Punjab Child Rights Commission Takes Serious Note of Stray Dog Bites on Children, Orders Sterilization of Stray Dogs

Chandigarh, January 24 - Taking serious note of the rising incidents of stray dog attacks on children, Kanwardeep Singh, Chairman of the Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, has directed the Local Government and Rural Development Departments to conduct a census of stray dogs in all cities. He has also urged immediate sterilization to prevent further incidents.

The Chairman has stated that reports of stray dog attacks on children have been brought to the commission's attention through media sources. Expressing deep concern over these incidents, the commission has taken suo-motu notice of the matter.

The Chairman highlighted that media reports have revealed alarming incidents, including the tragic deaths of two children within a week in Hasanpur village near Ludhiana due to stray dog attacks. Similar incidents have been reported from various parts of Punjab, including Mohali, Zirakpur, Amritsar, Machhiwara Sahib, and Nabha, raising serious public concern.

The Chairman further informed that he has written to the Administrative Secretaries of the Punjab Local Government Department and the Rural Development & Panchayat Department, urging them to implement the provisions of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, as notified by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, on March 10, 2023. He emphasized that timely implementation of these rules will help control the stray dog population and prevent further attacks on children.

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Vigilance Bureau arrests Municipal Corporation Lamberdar for demanding monthly bribes from Safai Sewak

Chandigarh, January 24, 2025 –The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Sanjay Kumar, a Lamberdar in Municipal Corporation (MC) Zone-B, Ludhiana, and a resident of Sarpanch Colony, Kulliewal, Ludhiana, for allegedly demanding and accepting bribes of Rs. 6,000 per month from Safai Sewak (Sweeper).

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson for the VB stated that this case has been registered following a complaint lodged by Sandeep, a Safai Sewak in MC Ludhiana and a resident of LIG Colony, Jamalpur, Ludhiana, on the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line.

The complainant alleged that Sanjay Kumar had been demanding monthly bribes to mark and maintain his attendance records. He further revealed that the accused had already extorted Rs. 1,40,000 over the past two years for the same. To substantiate his claims, the complainant provided recorded conversations of the accused demanding bribe money.

The spokesperson added that during a thorough verification of the complaint, the allegations were found to be true, supported by both oral and documentary evidence. Consequently, the VB has registered a case against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act at the VB Police Station, Ludhiana Range. Further investigation into this case was under progress, he said.

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Vigilance Bureau arrests ASI accepting Rs 5000 bribe

Chandigarh, January 24, 2025 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the State, on Friday has apprehended an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Sukhraj Singh, posted at Police Station Civil Lines, Batala in Gurdaspur district for accepting a bribe of Rs 5000.

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 Gurdial Chand, a resident of village Gokhuwal, in Gurdaspur.

He further added that the complainant has approached the VB and stated in his complaint that he had previously lodged an FIR at Police Station Civil Lines, Batala against certain criminals who had allegedly assaulted him. The accused ASI was investigation officer (IO) of the said case and had demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000 for arresting an accused in the said FIR.

The spokesperson informed that after preliminary enquiry of this complaint the VB team laid a trap during which the said accused was caught red handed while he was accepting Rs 5000 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, Range Amritsar. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigations into this case was under progress, he said.

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LUDHIANA SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SUSPENDED, CAMPUS MANAGER SACKED OVER CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

•Students were forced to Shift Sand and Gravel as Punishment for arriving late

•Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains Asserts Commitment to Safe, Respectful Learning Environment at Govt Schools

Chandigarh, January 24:Following the directions of Cabinet Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, the Punjab School Education Department, on Friday, suspended a School Principal and a Campus Manager of a Government Senior Secondary School of Ludhiana. This strict action was taken against them over corporal punishment to students for arriving late to school.

S. Harjot Singh Bains said that Principal of Government Senior Secondary School Jawahar Nagar, School of Eminence (Boys), Ludhiana has been suspended and the Campus Manager of the same school has been dismissed for making the students to shift sand & gravel for coming late to the school.

"This incident has come to my notice today, and strict action has been initiated immediately," he stated. S. Harjot Singh Bains categorically asserted that such behaviour from any teacher will not be tolerated, emphasising the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful environment for students in the Government Schools. The education system must prioritise the well-being and dignity of all students, and any actions that undermine this principle will be met with appropriate consequences.

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Chief Secretary Appeals to Children to Update Biometrics in Aadhaar for Hassle-Free Access to Services

Chandigarh, January 24:The Chief Secretary of Punjab, Sh. K.A.P Sinha, today chaired a meeting of the Unique Identification Implementation Committee (UIDIC) cum Workshop on Aadhaar Usage at the Punjab Secretariat. The session, attended by heads and directors of various departments, underscored the importance of achieving 100% Aadhaar penetration for children in the 0-5 age group across Punjab.

Sh. Sinha directed all departments, including banks and the Department of Post, to activate Aadhaar enrolment kits without delay and maximize the use of available resources to achieve this target.

Smt. Bhawna Garg, DDG UIDAI RO Chandigarh, highlighted the need for special efforts to improve Aadhaar enrolment for children aged 0-5. She suggested deploying Aadhaar kits at immunization centers and facilitating collaboration between the Health Department and the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD) for better coverage.

Additionally, Smt. Garg urged the School Education Department to create a detailed action plan to identify children who require Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) at the age of 5 and 15. This will ensure smooth access to government schemes, scholarships, and educational benefits.

The workshop also presented case studies of how Aadhaar-based face authentication can be leveraged to improve service delivery. Smt. Garg encouraged departments to integrate face authentication into their schemes for greater efficiency.

The Chief Secretary instructed that Aadhaar service camps be organized in all government and private schools to provide easier access for students. He also emphasized the need to promote the m-Aadhaar application and My-Aadhaar Portal to ensure citizens can easily avail themselves of Aadhaar services.

Furthermore, the Chief Secretary called for a comprehensive awareness campaign by the School Education Department to encourage parents and guardians to ensure the Mandatory Biometric Update for their children. He also directed all departments to ensure Aadhaar-based authentication of beneficiaries at e-Sampark Centers and other government offices, and to implement Aadhaar-based face authentication across all government departments.

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