Latest news with #Amritsar-based
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Child bride at 11: Father stumbles upon secret wedding, mother among 9 booked in Ludhiana
Ludhiana: Tibba police booked an Amritsar-based woman and eight of her associates from Ludhiana in connection with a case of child marriage. As per the reports, the woman got her 11-year-old minor daughter married to a relative in Ludhiana, violating the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. When her husband, Jagjeet Singh, came to know of the incident, he filed a complaint with the Amritsar police, who then forwarded the matter to their counterparts in Ludhiana for further action. Based on his complaint, the Ludhiana police registered an FIR under Sections 9 and 10 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. The accused include Jagjeet Singh's wife, Kamaljeet Kaur, and her associates — Sukhwinder Singh, his wife Swaranjit Kaur, their son Ravinder Singh alias Ravi, daughters Kajal and Priya, and Anoop Singh, his wife Raj Rani, and son Prince — all residents of Samrala Road, near Tajpur Chowk. The complainant, who is an auto driver, said his wife, along with their daughter, went to Ludhiana at her parental home to stay there for a few days. One day, he noticed her WhatsApp status in which she uploaded pictures of the wedding of their minor daughter. He tried to contact Kamaljeet; however, she did not talk to him. Thereafter, he enquired about the matter and discovered that Kamaljeet got their minor daughter married to her distant relative Prince, aged 35 years, in Ludhiana. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No dark spots, 10 years younger! Just take this from Guardian URUHIME MOMOKO Learn More Undo Thereafter, Jagjeet Singh lodged a complaint with the Amritsar police. Assistant sub inspector Baljeet Singh, the investigating officer from Tibba police station, said the city police received a complaint from the Amritsar police on May 26. On the basis of it, the police lodged an FIR against the accused mother, the groom, his family, and relatives who attended and arranged the wedding. The accused are yet to be arrested. It is yet to be ascertained why the woman got her minor daughter married. MSID:: 121623791 413 |
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Jagdish Singh Jhinda elected Haryana gurdwara management panel president
Jagdish Singh Jhinda was elected president of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) on Friday. Jhinda, who represents Assandh ward of Karnal, was chosen to lead the committee at a meeting convened in Kurukshetra four months after the HSGMC conducted its first elections on January 19. Apart from Jhinda, who is a former president of the ad-hoc committee, Gurmeet Singh Mitta was chosen senior vice-president, Harjeet Singh general secretary, Gurbir Singh vice-president and Balwinder Singh Bhinder joint secretary. Rupinder Singh Panjokhra, Palvinder Singh Cheema, Tajinderpal Singh, Jagtar Singh Pipli, Karnail Singh Nimnabad and Kuldeep Singh Multani were named executive members of the HSGMC. The decision was taken by 49 members, including 40 elected and nine co-opted, at a meeting at Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi in Kurukshetra. Sikh preacher Baljit Singh Daduwal also attended the meeting and endorsed Jhinda's leadership. Jhinda had spearheaded a 22-year struggle for a separate committee from Amritsar-based Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, to manage gurudwaras in Haryana.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Row after Takht Patna Sahib Panj Pyaras declare Akal Takht jathedar ‘tankhaiya'
Amritsar Amritsar: A row has erupted after the Panj Pyare (five beloved ones) of Takht Patna Sahib defied a decree issued by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, and declared its acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and Takht Damdama Sahib head Tek Singh Dhanaula 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) for actions that allegedly hurt the sanctity and dignity of the Takht Patna Sahib. The confrontation escalated on Wednesday when Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht took serious note of the Takht Patna Sahib management's non-compliance with a 2022 directive which ordered an assessment of Patna Sahib jathedar Baldev Singh's Gurbani recitation skills and the transfer of granthi Gurdial Singh. Following continued disregard, both were barred from performing any 'Panthic' (religious) duties, and the management was summoned to appear before the Akal Takht immediately. In a counteraction just hours later, the Panj Pyare of Takht Patna Sahib, led by jathedar Baldev Singh, rejected the Akal Takht's decree and issued their own. They accused the Amritsar-based clergy of overreach and declared that decisions made by other Takhts would neither apply to nor be recognised at Takht Patna Sahib. Experts, however, say as the Akal Takht is the supreme authority, and no one can challenge it. Sukhbir told to appear before Takht Patna Sahib The Panj Pyare also claimed that the controversy was politically motivated, accusing Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal of engineering the interference. Sukhbir has been summoned to appear before Takht Patna Sahib within 10 days or face action 'as per Panthic traditions'. Further, the Patna Sahib decree labelled Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and Tek Singh Dhanaula as 'self-styled jathedars', and rejected the Akal Takht's recent exoneration of former Patna Sahib jathedar Giani Ranjit Singh Gauhar. According to Patna Sahib authorities, their earlier decision declaring Gauhar 'tankhaiya' and excommunicating him still stands. This open defiance by Takht Patna Sahib has triggered a crisis in the Sikh religious sphere, potentially threatening the long-standing centralised authority of the Akal Takht over Sikh matters globally. Religious scholars and Panthic leaders have expressed concern over the implications of such disunity within the Sikh temporal institutions. Dr Amarjit Singh, professor, Centre on Studies in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), said: 'Such instance was never witnessed in the recent history that Takht Patna Sahib Panj Pyare challenged Akal Takht decree. This has hurt Sikh traditions and the community is upset over this.' Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member and its former general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal said: 'The Akal Takht took action against those at the helm of Takht Patna Sahib as per the probe report. The Akal Takht is supreme authority. Other Takhts come under it. So, its order cannot be challenged as per the Sikh traditions.'
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Spice of life: Lessons in art of living from men on a mission
They descended on our house like paratroopers. Everything was turned topsy-turvy in a day. Though they didn't land up uninvited, we hadn't anticipated the scale of upheaval they would bring in our otherwise unhurried lives. The house was in dire need of whitewash, so the painters arrived like men on a mission. They began to clear the rooms of furniture and showpieces. My wife, who was supervising the operation, pitched in by gathering knick-knacks and stacking them in the lawn. I was surprised by the sheer scale of possessions we had hoarded over the years. We were sitting on a pile of seldom-used or never-used items, many of which were prized possessions once upon a time but were now literally biting the dust in the open. As I scrambled to save fragile vases and trophies our children had won during their school and college years, my wife declared, 'I'm getting rid of the clutter.' I wondered how things that were so close to our hearts at one point had become redundant with the passage of time so much so that we had to let them go to preserve our sanity. This holds true for our lives, too. Embracing change without much ado and opting for a limited social circle and fewer material possessions help us earn inner peace, which is priceless. Meanwhile, the paintwork is on in full swing. I watch the painters hard at work, dusting and cleaning the walls and ceiling before giving them a fresh coat. They soldier on, taking the grime and dust in their stride without blinking an eyelid. Their hands and brushes stop briefly during the lunch and tea breaks. That's the only time I catch them sharing light-hearted banter before they get back to complete the assigned task, silently and diligently. They climb ladders umpteen times in the day and work under the blistering May sun without ever complaining of the harsh conditions. When I asked one of them if he was not scared of heights, he replied, 'It's simple. While climbing up, keep your eyes glued to the upper rung and when descending, fix the gaze on the lower rung. That way, the chances of faltering are minimal.' Another practical tip, or you may say a life lesson, of going step by step from a man who swears by his sweat. After a gruelling day at work when they wash and change into clean clothes, there is a dignified contentment on their faces. As the paintwork is nearing completion, my wife has promised to treat the entire team that toiled hard to lend our house a fresh look. While they would be enjoying the treat this Sunday, my cache of life lessons has become richer by learning a thing or two from the men who decided to come to work even on Labour Day. I asked one them if they'd heard of the day and he said, 'Sir, it may be a holiday for you, but for us, it's just another day to make ends meet.' The writer is an Amritsar-based freelance contributor.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Attari-Wagah border opens for Afghan trucks stranded in Pakistan
In a relief for traders since the de-escalation of military tension with Pakistan after the May 10 ceasefire, eight trucks carrying perishable goods from Afghanistan, which were among the 150 stranded between Lahore and Wagah border since April 24, crossed into India from the Attari integrated check post on Friday. Official sources said eight trucks carrying dry fruits crossed the Attari-Wagah border, the only land link allowed for trade between India and Pakistan, in the afternoon. Confirming the development, BK Bajaj, the president of the Indo-Foreign Chamber of Commerce, expressed relief and said: 'Eight trucks have come to the Indian side. Others are expected to come soon. We thank the Governments of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.' Pakistan had suspended trade with India, including to and from any third country through its territory, on April 24 in response to the restrictions imposed by India following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. Following a recent request from the Afghan embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan decided to permit the 150 trucks that had entered its territory before April 25 to cross the border to India. 'Due to the closure of this route, the quality of the commodities was deteriorating. Indian importers make payment in advance to Afghan traders. We would have had to bear a huge loss if this route was not reopened,' said Mukesh Sidhwani, an Amritsar-based dry fruit trader. Porters at the joint checkpost were also relieved. 'Our livelihood depends on cross-border trade. We were staring at a bleak future,' said Gursahib Singh, a porter at the Attari ICP. Traders in Afghanistan had also warned of damage to the commodities due to the continued closure of the Attari-Wagah border, which is one the shortest and cheapest transit routes for trade with India. After the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019 that left 44 CRPF personnel dead, India had restricted imports from Pakistan by hiking the custom duty to 200% from a mere 5%. Since then, import of goods from Pakistan was negligible. In August 2019, when the Narendra Modi-led government abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan ceased all trade ties with India. The neighbouring country also barred India from exporting goods to Afghanistan, though import of the Afghan goods, such as dry fruits and apples, remained normal even after Taliban took control of the country. Around 40-45 Afghan trucks were reaching Attari daily before the Pahalgam attack.
