CM Offers Healing Touch to Bereaved Families in Samana

Says Justice Will Be Ensured, Announces Crackdown on Illegal Mining and Overloaded Vehicles

Samana-Patran Road to Be Four-Laned; Children’s Memorial Park to Be Constructed

Samana (Patiala), June 7 :Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday assured justice for the bereaved families who lost their seven children in a tragic road mishap, vowing that the severest action will be taken against those who attempted to hinder the investigation.

While interacting with media persons after consoling the grieving families, the Chief Minister said that the unfortunate incident had claimed the lives of bright and promising students. He described it as an irreparable loss and expressed his deep condolences. Bhagwant Singh Mann assured that the state government stands firmly with the bereaved families during this difficult time and will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice is served.

The Chief Minister affirmed that those responsible for this shocking incident will not be spared, and exemplary action will be taken against them. He emphasized that even influential individuals who tried to delay the case and obstruct justice will face strict punishment. Such actions, Bhagwant Singh Mann said, are a heinous crime and the punishment will serve as a deterrent to others.

Additionally, the Chief Minister announced that the state government will launch a special drive against illegal mining and overloaded vehicles. He said strict instructions have been issued to the police and transport departments to take firm action against violators. Bhagwant Singh Mann described these offenses as unpardonable and said the government will not allow anyone to endanger the lives of common citizens.

In a heartfelt tribute, the Chief Minister also announced the construction of a children’s memorial park in memory of the deceased. He said the memorial would serve as a lasting tribute to the young victims of the tragic mishap. Further, Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that the existing road from Samana to Patran will be upgraded into a four-lane road.

The Chief Minister noted that frequent accidents occur on this stretch due to heavy traffic, making the upgrade imperative for public safety. He also declared that the government hospital in Samana will be upgraded and equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that to strengthen emergency medical services, a fleet of seven new ambulances will be added to the region’s healthcare system.

======================================

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker holds meeting with Professors & Punjabi Actor to get suggestions pertaining to observe 350 centenary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

Chandigarh, 7 June:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan held a meeting with professors and famous Punjabi Actor to get suggestions owing to observe 350th centenary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. During the meeting, they gave proposals which outlines a visionary initiative to commemorate the 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, whose unparalleled sacrifice for religious freedom, pluralism, and human dignity continues to inspire global citizens.

During the discussion, they advised that the commemoration of "Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji 350 th centenary: The Shield of Humanity", aims to blend cultural preservation, immersive technologies, and community outreach to share the legacy of Guru Ji globally. The initiative should be culminated in a landmark reference book and international events that observe Guru Ji as a timeless beacon of compassion, dialogue, and interfaith harmony.

Furthermore, Professors suggested that in order to globally disseminate the Guru's message through innovative formats such as virtual museums, VR, music, films, and scholarly discourse as well as to preserve and digitally archive historical sites, arts, and literature related to the Guru along with the creation of a lasting educational and cultural resource program which is accessible to worldwide.

It is pertinent to mention here that their centenary Programme should be included with Virtual Museum of Religious Pluralism, Interactive 3D Walkthroughs using Al & multilingual narration, Recreated scenes of Guru Ji's travels, dialogues, martyrdom, and legacy and Integration with QR codes and digital storytelling formats. Apart from this, there is a need to create Immersive Cinematic Experiences like short animated films and VR documentaries on Guru Ji's journey to martyrdom.

They also suggested that Shabad and Classical Raga Series should be created and it should be released on digital platforms and hold live concerts. Emphasis should be laid on Global Conferences & Outreach along with International Symposium on Guru Ji's contribution to pluralism. Apart from this, focus should be on having Collaborations with UNESCO, Harvard, and Sikh Research Institutes. They also suggested to make Titled "Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur: The Saint of Otherness", the book will be a tri-lingual (Punjabi-Hindi-English) high-design publication that blends aesthetics, scholarship, and technology to immortalize Guru Ji's life, philosophy, and global relevance.

Highlighting further, they said that the first-of-its-kind interactive book will not merely a document, but it will be a living portal into the spiritual, ethical, and cultural universe of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. It aims to offer a perennial resource for global educational institutions, museums, and libraries and serve as the foundation stone of digital commemorative infrastructure (museum, concerts and lectures).

Speaker highlighted that this unique and integrated proposal honours Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji as not only the protector of one faith, but the eternal defender of all faiths, and of the human right to believe, practice, and belong. By merging technologies, arts, music, and global community engagement, Punjab can take a powerful lead in redefining how martyrdom and pluralism are remembered in the post-human age. This remembrance is a call to the world: to remember Guru Ji not just in reverence, but in action.

Famous Punjabi Actor Ammy Virk, Professor Amarjeet Singh Grewal and Professor Gurwinder Singh Bawa and Ramandeep Singh Khatra from NRI Diaspora were present in the meeting.

========================================

DAY 98 OF ‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’: 132 DRUG SMUGGLERS HELD WITH 1.3KG HEROIN, ₹1.5L DRUG MONEY

— AS PART OF ‘DE-ADDICTION’, PUNJAB POLICE CONVINCE 94 PERSONS TO UNDERGO DE-ADDICTION TREATMENT

CHANDIGARH, June 7:With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 98th day, Punjab Police on Saturday arrested 132 drug smugglers and recovered 1.3 kg heroin and Rs 1.5 lakhs drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 16,296 in just 98 days.

The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1400 police personnel, under the supervision of 96 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 492 locations across the state leading to the registration of 97 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 528 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added.

The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 94 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

=============================================

ILLEGAL ARMS SMUGGLING NETWORK BUSTED IN AMRITSAR; THREE HELD WITH SIX FOREIGN-MADE PISTOLS

— KINGPIN JUGRAJ SINGH OPERATED RACKET FROM JAIL THROUGH HIS ADVOCATE’S MUNSHI RAJAN: DGP GAURAV YADAV

— RECOVERED SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS WERE SMUGGLED FROM ACROSS THE BORDER, SAYS ADGP ANTF NILABH KISHORE

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, June 7:In a significant breakthrough against illegal arms smuggling networks amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Border Range Amritsar has arrested three associates of jailed kingpin Jugraj Singh and recovered six sophisticated foreign-made weapons smuggled from across the border from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.

Those arrested have been identified as Rajan, a resident of Bhagtanwala Gate in Amritsar; Paramjit Singh, a resident of Heer Hall in Ghannupur, Amritsar; and Dinesh Kumar, a resident of Naraingarh, Amritsar.

The recovered weapons include two Glock 19X Pistols (Made in Austria),two .30 bore Pistols (Made in Italy), one .30 bore Star Mark Pistol and one Baretta .30 bore Pistol (Made in Italy). Apart from this, police teams have also impounded their Yamaha R15 motorcycle without number plate and Honda Grania scooter without number plate, which they were using to deliver the consignments.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested accused persons were working under the directions of Jugraj Singh of village Mode in Amritsar, who is currently lodged in Central Jail at Sri Goindwal Sahib, and actively running the smuggling racket through his advocate’s Munshi identified as Rajan. The kingpin Jugraj Singh, who has been facing several criminal cases unde the NDPS and Arms act, is reportedly in contact with Pakistani drug traffickers from within the jail, he said.

The DGP said that these weapons were smuggled from across the border and were likely meant to be supplied to criminal elements in Punjab. Further investigations are on to establish forward and backward linkages in this case, he added.

Sharing operation details, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) ANTF Nilabh Kishore said that ANTF Border Range Amritsar team had received credible inputs about the trio’s involvement in retrieving weapons on the directions of their jailed handler Jugraj Sing. Acting swiftly on the inputs, police teams led by Superintendent of Police (SP) ANTF Border Range Amritsar Gurpreet Singh launched an intelligence-led operation and apprehended accused persons from opposite Khalsa College in Amritsar and recovered weapon consignments from their possession, he said.

The ADGP said that police teams will bring accused Jugraj Singh from Jail on production warrant to carry out further investigation in this case and identify more persons involved in this smuggling racket. More arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days.

A case FIR No. 152 dated June 6, 2025, under section 25 of the Arms Act, has been registered at Police Station ANTF, SAS Nagar.