CHANDIGARH/TARN TARAN, January 15

          In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing war against drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Tarn Taran Police has busted a Pak-backed drug trafficking cartel with the arrest of a kingpin and seized 5 kg heroin from his possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Wednesday.

          The arrested accused has been identified as Rashpal Singh, a resident of Village Bhai Ladhu, Tarn Taran. Apart from recovering heroin, police teams have also impounded his motorcycle.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that accused person was in direct contact with multiple Pakistan-based smugglers and had been receiving consignments of drugs from across the border. Probe revealed that the Pak-based smugglers were exploiting drones to ferry drugs across the border, he added..

          The DGP said that further investigations are going on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case. More arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days, he added.

          Sharing operation details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Tarn Taran Abhimanyu Rana said that acting on reliable information, a police team under the supervision of SP (D) Ajayraj Singh, DSP (D) Rajinder Minhas and DSP Sarbjit Singh Bajwa led by CIA Staff in-charge Inspector Amandeep Singh, conducted a targeted operation and apprehended Rashpal Singh in the area of Village Bhai Ladhu and recovered 5 kg heroin from his possession.

          The SSP said that efforts are being made to uncover the entire network of suppliers, dealers, and buyers, as well as to ascertain the total quantity of drugs purchased by the arrested individual so far.

          A case under FIR No. 06 dated January 15, 2025, has been registered under sections 21(c) of the NDPS Act at Sadar Patti Police Station, Tarn Taran.

Chandigarh, January 15, 2025

 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, on Wednesday has apprehended Harsimratjit Singh, posted as Patwari in revenue Circle Chogawan, Amritsar district while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 20000.

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 Sarmel Singh, a resident of village Kohala, in tehsil Lopoke, Amritsar.

He further informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged in his complaint that the accused had demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 for correction in the revenue records which were intentionally distorted in Jambandi of 2019-2020 with an intention to demand bribe from him.

The spokesperson added that after a preliminary enquiry into this complaint the VB team laid a trap during which the said accused was caught red handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 in the presence of two official witnesses. 

He added that 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.

Chandigarh, January 15:

Punjab Information and Public Relations Department today organized third religious congregation and Guru Ka Langar dedicated to the birth anniversary of the Tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and for the universal welfare, on the advent of the new year.

During the event, which was held with profound devotion and religious fervour at Gurdwara Sahib, Punjab Civil Secretariat-1 here, Gurdwara Sahib Sector-11’s Granthi Bhai Kashmir Singh recitated path of Sri Sukhmani Sahib. Subsequently, the renowned preacher Bhai Gurmeet Singh Shant performed soul-stirring Gurbani Kirtan in the Basant ragas.

The event was attended by Cabinet Minister and AAP State President Mr. Aman Arora, Lok Sabha Member Mr. Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Chief Minister’s OSD (Media) Mr. Adil Azmi, Financial Commissioner (Revenue) Mr. Anurag Verma, Secretary General Administration Mrs. Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, PUNSUP MD Mrs. Sonali Giri, Director IPR Mr. Vimal Kumar Setia, ADGP (Traffic) Mr. Amardeep Singh Rai, IG (Hqrs) Mr. Sukhchain Singh Gill, Additional Director PR Mr. Sandeep Singh Garha, Chief Minister’s Deputy Principal Secretary Mr. Jagnoor Singh Grewal along with staff from the Information and Public Relations Department and Punjab Civil Secretariat.

Following the spiritual activities, the sangat partook langar. The event saw extensive participation from the journalist community, staff from various departments of Punjab Civil Secretariat-1, Punjab Civil Secretariat-2 and Punjab Legislative Assembly as well as retired DIPR officers. Gurdwara Sahib Shahpur Sector-38, Kamal Sound Dhuri and CISF also paid their contribution in the successful conduct of the event.

Chandigarh, January 11

Expressing concern over the continuous deaths of youth due to drugs, Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said BJP has turned Haryana into a hub of drugs, opium, chitta, heroin, brown sugar, smack, hashish, ganja, cocaine, bhang and sulpha. “Ever since BJP has come to power in the state, drug dealers are fearlessly expanding their empire. Their network has now reached every village, street and locality of the state. From youth to women and young children, everyone is losing their lives to this,” he stated.

Hooda said Haryana was known for its pure food, energetic youth, young men and sportsmen, but BJP has made it ‘Udta Haryana’ in the name of drugs. “A report was presented in the Rajya Sabha in December 2023 by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment itself. According to this, 16.51 percent of the drug addicts in Haryana use opium and its drugs, even heroin and chitta. 11% people use ganja, bhang and hashish for intoxication. 5 percent people also use narcotic drugs taken for sleep and people also use cocaine in large quantities,” he said.

He also said the Union Ministry has also admitted that now the teenagers of Haryana are also getting trapped in the clutches of drugs like cannabis, ganja, hashish, opium, heroine and cocaine. Not only this, a large number of teenagers are also being pushed into the business of drug smuggling.

“The extent to which drug addiction has increased under the protection of the government can be gauged from the fact that in the last 5 years, about 15 lakh people from different districts of the state have reached the OPDs and de-addiction centers of government hospitals. However, this figure can be many times bigger because lakhs of people trapped in the quagmire of drug addiction do not come forward for treatment and ruin their lives,” he added.

Hooda said the connivance of the government, poor law and order along with the increasing unemployment in the state is also a big reason for the increasing drug addiction. “The youth frustrated by unemployment are getting trapped in the clutches of drugs and crime and are ruining their future. The BJP, sitting in power, is constantly making policies which increase unemployment, crime and drug addiction in the state,” he added.

With the government remaining a mute spectator, Hooda has appealed to the parents and the aware people of the state to be vigilant against the increasing drug addiction. “Parents should take special care of their children and youth. They should talk to family members on sensitive issues like drug addiction and make everyone aware of its dangers. They must keep an eye on the activities around you and your children and do not hesitate to raise your voice against it. Congress is committed to fight this issue from the streets to the Vidhan Sabha,” he said.

Chandigarh, January 11: In a bid to establish Haryana as a global education hub, the state government, led by Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, is set to implement radical reforms in the education sector. The Chief Minister has directed officers to ensure that quality education is provided across all schools by maintaining the student-teacher ratio as per the National Education Policy. A comprehensive action plan is currently being developed to address the teacher shortage in schools. As a result, from the upcoming academic session, no school in the state will face a shortage of teachers.

             The Chief Minister was presiding over a meeting with officers of the Elementary Education, School Education, and Higher Education Departments late Friday evening. Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda also attended the meeting.

            Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini directed that a comprehensive plan should be prepared by rationalizing the arrangement of teachers in schools so that if there is a shortage of teachers in any school, it can be met. He emphasized that there is no actual shortage of teachers in Haryana, but rather, the allocation of teachers should be adjusted according to the number of students. He further stressed that all necessary arrangements should be completed before the start of the new academic session.

Public confidence should be instilled to encourage more children to receive education in government schools

          The Chief Minister emphasized the need to build public confidence in government schools to encourage more children to enroll and receive education there. He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing quality education to every child. In line with the National Education Policy, he said that Bhagavad Gita should be included in the curriculum up to class eighth to instill moral values in students.

To ensure holistic development, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of making sports and cleanliness compulsory in schools. Additionally, he called for enhancing the skills of teachers so they can effectively adopt new teaching methods. He also directed that basic facilities such as drinking water, toilets, and overall cleanliness be maintained in schools and colleges.

 Number of Model Sanskriti Schools should be increased at block level

            Sh. Nayab Singh Saini stated that the Haryana Government has established Model Sanskriti Schools at the block level, which are affiliated with the CBSE Board. These schools offer education in Mathematics and Science, along with English medium. Due to high demand and competition for admission, he emphasized the need to increase the number of Model Sanskriti Schools at the block level.

 All tasks must be completed within the stipulated time frame, and any unnecessary delays will not be tolerated under any circumstances

            While reviewing the Chief Minister’s announcements, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini directed that all pending development works be expedited. He emphasized that a specific time limit should be set for each task, and work must be completed within that time frame. He warned that unnecessary delays would not be tolerated under any circumstances. The Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary to authorize XEN-level officers from other departments to handle the tendering related processes for the engineering wing of the Education Department. He also stressed that strict action should be taken against contractors who fail to complete their work within the stipulated time.

            The Chief Minister said that every child attending school should be monitored to track their future educational path, including which institution they enroll in after completing 12th grade. If any student is studying outside Haryana, their information should also be recorded to ensure that no child in the state is deprived of their fundamental right to education.

            The Chief Minister further emphasized that the goal of the present state government is to make Haryana a global center for education. In the age of AI, significant changes must be made to modernize education. He urged all officers and employees to take their responsibilities seriously and be well-prepared with all relevant information when attending meetings. The Chief Minister also stressed that all officers and employees should improve their work systems, as any negligence at any level would not be tolerated.

 A framework should be developed for conducting competitive exam preparation through smart classrooms in colleges, which will greatly benefit children from rural areas

            While reviewing the Higher Education Department, the Chief Minister directed officials to submit a report on the facilities, including infrastructure, in every college, so that any deficiencies can be addressed promptly. He also emphasized the need to develop a framework for arranging competitive exam preparation through smart classrooms in colleges, ensuring that children from rural areas have access to better resources for their exam preparations.

            The Chief Minister directed that buildings of the colleges which are under construction should be completed as soon as possible. He also emphasized the need to ensure that students do not face any difficulties in classes held in temporary buildings until the new ones are finished. Additionally, he instructed that solar panels should be installed on college buildings. Every college should have a boundary wall, along with proper water and toilet facilities. Furthermore, continuous arrangements should be made for the repair and maintenance of buildings as required.

A large reading room to be set up in Panchkula

            The Chief Minister stated that the present state government is committed to setting up reading rooms in cities to provide quality reading material to students. As part of this initiative, a large reading room should be established in Panchkula on a priority basis, ensuring that students from Panchkula do not need to travel to Chandigarh. He also mentioned that, given the government’s effort to establish a college every 20 kilometers, a reading room should be set up in each college. These reading rooms will remain open even after college hours, allowing students to visit and study.

Complete goals within the stipulated time period to fully implement the National Education Policy – Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda

          In the meeting, Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda directed officers to ensure that both short-term and long-term goals for the full implementation of the National Education Policy are completed within the stipulated time period. He emphasized that special attention should be given to the distribution of reading materials in schools. According to the new policy, he also highlighted the importance of making special efforts to teach foreign languages in schools. This will enable students to become proficient in foreign languages alongside their mother tongue, enhancing their chances of securing employment opportunities at the global level.

Streamline the working system on time; strict action will be taken for any deficiencies – Mahipal Dhanda

            The Education Minister, Sh. Mahipal Dhanda, directed that teachers who have been posted at the same position in field offices for extended periods should be instructed to go to schools and teach students. He emphasized the need for officers to correct their working systems promptly and ensure that schemes are implemented effectively at the ground level. He warned that if any deficiencies are identified during the next review meeting, strict action will be taken against the concerned individuals.

            Sh. Mahipal Dhanda also mentioned his visit to Sarthak School in Sector 12, Panchkula, where he reviewed the arrangements. He stated that every school should strive to become an ideal school like Sarthak School. He emphasized the importance of transforming the education system to improve the quality of schools, so parents are encouraged to send their children to government schools. The Minister further instructed that all arrangements should be in place before the new academic session to avoid any issues in schools.

            It was informed in the meeting that the norms of the National Education Policy have been fully implemented up to class 3, and the policy will be fully implemented up to class 7 by this year. Changes have been made to the curriculum in accordance with the education policy, and textbooks aligned with the new curriculum will be provided in this academic session. Furthermore, a plan is underway to sign a MoU with the French Embassy to teach French, allowing students to learn foreign languages in schools.

            It was also informed that smart classrooms have been established in 22 colleges to promote digital education, and 83 labs have been set up in 48 government colleges. The concept of multidisciplinary teaching has been implemented in line with the new National Education Policy.

            Chief Secretary Dr Vivek Joshi, Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary of Higher Education Department Sh Vineet Garg, Principal Secretary of School Education Department Sh Pankaj Agarwal, Deputy Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh Yashpal Yadav, and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, January 11

Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana conducted a surprise inspection of the Radaur Bus Stand in Yamunanagar and directed the concerned Haryana Roadways General Manager, Sh. Sandeep Kumar, to ensure that the bus stand is kept clean. He said that all passengers should have access to adequate facilities at the bus stand, including cleanliness and access to drinking water.

While addressing the officials at bus stand, Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana said that the Radaur Bus Stand should be ranked first in the state for cleanliness. In response, the officials assured him that they would make every effort to ensure Radaur Bus Stand achieves high ranking.