Page 5 - Punjab

World's oldest marathoner Fauja Singh cremated with state honours in Beas

World's oldest marathoner Fauja Singh, known by the nickname 'Turbaned Tornado', was cremated on Sunday with full state honours here in Beas, his native village. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and Minister Mohinder Bhagat attended the funeral. Fauja Singh's son Harvinder Singh lit the funeral pyre. Fauja Singh was 114 when he was hit by a SUV being driven by Canada-based Amritpal Singh Dhillon on July 14. He was crossing the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway when the incident occurred. Governor Kataria recalled how Fauja Singh walked with him during a Nasha Mukt yatra an anti-drug campaign last year. He said that after walking for 1 km, he asked him to stop but to his surprise, Fauja Singh insisted that they walk. Mourners started thronging Fauja Singh's house in Beas early in the day. His body was kept in a glass casket with his photograph beside it to allow the people to take a last look at the running legend. Later, his body was carried in a

NAPA seeks stricter checks on travel ads as Punjabis fall to trafficking

The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has called for stringent scrutiny of foreign job advertisements by travel agents in Punjab, claiming people from the state were falling prey to human trafficking and deceptive migration schemes. Satnam Singh Chahal, executive director of the US-based NAPA, emphasised that every year, hundreds of young Punjabis, driven by the dream of a better future in Western nations, end up being exploited by unregulated agents. These agents often work through sophisticated networks and use flashy advertisements in newspapers, social media, and local TV channels to lure innocent people. "They are promised high-paying jobs abroad, but instead, many are abandoned in transit countries or forced into inhumane conditions. These agents charge anywhere between Rs 20 and 50 lakh, pushing families into lifelong debt," he said. He alleged that unscrupulous agents, operating not only from Punjab but also from metropolitan hubs like New Delhi and even foreign ...

ED raids Punjab de-addiction centres in 'illegal' drugs sale case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday raided multiple locations in Punjab apart from some in Mumbai as part of a money laundering investigation linked to "illegal" sale of drugs by private de-addiction centres in the northern state, official sources said. The federal probe agency's investigation stems from various FIRs filed by Punjab Police against a doctor named Amit Bansal, a pharmaceutical company, a drugs inspector and some others. Bansal runs 22 drugs de-addiction centres across Punjab, the sources said. The raids are being conducted in Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Barnala in Punjab and in Mumbai, Maharashtra, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. Sources said private de-addiction centres like the ones run by Bansal have been entrusted by the Punjab government to provide BNX (Buprenorphine/Naloxone) medicine to patients, enrolled in their facilities, so that they can be weaned away from narcotics. It was found that these medicines meant for ...

Over 22,000 narcotic smugglers held in Punjab's anti drug campaign

Over 22,000 narcotic smugglers have been arrested so far under a state-level campaign against drugs, officials said on Friday. Under the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' (war against drugs) campaign, Punjab Police on Thursday arrested 113 drug smugglers and recovered 1.5 kg heroin, 5 kg opium, and 31,237 intoxicant pills from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested in 138 days of the campaign has reached 22,377. Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla stated that over 180 police teams, comprising more than 1,300 police personnel, under the supervision of 93 gazetted officers, conducted raids at as many as 433 locations across the state on Thursday. The operation led to the registration of 81 FIRs across the state, Shukla said, adding police teams also checked as many as 483 suspicious persons in the exercise. The state government has also constituted a five-member cabinet subcommittee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against ...

Fauja Singh hit-and-run case: NRI driver arrested, SUV seized in Punjab

Fauja Singh (114) was hit by an SUV on Jalandhar highway; NRI driver Amritpal Singh Dhillon arrested, SUV seized; FIR filed under rash driving and culpable homicide sections

Anti-sacrilege bill will deter future desecration of scriptures: Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said the Anti-sacrilege Bill will ensure that no such heinous crime takes place in the future by making provision of the sternest punishment against culprits. Mann stated this while participating in a debate on the 'Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill 2025' on the concluding day of the Special Session of the Punjab Assembly here. The House on Tuesday decided to refer the Bill, which was introduced on Monday, to a Select Committee of the Assembly for seeking views of all stakeholders. Mann said the Guru Granth Sahib is the living Guru, who is highly revered by one and all across the globe. He said the 'Guru Granth Sahib' is a lighthouse of peace and tranquility for the entire mankind, and the Punjab government is "fully alive" to the deep emotional hurt caused by the incidents of sacrilege against the holy 'granths' in the past. He said it is unfortunate that some forces had even gone to an extent of committing

Who was Fauja Singh, the 'Turbaned Tornado' who ran a full marathon at 100?

Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner, died at age 114 after being hit by a vehicle in Jalandhar. He was the first centenarian to complete a full marathon

Mann's remark on PM's visits insults constitutional dignity: Haryana CM

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has criticised his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann for his recent remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits. Terming them "inappropriate" and an affront to democratic values and dignity of constitutional positions, Saini asked Mann to seek an apology from the nation. The Punjab chief minister had on Thursday criticised Modi for celebrating an honour from a foreign country with just 10,000 population while neglecting the pressing issues of his own nation with 140 crore people. Mann has faced flak from several BJP leaders for the comment. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also expressed strong disapproval, calling the remarks "irresponsible". Without naming Mann, the MEA said that the Government of India "disassociates" itself from the "unwarranted" comments made by a "high state authority" that undermined India's ties with friendly countries. However, Mann raked up the issue again on Friday, this time in the state .

Nuh violence: Have right to worship, says accused; moves Punjab, Haryana HC

Cow vigilante Bittu Bajrangi, an accused in the 2023 Nuh violence case, Friday said he has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking permission to take part in a religious procession on July 14, the first Monday of the holy month of Sawan. Bajrangi, who formed the Gau Raksha Bajrang Force, has a long association with controversies. Violence erupted in Nuh in July 2023 during a Vishwa Hindu Parishad procession after it was attacked by a mob. Five people, including two home guards, were killed and many were injured in the clashes. In Gurugram, a naib imam was killed at a mosque amid a series of incidents of arson. This year, Bajrangi submitted an application to the administration to allow him to take part in the Brij Mandal Yatra, but his request is pending. "I have sought permission to go to Nuh for the yatra and have filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. I have the right to worship," said Bittu Bajrangi. Authorities are on high alert for the traditional yat

ED raids in several Punjab, Haryana cities in 'donkey route' case

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches in multiple cities of Punjab and Haryana as part of a money laundering investigation into a 'donkey route' case related to illegal Indian immigrants who were deported by the US this year, official sources said. Offices and houses of suspects and agents in at least 11 cities in the two states -- Amritsar, Sangrur, Patiala and Moga in Punjab and Ambala, Kurukshetra and Karnal in Haryana-- are being raided under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said. The money laundering case stems from 17 FIRs registered by Punjab and Haryana police departments against the travel/visa agents and middlemen who cheated various persons willing to go to the US illegally, they said. A number of Indians from these two states and few others were deported onboard US military planes in February this year and the agency later recorded the statements of few deportees. These statements and some linked investigation threw up the

Punjab Police registers FIR in connection with IndiGo flight bomb hoax

Punjab Police has registered an FIR in connection with a hoax bomb threat on an IndiGo flight that landed at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport here from Hyderabad last week, officials said on Tuesday. A tissue paper reading "bomb inside" was found in a lavatory during the cleaning of the aircraft after it landed at the airport on July 5, according to the officials. After the note was found, a thorough search of the aircraft was carried out, but no explosive was found, a senior police officer said. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amarpreet Singh said, "An IndiGo flight from Hyderabad landed here on July 5 and it was supposed to go to Delhi. After the passengers deboarded, a tissue paper reading "bomb inside" was found in the aircraft's lavatory during cleaning." "This was immediately reported to the airport authorities and police by IndiGo's security manager. An anti-sabotage team, bomb disposal squad and CISF personnel thoroughly checked the aircraft. Passengers'

Punjab HC defers hearing of Bikram Singh Majithia's plea until July 29

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday deferred till July 29 hearing on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia's plea against his arrest and subsequent remand in a disproportionate assets case. As the matter came up for hearing, Majithia's counsels sought three weeks to file an amended plea following which the court granted time and fixed the next date of hearing. Majithia had earlier filed a plea against his arrest and subsequent remand in the disproportionate assets case registered by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB). The state government's counsel Ferry Sofat said Majithia's advocates sought three weeks time to file an amended petition. The Punjab VB on June 25 arrested Majithia in the DA case allegedly involving laundering of Rs 540 crore of "drug money". Majithia on July 1 moved the HC against the DA case, calling it "political witch-hunting and vendetta" for being a vocal critic of the current dispensation. The former minister was sent to judicial custody by

Nine dead, 33 injured as mini bus overturns in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district

A mini bus overturned near Sagran village of Hoshiarpur district on Monday, leaving nine people dead and 33 others injured, police said. A car was also involved in the accident, they said. Mukerian Deputy Superintendent of Police Kulwinder Singh Virk said the bus, with about 40 passengers, was on its way to Dasuya from Hajipur town when the accident occurred. Police stated the driver is said to have lost control over the vehicle, though exact cause of the accident is under investigation. The injured passengers were admitted to Dasuya Civil Hospital for treatment. On receiving information, Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain and Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Kumar Malik reached Dasuya to oversee the rescue and relief operations. DC Jain said the government would provide an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured. The government will also bear the complete medical expenses of the injured, she added. "At

Punjab govt to impart business, marketing skills to Class 11 & 12 students

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Saturday said skill education in business and marketing will be provided to all class 11 and 12 students in government schools from the next academic session under the Punjab Young Entrepreneurs scheme. The move is aimed at encouraging students to set up their own start-ups, he asserted. Addressing a gathering, Bains said under the 'Business Blasters Expo-2025', students are being encouraged to become job creators instead of job seekers, with the state government providing all kinds of assistance -- both financial and technical -- to all progressive-minded students. Referring to the expo, Bains said students selected from government schools across Punjab presented their business ideas before industrialists, start-up founders, and educationists, and all participating teams succeeded in getting financial assistance. The minister said an investment of Rs 17 lakh has been made to set up innovation labs, where students will now be able to

17-year-old girl from Punjab gets 100 percentile in 4 of 5 CUET subjects

Ludhiana's Ananaya Jain scored 100 percentile in four subjects and 99.99 in English, making her the only student among 1.07 million to achieve near-perfect scores across the board

PSEB syllabus 2025: Class 1 to 12 subject-wise syllabus out at pseb.ac.in

Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has published the subject-wise syllabus for Classes 1 to 12 for the 2025 session on its official website, pseb.ac.in

Land scam: How a wartime IAF airstrip was ‘sold’ by forgery and no one noticed for decades | Punjab

A historic Indian Air Force airstrip, once used in the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars, was illegally sold off in 1997 using forged documents. Nearly three decades later, the scam has been exposed.

Punjab registers record 44% growth in net GST collections in June

Punjab registered a record 44.44 per cent growth in net goods and services tax collections at Rs 2,379.90 crore in June 2025, said Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday. Addressing the media here, Cheema said Punjab outpaced the national average in GST collection growth, firmly positioning itself among the top-performing states in tax mobilization despite facing national and geopolitical challenges, including border-related tensions. The net GST collection last month stood at Rs 2,379.90 crore, reflecting a revenue growth of Rs 732.21 crore over the Rs 1,647.69 crore collected in June 2024. This follows the monthly net growth trends of 15.35 per cent in April and 24.59 per cent in May. The net GST collection during the first quarter of 2025-26 reached Rs 6,830.40 crore, even amidst the military conflict between India and Pakistan in May, compared to Rs 5,377.75 crore in the first quarter of 2024-25. This represents a growth rate more than four times the 6.41 per cent gro

Oswal Group, Marriott to develop ₹260 crore Westin Hotel in Ludhiana

Marriott to operate a 200-key Westin Hotel in Ludhiana under partnership with Oswal Group's realty arm, part of a seven-acre mixed-use commercial project

Elderly Ludhiana couple dies by suicide after alleged harassment over EMIs

Despite repaying over 55 loan EMIs, the Ludhiana couple consumed poison after alleged threats and humiliation by bank staff; suicide video and note name officials, FIR registered under BNS