The ‘Rail Roko’ protest launched by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha across Punjab on Thursday significantly disrupted rail services. Farmers blocked railway tracks at several locations over their various demands. At Devidaspura near Jandiala Guru in Amritsar, farmers staged a protest on the railway tracks, affecting the Amritsar-Delhi rail route. Several trains were diverted, while some services were cancelled. The protest was held at five locations in Punjab-Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Moga, Ferozepur and Sangrur. The farmers’ organisations are demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (M

Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is serving a death sentence in connection with the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Patiala Central Jail, urging the government to make a decision on his long-pending mercy petition. In the letter, Rajoana said that no final decision has been taken on his mercy petition for the past 15 years. He said he has been in prison for 31 years and has been waiting for a final decision regarding his death sentence for a long time. Rajoana stated that he had never concealed his actions before th

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has expelled former MLA Ravinder Singh Brahmpura from the party, citing alleged anti-party activities. Brahmpura, the son of late senior SAD leader Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, represents the Khadoor Sahib constituency and has reportedly been facing allegations of working against the party for some time. According to the party, written complaints were received from SAD workers in Khadoor Sahib. Local leaders also raised concerns about Brahmpura’s alleged activities against the party during the Punjab Bachao Rally held at Goindwal Sahib on Se

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal did not appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the 2015 Behbal Kalan firing case, despite being summoned to appear before the investigating team. However, Badal’s representatives, Parmbans Singh Romana and advocate Arshdeep Singh Kaler, met SIT officials at around 11 a.m. on Friday. In a written request, Badal cited health issues as the reason for not appearing before the SIT. He said he needed to visit a doctor for a medical check-up and was therefore unable to attend. Badal also referred to his busy schedule of public ra

An IndiGo flight from Lucknow to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, made an emergency landing at Ahmedabad airport on Thursday evening after receiving a bomb threat. Police said IndiGo flight 6E97 landed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at around 5:45 p.m. local time. All 107 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated, and no suspicious object was found on board. According to an airport police inspector, a crew member found a piece of paper with the word “bomb” written on it, prompting the emergency response.

Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has demanded a CBI probe into the alleged suicide of labourer Gulzar Singh in Sangrur district. He also sought the resignation and arrest of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. Leading a delegation of Congress leaders, Channi met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of failing to maintain law and order in the state. Channi alleged that Gulzar Singh had raised his voice over his son’s drug addiction and was subsequently harassed and threatened by local AAP-linked office-bearers. He further c

A Chandigarh civil court has temporarily restrained retired Justice Ranjit Singh, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia and Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira from publishing, circulating or disseminating any allegedly baseless or defamatory material on social media platforms or through any other medium concerning allegations that Punjab Chief Minister’s wife Gurpreet Kaur had demanded a bribe. Civil Judge (Junior Division) Dr. Parikshit passed the interim order on a suit filed by Gurpreet Kaur seeking damages and an injunction. The court has issued notices to the respondents re

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has once again summoned Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal in connection with the Behbal Kalan firing case. Badal has been asked to appear before the SIT in Chandigarh on September 11 for questioning. Badal had previously appeared before the SIT on July 20. The latest summons comes as the investigation into the 2015 firing incident continues. The Behbal Kalan firing took place in October 2015, when police opened fire on protesters in Behbal Kalan, Faridkot district. The protesters were demonstrating against incidents of sacrilege involving th

Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia have been served legal notices by Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In the notice, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur alleged that Khaira had published and circulated allegedly false, defamatory and objectionable content, including graphic posters and videos related to her, across social media platforms. Khaira has been given 24 hours to remove and withdraw the alleged content from his social media accounts. The notice also demands that he refrain from creating or circulating similar material i