CHANDIGARH, February 19:

          Continuing its crackdown on fraudulent immigration consultants exploiting innocent individuals, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Punjab Police, headed by ADGP NRI Affairs Praveen Sinha has registered five new first information reports (FIRs) against travel agents and arrested two more fraudulent travel agents.

          With this development, the total number of FIRs reached to 15, while, arrest count has reached to three. The FIRs were filed against agents who allegedly deceived victims with false promises of facilitating illegal entry into the United States, resulting in their deportation.

          The latest FIRs were registered in districts including Tarn Taran, SAS Nagar, Moga, and Sangrur, on February 17 and 18, 2025. The accused agents, operating through unauthorised networks, have been found charging hefty amounts from victims by promising safe and legal immigration routes, but instead have been exposing them to inhumane conditions, detention, and eventual deportation.

          The details of FIRs include FIR no. 25 dated 17.02.2025 registered at Police Station Patti in Tarn Taran against an agent, operating from Chandigarh and Yamuna Nagar, fraudulently took ₹44 lakhs from a victim under the pretence of legal immigration to the USA but instead routed him through Nicaragua and Mexico; and FIR no. 19 dated 17.2.2025 registered at Police Station Majri in SAS Nagar against agents Mukul and Gurjinder Antaal, who misled a victim, took ₹45 lakhs, and sent him via Colombia and Mexico.

          Similarly, FIR no. 30 dated 18/2/2025 registered at Police Station Dharamkot in Moga accused identified as Sukhwinder Singh, Talwinder Singh, Pritam Kaur and Gurpreet Singh, including members of Ekam Travels Chandigarh, who lured a victim with a false work permit and direct USA flight, for an amount of 45 lakh rupees. Instead, they sent him via Prague, Spain, and El Salvador.

          Remaining two FIRs includes FIR no. 15 dated 18/2/2025 registered at Police Station Khanauri in Sangrur against visa and travel company operated by Angrej Singh and Jagjit Singh from Haryana, who duped a victim of 50 lakh rupees, by promising a Canada visa but instead sent him through Egypt, Dubai, Spain, Guatemala, and Nicaragua and FIR no. 95 dated 18/2/2025 registered at Police Station Goindwal Sahib against agent Goldy, operating near IGI Airport, Delhi, deceived a victim into paying ₹45 lakhs for a legal entry into the USA.

          As mentioned above, two travel agents identified as Angrej Singh and Jagjit Singh have been arrested by the Sangrur Police. This is in addition to the arrest made by Police Station NRI Patiala a few days ago.

          Pertinently, the SIT is actively coordinating with cybercrime units, financial authorities, and central agencies to resolve the identities of the entire network of human traffickers. District Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) have intensified investigations, leading to multiple arrests and freezing of bank accounts linked to human trafficking networks.

          DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav reiterated that the Punjab Police is fully committed to dismantling these fraudulent immigration syndicates. He urged victims to come forward without fear and assured them of strict legal action against culprits. The public is advised to only consult licensed immigration consultants and verify their credentials before engaging in any overseas travel arrangements. 

          The Punjab Police continues to seek cooperation from citizens in identifying and reporting unlicensed travel agents who are exploiting vulnerable individuals.

Chandigarh, February 15:- The Mayor of Chandigarh, Mrs. Harpreet Kaur Babla, has urged, the Chandigarh Administration to take immediate action on the pressing issues faced by the residents and farmers of villages in Chandigarh.

The Mayor urged the urgent need for regular water connections for residents living outside Lal Dora in 24 villages of Chandigarh. These residents are currently dependent on expensive water tankers, despite having been provided electricity connections.

The Mayor emphasized that water is a basic necessity and urged the UT Administration to take necessary decision in this regard at the earliest. She also said that if needed, necessary amendments in the Water Bye-Laws will be made to facilitate legal water connections.

She also urged the Administration to regularize the structures situated outside Lal Dora limits and keeping in view the long pending demand of villagers immediate action be taken in this regard.

She reaffirmed the Municipal Corporation’s commitment to working closely with the Chandigarh Administration to resolve these critical issues and ensure inclusive growth and development for the city.

Chandigarh, February 14

On the direction of Haryana Energy Minister, Sh.Anil Vij, explanation sought from negligent employees following a surprise inspection of the Bijli Seva Kendra in Rohtak on February 2. These employees are required to submit a response within three days explaining the reasons for delays in resolving complaints, failing which disciplinary action will be taken.

Notably, during his visit to the BSK Complaint Center at Rajiv Gandhi Vidyut Bhawan, Rohtak, the minister reviewed consumer complaints. The inspection revealed that several complaints were not resolved within the prescribed four-hour time frame.

The Energy Minister directed the concerned Superintendent Engineer to investigate complaints pending for more than four hours and obtain explanations from the responsible staff. Following the inspection, he directed department officers to ensure timely resolution of consumer complaints across the state and take strict action against negligent employees.

As per the minister’s directive, the Superintendent Engineer (SE) has sought explanations from the following employees for negligence: ALM Ankit, ALM Naresh, LM Sanjay, and ALM Krishna from XEN S/U Div. No.1, Rohtak; and ALM Suresh, JE Vikas Kaushik, and LM Rambir from XEN S/U Div. No.2, Rohtak.

The Superintendent Engineer of the UHBVN, Rohtak, has directed these employees to submit explanations within three days regarding the delays in resolving complaints. If their responses are unsatisfactory, disciplinary action will be taken.

Chandigarh, February 14

Lok Sabha Speaker Sh Om Birla said that India, as the world’s largest democracy, has made significant strides in social and economic development over the past 75 years. He said that since independence, the responsibility of enacting new laws has been carried out by both Parliament and the state assemblies. While outdated British-era laws have been abolished, new laws have been enacted to meet current needs.

Sh Om Birla made these remarks during a press conference after inaugurating a two-day orientation program, organized in collaboration with the Parliamentary Democracy Research and Training Institute (PRIDE) of the Lok Sabha, at the Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today. Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh Harvinder Kalyan was also present on the occasion.

He said that since the responsibility of enacting new laws lies with both the State Assemblies and Parliament, training legislators, especially new ones, is important to ensure they have a thorough understanding of legislative procedures. This, he said, will facilitate more informed discussions and dialogues on the bills introduced in the state assemblies, ultimately benefiting the public in the future. He further added that democracy is strengthened through proficiency in legislative work.

*Training program on legislative drafting organized in 15 states so far*

Sh Om Birla highlighted that the work of parliamentary committees functions like a mini-parliament. These committees not only review the budget but also play a crucial role in bringing transparency and ensuring accountability within the executive. He said that the more competent an elected representative is in legislative work, the better they will be able to meet public expectations and excel in leadership roles. He also said that, through PRIDE, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has organized training programs for legislative drafting in 15 states. The quality of legislative drafts directly impacts the public’s benefit, he added.

Referring to all public-elected institutions as mini-assemblies, Sh Om Birla stressed the importance of extensive discussions on public welfare in institutions such as Gram Panchayats, Gram Sabhas, Nagar Palikas, Zilla Parishads, and Panchayat Samitis. He suggested that positive suggestions for legislative work should also be taken through Gram Sabhas. He added that the more serious and participatory these discussions are, the more they will help in controlling the executive, improving governance, and curbing corruption.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sh Om Birla shared that PRIDE has successfully organized training programs in over 100 parliaments and institutions across the world. In addition, camps have been held in various states of the country for elected representatives, officials, employees, as well as for panchayats, municipalities, and cooperative institutions.

*Haryana Vidhan Sabha taking innovative steps to enhance efficienty of MLAs*

Praising the state of Haryana, Sh Om Birla remarked that the sacred message of the Gita originated from this land. He highlighted that just as the youth of Haryana protect the country’s borders, the farmers here ensure food security, and the players bring honour to the nation. He also lauded the Haryana Assembly for its rich democratic history, noting the vast experience of its MLAs. He also praised the Haryana Assembly for continuously increasing the number of meetings and fostering better discussions on the budget. He acknowledged the Assembly’s innovative steps to enhance the efficiency of its MLAs. Furthermore, he commended Haryana for rapidly progressing toward a paperless assembly. He expressed his hope that the training program will undoubtedly benefit the legislators especially newly elected public representatives.

*Planned deadlock in legislative work is inappropriate*

Terming the deliberate deadlock in legislative work as inappropriate, Sh Om Birla said that such conduct is not suitable for the country and the state. He pointed out that planned deadlocks waste valuable legislative time. He said that there should be better discussions and dialogues on all matters in the state assemblies. Referring to the two-day orientation program, he said that MLAs are elected by the public, and the public has high expectations from them. This training program has been organized with the goal of addressing key aspects such as raising public issues in the assembly and ensuring their resolution, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of government policies.

Chandigarh, February 14

As part of the Haryana government’s continued efforts to fight drug abuse and provide better support for rehabilitation, a workshop under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of SC and BC, and Antyodaya (SEWA) Department Smt.  G. Anupama was held today to discuss issues related to drug abuse, rehabilitation, and the welfare of addicts.

The workshop focused on developing a comprehensive approach to monitor and address drug abuse in the state. Key points of discussion included prevention strategies, monitoring systems, and rehabilitation efforts. A new rating system was presented, aimed at assessing and improving the quality of services provided by drug de-addiction centers across the state. The session also focused on enhancing welfare and rehabilitation efforts for those struggling with drug addiction, with an emphasis on long-term recovery strategies.

Senior officials from SEWA, the Health Department, and representatives from drug de-addiction centers, Counseling-cum-Rehabilitation Centers, and Registered Psychiatric Nursing were present at the event.

Chandigarh, February 14:

Punjab’s Rural Development and Panchayat Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, has directed senior officials of the department to work diligently and honestly to achieve Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s vision of transforming the state into a “Rangla Punjab” . He emphasized that all ongoing rural projects and works must be completed within their stipulated timelines to ensure the holistic development of villages.

Chairing a review meeting at the Panchayat Bhavan with senior officials, ADCs, DDPOs, BDPOs, and various wing officers, Sond stated that villages in Punjab should be developed as model villages. He warned that delays and negligence in ongoing development projects would not be tolerated, and strict action would be taken against officials and employees found deliberately neglecting their duties.

The minister also reviewed the targets set for district officials during the department’s first meeting in January and issued necessary guidelines to ensure that all government schemes and programs reach the grassroots level. He stressed the importance of ensuring that rural residents benefit from these initiatives to maximize the development and progress of their areas.

Additionally, Sond inquired about the special camps organized in villages for issuing MGNREGA job cards and instructed officials to immediately address any shortcomings found in the process. He emphasized that every eligible individual should receive a NREGA job card to promote maximum employment in rural areas.

To ensure comprehensive rural development, the minister announced plans to conduct district-level meetings with local representatives, especially MLAs, and involve all Panchayat Department officials. He instructed that MLAs’ participation in ground-level development projects should be ensured.

Furthermore, Sond directed that panchayat lands should be leased in a transparent manner to ensure that the revenue generated is utilized for village development. He urged all officials to serve the public with dedication and integrity and set a target to complete all objectives by March 31, 2025.

During the meeting, the minister also issued instructions to accelerate the construction of Anganwadi centers, sports grounds, and projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) in villages.

The meeting was attended by Dilraj Singh, Administrative Secretary of the department; Parmjit Singh, Director; Dr. Sheena Aggarwal, JDC; senior officials from the headquarters; and ADCs (Development), DDPOs, BDPOs, and officers from various wings across Punjab.

Chandigarh, February 14, 2025:

 In its continued crackdown on corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested a private individual named Rampal, an accomplice to Patwari Vipan Kumar, posted at revenue halqa Nawanshahar-1, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 on behalf of the Patwari.

An official spokesperson of the VB disclosed that the arrest was made following a complaint lodged by Pardeep Kumar, a resident of New Abadi, Nawanshahar city in SBS Nagar district.

He further informed that the complainant had approached the VB after Patwari Vipan Kumar had demanded Rs 5,000 bribe to process the mutation of his ancestral house. Acting on the Patwari’s instructions, the complainant had already paid Rs 2,000 bribe in advance to Rampal, his middleman. When the accused further insisted on the remaining amount, the complainant has approached the VB for help.

The spokesperson added that upon preliminary verification of this complaint, the VB team laid a trap and apprehended Rampal red-handed while he was accepting Rs 3000 bribe from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. Meanwhile, Patwari Vipan Kumar managed to escape the scene, evading arrest.

He informed that a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against both the accused at VB Police Station, Jalandhar range. The arrested accused would be produced before the competent court tomorrow while VB teams are actively pursuing the absconding Patwari. Further investigations into this case are underway.