Ravinder Vasudeva

Ravinder Vasudeva is a principal correspondent who writes for the Punjab bureau of Hindustan Times.

Articles by Ravinder Vasudeva

Drug trafficking case: Have proof of Khaira’s links with accused, says officer

The SIT has concrete evidence linking Congress lawmaker Sukhpal Singh Khaira with the prime accused in the 2015 drug trafficking case, an officer from the probe team told HT on Friday

Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira was detained by Punjab Police in a drug trafficking case on Thursday. (ANI)
Updated on Sep 30, 2023 07:32 AM IST

Punjab BJP jumps to Manpreet’s defence, questions FIR’s timing

Questioning the timing of the FIR against Manpreet, state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said: “We are against any sort of corruption but chief minister Bhagwant Mann should come out with facts

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar (HT File)
Published on Sep 26, 2023 01:01 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Expelled Indian diplomat, a 1997-batch Punjab cadre IPS officer, is a hardcore professional: Colleagues

Indian diplomat Pavan Kumar Rai, a 1997-batch IPS officer of Punjab cadre, who was expelled by the Canadian government amid escalating rift between the two nations over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader earlier this year, carries an impeccable track record during his service in Punjab Police

India has rejected the allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, regarding the Indian government’s involvement in the fatal shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and a designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. (Representational photo)
Updated on Sep 20, 2023 12:56 PM IST

Punjab: Sikhs get lion’s share in BJP’s new state executive

Eyeing the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all out to woo Sikhs, particularly Jat Sikhs, accounting for 21% of vote share

Eyeing the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all out to woo Sikhs, particularly Jat Sikhs, accounting for 21% of vote share.
Published on Sep 19, 2023 01:11 AM IST

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar announces his new team, does a balancing act

Even as Jakhar has tried to strike a balance between home-grown leaders and those who recently joined the party from the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), on papers, the new BJP team is dominated by home-grown leaders coming from Hindu-dominated urban areas. In the 67-member state executive team, 22 are former Congress or SAD leaders

State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Sunil Jakhar on Sunday announced his new team of office-bearers, giving preference to leaders who originally belong to the saffron fold. (HT File)
Updated on Sep 18, 2023 01:09 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Punjab: Intelligence-based ops led to seizure of over 200kg heroin in 40 days

Punjab Police senior official said this has happened due to a change in strategy wherein the law enforcement agencies have decided to go after the big fish involved in the drug smuggling operations

Intelligence-based operations conducted by the internal security wing of Punjab Police have led to a record seizure of drugs, around 200 kg of heroin, in different operations in the past 40 days
Published on Sep 15, 2023 01:24 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

BJP fails to reach consensus on new Punjab team

In August, Jakhar had suggested his new team to the party high command after consultation with the new party affairs incharge and former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani and state organisation secretary Manthri Srinivasullu

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Punjab president Sunil Jakhar (L) with BJP National general secretary Tarun Chugh. (HT File)
Published on Sep 13, 2023 01:04 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

11.5 crore excess payment to contractor: PWD XEN among 4 engineers suspended

The action came after HT on August 31 highlighted how PWD’s internal probe had indicted officials. XEN and three junior engineers of PWD have been suspended, while four retired officials have been chargesheeted for giving undue advantage worth ₹11.5 crore to the contractor engaged by the department to construct a judicial complex in district headquarters at Nawanshahr

An executive engineer (XEN) and three junior engineers of Public Works Department (PWD) have been suspended, while four retired officials have been chargesheeted for giving undue advantage worth <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>11.5 crore to the contractor engaged by the department to construct a judicial complex in district headquarters at Nawanshahr. (Shutterstock/ Representational image)
Published on Sep 09, 2023 11:45 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

Punjab not to penalise those caught with small quantities of drugs

Punjab Police set to implement the Section 64 (A) of the NDPS Act that provides immunity from prosecution to addicts, who voluntarily seek treatment from a facility maintained or recognised by the government

Currently, addicts are charged under section 27 (punishment for consumption of any narcotic drug or any psychotropic substance). The section also states that the said immunity from prosecution may be withdrawn if the addict does not undergo the complete treatment for de-addiction. (Representational image)
Updated on Sep 05, 2023 12:59 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

11.5 cr excess payment to contractor: Probe indicts 3 XENs, 8 other Punjab PWD officials

A fresh tender worth ₹11 crore has been invited by the PWD department to complete the project as payments to the contractor were made showing the work complete

 <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>11.5 cr excess payment to contractor: Probe indicts 3 XENs, 8 other Punjab PWD officials
Updated on Aug 31, 2023 12:10 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

‘Won’t bow down to threats by governor’: Punjab CM Mann hits back

Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit has been accusing Mann of defying his authority by not responding to the letters sent to him and not furnishing details asked for by the Raj Bhavan

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann accused governor Banwarilal Purohit of “deliberately threatening” 35 million Punjabis and trying to “make fun” of people’s mandate. (PTI)
Updated on Aug 26, 2023 11:40 PM IST

Lack of consensus delays Bains brothers’ induction into BJP

The Bains brothers, who were the founders of the Lok Insaaf Party (LIP), had extended their unconditional support to the BJP during the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll, held in May this year. As per BJP insiders, it was almost certain then that the duo would join the party after the elections.

Ludhiana-based ex-MLAs Simarjeet Singh Bains and Balwinder Bains. (HT File)
Updated on Aug 26, 2023 11:08 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

Punjab CM hits back at governor, says don’t test patience of Punjabis

Day after governor Banwarilal Purohit writes to chief minister Bhagwant Mann threatening to recommend President’s rule in border state, the CM says he is deliberately threatening Punjabis who had elected the AAP with an overwhelming majority

Chief minister Bhagwant Mann addressed a press conference in Chandigarh on Saturday and hit out against governor Banwarilal Purohit for threatening to recommend President’s rule in the state. (HT file photo)
Updated on Aug 26, 2023 05:01 PM IST

Pak smugglers switch to smaller, stealthier drones to drop drugs into Punjab

Reason: Such drones can fly long distances and make comparatively less noise, thus making it harder for security agencies to detect these as compared to the large-sized drones.

In the past six months, according to officials involved in the fight against drugs, most of the drones spotted or shot down along Punjab’s 554-km long international border with Pakistan, were small-sized, which could be used to push heroin between 500 grams to 1 kg. (HT File)
Updated on Aug 18, 2023 12:09 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Lack of consensus delays BJP’s state unit rejig

As per party insiders, several rounds of talks on the selection of a new team for the state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar have already been held

Punjab BJP in charge and former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was in Chandigarh for two days, especially for selection of the new team. (HT)
Updated on Aug 12, 2023 01:03 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Punjab jails dept planning setting up of ‘dead zones’ in Amritsar, Kapurthala prisons

After encouraging results from trial runs in the Bathinda Central Jail, the Punjab prisons department is planning setting up of “dead zones” in Kapurthala and Amritsar jails

After encouraging results from trial runs in the Bathinda Central Jail, the Punjab prisons department is planning setting up of “dead zones” in Kapurthala and Amritsar jails.
Updated on Aug 10, 2023 12:39 AM IST

77-kg heroin haul: Police use ‘tower dump’ tech to zero in on drug smugglers

According to initial probe, smugglers might have crossed the International Border through the flooded Sutlej river; as per the information gathered from the police, the consignments are said to have been recovered by a counter intelligence team after the accused entered the Indian territory in Palla Megha area

The arrested accused in the police custody on Sunday. (HT photo)
Updated on Aug 06, 2023 11:55 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

30 DSPs promoted in January await postings in Punjab

According to the orders, the promoted officers have already started receiving the grade pay of the DSPs but are still working as Inspectors from the postings on which they were serving before their promotions

According to the orders, the promoted officers have already started receiving the grade pay of the DSPs but are still working as Inspectors from the postings on which they were serving before their promotions.
Updated on Jul 29, 2023 01:21 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Excessive bleeding after childbirth reason behind maternal mortality spike in Punjab: heath minister

According to Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh, Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) has emerged as the major reason behind the deaths even as the department was still thoroughly studying the reports sent by civil surgeons.

The issue came to light when Punjab witnessed a sudden spike in maternal mortality with 87 deaths reported during pregnancy, childbirth and post-childbirth in three months between April and June, sending the state health department into a tizzy with the authorities seeking reports from civil surgeons.
Updated on Jul 27, 2023 01:45 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Punjab CM: ‘Unfortunate’ governor doesn’t know if special assembly session was legal

Chief minister Bhagwant Mann says during Capt Amarinder Singh government’s tenure, the assembly was called twice without the permission of the governor as the session had not been prorogued

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann was interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an event in Chandigarh on Saturday when he criticised governor Banwarilal Purohit for saying that he believed the convening of the special assembly session was “a breach of law and procedure”. (HT file photo)
Updated on Jul 22, 2023 04:26 PM IST

Ashwani Sharma’s absence from BJP events irks party leaders

At a time when the newly appointed Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jhakar is touring all the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab, ex-state head Ashwani Sharma is conspicuous by his absence

It has been almost two weeks since Sharma, a second-time legislator from Pathankot, was unceremoniously removed as the state chief. (File Photo)
Updated on Jul 21, 2023 10:29 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

Sudden spike in maternal mortality sends Punjab health dept in a tizzy

Punjab has witnessed a sudden spike in maternal mortality with 87 deaths being reported during pregnancy, childbirth and post-childbirth in three months between April and June

The state has reported 87 deaths during pregnancy, childbirth and post-childbirth between April and June . (Representational Photo)
Updated on Jul 20, 2023 11:05 PM IST

Caste panel chief Vijay Sampla resigns amid talk of role in 2024 elections

Former Union minister and senior Punjab BJP leader Vijay Sampla stepped down as National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman on Tuesday.

HT Image
Updated on Jul 19, 2023 12:53 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Sexual misconduct charges: SC panel closes probe in Punjab minister Kataruchak’s case

The case of the allegations of sexual misconduct against Punjab minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, appears to be almost over with the complainant withdrawing his complaint from the National Commission for Scheduled Caste

The complainant has personally appeared before the NCSC on July 11 with the plea to withdraw the complaint filed against the minister after which the case has been closed. (Representational Photo)
Updated on Jul 18, 2023 10:44 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

Punjab BJP leader Vijay Sampla quits as Scheduled Caste commission chief

BJP sources say Hoshiarpur ex-MP’s resignation comes after he met party chief JP Nadda over “important role in organisation” in view of 2024 Lok Sabha campaign in Punjab

Former Union minister and senior Punjab BJP leader Vijay Sampla, who resigned as chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), is set to play a bigger role in the party as it gears up for the 2024 general election. (HT file photo)
Updated on Jul 18, 2023 07:37 PM IST

Floods damage over 600 rural roads in Punjab’s Mohali, Rupnagar and Patiala

Devastation by the incessant rains has completely paralysed the rural road infrastructure in Rupnagar, Mohali and Patiala district where nearly 600 rural roads have been damaged by the floods

The common cause of the damage is the heavy flow of water over the road washing away the berms and brick edging. (File Photo)
Updated on Jul 13, 2023 11:06 PM IST
By, Chandigarh

BJP must shed ‘junior ally tag’ in Punjab, says Jakhar

Newly appointed Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Tuesday said his party must shed the “junior ally tag” and move ahead

Newly appointed Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Tuesday said his party must shed the “junior ally tag” and move ahead.
Updated on Jul 12, 2023 12:50 AM IST

Nearly 150 rural roads, 10 bridges damaged in floods across Punjab, says PWD

The PWD assessment also added that there has not been any report of major damage to any private or government main buildings yet in the state.

A view of houses submerged in floodwater after incessant rainfall, in Rupnagar on Monday. (ANI)
Published on Jul 11, 2023 01:43 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Punjab mulls use of eco-friendly cold mix for all-weather road carpeting

With an aim to carry carpeting of roads during all seasons, public works department in Punjab is mulling to use cold mix of bitumen by replacing use of hot mix

The central government is also pushing states to start finding options to carpeting of roads using cold mix. (HT File Photo)
Updated on Jul 09, 2023 01:24 AM IST
By, Chandigarh

Will focus on expanding party’s base in rural pockets of Punjab: Sunil Jakhar

Jakhar says the first and foremost priority is to strengthen the BJP across all 117 assembly segments in Punjab

Jakhar says the first and foremost priority is to strengthen the BJP across all 117 assembly segments in Punjab.
Updated on Jul 06, 2023 01:07 AM IST
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