Over 3,200 FIRs filed against travel agents in Punjab in last three years
CHANDIGARH: In recent years, an increasing number of young individuals from Punjab have fallen prey to unscrupulous travel agents exploiting their desire to migrate abroad. Whether through the so-called Dunky Route, student visas, or fraudulent marriages, these agents have capitalised on the desperation of youth. Over the past three years, Punjab has seen the registration of 3,225 First Information Reports (FIRs) against travel agents. Of these, more than 1,100 cases have been filed under the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012. A closer look at the data reveals that the highest number of cases was registered by the SAS Nagar Police (398), followed by the Jalandhar Police Commissionerate (375), Hoshiarpur Police (293), and Patiala Police (235). Other notable police stations include the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate (228), the NRI Wing of the Punjab Police (190), Amritsar Police Commissionerate (188), Jalandhar (Rural) Police (141), and SBS Nagar Police (127). An analysis of these cases further highlights that 1,117 were registered under the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012, 783 under the Emigration Act, and 1,325 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Jalandhar Police Commissionerate recorded the highest number of cases under the Human Smuggling Act (294), followed by Amritsar Police Commissionerate (141) and Hoshiarpur Police (110). Under the Emigration Act, the SAS Nagar Police registered 287 cases, followed by Ludhiana Police Commissionerate (161) and the NRI Wing (75). Under IPC sections, Patiala Police topped the list with 198 cases, followed by the NRI Wing (115) and Hoshiarpur Police (111). Dilemma of desperate deportees Talking to this newspaper, Additional DGP (NRI Wing) Parveen Sinha said, Punjab is the only state in the country where the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012, is enforced. We take stringent action against travel agents upon receiving complaints. In the past three years, over 3,000 cases have been registered across the state. Speaking on the issue, Capt. SP Singh, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Immigration and Education Consultants (ALIEC), said, As per the Act, travel agents are required to display their license number prominently outside their offices and in advertisements. However, illegal agents are predominantly active on social media platforms, making it difficult to trace their backgrounds. This makes it easier for them to deceive vulnerable individuals. We urge that advertisements on social media be regulated under this Act and be subject to scrutiny. From snakes, crocodiles to trimming beard, US deportee from Punjab recalls perilous 'donkey route' The situation calls for an understanding of these agents' modus operandi. The Act must be amended to keep pace with evolving tactics. Currently, there are approximately 5,000 to 7,000 registered agents, but the number of illegal agents remains uncertain, Singh added. Jatinder Benipal, President of ALIEC, said that the majority of deported individuals linked to illegal migration were victims of unregistered agents. These agents evade the regulatory oversight set by the Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Rules, 2013. Illegal migration is primarily facilitated by unregistered agents, not by licensed professionals who comply with the legal framework, Benipal said. Sources revealed that three flights landing in Amritsar on February 5, 15, and 16 were carrying a significant number of deportees from Punjab. A total of 333 illegal immigrants were deported, of whom 126 (37.8%) were from Punjab. Other deportees included 110 from Haryana (33%), 74 from Gujarat (22.2%), and smaller numbers from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. Among the deportees, 262 were men, 42 were women, and 29 were children (18 boys and 11 girls) returning from the United States with their families. Why Amritsar chosen? Political slugfest erupts over US planes carrying Indian deportees
CHANDIGARH: The second flight from the US, carrying 117 deported Indians, landed at Amritsar International Airport late Sunday night. Of the deportees, 65 were from Punjab, who had traveled to the US via the 'Dunky Route' in search of better opportunities, spent fortunes ranging from Rs 40 to Rs 55 lakh. Now, many of these youths face a bleak and uncertain future. In addition, they must repay massive loans, as their families sold land and mortgaged properties to finance their journey to the 'dream land. Daljit Singh, 42, from Kurala Kalan village in Hoshiarpur, took two years to reach the United States, only to be deported. He paid a travel agent Rs 45 lakh to travel via the 'Dunky Route.' Kamalpreet Kaur, Daljits wife, claims the agent assured them that her husband would be sent directly to the U.S. When the agent demanded more money and we couldn't pay, he took the general power of attorney for our five acres of land, the family alleged. Over a month ago, the agent informed the family that Daljit had reached the U.S. but was unable to connect with them. Daljit's family has now demanded that the government ensure the return of their land and take action against the agent. A couple from Jaula Kurdh village, SAS Nagar (Mohali), paid Rs 80 lakh to the agent to take the 'Dunky Route,' but they, too, were deported. Both are now suffering from depression. The husbands father, a police officer, said, The agents told us they would send them legally, but they deceived us. Eight months ago, we spoke to the agent, and he promised they would be sent to the U.S. within a week. The last contact we had was on February 5, and they said they had crossed into the U.S. after passing through several countries. Mangal Singh Thind, from Nawan Kot village near Jandiala Guru in Amritsar, sold his commercial vehicles, including two trucks, and borrowed money from relatives to pay Rs 55 lakh to the agent. It took my grandson, Jasnoor Singh, 19, nine months to reach the U.S. He was stuck in Colombia for six months before being dropped off in Guhana by air, he said. Jaswinder, cousin of Saurabh from Chandiwala village in Ferozepur, said his cousin spent Rs 40 lakh on an agent to enter the U.S., only for his dreams to be shattered. My sisters son, Harjot Singh, and his cousin, Harjit Singh, from Khanowal village (Gurdaspur), arranged Rs 45 lakh each for the agent. Both have been deported after selling their agricultural land and taking loans, said Nishan Singh from Ajnala. The family of 20-year-old Jashanpreet Singh from Pandori Rajputan village in Kapurthala sent their son to Spain in June last year, where he got in touch with an agent who sent him to the U.S. His mother, Kuldeep Kaur, said, He went to the U.S. about a month ago but was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol and taken to a camp. We sent around Rs 45 lakh to get him abroad. Gurmeet Singh of Talania village is among the 117 deported to India late last night. He had left for the U.S. on November 12 last year. His father, Chunni Lal, said the travel agent took Rs 40 lakh, and to pay him, they mortgaged jewelry and their house to private money lenders and borrowed money from relatives. Lal added, We left him in New Delhi and dont know how the agent got him to the U.S. before he was arrested by U.S. authorities. Its a similar story for 22-year-old Sahilpreet Singh from Taraf Behhal Bahadur village in Kapurthala, whose family paid Rs 40 lakh to the agent. He left just a month ago but was deported back. Sahils grandfather said, We sold a plot, pledged our land, and borrowed money from relatives to send him. Now we fear we may lose our house too. We wouldnt have sent him abroad if he had found a job here. We request the government to provide him with a job. Another youth, Pardeep Bassi from New Market in Goraya near Phagwara, was deported after paying Rs 45 lakh to an agent to go to the U.S. He was apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border shortly after leaving. Pardeep had been living with his widowed mother, Surinder Kaur, while his brother was settled in Canada. Saurabh from Chandiwala village in Ferozepur sold two acres of land and paid Rs 45 lakh to go to the U.S. He entered the border on January 27 but was arrested and sent to a camp for 18 days before being deported. Mantaj Singh from Hoshiarpur shares a similar tale of deception and loss.
Hands cuffed, legs chained, deportee from US recounts journey back to Amritsar
Hoshiarpur: Daljit Singh left his native village in Punjab for the US last year in a desperate bid to provide a better future for his family. On Saturday night, he landed in Amritsar in a US military aircraft, his hands cuffed and legs chained. A native of Kurala Kalan village in Punjabs Hoshiarpur district, Daljit Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
US deportees on second flight back home handcuffed, chained; Sikh youth boarded without turban
CHANDIGARH: 117 Indians deported from the United States (US) landed at the Amritsar International Airport at 11.40 pm on Saturday . Deportees alleged that the men had their hands cuffed and legs chained while the women and minor children aboard the second US Air Force plane, C-17 Globemaster III were let free. Additionally, Sikh youth were deported without turbans. Of the 117 deportees, 65 are from Punjab, 33 are from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The deported illegal immigrants included four women and two minors, including a six-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, and 112 men. Most of the deportees are in the age group of 18 to 30 years. Sources added that this time the difference was that the women were not handcuffed and chained, unlike the last time when women were also in shackles. Sources said that after security clearance, immigration, and background checks, the deportees were given food. The illegal immigrants who hailed from Punjab were then taken to their homes by Punjab Police at around 4:30 am on Sunday. The Haryana government also made transportation arrangements for the deportees from the state by sending police buses. As a few families had come to the airport to receive their children, they were not handed over to their kin and were told to go back. While those from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa were sent early this morning on flights from Amritsar, coordinated by the Union government, said an officer. Daljit Singh of Kurala Kalan village in Hoshiarpur, who was among the deportees, claimed that they were handcuffed with their legs chained during the journey. Our legs were chained and hands were also cuffed, he said. Singh said he was taken through the 'dunki route'. Saurabh of Chandiwala village in Ferozepur said, We were handcuffed and chained, put in the plane and sent back. They treated us very badly and humiliated us. Two cousin brothers from Gurdaspur district, who were deported back, said that they were threatened by the US army personnel while being deported and tortured. We crossed the US border on January 27, and the authorities put us in the camp for 18 days and never listened to us. Then we were put on the plane, handcuffed, and sent back, never allowed even to speak, said one of them. The C-17 aircraft that landed around 11:35 pm on Saturday was the second batch of Indians to be deported by the Donald Trump administration as part of its crackdown on illegal immigrants. If agriculture was profitable, Indians wouldn't move abroad: Dallewal on US deportation Another controversy has arisen: the Sikh youth were deported and were not allowed to tie their turbans, returning with open hair. Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia said, Bhagwant Mann and his ministers are playing to the gallery on the deportation of youth from the USA, but shockingly and shamelessly, they are silent on bringing Sikh youth bare-headed without turbans. Not a single word on this major issue. Why Bhagwant Mann? Is it because you don't use the word Singh in your name? Shame on you for such dirty politics. I strongly condemn this action of US authorities for bringing Sikh youth without turbans. I also urge the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately take up the matter with US authorities so that such an incident is never repeated in the future, he added. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) Member Gurcharan Singh also raised this issue and condemned the kind of treatment meted out to the Sikh youth. He said that the SGPC would write to the US authorities in this regard. We gave the turbans to the youth once they landed at the airport after we came to know about this, he said. Why Amritsar chosen? Political slugfest erupts over US planes carrying Indian deportees
Two deportees who arrived in second US plane arrested in murder case
CHANDIGARH: 117 Indians deported from the United States arrived on a US Air Force plane, C-17 Globemaster III late Saturday night at Amritsar International Airport. The men had their hands cuffed and legs chained, women and the two children were not. Additionally, Sikh youth were returned without turbans. Meanwhile, Punjab Police arrested two deportees in connection with a murder case. The US Air Force plane, C-17 Globemaster, with 117 Indian deportees, landed at Amritsar International Airport at 11:40 pm. Of these, 65 are from Punjab, 33 are from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The deported illegal immigrants included four women and two minors, including a six-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, and 112 men. Most of the deportees are in the age group of 18 to 30 years. Sources added that this time the difference was that the women were not handcuffed and chained, unlike the last time when women were also in shackles. Sources said that after security clearance, immigration, and background checks, the deportees were given food. The illegal immigrants who hailed from Punjab were then taken to their homes by Punjab Police at around 4:30 am on Sunday. The Haryana government also made transportation arrangements for the deportees from the state by sending police buses. As a few families had come to the airport to receive their children, they were not handed over to their kin and were told to go back. While those from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa were sent early this morning on flights from Amritsar, coordinated by the Union government, said an officer. Daljit Singh of Kurala Kalan village in Hoshiarpur, who was among the deportees, claimed that they were handcuffed with their legs chained during the journey. Our legs were chained and hands were also cuffed, he said. Singh said he was taken through the 'dunki route'. Saurabh of Chandiwala village in Ferozepur said, We were handcuffed and chained, put in the plane and sent back. They treated us very badly and humiliated us. Two cousin brothers from Gurdaspur district, who were deported back, said that they were threatened by the US army personnel while being deported and tortured. We crossed the US border on January 27, and the authorities put us in the camp for 18 days and never listened to us. Then we were put on the plane, handcuffed, and sent back, never allowed even to speak, said one of them. The C-17 aircraft that landed around 11:35 pm on Saturday was the second batch of Indians to be deported by the Donald Trump administration as part of its crackdown on illegal immigrants. The two deportees, Sandeep Singh and Pradeep Singh, are cousin brothers and were wanted in a murder case filed in 2023 in Rajpura, Patiala. A team of Patiala Police arrested them at Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport in Amritsar. Sources said that both the accused hailed from Rajpura and had already been declared proclaimed offenders in the murder case. Both the accused were booked under sections 302, 307, 323, 506, 148, and 149 of the Indian Penal Code by Patiala Police in a murder case registered on June 26, 2023. However, police officials said they hadn't issued a 'Look Out Circular' against the two. The family members said that they spent Rs 1.20 crore to send them to the US. Confirming their arrest, Senior Superintendent of Police of Patiala Nanak Singh said that they were arrested from the Amritsar airport. Another controversy has arisen: the Sikh youth were deported and were not allowed to tie their turbans, returning with open hair. Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia said, Bhagwant Mann and his ministers are playing to the gallery on the deportation of youth from the USA, but shockingly and shamelessly, they are silent on bringing Sikh youth bare-headed without turbans. Not a single word on this major issue. Why Bhagwant Mann? Is it because you don't use the word Singh in your name? Shame on you for such dirty politics. I strongly condemn this action of US authorities for bringing Sikh youth without turbans. I also urge the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately take up the matter with US authorities so that such an incident is never repeated in the future. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) Member Gurcharan Singh also raised this issue and condemned the kind of treatment meted out to the Sikh youth. He said that the SGPC would write to the US authorities in this regard. We gave the turbans to the youth once they landed at the airport after we came to know about this, he said. US deportation: Punjab police arrests travel agent in case related to illegal migration
'Legs Chained, Hands Cuffed': Recalls Deported Punjab Resident, Who Took Donkey Route To US
Daljit Singh, a native of Kurala Kalan village in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district, is among 116 illegal Indian immigrants deported from the US. They returned to Amritsar on Saturday night.
Punjab Cabinet approves Rs 14K crore arrears for employees, pensioners
CHANDIGARH: After a gap of four months, the Punjab Cabinet convened, focusing on crucial policy decisions ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. In a significant relief for state government employees and pensioners, the Cabinet approved the disbursement of pending arrears worth Rs 14,000 crore. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, The Cabinet has given approval to release arrears of revised pay, pensions, and leave encashment for the period between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2022. Additionally, pending Dearness Allowance (DA) from 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2024 will also be released for pensioners and employees. He added that the sum will be disbursed in stages, benefiting nearly six lakh individualsthree lakh employees and three lakh pensioners. The Cabinet also approved the creation of new posts in the Punjab State Legal Services Authority for setting up 22 new Lok Adalats across the state. In order to check tax pilferage and ensure proper utilisation of human resources in the Taxation Department, the Cabinet has approved the creation of 476 new posts in the department. Additionally, the nomenclature of Inspectors has been changed, and they will now be designated as State Taxation Officers, Cheema said. The Cabinet also approved the recruitment of 53 drivers in the Excise Department on a regular basis and sanctioned amendments to rules and qualifications for the direct recruitment of Physical Training Instructors (PTI teachers) in the Elementary Education Department. This will facilitate the hiring of 2,000 such teachers across the state in the coming days, Cheema added. To improve healthcare services, the Cabinet approved the revival of 822 Group C posts in the Health and Family Welfare Department, enhancing the departments efficiency. This move will immensely benefit the public by improving access to quality healthcare services. Additionally, the Cabinet sanctioned the creation of 97 posts across various cadres in the Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences, SAS Nagar, further strengthening the institutions ability to provide quality medical services, Cheema stated. The Cabinet also granted approval for providing University Grants Commission (UGC) scales to the teaching faculty of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University, Patiala. In a major push for employment generation, the Cabinet waived Stamp Duty, Registration Fees, and other charges for land transfers to the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) NICDC Punjab Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited for the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC), a key component of the Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) Project. This initiative is expected to create over 50,000 jobs, including 32,724 industrial positions and 14,880 non-industrial roles. To support the economically weaker sections (EWS), the Cabinet approved a policy for the optimum utilisation of land reserved for EWS housing. Scattered land pockets in various colonies will be monetised, and the funds will be used to benefit EWS families. For this, 1,500 acres of land will be acquired across the state, Cheema said. The Cabinet also approved a policy for the optimal utilisation of External Development Charges (EDC) collected from property developers under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act (PAPRA). Under this policy, 50 per cent of the collected EDC will be used for infrastructure development within the respective colony or township, while the remaining 50% will fund major state projects. In a progressive move, the Cabinet approved renaming the financial assistance scheme for acid attack victims as The Punjab Financial Assistance to Acid Victims Scheme, 2024. The scheme will now include male and transgender victims. Additionally, the monthly financial aid for victims has been increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. The Cabinet also sanctioned the convening of a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on 24-25 February to conduct legislative business. In another key decision, the Cabinet approved an amnesty policy for defaulting allottees who were unable to pay for plots or land allotted to them by the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) and other special development authorities. Furthermore, the Cabinet approved the establishment of special fast-track NRI courts in six districtsJalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Moga, and Ludhianato expedite cases related to non-resident Indians.
Dunki route & treacherous trek through Panama tough terrain
CHANDIGARH: The Dunki Route has existed for sometime but gained significant attention after several Indians who used it to arrive in the US were deported. Originating in Punjab, Dunki means to hop from place to place. The Dunki route starts from South American continent primarily in Brazil. From Brazil, the illegal immigrants enter Peru or Ecuador before travelling to Columbia. They then navigate the dangerous panama jungle which takes about a week to cross. While in the jungle they may encounter skeletons or dead bodies and pass through cross Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and finally enter Mexico. From there they cross into the United States. The entire journey is facilitated by agents who trap innocent and desperate people, especially the youth, who dream of making it big in the US. Recounting the horror, one of the victims Harwinder Singh of Tahli village in Hoshiarpur district said that he was first made to catch a flight to Qatar and then to Brazil. Contrary to the plan of being flown to Peru, he was taken to Panama by road and forced to take the donkey route. In almost all the cases, the immigrants would have either sold their land or took loans to pay fees ranging from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 1 crore to travel agents. The trauma doesnt end here as these agents extract much more money than promised. Another victim, Daler Singh of Salempura village in Amritsar said that he too was forced to endure the torture. An illusive dream A recent Bollywood film Dunki had depicted the details of Dunki routes, reason why people embark on it and what they encounter in foreign countries. The promise of higher incomes, opportunities and improved living standards, encapsulated in the American Dream, fuels the desire to migrate.
Handcuffed & chained in the sky for 40 hours
CHANDIGARH: A video released by the American authorities on Thursday confirmed what the 104 deportees said upon landing in Amritsar the day beforethat during the 40-hour flight, the US officials cuffed their hands and feet and were not allowed to move from their seats. They were only grudgingly allowed to use the washroom but with the shackles on. They had to drag themselves to and fro. The handcuffs remained while they ate food, too. The video the United States Customs and Border Protection (USBP) released went viral on Thursday and showed the deportees handcuffed and chained at the ankles. USBP Chief Michael W Banks shared the video on X and wrote that USBP and partners successfully returned illegal aliens to India, adding, If you cross illegally, you will be removed. One of the 104 deportees, 30-year-old Lovepreet Kaur of Bholath in Kapurthala, underwent a horrible experience of going to the US and returning immediately after spending a whopping Rs 1 crore. Back in Amritsar, she said she reportedly paid Rs 1 crore to reach the US with her 10-year-old son had landed there on. They left India on January 2, reaching the US on January 27. They first flew to Medellin in Colombia and stayed there for two weeks. Their next stop was San Salvador, from where they walked and crossed into Guatemala and took a taxi to Mexico. Two days later, they crossed the border but got caught. We were kept in a camp for five days and then chained from the waist, our feet and hands cuffed. Only the children were spared. She was in a group comprising seven families and some single men and women. No one told us where we were being taken. We were told we had returned to India when we arrived in Amritsar. Our dreams shattered in that instant. Deportee Harwinder Singh of Tahli village in Hoshiarpur said the journey was more mentally traumatic than physically exhausting. The crew and officials forced us to eat with handcuffs. They ignored our repeated requests to remove the handcuffs. It is the trauma that possibly led to another deportee, 27-year-old Davinderjit Singh of Jalandhar, going missing. He returned home from Amritsar Wednesday night. On Thursday morning, he took his bike and left home. The family has been unable to locate him since then. Another case of a wasted journey is Jaspal Singhs. He is from Hardorawal village in Gurdaspur. His agent told him he would reach the US by air. He reached Brazil last July. But the final leg never materialised. After six months, he managed to cross over to the US, only to be caught by US Border Patrol. He was in custody for 11 days before being sent home.
Legs and hands tied on flight to India from US, say deportees
CHANDIGARH: Jaspal Singh, who was among 104 deportees brought in a US aircraft on Wednesday, claimed that their hands and legs were cuffed throughout the journey and they were unshackled only after landing at the Amritsar airport. Singh, 36, who hails from Hardorwal village in Gurdaspur district, said he was captured by the US Border Patrol on January 24. A US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal immigrants from various states landed here on Wednesday, the first such batch of Indians deported by the Donald Trump government as part of a crackdown against illegal immigrants. Of them, 33 each were from Haryana and Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, three each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh, sources said. Nineteen women and 13 minors, including a four-year-old boy and two girls, aged five and seven, were among the deportees, they said. Deportees from Punjab were taken to their native places in police vehicles from the Amritsar airport. After reaching his home town Wednesday night, Jaspal said he was defrauded by a travel agent as he was promised that he would be sent to the US in a legal way. I had asked the agent to send me through a proper visa. But he deceived me, said Jaspal. He said that the deal was done at Rs 30 lakh. Jaspal claimed that he reached Brazil by air in July last year. He said he was promised that the next leg of journey, to the US, would be by air too. However, he was cheated by his agent, who forced him to cross the border illegally. After staying for six months in Brazil, he crossed the border to the US, but was arrested by the US Border Patrol. He was kept there in custody for 11 days and then sent back home. Jaspal said he didn't know he was being deported to India. We thought we were being taken to another camp. Then a police officer told us that they were being taken to India. We were handcuffed and our legs were chained. These were opened at the Amritsar airport, he claimed. Jaspal said he was shattered with deportation. A huge sum was spent. The money was borrowed. Earlier, Jaspal's cousin Jasbir Singh said, We came to know about his deportation through the media on Wednesday morning. About the deportations, he said, These are issues of governments. When we go abroad for work, we have big dreams for a better future for our families. Those have now been shattered. Two more deportees, who reached their home towns in Hoshiarpur on Wednesday night, also shared their ordeal they went through to reach the US. Harwinder Singh, who hails from Tahli village in Hoshiarpur, said he left for the US in August last year. He was taken to Qatar, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, and then Mexico. From Mexico, he along with others were taken to the US, he said. We crossed hills. A boat, which was taking him along with other persons, was about to capsize in the sea but we survived, he told reporters. He said he saw one person dying in the Panama jungle and one drowning in the sea. Punjab minister seeks PM Modi's intervention in deportation of Indians from US, urges him to find a solution Singh said his travel agent had promised him that he would first be taken to Europe and then to Mexico. He said that he spent Rs 42 lakh for his trip to the US. Sometimes we got rice. Sometimes, we did not get anything to eat. We used to get biscuits, he said. Another deportee from Punjab spoke about the 'donkey route' used to take them to the US. Our clothes worth Rs 30,000-35,000 were stolen on the way, he said. The deportee said they were first taken to Italy and then to Latin America. He said they took a 15-hour-long boat ride and were made to walk 40-45 kms. We crossed 17-18 hills. If one slipped, then there would be no chance that he would survive... We have seen a lot. If anybody got injured, he was left to die. We saw dead bodies, he said. Earlier in the day, the C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the US Air Force landed at the Amritsar airport. The US action came just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington for wide-ranging talks with President Donald Trump. The deportees were questioned inside the airport terminal building by different government agencies, including the Punjab Police, and various state and central intelligence agencies to check if they have any criminal record.
Huge loans, land loss in pursuit of American dream a nightmare now
CHANDIGARH: The families of illegal Indian immigrants deported back on Wednesday had taken loans and sold their lands or homes to send their wards to the United States, and they are now worried about how to repay the vast amounts. They had raised anywhere between Rs 40-60 lakh to pay agents for sending the youths abroad through the donkey route, a move that has backfired. They want the government to help them out financially. One of the deported youths, Gurpreet Singh, who belongs to Tarf Behbal village in Kapurthala district, had gone to the US only six months ago. His family says they only learned on Wednesday that he was being sent back. We have now lost our house, as we took a loan of Rs 45 lakh from relatives, friends and others to send him. Now, we can only survive if the government helps us. Else, it is all over, said a family member. Akashdeep Singh from Rajatal in Amritsar had been out of contact with his family for the last fortnight. His father came to know why, when the police informed him of his return. The family spent Rs 60 lakh to send him to the US. But he is happy that at least his son returned safely. It is the same story with Jaswinder Singh of Ahanpura village in Fategarh Sahib. His son reached the US on January 15 this year after they raised Rs 50 lakh through a loan. He left India around the Dussehra festival last year. He was asking for money from me. I arranged it by taking loans on interest from jewellers and relatives. I do not know how he went. We sent him abroad because he did not find any work here. We thought he would earn and improve our lot. But we did not know this would happen, said a family member. One of the deported women is Sukhjit Kaur. Her father, though, is in Italy. Her family has a similar tale of woe. Punjab minister seeks PM Modi's intervention in deportation of Indians from US, urges him to find a solution Spending Rs 42 lakh, the family of Harwinder Singh of Tahli village in Hoshiarpur district had sent him to the US about 10 months ago. His wife lamented, When my husband returns home, I will ask him how he got caught and how he was treated. The agent had told us he would send my husband legally, but instead, he sent him through the donkey route. When my husband reached the US, his condition was terrible. She took loans to give him the money. She has at home two children, her husbands father and younger brother. The family has to survive on income from a small piece of land and a small dairy. Our financial condition is terrible, she added. His father hopes the government will help them. Over 100 illegal Indian migrants deported from US via military aircraft land in Amritsar Regarding Pardeep of Jarout village in SAS Nagar district, the family spent Rs 41 lakh on him by selling half an acre of their land and taking a loan. His mother said, Now the family is tense. What should we do? He returned to the US six months ago and is home now. We used to ask the agent about him, and he used to tell us that Pardeep was doing fine. We used to talk to Pardeep, and he also told us he was fine. The mother demands that he should get a government job. Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that he spoke to the deportees, and most of them told him that they were sent to the US by Dubai-based travel agents, the agreements struck over the phone. The youth from here went to Dubai and were sent to the US via different countries, including the UK. A few of them even had Canadian visas, he added. According to sources, the deportees reportedly said during initial questioning that they had used different agents and stayed at multiple locations before being caught.
Deported youths had entered US via Mexico, kin at wits' end after spending Rs 40-60 lakh
The 104 Indian nationals deported to India on Wednesday aboard a US military flight were individuals who had entered the US through the Mexican border into Texas, sources familiar with the process told The New Indian Express . More individuals from the same area are expected to be deported in the coming days as both nations continue verifying their nationalities. There are also thousands of Indians waiting for deportation along the Canadian border which is also being discussed between the two countries. We received 104 nationals on Wednesday who were residing illegally in the United States. The process is ongoing, and in line with our policy, we will return nationals whose nationality is confirmed after overstaying, said a source. Though the US government has been sending back illegal immigrants to India for some years now, this was the first instance of deportation under the second Trump administration. During the last deportation in October, the US government had used a chartered aircraft. When asked why a military aircraft was used, a spokesperson for the US embassy in New Delhi said: The US military is supporting the administrations effort to expedite the removal of illegal migrants. Over 100 illegal Indian migrants deported from US via military aircraft land in Amritsar Meanwhile, the government is focused on improving the migration process to ensure that a few illegal migrants do not tarnish the country's image as a source of highly skilled workers through legal channels. ast week, the US President mentioned that he had discussed immigration with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stated that India would do what is right in managing the return of illegal immigrants. Likewise, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had earlier remarked that New Delhi is open to the legitimate return of Indian nationals living illegally abroad, including in the US. During a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs, chaired by Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor, on Tuesday the government briefed members on the issue. While many, including Congresss Rajeev Shukla, raised serious concerns about the future of these Indians returning to India, sources said there was broad agreement among members on addressing illegal immigration by promoting legal emigration with the US and other countries. This includes strengthening existing legal frameworks and raising awareness. However, despite efforts by successive governments, the Emigration Act of 1983 remains unchanged. Now, the Ministry of External Affairs is preparing a new bill for presentation in Parliament, tentatively titled the Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024. Once discussions with other ministries are completed, the bill will be made available for public comments. The movement of people and migration patterns have undergone significant changes. In recent times, migration has become a highly politicized issue in many countries. We need to align our migration policies with these evolving global realities. It's not just about the US; many countries are now rethinking their approach to migration, said a source. Punjab minister seeks PM Modi's intervention in deportation of Indians from US, urges him to find a solution The families of the deported youths had taken loans and sold lands or houses to send them to the US through the 'donkey route' paying anywhere between Rs 40 to Rs 60 lakh. They are at their wits' end on how to pay back the loans. One of the deported youths, Jaswinder Singh of Ahanpura village in Fategarh Sahib, had reached the US only on January 15 this year after his family took loans of Rs 50 lakh to send him. He went last year around the Dussehra festival. We arranged for loans and also took money from relatives to send him to the US. We do not know how he went. He did not find any work here so we sent him abroad. We thought that he will earn well there and thus his and our lives will turn for good but we did not know this will happen, said a family member. It's the same story with Gurpreet Singh from Tarf Behbal village in Kaurthala district who had gone to the US only six months back. His family said they came to know only on Wednesday through the media that he had been deported. We have now lost our house, as we had taken a loan of Rs 45 lakh to send him. Only if the government helps us can we survive, otherwise it is all over, said a family member. Spending Rs 42 lakh, the family of Harwinder Singh of Tahli village in Hoshiarpur district had sent him about ten months back to United States. You can see how we are feeling. The agent had told us that he will send my husband legally but instead he sent him through the 'donkey route', said his wife, adding that she took money from villagers and her brothers and sisters to send him abroad. She said they have two children and their financial condition is very bad. Singh's father demanded that the government should help them financially. The family of Pardeep of Jarout village in SAS Nagar district spent Rs 41 lakh to send him to the US, selling half an acre of their land and also taking a loan. Now we are worried. He had gone six months ago. We used to talk to him and he would tell us he is fine, said his mother, demanding that he should be given a government job. Akashdeep Singh from Rajatal in Amritsar had not been in contact with his family for fifteen days. His father stated that the police informed them of his return. The family spent Rs 60 lakh to send him to the US and expressed relief that he has returned safely. Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaiwal said he spoke to illegal immigrants from Punjab who were deported and most of them told him that they were sent to the US by travel agents based in Dubai. The youth from here went to Dubai and then they were sent to the US via different countries including the UK. A few of them had Canadian visas too. Sources said that during initial questioning, the deportees reportedly said that they had used different agents and stayed at multiple locations before being apprehended.
AMRITSAR: A US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal immigrants from various states landed here on Wednesday, the first such batch of Indians deported by the Trump government as part of a crackdown it resolved to carry out when it was sworn in last month. Of them, 33 each are from Haryana and Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, three each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh, sources said. Nineteen women and 13 minors, including a 4-year-old boy and two girls aged five and seven years, were among the deportees, they said. The C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the US Air Force landed at the Amritsar airport at 1:55 pm. The US action came just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington to hold wide-ranging talks with President Donald Trump. Hours after the US military aircraft landed at the airport, Punjab NRI Affairs minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention, urging him to speak to his friend US President Donald Trump regarding the deportation of Indians. Over 100 illegal Indian migrants deported from US via military aircraft land in Amritsar Dhaliwal also spoke to some of the deportees hailing from Punjab at the airport. Addressing the media, Dhaliwal said a total of 104 Indians have been deported from the US and out of them 30 were from Punjab. It was a long flight. All are healthy and fine; they had their meal, he said. Paperwork of deportees hailing from Punjab was done in the first batch. Thereafter, the immigration process of those from Haryana, Gujarat and other states will be carried out, the minister said. Describing the deportation of illegal Indians from the US as a very serious issue, Dhaliwal, said, We all know that PM Modi used to say that 'Trump is my friend'. He even campaigned for Trump during the 2019 US elections. These are international issues and can be discussed and resolved at that level. I urge PM Modi that the sword of deportation and jail is hanging on the heads of many Indians and he should hold their hands. He should sit with Trump and find a solution to this issue. The deportees were questioned inside the airport terminal building by different government agencies, including the Punjab Police, and various state and central intelligence agencies to check if they have any criminal record. Around 6:45 pm the deportees from Punjab were taken to their respective hometowns in police vehicles after completion of all formalities. Similarly, illegal immigrants from Haryana were taken by the state police to their native places, sources said. They also said that arrangements were made by the state governments concerned to take the deportees to their native places. None of the deportees spoke to the media. There was heavy barricading outside the airport and police personnel were deployed in large numbers. Except for an Amritsar-based man, who came for his grandson, none of the family members of other deportees showed up at the airport. He, however, refused to talk to reporters at the airport and seemed miffed by the volley of questions. Earlier, media reports claimed that the US military plane was carrying 205 illegal immigrants. Among the illegal immigrants hailing from Punjab, six were from Kapurthala, five from Amritsar, four each from Patiala and Jalandhar, two each from Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, SBS Nagar and one each from Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Sangrur, SAS Nagar and Fatehgarh Sahib, sources said. Family members of the illegal immigrants from Punjab said they took huge loans to send the youths to America hoping for a bright future but now feel it is impossible to break free from the crushing debt. They alleged that the travel agents adopted unfair means to facilitate the youths' travel to the US without their knowledge. They now seek strict action against those agents. Senior Punjab BJP leader Harjit Singh Grewal asked Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to make arrangements for the resettlement and employment of those from the state who have been deported by the US government. He also demanded strict action against the travel agents who sent the youths to the US through donkey routes and other illegal means by taking lakhs of rupees from them. Meanwhile, the Congress expressed sadness over pictures of Indians getting handcuffed and humiliated while being deported from the US and recalled that America had to express regret over the treatment meted out to India diplomat Devyani Khobragade in 2013 after the then UPA government retaliated sharply. Pictures of Indians getting handcuffed, humiliated while being deported from US saddening: Congress Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said the media kerfuffle over the deportation of illegal Indian migrants from the United States obscures a few facts. This is not the first such planeload, nor is it directly related to the ascent of @realDonaldTrump. There were 1,100 Indians deported in the previous fiscal year (ending September 2024), under Biden, not Trump. As of 2022, there were 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants in the US -- the third-largest group, outnumbered only by nationals of Mexico and El Salvador, he said. Since October 2020, US Customs and Border Protection officials have detained nearly 170,000 Indian migrants attempting to cross the border illegally from either Canada or Mexico. They are all subject to deportation, Tharoor said. After Donald Trump assumed office as the US President last month, the country's law enforcement agencies have launched a crackdown against illegal immigrants. Many Indians, who entered the US through donkey routes or other illegal means by spending lakhs of rupees, are now facing deportation. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Tuesday that the state government would receive the immigrants and set up counters at the airport.
Farmers hold tractor parade in parts of Punjab in support of their demands
Hoshiarpur/Chandigarh, Jan 26 (PTI) Farmers from various organisations under the banner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Sunday took out a tractor parade at multiple locations across Punjab in support of their demands. These demands include a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP), which is based on the C2 plus 50 per cent formula given by the Swaminathan committee, a comprehensive loan waiver scheme for farmers and farm workers, no privatisation of electricity, withdrawal of the National Policy Framework on Agriculture Marketing (NPFAM), and debt waiver, among others. Hundreds of farmers, including senior SKM leaders, took part in
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.
Badal's resignation accepted by Akali Dal working committee, election of new party chief on March 1
CHANDIGARH: The first family of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) lost control over the 104-year-old party for the first time in three decades as the working committee on Friday accepted the resignation of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Sukhbir had headed the SAD from 2008 before which his father, former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, was president of the party from 1996 till 2008 when he handed over the mantle to his son and heir apparent. After the two-hour meeting of the working committee at the party's headquarters here, SAD spokesperson Daljeet Singh Cheema confirmed that Badals resignation has been accepted. He said the working committee also decided to launch the membership drive for reconstitution of the organizational structure of the party on January 20. Cheema said the membership drive would last for one month till February 20 as the target is to induct 25 lakh new members and that the election of the party president would be held on March 1. The parliamentary board of the party, which is headed by working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder, will take major decisions till then, he added. Cheema further added that senior leader Gulzar Singh Ranike had been made the chief election officer to conduct the organizational elections. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has been given charge of Jammu and Kashmir and Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, Kirpal Singh Badungar of the entire Malwa region, Manpreet Singh Ayali of Rajasthan, Santa Singh Umaidpur of Himachal Pradesh, Iqbal Singh Jhunda of Malerkotla, Paramjit Singh Sarna of Delhi, Manjit Singh GK of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and Raghujit Singh Virk of Haryana. He also made an appeal to all leaders who are presently outside the SAD due to initiation of disciplinary action against them to approach the disciplinary committee so that their cases could be taken up for their return to the party. The move came after Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh asked the Akali Dal to implement its December 2 edict at the earliest, referring to its directive seeking the acceptance of Badal's resignation, which he had submitted on November 16. The working committee had then declined to accept it, urging him to reconsider and threatening collective resignation if he persisted. Party leaders had been arguing that the party's constitution and its registration as a political party under the Constitution demanded it to remain secular, so receiving and implementing the directions of the Akal Takht would amount to violating the conditions of the registration. Badal who had submitted his resignation attended Friday's meeting. Later, talking to the media, he said he had attended the meeting to stress upon the working committee to accept his resignation besides expressing his gratitude to it for the wholehearted support extended to him during his tenure as president. I am deeply touched by the love and trust they reposed in me. The delegate session of the party entrusted me with the responsibility of leading the party. In the past five years, I have given my best to serve the party. After completing my tenure, I gave my resignation before the working committee but it wasnt accepted earlier for some reasons. I have now presented my resignation again to pave the way for the election of a new party chief, said Badal. He also asserted he would continue to serve the party and Punjab as a humble worker with renewed vigour and commitment. The Committee on its part recorded the exemplary service extended by the president to the party. Badal was declared 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, on August 30 last year. He had undergone religious punishment. Meanwhile, the working committee took strong notice of the National Policy Framework on Agriculture Marketing which it said sought to destroy the entire agri marketing structure in Punjab and promote privatization. Asserting that it was being done to reintroduce the three agricultural laws, the committee demanded a special session of the Vidhan Sabha be convened to reject the draft framework on agri marketing. It condemned both the central government as well as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab for turning a blind eye to the grievances of farmers and not doing anything to ensure the end of the fast unto death of senior farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. The committee also slammed the AAP government for thrusting thousands of fake names into the voter list for the SGPC elections and demanded all fake entries be deleted immediately. It also condemned the manner in which the post of chief secretary had been created in Chandigarh besides other posts to further dilute Punjabs right over the Union territory.
The Prime Minister My Father Knew
By Dr Abhinav Walia In the tapestry of post-partition India, where destinies were rewoven from the threads of displacement, two young men from Pakistan found themselves at Government College, Hoshiarpur, Punjab University both carried with them the weight of loss and the hope for a better future in a new land. One immersed in [] The post The Prime Minister My Father Knew appeared first on The Shillong Times .
Himalayan 'Gaddi' dog recognised as an official breed
CHANDIGARH: It is now officialthe Himalayan Gaddi dog has been recognised as a breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) in Karnal, Haryana. This recognition will help preserve the purity of the breed. The Gaddi dog is the fourth indigenous canine breed to be registered, following the Rajapalayam and Chippiparai breeds of Tamil Nadu and the Mudhol Hound of Karnataka. On 7 January, the Director of NBAGR, Dr B.P. Mishra, informed the Director of Animal Husbandry, Himachal Pradesh, about the development. The letter read: I am pleased to inform you that the ICAR Breed Registration Committee, in its meeting held on 5 January, has approved the registration of the Gaddi dog as a breed. The accession number of the newly-registered breed is INDIA-DOG-0600_GADDI_19004. Confirming the development, Dr Pardeep Kumar Sharma, Director of Animal Husbandry, Himachal Pradesh, said: This dog guards and is very steady, thus kept by the Gaddi community to guard their flocks from theft and wild beasts. It is also suitable for the cold climate as it has good resistance. It weighs about 40 to 45 kilograms and has long hair, mainly in black and brown colours. As it is registered now, in the coming days we expect its numbers to increase, as the demand for this dog is very high. People also want to keep them in their orchards. Dr Shivani Katoch, Head of the Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding at the College of Veterinary and Animal Science (COVAS), Palampur University, called the recognition a step towards the conservation of indigenous dog breeds. She remarked: This is an achievement towards the conservation of indigenous breeds of dogs. It will go a long way in conserving our natural genetic resources of dogs. After this characterisationboth morphological and genomicwe will be able to know the present population of this breed. Also, as the characteristics are now defined and registered, it will make it easier to maintain the breed's purity. Sources stated that now the Animal Husbandry Department can conduct a census, as the breed has been registered and characterised. Until now, there were no guidelines about the breed. It is the first Himalayan dog breed to be officially registered. However, there are other dog breeds in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand which also claim to be Gaddi dogs. The lack of scientific validation previously allowed the breed to be sold by several breeders without regulation. It was in 2019 that a scientific study of the Gaddi dog began. Specialists at the Conservation-Cum-Propagation Centre for Gaddi dogs, established at COVAS Palampur University, visited interior parts of Himachal Pradesh to collect Gaddi pups for research. After three years of study, the team compiled its findings and sent the data to NBAGR in 2022 for validation. Due to its ability to fight snow leopards, the Gaddi dog is also known as the Indian Panther Hound. These dogs are large, aggressive, and incredibly strong, with a deep bark similar to that of the Tibetan Mastiff. However, their tail is less curly and heavily feathered compared to the Tibetan Mastiff. Like many indigenous breeds, the Gaddi dog is on the verge of extinction due to gene pool dilution. Sources further revealed that these dogs are primarily found in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh. They are also bred in Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and Ropar districts of Punjab, where farmers use them to protect their crops from wild animals. Farmers in Punjab often purchase Gaddi dogs at a premium when Gaddi shepherds migrate to the plains from the hills.
Punjab: State-Wide Bandh by Farmers Against Centre on MSP Paralyses Life
New Delhi/Chandigarh: Life was badly hit across Punjab on Monday following a state-wide bandh call given by farmers who have been agitating against the Centre for a legal guarantee of a minimum support price for their crops. Rail and road traffic was crippled and commercial establishments remained shut in many parts of the state. The protesting farmers held dharnas on several roads as part of their bandh call, throwing commuter traffic out of gear. A shutdown call was given over a week ago by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha over the Centre not acting on the farmers demand for a legal guarantee for the MSP. As the indefinite hunger strike of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal entered its 35th day on Monday, the Supreme Court will on Tuesday examine the Punjab governments measures to provide treatment to the ailing farmer leader. A team of the Punjab government officials on December 29 had attempted to persuade the septuagenarian to take medical aid, but he declined it, fearing use of forces to oust him from the protest site. In a related development, the Supreme Court panel formed under the chairmanship of retired Justice Nawab Singh has invited the SKM for talks on January 3. It is learnt that the farmers outfit has accepted this invitation. The protesting farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by the security forces. A jatha (group) of 101 farmers had attempted to march to Delhi on foot three times between December 6 and 14 but were stopped by security personnel from Haryana. Besides MSP, the farmers are also demanding a debt waiver, pension, no hike in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. On Monday, the farmers observed a sit-in at Dhareri Jattan toll plaza, which affected vehicular movement on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway. At Amritsar's Golden Gate, scores of farmers assembled near the city's entry point. Dharnas were also held in Bathinda's Rampura Phul. In Phagwara, farmers held a dharna near the Sugarmill crossing on NH-44, blocking the roads leading from Phagwara towards Nakodar, Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr. They also staged a dharna at Behram toll plaza on Phagwara-Banga road. Grain markets also remained shut in several places. Public transport remained off roads at several places, while most private bus operators suspended services, abiding by the bandh call. The band's impact was also seen in some neighbouring areas of the state, including Ambala. Hundreds of daily commuters travelling from Ambala to Chandigarh, Mohali, Patiala and other nearby cities of Punjab were thrown off stride because of the shutdown. Buses took alternate routes to go from Ambala to Chandigarh as they had to cross a stretch of the national highway that passes through Punjab. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told reporters in Amritsar that their strike received strong support from transporters, employee unions, traders bodies, and religious bodies. Mr Pandher also said that emergency and other essential services were allowed to operate. He said anyone travelling to the airport to catch a flight, anyone going to attend a job interview, or anyone needing to attend a wedding, were also allowed. All establishments remained shut. Punjabis have shown their unity today and they are extending full support, Mr Pandher claimed. The bandh is successful. Train services have been completely suspended and no train is entering Punjab, he said.
BSF constable ends life with service rifle in Jaisalmer
JAIPUR: A 44-year-old head constable of Border Security Force (BSF) posted at the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district allegedly shot himself with his service rifle, police said on Friday. The incident occurred on Thursday. The exact reasons behind the suicide are not clear yet, Jaisalmer Circle Officer Roop Singh Inda said. The deceased, Krishna Kumar from Hoshiarpur in Punjab, was posted at the Bhonu border outpost in the Shahgarh area. Kumar was on duty when he shot himself. Hearing the gunshot, his fellow soldiers rushed to the scene and found him dead, police said. The post-mortem will be conducted today, the officer said. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)
Punjab police in Rupnagar have arrested Ram Saroop, alias Sodhi, a resident of Chaura village in Hoshiarpur district, for allegedly murdering 11 individuals over the past 18 months, officials revealed on Tuesday. The accused, apprehended on Monday in connection with another case, confessed to being a serial killer during interrogation. His victims were primarily men, whom he targeted by offering car rides or engaging in sexual acts. Saroop would rob them and kill those who resisted. In one shocking instance, he wrote dhokebaaz (cheater) on the back of a victim, later identified as a former soldier working as a security guard in Punjab. NDTV reported that the accused was reportedly married with three children, but he was abandoned by his family two years ago due to his homosexuality. Senior Superintendent of Police, Rupnagar, Gulneet Singh Khurana, stated that a specialised team had been formed to solve murder cases in the district. Referring to a case in Kiratpur Sahib, Khurana noted the murder of a 37-year-old toll plaza worker on August 18, which eventually led to Saroop's arrest. During interrogation, Saroop admitted to 10 additional murders, with incidents reported in Fatehgarh Sahib and Hoshiarpur districts. Police disclosed that Saroop employed methods such as strangulation or using objects like bricks to kill his victims. (With inputs from PTI)
20 injured as bus overturns in fields on Jalandhar-Jammu NH
Hoshiarpur: A private bus overturned in fields near village Kurala on the Jalandhar-Jammu National Highway on Wednesday, injuring 20 passengers, police said. Tanda SHO Gurwinderjit Singh said nine injured passengers were admitted to the Civil Hospital in Dasuya, while 11 were taken to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Tanda for treatment. Four critically injured passengers were referred to the Government Hospital in Hoshiarpur from Dasuya Civil Hospital here. Some of the injured were discharged after receiving first aid at CHC, Tanda. The bus was travelling from Pathankot to Jalandhar, the police said. Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver lost control of the vehicle near Kurala village, SHO Singh said, adding that further investigations are underway.
Farmers begin three-hour rail roko protest in Punjab as 'Dilli Chalo' attempts crushed
CHANDIGARH: Farmers blocked train routes at several places in Punjab on Wednesday as part of their three-hour 'Rail Roko' protest to press the Centre into accepting their various demands, including a legally binding minimum support price for crops. The call for the 'rail roko' has been given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said farmers have been squatting on rail tracks at many places from 12 noon and will continue to be there till 3 pm. VIDEO | Punjab: Protesting farmers block railway track in Mohali as part of their 'Rail Roko' agitation. #FarmersProtest (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7 ) pic.twitter.com/DcnLpI2BZt Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 18, 2024 The places where the protest was supposed to be held included Moga, Faridkot, Kadian and Batala in Gurdaspur; Phillaur in Jalandhar; Tanda, Dasuya, Mahilpur in Hoshiarpur; Makhu, Talwandi Bhai in Ferozepur; Sahnewal in Ludhiana; Shambhu in Patiala; Mohali, and Sunam and Lehra in Sangrur. Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. For the past three weeks, Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana to press the Centre to accept the agitating farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP on crops. A jatha (group) of 101 farmers made three attempts to enter Delhi on foot on December 6, December 8 and again on December 14. Haryana security personnel did not allow them to proceed. Farmers suspend Delhi march for the day as 17 injured after Haryana cops fire tear gas Besides a legal guarantee on MSP for crops, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands.
3-hour rail roko protest by farmers begins in Punjab
Chandigarh: Farmers blocked train routes at several places in Punjab on Wednesday as part of their three-hour 'Rail Roko' protest to press the Centre into accepting their various demands, including a legally binding minimum support price for crops. The call for the 'rail roko' has been given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said farmers have been squatting on rail tracks at many places from 12 noon and will continue to be there till 3 pm. The places where the protest was supposed to be held included Moga, Faridkot, Kadian and Batala in Gurdaspur; Phillaur in Jalandhar; Tanda, Dasuya, Mahilpur in Hoshiarpur; Makhu, Talwandi Bhai in Ferozepur; Sahnewal in Ludhiana; Shambhu in Patiala; Mohali, and Sunam and Lehra in Sangrur. Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. For the past three weeks, Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana to press the Centre to accept the agitating farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP on crops. A jatha (group) of 101 farmers made three attempts to enter Delhi on foot on December 6, December 8 and again on December 14. Haryana security personnel did not allow them to proceed. Besides a legal guarantee on MSP for crops, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands.
AAP wins three seats, Congress wins one in assembly by-elections in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won three of the four by-poll assembly seats, including Gidderbaha, Chabbewal and Dera Baba Nanak. The grand old party faced a setback in the by-elections after winning seven seats in the recent Lok Sabha Elections. The only silver lining for Congress was that it won the Barnala seat, which was the traditional stronghold of the AAP in Punjab. In the fierce contest between the Congress and the AAP, Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon of AAP defeated his nearest rival and Congress nominee Amrita Warring, the wife of Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, by a margin of 21,969 votes. While the BJP candidate and former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal was in the third spot. Gurdeep Singh Randhawa of the ruling party won the Dera Baba Nanak assembly seat, defeating Congress nominee Jatinder Kaur by a margin of 5,699 votes. Kaur is the wife of Congress MP from Gurdaspur Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who represented this assembly seat in 2002, 2012, 2017 and 2022. Ishank Kumar Chabbewal of AAP won the Chabbewal assembly seat, defeating his nearest rival and Congress nominee Ranjit Kumar by a margin of 28,690 votes. The Chabbewal by-election was necessitated after Ishank's father Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, who was a Congress MLA but later joined the AAP, was elected to the Lok Sabha from Hoshiarpur. He represented this reserved seat in 2017 and 2022 on Congress ticket. All these three assembly seat of Gidderbaha, Chabbewal and Dera Baba Nanak won the congress in the 2022 assembly elections and now they fell into the kitty of AAP in these by-polls. Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh Dhillon won the Barnala assembly segment, defeating Harinder Singh Dhaliwal of AAP by a margin of 2,157 votes. While the Barnala assembly seat was earlier with AAP as it was won by Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer twice, now Hayer is the Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from Sangrur. Sources said that the Punjab Congress president, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring attributed the party's loss to the absence of SAD candidates and now these by-election results would have implications not only for Raja Warring whose wife, Amrita Warring, lost in Gidderbaha but also for senior leader and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Randhawa, whose wife Jatinder Kaur lost in Dera Baba Nanak. It is learnt that the criticism is mounting against Warring as a section of party leaders are suggesting that, after being elected as MP from Ludhiana he should hand over the state leadership to someone else. As AAP won three seats from the Congress, taking its tally in the 117-member Assembly to 94, the Congress is now 17 MLAs in the assembly. In all four by-poll seats, the contest was between AAP and Congress as the BJP trailed at the third spot in every seat despite putting up strong candidates, none was able to make an impact. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), however, did not contest these by-polls.
Punjab bypolls: AAP's Ishank Kumar wins Chabbewal seat
AAP candidate and doctor Ishank Kumar Chabbewal secured a decisive victory in the Chabbewal assembly seat bypoll in Punjab, defeating Congress nominee Ranjit Kumar by a significant margin of 28,690 votes. The by-election was held following the election of Ishank Kumar's father, Raj Kumar Chabbewal, to the Lok Sabha from Hoshiarpur.
Punjab bypolls: 63 per cent voter turnout recorded to four assembly seats
CHANDIGARH: A voter turnout of 63 per cent was recorded till 6 pm in the by-elections to four assembly segments in Punjab on Wednesday, according to Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C. These by-polls to the Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal and Barnala assembly segments were necessitated after the incumbent lawmakers were elected to the Lok Sabha. Of the four assembly segments, Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak and Chabbewal were earlier held by the Congress, and the Barnala seat by the AAP. The precise figures of the total turnout will be updated by tomorrow morning once all polling parties return to the collection centres and final data entry is completed. The CEO shared that as per recorded data till 6 pm, the highest turnout of 81 per cent was recorded in Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak recorded 63 per cent turnout, while Barnala saw 54 per cent and Chabbewal 53 per cent turnout. At Dera Pathana village in Dera Baba Nanak segment, a clash took place between the AAP and Congress supporters. Gurdaspur Member of Parliament Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who is the husband of Congress candidate Jatinder Kaur, alleged that some outsiders at the behest of the AAP thrashed his party worker in the village and also accused the police of not taking action. The workers of both the warring factions engaged in heated arguments. A heavy police force was deputed at the site to defuse the situation. The ruling AAP would like to register victories after its dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections in the three concerned contests while the Congress and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) are also out for triumph in these by-polls. From the hot assembly seat of Gidderbaha, Amrita Warring, the wife of Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana Member of Parliament Amrinder Singh Raja Warring in contesting against former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal of BJP and Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon of AAP. Earlier this seat was represented by Warring himself. The other assembly seat where the focus is Dera Baba Nanak from here Jatinder Kaur wife of Gurdaspur Member of Parliament and former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa is pitched against Ravikaran Singh Kahlon of BJP and Gurdeep Singh Randhawa of AAP. While from Barnala assembly segment Kewal Singh Dhillon of BJP is facing Kuldeep Singh Kaka Dhillon of Congress, Harinder Singh Dhaliwal of AAP, Govind Singh Mann of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and AAP rebel and Independent candidate Gurdeep Singh Batth. This assembly seat fell vacant after Gurmeet Singh Hayer, the local MLA from the AAP and states sports and youth affairs minister was elected from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat. Hayer won the Barnala seat in the 2017 and 2022 assembly polls. On the Chabbewal seat it is Ishank Kumar Chabbewal of AAP son of Hoshiarpur MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal as earlier this seat was presented by Raj Kumar who was then in Congress before lok sabha polls joined the AAP and then contested and won from Hosharpur. The other candidates in the fray are Sohan Singh Thandal of BJP who was earlier in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). SAD has opted to stay away from these by-polls. 45 candidates, including three women, are in the fray for the bypolls. A total of 6.96 lakh voters, including 3.31 lakh women, are eligible to exercise their franchise at 831 polling stations. At present, the AAP has 91 MLAs in the 117-member Punjab assembly, while the Congress has 15, Shiromani Akali Dal three, BJP two, and the Bahujan Samaj Party one. One seat is held by an Independent MLA.
Kejriwal urges Punjab Sarpanchs to ensure transparency, development in villages
CHANDIGARH: Former Delhi Chief Minister and National Convenor of AAP, Arvind Kejriwal, called upon Punjab's newly elected Sarpanchs today to hold gram sabhas in their respective villages, ensuring every decision is made in full public view to promote transparency in developmental work. Kejriwal made the remarks as Chief Guest at a state-level function in Ludhiana, where Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann administered the oath of office to 10,031 Sarpanchs from across the state. It is imperative to ensure the optimum utilisation of public money for the welfare of the public and the comprehensive development of villages, Kejriwal said. He emphasised that decisions related to village development should be taken through gram sabhas to ensure judicious use of funds. The AAP convenor further noted that if Sarpanchs fulfil their roles responsibly, they could significantly impact the lives of villagers and transform rural communities. He assured Sarpanchs that the state government would extend full support for all their noble causes. Kejriwal also urged Sarpanchs to play an active role in eliminating drugs from Punjab, adding that with their proactive involvement, the state could soon become drug-free. The state government and Punjab Police are committed to this noble cause, and no effort will be spared, he stated. Kejriwal expressed hope that, following their oath, the Sarpanchs would lead their villages on a path of development. He was particularly pleased to learn that approximately 3,000 panchayats were elected unanimously, which, he said, would provide an impetus for village development. The Sarpanchs must strive to transform their villages into model communities, he said, stressing that they should work with honesty and transparency for the welfare of the villages. He advised Sarpanchs to consult villagers before making decisions, as they hold the potential to drive the overall development of their communities. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann remarked on the recent elections, where 13,147 new panchayats were elected across the state. During todays event, 10,031 Sarpanchs from 19 districts were administered the oath of office. Mann added that the remaining newly elected Sarpanchs from the districts of Muktsar Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Barnala, and Gurdaspur, as well as 81,808 newly elected Panches from 23 districts, would be sworn in after the by-elections in the four Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Giddarbaha, Chabbewal, Barnala, and Dera Baba Nanak. Mann expressed his gratitude to villages that elected panchayats unanimously, stating that these communities had risen above parochial considerations to strengthen harmony and brotherhood. He noted with pride that the panchayats of 3,037 villages across the state were selected unanimously, with Ferozepur district leading with 336 panchayats, followed by Gurdaspur with 335 and Tarn Taran with 334. He reminded the Sarpanchs of their duty to safeguard the interests and aspirations of the villagers, highlighting that with around 70% of Indias population residing in villages, Panchayati Raj institutions serve as a lighthouse of democracy. Mann added that while policies are framed by the state government, Sarpanchs and Panches play a crucial role in implementing them at the ground level. The Chief Minister pointed out that public services, such as schools, dispensaries, and veterinary hospitals, are already under panchayat supervision, along with numerous village development works. He urged Sarpanchs to ensure dedicated oversight of these initiatives. Mann advised them to avoid undue interference in these services and warned against the dangers of groupism, which often undermines progress in villages.
Two gangsters arrested by Punjab Police
CHANDIGARH: Two Kaushal-Bambiha gangsters were critically injured while unsuccessfully attempting to escape from police custody at the outskirts of Jalandhar Cantonment. Two pistols along with five live cartridges were recovered from their possession. Director General of Police of Punjab Gaurav Yadav, said on Thursday that both the gangsters were arrested by the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police on Tuesday. The gangsters, identified as Rajeshwar Kumar and Deepak Vaid alias Babu, were implicated in an Arms Act case registered at Police Station Bhargo Camp on October 17. As per the information, police had arrested four members of this Kaushal-Bambiha module and recovered four weapons from their possession. With the arrest of these two gangsters, the total arrests in this case reaches six. Police officers have displayed remarkable endurance by chasing and arresting gangsters Rajeshwar Kumar and Deepak Vaid on foot for at least 1.5 kilometers, said Yadav. He said that both the accused persons were involved in multiple heinous crimes and were also conspiring major crimes in districts including Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, Kapurthala and other districts. The accused persons were also providing logistical assistance to other gang members and supplying weapons to different gangs in Punjab and Haryana, he said. The DGP said that further investigation is on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case. Sharing more details, Commissioner of Police of Jalandhar Swapan Sharma said that following disclosures of accused gangsters, police from the Jalandhar Commissionerate were taking the accused to a secluded place on the outskirts of the Jalandhar Cantonment, where they claimed to have concealed arms and ammunition. Upon reaching the location, both the accused persons managed to run from the spot by opening fire at the police party using the pistol retrieved from the spot, he said. Acting promptly, police opened retaliatory fire to stop them and managed to apprehend them after giving them a 1.5kms foot chase, Commissioner Sharma added. One of the accused persons sustained a bullet injury on his right leg, while other one sustained injuries during a tussle with the police. He said that both the accused persons have criminal history with several criminal cases pertaining to Arms Act, NDPS Act and attempt to murder, among other cases, registered against them. He said that with recovery of two more pistols from the spot, a total of six weapons have been recovered from this module so far, adding that more arrests and recoveries are expected in coming days.
Spike in stubble burning on Diwali worsens Punjabs air quality
CHANDIGARH: The biggest spike in stubble burning cases this season in Punjab occurred on Diwali, with 484 farm fire incidents reported. So far, a total of 2,950 crop residue burning cases have been reported across the state, and the number is expected to rise in the coming days. The Air Quality Index (AQI) level this morning in Punjab and Haryana fell into the 'Very Poor' and 'Poor' categories, while the Union Territory of Chandigarh recorded 'Very Poor' air quality. Meanwhile, Pakistan Punjabs Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has described smog as a common enemy and called for joint efforts between the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. She stressed that the issue is not political but a humanitarian one. According to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Sangrur topped the state with 89 stubble burning incidents, followed by Ferozepur with 65, Mansa with 40, Fatehgarh Sahib with 36, and 35 each reported in Tarn Taran and Kapurthala. In Patiala, 33 incidents occurred, followed by 29 in Amritsar, 28 in Bathinda, 20 in Gurdaspur, and 14 each in Moga and Barnala. Additionally, Ludhiana recorded 11 cases, Faridkot had 10, and seven cases were reported from Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur. Muktsar saw four cases, SAS Nagar three, and one case each was recorded in Fazilka and Malerkotla. Since October, there has been a noticeable uptick in stubble-burning incidents. On October 12, 177 cases were reported, followed by 163 on October 13, 173 on October 15, and 219 on October 29. Sources pointed out that the number of crop residue burning cases is expected to increase further in the coming days, as farmers prepare to clear their fields for wheat sowing during the November 1-15 window. Cracker ban goes up in smoke as Delhi records its most polluted Diwali in three years The deteriorating air quality in major cities across Punjab remains a concern. This morning, Amritsar recorded an AQI of 335 ('Very Poor'), Mandi Gobindgarh 326 ('Very Poor'), and Khanna 306 ('Very Poor'). In other cities, the AQI fell into the 'Poor' category: Patiala registered 255, Ludhiana 206, and Jalandhar 266. Bathinda was the only city with 'Moderate' air quality at 110. In Chandigarh, the AQI was marked as 'Very Poor' at 320. Haryanas air quality was also grim, with four cities recording 'Very Poor' AQI levels this morning: Gurugram at 376, Ambala at 336, Jind at 326, and Kurukshetra at 310. Twelve cities had AQI levels in the 'Poor' range, including Bahadurgarh at 284, Faridabad at 278, Bhiwani at 275, Kaithal at 260, and Daruhera at 257. Panchkula registered 249, Manesar 247, Hisar 246, Karnal 243, Ballabgarh 228, Fatehabad 233, and Charkhi Dadri 210. Only Palwal (129) and Mandikhera (136) recorded 'Moderate' air quality. Addressing a Diwali event in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasised the need for cooperation between the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. She stated, Winds do not recognise boundaries; we must engage in diplomacy with the government of Indian Punjab, as smog has become a significant concern in Punjab, especially Lahore. I am thinking of writing to the CM of Indian Punjab for a joint war against smog and ask for a coordinated response to measures being implemented to prevent smog and environmental degradation. Until both Punjabs come together, we will not be able to tackle the smog issue.
