Punjab

Sanjeev Arora Takes Oath as Punjab Cabinet Minister After Ludhiana By-Election Victory

Sanjeev Arora Takes Oath as Punjab Cabinet Minister After Ludhiana By-Election Victory

Chandigarh (National Times): Newly elected Ludhiana MLA Sanjeev Arora was officially sworn in as a Cabinet Minister in the Punjab government today. The oath was administered by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria at a formal ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Arora’s induction into the Cabinet follows his impressive win in the recently held Ludhiana by-election, where he contested as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate and emerged victorious with a commanding margin. His inclusion in the Cabinet is seen as both a reward for the crucial electoral win and a strategic move…
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Flood Alert in Punjab as Sutlej Swells, Sri Anandpur Sahib on High Alert

Flood Alert in Punjab as Sutlej Swells, Sri Anandpur Sahib on High Alert

Anandpur Sahib (National Times): Punjab is facing a flood-like situation following a sudden and sharp rise in the water level of the Sutlej River, triggered by cloudbursts in neighboring Himachal Pradesh. The impact has been swift and severe, with areas in and around Sri Anandpur Sahib witnessing significant waterlogging and risk of submersion. The sudden cloudbursts over the hills of Himachal Pradesh led to intense rainfall, swelling rivers and streams that drain into Punjab. The Bhakra Dam, already full due to previous rain, is releasing additional water to manage pressure, further adding to the surge in the Sutlej. As water…
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NCB Seeks Joint Interrogation of Bikram Singh Majithia in Drug Case with Punjab Vigilance Bureau

NCB Seeks Joint Interrogation of Bikram Singh Majithia in Drug Case with Punjab Vigilance Bureau

Amritsar (National Times): In a significant development linked to the ongoing crackdown on drug networks in Punjab, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has formally written to the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) seeking joint interrogation of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia, who was arrested on June 25. According to an NCB official who shared the contents of the letter, Majithia was taken into custody by the vigilance bureau for his alleged role in facilitating massive laundering operations connected to drug money. NCB Cites Seriousness of Offences The letter, sent by the Amritsar zonal unit…
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Punjab to Borrow Rs 8,500 Crore in July-September Quarter; State’s Debt May Cross Rs 4 Lakh Crore by FY 2025-26

Punjab to Borrow Rs 8,500 Crore in July-September Quarter; State’s Debt May Cross Rs 4 Lakh Crore by FY 2025-26

Chandigarh (National Times): The Punjab government plans to borrow a total of Rs 8,500 crore over the next three months, from July to September 2025, following approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The move comes amid concerns over the state’s mounting debt, which has already reached Rs 3.82 lakh crore as of March 31, 2025, amounting to more than 44% of the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Officials estimate that by March 31, 2026, the total debt burden could exceed Rs 4 lakh crore, which translates to a debt of over Rs 1.25 lakh per person in Punjab.…
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Punjab Police Dismantles Major International Drug Syndicate; 60.3 Kg Heroin Seized in Rajasthan

Punjab Police Dismantles Major International Drug Syndicate; 60.3 Kg Heroin Seized in Rajasthan

Amritsar (National Times): In a major success in the ongoing war against narco-terrorism, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police, in a joint operation with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Rajasthan Police, has busted a massive international drug cartel. Authorities recovered a staggering 60.302 kilograms of heroin near the International Border in Barmer, Rajasthan, marking one of the largest seizures in recent times. According to officials, the cartel was being run by Pakistan-based smuggler Tanveer Shah in collaboration with Canada-based handler Joban Kaler, both of whom are believed to be the masterminds behind the trans-border heroin trafficking network. As part of the…
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Punjab’s Teghbir Singh, 6, Becomes Youngest to Scale Europe’s Highest Peak, Mount Elbrus

Punjab’s Teghbir Singh, 6, Becomes Youngest to Scale Europe’s Highest Peak, Mount Elbrus

Ropar, Punjab (National Times): In a remarkable feat of endurance and determination, six-year-old Teghbir Singh from Ropar has scaled Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe. Standing at 18,510 feet (5,642 metres) in Russia’s Caucasus Mountains, the peak is known for its extreme weather, with temperatures often plunging to -10°C. Teghbir began his summit expedition on June 20 and successfully reached the peak on June 28. He received official recognition from the Mountaineering, Rock Climbing and Sports Tourism Federation of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (Russia), which issued him a certificate declaring him as the youngest summiteer of Mount Elbrus in the…
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Bikram Majithia to Be Taken to Multiple Sites in Drug Money Laundering Probe

Bikram Majithia to Be Taken to Multiple Sites in Drug Money Laundering Probe

Chandigarh, June 29, 2025 — In a significant escalation of the probe into alleged drug money laundering, enforcement agencies are set to escort senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia to multiple locations across Punjab and Himachal Pradesh on Monday for verification linked to the ongoing investigation.Sources said the probe has gained momentum following fresh statements from several key witnesses, which have led authorities to identify new sites requiring physical verification to substantiate evidence gathered so far.Officials confirmed Majithia will be taken to various locations to cross-check details connected to financial transactions and logistical networks suspected of being…
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Simranjit Singh Mann Condemns Protests Against Diljit Dosanjh’s Film, Calls It an Attack on Sikh and Punjabi Identity

Simranjit Singh Mann Condemns Protests Against Diljit Dosanjh’s Film, Calls It an Attack on Sikh and Punjabi Identity

Amritsar (National Times): Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) President Simranjit Singh Mann has issued a strong condemnation of the protests surrounding Punjabi actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming film ‘Sardar Ji 3’, which features Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. Mann called the controversy an unjustified attack on Sikhism, the Gurmukhi script, and Punjabi culture, framing it as an extension of political agendas targeting minority identities. “This protest is not just against a film, but against the symbols of Sikh identity – the turban, the Gurmukhi script, and Punjabi art,” Mann stated, denouncing the opposition in the strongest terms. He emphasized that cinema is a…
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CM Mann Proposes Death Penalty for Sacrilege Offences in Punjab

CM Mann Proposes Death Penalty for Sacrilege Offences in Punjab

Chandigarh, June 28, 2025 — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday announced plans to introduce stringent legislation prescribing harsher punishments, including the death penalty, for acts of sacrilege against holy granths, signalling a firm stance on protecting religious sentiments in the state.Chairing a high-level meeting with officials and representatives of the Sarb Dharam Beadbi Rokko Kanoon Morcha at his official residence, Mann emphasised Punjab’s heritage as a land of saints, seers, and great Gurus who have championed mutual love, tolerance, and communal harmony.“It is our bounden duty to ensure that those who commit sacrilege face exemplary punishment,” Mann…
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Punjab Govt Suspends 25 Jail Officials in Crackdown on Corruption and Drug Nexus in Prisons

Punjab Govt Suspends 25 Jail Officials in Crackdown on Corruption and Drug Nexus in Prisons

Chandigarh (National Times): In a major step aimed at cleaning up Punjab’s prison system, the state government on Saturday announced the suspension of 25 jail officials, including three Deputy Superintendents and two Assistant Superintendents, over alleged involvement in corruption and aiding drug networks operating within the prisons. The decisive action follows alarming reports of irregularities and drug-related activities inside jails across the state. The government said this move is part of an intensified drive to root out corruption and dismantle criminal syndicates that are believed to be operating from behind bars. “This action has been taken based on credible inputs…
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