PunjabENews

Category: Punjab

  • CM Mann to visit Amritsar for GNDU event, focus shifts to Tarn Taran bypoll

    CM Mann to visit Amritsar for GNDU event, focus shifts to Tarn Taran bypoll

    Amritsar: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will visit Amritsar on Saturday to participate in a programme at the Golden Jubilee Celebration Hall of Guru Nanak Dev University.

    During the event, the Chief Minister will virtually inaugurate link roads and urban libraries across the state as part of the government’s ongoing infrastructure and education initiatives.

    Mann is also scheduled to interact with the media at the nearby conference hall after 5 pm to share details about the inaugurations and upcoming government plans.

    Meanwhile, the state’s political focus is set to shift to Tarn Taran following the recent death of former MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal, which has left the assembly seat vacant. The Election Commission is required to hold elections for the seat within the next six months.

    The seat, held by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2022, is crucial for the ruling government, which is keen on retaining it in the upcoming bypoll. It is expected that the government will prioritise this constituency in its upcoming plans as it looks to strengthen its position in the state.

  • Punjabi actress Tania’s father shot at Moga clinic

    Punjabi actress Tania’s father shot at Moga clinic

    Moga: Tania, a well-known actress in the Punjabi film industry, is in deep shock after her father, Dr Anil Jit Singh Kamboj, was shot at his clinic on Friday afternoon, leaving him seriously injured.

    The incident occurred at Harbans Nursing Home in Kot Ise Khan area of Moga, where Dr Kamboj was attacked while at work.

    Police are investigating an extortion angle, as the doctor had reportedly been harassed by henchmen linked to terrorist Lakhbir Landa, who were allegedly demanding a ransom of around Rs 1 crore.

    Following the attack, Dr Kamboj was rushed to a private hospital in Moga in critical condition, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Police have begun an investigation into the shooting.

  • Brother of Moosewala shooter shot dead in Amritsar village

    Brother of Moosewala shooter shot dead in Amritsar village

    Amritsar: A 28-year-old man, Jugraj Singh, was shot dead in broad daylight on Saturday in Channanke village under Mehta police station in Amritsar. Jugraj was the brother of Jagroop Singh Rupa, one of the shooters involved in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.

    The attackers carried out the murder openly in the village, and the incident was captured on nearby CCTV cameras.

    According to initial information, three unidentified assailants arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire on Jugraj Singh from close range, killing him on the spot.

    The broad daylight murder triggered panic in the village, with residents immediately informing the police. Mehta police reached the scene, recovered the body and sent it for postmortem. An investigation into the incident is underway.

  • Faridkot DSP arrested on corruption charges

    Faridkot DSP arrested on corruption charges

    Faridkot: DSP (Crime) Rajanpal, posted at the women’s cell in Faridkot, has been arrested on charges of corruption, officials said.

    The DSP is accused of attempting to bribe the SSP office to clear a corruption-related complaint filed against him.

    The Faridkot police arrested him after registering a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

    A departmental inquiry has also been ordered under the government’s ‘Zero Tolerance Policy against Corruption’, officials said.

  • Four killed, three injured as speeding car collides with auto-rickshaw near Tarn Taran Road

    Four killed, three injured as speeding car collides with auto-rickshaw near Tarn Taran Road

    Amritsar: Four persons were killed and three others seriously injured when a speeding car collided with an auto-rickshaw near Gurdwara Tahla Sahib on Tarn Taran Road on Thursday evening, police said.

    The collision was so severe that four passengers in the auto-rickshaw died on the spot, while the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Another passenger succumbed to injuries during treatment, though police have yet to confirm if the toll has risen to six, as claimed by some sources.

    Eyewitnesses and a preliminary investigation revealed that the car was speeding on the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with the auto-rickshaw, which was carrying several passengers. Locals alleged that the car driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

    The auto-rickshaw was completely damaged in the collision, and the car reportedly dragged it nearly 10 feet before stopping, leading to chaos at the accident site. Chatiwind police reached the spot and cordoned off the area.

    The deceased have been identified as the auto driver, Labh Singh, and passengers Baljinder Kaur and Harbhajan Singh of Davinder Nagar. Efforts are underway to identify the fourth deceased, police said.

  • JASVIR SINGH GARHI EMBARKS ON FOREIGN VISIT

    JASVIR SINGH GARHI EMBARKS ON FOREIGN VISIT

    JASVIR SINGH GARHI EMBARKS ON FOREIGN VISIT

    Chandigarh, July 3:

    Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman S. Jasvir Singh Garhi has embarked on a month-long personal visit to New Zealand, combining personal travel with mission-oriented activities.

    According to a spokesperson, during his stay in New Zealand, S. Jasvir Singh Garhi will actively promote and disseminate the transformative ideology of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the visionary principles of Sahib Sri Kanshi Ram Ji among the community.

    The Chairman is scheduled to return to India in the first week of August and will subsequently resume his official responsibilities at the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission.

  • SANJEEV ARORA SWORN IN AS CABINET MINISTER OF PUNJAB*

    SANJEEV ARORA SWORN IN AS CABINET MINISTER OF PUNJAB*

    *SANJEEV ARORA SWORN IN AS CABINET MINISTER OF PUNJAB*

     

    *CM CONGRATULATES THE NEW MINISTER*

     

    Chandigarh, July 3:

     

    The Punjab Governor and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria  on Thursday administered the oath of office and secrecy to Sanjeev Arora as Cabinet Minister of the state in a brief but impressive ceremony here at Punjab Raj Bhawan in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.

     

    Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that Chief Secretary KAP Sinha conducted the proceedings of the ceremony with the permission of the Governor. After being sworn in Sanjeev Arora signed the oath, which was counter signed by the Governor.

     

    Prominent amongst others present at the swearing-in included Cabinet Ministers Harpal Cheema, Harjot Bains, Dr. Balbir Singh, Dr. Baljit Kaur, Hardeep Singh Mundian , Mohinder Bhagat, Dr. Ravjot Singh, Barinder Goyal, Laljit Singh Bhullar, Lal Chand Kataruchak, Gurmeet Singh Khudian and others were present on this occasion.

     

    Several MLAs, party leaders, senior officers from civil and police administration and family members of the newly inducted minister also attended the event.

    ——

  • DAY 124 OF YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH: 107 DRUG SMUGGLERS HELD WITH 1.2KG HEROIN, ₹22K

    DAY 124 OF YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH: 107 DRUG SMUGGLERS HELD WITH 1.2KG HEROIN, ₹22K

    DAY 124 OF YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH: 107 DRUG SMUGGLERS HELD WITH 1.2KG HEROIN, ₹22K

    — AS PART OF ‘DE-ADDICTION’, PUNJAB POLICE CONVINCE 71 PERSONS TO UNDERGO DE-ADDICTION TREATMENT

    CHANDIGARH, July 3:

              With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state completed 124 days, Punjab Police on Thursday arrested 107 drug smugglers and recovered 1.2 kg heroin and Rs 21,980 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 20,287 in just 124 days.

              The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

              Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

              Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 220 Police teams, comprising over 1500 police personnel, under the supervision of 100 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 495 locations across the state leading to the registration of 78 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 506 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added.

              The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 71 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

  • Ensure foolproof arrangements by September 15th in view of upcoming paddy procurement season: Lal Chand Kataruchak

    Ensure foolproof arrangements by September 15th in view of upcoming paddy procurement season: Lal Chand Kataruchak

    Ensure foolproof arrangements by September 15th in view of upcoming paddy procurement season: Lal Chand Kataruchak

    No officer should proceed on Ex India leave from September 15th to November 15th, directs Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister

    Preparations on war footing for procuring 190 Lakh Metric Tonne paddy

    Chandigarh, July 3:

     

    Exhorting the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department to gear up for ensuring a smooth and hassle free paddy procurement season from October 1st till November 15th this year, the Minister incharge of the Department Lal Chand Kataruchak today directed that all the necessary arrangements and mechanism must be put in place by September 15th.

     

    Taking stock of the procurement arrangements during a review meeting at Anaj Bhawan, the Minister further gave instructions that during the period from September 15th to November 15th, no officer of the department should proceed on Ex India leave.

     

    The Minister was apprised that preparations on war footing are being made for procuring 190 Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) paddy and as regards the movement of rice to create more storage space, 68 LMT of rice has been moved out of the State from October 2024 till June 2025. Further, from August 2025 till June 2026 nearly 82.5 LMT of rice would be moved out at the rate of 7.5 LMT Per Month.

     

    It was also brought to the notice of the Minister that the draft of the Custom Milling Policy for the year 2025-26 is likely to be ready within this month. Apart from this, the Labour & Cartege policy 2024 along with Foodgrain Transportation Policy 2024 has been extended till September 30th, 2025 so as to ensure a successful paddy procurement season.

     

    On the quality aspect, the Minister was apprised that the services of the laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing end Calibration Laboratories (NABL) are availed for chemical testing of the foodgrains as per the FCI norms.

     

    The Minister also directed the officers that the tarpaulins, wooden crates, Bardana and the mesh nets must be arranged in required quantity with emphasis on quality.

     

    Regarding the e-KYC process, the Minister was informed that it has been completed with regard to 1.25 Crore beneficiaries out of 1.57 Crore and the people are being made aware that they must undergo the process in order to get ration under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

     

    Urging the wholehearted cooperation of all the stakeholders to make the upcoming procurement season successful, the Minister said that no laxity in this regard shall be tolerated.

     

    Among others present on the occasion included the Principal Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rahul Tiwari, Director Varinder Kumar Sharma, Additional Secretary PUNGRAIN Kamal Kumar Garg, MD Punjab State Warehousing Corporation Vineet Kumar, Additional Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Dr. Anjuman Bhaskar and GM (Finance) Sarvesh Kumar.

    ———

  • Sanjeev Arora becomes Punjab’s new NRI, Industries and Commerce Minister

    Sanjeev Arora becomes Punjab’s new NRI, Industries and Commerce Minister

    Chandigarh: Sanjeev Arora, who recently won the Ludhiana West bypoll after resigning from the Rajya Sabha, has been appointed as Punjab’s new NRI, Industries and Commerce Minister. He was sworn in as the 17th minister at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan on Thursday.

    Arora’s induction into the cabinet was assured following his bypoll victory. This marks the seventh cabinet expansion during the nearly three-and-a-half-year tenure of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab.

    The NRI department was earlier held by Kuldeep Dhaliwal, who has now resigned from the post. The industries department, previously with Tarunpreet, has also been allocated to Arora, leaving Tarunpreet with the panchayat and culture departments.

    Speaking after his resignation, Dhaliwal said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann informed him that the department needed to be handed over to someone else, to which he agreed, adding that he is not involved in any departmental disputes.

    Following Arora’s induction and Dhaliwal’s exit, the Punjab cabinet now has 16 ministers, with one seat still vacant.