Latest news with #Haryanvis
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Gangsters lure jobless Haryana youth with money for their extortion biz
Gangsters settled abroad are luring Haryana youngsters with easy money and selling them dollar dreams to expand their extortion network in the state. It was the Radaur case and murder of liquor contractor Shantanu in Shahabad that led to the police encounter with Romil Vohra, a Yamunanagar native who worked as a hitman for Noni Rana, said a cop. (HT File) From promising expensive watches to help in fighting criminal cases and offering to settle them in foreign countries, the gangsters use Haryanvis, aged between 18 and 30 years, to do their bidding, say investigators probing recent cases of murder and extortion. 'The recent arrest of two local youngsters involved in the firing at Aman Dhaba in Kurukshetra district's Shahabad town highlights this worrying trend of foreign-based gangsters luring unemployed youth into criminal activities, particularly in the northern districts of Haryana,' said Wasim Akram, the superintendent of police (SP), special task force (STF). 'In the last few days, we have arrested at least 18 such operatives influenced by foreign handlers through social media apps. Their interrogation has revealed that these jobless men are used for arranging arms, conducting recce, providing logistical help, making cash deals, driving vehicles for firing in the air to scare the extortion target. These youngsters don't have criminal history,' he said at a recent press conference in Karnal. However, Akram said, the arms recovered were found to be sophisticated. 'The weapons are being smuggled into Punjab via drones from Pakistan,' he said. The youngsters are paid anything from ₹5000 to ₹20,000, depending on the risk involved and their experience, police officials probing the extortion cases in various districts, said. North Haryana's foreign link Many of the gangsters operate remotely from Canada, the US and Portugal besides other countries in Europe and use social media apps like Whatsapp, Telegram and Instagram to communicate with their local contacts. Investigators believe extortion cases are on the rise in north Haryana as a growing number of youngsters have settled abroad in search of jobs and it becomes easy for the gangsters there to arrange logistical help through their associates back in their native villages and towns. 'The local youngsters get caught in a cycle of violence as they are paid half the money and promised the pending amount for the next task. They are told that they're being used for small tasks and will never get caught until they realise it's too late. They are dumped by their handlers, who in turn change their location and become unavailable for them,' an IPS officer involved in the probe said, requesting anonymity. Ganging up against vulnerable targets The gangsters target immigration centre owners, liquor traders, commission agents, mobile traders or any merchant that they believe is earning much, for extortion threats, the investigators said. A senior police officer in Yamunanagar said that over the past year, gangster Surya Pratap, alias Noni Rana, was linked to all extortion-related firings in the district, including three immigration centres in Bilaspur and Jagadhari, a liquor store and vends in Jagadhri and Yamunanagar towns besides the triple murder in Radaur. 'It was the Radaur case and murder of liquor contractor Shantanu in Shahabad that led to the police encounter with Romil Vohra, a Yamunanagar native who worked as a hitman for Noni Rana,' said the cop. Noni Rana is the younger brother of gangster Virender Pratap, alias Kala Rana, from Yamunanagar. Kala, who was the member of the Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar-Kala Jathedi gangster syndicate, was extradited from Thailand in 2022 and is in a Delhi-NCR jail. The STF said Noni was running his brother's gang and making extortion calls to mining dealers, plywood traders and politicians in the region before he fled abroad on a fake passport after walking out of the Ambala central jail in 2023. In the past six months, Karnal residents Bhanu Rana and Kaka Rana, both settled abroad, have made extortion calls to immigration centre owners, mobile traders, a doctor and a jeweller in Karnal district. 'They work in alignment with Noni Rana,' said a cop with the STF. The Bhanu Rana gang was behind last month's case in Karnal when two men were arrested by the STF near National Highway-44 with two hand-grenades that they were taking to another city to be used against a target, it was learnt. A south Haryana-based gang led by Kaushal Chaudhary has also entered the northern districts. 'Kaushal, a native of Gurugram, is currently jailed in Bhondsi and his gang is being run by Shokeen, who is settled abroad. Another gangster from the region is Venkat Garg from Ambala. He was behind the killing of BSP leader Harbilas in Naraingarh in February, after which he fled abroad. Though he is currently alone, he is in touch with the Ranas,' the STF cop quoted above, said. STF ensured extradition of 10 most-wanted gangsters The STF has arrested 58 criminals carrying awards on their head, 101 gangsters, and 178 heinous offenders so far this year. State director general of police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur said the STF has leveraged technology, analytical capabilities, and human resources to not only dismantle criminal strongholds but also to fight organised and cyber crime. Former STF IGP Simardeep Singh, who was transferred recently, said police personnel have been equipped with specialised training and techniques, including dark web analysis and identifying cyber indicators, as investigation tools. 'The STF has firmly taken on the challenge of criminals operating abroad. The RCN–LOC cell at the STF headquarters, in coordination with central agencies, has successfully ensured the extradition/deportation of 10 most-wanted gangsters through look out circulars (LOCs), red corner notices (RCNs), Interpol references, passport revocations, and provisional arrest requests,' he added.
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
On last day, campus council president calls for renaming Panjab University to also include Haryana
With the term of the Panjab University Campus Students' Council (PUCSC) ending on Thursday, outgoing president Anurag Dalal, hailing from Haryana, has submitted a memorandum to Panjab University (PU) vice-chancellor Renu Vig to change the varsity's name to 'Panjab and Haryana University'. At the same time, PUCSC vice-president Archit Garg, who hails from Punjab, opposed the move. Congress' Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda, who backed Anurag's proposal, said he would place the issue in Parliament in its next session. As per the memorandum, Dalal has pointed out both Punjab and Haryana share historical and cultural, and that it aligns with the already existing nomenclature for the high court. Deepender Hooda said the council president had approached him, and the demand is genuine. 'It will mean a lot for the students of Haryana to see their representation in PU, considering Chandigarh is also the capital of Haryana, not just Punjab,' he said. 'When 48% of the PU students are Haryanvis, it is their right that the name of Haryana be included.' He added that with the support of other Congress MPs, he will bring this issue in Parliament. Meanwhile, PUCSC vice-president Archit Garg said, 'Panjab University's name is iconic. It was the name we chose after the university was relocated from Pakistan. It has its own unique identity. Its name shouldn't be changed.' In 2023, during the varsity's fourth global alumni meet, Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar had also raked up the issue of PU affiliation to Haryana colleges in nearby districts, like Ambala and Yamunanagar. Three meetings chaired by former Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit with the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana earlier in 2023 remained inconclusive. At the time of the Punjab's reorganisation in 1966, PU was declared an 'inter-state body corporate' under Section 72 (1) of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. The affiliation issue has remained a bone of contention, with Haryana offering to bear up to 40% of the total annual expenses of the cash-strapped university in exchange for affiliation to some of the colleges in Ambala, Panchkula and Yamunanagar districts, and Punjab refusing to budge from its stance that the varsity belongs to it alone. Then Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar had said in the meetings that under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, the colleges and regional centres of Haryana were affiliated to PU. However, the arrangement was withdrawn by Haryana in 1973. Citing National Education Policy and how colleges are even getting affiliated with international universities, Khattar had said Haryana's colleges again be affiliated with PU.
Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘AAP equally responsible, creating tension between Punjab and Haryana': farmers slam decision to release more water
Farmers' unions across Punjab have condemned the Bhakra Beas Management Board's (BBMB) decision to release additional water to Haryana, calling it coercive and politically motivated. Terming it an act of injustice against Punjab, they accused both the BJP-led Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of collusion in trying to divide people and deprive the state's farmers of their rightful share. The BBMB on Wednesday ordered the release of an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta-Dakaunda (Dhaner faction) state president Manjeet Singh Dhaner said, 'The Centre and AAP are working hand-in-glove. This is not just water theft; it is a conspiracy to pit Punjabis and Haryanvis against each other.' He called the situation intolerable and accused both governments of betraying Punjab's interests. His union is a constituent of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). Dhaner's remarks found support among other major farmer groups. Leaders from the Kirti Kisan Union, another constituent of SKM, said BBMB's decision ignores the urgent water needs of Punjab's farmers, who are preparing for the upcoming sowing season. 'Even on humanitarian grounds, Punjab is already releasing 4,000 cusecs of water to Haryana. Demanding more, and BBMB agreeing to it, is nothing short of ignoring Punjab's rights and necessities,' said Kirti Kisan Union (KKU) president Nirbhay Singh Dhudike. KKU general secretary Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala called the decision an 'assault' on Punjab's genuine needs. 'This cannot be justified by logic or fairness. It reflects the Centre's step-motherly treatment towards Punjab,' he added. The union alleged that Haryana has already consumed its legitimate share, and any further release is unjustified and dangerous for Punjab's agriculture.' The Kirti Kisan Union reiterated its long-standing demand for a permanent solution to the regional water crisis. It suggested that the Sharada-Yamuna Link Canal be built to redirect excess water from the Sharada River—a tributary of the Ganga—towards Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh, reducing dependency on Punjab's resources. Raminder Singh Patiala, press secretary of the KKU, said the Centre should utilise the otherwise wasted waters of the Ravi and Sharada rivers. 'A fair financial package for Punjab is also essential to promote crop diversification and ensure every household and field gets clean canal water,' he added. Meanwhile, Gurdeep Singh Rampura, BKU Ekta-Dakaunda vice-president (Dhaner faction), claimed, 'Union leaders received phone calls from intelligence agencies asking them to issue public statements on the matter. This shows that the Punjab government is now trying to use farmers as a shield,' he said. He also criticised the government for accepting the Dam Safety Act and passing the Water Regulation Act despite opposition. Rampura pointed out that people from villages like Akhara, Bhundri, Mushkabad, and Bagge Kalan have been facing police action for protesting against polluting factories. 'If the government truly cared about water, it should cancel the Dam Safety and Water Regulation Acts, stop polluting factories, and apologise to those who were suppressed for raising their voice,' he said. Harnek Singh Mahima, the state general secretary of BKU Ekta-Dakaunda, noted that while the Punjab government restricts protesters from entering Chandigarh and uses force against them, it now seeks support from the same farmer unions. 'Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who boasts of 94 MLAs, should lead a dharna in Delhi over this issue himself,' he said. Vice presidents of this union, Amandeep Singh Lalto and Harish Nadda, emphasised that the situation would not have arisen if the Dam Safety Act had been repealed earlier. They called for the resolution of water issues based on international norms and the Indian Constitution and vowed to resist exploitation without becoming tools of the government. The unions warned that depleting groundwater in northwestern India makes canal water essential, and any forced diversion from Punjab would have serious ecological and economic consequences. They urged the Centre to abandon divisive policies and hold talks on constructing the Sharada-Yamuna Link Canal. 'The public must remain united and resist this injustice. When governments have no answers, they try to divide people. We will not let that happen,' a union leader said.
