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Hindustan Times
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: 108 prisoners to be released for good conduct
The Punjab government has granted early release to 108 prisoners serving life sentences who demonstrated exemplary conduct during their incarceration over the past year. The Punjab government has granted early release to 108 prisoners serving life sentences who demonstrated exemplary conduct during their incarceration over the past year. (Representational image) This measure has been undertaken with the objective of providing rehabilitation opportunities to inmates with good conduct, informed Laljit Singh Bhullar, minister of jails, Punjab. These prisoners are likely to be released on Independence Day. He stressed that this decision shows the state government's efforts to provide a second chance to individuals who have exhibited good behaviour and met the requisite criteria for early release. Bhullar said that this initiative will provide these individuals with an opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration into mainstream society. He said that this step is part of the Punjab government's comprehensive strategy to ensure that the justice system not only punishes but also facilitates the re-establishment and reintegration of individuals into society. The minister said by releasing prisoners who have shown a desire for reform, the government aims to promote a more humane and effective approach to justice. 'The release of these prisoners is evidence of our government's commitment to rehabilitation and providing individuals with opportunities to reconnect with society,' he said, adding, 'We believe in second chances and are dedicated to creating a more compassionate and just society.' The minister further said that around 800 calling systems have been installed in jails to facilitate communication between prisoners and their families and lawyers, thereby preventing them from attempting to use illegal mobile phones. Indigent prisoners are also provided with free calling services, allowing them 10 minutes of calls every 15 days to communicate with their families and lawyers, he added.
News18
07-08-2025
- Politics
- News18
108 prisoners in Punjab granted early release for good conduct
Agency: PTI Chandigarh, Aug 7 (PTI) The Punjab government on Thursday said it has granted early release of 108 prisoners, serving life sentences, who demonstrated exemplary conduct during their incarceration. This measure has been undertaken with the objective of providing rehabilitation opportunities to inmates with good conduct, Punjab Jail Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said in a statement. He stressed that this decision shows the state government's efforts to provide a second chance to individuals who exhibited good behaviour and met the requisite criteria for early release. This step is part of the Punjab government's comprehensive strategy to ensure that the justice system not only punishes but also facilitates the reestablishment and reintegration of individuals into society, Bhullar said. The minister added that by releasing these prisoners, the state government aims to promote a more humane and effective approach to justice. The Cabinet minister further said that around 800 calling systems have been installed in jails to facilitate communication between prisoners and their families and lawyers, thereby preventing them from attempting to use illegal mobile phones. Prisoners are also provided with free calling services, allowing them 10 minutes of calls every 15 days to communicate with their families and lawyers, Bhullar added. PTI CHS NB NB (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 07, 2025, 21:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
05-08-2025
- Hindustan Times
UAPA accused dies in Sangrur jail, kin allege murder
Two days after an undertrial, caught under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), was found dead in Sangrur jail, his family accused the police of murdering him. The police have already claimed that the 35-year-old man ended his life. Jail superintendent Ramandeep Singh Bhangu has denied the allegations. The man, who was arrested on UAPA charges in 2018, died on Friday. His brother said the family was informed by police regarding it on August 2. 'We think the police have tortured and killed him,' he said. Expressing dissatisfaction with the post-mortem procedure in Sangrur, he said the family wanted it either in PGI, Chandigarh, or Rajindra hospital in Patiala while fearing cops' influence in Sangrur. The family said it has met with cabinet minister Laljit Singh Bhullar to seek justice. The undertrial had been held in Sangrur jail for over two months followed by Kapurthala and Amritsar jails since his arrest in 2018. According to his brother, he used to express fears for his safety. 'He used to complain of being alone in jail, demanding that two or three others be added along with him. His pleas were ignored. He would tell us that they would kill him,' he said. When contacted, jail superintendent Ramandeep Singh Bhangu, who took charge a day after the incident on Saturday, denied the allegations. 'There is nothing like that. A judicial inquiry is going on. There have been no suspensions or transfers related to the incident. Such orders were already there prior to the death,' he said. Former superintendent of Sangrur jail, Kulwant Singh, was relieved of his duties three to five days before the incident. The deputy superintendent of jail, Jaspreet Singh, who was in-charge of the jail at that time, said, 'There is no such thing. A judicial inquiry is going on. There are CCTVs in jail.' He further informed that the deceased had been lodged in high-security jails, along with nine other inmates in Sangrur jail, for the past two months.
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Roadways contractual employees call off strike after Punjab government assurance
Bus services across Punjab were hit as contractual employees of the state-owned Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Road Transportation Corporation began their three-day strike on Wednesday to press their demands, including regularisation of their jobs, abolition of contract-based hiring and induction of new buses. A view of buses parked at Amritsar Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT) as contract workers of Punjab Roadways and PRTC (Pepsu Road Transport Corporation) strike work in Amritsar on Wednesday. (ANI) Later in the evening, the employee unions withdrew their stir following a meeting with finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema and transport minister Laljit Singh Bhullar in Chandigarh. After talks with union representatives, Cheema directed the transport department to hold a meeting with them in the next 15 days to consider their demands and submit a concrete report to the cabinet subcommittee, headed by him, to resolve their legitimate issues, according to an official statement. The finance minister assured the union leaders that the Punjab government is making every possible effort to resolve their long-pending issues. Earlier in the day, confusion and chaos prevailed at major bus stands, with many passengers unaware of the strike. In Bathinda and adjoining districts, more than 75% of buses stayed off the road and the protesters blocked the exits of various bus stands, affecting services. In Hoshiarpur, Davinder Kumar (66), a resident of Bane Di Hatti near Gagret in Himachal Pradesh, said he arrived with his wife on a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus this morning, intending to board a government bus to Gurdaspur. He was unaware of the strike and had been waiting at the bus stand for over an hour. 'I had no option but to board a packed private bus,' he said. Vishal (21), a resident of Dasuya who works in Chandigarh said. 'I was on a short leave and reached Hoshiarpur from my home town Dasuya this morning in a private bus. I've been waiting here at the bus stand for nearly an hour, but not a single private bus to Chandigarh has arrived yet,' he said. 'With government buses remaining off the roads, I have no other alternative but to rely on a private bus, whenever it comes. At the Sangrur bus stand also a passenger working in a private bank said he waited for a bus for over an hour to go to his office in Patiala. A representative of the union said they had given notice about the strike a month ago. Punjab Roadways PUNBUS and PRTC Contract Workers Union president Raminder Singh said the strike was aimed at pressing long-pending demands, including regularisation of contractual workers. In Ludhiana too, passengers bore the brunt of the strike. The union has been demanding job regularisation for around 8,200 contractual and outsourced drivers and conductors. It is also seeking the abolition of contractual hirings, rollback of the PRTC Kilometre scheme and induction of new buses in the fleet. CITU holds protest In a separate protest, hundreds of workers affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held dharnas raising slogans against the central and state governments. In Kapurthala, nearly 200 protesters affiliated with various trade unions and Samyukt Kissan Morcha blocked vehicular traffic near the bus stand. They held a sit-in in the middle of the Kapurthala-Jalandhar road in support of their demands. The central trade unions such as CITU, INTUC and AITUC were pressing to do away with the four labour codes, contractualisation, and privatisation of PSUs. They were seeking an increase in minimum wages to ₹26,000 per month and pressing for the demands of farmer organisations for minimum support price (MSP) for crops based on the Swaminathan Commission's formula of C2 plus 50% and loan waiver. WITH INPUTS FROM AGENCIES
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Contractual employees of Punjab Roadways, PRTC call off strike after meeting state FM
Hoshiarpur/Kapurthala , Contractual employees of the state-owned Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Road Transportation Corporation on Wednesday evening called off their three-day strike following a meeting with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar in Chandigarh. Contractual employees of Punjab Roadways, PRTC call off strike after meeting state FM The meeting came after contractual employees struck work earlier in the day to press their demands, including regularisation of their jobs, causing inconvenience to commuters. Over 2,500 buses of Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Road Transportation Corporation stayed off the roads, the protesting employees said. After talks with union representatives, Cheema directed the transport department to hold a meeting with them in the next 15 days to consider their demands and submit a concrete report to the cabinet subcommittee, headed by him, to resolve their legitimate issues, according to an official statement. Following this directive, the striking union announced the withdrawal of the stir. The finance minister assured the union leaders that the Punjab government is making every possible effort to resolve their issues that have been pending for decades. Many passengers, who were unaware of the strike call, faced inconvenience at various bus stands in the state and were delayed to their respective destinations. The strike was called by the Punjab Roadways, Punbus, PRTC Contract Workers' Union to press the state government to accept their long pending demands of regularisation of jobs of contractual drivers and conductors, abolition of contract-based hiring and induction of new buses. The protesters held demonstrations at bus depots in the state, demanding that the state government accept their demands. Many passengers were left stranded at bus stands, with some forced to wait for hours or opt for overcrowded private buses. In Hoshiarpur, Davinder Kumar , a resident of Bane Di Hatti near Gagret in Himachal Pradesh, said he arrived with his wife on a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus this morning, intending to board a government bus to Gurdaspur. He was unaware of the strike by the Punjab government buses and had been waiting at the bus stand for over an hour, hoping to catch another government bus to Gurdaspur. "I prefer to travel in government buses, but after coming to know about the strike, I had no option but to board a packed private bus," he said, adding that he was on his way to Gurdaspur to offer prayers on the occasion of Guru Purnima. Vishal , a resident of Dasuya who works in Chandigarh and was visiting home on a short leave, also expressed his frustration. He said he had reached Hoshiarpur from Dasuya this morning in a private bus. "I've been waiting here at the bus stand for nearly an hour, but not a single private bus to Chandigarh has arrived yet," he said. "With government buses remaining off the roads, I have no other alternative but to rely on a private bus, whenever it comes." Private bus operators were seen doing brisk business as the absence of government-run buses led to a surge in demand on several routes. At the Sangrur bus stand, a passenger working in a private bank said he waited for a bus for over an hour to go to his office in Patiala. A representative of the Union said they had given notice about the strike a month ago. Meanwhile, members of the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation, led by Satish Rana, and the Punjab Roadways PUNBUS and PRTC Contract Workers Union, led by its president Raminder Singh, held a sit-in at a bus stand in support of their demands and to protest against the new labour codes. Speaking during the protest, Raminder Singh said the strike was aimed at pressing long-pending demands, including regularisation of contractual workers in Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC. In a separate protest, hundreds of workers affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions , led by general secretary Mohinder Singh Badoan, took out a march from Green View Park to the bus stand and held a dharna, raising slogans against the central and state governments. In Kapurthala, nearly 200 protesters affiliated to various trade unions and Samyukt Kissan Morcha blocked vehicular traffic near the bus stand. They held a sit-in in the middle of the Kapurthala-Jalandhar road in support of their demands. The central trade unions such as CITU, INTUC and AITUC were pressing for doing away with the four labour codes, contractualisation, and privatisation of PSUs. They were seeking an increase in minimum wages to ₹26,000 per month and pressing for the demands of farmer organisations for Minimum Support Price for crops based on the Swaminathan Commission's formula of C2 plus 50 per cent and loan waiver. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
