PUNJAB AND HARYANA

Jhajjar, Haryana: In a tragic incident in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, a Haryana soldier, Mohit, lost his life when an army vehicle fell into a 400-foot deep gorge on Thursday evening. The accident claimed the lives of 10 soldiers, while 11 others were airlifted to Udhampur Military Hospital for treatment. Mohit, a native of Jhajjar district, was just 25 years old. The heartbreaking news of his martyrdom reached his family late Thursday evening. A Young Life Cut ShortMohit had joined the Indian Army five years ago as a sepoy. Nearly a year ago, he got married, and his sudden demise has plunged his family and village of Gijarod in mourning. His mortal remains are expected to reach his village around 2 PM today and will be accorded full military honors before the final rites. Local...

Police have arrested two directors of real estate company Lotus Green Construction Private Limited—Ravi Bansal and Sachin Karnwal—in connection with the death of software engineer Yuvraj Mehta in Sector-150, Greater Noida. Ravi Bansal is a resident of Faridabad, while Sachin Karnwal lives in Shalimar Garden Extension-2, Ghaziabad. In addition, the police have filed another FIR against the builders and sealed two of their offices in Noida. The arrests were made on Thursday under the first FIR registered at Knowledge Park Police Station on January 18. Earlier, Abhay Kumar, director of Vistown Planners Private Limited, had also been arrested in connection with the case. According to police, the builders had dug a deep pit in the plot without implementing any safety measures. The pit had...

Sonipat/UP: The controversy involving Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and the Uttar Pradesh government has taken a new turn. The dispute began during Mouni Amavasya over ritual bathing, and the Shankaracharya continues his protest at the Magh Mela in Prayagraj. Recently, Avimukteshwaranand reportedly criticized UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, likening him to Aurangzeb and questioning his stance on Sanatan Dharma. In response, without naming anyone directly, CM Yogi warned that several “Kalnemi” figures disguised as saints are attempting to weaken Sanatan Dharma. Yogi’s StatementSpeaking in Sonipat, CM Yogi said: “For a true saint, dharma comes above all. A monk’s property is not personal; dharma is his property, and the nation is his pride. Those who act against dharma...

Chandigarh: The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has approved a comprehensive plan to modernize major bus terminals across the state. This initiative aims to strengthen public transport infrastructure and provide better facilities for daily commuters. Upgrades Through Public-Private Partnership Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar stated that under this plan, the bus terminals in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Sangrur, Patiala, and Bathinda will be upgraded through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The objective is to ensure efficiency, safety, accessibility, and enhanced services. These terminals serve as vital transport hubs for both urban and rural populations, facilitating daily commuting for workers, students, business travelers, ...

Chandigarh/Mohali: Punjab Police achieved a significant breakthrough in the sensational murder case of Kabaddi promoter Rana Balachauria. In a police encounter in Kharar, a gangster named Karan, linked to the notorious Bambhiha gang, was killed. Karan had been arrested from West Bengal and brought to Punjab in connection with the high-profile case. During police custody, he complained of chest pain and was being taken to the hospital when he allegedly attempted to escape. In response, the police fired at him, hitting him in the leg. He was immediately admitted to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Background:Thirty-year-old Rana Balachauria was shot dead on 15 December 2025 during a Kabaddi tournament in Sohana, Mohali. Reports suggest the assailants approached h...

Chandigarh/New Delhi, January 15, 2026: Former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has received a major legal reprieve after a video circulated on social media alleging that she made disrespectful remarks against Sikh Gurus was declared doctored by a court in Jalandhar, Punjab. The video was shared by Delhi Government Minister Kapil Mishra, who had accused Atishi of insulting the Sikh faith. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) of Jalandhar ordered that the video be immediately removed from social media platforms including Meta (Facebook and Instagram), X, and Telegram, citing a forensic examination which confirmed that the audio and visuals had been digitally manipulated. The court instructed the platforms to take down the content within 24 hours and asked the Punjab Cyber Crime Dep...

Amritsar, January 15, 2026: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today humbly prostrated himself before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, performing ardas barefoot as a devoted Sikh. He devoted the entire day to the highest temporal seat of the Sikh community, reiterating his faith in its supreme authority and pledging to fully comply with all its directives. During his visit to the Akal Takht Secretariat, CM Mann met with Jathedar Sahib to provide a detailed explanation regarding his previous statements. He emphasized that he holds the institution’s supremacy in the highest regard and that it is inconceivable for him to challenge or undermine its authority. Addressing the media, CM Mann said, “Following the orders of Jathedar Sahib, I have personally appeared here as a humble Sikh and prov...

Gurugram, January 16, 2026: Gurugram Police have arrested a bank relationship manager for allegedly opening bank accounts for cyber fraudsters in exchange for a commission of ₹10,000 per account. The case came to light during an investigation into a fake trading app scam. The probe, which began on November 1, 2025, was initiated after a victim approached the Cyber Crime Police Station (South), claiming they were defrauded under the pretext of making profits through stock market and IPO investments via a fraudulent app. Accused IdentifiedThe arrested manager has been identified as Anup, a Delhi resident with an MBA, who had been working since 2024 as a relationship manager at RBL Bank, Sector 14, Gurugram. According to police, Anup opened multiple bank accounts at the behest of cyberc...

Faridabad, January 16, 2026: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a major raid on Thursday morning at the residence of senior Haryana Congress leader and former Cabinet Minister Chaudhary Mahendra Pratap Singh in the Sainik Colony, Faridabad, triggering political ripples across the state. The ED team, accompanied by paramilitary forces, arrived at the minister’s residence at 6 a.m. in four vehicles. All family members were asked to remain inside while officials carried out extensive scrutiny of property records, bank transactions, and other documents. Reports indicate that 15–17 officials were involved in the operation, which lasted for nearly 16 hours. News of the raid quickly drew supporters to the site. Local police were deployed to maintain order as some protesters raised s...

Hisar, January 16, 2026: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini paid a late-night visit to Shri Kameshwar Dham in Kiramara village, Hisar, to pay tribute to the late saint Muni Giri Ji Maharaj and announced a grant of ₹11 lakh for the development of the dham. During the visit, CM Saini met with local residents to inquire about their well-being. In a heartfelt gesture, the presiding saints first showered him with flowers and then with cash, expressing their respect and gratitude. CM Saini also received blessings from the gaddinashin (presiding) saints, Yugal Giri Ji Maharaj. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “The people of this region hold deep and unwavering devotion towards Shri Kameshwar Dham. The late Shri 1008 Muni Giri Ji Maharaj was a saint of the highest order, wh...