Vigilance Bureau nabs Patwari for taking Rs 3,000 bribe

Chandigarh December 4 :The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its anti-corruption campaign, on Monday has nabbed a revenue Patwari Narinder Kumar alias Neeta, posted at revenue halqua Malout, Sri Mukatsar Sahib district red handed for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the VB said this case has been registered against the above said revenue official on the complaint of Surjit Singh, a resident village Malout in Sri Mukatsar Sahib district.

Giving details he added that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the above said Patwari has demanded Rs 10,000 as a bribe in lieu of mutation of his land and has taken Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 on two occasions. The complainant further alleged that the said Patwari has demanded Rs 3,000 more for entering the said mutation in revenue records and he has recorded the conversation while the Patwari was demanding this bribe from him.

The spokesperson further added that the VB unit of Bathinda range has investigated the allegations levelled in the complaint and laid a trap in which the accused Patwari has been arrested red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.

In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered at VB police station Bathinda range against the above mentioned revenue official. He would be produced in the competent court tomorrow. Further investigation in this case was under progress, he informed.

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PUNJAB POLICE ARREST TWO OPERATIVES OF SFJ FOR WRITING BOYCOTT AIR-INDIA SLOGANS

— POLICE ALSO RECOVERED KHALISTAN FLAG, THREE SPRAY CANS AND MOTORCYCLE FROM THEIR POSSESSION

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A SAFE AND SECURE STATE AS PER VISION OF CM BHAGWANT MANN

— ARRESTED PERSONS CONFESSED TO HAVING BEEN WORKING FOR SFJ, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV

— PROBE ALSO REVEALS THAT ARRESTED PERSONS RECEIVED Rs 1.25L FOR WRITING ANTI-NATIONAL SLOGANS

CHANDIGARH/BATHINDA, December 4:Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police have arrested two operatives of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for writing anti-national slogans at public places in Punjab and adjoining states, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Monday.

A New York-based SFJ— backed by mastermind Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and Jagjeet Singh— is designated as an Unlawful association by the Indian Government. Recently, slogans including Boycott Air India, Khalistan Zindabad and SFJ Zindabad were seen at various places in district Bathinda during Independence Day, Dharmshala in Himachal Pradesh during Cricket World Cup Match, Hanumangarh Railway Station in Rajasthan and during Gurupurab in District Amritsar.

Those arrested have been identified as Harmanpreet Singh of village Naseebpura in Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda and Lovepreet Singh of Kotshamir in Bathinda. The Police have also recovered three cans of black spray, one flag of Khalistan and one motorcycle from their possession.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that during questioning, the arrested persons confessed that they were working for the SFJ organisation and were in touch with an associate of SFJ Jagjit Singh, who used to send money to SFJ activists in India on behalf of Gurpatwant Pannu. Preliminary investigations have also revealed that both the arrested persons had received Rs 1,25,000 in various instalments through Western Union from SFJ organisation to carry out these tasks, he said.

Sharing more details, AIG Counter Intelligence Bathinda Avneet Kaur Sidhu said that following the reliable inputs about the movement of two persons linked with SFJ, Police teams from Counter Intelligence Bathinda laid a special naka at Bathinda-Badal road near Nanhi Chahn Chowk and arrested both the accused persons when they were travelling on their motorcycle. Further investigations are on, she added.

A case FIR No 233 dated 03/12/23 has been registered under sections 153, 153A, 505 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Police Station Canal Colony Bathinda.

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Punjab Government aggressively crackdown on illegal mining in Pathankot; seven accused arrested and equipments seized

Such operations will continue at a rapid pace in the coming days: Chetan Singh Jauramajra

Chandigarh, December 4:Reaffirming its commitment to eradicating illegal mining in the state, Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government launched heavy crackdown on illegal mining activities in district Pathankot.

Divulging further details, Punjab Mining and Geology Minister S. Chetan Singh Jauramajra informed that on detection of illegal mining in the district, the mining and geology department acted swiftly and asked the Police department to register FiR in the matter.

S. Jauramajra said that successful operation resulting in the on-the-spot arrest of seven accused involved in two separate illegal mining activities. The operation also led to the confiscation of four tippers loaded with raw materials for crushing, a JCB machine as well as a tractor and trolley carrying similar raw materials.

The Cabinet Minister disclosed that two FIRs have been registered under section 4(1), 21(1) of the Mining and Minerals Act in conjunction with 379 IPC at the Police station Mamun and police station Nangal Bhoor.

The Mining Minister further elaborated on the operations conducted under the vigilant supervision of the DSP City Pathankot, noting the remarkable effort of the lady SHO of Nangal Bhoor, who bravely crossed the river on foot to apprehend the accused.

He said that this action shows the determination of the Punjab Government against illegal mining activities and its steadfast commitment to protect the state's natural resources.

The Mining Minister stated that as the department has adopted a zero tolerance policy against illegal mining, such operations will continue at a rapid pace in the coming days and persons engaged in illegal mining will not be spared.

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AYUSHMAN CARD BUMPER DRAW: PUNJAB GOVT EXTENDS LAST DATE TILL DEC 31

— ENROL FOR AYUSHMAN BHARAT MUKH MANTRI SEHAT BIMA YOJANA, WIN ₹1 LAKH

— OVER 1.80L PEOPLE ALREADY ENROLLED FOR AYUSHMAN CARD DURING LUCKY DRAW PERIOD

— 10 LUCKY WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED THROUGH DRAW; First Prize is ₹1 Lakh, Second Prize ₹50000 & Third Prize ₹25000

Chandigarh, December 4:In order to enrol the maximum number of people of Punjab under health insurance cover as desired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab State Health Agency on the directions of Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh has decided to further extend the Ayushman Card Bumper Draw till December 31, 2023.

Pertinently, a special Diwali Bumper Draw was launched on October 16, under which anyone registering themselves for the Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana will have a chance to win a reward upto Rs 1 lakh. Earlier the last date of bumper was November 30, 2023.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of State Health Agency Babita said that following an overwhelming response from people, the department has decided to extend the draw till December 31, 2023, so that more beneficiaries can take benefit of this scheme. Notably, over 1.80 lakh people have already enrolled for the Ayushman Card during the lucky draw period.

Divulging details on the draw, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of State Health Agency Babita said that 10 lucky winners will be selected through a random draw and the first prize will be worth Rs 1 lakh, a second prize will be worth Rs 50000 and a third prize worth Rs 25000 will be given. Similarly, the fourth prize is worth Rs 10000 and the fifth prize is Rs 8000, while, the sixth to tenth prizes will be Rs 5000 each, she said. Now, the draw will take place in January 2024.

CEO Babita said that this special campaign was yet another initiative of the Punjab Government to boost participation in the Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana by encouraging the generation of Ayushman Cards.

She further explained that beneficiaries can easily obtain their cards by using the "Ayushman App," visiting the website “beneficiary.nha.gov.in”, or reaching out to their nearest ASHA worker or empaneled hospitals.

Meanwhile, the scheme offers cashless treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year in over 800 government and private empanelled hospitals across the state. Over 44 lakh families in the state are taking benefit of this scheme, which offers access to around 1600 types of treatments, including knee replacements, heart surgeries, cancer treatments etc. These beneficiary families encompass NFSA Ration Card holders, J-form-holding farmers, Registered Labourers, Registered Small Traders, Accredited and Yellow Card-holding Journalists, and families covered under the Socio-Economic Caste Census Data of 2011.