, Palwinder Singh, Zorawar Singh, Satnam Singh, Arshpreet Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Lovepreet Singh, Chamkaur Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Harpal Singh, and around 40 to 50 unidentified individuals.

    Superintendent of Police Ajayraj Singh said that raids are being carried out to arrest the suspects.

  • Sub-Inspector shot dead during dispute settlement in Tarn Taran village

    Sub-Inspector shot dead during dispute settlement in Tarn Taran village

    Chandigarh: Sub-Inspector Charanjit Singh was shot dead in Kot Mohammad Khan village, under Goindwal Sahib police station limits in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, while attempting to settle a dispute between two parties.

    ASI Jasbir Singh was seriously injured in the incident, while the remaining police personnel managed to escape unhurt.

    According to initial reports, Sub-Inspector Charanjit Singh had visited the village to pacify both parties involved in the dispute, allegedly under political pressure.

    During the intervention, one of the parties opened fire in a fit of rage, killing the officer on the spot and injuring ASI Jasbir Singh.

  • Court grants six-day police remand in grenade attack case at BJP leader’s residence

    Court grants six-day police remand in grenade attack case at BJP leader’s residence

    New Delhi: A local court on Monday granted six-day police remand of two men arrested in connection with a grenade attack at the residence of BJP leader and former minister Manoranjan Kalia.

    The accused, identified as Ravinder Kumar of Subhana Road, Gada, Jalandhar, and Satish alias Kaka of Bhargo Camp, Jalandhar, were produced before the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Harpreet Kaur.

    Police had sought a 10-day remand to further investigate the case, but the court granted six days of custody. The grenade was hurled at Kalia’s residence on Sunday night. The duo was arrested a day later.

  • Man sentenced to death for raping three-and-a-half-year-old girl in Haryana

    Man sentenced to death for raping three-and-a-half-year-old girl in Haryana

    Chandigarh: The court has convicted and sentenced two men to death for raping a three-and-a-half-year-old girl of a migrant family on June 30, 2024, and throwing her unconscious girl on the Tohana-Jakhal road during paddy sowing last year. The girl died during treatment.

    The verdict was pronounced by the court of Additional Sessions Judge Amit Garg of the district fast track court and convicted the two accused named in the case — Mukesh of Lalluwal village and Satish of Kanhankheda — and sentenced them to death along with a fine of Rs 1.75 lakh.

    According to the police challan, during the sowing of paddy, the accused had sought shelter from the migrant family to stay at the tubewell shed in the farmer’s field.

    At night, the two accused picked up the three-and-a-half-year-old girl, who was sleeping with her mother, and took her to the fields and raped her.

    During this time, when the child became unconscious, the accused escaped by sleeping unconscious in a pool of blood.

    On learning about the incident in the morning, the girl was admitted to PGI Rohtak, where she died a few days later and the police arrested the accused and produced them in the court.

  • Amritsar Pride Parade cancelled amid backlash; ‘I can’t stop adorning the turban, but my emotions are natural’

    Amritsar Pride Parade cancelled amid backlash; ‘I can’t stop adorning the turban, but my emotions are natural’

    Amritsar: The upcoming Pride Parade in Amritsar, scheduled for April 27, has been cancelled by its organisers following a wave of protests and online backlash, particularly after a video involving turbaned Sikh youth went viral on social media.

    One of the youths featured in the clip, speaking anonymously to the media, said, “I have been associated with Sikhism since childhood and also read Gurbani. It is my religion to decorate the turban — I cannot leave it — but the emotions in my body are natural.”

    He added that the viral video was not from Amritsar but from Chandigarh and was recorded two to three weeks ago. “I don’t know why or who made it viral now. It is causing mental agony to me and my family,” he said.

    In the viral clip, some Sikh youths can be seen dancing while wearing turbans. Social media users targeted them with abusive comments, focusing particularly on their attire.

    The organisers of the Amritsar Pride Parade announced its cancellation through a statement on their Instagram page, ‘Pride Amritsar’, saying they were receiving backlash and derogatory remarks. The group has been organising the event since 2019, aiming to support the LGBTQIA+ community.

    Protests against the event intensified after the video surfaced. Some socio-religious groups said they would not allow such a parade to take place in Amritsar, which they described as the holy city of Sikhism.

    Defending the community, Simran, an activist with ‘Queering in Chandigarh’ and Pride Chandigarh, said, “I belong to the Sikh religion and it is not right to take away anyone’s rights on the basis of religious sentiments.”

    The controversy has ignited a larger conversation around the intersection of faith, identity, and personal freedom within the LGBTQIA+ Sikh community.

  • NIA likely to probe attack on former Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia’s house, suspects held in Delhi

    NIA likely to probe attack on former Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia’s house, suspects held in Delhi

    New Delhi: Central agencies have begun action in connection with the recent terrorist attack on the residence of former Punjab BJP president and ex-cabinet minister Manoranjan Kalia. According to sources, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) may soon take over the investigation.

    Security agencies have started collecting evidence to ensure a structured probe. Sources in the Punjab Police revealed that some suspects have been arrested in Delhi in connection with the case.

    A Jalandhar City Police team has reportedly reached the national capital, although no official confirmation has been issued yet.

    Kalia said CCTV footage showed the accused arriving with their faces covered. Several political leaders have been visiting his residence in Jalandhar to express solidarity. Among them was BJP leader Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa, who said, “We are here to support Kalia Sahib.”

    The accused arrested on Tuesday are expected to be produced in court and taken on remand for further interrogation.

  • Supporters of jailed pastor accused of threatening rape survivor, leaking identity online

    Supporters of jailed pastor accused of threatening rape survivor, leaking identity online

    Chandigarh: After Pastor Bajinder Singh was sentenced to life imprisonment in a seven-year-old rape case, his supporters have allegedly begun harassing the rape survivor by revealing her identity online and issuing threats to her family.

    The survivor has lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at the Balongi police station, stating that several individuals are posting her name, home address, photographs, and personal CCTV footage on social media. The police have registered the case and are currently investigating the matter with assistance from the cyber cell.

    The survivor told the police that one of the videos was uploaded on April 3 by a YouTube channel linked to accused Ashish Rajkumar. In the video, Rajkumar is seen speaking to a follower of Bajinder Singh. The video allegedly discloses the survivor’s name, her husband’s name, their home address, and other personal information, violating legal provisions meant to protect the identities of rape victims.

    According to the complainant, Rajkumar posted another audio clip on April 5, in which a person named Avi is heard making abusive remarks against her. The survivor claims these recordings are part of a larger campaign by Pastor Bajinder’s IT cell to incite the Christian community against her and her husband, accusing them of harming the faith.

    “My husband has been receiving death threats over the phone,” the survivor said. “Unknown individuals keep visiting our home and office. These videos, now uploaded to multiple YouTube channels, have garnered nearly 15 million views.”

    She further alleged that the acts are being carried out deliberately to provoke Bajinder’s supporters and endanger her family’s safety. The survivor warned that the campaign may disrupt communal harmony in Punjab and demanded immediate action.

    She also mentioned that various organisations from the Valmiki Samaj are supporting her. The Mohali court had sentenced Pastor Bajinder Singh to life imprisonment on April 1. As per court orders, disclosing the identity of a rape victim is punishable under various laws, including the POCSO Act.