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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Muktsar blast: Firecracker factory was operating without permission, says DC; owner arrested
The firecracker factory in Punjab's Muktsar, where a blast killed five workers and injured 34 others in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, was allegedly operating without permission from the district authorities. Following the incident, the owner of the factory has been arrested, the police said. The two-storey building, which housed the factory in Singhewala village, also collapsed in the blast. 'No permission was granted to the factory under the required Explosives Rules, 2008,' said Abhijeet Kaplish, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Muktsar. The owner had reportedly submitted a request before the deputy commissioner's office for necessary approval, but the file was yet to be processed. 'The district administration's top priority remains the care and treatment of the injured. A detailed inquiry is underway, and the strictest action will be taken against those found responsible,' the DC said. He added that several of the seriously injured have been shifted to AIIMS Bathinda, while others are being treated at the Civil Hospital in Badal village under the Punjab Government's Farishtey scheme. Following preliminary investigation, the Muktsar police arrested the owner Tarsem Singh and lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against him and his son Navraj Singh. The two allegedly ran the factory together. Sources revealed that all the paperwork seeking licence for the unit was in the name of Navraj. They have been booked under stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 118(2) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt using dangerous means), and 3(5) (group liability in crimes committed with shared intent). Additionally, the FIR includes charges under section 98 of the Explosives Act, 1884, which empowers the central government to prohibit dangerous explosive activities, and section 92 of the Factories Act, 1948, which deals with penalties for violation of safety and regulatory norms. The police said they are yet to identify the deceased as several of their coworkers, who could have helped in identifying them, have also been hospitalised. The contractor who brought the workers from Uttar Pradesh is yet to arrive, which has also delayed the identification process. Akhil Chaudhary, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Muktsar, said, 'Our forensic team is investigating to determine the reason behind this incident.' Punjab Cabinet Minister and Lambi MLA Gurmeet Singh Khuddian visited the victims who are under treatment at AIIMS, Bathinda. He inquired about their condition and assured them that the entire cost of their treatment will be borne by the Punjab Government. He stated the government stands with the affected families and will leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice to them. 'Those responsible will not be spared under any circumstances, and the strictest legal action will be taken against them,' he asserted. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who met the injured workers at AIIMS, termed the incident 'a failure of governance.' He alleged that the illegal factory was running under political patronage. 'There were no fire safety measures, and even minor children were employed at the site. I met a few of them. Shockingly, the contractor disappeared after the blast, and the factory owner was of no help to the trapped workers,' he said. Demanding strict action against the accused, Badal added, 'If the government does not act firmly, SAD will launch an agitation at the site. Such tragedies must not be allowed to repeat. We demand immediate compensation for the affected families and a high-level inquiry into how such a dangerous operation continued unchecked.' He urged the state government to ensure accountability and stricter enforcement of industrial safety norms across Punjab.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Political outrage erupts as Punjab govt moves ahead with land acquisition project for urban development
CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab Government's ambitious plan to acquire over 24,000 acres of land in Ludhiana for urban development meets strong opposition from Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, despite Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's assurances of voluntary participation and fair compensation. The most ambitious land acquisition initiative of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab Government to acquire 24,311 acres across more than 30 villages in Ludhiana for the development of urban estates may face significant hurdles. A political confrontation has erupted over the project, with both the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) declaring their opposition. They have pledged to prevent the acquisition of even an inch of land, threatening agitation if necessary. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has emphasized that the government is not forcibly acquiring land but is instead seeking consent from landowners. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal warned of a state-wide protest if the government does not withdraw the project. He stated that his party would resist any land acquisition, even if it required launching an agitation. He alleged that the project was designed to enable large-scale corruption by AAP leaders from Delhi, including party chief Arvind Kejriwal. Badal further demanded a ban on land sales to residents of other states and stated, 'If Punjabis cannot purchase land in Himachal Pradesh, why should Punjab allow outsiders to buy land here?' Criticizing the AAP Government, Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring sent a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, stating, 'Punjab is an agricultural state. We cannot afford to sacrifice green fields to cement and concrete, especially when there is no urgent requirement. You are stripping tens of thousands of farmers of their livelihoods, pushing them from prosperity to poverty. The large-scale acquisition would not only cripple the rural economy but also threaten Punjab's agricultural identity. If executed, this will turn farmers into landless labourers in urban slums. The anger among affected communities is real and growing.' He questioned the necessity of acquiring new land when many existing colonies around Ludhiana remain underdeveloped. Warring urged Mann to reconsider the proposal, saying, 'Our ancestors belong to this land and so will our children. Let's not destroy what they built.'
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Punjab develops new system to expedite property registration
Punjab government will be launching an online system to help the property owners to get their sale deeds registered faster and without paying any bribes at Sub Registrar offices. The new digital reform will be launched formally by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and national convener of AAP Arvind Kejriwal in Mohali on Monday. For decades property registration has been seen as a time-consuming and complex process often requiring multiple visits to Sub Registrar Offices, hiring expensive deed writers, managing separate bank payments, facing delays due to manual checks and demand for bribe under the garb of objections. 'Citizens have been forced to register deeds only at the SRO covering the location of the property, limiting flexibility and adding to the burden. To address these challenges, the Punjab Government has launched Easy Registration, a comprehensive digital reform that introduces online pre-scrutiny, consolidated online payments, real-time WhatsApp updates and the freedom to choose any SRO within the district,' a functionary of the government said. Citizens can now access affordable support through Sewa Kendras or doorstep services provided by Seva Sahayaks by calling helpline 1076.
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
NADRA keeps the deceased alive in its records
Long after families have fulfilled the last rites of their deceased loved ones, many remain alive in NADRA's official records thanks to delays in the cancellation of their national identity cards, which create unnecessary inconveniences for the surviving kin. One such citizen was Majid Hussain, who was facing difficulties selling his late father's property. "When I tried selling the shops registered under my father's name, a person claimed that the shops were mortgaged for a loan of Rs5 million. He even presented forged documents. Despite a case filed in court, the issue remains unresolved since my father's ID card was not cancelled in NADRA's records," lamented Hussain. Similarly, Nabeela Kausar faced issues updating her surname on her CNIC since her father's death was not registered with NADRA. "I visited the NADRA office to replace my father's name with my husband's name but was asked to provide my parents' original CNICs. When I informed them of my parents' death, the officials instructed me to cancel their CNICs before updating my record," claimed Kausar. According to the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA), despite the registration of over 100 million deaths in the provincial civil registration and management system, the identity cards of these individuals have not been cancelled in NADRA's records, instigating a host of legal and administrative problems for the kin of the deceased. Conversely, the failure to cancel the deceased individuals' CNICs has led to irregularities in various welfare programs as well. In the Punjab Government's Ramadan Nigahban Program, hundreds of cheques worth Rs10,000 were issued in the name of individuals who had passed away, depriving many families from receiving aid. Legal experts believe that the failure to cancel a deceased person's identity card can create a host of problems for their heirs. While this can prevent many legal heirs from obtaining property, it can also enable forgery, allowing unauthorized individuals to seize properties or withdraw money from bank accounts. Furthermore, if a government employee's identity card is not canceled, their pension and other benefits can be obtained illegally. In addition, there is a risk of electoral irregularities due to the inclusion of deceased persons in the voter list in the records of the Election Commission. Senior lawyer Altamash Saeed informed this correspondent that NADRA's records were linked to various government databases. "If a person's death is not registered, it can create complications in immigration and other legal matters. Hence, NADRA should empower local union councils to directly update birth, death, marriage, and divorce records in NADRA's database. This would help citizens avoid unnecessary difficulties," opined Saeed. Reportedly, NADRA has introduced an SMS notification system to involve citizens in the posthumous process, informing close relatives of deceased individuals to visit NADRA registration centers to cancel their identity cards. A public awareness campaign is also underway, utilizing social media, print, and electronic media to disseminate this information. Under new regulations, the parents, spouse, children, siblings, or other close relatives listed in the deceased's family record can cancel the ID card. The required documents include the original ID card or its number, a computerized death certificate issued by the Union Council, Cantonment Board, or Tehsil Municipal Office, and a burial certificate. "Canceling an identity card is free of charge, and the cancellation certificate is issued within seven days. To prevent misuse, the original identity card is destroyed at the NADRA registration center. Authorities urge citizens to take timely action to prevent potential forgery and ensure the accuracy of government records," claimed officials from NADRA.
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Eradication of polio: Top paediatricians, major hospitals join hands
LAHORE: In a major step toward eradicating polio from Pakistan, leading paediatricians and major hospitals across Punjab have partnered with the Punjab Government and Punjab Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in support of the upcoming National Polio Vaccination Campaign, commencing today (Monday), May 26. The campaign aims to vaccinate over 23 million children under the age of five, with the help of more than 200,000 polio workers. The campaign will run for 7 days in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad, while in other districts, the drive will continue for 5 days. Renowned paediatricians from key hospitals in Lahore and beyond have voiced their strong support for the campaign and the critical role of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) in building herd immunity and protecting children against lifelong paralysis. 'We are proud to stand with the Punjab government in this national effort,' said Dr Shahzad Haider, a senior paediatrician at Defence Hospital, Lahore. 'Oral Polio Vaccine is safe, effective, and essential to developing community-level immunity. Every child must be vaccinated in every campaign to ensure we close the immunity gap.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
