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Indian Express
04-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
‘Sadda Pind Bikau Hai' — a satire on the system in protest against drug menace in a Bathinda village
On Tuesday, locals at Bhai Bakhtaur village in Bathinda district displayed a rare show of unity — 'something never witnessed earlier'. They gathered in large numbers and stood by farmer Lakhbir Singh, who put up a banner reading 'Sadda Pind Bikau Hai' (Our Village is Saleable) — a symbolic protest against the drug menace which, they say, is destroying their community. 'It's a satire on the system in protest against the drug menace. Otherwise, no one can dare buy our village,' Lakhbir told the assembled villagers. The brutal assault on an ex-Army man Ranbir Singh, who is in his mid-40s, allegedly by Kuldeep Singh and Gurpreet Singh, both having prior drug-related criminal records, on May 31 triggered strong resentment among villagers, and the banner turned out on June 1. Singh, who earned respect among villagers for motivating youths to quit drugs and embrace sports, suffered serious leg injuries and underwent surgery on June 3. Police, however, suspect old hostility between the accused persons and Ranbir. However, on the contrary, locals see the assault as an attempt to silence voices challenging the drug network in the area. In a video message posted on social media, Lakhbir questioned the system and condemned the 'impunity with which drug smugglers operate.' Soon, the 'Sadda Pind Bikau Hai' banner became 'a symbol of rural frustration and resistance,' Lakhbir said. Bathinda SSP Amneet Kondal said police acted promptly, arresting both accused within 24 hours. 'No one will be allowed to threaten or harm citizens, especially those who are up against the crime,' the SSP said, acknowledging Ranbir's courage in encouraging youths to quit drugs, which reportedly angered the peddlers. The attackers were booked under serious charges, including attempted murder, unlawful restraint, and grievous hurt. The SSP said, 'Punjab Police is actively cracking down on drug networks, including demolishing illegal properties of identified drug peddlers, and encouraging citizens to report drug-related activity with assurance of confidentiality.' On June 2, Lakhbir posted a video, thanking the police for their swift action. However, in another video the same evening, he alleged that Kotfatta police station SHO Manish Kumar threatened him for speaking out. Lakhbir alleged that the SHO even warned him of getting his dope test done. 'I am ready for any such tests,' Lakhbir said in the video, holding his four-month-old daughter. The SSP said, 'In one video, he praised police action, while in another video… I sent an officer to his place to counsel him. I will also meet him to allay his fears.' Meanwhile, Bathinda police posted on X their official response under the hashtag #YudhNashianVirudh. 'A resident of village Bhai Bakhtaur recently shared a video on social media alleging that he was threatened by the SHO of police station Kotfatta. Taking immediate and serious note of the incident, Bathinda Police officials reached out to the individual and assessed the situation. SSP Bathinda personally spoke to him and assured him that appropriate action would be taken against the concerned officer. Contact numbers of the Bathinda SSP and the SP (Rural) have also been shared with him for reporting any drug-related information directly.' Based on the charges levelled by Lakhbir Singh, SHO Manish Kumar was told to report to the police lines, while Jaswinder Kaur was posted as the new Kotfatta SHO. Political reaction Replying to a question about Bhai Bhaktaur village in Bathinda putting itself on sale over the failure of the government to stop drug peddling, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said there cannot be a bigger slap on the face of the AAP government and proof of the defeat in the so-called 'Yudh', than an entire village putting itself for sale as the drug peddlers are having a field day there. 'Bhai Bhaktaur village is not an exception but an example of how drugs are freely available in Punjab, irrespective of the Punjab government's claims,' he said. The PCC president said not only are the peddlers selling drugs, but they also dare to beat up an ex-serviceman who was opposing the sale of drugs, and the state government should hang its head in shame. BJP's Punjab media head Vineet Joshi blamed the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for 'failing to control the drug crisis'. 'The day the ex-serviceman was attacked, three overdose deaths were reported in different villages of Punjab. Youth are dying and the government is doing little,' he alleged. Joshi, however, praised the courage of villagers like Lakhbir and Ranbir Singh, saying, 'They represent the spirit of Punjab that refuses to surrender to addiction and fear.'
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
After cobbler, tailor arrested from Bathinda Military Station over suspicious phone content
Following the arrest of a cobbler, a tailor named Raqib from Roorkee, Uttarakhand, has been apprehended at Bathinda Military Station. Authorities discovered suspicious communication on his mobile phone, which has been seized for forensic analysis. BATHINDA: After the arrest of a cobbler from Bathinda Military Station over two weeks ago, a tailor has been arrested from the military station. Some suspicious communication is learnt to have been recovered from his mobile, which has been seized and has been sent for forensic examination. The arrested tailor has been identified as Raqib, a resident of Roorkee in Uttarakhand. He had been working in the military station as a tailor for the last about two years. Raqib (28) was handed over to Bathinda Police on Tuesday. He was produced before court which sent him to three days police remand. Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police Amneet Kondal confirming the arrest said that the army authorities handed him over. Some communication has been detected from his mobile, which has been sent for forensic examination. Sources said he might be trying to send some information about the military station. The Bathinda including airbase, army facility was learnt to be on target of Pakistan during operation Sindoor as a number of drone attacks were neutralised. Earlier, a cobbler, identified as Sunil Kumar, was arrested from Bathinda Military Station on April 28. He had been working in the Military Station for last 7 years. He was accused of indulging in some chat in WhatsApp with a mystery woman, who is learnt to be wanting to extract certain logistical details of the military station. Bathinda SP (Investigation) Narinder Singh said that the army authorities approached the police and a case has been registered against Raqib at Cantt Police Station and further investigations are being made.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Claims of Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar's removal false, clarifies PIB
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has issued a clarification refuting social media rumours that Northern Army Commander Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar has been removed from his post following the recent Pahalgam terror attack According to PIB's Fact Check unit, several pro-Pakistan handles have been circulating fake claims suggesting that Lt Gen Kumar was dismissed in the wake of operational developments in south Kashmir."The claims being made in these posts are #fake," PIB stated in a post on X, adding that Lt Gen Kumar is retiring as per schedule. "Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar is attaining superannuation on April 30," it further clarified that Lt Gen Pratik Sharma has been appointed as the next General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Indian Army's Northern Bathinda, Punjab, SP Narinder Kumar cleared the air regarding social media videos spreading information regarding Bathinda Police arresting a clarified that the arrested person is a resident of Bihar and the information regarding the same was received from the Bathinda stated that there was no evidence found proving that the arrested person was a spy in the initial investigation, after which his mobile data was investigated. An FIR has also been registered in the matter and further investigation is going on."In some viral videos on social media, information is being spread that Bathinda Police has arrested a spy and I want to clarify that we have received information from Bathinda Cantonment that a person named Sunil Kumar, who is a resident of Bihar, has been handed over to the police on suspicion... Mobile data is being verified... The initial investigation did not find any evidence of him being a spy. We have registered an FIR and further investigation is on", he told ANI.
