Chandigarh, August 1:

Taking suo moto cognizance of the tragic suicide case involving two truck drivers from village Niyal near Patran in Patiala district, Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman S. Jasvir Singh Garhi has summoned Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patiala.

Divulging further, Commission’s spokesperson said that the two drivers from village Niyal, located near Patran town in Patiala district, had recently taken their own lives. One of the deceased, Harpreet Singh, belonged to the Scheduled Caste community. The bereaved family members have been conducting a continuous protest on the Patran-Patiala highway for the past six days, demanding justice and appropriate action.

In response to this matter, Commission Chairman S. Jasvir Singh Garhi has directed the SSP Patiala to appear personally before the Commission and submit a comprehensive report on August 5, 2025.

Chandigarh, August 1

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Friday that the state has once again broken records in tax revenue growth, with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection registering a net growth of 32.08% in July 2025 compared to the same period last year. He said that this robust performance is part of the state’s consistent trend of setting record-breaking growth in tax revenue year-on-year and month-on-month for the last three and half years

In a press communiqué issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema highlighted that the net GST revenue collected in July 2025 was Rs. 2357.78 crore, a substantial increase of Rs. 572.71 crore compared to the Rs. 1785.07 crore collected in July 2024. He said that the state’s impressive growth trajectory is also evident in the year-to-date figures. “Up to July of the current financial year, net GST revenue has reached Rs. 9188.18 crore, marking an increase of Rs. 2025.36 crore over the Rs. 7162.82 crore collected during the same period in the 2024-25 fiscal year”, he added.

Finance Minister Cheema attributed this remarkable growth to the effective policies implemented by the Aam Admi Party led Punjab Government, which have fostered a conducive business environment and encouraged tax compliance. He said that the department’s enforcement actions have also played a crucial role in curbing tax evasion, with a focus on providing assistance to honest taxpayers.

Highlighting the department’s aggressive stance against tax evasion, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema revealed that the Department of Taxation, Punjab’s State Investigation and Preventive Unit (SIPU) recovered Rs 156.40 crore in penalties during the first quarter of FY 2025-26. The breakdown includes Rs 57.43 crore from road checks and Rs 98.97 crore from inspections and verifications. Furthermore, SIPU uncovered two significant GST fraud cases, involving Rs 2,620.80 crore in fake transactions and estimated tax evasion of Rs 296.32 crore. The department’s intensified enforcement efforts are underscored by the registration of two FIRs in June 2025 for scams surpassing this amount.

The Finance Minister emphasized that the Punjab government’s proactive measures have positioned the state among the top performers in tax mobilization, despite many challenges. He said that the state’s GST collection growth rate has consistently surpassed the national average, reflecting the effectiveness of the government’s policies and initiatives.

The Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated the Punjab government’s commitment to maintaining a transparent, efficient, and equitable tax system that promotes economic growth while ensuring fair contributions from all stakeholders. “With its robust fiscal management, Punjab is poised for further financial achievements, paving the way for a prosperous and progressive future”, he added.

Chandigarh, August 1:

Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian handed over appointment letters to 11 youth as Agriculture Development Officers (ADOs) in the Agriculture department, at his office here on Friday.

Extending heartiest congratulations to the newly appointed ADOs, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian exhorted them to dedicate themselves to their roles, working tirelessly to empower the state’s farmers and drive agricultural growth. He emphasised the importance of their responsibilities, while encouraging them to go above and beyond in providing guidance and support to farmers to making Punjab a thriving agrarian state.

Highlighting the Agriculture department’s recruitment drive, S. Khudian informed that earlier, on May 20, 2025, 184 Agriculture Development Officers had received their appointment letters. With the inclusion of the 11 newly appointed ADOs, the total count of recruited ADOs in the department has now reached 195. Notably, Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has given over 55000 government jobs to the youth in the state since came to power.

The Agriculture Minister said that this substantial recruitment is set to enhance the department’s capacity, empowering it to provide more effective and efficient services to the state’s farmers.

Dr. Basant Garg, Administrative Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, congratulated the newly appointed Agriculture Development Officers, while imploring them to discharge their duties with utmost integrity and dedication.

Director Agriculture Jaswant Singh and other senior officials of the department were also present on the occasion.

Chandigarh, August 1

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Friday that the Punjab government is making significant progress in processing pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund applications by sanctioning 1,408 applications in July, amounting to a total refund of Rs 241.17 crore.

Addressing a press conference here, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that as of July 31, 2025, the state has cleared a substantial portion of the backlog, demonstrating a concerted effort to streamline the refund process for businesses. He said that as of June 30, 2025, there were 3,452 pending refund applications, totaling Rs 832.93 crore. He revealed that in July, refunds totaling Rs 241.17 crore were sanctioned, comprising Rs 57 crore for the State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) component, refunded directly from the State Treasury, and Rs 184.17 crore for the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) and Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) components, which will be reimbursed by the Central Government.

Highlighting the direct impact of these refunds on the state’s finances, Finance Minister Cheema said that SGST refunds are deducted from gross tax collections to determine the state’s net revenue. He also stated that an additional 663 applications, totaling Rs 52 crore, are currently being processed. Once these applications are approved, the state expects the overall disposal ratio to reach 60% in terms of the number of applications and 35% in terms of the total refund amount.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated the AAP led state government’s commitment to ensuring a transparent and efficient tax administration system. He added that the state will continue to prioritize the swift resolution of pending refunds to support local businesses and improve the ease of doing business in Punjab.

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, August 1:

In a major crackdown amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted two separate cross-border illegal arms smuggling modules with the arrest of four operatives, including a juvenile, and recovered seven sophisticated pistols from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.

Those arrested have been identified as Sikanderjeet Singh (19) of village Bhagwanpura, Tarn Taran; Pradeep Singh alias Babbal (43) of Antarjami Colony, Amritsar; Jarnail Singh (34) of New Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, Amritsar; and one 17-years-old juvenile from Tarn Taran.

The recovered weapons include two Glock pistols, four .30 bore Star pistols and one .32 bore pistol along with six live cartridges. Apart from recovering weapons, police teams have also recovered their motorcycle, which they were using to deliver consignment.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were in touch with Pakistan-based smugglers and retrieved weapon consignments near the international border. The weapons were meant to fuel gang rivalries and disrupt peace in the region, he said.

 The DGP said that further investigation is underway to trace forward and backward linkages to unearth the entire smuggling network.

Sharing details of the operation, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that preliminary investigations revealed accused Sikander along with a juvenile was in touch with Pak based Smugglers. They have their home close to vicinity of the international border and retrieved the drone dropped consignments from the locations provided by them, he said.

In other module, the CP said that accused Pardeep and Jarnail are associates of deceased Ravneet Singh alias Sonu Mota, who was in rivalry with Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang. These weapons are sophisticated pistols received from pak smugglers and were handed over to them by slain Sonu mota prior to his death, he said, while adding that recovery of these weapons averted major criminal activity in the area.

He said that further investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are likely in the coming days.

In this regard, two seperate cases— FIR No. 187 dated 26.07.2025 under sections 25(7) and 27 of the Arms Act at Police Station Gate Hakima, Amritsar and FIR No. 160 dated 29.07.2025 under section 25 of the Arms Act, Police Station B-Division, Amritsar— have been registered.

Chandigarh, August 1

Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman Jasvir Singh Garhi has taken suo moto notice of two issues included non-possession of the Shamlat land (Common land) of village Bathoi Kalan in Patiala district to the people of Scheduled Castes despite depositing the due fee and the protest held after the case of truck driver suicide in village Niyal.

The spokesperson of the Commission said that in order to get information about the action taken so far by the district administration in both cases, Deputy Commissioner Patiala Dr. Preeti Yadav has been personally summoned on August 5, 2025.

In the case of truck driver suicide, the deceased Harpreet Singh belongs to the Scheduled Castes and in this case, the family of the deceased has been staging a protest by keeping the body on the road for the last 6 days.

CHANDIGARH, August 1:

          With the ongoing decisive war against drugs ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has completed five months, Punjab Police has registered 15242 first information reports (FIRs) and arrested 24,089 drug smugglers leading to the recovery of 1000 kg heroin since March 1, 2025.

          Since the launch of this anti-drug drive, Punjab Police, under the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, has been conducting operations daily simultaneously in all the 28 Police districts of the state. Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann had asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

          Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who has been personally overseeing the operations, revealed that apart from the 1000 kg haul of heroin, police have also seized 344 kg opium, 204 quintals poppy husk, 14 kg charas, 367 kg ganja, 6 kg ICE, 31.27 lakh intoxicant pills/tablets, and ₹12.12 crore drug money.

          Sharing details of outcome of Day 153, the Special DGP said that Punjab Police has arrested 92 drug smugglers and recovered 1.7 kg heroin, 2 kg ganja, 404 kg poppy husk, 4865 intoxicant pills and Rs 2490 drug money from their possession.

          Over 180 Police teams, comprising over 1100 police personnel, under the supervision of 76 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 378 locations across the state leading to the registration of 65 first information reports (FIRs) across the state, he said, while adding that police teams have also checked as many as 407 suspicious persons during the day long operation.

          Meanwhile, the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 59 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.