CM PAYS OBEISANCE AT SRI KALI MATA MANDIR
PRAYS FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE
HOLDS MEETING WITH MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO REVIEW ONGOING DEVELOPMENT IN TEMPLE
Patiala, August 12:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday paid obeisance at Sri Kali Mata Mandir and sought blessings from Mata Rani to further serve the state more zealously and diligently.
The Chief Minister reached Sri Kali Mata Mandir in the afternoon and said that with the God’s grace he is leaving no stone unturned to come up to the expectations of people and top priority is being accorded by the government to implement pro-people and development oriented policies. He said that Sri Kali Mata Mandir, located in the cultural capital of Punjab, Patiala, is one of the most venerated and historic temples in northern India. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this temple stands as a testament to Punjab’s rich spiritual heritage and royal patronage adding that he has today prayed for the peace, progress and prosperity of the state.
The Chief Minister also held a detailed meeting with the newly appointed management committee of the temple and discussed the ongoing developments within the premises. He assured the committee of full support and cooperation in accomplishing this noble task. Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that the state government is fully committed to giving a facelift to this sacred place through aesthetic development.
The Chief Minister offered prayers and sought blessings of almighty to give enormous strength to him for serving the people of state with all humility and dedication. He offered prayers to seek Mata Rani’s blessings to serve the people of the state regardless of caste, colour, creed and religion to create a harmonious society. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the ethos of love, brotherhood and harmony in the society will be maintained at every cost and will ever remain the top priority of his government.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister thanked Mata Rani for bestowing upon him the responsibility to serve the people of Punjab with sincerity, dedication and commitment to fulfill their aspirations. He said that it was a gratifying experience for him to visit this holy shrine, which is a fountainhead of inspiration and positivity for millions of people from around the world. Bhagwant Singh Mann said he had come to this shrine to pray for the state, its peace and development, for which his government is fully committed.
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“Safe Punjab” Portal Leads to Over 5,000 FIRs in Fight Against Drugs: Harpal Singh Cheema
Says, Conversion Rate of Information Received On Chatbot into Concrete Police Action Reaches 32 Percent
‘Yudh Nashian Virudh' Campaign Sees 16,322 NDPS Cases, 25,552 Arrests, Major Drug Seizures
Chandigarh, August 12-Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, who also serves as chairman of the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh Cabinet Sub Committee,’ announced today that the Safe Punjab Portal has been instrumental in the registration of over 5,000 First Information Reports (FIRs) in a year. He said thst the portal, a WhatsApp chatbot launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in August 2024 to gather public information and tips on drug peddlers and hotspots, has achieved a commendable conversion rate of 32 percent, transforming public input into concrete police action.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the overwhelming public response to the WhatsApp chatbot, accessible at 9779100200, has positioned the Safe Punjab Portal as one of the nation's most effective public portals for police engagement. “The portal has become a vital source of intelligence and a potent weapon in the "Yudh Nashian Virudh" campaign, which was officially initiated on March 1, 2025, to intensify the state's efforts against drug trafficking”, he added.
Providing further details on the "Yudh Nashian Virudh" campaign's success, the Finance Minister disclosed that since its inception, a total of 16,322 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act, leading to the arrest of 25,552 individuals. He said that the state government has also taken decisive action against drug smugglers by demolishing 182 of their illegal properties. These efforts have resulted in major drug seizures, including 1,054 kg of heroin, 21,534 kg of poppy husk, 366 kg of opium, and over three million tablets, capsules, and pills.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema sharply criticized the previous SAD-BJP alliance, accusing it of patronizing the narcotics trade for a decade, and also pointed out the failure of the subsequent Congress government to take strong action against the drug menace between 2017 and 2022. He reiterated that the Aam Aadmi Party government has been on a mission to completely eradicate this problem since its first day in office, with the "Yudh Nashian Virudh" campaign designed to deliver the final blow. He highlighted that publicly known kingpins of the drug trade have been put behind bars, and the recent arrest of Joga Singh is expected to facilitate the capture of other key figures in the drug network.
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SC Commission seeks report from Police Commissioner and Commissioner Municipal Corporation Jalandhar regarding removal of boards from Ramanand Chowk
Chandigarh, August 12: Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman Jasvir Singh Garhi today took suo moto notice in a case and sought a report from Police Commissioner and Commissioner Municipal Corporation Jalandhar regarding removal of boards from Sant Ramanand Chowk, Jalandhar.
Giving information in this regard, a spokesperson of Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission said that
According to a news published in a newspaper, 'Amar Shaheed 108 Ramanand Chowk has been desecrated by removing the Jaikare of Jai Gurudev Dhan Gurdev' written in it, regarding which the Commission has decided to take suo moto notice under section 10 (2) (h) of the 'Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Act-2004' and investigate.
The spokesperson said that a report has been sought from the Commissioner of Police Jalandhar and the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation Jalandhar on 18-08-2025 regarding this issue.
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Harbhajan Singh ETO makes surprise visit to PWD offices in Mohali
S.A.S. Nagar, August 12:Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO today inspected the Departmental Quality Control Cell, Provincial Division, Construction Division, Horticulture Sub-Division Mohali offices at the PWD complex located in the Industrial Area of SAS Nagar, Mohali.
During this inspection, the PWD Minister reviewed the performance of these offices and instructed the employees to attend the office on time and complete the government work in a time-bound manner. He instructed to provide correct and accurate information about the problems sent by the common citizens on the grievance portal.
During this inspection, the Cabinet Minister highly appreciated the departmental performance of female employees and instructed the departmental officers to give due apriciation to these employees.
He also instructed all the officers/employees of the Public Works Department to complete the work in a quality and timely manner.
During this, the Cabinet Minister was also informed about the difficulties faced by the employees during government work, which the Cabinet Minister assured to redressal of the problem soon. During the inspection, Engineer in Chief Mr. Gagandeep Singh, Superintending Engineers Mr. RP Singh, Mr. Anil Kumar Sharma, Executive Engineers Mr. Vivek Dureja and Mr. Shivpreet Singh, along with the officers of the department, were also present.
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Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat directs officers to promote floriculture in state
Cabinet Minister reviews progress of Horticulture Department
Chandigarh, August 12 –In view of the steadily rising demand for flowers, Punjab Horticulture Minister Mr. Mohinder Bhagat today directed officers to take necessary measures to promote floriculture across the state. He was reviewing the progress of the department’s activities at the Punjab Civil Secretariat on Monday.
Mr. Bhagat said that in the present times, the demand for flowers is increasing everywhere, with no event or programme considered complete without floral decoration. He added that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the State Government is taking continuous steps to boost the horticulture sector.
The Minister informed that the Punjab Government is providing financial assistance of ₹14,000 per acre to farmers for flower seed production. He further said that technical training in floriculture is also being provided to farmers as per their requirements.
During the review meeting, Horticulture Secretary Mr. Basant Garg and Director Horticulture Mrs. Shailender Kaur apprised the Minister in detail about the initiatives being undertaken for farmers’ welfare and various projects currently in progress in the department.
Mr. Bhagat reiterated that the Mann Government’s primary objective is to enhance farmers’ income and affirmed the government’s commitment to extend all possible support to achieve this goal.
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PUNJAB POLICE SOLVES NAWANSHAHR GRENADE ATTACK CASE; FIVE OPERATIVES OF BKI HELD WITH HAND-GRENADE, PISTOL
— FURTHER TERROR ATTACKS PLANNED BY THIS MODULE FOILED AHEAD OF I-DAY
— MODULE WAS BEING OPERATED BY FOREIGN-BASED MANNU AGWAN, GOPI NAWANSHEHRIA AND ZEESHAN AKHTAR ON DIRECTIONS OF HARWINDER RINDA
— MODULE HAD PLANNED AN ATTACK INSIDE LIQUOR STORE IN SBS NAGAR RECENTLY; FURTHER TASKED TO ATTEMPT SUCH ATTACKS: DGP GAURAV YADAV
— ONE ARRESTED PERSON INJURED IN EXCHANGE OF FIRE WHILE BEING TAKEN FOR RECOVERY: AIG CI NAVJOT MAHAL
CHANDIGARH/JALANDHAR, August 12:In a major breakthrough against Pakistan’s ISI-backed terror network amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Counter Intelligence (CI) Jalandhar, in a joint operation with SBS Nagar Police, busted a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module with the arrest of five operatives, including three juveniles, from Tonk and Jaipur districts of Rajasthan, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.
The module was being operated by foreign-based handlers Mannu Agwan, Gopi Nawanshehria and Zeeshan Akhtar on the directions of Pak-based BKI operative Harwinder Singh alias Rinda.
Those arrested have been identified as Ritik Naroliya, a resident of village Didawata in Jaipur, Rajasthan; Sonu Kumar alias Kali, a resident of village Kala Sanghian in Kapurthala and three juveniles. Police teams have also recovered one 86P hand-grenade and one .30 bore pistol along with two live cartridges and two empty shells.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the module had planned an attack inside a liquor store in SBS Nagar recently.
It is worth mentioning that this module had carried out a grenade attack at liquor store in SBS Nagar on August 7, 2025.
The DGP said that the operatives were further tasked to attempt such attacks during the period leading up to the Independence Day. The arrested accused were receiving direct instructions from foreign-based Zeeshan Akhtar and BKI mastermind Mannu Agwan, who is working in close coordination with Pak-based BKI operative Harwinder Rinda, he said.
“We have successfully averted further planned attacks by this terror module,” said DGP Gaurav Yadav, while adding that probe is on to establish forward and backward linkages in this case.
Sharing more details, AIG CI Jalandhar Navjot Mahal said that in an intelligence-led operation, all the five accused persons from the areas of Tonk and Jaipur districts of Rajasthan.
He said that during a follow-up recovery operation, arrested accused Sonu alias Kali attempted to open fire at the police party. In self-defence, the police party retaliated, resulting in a bullet injury to accused Sonu alias Kali, he said, while adding that the injured accused was immediately shifted to Civil Hospital in SBS Nagar, where he is undergoing treatment.
In this regard, an FIR under sections 109, 324(5) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act has been registered at police station City Nawanshahr.
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Punjab Government stands fully committed for Welfare of all stakeholders connected with procurement process: Group of Ministers
Palledars announce to end their strike
Chandigarh, August 12:The Group of Ministers (GoM) comprising Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Transport Minister Transport and Jails Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar and Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal which has been constituted to ensure hassle free procurement of Wheat & Paddy today held comprehensive meeting with the Palledars doing loading work in the mandis of the State.
Reiterating that the State Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann stands fully committed for the welfare of all the stakeholders connected with the procurement operations, the GoM said that the palledars would get an increase in the SOR rates before the next Wheat procurement season. The GoM also added that in the tender document it would be made mandatory for the contractors to insert the condition of getting life insurance of labourers done.
Assuring the palledars that the Punjab Government stands shoulder to shoulder with the palledars with regard to their demands such as increasing their rates every year and giving direct work as well as payments to them and removing the contractor as intermediary, the Group of Ministers divulged that a number of these demands are related to the Union Government and FCI and the State Government is emphatically taking up these demands with them
With regard to the basic sanitation facilities in the mandis to the labourers in the godowns , the Group of Ministers said that no stone would be left unturned to ensure the same.
The Palledar Unions representatives on their part expressed gratitude to the Group of Ministers and announced to end their strike.
Among others present on the occasion included the Principal Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rahul Tiwari, Director Varinder Kumar Sharma, Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Mr. Ramvir, Additional Secretary PUNGRAIN Kamal Kumar Garg and Additional Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Dr. Anjuman Bhaskar.
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Landmark win for Punjab’s Semiconductor ecosystem, Says Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora
• SAS Nagar will become semiconductor manufacturing hub in future
Chandigarh, 12 August-Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora today informed that the Union Cabinet has approved four new projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), one of which is planned in SAS Nagar, Punjab. Government of India today approved semiconductor manufacturing units in Odisha, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh with an outlay of Rs. 4600/- crore.
He further revealed that Continental Device India Private Limited (CDIL)’s facility in Mohali is among the four new projects. CDIL Semiconductors, India’s pioneering silicon semiconductor manufacturer since 1964 is continuing its growth and expansion with a brownfield project at its Mohali facility.
Highlighting further, Sanjeev Arora said that the company is expanding into Power Semiconductor Devices, adding manufacturing lines for high-power MOSFETs, IGBTs, Schottky Bypass Diodes, and transistors in both Silicon and Silicon Carbide technologies. This expansion will add an annual capacity of 158.38 million units, taking the total plant capacity to 750 million devices per year.
The devices manufactured will serve diverse applications, including EVs and charging infrastructure, renewable energy systems, power conversion, industrial equipment, and communication infrastructure, he added.
He disclosed that the proposed expansion will boost the electronics ecosystem in SAS Nagar, boosting domestic chip production and creating new jobs in the long run. The project highlights the importance of collaboration between industry and research institutions to drive innovation and technological advancements.
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ON DAY 2, DGP PUNJAB REVIEWS LAW AND ORDER SITUATION IN FEROZEPUR, FARIDKOT, BATHINDA AND PATIALA RANGES
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO ELIMINATING CROSS-BORDER DRUG MENACE THROUGH TRANSPARENT ENFORCEMENT OF THE NDPS ACT: DGP GAURAV YADAV
— DGP GAURAV YADAV ISSUES DIRECTIVES ON COUNTER-TERROR READINESS, INTER-DISTRICT COORDINATION AND STRONG NAKAS TO ENSURE SAFE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS
— DGP PUNJAB ALSO ENGAGED DIRECTLY WITH OFFICERS ACROSS ALL RANKS INCLUDING SHOs
CHANDIGARH/FEROZEPUR/BATHINDA/PATIALA, August 12:Continuing his visit in the field consecutively for second day, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday chaired a law and order review meetings and outreach sessions with officers of Ferozepur, Faridkot, Bathinda and Patiala Ranges ahead of forthcoming Independence Day-2025. During his day-long tour, the DGP has visited three districts including Ferozepur, Bathinda and Patiala.
Reaffirming Punjab Police’s steadfast commitment to eliminating the cross-border drug menace through transparent enforcement of the NDPS Act, DGP Gaurav Yadav issued strategic directives on counter-terror readiness, inter-district coordination, strong nakas, and continuous surveillance to ensure safe Independence Day celebrations as mandated by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
DGP Gaurav Yadav appreciated the officers on work being done under the anti-drug Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign and directed them to further intensify the anti-drug campaign to wipe out the drugs from the state. He also asked officers to conduct financial investigations vis section 68-F of the NDPS Act, and against Hawala operators to dismantle the entire ecosystem of drug trafficking.
He has also given instructions to all the SSPs to maintain peace and harmony by ensuring police presence at all important places, intensify domination operations and other preventive and detective measures. He also briefed the police force regarding the current security scenario and reviewed counter-terror strategies.
As part of the outreach, the DGP Punjab also engaged directly with officers across all ranks including station house officers (SHOs), encouraging an open discussion and exchange of valuable field insights to strengthen inter-district coordination and dismantle drug supply chains.
“Had a fruitful feedback session with all SHOs, who are truly the backbone of this Punjab Police. The interaction provided valuable insights and constructive feedback, reinforcing our shared commitment to public safety and community well-being,” he said.
DIG Faridkot Range Ashwani Kapur, DIG Bathinda Range Harjit Singh, DIG Patiala Range Kuldeep Singh Chahal, SSP Ferozepur Bhupinder Singh, SSP Tarn Taran Deepak Pareek, SSP Fazilka Gurmit Singh, SSP Faridkot Dr Pragya Jain, SSP Sri Muktsar Sahib Akhil Chaudhary, SSP Moga Ajay Gandhi, SSP Bathinda Amneet Kondal, SSP Mansa Bhagirath Meena, SSP Patiala Varun Sharma, SSP Sangrur Sartaj Chahal, SSP Malerkotla Gagan Ajit Singh and SSP Barnala Sarfaraz Alam were among other officers/officials who attended the meetings.
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VB ARRESTS FIRE OFFICER FOR RECEIVING A BRIBE OF RS 20,000/-
Chandigarh 12 August 2025:The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state today arrested Fire Officer Varinder Kathuria posted at Abohar for receiving a bribe of Rs 20,000/.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the accused demanded a bribe from the complainant Rishav Kalia resident of tehsil Abohar district Fazilka. The complainant Rishav Kalia sells new fire extinguishers and refills old fire extenguishers.
He said accused Varinder Kathuria, fire officer, demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000/- to 30,000/- in the form of commission for the bills to be cleared by him. Besides this, the complainant met the accused at his house regarding clearance of his other bills also.
The complainant did not want to pay a bribe to him for his rightful work. Hence, to get such a corrupt official nabbed by the Vigilance Bureau, the complainant recorded his conversation and reported the matter to VB Unit Fazilka, he added.
The statement of the complainant was recorded at the Vigilance Bureau, Unit Fazilka. Subsequently the accused was caught red handed while accepting the bribe of Rs 20,000/- in presence of Govt. witness and the said case was registered against the aforesaid accused u/s 7 P.C Act 1988, as Amended by PC (Amendment) Act, 2018 Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Range Ferozpur. The instant case is under investigation. The accused Fire officer will be produced before the competent court tomorrow.
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