PUNJAB AND HARYANA

Chandigarh: In a significant move to strengthen healthcare services, the Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has approved the empanelment of 300 specialist doctors across 12 key medical categories. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting held on Friday in Chandigarh. The initiative aims to provide high-quality secondary healthcare to citizens across the state, ensuring timely access to expert medical care. A spokesperson from the Chief Minister’s office confirmed that the cabinet also approved Rule 28A under the Punjab Co-operative Societies Rules, 1963, establishing a uniform disciplinary and appellate framework for co-operative institutions. Specialists to Cover Key Medical Fields The 12 specialist categories include: Medicine Pediatrics Psychi...

Faridabad: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday night conducted a major search operation at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, recovering ₹18 lakh in cash from the hostel room of Dr. Shaheen Shahid, a 43-year-old former faculty member and a key accused in the Delhi bomb blast case. Dr. Shaheen, popularly known among students as “Madam Surgeon”, was arrested for her alleged links to a “white-collar” terror module suspected to be operating within and around the university campus. Cash Recovered From Room No. 22 According to officials, the NIA team escorted Dr. Shaheen to Room No. 22 of the university hostel—believed to be the location where crucial meetings were held before the Delhi blast on November 10. During the search, investigators found bundles of currency no...

Faridabad: Investigations into the Delhi blast and the so-called “White Coat Terror” module involving doctors have uncovered two more hideouts linked to Prof. Muzammil Ahmed of Al-Falah University. Ammonium Nitrate Hidden in Mosque’s BackyardThe NIA, in coordination with Haryana Police, revealed that Muzammil had purchased 2,600 kg of ammonium nitrate and used it to prepare car-borne IEDs. For 12 days, he stored the explosives in a shed behind a mosque adjacent to the university campus, misleading the shed owner by claiming he only needed space to store regular goods. Shifted Explosives to Cleric’s HouseWhen the owner grew suspicious, Muzammil moved the entire stock to a local cleric’s residence. On 9 November, a joint team of Faridabad and Jammu & Kashmir police recovered the en...

Faridabad: Investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the Delhi blast terrorist module have revealed another hideout linked to Dr. Muzammil Shakeel, a key accused. Muzammil had rented a house in Jamalpur village, Faridabad, from a former village headman for ₹8,000 per month. He used the location to meet with Dr. Shaheen Saeed, with whom he had conducted a religious marriage ceremony at a mosque near Al-Falah University, paying a mehr of ₹5,000–6,000. The Jamalpur HouseMuzammil had told the former sarpanch that he was involved in the apple trade and would store fruits brought from Kashmir. However, the NIA found that he frequently visited the property along with Dr. Shaheen between April and July. It was during this period that Muzammil and his associate Umar were con...

Chandigarh: After weeks of protests, the path is now clear for the Senate elections at Punjab University (PU). Following approval from the Chancellor, who is also the Vice President of India, Professor Renu Vig, the Vice-Chancellor of PU, confirmed that the elections will be held next year. The official schedule is expected to be announced soon. Vice President Gives ApprovalThe approval came from Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan in his capacity as Chancellor of Punjab University. This decision comes after several weeks of demonstrations by students and staff demanding the restoration of Senate elections. The approval marks a major step toward strengthening academic governance and ensuring that the University’s decision-making body functions effectively. Tentative Election SchedulePu...

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has unveiled a revolutionary initiative aimed at simplifying property registration across the state. With the launch of the ‘Easy Registry’ system, citizens will now experience a faster, transparent, and hassle-free process for registering land and property. The CM emphasized that the initiative aims to eradicate corruption and ensure smooth governance. Simplifying Property RegistrationFor decades, property registration in Punjab was considered cumbersome and time-consuming. Citizens had to make multiple trips to sub-registrar offices, often facing delays and bureaucratic hurdles. Mann highlighted that the new system eliminates these difficulties, making property registration straightforward and accessible. Quick Verification and Update...

Chandigarh/Ferozepur: In a dramatic turn of events, the main accused in the murder of an RSS worker’s son was killed in a police encounter in Ferozepur, Punjab, on Thursday. The incident occurred during a gunfight when the accused’s associates opened fire on the police while they were attempting to seize weapons. It is yet unclear whether the main accused was killed by police fire or by gunfire from his accomplices while trying to flee. Background of the MurderThe victim, 32-year-old Arora, son of senior RSS leader Baldev Raj Arora, was shot dead on 15 November near Baba Noor Shah Wali Dargah in Ferozepur. Arora was on his motorcycle returning home when two assailants on a bike shot him from behind, hitting him in the head. He later succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital. Follo...

Rohtak/Jhajjar: Grief hangs heavy over the homes of two promising young basketball players in Haryana — 16-year-old Hardik Rathi from Lakhan Majra and 15-year-old Aman from Bahadurgarh. Both boys died tragically after dilapidated basketball poles collapsed on them, exposing shocking negligence in sports infrastructure. For Aman’s father, the most painful memory is his son’s final plea:“Papa, please take me in your arms… I can’t bear this pain.”Hardik’s home, on the other hand, has turned into a silent gallery where his medals now bring tears instead of pride. Two Bright Futures Lost to Negligence Haryana, a state celebrated for producing national and international athletes, is shaken by the deaths of these two young talents. Their dreams had just begun to take shape — dreams that ...

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday announced that the state is gearing up to deepen its strategic partnership with Japan across multiple high-growth sectors. During a virtual interaction with Japanese industrial leaders and investors—held in the presence of Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora—the Chief Minister extended a formal invitation to participate in the 6th Progressive Punjab Investors Summit, scheduled from March 13 to 15, 2026, at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Mohali. The meeting witnessed participation from a high-level Japanese delegation comprising officials from the Embassy of Japan, JETRO, JCCII, and executives of more than 25 prominent Japanese companies operating in India, including Panasonic, Sumitomo, Nippon, NEC, and Toyota. Punja...

Gurugram: Haryana has created a national record by auctioning India’s most expensive vehicle registration number. The VIP number HR88B8888 was sold for an astonishing ₹1.17 crore, surpassing the price of many luxury cars and becoming the costliest number plate ever purchased in the country. The bidding for this premium registration number saw unprecedented enthusiasm. According to officials of the Gurugram Authority, 45 applicants competed to secure HR88B8888, triggering a fierce online bidding war. Online Auction Sees Hyper-Competitive Bidding Haryana conducts online auctions for VIP and fancy number plates every week. Applicants can register and place bids between Friday 5 PM and Monday 9 AM. The final bidding round continues until Wednesday 5 PM, when results are officially ann...