Screening of BBC documentary on PM Modi stopped at Panjab University

High drama ensued at the Student Centre (Stu-C) of Panjab University on Wednesday after the Chandigarh unit of National Students Union of India screened, for a brief time, the controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After some part of the documentary was screened, the varsity authorities stopped the NSUI members from continuing it. The NSUI had set up a portable screen at the Student Centre to display the documentary.

Woman, son end life after jumping into thermal plant lake in Bathinda

A mother and son died by drowning in a lake at Bathinda thermal plant in India on Friday after jumping in due to their family's debt. The family was running a printing press that went into losses, forcing them to take the extreme step. The 67-year-old man was saved by a passerby and was admitted to the hospital. Authorities are investigating the incident.

Navjot Sidhu meets Congress leaders in Patiala jail, plans post-release strategy

Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu will be released from Patiala Central Jail on April 1 after serving a one-year sentence for a 1988 road rage case. Sidhu's release has been confirmed by his social media team, and the Punjab police have increased their presence at his residence. Sidhu is expected to revive the Congress party in the state and across India. He will be entitled to a remission of 45 days, which will pave the way for his early release.

Gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s aide held with 5 pistols, 20 cartridges

Police in India have arrested Malkit Singh, a member of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, in possession of five pistols and 20 live cartridges. Singh was arrested in connection with a shooting in Batala city and is believed to have links to the gang's illegal weapons and drug operations. Singh has been remanded in police custody and is expected to provide further information regarding the gang's activities.

Punjab cabinet decisions: Last date for 2.25% exemption on stamp duty extended to April 30

The cabinet of the Indian state of Punjab has extended the exemption of 2.25% stamp duty and fees on property registration to April 30, from an earlier deadline of March 31. Those opting for land registration will not have to pay an additional 1% stamp duty, 1% fee and 0.25% special fee. The cabinet also approved the hiring of 2,574 ?kisan mitras? and 108 field supervisors to encourage farmers to cultivate less water-intensive crops. Additionally, the cabinet allowed formation of the Punjab Canal and Drainage Act, 2023, to ensure uninterrupted canal water for irrigation and the timely cleaning of drainage and natural water courses.

Three bike-borne youths killed in Jalandhar road accident

Three youths were killed when their motorcycle collided with a tractor-trolley on the Shahkot-Nangal Ambian road in India. The driver of the trolley left the scene, and police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against him under the Indian Penal Code. CCTV footage of the incident shows the overloaded trolley being hit from behind by the motorcycle.

Compensate farmers for crop loss due to unseasonal rain, SAD to Punjab CM

India's Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) criticised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for failing to deliver on his promise of interim compensation of INR20,000 ($268) per acre to farmers affected by natural calamities. The party also accused Mann of ignoring the damage caused to crops by heavy rainfall in the last few days, and called on the CM to fulfil the compensation promise. The party said that the final compensation, which would total INR50,000 per acre, could be released after girdawari, the assessment of crop damage.

At the mercy of weather, say farmers as fresh rain wreaks havoc to wheat crop

Further rainfall in Punjab has added to the difficulties of farmers who have already suffered damage to their near-harvest wheat crops. The previous spell of rain, high-velocity winds and hailstorms last week caused significant losses to the crop. The latest rainfall has led to submergence of the wheat crop in some areas and the Punjab Agricultural University has warned that the grain of the fallen crop will suffer losses beyond repair. The rain has also led to delays in the sowing of cotton and moong crops, which is likely to impact yields.

Fix responsibility of officials for ‘botched-up’ operation against Amritpal, says Partap Bajwa

The leader of opposition in Jalandhar, Partap Singh Bajwa, has criticised the state government and police response to the chief of Waris Punjab De, Amritpal Singh. Singh's arrest was called a "failed operation" by Bajwa, who also criticised interviews given by gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi from within a jail cell. Bajwa has accused both the state and central governments of wanting to disrupt law and order in the state, and questioned how Singh was able to escape despite heavy police deployment.

Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1 to begin operations in April: CIDCO

The Navi Mumbai Metro Rail Corridor Line No 1, which connects Belapur to Pendhar, is set to become operational this month. The first phase of the line will cover an 11.1-kilometre stretch, with 11 railway stations along the route. The project, costing INR30.64 billion ($410 million), is being funded through internal accruals and without any financial assistance. The line was originally initiated in May 2011, with work delayed, cancelled then resumed. The detailed project report for lines 2 and 3 was approved in 2019, while the report for line 4 is on hold.

SGPC stages protest against arrests of ‘innocent’ youths in Amritsar

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has led a protest march in support of the release of Sikh youths arrested during a crackdown on radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his group, Waris Punjab De. Following the march, a memorandum was given to Amritsar DC calling for the release of the youths and the revoking of the National Security Act. The SGPC also criticised the comments made by Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann about Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh. The Punjab government has informed the Akal Takht that almost all of the people taken into preventive custody have now been released.

Industrialists worried as Sambhaji Nagar becoming the epicentre of polarisation

Industrialists in Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, have expressed concern that the city is becoming an epicentre of polarisation politics after violent clashes on Wednesday night. They fear that this could affect investment and overall development of the city, and that Maharashtra could lose new investment to southern states. Sambhaji Nagar is the fourth most important industrial growth city in Maharashtra after Mumbai, Pune and Nashik, with about 4,000 MSME, large and Mega projects, an estimated turnover of ?50,000 crore, and a contribution of ?10,000 crore as GST and excise duty to the state exchequer.

20 arrested, 400 booked for rioting during Ram Navmi procession in Malad West

Twenty people have been arrested and 400 others booked for rioting, assaulting and unlawful assembly during a Ram Navami procession in Malad West on Thursday night, according to Malwani police. The FIR is registered based on a complaint lodged by constable Amol Walavalkar. The police are scanning through CCTV footages and drone recordings to identify other miscreants.

Gangster Lakdawala tells PMLA court his barrack-mate Rana Kapoor is running “office” from court premises

Gangster Ejaz Lakdawala has accused his barrack-mate, the disgraced banker Rana Kapoor, of managing frequent court dates that allow him to leave the jail premises often. Lakdawala claims Kapoor is "running his office" from the court premises and overheard Kapoor telling others in their barrack that he has bribed people to get his nearly-daily production before the special court where he meets his family, friends and other associates. Kapoor has denied the allegations, stating he only ever meets his wife, daughters and members of his legal team in court. The PMLA court is expected to pass an order on the plea at the next hearing.

BARTI students protest against non-payment of fellowships

Over 800 reserved-category students from the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI) in Pune have been protesting at Mumbai's Azad Maidan for more than a month after failing to receive a research fellowship since 2021. The students complained that the administration was restricting the number of students receiving the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar National Research Fellowship (BANRF) through BARTI, which is an autonomous organisation of social justice and special assistance department, while not placing any limit on research fellowships allocated through other schemes.

Two fake cops try to flaunt ID to real policeman, arrested

Two men have been arrested in Mumbai for allegedly posing as police officers in order to cheat others. Abdul Hamid Shaikh, 54, and Sunny Irfan Bhavekar, 42, were detained in Dadar East, where police uniforms, fake identity cards, nameplates, handcuffs and a baton were seized from them. Shaikh and Bhavekar are suspected of having accepted money from applicants for police jobs and have been charged with cheating, forgery and impersonation.