Army issues first public statement on assault case involving Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath

CHANDIGARH: The Army on Tuesday called for a fair and honest investigation into an alleged assault case involving Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son Angad Singh Bath in a transparent and time-bound manner. Meanwhile, the Punjab Police announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the dignity of Army officers. Lt Gen Mohit Wadhwa, Chief of Staff, Army Western Command headquarters Chandimandir and Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police, Punjab, together addressed the press on Tuesday. Lt Gen Wadhwa said, We reiterate the need for a fair and honest investigation in a transparent and very time bound manner to punish the guilty and restore faith in the system. The guilty police personnel should be punished in a timely and exemplary manner so that the incident does not vitiate the atmosphere and effect the long cherished bonhomie between the civil administration and Punjab Police with serving and retired army personnel. I assure that all possible steps are being taken that Col Bath who was assaulted gets due justice. I would like to assure all that the Indian Army remains fully committed to pursuing the case to its logical conclusion, Wadhwa added. He said that the army was informed about the incident in the afternoon of March 15, and since then this issue has been addressed with due alacrity both at the state and at the district levels. 'They were like a pack of wolves': Wife of Army colonel attacked by Punjab cops demands CBI probe He added that the officer was shifted from a civil hospital to a command hospital in Chandimandir, where he underwent treatment, and is presently recuperating from his injuries. The matter was very strongly taken up with the highest echelons of the state administration and the Punjab Police for prompt investigation and delivery of justice, said Wadhwa. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said any person who has assaulted the serving Army officer shall be dealt with severely and in accordance with law. Yadav talked about various steps taken by the Punjab Police after the incident. Yadav said, The continuous contact between army authorities and civil administration has helped in the speedy resolution of the matter and ensuring justice to the aggrieved army officer. A high level investigation team headed by Additional DGP SPS Parmar including Sandeep Malik SSP of Hoshiarpur and Manpreet Singh SP Mohali has been constituted for conducting investigations in a fair and transparent manner. The SIT has been directed to conduct investigation on day to day basis for collection of evidences and further legal proceedings in order to ensure that the culprits are proceeded as per law. He added, Any person who has assaulted the serving army officer shall be dealt with severely and in accordance with law, internal investigation shall be completed swiftly so that the culprits are brought to book soon. He also appealed that the present situation should not be used to pit the army against the police. Assault on Army officer: HC raps Punjab Police, asks state govt to explain delay in registering FIR

Punjab Police forms SIT to probe assault on Army officer

CHANDIGARH: The Army on Tuesday called for a fair and honest investigation into an alleged assault case involving Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son Angad Singh Bath in a transparent and time-bound manner. Meanwhile, the Punjab Police announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the dignity of Army officers. Lt Gen Mohit Wadhwa, Chief of Staff, Army Western Command headquarters Chandimandir and Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police, Punjab, together addressed the press on Tuesday. Lt Gen Wadhwa said, We reiterate the need for a fair and honest investigation in a transparent and very time bound manner to punish the guilty and restore faith in the system. The guilty police personnel should be punished in a timely and exemplary manner so that the incident does not vitiate the atmosphere and effect the long cherished bonhomie between the civil administration and Punjab Police with serving and retired army personnel. I assure that all possible steps are being taken that Col Bath who was assaulted gets due justice. I would like to assure all that the Indian Army remains fully committed to pursuing the case to its logical conclusion, Wadhwa added. He said that the army was informed about the incident in the afternoon of March 15, and since then this issue has been addressed with due alacrity both at the state and at the district levels. 'They were like a pack of wolves': Wife of Army colonel attacked by Punjab cops demands CBI probe He added that the officer was shifted from a civil hospital to a command hospital in Chandimandir, where he underwent treatment, and is presently recuperating from his injuries. The matter was very strongly taken up with the highest echelons of the state administration and the Punjab Police for prompt investigation and delivery of justice, said Wadhwa. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said any person who has assaulted the serving Army officer shall be dealt with severely and in accordance with law. Yadav talked about various steps taken by the Punjab Police after the incident. Yadav said, The continuous contact between army authorities and civil administration has helped in the speedy resolution of the matter and ensuring justice to the aggrieved army officer. A high level investigation team headed by Additional DGP SPS Parmar including Sandeep Malik SSP of Hoshiarpur and Manpreet Singh SP Mohali has been constituted for conducting investigations in a fair and transparent manner. The SIT has been directed to conduct investigation on day to day basis for collection of evidences and further legal proceedings in order to ensure that the culprits are proceeded as per law. He added, Any person who has assaulted the serving army officer shall be dealt with severely and in accordance with law, internal investigation shall be completed swiftly so that the culprits are brought to book soon. He also appealed that the present situation should not be used to pit the army against the police. Assault on Army officer: HC raps Punjab Police, asks state govt to explain delay in registering FIR

Colonel Pushpinder Singh Baths family lifts protest after assurance of meeting with Punjab CM Mann

CHANDIGARH: The family of Army Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath has ended their protest following an assurance from the Punjab government that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet them on March 31 to hear their grievances. The family, supported by ex-servicemen, had been protesting outside the Deputy Commissioner's office in Patiala, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the assault on Col Bath and his son by 12 Punjab Police personnel on March 14. They were also calling for the transfer of Patialas Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nanak Singh. According to sources, the family and ex-servicemen had been holding the dharna since Saturday. However, on Monday, a series of meetings took place between them and district officials. The family submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, requesting a personal hearing with Chief Minister Mann. Wife of assaulted Army Colonel leads protest in Patiala, ex-servicemen join in The protest was lifted after Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Patiala visited the dharna site and handed over a letter to Jaswinder Kaur, the wife of Col Bath, confirming that the Chief Minister would meet them on March 31 at noon. An official confirmed, A letter has been given to the family, and they, along with others, can meet CM Mann on March 31. Kaur stated that she, along with her son, husband, and a representative from the union that supported them during the protest, will meet the Chief Minister. If our demands for a CBI inquiry and the transfer of SSP Nanak Singh are not met, we will resume our protest in April, she said, adding, We do not trust the police. She also thanked the Deputy Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioner for facilitating the meeting with the government. A large number of ex-servicemen from across Punjab had joined the protest in support of the family. Last week, the Colonels family had met Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, seeking a CBI probe. They had rejected the Punjab governments order for an executive magistrate-led investigation. Following this, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted by the Director, Bureau of Investigation, Punjab, headed by Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) SPS Parmar. The SIT also includes Sandeep Malik, SSP Hoshiarpur, and Manpreet Singh, SP (Rural), SAS Nagar. The team has been directed to conduct the investigation on a day-to-day basis, collect evidence, and proceed with legal action against those responsible. A case has already been registered, naming the police officials involved. Additionally, instructions were issued to the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Patiala Range to immediately transfer the police officials concerned out of Patiala district. After the order, they were reassigned. The Additional Director General of Police (Security), Punjab, was also directed to provide adequate protection to Col Baths family. The assault took place on the night of March 13-14 at a roadside eatery near Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. Col Bath is currently posted at Army Headquarters in New Delhi.

Wife of Army Colonel assaulted over parking row leads protest in Patiala , ex-servicemen join in

CHANDIGARH: The wife of the Army Colonel, who has accused 12 Punjab police personnel of assaulting him and son over a parking dispute , staged a sit-in protest outside the Patiala deputy commissioner's office on Saturday. She was joined by several ex-servicemen. The protest came a day after the Punjab Police registered a fresh FIR based on the statement of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath. A high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been set up to expedite investigation. During the protest, the Army Colonel's wife, Jasvinder Kaur Bath, accused the 12 police officials of brutally thrashing her husband and son, and demanded speedy justice. BJP leader and former MP Preneet Kaur, who joined the protest, strongly condemned the incident. As a citizen of India and the wife of an ex-Army officer (former chief minister Amarinder Singh), I stand in complete solidarity with the assaulted officer and family. I demand an impartial probe, so that the guilty get proper punishment, she said. Speaking to reporters in Patiala, Kaur said Army officials should be included in the SIT. Since the Army is involved, the government is involved and the police force is also involved. A joint SIT should be formed with Army and police officials, and a judge involved, she said. The alleged incident took place on the intervening night of March 13 and 14, when Colonel Bath and his son were having food at a roadside eatery near Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. The family alleged that some police officers in civil dress asked the Colonel to move his car, as they had to park theirs. When the Colonel objected to their rude tone, the officers thrashed him and his son. The Colonel's arm was broken, and his son suffered a long cut on head. The Colonel's wife had on Thursday met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who spoke to the state DGP and advised him to register an FIR on the Colonel's statement. 'They were like a pack of wolves': Wife of Army colonel attacked by Punjab cops demands CBI probe Punjab Police on Friday said it has registered an FIR at Civil Lines police station. Colonel Bath's statement names the police officers who assaulted him and details their roles in the assault, a statement said on Friday evening. An SIT consisting of SPS Parmar, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order); Sandeep Malik, Senior Superintendent of Police, Hoshiarpur, and Manpreet Singh, Superintendent of Police (Rural), SAS Nagar has been constituted to investigate the incident. A Punjab Police spokesperson said that Patiala Range DIG has been instructed to immediately transfer the police officers concerned. All the 12 officers have been placed under suspension and departmental proceedings initiated against them, he added. The Additional Director General of Police (Security), Punjab, has been directed to provide protection to Colonel Bath's family.

'They were like a pack of wolves': Wife of Army colonel attacked by Punjab cops demands CBI probe

CHANDIGARH: The attack on a serving Army colonel and his son by 12 Punjab Police personnel over a parking dispute in Patiala has snowballed into a major controversy. Even as the Punjab government on Thursday ordered a magisterial probe into the incident, the Army officers family rejected it on Friday, saying they do not trust the state government. Frequently breaking down in tears and speaking in a voice choked with emotion, Jasvinder Kaur Bath, wife of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath, demanded that the case be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an impartial investigation. She said that the accused policemen meted such inhuman treatment to my husband. We do not even deal with terrorists like this. She demanded the immediate registration of an FIR based on her husbands complaint under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including attempt to murder, the naming of all 12 accused police officers in the FIR, and the immediate transfer of the accused officers out of Patiala. The FIR should be registered on my husband's complaint, under Sections 109, 118 (2), 118 (1), 115 (2), 126 (2), 308 (4), 311, 351 (2&3) read with 3 (5) of BNS, naming all 12 guilty police officers, she said, while demanding arrest of the accused police officials. She further alleged that the police had not named the 12 officers who have been suspended in the case because it would bring a bad name to the force as they were involved in working out a case and commended the same morning. Like a pack of wolves, they descended upon him, and before he could even defend himself, at least 12 officials, including four inspectors, began ruthlessly thrashing him with batons, fists and kicks, without stopping for a second to consider that they were assaulting a soldier of this very nation. When my son, Angad Singh, tried to shield his father, he too was attacked with relentless blows, Jasvinder alleged. She accused Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Nanak Singh of failing to take action in the matter. Singh should also be posted out of Patiala for lack of cooperation, as the family requested him multiple times to register the FIR, but he kept giving false hopes, delaying the process of justice and causing untold harassment to the family, she alleged. Jaswinder alleged that she was asked to compromise on the issue and not pursue the case even when she showed the videos of the rutal violence that had been committed and also the videos where four accused police inspectors were seeking forgiveness from me. The family claimed that when the two were standing outside their car and having food, some police officers in civilian clothes approached and asked the Colonel to move his vehicle so they could park theirs. When the Colonel objected to their rude tone, one of the officers punched him, and soon all the police personnel began thrashing him and his son. Army colonel, son thrashed by Punjab Police over parking in Patiala; 12 cops suspended She submitted a representation to the Deputy Commissioner of Patiala, recounting the ordeal her family allegedly faced at the hands of the Punjab Police. She urged the DC, Please help restore my shattered faith in the justice system and ensure that no innocent citizen suffers what we have encountered. She said she had received phone calls from several politicians. But I did not pick up even one politician's phone because it is not a political fight. I am a fauji's wife, my husband fights for the country, it is not my fight alone, it is everybody's fight, she said. Jaswinder further alleged that some of the accused cops threatened her in the police station, saying today they were seeking forgiveness from her, but tomorrow hey will see her and her son who live in Patiala. I saw no remorse in their eyes, she said. The same dhaba owner, who had initially given me CCTV extracts and named the accused officials, was later forced under pressure to change his statement, a clear sign of intimidation and manipulation by the police force, she alleged. She said her repeated visits to police stations in Patiala were met with apathy, arrogance and outright refusal to act. Instead of justice, my family has only received threats, she alleged. The family has planned to hold a protest march in Patiala on March 22 to seek justice in the matter. The incident took place on the intervening night of March 13 and 14, when Colonel Bath and his son were at a roadside eatery near Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. Bath is currently posted at Army Headquarters at New Delhi. On Thursday, the Colonels family had met with the Punjab Governor, seeking a CBI probe into the matter. The family also rejected the investigation by an executive magistrate ordered by the Punjab government. If my husband and my son are found guilty, they should be punished as well, she said. SSP Patiala Nanak Singh was not available for comment despite repeated tries. Many senior ex-Army officers and other ex-servicemen have stood in solidarity with the Colonel and his family. During the zero hour on the first day of the state budget session, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa demanded the immediate transfer of Senior Superintendent of Police of Patiala Nanak Singh for protecting police officers who assaulted a serving colonel. Bajwa sought exemplary punishment for the erring police officers and a judicial probe by a sitting or retired judge into the incident. Citing a similar incident, Bajwa said a Lt Col in Chandigarh in 1992 faced the brutality of a 'hotheaded SSP. The then Punjab governor Surinder Nath launched a joint inquiry under a Brigadier and DIG. They found the SSP guilty and subsequently he was transferred. A case was registered on Friday in Police Station Civil Lines, Patiala, on the statement of Colonel Bath. The statement names the police officials who assaulted him and also gives the roles attributed to each person in the assault. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Additional DGP (Law and Order) SPS Parmar including Sandeep Malik Senior Superintendent of Police, Hoshiarpur and Manpreet Singh, Superintendent of Police, Rural, SAS Nagar has been constituted by the Director, Bureau of Investigation, Punjab. The SIT has been directed to conduct the investigation on day-to-day basis for collection of evidence and further legal proceedings, in order to ensure that the culprits are proceeded against as per law. Also, instructions have been issued to DIG Patiala Range to immediately transfer the concerned police officials out of Patiala district. Meanwhile, Additional Director General of Police, Security, Punjab has been directed to provide adequate protection to the family of Colonel Bath. Bajwa said if the Punjab government failed to do justice to Colonel Bath, the Union government should take cognizance of the matter. The way SSP Nanak Singh handled the entire episode of police cruelty, it can be concluded that he has been shielding his men in uniform. He even failed to mention the names of the accused police personnel in the FIR. He has had a biased approach since day one. Therefore Singh must be transferred from Patiala, Bajwa said while speaking in the assembly.

Dhami to resume SGPC duties after resignation rejected

CHANDIGARH: A day after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) executive committee rejected his resignation, Harjinder Singh Dhami has agreed to resume his duties as SGPC chief. His decision came after a closed-door meeting with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar and party leader Sukhbir Singh Badal in Hoshiarpur. Dhami, who had resigned on 17 February, clarified that he had not withdrawn his resignation but that the SGPC executive had rejected it. For a long time, SGPC members, Jathedars, and the SAD leadership have been asking me to take back my resignation. While yesterday the SGPC executive committee rejected my resignation, giving in to the dictate of the Sikh community. There is a difference. I will resume office in three to four days in view of the resolution that the executive has unanimously passed, he said. When asked why it had taken him a month to decide, Dhami said certain matters needed clarification. SGPC rejects resignation of its president Dhami, appeals to reconsider his decision Badal and Bhundar met Dhami at his residence today and urged him to withdraw his resignation. Yesterday, after rejecting his resignation, SGPC executive members had visited him and requested him to reconsider, but he had initially not relented. However, his close aides hinted that he might change his decision. It is a matter of immense satisfaction that Dhami has accepted the appeal of the community, which is going through a crisis. As excesses are being committed against it, the enemies have reached our doorsteps. We all should unite to fight these forces, said Badal. Bhundar also praised Dhamis decision, stating that the state, SAD, and the Sikh community needed his leadership. Dhami is set to preside over the SGPC budget meeting on 28 March. He had resigned from the SGPC presidents post after former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh condemned the committees decision to dismiss Giani Harpreet Singh as the Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar last month. Dhami had also written to the Akal Takht Jathedar requesting to be relieved from his position in the seven-member committee formed to oversee the new membership drive of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Sikh community unites against SGPC's appointment of new Jathedars

BSP under 'iron lady' values action over words, says Mayawati on Kashi Ram's birth anniversary

LUCKNOW: Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Saturday said the vast population of Uttar Pradesh has seen how the party under the leadership of iron lady values action over words. Paying tributes to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder late Kanshi Ram on his 91st birth anniversary, Mayawati said, Today, on the birth anniversary of the founder of BSP Kanshi Ram Ji, the party across the country paid homage to him and resolved to strengthen his movement for social change and economic liberation. To liberate the 'Bahujan Samaj' from the troubled life of immense poverty, unemployment, exploitation, oppression, backwardness, casteism, communal violence and tension, it is necessary to understand the power of your precious vote and obtain the master key to power. This is the message of today, she added. Referring to herself as iron lady, the BSP supremo said, The vast population of Uttar Pradesh has seen how the BSP under the leadership of 'iron lady' believes more in action than in words. It ensured the all-around development of the Bahujans when in power, while most claims made by the other parties proved baseless and deceptive. Born in Punjab's Rupnagar on March 15, 1934, Kanshi Ram worked for the upliftment and political mobilisation of people belonging to backward classes. He founded the All India Backwards and Minorities Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) in 1971, the Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti in 1981, before forming the BSP in 1984. Kanshi Ram was elected to the Lok Sabha from Etawah in Uttar Pradesh in 1991 and from Hoshiarpur in Punjab in 1996. He also served as a Rajya Sabha member from 1998 to 2004. The BSP stalwart passed away on October 9, 2006, in Delhi at the age of 71.

AAP MP Sahney calls for crop diversification, agri processing for Punjab's development

CHANDIGARH: Dr Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Punjab, who unveiled the report titled Punjab Vision - A Blueprint for Progress, discussed the importance of crop diversification, agri-processing, industrial infrastructure, and skill training for the development of Punjab. The report, a part of the Punjab Vision 2047 held in November last year, details various recommendations in the agriculture sector for crop diversification, including millets in the mid-day meal and providing millets in the 5 Kg Ration Scheme. Punjab should create and promote AI technology for sustainable crop diversification and should set up AI-driven chatbox to assist farmers, Sahney said. On agri-processing, Sahney said that there is an urgent need to set up food processing parks, preferably through multipurpose cooperative societies in a cluster of villages with storage and processing facilities, oil extraction, flour mills, processing and packing of spices, pulses, honey, mushrooms etc. He also emphasised the need for organic farming with institutions like MARKFED and Punjab Agro to provide market linkages. Sahney also proposed setting up of crop specific clusters like pulses, oil seeds, and cotton in Malva, Sugarcane in Doaba, Maize in Hoshiarpur, dairy development in Kapurthala, Floriculture in Ludhiana, Litchi in Pathankot and Chillies in Ferozpur . Regarding trade and industry, Sahney reiterated that Punjab should develop strong industrial zones and revamp key areas in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mohali, and Amritsar. He mentioned that the Rajpura Industrial Zone should commence operations within this year. Additionally, he highlighted that further strengthening of STPIs to establish IT hubs and BPOs could be a game changer for Punjab, as skilled IT talent from the state is currently migrating to Bangalore and Hyderabad. Sahney highlighted that skill training for the youth of Punjab is crucial to safeguard lives and livelihoods. He provided details about five world-class skill centers being established by him, along with the 10 ITIs he has adopted. He expressed deep concern over the depleting water level and the presence of Arsenic and other harmful substances in the water. He expressed concern over the declining water levels and the presence of arsenic and other harmful substances in the water. To address these issues, he suggested adopting Direct Seeded Rice along with a micro-irrigation system. He further demanded that Punjab should receive immediate funds under the Atal Bhujal Yojana for water conservation, noting that the state meets all the criteria of the scheme. While appreciating the State governments war on drugs, Sahney said that skill training for drug rehabs is very critical to bring back youth into mainstream. He also advocated the need for investing in solar energy to optimize subsidy allocation for free power.

Two Indian youths taking 'Dunki' route to US held captive in Guatemala

CHANDIGARH: Two youths, one from Haryana and the other from Punjab, who took the ' Dunki' route to the US have allegedly been kidnapped and kept as hostages in Guatemala. The kidnappers have demanded USD 20,000 as ransom. The families have requested the union government to step in and get their children back. Meanwhile, the Haryana Police has registered a case in this regard against the local travel agents. Kuldeep Singh, father of the kidnapped youth Yuvraj Singh of Mohna village in Kaithal district of Haryana, along with villagers and locals approached the Superintendent of Police of Kaithal Rajesh Kalia yesterday requesting immediate action for their safe return. Singh said that the kidnappers had sent a distressing video of his son being tortured at gunpoint. He added that they demanded USD 20,000 for his release. Singh said that his son left for the US in October last year and the travel agent told him that he would send his son via the legal route. I gave the passport of my son to these three agents including one from Kurushetra, and the deal was done for Rs 41 lakh and he paid Rs 2 lakh in advance. They then said that the rest of the money they will take once he reached US. But while he was on the way, he took another Rs 14 lakh from me, he said. Over 3,200 FIRs filed against travel agents in Punjab in last three years Singh said, Then they took another Rs 8 lakh from me. These agents are hand in glove with the kidnappers. At times they say the kidnappers are demanding USD 20,000 then they say they demand 40,000 dollars. Singh added that he met the Kaithal SP and demanded that the chidern should be brought back home safely and action should be taken against these travel agents. It has been three months since the family has spoken to my son. We have not spoken to him since December. The other youth is from Dasuaya in Hoshiarpur of Punjab, Singh alleged that the agents involved in the illegal migration process have since gone missing. Another local Davinder Singh Cheema said that the family got the video of kidnapping in December, and after that it contacted the local travel agents who had sent these youth. He said the family asked for more time as the local panchayats also approached them, but till date nothing happened and these travel agents did not get back. These agents are now absconding first they were in touch with the family. Superintendent of Police of Kaithal Rajesh Kalia told TNIE that the family, along with villagers, contacted him yesterday and the police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the local travel agents and will be taking action against those responsible besides also writing to the concerned authorities. 42 Indian youths, who took 'dunky route' to US, have been missing for 15 years

Two Indian youths going to US via Dunki route held captive in Gautemala

CHANDIGARH: Two youths, one from Haryana and the other from Punjab, who were going to the United States (US) via the Dunki route have allegedly been kidnapped and kept as hostages in Guatemala. The kidnappers have demanded USD 20,000 as ransom. The families have requested the union government to step in and get their children back. The Haryana Police has registered a case in this regard against the local travel agents. Kuldeep Singh father of kidnapped youth Yuvraj Singh of Mohna village in Kaithal district of Haryana yesterday along with villagers and locals approached the Superintendent of Police of Kaithal Rajesh Kalia requesting immediate action for their safe return. Singh said that that the kidnappers had sent a distressing video of his son being tortured at gunpoint. He claimed that they demanded USD 20,000 for his release. Singh said that his son left for US in October last year and the travel agent told him that he would send his son via the legal route. I gave the passport of my son to these three agents including one from Kurushetra, and the deal was done for Rs 41 lakh and he paid Rs 2 lakh in advance. They then said that the rest of the money they will take once he reached US. But while he was on the way, he took another Rs 14 lakh from me, he said. Over 3,200 FIRs filed against travel agents in Punjab in last three years Singh said, Then they took another Rs 8 lakh from me. These agents are hand in glove with the kidnappers. At times they say the kidnappers are demanding USD 20,000 then they say they demand 40,000 dollars. Singh added that he met the Kaithal SP and demanded that the chidern should be brought back home safely and action should be taken against these travel agents. It has been three months that the family has not spoken to my son since December. The other youth is from Dasuaya in Hoshiarpur of Punjab, Singh alleged that the agents involved in the illegal migration process have since gone missing. Another local Davinder Singh Cheema said that the family got the video of kidnapping in December, and after that it contacted the local travel agents who had sent these youth. He said the family asked for more time as the local panchayats also approached them, but till date nothing happened and these travel agents did not get back. These agents are now absconding first they were in touch with the family. Superintendent of Police of Kaithal Rajesh Kalia told TNIE that the family, along with villagers, contacted him yesterday and the police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the local travel agents and will be taking action against those responsible besides also writing to the concerned authorities. 42 Indian youths, who took 'dunky route' to US, have been missing for 15 years

BJP, SAD slam Kejriwals 'massive convoy' for Vipassana retreat

CHANDIGARH: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has arrived at Anandgarh village in Hoshiarpur for a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat, triggering political controversy as the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) criticised the Punjab government over security arrangements. Kejriwal and his wife Sunita drove to the Chohal forest rest house on the outskirts of Hoshiarpur on Tuesday, where they were received by Hoshiarpur MLA Brahm Shankar Jimpa. After discussions with AAP leaders, Kejriwal proceeded to the Dhamma Dhaja Vipassana centre on Wednesday evening. The meditation course will begin on Thursday and continue until March 15. It remains unclear if his wife will also participate. Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place for Kejriwals visit. However, opposition leaders have lashed out at the Punjab government, accusing it of prioritising Kejriwals comfort over farmers concerns. Punjab BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal said, Kejriwal claims to be on a meditation retreat, but with 50 police vehicles and bureaucratic support, it seems more about indulging in luxuries at Punjabs expense after being rejected by Delhi voters. Senior SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema questioned why Kejriwal was being given a state-level welcome despite having no constitutional authority in Punjab. He also accused the Punjab government of failing to fulfil promises made to farmers, including assured minimum support prices for Moong and Maize and compensation for crop losses. Kejriwals visit comes at a time when AAP is facing political and legal challenges, including setbacks in the Delhi Assembly elections, where the party secured only 22 out of 70 seats, and an ongoing money laundering case linked to the excise policy. This marks Kejriwals second Vipassana retreat at Anandgarh, having previously attended a course at the same centre from December 21 to December 30, 2023. Known to be a regular practitioner, he has attended similar meditation retreats in Jaipur, Nagpur, Dharamkot near Dharamshala, and Bengaluru in the past. Vipassana, an ancient meditation technique rooted in the teachings of Gautam Buddha, is taught through a 10-day residential course where participants must observe complete silence and avoid all forms of communication except with instructors regarding meditation practice.

'Like a VIP Maharaja': BJP, Congress target Kejriwal over 'lavish convoy' in Punjab

Arvind Kejriwal faced criticism from BJP and Congress for using a VIP convoy without holding a constitutional post, while visiting Punjab for a Vipassana session. Accusations centered on the use of taxpayer money for his security entourage. The AAP leader, accompanied by his wife, arrived in Hoshiarpur for a 10-day meditation course.

No place for gangsters and criminals in Punjab: CM Mann

Hoshiarpur, Mar 2: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday asserted that gangsters, smugglers, criminals and other anti-social elements have no place in the state and will soon be wiped out. Addressing a gathering here during the passing out parade of 2,490 cops, Mann said this pious land produced saints, seers, martyrs, legendary players and [] The post No place for gangsters and criminals in Punjab: CM Mann appeared first on Northlines .

Gangsters, smugglers and anti-social elements will soon be wiped out from State: Punjab CM

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that gangsters, smugglers, criminals and other antisocial elements will soon be wiped out from the state. He blamed the previous governments for patronizing gangsters and criminals. Addressing the gathering during the passing-out parade of 2490 police personnel at Jahan Khela in Hoshiarpur, he said that criminals have made this state their abode. He also said that the state government has now started a crusade to weed out these anti-national elements, adding that they will be behind the bars soon. He said that the Punjab government has launched a decisive war against drugs in the state as the government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against drugs. He added that Punjab will be made completely drug free with the active support and cooperation of the general public. Mann said that the supply line of the drugs is being snapped and drug peddlers are being put behind bars. Properties of the drug smugglers are also being confiscated or razed, he added. He also expressed that the new police personnel will become an integral part in the war against the drugs. He said that to overcome major challenges faced by the state, the police force must be updated as per advanced requirements in the field of investigation, science and technology. Mann called upon the newly inducted cops to play a proactive role in wiping out the menace of drugs from the state. He said that Punjab is fighting the nation's war against drugs and the Punjab Police has always acted as a barrier for checking its supply. He also stated that since 2022, more than 10,000 youngsters have been appointed in the Police force to update the force. Mann expressed that the state government has also decided to recruit 10,000 new cops in Punjab Police for which necessary clearance will be given by the cabinet soon. He said that the state Government has launched the first of its kind initiative in the country, a dedicated Sadak Surakhya Force to ensure enhanced security and to save precious lives on the state and National Highways. He said that specially trained, freshly recruited 1597 personnel including women, are acting as the backbone to this force He shared that they have been provided with the latest, fully equipped 144 vehicles and since its launch in February last year, and the state has witnessed a 48.10 per cent reduction in casualties due to accidents. Mann said that force has been deployed all along 4200 km of the Highways, prone to traffic accidents. He also shared that even the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had hailed this initiative of the state government in the Parliament.

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

Deportees who sold land and took loans for US via 'Dunky Route' face uncertain future and debt repayment

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.

We Were Handcuffed, Claims Deportee Who Arrived In Second Batch From US

CHANDIGARH, Feb 16: Daljit Singh, who was among the deportees who reached Amritsar from the US on Saturday night, on Sunday claimed they were handcuffed with their legs chained during the journey. Our legs were chained and hands were also cuffed, Singh told reporters in Hoshiarpur. Singh, a native of Kurala Kalan village in Punjabs Hoshiarpur district, was among 116 illegal Indian immigrants who were brought back in a US aircraft that landed at the Amritsar airport on Saturday night. The post We Were Handcuffed, Claims Deportee Who Arrived In Second Batch From US appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

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.

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.

Punjab minister seeks PM Modi's intervention in deportation of Indians from US, urges him to find a solution

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

Akal Takht Jathedar calls for high-level meeting on Jan 28; SAD membership drive, panthic issues to be discussed

CHANDIGARH: A meeting of the five high priests has been called by the Akal Takht (Highest temporal seat of Sikhs) by Jathedar (High Priest) Giani Raghbir Singh on January 28 during which it is likely to take decide on the membership drive of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) besides other issues regarding the non-compliance of Akal Takht directives. The party also appointed rebel party leader Gurpartap Singh Wadala, former convener of the SAD Sudhar Lehar (dissolved at present), as an observer for Faridkot to supervise the massive membership drive started by the party on January 20. However, he refused to accept the offer made by the party. Sources confirmed that the meeting has been scheduled for January 28 to discuss a few panthic issues as the Akal Takht Secretariat was reluctant to share the agenda of the meeting. On December 2, 2024, Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, while pronouncing tankhah (religious punishment) to the guilty SAD leaders, announced a seven-member committee headed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami to oversee the proceedings for reorganising the party structure, holding elections for the post of party president and other office bearers within six months. The party included five of its Akal Takht committee members in the membership drive programme but excluded Gurpartap Singh Wadala, the convener of the SAD Sudhar Lehar (dissolved at present), and Satwant Kaur, an SGPC employee. On the other hand, the SAD appointed a parallel panel under the supervision of its senior leader and partys chief election officer for the organizational elections, Gulzar Singh Ranike. A senior party leader said that if Satwant Kaur want to come back and join the party she is welcome back but as she is an SGPC employee, she has resign first and then only join the party. A group of SGPC members had approached the Akal Takht, demanding action against the leadership of the party for not complying with the edict pronounced on December 2 by the highest temporal seat of Sikhs. Senior Akali Dal leader and spokesperson Dr Daljit Singh Cheema today wrote on social media platform X, The SAD has added following new observers to the list of observers deputed to supervise the massive membership drive started by the party on January 20: Gurpartap Singh Wadala for Faridkot, Varinder Singh Bajwa who was earlier assigned Nawan Shahar district will now join Harjinder S Dhami in Hoshiarpur district, Jarnail Singh Wahd will look after Nawan Shahar district, Raj Singh Dibbipura will join Joginder S Jindu in Ferozepur district, Preet Inder Singh President, Muktsar Sahib will join Vardev Singh Mann in Fazilka district. These decisions were taken in the meeting of Parliamentary board presided over by Working President Balwinder Singh Bhundar. The SAD has added following new observers to the list of observers deputed to supervise the massive membership drive started by the party on January 20 : 1. S Gurpartap Singh Wadala for Faridkot. 2. S Varinder Singh Bajwa who was earlier assigned Nawan Shahar district will now Dr Daljit S Cheema (@drcheemasad) January 23, 2025 SAD delegation meets Gurdwara Elections Commission over bogus votes issue

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.

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.)

Serial killer in Punjab lures 11 victims with lifts and sexual acts, wrote 'dhokebaaz' on victim's back

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 block trains in Punjab for three hours as part of their 'Rail Roko' protest, 31 trains affected

CHANDIGARH: Today, farmers across Punjab blocked rail tracks for three hours as part of their 'Rail Roko' protest, demanding that the Union Government address their concerns. As a result, 31 trains were disrupted. The farmers also called for a Punjab bandh on December 30 to further press their demands. The call for the 'Rail Roko' has been given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. The farmers held protests and blocked railway tracks at seventeen places in the state 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; Sunam and Lehra in Sangrur, Rampura Phul in Bathinda and Devidaspura in Amritsar. Sources in the railways said that 31 trains were effected as of these nine were short terminated and one train was diverted. The Shatabdi Express coming from New Delhi for Amritsar was halted at Khanna railway station. While the Humsafar Express from Jammu to Sealdah, Dadar Express from Amritsar to Mumbai and Shan-e-Punjab Express from New Delhi to Amritsar were halted at different platforms of the Ludhiana railway station. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha convenor Sarwan Singh Pandher said farmers sat on the rail tracks at many places from 12 noon and till 3 pm. 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. 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. A jatha (group) of 101 farmers made three attempts to enter Delhi on foot on December 6, December 8 and again on December 14 but Haryana Police 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.

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.