CHANDIGARH, April 8:

          Amidst the ongoing fight against organised crime launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) has busted a Lawrance Bishnoi-Rohit Godara gang with the arrest of the its two active operatives and recovered one .32 calibre pistol from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

    Those arrested have been identified as Jashandeep Singh alias Jashan Sandhu, a resident of village 25ML in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan and Gursewak Singh, a resident of Sri Muktsar Sahib.

    DGP Gaurav Yadav said that accused Jashan Sandhu was wanted in a 2023-murder case took place in Ganganagar in Rajasthan and had been evading arrest by constantly changing locations across Georgia, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. “Recently, on the directions of his handlers accused Jashan came back to India and landed in Nepal from Dubai before entering India by road in an attempt to escape law enforcement,” he said.

          The DGP said that preliminary investigations revealed that accused Jashan played a crucial role in providing logistical support to the gang. His interrogation has also led to the identification of overseas Hawala operators, travel agents, and the locations of fugitive gangsters hiding abroad—marking a significant step in dismantling these networks, he added.

   Sharing operational details, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) AGTF Promod Ban said that acting swiftly on a specific input about Jashan entered India by road after landing in Nepal, special operation teams of AGTF under the supervision of AIG Gurmeet Chauhan and led by DSP Bikramjit Singh Brar along with teams worked on inputs and successfully traced Jashan along with his associate Gursewak, leading to their arrest from Mohali. Police teams have recovered a .32 calibre pistol along with seven cartridges from their possession, he added.

    AIG Gurmeet Chauhan said that preliminary investigations revealed that accused Gursewak came in contact with Lawrance gang members through Jashan and was operating locally on their behalf. “Their disclosures also revealed that Rohit Godara was planning to eliminate some prominent individuals in Punjab and New Delhi,” he said, while adding that sensational crimes have been averted with their arrests.

          The AIG said that further investigation is ongoing to trace the forward and backward linkages in this case.

          A case FIR number 02 dated 07/04/2025 has been registered under sections 25 (6)(7) of the Arms Act at Police Station State Crime Punjab in SAS Nagar.

Chandigarh, April 8:

On the directions of Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh, the Health Department has issued a detailed precautionary measures to protect the people from the upcoming heatwave in Punjab. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a heatwave is declared in plain areas when the maximum temperature reaches 40°C or more, or when there is a departure from the normal temperature by 4.5°C to 6.4°C. This high temperature disrupts the body’s temperature regulation system and can cause various heat-related illnesses.

Urging people to follow the advisory issued by the health department, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr. Hitinder Kaur said all the Civil Surgeons have been given strict instructions to ensure that all health facilities are fully equipped to manage patients suffering from heat related illnesses. Further, required beds have been reserved from District Hospitals to CHC level and PHCs where 24*7 health services are available.

“Refresher training and sensitization of Medical Officers and Specialists has been completed to ensure accurate diagnosis, as well as effective management of heat-related illnesses.” She added. Civil Surgeons have also been instructed to train and sensitize all paramedical Staff as well including ASHAs to ensure that advisories regarding heat wave reach up to the last mile in the community.

She advised that attention should be paid to local weather news through TV, radio, newspapers, etc. Apart from this, the latest weather information can be obtained from the website of the Meteorological Department [http://mausam.imd.gov.in/]. People should plan their daily activities according to predictions in the severe heat wave conditions.

Dr Kaur emphasized that new born babies, children, pregnant women, elderly persons, labourers, obese persons, people with any kind of mental sickness and immuno compromised persons especially suffering from heart diseases or hypertension should follow the advisory in more stringent manner as they are in higher risk of suffering from the heatwave.

Box:

DO’s AND DON’Ts TO PREVENT HEAT STROKE

DO’s:

* Do outdoor work in the cool part of the day i.e. morning and evening

* Drink water every half an hour, even if not thirsty. People with epilepsy or heart disease, kidney or liver disease who are on a fluid-restricted diet should consult a doctor before increasing their water intake.

* Wear light coloured full sleeved clothing when working outdoors. Try to wear only cotton clothes in summer

* Use umbrella, hat, towel, turban or dupatta to cover your head from direct sunlight

* People who work in the sun should rest in the shade or keep a wet cloth on their head to maintain the body temperature

* Always carry water when going out in the sun

* Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, oranges, grapes, cucumbers and tomatoes, as they are high in water content

* Offer water to people who come to your home or office for delivery of goods or food

* Use and increase the intake of homemade drinks like lemon water, lassi, coconut water

* Wear sunscreen to protect your skin and dark goggles to protect your eyes

* Eat small meals and eat more often

* Bath frequently in cold water

* Adding straw on roofs or growing vegetables keeps the temperature low

* If exercising, start slowly and eventually increase it over a few days to adjust to the rising body temperature

* Traditional remedies like onion salad and eating raw mango with salt and cumin seeds can prevent heat stroke

DON’Ts

* Do not go out barefoot, always wear shoes or slippers when going out in the sun.

* Avoid going out in the sun, especially between 12 noon to 3 pm.

* Avoid cooking during peak summer hours, keep doors and windows open to ventilate the kitchen area well.

* Avoid alcohol, tea, coffee, and carbonated and extra-sweetened beverages, as they actually deplete body fluids.

* Avoid fried food, do not eat stale food.

* Do not leave children or pets in a locked vehicle.

SYMPTOMS WHICH REQUIRES IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION

* Altered mental balance with restlessness, difficulty in speaking, irritability, ataxia, slurred speech, slurred speech, seizures etc

* Hot, red and dry skin

* When Body temperature rises to 40 degrees or higher

* Severe headache

* Anxiety, dizziness, fainting and mild headache

* Muscle weakness or spasms lasting more than an hour

* Vomiting (nausea)

* Rapid heartbeat

* Shortness of breath

 WHAT TO DO:

Remember, if you find someone with a high body temperature who is unconscious, confused, or has stopped sweating, call the 104 medical helpline immediately. While waiting for the ambulance, begin cooling them by moving them to shade, fanning them, and, if possible, applying cool water to large areas of the skin. Acting quickly can save a life.

Chandigarh, April 8:

Punjab Animal Husbandry Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian launched a deworming drive in the state on Tuesday, starting from the Lambi constituency of Sri Muktsar Sahib district.

S. Khudian stated that the Punjab government has purchased deworming medication for livestock at a cost of Rs. 7.78 crore. This medication will be distributed free of cost to farmers across the state.

While directing the officials to complete the deworming drive within this week, he further informed that the Animal Husbandry department has formed over 2000 teams to deliver the deworming medication directly to farmers. For those who miss the distribution, the medicine will be available free of cost at their nearest veterinary institute.

For the deworming of cows/buffaloes and calves in the entire state of Punjab, he said that the dewormers are being distributed under ASCAD scheme.

Notably, this is the second deworming campaign which is expected to have a positive impact on milk production and thus increasing farmers income. Last year’s campaign was well-received by livestock owners, who requested a repeat this year.

Mr. Rahul Bhandari, Principal Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, has directed all department officials to ensure the timely delivery of dewormers to every household having animal with it. This will ensure that all animals in the state are dewormed which will help in boosting milk production and improving animal immunity.

Dr. G.S. Bedi, Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, mentioned that deworming animals before vaccination increases their immunity and improves vaccination effectiveness. He urged all animal owners to deworm their animals before the foot-and-mouth vaccination campaign, which will begin in the mid of this month, to create a healthy livestock and eradicate foot-and-mouth disease from the state. Dewormers are available at all Civil Veterinary Hospitals and Civil Veterinary Dispensaries throughout the state, and can be obtained free of cost from the nearest veterinary institutions.

CHANDIGARH, April 8:

          With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 39th day, Punjab Police on Tuesday arrested 71 drug smugglers and recovered 1.8 kg heroin, 4.9 kg opium, 13362 intoxicant capsules/tablets and ₹9000 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 5373 in just 39 days.

          The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has 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.

          Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 180 Police teams, comprising over 900 police personnel, under the supervision of 60 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 350 locations across the state leading to the registration of 43 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 404 suspicious persons during the day long operation, he added.

          The Special DGP said that with 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 one person to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.

          Meanwhile, Police teams have also conducted checking at as many as 208 pharmaceutical shops in five districts including Sri Muktsar Sahib, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Moga and Fazilka to ensure that they are not selling intoxicant tablets or any other habit-forming drugs, and are adhering to the prescribed norms and regulations regarding the sale of medicines.

Chandigarh, April 6:

          The Punjab Government, under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to the welfare and upliftment of every section of society. As part of this commitment, financial assistance amounting to Rs. 102.69 crore has been disbursed under the Ashirwad Scheme during the financial year 2024–25 for the welfare of backward classes and economically weaker sections. This was stated by Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities.

          Sharing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that financial assistance under this scheme has been extended to 20,136 beneficiaries so far. Under the Ashirwad Scheme, the Punjab Government provides financial assistance of Rs. 51,000 for the marriage of daughters belonging to low-income families.

          The Cabinet Minister added that to avail the benefits of this scheme, the applicant must be a permanent resident of Punjab and belong to a Scheduled Caste, Backward Class, or other economically weaker section. Moreover, the family’s total annual income must not exceed Rs. 32,790. Eligible families can avail the scheme’s benefits for up to two daughters.

          She further informed that the financial assistance is directly transferred to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, ensuring transparency and timely delivery of benefits.

          Dr. Baljit Kaur emphasized that the Punjab Government is making relentless efforts to improve the living standards of every citizen and empower the underprivileged through various welfare schemes. She reiterated the government’s commitment to building an inclusive and equitable society.

Chandigarh, April 6:

          Under the visionary leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, a total of 196 modern libraries have been successfully established and are operational in rural areas of the state as part of the “Rural Library Scheme”, aimed at promoting a reading culture among youth and involving them in the socio-economic progress of Punjab. Additionally, 135 more libraries equipped with modern facilities are currently under construction.

          Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond shared that the Chief Minister had launched this ambitious scheme on August 15, 2024, from village Issru (Khanna). On that day, the Chief Minister inaugurated the first library built under this scheme and interacted with school children, emphasizing his vision of transforming rural libraries into pillars of growth and prosperity in the state.

          Highlighting the initiative’s purpose, the Minister said that these libraries aim to foster a love for reading among the youth and create an environment for intellectual and personal development. He expressed confidence that these libraries will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Punjab’s youth, helping them become successful officers, scientists, doctors, and technical experts.

          Providing district-wise progress, the Minister informed that Amritsar district has 4 operational libraries, while Bathinda has 29. Barnala has 6 operational libraries and 5 under construction. In Fatehgarh Sahib, 10 libraries are functional and 2 are under progress. Faridkot has 5 operational and 7 under construction, while Fazilka boasts 21 operational libraries and 9 under development. In Ferozepur, work is underway on 22 libraries.

          Hoshiarpur has 2 operational libraries and 13 under construction. Ludhiana features 15 operational and 26 under development. Mansa has 8 libraries functioning and 10 under construction. Malerkotla has 6 operational libraries and 5 more being built. In Sri Muktsar Sahib, work is progressing on 6 libraries. Moga has 13 libraries currently operational and 1 under progress, while Patiala has 18 functional libraries and 11 under construction. Rupnagar has 12 operational libraries and 1 under progress. In Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, 6 libraries are running successfully, while in Shahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, 12 libraries are under development.

          Sangrur leads with the highest number of libraries, with 28 currently operational and 5 more under construction. In Tarn Taran, 11 libraries are running, and Jalandhar has 2 functional libraries.

          These libraries have been equipped with high-end facilities like Wi-Fi, solar power, digital analogs and others. These libraries have world-class books on contemporary literature and curriculum books, providing a rich learning experience. This transformative step by the Punjab Government reflects its commitment to uplifting rural communities through knowledge, education, and empowerment.

Chandigarh, April 6:

          The Punjab State Women Commission today directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Patiala to submit an action-taken report by April 7, 2025 regarding allegations of disrespect toward a woman by villagers in Jansuha village of Patiala District.

          Taking suo moto cognizance of media reports, the Commission instructed an SP rank officer to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter. Exercising its powers under Section 12 of the Punjab State Women Commission Act, 2001, the Commission has sought an urgent response from the police authorities.

          Chairperson Raj Lali Gill said that stringent action will be taken against those found guilty of harassment or exerting undue pressure on the woman, based on the findings of the investigation.

          “The Commission will not tolerate any form of intimidation, harassment or violation of women’s rights,” categorically said the Chairperson, while assuring that the Punjab State Women Commission is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring justice and preventing such incidents in the future.

Chandigarh/Ludhiana, April 6

Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister, Lal Chand Kataruchak, stated on Sunday that the state government is fully ready to welcome farmers in the 1,864 grain markets across Punjab, and all the preparations for wheat procurement without any trouble have been finished. The arrangements for cold drinking water, cleanliness, gunny bags, fans, transportation, and accommodation are being completely taken care of in the grain markets of the state, and they won’t face any kind of problem while selling their golden wheat grains.

No leave will be allowed for the staff working on procurement unless there’s a very strong reason, and they have to stay present in the grain markets to facilitate the farmers.

After reviewing the preparations with officials from Ludhiana, Moga, Faridkot, Ferozepur, and Barnala districts here on Sunday, the Cabinet Minister explained that the state government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s leadership, has made elaborate arrangements to help more than 8 lakh farmers during the current wheat procurement season. He mentioned that Punjab is expecting a bumper wheat harvest this year, and the goal is to purchase 124 lakh metric tonnes wheat. He also shared that the state has arranged a Cash Credit Limit of Rs. 28,894 crore and has also managed to get 99% of the needed gunny bags, along with plenty of storage space and containers.

Kataruchak also explained that to handle the harvest, the state has set up 600 temporary yards in addition to the regular ones and promised farmers that their payments would be sent to their accounts within 24 hours of selling their wheat, with the Minimum Support Price (MSP) set at Rs. 2,425 per quintal.

The Minister made it clear that the state government is committed to buying every single grain that farmers bring, and he won’t allow any mistakes or carelessness in the process.

At the review meeting, Kataruchak took stock of the facilities for farmers, like cleanliness, drinking water, lighting, and shaded spots in the mandis. He gave instructions to officials to stay at the markets throughout the season to make sure farmers don’t face any difficulties. He also asked them to ensure availability of the first-aid medical kits in the mandis.

Chandigarh, April 6:

In a landmark move to revolutionize the state’s education system, the Punjab Government is all set to launch ‘Sikhya Kranti’— a 54-day education festival beginning April 7, to inaugurate newly developed infrastructure projects worth ₹2,000 crore in 12,000 government schools across the state.

Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains announced the initiative during a press conference at Punjab Bhawan on Sunday, emphasizing the government’s commitment to creating an equitable and modern learning environment that empowers students to thrive in the modern times. The massive infrastructure development program includes the construction and renovation of schools, the introduction of modern learning facilities, he added.

“This initiative is a testament to the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to providing quality education for all children,” the Education Minister said, while adding that the government schools have been provided with all the required basic amenities, including clean drinking water, high-speed WiFi connections, separate toilets for girl and boy students, desks and chairs, and boundary walls, as mandated by the CM Mann.

He said that Punjab is the first state to appoint campus managers and security guards in schools, in addition to starting bus services for students. Over 10,000 students are currently availing this facility. The Education Minister also highlighted that over Rs 200 crore is spent annually on the upkeep of government schools.

On the first day of the education festival “Sikhya Kranti”, S. Bains said, various infrastructure development projects would be inaugurated in over 350 government schools by the Cabinet Ministers and other dignitaries. Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, along with the State Incharge Sh. Manish Sisodia, will inaugurate a School of Eminence at SBS Nagar. 

Inviting the people of Punjab to witness the “Sikhya Kranti”, S. Bains said that all people should visit their nearby schools to be a part of this festival of education.

Highlighting the ambitious program, S. Harjot Singh Bains said that 6,812 schools now have new or repaired boundary walls, covering nearly 1,000 kilometres, ensuring a safer learning environment. 5,399 new classrooms have been constructed to augment classroom facilities. Additionally, 2,976 toilets have been built in 2,934 schools, while 7,166 toilets have been repaired across 4,889 schools. To support students’ learning needs, 1,16,901 dual desks, tables, and chairs have been provided, ensuring that every student has a designated place to study. Furthermore, 359 school playgrounds have been developed to promote physical activity. As many as 2,261 smart classrooms have been equipped with Smart Interactive Panels in 1,886 schools, integrating technology into education for a more engaging learning experience.

The Education Minister said that 118 existing Government Senior Secondary Schools are being converted into Schools of Eminence in the first phase, while, 14 SoE schools have already been dedicated to the public. These schools will be the centers of excellence, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to enable peer learning across institutions, and enhance the learning experiences of our children through contemporary schooling practices in the world of school education. Schools of Eminence will cater to students of classes 9th to 12th. All educational streams have been introduced in these schools. Free uniforms are being provided to students. Apart from this, Online/offline coaching for different competitive exams like Armed preparatory forces, NEET, JEE, CLAT, NIFT etc are also being provided to students, he added.

CHANDIGARH, April 6:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 37th day, Punjab Police on Sunday conducted raids at 337 locations leading to the arrest of 54 drug smugglers after registration of 37 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 5169 in just 37 days.

          Police teams have also recovered 411 grams heroin, 1617 intoxicant tablets/pills and Rs 34400 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has 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.    

          Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 150 Police teams, comprising over 900 police personnel, under the supervision of 66 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 364 suspicious persons during the day long operation

          Meanwhile, Punjab Police has devised a comprehensive strategy and such operations will be continued till the scourge of drugs eradicated from the state.