Punjab News
Text view
HC halts elevation of Punjab govt officers into IAS under non-civil services quota
Parliamentary panel flags AMRUT gaps in Punjab
Punjab govt using schools for political publicity: Teacher body
SC refuses to stay CBI probe in FIRs against suspended Punjab DIG Bhullar in bribery case
The officer has challenged the December 4 order of the high court which had denied interim relief of stay on the CBI proceedings and adjourned his plea for hearing in January
Punjab government to hold special assembly session against replacement of MGNREGA with VB G RAM G
CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government will convene a special session of the state assembly next month to protest the replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB G RAM G), which it views as the union governments attempt to hit the livelihoods of the poor. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, The BJP government at the Centre is trying to hit the livelihoods of the poor by replacing the MGNREGA scheme. A special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha will be called in the second week of January to raise the voice of Punjabis against this oppression. The decision to convene the special assembly session was taken by the partys top leaders, including AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, on Thursday evening. Kejriwal is currently on a three-day tour of the state. The previous special session of the Vidhan Sabha, held on November 24, was prorogued by the Governor on December 17. Meanwhile, several unions have begun protesting against the replacement of MGNREGA with VB G RAM G. Lachman Singh Sewewal, general secretary of Punjab Khet Mazdoor Unions, said protests were held yesterday in Bathinda, Moga, Muktsar, Faridkot, and Sangrur, where effigies of the Central Government were burnt. He added that the change in the scheme would remove assured employment in rural areas and was being introduced to erase the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. The VB G RAM G Bill was recently introduced in Parliament and passed amid protests by opposition MPs. Since the new funding model will require states to contribute financially, its implementation could pose a challenge for cash-strapped states like Punjab. Punjab AAP spokesperson Neel Garg alleged that the union government has relied on hollow slogans and political theatrics to mislead the public while systematically eroding welfare guarantees for the poorest. This is not merely a change of name, nor about removing Mahatma Gandhis name. The real issue is that the Centre has effectively sounded the death knell for MGNREGA and is trying to hide its anti-labour agenda behind manufactured TV debates and distractions, he said. Senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said the move was not a routine policy adjustment but a direct assault on Mahatma Gandhis legacy and a calculated rollback of one of independent Indias most transformative social security legislations. He warned that shifting MGNREGA from 100% central funding to a 60:40 CentreState cost-sharing formula would place an unbearable fiscal burden on financially stressed states. This decision arms the Centre with another tool to discriminate against opposition-ruled states by arbitrarily curtailing funds. It strikes at the foundation of cooperative federalism and threatens a crucial employment lifeline for rural India, Bajwa asserted. Highlighting Punjabs financial challenges, he said the BJP has consistently squeezed opposition-ruled states by withholding the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and delaying GST compensation. Punjab and several other states were forced to fight for their legitimate GST dues. In such a hostile fiscal environment, imposing additional financial liabilities will only push cash-starved states deeper into distress, he added. Bajwa emphasised that the BJPs policy shift would disproportionately harm societys most vulnerable sections. Dalits, landless labourers, and marginalized rural workers will bear the brunt of this regressive decision. This is not reformit is ideological vandalism and an unapologetic attack on social justice, he stated. The Shiromani Akali Dal also expressed concern over the Centres proposal to institute a 60:40 cost-sharing ratio, calling it fundamentally unacceptable as it diluted the core essence of the scheme and undermined its primary objective of guaranteeing livelihood security through wage employment in rural areas.
Enforcement Directorate's probe into the 'donkey' route uncovered a Haryana-based operator collecting property papers as security from aspirants for illegal US travel via Mexico. Searches across Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi yielded incriminating evidence, including documents and mobile phones, related to the syndicate's operations.
The Punjab government has announced its official list of public and restricted holidays for state government offices in 2026. These holidays will be observed across all government offices, boards, corporations, and educational institutions under the state's purview. This annual release ensures clarity for public sector entities and aligns with the varied holiday schedules across Indian states.
Josh Inglis' availability comes under scanner after LSG bags Aussie for Rs 8.6 crore
Australian batter Josh Inglis secured a large bid from Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2026. This comes despite prior communication from the BCCI stating his limited availability due to marriage. The BCCI and IPL Governing Council are monitoring the situation. Inglis was released by Punjab Kings before the auction. The episode raises questions about potential exploitation of the situation.
ED seizes Rs 4.62 crore, silver and gold in dunki money laundering probe
The searches were conducted on Thursday across more than a dozen locations in Delhi, Punjab (Jalandhar), and Haryana (Panipat). From the premises of a Delhi-based travel agent, authorities recovered cash, silver, and gold bullion valued at a total of Rs 19.13 crore
Dense fog grips Punjab, Haryana; Hoshiarpur shivers at 4.8 deg C
The winter chill intensified at many places in Punjab and Haryana as a thick blanket of fog enveloped several areas in both States
Punjab to convene special Vidhan Sabha session opposing G RAM G Bill in January
The AAP-led Punjab government will convene a special Assembly session in January to oppose the Centres G RAM G Bill, alleging it weakens MGNREGA and threatens rural livelihoods. The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G) Bill was passed in Parliament amidst protests by Opposition MPs
Punjab rural polls: Warring calls AAP win stolen glory
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring accused AAP of manipulating the rural mandate, claiming the party was asking in stolen glory. He asserted that AAP did not sweep the elections but rather stole them, a fact known to all parties and the public.
From borrowed money for trials to IPL pick: Vishal Nishads remarkable rise
Hailing from a humble village in Gorakhpur, Vishal Nishad's journey to the IPL is a testament to perseverance. Despite financial struggles, a supportive coach and friends paved his way. His 'mystery bowling' caught the eye of Punjab Kings, who secured him for Rs 30 lakh, marking a life-changing moment for the young cricketer and his family.
North India is grappling with a red alert for dense fog, severely impacting visibility and travel. Simultaneously, Delhi and surrounding regions are experiencing 'very poor' to 'severe' air quality, with authorities urging residents to limit outdoor exposure. Flights are facing delays due to the challenging weather conditions.
Zero visibility across north India as IMD sounds red alert for Delhi
A thick blanket of dense fog covered large parts of north India on Friday morning, severely impacting the visibility. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Delhi, warning of major disruptions to road, rail and air traffic. Satellite imagery showed widespread fog over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, northeast Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Visibility dropped to zero metres at several locations, including Agra, Bareilly, Saharanpur and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh; Amritsar, Ludhiana, Bathinda and Adampur in Punjab; Safdarjung in Delhi; Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh; Bhagalpur in Bihar; and Daltonganj in Jharkhand. The IMD cautioned that extremely poor visibility could impact airport operations and cause delays on highways and railway routes. An orange alert was issued for multiple districts in Uttar Pradesh, parts of Uttarakhand, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, and several districts in Punjab, including Amritsar, Patiala and Sangrur. Meteorologists warned of hazardous driving conditions and an increased risk of road accidents, along with the possibility of power line tripping in affected regions. Residents were advised to avoid unnecessary travel, use fog lights, and stay updated on transport advisories. According to IMD definitions, very dense fog occurs when visibility ranges between 0 and 50 metres, while dense fog refers to visibility between 51 and 200 metres. As North India chokes, there can be no hiding 'behind the smokescreen of farm fires anymore' In Delhi, early morning visibility remained poor due to dense fog mixed with smog. Delhis air quality remained alarming, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 382, placing it in the very poor category and close to severe. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed that 14 monitoring stations reported severe air quality, while the remaining recorded very poor levels. Vivek Vihar registered the worst AQI at 434. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has forecast that air quality will stay very poor until Saturday and may deteriorate to severe on Sunday. Meanwhile, stricter pollution control measures came into effect in the national capital on Thursday. The entry of non-Delhi private vehicles below BS-VI emission standards has been banned, and the No PUC, No Fuel rule is being enforced. Fuel stations are denying fuel to vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control certificates, with checks supported by automatic number plate reader cameras, voice alerts and police deployment. 'More headline and image management': Unreliable data mask just how bad India's air quality crisis is
Punjab rural polls: BJP gets 1 vote in Bhagwant Mann's village
In Punjab's rural elections, the BJP secured a meager seven zila parishad seats and 73 panchayat samiti zones, with one village registering a single BJP vote. Despite its urban base, the party actively expanded its rural presence, facing no hostile reactions unlike previous polls. Significant resources were deployed for visibility, though electoral success remained limited.
Punjab's countryside has delivered a decisive verdict, with the Aam Aadmi Party dominating rural polls, securing a significant majority of zila parishad and panchayat samiti seats. This outcome signals AAP's deep appeal in villages, while the Congress faces a stark reality check. The BJP made tentative gains, and the SAD saw symbolic victories.
Punjab rural polls: BSP wins 3 zila parishad, 28 panchayat samiti seats in Doaba
The Bahujan Samaj Party secured three zila parishad zones and 28 panchayat samiti zones, primarily in Jalandhar, highlighting its stronghold in Doaba's Ad-dharmi/Ravidasia dominated areas. Congress claimed seven ZP zones in Jalandhar, while AAP won ten. These results underscore the BSP's regional influence.
Arvind Kejriwal highlighted that AAP's victory in rural polls was fair, noting 261 seats won by AAP with margins under 100 votes, while opposition parties secured 319 such seats. He cited several close contests across districts, including Congress winning by as few as three votes in multiple zones, to underscore the integrity of the election process.
The Aam Aadmi Party has achieved a significant victory in Punjab's zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections, securing a majority of seats. This win is being hailed by party leaders as a clear endorsement of their government's policies and a testament to their growing influence in rural areas.
Hum Aapke Hain Koun: When female fans pinched Madhuri Dixits cheeks
Madhuri Dixit recalls Sooraj Barjatyas 3.5-hour narration for Hum Aapke Hain Koun and how the films heartwarming story made her a household favourite. She reveals how Punjabi ladies pinched her cheeks during a shoot in North
From Middukhera to Balachauria: Elusive Shaganpreets name resurfaces in Punjabs bloody saga
'Not very professional': PBKS co-owner slams Josh Inglis over IPL 2026 availability
Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia slammed Josh Inglis for his unprofessional late disclosure of limited availability for IPL 2026 due to his wedding. Wadia expressed disappointment, stating the franchise planned retention around Inglis, only to learn of his brief availability just before the deadline. Despite criticism, Wadia wished the player well.
Khaira alleges pre-planned hijacking of rural polls in Punjab
Punjab farmers stage protests against Bill
Farmers outfit threatens to stage rail roko if their demands are not met
AAP Leader, Supporters Injured After Shots Fired During Rally In Punjab's Ludhiana
A political rally celebrating the Aam Aadmi Party's victory in rural election results in Punjab's Ludhiana on Thursday turned violent when unidentified gunmen opened fire, injuring three people, including the block committee election winner.
AAPcredits governance for Punjab rural poll victory;Oppn. alleges power abuse
Kejriwalsays partys victory in rural polls reflects peoples trust; Cong. calls it a stolen victory, says ruling party misused administration, police
BJP gets few seats, but manages rural push in Punjab
Farmers protest electricity legislation, prepaid meters in Punjab
To prevent accidents in fog season, Punjab road safety council asks agencies to brush up road infra
Punjab horti dept launches major subsidy drive to break wheat-paddy cycle
CRPF jawan dies of cardiac arrest
Srinagar, Dec 18: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan died of a suspected cardiac arrest at Anantnag Railway Station during the intervening night, officials said. Officials said that the jawan, identified as Lakhwinder Singh (55), son of Ajaib Singh and a resident of Punjab, was posted with 90 Battalion, E Company, at Anantnag [] The post CRPF jawan dies of cardiac arrest appeared first on Northlines .
ED raids 13 locations in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi in donkey route case
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday carried out searches at 13 locations across Punjab, Haryana and Delhi as part of its money-laundering probe into an illegal immigration racket linked to the deportation of 330 Indians from the United States earlier this year. The action follows an investigation into a network that allegedly facilitated the illegal transport of Indians to the US through the so-called dunki route. The racket involved illegally transporting Indians to the US through the dunki route. A probe revealed that the deported Indians sent to the US were facilitated by a complex web of persons involved in the chain including travel agents, middlemen, overseas associates, hawala operators and other logistics arrangement providers, an ED official said. In February, US military aircraft carrying 330 Indiansmost of them from Haryana, Punjab and Gujaratwere sent back as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration by the administration of former US President Donald Trump. Videos released by US border patrol authorities showed the deportees in handcuffs, with their legs chained. The EDs money-laundering case is based on 19 FIRs registered by the Punjab and Haryana Police against travel agents and middlemen accused of cheating Indians attempting to enter the US illegally. Investigators said the deportees had tried to cross the USMexico border between January 23 and 28 but were apprehended by US border security personnel and placed in detention centres before being deported. Sources said that evidence gathered during searches conducted in February and July led to the identification of second and third layer operatives involved in the human trafficking network. The name of several travel firms surfaced in the investigation following which raids were conducted on Thursday at its offices in Haryana, Punjab and Delhi, an ED official said. The agency had earlier recorded statements of the deportees, which helped identify suspects now under scrutiny. According to investigators, each deportee paid between Rs 45 lakh and Rs 55 lakh to travel agents, most of whom they had never met directly and were connected to through local intermediaries. The deportees provided documents, including bank account details of the agents who received the payments. Recently, the ED provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 5.41 crore, allegedly representing proceeds of crime generated by agents Shubham Sharma, Jagjit Singh and Surmukh Singh, who are accused of being part of the trafficking racket. The attached properties include agricultural land, residential and business premises, and bank accounts held in the names of the accused and their family members. In July, the agency conducted searches at offices and residences of suspects in 11 cities, including Amritsar, Sangrur, Patiala and Moga in Punjab, and Ambala, Kurukshetra and Karnal in Haryana. During those raids, officials seized fake immigration and visa stamps. In a separate investigation, the ED is probing the alleged involvement of certain Canadian colleges and several Indian entitiesmostly based in Gujaratin a money-laundering case related to trafficking Indians into the US via the Canada border, sources said. Officials noted a sharp rise in illegal immigration from India along the USCanada border, with more than 14,000 Indian migrants arrested there over the past one-and-a-half years. According to estimates by US authorities, over 725,000 undocumented Indians currently live in the US, many driven by economic pressures and long waiting periods for legal immigration. The agency suspects that some Canadian colleges were complicit in the racket. According to officials, agents applied for Canadian student visas for individuals intending to enter the US. Once in Canada, instead of joining colleges, they allegedly crossed the USCanada border illegally. Investigators believe that a few of the 262 such colleges in Canadaparticularly those located near the US bordermay be involved in the trafficking of Indian nationals. Many victims were allegedly charged between Rs 55 lakh and Rs 60 lakh per person. The ED has claimed that fees paid to Canada-based colleges were later remitted back to the individuals accounts, pointing to a circular flow of funds under investigation.
CHANDIGARH: The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has swept the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections across the state. Of the 2,838 panchayat samitis, the AAP won 1531, Congress 612, Shiromani Akali Dal 445, BJP 83, BSP 28 and independents 144. The ruling party also won 218 zila parishads, while the Congress bagged 62, SAD 46, BJP 7, BSP 3 and independents 10. AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said his party's strong showing in these polls showed that people in rural areas have put their stamp of approval on the Bhagwant Mann-led government. He said the verdict reflects peoples trust in the Mann governments politics of work spanning the Yudh Nashe Virudh (war against drugs), irrigation reforms, reliable electricity, road construction, employment, education and healthcare. Kejriwal said, Around 70 per cent of the seats in both the zila parishads and block samitis have been won by the AAP. In political terms, what is usually described as an anti-incumbency factor, I believe has instead turned into a pro-incumbency factor. People are very happy with the work done by the government and that is why they have endorsed it so strongly. Citing detailed figures, he said, There are 580 seats across Punjab that were won with a margin of less than 100 votes. Out of these 580 seats, the AAP won 261 seats by a margin of less than 100 votes, while the opposition won 319 seats. If there had been any misuse of machinery or pressure tactics, all it would have taken was a single phone call to a DC or an SDM, and those 319 seats won by the opposition could easily have gone in our favour. We did not do that. We wanted to see the true will of the people. He claimed that such close results clearly showed that the government had not interfered in the electoral process. For a ruling party, it is not difficult to swing a seat decided by one, four or five votes if there is any interference. The fact that this did not happen shows that people have genuinely endorsed the work of the present government, he said. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also said that the opposition's hue and cry was baseless, claiming that the results show that the entire process of election was transparent, free and fair. In Dhuri, Congress won by nine votes, in Jhunir it won by 30, in Bharatgarh by 40 votes and even in the area represented by former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, who indulged in a lot of tantrums to mislead people, Congress had won comfortably. If the government had indulged in high-handedness, like the previous regimes, then the Congress and SAD would not have won these seats, he asserted. Polling was held on December 14 to elect members for 347 zones of 22 zila parishads and 2,838 zones of 153 panchayat samitis. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said even AAP leaders know how these elections were fought and how the administration and police were misused like in the previous byelections. He pointed out that one senior police officer is under probe on allegations of directing his junior staff to prevent opposition candidates from filing the nomination papers. He said that despite the AAP governments abuse of power, the Congress candidates managed to do reasonably well. If the Congress could provide such an impressive fight when the odds were heavily against us, imagine what we can achieve once it will be a level playing field during the 2027, he noted, while expressing confidence that the party will stage a comeback.
IPL 2026: R Ashwin leaves out CSK from his top four, fourth pick comes as surprise
Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed his top four IPL contenders, notably excluding his former team Chennai Super Kings. He placed Mumbai Indians at the forefront, followed by defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals. Ashwin lauded Mumbai Indians' strategic acquisition of Quinton de Kock, believing they are aiming to replicate their 2020 championship squad's balance.
ED Raids 13 Places In Punjab, Haryana and Delhi in Dunki Route Case
ED's Jalandhar zonal office teams are carrying out searches at these 13 locations based on certain inputs in the case in which the ED initiated an investigation on the basis of various First Information Reports (FIRs) registered related to 330 Indians deported by the USA through a military cargo plane in February 2025
CBM India Extends Relief Support to 2,000 Disaster-Affected Families in Punjab and Uttarakhand
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.
Bomb scare: Vadodara collectorate receives threat email; security beefed up
Vadodara Collectorate is on high alert after receiving a third bomb threat email, mirroring similar incidents in Ahmedabad schools. Authorities are intensifying security and investigating the source of these alarming threats, which have also been reported in Punjab and Delhi. The public is assured that all necessary safety measures are in place.
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 .
Truecaller brings voicemail for Android users in India
It will be available in 12 Indian languages including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Nepali, Punjabi, Sanskrit and Urdu
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
Definitely satisfied with Congress performance in Punjabs zila parishad and block samiti elections
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.
Hijab incident: Pakistan-based gangster issues video threat to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar
PATNA: A Pakistan-based underworld don has triggered a controversy by objecting to the removal of a woman doctors hijab by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during an official function held in the state capital on Monday. The underworld don, Shahzad Bhatti, has demanded an apology from the Chief Minister over the incident. In a video message circulated on social media, Shahzad questioned how a man at the helm of affairs could behave in such a manner with a Muslim woman at a public function. He should immediately tender his apology for his action, Shahzad said, adding that he should not be blamed if anything untoward happened to the offender. The video message is being viewed as an alleged threat to the Chief Minister. Shahzad, a native of Pakistans Punjab province, has been involved in alleged anti-India campaigns on social media. He is also reportedly associated with terrorist organisations operating from Pakistan. He claims to be a true soldier of Pakistan and an adherent of Islamic thoughts. Bihar police officials have remained tight-lipped over the video message and are not willing to comment on the issue. The controversy erupted after Nitish Kumar removed the hijab of a woman doctor while distributing appointment letters to newly recruited AYUSH doctors at a function in Patna. A video showing the Chief Minister removing the hijab of the woman doctor went viral on social media. J&K leaders demand apology, resignation after Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pulls down woman doctors hijab The incident took place during the appointment letter distribution ceremony for 1,283 newly recruited AYUSH doctors, including 685 Ayurvedic, 393 Homoeopathic and 205 Unani practitioners. During the event, Nitish Kumar handed an appointment letter to Dr Nusrat Parveen, who was wearing a hijab. After giving her the letter, he reportedly noticed the hijab and asked, What is this? When Dr Nusrat replied that it was a hijab, the Chief Minister told her to remove it. He then removed the hijab himself in full public view. Dr Nusrat was hastily pulled aside by an official present at the venue, while Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Samrat Chaudhary, who was standing beside Nitish Kumar, was seen tugging at the latters sleeve in an apparent attempt to restrain him. Meanwhile, RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed alleged that Nitish Kumar insulted women by removing a Muslim womans hijab while distributing appointment letters to doctors at a function in Patna. This clearly reveals the NDA governments mindset towards the Muslim community. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has become engrossed in politics aimed at pleasing the BJP and RSS, he claimed. When a person holding the position of chief minister commits such an act, it appears that the government in Bihar is now completely implementing the ideology of the RSS. Nitish should apologise for this act, as he has insulted the entire womens community, the RJD leader alleged. This is not the first time Nitish Kumar has drawn flak for his actions in full public view. Ahead of the Assembly elections, he had sparked a controversy after he began clapping while the national anthem was being played at a function held at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna. That action had drawn sharp criticism from Opposition leaders, who demanded a medical check-up of the Chief Minister by a medical board. The JD(U), however, dismissed the Oppositions demand and maintained that the Chief Minister was performing his duties as usual.
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
No farm fires in Punjab, why is Delhis air quality still worsening, asks Mann
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.
IPL auction 2026 PBKS: Punjab Kings buy Cooper Connolly, check complete players list, final bids
Punjab Kings approach the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a clear objective: to define their identity by filling four crucial slots. With a substantial purse and a focus on targeted, high-impact additions, they aim to secure an explosive middle-order batter, reliable wicketkeeping cover, and an Indian bowling option. This strategic approach seeks to address persistent gaps and avoid past miscalculations.
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.
Captain Shreyas Iyer Joins PBKS Think Tank At IPL 2026 Auction Table
Captain Shreyas Iyer: Shreyas Iyer joined Punjab Kings management at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction table, becoming only the second cricketer, after Rishabh Pant, to be a part of the process. The IPL 2026 auction is currently underway here at the Etihad Arena. Pant was part of the auction table when he was the Delhi Capitals skipper, for the 2024 edition of the event. IPL 2024 was Pants comeback to the league after his near-death accident. That edition, notably, was also his last with the franchise, as he was roped in by the Lucknow Super Giants at the IPL 2025 mega auction last year. 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. The IPL 2025 runners-up have already retained a core group of 21 players, providing a stable base as they plan to fill a few important gaps with the 11.5 crore they still have. With four remaining slots, including two for overseas players, PBKS has the structure and flexibility to make precise, high-impact additions. With a near-complete roster, Punjab Kings will mainly focus on targeted, minor upgrades during the auction rather than major overhauls. They aim to acquire a powerful middle-order batter to boost late-game scoring and increase batting lineup flexibility. The IPL 2025 runners-up have already retained a core group of 21 players, providing a stable base as they plan to fill a few important gaps with the 11.5 crore they still have. With four remaining slots, including two for overseas players, PBKS has the structure and flexibility to make precise, high-impact additions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score PBKS squad before IPL 2026 auction: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson. Article Source: IANS
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.
