PUNJAB AND HARYANA

Chandigarh/Ferozepur: In a dramatic turn of events, the main accused in the murder of an RSS worker’s son was killed in a police encounter in Ferozepur, Punjab, on Thursday. The incident occurred during a gunfight when the accused’s associates opened fire on the police while they were attempting to seize weapons. It is yet unclear whether the main accused was killed by police fire or by gunfire from his accomplices while trying to flee. Background of the MurderThe victim, 32-year-old Arora, son of senior RSS leader Baldev Raj Arora, was shot dead on 15 November near Baba Noor Shah Wali Dargah in Ferozepur. Arora was on his motorcycle returning home when two assailants on a bike shot him from behind, hitting him in the head. He later succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital. Follo...

Rohtak/Jhajjar: Grief hangs heavy over the homes of two promising young basketball players in Haryana — 16-year-old Hardik Rathi from Lakhan Majra and 15-year-old Aman from Bahadurgarh. Both boys died tragically after dilapidated basketball poles collapsed on them, exposing shocking negligence in sports infrastructure. For Aman’s father, the most painful memory is his son’s final plea:“Papa, please take me in your arms… I can’t bear this pain.”Hardik’s home, on the other hand, has turned into a silent gallery where his medals now bring tears instead of pride. Two Bright Futures Lost to Negligence Haryana, a state celebrated for producing national and international athletes, is shaken by the deaths of these two young talents. Their dreams had just begun to take shape — dreams that ...

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday announced that the state is gearing up to deepen its strategic partnership with Japan across multiple high-growth sectors. During a virtual interaction with Japanese industrial leaders and investors—held in the presence of Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora—the Chief Minister extended a formal invitation to participate in the 6th Progressive Punjab Investors Summit, scheduled from March 13 to 15, 2026, at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Mohali. The meeting witnessed participation from a high-level Japanese delegation comprising officials from the Embassy of Japan, JETRO, JCCII, and executives of more than 25 prominent Japanese companies operating in India, including Panasonic, Sumitomo, Nippon, NEC, and Toyota. Punja...

Gurugram: Haryana has created a national record by auctioning India’s most expensive vehicle registration number. The VIP number HR88B8888 was sold for an astonishing ₹1.17 crore, surpassing the price of many luxury cars and becoming the costliest number plate ever purchased in the country. The bidding for this premium registration number saw unprecedented enthusiasm. According to officials of the Gurugram Authority, 45 applicants competed to secure HR88B8888, triggering a fierce online bidding war. Online Auction Sees Hyper-Competitive Bidding Haryana conducts online auctions for VIP and fancy number plates every week. Applicants can register and place bids between Friday 5 PM and Monday 9 AM. The final bidding round continues until Wednesday 5 PM, when results are officially ann...

Rohtak (Haryana): In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a well-educated woman from Rohtak was tricked into believing she had been “digitally arrested” in a fake money-laundering case, leading her to transfer ₹9.95 lakh to cyber criminals. Three months after the incident, police have now arrested the key accused, adding to the three arrests already made earlier in the case. The Cyber Police Station initiated the investigation based on the complaint filed by Preeti, a resident of the PGIMS hostel. A case was registered on 22 August 2025 under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340(2), 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). It Began With a Call on 14 August According to the complaint, Preeti received a phone call on 14 August from a man claiming to be an employee of “Telecom Authority o...

Rohtak/Bahadurgarh: Haryana’s sports administration has come under intense scrutiny after two teenage basketball players lost their lives within 48 hours in separate incidents involving the collapse of basketball poles. The back-to-back tragedies in Rohtak and Bahadurgarh have exposed severe lapses in safety standards across sports facilities in the state. Following the emergence of CCTV footage capturing the death of 16-year-old Hardik Rathi, District Sports Officer Anoop Singh has been suspended. A committee has been constituted to investigate the incidents and recommend urgent improvements in sports equipment and infrastructure. The renowned Lakhan Majra Basketball Nursery has also been suspended. How the First Incident Unfolded The first tragedy occurred on Tuesday at Lakhan M...

Fatehabad, Haryana: In a shocking incident near the village of Saniyana in Fatehabad district, a group of armed men attacked a bus driver with swords and sticks after a dispute over giving way. The situation could have turned fatal, but women passengers onboard displayed remarkable bravery, shielding the driver and saving his life. Attack on a Passenger Bus According to eyewitnesses, a privately hired bus carrying passengers from Tohana to Hisar was returning after a community gathering. As the bus approached Sahu village, a wedding procession with loud DJ music had blocked the road, causing a traffic jam. Bus driver Mela Singh, a resident of Fatehpuria village, stated that a car behind him continuously honked, demanding side. He explained to the driver of that vehicle that the ro...

Gurugram: A controversy has erupted in Haryana after DGP O.P. Singh’s remarks targeting owners of Mahindra Thar and Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles. A Thar owner has served a legal notice to the DGP, terming his statement “insulting and derogatory,” and has demanded a public apology within 15 days. DGP Faces Legal Heat Over Comment During a visit to Gurugram on November 8, the Haryana DGP reportedly said that police would not check all vehicles but “only Thar and Bullet riders,” adding that “all criminals travel in Thars and Bullets.”This statement sparked outrage, particularly among vehicle owners. Sector-102 resident Sarvo Mitra, who owns a Thar, sent the legal notice through his lawyer, stating that the DGP’s words have caused him “public embarrassment, ridicule, and mental st...

Haryana has been shaken by two tragic incidents within just 48 hours, as teenage basketball players from Rohtak and Bahadurgarh lost their lives after poorly maintained basketball poles collapsed during practice. The shocking events have exposed the alarming condition of sports infrastructure in the state and raised serious questions over administrative negligence. Following public outrage, District Sports Officer Anoop Singh has been suspended, and a committee has been formed to investigate the matter and improve sports facilities. The basketball nursery in Lakhan Majra has also been suspended. 16-year-old National-Level Player Hardik Rathi Crushed by Falling Pole The first incident took place on Tuesday near Lakhan Majra in Rohtak, where 16-year-old Hardik Rathi, a national-level b...

Kurukshetra/Chandigarh:Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in Kurukshetra, recounted the brutal atrocities committed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. PM Modi narrated how the Mughal regime forcibly pressured communities to convert to Islam, but Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji remained unshaken. PM Modi said, “We all know how the Mughals crossed all limits of cruelty—even with the brave Sahibzaade. They accepted being bricked alive but never abandoned their duty or faith. In their honour, India now observes Veer Bal Diwas every year on 26th December.” The Prime Minister highlighted that his government has consistently worked to restore and preserve Sikh heritage — from completing the Kartarpur Corridor, constructing the ropeway to Hemku...