Will Explore Feasibility of Replicating Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister Breakfast Scheme in Punjab: CM Bhagwant Mann

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CROSS BORDER ARMS SMUGGLING RACKET BUSTED; ONE HELD WITH 5 GLOCK PISTOLS

— PROBE REVEALS THAT PAK-BASED SMUGGLERS WERE PUSHING WEAPON CONSIGNMENTS TO DISTURB PEACE AND HARMONY IN PUNJAB: DGP GAURAV YADAV

— MORE ARRESTS AND RECOVERIES ARE EXPECTED IN THE COMING DAYS: CP ASR GURPREET BHULLAR

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, August 26: Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted a cross-border arms smuggling racket with the arrest of one person and recovered five sophisticated 9MM Glock pistols along with four magazines from his possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

The arrested accused has been identified as Amit Singh, a resident of Guru Ki Wadali, Chheharta in Amritsar. Apart from recovering weapons, police teams have also impounded his black-coloured Hero Splendor motorcycle, which the accused was using to deliver the consignments.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused, in connivance with his associate Gurpreet Singh alias Ginny, was in touch with Pakistan-based smugglers, who were pushing weapon consignments to disturb peace and harmony in the state.

The DGP said that the arrest and recovery have helped in unearthing the network and avert a major crime in the region. More arrests and recoveries are expected in the coming days, he said.

Sharing operation details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that acting on reliable information, police team from Police Station Chheharta under the supervision of DCP Detective Ravinderpal Singh, ADCP-2 Harpal Singh and ACP West Shivdarshan Singh carried out an intel based operation leading to the arrest suspect Amit Singh, when he was on the way to deliver the weapon consignment to someone.

The CP said that probe has revealed that arrested accused used to receive weapon consignments dropped through drones from locations provided by cross border handlers.

Further investigations are ongoing to establish backward and forward linkages in this case, he said, while adding that efforts are also being made to identify the person, to whom the accused was going to deliver the consignment.

A case FIR No. 165 dated 24.08.2025 has been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station Chheharta in Amritsar.

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PUNJAB POLICE THWARTS POSSIBLE TARGET KILLING; TWO JUVENILES AMONG FOUR HELD WITH TWO PISTOLS

— PROBE REVEALS ARRESTED PERSONS’ LINKS WITH FOREIGN-BASED GANGSTERS NISHAN SINGH, SHERA MANN, AND SAJAN MASIH: DGP GAURAV YADAV

— ARRESTED ACCUSED WERE ENROUTE TO EXECUTE KILLING, WHEN CI PATHANKOT TEAM APPREHENDED THEM: AIG CI SUKHMINDER MANN

CHANDIGARH/PATHANKOT, August 26:In an intelligence-led operation amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Counter Intelligence (CI) Pathankot has successfully averted a target killing by busting an organised crime module involved in multiple heinous crimes with the arrest of its four members including two juveniles, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

The arrested, identified as Vishal Masih alias Dana, a resident of Pakhoke Tahli in Batala and Vishal William, a resident of village Pakhoke Mehmaran in Gurdaspur along with two juveniles, have been apprehended from the area of village Salimpur Afghana in Gurdaspur. Police teams have also recovered two .30 bore star mark pistols along with six live cartridges from their possession.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that arrested accused persons were working at the behest of foreign-based gangsters— Nishan Singh, Shamsher Singh alias Shera Mann alias Honey and Sajan Masih alias Goru. Important leads regarding other criminal activities across the state have also been unearthed, he said.

AIG CI Pathankot Sukhminder Singh Mann said that probe has also revealed that one of the arrested juveniles is the first cousin of Sajan Masih and handles transportation of weapons, explosives etc. at Sajan’s behest. Pertinently, Sajan Masih alias Goru is an absconder and wanted in a an attempt to murder and Arms Act case registered at Police Station Dera Baba Nanak in September 2023. After his arrest, Sajan had spent around two months in Gurdaspur jail and after getting bail, he managed to flee from India.

He said that during investigations, it has been revealed that one of the arrested juveniles conducted recce of Hardeep Singh, who was later murdered, in Dera Baba Nanak in January 2024. The juvenile was then sent to juvenile home, and after his release from juvenile home, he resumed his criminal activities.

Similarly, on August 14, 2025, arrested accused Vishal Masih along with one of the arrested juveniles travelled to Tanda, Hoshiarpur and fired gunshots at a property dealer in Hoshiarpur resulting in injuries. This crime was also committed at the behest of their foreign based handlers.

The AIG said that arrested Vishal Masih along with one of the juveniles had also conducted reccee of a Banga-based person on the instructions of Sajan and were on the way to execute killing, when the team of CI Pathankot apprehended them.

Further investigations are ongoing to establish backward and forward linkages in this case, he said, while adding that more arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days.

In this regard, a case FIR No. 47 dated 25.08.2025 has been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act and section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station SSOC Amritsar.

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PADDY PROCUREMENT SEASON: PUNJAB GOVT TO INSTALL PAU-CALIBRATED METERS IN GRAIN MARKETS FOR STANDARDISE MOISTURE MEASUREMENT

• Agriculture Minister Khudian leads Group of Ministers (GoMs) meeting with Federation of Aarthia Association to address their genuine demands

•Cabinet Ministers assure all necessary arrangements in grain markets for smooth procurement operations

Chandigarh, August 26:In order to ensure smooth paddy procurement operations ahead of Kharif procurement season, the Group of Ministers (GoMs) led by Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian today held a crucial meeting with Federation of Aarthia Association of Punjab to address their genuine demands and iron out concerns.

During the meeting here at Punjab Bhawan, the Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar held productive discussions with the Aarthias Association, led by President Vijay Kalra. The Ministers listened attentively to the association's demands and concerns, and assured them to resolve all of their legitimate issues.

Addressing a key demand of the association, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana-calibrated moisture meters would be installed in all grain markets to standardise moisture measurement. This move aims to bring uniformity and accuracy in moisture content assessment.

The association has also requested specified combine harvesting hours from 10 am to 6 pm to streamline the harvesting process and manage moisture content in paddy crop.

While recognising the crucial role of Aarthias in procurement operations, the cabinet ministers said that CM Mann led Punjab Government is committed to the welfare of the Aarthias. The Cabinet Ministers also assured the association that all the necessary infrastructure, including cleanliness, availability of potable water, sheds, electricity would be in place before the Kharif procurement season begins.

Meanwhile, the Aarhtiya Association also expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government for the recent 10% increase in mandi labor rates, acknowledging the positive impact of this decision on their profession.

Administrative Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Dr. Basant Garg, Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Mr. Ramvir, MD PUNSUP Ms. Sonali Giri, Director Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Mr. Varinder Kumar Sharma and other senior officers of concerned departments were also present in the meeting.

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PUNJAB CANCELS LEAVES FOR OFFICERS/STAFF IN FLOOD-AFFECTED AREAS

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS ORDERED TO REMAIN ON GROUND 24x7

BARINDER KUMAR GOYAL AND LAL CHAND KATARUCHAK MEET FLOOD-AFFECTED PEOPLE IN PATHANKOT AND GURDASPUR

NDRF AND ARMY PERSONNEL SAFELY EVACUATE AROUND 70 INDIVIDUALS IN GURDASPUR DISTRICT: BARINDER KUMAR GOYAL

OPERATIONS TO EVACUATE AFFECTED PEOPLE CONTINUE ON WAR-FOOTING

HELICOPTERS BEING DEPLOYED TO RESCUE PEOPLE IN WATER-AFFECTED AREAS

"NO STONE WILL BE LEFT UNTURNED IN SAFEGUARDING LIVES AND PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE"

Chandigarh/Pathankot/Gurdaspur, August 26:The Punjab Government has issued directions to local administration and concerned departments' officials to maintain round-the-clock presence at the ground level to continue rescue and relief operations on a war footing in flood-affected areas. Simultaneously, all leaves for officers and staff has been cancelled.

This was stated by Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal and Food & Civil Supplies Minister Sh. Lal Chand Kataruchak during their visit to flood-affected areas today. The ministers conducted tours of Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts today.

Notably, the current situation stemed from continuous rainfall over the past two to three days in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, causing the Ranjit Sagar Dam to reach near maximum capacity. Water release from this overflowing dam has significantly elevated water levels in the Ravi River. Besides this, the Ujh and Jalalia rivers are experiencing unprecedented flow, submerging most villages in the Narot Jaimal Singh and Bamial blocks. The Cabinet Ministers conducted comprehensive ground assessments of these affected areas in Pathankot today.

During the visit, Sh. Goyal stated that heavy rainfall has pushed dam water levels near capacity. He informed that the Ranjit Sagar Dam currently holds water at over 527 meters. Due to intense precipitation in upstream regions, approximately 1,10,000 cusecs of water was released from Ranjit Sagar Dam today, causing the Ravi River to flow at dangerous levels near the embankments of villages including Makhanpur, Pola, Taas and Bahadurpur.

He said that seven family members remain trapped in flood waters in Village Taas of Pathankot, with rescue operations proceeding on a war-footing to ensure their safety. Community kitchens have been established in schools at Taragarh and Narot Jaimal Singh villages. The Cabinet Minister added that rescue centers have been set up across multiple locations in Pathankot district including Kiri Khurd, Kathlour, Taragarh, Narot Jaimal Singh, Kharkhra Thuthowal, Khojki Chak, Bamial, Nangal, Pathankot, Bani Lodhi and Ferozepur Kalan.

The Cabinet Ministers stated that the government's immediate priorities include protecting lives and property, minimizing damage and delivering relief supplies to affected populations. The minister said that helicopters are being deployed to evacuate people to safer locations.

The Cabinet Ministers urged citizens to avoid believing false rumours and to stay away from riverbanks.

The Ministers said that all the Cabinet Ministers and state machinery is in constant touch with Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, who is regularly monitoring relief operations. The Chief Minister has already announced appropriate compensation for any flood-related damages across the state. Currently, the government is conducting rescue and relief operations on a war-footing, with special girdawari to follow for compensation distribution. They assured farmers that the Punjab Government is committed to providing compensation for crop losses due to flood damage.

Following Pathankot, Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal visited villages along the Ravi River in Gurdaspur district. Traveling by tractor, he reached Village Jhabkara, located around 2.5 kilometers from Village Bahmani, where he engaged with local residents and distributed rations.

After assessing ongoing relief and rescue operations by the district administration, he reiterated that no effort would be spared in protecting lives and property.

While speaking with flood-affected village residents, Cabinet Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that continuous rainfall in plains and mountainous regions has filled all dams to capacity. He said that water from Ranjit Sagar Dam and the Ujh River has damaged several sections of the Ravi River's Dhussi Bundhs. He stated that around 15 villages along the Ravi River in Dinanagar tehsil of Gurdaspur district have been affected by flooding, where district administration teams, along with BSF, Indian Army, SDRF and NDRF units, have been conducting rescue operations since morning.

He said that these teams successfully evacuated approximately 70 individuals from Village Jagochak Tanda. He confirmed that the government maintains communication with residents of villages across the Ravi River near Makaura Pattan and will provide all possible assistance.

He said that the district administration has established relief camps for flood-affected village residents at Village Marara, Bahmani, Government Senior Secondary School Gahlari and Gurdwara Sri Tahli Sahib, providing accommodation and meals for displaced families. He cautioned that additional water continues flowing from mountainous regions, potentially raising water levels further. He advised riverside populations to remain vigilant, follow district administration guidelines and maintain special precautions.