Chandigarh University Wins 11 Gold Medals; Lifts Overall AIU Inter-University Championship 2025-26
Chandigarh University once again stamped its authority on Indian university sports by delivering a historic double triumph at the All-India Inter-University Wrestling Greco-Roman and Freestyle Championship 202526, clinching the Overall Championship titles in both Greco-Roman and Freestyle categories by winning a total of 16 medals including 11 Gold (6 in Greco Roman and 5 in Freestyle), 3 Silver (Freestyle) and 2 Bronze medals (1 each in both categories) in both categories. Chandigarh University wrestling medalists along with University officials receiving the overall champions trophy in AIU Wrestling Championship held at Chandigarh University In Greco-Roman wrestling, Chandigarh University emerged as the undisputed champion finishing first overall, followed by Lovely Professional University in second place and Kurukshetra University in third. In Greco Roman, CU clinched the top spot with a total of 7 medals including 6 Gold 1 Bronze medal, Lovely Professional University (LPU) secured 2nd place with total 5 medals including 2 Gold and 3 Bronze medals and Kurukshetra University with total 3 medals including 1 Gold and 2 Bronze medals to secure 3rd place in the Greco Roman category. In GR category, CU grapplers clinched gold medals in six weight categories including commanding victories by Kapil Dalal (60 kg), Saurabh (67 kg), Umesh (82 kg), Prince (87 kg) and Hardeep (130 kg), many of them registering emphatic, one-sided wins that showcased superior strength, technique and tactical brilliance of these grapplers. Chandigarh Universitys dominance continued in Freestyle wrestling, where the varsity again finished first overall ahead of MDU Rohtak and Lovely Professional University. Standout performances included gold medal wins by Tushar (61 kg), Deepanshu (65 kg) and Paras (79 kg) with several bouts decided by large margins reflecting the aggressive yet composed approach of CU wrestlers on the mat. With total 9 medals including 5 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze, CU secured 1st place in Freestyle category and MDU Rohtak, Haryana with total 3 medals including 1 silver and 2 Bronze medals to secure 2nd place and Lovely Professional University with total 3 medals including 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medals had to suffice with 3rd place in the same category. The prestigious five-day national championship held from January 5 to 9 under the aegis of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) was hosted by the Chandigarh University and witnessed electrifying bouts amid biting winter conditions. The national wrestling championship saw participation from over 200 universities across the country with more than 2700 wrestlers competing in over 2000 bouts across 20 weight categories in Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling. Against this fiercely competitive contests, Chandigarh University grapplers delivered power-packed and disciplined performances, underlining the universitys growing stature as a powerhouse of university sports in India. Highlighting individual brilliance, Hardeep clinched gold in the Greco-Roman 130 kg category with an overwhelming 80 victory over Nitin of PU Gujarat, while Tushar dominated Kapil of JMAU Kota by 110 in the freestyle 61 kg final. In a final bout, Nishant from Gondwana University Maharashtra defeated Sourabh from LPU Punjab by 7-5 points to clinch Gold in 74 kg weight category. Deepanshu registered a convincing 100 win in the 65 kg freestyle category and Paras held his nerve in a thrilling 118 contest to secure gold in the 79 kg freestyle final. Several other CU wrestlers impressed with their resilience and tactical maturity, adding to the universitys rich medal haul. In another closely contested final bout, Manish from KUK Haryana defeated Nikhil from KN Modi University, Rajasthan by a margin of 9-6 points to win gold medal in Greco Roman 55 kg weight category. In a nail-biting final bout, Paras from Chandigarh University defeated Ankit from MSBU Rajasthan by 11-8 points to clinch gold medal in 79 kg freestyle category. In a final bout in freestyle 57 kg weight category, Rohit from KUK Haryana defeated Chandigarh University wrestler Rupesh by a margin of 4-1 to win the gold medal and Rupesh won the silver medal. In a one-sided contest, Kapil Dalal, a grappler from Chandigarh University defeated Sahil from BMU Haryana by 15-7 points to clinch the gold medal in the 60 kg Greco Roman category. In the Greco-Roman category (82 kg) final bout, Chandigarh Universitys Umesh put up a spectacular display of strength and agility to defeat Vijay from GUG University by 12-2 points. In a nail-biting final bout, Prince from Chandigarh University defeated Ankit of Chaudhary Ranbir Singh University, Jind by 5-4 points to win gold in 87 kg Greco Roman category. In another final bout, Saurabh from Chandigarh University put on a spectacular show of strength and agility to defeat his opponent Sunil of Desh Bhagat University Punjab by 9-4 points to win gold medal in the 67 kg Greco Roman category. Earlier, several power-packed performances were witnessed in the semi-finals on the final day of the championship. In a semi-final bout, Rupesh from Chandigarh University defeated Akash from PU, Patiala by a margin of 6-5 points in 57 kg freestyle category and Rohit from KUK Haryana defeated Jaiveer from Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth Varanasi by 8-2 points to secure place in the finals in the same category. In the semi-final bout, Manish from Kurukshetra University, Haryana defeated Nitin from LPU, Punjab by a margin of 9-3 points in the Greco-Roman 55 kg weight category. In another semi-final, Vikash from PU, Patiala defeated Omkar from SU, Kolhapur by a margin of 7-0 in a one-sided contest in 72 kg Greco-Roman category. In another one-sided contest, Mohit from Guru Kashi University Punjab defeated Suraj from KUK, Haryana by a huge margin of 9-0 in Greco-Roman 72 kg weight category. In semi-final bout, Dheeraj from Baba Mastnath University, Rohtak, delivered a remarkable performance, dominating Vinay Gurjar of Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, winning the match with a decisive 11-0 margin. In the second semi-final, Sachin from Lovely Professional University, Punjab put on a spectacular show of strength and agility to defeat Atul Lohan of Sant Baba Bhag Singh University, Jalandhar by a thin margin of 9-8 points to advance to the final. Elated over the marvelous victory of Chandigarh University, while congratulating the CU grapplers, Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University said, It indeed is a proud moment for Chandigarh University that our wrestlers have delivered spectacular performances in the All-India Inter-University Wrestling Championship to become the overall champion by winning 11 Gold medals. With this brilliant performance, CU not only successfully hosted one of the largest inter-university wrestling championships in the country but also reinforced its reputation as a breeding ground for national-level sporting talent . Sandhu added, Wrestling is not merely a sport but its pride of our nation and an integral part of Indias rich cultural heritage. Chandigarh University remains committed to encouraging young athletes to participate in traditional sports as staying connected to our roots is essential for the nations progress and development. The university provides world-class infrastructure and scholarships to its athletes to help them progress from the akhara to the Olympic stage . In 2024, Chandigarh University became the countrys first private university to win the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy after securing a record 71 medals at the Khelo India University Games. In addition, the university won the Khelo India University Games for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025. Chandigarh University students have won a total of 610 medals, including 138 national and 87 international medals. CU provides sports scholarships with an annual budget of Rs 6.5 crore and offers free facilities such as special diets, sports kits, travel, coaching, hostel accommodation, and other amenities. A total of 1,183 student-athletes, including 562 women, are currently benefiting from sports scholarships at Chandigarh University , added Sandhu . About Chandigarh University Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC. www.cuchd.in .
All the tech and gadgets announced at CES 2026
It's the first week of a new year and there's no time for the tech world to slowly ease back into things following the holidays. That's because CES 2026 is in full swing, with all manner of companies descending on Las Vegas to reveal their latest innovations and what they're planning to bring your way in the near future. Many of the Engadget crew are on the ground to check out as much of the new tech as possible. Of course, we're keeping tabs on all of the major CES press conferences too. Samsung held its First Look presentation, which focuses on home products, while LG has shown off a wide array of TVs and Lego unveiled its new Smart Brick technology. Weve heard from the major chipmakers, gone hands-on with Samsungs trifold phone, checked out some funky laptops and seen some cute robots. Theres some hot gaming gear at the show too, not to mention some weird tech . You dont necessarily have to wait to get your hands on all of these gadgets either. Some are available to buy right now. You can catch up on all of the big CES 2026 announcements (and some of the more offbeat gizmos weve seen) right here. We'll be keeping this story updated throughout the week.We also have CES live updates , with all the latest news from the event. Lego Lego introduced the Smart Brick at CES 2026. Lego In its first CES appearance , Lego announced the Smart Brick , a standard-sized brick with a 4.1mm ASIC chip inside thats designed to respond in different ways depending on what set youre building and how youre building it. Using what Lego calls the Play Engine and integrated copper coils, each brick can sense things like motion, orientation and magnetic fields, plus its own distance, direction and orientation in relation to other Smart Bricks. Each brick also has a teeny tiny speaker built in that will play audio tied to live play actions rather than only pre-recorded clips. Accompanying Smart Bricks are Smart Tags and Smart Minifigures, which have their own capabilities one of which is letting Smart Bricks know what context they are being used in. All of these pieces tie together via a local wireless layer dubbed BrickNet that, in part, lets Smart Bricks know where they are placed in relation to other smart components. The first Smart Play partner is, unsurprisingly, Star Wars, which will launch three all-in-one sets using Smart Bricks, Smart Tags and Smart Minifigures. The 473-piece Darth Vader TIE Fighter set will cost $70; the 584-piece Lukes Red Five X-Wing set comes in at $100 and the 962-piece Throne Room Duel & A-wing set will set you back $160. The speakers in these sets can emit lightsaber swooshes, fighter sounds and The Imperial March . Engadget deputy editor Nathan Ingraham got to check out Legos Smart Play system in person and Ive never been more envious of him. One of the Star Wars sets allows you to have an interactive lightsaber duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Not only does the Vader minifigure have his signature heavy breathing sound, the speaker emits the Sith Lords nooooo yell if he loses the duel. All of this seems extremely cool. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Lego and fans can do with the Smart Play tech. LG LG's CLOiD robot. LG Along with some TVs (which well get to momentarily), LG brought plenty of other products to CES. For one thing, the company shone the spotlight on its CLOiD robot. Like the far creepier-looking 1X Neo , the CLOiD is designed to help with household tasks such as starting laundry cycles, folding clothes, unloading the dishwasher and serving food. This appears to be more of a concept than something you'll be able to buy anytime soon. During an in-person CES demo, Engadget senior reporter Karissa Bell saw CLOiD competently pull off some household tasks, albeit very slowly . The company also debuted the LG Sound Suite , a modular home audio system it developed in conjunction with Dolby to take on the likes of Sonos. Just ahead of CES, LG pulled back the curtain on a new batch of xboom speakers as well as some monitors and ultralight Gram laptops that are made with a material it's calling Aerominum . The chipmakers NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang presents at CES 2026, wearing a black snakeskin-like jacket. NVIDIA It's CES, so of course we're going to see a bunch of laptops and desktops, along with announcements about the tech that powers the new models. That means NVIDIA , Intel , AMD and Qualcomm are all in town to talk up their latest chips and other innovations. Given its lofty position in the industry (and the economy) NVIDIAs CES press conference is always one to keep an eye on. This years edition was laregly a recap of the companys recent moves, but it did have some news to share . NVIDIA announced Alpamayo, which is a group of open-source reasoning models designed to help autonomous vehicles handle difficult driving scenarios. The company also revealed that a super computer built on the Vera Rubin GPU architecture NVIDIA unveiled in 2024 is in production. As Intel wraps up, Johnson is eager to assure the viewers that Intel has ways to make AI profitable. He may have a better case than OpenAI does right now. Sam Chapman for Engadget Things havent exactly been going great for Intel for a while, but the company is surely hoping that its Core Ultra Series 3 chips can help it right the ship. These are the first chips to be built using Intels 18A (18 angstroms, which is just under 2nm) process. The company says they offer improved performance 60 percent more than the previous-gen Lunar Lake processors and battery life improvements for laptops. The Ultra Series 3 includes a new Arc B390 integrated GPU, with 50 percent more graphics cores, double the cache and 120 GPU TOPS of performance. Put all that together and these chips should deliver up to 77 percent faster gaming performance than Lunar Lake models, Intel said. To that end, the company teased a Ultra Series 3-powered gaming handheld for later this year. Engadget senior editor Devindra Hardawar played some Battlefield 6 on a Core Ultra Series 3-powered Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 (an ultraportable) and came away impressed . The game ran at up to 190 fps in 1080p with the graphics settings on high, even without a dedicated GPU. Thats a promising sign for the embedded Arcgraphics on Intels chips, as well as the companys upscaling and frame generation tech. A screenshot from AMD's CES 2026 press conference showing a hellish vision of the future of gaming. AMD Of course, AMD wasnt going to be left out of the CES party. The company announced several CPUs for laptops and desktops , while chillingly declaring that AI is everywhere and changing the face of gaming. Ick. There was a lot of AI chat during the two-hour(!) keynote, along with a a jet-powered flying robot. Illustration showing the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus on a stylized red circuit board showing the abbreviation "X2." Qualcomm And then theres Qualcomm . The company revealed the Snapdragon X2 Plus chip at the show. Its more of a mid-range chip that isnt quite as powerful as the higher end Snapdragon X2 Elite it doesnt have as many CPU cores, for one thing. Still, Qualcomm claims the X2 Plus offers as much as 35 percent faster single-core performance over the previous gen. The company also says the Adreno GPU offers a performance boost of up to 29 percent compared with the last generation. Laptops Samsung Galaxy Book 6 series hands-on Mat Smith for Engadget What would CES be without some new hardware that makes use of those new chips? As ever, laptop and desktop makers were at the show to offer up their latest models for your consideration. (Be sure to check out our dedicated roundup of all the laptops that grabbed our attention at this years show.) Samsungs Galaxy Book 6 Ultra, Galaxy Book 6 Pro and Galaxy Book 6 boast Intels Core Ultra Series 3 chips and revamped designs that are said to improve heat management. You can read our story on the Galaxy Book 6 series for the specs of these laptops, though we dont have pricing or a release window as yet. Dell realized it messed up by killing off the XPS name as part of a broader rebranding effort and were glad to see that the company is making a U-turn on that front. A full lineup of XPS laptops is coming this year , including an all-new XPS 13 (a long-time Engadget fave on the Windows ultraportable front). Dell also has 14- and 16-inch XPS models in the hopper, along with others its keeping under wraps for now. On top of having two displays, the Zephyrus Duo's screens also feature excellent brightness at up to 1,100 nits. We love an odd laptop and ASUS didnt disappoint by bringing the ROG Zephyrus Duo to CES. This is a dual-screen gaming laptop with two 16-inch OLED panels, one of Intels new CPUs and up to an NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPU. The keyboard is detachable and can work wirelessly. A kickstand can help you set up the Zephyrus Duo in all kinds of orientations. You can even position the dual screens in an upside-down V tent mode. We dont know the price of the Zephyrus Duo as yet, but it surely wont be inexpensive. Marketing photo of a Kojima-inspired ROG Flow Z13 tablet ASUS Thats not all ASUS brought to the dance. The company made a special edition of the ROG Flow Z13 some thats styled after the works of the famed game designer Hideo Kojima. The ROG Flow Z13-KJP has visual flair thats draws from the likes of Death Stranding and Metal Gear. Kojimas Ludens mascot is here too. Theres no pricing or release date for this variant or its matching accessories just yet. Micro RGB TVs Samsung's 130-inch Micro RGB TV. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget Micro RGB is a term you can expect to hear about quite a bit in the coming months and years, especially when you're shopping for your next TV. Micro RGB is a new tech that's similar to Mini LED, though it uses red, green and blue LEDs instead of white backlights. Contrast ratios aren't quite as high as those on Micro LED and OLED displays, since the pixels can't be turned on and off individually. However, Micro RGB units are said to be brighter and more color accurate than TVs that use other display tech, in part because the LEDs in these screens offer smaller, more customizable dimming zones. Read reporter Steve Dents explainer for a deeper dive into how Micro RGB differs from other types of display tech. We're seeing more of these TVs pop up at CES 2026, including a mammoth 130-inch concept model that Samsung brought to Las Vegas . The company unveiled its first Micro RGB TV in August, thats a 115-inch, $29,999 model. This year, you can expect it to start offering Micro RGB TVs in 55-, 65- and 75-inch sizes. There are also 85-, 100- and 115-inch models on the way. LG revealed its first Micro RGB set at CES as well. The largest variant is 100 inches, but there are 86- and 75-inch models too. Elsewhere, LG showed off its latest Wallpaper TV , which is a 100-inch OLED display. We also got a look at LG's new Gallery TV The Gallery is the company's take on Samsung's Frame TV format. Other new TVs and OS updates Ember Artline TV. Amazon Weve got another competitor to The Frame, as Amazon has entered that scene with the Ember Artline TV . The 4K OLED model has Amazon Photos integration and you can choose from 2,000 pieces of free art to show on the screen. The Ember Artline can switch on or off automatically when someone enters or leaves the room. It runs on the Fire TV platform and (of course) theres Alexa+ integration, along with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Wi-Fi 6. The Ember Artline is expected to start shipping this spring. It starts at $899 for the 55-inch model. The rounder redesigned Fire TV UI. Amazon Speaking of Fire TV, Amazon has revamped the platforms user interface with rounded corners for show, movie and app tiles; a little more space for said tiles; and typography and color gradient changes. The company has reworked the platforms codebase as well, and it says the Fire TV OS will deliver speed boosts of up to 20 to 30 percent. Amazon will start rolling out the updated UI next month. On the Google side of TV land, you can expect more Gemini-powered features . The company is bringing the ability to search Google Photos for certain moments and people to Google TV, along with the options to remix photos into different styles and create slideshows on the fly. The Veo and Nano Banana AI video and photo generation models are coming to Google TV as well. You can also expect the ability to adjust TV settings using your voice. These Gemini features are coming to Google TV-powered TCL models first, then other devices in the following months. In the meantime, you can check out senior reporter Amy Skorheims hands-on impressions of the Gemini updates . Also in TV-related news, Peacock and Dolby have expanded their partnership. Currently, Peacocks Sunday Night Football streams have Dolby Atmos support. Youll soon be able to watch more live sports on Peacock with Dolby Vision and Atmos, as support for NBA and MLB events are on the way. Dolby Vision is coming to Sunday Night Football on Peacock too. Belkin, meanwhile, has a new wireless HDMI dongle that doesn't require a Wi-Fi connection. That should make it easy to beam videos from a device with a USB-C port to a TV, monitor or projector handy if youre planning an outdoor movie night in a space with spotty internet access. Monitors and projectors Let's keep the focus on display tech for a bit with a look at some of the monitors and projectors we've seen at CES this year. Dell revealed a 52-inch ultrawide curved 6K monitor (the first of those on the planet, according to the company). The UltraSharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor has a nifty feature in that it's possible to hook up four PCs simultaneously and give each a dedicated section of the display that could make co-op games pretty fun if you're dedicated enough to try that set up. It's possible to control all four connected PCs with a single mouse and keyboard too. This monitor is available now for $2,900 with a stand and $2,800 without. Dell also showed off a new 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitor with Dolby Vision and True Black 500 HDR support. The Dell UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED Monitor can be all yours for $2,600 as of February 24. Samsung and LG revealed some new gaming monitors ahead of CES. Samsungs 32-inch Odyssey 3D is a model that offers glasses-free 3D on a 6K display, while LG has a new bunch of 5K monitors. During CES , though, the latter also pulled back the curtain on the 27-inch UltraGear GX7, a $1,000 QHD OLED display with a 540Hz refresh rate. Samsung brought the latest version of its FreeStyle+ projector to the show. Engadgets UK bureau chief Mat Smith checked out the new model in person and reckoned that Samsung has given the projector a serious upgrade over previous iteration. The FreeStyle+ is now much brighter, while the updated keystone correction feature seems very useful. Elsewhere, Ankers Soundcore announced the Nebula P1i , a 1080p portable projector with speakers that you can fold out and tilt. At $369, that seems like a pretty decent option if youre looking for an entry-level projector you can take anywhere. The P1i should arrive in time for camping trips too, since Soundcore says itll be available in the early part of this year. The brand also said its higher-end Nebula X1 Pro, a version of its 4K Nebula X1 that includes a 160W surround sound system, will be available this month for $4,999. XGIMI was also at CES to show off its latest high-end projector, the Titan Noir Max. Theres no word on pricing yet, but this appears to be an upgraded version of the $3,999 Titan model. Samsung Samsung's Music Studio 5 speakers at CES 2026. Billy Steele for Engadget Samsung being Samsung, the company had a lot more up its sleeve at CES than just TVs. In the leadup to the event, it announced its two new soundbars (we're had some hands-on time with one of those ) and the stylish Music Studio speakers (we've got some IRL impressions of those ). It also announced plans to bring Google Photos to TVs . At the First Look showcase on Sunday, Samsung talked up AI experiences everywhere. For everyone (sigh). Here, we saw more TVs, such as the thin S95H OLED, which has a zero-gap mount that allows you to position the unit flush against a wall. First Look has long been focused on home products. Naturally, Samsung execs discussed some features for the company's fridges, such as recipe selection updates, AI cooling tech and Google Gemini-powered AI Vision that's said to be able to recognize more items and help you figure out what you need to buy without having to manually take inventory. FoodNote, meanwhile, is a weekly summary that breaks down what has gone in and out of your fridge. Moreover, Samsung highlighted the Samsung Bespoke AI Laundry Combo and its new AI wash cycle. With the new Air Dresser which has an Auto Wrinkle Care feature Samsung aims to do away with irons (thank you, Samsung). As for the Bespoke AI smart vacuum and mop, that can apparently keep an eye on your pets when you're not home. L'Oreal A pair of transparent eye masks with wires and bulbs inside them. L'Oral L'Oreal often brings some interesting beauty tech to CES and the company did so again this year with a trio of gadgets . The LED Eye Mask uses red light and near-infrared light to address the likes of puffiness, discoloration and fine lines. The LED Face Mask seems to be a more pliable version of masks that we've seen from the likes of Dr. Dennis Gross, Omnilux, Therabody and Shark in recent years. However, it's only in prototype form for now and it isn't expected to hit the market until next year. The Light Straight + Multi-styler uses infrared light to help dry and style hair in similar fashion to L'Oreal's AirLight Pro. It's said to have sensors that employ built-in proprietary algorithms and machine learning so they can adapt to your gestures and maximize individual experience. L'Oreal claims that while traditional straighteners can operate at 400F or higher (temperatures that can damage hair), its latest innovation effectively straightens hair while never exceeding 320F. You can expect the Light Straight to arrive in 2027 as well. Mobile Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold Engadget At CES 2026, we had our first chance to go hands on with the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, which the company officially announced last month . Senior writer Sam Rutherford had qualms about the price (not confirmed yet for North America, but it costs around $2,500 in Korea) and bulkiness. However, after Sam opened it up, my concerns were quickly pushed aside because suddenly youre greeted with 10 inches of vivid AMOLED goodness. That extra real estate could come in very useful for many folks. Combined with a keyboard and perhaps a mouse, it could well be the laptop/tablet replacement many have been waiting for. Be sure to read Sams hands-on for his full initial impressions . Almost exactly three decades after releasing its first proper clamshell flip phone , Motorola revealed its very first side-folding phone. The Razr Fold has a 6.6-inch external screen and a 8.1-inch main display, with stylus support on both. The camera array includes a 50MP main sensor from Sony, a 50MP ultra-wide/macro lens and a 50MP telephoto. Theres a 32MP external selfie camera and a 20MP internal sensor too. Well get the full specs, pricing and availability info in the coming months. Back at CES 2024, we got to try out a physical keyboard phone accessory from Clicks. Fast forward two years, and the brand is making its own Blackberry-esque phones, as well as a new physical phone keyboard accessory. The Android 16-based Clicks Communicator has a tactile keyboard with a fingerprint sensor in the spacebar, a 4-inch OLED display, a 3.5mm headphone jack (hooray!) and expandable microSD storage up to 2TB. You can reserve one now for $399 the price will increase to $499 on February 27. As for the new accessory, Clicks is calling that the Power Keyboard. It connects to an iOS or Android phone via MagSafe or Qi2, and it can operate as a power bank in a pinch thanks to the 2,150 mAh battery. The Power Keyboard has Bluetooth functionality as well, so you can use it with devices like tablets, smart TVs and virtual reality headsets. Pre-orders are open now and the Power Keyboard is expected to ship in the spring. Early adopters can lock in a pre-order for $79 before the retail price jumps to $110. The Punkt MC03 phone. Punkt Those who prefer their mobile phones to have fewer bells and whistles might be interested in the latest model from Punkt. The MC03 is a nifty-looking touchscreen model that runs on the privacy- and security-centric AphyOS, which is based on the Android Open Source Project. It has a UI that borrows a page out of the Light Phone's playbook, though you can still install any Android app. The MC03 will hit European markets this month for 699 / CHF699 / 610. There's a mandatory subscription, however. You get a year of access included with a phone purchase, then it's a 10 / CHF10 / 9 monthly fee (paying for a long-term plan up front can reduce the cost by up to 60 percent). Charging tech Anker and Belkin feel like CES mainstays at this point. They each had some interesting charging gear to show off this year. Belkin offered up a refreshed Nintendo Switch 2 case that recharges the console via its 10,000mAh power bank (which delivers up to 30W of fast charging). The case has an LCD screen on the outside to show you at a glance how much juice it has left and theres a built-in kickstand for you to prop the console up on. Belkins new Switch 2 charging case costs $100 and its available now. The companys new $100 UltraCharge Pro Power Bank can recharge two devices simultaneously. You can get your hands on that next month. Theres also a very slim BoostCharge power bank that can fit into your pocket. That will run you $60 and it will ship later this year. Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180 Foldable) Anker Anker unveiled its neat Nano Charger, which can seemingly identify the iPhone model you hook up to it and provide the appropriate level of charging power. This plug will arrive later this month for $40. The company announced a string of other products that can charge multiple devices at the same time. The $150 foldable Prime Wireless Charging Station can juice up your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously, with up to 25W of Qi2 wireless power. Thatll arrive by the end of March. Theres also a 10-in-1 Nano Power Strip ($70, late January release) with 70W of output, surge protection and multiple USB-C ports, USB-A ports and AC outlets. Anker also showed off a 13-in-1 Nano Docking Station that you can snag right now for $150. Among other things, this supports up to three 4K displays, as much as 100W of upstream charging and 10 Gbps of data transfer between devices that are hooked up to it. Handy! AI Amazon introduced Alexa.com to Alexa+ Early Access customers. Amazon No prizes for guessing that there's going to be a ton of AI-related news at CES this year. Amazon, for one, announced that it's rolling out a web-based version of Alexa+ . That means you won't necessarily need to have an Amazon device to try out the generative AI-powered assistant. However, Alexa+ Early Access customers are getting first dibs on the web version. Two Sweekar devices are pictured on a table, one wearing a pink and blue snowboarder outfit and the other (behind it) wearing a cowboy hat and outfit Karissa Bell for Engadget There are a boatload of AI-powered devices on the CES show floor too. One that we saw early on is a Tamagotchi-style virtual pet from a startup called Takway. The Sweekar will remember your interactions with it (you'll need to feed and play with the pet to keep it healthy and happy). Once it's all grown up, the Sweekar will head off on virtual adventures and tell you about its exploits when it returns. Takway will soon start a Kickstarter campaign for the Sweekar, which will likely cost between $100 and $150. Ludens AI's Cocomo robot, Cheyenne MacDonald for Engadget Ludens AI, meanwhile, showed off a pair of AI companion robots that are admittedly pretty cute. Cocomo can react to your voice and touch interactions, follow you around your home and learn about you over time. It stays close to human body temps, so it feels cozy if you hug it. Inu, on the other hand, stays on your desktop. It, too, responds to your voice and touch. The Fraimic art display at CES Amy Skorheim for Engadget We also saw the Fraimic , an E Ink display that can tap into OpenAI to generate images. There's no subscription for the Fraimic (which costs $399 for the standard size, which has a 13-inch display) and you get 100 AI-generated images per year included with your purchase. Pre-orders are open now and the Fraimic is expected to start shipping in this spring. MindClip held in a hand. Daniel Cooper for Engadget Some companies are still trying to make wearable AI devices happen. SwitchBot has a wearable mic called the AI MindClip , which can seemingly record and transcribe everything you say (no, thank you!). Ankers Soundcore division got in on the mix too with its Work voice recorder . Plaid, meanwhile, brought its NotePin follow up to the dance. This time around, the NotePin S has a button that you can push to record conversations. You can also press the button to flag key moments for an AI-generated summary to focus on. The NotePin S is available now for $179, should you be enticed to buy such a thing. On a similar note, Bee provided an update on what its bee-n up to since Amazon bought the company last year. It has developed four features that its rolling out to its existing AI voice recording wearable devices, including one that draft an email when you say you need to send one, and another that highlights trends in what you say over a period of weeks or months. Theres also a voice notes feature, because thats something you cant do with your phone already. Robots The product version of Boston Dynamics' Atlas. Boston Dynamics Boston Dynamics Atlas robot is ready to roll. Weve seen a few iterations of this machine over the last few years and now the companys latest model is set to go into production. In addition, Boston Dynamics has teamed up with Google DeepMind to fuse Gemini Robotics AI foundation models into Atlas robots. Per a press release , the partnership will focus on enabling humanoids to complete a wide variety of industrial tasks and is expected to become a driving force of manufacturing transformation, beginning in the automotive industry. As it happens, Hyundai (Boston Dynamics majority shareholder) and DeepMind will be among the first to receive Atlas robots. Switchbot's Onero H1. Karissa Bell for Engadget LGs CLOiD is still a concept helper robot for now, but the Onero H1 is one you may be able to buy as soon as this year. During an in-person demo , we saw Switchbots robot (slowly) pick up clothes, chuck them in a washing machine and close the door. The company has also released a video that shows the Onero H1 carrying out other household tasks, from serving food and drinks to washing windows. Were told Switchbot plans to sell the robot for less than $10,000. Transportation Sony Honda Mobility Afeela Press Conference at CES 2026 Afeela Sony and Honda brought the latest revision of their first Afeela EV to CES 2026. We already knew that youd be able to play your PS5 remotely while the vehicle is parked, though we learned some new details from the companies presentation. The Afeela 1 will debut with an advanced hands-off, eyes-on driver assistance system. The aim is to eventually offer Level 4 autonomy via over-the-air updates. Sony Honda Mobility plans to start shipments at the tail end of 2026, first in California, then in Arizona. However, after getting a close-up look at the latest iteration of the EV, Engadget contributor Tim Stevens reckons the Afeela 1 feels more and more out of touch with each passing year, even though it was an audacious product when it was announced at CES 2020. We also got our first look at a model thats a further down the pike. The Afeela Prototype 2026 is a taller version of the first EV. Just dont expect to be able to try it yourself until at least 2028. Muxi Segway Segway is expanding its e-bike lineup with two new models that have a heap of smart features, from Apple Find My integration and GPS tracking to remote locking and health app functions. The Muxi (above) looks quite pretty and has a cup holder(!), while the $2,000 Myon has a chunkier frame and features such as electronic gear shifting. Both are cargo-centric step-through models. You can buy the Myon now, and the $1,700 Muxi will be available in March, just in time for spring. Along with those e-bikes, Segway had a new electric dirt bike to tell us about. The Xaber 300 was created with off-roading in mind. There are three power modes, offering the equivalent of 150cc, 200cc and 300cc engines. Segway hasnt revealed pricing for the Xaber 300, which should be available this spring or summer. Gaming Slide from NVIDIA's CES 2026 presentation about DLSS 4.5 NVIDIA NVIDIA announced the latest version of its DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) upscaling tech. DLSS 4.5 is said to offer sharper visuals thanks to the 2nd Generation Super Resolution Transformer, which is available now for all RTX GPUs. NVIDIA says this offers better temporal stability, reduced ghosting and improved anti-aliasing. On GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs, DLSS 4.5 will be able to generate up to five extra frames for each traditionally rendered one and deliver up to 4K 240Hz path traced performance, NVIDIA says. The Dynamic 6x Frame Generation feature will be available for those graphics cards sometime this spring. NVIDIA also detailed a new version of its G-Sync variable refresh rate tech. It says that G-Sync Pulsar can minimize motion blur by effectively quadrupling your refresh rate. So 250 Hz gameplay will seemingly offer up a perceived effective motion clarity of over 1,000 Hz with G-Sync Pulsar enabled. Youll need a G-Sync Pulsar-compatible display to use this feature. Most displays have a backlight thats always on, so images fade from one frame to the next. On G-Sync Pulsar displays, there are several horizontal backlight sections. The backlights pulse from top to bottom. This is said to help the pixels in each frame stabilize before theyre backlit, resulting in lower motion blur. Its interesting stuff. Acer, AOC, ASUS and MSI are each releasing a G-Sync Pulsar-compatible 27-inch monitor this week. 8BitDo FlipPad 8BitDo The FlipPad is one of my favorite things Ive seen coming out of CES this year. Its an 8BitDo mobile game controller thats designed for vertical use. There are a bunch of neat physical controllers for phones that are built for landscape mode. But many mobile games are played with the phone oriented to the vertical position. And thats not to mention emulators that allow you to play the likes of Game Boy titles while your phone stands tall. So its neat to see 8BitDo offering a physical controller thatll do the trick. The company also unveiled a new Xbox controller with swappable joysticks and button modules. A keyboard thing. Corsair Why have a numpad on the side of your keyboard when you can have a highly customizable controller instead? Corsair slapped a Stream Deck into a keyboard and it looks absolutely rad. Ive yet to take the plunge on a Stream Deck-style controller and since Id rather not have an extra device on my desk, Im very tempted to pick up the $350 Galleon 100 SD, which is available now. It has 12 programmable keys that you can use for gaming (give me that Helldivers 2 profile so I dont have to keep punching in stratagem codes) or livestreaming, but there are plenty of other applications too. They can help with video editing, controlling smart home devices or simply adjusting media playback. Theres a five-inch screen and two dials for fine control too. Oh, and its a full-sized mechanical keyboard to boot. GameSir had a couple of interesting controllers to tell us about. The Swift Drive (which seems to be a working name) has a steering wheel with force feedback in the middle of a regular gamepad. Its a cool idea and it seems to work pretty well. The Swift Drive should hit the market later this year. In addition, GameSir teamed up with Hyperkin to make a modular controller that works with phones, tablets and Nintendo Switch consoles. Youll be able to slot those devices into the X5 Alterons grip (as you might with a Backbone or Razer Kishi controller) though theres a Bluetooth option for PC gaming too. The magnetic modules include ones styled after the GameCube and Nintendo 64, and therell be one with a trackpad thats made with first-person shooters in mind. Theres no pricing or release date for the X5 Alteron yet, but Im eager to try it. Elsewhere on the gaming front, Lenovo revealed a SteamOS-powered version of the Legion Go 2 . That variant of the handheld is heading your way in June for $1,199. Razer had some concept gear to show off, including an AI-driven headset with built-in cameras that can recognize objects and text, and a gaming chair with haptic feedback and spatial audio built in. Theres also an AI desktop companion device with several avatars to choose from, including an anime girl and legendary League of Legends player Faker. Audio A speaker and a turntable. Victrola Victrola announced a pretty Bluetooth speaker that sits neatly underneath its turntables. You can use a cable to connect the two as well. Of course, you can play audio from other devices, including phones and tablets. Ive had my eye on a Victrola turntable for a while thanks to its Sonos integration, and the Soundstage speaker is tempting too. The Soundstage will be available this summer for $350. The three sizes from the Cambridge Audio L/R speaker series. Green speakers in three sizes. Cambridge Audio Speaking of pretty speakers, I really like the aesthetic of these three wireless bookshelf options from Cambridge Audio. The classy-lookin L/R Series speakers start at $549 for a 100W model with a 21mm hard-dome tweeter with a 3-inch long-throw woofer hut no support for Wi-Fi streaming (there is Bluetooth aptX HD, though). At the top end is the $2,299 L/R X, a 800W speaker that has a a 2.5-way acoustic design with a 28mm Torus tweeter and dual five-inch woofers. Theres even a touch of LED underlighting on this model and the $1,599 L/R M, which has 300W of power, smaller four-inch dual woofers and the same 28mm tweeter. All three speakers will be available later this year. Theres lots more audio gear at CES beyond the Victorla and Cambridge Audio speakers, of course. JBL was at the event to show off a whole bunch of earbuds and gaming headsets . Shure now has a USB-C version of its MV88 condenser microphone, making it compatible with Android devices and recent iPhones. Thatll run you $159. The latest version of JLabs teeny JBuds Mini earbuds now have customizable active noise cancellation (ANC) and yet they still cost $40 . PartyStudio is a speaker with 128 different instrument sounds that works with any MIDI keyboard. Nathan Ingraham for Engadget PartyStudio seems like a fun product its a MIDI speaker with 128 built-in instrument tones and 50-plus drum machine patterns. Theres a companion 36-key MIDI keyboard called PartyKeys as well (the speaker will work with any MIDI keyboard, though). PopuMusic is the company behind both. Anker, meanwhile, has new AeroFit 2 Pro earbuds that are pretty interesting. Theyre the companys first open-ear earbuds with ANC. You can snap them up in February for $180. Theres also a new portable Bluetooth speaker from Anker called the Soundcore Boom Go 3i. Its a 15W unit with (according to Anker) up to 22 hours of battery life, and it should cost between $65 and $80 when it drops in March. Engadget deputy editor Billy Steele has been checking out some of the audio gear at CES, including Shokz $250 OpenFit Pro earbuds , which have Dolby Atmos support. Billy has also had some hands-on (or heads-on) time with Klipschs first new headphones in years. There are initially three models in the companys Atlas series, including the Atlas HP-1, a wireless set with ANC that has a lovely wood finish on the exterior of the earcups. Klipsch is only allowing demos with lossless audio over USB-C for now, but the audio quality is excellent, Billy wrote in his hands-on story . Smart home Dreame Cyber X robot vacuum Engadget As ever, there was a ton of smart home gear at CES this year. One thing that caught our eye is a robot vacuum concept from Dreame . It's one of several companies working on models that can climb stairs, but the Cyber X is a slightly terrifying one since it has large legs that look a bit like chainsaws. The teeth in these legs help provide traction so that the Cyber X can climb stairs that are almost 10 inches high. While Dreames vacuum positions its legs horizontally to climb stairs with tank-style traction, Roborocks Saros rover pushes itself upwards on extendable legs to reach higher floors. The legs have wheels on the bottom and knee-like joints these can help the robot vacuum to raise itself over obstacles on floors too. Narwhal built a vacuum for your mattress. The U50 is a handheld model that has a UV sterilization light. It has a high-speed tapping feature that can help dislodge gunk and mites. The company also showed off a new robot vacuum and mop with a PetCare Mode you can use to track down your bestest furry friend and keep an eye on them when you're not home. You can even talk to your pet via a speaker system. Both products should be available in the spring. Anker's Eufy brand has a new robot vacuum too , along with a video doorbell, outdoor light and smart lock. This ones pretty interesting: Lockins latest vein-recognition smart lock can wirelessly recharge via an optical infrared beam emitted by a separate device thats plugged into an outlet. On a similar note, Ring has updated its door, window and break glass sensors, and it has introduced an OBD-II car alarm, motion detectors and panic buttons. Most of those will be available in March, though can pre-order the car alarm now. Elsewhere in home security, Ugreen announced a modular system that does not require a subscription. At a time when so many companies are desperate to sell you a subscription for dependable monthly revenue, thats quite refreshing. Devices that are part of Ugreens platform including a video doorbell and 4K cameras should be available later this year. IKEA made its CES debut to show off some of its smart home tech, namely a string of budget-friendly, Matter-compatible devices. Along with some home sensors, the company plans to offer a $6 smart bulb, an $8 smart plug and a $6 smart remote in the coming weeks. Senior reporter Amy Skorheim checked out the products and particularly liked the BILREA remote, which you can use to control IKEA's lamps and other devices. Philips Hue SpatialAware feature Speaking of smart bulbs, Philips announced some Hue updates at CES. You'll need a Hue Bridge Pro to use the SpatialAware feature , which uses augmented reality to make sure all of the lights in a room are working together harmoniously to create, for instance, a more natural-looking sunset scene. Philips will be rolling out SpatialAware to Hue users this spring. Also on the way is Apple Home support for the Hue Secure Camera, Hue Secure video doorbell and Hue contact sensors. Elsewhere in lighting, Govee has a new floor lamp, as well as a ceiling light that's said to simulate a skylight . In terms of kitchen tech, GE Appliances has a new smart refrigerator that's designed to make restocking easier. It has a built-in barcode scanner you can use to quickly add items to a shopping list. It's possible to sync the items to Instacart for grocery delivery. There's also an interior camera that can help you keep tabs on the goods in your fridge's crisper drawer. As you might expect for a smart fridge, it has a touchscreen on the door that you can use to call up recipes. The GE Profile Smart Refrigerator will be available in April for $4,899. Nosh Daniel Cooper for Engadget Nosh , meanwhile, is an AI cooking robot that you'll be able to buy in the next few months. Load it with ingredients, pick one of the 500 dishes in Nosh's repertoire and the robot will put everything together. While it has water and oil reservoirs, as well as a built-in spice rack, you'll still need to prep the fresh ingredients before adding them to the machine. Nosh will cost $2,000 but if you're ready to pre-order now, you can snag one for an early bird price of $1,200. Moving outside, Whisper Aero claims that the T1 leaf blower (from its Tone Outdoors division) is 80 percent quieter and 60 percent more powerful than leading gas handheld blowers. That seems pretty great on paper, so heres hoping that your noisy neighbors will be convinced to shell out $599 for a T1 when it arrives in September. Meanwhile, Segways Navimow unit has a bunch of new robot mowers . Health and accessibility Image of the Throne Toilet Computer perched on the side of a toilet. Daniel Cooper for Engadget It perhaps shouldnt come as a surprise that a toilet computer made an appearance in our roundup of weird CES tech . But if Ive learned anything from watching Scrubs , its that our waste offers up a lot of revealing information about our health, so Throne is a pretty compelling device. It has a camera and microphone to track your bowel motions and urination levels. The idea is to figure out your regular toilet usage and then flag any deviations from that. The creators hope that Throne will help you gain a better understanding of your gut health, which could be beneficial for those on GLP-1 drugs, for instance. Throne will start shipping in February for $340 and a $6 per month subscription. Image of Vivoo's FlowPad Vivoo Vivoo also showed off a toilet device that can monitor your urination levels. Not only that, the company unveiled a smart menstrual pad . The idea is for for wearers to scan the pad with their phone camera after use. Elsewhere, the latest version of Withings Body Scan scale can track 60 biomarkers, up from the 40 that the first model from 2023 can keep tabs on. The Body Scan 2 should be available in the spring for $600. A man sits in a manual wheelchair with an add-on attached that gives it a large central front wheel and raises the casters off the ground Cheyenne MacDonald for Engadget Accessibility tech is a welcome sight at CES, and WheelMove looks like it could be useful for many wheelchair users. Its a device with a large front wheel that can quickly be attached to any manual wheelchair. It can then raise the wheelchairs smaller front wheels off the ground, primarily to help users navigate rough terrain. The $6,000 WheelMove will debut in France later their year before a broader rollout. ReviMo has built a robotic lift that it says can help people move themselves from (for instance) a bed to a wheelchair without the assistance of a caregiver. The company expects Niko to cost around $15,000, but its attempting to get the device covered by insurance. Dephy's Sidekick, which the company describes as bionic footwear. Karissa Bell for Engadget Dephys Sidekick is designed as a walking aid. Its an ankle-worn exoskeleton thats attached to a sneaker. The Sidekick has sensors that can detect the users gait and adapt to it in order to deliver an effective boost in each step. At $4,500, the Sidekick isnt cheap, but it could be a boon for those who are perhaps not as physically active as theyd like to be. Dephy is also adapting the tech for athletic use the company is working with Nike on a robotic sneaker project . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/all-the-tech-and-gadgets-announced-at-ces-2026-130124023.html?src=rss
Panel summons Patiala SP, DSP over inaction in SC cases
Philips Hue 'SpatialAware' feature harmonizes all the lights in a room
Philips Hue has introduced a new software feature called SpatialAware at CES 2026 designed to ensure that all the lights in a space are in harmony with each other. Available exclusively for the Hue Bridge Pro, it takes into account each light point in a room and tailors the colors to ensure a natural representation. In a sunset scene, for example, the lights on one side of the room emit warm yellow tones to mimic the setting sun, while the ceiling lights on the opposite side reflect darker shades, the company wrote on its blog. The new feature is set to launch in the spring of 2026. To use the feature, you scan a room with your smartphone camera and use augmented reality to determine the positions of individual lights. A smart algorithm then ensures each light point is coordinated. Any lamps added after setup will be taken into account. Then, you use SpatialAware to select a scene like Lake Mist and activate the mode. Philips Hue room without SpatialAware Philips Hue In the example at top, the company shows how all the lights in a room are no linger mixed together in a colorful jumble [above] but are perfectly coordinated. The same applies, for example, to the gradient color transitions of corresponding products, where SpatialAware even takes the orientation into account. Philips Hue also introduced a few other features. To start with, the company is adding support for migrating multiple Hue Bridges to a single Bridge Pro during the setup process. In addition, the Hue Secure Camera, Hue Secure video doorbell and Hue contact sensors will soon work with Apple Home. Users will also see live video with picture-in-picture mode on Apple TV and get real-time alerts on the Apple Home app. The Hue AI assistant has been updated so you can now creation automations based on natural language requests for instance, wake me up at 6:45 AM every day except on Wednesdays. New AI assistant languages have been added (Dutch, German and Spanish) and the Hue app will start showing automations within the rooms and zones they're set to control, so you won't need to jump around in the app as much. All those new features are set to arrive in Q1 2026. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/philips-hue-spatialaware-feature-harmonizes-all-the-lights-in-a-room-101843600.html?src=rss
Delhi Court Extends Custody of Red Fort Blast Accused Till January 16
SRINAGAR: A Delhi court on Saturday extended the judicial custody of Dr Bilal Naseer Malla, one of the accused in the November 10 Red Fort blast case, remanding him to jail till January 16. As per details available with news agency Kashmir News Corner (KNC), the National Investigation Agency produced Dr Malla before the Patiala []
Delhi blast: Dr Bilal Malla remanded to judicial custody till Jan 16
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday remanded Dr Bilal Naseer Malla, one of the accused in the November 10 Red Fort blast case, to judicial custody for 13 days till January 16. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) produced Malla at the Patiala House Court amid tight security on Saturday, upon the expiry of his 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 .
Rs 5-Cr National Sports Academy to Come Up in Tirupati
The academy is expected to be the second advanced sports training centre of its kind in the country after Patiala
Patiala cops bust gang behind extortions, targeted killings; 8 arrested, 10 pistols seized
Punjab, Haryana reel under intense cold as dense fog envelops many areas
CHANDIGARH: Punjab and Haryana are reeling under intense cold while dense fog enveloped many areas in both states on Saturday. Ballowal Saunkhri in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district was the coldest place in Punjab, recording a low of 4.4 degrees Celsius, according to a report of the local meteorological department. Among other areas in Punjab, Amritsar recorded a low of 5.1 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal. Ludhiana shivered at 4.6 degrees Celsius while Patiala's minimum was 7 degrees Celsius. Pathankot, Bathinda, Faridkot and Gurdaspur recorded their respective lows of 5.4, 6, 4.9 and 5.8 degrees Celsius. Chandigarh, the joint capital of the two states, recorded a minimum of 6.9 degrees Celsius. In neighbouring Haryana, Gurugram was the coldest place with a low of 4.9 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Ambala was recorded at 9.3 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal, while Hisar's low was 5 degrees Celsius. Karnal recorded a low of 8 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal. Narnaul, Rohtak, Bhiwani and Sirsa registered minimum temperatures of 5.5, 7.2, 6.5 and 7 degrees Celsius, respectively.
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police have filed a case of forgery among other offences against cyber fraudsters who allegedly duped former Inspector General of Police Amar Singh Chahal of Rs 8.10 crore. Chahal shot himself in Patiala on Monday and continues to remain in a critical condition. Highly placed sources said that Patiala Police has registered a case under sections pertaining to forgery and the IT Act on the basis of the suicide note in which Chahal had made serious revelations regarding the fraud. Senior Superintendent of Police of Patiala Varun Sharma confirmed that a FIR has been registered. He said that investigations have started to ascertain the role of everyone involved. We will ensure that all those linked to the fraud are identified and arrested. A probe has been initiated, he said. Chahal is currently under observation after a surgery. His condition is critical and the next 48 to 72 hours are crucial, said an officer on condition of anonymity. The former IGP was yesterday taken to a private hospital in Patiala. As per the hand written suicide note has been recovered from the scene which indicates that he was a victim of some financial fraud allegedly caused by an online fraud. He detailed the circumstances that led to his extreme step. He had alleged that he was defrauded by what he described as a highly sophisticated gang of scammers. He had recently joined a WhatsApp group operating under the name of an 'IPS group,' where members promised exceptionally high returns on investments. He expressed deep distress over his inability to repay those who had extended financial support to him in good faith. In a twelve page note he wrote, With sorrow, pain and despair I have to bring it to your kind notice I have been cheated by the cyber thugs posing as 'wealth equity advisers to the tune of Rs 8.10 crore. At the outset I regret that I did not use due caution while parting with my money. Actually I saw this group every active of whatsapp and telegram. They were claiming to representing group which is authorised by Government of India and SEBI to educate and help retail investors earn good money from capital markets. Chahal wrote in the note that from October 28, 2025, a person posing as a senior executive of a private bank began to give tips on capital markets every day, whereby they explained stock market and other factor effecting Indian markets. The details of the beneficiaries where money was transferred are given in my dairy giving date wise transfer of funds. Also of details of amounts I borrowed from different people. The details of the bank accounts are also given where money was transferred. This can give a clear picture about the money trail, it stated. Chahal, retired as Inspector General of Police and is one of the accused in the 2015 Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing cases in Faridkot.
Bomb threat to Patiala school triggers search operation, nothing suspicious found
Patiala, Dec 23: A private school here received a bomb threat email on Tuesday, prompting authorities to conduct a thorough check of the premises before the threat was proved a hoax, a senior police officer said. The fresh incident comes close on the heels of similar bomb threats to several schools in Amritsar and Jalandhar that later turned out to be false. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Patiala, Varun Sharma told reporters that police teams rushed to the school [] The post Bomb threat to Patiala school triggers search operation, nothing suspicious found appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Ex-IPS Dies By Suicide After 8.1 Cr Cyber Fraud
Chahal, a former Inspector General of Police in Punjab, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition: Patiala senior superintendent of police Varun Sharma
Punjab: Duped Of Rs 8 Crore In Cyber Fraud, ex-IPS Officer Amar Chahal Shoots Self In Patiala
Patiala, Dec 22: Former IPS officer Amar Singh Chahal allegedly shot himself with the rifle of his security guard here on Monday and in a purported note, he claimed that he had been duped of Rs 8.10 crore by cyber thugs who posed as wealth management advisors. Chahal, the former Punjab Inspector General of Police, was shifted to the hospital in a critical condition, Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Varun Sharma said. Chalal was one of the accused in the [] The post Punjab: Duped Of Rs 8 Crore In Cyber Fraud, ex-IPS Officer Amar Chahal Shoots Self In Patiala appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
He was shifted to the hospital in critical condition, Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varun Sharma said. Chahal was one of the accused in the 2015 police firing case related to anti-sacrilege protests in Faridkot district of Punjab.
Former Punjab Police Officer Dies by Suicide, Note Blames Online Fraud
Punjab's former IPS officer Amar Singh Chahal died while undergoing treatment at a hospital after he attempted suicide. He had attempted suicide at his home in Patiala and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Geo-tagging drive launched as Punjab struggles to recover Rs 1,100 crore in property tax
CHANDIGARH: The cash-strapped Punjab government has begun geo-tagging properties across the state to improve property tax recovery. At present, around 94,000 commercial property owners owe nearly Rs 1,100 crore in property tax, as identified by various civic bodies. Poor recovery has begun to affect revenue-dependent essential services. Of the total 1.55 lakh owners of commercial, industrial and other properties, 94,000 are commercial property owners. The Local Bodies Department has so far completed surveys in 20 urban local bodies (ULBs), while surveys in another 22 ULBs are currently underway. In the states 167 ULBs, an initial survey has revealed an average shortfall of Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore per ULB in property tax collection. In larger ULBs with municipal corporations, the deficit is expected to be significantly higher. Sources said executive officers of municipal councils and commissioners of municipal corporations are being held accountable for property tax recovery. Annual collection targets are being increased by 3 per cent over the previous years collection. As a result, property tax collection has risen from Rs 282 crore in 202122 to Rs 400 crore in 202223 and Rs 486 crore in 202324, after officials were assigned specific targets. The department has also identified 48 major commercial property defaulters who together owe Rs 2.15 crore in property tax. Geo-tagging of all properties has been initiated as authorities suspect a wide mismatch between tax receipts and the actual number of properties in urban areas. Geo-tagging enables the department to record the exact location, actual covered area and the nature of activity conducted on a property. Due to the absence of such mapping earlier, many properties in large cities such as Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar had remained outside the departments purview. Surveys have already been completed and identification plates affixed in cities including Patiala, Hoshiarpur, Sultanpur Lodhi, Dera Bassi, Khanna and Chamkaur Sahib. Punjabs property tax collection remains significantly lower than that of other states, largely because several high-value commercial establishments continue to default on payments. Despite multiple notices, repeated opportunities for compliance and the introduction of a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme, defaults persist. A fact-finding report on illegal structures in Ludhiana during the previous government revealed discrepancies between power connections issued by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), approved layout plans and property tax receipts. It also highlighted mismatches between the assessed covered area and the actual built-up area of properties. Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, ULBs are mandated to achieve at least 85 per cent property tax collection. However, recovery remains poor. An audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found that ULBs collected only 48 per cent to 54.14 per cent of property tax between 2015 and 2020. The audit also noted failures in recovering user charges such as water and sewerage cess.
Red Fort Blast Case: NIA Custody of Bilal Extended, Soyab Sent to Jail
New Delhi, Dec 15: A Delhi court on Friday extended the NIA custody of Dr Bilal Naseer Malla by seven days in connection with the Red Fort blast case, while co-accused Soyab was remanded to five days of judicial custody. The National Investigation Agency produced both accused before the Patiala House Court after the expiry [] The post Red Fort Blast Case: NIA Custody of Bilal Extended, Soyab Sent to Jail appeared first on Northlines .
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Friday extended by seven days the NIA custody of Dr Bilal Naseer Malla, an accused in the Red Fort blast case. The court also remanded Soyab, a Faridabad resident accused of harbouring Red Fort bomber Umar-un-Nabi, to five days of judicial custody. The probe agency produced Soyab and Bilal at the Patiala House Court amid tight security on Friday upon the expiry of their previous four-day NIA custody granted on December 15. Media persons were barred from covering the proceedings. The accused were produced before Principal and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna who allowed the probe agency to quiz Naseer in its custody for seven more days, while Soyab has been remanded to judicial custody till December 24. An official spokesperson for the NIA had earlier said the agency arrested Soyab, a resident of Dhauj in Haryana's Faridabad, for allegedly providing logistical support to errorist Umar-un-Nabi before the Delhi terror bomb blast. NIA arrested Dr Naseer Bilal Malla in Delhi on December 9, calling him a key accused in the conspiracy. According to the NIA investigations, Naseer had knowingly harboured Umar-un-Nabi by providing him logistical support. He is also accused of destruction of evidence related to the terrorist attack, the agency stated earlier on December 9. The NIA has already arrested nine people, including three more doctors Dr Muzammil Ganaie, Dr Adeel Rather, Dr Shaheen Sayeed and religious preacher Maulvi Irfan. Two others, Amir Rashid Ali, and Jasir Bilal Wani alias Danish, have also been arrested. On December 18, NIA arrested the ninth accused in the case, Yasir Ahmad Dar, a Jammu and Kashmir resident and allegedly a close associate of Umar-un-Nabi. An active participant in the conspiracy, Dar had allegedly taken an oath to carry out self-sacrificial operations, the agency said. Umar-un-Nabi was driving the explosive-laden i20 car that detonated outside the Red Fort on November 10.
Red Fort Blast: NIA To Grill Naseer Bilal For 7 More Days; Soyab Remanded To 5-Day Judicial Custody
New Delhi, Dec 15: A Delhi court on Friday extended by seven days the NIA custody of Dr Bilal Naseer Malla, an accused in the Red Fort blast case. The court also remanded Soyab, a Faridabad resident accused of harbouring Red Fort bomber Umar-un-Nabi, to five days of judicial custody. The probe agency produced Soyab and Bilal at the Patiala House Court amid tight security on Friday upon the expiry of their previous four-day NIA custody granted on December 15. [] The post Red Fort Blast: NIA To Grill Naseer Bilal For 7 More Days; Soyab Remanded To 5-Day Judicial Custody appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Zero visibility across north India as IMD sounds red alert for Delhi
A thick blanket of dense fog covered large parts of north India on Friday morning, severely impacting the visibility. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Delhi, warning of major disruptions to road, rail and air traffic. Satellite imagery showed widespread fog over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, northeast Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Visibility dropped to zero metres at several locations, including Agra, Bareilly, Saharanpur and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh; Amritsar, Ludhiana, Bathinda and Adampur in Punjab; Safdarjung in Delhi; Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh; Bhagalpur in Bihar; and Daltonganj in Jharkhand. The IMD cautioned that extremely poor visibility could impact airport operations and cause delays on highways and railway routes. An orange alert was issued for multiple districts in Uttar Pradesh, parts of Uttarakhand, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, and several districts in Punjab, including Amritsar, Patiala and Sangrur. Meteorologists warned of hazardous driving conditions and an increased risk of road accidents, along with the possibility of power line tripping in affected regions. Residents were advised to avoid unnecessary travel, use fog lights, and stay updated on transport advisories. According to IMD definitions, very dense fog occurs when visibility ranges between 0 and 50 metres, while dense fog refers to visibility between 51 and 200 metres. As North India chokes, there can be no hiding 'behind the smokescreen of farm fires anymore' In Delhi, early morning visibility remained poor due to dense fog mixed with smog. Delhis air quality remained alarming, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 382, placing it in the very poor category and close to severe. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed that 14 monitoring stations reported severe air quality, while the remaining recorded very poor levels. Vivek Vihar registered the worst AQI at 434. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has forecast that air quality will stay very poor until Saturday and may deteriorate to severe on Sunday. Meanwhile, stricter pollution control measures came into effect in the national capital on Thursday. The entry of non-Delhi private vehicles below BS-VI emission standards has been banned, and the No PUC, No Fuel rule is being enforced. Fuel stations are denying fuel to vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control certificates, with checks supported by automatic number plate reader cameras, voice alerts and police deployment. 'More headline and image management': Unreliable data mask just how bad India's air quality crisis is
Red Fort blast case: Ninth accused sent to NIA custody till Dec 26
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday remanded Yasir Ahmad Dar, the ninth accused arrested in a case related to the Red Fort blast, to NIA custody till December 26. Special Judge Prashant Sharma allowed the plea of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking Dars custodial interrogation. The accused was produced in the Patiala House 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 .
Delhi Blast Case: NIA Arrests 9th Accused Who Took Oath For Carrying Out 'Self-Sacrificial' Ops
Yasir Ahmad Dar was produced before Delhi's Patiala House Court, which remanded him to NIA custody till December 26.
Who is Yasir Ahmad Dar? Ninth accused arrested in Delhi Red Fort bast case, he belongs to...
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing the 'white-collar' terror module linked to the Delhi Red Fort car blast, arrested one more accused for allegedly orchestrating Dr Umar-un-Nabi, the suicide bomber, and destroying evidence in the conspiracy hatched by the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed group. Yasir Ahmad Dar, ninth accused in Red Fort blast case was produced before the Patiala House Court, which remanded him to NIA custody till December 26.
Why Did You Run Away To Thailand? Luthra Brothers Confronted In Patiala Court
Goa nightclub fire: Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of Birch by Romeo Lane, were deported from Thailand on Tuesday
Goa Fire: Luthra Brothers Arrested After Being Deported from Thailand
The accused will be produced before the Patiala House Court in New Delhi, after which the Goa Police will take them to Goa for further legal proceedings
Goa Nightclub fire: Luthra Brothers, Birch Club owners, deported; to land in Delhi today
Luthra Brothers, who fled to Phuket hours after the incident, will be brought to Delhi upon arrival in India. They are expected to be produced before the Patiala House Court for remand proceedings.
Birch-Goa Owners Luthra Brothers Deported, Fly to Delhi
The duo, who fled to Phuket hours after the incident, will be brought to Delhi upon arrival in India. They are expected to be produced before the Patiala House Court for remand proceedings.
Luthra Brothers, the owner of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa will be deported from Thailand on Tuesday. Officials from the central agencies will take Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra to the Patiala House Court in Delhi.
Red Fort blast: Court extends NIA custody of Soyab, Naseer Bilal by four more days
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Monday extended the NIA custody of Soyab , a Faridabad resident accused of harbouring Red Fort bomber Umar-un-Nabi, and Dr Naseer Bilal Malla , a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, for four more days. The probe agency produced Soyab at the Patiala House Court amid tight security on Friday upon the expiry of his previous 10-day custody granted on December 5. Naseer was produced upon the expiry of his seven-day National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody which was granted on December 9. Media persons were barred from covering the proceedings. The accused were produced before Principal and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna who allowed the probe agency to quiz Soyab and Naseer in its custody for four more days. An official spokesperson for the NIA had earlier said the agency arrested Soyab, a resident of Dhauj in Haryana's Faridabad, for allegedly providing logistical support to errorist Umar-un-Nabi before the Delhi terror bomb blast. Dr Naseer Bilal Malla is the eighth accused arrested by the NIA in the case, which is linked to a white-collar terror module busted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The NIA team arrested the doctor from Delhi on December 9, calling him a key accused in the conspiracy. According to the NIA investigations, Naseer had knowingly harboured the dead accused Umar-un-Nabi by providing him logistical support. He is also accused of destruction of evidence related to the terrorist attack, the agency stated earlier on December 9. Umar-un-Nabi was driving the explosive-laden i20 car that detonated outside the Red Fort on November 10, killing 15 people and injuring several others. PTI had earlier reported that the sophisticated terror module spearheaded by a group of doctors had been actively scouting for a suicide bomber since last year, with Umar being the alleged key planner.
Red Fort Blast: Court Extends NIA Custody Of Soyab, Naseer Bilal By 4 More Days
New Delhi, Dec 15: A Delhi court on Monday extended the NIA custody of Soyab, a Faridabad resident accused of harbouring Red Fort bomber Umar-un-Nabi, and Dr Naseer Bilal Malla, a resident of Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district, for four more days. The probe agency produced Soyab at the Patiala House Court amid tight security on Friday upon the expiry of his previous 10-day custody granted on December 5. Naseer was produced upon the expiry of his seven-day National Investigation [] The post Red Fort Blast: Court Extends NIA Custody Of Soyab, Naseer Bilal By 4 More Days appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Cash-strapped Punjab government hopes to generate Rs 3000 crore by selling land under OUVGL Scheme
CHANDIGARH: The cash-strapped AAP-led Punjab government, whose outstanding debt touched Rs 3.98 lakh crore till October this year, hopes to generate Rs 3,000 crore through monetisation. It has identified parcels of unused land to be developed and sold under the three-decade-old Optimum Utilisation of Vacant Government Lands (OUVGL) Scheme to fulfil its pre-poll promise of providing a Rs 1,100 per month honorarium to all women in the state. With only 14 months left for the Assembly elections, the move is aimed at tiding over the financial crisis. Most of these lands belong to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). Employees and officers of the corporation have now decided to launch a protest movement against the sale of power sector land and assets, saying it will severely compromise future expansion of critical infrastructure such as substations, transmission corridors and power projects. Sources said a meeting of the empowered committee of the OUVGL, headed by Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, was held on Thursday, during which the development costs and net revenue expected from disposing of several land pockets in Patiala, Bathinda, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar were discussed. It is estimated that Rs 2,789 crore could be generated from the sale of these land parcels belonging to PSPCL, the Health Department, the Transport Department, MARKFED, the Punjab Mandi Board, the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation and the Punjab Khadi and Village Industries Board. Of the Rs 3,000 crore the state hopes to generate from the sale of these assets, the maximum revenue of Rs 2,219.58 crore is expected to come from six PSPCL properties in Patiala, Bathinda, Ludhiana and Jalandhar that are being considered for disposal. These properties are proposed to be transferred to urban development authorities. The meeting also reviewed progress in retrieving land from various departments for transfer to these authorities, sources said. Discussions were also held on transferring a 57.82-acre site in Mullanpur Garibdas village in Mohali from the Forest Department to the urban development authority. The land was first transferred to PUDA in March 2004, but in October 2010 the empowered committee of PUDA approved its transfer to the Forest Department as it fell under a green belt where a nature park was later developed after compensatory afforestation. About 19 acres of the land were left untouched as they were encroached upon. As the land is not classified as forest land and was only used for compensatory afforestation, the government believes it can now be used for other activities. In lieu of this, compensatory afforestation would be carried out on a parcel of government land in Ludhiana, sources said. Meanwhile, officers and employees from various unions and associations of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited held a meeting. After detailed deliberations, all unions unanimously resolved to launch a joint protest movement against the sale of power sector land and assets. They expressed deep concern that the sale of valuable land would severely compromise future expansion of critical infrastructure such as substations, transmission corridors and power projects. The unions demanded that the government immediately withdraw the proposal and warned that any attempt to harm or compromise power sector assets would trigger immediate and statewide protests.
Red Fort blast case: Delhi court extends NIA custody of three doctors, preacher by four days
Mediapersons were barred from covering the court proceedings, which were held under tight security in and around the Patiala House district court premises
Severe cold grips north India; IMD warns of cold wave, fog across multiple states
NEW DELHI: Cold conditions prevailed across north India on Sunday, with the Amarnath yatra base camp being the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir at minus 4.3 degrees Celsius and parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan reporting minimum temperatures between three and seven degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said cold wave conditions were very likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha on Monday and Tuesday. In Delhi, the minimum temperature was recorded at eight degrees, up from 6.8 degrees a day ago and yet 1.6 notches below normal. The maximum temperature was 24.7 degrees Celsius, 0.1 notch below normal, while the relative humidity was 92 per cent in the morning. For Monday, the weather department forecast a minimum of 10 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius, with mist expected. Pollution levels in Delhi remained in the very poor category on Sunday, prolonging the spell of toxic air that has hung over its residents for several weeks now. The city logged a 24-hour average AQI of 308. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor and 401 and 500 severe. Further in the north, the night temperatures in Kashmir rose by several degrees but stayed below the freezing point, officials said. The Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir as the minimum settled at a low of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- settled at minus 0.9 degrees Celsius, a rise of 3.2 degrees compared to the previous night. The gateway town to the valley, Qazigund, recorded a low of minus one degree Celsius, while the minimum settled at minus 0.8 degree Celsius in north Kashmir's Kupwara, and 1.1 degrees Celsius in south Kashmir's Kokernag, according to officials. The meteorological department said the weather would remain generally cloudy but dry on Sunday, and a brief spell of light snowfall at isolated places in the higher reaches of north and central Kashmir is likely on December 8. In Himachal Pradesh, The IMD predicted dense fog in parts of the state until Wednesday. A yellow alert for dense fog was also issued in parts of the reservoir area of the Bhakra dam in Bilaspur district and over some parts of the Balh valley in Mandi district during early morning till Monday. In Punjab, Faridkot remained the coldest place, with the minimum temperature settling at 4.4 degrees Celsius, while in Haryana, Narnaul saw the lowest temperature at 4.6 degrees Celsius, according to the local meteorological department. Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, recorded a minimum temperature of 8.2 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, Bathinda and Gurdaspur recorded a minimum temperature of 4.6 degrees Celsius, while Ferozepur recorded 6 degrees, Amritsar 6.1 degrees, Ludhiana 6.8 degrees, and Patiala 8.9 degrees. In Haryana, Bhiwani recorded a low of six degrees, Hisar 6.2 degrees, Sirsa 6.6 degrees, Karnal seven degrees, Rohtak 7.8 degrees, and Ambala 9.8 degrees. Rajasthan, similarly, reeled under intense cold, the Meteorological Centre here said. Fatehpur in the Sikar district continued to record the lowest minimum temperature, albeit at 3.5 degrees Celsius, slightly up from 2.3 degrees a day ago. According to the weather department, Lunkaransar (Bikaner) recorded a low of 5 degrees Celsius, followed by Dausa at 6 degrees, Churu at 6.3 degrees, Vanasthali (Tonk) at 6.4 degrees and Jhunjhunu at 7.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday morning. The department said a fresh but weak western disturbance is likely to cause partly cloudy skies in some parts of the state over the next few days. Under its influence, the minimum temperature is expected to rise by two to three degrees Celsius, providing relief from the cold wave, it said. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, eight districts recorded minimum temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, the IMD said, noting a cold wave in parts of the state. Gumla recorded the lowest temperature in the state at 3.5 degrees Celsius up from three degrees Celsius while Khunti logged five degrees Celsius, the IMD weather bulletin stated. The minimum temperature in Jharkhand's capital, Ranchi, was 7.5 degrees Celsius, while Daltonganj recorded 6.5 degrees and Jamshedpur recorded 9.6 degrees Celsius. Deputy Director of the Ranchi Meteorological Centre, Abhishek Anand, said, North-westerly winds prevailing in the lower tropospheric levels over Jharkhand have caused the drop in mercury. Dry weather conditions are likely to prevail across the state over the next five days.The minimum temperature may rise by 2-3 degrees Celsius during the next 72 hours, he added. In West Bengal, the mercury dipped below the 10-degree mark for the first time this winter in the state's plains with Sriniketan in Birbhum districts recording a minimum temperature of 9.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday, the IMD said. Its forecast for West Bengal suggested dry weather across all districts of West Bengal for the next week, with shallow to moderate fog likely in the northern districts. Darjeeling was the coldest in the hills at 6.2 degrees Celsius, while the other Himalayan tourist town of Kalimpong was warmer at 10.5 degrees Celsius. The other places which recorded low night temperatures are Alipurduar (11 degrees), Kalyani (11.4 degrees), Purulia (11.4 degrees) and Panagarh (11.9 degrees). Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 15.2 degrees Celsius, the IMD said, forecasting mist in the morning on Monday. IMD further predicted dense fog conditions in isolated pockets of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura between December 8 and 12. It was also very likely in parts of west Madhya Pradesh on Monday and in Odisha until Tuesday. In west India, a gradual fall by two to three degrees over the next three-four days is expected, and no significant change is anticipated thereafter, the IMD said.
Punjab LoP moves HC seeking extension of nomination deadline for Zila Parishad, Block Samiti polls
CHANDIGARH: Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking an extension of the last date for filing nomination papers for Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections. They are alleging that widespread incidents of tearing, snatching and destruction of nomination forms on December 4 had prevented several candidates from filing valid nomination forms Also, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) demanded that the deadline for filing nominations in all areas where there were complaints of highhandedness and discrimination should be extended to allow for free and fair polls. In his petition, Bajwa maintained, Cases of illegal detentions, persons being waylaid and picked up, and candidates not allowed to reach the venue, etc., took place. There were videos and photos captured that showed persons running away with candidates nomination papers, fights taking place, brawls breaking out, candidates not allowed to reach the venue, NOCs not issued, and officials concerned nowhere to be found, Bajwa added. If, during an election, the very police that are supposed to ensure free and fair elections would start indulging in the abuse of power, undermining the law of the land and restraining the Opposition candidates from filing nomination papers, the faith of the people would be shaken in the democratic process. Therefore, an immediate time-bound investigation is initiated by a Central agency in the matter concerned, he said. Punjab Congress leader Warring accuses AAP government of patronising gangsters to win elections Bajwa sought directions to the State Election Commission to constitute an independent monitoring mechanism or appoint observers to ensure peaceful, fair and transparent polls. He also pressed for an inquiry by the CBI or any other Central agency into the conduct of Patiala SSP Varun Sharma, following the surfacing of an alleged audio recording purportedly directing police personnel among other things to disrupt the nomination process. Advocate Arshpreet Khadial appeared for Bajwa before the Chief Justice to make an oral mention. The request was allowed by the High Court, and now the matter will be taken up on December 8. Senior SAD party leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema also called for nomination of independent Observers for the polls, besides demanding stringent action, including charge sheeting of police and civil officials who had vitiated the election atmosphere by acting as stooges of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The party will also submit the names of Returning Officers who have acted in a partisan manner and rejected forms of opposition leaders en masse, and appeal that they should not be put on duty in the general elections in 2027. Cheema also came down heavily on the State Election Commission (SEC). Buzz over former Punjab CM Amarinder's advocacy for BJP-SAD alliance sparks possibilities of revival of ties He said it was condemnable that at a time when democracy was being murdered in the State, and the SEC had chosen to look away. This raises disturbing questions about the integrity of the SEC as it has failed to supervise the elections fairly and impartially and has also refused to take action against police officers, including Patiala SSP Varun Sharma, who specifically directed police officials to stop opposition candidates from reaching the offices of Returning Officers by resorting to illegal and unconstitutional means. Meanwhile, giving details of mass-level rejection of SAD candidates, Cheema said that in the case of Tarn Taran, out of 72 Zila Parishad seats, forms of party candidates had been rejected in 41 seats. He said in case of Block Samitis, in Tarn Taran, 31 forms across 63 seats had been rejected, in Gandiwind 37 forms across 52 seats, in Khadoor Sahib 43 forms across 151 seats, in Patti 56 forms across 75 seats, in Bhikhiwind 77 forms across 100 seats, in Valtoha 56 forms across 78 seats and in Naushehra Pannuan 40 forms across 83 seats had been rejected. Cheema said similarly in the Block Samiti seats in Majitha, 12 SAD candidates were not allowed to file nominations. He said in Bhoa and Zira, no SAD candidate was allowed to file a nomination. He said in Raja Sansi candidature of 25 out of the 35 SAD contestants were rejected for the Block Samiti elections, and in the case of Baba Bakala, 18 forms across 49 seats were rejected. He also disclosed how in Fatehgarh Churian, 2 forms out of 4 Zila Parishad seats and 14 forms across 25 Block Samiti seats were rejected. He also added that a large number of SAD candidates were not allowed to file their nominations in Qadian, Jaitu, Ghanaur, Nurpur Bedi, Patran, Khanauri, Jandiala and Ajnala
ED Files Chargesheet Against Reliance Power in Fake Bank Guarantee Case
The chargesheet has been filed under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at the Patiala House court in Delhi
Punjab Congress leader Warring accuses AAP government of patronising gangsters to win elections
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring warned the AAP government over promoting anarchy and bloodshed by patronising gangsters to win elections. He also accused AAP of following a strategy of manipulation and coercion, citing former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodias saam, daam, dand, bhed approach. Warring warned that AAP turned police officers into `yesmen. We will neither forget nor forgive, he made it categorically clear to all such officers. He said AAPs reluctance to hold Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections showed that they feared defeat. Notably, Congress candidates faced intimidation and obstacles in filing nominations, sparking fears that their papers might be rejected during scrutiny due to AAPs grip on the election machinery. He said that the ruling party was scared and panic-stricken of losing the elections as it had already realised that the ground had slipped from beneath its feet. He added that it was only after the intervention of the court that the government was forced to hold the elections. He gave graphic details from across the state about how the Congress candidates for the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections were intimidated and prevented from filing their nomination papers. He expressed strong apprehensions that the nomination papers of even those who have somehow managed to file might get rejected at the time of scrutiny, as the ruling party has completely hijacked the election machinery. Replying to a question on the purported audio clip whereby the SSP Patiala is allegedly issuing directions to his subordinates as to how to prevent Opposition candidates from reaching the venue of filing nomination papers, Warring said, the matter must be investigated. He said, if found true, such officers must be dismissed from the services. Most of the SSPs, the DSPs heading police subdivisions and the SHOs and those heading police posts have completely surrendered themselves to the AAP and turned into its errand boys, he said in a scathing attack against the police partiality. Warring asserted that all such officers will be held accountable under the law once the government changes. He said, if a few police officials believe that they will get away in the next regime by doing the same thing for the party in power, then they are mistaken. This must end, and we will end it, he asserted. He denied that Congress patronised gangsters, challenging AAP to explain their own record. Warring highlighted that AAP is bringing gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria from the Assam jail for Tarn Tarans byelection.
Delhi blast: Court extends NIA custody of Soyab by 10 more days
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday extended the NIA custody of Soyab, a Faridabad resident accused of harbouring Red Fort bomber Umar-un Nabi, for 10 more days. The probe agency produced Soyab at the Patiala House Court amid tight security on Friday upon the expiry of his previous 10-day custody, which was granted on 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 .
Northern India shivers as temperatures plunge; Delhi chokes under very poor air
North India continued to reel under sharp winter conditions on Friday, with large parts of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana recording minimum temperatures well below normal, even as Kashmir saw a brief improvement in the cold due to overcast skies. Delhi, meanwhile, remained choked under very poor air quality as a cold wave was forecast for the day. Rajasthan recorded the lowest temperature in the region, with Fatehpur in Sikar district plunging to 1.9C on Friday morning. The Jaipur Meteorological Centre said minimum temperatures stayed below 10 degrees Celsius across several districts, including Sikar at 3C, Nagaur at 3.1C, Lunkaransar at 3.2C, Churu at 4.5C and Pilani at 4.8C. Dry conditions are likely to persist over most parts of the state for the next week, it added. Bone-chilling cold also gripped Punjab and Haryana. Faridkot, at 3C, was the coldest among the two states. In Punjab, Bathinda recorded 3.2C, while Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur reported lows between 5.5C and 6.2C. In neighbouring Haryana, Narnaul was the coldest at 3.5C, while Hisar recorded 3.7C. Karnal, Rohtak, Bhiwani and Sirsa registered temperatures ranging between 5.4C and 7.7C. Chandigarh, the shared capital, reported a minimum of 6.1C. Kashmir, however, witnessed an improvement in night temperatures as cloud cover pushed the mercury above those recorded in recent days. Srinagar, which had plunged to 4C the previous night, recorded a low of 0.4Cover four degrees higher. Qazigund reported 0.2C, Kupwara 0.2C, Kokernag 0.8C, Pahalgam 1.8C and Gulmarg 0C. Konibal in Pulwama district remained the coldest in the Union Territory at 3C. The weather office said light snowfall is possible in the higher reaches later on Friday, while another brief spell is likely on December 8. In Delhi, there was no respite from toxic air as the Air Quality Index stood at 323 at 9 am, firmly in the very poor category. Bawana recorded the highest AQI in the city at 373, while 30 monitoring stations reported very poor levels. The capital saw fluctuating pollution levels through the week, with the AQI rising from 279 on Sunday to 372 on Tuesday before settling at 304 on Thursday. The IMD said a cold wave is expected through the day, with the minimum temperature dipping to 5.6C, nearly four degrees below normal. The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 22C, while relative humidity touched 100% in the morning. (With inputs from PTI)
Court orders framing of charges against Uphaar Cinema tragedy convict Sushil Ansal in passport case
NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Delhi court has ordered framing of charges against the Uphaar fire tragedy convict Sushil Ansal in a separate case for allegedly concealing criminal cases and submitting false declarations to renew a passport. Ansal was booked by the crime branch of Delhi Police in 2019, and he was accused of furnishing false information, as he failed to declare his conviction in the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire tragedy. Chief Judicial Magistrate Shriya Agrawal of Patiala House Courts, in [] The post Court orders framing of charges against Uphaar Cinema tragedy convict Sushil Ansal in passport case appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Red Fort blast case: Accused Amir Rashid Ali produced in Patiala House Court
NEW DELHI, Dec 2: Amir Rashid Ali, one of the accused of the Red Fort blast, was produced before a Delhi court on Tuesday. Ali was produced before Principal and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna on the conclusion of his police custody in the case. The proceedings are underway. On November 29, the court sent three doctors and a preacher, who were arrested in connection with the Red Fort blast, to 10 days judicial custody. As of now, the NIA [] The post Red Fort blast case: Accused Amir Rashid Ali produced in Patiala House Court appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
NEW DELHI: In a major setback to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the Delhi Polices Economic Offences Wing has registered a fresh FIR against them and six others in the decade-old National Herald money laundering case . The FIR, registered on October 3, 2025, follows a detailed complaint from Shiv Kumar Gupta, Assistant Director of the Enforcement Directorates Headquarters Investigation Unit, and invokes charges of criminal conspiracy, dishonest misappropriation of property, criminal breach of trust and cheating. On November 29, 2025, the Rouse Avenue Court postponed its decision on whether to take cognizance of the EDs chargesheet, deferring the order to December 16 and observing that the accused have a right to be heard before any decision is taken. According to the FIR, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, Young Indian, Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd, Sunil Bhandari and Associated Journals Ltd have been named as accused. Except for Sam Pitroda, who now resides in Oak Brook, Illinois, all others are residents of India. The FIR alleges an elaborate criminal conspiracy to fraudulently take over properties worth over Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited, the original publisher of the National Herald. It states that this takeover was executed by Young Indian, in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi held controlling stakes, for a paltry sum of Rs 50 lakhs only. It details how the All India Congress Committee gave cumulative loans of Rs 90.21 crore to AJL between 200203 and 201011 and treated the amount as non-recoverable despite AJL holding valuable properties. The FIR states: The scheme of fraud was executed by Young Indian purchasing from AICC the right to recover the loan of Rs. 90.21 cr. (given by AICC to AJL) for a paltry sum of Rs. 50 lakhs and simultaneously, AJL converted the outstanding loan of Rs. 90.21 crore into 9.02 crore equity shares of face value Rs. 10 each in favour of Young Indian, thereby defrauding shareholders of AJL on one hand and also the public donors of AICC by dishonestly inducing AICC to forego its valuable right to recover Rs. 90 Crore advanced to AJL. The FIR says AJL shareholders were cheated as their shareholding was diluted when Young Indian was issued 99% of the companys shares. It adds: ED investigation reveals that, Young Indian was effectively controlled by Sh. Rahul Gandhi and Smt. Sonia Gandhi since they together held 76% of shares through a well-thought-out conspiracy. Young Indian was incorporated on November 23, 2010 with a capital of Rs 5 lakh, and through transfers and allotments, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each came to hold 38% of its shares. Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey were the original shareholders with 550 shares each. On January 22, 2011, fresh allotments and transfers brought in Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as 38% shareholders each, while Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes received 12% each. The FIR traces the case back to BJP leader Subramanian Swamys 2013 complaint at Patiala House Courts. The court took cognizance in June 2014. It quotes the order: In the Order passed, Ld. MM observed that Young Indian was created as a sham or a cloak to convert public money to personal use or as a special purpose vehicle for acquiring control over Rs. 2000 Cr. worth of assets of AJL and accused person have allegedly acted in consortium with each other to achieve the said nefarious purpose. The High Court later refused to interfere with the cognizance order. The FIR lists three major AJL properties allegedly diverted for private gain: Herald House in New Delhi, AJL House in Bandra East, Mumbai, and a property at Bisheshwar Nath Road in Lucknow. It states: The above facts and circumstances of the case enumerate the issue of government properties being allotted to AJL at subsidized rates for larger public purposes, only to be usurped and misused by the beneficial owners of Young Indian and thus represents a serious form of criminal conspiracy and financial fraud. It alleges AJL shareholders were cheated when Young Indian gained 99% ownership through decisions taken by only 7 members of the company who together held 0.00005% of the total shareholding in AJL. It adds: he fraudulent misrepresentations made to the general body of shareholders of AJL leading to wrongful gain of almost Rs 2000 crores in favour of Young Indian and its owners namely Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Sh. Rahul Gandhi and the corresponding wrongful loss to the shareholders of Young Indian clearly makes out an offence of criminal conspiracy and cheating. The FIR also outlines how AICC and its donors were allegedly defrauded, stating: The concerned office bearers of AICC viz. the then President Sonia Gandhi and General Secretary Rahul Gandhi by 'selling' AICC's right to recover a loan of Rs. 90.21 crores from AJL for a paltry sum of Rs 50 lakhs to Young Indian has virtually deprived AICC not only the right to recover the entire Rs. 90.21 crore but also the option of converting this debt into equity shares from AJL which would have entitled AICC as a 99% shareholder to properties worth almost Rs. 2000 crores According to the FIR, Young Indian acquired proceeds of crime in the form of AJL shares, immovable properties and rental income. It states that the properties, valued at Rs 755 crore, were treated as proceeds of crime, and notes rental income of Rs 142.67 crore between 201011 and 202223 as direct proceeds of crime. The total proceeds of crime are pegged at Rs 988.03 crore. ED had attached properties worth Rs 751.91 crore on November 20, 2023. The FIR cites three additional alleged frauds: bogus donations of Rs 18.12 crore to Young Indian in 201718 to discharge the income tax demand, fake advance rent of Rs 38.41 crore received by AJL from nine entities on instructions of Congress leaders, and fake advertisement revenue of Rs 29.45 crore between 201718 and 202021. It states: Most of the advertisement given does not commensurate with business purposes of the donors as these advertisements are mostly in the form of congratulatory messages/birthday wishes to congress top leaders. It also details how Young Indian arranged the Rs 50 lakh payment to AICC, citing a Rs 1 crore loan from Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd, described as a shell company. Part of this was used for the Rs 50 lakh payment toward acquiring AICCs right to recover Rs 90.21 crore from AJL. The FIR was registered based on information shared by the Enforcement Directorate under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. After approval from ED Director Rahul Naveen, the complaint was sent to the Commissioner of Police for action. Modi-Shah continuing with 'mischievous politics of vendetta': Congress With Delhi Police filing an FIR against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, the Congress on Sunday alleged that the Modi-Shah duo is continuing with its mischievous politics of harassment, intimidation, and vendetta against the party's top leadership. Condemning the action, the opposition party also said the National Herald matter is a completely bogus case and justice will ultimately triumph. In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh charged, The Modi-Shah duo is continuing with its mischievous politics of harassment, intimidation, and vendetta against the top leadership of the INC. Those who threaten are themselves insecure and afraid. The National Herald matter is a completely bogus case. Justice will ultimately triumph. Satyameva Jayate, he said. The Modi-Shah duo is continuing with its mischievous politics of harassment, intimidation, and vendetta against the top leadership of the INC. Those who threaten are themselves insecure and afraid. The National Herald matter is a completely bogus case. Justice will ultimately Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) November 30, 2025 Congress spokesperson and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said in a post on X that the FIR was either wine new nor bottle new nor glasses new. One trick wonder of a case where no money moved, where no immovable property transferred yet money laundering invented upon creation of Young Indian as a not for profit co to merely hold shares of AJL which in turn runs and holds brand NH and continues to hold all property as before &as always. Condition precedent of ML (money laundering) movement of money and conversion of unaccounted to white money always absent, yet we have politically malicious proceedings continuing, he said on X. Ironically, Gandhis and other Congress functionaries as directors of YI cannot get dividends, cannot distribute profits, get not one perk, yet accused of ML!! Current FIR created by adding few lines re infusion of money by private company to enable payment of assignment money by YI to make AJL debt free, Singhvi said. #NatHerald neither wine new nor bottle new nor glasses new. Hence my comment also old. One trick wonder of a case where no money moved, where no immovable property transferred yet money laundering invented upon creation of #YoungIndian as a not for profit co to merely hold shares Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) November 30, 2025 Senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari slammed the government over the development, alleging that it is working like the British rulers who took away people's democratic rights. This is politics of vendetta and we condemn it. We never bowed down earlier, neither will we bow down now nor in the future. Gandhi family has always fought for the independence of the country and we will keep fighting for the freedom of democracy, he said. His remarks came after the Delhi Police filed an FIR against former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and other accused in the National Herald case on a complaint by the ED as part of the agency's money laundering probe into the high-profile case that alleges that the first family of the party abused their position for personal gains. Official sources and documents said the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police filed a complaint against the Gandhis and seven others on October 3. The police has pressed charges under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC in the FIR that names the Gandhis, Congress leaders Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, entities like the Young Indian (YI) and Dotex Merchandise Ltd, Dotex promoter Sunil Bhandari, Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) and unknown others. These entities are also named as an accused (except unknown others) in the ED chargesheet filed before a Delhi court in April. The court is yet to take its cognisance with the next date of hearing scheduled for December 16. The ED, according to the sources, used powers available to it under section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to get the police FIR registered. This section allows the federal agency to share evidence for registration of a criminal predicate offence by a law enforcement agency so that it can subsequently book a money laundering case to take forward the investigation.
From employees and farmers to lawyers, Punjab AAP government faces wave of public outrage
CHANDIGARH: With 14 months left for the assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is grappling with a wave of public anger across the state, from employees and lawyers to farmers. Bus services in parts of the state remained affected on Saturday as employees of Punjab Roadways, Punjab State Bus Stand Management Company Limited (PUNBUS) and Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) continued their protest for the second day. The state transport department issued notices asking them to call off the strike and return to work, warning that their services would be terminated if they failed to comply. A senior official said employees have been instructed to end the strike and resume work as notices have been served. If they do not return, we will have no option but to terminate their services, as these are contractual and outsourced employees. They cannot be suspended and can only be terminated, the official said. Sandeep Singh, senior vice-president of the PUNBUS Contract Workers Union in Hoshiarpur, alleged that four of their leaders, state committee member Kulwant Singh, district president Raminder Singh, secretary Narinder Singh and cashier Dharminder Singh, were still detained. Until they are released, the kilometre-scheme tenders are cancelled, and contractual workers are regularised, our dharna and strike will continue, he said. He further claimed, In the last four years, the government has not provided even a single new bus to Punjab Roadways. Over 500 old buses have gone off the road, and those still running face major repair issues. The department does not have funds even for tyres and essential repairs. Employees began the strike yesterday against the opening of tenders related to the kilometre-based bus scheme, which they say is a backdoor attempt to bring in private buses and dismantle the state-run transport system, enabling private operators to run buses on government-notified routes. Bus services crippled across Punjab as contract workers launch strike to protest 'systematic privatisation' Ahead of the protest, many union leaders were detained by police, sparking chaos across Punjab as workers clashed with police personnel. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leader Sarwan Singh Pandher extended support to the contractual employees, criticising the state government over the scheme. Commuters were hit hard as the protests disrupted bus services across many routes. With government buses off the roads, passengers were forced to rely on private operators. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann appealed to employees to return to work and adopt the path of dialogue. He said the state government is making sincere efforts to resolve all issues of PRTC employees, some of which have been taken up in court. He urged the agitating workers to end their protest so the public would not face inconvenience. Mann added that the government understands the problems of PRTC employees and is working to address their concerns. He also announced that the state will soon introduce 900 new government buses to improve transport services. Meanwhile, the PSEB Engineers Association (PSEBEA) has announced a state-level protest meeting on December 2, expected to be attended by over 1,000 power engineers and dignitaries. Several key decisions are likely to be discussed as engineers express resentment against the management, accusing it of exerting undue pressure to make officers fall in line or face extreme actions. Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, general secretary of PSEBEA, said engineers from across Punjab will gather in Patiala to express their strong opposition to arbitrary actions, the sale of power sector properties, growing interference in the power sector, inaction on the Electricity Amendment Bill 2024, and attempts to undermine technical autonomy and institutional integrity. The association is demanding an immediate halt to the sale of power sector assets, resumption of the process to set up the state-sector 2 800 MW supercritical units at Ropar, unconditional revocation of the suspension of Chief Engineer Harish Sharma, and concrete steps to curb political interference and limit the role of private consultants in technical and administrative decisions. Farmers unions are also up in arms. Senior SKM leader and BKU (Lakhowal Group) president Harinder Singh Lakhowal said 18 of their demands remain pending, with no decisions from the state government. These include a one-time settlement scheme for farmers who took loans from cooperative and land mortgage banks, relief for those affected by recent floods and rains two years ago, and measures to control the stray cattle menace, among others. On November 19, parts of tractor-trolleys allegedly stolen on March 19, after the government forcibly lifted the 13-month-long dharna of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and SKM (Non-Political) at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, were recovered from the compound of the executive officers residence in Nabha, sparking fresh outrage among farmer unions. On November 22, the Sangrur district bar association blocked the LudhianaDelhi highway for about two hours, alleging political interference by AAP MLA from Sangrur Narinder Kaur Bharaj in a private land dispute pending in court. The lawyers demanded a written apology from the legislator. On November 21, the District Bar Association of Sangrur unanimously resolved to debar sitting MLA Narinder Kaur Bharaj from all its events as it decided that the legislator will not be invited to any association event unless she tenders a written, unconditional apology, allegedly accusing her of unwarranted interference in a private land dispute pending before the court and exerting pressure on the local administration. They also sought registration of an FIR against those who uploaded derogatory videos targeting the legal fraternity on social media. The advocates had also staged a dramatic protest by blocking the DelhiLudhiana highway, spreading blankets on the road and demanding action against the MLA for allegedly violating court orders. The secretary of the association Simrandeep Singh Blaggan had warned that if the promised action is not taken within ten days, the association will protest.
Delhi Blast Case: NIA court extends custody of four accused for 10 days
A Special NIA court at Patiala House Court on Saturday extended the NIA custody for 10 days of Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganai of Pulwama (J&K), Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather of Anantnag (J&K), Dr Shaheen Saeed of Lucknow (U.P), and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay of Shopian (J&K) in Delhi blast case.
JU clinches Bronze in Fencing at KIUG-2025
Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 27: The University of Jammu added another feather to its cap by securing a Bronze Medal in Womens Sabre Fencing at the ongoing Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2025 in Rajasthan. The medal-winning team comprised Chhavi Sharma, Mansi Sharma, Mahek Choudhary and Ashu Rani, who showcased exceptional skill, coordination, and determination. The team registered a thrilling 45-43 victory against Punjabi University Patiala in the quarterfinals, advancing to the semifinals, where they were narrowly defeated by [] The post JU clinches Bronze in Fencing at KIUG-2025 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Punjab: 4 Operatives Linked To Lawrence Bishnoi Gang Held; Planned Attacks In Tricity, Patiala
The accused were arrested by the Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force and the SAS Nagar police following an exchange of fire near Steel Strips Towers on the Dera Bassi-Ambala highway in SAS Nagar district: Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav
Terror Plot Foiled In Punjab, Four Members Of Lawrence Bishnoi Gang Arrested
Police raided a house along the Dera Bassi-Ambala highway, where the four opened fire on them. The accused were planning targeted attacks in Chandigarh and Patiala.
'Protesters Came Fully Prepared, Raised Hidma Slogans, Used Pepper Spray': Delhi Police To Court
The arrested protesters were produced at Patiala House Court on Monday as the police sought further action
Harman Sidhu's death: Punjabi singer's last post goes viral, shows him offering..., WATCH
Punjabi singer Harman Sidhu lost his life in a tragic incident on Saturday. Sidhu was only 37 when he met with an accident while travelling from Patiala to Mansa. Day after his tragic death, his last social media post has been going viral.
Delhi Blast: Court Allows Accuseds Plea To Meet Lawyer At NIA Headquarters
New Delhi, Nov 22: A Delhi court on Saturday allowed the plea of Jasir Bilal Wani, an accused in the Red Fort blast case, to meet his lawyer at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters, court sources said. The plea was allowed by Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna of the Patiala House Court, they said. On Friday, the Delhi High Court refused to pass an order to allow the accuseds plea, saying he failed to show any [] The post Delhi Blast: Court Allows Accuseds Plea To Meet Lawyer At NIA Headquarters appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Court allows Delhi Blast co-accused Jasir Bilal to meet lawyer
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday allowed the plea of Jasir Bilal Wani, an accused in the Red Fort blast case, to meet his lawyer at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters, court sources said. The plea was allowed by Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna of the Patiala House Court, they 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 .
The Kangra valley has been left shattered after Wing Commander Naman Syal, 34, of the Indian Air Force, was martyred when his Tejas fighter jet crashed in the United Arab Emirates on Friday while taking part in the Dubai Airshow 2025. The indigenous aircraft went down during a practice and demonstration flight in the afternoon local time, with visuals showing the jet losing altitude before hitting the ground and bursting into flames, sending thick smoke into the sky and leaving spectators at the prestigious airshow stunned. Wing Commander Syal, a resident of Patialakad village in Nagrota Bagwan, was known for his discipline and exceptional service record. He completed his schooling at Primary School Dalhousie, Army Public School YoL Cantt Dharamshala, and Sainik School, Sujanpur Tira in Himachal Pradesh, before joining the NDA in 2009, as reported by The Indian Express . His father, Jagan Nath Syal, a retired Army officer and former principal, recounted the devastating moment he learned of the crash to The Indian Express . I last spoke to my son yesterday. He told me to see his performance during the air show on TV channels or YouTube. Around 4 pm today, I was searching for videos of the ongoing air show in Dubai on YouTube when I saw reports about the plane crash. Immediately, I called my daughter-in-law, who is also a Wing Commander, to check what happened. Moments later, at least six Air Force officers arrived at our house, and I realised something bad happened. The Syal family, including his mother Veena Syal, is currently at Namans home in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, while his wife, also an IAF officer, was undergoing training in Kolkata. Jagan Nath Syal described his son as excellent in studies and someone who dreamt big about his life. This incident left us completely shattered, he told The Indian Express . Wing Commander Syal is survived by his wife and their six-year-old daughter. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed profound sorrow on X, saying, The news of the tragic death of Himachal Pradeshs Kangra districts brave son, Naman Syal ji, in the Tejas aircraft accident at the Dubai Air Show is extremely saddening and heartbreaking. The nation has lost a courageous, dutiful, and valiant pilot I bow to the indomitable bravery, sense of duty, and dedication to national service of the brave son, as reported. The tragedy sent waves of grief across the Kangra valley. Villagers gathered outside the Syal family home late into the night, many in shock, lighting bonfires to keep warm as they tried to come to terms with the loss of the brave officer. Pilot lost control or blackout due to g-forces: Defence expert Capt Anil Gaur Looking at the nature of the Tejas aircraft crash during the Dubai Air Show 2025, defence expert Captain Anil Gaur (Retd.) speculated that the incident might have occurred due to the pilot losing control or a blackout due to the g-forces induced by gravity. Speaking to ANI on Friday, Captain Gaur said that the exact cause of the crash can only be determined after the data from the cockpit is retrieved. Expressing condolences to the family of Wing Commander Naman Syal, who tragically lost his life in the crash, Captain Gaur said, It is sad that our Tejas jet was crashed during the Dubai air show and our brave pilot lost his life. From the visuals, it seems that the jet lost control during the acrobatics, or there might have been a pilot blackout. Blackout here means the excessive gravitational force. Pilots wear a G-suit so that the blood does not pool in their legs; there might have been an issue with that. What exactly happened can only be determined once the cockpit data is retrieved. I express my condolences to the family of the pilot, he added. Excessive g-forces can cause blood to pool in the lower body, potentially leading to a pilot blackout. The Indian Air Force announced the death of the Pilot after a Tejas aircraft crashed and burst into flames at the Dubai Air Show 2025 on Friday. An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief, a statement by the Indian Air Force said. The IAF said a court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident in which the pilot succumbed to fatal injuries. The plane went down while performing an aerial display before a large crowd, local media reported. Khaleej Times reported that the fighter jet crashed into the ground soon after take-off. Photos and videos shared online show plumes of black smoke billowing into the air from the aircraft on the ground. The news outlet cited one eyewitness as saying, As soon as the plane took off, it crashed. I am not sure which aircraft it was. (With inputs from Agencies)
Delhi bomber aide Jasir Wani seeks NIA court nod to meet lawyers
New Delhi: Jasir Bilal Wani, Delhi blast bomber Dr Umar Muhammads aide, has filed an application in the NIA court seeking permission to meet his lawyers at the agency headquarters, sources said on Saturday. The Patiala House NIA court will hear Wanis application on Saturday. The NIA has described Jasir Bilal Wani as an active 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 .
Established under a strategic collaboration between Starbucks Coffee Company & Tata Starbucks, the FSP aims to empower 10,000 Indian coffee farmers by 2030 Starbucks will open its 500th coffeehouse in India this week in Delhi NCR a Starbucks Reserve location offering a premium and immersive coffee experience Reaffirming its long-term commitment to India, and its plans to deepen its coffee leadership in the market, Starbucks Coffee Company today announced the establishment of a Farmer Support Partnership (FSP). In collaboration with Tata Starbucks Private Limited, the FSP will connect local agronomists and farmers to global farming best practices through open-source agronomy. Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Starbucks re-affirm coffee leadership and announce a Farmer Support Partnership (FSP) to strengthen the coffee value chain from Bean to Cup Strengthening Indias coffee value chain from bean to cup Starbucks Coffee Trading Company, SARL (SCTC), Starbucks global procurement and trading subsidiary, will collaborate closely with Tata Starbucks to empower 10,000 farmers by 2030. The FSP based in Karnataka will combine Tata Starbucks deep local knowledge, Indias coffee-growing heritage, and decades of Starbucks global agronomy expertise. It will support farmers from Indias key coffee growing states including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala to strengthen connections with Starbucks global network, drive innovation, and share best practices in farming and sustainability to ensure a sustainable future for India coffee. The FSP will set up technical model farms in partnership with farmers in India, incorporating global learnings, to embed best practices in coffee agronomy and test sustainable solutions. The FSP in India will serve as a hub for testing new varietals, provide knowledge on innovative farming techniques aligned to Indian practices and conditions, and share insights about other agroforestry initiatives to improve coffee quality, productivity and climate resiliency. The goal is to build upon traditional methods to help farmers improve both the quality of their crops and their profitability. The FSP will work closely with existing centers of excellence within the Starbucks global network. This includes partnering with Farmer Support Centers (FSC) in coffee-growing regions around the world, where agronomists collaborate directly with farmers on research, and learning from existing model farms within Starbucks supply chain. This network includes FSCs in the APAC region in North Sumatra, Indonesia and Yunnan, China and Hacienda Alsacia in Costa Rica, Starbucks first company-operated coffee farm and headquarters to the Starbucks Costa Rica Farmer Support Center and Starbucks Global Research and Development team. Through the FSP, Indian farmers will also benefit from Starbucks 2026 global digital training tools, which will offer detailed online modules on agronomy, coffee quality, and C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmer Equity) practices to foster ethical sourcing and ultimately enhance productivity and sustainability. It will also educate farmers about Regen-Ag (regenerative agriculture) practices and methods to reduce carbon, water, and waste footprints, and contribute to agroforestry and social development initiatives. The FSP will develop projects across the key Starbucks commitments of unlocking coffee productivity, increasing farm profitability and building climate resiliency over the next 5 years. To build capability and strengthen Indias entire coffee value chain, Tata Starbucks will also donate one million high-yield variety Arabica seedlings to farmers over the next five years. During his visit to India this week, Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer of Starbucks said, India is one of our fastest-growing markets. Were partnering with Tata to shape the future of coffee in India, including supporting farmers, empowering communities, and delivering the highest quality offerings to our customers. Its a long-term commitment to build a stronger, more sustainable coffee ecosystem that benefits everyone, from bean to cup . Sunil D'Souza, Managing Director & CEO at Tata Consumer Products said, Through the past decade, together, Tata Consumer Products and Starbucks, have helped shape Indias thriving coffee culture and industry. With this new initiative, we are pleased to pair Starbucks global agronomy expertise with Tatas footprint in India to drive tangible impact and pave the way for the future of responsible coffee farming in India . Re-affirming Starbucks coffee leadership through differentiated and elevated experiences Since its inception in 2012 as a joint venture between Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Consumer Products, Tata Starbucks has been dedicated to delivering the unique Starbucks Experience to customers in India. This has set the stage for Indias ever evolving and dynamic coffee culture. This week, Tata Starbucks will celebrate the opening of its 500th coffeehouse in India, marking a significant milestone in its growth journey and reaffirming its long-term commitment to the market. As one of Starbucks fastest-growing international markets, India remains central to the companys plans for strategic and sustainable expansion, with continued focus on job creation and meaningful development opportunities for its partners (employees). The 500th coffeehouse will be the second location to offer a Starbucks Reserve coffee experience in Delhi NCR, engaging coffee enthusiasts with an immersive experience that showcases Starbucks coffee craft, heritage, and storytelling. The coffeehouse and its Starbucks Reserve experience underscore Tata Starbucks commitment to elevating Indias coffee craftsmanship through elevated store design, handcrafted beverages, and locally inspired innovations. As part of the global strategy to make Starbucks a welcoming coffeehouse where people gather to enjoy the finest coffee handcrafted by skilled baristas, Tata Starbucks will continue to focus on creating a differentiated and elevated coffee forward experience in India. It invites customers to experience the full flavor profile it offers - serving the worlds finest coffee and elevated offerings in a welcoming coffeehouse environment that has made it a beloved part of Indias coffee landscape. Sushant Dash, chief executive officer of Tata Starbucks said, As the largest specialty coffee player in India, we are proud to bring the Farmer Support Partnership in collaboration with SCTC, a meaningful step toward strengthening Indias coffee-growing community and securing the future of high-quality Arabica. Our commitment to India extends beyond growth, to investing in farmers, partners (employees) and customers to continue building a vibrant coffee culture. We will continue to serve the finest Arabica coffee from India and around the world, brought to life through the warm, welcoming third place experience that defines Starbucks . About Starbucks Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 40,000 stores worldwide, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at about.starbucks.com or starbucks.com . 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 497 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, Varanasi, Vijayawada, Varanasi and Vizag are cities in India. through a network of over 4,437 passionate partners (employees). Starbucks stores are operated by the joint venture, Tata Starbucks Private Limited, and branded as Starbucks Coffee - A TATA Alliance.
NCW to hold national consultation on condition of women prisoners on November 22
NEW DELHI: Women prisoners, constituting 4.3% of the total prison population, face systemic barriers including overcrowded facilities and inadequate health services. Concerned with their condition, the National Commission for Women (NCW) plans to hold a national consultation on laws governing women in Indian jails. The national consultation will be held on Saturday in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to identify urgent reforms needed to strengthen the rights, welfare, and dignity of women inmates across India. At the national consultation Laws Relating to Women in Prison experts, prison administrators, and policymakers will deliberate on critical reforms. The recommendations from the consultation will contribute to NCWs final report to the government of India. The flagship initiative is led by NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar. Women constitute 4.3% of the prison population, yet in many states they continue to face significant systemic barriers, including overcrowded facilities, inadequate medical and mental-health services, lack of gender-sensitive infrastructure, poor hygiene, and heightened safety vulnerabilities, according to a statement by NCW. To ensure inclusivity and representation, NCW conducted eight regional consultations in Noida, Panaji, Aizawl, Patna, Bhopal, Patiala, Hyderabad, and Dehradun. These consultations generated over 300 expert recommendations, of which 205 key proposals will now be taken up at the national consultation. Deliberations will focus on key legislations including the Model Prison Act 2023, Prison Act 1894, Model Prison Manual 2016, Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019, and the Repatriation of Prisoners Act 2003. Core themes include gender-sensitive correctional systems, improved medical and mental-health support, rights of incarcerated mothers and their children, safe accommodation for transgender inmates, and humane treatment of foreign national prisoners. The NCW Chairperson will also lead several important initiatives aimed at strengthening womens safety and empowerment at the grassroots. She will meet Lieutenant Governor, Admiral Shri Devendra Kumar Joshi (Retd.), at Raj Bhavan to discuss ongoing initiatives and the future roadmap for strengthening womens welfare across the union territory. She will also hold a review meeting with the DGP, Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, and other police officials to assess existing safety mechanisms, enhance policing responses, and strengthen institutional coordination for womens safety. A gender sensitization workshop for police personnel is also in the cards. The idea is to enhance police awareness, sensitivity, and responsiveness in handling cases related to women. Rahatkar will also hold a high-level meeting with the Chief Secretary and senior officers and will review women-centric schemes. Also, a review of facilities and rehabilitation support at the historic Cellular Jail is also on the agenda.
NIA Nabs 4 More Accused in Red Fort Blast Case
The four accused were taken into custody by NIA in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on production orders from the District Sessions Judge, Patiala House Court
US deports 200 Indians, including Anmol Bishnoi
CHANDIGARH: A special US deportation flight carrying 200 Indians, including Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother and close aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, two other fugitives wanted in Punjab, and 197 undocumented migrants landed in New Delhi on Wednesday. Anmol is wanted in multiple criminal cases in India, including the murders of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022 and Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique in October 2024, and firing at actor Shah Rukh Khans residence in April 2024. As soon as the special US flight landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, Bishnoi was detained by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He was later produced at Delhis Patiala House court, which sent him to 11 days NIA custody. We are trying to find how he fled India, Special Public Prosecutor Rahul Tyagi said, adding that Anmol will be produced before the court again on November 29 after completion of his NIA custody. Hailing from Punjabs Fazilka, Anmol was his borther Lawrence Bishnois principal overseas handler and was directing extortion rackets, issuing threats, and coordinating assignments through encrypted channels. Anmol reportedly slipped out of the country in April 2022 using a forged passport, accompanied by another wanted gangster Sachin Thapan. Sources said Anmol managed to get a fake passport in the name of Bhanu Pratap, a resident of Faridabad, and his fathers name was mentioned as Rakesh.
Courts, CRPF schools in Delhi receive bomb threats, turn out to be hoax
New Delhi: Multiple courts in Delhi, Saket, Dwarka and Patiala House, along with two CRPF-run schools, received bomb threats on Tuesday morning, prompting large-scale security checks across the national capital, officials said. Police said an email warning of explosives planted on court premises was received early morning, following which security teams were alerted to inspect 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 .
Delhi Courts On High Alert After Bomb Threats To Dwarka, Saket, Rohini And Patiala House
The court premises were evacuated, and a search operation was conducted as part of standard operating procedure.
CHANDIGARH: The ruling Aam Aadmi Party has retained the Tarn Taran assembly seat in Punjab, with its candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu defeating his nearest rival and Shiromani Akali Dal nominee Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa by 12,091 votes. An independent candidate supported by the rebel Akali faction finished in third position, while the Congress and BJP trailed in the fourth and fifth positions respectively. Sandhu secured 42,649 votes against Randhawa's 30,558 after the completion of all 16 rounds of counting. Randhawa was leading in the first three rounds of counting before Sandhu took over and maintained a steady lead. The bypoll was seen as a litmus test for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the ruling AAP. With todays win, the party has won six of the seven bypolls held in the state since it came to power in March 2022. Tarn Taran falls within Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency which is represented by Amrit Pal Singh who has been booked under the National Security Act and is lodged at Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam. The Akali Dal had fielded Randhawa, a retired principal having the family legacy of Dharmi Fauji, referring to those who had abandoned the defence services and fought against the Army during Operation Blue Star. Independent candidate Mandeep Singh was in the third spot with 19,620 votes. He was the joint candidate of the Amritpal Singh-led party Waris Punjab De (WPD) and Shiromani Akali Dal (Punarsurjit). Mandeep is the brother of Sandeep Singh Sunny, an accused in the murder of Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri. Sunny is currently lodged in the Sangrur jail and had hit the headlines recently for assaulting former police officers, convicted in fake encounter cases, in Patiala jail. Political observers said that the tough fight given by Randhawa testified that the rebel Akali faction has failed to loosen the SADs Panthic grip. Karanbir Singh Burj of the Congress came fourth with 15,078 votes and Harjit Singh Sandhu of the BJP was a distant fifth with 6,239 votes. While Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini along with the top brass of the party both at the state and central level campaigned for him, Sandhu failed to make an impact in the bypoll. There were celebrations at AAP offices in Tarn Taran and Chandigarh with party workers dancing to dhol beats and bursting firecrackers to celebrate the victory. Meanwhile, taking a dig at the Punjab Police, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal wrote on X, I congratulate @DGPPunjabPolice Gaurav Yadav and his team comprising State Intelligence Chief PK Sinha, CP Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, DIG Ferozepur range Harmanbir Singh, SSPs of Tarntaran, Amritsar (Rural), Batala and Moga districts for ensuring the victory of Punjab Police candidate Harmeet Sandhu in the Tarn Taran bye election. God save democracy! A total of 15 candidates were in the fray. The Tarn Taran seat fell vacant after the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal in June.
Tarn Taran Bypoll records 60.95% turnout
CHANDIGARH: Around 60.95 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the Tarn Taran Assembly by-election in Punjab on Tuesday amid tight security, with polling concluding peacefully. This marks a decline of nearly five percentage points from the turnout recorded in the 2022 general elections for the same seat. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab, Sibin C, informed that approximately 60.95 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 6 pm in the Tarn Taran Assembly constituency. He added that the final figures would be updated by Wednesday, once all polling parties return to the collection centres and data entry is completed. The CEO thanked the voters of Tarn Taran for participating in the by-election. Polling began at 7 am and started slowly but picked up pace as the day progressed, with more voters visiting booths to cast their votes. While Karanbir Singh Burj is contesting as the Congress candidate, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded Harmeet Singh Sandhu. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) nominee is Sukwinder Kaur Randhawa, while the BJP has fielded Harjit Singh Sandhu, president of the partys district unit. Independent candidate Mandeep Singh, backed by the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) led by jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and several radical Sikh organisations including the Sikh Youth Federation (Bhindranwale), is also in the fray. Mandeep Singh is the brother of Sandeep Singh alias Sunny, an accused in the 2022 murder of Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri. Sandeep is also accused in an attack on three former police officers, two of whom were convicted in a fake encounter case in Tarn Taran, inside Patiala Jail. One of the convicted officers, Suba Singh, succumbed to his injuries on 17 September. The Tarn Taran seat fell vacant following the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal in June. The by-election is being seen as a litmus test for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the AAP leadership, with the 2027 Assembly elections on the horizon. The poll is equally crucial for SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who, along with his wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, campaigned extensively for party candidate Randhawa, a retired government school principal and wife of a Dharmi Fauji (a Sikh soldier who deserted the army following Operation Bluestar in 1984). The constituency has 1,92,838 eligible voters, including 1,00,933 men, 91,897 women, and eight third-gender voters. A total of 222 polling stations were set up across 114 locations, 60 urban and 162 rural, including four model and three pink booths. According to sources, 12 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were deployed in the constituency, marking one of the largest security deployments ever by the Election Commission for a by-election.
AAP MLA Harmit Singh Pathanmajra Flees to Australia Amid Rape Case Probe
Patiala police face embarrassment as absconding Sanour legislator appears in online interview denying charges
Punjab: 122 stubble burning cases recorded on October 26; highest single day spike this season
CHANDIGARH: Punjab recorded 122 new cases of stubble burning, marking the highest single-day spike this year. This takes the total count this season to 743. This is the first time in 2025 that the state recorded farm fire incidents in three digits. Approximately 58 per cent of the total 31.7 lakh hectares of paddy have been harvested across the state till now. In the coming days, crop residue might increase as farmers harvesting the crop after November 2 will have a limited window to sow wheat. As per the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) data, Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts contributed the bulk of cases, as many farmers continued to disregard the state government's appeal to stop crop residue burning. Of the 122 crop residue incidents, nearly 70 were reported from the south Malwa region. The highest farm fire incidents were reported from Tarn Taran at 224, followed by Amritsar 154, Ferozepur 80, Sangrur 47, Patiala 39, Gurdaspur 38, Kapurthala 29, Mansa, Moga and Ludhiana 8 respectively, Barnala 6, Maelrkotla 4, Hoshiarpur 3 and SBS Nagar 2. Meanwhile, Pathankot and Rupnagar districts have not reported any stubble-burning incidents so far. The state has seen a sharp jump in stubble-burning cases in the past week, from 353 cases recorded till October 20 to 390, the data showed. This comes even as data from the Centres Decision Support System (DSS) showed the estimated contribution of stubble burning to Delhis pollution touched a season-high of 3.71 per cent on Sunday. Farm fires can contribute up to 35 per cent of Delhis total PM 2.5 levels when stubble burning touches its peak, usually in the first week of November. 241 stubble burning cases in Punjab from September 15 to October 18: Data Agriculture scientists have cautioned that farmers are more likely to resort to burning crop residue to prepare fields quickly as the time window of wheat sowing is shrinking. According to the Punjab Agricultural University, wheat sowing must ideally be completed by November 15 to ensure optimal yield. Till now, only 58 percent of the total 31.7 lakh hectares under paddy has been harvested, while farmers harvesting after November 1 will have a very limited window to sow wheat, which may lead to a surge in stubble burning in the coming days, said an official of the Punjab agriculture department. Meanwhile, paddy harvesting in Amritsar and Tarn Taran has touched the 85 per cent mark, but in Muktsar, Ferozepur, Barnala, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Mansa and Ferozepur districts, known for high-yield paddy cultivation, which contributes the most to stubble burning, is still below 50 per cent mark. Punjab Police have so far registered 266 FIRs against farmers for violating stubble-burning norms. Of these, 73 FIRs have been lodged in Tarn Taran alone, the district reporting the highest number of farm fire incidents. The farmers have been booked under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant. Fines amounting to Rs 16.80 lakh have been imposed as environmental compensation in 329 cases, of which Rs 12 lakh has been collected. Also, 296 red entries have been marked, including 108 in Tarn Taran and 68 in Amritsar, in the land records of farmers who burnt crop residues. A red entry bars the farmers from getting loans against their farmland or selling it. The total area under paddy cultivation in Punjab this year is 31.72 lakh hectares. Till October 26, 56.50 per cent of this area had been harvested. Punjab saw 10,909 farm fires in 2024 as compared to 36,663 in 2023, marking a 70 per cent drop. The state recorded 49,922 farm fire events in 2022, 71,304 in 2021, 76,590 in 2020, 55,210 in 2019 and 50,590 in 2018, with many districts, including Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda and Amritsar, reporting a large number of stubble-burning incidents.
12 injured following blast caused by gunpowder stored at Ludhiana house
CHANDIGARH: Around 12 people were injured following a blast at Indra Colony in Ludhiana on Thursday evening. The explosion occurred at the residence of a man engaged in making effigies for Dussehra celebrations and is believed to have been triggered by gunpowder stored in the house. Sources said that a blast was reported in a house at Indra Colony in Ludhiana, in which around 12 persons sustained burn injuries. Of these four people who received serious burn injuries, were referred to Rajendra Medical Hospital in Patiala. The preliminary investigation reveals that the blast occurred at a house in a congested street. Ludhiana Police Commissioner, Swapan Sharma, said that the owner, Usman Khan had stored potash in his house, which caught fire and resulted in the blast. The area has been searched by a forensic team and a dog squad. An FIR has been registered in the case. A local said, Firecrackers were being made in the residential area. While the children from the surrounding neighborhood were playing there were also injured in the explosion. Ludiana Central MLA Ashok Parashar rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation.
Post-Diwali haze engulfs Delhi and neighbouring states as air quality dips sharply
Delhi continues to struggle with hazardous air pollution, with air quality remaining in the 'very poor' category across several areas on Wednesday morning, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). At 7:00 am, the AQI in Delhis RK Puram was recorded at 380, while Anand Vihar and Ashok Vihar both stood at 355. Other severely affected locations included Bawana (376), Dwarka Sector 8 (353), ITO (362), and Nehru Nagar, which reported one of the highest levels at 394. In Chandni Chowk, the AQI remained 'very poor' at 332, while around Akshardham, it reached 360, also falling in the 'very poor' range. 'Air is grey, lungs are black, BJP's accountability invisible': Congress on Delhi's worsening air quality Neighbouring Haryana is facing similar challenges. At 9:00 am, Dharuhera in Rewari district recorded an AQI of 382. Other areas in the 'very poor' category included Narnaul (367), Jind (367), Charkhi Dadri (362), Rohtak (358), Yamunanagar (347), Fatehabad (320), and Ballabhgarh (318). Several cities in Haryana fell into the 'poor' category, including Bahadurgarh (272), Gurugram (290), Karnal (243), Bhiwani (298), Faridabad (218), Kaithal (237), Kurukshetra (226), and Sonipat (285). In Punjab, air quality was relatively better but still concerning. Amritsar recorded a 'poor' AQI of 253, followed by Jalandhar (261), Ludhiana (234), and Patiala (207). Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded an AQI of 169, placing it in the moderate range but still below healthy air quality standards. According to the CPCB classification, AQI values are categorized as follows: 050 (good), 51100 (satisfactory), 101200 (moderate), 201300 (poor), 301400 (very poor), 401450 (severe), and above 450 (severe plus). (With inputs from ANI, PTI) Supreme contempt of the court
Delhi and neighbouring states choke under 'very poor' air quality, pollution levels remain alarming
Delhi continues to struggle with hazardous air pollution, with air quality remaining in the 'very poor' category across several areas on Wednesday morning, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). At 7:00 am, the AQI in Delhis RK Puram was recorded at 380, while Anand Vihar and Ashok Vihar both stood at 355. Other severely affected locations included Bawana (376), Dwarka Sector 8 (353), ITO (362), and Nehru Nagar, which reported one of the highest levels at 394. In Chandni Chowk, the AQI remained 'very poor' at 332, while around Akshardham, it reached 360, also falling in the 'very poor' range. 'Air is grey, lungs are black, BJP's accountability invisible': Congress on Delhi's worsening air quality Neighbouring Haryana is facing similar challenges. At 9:00 am, Dharuhera in Rewari district recorded an AQI of 382. Other areas in the 'very poor' category included Narnaul (367), Jind (367), Charkhi Dadri (362), Rohtak (358), Yamunanagar (347), Fatehabad (320), and Ballabhgarh (318). Several cities in Haryana fell into the 'poor' category, including Bahadurgarh (272), Gurugram (290), Karnal (243), Bhiwani (298), Faridabad (218), Kaithal (237), Kurukshetra (226), and Sonipat (285). In Punjab, air quality was relatively better but still concerning. Amritsar recorded a 'poor' AQI of 253, followed by Jalandhar (261), Ludhiana (234), and Patiala (207). Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded an AQI of 169, placing it in the moderate range but still below healthy air quality standards. According to the CPCB classification, AQI values are categorized as follows: 050 (good), 51100 (satisfactory), 101200 (moderate), 201300 (poor), 301400 (very poor), 401450 (severe), and above 450 (severe plus). (With inputs from ANI, PTI) Supreme contempt of the court
Farm fires in Pakistans Punjab worsen air quality across region, says experts
CHANDIGARH: Farmers in Punjab are not solely responsible for the regions worsening air quality, as stubble-burning incidents are rising in both Indian and Pakistan's Punjab. Experts say Pakistans contribution to pollution is significant, with farm fires much higher there compared to India. Dr Ravindra Khaiwal, Professor of Environmental Health at PGIMER Chandigarh and nodal officer for the Centre of Excellence on Climate Change and Air Pollution, said recent satellite analysis shows a 10-fold difference in stubble-burning hotspots: between October 9 and 18, Pakistans Punjab recorded 2,009 farm fires, while Indian Punjab had only 189. The main hotspots in Pakistan's Punjab are Okara, Kasur, and Pakpattan, with Okara alone accounting for nearly 35% of all detected fires. Northwest-to-southeast wind patterns, combined with the flat terrain of the Punjab plains, allow smoke and fine particulate matter to travel freely into southeastern India, worsening air quality. During the winter months, air pollution intensifies across the Indo-Gangetic plains due to the interplay of meteorological and human factors. The lack of rainfall, which normally helps clean the air, and soil resuspension from loosened agricultural land, adds to particulate loading in both urban and rural areas. Dr Khaiwal emphasised that air pollution does not respect geopolitical boundaries and called for coordinated transboundary strategies. While Indian states like Punjab and Haryana have successfully controlled agricultural residue fires, similar measures are needed in Pakistan's Punjab. Although stubble-burning incidents in Indian Punjab have declined, air quality levels have not improved correspondingly. Some fires may occur in conditions that evade satellite detection. Recent satellite images show thick smoke plumes drifting eastward, indicating a wider regional issue. 241 stubble burning cases in Punjab from September 15 to October 18: Data According to official records, 33 stubble-burning incidents were reported yesterday in the state, the highest this kharif season. A total of 241 farm fire incidents have been recorded so far, largely due to delayed paddy harvesting. Tarn Taran reported 23 new cases, while Amritsar recorded three, bringing the total incidents in Tarn Taran to 88 and in Amritsar to 80. The worst air quality index (AQI) yesterday was in Mandi Gobindgarh (231), followed by Jalandhar (148), Ludhiana (116), and Patiala (101). There has been an 83% decrease in stubble-burning cases compared to the same period in previous years, when 1,348 and 1,407 incidents were reported from September 15 to October 18 in 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Punjab government has decided to take stricter action against farmers who burn crop residue. District officials have been instructed to withdraw government scheme benefits from violators, including pensions and even arms licenses. Anganwadi workers are being deployed to spread awareness, and announcements are being made from religious places, mainly Gurdwaras. Students are also being sensitised to discourage parents from burning stubble. Police have registered 119 FIRs under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for disobedience related to stubble burning. The Revenue Department has made 81 red entries in the land records of violators. The Punjab Pollution Control Board has imposed fines totalling Rs 5.15 lakh in 104 cases, of which Rs 3.65 lakh has been recovered.
Pakistan's Punjab farm fires worsen regional air, account for 35% of all detected cases
CHANDIGARH: Farmers in Punjab are not solely responsible for the regions worsening air quality, as stubble-burning incidents are rising in both Indian and Pakistan's Punjab. Experts say Pakistans contribution to pollution is significant, with farm fires much higher there compared to India. Dr Ravindra Khaiwal, Professor of Environmental Health at PGIMER Chandigarh and nodal officer for the Centre of Excellence on Climate Change and Air Pollution, said recent satellite analysis shows a 10-fold difference in stubble-burning hotspots: between October 9 and 18, Pakistans Punjab recorded 2,009 farm fires, while Indian Punjab had only 189. The main hotspots in Pakistan's Punjab are Okara, Kasur, and Pakpattan, with Okara alone accounting for nearly 35% of all detected fires. Northwest-to-southeast wind patterns, combined with the flat terrain of the Punjab plains, allow smoke and fine particulate matter to travel freely into southeastern India, worsening air quality. During the winter months, air pollution intensifies across the Indo-Gangetic plains due to the interplay of meteorological and human factors. The lack of rainfall, which normally helps clean the air, and soil resuspension from loosened agricultural land, adds to particulate loading in both urban and rural areas. Dr Khaiwal emphasised that air pollution does not respect geopolitical boundaries and called for coordinated transboundary strategies. While Indian states like Punjab and Haryana have successfully controlled agricultural residue fires, similar measures are needed in Pakistan's Punjab. Although stubble-burning incidents in Indian Punjab have declined, air quality levels have not improved correspondingly. Some fires may occur in conditions that evade satellite detection. Recent satellite images show thick smoke plumes drifting eastward, indicating a wider regional issue. According to official records, 33 stubble-burning incidents were reported yesterday in the state, the highest this kharif season. A total of 241 farm fire incidents have been recorded so far, largely due to delayed paddy harvesting. Tarn Taran reported 23 new cases, while Amritsar recorded three, bringing the total incidents in Tarn Taran to 88 and in Amritsar to 80. The worst air quality index (AQI) yesterday was in Mandi Gobindgarh (231), followed by Jalandhar (148), Ludhiana (116), and Patiala (101). There has been an 83% decrease in stubble-burning cases compared to the same period in previous years, when 1,348 and 1,407 incidents were reported from September 15 to October 18 in 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Punjab government has decided to take stricter action against farmers who burn crop residue. District officials have been instructed to withdraw government scheme benefits from violators, including pensions and even arms licenses. Anganwadi workers are being deployed to spread awareness, and announcements are being made from religious places, mainly Gurdwaras. Students are also being sensitised to discourage parents from burning stubble. Police have registered 119 FIRs under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for disobedience related to stubble burning. The Revenue Department has made 81 red entries in the land records of violators. The Punjab Pollution Control Board has imposed fines totalling Rs 5.15 lakh in 104 cases, of which Rs 3.65 lakh has been recovered.
241 stubble burning cases in Punjab from September 15 to October 18: Data
CHANDIGARH: Punjab has recorded 241 stubble burning incidents so far this season, with Tarn Taran district accounting for the biggest share at 88 as farmers continue to ignore government appeals to stop burning crop residue, according to official data. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for the rise in air pollution in Delhi after the paddy crop is harvested in October and November. As the window for sowing the Rabi crop -- wheat -- is very short after paddy harvest, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear the crop residue. Punjab recorded 241 stubble burning incidents from September 15 to October 18, an increase of 125 from 116 on October 11, according to Punjab Pollution Control Board data. Tarn Taran witnessed the highest number of farm fires at 88, followed by Amritsar at 80, Ferozepur at 16 and Patiala at 11, the data showed. The exercise of recording farm fire incidents will continue till November 30. Fines worth Rs 5.60 lakh have been imposed as environmental compensation in 113 cases so far. Of the total amount, Rs 4.15 lakh has been recovered. The data showed that a total of 132 FIRs -- 50 in Tarn Taran and 37 in Amritsar -- have been registered. The cases have been registered under Section 223 (disobedience of order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The state authorities also marked 87 red entries, the maximum in Tarn Taran and Amritsar, in the land records of farmers who burnt crop residue. A red entry bars farmers from getting loans against their farmland or selling it. The farm fire incidents are taking place despite the state government launching an extensive campaign to highlight the ill effects of stubble burning and benefits of crop residue management machinery. Punjab recorded a total of 10,909 farm fires in 2024 as compared to 36,663 in 2023, a 70 per cent drop. The state recorded 49,922 farm fires in 2022, 71,304 in 2021, 76,590 in 2020, 55,210 in 2019 and 50,590 in 2018, with Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda and Amritsar accounting for a large number of these.
CBI Arrests Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Bhullar In Graft Matter
Chandigarh, Oct 16: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested Punjab Deputy Inspector General of Police Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a graft related matter, sources said. Bhullar was caught from his Mohali office here, they said. Further details are awaited. The 2007-batch IPS officer Bhullar has been serving as the DIG (Ropar Range). Ropar Range comprises Mohali, Rupnagar and Fatehgarh Sahib districts. Bhullar had earlier served as DIG (Patiala Range). He had also served as joint director, vigilance [] The post CBI Arrests Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Bhullar In Graft Matter appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
SC seeks Centre, EC response on plea to grant voting rights to undertrial prisoners
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses of the Centre and the Election Commission on a PIL seeking recognition of voting rights for nearly 4.5 lakh undertrial prisoners lodged in jails across India. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran took note of the submissions of lawyer Prashant Bhushan that the present blanket ban imposed under Section 62(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, violates constitutional guarantees and international democratic norms. The petition filed by Sunita Sharma, a resident of Patiala in Punjab, made the Centre through the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Election Commission as respondents. It seeks judicial intervention to ensure that prisoners, who have not been convicted of electoral offences or corruption, are not arbitrarily deprived of their democratic right to vote.
As Punjab govt eyes auction of vacant lands, power sector unions set to launch protest
CHANDIGARH: The cash-strapped Punjab government is seeking to auction off vacant and unutilized government lands in a phased manner after it had to make a U-turn on the land pooling policy. However, the unions of state power sector employees are all set to launch a protest against the government's move to sell the departments assets. Sources said two meetings have already been held to identify the vacant government properties which could be auctioned and work out the modalities. The government is planning to auction its properties in Mohali, Ludhiana and Patiala after it reworked and re-evaluated the price at which they are to be auctioned off. Besides the Health Minister and Industry Minister, officials of the local government, power, water resources, sports and youth services, housing, health and public works departments and the Punjab Development Commission were present at both these meetings, where officials were told to conduct fresh surveys of these properties and prepare a list by mid-October. Sources said most of these properties had been lying unutilized for decades and those where construction was done by the departments concerned were now in a dilapidated state. Discussions were held regarding the use of the land of the Old Bus Stand in Patiala, properties of the PSPCL, spread over 55 acres near 23 Number Phatak, a sports stadium and flats constructed for the PSPCL employees, among others. In Ludhiana, the government is eyeing 40 properties of the PSPCL, located on GT road, and in Power Colony at Sarabha Nagar, besides the long-pending auction of Ludhiana City Centre and land parcels opposite the district administration complex. Various unions of PSPCL employees have opposed the move to auction the properties of the power utility. They demanded that the Punjab government should immediately stop the process of making the list of Powercom properties for possible sale. Instead, the properties should be used only for the expansion of its own future projects, they added. An emergency meeting of all unions and associations representing Punjabs power sector was held on Thursday to discuss plans to sell assets and properties of PSPCL and PSTCL. A unanimous decision was taken to oppose the move to sell or lease valuable lands and assets of the power sector. It was decided that all employees will oppose the move to sell properties in the name of monetisation including vacant lands that would otherwise be used for the departments future growth and providing electricity services to the public. These actions could endanger the very existence of PSPCL and PSTCL, they said. A protest demonstration was also held against the government's attempt to sell off valuable lands of the power sector under the name of monetisation on Thursday in front of the main gate of the PSEB head office. The leadership of all unions in the state issued a warning that if any attempt is made which may cause harm to the departments properties or assets, then they will launch immediate protests.
Recent floods alter Punjabs soil texture and profile, triggering questions over fertility: PAU study
CHANDIGARH: A study conducted by Punjab Agricultural University revealed that the texture of soil and its profile have been altered and re-shaped in Punjab after recent floods. The study also revealed that the floods caused nutrient imbalance as red sand and silt carried by floodwaters from the Himalayan foothills settled across vast stretches of agricultural fields. The mixing has raised questions about the fertility and the viability of future crops, as the floods have added an impermeable layer that hinders water infiltration and root growth. The study was conducted in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Kapurthala and Patiala to assess the impact of floodwaters that had brought large quantities of silt from higher reaches and deposited it in the fields. Test teams were sent to these areas to guide farmers in corrective measures before the rabi season. Over 20 soil samples were taken from each site at varying depths and distances from the river. The analysis warns of major challenges for the upcoming rabi season as the massive sand deposition will affect soil fertility, and urgent measures are needed to restore balance. At many places, as much as 4 to 5 feet of sand has been deposited. Floods submerge 16,000 acres along Punjabs Indo-Pak border, farmers seek BSF support for desilting The findings show sediment deposits ranging from a few inches to over one metre, with textures varying from sandy to fine loam. The pH levels were alkaline, and the electrical conductivity remained low, indicating no immediate salinity threat. On the other hand, organic carbon content averaged above 0.75 per cent, exceeding the States usual 0.5 per cent, with a few samples crossing the 1 per cent mark. Farmlands with heavier sand deposits showed reduced carbon levels. While phosphorus and potassium levels fluctuated, micronutrients like iron and manganese were found in unusually high concentrations, likely due to iron-coated sand particles carried by floodwaters. To restore soil texture, PAU has advised farmers to integrate organic matter into the soil as manure, farmyard poultry waste to stimulate microbial activity and support healthy root systems. The university has calculated that removing one foot of sand from one acre of land will require at least 350 trolleys for loading. The university advised farmers to follow recommended fertiliser doses and apply a 2 per cent urea spray (4 kg urea in 200 litres of water) 4050 days after sowing. In wheat and berseem crops, farmers should look for manganese deficiency and apply a 0.5 per cent foliar spray of manganese sulphate if symptoms appear, the university advised. Vice Chancellor of PAU Dr Satbir Singh Gosal said that now the state faces the twin challenges of sand deposition and formation of a dense, largely impermeable layer of soil beneath the topsoil, restricting water infiltration and root growth. While mineral-rich silt from the Himalayan foothills has added nutrients, it has also disturbed native soil profiles. Since sand is devoid of nutrients, it is going to affect fertility and may impact yield. Now, restoring balance is critical, he said. Gosal said that as of now, sowing of wheat has to be done in another three weeks, but in the areas where the soil has been affected, the process will get delayed and may impact productivity. Meanwhile, Dr Rajeev Sikka, head of the soil science department, said that around 5,000 acres of farmland in Punjab has been impacted. Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research at the university, warned of hardpan formation due to sediment compaction, which he said could hinder water infiltration and root growth. He recommended deep tillage using chisel ploughs in heavy soils and thorough mixing of silt and clay in lighter soils to prevent layering. On the other hand, Dr Makhan Singh Bhullar, director of extension education, urged farmers not to burn paddy straw and instead incorporate it into the soil to enhance fertility.
ITBP officer kills himself, suicide note blames Bihar policeman
An Indo-Tibetan Border Police deputy commandant was found dead by suicide in Patiala, with a note accusing a Bihar Police officer. The suicide note blamed the Bihar Police SHO for molesting the deceased's sister, holding him responsible for the tragic death. Police are now investigating the incident after the 47-year-old officer was discovered by colleagues.
Industrialist Rajinder Gupta likely to be AAPs candidate for Punjab Rajya Sabha bypoll
CHANDIGARH: Industrialist Rajinder Gupta is likely to be the Aam Aadmi Partys candidate for the lone vacant Rajya Sabha seat from Punjab in the upcoming bypoll of the upper house of Parliament, scheduled for 24 October. Sources said that Gupta has resigned from his current positions and is expected to be the partys candidate for the Rajya Sabha bypoll. The decision to field a Punjabi face was taken to avoid any narrative of Delhi leadership dominating the state, as there was initially speculation that one of the top leaders of the ruling party might go to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab. The party currently has 93 MLAs in the 117-member state assembly. Considering that the AAP has an overwhelming majority with 93 seats in the assembly, and the winning candidate needs just 60 votes, Guptas victory is certain in the event of an election, though indications are that the state will follow its long-standing convention of sending Rajya Sabha MPs unopposed. Gupta, chairman emeritus of the Trident Group, resigned as the Vice Chairman of the State Economic Policy and Planning Board, as well as Chairperson of the Sri Kali Devi Advisory Committee, yesterday and is expected to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat in the coming week. In 2022, Gupta was appointed Vice Chairman of the Planning Board, and in August last year, he was appointed Chairperson of the advisory committee of the temple in Patiala. He previously served as Vice Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Board during both the Congress and SAD-BJP governments and has continued to enjoy the stature of a cabinet minister. The upper house seat fell vacant following the resignation of Sanjeev Arora on 1 July this year, after he won the Ludhiana (West) bypoll with a margin of over 10,000 votes and was appointed Industries and NRI Affairs Minister in the Mann Cabinet. The assembly by-election was necessitated after the demise of AAP MLA Gurpreet Singh Gogi. Sources said that the ruling party was keen on sending an industrialist to the Rajya Sabha. Earlier, party supremo and former Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal had met Kamal Oswal, honcho of Nahar Group of Companies, which had led to speculation that he would be the next AAP Rajya Sabha member. However, sources later indicated that Oswal had declined the offer. It is learnt that opposition parties had previously speculated that Kejriwal might go to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab following the partys setback in the Delhi Assembly elections. However, Kejriwal later clarified that he was not interested in securing a Rajya Sabha berth. Presently, AAP has six members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Punjab. These are Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Balbir Singh Seechewal, Harbhajan Singh, and Ashok Mittal.
CAQM empowers DCs to take penal action against govt officials who fail to curb stubble burning
CHANDIGARG: To check stubble burning, the Deputy Commissioners in Punjab, Haryana, several districts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh falling under the National Capital Region (NCR), and Delhi have been empowered to take penal action against government officials who fail to curb the menace by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Meanwhile, the Punjab Government has also whipped farmers who indulged in crop-residue burning, with over 95 cases registered and 35 'red entries' in land records. A red entry bars farmers from availing loans, mortgaging or selling land, and obtaining gun licenses. The farmers' unions slammed the state government for its crackdown against farmers and warned of protests. The paddy stubble burning peaks in October and November as it coincides with seasonal deterioration, creating the most polluted days of the year. Flying squad teams to monitor stubble burning hotspots in Punjab, Haryana, CAQM intensifies measures Directions issued on October 1 by Dr Virinder Sharma Member (Technical) of Commission for Air Quality Management, reads, he Commission, through direction 84 dated October 10, 2024 had authorised the Deputy Commissioners / District Collectors / District Magistrates in the States of Punjab, Haryana, NCR areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and in the NCT of Delhi to file a complaint/ prosecution before jurisdictional judicial magistrate, in case of inaction in respect of officials, responsible for effective enforcement towards ensuring elimination of paddy stubble burning in their respective jurisdiction. To ensure the complete elimination of paddy stubble burning, it has been felt necessary to strengthen the concerned authorities by empowering them to initiate penal action against officials found responsible for inaction or failure in the effective monitoring and enforcement of measures aimed at eliminating paddy stubble burning within their respective jurisdictions, it stated. The District administrations and the State Governments are expected to maintain constant and strict vigil towards elimination of paddy stubble burning, it concluded. As per the data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Punjab has recorded 95 incidents so far this harvest season compared with 179 during the same period last year, the lowest in six years. Meanwhile, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has imposed environmental compensation worth Rs 2.45 lakh in 95 cases and recovered Rs 1.90 lakh. Also, 53 FIRs have been registered by the state police, including 23 in Amritsar, under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for disobedience of lawful orders. Supreme Court tells Centre to consider jail term for stubble burning to curb menace The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has also deployed a flying squad of 22 scientists in Punjab to monitor and curb farm fires. Every winter, air pollution in Delhi-NCR worsens due to meteorological conditions, including slower wind speeds and falling temperatures. This move comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court recently urging a tougher stance on the practice. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leader Sarwan Singh Pandher alleged that farmers were being deliberately targeted while no action is being taken against industries, which contribute the maximum to environmental pollution. He condemned the action of registration of FIRs against farmers, red entries and imposition of fine. Pandher said many small farmers could not afford to buy crop residue management machinery. He said the KMSC will burn the effigies of the state government and the Centre on October 6 over the issue of action against farmers for stubble burning and demand adequate compensation for flood-hit farmers. Bharti Kisan Union general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokirkalan said the government should give Rs 2,500 per acre to farmers for stubble management. Apparently, he said farmers do not want to set the stubble on fire but they do it out of 'compulsion'. Samyukta Kisan Morcha leader Raminder Singh Patiala said the government should give Rs 200 per quintal to farmers for stubble management. He highlighted that the government should provide CRM machinery to farmers. It is not feasible for small farmers to buy these machines.
'Threats of false cases': Ex-AAP worker accuses Punjab minister of sexual harassment
A former AAP women's wing functionary filed a sexual harassment complaint against Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh in a Patiala court, accusing him of repeated harassment, molestation, and intimidation. She also named his son and others in a criminal conspiracy, alleging unwelcome advances and demanding arrests. Singh has denied the charges.
Chandigarh Diary: Congress Patiala MP opposes halqa in-charge culture
Congress Patiala MP opposes halqa in-charge culture Congress MP from Patiala, Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi, has strongly criticised the partys decision to appoint halqa in-charges in Patiala district. He said that during recent events across eight assembly segments, these so-called coordinators dominated proceedings while young Congress workers were ignored. In a Facebook post, he wrote: What is and who is this halqa in-charge in the Congress party? They are the candidates who could not make it to the Vidhan Sabha. Some even lost their deposits. Gandhi alleged that this halqa in-charge culture was deliberately introduced to block the rise of dedicated local youth leaders. HP ministers son embarrasses Congress The Himachal Pradesh Congress is embarrassed after Col (Retd) Sanjay Shandil, son of Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Dhani Ram Shandil, took to social media to demand suspension of lax and corrupt officers in the health department. He claimed that corrupt officials do not even hesitate to exploit the specially-abled. Sanjay Shandil, who is aspiring to contest the next assembly elections after being declared his fathers political heir, has been active in the field since his retirement a few months ago. While the immediate provocation behind his post is not known, it has visibly unsettled the state Congress leadership. Dera chief & Budha Dal head meet, spark buzz A recent meeting between Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon, chief of Dera Radha Soami Beas, and Baba Balbir Singh, chief of Budha Dal, has become the talking point. Dhillon visited Gurdwara Burj Akali Phoola Singh, the Nihang cantonment, to meet Baba Balbir Singh. A video shows the Baba briefing Dhillon about Budha Dals history, mentioning that the Dal chief once served as Akal Takht Jathedar. Dhillon responded: As per old traditions, Baba ji, the Jathedar of Akal Takht (is there) to keep everything in order. It comes even as the grapevine says the Jathedar should take all sections of society. Harpreet Bajwa Our correspondent in Chandigarh hsbajwa73@gmail.com
Punjab: CM Bhagwant Mann steps up demand for flood relief package
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Assembly on Monday passed a resolution accusing the Centre of not responding adequately to the states flood crisis and demanded a special financial package of Rs 20,000 crore for compensation and rehabilitation. The resolution said Punjab had been ravaged by catastrophic floods, widely regarded as the worst and most destructive deluge since the 1988 floods, affecting over 20 lakh people, destroying crops on nearly five lakh acres, causing heavy livestock losses, and damaging both private and public property. It also criticised the Prime Ministers Office for not responding to Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns repeated requests for a meeting, thereby insulting the people of the state and preventing the state from making a proper and comprehensive representation of the full scale of the disaster. The resolution demanded the immediate transfer of the Rs 1,600-crore relief announced by the Prime Minister during his visit. Mann, however, said he has been given time to meet Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday. Mann announced compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre for 75100% crop loss, Rs 10,000 per acre for 2675% damage, and Rs 1.20 lakh for fully damaged houses. Farmers will receive Rs 7,200 per acre for removing sand deposited by floods and Rs 47,500 per hectare for land that was washed away. A special girdawari is underway, and compensation will start reaching families before Diwali. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa cited letters from the Water Resources Department showing that critical flood mitigation works in districts including Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Pathankot, and Ferozepur had not begun. Bajwa said, If everything was completed by July 14, why did urgent instructions go out two weeks later?
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Assembly today unanimously passed a resolution seeking a comprehensive special package of Rs 20,000 crore from the Union government for compensation to farmers, rebuilding infrastructure, and restoring livelihoods in flood-affected areas. The assembly also condemned the 'lack of response and the failure' of the BJP-led union government to sanction a special financial package for the flood-hit Punjab. The resolution also condemned the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) for not responding to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns repeated request for a meeting, thereby 'insulting' the people of the state, and preventing the state from making a proper and comprehensive representation of the full scale of the disaster. Additionally, it demanded the immediate transfer of Rs 1,600 crore relief announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Punjab. The resolution, which was moved on Friday, was passed after the completion of the discussion on the rehabilitation of the state. The two BJP MLAs were not present in the House when the resolution was passed. As per the resolution, Punjab has been ravaged by catastrophic floods, widely regarded as the worst and most destructive deluge since the 1988 floods, which historically impacted more than 34 lakh people. The current disaster has surpassed previous major floods in independent India, such as those in 1955 and 1978, in terms of sheer scale and devastation, causing loss to more than 20 lakh people in many ways, destroying crops on nearly five lakh acres, numerous losses to livestock, and irreparable damage to both private and public infrastructure, read the resolution. Winding up the discussion in the House on the concluding day of the session, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said a compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre for 75 to 100 per cent damage of crops due to the recent floods will be given. He said Rs 10,000 per acre will be given for 33 to 75 per cent and 26 to 33 per cent of crop damage. He added that a compensation of Rs 1.20 lakh will be given for complete damage of houses. Mann said a special 'girdawari' for assessment of losses is underway and added that flood-hit families will start getting compensation before the Diwali festival. Farmers will be given Rs 7,200 per acre for extracting sand, which has accumulated following the floods, from their fields. A sum of Rs 47,500 per hectare will be given to farmers whose farmland was washed away by rivers. He slammed the Centre for allegedly not giving him time to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a representation of the disaster. He also took a swipe at the Centre, saying the PM gave time to meet the Punjab governor. Mann, however, said he has been given time to meet Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday. The resolution stated, This House categorically condemns the lack of response and the failure of the BJP-led Union government to sanction a special financial package commensurate with the scale of the worst floods faced by Punjab in decades. Records its strong protest against the BJP led Union governments apathy that has resulted in the non-disbursement of the announced token funds, thereby critically crippling the speed of the state governments ongoing relief and rehabilitation operations, said the resolution. Earlier in the day, the House was adjourned following a heated exchange between Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and Finance Minister Harpal Cheema. Cheema alleged that while Bajwa blamed the government for failing to provide relief, he himself was promoting self-interest through land deals at the expense of others. In a statement, Bajwa accused the government of misleading the House and the people of Punjab on crucial flood preparedness measures. He specifically called out AAP minister Barinder Goyal, who had earlier claimed in the assembly that all preparations for flood mitigation had been completed by July 14. The facts prove otherwise, Bajwa said. He revealed that on July 22, 2025, the Chief Engineer (Vigilance) of the Water Resources Department wrote to the Chief Engineer (Drainage) directing him to start reviewing the necessity of flood protection works a process which had not even commenced at the site despite two-thirds of the monsoon season already having passed. Bajwa alleged that Executive Engineers from several districts themselves admitted that no flood mitigation or drainage repair works had started in critical areas, including Shri Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Pathankot, and Ferozepur. These facts clearly expose the lies of Barinder Goyal and highlight the governments negligence, he added. Bajwa also pointed to letters sent by the Water Resources Department in late July as proof of the administrations unpreparedness. The Principal Secretary of the department had written to all Deputy Commissioners on July 28, directing them to procure EC bags and Geo bags for flood protection, while a separate letter on July 27 instructed the Chief Engineer to arrange EC bags for Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. If everything was completed by July 14 as claimed, why did these urgent instructions go out two weeks later? Bajwa asked. Responding sharply to allegations made by Cheema regarding his personal land purchase, Bajwa clarified that he had bought the land legally and paid the required stamp duty to the state government. If I have done anything illegal, I challenge Cheema to file a case against me, he asserted.
BMW accident case: Delhi court grants bail to Gaganpreet Kaur; accuses paramedic of 'negligent act'
Delhi's Patiala court granted bail to Gaganpreet Kaur in the BMW accident case that tragically killed a finance ministry official. However, the court sharply questioned an ambulance's conduct, which arrived at the scene but left within 30 seconds without transporting the injured. It asked if this constituted medical negligence, highlighting the ambulance's duty to assist accident victims.
Court Reserves Order On Chaitanyananda Saraswatis Bail Plea Over Alleged Financial Irregularities
Patiala House Court reserved order on Chaitanyananda Saraswati's anticipatory bail plea in a financial irregularities case.
New Ferozepur-Delhi Vande Bharat Train Announced; Bathinda, Patiala Among Key Stops | Details
Railway Minister Vaishnaw proposed a Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi to Ferozepur Cantt via Bathinda and Patiala to boost connectivity.
The Railway Ministry will start a new Rajpura-Mohali railway line in Punjab and a new Vande Bharat train connecting Firozpur Cantt, Bhatinda, Patiala, and Delhi.
Railway ministry approves Rajpura-Mohali line, proposes new Vande Bharat train for Punjab
NEW DELHI: After five decades of persistent demand, the Ministry of Railways has approved the long-awaited RajpuraMohali railway line in Punjab and proposed a new Vande Bharat train for the state as part of railway infrastructure projects worth Rs 25,000 crore currently under execution. Speaking to the media on Tuesday at Rail Bhawan, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw officially announced the RajpuraMohali railway line. He also revealed that a proposal for a new Vande Bharat Express, running from Firozpur Cantt to Delhi via Bathinda and Patiala, has been prepared and is expected to be approved soon by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Punjab has got nearly a 24 times hike in its budget allocation under the present government since 2014. Now, Punjab has got over Rs 5,000 crore of the Railway budget compared to earlier which used to be around Rs 225 crore before 2014. Now, PM Modi ji has increased the Railway budget 24 times from earlier, Vaishnaw said. He explained that the new 18-kilometre railway line would connect Chandigarh via the Jalandhar route, significantly shortening the previously longer journey between the two locations. This new railway line will be constructed at a cost of Rs 443 crore. The minister added that a new Vande Bharat train would soon be launched for Punjab. At present, five pairs of Vande Bharat trains are operating in the state. Additionally, one pair of Amrit Bharat trains is in service, covering six districts with eight unique stoppages. Punjab has achieved 100% electrification of its 1,634 km railway track network, and 30 stations are currently being developed as Amrit Stations under a national modernisation scheme. The Railway Minister also noted that since 2014, the Government of India has completed 10 mega railway projects, with seven more currently under execution.
CHANDIGARH: Himachal Pradesh Public Works and Urban Development Minister and scion of the Rampur-Bushahr royal family, Vikramaditya Singh, tied the knot with his long-time acquaintance Amreen Sekhon. Sekhon is an Assistant Professor at Panjab University. Anand Karaj, the wedding ritual, took place at the Sector 11 Gurdwara as per Sikh traditions. Both families were present in the event, after which they reportedly left for Hotel Lalit. Vikramaditya was dressed in a pastel pink sherwani, paired with a bright orange and pink turban. He carried a traditional kalgi and a ceremonial sword with him. Amreen wore a heavily embroidered peach-toned lehenga with golden bridal kalire dangling from her hands, completing her traditional look. Expressing gratitude to well-wishers and thanking everyone for their support and warm wishes, Singh said, This marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Amreen Sekhon stood beside him with her face partially covered with a traditional ghoonghat. When asked whether the newlyweds had made any promises or commitments to each other, Singh chose not to elaborate. Born on October 17, 1989, Singh is the son of the late Virbhadra Singh who was a six-time Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister. His mother, Pratibha Singh, is the president of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC). He carries forward the familys political legacy and is presently the MLA from Shimla Rural constituency and minister of the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu cabinet. In last years Lok Sabha elections, Singh contested from the Mandi constituency, but was defeated by actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut. An alumnus of Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, Singh had done his graduation in History in 2011 from Hansraj College of Delhi University and completed his post-graduation in History in 2016. He is also a national-level trap shooter, having won a bronze medal in 2007. Amreen Sekhon, daughter of Sardar Jotinder Singh Sekhon and Opinder Kaur, has done double masters degrees in English and Psychology, along with a PhD in Psychology. She is presently posted as an Assistant Professor at Panjab University. The royal family of Rampur-Bushahr has ties with Sikh families, as Vikramadityas sister, Aparajita Singh, is wedded into the Patiala royal family. She is married to Angad Singh, the grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. Notably, in 2019, Vikramaditya Singh had married princess Sudarshana Chundawat of Amet in Rajasthan and divorced her last year in November.
BMW accident case: Delhi Court issues notice to Police to preserve CCTV footage of accident site
The Patiala House Court has directed the Delhi Cantonment Police Station to preserve CCTV footage related to the fatal Dhaula Kuan BMW accident, which resulted in the death of Navjot Singh. This directive came after discrepancies arose regarding the existence and availability of the footage, with the accused seeking its preservation.
BMW accident case: Delhi court issues notice to preserve CCTV footage
A Patiala House Court addresses the Dhaula Kuan BMW accident case. The court issued a notice regarding CCTV footage preservation. Gaganpreet Kaur's bail plea is underway. Her husband, Parikshit Kakkar, was questioned. Navjot Singh died in the accident. His wife, Sandeep Kaur, was seriously injured. Gaganpreet claimed she took the victims to GTB Nagar hospital. She faces culpable homicide charges.
BMW Crash Accused Gaganpreet Brought To Tihar Jail On Two-Day Judicial Custody
The Patiala House court also issued notice on her bail plea, which will be heard on September 17, when she is scheduled to be produced again.
Three J&K Fencers qualify for Asian Games 2026 Core Group trials
Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Sept 15: Out of 13 fencers from Jammu and Kashmir who participated in the Core Group Selection trials for the Asian Games 2026, only three have secured their place in the initial core group. The successful fencers are Shreya Gupta, Vishal Thapar and Ajay Kumar. The trials were held at SAI NCOE Patiala (Epee), Army Sports Institute Pune (Sabre) and SAI NCOE Aurangabad (Foil), featuring top athletes from across India. Shreya Gupta displayed remarkable resilience, securing [] The post Three J&K Fencers qualify for Asian Games 2026 Core Group trials appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
A farmer shows damaged paddy crop at a field after floodwater receded
A farmer shows damaged paddy crop at a field after floodwater receded, in Patiala district of Punjab on Saturday. (PTI) The post A farmer shows damaged paddy crop at a field after floodwater receded appeared first on The Shillong Times .
