Gurdaspur (Punjab):

A suspected blast occurred in Raimal village in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, however the police informed on Tuesday that no injuries or casualties were reported.

Gurdaspur’s Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Riputapan Singh Sandhu told ANI that the Kotli Surat Mallian Police station received information about a blast sound heard at the residence of Sukhdev Singh in Raimal village on Monday night, prompting a quick response from officials and a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team deployed to assess the situation.

“Around 8 PM, PS Kotli Surat Mallian received information that a blast sound was heard in the residence of Sukhdev Singh in Raimal village. After being at the residence, police began their investigation,” the DSP said.

Confirming that no casualties happened due to the suspected blast, the police have continued their investigation and will take appropriate action.

“There has been no damage or harm. An FSL team is there, and an investigation is ongoing. After the investigation, we will take the proper action,” the DSP told ANI.

Earlier on February 15, regarding a separate case, police officials arrested 4 gang associates for their involvement in the murder of Overseer Singh alias Satinder Singh alias Satti.

Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav stated that the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of Punjab Police also recovered one .32 bore pistol along with six cartridges from their possession.

As per an official statement by the Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab, those arrested have been identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi of village Selbrah in Bathinda, Lovejeet Sharma alias Lavi of village Bhai Rupa in Bathinda, Vinod Kumar alias Skill Sharma of village Bhai Rupa in Bathinda and Gagandeep Singh of Bhagta Bhaika in Bathinda.

As per the information, Overseer Singh of Bhai Rupa in Bathinda, a known history-sheeter, was shot dead at his native village by their neighbour along with his associates due to personal enmity at around 4 am on February 5 this year.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party went head-to-head Friday with the Delhi Assembly election less than two weeks away. The clash, though, wasn’t over public infrastructure, education, health services, or cost of living in the national capital; it was over the Punjab Police withdrawing additional security cover for AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal.

The police force from the neighbouring state – which is also ruled by the AAP – had been providing the ex-Chief Minister with a security detail, in addition to that from Delhi Police.

But it withdrawn last night after Delhi cops complained to the Election Commission. “Following directions from Delhi Police and Election Commission, we have withdrawn…” Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav said, adding details of any threats would be shared with his Delhi counterparts.

Arvind Kejriwal is assigned a Z+ protection detail, which consists of 63 security officers, including a pilot, escort teams, an inner ring of guards, and search-and-frisk units. In addition, 15 uniformed personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces, or the CAPF, are deployed for his protection.

The Punjab Police’s escort was over and above this security detail.

AAP vs BJP On Punjab Cops’ Security

All of this has led to a furious spat between the two parties. The BJP has accused the AAP of “making an issue out of nothing” and has asked, “Are Delhi cops incapable of providing security?”

The AAP, meanwhile, has accused the BJP – which controls the Union Home Ministry, to which office the Delhi Police answer – of having “forcibly removed” Arvind Kejriwal’s security.

Mr Kejriwal, the party has pointed out, has faced four ‘attacks’ in as many months, including one in Delhi’s Hari Nagar neighbourhood just hours after the Punjab Police escort was removed.

शर्मनाक!

अमित शाह जी के इशारों पर @DelhiPolice ने आज जबरन @ArvindKejriwal जी की पंजाब पुलिस सुरक्षा हटवा दी।

और उसी दिन हरिनगर में भाजपा के गुंडों ने केजरीवाल जी पर हमला कर दिया।

क्या मोदी-शाह केजरीवाल जी की जान से खिलवाड़ करना चाहते हैं?

चुनाव आयोग कब तक मूकदर्शक बना रहेगा?…

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) January 23, 2025

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi issued a fierce statement on X, accusing the BJP and its two senior-most leaders – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah – of “playing with the life” of her party leader. She also slammed the EC for being a “mute spectator”.

“Shameful. On the instructions of Amit Shah, Delhi Police today forcibly removed Arvind Kejriwal’s Punjab Police security. And, on the same day, Kejriwal was attacked by BJP goons in Hari Nagar…”

“Do Modi-Shah want to play with Kejriwal’s life? How long will the Election Commission remain silent… on repeated attacks on a leader of a national party,” she asked.

Mr Kejriwal had earlier posted about the alleged attack; on X he said, “Today, in Hari Nagar, the police allowed some opposition candidate’s men to enter my public meeting and attack my car.”

आज हरि नगर में विपक्षी उम्मीदवार के लोगों को पुलिस ने मेरी जनसभा में घुसने दिया और फिर मेरी गाड़ी पर हमला करवाया। ये सब अमित शाह जी के आदेश पर हो रहा है। अमित शाह जी ने दिल्ली पुलिस को बीजेपी की निजी आर्मी बना दिया है।

चुनाव आयोग पर बड़े सवाल उठ रहे हैं कि एक राष्ट्रीय पार्टी…

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 23, 2025

He too blamed Mr Shah and the Election Commission, for remaining silent.

BJP’s Parvesh Verma Hits Back

The ‘attack’ claims were swiftly contested by the BJP, with Parvesh Verma, the man tasked with defeating Mr Kejriwal in his New Delhi Assembly constituency stronghold, leading the way.

In his X post, Mr Verma laughed off the claim as “drama” and declared the AAP leader would next print posters with the heading ‘mujhe kyon mara‘, or ‘why attack me’, for sympathy votes.

.@ArvindKejriwal जल्द ही ‘हमला हुआ’ ड्रामा लेकर आएंगे, फिर पोस्टर छपेंगे – ‘मुझे क्यों मारा?’। चुनाव नजदीक हैं, भाई साहब स्क्रिप्ट लिख रहे हैं!

— Parvesh Sahib Singh (@p_sahibsingh) January 23, 2025

The row over Punjab Police’s protective detail for Mr Kejriwal had been broken by Mr Verma.

Earlier this week he, and Sandeep Dikshit, the Congress’ candidate against Mr Kejriwal, seemed to unite in attacking the AAP over the influx of vehicles from Punjab into Delhi, many of which, they claimed, carried Punjab cops campaigning on behalf of AAP candidates, which is illegal.

READ | Before Poll, Row Over VIPs Prompts AAP vs BJP, Congress Squabble

The AAP issued an angry response to that claim, declaring Mr Verma, accused of making incendiary comments in the past, had “insulted” the Punjabi community and demanded his apology.

Multiple legal notices have also been filed against Mr Verma, who retaliated by filing one of his own – a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against the AAP and Mr Kejriwal.

Delhi vs Punjab Police?

The bickering followed an exchange of letters between the Delhi and Punjab police forces.

The Delhi cops asked to be informed about the movement of AAP leaders from Punjab when they came to the national capital, stating VIPs had not followed the necessary protocols, including sharing route details and the numbers of on-duty Punjabi police personnel operating in the city.

Punjab Police responded with a direction to ministers in its state, requesting them to follow guidelines laid down by the Election Commission and provide details to the Delhi cops.

2025 Delhi Assembly Election

The Delhi Assembly election will be held on February 5. Results for the city’s 70 seats will be announced three days later – on February 8 – with the AAP hoping for a landmark third successive victory and the BJP eager to break Mr Kejriwal’s hold on the national capital.

The AAP cruised to victory in the 2015 and 2020 elections, winning 67 and 62 seats respectively.

With input from agencies

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New Delhi:

Seven Punjab Police officers were suspended by the state government over gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s 2022 interview from jail. Those suspended over carelessness and gross negligence included two deputy superintendent-rank officers Gursher Singh and Sammer Vaneet.

The action came after a Special Investigation Team set up on direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court found that Lawrence Bishnoi’s interview was conducted through video-conference when he was in the custody of Kharar CIA in September 2022.

The suspension orders were passed by state home secretary Gurkirat Kirpal Singh on Friday. Others suspended cops include sub-inspector Reena, CIA, Kharar (SAS Nagar), sub-inspector (LR) Jagatpal Jangu, AGTF, sub-inspector Shaganjit Singh (then duty officer), and head constable Om Parkash.

The Special Investigation Team had presented evidence to the Rajasthan Police which establishes that Lawrence Bishnoi was interviewed in the Jaipur Central Jail. Later, however, it was established that the interview was held in a jail in Punjab.

Lawrence Bishnoi was granted relief on Friday in a 13-year-old case pertaining to the assault of a Mohali student.

Chandigarh:

Punjab Police on Friday said they have busted one of the biggest interstate drug smuggling syndicates operating from Jharkhand and arrested two men besides seizing 66 kg of opium.

The opium was concealed in a specially designed and fabricated compartment fitted underneath a Maruti Swift car, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav.

Those arrested have been identified as Sukhyad Singh and Jagraj Singh. Apart from recovering the big haul of opium, police teams have also recovered Rs 40,000 in drug money, and 400 grams of gold from their possession.

DGP Yadav said further financial investigation has resulted in unearthing 42 bank accounts, which were being used for financial transactions by the organised opium syndicate. “Following a financial trail in less than 24 hours, the Fazilka Police has frozen all the 42 bank accounts with Rs 1.86 crore of drug proceeds,” he said.

The DGP said the Fazilka Police has also initiated the process of property forfeiture under 68F of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Sharing operation details, Senior Superintendent of Police (Fazilka) Pragya Jain said they had received inputs about the accused transporting opium from Jharkhand and then returning to Dalmir Khera in Punjab via Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar in the swift car.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chandigarh:

Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said Tuesday a terror module operating in the state has been busted with the arrest of four of its members, including a key operative.

The module was being operated by mastermind Iqbalpreet Singh alias Buchi, who lives abroad, Gaurav Yadav said, identifying the key operative as Gurwinder Singh alias Shera.

In a statement, the DGP said that the Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) arrested all four at Liberty Chowk in Rajpura.

In a major breakthrough, #AGTF, Punjab has busted a module operated by foreign-based terrorist mastermind Iqbalpreet Singh @ Buchi, a close associate of Ramandeep Bagga @ Canadian who is lodged in Tihar Jail under UAPA charges in case of targeted killings in Punjab in 2016-2017… pic.twitter.com/lhObKssOGs

— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) May 14, 2024

Acting on reliable inputs, AGTF teams under the supervision of Additional Director General of Police Promod Ban set up a check post at Liberty Chowk where teams led by Assistant Inspector General Gurmeet Singh Chauhan and Deputy Superintendent of Police Bikramjit Singh Brar made the arrest, according to the statement.

Gaurav Yadav said Shera revealed during interrogation that Buchi had brought the gang together with plans to commit crimes in Punjab to disturb peace and harmony.

Three pistols and 13 live cartridges were found in the possession of those arrested and the car they were travelling in was impounded, he said.

Shera was out on bail after being arrested by the AGTF in 2022 for allegedly conspiring to commit target killings on Buchi’s directions, the statement said.

The three others were identified as Gurpreet Singh of Patiala, Ranjit Singh alias Sonu and Jagjit Singh alias Jashan of Patti, both residents of Patti in Tarn Taran.

Buchi was in touch with murdered Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and is also a close associate of Ramandeep Bagga alias Canadian, who was the main shooter in seven targeted killings in 2016-2017, police said.

Ramandeep Bagga faces 11 criminal cases under murder, attempt to murder, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act charges. He is lodged in Tihar Jail.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Phagwara:

Six women from Uganda and Tanzania have been arrested from a village in Phagwara for allegedly looting a businessman at knifepoint and threatening him to implicate in a molestation case, police said on Sunday.

They were arrested from the Lawgate area in Maheru village on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 384 (extortion) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, they said.

The accused were presently living in private paying guest accommodations in Maheru and Chaheru villages, Satnampura police station SHO Gaurav Dhir said.

They were arrested on a complaint of a resident of Hanumangarh in Rajasthan, presently running a business in Maheru, he said.

The complainant told police that he was returning from a dhaba on February 26 night when a woman signalled him to stop near Chahwala Chowk, and pleaded for help.

“She took me aside where five other women were standing,” he said in his complaint.

“Pushing me against a wall, the woman who had sought help took out a knife from her purse and all threatened me to hand them over whatever I had in my pocket,” he further alleged.

“The foreign nationals also threatened me that they would raise an alarm saying I have attempted to molest them if I did not oblige,” he said in the complaint.

The man handed over Rs 2,000 to them and later reported the matter to police, Dhir said.

The SHO said that all six foreign nationals were on Saturday produced before a court which sent them to judicial custody.

The embassies of the two countries of the arrested women are also being informed, he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kapurthala, Punjab:

 Hours after returning home from Italy, an NRI man allegedly killed his wife by repeatedly thrashing her head on the floor of their house in a village here, police said on Tuesday.

Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police Vatsala Gupta said the non-resident Indian identified as Sukhdev Singh returned to his house in Sandhu Chatha village from Italy on Monday.

On the same day, he had a heated argument with his wife Harpreet Kaur (45) over some issue, the SSP said.

Singh dragged Kaur to his room and allegedly thrashed her head repeatedly on the floor, killing her on the spot, he added.

The police said a case has been registered against the absconding accused and efforts are on to nab him.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chandigarh:

In a joint operation with central agencies, the Punjab Police thwarted a possible terrorist attack in the border state by busting a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-backed module and arresting two operatives, a top officials said on Saturday.

Police also recovered from their possession two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), as many hand grenades, one .30 bore pistol with two magazines and 24 cartridges, eight detonators, one timer switch and four batteries.

Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the terror module is being handled by Firdaus Ahmed Bhat, an active Lashkar-e-Taiba member.

Those arrested have been identified as Uzair Ul Haq of Rahpora Khudwani in Jammu and Kashmir and Raj Mohammad Andleeb of Kherwan, also in Jammu and Kashmir.

Police chief Gaurav Yadav said the operation was launched following intelligence that the Punjab border is being used by the LeT for smuggling a huge consignment of arms and explosives and their two members are expected to retrieve the cache in the area of Kathu Nangal.

Great success by #PunjabPolice in war against #Terrorism

2 operatives of LeT have been arrested by SSOC, Amritsar with the support of central agency. @PunjabPoliceInd striving to make #Punjab secure & safe as per vision of CM @BhagwantMannpic.twitter.com/DI2f3qKk1R

— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) October 14, 2023

Police’s state special operation cell (SSOC) wing of Amritsar and central agencies launched the operation and arrested the two persons with the weapon consignment, Gaurav Yadav said.

He said preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were recruited in a terror organisation by Firdaus Ahmed Bhat and the terror outfit was planning to use them to target prominent personalities and places of strategic importance in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab to disturb the peace and harmony of the country.

The DGP said both the arrested persons were in constant touch with Firdaus Ahmed Bhat via various social media platforms. On Thursday, Firdaus Ahmed Bhat sent them to Amritsar to collect the consignment of weapons and bring them to the Kashmir valley, according to the police officer.

Assistant Inspector General, SSOC Amritsar, Sukhminder Singh Mann said it was also revealed that Uzair Ul Haq, a relative of Firdaus Ahmed Bhat, was earlier arrested in two cases pertaining to stone pelting in the Kulgam district.

Raj Mohammad Andleeb has no previous criminal record, he added.

Further investigations are being carried out to unearth the entire terror network of LeT, he said, adding efforts are also being made to detect the source of consignment.

A case under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), section 25 of the Arms Act, sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosives Act and sections 109, 115 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered in Amritsar.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chandigarh:

Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on Tuesday busted an extortion racket backed by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, with the arrest of its two key operatives.

Two .32 bore pistols along with two live cartridges from their possession, said police.

The arrested have been identified as Tarlochan Singh alias Rahul Cheema of Sector 26 in Chandigarh and Harish alias Harry alias Baba village Bupania in district Jhajjar, Haryana.

AIG SSOC SAS Nagar Ashwani Kapur said, “They have received intel-based inputs that some members of Lawrence Bishnoi gang are making threatening calls to extort businessmen and influential persons of Punjab and adjoining states, and are also planning to execute target killing in the area.”

He further said, “Acting swiftly, Police teams from SSOC SAS Nagar arrested accused Tarlochan Singh after recovering one pistol along with two live cartridges on Monday, followed by, the arrest of accused Harish alias Harry with one pistol on Tuesday. “

The Additional Inspector General, Ashwani Kapur, said “Preliminary investigations have revealed that both the arrested persons wanted to get fame and had made profiles on different social media platforms where they used to flaunt arms and ammunition to lure the youth and radicalise them to work for the gang. Accused persons used to offer high-profile lifestyles to innocent youth by promising them a good amount of money in return, he said.

He said that SSOC has procured three days of Police remand of both the accused persons after producing them in the local court and further investigations are on to track down and apprehend other members of the module.

A case FIR no 16 on September 11 has been registered under sections 25, 25(6) and 25(7) of the Arms Act and sections 384 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Police Station SSOC Mohali.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Actor Sonu Sood has taken a strong stand against drugs abuse in Punjab. In a video released by the Director General of Punjab Police on X (formerly known as Twitter), the actor urges everyone to help in eradicating drugs abuse from the state.

“Punjab has always been known for its spirited youth. But for quite some time now, I have been observing that people say use of drugs has increased in Punjab. The new generation, our youth, seems to be greatly affected by drugs. Even when I personally visit Moga or various parts of Punjab, I see that many people, especially the youth, are trapped in drug addiction. Due to drugs, crime has increased as they need money to buy it,” Mr Sood says in the video.

He recalls he once ran a campaign to rescue around 280 children who were under the influence of drugs. He says he had also tried to support them in returning to a drug-free life.

“But back then, we [Sonu Sood and his team] couldn’t reach a lot of people who needed help. To help them, the Punjab government, our honourable Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann bhaji (brother), and our DGP Yadav ji have taken an excellent initiative. Their efforts to make Punjab drug-free have been remarkable. I urge everyone to support this cause. Let’s unite and make Punjab a drug-free state. This can only happen when we all come together and support this campaign,” he continues.

“Let’s work together to make Punjab drug-free, and let the land of Punjab be known once again for its youth. I salute the efforts of the Punjab government and the entire police force for their dedication. Keep this initiative going, and together, we will bring Punjab back to the top,” he adds.

The text attached to the clip read, “Thank you, Sonu Sood, for the motivational message. Punjab Police is working tirelessly to break the backbone of drugs. Very soon our collective efforts will help eradicate drugs from Punjab under the vision of chief minister Bhagwant Mann.”

Thank you @SonuSood for the motivational message. @PunjabPoliceInd is working tirelessly to break the backbone of drugs.

Very soon our collective efforts will help eradicate drugs from #Punjab under the vision of CM @BhagwantMann#PunjabFightsDrugspic.twitter.com/SRc7EmdGR6

— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) September 3, 2023

Last month, Punjab Police seized 77 kg of heroin from four people allegedly involved in a trans-border drug smuggling racket.