Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal seeks compensation, job to victim's kin
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda parliamentarian Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday visited the family of Narinderdeep Singh, who allegedly died in police custody recently. The MP demanded an independent probe into the incident that led to the death of a resident of Goniana town under suspicious circumstances. The family alleged that Narinderdeep was subjected to police torture and demanded justice. The MP said the aggrieved family should be given compensation and a member of the family should also be given a government job.
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Will make Punjab education hub of India: Minister
Chandigarh Punjab higher education minister Harjot Singh Bains on Monday directed officials to expedite the processing of proposals from private colleges seeking university status. The move aims to streamline the upgradation process, reinforce academic excellence, and expand access to quality higher education in the state. To ensure effective coordination and real-time monitoring, the minister designated director higher education Girish Dayalan as the nodal officer for overseeing the progress of all such proposals. 'We are committed to removing unnecessary delays and creating a robust ecosystem for higher learning and make Punjab the education hub of India,' said Bains.
Day 93 of war against drugs: 98 smugglers held
Chandigarh The anti-drugs campaign, Yudh Nashian Virudh, launched by the Punjab government entered 93rd day on Monday, and the state police arrested 98 drug smugglers and recovered 1.5 kg heroin, 2,508 intoxicant pills and ₹3,900 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached 15,117 in 93 days. The operation was conducted on the directions of the DGP, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 police districts of the state.
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The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
Punjab anti-drug drive: Nearly 15,500 smugglers held, 9,087 FIRs filed since March 1
Along with this, a balanced approach of zero tolerance has been adopted by taking stringent legal actions against traffickers and motivating users to undergo de-addiction treatment, he said. A roadmap has been prepared to eliminate drugs from Punjab. To achieve this, a two-pronged strategy is being adopted to further dismantle the narcotics network by segregating big drug suppliers and peddlers from the drug users, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said. Chandigarh, Jun 4 (PTI) In three months of launching its anti-drug drive 'Yudh Nashian Virudh', the Punjab Police have arrested 15,495 drug smugglers and registered 9,087 FIRs, according to an official. 'Our aim is to choke the supply chain by isolating and punishing the actual drug dealers while offering a compassionate path to recovery for drug users,' said Yadav. Sharing the outcome of the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' drive, the DGP said the police have registered 9,087 FIRs and arrested 15,495 drug smugglers since March 1. Additionally, treatment for 5,786 addicts in de-addiction centres has been facilitated by the police and 6,483 others have been motivated to avail the services at Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment clinics. Yadav also highlighted the humane aspect of their strategy, noting that 1,121 drug users, caught with small quantities, have been sent for rehabilitation under the provision of Section 64-A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act instead of being treated as criminals. The DGP chaired a state-level meeting to review the performance of the districts in the ongoing anti-drug drive, law and order situation and internal security situation at the PAP Complex in Jalandhar. Yadav was accompanied by Special DGP Internal Security RN Dhoke, Special DGP Anti-Narcotics Force (ANTF) Kuldeep Singh, Special DGP Arpit Shukla, ADGP ANTF Nilabh Kishore and IGP (Headquarters) Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill. All Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), Commissioners of Police (CPs), and Range IGs/DIGs in Punjab were also present at the meeting. Police have also been shifting their focus from list-based to information-based enforcement by taking swift action on tips being received on the Safe Punjab Chatbot, the DGP said. 'Our major thrust is to further popularise the Safe Punjab Chatbot so that action can be taken at point-of-sale of drugs using information from the public,' he said while exhorting people to report drug-related information confidentially at Safe Punjab Chatbot: 9779100200. Sharing details of the recoveries made during the rive, the Punjab Police said, 607 kg of heroin, 249 kg opium, 14 tons of poppy husk, 9 kg charas, 263 kg ganja, 2.5 kg Ice (crystal meth), 1.6 kg cocaine, 26.35 lakh intoxicant pills and tablets and Rs 10.83 crore drug money have been seized. Additionally, illegally acquired properties of 144 drug smugglers worth 74.27 crores have been frozen, DGP Yadav added. He said the Punjab Police is also exploring the use of GPS anklets to track and monitor activities of big drug smugglers released on bail, 'We are examining this proposal from a legal point of view to track the movement and monitor activities of bailed-out big smugglers through GPS anklets with the approval of a competent court,' the officer said. The Punjab Police has also been developing an AI-powered hierarchical database to map arrested persons under the NDPS Act with backwards and forward linkages to be traced upto two levels in each arrest, DGP Yadav said. PTI CHS NB NB NB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Wire
5 hours ago
- The Wire
Fifth Acting DGP in a Row: Why Uttar Pradesh Still Lacks a Permanent Police Chief
New acting director general of police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh Rajeev Krishna (left) with outgoing DGP Prashant Kumar after he assumed the charge of the office, in Lucknow on Saturday, May 31, 2025. Photo: PTI Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute Now On May 31, the Uttar Pradesh government appointed Rajeev Krishna, a 1991-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, as the state's new acting Director General of Police (DGP). Krishna replaced Prashant Kumar and became the fifth consecutive officer to hold the post in an officiating capacity – a pattern that has drawn intense criticism from the opposition and former officers alike. Krishna, who hails from Gautam Buddha Nagar and holds a degree in Electronics and Communication, was already serving as Director General of Vigilance and the Police Recruitment and Promotion Board. His elevation to acting DGP continues a trend that began in May 2022, when Devendra Singh Chauhan took charge after Mukul Goel's removal. Chauhan was followed by R.K. Vishwakarma, Vijay Kumar, and Prashant Kumar – all of whom served without being given a permanent mandate. Opposition criticism mounts The opposition has raised serious concerns over the absence of a full-time police chief in India's most populous state. Uttar Pradesh, with over 220 million people, has seen high-profile law and order challenges in recent years. Critics argue that the continued appointment of acting DGPs undermines institutional accountability and weakens leadership within the police force. Ajay Rai, President of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of evading responsibility. 'It's a mockery of law and order and a threat to the security of 220 million people,' Rai told The Wire. 'There have been custodial deaths and deteriorating law and order, yet the state is being led by acting officials – not just the DGP, but even the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appears to be 'acting',' Rai added. The Samajwadi Party (SP) also condemned the move. SP's Member of Legislative Council, Ashutosh Sinha, said, 'This reflects how seriously the BJP government and Chief Minister Yogi take crime and governance. Their actions show bias, and they are unwilling to follow constitutional norms.' Sinha further criticised the pattern of short-term appointments, arguing that it hampers administrative efficiency. 'When someone is appointed for a short time to the most crucial post in the police department, they spend that time just understanding the system. By the time they are ready to act, their tenure ends,' he said. A dispute between Centre and state? The controversy has reignited debates over the relationship between the Uttar Pradesh government and the BJP-led central government. Prashant Kumar, who was widely expected to receive an extension, was reportedly Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's preferred candidate. However, the central government did not approve the extension. Political analysts believe that this deadlock reflects a lack of consensus between the Centre and the state on key appointments. 'The appointment of Krishna as acting DGP reflects that there is some rift between CM Yogi and his party's central leadership, which is why the UP CM has been avoiding the appointment of a permanent DGP,' said Utkarsh Sinha, a political analyst who has observed governance in the state for decades. Sinha added that such indecision is not limited to the police department. Earlier, this government had delayed appointments for other crucial posts like the Chief Secretary. It suggests that the government often functions at its convenience, sidelining due process,' he said. Kumar Bhawesh Chandra, another political commentator, echoed the sentiment. 'For the last three years, Uttar Pradesh has had no permanent police chief. The CM doesn't want someone he cannot control. If the Centre appoints a DGP he doesn't prefer, removing that officer would become politically complicated,' Chandra said. 'A permanent DGP is essential to maintain the authority and integrity of the forces' Former DGP Sulkhan Singh emphasised the importance of stable leadership in policing. 'The DGP is the leader of the police department, and a permanent DGP is essential to maintain the authority and integrity of the force,' Singh said. He added that state governments often prefer appointing acting DGPs because it gives them flexibility. 'They can extend or terminate the tenure of acting officials based on political expediency,' Singh said. Former IPS officer S.R. Darapuri agreed that the system suffers when key positions are filled temporarily. 'Acting officers tend to avoid making bold or sensitive decisions. Their short tenures discourage them from implementing major reforms,' he said. 'Governments avoid appointing permanent DGPs because, as per regulations, a full-time DGP cannot be removed for two years without solid justification. This security of tenure limits political interference,' added Darapuri. He also highlighted the lack of seriousness with which field-level officers treat acting DGPs. 'Sometimes district-level officers do not take acting DGPs seriously, leading to dysfunction across the force,' Darapuri noted. Legal experts sound the alarm The legal implications of repeated acting appointments are also under scrutiny. Advocate Syed Mohammad Haider Rizvi pointed to the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Prakash Singh v. Union of India (2006), which laid down strict guidelines for police reforms. 'The appointment of yet another officiating DGP in Uttar Pradesh compels a serious reconsideration of the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Prakash Singh v. Union of India (2006) 8 SCC 1,' Rizvi said. 'That judgment laid down clear and binding norms for the appointment of the DGP – including empanelment by the UPSC and a minimum two-year tenure – to insulate the police from political manipulation.' He added, 'Despite claims that the 2024 Rules implement these directives, the exclusion of UPSC from the process and the continuation of officiating appointments indicate a clear circumvention of the court's mandate. If challenged, such actions may not stand judicial scrutiny, as they violate principles of transparency, independence, and reasonableness enshrined in the judgment.' The 2024 rules: More clarity or confusion? In November 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government approved the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh Selection and Appointment Rules, 2024. These rules introduced a new selection process allegedly intended to replace the earlier practice of UPSC-based recommendations. Under the revised system, a selection committee chaired by a retired high court judge now oversees the appointment. Other members include the state's chief secretary, a UPSC nominee, a representative from the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, the Home Department secretary, and a retired DGP. The new mechanism, the government claims, is designed to reduce political interference and streamline the process. However, critics argue that bypassing UPSC and continuing to appoint acting officials contradicts the stated goals. 'There were multiple senior IPS officers in contention this time, including one woman officer. This raised hopes that UP could see its first-ever female police chief. But once again, the UP government bypassed all of them in favour of someone seen as close to the political galleries,' said an opposition leader. The road ahead Rajeev Krishna is expected to remain in charge until March 2026, according to sources. By then, several senior officers will have retired, potentially making him fourth in the seniority list – a position that could strengthen his candidacy for permanent appointment. Whether Krishna ultimately secures that position remains to be seen. But the larger issue persists: Why has Uttar Pradesh, one of the most politically significant and crime-sensitive states in India, failed to appoint a full-time DGP for nearly three years? Until the state resolves this administrative limbo, questions around governance, legal compliance, and political motivations will continue to cast a shadow over the functioning of its law enforcement machinery. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Seven people arrested over sword attack in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal: Police
Seven people were arrested on Wednesday for attacking locals with swords after the latter had objected to the loud noise from the bike's silencers, in Uttarakhand's Srinagar area, Pauri Garhwal police official said. The incident took place on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. All of the accused were identified. The first information report (FIR) was registered under sections 109 (Attempt to murder), 353 (Statements conducing to public mischief), 351 (2) (Criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Srinagar police station. Also Read: Punjab: 140 drug smugglers nabbed on Day 94 of Yudh Nashian Virudh Sharing details on the sequence of events, Anuj Kumar, circle officer, Srinagar, said, 'On Wednesday, we received a complaint from Srinagar resident Pawan Uniyal at Srinagar police station in which he claimed that at night he was with his friends near a petrol pump in Srinagar when eight to ten people riding five bullet motorcycles were making loud noise from the silencers of the motorcycles.' 'When they asked these men to ride the motorcycles peacefully, they attacked them with sharp weapons. They had to run to save their lives, then they chased them and beat them. Some of them received injuries in the incident. We registered the FIR under relevant sections of the BNS at Srinagar police station', Kumar said. 'We immediately examined the footage of CCTV cameras and found that the accused were heading towards Rudraprayag. Our team chased them and arrested seven accused and recovered three swords from them. We also seized their bullet motorcycles,' he added.
