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Navrajdeep Singh

Navrajdeep Singh is a senior staff correspondent. He covers agriculture, crime, local bodies, health and education in the Patiala district of Punjab.

Articles by Navrajdeep Singh

AAP’s Vaneet Dhir elected as 7th Jalandhar mayor

Balbir Singh Bittu Dhillon was named senior deputy mayor, while Malkeet Singh has been appointed as deputy mayor.

AAP councillor Vaneet Dhir with state chief Aman Arora shows victory signs after getting elected as mayor of Jalandhar municipal corporation on Saturday. (ANI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 12, 2025 06:00 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Congress comfortably placed in Phagwara with support of 3 BSP councillors, 4 Independents

To secure the posts of the mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, a party needs at least 26 votes in the 50-member House, where the Phagwara MLA also has a vote as the ex-officio member, effectively taking the number of voting members to 51.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has won only 12 seats, has not given up hope. As per reports, the AAP leadership is holding meetings with councillors of rival parties with the hope of touching the magical figure. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 11, 2025 09:56 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Phagwara

Jalandhar to get AAP mayor today

The AAP gained the support of two councillors each of Congress, BJP along with two independents to breach the 45-mark needed for majority in the 85-member House with four legislators namely Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh, Jalandhar North MLA Avtar Singh Bawa Henry, Jalandhar West MLA Mohinder Bhagat and Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora having voting rights.

With 38 councillors, AAP emerged as the single largest party in the Jalandhar municipal corporation elections held last month, with the Congress winning 25 and BJP securing victory in 19. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 11, 2025 09:54 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

SAD leaders issuing ‘distorted’ statements on meeting with Akal Takht jathedar, claims rebel group

The Akali rebel group, led by Gurpartap Singh Wadala, said they have been informed that there had been no discussion on making alterations in the ‘Hukamnama’ issued by the Akal Takht jathedar, and the SAD leaders were making baseless statements about it in public after their meeting with Giani Raghbir Singh.

SAD leaders had met Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh in Amritsar on Wednesday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 10, 2025 07:30 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Interview| Upgrade to make education job-friendly: AAP MP and LPU chancellor Ashok Mittal

Says it’s a misconception that private universities charge hefty fee; calls for setting up state-of-the-art multidisciplinary academic institutions in Punjab.

Ashok Mittal, 60, an Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member from Punjab and founder-chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU), spoke on key issues and challenges in the higher educational system. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 07, 2025 03:16 PM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh

Passengers bear brunt as bus services hit in Punjab’s Doaba

In response to strike call, 90% fleets of state transport undertakings PRTC, Punjab Roadways and Punbus off road with only 10% being operated by regular employees.

A crowded bus stand due to the strike called by contractual employees of state transport undertakings (STUs) Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), Punjab Roadways and Punbus on Monday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Jan 06, 2025 01:11 PM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh

Two youngsters shot dead by accomplice in Jalandhar, accused on the run

All three were wanted in attempt to murder case registered last month; they had an argument before accused pulled the trigger on the other two while they were asleep.

Police at the house where the double murder was carried out near Lamba Pind Chowk in Jalandhar on Saturday. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 04, 2025 03:37 PM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh

Farmers’ bandh throws life out of gear in Punjab; rail, bus services suspended

Call for shutdown from 7am to 4pm given by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha over the Centre not acting on the farmers’ demand for a legal guarantee for MSP.

Farmers blocking the Golden Gate entrance on the highway to Amritsar on Monday morning. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Dec 30, 2024 11:57 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh

Punjab: Duped by travel agents, 6 youths from Doaba stuck in Armenian jail

The families of the youths claim they were unaware of the proper channels to approach to get their wards home, and that the travel agents are now demanding more money to arrange legal aid

Duped by travel agents, six Punjabi youths from Doaba region have been languishing in an Armenian jail for the last two months. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 30, 2024 06:58 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

MC polls: With 4 Oppn, 2 independent councillors’ support, AAP gains majority in Jalandhar

2 Congress, 2 independents and 2 councillors from BJP have extended support to AAP taking its tally to 44 in the 85-member corporation

The Congress won 25 wards, while 19 seats went into the kitty of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jalandhar. Two seats were won by independent candidates, while Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) remained victorious on one seat. (PTI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 24, 2024 08:56 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

AAP single-largest party in Jalandhar, Cong in Phagwara

Among the prominent candidates who tasted victories in Jalandhar was senior Congress leader Salil Bahri’s wife Rajni Bahri, defeated AAP’s Palak Walia from ward number 71

Officials said the elections to Jalandhar and Phagwara municipal corporations were peaceful and not even a single case of violence or booth capturing was reported (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 22, 2024 07:36 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Issues at play in MC polls: Heaps of trash, clogged sewerage residents’ main concern in Phagwara

Dubbed as a key NRI belt, the list of public issues has piled up in these years due to the lackadaisical approach of the respective state governments.

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 21, 2024 08:30 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Phagwara

Jalandhar issues at play in MC polls: Eight years on, none of Smart City projects saw light of day

Waterlogging during monsoon, lack of robust transport system, encroachments, faulty traffic lights, lack of parking areas common sight

Jalandhar’s Burlton park was to be turned into a stadium under the sports hub project. (HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 18, 2024 08:46 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Punjab municipal polls: AAP launches campaign for Jalandhar, Phagwara, comes up with 5-point agendas

After meeting Dera Beas head Gurinder Singh Dhillon, AAP’s state president Aman Arora and state vice-president Amansher Singh Sharry Kalsi held meetings with the local leadership of Jalandhar and Phagwara, before making formal announcement of the party manifesto.

AAP state president Aman Arora at the launch of party campaign in Jalandhar on Saturday. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 15, 2024 06:58 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

‘Jan Andolan’ need of the hour in war against drug menace: Guv

Kataria said he had recently visited five border districts in Punjab to understand the issues and plights of the people dealing with the prevalence of drug abuse.

(From left) Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria, marathon runner Fauja Singh with organiser and social activist Khushwant Singh during a walk against drugs in Jalandhar on Tuesday. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 11, 2024 08:22 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

5-fold rise in FIRs as Punjab takes a tough stance against farm fires

The tough stance seemed to have paid off as the state recorded a 70% drop in farm fire cases this year. Against 36,663 cases between September 15 and November 30 last year, 10,909 cases were reported this year

The government also fixed responsibility on nodal officers and supervisors, issuing show-cause notices to 1,384 such employees for “dereliction of duty”. (PTI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 03, 2024 05:10 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Punjab: After bypoll drubbing, BJP gears up for upcoming civic body elections

After losing the byelection in all four assembly segments, the Bharatiya Janata Party has now started gearing up for contesting the civic body polls to be held by December-end in Punjab.

A high-level meeting, chaired by party’s national general secretary Tarun Chugh and Punjab affairs in-charge and former chief minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani, was held in Jalandhar to chalk out strategy for the elections, besides directing leadership and workers to resume party’s membership drive. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 26, 2024 07:44 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Two of Landa gang arrested after shootout in Punjab’s Jalandhar

Two gangsters and two policemen suffered bullet injuries in encounter; seven weapons, six magazines and six cartridges recovered after operation in which over 50 shots were fired.

One of the two injured gangsters following a shootout with the police on the outskirts of Pholriwal village in Jalandhar on Friday. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Nov 22, 2024 02:42 PM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh

After Nov 18 uptick, police registers 297 FIRs

Authorities have made 265 red entries in land records and imposed a fine of over ₹14 lakh after the state recorded 1,251 cases, the highest single-day spike this season

Commuters ride along a street engulfed in smog in Amritsar on Thursday. (Sameer Sehgal/Hindustan Times)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 22, 2024 09:00 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

At 1,251, Punjab logs highest single-day spike in farm fires

Fresh cases were reported from 19 of the 23 districts of the state, the data showed. Last year, the state reported 637 farm fire cases on November 18, while the figure was 701 in 2022.

Smoke rises from the burning stubble on a field amid the ongoing air pollution at Mansa in Punjab. (REUTERS)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 19, 2024 05:24 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh

Air quality takes a hit as farm fires rage in Punjab

In this kharif season, Sangrur tops the chart with a maximum of 1,507 cases of stubble burning, which is 20% of the total 7,864 cases reported in the state to date.Last year too, Sangrur reported the highest 5,613 cases in the state.

Sangrur district continued to top the charts, reporting 50% of the total farm fire cases reported in the state on Friday. Of the total 238 crop residue burning cases on Friday, Sangrur reported 119 cases. (ANI File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 16, 2024 05:32 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Punjab: Despite dip in farm fires, air quality poorer than last year

Rain in second week of November last year had improved air quality, says an official of the Punjab Pollution Control Board. The Air Quality Index continues to getting worse as Amritsar on Thursday recorded a pollution level of 326, which falls in the ‘very poor’ bracket.

Punjab reported only five cases of stubble burning on Thursday, taking the tally to 7,626. (Picture only for representational purpose)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 15, 2024 08:56 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Farm fires, dip in temperature worsen AQI in Punjab

Punjab's pollution worsens, with Amritsar's AQI at 334. Stubble burning spikes to 509 cases as farmers prepare for wheat sowing amid smog.

A thick smog engulfs the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 14, 2024 05:02 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Punjab turns heat on nodal officers as farm fires rage

Show-cause notices issued to 1,255 nodal officers, around 8,000 employees of various departments were deployed across the state to report fire incidents in real-time, visit the spots and put out the blaze.

Palwal: A farmer burns stubble near Palwal, Haryana, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore)(PTI11_08_2024_000277B) (PTI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 13, 2024 09:28 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Amid farm fires, smog envelops state

Mandi Gobindgarh remained most polluted with an Air Quality Index (AQI) level of 264. The AQI in Jalandhar was 207, followed by Ludhiana (204), all in poor bracket. The AQI was 199 in Patiala, 198 in Rupnagar, 192 in Amritsar, 178 in Khanna and 165 in Bathinda, all in moderate category. On Sunday, Amritsar (253) and Patiala (206) too were in poor category.

A road engulfed by smog in Amritsar on Monday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 12, 2024 05:10 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Eight hotspot districts account for 62% of total farm fire cases in Punjab

Three other districts Amritsar (643), Patiala (476) and Kapurthala (286), have also reported a spurt in crop residue burning cases this season

Last year, these districts recorded 23,410 cases of stubble burning, which was 64% of the total 36,663 cases reported last Kharif season from September 15 to November 30. (ANI Photo) (ANI File)

Chandigarh

Published on Nov 10, 2024 10:46 PM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Punjab: 3 killed in clash between two groups in Hoshiarpur village

Three youths were killed two others were injured in a clash between two groups at Moranwali village in Hoshiarpur on Saturday, said police

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 10, 2024 06:06 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh

Punjab records highest single-day spike with 730 stubble burning cases

Sangrur reported the highest 163 cases followed by Ferozepur 121, Bathinda 80, Muktsar 64 and Mansa 62. On the corresponding date last year, the state had recorded 2,003 farm fire incidents.

A day after the Union government doubled the fines issued against farmers for burning stubble up to <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>30,000 depending on the size of their farmlands, Punjab recorded the highest single-day spike of 730 cases on Friday taking the state’s total farm fire count to 6,029. (PTI File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 09, 2024 07:36 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

Attack on Hindu temple in Brampton: Canadian NRIs worried, want issues to be resolved amicably

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) on Monday condemned the attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton by alleged Khalistani extremists and demanded a thorough investigation to take punitive action against those who want to disturb communal harmony in the foreign land

Other Cities

Updated on Nov 05, 2024 08:56 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh

Amritsar sees worst air quality in state post Diwali

On October 30, a day before the Diwali festival, the air quality in these areas remained in ‘moderate’ category with Amritsar reporting AQI of 186, followed by 153 in Mandi Gobindgarh, 149 in Patiala, 132 in Ludhiana, 127 in Bathinda, 123 in Jalandhar and 111 in Khanna.

A day after Diwali, Amritsar remaining at the top of the pollution chart with an AQI level of 335. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 02, 2024 08:12 AM IST

ByNavrajdeep Singh, Jalandhar

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Navrajdeep Singh

Navrajdeep Singh is a senior staff correspondent. He covers agriculture, crime, local bodies, health and education in the Patiala district of Punjab.

Balbir Singh Bittu Dhillon was named senior deputy mayor, while Malkeet Singh has been appointed as deputy mayor.

To secure the posts of the mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, a party needs at least 26 votes in the 50-member House, where the Phagwara MLA also has a vote as the ex-officio member, effectively taking the number of voting members to 51.

Says it’s a misconception that private universities charge hefty fee; calls for setting up state-of-the-art multidisciplinary academic institutions in Punjab.

In response to strike call, 90% fleets of state transport undertakings PRTC, Punjab Roadways and Punbus off road with only 10% being operated by regular employees.

All three were wanted in attempt to murder case registered last month; they had an argument before accused pulled the trigger on the other two while they were asleep.

Call for shutdown from 7am to 4pm given by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha over the Centre not acting on the farmers’ demand for a legal guarantee for MSP.

The families of the youths claim they were unaware of the proper channels to approach to get their wards home, and that the travel agents are now demanding more money to arrange legal aid

2 Congress, 2 independents and 2 councillors from BJP have extended support to AAP taking its tally to 44 in the 85-member corporation

Among the prominent candidates who tasted victories in Jalandhar was senior Congress leader Salil Bahri’s wife Rajni Bahri, defeated AAP’s Palak Walia from ward number 71

Dubbed as a key NRI belt, the list of public issues has piled up in these years due to the lackadaisical approach of the respective state governments.

Waterlogging during monsoon, lack of robust transport system, encroachments, faulty traffic lights, lack of parking areas common sight

After meeting Dera Beas head Gurinder Singh Dhillon, AAP’s state president Aman Arora and state vice-president Amansher Singh Sharry Kalsi held meetings with the local leadership of Jalandhar and Phagwara, before making formal announcement of the party manifesto.

Kataria said he had recently visited five border districts in Punjab to understand the issues and plights of the people dealing with the prevalence of drug abuse.

The tough stance seemed to have paid off as the state recorded a 70% drop in farm fire cases this year. Against 36,663 cases between September 15 and November 30 last year, 10,909 cases were reported this year

After losing the byelection in all four assembly segments, the Bharatiya Janata Party has now started gearing up for contesting the civic body polls to be held by December-end in Punjab.

Two gangsters and two policemen suffered bullet injuries in encounter; seven weapons, six magazines and six cartridges recovered after operation in which over 50 shots were fired.

Authorities have made 265 red entries in land records and imposed a fine of over ₹14 lakh after the state recorded 1,251 cases, the highest single-day spike this season

Fresh cases were reported from 19 of the 23 districts of the state, the data showed. Last year, the state reported 637 farm fire cases on November 18, while the figure was 701 in 2022.

In this kharif season, Sangrur tops the chart with a maximum of 1,507 cases of stubble burning, which is 20% of the total 7,864 cases reported in the state to date.Last year too, Sangrur reported the highest 5,613 cases in the state.

Rain in second week of November last year had improved air quality, says an official of the Punjab Pollution Control Board. The Air Quality Index continues to getting worse as Amritsar on Thursday recorded a pollution level of 326, which falls in the ‘very poor’ bracket.

Punjab's pollution worsens, with Amritsar's AQI at 334. Stubble burning spikes to 509 cases as farmers prepare for wheat sowing amid smog.

Show-cause notices issued to 1,255 nodal officers, around 8,000 employees of various departments were deployed across the state to report fire incidents in real-time, visit the spots and put out the blaze.

Three other districts Amritsar (643), Patiala (476) and Kapurthala (286), have also reported a spurt in crop residue burning cases this season

Three youths were killed two others were injured in a clash between two groups at Moranwali village in Hoshiarpur on Saturday, said police

Sangrur reported the highest 163 cases followed by Ferozepur 121, Bathinda 80, Muktsar 64 and Mansa 62. On the corresponding date last year, the state had recorded 2,003 farm fire incidents.

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) on Monday condemned the attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton by alleged Khalistani extremists and demanded a thorough investigation to take punitive action against those who want to disturb communal harmony in the foreign land

On October 30, a day before the Diwali festival, the air quality in these areas remained in ‘moderate’ category with Amritsar reporting AQI of 186, followed by 153 in Mandi Gobindgarh, 149 in Patiala, 132 in Ludhiana, 127 in Bathinda, 123 in Jalandhar and 111 in Khanna.

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