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ED conducts fresh raids in dunki route case
CHANDIGARH, Dec 18: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday conducted fresh searches in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation in a case linked to illegally transporting Indians to the US through the dunki route, officials said. The federal probe agency had in July conducted the first round of raids and recently attached assets worth Rs 5 crore of some travel agents after identifying some alleged accused operatives who were behind this illegal racket. Thursdays [] The post ED conducts fresh raids in dunki route case appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Punjab rural polls results: AAP wins over 200 zones of zila parishad, leading in panchayat samiti
The Congress was at the second spot with 60 zones, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) at the third position with 39 zones, BJP 4, BSP 3 and Independents 10, as per the results
Punjab rural election results: The ruling AAP in Punjab won the zila parishad polls and was also surging in majority of the zones of panchayat samiti. Congress secured the second spot and BJP managed to win 4 zones of the zila parishad in Pathankot. Punjab Congress Chief accused the AAP government of stealing polls.
Amandeep Singh Bola, a Punjabi-Sikh origin New Zealander, showed exceptional courage and bravery when the horrific shooting at the Bondi beach in Australia unfolded. Amandeep was enjoying kebabs at the beach when he heard the gunshots and he ran towards the attackers, disarmed Sajid, one of the shooters, till the cops took over. He said there was a strong adrenaline rush after he got up.
Raghav Chadha demands Copyright Act amendment to protect digital content creators
Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, the AAP MP from Punjab said millions of Indians have become digital content creators, functioning as educators, reviewers, satirists, entertainers, musicians and influencers.
Truecaller Launches Voicemail for Free in India; Don't Speak to Nuisance Callers Ever Again
Truecaller today launched a free and powerful AI-powered voicemail experience for Android users in India with instant transcription and automatic spam protection. Unlike traditional voicemail, messages are stored directly on the device, offering full control and privacy over recordings. It also offers smart call categorisation, spam filtering, adjustable playback speed and AI-powered voicemail transcription in 12 Indian languages. Truecaller users can simply set up unlimited voicemail in their Truecaller app for free in a few seconds. Truecaller launches AI Powered Voicemail Experience in India By placing voicemail at the centre of the calling experience, Truecaller is strengthening its position as a daily-use communication platform and its fight against spam and fraud. With Truecaller Voicemail, users can record, store, and play messages directly on their device, without dialing voicemail numbers or remembering PINs. The feature supports a wide range of Indian languages, ensuring deeper personalisation and local relevance. The feature supports transcription in 12 Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Nepali, Punjabi, Sanskrit and Urdu. Voicemails are transcribed in a few seconds, enabling anyone to read their messages discreetly or during moments when listening is not convenient. Truecaller launches AI Powered Voicemail Experience in India “Traditional voicemail was built for a very different era of communication,” said Rishit Jhunjhunwala, CEO, Truecaller. “ With Truecaller Voicemail, we are fundamentally rethinking how voice messages fit into everyday life — making them free, device-native and seamlessly integrated into the calling experience. By enabling on-device storage, instant transcription, spam protection, and support for a wide range of Indian languages, we’re removing the friction and limitations of legacy systems. This is a step toward building a more inclusive, intuitive, and trustworthy communication layer — one that works the way people actually communicate today.” About Truecaller Truecaller is an essential part of daily communication for more than 450 million active users, with over a billion downloads since launch and close to 56 billion unwanted calls identified and blocked in 2024 alone. Founded in 2009, the company is headquartered in Stockholm and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021. www.truecaller.com .
The Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board has released admit cards for the Group B and Surveyor recruitment examinations. Candidates can download their hall tickets from the official website, sssb.punjab.gov.in. The Surveyor exam is scheduled for December 20, and the Group B exam for December 21, with admit cards being mandatory for entry.
CRPF Jawan Dies of Heart Attack in South Kashmir
SRINAGAR: A 55-year-old CRPF jawan deployed at the Anantnag Railway Station in south Kashmir died after suffering a heart attack during the night, officials said on Thursday. Officials said the deceased was identified as Lakhwinder Singh, son of Ajaib Singh, a resident of Punjab, who was serving with the 90 Battalion of the Central Reserve []
AAP leads in Punjab rural polls, Congress 2nd; SAD fights back
A Punjabi-Sikh New Zealander, Amandeep Singh Bola, displayed remarkable bravery during the Bondi beach shooting. While enjoying a kebab, he heard gunshots and instinctively ran towards the danger. Bola tackled one of the gunmen, disarmed him, and held him down until police arrived, embodying the spirit of multiculturalism amidst chaos.
Punjab rural polls: AAP faces Cong, SAD challenge in key belts
Punjab govt pushes for increase in forest cover
Counting Of Votes For Punjab Local Body Polls Underway, AAP Wins In 927 Zones
Counting of votes for the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections in Punjab was underway on Wednesday even as the ruling AAP claimed it registered victories in more than 900 zones.
NMC instructs medical colleges to include importance of writing legible prescriptions in curriculum
The National Medical Commission says the directive is based on the orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court issued on August 27
CHANDIGARH: Aishdeep Singh, the mastermind behind the murder of 30-year-old kabaddi player-cum-promoter Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balachauria, was arrested on Wednesday by the Punjab Police from the Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi. Meanwhile, another key accused in the case Harpinder Middhi was killed in an encounter at Lalru near here in which two police personnel also sustained injuries. Police said the tussle between different gangsters over the organisation of kabaddi tournaments in Punjab led to the shooting. Senior Superintendent of Police of SAS Nagar Harmandeep Hans said Aishdeep Singh, who had been staying in Russia, came to India on November 25 on the directions of gangster-turned-terrorist Dony Bal to execute the murder. He was arrested from Delhi airport when he was planning to escape to Muscat. Aishdeep informed police about his accomplice Harpinder Middhi, a resident of Naushehra Pannuan in Tarn Taran, who actively supported the shooters and was supposed to escape along with him. Acting on the information, police parties led by Deputy Superintendent of Police of Dera Bassi Bikramjit Singh Brar and including inspectors Sumit Mor, Pushvinder Singh and Malkiat Singh conducted a raid at the location pinpointed by him on the Ambala-Lalru Highway near Jharmal River in Lalru. Upon seeing the police party, the suspect Harpinder Middhi opened fire resulting in serious bullet injuries to two police personnel -- head constables Gulab Singh and Kumar Sharma. The police party retaliated in self-defence during which the suspect was injured and was rushed to Civil Hospital Dera Bassi, where he succumbed to injuries, he said. Gang rivalry over kabaddi tournaments leads to killing of player-promoter Rana Balachauria in Mohali Hans said that police have also arrested another accused Jugraj Singh with the help of Amritsar (Rural) Police. All the accused persons involved in this case have been identified and raids are being conducted to nab the remaining accused, he said. Balachauria was shot dead in Mohali on December 15 by associates of gangsters Doni Bal and Lucky Patial. Police have identified the three accused including the two shooters who pumped bullets into Balachauria. They are Aditya Kapoor alias Makhan and Karan Pathak of Amritsar. The duo are currently absconding. Twelve teams of the Punjab AGTF, SSOC and the district police have been hunting for them for the past two days. Hours after the shootout, gangster Dony Bal claimed responsibility for the attack in a Facebook post. I, Donibal, Saganpreet, Mohabbat Randhawa, Amar Khabe, Prabh Daswal, and Kaushal Chaudhary, take responsibility for the killing of Rana Balachauria during the Kabaddi Cup in Mohali. This man (Rana) was in contact with our rivals Jaggu and Lawrence, it read. He had provided shelter to the killer of Sidhu Moosewala and personally looked after him. By killing Rana today, we have avenged the murder of our brother Sidhu Moosewala. This act was carried out by our brothers Makhan Amritsar and Defaulter Karan, it stated. The killing of Balachauria has brought back memories of a similar incident three years ago when another kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal was shot dead in Jalandhar district in the middle of a tournament at Mallian Kalan village. More recently, a 25-year-old kabaddi player named Teja Singh was shot dead in broad daylight in Jagraon in October this year.
With Delhi under 'severe' air quality, Beijing offers its pollution-control playbook
Hazardous air quality, dense smog and a spike in respiratory illnesses have become a grim winter routine for Delhi. As the national capital chokes under severe air quality for much of the week, Chinas capital, once derided as the worlds smog capital, has emerged as a contrasting case study, and Beijing is now offering its playbook. In an extensive post on X, Chinese embassy spokesperson Yu Jing shared a step-by-step account of how Beijing curbed air pollution over the past decade, accompanied by before-and-after images of the city. Stressing that both India and China face the challenge of air pollution amid rapid urbanisation, Jing said cleaner air doesnt happen overnight, but it is achievable. The post included air quality readings from December 15, showing Delhis AQI at a hazardous 447, compared to a relatively moderate 67 in Beijing. Breaking down Beijings approach, Jing said China adopted ultra-strict vehicle emission standards comparable to Euro 6 norms and aggressively phased out old, high-emission vehicles. Vehicular pollution remains one of the biggest contributors to smog in Delhi. While India mandated BS-VI emission norms for vehicles manufactured after April 1, 2020, enforcement continues to be a weak link. How did Beijing tackle air pollution? Step 1: Vehicle emissions control Adopt ultra-strict regulations like China 6NI (on par with Euro 6) Phase-out retired old, high-emission vehicles Curb car growth via license-plate lotteries and odd-even / weekday driving pic.twitter.com/E0cFp4wgsV Yu Jing (@ChinaSpox_India) December 16, 2025 Delhi, which has battled toxic air since Diwali, banned the entry of non-BS VI vehicles only earlier this week and has also barred refuelling of overage vehicles. The Chinese embassy spokesperson also pointed to measures such as licence-plate lotteries, odd-even and weekday driving restrictions, and massive investments in metro and bus networks, alongside a rapid push for electric mobility. While Delhi has experimented with the odd-even scheme, its impact on pollution levels has been limited. Jing underlined that Beijings gains were made possible through coordinated policies across the BeijingTianjinHebei region, preventing pollution spillover from neighbouring areas. In contrast, one of Delhis biggest challenges remains stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Despite repeated directions from the Supreme Court for coordinated action, lapses and inter-state blame games have blunted enforcement. The second pillar of Beijings clean-air push was industrial restructuring. According to the embassy, more than 3,000 heavy industries were shut down or relocated. Relocating Shougang, one of Chinas largest steelmakers, alone cut inhalable particles by 20%, the post said. Vacated industrial sites were converted into parks, commercial districts and cultural or technology hubs. The former Shougang industrial complex, for instance, was transformed into a key venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Beijing also shifted wholesale markets, logistics hubs and even some educational and medical institutions to nearby cities, retaining only high-value research, development and service sectors in the capital. While the suggestions from the Chinese embassy have drawn attention, experts caution that Delhi has heard, and even attempted, many of these measures before, with marginal success. Beijings turnaround followed a five-year national action plan launched in 2013, which included shutting coal-fired boilers, expanding public transport, promoting new-energy vehicles and accelerating the shift to green energy. The citys last-mile connectivity now relies on micro-buses, shared mobility options such as bikes and e-scooters, ride-hailing services and even autonomous vehicles. How does Beijing tackle air pollution? Step 2: Industrial Restructuring Shut down or remove 3000+ heavy industries. Relocating Shougang, one of Chinas largest steelmakers, alone cut inhalable particles by -20%. Transform vacated factories into parks, pic.twitter.com/SYPOsoMaO1 Yu Jing (@ChinaSpox_India) December 17, 2025 Delhi governments, meanwhile, have relied on measures such as water sprinkling, anti-smog guns and short-term traffic curbs, but pollution levels remain dangerously high. Experts say that while Delhi and Beijing share some pollution sources, a straight replication of the Beijing model is impractical unless adapted to local realities. Year-long transport curbs, for instance, are not feasible in the national capital, and persistent disagreements among states over stubble burning continue to undermine progress. They argue that integrating rural agricultural policies to address crop residue burning, expanding public transport infrastructure and ensuring strict compliance are critical. A Comptroller and Auditor General (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) report tabled in the Delhi Assembly has found that Delhis worsening air pollution is driven largely by systemic failures within the city, particularly weak enforcement of vehicular pollution norms. The audit highlights widespread irregularities in the Pollution Under Control (PUC) regime, noting that over 1.08 lakh vehicles were issued certificates despite exceeding permissible limits for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. In several instances, certificates were issued to multiple vehicles within seconds, raising doubts about the integrity of testing. Between 2015 and 2020, nearly 4,000 non-compliant diesel vehicles continued to operate due to lax certification. The report also flags major lapses in removing end-of-life vehicles. Of the 47.51 lakh vehicles meant to be deregistered between 2018-19 and 2020-21, only 2.98 lakh were actually removed, leaving over 93% still officially registered and potentially in use. None of the vehicles impounded for pollution violations had been scrapped, while scrapping and impounding infrastructure remains grossly inadequate. Enforcement has been further hampered by staff shortages, lack of mobile testing equipment, and the absence of real-time data to guide deployment of teams. The audit concludes that Delhis air crisis cannot be blamed solely on external factors like stubble burning, but has been significantly worsened by poor implementation of policies, weak monitoring, and failures in governance. The broad lesson from Beijing, experts say, is not that solutions are unknown, but that implementing them requires sustained political will, regional coordination and rigorous enforcement, several stars that must align for Delhi to breathe easier.
Doodh soda, a traditional mix of chilled milk and lemon-lime soda, is quietly returning to attention after a brief appearance in the film Dhurandhar. Once a summer staple at roadside stalls, the drink blends nostalgia, practicality and refreshment. Its revival reflects renewed interest in forgotten regional foods shaped by climate, history and everyday life.
From Ajmeri Gate to Punjabi Bagh: Delhi flags 62 traffic hotspots to cut congestion
Delhi authorities have launched a multi-pronged strategy to tackle traffic congestion at 62 identified hotspots. Measures include deploying additional traffic personnel, conducting encroachment removal drives, and planning long-term infrastructure solutions like subways and underpasses to ease bottlenecks across the capital.
Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals Gear Up for Fresh Push Ahead of IPL 2026
Punjab Kings enter the 2026 season with renewed determination and a balanced squad, Led by Shreyas Iyer, PBKS strategy at the auction and retention stages focused on filling key roles with players who can perform in pressure situations.
Key Suspect In Punjab Kabaddi Player's Murder Killed In Police Encounter
Two days after a 30-year-old kabaddi player was shot dead in the middle of a tournament in Punjab's Mohali, the main accused, Harwinder alias Middu, was killed in a police encounter.
Election results Punjab: The ruling Aam Aadmi Party and Congress are locked in a neck-and-neck fight as vote counting is underway for Punjab's zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections, with tight security in place. AAP has taken early leads in Zila Parishad and Block Samiti polls in Ludhiana. Counting of ballot papers started at 8 am at 154 centres set up across the state.
Punjab: Inmates run amok in Ludhiana Central Jail; Jail Superintendent injured
A violent clash at Tajpur Road Central Jail injured Superintendent Kulwant Sidhu after inmates attacked officials and police during a scuffle. Around 200 prisoners were involved, and the superintendent was hospitalized. Punjab Jail Minister and police have sought reports and taken measures to restore order.
Himachal Police in touch with Punjab, Rajasthan counterparts over spotting of 'Pak' balloons
SHIMLA: Following spotting of multiple aeroplane-shaped balloons having PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) or Pakistani flag printed on them in different districts of the state in the past few weeks, the Himachal Pradesh police has reached out to their counterparts in Punjab and Rajasthan to determine the origin of these balloons. Police have also contacted the officials of the Indian Air Force for the same. So far, no suspicious devices such as gadgets, surveillance devices, trackers or materials have been found inside these balloons. We have contacted our counterparts in states sharing a border with Pakistan where similar balloons were found to get their insights, police said. While no FIR has been registered in this case, the police are investigating the matter, enquiring local vendors about the origin of these balloons. Recently, residents of Chalet village under Daulatpur police post were alarmed after an aeroplane-shaped balloon with PIA written on it was found on the roof of a house of a villager. He then immediately informed the Daulatpur police post. Upon receiving the information, the police team reached the spot and seized the balloon. As a precautionary measure, police also inspected the surrounding areas to rule out the presence of any other suspicious objects. On December 8, three similar balloons were also found in the Tatehra village of Gagret sub-division. These balloons had the Pakistani flag on them and I Love Pakistan written on them. Also, similar balloons were found in Hamirpur and Kangra districts in the past few months.
Punjab rural body poll results: Vote count underway for zila parishad, panchayat samiti elections
A voter turnout of 48% was recorded in the daylong polling, with over 9,000 candidates in the fray
A violent clash between inmates at Ludhiana Central Jail left the jail superintendent seriously injured. Police were deployed as bricks were hurled and sirens blared.
Vote counting is underway for Punjab's zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections, with tight security in place. Over 9,000 candidates vied for seats in 347 zila parishad zones and 2,838 panchayat samiti zones, recording a 48% voter turnout. Opposition parties had previously alleged electoral malpractices by the ruling AAP during the December 14 polls.
Delhi Police's special cell has arrested five key contract killers linked to the Aarzoo-Anmol Bishnoi and Harry Boxer syndicate. These operatives were responsible for three high-profile murders across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. Their arrests dismantle a significant operational unit of the gang, which was targeting the hospitality and sports sectors.
He Fits The Position Perfectly, PBKS Skipper Shreyas Iyer On Buying Connolly In Auction
Shreyas Iyer: Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer spoke about acquiring batting all-rounder Cooper Connolly, stating that the Australian has the ability to finish matches and fits the role perfectly. PBKS concluded the IPL 2026 mini-auction with four notable acquisitions, completing their 25-player squad for the upcoming season. The auction saw PBKS secure two uncapped and two capped players, with Australian pacer Ben Dwarshuis emerging as the team's most expensive purchase this auction. The Kings opened their account with Connolly, who was bought for Rs 3 crore. A rising talent capable of providing flexibility in the middle order, Connolly also offers dependable slow left-arm spin option. Speaking on the vision behind Connollys inclusion, Iyer, who has faced him in Australia, said: Honestly, he wasn't there in our mind at the start but as we brainstormed and narrowed down our options, we realized he fit the position perfectly. He further added, He has a great temperament and the ability to finish games. Those characteristics matter a lot in IPL. However, we didnt think we would get him for 3, we actually predicted his price would be much higher. The team's highest bid in the auction came shortly after, with Dwarshuis signed for Rs 4.40 crore. The left-arm pacer and useful lower-order hitter adds substantial depth to the bowling attack while offering a lethal power-hitting option at the death. Pravin Dubey returned to the Kings den after being re-acquired at his base price of Rs 30 lakh. Dubey provides essential Indian spin backup to complement the existing duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar. Further strengthening the domestic core, promising young talent Vishal Nishad joins the PBKS squad, also signed at his base price of Rs 30 lakh. The Kings entered the auction with a purse of Rs 11.5 crore and exhausted Rs 8 crore from it by acquiring two overseas and two Indian players. Further strengthening the domestic core, promising young talent Vishal Nishad joins the PBKS squad, also signed at his base price of Rs 30 lakh. Also Read: Live Cricket Score bc/vi Article Source: IANS
Punjab teachers stage stir, demand justice for colleagues who died during poll duty
Punjab posts 83.9% conviction in drug cases over 3 years, district performance varies sharply
Lieutenant Gurmukh Singh's miracle: 7 failures, 1 commission
DEHRADUN: In a story that exemplifies grit over glamour, a soldier from a family steeped in military tradition has emerged as a powerful role model for India's youth. Gurmukh Singh, hailing from Haryana, recently commissioned as a Lieutenant from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, marking the latest chapter in a family dedicated to serving the nation across three generations. The Passing Out Parade at the prestigious IMA is always a moment of immense pride, but for the 33-year-old Gurmukh Singh, it was the realization of a long-cherished dream. Born on July 6, 1992, Singh initially joined the Indian Army as a Sepoy. However, his sights were set much higher, on wearing the officer's uniform. The path to achieving this goal was anything but smooth. Singh faced repeated setbacks, failing the entrance examinations for officer entry seven consecutive times. Speaking exclusively to TNIE after his commissioning, the newly appointed Lieutenant reflected on his arduous journey. Every failure only fueled my resolve, he stated. Balancing my duties on the ground with my rigorous preparation, I never abandoned my pursuit of becoming a commissioned officer. His perseverance finally paid off, culminating in the proud moment when his parents watched him don the olive green of a Lieutenant. Lieutenant Singh also voiced a concern regarding the shifting aspirations of the younger generation. It saddens me to see a growing trend, especially among Punjabi youth, prioritizing securing jobs abroad over serving the nation, he commented. This tendency must stop. It is the duty of parents to instill the values of patriotism and selfless service in their children. He credits his father, retired Subedar Major Jaswant Singh, as his greatest motivator, with a family legacy that also includes retired Subedars Harbans Singh and Prakash Singh. His service record itself is a testament to discipline. During his tenure as an enlisted soldier, Singh served in challenging, remote outposts like Ladakh. Finding time to study amidst demanding postings was a significant hurdle. Undeterred, he managed to complete his Post Graduate degree and a B.Ed while serving, driven by his ambition. His father, Subedar Major Jaswant Singh, consistently encouraged him after every rejection, keeping his goal firmly in sight. Following his graduation from the IMA, Lieutenant Gurmukh Singh was commissioned into the Army Air Defence (AAD) Corps. His parents, Jaswant Singh and Kulwant Kaur, were present to witness this historic milestone. From the day Gurmukh joined the Army, his ambition to become an officer was clear, said his proud father. Lieutenant Gurmukh Singh believes his years of experience as a soldier will be invaluable in his new leadership role. I understand how the Army functions and how to manage troops. Leading soldiers will come naturally, and I will approach it with complete commitment, he asserted. He remains focused on national service, enjoying motivational reading and valuing time spent with his family.
Institutional farm loans: Punjab, Haryana farmers owe over Rs 2 lakh crore
IPL 2026 Auction: From Cameron Green To Prashant Veer - Updated Player List Of All Ten Teams
From Cameron Green: Australia all-rounder Cameron Green made headlines on Tuesday after being roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders for a record sum of Rs. 25.20 crore, becoming the third most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League at the mini auction at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. India's Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma became the highest-priced uncapped players in IPL history as Chennai Super Kings went all out for the young Indian talent, whereas Matheesha Pathirana stole the limelight by fetching Rs. 18 crore from Kolkata Knight Riders and becoming the highest-paid Sri Lankan player in IPL history. Overall, all the 10 teams managed to fill all the 77 vacant slots for which they splurged a combined Rs 215.45 crore. Here is the updated list of players for all 10 teams: Lucknow Super Giants: Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Rishabh Pant (c), Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Arshin Kulkarni, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Akash Singh, Mohammed Shami, Arjun Tendulkar, Wanindu Hasaranga, Anrich Nortje, Mukul Choudhary, Naman Tiwari, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis. Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Mustafizur Rahman, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep. Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, R. Smaran, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Zeeshan Ansari, Shivang Kumar, Salil Arora, Sakib Hussain, Onkar Tarmale, Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Krains Fuletra, Liam Livingstone, Shivam Mavi, Jack Edwards. Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ryan Rickleton, Robin Minz, Raj Bawa, Raghu Sharma, Mitchell Santner, Corbin Bosch, Naman Dhir, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Allah Ghafanzar, Ashwani Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Sherfane Rutherford, Mayank Markande, Shardul Thakur, Quinton de Kock, Danish Malewar, Mohammad Izhar, Atharva Ankolekar, Mayank Rawat. Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyala Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Suryansh Shedge, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Pravin Dubey, Vishal Nishad. Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, M.S. Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan. Rajasthan Royals: Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Donovan Ferreira, Sandeep Sharma, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, Yash Raj Punja, Vignesh Puthur, Ravi Singh, Aman Rao, Brijesh Sharma, Adam Milne, Kuldeep Sen. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Prithvi Raj Yarra, Luke Wood. Article Source: IANS
PBKS Full Squad, IPL 2026: List Of Players Bought By Punjab Kings
PBKS Full Squad, IPL 2026: Here is the full list of players bought by Punjab Kings in the IPL 2026 auction -
Punjab Declares Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo as Holy Cities; Meat and Liquor Banned
Chandigarh, Dec 17 : The Punjab government has officially granted holy city status to Amritsar, The post Punjab Declares Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo as Holy Cities; Meat and Liquor Banned appeared first on The Voice Of Sikkim .
Rs 30 Lakh Extortion Demand, Then Firing Outside A Punjab Grocery Store
A firing incident outside a grocery store in Punjab's Batala has brought to the fore a Rs 30 lakh extortion demand and alleged police inaction.
Punjab wrongly blamed for Delhi pollution despite lower AQI, says CM Mann
CHANDIGARH: Questioning the BJP Governments handling of the pollution crisis in Delhi and what he described as a false narrative blaming Punjab for the national capitals poor air quality, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the state has been unfairly targeted year after year despite having significantly better air conditions. Addressing the issue, Mann said Punjabs Air Quality Index (AQI) currently ranges between 70 and 110, while Delhis AQI stands at around 500. Who is responsible for pollution in Delhi? he asked, adding that Punjab continues to be blamed despite clear data to the contrary. He said there has been a significant drop in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab, a fact that has been officially recognised by the Central Government in Parliament. Taking a dig at the saffron party over the renaming of MGNREGA to Viksit BharatJai Ram Ji (Vikas Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Rural)), Mann mocked the move, saying that if the BJP-led Central Government had its way, it would rename the entire country as Deen Dayal Upadhyay Nagar. He added that BJP governments have already renamed several railway stations and cities, and pointed out that renaming does not improve governance, while people-centric decisions alone can bring real change. Mann also gave detailed information about the arrangements being made by the state government for lakhs of devotees arriving from across the world to pay homage to the supreme sacrifice of the younger Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri at Fatehgarh Sahib on the occasion of Shaheedi Sabha. Giving details, the Chief Minister said comprehensive measures have been taken to ensure adequate health facilities, transport, cleanliness and security so that no devotee faces any inconvenience. He said that, keeping in view the large inflow of devotees, special steps have been taken regarding healthcare facilities. He informed that 20 Aam Aadmi Clinics and five dispensaries are being set up, where expert doctors and staff members will be on duty, adding that medicines and essential equipment have been arranged at these centres. Mann said the Punjab Government will provide free transportation for devotees within the city during Shaheedi Sabha by launching an inter-city shuttle bus service. He said that during the Sabha, 200 shuttle buses and 100 e-rickshaws will ferry devotees from parking areas to Gurdwara Sahib and other locations. Smog takes toll on animals He said the services of Google are being used this time for traffic management so that updated information on road traffic conditions around Fatehgarh Sahib is available, allowing immediate alternative arrangements in case of congestion. He added that five large and 16 smaller parking areas have been prepared for vehicle parking. Speaking about security arrangements, Mann said more than 3,300 police personnel will be deployed to facilitate devotees. He said an Integrated Control Centre has been established, with a helpline number 0176-3232838 for public convenience. He added that 300 CCTV cameras are being installed at key locations to monitor anti-social elements, while drones will provide aerial surveillance across the city. The Chief Minister said that to ensure smooth mobile connectivity, temporary mobile towers are being installed by telecom companies. He added that a fleet of 60 ambulances and fire brigade vehicles will remain stationed to handle any emergency. Emphasising the importance of cleanliness, Mann said maintaining hygiene in the city is of utmost priority. He added that machinery from various districts has been deployed for this purpose, and volunteer teams will work in shifts round the clock to maintain the sacredness of the city. He further announced that during the Shaheedi Sabha, the Punjab Government will organise a large blood donation camp at Fatehgarh Sahib as a service to humanity. At the same time, he warned that unauthorised blood donation camps will not be allowed and that strict action will be taken against violators. Mann assured that the Punjab Government will extend full cooperation to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee if any kind of support is required for the comfort and convenience of devotees.
IPL 2026 Auction: Playing For Rajasthan Royals Will Feel Like Home, Says Ravi Bishnoi
RR Lead Owner Manoj Badale: India leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi said it felt like playing at home after being picked up by former champions Rajasthan Royals for Rs 7.2 crore at the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, with the franchise securing the spinner following competitive bidding. Hailing from Jodhpur, Bishnoi adds proven quality and energy to the Royals bowling attack. Speaking on his move to Rajasthan Royals, Ravi Bishnoi said, Playing for Rajasthan Royals will feel like playing at home. I started my cricket journey as a practice bowler at RR, and now representing a team that carries the name of my state means a lot to me. RR Lead Owner Manoj Badale said, Ravi is a special talent and someone our fans were eager to see in Royals colours. His return to the franchise feels like a homecoming, especially knowing he began his journey here as a net bowler. Hes a highly skilled bowler, a terrific fielder, and someone who embodies the hunger and spirit we value at this franchise. During the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 202526, the leg spinner bowled with an economy of 8.40 and claimed nine wickets in seven games. In the 2025 Indian Premier League, Bishnoi was a member of the Lucknow Super Giants. The 25-year-old has played for the Punjab Kings and the Lucknow Super Giants and, with 77 appearances, has taken 72 wickets. RR Lead Owner Manoj Badale said, Ravi is a special talent and someone our fans were eager to see in Royals colours. His return to the franchise feels like a homecoming, especially knowing he began his journey here as a net bowler. Hes a highly skilled bowler, a terrific fielder, and someone who embodies the hunger and spirit we value at this franchise. Also Read: Live Cricket Score CSK raised the bid to Rs 4.2 crore before the Royals briefly stepped back. They returned at Rs 4.4 crore, starting another round of frenetic bidding that brought the total to Rs 5.8 crore. After a long discussion at the Royals table, RR jumped back in at Rs 6 crore, and CSK chose not to respond. Just when it seemed like the Royals had secured the player, the Sunrisers Hyderabad entered with a bid of Rs 6.2 crore, sparking the bidding war again. The price kept rising before finally settling at Rs 7.2 crore. Article Source: IANS
Indian Premier League: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, while sharing insights into the teams approach to decision-making, said the franchise knows exactly what they want from the auction, which is underway here at the Etihad Arena on Tuesday. Shreyas Iyer joined Punjab Kings management at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, becoming only the second cricketer, after Rishabh Pant, to be a part of the process. There is no pressure as such. We had several meetings before coming here, and the way we have planned and prepared, everyone feels quite relaxed. We know exactly what we want, Iyer told JioStar. On the role of analytical data in auction strategy, he said, Analytical data definitely plays a big role. We have two analysts in our team, and the experience and depth of information they provide is immense. I dont know everything thats on the table yet, but once I sit down, Ill get a clearer picture. Im sure things are already buzzing. I can see it on the screen, and Im really looking forward to the experience and what it has to offer. Iyer, who left Kolkata Knight Riders after the teams victorious IPL 2024 campaign, was roped in by PBKS at the IPL 2025 mega-auction for a whopping Rs. 26.75 crore and handed the leadership duties. His captaincy proved critical for the team, as they reached only their second final in the tournaments history, only to lose the title to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who lifted their maiden cup. Iyer further recognised the transition the team has undergone over the past year to build a more stable squad. Crediting head coach Ricky Ponting for this change, he said, I feel it all started with Ricky coming on board. He is fabulous. His player management skills are amazing. He provides confidence and freedom to every individual, from the most senior player to the newcomers. He continued: When you have people like that alongside you, it gives a player immense motivation and confidence. I felt that basically gave us the liberty to go out there and perform to the best of our abilities. Iyer further recognised the transition the team has undergone over the past year to build a more stable squad. Crediting head coach Ricky Ponting for this change, he said, I feel it all started with Ricky coming on board. He is fabulous. His player management skills are amazing. He provides confidence and freedom to every individual, from the most senior player to the newcomers. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He further added, We have to rebuild the family. A lot of players will be returning from international duty, so I dont think we can implement changes immediately. We need a practice game to gel and bond as a team. Then we can identify what we want to work on. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026 Auction: Cameron Green To Get Rs 18 Crore Despite KKR's Rs 25.2 Cr Bid
Indian Premier League: Though Cameron became the most expensive overseas buy in the Indian Premier League history after fetching a staggering Rs 25.20 crore bid from three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the Australian all-rounder will only take home Rs 18 crore, in accordance with the new maximum fee rule. The rule was introduced last year to address the shared concern of franchises that some overseas players were registering solely at mini auctions to exploit the supply-demand imbalance. According to the rule, the overseas player cannot be paid more than Rs 18 crore, which was the highest bracket for franchises retaining players ahead of the 2025 mega auction. If the bid exceeded the Rs 18-crore threshold, the additional money would be used by the BCCI for player welfare. In a note to franchises last year, the IPL said, Any overseas player's auction fee at small auction will be lower than the highest retention price of Rs 18 crore and the highest auction price at the big auction. In case the highest auction price at the big auction is Rs 20 crore, then Rs 18 crore will be the cap. If the highest auction price at big auction is Rs 16 crore, then the cap will be Rs 16 crore. Registered as a batter due to an oversight by his manager during the player auction registration, Green surpassed the previous record set by his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc, whom KKR bought for Rs 24.75 crore in IPL 2024 auction. Overall, he became the third most expensive player in the history of the IPL auction after Rishabh Pant (Rs 27 crore to Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2025 mega auction) and Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer (26.75 crore in the IPL 2025 auction). Registered as a batter due to an oversight by his manager during the player auction registration, Green surpassed the previous record set by his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc, whom KKR bought for Rs 24.75 crore in IPL 2024 auction. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Most recently, he played in IPL 2024 for RCB after being traded in from MI. In 12 innings, he scored 255 runs at a strike rate of 143.25 and took 10 wickets in 13 matches with the ball at an economy rate of 8.61. Article Source: IANS
Gang rivalry over kabaddi tournaments leads to killing of player-promoter Rana Balachauria in Mohali
CHANDIGARH: A tussle among rival gangsters over dominance in the organisation of kabaddi tournaments in Punjab has led to the killing of 30-year-old kabaddi player-cum-promoter Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balachauria, who was shot dead in Mohali on Sunday evening. He was killed by associates of gangsters Doni Bal and Lucky Patial. This is not the first such incident, as two well-known players of the sport have earlier been assassinated in similar circumstances. Punjab Police have identified three alleged accused, including two shooters who fired multiple rounds at Balachauria. They have been named as Aditya Kapoor alias Makhan and Karan Pathak, both residents of Amritsar, with 13 and two FIRs registered against them respectively. Police said the accused belong to the gang of Doni Bal and Lucky Patial. No arrests have been made so far. According to police, the assailants fled on the Landran road after shooting Balachauria at point-blank range in the head and face during a private kabaddi tournament in Sector 82, Mohali, at around 6 pm. The tournament had been under way for the past few days. Balachauria, who had got married around 10 to 15 days ago, was rushed to Fortis Hospital with gunshot injuries, but despite immediate clinical assessment, he was declared brought dead. The tournament was being held at a packed ground, where Punjabi singer Mankirt Aulakh was also expected to attend the evening matches to distribute prizes. Police said four rounds were fired by the two accused, who approached the victim on the pretext of taking a selfie and took him aside near the parking lot before shooting him at point-blank range. While fleeing the spot, the accused fired shots into the air to scare youths who attempted to chase them. The police have linked the deceased to jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria in connection with dominance over the organisation of kabaddi tournaments. Calling it a planned attack, Senior Superintendent of Police, SAS Nagar, Harmandeep Singh Hans said, The identity of the third person has been withheld till now. The police have also zeroed in on a few individuals involved in providing shelter and logistics to the assailants. As of now, the deceased has no role or link in the Moosewala murder case. Twelve police teams have been formed to trace the alleged shooters, with two teams operating in Delhi and Amritsar. Hours after the shooting, gangster Doni Bal claimed responsibility for the killing in a Facebook post. The post read, I, Donibal, Saganpreet, Mohabbat Randhawa, Amar Khabe, Prabh Daswal, and Kaushal Chaudhary, take responsibility for the killing of Rana Balachauria during the Kabaddi Cup in Mohali. This man (Rana) was in contact with our rivals Jaggu and Lawrence. The post further stated that the Saganpreet gang is closely linked to the Bambiha or Gopi Ghanshampur factions. He had provided shelter to the killer of Sidhu Moosewala and personally looked after him. By killing Rana today, we have avenged the murder of our brother Sidhu Moosewala. This act was carried out by our brothers Makhan Amritsar and defaulter Karan, it read. The killing of Balachauria has revived memories of a similar incident three years ago, when another kabaddi player, Sandeep Nangal, was shot dead in Jalandhar district during a tournament at Mallian Kalan village. More recently, a 25-year-old kabaddi player, Teja Singh, was shot dead in broad daylight in Jagraon in October this year. Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP slammed the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government over the Mohali incident, alleging a total collapse of law and order in Punjab.
IPL 2026: Complete KKR team and full players list
Once the bidding crossed the Rs 25 crore mark, Cameron Green surpassed the previous overseas record held by his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc, who was bought by KKR for Rs 24.75 crore at the IPL 2024 auction. Overall, Green now stands as the third costliest player in IPL auction history, behind Rishabh Pant and Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer.
IPL 2026 mini-auction: RCB outbids KKR to buy Venkatesh Iyer for 7 crore
Venkatesh Iyer has been in decent form for Madhya Pradesh in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where his most recent knock was a 43-ball 70 against Punjab
In a shocking incident, a newly married kabaddi player and promoter Rana Balachauria was shot dead in Punjab's Mohali during a tournament, raising questions about the state law and order. A rival gang of Lawrence Bishnoi has claimed the responsibility of the attack and said it was revenge as Rana provided shelter to the killers of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Amid this, an Instagram reel related to the murder is being probed by the Punjab police.
Cameron Green Becomes Costliest Overseas Buy In IPL History, Sold To KKR For Rs 25.20 Cr
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping sum of Rs. 25.20 crore at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, underway here at the Etihad Arena. With that, he became the most expensive overseas player in the history of the tournament. As his bidding reached the Rs 25 crore mark, he went past the previous record set by his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc, who was bought by KKR for Rs 24.75 crore in the IPL 2024 auction. Overall, he became the third costliest player in the history of the IPL auction after Rishabh Pant (Rs 27 crore to Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2025 mega auction) and Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer (26.75 crore in IPL 2025 auction). Green went under the hammer at his base price of Rs. 2 crore and initiated a bidding war between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals, before the latter team backed out when the figures touched Rs. 13 crore. Just then, five-time champions Chennai Super Kings lifted the paddle as the battle intensified. KKR and CSK entered the auction as the teams with the heaviest purses, with the three-time champions having Rs. 64.30 crore and the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team having Rs. 43.40 crore. After a few tense moments and several discussions among members of the think tanks of both sides, Green became the first player of the eve to cross the Rs. 20 crore mark before KKR sealed the deal for a whopping 25.20 crore. Just then, five-time champions Chennai Super Kings lifted the paddle as the battle intensified. KKR and CSK entered the auction as the teams with the heaviest purses, with the three-time champions having Rs. 64.30 crore and the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team having Rs. 43.40 crore. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The all-rounders most recent IPL outing was in IPL 2024, when he represented RCB. In 12 innings, he made 255 runs at a strike rate of 143.25. Picked up 10 wickets in 13 matches with the ball at an economy of 8.61. Has also played for the Mumbai Indians before being traded. Article Source: IANS
Gunmen abduct 18 bus passengers in Pakistan
KARACHI, Dec 16: Eighteen people were abducted by unidentified gunmen in Pakistans Sindh province while they were en route to Quetta in a bus. The incident took place near the Ghotki area on Monday night when the attackers opened fire on the bus at the Highway Link Road close to the Sindh and Punjab border, and took hostage 18 male passengers. The driver and a few passengers were injured in the firing. A total of 18 to 20 attackers [] The post Gunmen abduct 18 bus passengers in Pakistan appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
All-round Punjab edge MP in high-scoring contest
Harnoor, Arora fifties and Ramndeep's cameo helped Punjab bounced back from two defeats; Venkatesh Iyer's fifty went in vain
IPL Auction: Can same-name players cause confusion at the bidding table?
A mix-up at the IPL 2024 auction saw Punjab Kings briefly attempt to retract their bid for Shashank Singh, citing mistaken identity due to two players sharing the same name. The franchise later clarified that the all-rounder from Chhattisgarh was always a target, expressing delight in securing him. The player himself reassured fans on social media.
Punjab Declares Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo As Holy Cities
The Punjab government has declared the walled city of Amritsar, Sri Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district, and Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district as Holy Cities of the state, imposing wide-ranging restrictions to preserve their religious sanctity.
Punjabi workers in Gulf: Over 25,000 face exploitation, non-payment of wages; govt steps in
Over 25,000 Punjabis are working abroad, primarily in Gulf nations, facing exploitation like salary delays and passport retention. The government acknowledges these issues and utilizes diplomatic channels and welfare initiatives to assist workers. Tragically, over 54,000 Indian nationals' mortal remains were repatriated in the last decade.
Venkatesh Iyer Smashes Timely 70 Off 43 In SMAT On IPL 2026 Auction Day
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Elite: India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer delivered a timely reminder of his credentials with a polished 70 off 43 deliveries for Madhya Pradesh in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Elite 2025 Super League Group A fixture against Punjab at the DY Patil Academy, Ambi, Pune, on Tuesday. His innings was laced with eight boundaries and two sixes, underlining his ability to control the tempo in the middle order. The performance came just a few hours before the IPL 2026 auction, set to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, making the knock particularly significant. With franchises reconsidering their choices, Venkateshs fluent display arrived at a most timely moment. Venkatesh burst onto the national radar after an impressive IPL debut season with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2021, a campaign that earned him an India call-up and marked him out as one of the most promising all-rounders in the domestic circuit. His rise had begun earlier with a strong showing for Madhya Pradesh during the 202021 limited-overs season. While his IPL 2022 performance was relatively modest, Venkatesh recovered in 2023, scoring 404 runs for KKR, including a century, at a strike rate of 145.85. His status within the franchise increased to the point that he captained the side a few times and was considered for the captaincy before Ajinkya Rahane took over last season. However, the 2025 IPL proved to be a challenging campaign. Despite being retained at a hefty Rs 23.75 crore following the mega auction, Venkatesh managed only 142 runs across 11 matches, with a batting average of 20.28. The decline in performance ultimately prompted KKR to part ways with the left-hander, bringing an end to an association that had spanned his entire IPL career. While his IPL 2022 performance was relatively modest, Venkatesh recovered in 2023, scoring 404 runs for KKR, including a century, at a strike rate of 145.85. His status within the franchise increased to the point that he captained the side a few times and was considered for the captaincy before Ajinkya Rahane took over last season. Also Read: Live Cricket Score KKR enter the auction with the biggest purse among all ten teams, of 64.30 crore, and will eye rebuilding the outfit with 13 slots to fill. Article Source: IANS
The Punjab government on Monday formally declared the walled city of Amritsar, Sri Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district, and Talwandi Sabo (Sri Damdama Sahib) in Bathinda district as Holy Cities of the state, imposing wide-ranging restrictions to preserve their religious sanctity.
Rs 14cr salary scam at Punjabi University: Whistleblower seeks vigilance probe
Work-to-rule: Punjab power engineers stir escalates
Fog envelops Punjab & Haryana, as visibility drops to 10m in Bathinda, 30m in Hisar
NGT notice to Punjab, BBMB over floods and dam safety compliance
Punjab Firm Accused Of Polluting Groundwater, Assets Worth Rs 80 Crore Seized
According to the complaint, the company illegally disposed of untreated industrial wastewater by injecting it into deep underground aquifers.
IPL 2026 Auction: How Shreyas Iyers Punjab Kings can fix gaps with ruthless, high-impact buys
Punjab Kings enter the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a clear strategy, aiming to fill four crucial slots with a healthy purse. They are targeting an explosive middle-order hitter, a dependable wicketkeeper, and an additional Indian bowling option to strengthen their squad. The team seeks to make targeted, high-impact additions rather than wholesale changes.
AAPdismisses rigging charges in Punjab rural polls, calls it false propaganda
Kabaddi player shot dead in middle of Mohali tournament, gunmen open fire in packed arena
CHANDIGARH: A 30-year-old kabaddi player-cum-promoter died after unidentified gunmen opened fire on him after he arrived with his team to take part in a tournament in Mohali on Monday, police said. Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balachauria was critically injured in the attack and was rushed to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali where he was declared dead, police said. The incident took place at Sohana in Mohali where a private kabaddi tournament had been going on for the past few days, SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans said. A statement issued by the hospital said, Mr Kanwar Digvijay Singh, a 30-year-old kabaddi player, was brought to the Fortis Hospital, Mohali, at 6:05 pm with gunshot injuries. Despite immediate clinical assessment, he was declared brought dead. The SSP told reporters that the assailants were 2-3 in number, who reportedly fled on a motorcycle after the incident. Asked if there was any enmity angle or gang rivalry behind the killing, the SSP said, The matter is under investigation. Punjab has become so unsafe that even a Kabaddi ground is no longer spared from bullets. At the Mohali Kabaddi tournament, Kabaddi player and promoter Rana Balachauria (Balraj Rana) was shot dead in front of players and spectators. This is not the first time. Earlier, Kabaddi pic.twitter.com/BMPF9f3iOs BJP Chandigarh (@BJP4Chandigarh) December 15, 2025 Some eyewitnesses told police that the attackers pretended to be fans and approached Rana to click selfies but opened fire soon after. The tournament was being held in a packed ground, where Punjabi singer Mankirt Aulakh was also expected for the evening matches to give away prizes, they said. When Rana reached the ground, he was stopped by the attackers who requested for a selfie. We first thought firecrackers were being burst, an eyewitness said, referring to the gunshots. To scare the spectators, the attackers also fired in the air, he said. The killing brought back memories of three years ago when another kabaddi player, Sandeep Nangal, was shot dead in Jalandhar district in the middle of a tournament at Mallian Kalan village. More recently, a 25-year-old kabaddi player named Teja Singh was shot dead in broad daylight in Jagraon in October this year. The opposition Congress, SAD and BJP slammed the Bhagwant Mann government over the Mohali incident, alleging total collapse of law and order in the state under the AAP. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said in a post on X, Open firing at a kabaddi tournament in Mohali, claiming the life of player Rana Balachauria, is a chilling reminder of @AAPPunjab's abject failure to maintain law and order. Bullets flying at public events are proof of governance collapse. Punjabis are being forced to live in fear. Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said on X, Gunshots at the Mohali Kabaddi Cup in Sohana are a damning verdict on @BhagwantMann's total failure as CM and Home Minister. Bajwa, whos the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, claimed that sporting arenas have turned into shooting grounds while criminals roam with impunity. When bullets fly at public events, it's clear the state has lost control. This isn't governance, this is abdication. Punjab is paying the price for Mann's incompetence and misplaced priorities. Law and order has collapsed completely. How many more shots before accountability, he asked. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said the incident has once again shaken Punjab to its core. In a post in Punjabi on X, Badal said, Under the state's inept government, the morale of criminals has risen to such heights that they do not hesitate to fire shots even in the middle of a running match in front of the entire crowd. It is the incompetence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that murders, extortions and numerous other terrorist incidents are happening daily in Punjab. Yet, instead of maintaining law and order, police are focused on implementing government orders related to political vendetta. Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma claimed the state has become so insecure today that even the kabaddi fields are no longer safe from bullets. The incident is even more heartbreaking because Rana had been married recently. A married life was mercilessly ended by gangster rule, Sharma said. He also said this was not the first such incident. Previously, kabaddi players Sandeep Nangal Ambian and Tejpal Singh were brutally murdered. All these events make one thing clear Punjab's players are also in the crosshairs of gangsters under the Bhagwant Mann government, Sharma said on X. Sharma also alleged that under Bhagwant Mann's failed leadership and Arvind Kejriwal's remote-control government run from Delhi, law and order in Punjab has completely collapsed. Criminals, gangsters, murderers and shooters are roaming freely without any fear, while the government is busy with advertisements and false claims. From villages to cities, from streets to stadiums there is an atmosphere of fear in Punjab today, he alleged.
Chaos Everywhere: Firing At Punjab Kabaddi Match Leaves Promoter Injured
A shooting incident occurred at the Bedwan Sports Club's four-day kabaddi match in Mohali, leaving promoter Rana BalaChouria seriously injured.
Punjab Police arrests two gangster-turned-terrorists linked with BKI from Mumbai
CHANDIGARH: In a major inter-state operation carried out in coordination with central agencies, Punjab Police have arrested two gangster-turned-terrorists linked to the banned outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) from Mumbai, officials said on Monday. The arrested men have been identified as Sajan Masih, a resident of Veroke village in Gurdaspur district, and Sukhdev Kumar alias Munish Bedi, a resident of Lahori Gate in Amritsar. Both were allegedly operating from overseas locations before their arrest. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the two accused had a long criminal history, with multiple cases registered against them for murder, attempt to murder, offences under the Arms Act, use of explosives, and provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) at police stations in Batala and Amritsar. According to Yadav, the arrested men were key operatives of Pakistan-based ISI-supported terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda and USA-based BKI operative Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, who is currently detained. They were operating from overseas locations, including Dubai and Armenia, while attempting to orchestrate criminal and terror activities in Punjab, he said. The DGP said Punjab Police had issued Look Out Circulars (LOCs) and Red Corner Notices against several wanted criminals who had taken refuge abroad, which helped in tracking and apprehending the two accused. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the duo was part of a BKI-linked network responsible for multiple grenade attacks on police stations in Amritsar and Batala, as well as the killings of Hardeep Singh of Jourrian Kalan and Ravi Kumar, a kiryana store owner from Dera Baba Nanak. Yadav added that Sajan Masih was also coordinating with another key associate, Shamsher Shera alias Honey, who is currently based in Armenia. Sharing operational details, AIG SSOC Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said the arrests were made following specific intelligence inputs developed in close coordination with central agencies. A joint team of the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, and Counter Intelligence, Pathankot, was swiftly dispatched to Mumbai and took the accused into custody immediately after they landed from abroad. Mann said the arrested men were actively involved in providing logistical support, funding channels and strategic direction to foot soldiers operating in Punjab. Both accused have been arrested in connection with FIR No. 47 dated August 25, 2025, registered under Sections 25, 29 and 30 of the Arms Act and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station SSOC Amritsar.
CM to open labour conclave on December 19
Labour Ministers of Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and Telangana will take part in the conclave, says V. Sivankutty.
Watch: Addressing an anomaly | On stubble burning, burnt-area estimates
The Environment Ministry told Parliament that Punjab and Haryana have reduced stubble burning incidents by 90% in 2025 compared to 2022
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Monday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking mandatory videography of the counting of votes for the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, scheduled to be held on Wednesday, following polling on December 14. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Warring on Monday through advocate Nikhil Ghai. It states that he absence of mandatory videography during counting renders the process opaque and vulnerable to arbitrariness and manipulation, potentially undermining public confidence in grassroots democracy. It invokes constitutional provisions, including Articles 14 (equality), 21 (right to life and liberty), and 243K (powers of State Election Commission), asserting that free and fair elections are part of the basic structure of the Constitution. The court is scheduled to hear the public interest litigation on Tuesday. Ghai said on the petitioners behalf that the counting of votes was an integral and decisive stage of the election process, continuing until the declaration of results. The petitioner contended that the absence of videography rendered the process opaque and vulnerable to arbitrariness and allegations of manipulation, thereby eroding public confidence in democratic institutions. Despite this being a settled legal position, the counting of votes in Zila Parishad elections was conducted without mandatory videography, leaving no objective or verifiable record of the most sensitive phase of the elections, the plea said. The petition sought preventive institutional safeguards, including directions to mandate videography of the entire counting process, secure preservation of videographic records for a prescribed period, and their availability for judicial or statutory scrutiny. It also sought the framing of uniform and binding guidelines governing videography, storage, access and accountability. Earlier, the high court had directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to ensure the non-partisan conduct of police personnel and to inquire into allegations of misconduct by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress, as both parties had claimed that their candidates and workers were allegedly intimidated and attacked to prevent them from participating in the poll process. There was a low voter turnout of 48 per cent in these polls, compared to 58.1 per cent in 2018.
IPL 2026 Auction: Green, Livingstone, Bishnoi On Radar As Teams Get Ready To Make Big Buys
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: The spotlight will be on the likes of Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone and Ravi Bishnoi as ten franchises gear up for the IPL 2026 auction, set to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. It will mark the third straight time of an IPL auction happening outside India after Dubai (2024) and Jeddah (2025). All ten teams are expected to loosen their purse strings in pursuit of marquee talent and have a squad which can win the IPL 2026 trophy. A total of 77 slots are available, including 31 for overseas players. Three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have the most vacancies with 13, followed by 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with ten. From a longlist of 1,355 players, 359 have been shortlisted 244 Indian and 115 overseas. Forty players have entered at the maximum base price of Rs 2 crore, with Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer the only Indians in that group. Green, Australias seam-bowling all-rounder, is expected to be the biggest draw, thanks to the skewed demand-supply ratio in a mini IPL auction, with bids for him projected to cross Rs 25 crore. Apart from Bishnoi and Green, the England duo of Liam Livingstone and Jamie Smith, along with NZ pacer Matt Henry, keeper-batter Tim Seifert and South Africa batter David Miller, are also likely to attract strong interest from all ten teams, as is Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who was let go of by Chennai Super Kings (CSK). KKR head into the auction with the largest purse at Rs 64.30 crore, while five-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have Rs 43.40 crore, with both teams eyeing to rebuild their squads after a poor IPL 2025 season. In contrast, five-time winners Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings might have quiet auctions due to their purses of Rs 2.75 crore and Rs 11.5 crore, respectively. What remains certain is that no overseas player can earn more than Rs 18 crore, regardless of the winning bid. Under the IPLs maximum-fee rule, the cap is fixed at the lower of the highest retention slab - Rs 18 crore - or the top price from the previous mega auction, which was Rs 27 crore for India wicketkeeper-batter and Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant. Among the uncapped names, Jammu & Kashmirs seam-bowling all-rounder Auqib Nabi and Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma have drawn interest from coaches and scouts who have been seeing all games of state-run T20 leagues and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. What remains certain is that no overseas player can earn more than Rs 18 crore, regardless of the winning bid. Under the IPLs maximum-fee rule, the cap is fixed at the lower of the highest retention slab - Rs 18 crore - or the top price from the previous mega auction, which was Rs 27 crore for India wicketkeeper-batter and Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The auction will move into an accelerated round after the first 70 players are presented, with franchises then nominating unsold names for further bidding. As this is a mini-auction, the Right to Match (RTM) card will not be available to teams. Article Source: IANS
IPL Auction: Far from perfect, champions RCB look to plug gaps in Abu Dhabi
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by Rajat Patidar, finally clinched their maiden IPL title in 2025, defeating Punjab Kings. With a strong batting lineup and effective bowling, RCB enters the 2026 auction with Rs 16.40 crore and 8 slots to fill, aiming to bolster their bowling depth and middle-order options.
Schools in Jalandhar hit by bomb threat; evacuation ordered, searches on
JALANDHAR: A bomb threat sent into panic several schools here on Monday, with authorities evacuating students and launching anti-sabotage actions. Nothing suspicious has been found so far, an officer said. We were told that there had been some fault in the electricity and we were asked to pick up our children from the school, a parent told reporters. ACP (North) Sanjay Kumar, who was at KMV School, said, A threat was received on the school principal's email that the building would be blown up. He said the police searched the school premises immediately after the information was received. Anti-sabotage team also carried out a check in the premises, but nothing suspicious was found so far, Kumar said. He said there were other schools which received similar bomb threats. The Cyber Police teams are tracking the source of the mail, he said. On December 12, several schools in Amritsar were hit by a bomb threat, which later turned out to be a hoax. #WATCH | Jalandhar, Punjab: ACP North Jalandhar Sanjay Kumar says, The school received an email, and the principal also received a message containing a threat. The cyber team is investigating the email... The threat is that they want to demolish the school. https://t.co/W3Q8nRjd9o pic.twitter.com/F9d80znI9J ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2025
Always Enjoy Bowling With Arshdeep As He Creates Pressure From The Other End: Rana
Harshit Rana: Indias seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana said he relishes sharing the new ball with Arshdeep Singh and credited the left-arm fast bowler for building pressure from the opposite end. In the third T20I at the HPCA Stadium on Sunday, Arshdeep and Rana, playing in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who was unavailable due to personal reasons, set the tone for Indias seven-wicket win by making the most of seam-friendly conditions and picking three wickets in the powerplay. The duo claimed a combined 4 for 47 from their eight overs, which proved to be decisive for Indias comfortable win, giving them a 2-1 lead. First of all, I always enjoy bowling with him with the new ball, especially because he's someone who creates that pressure from one end. I like to give him company in terms of what's in my hand. So, I enjoy bowling with him because he has a lot of experience and I get a lot of help from him. I found out at midnight that I was playing this match. It's my first time here in Dharamsala. I've never been to Dharamsala before. It's a lot of fun bowling here. I get a lot of help from the weather and its a lot of fun, said Rana in a video posted by BCCIs social media accounts on Monday. Arshdeep, who took the Player of the Match award for his figures of 2-13, had a forgetful time in the second T20I in New Chandigarh conceding 54 runs, including seven wides in the 13th over. He said being a level-headed human and support from the team helped him bounce back in Dharamsala, a ground where he turns out for Punjab Kings in the IPL. Whether it's good or bad, I just try to stay at a level. Like, I try to be a level-headed person and create reels. I try to keep the dressing room atmosphere light because when you play at an international level and you're away from your family, there's a lot of pressure. If you don't have a good day, they give you a shoulder to help you and make you feel good. That's the main motive of being in the team. He also felt bowling coach Morne Morkel could have been playing ahead of him if the former was still active on the international circuit. If the bowling coach was playing on this wicket, I wouldn't be playing. After the last game, he said that you gave me a lot of screen time. Whenever I bowled a wide ball - the camera was focusing straight on the coach because many felt, What if he gave a wrong bowling plan or we didnt do practice together with him? For that, I will say sorry to Morne and will try to get you less screen time. Morkel reacted with laughter about an increase in his visibility in the second T20I and felt pleased about Indias fightback with the ball. I received a lot of messages from players in our squad with the red ball and 50-over series that I pay for my own private channel because all they saw was me on the screen. Whenever I bowled a wide ball - the camera was focusing straight on the coach because many felt, What if he gave a wrong bowling plan or we didnt do practice together with him? For that, I will say sorry to Morne and will try to get you less screen time. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Morkel signed off by admiring the picturesque surroundings in Dharamsala. The nice thing about this ground is if you ever have an average day, you can always look up at the mountains and just feel life isn't the same everyday. So, theres always a great joy in coming to this venue and playing here. It's one of my favourite grounds in the world. Article Source: IANS
North India to experience warmer winter days amid record cold nights, air pollution
NEW DELHI: An unexpected spell of warmer winter days is expected in North India leading up to Christmas, primarily due to weaker western disturbances (WD) and the presence of an anticyclonic system over western India. However, night will be colder than normal. Moreover, Delhi recorded its coldest average minimum temperature for the first half of December in the past 14 years. Weather experts predict that maximum daytime temperatures in many areas of Northwest, Western, and Central India will rise by 3C to 7C above normal, especially between December 15 and December 22. Over the past three days, the average maximum temperature in Delhi and surrounding areas has increased up to 4C during the day. Nonetheless, data indicates that Delhi experienced its coldest night in 14 years during the first half of December, with an average minimum temperature of 7.74C. Experts attribute this weather pattern to the prevalence of strong anticyclonic systems over western India combined with limited activity from Western Disturbances. Anticyclonic activities over the western region of the Indian subcontinent are pushing dry winds toward the central and southern regions, causing a cold wave in places like Telangana and North Karnataka. However, these dry winds are unable to penetrate the dense smog that is prevalent over Northwest India, said Dr. K J Ramesh, former Director General of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). In the past two days, the speed of the dry winds has decreased, exacerbating the severe levels of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. IMD stated in its bulletin that no significant changes in weather are expected, particularly in the plains, over the next week despite the back-to-back arrival of weaker WD. While these disturbances will not bring the much-needed rainfall to the plains, they will lead to widespread mid- to high-level clouding over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, further worsening air pollution by thickening the smog over the Indo-Gangetic plains. These WDs will not help but it will further destabilize the atmosphere by obstructing the flow of Northwest winds. The cloud cover traps pollution beneath it, leaving no opportunity for it to escape. Severe Air Quality Index (AQI) levels are expected to persist in North India tonight and tomorrow, with low visibility conditions in the morning due to smog, noted Navdeep Dahiya, an independent weather expert. He added that conditions may improve slightly on Tuesday once the Northwest winds resume. Reports also indicate that higher sea surface temperatures, around 2830C, in the Bay of Bengal and the North Indian Ocean are contributing to elevated winter air temperatures across the Indian subcontinent. Meanwhile, the IMD mentioned that light snowfall is expected over the higher reaches of the Himalayas. Furthermore, cold wave conditions are likely to continue at isolated places in Telangana and Interior Karnataka for the next two days. Pointers: 1. Warmer days expected till Christmas as days temperature may rise by 3C to 7C above normal. 2. Weaker Western Disturbances and prevalence of anti-cyclone or western region will keep pollutants trapped in Northwest region. 3. During the period, night will be colder than usual. 4. Delhi experienced its coldest night in 14 years during the first half of December.
The Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board is closing online applications today for PSSSB Punjab Group D Recruitment 2025 under Advertisement 08/2025. The recruitment covers 331 Group D posts across various Punjab government departments. Eligible candidates with Class 10 qualification and Punjabi subject can apply online through the official website. Selection will be through a written examination followed by document verification and medical examination.
A thick layer of smog engulfed Delhi and its neighbouring areas on Monday, severely reducing visibility. This compounded the city's already critical air quality, with AQI levels in the 'Severe Plus' category. The IMD has warned of very dense fog conditions in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana in the coming days. In view of the deteriorating weather conditions, Delhi airport issued an advisory on Monday morning informing passengers of possible delays.
Two Punjabi students, Gurdeep Singh (27) and Ranveer Singh (19), were killed in a targeted shooting in Edmonton, Canada. The incident occurred after a party when their car was ambushed and fired upon by unidentified individuals. Police are investigating the targeted event and seeking a dark-coloured SUV.
Reddys ton guides Andhra to thrilling win against Punjab
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Pune, Dec 14: Young Andhra batter Hemanth Reddy proved way too strong-willed in the face of some hostile bowling from Punjab as he smashed an unbeaten 109 to lead his side to a thrilling five-wicket win in a high-scoring Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League A match, here Sunday. Reddy, playing []
CHANDIGARH: Punjab recorded over 48% voting in the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections on Sunday, with more than 9,000 candidates in the fray. However, the polls were marred by isolated incidents of stone-pelting, scuffles, and complaints of booth capturing, prompting the State Election Commission (SEC) to order repolls at four polling booths. The SEC announced repolls at Chahiyan in Gurdaspur, Babania and Madhir in Muktsar, and Chananwal in Barnala after reports that presiding officers allegedly absconded with ballot papers and instances of booth capturing. The repoll is scheduled for Tuesday. Clashes were reported in Tarn Tarans Kazi Kot village, where workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) pelted stones at each other. Similar incidents occurred in Ferozepurs Betu Kadim village. Meanwhile, polling agents of Congress, SAD, and BJP lodged complaints with the Gidderbaha police, accusing AAP leader Sunny Dhillon and others of booth capturing. Dhillon denied the allegations, saying he was only touring villages to meet party workers and did not enter any polling booths. Polling was also cancelled in Khurmanian and Khasa villages of Amritsar due to a printing error on ballot papers. While the AAP candidates name was correct, the election symbol was wrongly printed in Khasa. Congress leaders raised concerns over administrative lapses and alleged intimidation. Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa accused the AAP of replicating Manish Sisodias Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed tactics in Punjab, claiming that pressure, manipulation, and misuse of administration had discouraged voter participation. He highlighted errors in ballot issuance in six villages of Kahnuwan Zone No. 9, which delayed polling by nearly two hours. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring alleged gross electoral malpractices by the ruling party, claiming that AAP workers, supported by police and administration, resorted to booth capturing at several locations, surpassing even the BJPs record of vote chori. SAD leaders Dr Daljit Singh Cheema and Arshdeep Singh Kler echoed these allegations, claiming that AAP colluded with the SEC and Punjab Police to steal the elections. They demanded a judicial probe into SEC functioning and its immediate removal, citing violence and attacks on opposition workers at multiple locations, including Qazikot in Tarn Taran, Talwandi Dasondha Singh in Majitha, Naushehra Majasingh in Batala, Kingra in Malout, Madhir and Babania in Gidderbaha, and Dharamkot. Rejecting the allegations, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann lauded the administration for conducting free, fair, and transparent polls. He accused the opposition, particularly SAD, of attempting to use gangsters to disrupt the electoral process. Mann said more than 2,400 opposition candidates contested the polls, indicating no misuse of official machinery, and blamed the opposition for indulging in cheap tactics out of frustration over defeats. Polling boycotts were reported in five villagesKotli, Bhedpuri, Dodhra, Sehajpur Kalan, and Sehajpur Khurd, of Samana assembly segment in Patiala, where villagers protested being included in Patran block instead of Samana. The elections cover 347 zones of 22 zila parishads and 2,838 zones of 153 panchayat samitis across the state.
Woman narco kingpin arrested in Jammu
Jammu: Police on Sunday arrested the woman kingpin of a narcotic trafficking racket here, officials said. Geeta Devi, originally from Phagwara in Punjab, was arrested from her rented accommodation in Rajiv Nagar by a team from the Udhampur police station, the officials said. They said Devi was identified as the narco kingpin during the investigation []
Entrusting Sharada Revival to Persian Departments: A Monumental Historical Mistake
By Bhushan Parimoo Originating in Kashmir and spreading widely across north-west Indiaincluding the Punjab hills and the old Gandhara regionSharada is the supreme indigenous alphabet of ancient Kashmir. It flourished between the 8th9th century and the 15th century, after which it was gradually replaced by the Persian script following the advent of Islam in [] The post Entrusting Sharada Revival to Persian Departments: A Monumental Historical Mistake appeared first on Northlines .
Caught On Cam: Scooter Rider Hits Man, Then Shoots Him For Confronting; Booked
Based on the CCTV footage, Punjab police has lodged an FIR and multiple raids are being conducted to arrest the accused.
SMAT | Ton-up Jaiswal powers Mumbai past Haryana, keeps remote chances alive
Hyderabad makes it two out of two to consolidate top spot; Hemanths hundred helps Andhra eliminate Punjab; Jharkhand edges MP by one run
NEW DELHI: There is no scientific evidence linking COVID-19 vaccination to sudden deaths among young adults, a latest AIIMS-ICMR study has said. The study found that most sudden deaths in India among both the young and old is due to cardiovascular diseases. Also, smoking and alcohol intake was equally prevalent in those who died young and at old age. The year-long study, published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, the flagship journal of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), found that while the mean age for sudden death among young was 33.6 years, for old it was 53.8 years. Males predominated in both the categories. The researchers closely examined sudden death cases of people aged between 18 and 45 years using verbal autopsy, post-mortem imaging, conventional autopsy and detailed histopathological tests. According to the findings, there was no statistically significant association between COVID-19 vaccination status and sudden deaths in the young population. The present study did not find any significant correlation between COVID-related history or vaccination status, it said. Dr. Sudheer Arava, Professor in the Department of Pathology, AIIMS, and co-author of the study, said public health discourse must be guided by credible research and scientific evidence, not misinformation. The study also noted that both COVID-19 infection history and vaccination status were similar across younger and older age groups, and no causal link between vaccination and sudden deaths was found. These results, the researchers said, are in line with global scientific evidence that supports the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Out of 2214 autopsies, 180 cases (8.1%) met the criteria for sudden death. Sudden death in the young accounted for 103 (57.2%) cases. Among the total sudden deaths, sudden death in young (18-45 years) accounted for 57.2 per cent (103 cases) and sudden death in old (46-65 year) accounted for 42.8 per cent (77 cases). While sudden deaths due to cardiovascular reasons was the leading cause among young, it is followed by respiratory causes, and then unexplained deaths. The other reasons were gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and genitourinary pathologies. The study said Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the single most common cause of sudden death in older individuals (46-65 years), constituting 72.1 per cent. It is followed by sudden unexplained deaths (14.1%), gastrointestinal (7.4%) and pulmonary causes (4. 4%). The researchers defined sudden death as a death that occurs within one hour of onset of symptoms in witnessed cases and/or within 24 hour of last being seen alive in unwitnessed cases. On sudden deaths, the researchers, drawnfrom a multidisciplinary team of experts, said,It is one of the major public health concerns noted amongst all age groups, gender, socio-economic strata and ethnic categories. Despite major advancements in health care, sudden death remains a significant public health burden with substantial mortality. About 71.6 per cent of the total sudden death cases were residents of Delhi and NCR region, while others belonged to neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab. About 80.2 per cent belonged to the lower and middle socioeconomic class. The common symptom seen among sudden deaths was sudden loss of consciousness, while rest complained of uneasiness, shortness of breath, chest pain, gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain and vomiting and fever. While in the young, few were found to be suffering from comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, and epilepsy, among the older group, a higher proportion had a history of comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
SMAT: Reddys Unbeaten Century Helps Andhra Win, Knock Punjab Out Of Competition
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super: Maramreddy Hemanth Reddy smashed a blistering unbeaten century to script Andhras first win of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League stage and eliminate Punjab from being in contention for the final. At the MCA Cricket Stadium in Gahunje, Hemanth hammered 109 off 53 balls, his first T20I century and steered Andhra to a five-wicket victory by successfully hunting down 206 with a ball to spare. Put into batting first, Punjab assembled a strong total through collective contributions. Opener Harnoor Singhs 42 off 30 balls laid the foundation for the high score before Anmolpreet Singh (47 off 27 balls), Ramandeep Singh (43 off 18 balls) and Salil Arora (42 not out off 22 balls) injected momentum in the middle and death overs. For Andhra, seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Reddy, who took a hat-trick in the previous game against Madhya Pradesh, returned with figures of 1-39 while left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar took 1-24. The chase began in turmoil for Andhra, as they were reduced to 12/3 and later 56/5 in the ninth over, with Nitish falling for a duck. From that precarious position, Hemanth and SDNV Prasad turned the contest around with a decisive 155-run stand for the sixth wicket. For Andhra, seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Reddy, who took a hat-trick in the previous game against Madhya Pradesh, returned with figures of 1-39 while left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar took 1-24. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Punjab 205/5 in 20 overs (Anmolpreet Singh 47, Ramandeep Singh 43; Saurabh Kumar 1-24, Nitish Kumar Reddy 1-39) lost to Andhra 211/5 in 19.5 overs (M Hemanth Reddy 109 not out, SDNV Prasad 53 not out, Gurnoor Brar 3-23, Ayush Goyal 1-37) by five wickets Article Source: IANS
Longest property dispute ends: Punjab Haryana HC rules for original allottee in Faridabad land case
A 62-year-old property dispute in Faridabad has concluded. The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled in favor of the original allottee's family. They will receive a 5,103 sq ft plot purchased in 1963 for under 14,000. The land's current market value is nearly 7 crore.
Punjab Couple, Heading For Poll Duty, Die As Car Plunges Into Gorge Due To Dense Fog
The husband was driving his wife to her election duty at a polling booth in Sangatpura village for the Punjab zila parishad polls.
Two Indian-origin youths from Punjab shot dead in targeted attack in Canada
CHANDIGARH: In a targeted attack, two Indian-origin youths from Punjab were shot dead in southeast Edmonton, Canada, by unidentified assailants. The deceased have been identified as Gurdeep Singh from Bareh village and Ranbir Singh from Uddat Saidewala village near Budhlada in Mansa, Punjab. According to information received by Gurdeeps family from his friend Arshdeep, the two were on their way to celebrate a friends birthday when they were allegedly fired upon in the early hours of Friday. Both youths had moved to Canada separately in pursuit of better career opportunities. The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) said it believes the incident was a targeted attack and has launched an investigation. In a statement, the EPS said it is investigating the suspicious deaths of two adult men in southeast Edmonton. Officers attempted life-saving measures until emergency medical services arrived, but both victims were pronounced dead at the scene. On Friday, December 12, 2025, at approximately 1:43 a.m., officers responded to reports of gunshots in the area of 32 Street and 26 Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located two males believed to be in their 20s suffering from gunshot wounds. EPS officers attempted lifesaving measures until EMS arrived and assumed care. Sadly, both men were pronounced dead at the scene. The EPS Homicide Section has taken over the investigation. Autopsies are scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, and Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the statement read. The statement further noted, Police are looking for a dark-coloured SUV that may have been in the area at the time of the shooting. Investigators are asking anyone in the area of Silverberry Road and 23 Avenue, as well as 34 Street and 29 Street, who may have dash camera or security footage from approximately 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, to 2:30 a.m. on December 12, 2025, to contact police immediately. Police believe this to be a targeted event. The investigation is ongoing.
Punjab road tragedy: Teacher couple die as car plunges into drain due to dense fog
An English teacher, Jaskaran Singh Bhullar, and his wife, Kanmaljit Kaur, tragically died in a road accident on Sunday morning. While driving to drop his wife for election duty, their car fell into a drain near Sangatpura village in Moga district. Police suspect fog as the cause of the accident, leaving the teacher fraternity in shock.
8% polling recorded till 10 a.m. in zila parishad, panchayat samiti elections in Punjab
The polling began at 8 a.m. amid tight security arrangements and is slated to continue till 4 p.m.; the counting of votes will take place on December 17.
Canada shooting: 2 Punjabi youths killed while heading to party; families mourn
Two young Punjabi students, Gurdeep Singh (27) and Ranveer Singh (18), were tragically shot and killed in Edmonton, Canada, while en route to a party. The victims, both from Mansa district, were reportedly shot while in their car. Canadian police are investigating the incident and have apprehended several Punjabi youths.
Chandigarh Diary: Kangana gives BJP rally in Himachal a miss
The BJP MP from Mandi and Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut recently skipped a massive party rally held at the Zorawar Stadium in Dharamshala, targeting the Congress governments three-year rule of corruption, lies, and administrative collapse. While all the other party MPs, such as Dr Rajeev Bhardwaj, Indu Goswami, and Sikandar Kumar, attended the event, Kangana was conspicuous by her absence. Also present were thousands of BJP supporters from across the state and party leaders, including state president Rajeev Bindal, state in-charge Shrikant Sharma, co-incharge Sanjay Tandon, leader of opposition Jai Ram Thakur, former Union minister Anurag Thakur, and former state president Suresh Kashyap. Kanganas absence generated far more attention. Korean womans Punjabi chat with Mann CM Bhagwant Mann was in for a pleasant surprise when a Korean woman, whom he met while heading a delegation to South Korea, spoke to him in fluent Punjabi. A video of Mann interacting with the woman is going viral on social media. The woman with folded hands introduced herself in Punjabi, saying, I am Simran Kaur, a daughter-in-law from Punjab. By the way, my real name is (Korean name). I am Korean Punjabi, my husband is a Punjabi. Then her husband said, It has been 20 years since our wedding. An impressed Mann asked who taught her Punjabi, to which she proudly replied, My in-laws. Sikhs should have 3-4 children: Jathedar Akal Takht acting Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj has urged Sikhs to have at least three to four children, as their population is in decline. In a video that has gone viral, he can be heard saying that producing one child is not a wise policy, The population of all the communities has swelled, but we (Sikhs) have not been able to match the growth. We should have at least 3 or 4 children in a family. This is not a conservative approach. We should think in this direction, he said in the presence of Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale.
