Air raid sirens in Chandigarh, residents urged to stay indoors; Mohali, Patiala issue alerts

The Chandigarh administration sounded an air raid siren on Friday, urging residents to stay indoors, as tensions between India and Pakistan escalated. The alert was lifted about an hour later. An air warning has been received from the air force station of a possible attack. Sirens are being sounded. All are advised to remain indoors and stay away from balconies, the administration said in an official statement. *ALERT* An Air warning has been received from Air force station of possible attack. Sirens are being sounded. All are advised to remain indoors and away from balconies. DC Chandigarh Chandigarh Admn (@chandigarh_admn) May 9, 2025 Chandigarh serves as the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana. Authorities in neighbouring districts also took precautionary measures. The Panchkula district administration sounded a similar siren and advised people to remain indoors. Meanwhile, officials in Punjab's Mohali district, which borders Chandigarh, issued an alert for nearby residents. There is an alert in some areas of Chandigarh. We are advising Mohali residents in the bordering sectors to remain indoors and away from windows and glass panes, the Mohali administration said in a message. There is an alert in some areas of UT Chandigarh. We are advising Mohali residents in bordering sectors as well to remain indoors and away from windows and glass panes. Specifically sectors 45-47. Mohali Administration DC Mohali (@dcmohali) May 9, 2025 Further south, the Patiala district administration also urged caution. Please avoid stepping out unless it is absolutely necessary. All educational institutions in the district are closed until further notice. Residents are strongly advised to stay indoors and away from balconies, rooftops, and open areas, its advisory stated, asking the public to contact the control room in case of an emergency. A similar air siren was sounded in Chandigarh on Thursday night as India swiftly thwarted Pakistan's fresh attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles, including in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, after foiling its attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and western parts of the country. According to the defence ministry, the Pakistani military on Thursday night attempted to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj. The renewed attempts by the Pakistani forces came after the Indian armed forces on Wednesday carried out precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under 'Operation Sindoor' in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Punjab orders closure of all schools, colleges for next three days amid rising border tensions

Debris From Pakistani Projectiles Intercepted By India Found In Bathinda, Hoshiarpur And Jaisalmer

The discovery of the debris comes after a night of reported explosions and heightened security measures in these border states.

Drones, blackouts, and sirens: People spend anxious night in border Punjab districts

Residents across border districts in Punjab including Amritsar, Pathankot, and Ferozepur, spent a tense night on Thursday as authorities enforced a complete blackout in response to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Blackouts were also imposed in Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and other regions, with power supply cut off in Chandigarh, the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana for about two hours until midnight. The precautionary measures followed a fresh wave of attempted attacks by Pakistan on Thursday night. According to the Ministry of Defence, Pakistan launched a coordinated offensive using drones and missiles to target military sites in multiple Indian cities, including Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur. The Indian armed forces swiftly intercepted the threats, successfully thwarting the strikes. The targeted locations included 15 cities across northern and western India, among them Srinagar, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. These attempted strikes came just a day after the Indian military launched Operation Sindoor , a series of precision missile attacks on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This operation was in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. In Pathankot, some residents reported hearing explosion-like sounds on Thursday night, although no official confirmation was issued. Air raid sirens were activated around 8:30 p.m., and a complete blackout was enforced. By Friday morning, however, the situation remained calm. Similar scenes played out in other border districts like Amritsar and Ferozepur, where residents expressed initial anxiety but praised the armed forces for their quick and effective response. In Chandigarh, despite the blackout and tense atmosphere, daily life began returning to normal on Friday. Baldev Chand, an elderly local resident, resumed his morning walk, saying, There were some anxious moments last night, but the way our forces handled the situation makes us feel secure. Authorities across Punjab urged residents to stay indoors, switch off lights, and follow blackout protocols. Pathankot Deputy Commissioner Aditya Uppal emphasized the importance of remaining calm and vigilant. In addition to the blackout in major cities, power cuts were enforced in Rupnagar, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Bathinda, Patiala, and Panchkula in Haryana as precautionary steps to ensure public safety. In light of the heightened security situation, the Punjab government has ordered the closure of all schools and educational institutions for the next three days. Chandigarh authorities have also shut all schools until Saturday. (With input from PTI) Tensions soar in Jammu & Kashmir after Pak's failed drone attack, heavy shelling: Woman killed

Pak turbulence in Indian airspace, flights most hit

Amid heightened security concerns, Indias booming aviation sector has been hit. Closure of 30 airports across several states has left hundreds of flights cancelled and thousands of travellers stranded or scrambling for alternatives. S Lalitha takes a look at the situation: What triggered disruption? It stems from the closure of operations at several civilian airports many of which double as military airfields after India conducted precision strikes in Pakistan and PoK on May 7 and 8. India suspended operations at critical airports in the North, Northwest, and Central regions of the country. Affected airports The closure impacts airports in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and Delhi-NCR. Notable ones include: J&K & Ladakh: Leh, Thoise, Srinagar, Jammu Punjab: Amritsar, Pathankot, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda, Halwara HP: Dharamshala, Shimla, Bhuntar, Gaggal Rajasthan: Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Kishangarh, Bikaner Gujarat: Bhuj, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Mundra, Kandla, Keshod Others: Hindon (Delhi NCR), Gwalior (MP) and Chandigarh Airlines response Major airlines have rolled out cancellations and passengers holding valid tickets have been offered full refunds: IndiGo: Suspended 165 daily flights, including those from Amritsar, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Gwalior, Jammu, Jodhpur, Leh, and Srinagar Air India: Cancelled flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot SpiceJet: Stopped operations in Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Dharamshala, Kandla, and Amritsar Akasa Air: Cancelled flights from Srinagar Impact on flyers Travellers are experiencing severe stress due to cancellations, particularly those with connecting flights. Social media platforms of airlines have been flooded with distress calls. Whats next? Airlines and airport authorities are monitoring developments, but flyers should be prepared for ongoing disruptions beyond May 10.

Farm forum halts land consolidation exercise over ownership dispute in Bathinda village

Explained: Operation Sindoor aftermath and how it has impacted flights in India

Following Operation Sindoor and heightened security concerns, India's air travel sector has been hit. The closure of 30 airports across several states has left hundreds of flights cancelled and thousands of travellers stranded or scrambling for alternatives. Here's a breakdown of the current situation. What triggered the disruption? The disruption stems from the closure of operations at several civilian airports many of which double as military airfields after India conducted precision strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in the wee hours of May 7. Operation Sindoor: Nine strikes, 25 minutes of chaos for Pakistan Fearing potential retaliation post these strikes, the Indian government suspended operations at critical airports in the North, Northwest, and Central regions of the country. Which airports are affected? The closure impacts airports in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and the Delhi NCR region. Notable airports shut down include: J&K & Ladakh : Leh, Thoise, Srinagar, Jammu Punjab : Amritsar, Pathankot, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda, Halwara, Chandigarh. Himachal Pradesh : Dharamshala, Shimla, Bhuntar, Gaggal Rajasthan : Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Kishangarh, Bikaner Gujarat : Bhuj, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Mundra, Kandla, Keshod Others : Hindon (Delhi NCR), Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) Airlines expect the disruption to last at least until 5:29 AM on May 10, though airport sources hint it may continue longer. How are airlines responding? Major airlines have rolled out large-scale cancellations and advisories: IndiGo has suspended 165 daily flights, including those from Amritsar, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Gwalior, Jammu, Jodhpur, Leh, and Srinagar. Air India has cancelled flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot. SpiceJet has stopped operations in Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Dharamshala, Kandla, and Amritsar. Akasa Air has cancelled flights from Srinagar. Passengers holding tickets for these routes have been offered full refunds. Impact on flyers Travellers are experiencing severe stress due to abrupt cancellations, particularly those with connecting flights. Entire itineraries are being disrupted when the primary leg of the journey is cancelled, as seen in multiple cases. R Sushmita, travelling from Himachal to Nagpur via Chandigarh and Delhi, had to reroute by train to Delhi due to a cancelled Air India flight. Fortunately, Air India issued a fresh ticket at no extra cost. Piyush Sawarkar, stuck in Leh with his family, tweeted for help after his Indigo flight to Mumbai was cancelled. Like many others, he received a standard airline response requesting his PNR via direct message. Social media platforms of airlines have been flooded with similar distress calls, and many passengers are still awaiting clarity and rebooking options. A necessary safety measure According to Captain CS Randhawa, President of the Federation of Indian Pilots Association, while the inconvenience is considerable, the move was necessary from a national security perspective. The government wants flyers to stay safe. Closure of air force bases wont impact the public directly since civilian aircraft dont usually operate there, he said. However, international carriers are significantly affected. To avoid Pakistani airspace, flights from the Gulf to Delhi are forced to take detours. For instance, British Airways, Air France, and KLM from Delhi are heading towards Mumbai and then rerouting through Turkey, with longer flight paths and additional operational costs, he explained. Whats next? The situation remains fluid. Airlines and airport authorities are monitoring developments, but flyers should be prepared for ongoing disruptions beyond May 10. Travellers are advised to stay updated through official airline channels and plan alternate routes where possible.

One dead, nine injured after aircraft crash in Punjab village

Crash site in Bathinda district cordoned off; authorities yet to confirm details of unidentified aircraft

SAD chief Badal condemns Pakistan forces''attack' on gurdwara in Poonch during cross-border shelling

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday strongly condemned the attack on a gurdwara in Poonch by Pakistan forces during cross-border shelling that led to the death of three Sikhs. At least 12 people, including four children, were killed and 57 others injured as the Pakistan Army carried out heavy artillery and mortar shelling on forward villages along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. The intense shelling from across the border started shortly after Indian armed forces carried out missile attacks on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to avenge the April 22 terror attack in south Kashmir's Pahalgam that had left 26 civilians dead. The worst-hit in the Pakistani shelling was Poonch district which accounted for all the civilian deaths, the officials said, adding 42 people were also injured and the condition of some of them was stated to be serious. Among the dead were Amarjeet Singh, Amrik Singh and Ranjit Singh in Poonch. In a post on X, SAD chief Badal said, Strongly condemn the inhuman attack by Pakistani forces on the sacred Central Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Poonch, in which three innocent Gursikhs, including Bhai Amrik Singh Ji (a raagi Singh), Bhai Amarjeet Singh and Bhai Ranjit Singh lost their lives. He said his party expresses complete solidarity with the families of the deceased and prays for peace for the departed and courage for their friends and loved ones. We demand that the martyrs be honoured for their sacrifice and that the bereaved families receive adequate compensation to support them in their time of grief. The Sikhs have always been, and will continue to be, the sword arm of the country. We stand like a rock with our armed forces. Although the Shiromani Akali Dal and our country stand for peace, if our honour is challenged by the enemy, we need no reminder to fulfil our patriotic duties, said Badal. Bathinda MP and former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal too condemned the incident. Pained to learn about the tragic demise of Bhai Amrik Singh Raagi, ex-serviceman Amarjeet Singh and shopkeeper Ranjit Singh in the course of shelling by Pakistan in Poonch. Also learnt that a gurdwara has been targeted & damaged. I condemn this cowardly action. I'm sure GOI will avenge this dastardly attack & the three martyrdoms will not go in vain, she said in a post on X. Union Minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami also condemned the incident. Deeply condemn the cowardly attack by Pakistani forces on the sacred Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib, Poonch. The martyrdom of Bhai Amrik Singh Ji, Bhai Amarjeet Singh Ji & Bhai Ranjit Singh Ji is a tragic loss. India will not tolerate such barbarity, said Bittu in a post on X.

Unidentified plane crashes in Punjab's Bathinda, 1 killed, 9 injured; Authorities remain tight-lipped about aircraft identity

An unidentified plane crashed in Bathinda killing one person and injuring 9 others, sources said on Wednesday.

1 killed, 9 injured as unidentified plane crashes in Bathinda

Chandigarh, May 7: An unidentified plane crashed in Bathinda killing one person and injuring 9 others, sources said on Wednesday. Sources said the plane crashed around past midnight into wheat fields of Akilan Kalan village of the district in which a farm labourer, originally from Charkhi Dadri of Haryana, was killed and nine [] The post 1 killed, 9 injured as unidentified plane crashes in Bathinda appeared first on Northlines .

One civilian killed, 9 injured as unidentified aircraft crashes in Punjab village

Chandigarh: One civilian was killed and nine others injured on early Wednesday as an unidentified aircraft crashed and caught fire in Aklian Kalan village, some 20 km from the district headquarters in Punjabs Bathinda. District authorities refused to comment on the crash, saying the defence authorities would issue any comment. Defence personnel and police teams []

One killed, nine injured as unidentified aircraft crashes in village near Punjab's Bathinda

CHANDIGARH: One civilian killed and nine others injured as an unidentified aircraft caught fire and crashed in Aklian Kalan village of Bathinda district in Punjab. The deceased has been identified as Govind a farm labourer hailing from Charkhi Dadri in Haryana, sources said. The aircraft crashed around 2 am in harvested wheat fields, approximately 500 meters from the nearest residential area. There was no information about the pilot till this report was filed. After the crash, public approached the burning wreckage and discovered Govind and the other injured. As per eyewitnesses, several farm labourers were at the local grain market late Tuesday night when they noticed an aircraft flying unusually low. The eyewitnesses further added that they woke up to the loud sound of a crashing aircraft, which immediately caught fire. As aircraft was spotted which was in flames people rushed to rescue the pilots. As the villagers were rushing towards the plane, it exploded and several of them were hurt, said a local. Defence personnel and police teams cordoned off the crash site and fire tenders plunged into action at the scene. The district administration is tight-lipped about the identity of the plane stating that any comment on the incident will be issued only by the defence authorities. Senior officials of the district administration reached the crash site and also police have been stationed at the hospital. The injured Govind was immediately rushed to the public health centre in Goniana, where he was declared dead on arrival. While the other injured were taken to Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh Civil Hospital, from where at least one was referred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda. Meanwhile all schools will remain closed in five border districts of Ferozepur, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Pathankot of the state in the wake of tension between India and Pakistan. The Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner had issued an order that all schools in the district will remain closed on Wednesday. In Pathankot, all schools will remain shut for 72 hours. Meanwhile the flight operations from Chandigarh, Amritsar and Dharamsala airports suspended. Further, Air India announced that all flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Chandigarh, Jamnagar and Rajkot have been cancelled for May 7 till 12 noon, pending updates from authorities. Ministry of Home Affairs, bureau of immigration closes Kartarpur Corridor till further orders. 150 pilgrims , who had gathered at the Integrated check post today morning , were asked to return home after being made to wait for 90 minutes. In retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack , Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base in Muridke. The military strikes were carried out under 'Operation Sindoor', two weeks after the massacre of 26 civilians at Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Punjab all set for mock drills in 20 towns as nation ramps up defence preparedness

CHANDIGARH: Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, civil defence mock drills will be held at 20 places in Punjab, besides several locations in Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh on Wednesday, as per instructions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). In Punjab, the mock drills will be held in Amritsar, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Batala, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Adampur, Halwara, Patiala, Pathankot, Barnala, Mohali, Faridkot, Kotkapura, Rupnagar, Bhakra Nangal, Sangrur and Abohar. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, The civil defence teams and Punjab Police, along with the Home Ministry, will conduct mock drills tomorrow, adding that the state government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is closely monitoring the exercise to ensure the safety of citizens. Preparations are almost complete for conducting the mock drills. The objective of the drills is to create awareness among the public and take necessary precautions in the event of any attack, he added. Cheema said the directions of the Home Ministry will be followed during the mock drills. Sources said that public announcements will be made before the drills. As per the guidelines issued by MHA, the drills will include activation of air raid warning sirens, training of civilians, students and others in civil defence procedures to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack, implementation of crash blackout measures, early camouflaging of vital plants and installations, updating and rehearsing of evacuation plans. The ministry had asked several states to conduct mock drills on May 7 for effective civil defence. In the meeting today, the issue of sirens was raised as for many years these have not been tested thus many might be dysfunctional for that we need to first check the working of all the civil and defence siren systems and these will be tested. Thus people should not panic, said a senior functionary who took part in the meeting. MHA conducts key review meeting ahead of massive civil defence mock drill, identifies 19 'top priority' sites Meanwhile, Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma said as part of the mock drill preparations, six civil defence sirens will be sounded in the city and the Ferozepur Cantonment area from 7 to 7.15 pm on Tuesday. These sirens will be sounded for the preparation of the May 7 mock drill, she said, adding that there was no need to worry. A senior police official in Ferozepur said a blackout rehearsal will be carried out from 9 to 9.30 pm on Wednesday and police patrolling teams will be deployed. In Haryana too, mock drills will be conducted at many places, including Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Hisar, Panchkula, Panipat and Rohtak. In a letter to the chief secretaries of all states and administrators of Union Territories, the MHA stated that the measures to be taken during the mock drills include the operationalisation of air-raid warning sirens, training civilians on civil-defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack and cleaning bunkers and trenches. The other measures are provisions for crash-blackout measures, early camouflaging of vital plants and installations and updating and rehearsing evacuation plans. The mock drills also include the operationalisation of hotline and radio-communication links with the Indian Air Force (IAF), testing the functionality of control rooms and shadow control rooms. It said the active participation of the district controllers, various district authorities, civil-defence wardens, volunteers, home guards (active and reservists volunteers), National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), college and school students is envisaged in the exercise. Civil defence volunteers rehearse emergency response in Lucknow ahead of nationwide mock drill

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AIIMS Bathinda Group A Recruitment 2025 - Apply Offline for 18 Posts Before May 21

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Cobbler at Bathinda military stn investigated over suspicious WhatsApp chats

Bathinda school which triggered protests and arrests now handed over to govt board

Farmers, teachers, students intensify protests against AAP leadership across Punjab

CHANDIGARH: It is not just Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders facing the wrath and anger of farmers across Punjab; now Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders are also on the receiving end. They are facing rising public ire over unfulfilled promises, unanswered queries, and arrogant behaviour. Farmers are posing questions to the leaders, even going so far as to term AAP the B-team of BJP. Now, student groups and teachers associations have also joined in protesting against the ruling party leaders. Yesterday, AAP MLA from Rampura Phul, Balkar Sidhu, and another ruling party legislator from Maur, Sukhbir Singh Maiserkhana, had to face backlash from farmers during their visits to inaugurate development projects. Sidhu had gone to Sidhana village in Rampura to inaugurate an event under the Education Revolution initiative. As the news spread that the legislator was in the area, members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari Punjab) and BKU Ekta Ugrahan gathered in front of the school in the village. As Sidhu arrived at the school under police protection, farmers began raising slogans regarding the atrocities committed at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. They also raised objections related to the Model School Chaoke case. After the programme ended, the MLA approached the farmers, and the farmer leaders asked him several questions. Sidhu responded, saying he could only comment after speaking with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Later, in Salebrah village, the MLA faced further protests. Meanwhile, Sukhbir Singh Maiserkhana, another ruling party legislator from the Maur assembly segment, was confronted by members of the BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) during his visit to Ramgarh Bhundar village yesterday. Maiserkhana had earlier been confronted by BKU Sidhupur members while en route to an event under the Sikhya Kranti programme. In another incident, members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) posed several questions to Gidderbaha AAP MLA Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon in Gurusar village on Monday. They described the AAP as the BJPs B-team. They asked him why the farmers were not allowed to protest at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders. In response, Dimpy said the state government might be under some pressure to lift the protests at the borders, as nothing had happened in the past year. Talking with this newspaper, Prem Singh Bhangu, President of the All India Kisan Federation and senior leader of SKM Punjab, said that the AAP Punjab government is facing the wrath and anger of farmers in the villages daily whenever its MLAs and ministers visit the villages to inaugurate the repair work done in school buildings. He stated that they are being dubbed as stooges of the BJP government at the Centre for taking repressive measures to crush and dislodge the peaceful protests of farmers at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders by using heavy force. The government also foiled the March 5 proposed morcha to be launched at Chandigarh by making more than 1,000 arrests of farmers in the state, stopping them from reaching Chandigarh, their own capital, by forcibly stopping them in Punjab. Moreover, the government is trying to create a divide between rural and urban people, and Jat versus non-Jat in the state in order to garner votes, which could cost it dearly in the coming assembly elections, he said. While some party leaders avoid meeting farmers, others have lost their cool when confronted with queries. Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has been targeted many times. On April 8, during a farmers training camp in Faridkot, Sandhwan was interrupted mid-speech when a farmer stood up and bluntly said that Sandhwan knew nothing about dairy farming. Sandhwan did not take offence. The protestors gathered outside his house in Kotkapura. There was also a protest by the Punjab Students Union at Brajindra College in Faridkot. On April 5, Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian faced a similar situation in Muktsar. Nirmal Singh from the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Sidhupur interrupted him with questions about paddy varieties. The police immediately detained Singh, booking him under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). He was sent to jail and then released after four days upon furnishing bail. Also, AAP MLA Labh Singh Ugoke was grilled by farmers demanding an inquiry into the missing trolleys. Ugoke responded that the government had many other responsibilities. Last week, Batyala MLA Amansher Singh, alias Sherry Kalsi, was surrounded by farmers. Initially, he remained calm and talked to the farmers, but when they shouted slogans, he also reportedly shouted AAP zindabad to counter them. Other MLAs, including Gurdev Singh Dev Mann in Nabha, Gurdit Singh Sekhon in Faridkot, Dalbir Singh Tong in Baba Bakala, and Aresh Kataria in Zira, have faced similar confrontations. Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, said that in 2020 and 2022, BJP leaders were questioned by farmers. Now, it is the turn of the AAP leadership. He further said that farmers had planned to question Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Amritsar on April 9 but were not allowed to do so. A few days ago, the villagers of Chauke village in Bathinda decided to ban the entry of AAP leaders in response to the police crackdown on a teachers' protest outside Adarsh School on March 27, where police lathi-charged women protestors. Villagers from several villages in Lambi constituency, from where Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian is the MLA, have also announced plans to boycott AAP leaders. Additionally, the villagers of Kotla Jattan and Beer Bhamarasi villages in Fatehgarh Sahib and Babarpur Patiala have also banned the leaders of the ruling party from entering their villages. Kaka Singh Kolta, General Secretary of BKU (Sidhupur), said that this is just the start and soon they will not be able to step out of their houses.

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Plot to attack Shah in pro-Amritpal WA group busted, 2 held

CHANDIGARH: After alleged screenshots of a WhatsApp group conversation in support of jailed pro-Khalistan leader and Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh was leaked on social media, the Punjab Police on Monday registered a case and arrested two persons in the matter. The group reportedly discussed plans to target Union home minister Amit Shah, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia in retaliation to the one-year extension granted for Amritpals detention under the National Security Act (NSA). An FIR was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Moga under various sections of the BNS, UAPA and the IT Act. The accused have been identified as Lakhdeep Singh Sardargarh from Bathinda, Balkar Singh from New Model Town in Khanna, and Pawandeep Singh from Khote, Moga. Among them, Balkar and Pawandeep have been arrested. DIG (Faridkot Range) Ashwani Kapoor said, A case has been registered by Moga police and two accused have been arrested while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other unidentified persons. The alleged screenshots and audio recordings related to the matter have already been shared with security agencies, police added. Police sources claimed the WhatsApp group, which has over 600 members, discussed plans of targeted strikes to avenge the extension of Amitpal Singhs detention. The group conversation allegedly included details on foreign funding, arms procurement, and circulation of inflammatory content online, they added. Sources claimed the leaked chats have revealed that certain members were willing to sacrifice their lives for the cause provided their families are assured protection. According to the sources, the pro-Khalistan group accused Union ministers Shah and Bittu, Akali dal elder Bikram Majithia, and Parminder Singh Talwara, an aide to the late Waris Punjab De founder Deep Sidhu, for their assumed role in keeping the Waris Punjab De chief in jail.

Punjab cops arrest two people over alleged plot by Amritpals outfit to target Amit Shah, Ravneet Singh

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Police on Monday registered a case and arrested two individuals in connection with a WhatsApp group chat that allegedly expressed support for jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and detailed plans to target senior political leaders. Screenshots of the chat, which surfaced on social media, reportedly included discussions about attacking Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia, in response to the one-year extension of Amritpals detention under the National Security Act (NSA). A First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Moga under Sections 61(2)(a), 113(3), 152, and 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Information Technology Act. The accused have been identified as Lakhdeep Singh Sardargarh from Bathinda, Balkar Singh from New Model Town, Khanna, and Pawandeep Singh from Khote, Moga. Of the three, Balkar and Pawandeep have been arrested. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Faridkot Range) Ashwani Kapoor said, A case has been registered by Moga Police at the Cyber Station and two accused have been arrested. Other unidentified persons, once they are identified, will be arrested. Sources claimed that the WhatsApp group, which has more than 600 members, reportedly discussed plans to strike and take revenge against Shah, Bittu, Majithia, and Parminder Singh Talwara, an aide to the late Deep Sidhu, founder of Waris Punjab De . The group blamed them for playing a key role in keeping Amritpal in jail. Screenshots and audio recordings from the group chat have been shared with security agencies. The discussions on this group allegedly took place in the background of the extension of Amritpal's detention under the NSA. Police sources claim the group chat included discussions on foreign funding, arms procurement, and the circulation of inflammatory content online. They added that the leaked chats revealed some members of the group were willing to sacrifice their lives for the cause if their families were assured protection. Now security agencies are reportedly investigating these threats, as there are fears of potential violence in the state. These kinds of threats are taken seriously, whether they appear in the public sphere or otherwise, said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity. Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu alleged that some pro-Khalistan elements linked to the 'Waris Punjab De' outfit - whose chief is radical preacher Amritpal Singh - were plotting to assassinate him and other political leaders in Punjab. The conspiracy has been exposed through leaked screenshots of a chat on social media platforms, he claimed. Warning that the activities of such groups were pushing the state towards instability reminiscent of its dark past, Bittu said the central government has also taken serious note of the plot hatched by the leaders of 'Waris Punjab De'. The Centre will not allow anti-national forces to destabilise Punjab. My grandfather (Beant Singh) laid down his life for peace in Punjab. I come from a family of martyrs and I am not intimidated by extremist threats. I will not allow Punjab to descend into darkness again. Those behind this conspiracy will face the consequences, he asserted. Bittu also criticised the AAP government for what he described as a lenient stance towards criminal elements masquerading as political activists. Meanwhile, senior SAD leader Majithia demanded the immediate arrest of all members of the WhatsApp group linked with the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De party and Amritpal who were planning the execution of high-profile politicians. He demanded a NIA probe into the matter. Majithia announced that he would forward all the evidence in his possession to the Centre, stating that the Punjab Police had become politicised and could not be trusted to investigate Amritpal and his associates. He also questioned why Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was silent on such a crucial matter. Are the Punjab Police, which have all the evidence in their possession, and the Chief Minister waiting for someone to die? he asked. Majithia also released details of the WhatsApp conversations on the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De Team Moga page, in which team members asserted that they were ready to become martyrs and asked if their families would be looked after in the event they carried out political assassinations of leaders including Ravneet Bittu, Bikram Singh Majithia, and Amit Shah. He also released an audio clip in which a woman is allegedly heard instigating members to become suicide bombers. The Punjab government has extended Amritpal's detention by one more year. He is currently lodged in Central Jail at Dibrugarh in Assam. He was detained under the NSA after his arrest on 23 April 2023. Amritpal's father, Tarsem Singh, on Sunday criticised the AAP government for extending his son's detention under the NSA. Amritpal, who styled himself after slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was arrested in Rode village in Moga district on 23 April 2023, following a more than month-long manhunt.

Perceived rise in hostility across north India alarms Catholics in Kerala

Theres a visible tendency among some self-proclaimed representatives of the majority religion to dominate minority communities, says Fr. Jose Vallikatt, a Catholic priest based in Bathinda

Sukhbir Badal re-elected as Shiromani Akali Dal president

CHANDIGARH: Sukhbir Badal was re-elected as president of Shiromani Akali Dal during the organisational election at Amritsar. The move comes months after him resigning from the post over a religious punishment. The 105-year-old Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is grappling to maintain its political relevance in Punjab today. Party sources said that Sukhbir was both the 'favourite' and 'the only candidate. The election follow the conclusion of a three-month-long membership drive. The session for electing SADs new president was held at the Teja Singh Samundari hall in Golden Temple complex at Amritsar. It is also the administrative hub of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The SAD had chosen a total of 567 delegates -- four each from 117 assembly constituencies across the State to cast their vote for the new party chief. Badals name was proposed by partys working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar and party leader Paramjit Singh Sarna seconded it. His supporters launched a 'massive' campaign on social media, branding him as a 'development' man (vikas purush). Also, a new slogan, Punjab di pukar, Sukhbir di sarkar, was introduced. While the SAD once held significant sway over Punjab politics and had currently just two MLAs in the state assembly, Ganieve Kau, wife of former minister Bikram Singh Majithia, who is brother-in-law of Badal seen as a loyalist of the Badal camp. The other is Manpreet Singh Ayali, who has been consistently calling for leadership change in the party. Several senior party leaders, including Badals wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, former ministers Bikram Singh Majithia, Daljit Singh Cheema, and senior leader Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, were present. The party will hold a political conference on April 13 at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda, where Badal will deliver an address. With this election, he once again assumed leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal. On December 2 last year, the Akal Takht (highest temporal seat of the Sikhs) had imposed a religious punishment on Sukhbir and other senior party leaders, citing the alleged misrule of the SAD government from 2007 to 2017. The then jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Raghbir Singh had directed the partys working committee to accept Badals resignation in three days and form a new committee to initiate a membership drive. He had also directed to begin the process of electing new leadership. Earlier, Sukhbir resigned from his post as the SAD president on November 16, 2024, after being declared 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht only to have the party working committee reject the same. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which is seen as controlled by the SAD, removed Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Sultan Singh and Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh from their respective positions -- doing away with all the jathedars involved in passing the decree to punish Badal. Despite not being a president, Badal remained at the helm of party affairs. He was the face of the SAD and key speaker at the Maghi Mela. On January 21, when the SAD held a membership drive as per the Akal Takhts directions, Badal was the first to join the party. Sukhbir Badal was first elected as the president of Akali Dal in December 2008, during his father Parkash Singh Badals tenure as Chief Minister. He was lauded as a leader of the future for introducing a corporate-like political culture within the party. However, dissent grew as the party faced consecutive electoral defeats, starting with the 2017 Assembly elections.

Punjab: Sukhbir Badal Elected SAD President Again

Amritsar, Apr 12: Sukhbir Singh Badal was elected president of the Shiromani Akali Dal again in the partys general delegate session that took place in Amritsar on Saturday. Badals name was proposed by partys working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar while party leader Paramjit Singh Sarna seconded it. The session for electing SADs new president was held at the Teja Singh Samundari hall in the Sri Darbar Sahib complex here. Several senior party leaders including Badals wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat [] The post Punjab: Sukhbir Badal Elected SAD President Again appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Who Is Amandeep Kaur? Punjab Lady Cop Famous For Reels Arrested With Heroin

The 27-year-old cop, who was previously stationed in Mansa but was assigned to Bathinda Police Lines, gained attention not only for her professional role but also for her social media presence.

Waqf Board sees illegal encroachment of 14,000 acres in Punjab; litigations still ongoing in various courts

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Waqf Board owns a total of 36,625.83 acres of land across the state, but over 14,000 acres of this land are currently under illegal encroachment. Ongoing litigation regarding these encroachments is being heard in various courts, including the Supreme Court. According to sources, data from the Board reveals that the Punjab Waqf Board has a total of 75,965 registered properties and 25,403 registered waqf estates. The Board owns 36,625.83 acres of land across the state, with approximately 14,085.004 acres, or 38.46%, currently under illegal encroachment. The remaining 61.45% of the land is being used for its intended purposes. While 18 cases are pending in the Supreme Court, 462 cases going in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, 1,157 civil suits in different courts for declaration, possession or eviction pending before the five waqf tribunals in the stare and civil courts, said sources. Talking with the TNIE, Latif Ahmed Thind, Executive Officer of Punjab Waqf Board, said, The total number of waqf board properties in Punjab is 75,965. The major problem is illegal encroachments across the state as the maximum encroachments are in Bathinda, followed by Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala. In many cases, the illegal encroachers are sitting on these properties since 1947 and in many others the lease with the board finished but they did not vacate the property or gave its procession to someone else. Both influential people and common persons have encroached upon the waqf board properties. While in Samana near Patiala many shanties are there and those people refuse to vacate. It is just of people from other religions have encroached upon also people from the same community have also done illegal encroachment of the board properties in some cases, he says. We follow the due procedure of the law and cases are going in different courts including supreme court. With the amendment coming in the process will become for cumbersome.he added.

Swaraj Tractors, Mahindra Susten partner to develop Punjab s largest Solar captive project

MUMBAI, Apr 2: Swaraj Tractors, a division of the Mahindra Group has announced its collaboration with Mahindra Susten, the Groups clean-tech arm, to establish Punjabs largest solar group captive project-a 26 MW solar energy installation in Bathinda district. This ambitious venture is a significant step forward towards scaling up Swaraj Tractors renewable energy share to up to 50 per cent, the company said in a statement. The solar energy project developed by Mahindra Susten, will supply clean energy to four [] The post Swaraj Tractors, Mahindra Susten partner to develop Punjab s largest Solar captive project appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Punjab Budget: Focus on first ever 'drug census', health infrastructure; silent on Rs 1000 per month scheme for women

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema today presented the Rs 2.36 lakh crore states budget for the financial year 2025-26 without imposing any new taxes. However, it is the fourth budget of the AAP government, where the pre-election promise of a scheme providing Rs 1000 per month for women was not implemented. The budget focused on tackling the drug problem with the first-ever drug census to be carried out across the state and recruiting 5000 home guards who will be deployed along the Border Security Force (BSF) to established a second line of defence at border, promoting sports, enhancing health infrastructure and improving public education. The total revenue receipts have been projected to be Rs 1,11,740 crore, of these the own tax revenue accounts for Rs 63,250 crore, and the share of central taxes has been pegged at Rs 25,703 crore and grant-in-aid from the Centre at Rs 10,576 crore. The goods and services tax (GST) target for the next financial year is Rs 27,650 crore. By the end of the next fiscal, the states outstanding debt will be Rs 3.96 lakh crore. The state will raise a loan of Rs 49,900 crore in 2025-26. The budget is being described a futuristic budget and setting a clear Badalda Punjab (Changing Punjab) Roadmap for 2025-26. Finance Minister Cheema also announced a 'Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme' under which funds will be spent on the most important local everyday developmental needs of the people of a district. The fund will be administered by Deputy Commissioners and will be spent based on the recommendation of MLAs, community organisations, citizen groups and public-spirited people of that district, he said. While the effective revenue deficit and fiscal deficit are expected to be 2.51 per cent and 3.84 per cent, respectively. Finance Minister Cheema mentioned that these parameters were better than before, indicating that the state has taken steps toward fiscal consolidation. Talking about the anti-drug campaign `Yudh Nasheyan Virudh to check drug scourge, Cheema while giving his budget speech, said the state government has decided to carry out the first-ever drug census in Punjab next year and thus earmarked Rs 150 crore for this purpose. It will cover every household of the state and will collect data to understand the prevalence of drugs, usage of de-addiction centres and also collect data on the socio-economic conditions of affected families of the people. This data will be used to chalk out an effective and scientific strategy to eradicate the problem of drugs within the next one to two years, he said. He said that for the first time the state government will establish a second line of defence at the border by deploying 5,000 home guards alongside BSF. These home guards will be selected from the most determined youth of the state who will act as the eagle eyes protecting the future of Punjab. The government will also deploy the most advanced and effective anti-drone systems along the border in the coming year, and for that, Rs 110 crore has been allocated, he said. Cheema took a dig at rival parties who ruled Punjab in the past, and alleged they have destroyed and looted the state. The only legacy these parties left in Punjab was that of 'Udta Punjab'. An entire generation of youth is being eaten hollow from within due to drugs, he lamented, adding that the AAP government's resolve is to build a Rangla Punjab, a Punjab that is inclusive, progressive, and brimming with opportunity for all, said Cheema. Moreover, a budgetary allocation of Rs 5,598 crore has been provided for the health sector, an increase of ten per cent over the previous year. Cheema said, for the first time in the history of the state, the AAP government has decided to extend the state health insurance scheme in the coming fiscal year to make it universal and cover all the 65 lakh families in the state. There will be no bar or discrimination-- rural or urban, rich or poor --everyone can participate in this scheme, he said. At present, 45 lakh families are enrolled in government health insurance schemes, of which 16 lakh families are covered under the Centres Ayushman Bharat Yojana and the remaining 29 lakh families are covered under the state governments Mukh Mantri Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana. The insurance coverage for the entire family is only Rs 5 lakh per annum in these schemes. The government has decided to extend the insurance cover for all families across the state to Rs 10 lakh per annum, which will include those enrolled in the central government scheme, also as they will get an additional top-up cover of Rs 5 lakh from the state government. Meanwhile, all families who are covered under the Mukh Mantri Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana will get a Sehat Card next year through which they can avail cashless treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh in government and private hospitals across the state, he added. Cheema further said that to ensure that the state police is well-equipped to respond immediately, Rs 125 crore has been allocated to buy new vehicles for the fleet of emergency response vehicles (ERVs), which will thus be strengthened and will be able to respond to calls made on 112. Thus, the government has decided to procure 758 four-wheelers and 916 two-wheelers, which will be deployed as ERVs and will increase the fleet size by six times. Besides this will reduce the average response time to emergency calls to eight minutes, which will be the lowest in the country as at present the average response time to distress calls goes up to 30 minutes as there are only 258 dedicated vehicles in this fleet, he said. He also spoke about the Rs 53 crore allocation towards building the new Dial 112 headquarters. For the agriculture and allied sectors, Rs 14,524 crore has been allocated in the next financial year, which is 5 per cent higher than last year. While Rs 9,992 crore have been allocated as power subsidy for 14.5 lakh agriculture tubewells and Rs 500 crore earmarked to support farmers, cooperatives, and gram panchayats for crop-residue management, to check stubble burning, specifically during paddy harvest. To incentivise crop diversification, a new scheme covering Bathinda, Kapurthala and Gurdaspur is being introduced for kharif maize crop. Under the Krishonnati Yojana to support critical activities, including agriculture extension, enhancing food security, promoting horticulture, seed development, boosting edible oil production and digital agriculture, Rs 149 crore has been earmarked. The government has also decided to waive loans of Rs 4,650 crore of defaulters who had availed loans from the Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation (PSCFC). For the development of housing and urban local areas, an allocation of Rs 5,983 crore has been made and Rs 300 crore earmarked for the Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project (PMSIP) to strengthen urban governance. Cheema announced the Mukh Mantri Street Light Yojana for the installation of 2.5 lakh street lights next year across the state. Cheema said the cost of availing doorstep delivery of government services is being reduced from Rs 120 to Rs 50. According to the Advance Estimates provided by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Punjab's economy is on a strong growth trajectory, registering an impressive 9 per cent growth in the current year, he said. He said as a result of this growth, Punjab's gross state domestic product (GSDP) at current prices has reached Rs 8,09,538 crore. Cheema added that this momentum of growth is likely to continue, with the GSDP at current prices being projected to expand by 10 per cent in FY 2025-26, reaching the mark of Rs 8,91,301 crore.

Notorious drug trafficker Jaggu Bhagwanpuria shifted to Central Jail in Assam

Jaggu Bhagwanpuria is believed to have continued to orchestrate criminal activities from within Bathinda Central Jail, reportedly using smuggled mobile phones and a loyal network of associates

Farmers protest: Industrialists welcome highway reopening; unions to hold nationwide dharnas

CHANDIGARH: The arrest of farmer leaders and the eviction of protesting farmers from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders has sparked mixed reactions. While farmers staged statewide protests, traders, industrialists, and commuters largely welcomed the move, citing economic losses due to prolonged road blockades. Following the eviction, Haryana Police began dismantling cemented barricades at the Shambhu border on Thursday morning. These barriers had been erected last year to prevent farmers from Punjab from marching towards Delhi as part of the 'Delhi Chalo' protest. JCB machines were deployed to remove concrete blocks and clear the Shambhu-Ambala road, which had remained closed for over a year. Temporary structures and stages set up by the protesters were also dismantled as part of the clearance operation. Meanwhile, Haryana Police issued notices to farmer leaders Jasmeet Singh and Tejveer Singh, summoning them to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Thursday. The SIT is investigating cases registered against them last year. The notice warned that failure to comply would result in legal action. BKU leader Rakesh Tikait has called on farmer unions across the country to unite, warning that governments will continue to suppress farmer protests while favouring corporate interests. Similarly, Satnam Singh Pannu, president of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, criticised the police action, stating that instead of bringing change (badlaav), Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann was engaging in politics of revenge (badle ki rajniti). Industrialists expressed relief, stating that reopening highways would revive the economy and boost tourism. They claimed that the year-long blockade had caused severe economic losses and disrupted daily life. Sources indicate that the crackdown followed pressure from Ludhiana traders, who warned AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal that continued protests could impact the partys prospects in the Ludhiana West Assembly by-election. Many farmers detained from Khanauri have been held at a location in Pattran, while those arrested from Mohali and the Shambhu border were shifted to Patiala Central Jail. In Gurdaspur, farmers protesting outside the Deputy Commissioners office for three days dispersed quietly on Thursday morning after police warned of mass arrests. Meanwhile, in Bathinda, police detained farmers near Jeeda toll plaza. Internet services in Sangrur and Patiala districts remained suspended. Intensifying their agitation, farmers in Punjab and Haryana have announced plans to stage protests outside Deputy Commissioner (DC) offices across both states, aimed at pressing for their pending demands, including a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP), farm loan waivers, and compensation for crop losses. Farmers' unions have announced a peaceful yet resolute demonstrations, stressing that their demands remain unfulfilled despite several rounds of talks with the government. Meanwhile, security has been tightened across various districts to prevent any untoward incidents. The protests are part of a larger agitation for long-term policy changes and financial support to secure farmers' livelihoods. Leaders have urged authorities to address their concerns promptly to avoid further escalation. The protesting farmers, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, had been camping at the Shambhu (Shambhu-Ambala) and Khanauri (Sangrur-Jind) borders since 13 February last year, when their march to Delhi was halted by security forces.

Punjab Expressway to cut Bathinda-Chandigarh travel by 50 km, details inside

The expressway will link Chandigarh to Barnala, Malerkotla, Khanna Bypass, Sirhind, and Mohali, enhancing connectivity in the region

Six including two army men arrested with assault rifle in snatching case

Bathinda Police arrested six individuals, including two Indian Army personnel, following a brief encounter. They were involved in a gunpoint robbery using an AK-47 stolen from an army unit. The incident occurred at Green Hotel near Bathinda, where Rs 7000 was snatched from the owner. Police are verifying the claims of stolen weapon and contact with army authorities is ongoing.

Man armed with iron rod attacks devotees at Golden Temple in Amritsar; five injured

CHANDIGARH: An unidentified man armed with a rod attacked devotees at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, injuring five people. Sources said that the attack took place inside the oldest Guru Ram Dass inn in the golden temple complex near the community kitchen (langar) hall. The state police have arrested the alleged accused and his aide, who had accompanied him to the golden temple. The identity of the attacker has not been officially disclosed. The police are investigating the motive behind the assault. Among the injured, a Sikh youth from Bathinda is in serious condition and is receiving treatment at the emergency wing of Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at Amritsar. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has strongly condemned the shocking attack on devotees and sewadars (attendants) at Sri Guru Ramdas Niwas of Golden Temple. SGPC has urged the police administration to take immediate and stringent action against the culprits and to disclose their identities to the public. SGPC Secretary Partap Singh described the incident as potentially part of a larger conspiracy and called for a thorough police investigation to uncover the truth. Providing details of the attack, he stated that while Sikh devotees from around the world had gathered to pay obeisance at golden temple on the occasion of the new Nanakshahi year, an attacker entered Sri Guru Ramdas Niwas around 12 noon and suddenly launched an assault on devotees and sewadars using an iron rod. Three devotees from Mohali, Bathinda and Patiala along with two sewadars, were injured, he said. Singh said, Alarmingly, one sewadar and a devotee from Bathinda have suffered severe head injuries and remain in critical condition. The injured individuals were immediately admitted to Sri Guru Ramdas Hospital at Vallah managed by the SGPC, where all necessary medical arrangements are being provided by the organization. He said that due to swift response and surveillance footage from the CCTV cameras installed within the Golden Temple complex, the attacker and one of his accomplice was apprehended and handed over to the police. Now, the police administration must conduct a rigorous investigation to expose the culprits and the forces behind this brutal act, he added. Singh lamented that such incidents appear to be part of a deliberate conspiracy aimed at disturbing the peace at Golden Temple, a sacred site revered for its universal message of humanity. He further warned that attempts are being made to instill fear among global Sikh devotees regarding the sanctity and safety of this holy site.

Rod-Wielding Man Assaults Devotees In Amritsar's Golden Temple, 5 Injured

The accused allegedly assaulted inside the Golden Temple with a road, causing serious injuries to a Sikh youth from Bathinda. The assailant and his accomplice were arrested.

Being A Good Person More Important Than Being A Successful Person: President Murmu

Bathinda, Mar 11: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday asserted that morality is the foundation of a meaningful life, saying being a good person is more important than being a successful person. The president was addressing the convocation ceremony of the Central University of Punjab here. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and state Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian were also present on the occasion. She told the students that whatever opportunities they choose in their personal lives or work should not [] The post Being A Good Person More Important Than Being A Successful Person: President Murmu appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Punjab Police arrest six for pro-Khalistan slogans, flag hoisting in CM Manns village

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police have arrested six youths, alleged Khalistan sympathisers, for hoisting a Khalistani flag and writing pro-Khalistan slogans on the boundary wall of a government school in Satoj village, Sangrur districtthe native village of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Superintendent of Police (Investigation), Sangrur, Palwinder Singh Cheema, shared details of the case, stating, On February 12, a video went viral on social media. It was released by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who runs the US-based pro-Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which has been banned by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. As Khalistani slogans were written and a flag hoisted in Satoj village, Sangrur district, the police immediately registered a First Information Report (FIR) at Dharamgarh Police Station under Sections 192, 61(2) BNS, 10, and 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Cheema further explained, During the investigation, it came to light that three accusedJugraj Singh alias Soni, Amritpal Singh, and Baljeet Singhhad been together in Bathinda Central Jail, as multiple cases were already registered against them. Jugraj, a resident of Biroke Kalan in Mansa district, was convicted in a case. When he was released on parole, Baljinder Singh, brother of Amritpal Singh, and Atarveer Singh, brother of Baljeet Singh, contacted him. They trained him and facilitated his direct contact with Gurpatwant Singh Pannun by making him download certain apps, he said. He added, On the intervening night of February 11 and 12, Jugraj went to Satoj village, wrote slogans, hoisted the flag, made videos, and sent them to Pannun from his phone. The police first arrested Gurmeet Singh alias Gitti, who was Jugrajs accomplice. Jugraj was then arrested, which led us to uncover the entire conspiracy. While in Bathinda Central Jail, they plotted the incident. When Jugraj was released, Baljinder Singh guided him in downloading the app, and Atarveer Singh transferred Rs 3,500 to him, Cheema said. He continued, The case was properly traced. The vehicle used, spray cans, and the flag from the incident were recovered. Additionally, five mobile phones have been seized and sent for forensic examination. Further investigation will follow after the reports come in. In this case, there are a total of seven accusedsix have been arrested, while the seventh, Pannun, remains abroad and is yet to be arrested, he added. According to police records, five FIRs were already registered against Jugraj, while three were filed against Amritpal Singh. Baljeet Singh had a prior murder case registered against him before this case. For the other three accused, this is their first offence. When asked why Satoj village was targeted, Cheema said, This was done to gain more publicity. He further revealed that Pannun has been luring innocent youth from Punjab into such illegal activities with financial temptations. His primary objective is to create unrest and fear in India, he stated.

Punjab Minister held defunct department for 21 months, opposition criticises AAP government

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government's Department of Administrative Reforms, which existed only on paper without any officers or staff, was being headed by Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal for the past 21 months. Opposition parties have criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government, questioning its commitment to governance. Dhaliwal, who now retains only the NRI Affairs portfolio, responded to the controversy, saying, The Chief Minister can answer that better. I am a soldier of the party and have carried out every duty assigned to me. A gazette notification dated February 21, issued by the Cabinet Affairs Branch of the Punjab Government, stated: In partial modification of Punjab Government notification dated September 23, 2024, regarding allocation of portfolios amongst the ministers, the Department of Administrative Reforms earlier allotted to Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Cabinet Minister, is not in existence as on date. Therefore, on the advice of the Chief Minister of Punjab, the Governor of Punjab is pleased to make the following amendment: With effect from February 7, 2025, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal will hold the charge of NRI Affairs Minister. Previously, Dhaliwal was in charge of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare portfolio, but he was relieved of this responsibility during a cabinet reshuffle in May 2023. He then retained the NRI Affairs Department and was also assigned the Administrative Reforms Department. In another reshuffle in September 2024, he continued to hold both portfolios, but it has now emerged that the Administrative Reforms Department did not exist. Sources within the government revealed that no staff was ever allocated to the minister for this department, no meetings were held, and no secretary was appointed. The department had been established years ago but had become defunct over time, though it remained on paper. One official noted, There have been no meetings or any programmes related to the Administrative Reforms Department. Further sources disclosed that Dhaliwal had raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the departments existence after he was assigned the portfolio. He reportedly asked the government about the absence of a secretary but continued to hold the department nonetheless. Dhaliwal, the fifth senior-most minister in the Punjab Cabinet after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, New and Renewable Energy Minister Aman Arora, and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Baljit Kaur, was recently in the news for handling US deportees landing in Amritsar as the Minister for NRI Affairs. An official stated, There is a Department of Good Governance and Information Technology that is working to improve efficiency by introducing IT tools for internal governance. Opposition parties took a dig at the AAP government over the issue. Punjab Congress chief and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring wrote in a post: What a Badlaav! SAD leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also criticised the government, saying, Governance @AAPPunjab style. Allocate non-existent departments to ministers who themselves are ignorant of the portfolios they hold. All this is happening because ministers have no role in governance as the government is being run with remote control from Delhi. Punjab BJP General Secretary Subhash Sharma remarked, It shows the government's mental bankruptcy that a department, which is not in existence, has been allocated. Neither those who allotted it, nor those who had been allotted the department, were aware that it did not exist.

Chandigarh Diary | Sukhbir Badals daughter gets married

Former Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badals eldest daughter, Harkirat Kaur, got married to Abu Dhabi-based businessman Tejveer Singh Toor on February 12 in the national capital. The wedding festivities began on February 10 with sangeet ceremony at The Trident, Gurugram, where Bollywood singer Mika Singh performed. Several politicians attended the events, including Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, LoP in the Punjab assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, his father Farooq Abdullah, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Punjab police reshuffle on the horizon Following a meeting between Punjab AAP MLAs and party chief Arvind Kejriwal last week, and in light of the AAP governments defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections, a significant reshuffle within the Punjab police is anticipated. Amid the alleged power struggle within party leadership, control over the state police is often viewed as a crucial indicator of who holds power. During a meeting with police officials CM Bhagwant Mann cautioned SSPsand Police Commissioners to improve their performance or face consequences, emphasizing concerns over false FIRs being filed in certain districts. I take I-T raids in my stride, says Cong MLA Congress MLA from Kapurthala, Rana Gurjit Singh, who is also a prominent industrialist, stated that he has taken the recent Income Tax (IT) raids conducted at 35 of his premisesincluding his homes and officesin stride. A flamboyant Rana remarked that such actions are common for individuals with businesses exceeding Rs 5,000 crore. The raids are a sign that the business is doing well. My business significantly expanded following IT raids in 2017. It is commonly believed that the house subjected to raids is bound to prosper, he said, while praising the IT officials for being thoroughly professionals. Harpreet Bajwa Our correspondent in Chandigarh hsbajwa73@gmail.com

Punjab police arrest two involved in grenade attack, recover special weapons

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Polices state special operating cell (SSOC) Amritsar arrested two members of a Pak-ISI-backed narco terror module for allegedly throwing a hand-grenade on Gumtala Police Post in Amritsar. Director General of Police, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said on Tuesday that those arrested have been identified as Bagga Singh of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar in Haryana's Sirsa and Puskaran Singh alias Sagar of Amarkot in Amritsar. Police teams have also recovered one hand grenade and two sophisticated pistols along with ammunition from their possession. As per official information, unidentified persons hurled a hand grenade at Gumtala Police Post in Amritsar Commissionerate on January 9 this year. Following the incident, terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) claimed responsibility for this terror act on social media. The narcotics module is operated by USA-based smugglers Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian and Sarwan Bhola. DGP Yadav said investigations revealed that arrested accused Bagga Singh is a relative of Sarwan Bhola. Bhola is the brother of notorious smuggler Ranjit Singh alias 'Cheeta', currently lodged in Bathinda jail for in a 532 kg heroin recovery case. Sarwan is also wanted in the 532 kg heroin recovery case and carries a Rs 2 lakh reward announced by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The DGP added that the accused Sarwan Bhola, who has been operating drug smuggling network from USA, has handed over his relative Bagga Singh and his associate Pushkaran to Happy Passian and Harvinder Rinda to carry out terror activities in Punjab. Yadav said that investigations are in progress in scientific manner to establish forward and backward linkages in this case and unveil the entire terror module. Sharing operation details, AIG SSOC Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said following the attack at Gumtala Police Post, police teams have launched an intelligence operation and arrested the two accused. Further efforts are being made to discover the previous crimes committed by the accused persons and arrest remaining members of this module, he added.

Cold weather prevails in Punjab, Haryana; Ferozepur coldest at 2.8 deg C

Cold weather conditions dominated parts of Punjab and Haryana on Saturday. Ferozepur reported the lowest temperature at 2.8C. Faridkot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, and Bathinda also experienced severe cold. In Haryana, Narnaul and Bhiwani registered significant lows. Chandigarh, the shared capital, saw a minimum of 8.6C, with maximum temperatures across both states ranging between 21-23C.

CBI busts Rs 350 crore crypto ponzi scam; conducts raids across 10 locations in seven states

NEW DELHI: In a major crackdown against the crypto ponzi scheme scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday conducted raids at 10 locations across seven states and UTs leading to the recovery of cash worth Rs 34 lakh and digital assets of US$ 38,414 approximately in the cryptocurrency wallets, officials said. Before launching the raids the agency registered an FIR against seven accused in the case involving a scam worth Rs 350 crore, they said. A senior CBI official said, The accused persons were allegedly running seven separate modules based in the cities of Delhi, Hazaribag (Jharkhand), Bathinda (Punjab), Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh), Valsad (Gujarat), Pudukkottai (Tamil Nadu) and Chittorgarh (Rajasthan), taking money from gullible investors promising investments in cryptocurrencies. He said, These ponzi schemes were being promoted through multiple social media groups. An analysis of bank account transactions and cryptocurrency wallets has revealed that the illegal proceeds from these schemes were being converted into cryptocurrencies to make their origin obscure. In the FIR the CBI has alleged that the accused had conducted transactions of over Rs 350 crore in these schemes, the officials said, adding that agency sleuths in different teams swooped down at locations in Delhi, Jharkhand, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. During the searches, the officials said, the raiding teams seized digital virtual assets totalling US$ 38,414 (approximately) in the cryptocurrency wallets of the accused persons, which had been digitally secured for investigation. The searches resulted in the recovery of cash amounting to Rs 34.2 lakh (approx), along with significant digital evidence, including seven mobile phones, one laptop, one tablet, three hard disks, 10 pen drives, memory cards, SIM cards, ATM/debit cards, email accounts, and several incriminating documents, the official said. The CBI in its probe has also uncovered multiple bank accounts and Virtual Digital Asset (VDA) wallets with cryptocurrency exchanges, including CoinDCX, WazirX, Zebpay, and BitBns, held by the accused members. According to the FIR, the case has been registered under Indian Penal Code section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), read with Section 420 (cheating) and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, because it was part of an ongoing investigation that predated the introduction of three new criminal laws last year, the officials said. In the FIR the CBI said, It was alleged that accused persons, acting in criminal conspiracy, have been actively floating various ponzi and fraudulent schemes, promising high returns based on cryptocurrency investments. They are also accused of promoting, promising, and disseminating false and deceptive information to entice investors into these unregulated deposit schemes, which operate without requisite approvals from regulatory authorities such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Marwari stallion priced at Rs 21 crore at Ghora-mandi in Muktsar's Maghi Mela, 600 horses sold

CHANDIGARH: An attraction for all equestrian enthusiasts and breeders, David, a 42-month-old horse, is one of the tallest stallions and a direct descendant of the Raj Hans stallion, which was owned by former Deputy Chief Minister and ex-president of Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Singh Badal. This Marwari horse, which was on display, has an asking price of Rs 21 crore at the recently concluded Ghora-Mandi at the Maghi Mela in Muktsar. Approximately 3,000 horses and mares participated in the event, and about 600 were sold. Not only David, but another horse, Bilawal, a 69-inch-tall white stallion of the Nukra breed, also attracted attention. Its owner, Jaspal Singh from Tarkhanwala village in Muktsar, is asking for a price in crores. Another horse, a 66-inch-tall mare named Noori, is being offered by its owner, Gurmel Singh Patwar, with an asking price in lakhs. Speaking to this newspaper, Vikramjit Singh Brar, manager of Sanjam Stud Farm at Badal village, which owns David, said they have twenty horses and specialize in breeding. At the recently concluded Horse Mandi, they brought two horses: David, a 72-inch, 42-month-old stallion, and King Earth, a 20-month-old Marwari breed horse. We will not sell David below this price, Brar stated. He added that King Earth's father, Big Jasper, was sold last year for a few crores to a buyer from Pune. We charge Rs 1.25 lakh for each mating with David, as many breeders approach us for mating with his horse. When David was born, his value was around Rs 1 crore. Brar explained that breeders from Pune, Mumbai, Gujarat, and other regions come to Punjab to buy horses from breeders in Muktsar, Bathinda, Moga, Amritsar, Morinda, and other parts of the state. The price of a stallion depends on factors such as height, breeding, upkeep, and appearance. He added, The diet of the horse is 4 to 5 kg per day. Jagat Pal Singh Brar, owner of Virasat Stud Farm at Chaksherewala village, Muktsar, who has ten horses, said that there are only two top livestock fairs in the country: one at Pushkar in Rajasthan and the other at Muktsar. Breeders and others who want to buy horses come from Tamil Nadu and other South Indian states, besides Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and other places. This time, I displayed two of my stallions, both four years old: Prithvi Raj and Damdar, he said. He added that there are 70 to 80 breeders in Punjab and explained that the Nukra breed originates from Punjab, while the Marwari breed comes from Rajasthan. Sukhpal Singh Bhati, partner in the firm responsible for organizing the fair, said that this year, around 2,800 to 3,000 horses and mares were brought to the fair by stud farm owners from across the country, mainly from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Of these, approximately 600 horses were sold. Foals (two months to one year old) are sold for about Rs 50,000, and the average price of normal horses is between Rs 1.50 lakh and Rs 3.50 lakh. The price depends on factors like height, legs, chest, color, teeth, trot, and body size, he said. Buyers came from across the country. Singh's company, which charges a 4 percent commission on any sale, further explained that most stud farm owners display their horses and mares at the fair for show, rather than to sell them. Horses are often sold later on, after the fair ends. An officer from the animal husbandry department, speaking on the condition of anonymity, explained that foals, colts, and fillies (one to three years old) are generally sold. White-colored horses of the Nukra breed are used for marriage functions, while Marwari horses are used for breeding. Other horses are used in polo and games like pegging. Most deals are done discreetly to avoid the 4 percent commission, and the actual price of the horse is never disclosed, he added.

Screening of Kangana Ranaut's 'Emergency' cancelled in theatres across Punjab following protests

CHANDIGARH: The cinemas and multiplexes across Punjab on Friday were forced to cancel the screening of Kangana Ranaut-starrer Emergency following protests by various Sikh organization and farmers' bodies. Kangana plays the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the film. The films release was earlier delayed after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) sought several cuts in the movie after Sikh groups raised concerns over the portrayal of the community. On Thursday, SGPC had demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ban its screening in Punjab. In a letter to Mann, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said the movie was a calculated attempt to distort history and harm Sikh sentiments and warned that releasing it could provoke outrage within the Sikh community. The protesters claimed that the movie hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs and provoked outrage in the community. The members of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) protested against the movie outside the cinemas in Amritsar. Also, there were protests outside cinemas in Bathinda, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur. The members of one of the factions of farmer union BKU gathered outside Dhillon Plaza and Cosmo Plaza in Zirakpur in SAS Nagar district near Chandigarh and protested alleging that Kangana Ranaut used vulgar language against them during the ongoing farmers' protest and in the movie, facts have been twisted to defame the Sikh community. A member of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) said that the history of the Sikh religion and the incidents of 1984 were depicted in the movie in a distorted manner. He demanded the movie to be banned. Meanwhile, Kangana reacted to the protests saying it as a complete harassment of art and the artist. She also slammed the propaganda to tarnish her image. In a message posted on platform X, Kangana Ranaut wrote, This is complete harassment of art and the artist, from Punjab many cities are reporting that these people are not allowing Emergency to be screened. I have utmost respect for all religions and after studying and growing up in Chandigarh I have closely observed and followed sikh religion. This is complete lie and propaganda to tarnish my image and harm my film. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that governments and censor boards must keep an eye on films like Emergency as such films show scripted stories, which are not true and the facts are twisted otherwise, they would not be successful if there was no masala. However, theaters in the Union Territory of Chandigarh screened the movie.

Complete harassment of art and the artist: Kangana after SGPC calls for ban on Emergency

New Delhi, Jan 17: Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut on Friday said the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committees (SGPC) demand for a ban on Emergency and the films restricted screenings in parts of Punjab is a complete harassment of art and the artist. On Thursday, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami wrote to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann demanding a ban on the movie, which released across the country on Friday. Many cinemas in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala and Bathinda did not screen Emergency [] The post Complete harassment of art and the artist: Kangana after SGPC calls for ban on Emergency appeared first on Daily Excelsior .