BJP's youngest legislator criticises Punjab govt on drug menace

Digital Desk | Mukerian (Punjab), Sep 27 (IANS) Saying that if the Chief Minister himself reaches the Punjab Assembly after consuming liquor, in such a situation expecting him to take strict action against drugs is meaningless, said Shagun Parihar, Bharatiya Janata Party's youngest legislator from Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir, on Sunday. She criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, saying party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal had betrayed the people of the state. She said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had given drug smugglers a free hand. The situation in Punjab has become so bad that there is no guarantee that a person who goes to sleep at night will wake up safely in the morning, or that someone who steps out of their home will return safely. She made these remarks while addressing a rally in Mukerian on the eighth day of the BJP's 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra'. Referring to the killing of her father and uncle by terrorists, she said that was the time when terrorists used to roam freely on streets of Jammu and Kashmir, and those who raised their voices against them were shot dead in broad daylight. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah made the impossible possible by abrogating Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, she added. Today, Kashmir is witnessing discussions about change, prosperity, tablets in the hands of young people, and employment. She said that Punjab must now also be transformed, and for this people must support PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. During the rally, PM Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme was also heard. Senior BJP leader Vijay Sampla said that drugs are being sold from house to house, with even home delivery taking place. He alleged that with the Punjab government's patronage bodies of sarpanches who raised their voices against drugs are being found. Pathankot MLA and former State BJP President Ashwani Sharma said the yatra is aimed at saving Punjab's youth and creating public awareness against drugs. Mukerian MLA Jangi Lal Mahajan said as soon as the BJP comes to power, drug smugglers will be put in jail. He said that drug smugglers have only four months left.

Pakistan's reaction on Indus water reflects pressure created by India's strategic shift

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's direct threat at the United Nations General Assembly that any attempt to stop, impede or divert its share of the Indus waters would be treated as an act of war is significant. Beyond rhetoric, it reveals, perhaps for the first time in decades, that Pakistan is publicly acknowledging the impact of a pressure point that directly affects its national interests. Earlier, a major blow was the 1971 war that resulted in Pakistan's military defeat with the surrender of over 90,000 troops in Dhaka, and the creation of Bangladesh. The loss was widely viewed within Pakistan as trauma and humiliation. Now, Sharifs statement is significant in the context of Pakistans not-so-covert war on its neighbour through cross-border terrorism. Since the decisive 1971 loss, Pakistan increasingly relied on asymmetric warfare rather than conventional military confrontation. Terror groups operating from Pakistan, or supported by networks within, targeted India repeatedly. The list of major attacks is long and painful. Jammu and Kashmir witnessed decades of insurgency and terrorism beginning in the late 1980s. The 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament brought the two nuclear-armed states to the brink of war. The 2008 Mumbai attacks, carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, killed 166 people and shocked the world. Successive Indian governments largely limited themselves to diplomatic protests, international campaigns, and defensive counterterrorism measures. Subsequent attacks included the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack, the 2016 Uri attack on an Army brigade headquarters, the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 40 CRPF personnel, and the 2025 Pahalgam attack that triggered a fresh deterioration in bilateral relations. Following the Uri attack, India conducted surgical strikes across the Line of Control, specifically targeting terrorist launch pads, ending the practice of strategic restraint. An even stronger signal emerged after the 2019 Pulwama attack when India carried out airstrikes on Balakot, targeting terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistani territory. Whether viewed from a military or political perspective, the action broke another psychological barrier by demonstrating India's willingness to strike beyond the Line of Control. The most consequential shift came after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. India launched Operation Sindoor, a major counterterror response. References to the operation now appear regularly in Pakistan's own political discourse, including Sharif's UN speech, which discussed the military confrontation that followed the Pahalgam attack. However, it was the Indus Waters that became strategically important after the military responses. Signed in 1960 with World Bank mediation, the treaty allocated the three eastern rivers -- Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej -- for India's unrestricted use, while the three western rivers -- Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab -- were allocated primarily to Pakistan, subject to specified Indian rights and uses. The treaty remained in effect through the wars of 1965, 1971, and 1999, as well as decades of political hostility. But following the Pahalgam attack, India placed the treaty in abeyance and stated that this position would continue until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ended support for cross-border terrorism. The Indus issue touches Pakistan's core economic interests, especially agriculture, supporting a large part of its irrigation, and is therefore deeply linked to food security, energy generation, and rural livelihoods. Several analyses note Pakistan's heavy dependence on the western rivers allocated under the treaty. For decades, Pakistan-sponsored terrorism has been bleeding India, while Islamabad openly, politically and morally, supported the violence and subversive activities, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indus question has altered that equation. It signals that India is increasingly willing to connect the broader bilateral relationship, including terrorism, with arrangements that had previously been treated as insulated from security disputes. Thus, Sharif's latest utterances, beyond serving as a warning, are also an admission of vulnerability. Because the current situation reflects a transformation in Indian strategic thinking from rhetoric to a combination of military, economic, and resource-based pressure. Whether this strategy will ultimately succeed in changing Pakistan's behaviour remains an open question, but Islamabad has indeed been made to realise that the costs of confrontation are no longer confined to speeches, dossiers, and diplomatic exchanges. A firm message has been delivered, where, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Blood and water cannot flow together.

Punjab Police asks personnel to avoid uniform while commuting after ASI's killing

Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 22 (IANS) Punjab Police issued a security advisory directing police personnel to avoid travelling in uniform while commuting between their homes and places of duty, following the recent killing of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Harjit Singh in Amritsar. In the wake of the incident, and keeping in view the safety of police personnel posted in districts along the Pakistan border, the Inspector General (IG), Border Range, has issued an advisory to police personnel. The IG Border Range has written to the Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of Amritsar Rural, Batala, Gurdaspur and Pathankot, directing them to implement measures aimed at enhancing the security of police employees while they travel to and from their places of duty. According to the advisory, police personnel have been instructed to wear plain clothes while travelling from their homes to their places of duty and while returning home after completing their duties. They have specifically been advised to avoid wearing their police uniforms during such journeys. The advisory further states that while undertaking personal travel, police personnel should neither carry nor display any sign, symbol or other item that could reveal their identity as members of the police force. The letter also emphasises that all prescribed security protocols should be strictly followed by police personnel during private travel, with officers being advised to remain particularly cautious about their identity and personal safety. ASI Harjit Singh was killed while performing his duty on September 18. Following the incident, police teams launched efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for the killing. A high alert was subsequently sounded across Amritsar and adjoining areas, with police intensifying checks at toll plazas and other key points as teams continued to search for the suspects. Police later received specific information that the suspects were moving in the area and could potentially be looking for another target, prompting security teams to intensify their efforts to track them down. One of the accused in the murder case of Punjab Police ASI Harjit Singh was killed in an encounter on September 19. Punjab Police Commissioner Harmanveer Singh Gill said that while one of the main accused was killed during the encounter, his accomplice managed to escape under the cover of darkness. Commissioner Gill also stated that the murder was part of a conspiracy involving Pakistan-based handlers. According to him, the youths were lured with promises of money and a share in the illegal drug trade. The handlers demanded proof of loyalty by targeting police personnel. Investigators also found that after shooting ASI Harjit Singh, the accused allegedly returned to the crime scene and recorded a 3040 second video to send to their overseas handlers as proof that the task had been completed. The act was reportedly captured on CCTV, while forensic examination of mobile phones is underway. Commissioner Gill appealed to parents to closely monitor their childrens activities and protect them from being exploited through social media, drugs and criminal networks.

'Don't Travel Alone': Punjab Warns Cops, Opposition Targets Bhagwant Mann

A detailed security directive issued to the SSPs of Amritsar Rural, Batala, Gurdaspur and Pathankot has triggered a political storm in Punjab

Drug fight should begin from Mundra Port, not Punjab: says AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal stated the drug fight should start from Gujarat's Mundra Port. He reacted to BJP chief Nitin Nabin's remarks on Punjab's anti-drug campaign. Nabin launched a 13-day 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra' from Pathankot. The BJP's campaign aims to disrupt drug supply networks and aid rehabilitation.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan to join BJPs Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra in Punjab today

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will visit Punjab on Monday for a one-day trip, where he will participate in the BJPs Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra (Drug-Free Punjab Campaign). During his visit, Chouhan will pay obeisance at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo before joining the BJPs campaign against drug abuse. At 10:00 a.m., he is scheduled to inaugurate and participate in the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra at Dana Mandi, located at Ravidasia Chowk in Talwandi Sabo. The Union minister will also address a public meeting in Maisarkhana and hold a direct dialogue with farmers and women associated with self-help groups in Bathinda. His participation comes as the four-day campaign enters its final leg, with the yatra scheduled to reach Bathinda and conclude the BJPs state-wide outreach programme. The BJP launched the mega Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra on September 18, with the campaign covering different parts of Punjab. BJP national President Nitin Nabin flagged off the first march from Ekta Sthal at Madhopur in Pathankot district earlier on Friday. The second yatra was on September 19 from Fatehgarh Sahib and was flagged off by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The third yatra was held on September 20 from the Sadiki border in Fazilka, near the Asafwala 1971 War Memorial, and was flagged off by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The four-day yatra began in Pathankot and is scheduled to conclude in Bathinda, covering key districts across the state. The campaign is centred on the issue of drug abuse, which has remained a significant concern and a prominent subject of political discourse in Punjab. Through the yatra, the BJP is seeking to raise awareness about the adverse impact of drugs and highlight its vision and proposed approach for creating a drug-free Punjab. The participation of senior BJP leaders, including Chouhan, is expected to add political momentum to the campaign while strengthening the partys organisational network and public outreach across the state.

Ravneet Singh Bittu Detained In Ludhiana After Egg-Tomato Protest As Bhagwant Manns Convoy Passes

BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu was detained by Ludhiana Police after protesting with eggs and tomatoes as Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns cavalcade passed through the city. Bittus office says he wanted to hand over material from an alleged attack on his convoy near Batala. Police claim he attempted to throw eggs and tomatoes at Manns convoy. Bittu has alleged that hundreds attacked his vehicles while he was travelling to Pathankot for the BJPs anti-drug yatra. The confrontation has intensified political tensions between the BJP and AAP in Punjab.

BJP's Ravneet Bittu Detained After 'Egg-Tomato' Protest Against Bhagwant Mann

Former Union Minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu was detained by Punjab Police on Saturday after he protested in front of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's cavalcade near the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) gate. The incident took place as Mann arrived at PAU for the Kisan Mela. Bittu also carried eggs and tomatoes during his protest. He had alleged that eggs and tomatoes were thrown at his convoy on Friday while he was on his way to Pathankot for the BJP's Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra.

Raghav Chadha enjoys tea, discusses Punjab politics with locals at Amritsar's Giani Tea Stall

Digital Desk | Amritsar, Sep 19 (IANS) BJP Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha made a late-night stop at Amritsar's famous Giani Tea Stall, where he enjoyed a cup of traditional Amritsari tea and engaged in conversations with locals about the political situation in Punjab. Giani Tea Stall is a popular and widely known spot in Amritsar, particularly famous for its traditional Amritsari tea. The tea stall has also gained popularity on social media, making it a recognisable stop for visitors looking to experience the city's local food and tea culture. Sharing photographs of his visit on X on Saturday, Chadha said, After wrapping up the day's schedule, I reached the famous Giani Tea Stall in Amritsar. Amid sips of tea, discussions on Punjab's politics stretched late into the night with folks around. He also added a light-hearted line about tea and addiction while sharing the pictures from the visit. Nahse mei naash hai, chai mei vishwas hai. Kuch logo mei bhram hai, lekin chai mei dum hai (Roughly translated to -- Ruined by addiction, belief in tea; some have illusions, but tea has strength!) Chadha added. Earlier on Friday, Chadha joined BJP National President Nitin Nabin in Pathankot to flag off the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra. The programme focuses on the drug crisis gripping the state and the suffering of affected families. Taking to X, he wrote that he had met families living through the devastating impact of drugs and described their stories as a painful reminder of the human cost of the crisis. Drugs don't just destroy lives. They destroy families, he said. The MP alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab had promised to eradicate the drug menace but had failed to deliver. He claimed that over the last four and a half years the problem had increased significantly. According to him, the supply of drugs, particularly chitta, has boomed and continues to flow freely through the state. The Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra was flagged off in Pathankot in the presence of BJP National President Nitin Nabin. The campaign aims to highlight the scale of the drug problem and mobilise public opinion against it.

Ravneet Bittu detained after protesting near CM Manns cavalcade in Ludhiana

Digital Desk | Ludhiana, Sep 19 (IANS) Former Union Minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu was detained by Punjab Police on Saturday after he protested near the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) gate when Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns cavalcade was passing through the area. Bittu held up a bottle towards the Chief Ministers convoy, saying that he was returning the bottle to the Chief Minister and asking him to enjoy his liquor while allowing Arvind Kejriwal to loot Punjab from Delhi. The incident took place as CM Mann arrived at PAU for the Kisan Mela. Bittu also returned the eggs and tomatoes that were allegedly thrown at his cavalcade near Batala town on Friday while he was travelling for the BJPs Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra. He had alleged that his convoy was attacked on Friday and that vehicles in his cavalcade were damaged. Speaking after the protest, Bittu said: Yesterday eggs and tomatoes were thrown at my cavalcade. Today I have returned them. If AAP workers are going to protest against BJP leaders, rallies and yatras, then BJP workers will also exercise their democratic right to protest against the Punjab government and its leaders. We will not remain silent. Bittu said the BJP would continue to raise issues concerning Punjab and would organise peaceful democratic protests outside the Chief Ministers programmes and offices whenever required. This is a clear message to the Punjab government: political opposition cannot be silenced through police action. BJP workers will answer every democratic protest democratically and will continue to stand with the people of Punjab, Bittu said. The BJP leader was subsequently detained by the police. A day earlier, after his convoy was pelted with tomatoes and eggs while en route to Pathankot to attend BJP national President Nitin Nabins flag-off of the partys Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra, Bittu pardoned all three people apprehended by his security team. Despite the seriousness of the incident, Bittu made it clear that such incidents cannot be allowed to undermine the democratic rights of political leaders and workers.

BJP MP Jagdambika Pal Condemns Attack on Ravneet Singh Bittus Convoy in Pathankot

BJP MP Jagdambika Pal criticizes violence in politics following an attack on Ravneet Singh Bittus convoy in Pathankot, Punjab. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal Condemns Attack on Ravneet Singh Bittus Convoy in Pathankot

Raghav Chadha Flags Off Drug-Free Punjab Campaign in Pathankot

Raghav Chadha and BJP President Nitin Nabin launch a campaign in Pathankot aimed at combating Punjabs drug crisis. Raghav Chadha Flags Off Drug-Free Punjab Campaign in Pathankot

Raghav Chadha Launches Drug-Free Punjab Campaign with BJP President Nitin Naveen in Pathankot

Raghav Chadha criticizes the AAP government while launching the Drug-Free Punjab campaign with BJPs Nitin Naveen in Pathankot. Raghav Chadha Launches Drug-Free Punjab Campaign with BJP President Nitin Naveen in Pathankot

Punjab faces enemy that sneaks silently into villages, says BJP chief Nabin at drug-free campaign launch

Digital Desk | Pathankot, Sep 18 (IANS) Saying Punjab faces an enemy that doesnt wear a uniform and sneaks silently into villages and homes, BJP National President, Nitin Nabin, on Friday rolled out the 13-day-long 'Drug-Free Punjab Journey from Pathankot, that will cover 4,000-kms across all 117 Assembly seats. Nabin said he had come from Patna, the land of Guru Gobind Singh, to Punjab. From there (Patna), I have brought just one message: That this drug-free campaign must be taken to every nook and corner of Punjab, and by joining hands with every single Punjabi, we must strengthen this campaign, he said, while addressing a gathering at the launch of the partys campaign in the election-bound state that shares a border with Pakistan. I have come with a call to make Punjab completely drug-free, he said at the flag-off event of the first march from Ekta Sthal at Madhopur in Pathankot district. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to address the concluding rally in Jalandhar on September 30. Just hours before the launch, a convoy of senior party leader Ravneet Singh Bittu was attacked when he was on the way to attend the event. BJP President Nabin said, Todays day is very special for me as well. I have come with that issue, on which the pain and agony is being heard in every home of Punjab. I have come to connect myself with that pain. Our young Punjabis, whenever a threat loomed on the country's borders, or looms even now, stand ready at the frontlines with rifles in hand. But today, Punjab faces an enemy that doesnt wear a uniform; it sneaks silently into our villages and homes, gradually ensnaring entire families in its grip. This enemy is none other than addiction, and its mafia, the ones we must resolve to eradicate. He added that he had come to the heroic land of Pathankot not just to embark on a journey, but to begin a new battle for Punjab with a resolve. Just now, I was offering floral tribute at the statue of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. This very place in Pathankot is where, when he was on his way to oppose Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, he was arrested. After that, the BJP fought a long battle. I, too, got the opportunity to go to Kashmir in 2012, he said. The BJP chief further asserted that he was saying this today because if a BJP worker or leader takes any resolve, they also possess the strength to take it to fruition and complete it. We struggled for a long time, but throughout our entire struggle, resolve was tied to us. That was the reason we freed Jammu and Kashmir from Article 370 in 2019. Without mincing words, Nabin, who was sporting a saffron coloured turban, said, I have come to stand in solidarity with the people amid this suffering. We must take this 'Nasha Mukt' campaign to every corner of Punjab and strengthen it by uniting with every Punjabi and every community in the state. When the BJP, its workers and its leadership, undertake a pledge, it possesses the determination and capability to see it through to fruition.

I Called Amit Shah: Ex-Union Minister Ravneet Bittu Blames AAP After Convoy Attack In Punjab

BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu alleged that his cavalcade was attacked by AAP workers near Batala in Punjab while he was travelling to Pathankot for an anti-drug yatra. Bittu claimed over 100 AAP workers targeted the convoy and hurled eggs at it. He alleged that a window pane of two escort vehicles was broken and the jammer vehicle was damaged. Bittu said he had informed the Union Home Ministry and held Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the state DGP responsible if anything happened to him or his associates. His security team reportedly apprehended three people.

Punjab BJP to launch four anti-drug marches across state today

Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 18 (IANS) To bring the issue of drug abuse into sharper focus in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and Opposition parties trading accusations over the government's handling of the issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will launch four statewide marches against drug abuse in the state from Friday. The marches will cover all 117 Assembly constituencies before culminating in a rally later this month, which will be addressed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatras will begin from four locations between September 18 and 21 and collectively cover about 4,000 km, according to the Punjab BJP. BJP national President Nitin Nabin will flag off the first march from Ekta Sthal at Madhopur in Pathankot district on Friday. The march will pass through constituencies in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Kapurthala and Jalandhar before reaching its destination. The second yatra will begin on September 19 from Fatehgarh Sahib and will be flagged off by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta after she pays obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Jyoti Saroop Sahib, Punjab BJP general secretary and yatra in-charge Rajesh Bagha said. It will travel through parts of Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Ropar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Phagwara before concluding in Jalandhar. The third yatra will start on September 20 from the Sadiki border in Fazilka, near the Asafwala 1971 War Memorial, with Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal scheduled to flag it off. It will cover constituencies in Fazilka, Muktsar, Bathinda, Faridkot, Moga, Ludhiana and Malerkotla. The fourth march will begin on September 21 from Gurdwara Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will flag it off. That route will cover Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala, Sangrur and Patiala districts before heading towards Jalandhar. All four yatras are scheduled to converge in Jalandhar on September 30, when the BJP will hold a public rally addressed by HM Shah. The BJP has described the campaign as an effort to build public awareness against drug abuse. Party leaders have also raised concerns about law and order and corruption in Punjab as part of their wider political messaging.

'Gimmicks': India on Pakistan's fresh announcement on Masood Azhar bounty

Azhar remains wanted in India for major terror attacks, including the 2001 Parliament strike, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Pathankot airbase assault and the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

Never knowingly carried drugs: Pathankot parents seek help for son on death row in Saudi

Punjab BJP leaders meet DGP for adequate security of Nasha Mukt Yatras

Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 14 (IANS) With the objective of creating public awareness against drugs in Punjab and taking a resolve to make the state drug-free, Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will organise four Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatras from September 18 to 30. In connection with these yatras, a delegation led by state President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Monday met the Director General of Police (DGP) and submitted a memorandum seeking adequate security and traffic arrangements along the entire route of the yatras. On the occasion, Dhillon said that Union Ministers, senior BJP leadership and other BJP leaders, besides a large number of party workers and members of the public, would participate in the yatras. Therefore, adequate security arrangements must be put in place along the entire route, including the starting and concluding points of the yatras. He said the yatras would commence from Sujanpur in Pathankot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka and Talwandi Sabo. Dhillon said on September 18, BJP national President Nitin Nabin would flag off the yatra from Ekta Sthal in Sujanpur. Besides, Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Arjun Ram Meghwal, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other senior leaders would join the yatras at different stages. The concluding rally of the yatras is in Jalandhar on September 30. A large gathering of people is expected on the occasion. The state BJP President appealed to the police administration to ensure that no anti-social or mischievous elements get an opportunity to disrupt the yatras. At the same time, traffic arrangements should be planned and put in place in advance in coordination with district police officials to ensure the smooth conduct of the yatras and minimise inconvenience to the public. Dhillon said the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra is not merely a political programme, but an effort to build a mass movement to protect the youth and families of Punjab from the menace of drugs. He said drugs have become the biggest challenge facing Punjab today. It is extremely important to eradicate this menace from Punjab, as drug abuse is leading to a rise in crime, gang culture and cases of extortion. He said the Aam Aadmi Party government had come to power promising to eradicate drugs within three months, but instead of declining, drugs are today being delivered to homes across the state. The government is also attempting to silence voices raised against drugs in an effort to hide its failure.

Drug trafficking accused arrested after fleeing from NCB custody in J&K

Digital Desk | Jammu, Sep 10 (IANS) Officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said on Thursday that the drug trafficking accused, who had escaped from custody in J&Ks Jammu city on September 7, has been re-arrested. The officials said the NCB, in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Punjab Police, has re-arrested the drug trafficking accused, who had fled from custody in Jammu. The accused had fled from Jammu and travelled towards Jalandhar via the Pathankot route, the officials said. He allegedly took shelter in a forested area near Narwal Fruit Mandi before altering his appearance by shaving his beard and changing his clothes. The official said that following a three-day search and tracking operation across Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, a joint team of NCB Jammu, NCB Amritsar, NCB Chandigarh and Punjab Police traced and apprehended him in Jalandhar. The accused was identified as Aqib Bashir. The accused was preparing to move towards Delhi or another state when he was apprehended. The accused used his contacts in Jalandhar to seek shelter and evade the search teams. Intelligence inputs and field efforts helped the agencies track his location. Aqib Bashir was arrested when he was preparing to move towards Delhi or another state. His initial arrest was part of a month-long operation by the NCB in the Jammu division, which exposed two distinct routes used by narcotic smugglers to push heroin into the union territory from Pakistan through the Uri sector and indirectly via Punjab. The NCB had earlier arrested him with 522 grams of heroin from a passenger bus in Samba district on September 3, the officials said. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances of his escape and identify those who allegedly provided him shelter and facilitated his movement. Intelligence agencies believe that the major portion of narcotics smuggled into the country from Pakistan is used to sustain terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu NCB tracks down, re-arrests escaped drug peddler from Punjab

Jammu, Sept 10: The Jammu unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau has re-arrested a drug peddler who had escaped from its custody three days ago, an official said on Thursday. The accused was arrested in Punjab's Jalandhar in a coordinated operation by the agency, J-K Police and Punjab Police, an NCB spokesperson said. Aqib Bashir, a resident of Kakapora in Pulwama district, escaped from NCBs custody in Narwal on the intervening night of September 6-7. The NCB had earlier arrested him with 522 grams of heroin from a passenger bus in Samba district on September 3. The NCB, in close coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police and Punjab Police, has successfully traced and re-arrested Bashir, a notorious drug trafficker who had fled from the NCBs custody in Jammu, the spokesman said. After fleeing from Jammu, he said the accused reached Jalandhar via Pathankot. He initially hid in a forest area near the Narwal fruit mandi. To conceal his identity, he clean-shaved, changed his clothes and altered his appearance, he said. The accused used his contacts in Jalandhar to seek shelter and evade the search teams. Intelligence inputs and field efforts helped the agencies track his location. Bashir was arrested when he was preparing to move towards Delhi or another state, the spokesman said. Bashirs arrest was part of a month-long operation by the NCB in the Jammu division, which exposed two distinct routes used by narcotic smugglers to push heroin into J-K from Pakistan through the Uri sector and indirectly via Punjab. In four interceptions carried out over the past month, along with a linked recovery in Punjab, the NCB has seized 6.920 kg of heroin and arrested six accused.

J&K Police bust inter-state narcotics smuggling network in Kathua, four arrested

Jammu, Sep 7: Police on Monday busted an inter-state narcotics smuggling network with the arrest of four persons and recovery of over 2.6 kg of opium in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, officials said. Acting on credible intelligence about the movement of narcotics, a police team from Lakhanpur police station laid a check point on the bypass road near Shamshaan ghat and intercepted a truck, they said. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 1.026 kg of opium and the arrest of driver Gurvinder Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran district in Punjab, and his associate Sukhdev Singh, also from Tarn Taran, officials said. During interrogation, Sukhdev disclosed that the consignment had originated in Gujarat and was handed over to him in Rajasthan by an unidentified handler for delivery to a receiver in Punjab, they said. Acting on the disclosure, a police team raided a location in Nakki village in Pathankot, where the intended receiver, Rakesh Kumar, was traced. Police found that the illicit package had been concealed at the residence of Rakesh's neighbour, Ajay Kumar, officials said. A subsequent search of the premises led to the recovery of the remaining contraband, taking the total seizure to 2.672 kg of opium. Rakesh Kumar and Ajay Kumar were also arrested, they said. A case of the NDPS Act has been registered at Lakhanpur police station and further investigation is underway to establish the forward and backward linkages of the inter-state drug network, officials said. The operation was conducted under the overall supervision of Kathua SSP Mohita Sharma, with the police team led by the SHO Lakhanpur and supervised by senior officers, they added.

Punjab Chief Minister to Disburse Honorarium Under Mawan-Dhiyan Sewa Scheme for 3.55 Million Women

Chandigarh, August 1: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will launch the disbursement of honorarium under the Mawan-Dhiyan Sewa Scheme from Pathankot on Saturday. According to government officials, a total of 3.55 million women will receive the honorarium directly in their bank accounts. Previously, 3.3 million women had already benefited from this scheme. This means ... Read more Punjab Chief Minister to Disburse Honorarium Under Mawan-Dhiyan Sewa Scheme for 3.55 Million Women

Good News For UP, Bihar Travellers: Chhapra-Pathankot Weekly Special Train From July 20

Train will have 19 coaches, including AC Second Class, AC Third Class, Third AC Economy, Sleeper Class, General Second Class, and luggage-cum-generator coaches.

MHA tags 17 from Pakistan and 6 Indians 'individual terrorists'

India has declared 23 individuals from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as terrorists, targeting Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish operatives. Home Minister Amit Shah stated these individuals are involved in anti-India activities, including terror attacks and recruitment. The designated terrorists are linked to significant attacks like Pathankot and the Rameshwaram Cafe blast, with some also involved in reconnaissance for future strikes. This move underscores the government's firm stance against terrorism.

TATA Starbucks Reimagines its Loyalty Program with New Rewards and Enhanced Benefits

TATA Starbucks has announced the launch of its reimagined Starbucks Rewards program, featuring Green, Gold and the newly introduced Reserve tier. The enhanced program is designed to offer members greater value through faster earning, easier redemption and access to a broader suite of rewards, benefits and experiences as they progress through the program. The updated tiers include: Green: The entry tier where members can earn Starbucks Rewards faster, and choose to redeem Rewards of their choice Gold: Customers can get upgraded to Gold by accumulating 1000 Stars within a year of joining Reserve: Comes with a sleek, black personalized card customized with the customers name and the first year they joined the program. Customers can get upgraded on accumulating 5000+ Stars within a year of joining TATA Starbucks Reimagines its Loyalty Program with New Rewards and Enhanced Benefits The Starbucks Rewards program will now offer a host of customer benefits with each level unlocking an expanded portfolio of rewards and experiences as they deepen their engagement with the brand: Faster Earning: Members will earn 1 Star for every Rs.10 spent, with Gold Members earning 1.2X Stars and Reserve Members earning 1.3X Stars on every Rs. 10 spent More Accessible Rewards: Lower redemption thresholds make it easier for members to unlock rewards and enjoy benefits sooner, bringing them closer to the experiences and rewards they value Benefits at Every Level: Members can enjoy a range of benefits including personalized offers, birthday rewards, milestone celebrations, Double Stars Days and member-exclusive offers, ensuring every visit feels more rewarding Enhanced Member Experiences: As members progress through the program, they will also unlock additional benefits including Free Customized Mondays (every member can receive one free modifier on any handcrafted drink), accelerated Star earnings, exclusive merchandise, curated coffee experiences, special event access and other member-only privileges Adrit Mishra, COO, TATAStarbucks , said, At TATA Starbucks, we are constantly looking for ways to strengthen our connection with customers and create experiences that are meaningful, rewarding and personalized. The reimagined Starbucks Rewards program reflects our commitment to delivering greater value to our members by making rewards easier to earn and redeem, while introducing new benefits and experiences that celebrate loyalty. Whether someone is just beginning their Starbucks Rewards journey or is one of our most loyal members, the program has been designed to reward them at every stage. For more information and to start enjoying these rewards, visit the Starbucks India mobile application. About TATA Starbucks Private Limited Starbucks entered the Indian market in October 2012 through a 50/50 Joint Venture with Tata Consumer Products Limited and currently operates more than 506 stores in India across 81 cities, Agra, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Alibaug, Amritsar, Anand, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Bhatinda, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Faridabad, Gandhinagar, Ghaziabad, Goa, Guntur, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Gwalior, Haridwar, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Indore, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolhapur, Kolkata, Lonavala, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mangalore, Meerut, Mumbai, Mussoorie, Mysore, Nagpur, Nashik, New Delhi, Noida, Pathankot, Patiala, Pondicherry, Pune, Raipur, Siliguri, Sonipat, Surat, Thrissur, Trivandrum, Udaipur, Vadodara, Vapi,Vijayawada, Varanasi and Vizag are cities in India. through a network of over 4,305 passionate partners (employees). Starbucks stores are operated by the joint venture, TATA Starbucks Private Limited, and branded as Starbucks Coffee - A TATA Alliance.

Ambitious Shahpur Kandi Project Nears Completion, Bringing Hope to Thousands of Farmers in J&K, Punjab

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has announced that the long-pending Shahpur Kandi Project on the River Ravi is nearing completion, raising hopes among farmers in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba and Kathua districts. The project is expected to bring irrigation to over 32,000 hectares of barren land in the Kandi belt and benefit thousands of hectares in Punjab's Pathankot district.

Four Injured After Car Skids Off Road, Rolls Into River In Bhaderwah

DODA, June 5: Four injured after a car skidded off the road and plunged into a river near Nalthi Park in the Bhaderwah area of Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district on Friday, officials said. The accident occurred when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll down into the river, they said. Rescue teams rushed to the spot and shifted the occupants to Sub-District Hospital, Bhaderwah, for treatment. The injured, all residents of Pathankot in Punjab, have [] The post Four Injured After Car Skids Off Road, Rolls Into River In Bhaderwah appeared first on Daily Excelsior .