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We Will Fight This Vendetta Of AAP Legally: Bajwa

By LokMarg 29th September 2023

After being not allowed to meet Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira in Fazilka, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab legislative Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday said that they will fight this vendetta of the AAP party legally and on the streets.

Congress workers led by Punjab party chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Partap Singh Bajwa gathered outside the Fazilka CIA office where they were denied to meet Khaira.

“Went to meet our MLA Sukhpal Khaira in Fazilka today with the senior leadership of Punjab Congress. The police stopped us from meeting him. We will fight this vendetta of the AAP party legally and on the streets. We won’t be cowed down by such pressure tactics,” Bajwa posted on X (Formerly Twitter).

He further condemned the Punjab police and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and said that the Congress has not seen this kind of situation in Punjab.

“I want to condemn Bhawant Mann’s action. Mann thinks he will be in the government forever but he is wrong everyone has to go and his government will also go,” he said while speaking to reporters outside Sardar police station.

“As I am the Leader of the Opposition it is our constitutional right to meet Khaira. We were supposed to meet him in the custody of the police officials but they didn’t allow us. It was a courtesy call and wanted to tell him that the Congress party and each and every leader of the party is with him, nothing more than this,” he said.

He added that the Congress leaders are organizing a dharna in Bathinda against the arrest.

Meanwhile, Punjab unit chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday said that we will fight till the end.

“Vendetta politics is being done by involving him (Sukhpal Singh Khaira) in an old case. We will first meet Khaira and after meeting him we will decide what we have to do. This is being done to take revenge,” Punjab Congress chief Warring said while speaking to reporters.

Earlier on Thursday, Khaira was arrested from his residence and later was sent to a two-day police remand by Fazlika’s Jalalabad court in connection with a 2015 drugs smuggling case. Fazlika’s Jalalabad court sent Khaira to police custody till September 30.

Sukhpal Khaira was arrested in connection with an old case registered in 2015 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Earlier in 2015, there were two cases originated with the unearthing of a cross-border drug smuggling network in Fazilka, Punjab, leading to the seizure of heroin, gold biscuits, weapons, cartridges, and Pakistani SIM cards and the second of a fake passport racket being run in Delhi.

As the trial went on, nine smugglers, including Gurdev Singh, Manjit Singh, Harbans Singh, and Subhash Chander, were sentenced in October 2017 in connection with the Fazilka case. As per the chargesheet, Sukhpal Khaira wasclosely associated with Gurdev Singh, the leader of the Fazilka drug smuggling racket, and was accused of having sheltered him.

The primary accusations against Khaira included supporting an international gang of smugglers, having sheltered him and receiving financial benefits from drug traffickers, and enjoying the proceeds of crime.

On February 16, 2023, a Supreme Court bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath quashed the summoning order against Khaira in the drugs case.

The arrest of Sukhpal Khaira is expected to further dent the relations of AAP and the Congress which have come together to form the INDIA alliance at the centre. The state unit of the Congress has opposed any tie-up or seatsharing arrangement with the AAP in Punjab. (ANI)

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Cong MLA Khaira Detained By Police

By LokMarg 28th September 2023

Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Thursday was detained by Punjab police in connection with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

In an early morning operation on Thursday, a team of Punjab Police reached Khaira’s residence and conducted a raid in connection with an old case registered in 2015 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Jalalabad, Fazilka.

Khaira was hosting a Facebook Live where he can be seeing arguing with police personnel as they raided his house this morning. A police official can be seen in the video telling Khaira that a SIT has been formed in an old drug smuggling case.

In the video, Khaira is also seen raising slogans of “Punjab Sarkar murdabad” as the police personnel detain him.

Sukhpal Khaira is an MLA from Bholath in Kapurthala of Punjab and Chairman of All India Kisan Congress.

Leader of the Congress party in the Punjab assembly and senior leader Partap Singh Bajwa questioned the detention of Khaira saying that the AAP government in Punjab had resorted to low level vendetta politics.

“The arrest of Senior Congress Leader and Bolath MLA @SukhpalKhaira is extremely deplorable. The @AAPPunjab

govt has stooped to an all-time low and resorted to vendetta politics. Sukhpal Singh Khaira has been outspoken and raised his voice against the wrongdoings and irregularities committed by the CM @BhagwantMann’s govt. The Punjab Congress under the ambit of law will leave no stone unturned to get him released” Partap Singh Bajwa said in a post on X.

In a show of support arch rivals of Congress in the state the Shiromani Akali Dal criticised the Punjab government for its high handed action.

In a post on X the Akali Dal said “Political differences aside- Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar condemns the arrest borne out of the witch hunt and political vendetta against Bholath MLA and a very respected @SukhpalKhaira Ji a fierce critic of @BhagwantMann and @AAPPunjab led @PunjabGovtIndia. What promised to be a ‘badlav’ is turning out to be a horror show.”

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Cong Punjab Chief Condemns khaira’s Detention

By LokMarg 28th September 2023

Condemning the detention of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday termed the action taken by Punjab Police as a “jungle raj”.

“I condemn this arrest. This is jungle raj as there is nothing in the case. The Supreme Court has stayed the proceeding and quashed it. The notice regarding stay has been given to ED, then tell me what is remaining in this eight-year-old case,” Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said.

He further said that Congress President Kharge called me in the morning and asked us to fight for Khaira.

“His family has said that anything can happen to him,” he added.

The President of the Punjab Congress also took to X (Formerly Twitter) and called the arrest a ploy by the Punjab government to distract people from the core issues.

“The recent arrest of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira ji smacks of Political Vendetta, it is an attempt to intimidate the opposition and is a ploy of the Punjab government to distract from core issues. We stand strongly with Sukhpal Khaira and will take this fight to its logical conclusion,” Warring posted on X.

Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa also condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Punjab government against the detention of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

“Early in the morning at 6 am, Punjab Police arrested Khaira from his residence. My brothers the sad part is that the police did not have an arrest warrant,” Bajwa said.

He further assured all the members of the Punjab Congress that we stand like a rock with the entire leadership of the party and every worker.

“We will fight hard for Khaira Ji’s release,’ he said.

He further launched an attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and said that the Governments don’t last forever.

“Governments don’t last forever, I strongly criticize your dictatorial action. Today is the birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and on that day you did this,” he said.

In its first response the Aam Admi Party said that the government in Punjab was just following the due course of law and Khaira’s links with drug business were no secret

” The law will take its own course. It is well-known that Sukhpal Khaira ji indulged in the drugs business. He kept getting protection from earlier governments. Now, a proper investigation will be conducted” AAP MP Sushil Gupta said.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira was detained by Punjab police in connection with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Khaira was hosting a Facebook Live where he can be seen arguing with police personnel as they raided his house this morning. A police official can be seen in the video telling Khaira that a SIT has been formed in an old drug smuggling case.

In the video, Khaira is also seen raising slogans of “Punjab Sarkar murdabad” as the police personnel detain him.

Earlier in 2015, there are two cases originated with the unearthing of a cross-border drug smuggling network in Fazilka, Punjab, leading to the seizure of heroin, gold biscuits, weapons, cartridges, and Pakistani SIM cards and the second of a fake passport racket being run in Delhi.

As the trial went on, nine smugglers, including Gurdev Singh, Manjit Singh, Harbans Singh, and Subhash Chander, were sentenced in October 2017 in connection with the Fazilka case. As per the chargesheet, Khaira was closely associated with Gurdev Singh, the leader of the Fazilka drug smuggling racket, and is accused of having sheltered him.

The primary accusations against Khaira include supporting an international gang of smugglers, having sheltered him and receiving financial benefits from drug traffickers, and enjoying the proceeds of crime.

On February 16, 2023, a Supreme Court bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath quashed the summoning order against Khaira in the drugs case.

Sukhpal Khaira is an MLA from Bholath in Kapurthala of Punjab and Chairman of All India Kisan Congress.

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Punjab: Lookout Circular Against Badal By Vigilance Bureau

By LokMarg 26th September 2023

A Look Out Circular (LOC) has been issued against former Punjab finance minister and Bharatiya Janta Party leader Manpreet Singh Badal at all airports by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Tuesday.

Badal who left Congress and joined BJP in January this year is facing a criminal and corruption case in the purchase of two plots in Model Town phase-1 Bathinda.

The case was registered against him under sections 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and section 13 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, besides the Information Technology Act.

Notably, the notice has been issued by the vigilance department to stop Manpreet Badal from leaving the country.

Earlier, Badal had sought anticipatory bail from the court to avoid arrest. A hearing on his appeal will be held in the session court of Bathinda today.

Apart from Badal, cases have been registered against four other individuals as well. So far, the Vigilance Bureau has arrested at least three accused in the case, namely Rajiv Kumar (resident of New Shakti Nagar), Amandeep Singh (resident of Lal Singh Basti), and Vikas Arora (resident of Tagore Nagar).

The case was registered on a complaint filed by Saroop Chand Singla, former MLA of Bathinda city, against Manpreet Singh Badal and others, a spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau said.

He informed that during the probe it was found that Manpreet Singh Badal during his tenure as Finance Minister between 2018 and 2021 used political pressure and influence to purchase two plots measuring 1560 square yards of land in Model Town phase-1 Bathinda near the TV tower thereby causing a financial loss of lakhs of rupees to the state exchequer, a press release from the Vigilance Bureau of Punjab said.

The spokesperson further said, “During the investigation of complaint number 11/2022, it was found that the former Finance Minister, using his influence, colluded with the officials of Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) and misled the general public during the bidding of plots in the year 2021, and fake maps were uploaded to prevent the participation of the general public in the bidding process.”

Apart from this, the plot numbers 725-C (560 square yards) and 726 (1000 square yards) in the map were also shown as commercial instead of residential and the numbers of the plots were not shown on the map on the online e-auction portal, the release said.

In addition to this, the digital signatures of Balwinder Kaur, Administrative Officer, BDA Bathinda were used for the auction of plots without her permission.

During the probe, it has also come to light that the bids of the sole three bidders namely Rajive Kumar, Vikas Arora and Amandeep Singh were made by one person Advocate Sanjiv Kumar from the same IP address and from the same place.

Apart from this, both the plots were purchased by the bidders in 2021 at a lower rate which was fixed during an auction in the year 2018 causing a financial loss of about Rs 65 lakh to the government, the release said.

The former finance minister of Punjab had purchased both plots through agreements from the bidders known to him before they got allotment letters from BDA Bathinda. It was also found that Manpreet Singh Badal has transferred 25 per cent earnest money in advance to the successful allottees which shows his connivance with the bidders.

He further informed that the VB has been hunting for the arrest of other accused and involvement of other accused would also be probed during the further investigation, the release said. (ANI)

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Vigilance Registers Case Against Badal, Three Arrested

By LokMarg 25th September 2023

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has registered a criminal and corruption case against former finance minister and Congress leader Manpreet Singh Badal for using his political pressure and influence to purchase two plots in Model Town phase-1 Bathinda.

Cases have been registered against four other individuals as well. In this case, the Vigilance Bureau has arrested three accused namely Rajiv Kumar (resident of New Shakti Nagar), Amandeep Singh (resident of Lal Singh Basti) and Vikas Arora (resident of Tagore Nagar).

The case was registered on a complaint filed by Saroop Chand Singla, former MLA Bathinda city, against Manpreet Singh Badal and others, a spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau said.

He informed that during the probe it was found that Manpreet Singh Badal during his tenure as Finance Minister from the year 2018 to 2021 used political pressure and influence to purchase two plots measuring 1560 square yards of land in Model Town phase-1 Bathinda near the TV tower thereby caused a financial loss of lakhs of rupees to the state exchequer, a press release from the Vigilance Bureau of Punjab said.

The spokesperson further informed that during the investigation of complaint number 11/2022, it was found that the former Finance Minister, using his influence, colluded with the officials of Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) and has misled the general public during the bidding of plots in the year 2021, and fake maps were uploaded to prevent the participation of general public in the bidding process.

In addition to this, the digital signatures of Balwinder Kaur, Administrative Officer, BDA Bathinda were used for the auction of plots without her permission.

During the probe, it has also came to light that the bids of the sole three bidders namely Rajive Kumar, Vikas Arora and Amandeep Singh were made by one person Advocate Sanjiv Kumar from the same IP address and from the same place.

The former finance minister has purchased both plots through agreements from the bidders known to him before they got allotment letters from BDA Bathinda. It was also found that Manpreet Singh Badal has transferred 25 per cent earnest money in advance to the successful allottees which shows his connivance with the bidders.

He further informed that the VB has been hunting for the arrest of other accused and involvement of other accused would also be probed during the further investigation, the release said. (ANI)

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Punjab Police Launches Crackdown on Gangsters, Associates

By LokMarg 21st September 2023

Amid the ongoing drive to break the gangster-terrorist nexus in Punjab, the state police on Thursday launched a state-wide crackdown against various gangsters and raided over 1159 suspected places and hideouts of their associates.

As per the police officials, one person was arrested while 30 were detained for further questioning.

The simultaneous raids were carried out from 7 am to 2 pm on the directives of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, wherein, all the residential and other premises of associates, relatives and friends linked with various gangsters, were thoroughly searched in all the 28 police districts in the state, an official statement from the police department said.

Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that all the Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Superintendents of police (SSPs) were directed to depute an adequate number of police parties to conduct these raids and meticulously check the whereabouts of these associates to make this operation successful, which was aimed at disrupting the nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers based in India and abroad.

Police teams were also asked to detain suspicious persons during the operation, he added.

He further said that around 625 police teams, involving over 2500 police personnel, carried out this operation at as many as 1159 places linked with associates of various gangsters.

The Special DGP said that the Police teams have also arrested one person and recovered 120 grams of heroin and one 32-bore pistol along with five live cartridges during the operation.

“Apart from this, several persons have also been rounded up for questioning during the operation for further verification and incriminating material has been seized from their possession. The material and data collected during the search operation are being examined further,” he added.

Shukla also said that the searches were planned after the questioning of several persons arrested during recently busted modules backed by different gangsters. (ANI)

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Punjab Gangster, Khalistan Supporter Sukha Killed In Canada

By LokMarg 21st September 2023

Multiple Indian agencies on Thursday have corroborated reports of the death of wanted gangster Sukhdool Singh, alias Sukha Duneke, in Winnipeg, Canada.

Winnipeg Police have confirmed the incident of shooting in the area of Aldgate Road on September 18, but have not confirmed it as being fatal. The Winnipeg Police have also not named Sukhdool Singh as the victim.

In a statement posted on X the Winnipeg Police said “On September 18, 2023, at approximately 6:20 p.m., General Patrol officers responded to the report of a shooting incident in the area of Aldgate Road and Gobert Crescent. The Major Crimes Unit has taken over the investigation.”

https://x.com/wpgpolice/status/1704214844105457724?s=20

Sources in Indian intelligence agencies say Sukha Duneke was shot dead by an unidentified assailant. Sources confirmed that his murder was a fall out of inter-gang rivalry. However, no gang has taken responsibility of his murder as of now.

Duneke was part of the Davinder Bambiha gang from Moga district. He fled Punjab in 2017 allegedly with the help of local policemen. Sukha Duneke obtained a passport and police clearance certificate on forged documents with the help of these policemen to flee to Canada, even as seven criminal cases were registered against him.

In year 2022, Duneke allegedly conspired to kill kabaddi player Sandeep Singh Nangal with the help of his associates during a kabaddi match at Mallian village in Jalandhar.

He was allegdly associated with the pro-Khalistan outfits and was said to be linked to Canada based Khalistan operative Arshdeep Singh aka Arsh Dala a designated terrorist in India.

Duneke mostly made calls for extortion and indulged in contracted killings. More than 20 criminal cases of murder and other heinous crimes have been registered against him in Punjab and nearby states.

Duneke was on the NIA’s list of most wanted which was released on Wednesday. As per the NIA the persons shown in photograohs are wanted in the investigation of RC-38/2022/NIA/DLI & RC-39/2022/NIA/DLI.

Investigations had shown that these gangs had carried out targeted killing to terrorise the public and extort money.

On June 19, dsignated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in inter-gang warfare in Surrey, British Columbia. (ANI)

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284 Rescued So Far From 42 Disaster-Affected U’khand: SDRF

By LokMarg 16th July 2023

Amid the devastating rainfall in Uttarakhand, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has rescued over 280 people from 42 affected places across the state so far this month, a senior officer said on Sunday.

“SDRF has been deployed in 42 disaster-affected places in Uttarakhand. SDRF has conducted 36 rescue operations so far this month, in which 284 people have been rescued and shifted to safe places”, said Manikant Mishra SDRF commandant.
Notably, heavy rainfall in the state has led to several landslides that have blocked roads and highways, stranding scores of people.

On Sunday itself, Balwakot-Dharchula road in Dharchula near the border area of the Pithoragarh district was blocked following a landslide, a senior official said.

While the Yamunotri Highway number 123 was blocked on Saturday due to falling debris near Chami village in Pauri Tehsil of Garhwal District. As per officials, dozens of vehicles were left stuck on both sides of the road.

The flood rescue operation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) continues in the flood-affected areas of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Delhi, where torrential rainfall and the release of water from barrages have resulted in unprecedented floods, an official statement said on late Friday evening.

58 NDRF teams have been deployed in flood-affected states for rescue and relief work in coordination with State administrations. 16 teams of the NDRF have been deployed in Delhi, 11 teams in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand each, and 10 teams in Punjab and Haryana. (ANI)

Incessant Flash Floods Ravage Manali

By LokMarg 12th July 2023

Incessant rain, which has led to flash floods and landslides, has caused significant damage in Himachal Pradesh’s Manali.

Himachal Pradesh Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the flash floods have damaged the national highway and disrupted water and electricity supply.

“The Manali Vidhansabha constituency has suffered significant damage due to flash floods. Houses, land, and gardens have been destroyed, and the national highway is damaged due to flash floods. The link road adjacent to the bridge is also badly damaged. There is no net connectivity, electricity and water. We have made arrangements to provide food to the stranded tourists,” Negi said.

Due to incessant rainfall in the region, many tourists have been stranded in Manali.

Internet services and electricity supply have been disrupted due to the flood in the area.

Neha, a tourist from, Ludhiana, Punjab said, “We want to go home. We were scheduled to return on Sunday but we are stuck due to flood.”

Another tourist, Sanjeev Arora, said they have been trying to go back for the past two days.

“We are here in Manali since 5th July. The main track is damaged. We have been trying to go back for the past two days. The internet services and electricity supply is disrupted,” he added.

Meanwhile, Himachal Chief Minister’s Office informed that 2000 people stranded in the Kasol area have been evacuated so far.

“So far 2000 people stranded in the Kasol area of Kullu district have been evacuated. On the way at one point named Dunkhara, there is a heavy landslide and one poclain and two machines have been deployed round the clock to clear the Kasol-Bhuntar road. A team of the district administration has reached Kasol. More than 2200 vehicles have passed through Kullu from Manali so far and food is being distributed to them at Ramshilla Chowk. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is closely monitoring the situation”, the CMO statement said.

Speaking on the relief and rescue operations being conducted in the state amidst heavy rainfall, acting DGP of Himachal Pradesh Satwant Atwal Trivedi said that evacuation procedure is underway with 1000 vehicles already having left from Kullu – Manali and are enroute to Chandigarh.

The Nurpur police on Wednesday informed that water will be released from Pandoh Dam (Mandi) from 6 pm today to 3 pm tomorrow due to incessant rains in the district.

“People are urged not to go near low-lying areas like rivers, drains and dam areas for the next few days”, the Nurpur Police said.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA from Manali Bhuvneshwar Gaur hit out at the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) over the poor construction of the highways which were washed away during the flash floods. (ANI)

Gangster Bishnoi’s Health Deteriorates, Rushed To Hospital

By LokMarg 11th July 2023

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who has been accused of the murder of Punjabi Singer Sidhu Moose Wala, was rushed to the hospital late at night after his health deteriorated, said the police on Tuesday.

According to the police, Bishnoi was rushed to Faridkot Medical Hospital from Bathinda Central Jail on Monday night after his health deteriorated.
As per the police inputs, Bishnoi’s fever was not reducing for the last few days, resulting in his deteriorating health condition.

Meanwhile, three dreaded sharpshooters of the Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate were arrested on Saturday, said the Special Cell of Delhi Police.

The accused were identified as Udit Shah (31), Anish Kumar (42), and Mohit Gupta (27).

Two single-shot pistols along with four cartridges were recovered from their possession, said the Special Cell.

Further, the police stated that the accused were wanted in an extortion case under the Kotwali Police Station (located in the Chandni Chowk area). They allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakhs from a merchant in Old Delhi.

“All the arrested accused are habitual offenders and are history sheeters”, said the Special cell.

A case under the relevant provisions of law has been registered against the accused and an investigation is underway.

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi is an accused in the murder case of Punjabi singer, Sidhu Moose Wala, in 2022. Goldy Brar, a Canada-based gangster, is also accused of planning the murder of singer Moose Wala. (ANI)