PUNJAB POLICE BUSTS ANOTHER INTERSTATE WEAPONS SMUGGLING MODULE IN AMRITSAR; THREE HELD WITH 3 PISTOLS
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A SAFE AND SECURE STATE AS PER DIRECTIONS OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN
— TWO OF ARRESTED ACCUSED HAVE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND INCLUDING INVOLVEMENT IN MURDER CASE, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV
— PROBE ON TO IDENTIFY MP-BASED WEAPON DEALER AND PERSONS TO WHOM CONSIGNMENT WAS TO BE DELIVERED: AIG SSOC SUKHMINDER MANN
Chandigarh/Amritsar, July 16:Delivering yet another blow to the interstate weapon smuggling networks amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar has arrested three arm smugglers and recovered three .32 bore pistols from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.
Those arrested have been identified as Sukhdev Singh alias Mattu of Chhota Haripura in Amritsar, Sahil Kumar alias Mast of Chhota Haripura in Amritsar and Prabhjot Singh alias Prabh of Guru Nanak Pura in Amritsar. Apart from recovering three pistols, Police teams have also recovered three magazines and six live cartridges from their possession.
The development came a day after the SSOC Amritsar busted a weapon smuggling module backed by foreign-based terrorist Lakhbir alias Landa with the arrest of two operatives after recovering six .32 bore sophisticated pistols along with magazines and ammunition from their possession.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that SSOC Amritsar had received a secret information that some persons from Amritsar are involved in interstate weapons smuggling and they have procured a weapon consignment from illegal weapon dealers of Madhya Pradesh to further deliver it to some criminal elements in the area of Guru Tegh Bahadur Market in Vallah area.
Acting swiftly on the intel-inputs, Police teams from SSOC Amritsar launched an operation and apprehended the trio accused persons when they were waiting in Vallah area to deliver the consignment and recovered three pistols from their possession, he added.
The DGP said that preliminary investigations have revealed that two of the arrested accused persons including Sukhdev Singh alias Mattu and Sahil Kumar alias Mast have a criminal history including involvement in a murder case. Further investigation to establish backward and forward linkages are going on, he added.
Sharing more details, AIG SSOC Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said that investigations are on to identify the weapon dealer in Madhya Pradesh and persons to whom the weapon consignment was to be delivered.
In this regard, a case FIR No. 42 dated 15.07.2024 has been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act and 61 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act at Police Station SSOC Amritsar.
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Special efforts needed to protect and conserve the environment: Speaker Sandhwan
Launches Special Drive with sapling a plant at Punjab Vidhan Sabha
Says, Two thousand saplings to be planted at the vicinity of Vidhan Sabha
Chandigarh, July 16:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Tuesday emphasised that humans direly required safe environment and special efforts needed to conserve the same.
Launching a special campaign by planting a sapling at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr. Sandhwan said that the campaign aims to plant 2000 saplings in the official area of the Vidhan Sabha. He urged everyone to plant at least one sapling, stressing the need to increase the forest area in Punjab.
Mr. Sandhwan highlighted the decrease in forest areas due to deforestation, leading to environmental pollution. He emphasized the importance of planting more saplings to maintain a healthy, pollution-free and green environment.
Mr. Sandhwan urged to social organizations, eco clubs, youth clubs as well as religious organizations to participate in this initiative for the sake of humanity. He said that it is the duty of every man to contribute in this humble.
The Speaker's initiative aims to motivate the people of Punjab to plant maximum saplings and contribute to protect the environment.
Apart from others, Deputy Speaker Mr. Jai Krishan Singh Rouri, MLAs, Secretary of Vidhan Sabha and other Senior Officials & employees also participated in this plantation drive.
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PUNJAB TO SET UP CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN BEAUTY & WELLNESS SECTOR
PSDM inks MoU with Hair Raiserz to train & employ 300 candidates
Training to be offered free of cost to the candidates, says Aman Arora
Chandigarh, July 16:With an aim to open new job avenues for the state youth as committed by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government, the Punjab Skill Development Mission (PSDM) has decided to set up a Centre of Excellence in Beauty and Wellness sector.
The PSDM, on Tuesday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hair Raiserz (Tress Lounge) to train and employ 300 candidates in a year. The agreement was signed by Ms. Amrit Singh, Mission Director of PSDM and Mr. Munish Bajaj, Managing Director of Hair Raiserz in the presence of Mr. Aman Arora, Minister of Employment Generation, Skill Development, and Training, Punjab.
Mr. Aman Arora said that Hair Raiserz will offer the training free of cost to the candidates. This collaboration under the SANKALP Scheme of PSDM is aimed at providing skill development training in various skill development courses including Assistant Hair Dresser & Stylist, Professional Makeup Artist, Assistant Nail Technician and Nail Technician. PSDM will provide guidance, funding, and support for effective implementation, engage with relevant stakeholders, and assist in mobilising candidates, he added.
Congratulating both the parties in this endeavour for bringing youth into the ever expanding service sector, the Employment Generation Minister said that the MoU signifies a major step towards empowering the youth of Punjab with the skills to enhance their employability and contribute to the state's economic growth.
He also urged the youth of the state to explore the possibility of entrepreneurship development and generate employment while making an honourable living. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led state government has been striving to enhance employability of the youth through skill development and facilitating them with suitable employment opportunities including self-employment avenues, he stated.
The candidates trained under this MoU will also additionally get a 4-day training and certification program by Lo'real. Hair Raiserz has multiple skill training centres and will be responsible for managing the Centre of Excellence, training & certifying the candidates and facilitating their placements, besides ensuring that the project is implemented as per the guidelines, with regular monitoring conducted by the District Program Management Unit appointed by PSDM
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Pulls up the socks to Check spread of Diarrhoea: Chief Secretary directs Deputy Commissioners
Chairs meeting with various departments to control outbreak of water borne disease in couple of towns
Zero tolerance of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on this issue
Chandigarh, July 16-Taking a very serious view of outbreak of Diarrhoea in couple of towns in the State, Chief Secretary Mr Anurag Verma on Tuesday took an emergency meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners in the State. The meeting was also attended by Senior officers of the concerned departments, Commissioner Municipal Corporations, ADCs (Urban Development), XENs, EOs and Civil Surgeons.
In the meeting Mr. Verma said that Chief Minister S Bhagwant Singh Mann has issued very clear directions that all the Municipal Corporations and Municipal Committees must ensure that 100% contamination free drinking water is available in their respective jurisdictions. He directed the Deputy Commissioners, Commissioner Municipal Corporations (CMC), and Executive Officers(EO) to personally visit the vulnerable areas and slums in their jurisdiction. Wherever there is a possibility of drinking water being contaminated, immediate remedial steps must be taken. Mr. Verma directed Secretary, Local Government to take certificates from all the CMCs and EOs that contamination free water is being supplied in all the areas in their jurisdiction.
Mr. Verma directed Principal Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation to conduct similar exercise in the Rural areas. All the XENs and the SDOs were directed to personally visit all the villages and in particular vulnerable areas. Principal Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation was directed to take certificates from all the XENs and SDOs that contamination free water is being supplied in all the areas in their jurisdiction.
As per the directions of Chief Minister S Bhagwant Singh Mann, Mr. Verma directed Secretary, Health to double the number of water samples being taken. While doing so, special focus should be on slums and vulnerable areas. Wherever, any sample fails, the matter should be immediately reported to the Deputy Commissioner concerned who in turn should take deterrent action against the Officer responsible for supply of water in the area. In such areas potable drinking water should immediately be made available through tankers. In addition, chlorine tablets in sufficient numbers should be supplied.
Mr. Verma also directed Secretary Health to ensure free and proper treatment of persons who have fallen ill so far. He directed the DCs to closely monitor the situation on daily basis and ensure strict implementation of above directions. He made it clear that no laxity will be tolerated from anyone on this front.
The meeting was attended by Financial Commissioner Rural Development and Panchayats Alok Shekhar, Principal Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation Nilkanth S Avhad, Secretary Health Dr Abhinav, Secretary Local Government Ravi Bhagat and Director Local Government Uma Shankar Gupta
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High-level meeting led by Union Road Transport and highways Minister: Aim to strengthen the road network in Punjab
Punjab PWD minister assures to resolve matters related with Punjab Government in a time bound manner
New Delhi/Chandigarh, July,16-Punjab Public Works and Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO took part in a high-level meeting to review the national highway projects in Punjab chaired by Union Road Transport and highways Mr. Nitin Gadkari held yesterday evening in the national capital. Union ministers of state for road transport and highways Ajay Tamta and Harsh Malhotra, Central and state administrative secretaries, senior officials from centre road transport ministry, NHAI and Punjab Public Works Department and Contractors and consultants were also present.
In the review meeting it was informed that at present projects of 1438 Kms of national highways costing around Rs. 45,000 Crore are being constructed in Punjab. For the completion of these works, the issues were discussed in detail including to give the possession of acquired land at the earliest, to expedite distribution of compensation amount, to prepare land bank of non-forest land in exchange of forest land acquired for projects and to provide ash from thermal power plants. In addition to this the issue of delay in acquiring lands for some projects was discussed in detail and quick solution was emphasised.
On the issues highlighted by the Union Minister Mr. Gadkari, the Punjab Cabinet Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO assured that the state government would resolve all these issues in a time bound manner so as to make the transport facilities smoother for the people of the state. Apart from this, project of constructing the Vehicular Under Pass (VUP) at Khan-kot for better connectivity of highways and to improve road safety was also brought to the notice of the Union Minister.
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Vigilance Bureau nabs two PUNSUP Inspectors taking Rs 1,00,000 bribe
Chandigarh July 16, 2024 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, on Tuesday has arrested two Inspectors of PUNSUP, posted at Barnala namely Jaspal Singh and Praveen Kumar, red handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 1,00,000.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said both the above mentioned accused have been arrested based on a complaint lodged by Harwinder Singh, a resident of Dhanaula town in Barnala district.
He further informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the said Inspectors had demanded a bribe of Rs 1,00,000 and threatened that they would issue a recovery notice to him to pay huge amount of money in lieu of shortage of wheat during transportation through the trucks in the last season.
The spokesperson added that after a preliminary inquiry into this complaint a VB team laid a trap and both the accused Inspectors of PUNSUP were arrested while they were taking a bribe of Rs 1,00,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against both the accused at VB police station Patiala range. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress.
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Vigilance Bureau nabs private person taking Rs 50,000 bribe
Chandigarh July 16, 2024 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, on Tuesday has arrested a private person named Gurpreet Singh, a resident village Beer Kalan in Sangrur district while accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above said accused has been arrested on a complaint lodged by Khushpal Singh residing in the same village.
Giving more details he informed that the said accused Gurpreet Singh had submitted a complaint to district administration regarding the bio-gas plant in the village owned by complainant Khushpal Singh. During the enquiry of this complaint, the concerned Patwari was calling Khushpal Singh and his father to join the enquiry and record their statements. Afterwards the aforementioned Gurpreet Singh intervened in the case and asked the complainant to pay a bribe of Rs 2.50 lakhs stating that this money would be shared by other government officials also.
He further added that the complainant didn't want to pay the bribe and approached the VB with a complaint alleging that the said accused Gurpreet Singh demanding a bribe to settle his complaint. After preliminary verification the VB team laid a trap and the said accused Gurpreet Singh was arrested while accepting first instalment of bribe money of Rs. 50,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Patiala range. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress, he said.
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Vigilance Bureau nabs SBI Assistant Manager taking Rs 10,000 bribe
Chandigarh July 16, 2024 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, on Tuesday has arrested Sunil Kumar, Assistant Manager, posted at State Bank of India branch at Abohar in Fazilka district red handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 10,000.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above mentioned accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by Sukhpal Singh, a resident of village Bahavwala in Fazilka district.
He further informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the said bank manager had demanded a bribe of Rs 12,000 to forward an insurance claim verification to the insurance company regarding his dead cow whose insurance claim was applied by him.
The spokesperson added that after a preliminary inquiry into this complaint, the VB team laid a trap in which the accused bank manager was arrested red handed while he was taking Rs 10,000 as a first instalment of bribe from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Ferozepur range. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress.