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Ravinder Vasudeva

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

Articles by Ravinder Vasudeva

Soon, Punjab to notify guidelines to monitor addicts undergoing rehab

The need to provide immunity from prosecution was felt because in the past few years as large number of persons caught with small quantities, have been lodged in prisons under the NDPS Act

To date, 300 accused, caught with small quantities, have been freed under provisions of section 64 (A) of the NDPS Act . (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 11, 2024 05:30 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

KAP Sinha appointed new Punjab chief secy

Sinha, a 1992-batch IAS officer, was serving as special chief secretary, revenue, rehabilitation, disaster management and was also holding the charge of special chief secretary, agriculture and farmer’s welfare, horticulture and soil and water conservation.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab on Wednesday appointed senior IAS officer KAP Sinha as the new chief secretary, replacing Anurag Verma. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 10, 2024 05:04 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Sunil Jakhar missing in action, seniority war erupts as BJP appoints in-charges for bypoll to 4 assemblies

While the party has given preference to old timers and grassroots leaders, a section is upset over their “seniority being ignored”

With state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar distancing himself from party affairs, the list released by the party did not bear his signatures. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 05, 2024 06:58 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Sunil Jakhar skips Punjab BJP meeting, Vijay Rupani says he hasn’t resigned

BJP Punjab affairs in-charge Vijay Rupani, downplaying Sunil Jakhar’s absence, said that he couldn’t attend the state-level meeting as he had to be in Delhi for some personal work.

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 01, 2024 09:02 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Amid buzz over resignation, Jakhar meets BJP chief Nadda

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar met party president JP Nadda to seek relief from his position amid confusion over his resignation.

Bhopal

Updated on Sep 30, 2024 07:10 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

‘Miffed’ BJP Punjab chief Jakhar stays away from party functions

Party functionaries privy to the development said that Sunil Jakhar is “miffed” with the high command for meddling in Punjab affairs and also not getting the Rajya Sabha seat as “promised” at the time when he made the switch from the Congress to the saffron party.

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 28, 2024 06:46 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Punjab: IMA denies to resume treatment under central scheme

IMA Punjab president Dr Sunil Katyal has said that the suspension of work under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme will continue until the pending payments are cleared

he state has blamed the Centre for delay in paying <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>225 crore in the form of its share for the scheme. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 26, 2024 06:52 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva

HT Explainer: What’s ailing Ayushman Bharat scheme in Punjab

Punjab private hospitals halt treatment under Ayushman Bharat scheme, citing unpaid dues of ₹600 crore, amidst ongoing controversies since 2019.

A crowd at the civil hospital in Ludhiana on Wednesday. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 25, 2024 08:54 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva

Punjab mulls implementing Act to regulate pvt hospitals

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government is mulling the implementation of the Punjab Clinical Establishments Act-2020 in the state to regulate the functioning of private hospitals.

Chandigarh

Published on Sep 21, 2024 10:17 PM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Drones dropping arms, drugs on rise in Punjab

State has witnessed 388 sightings of drones, of which BSF shot down 150, in past eight months that shows unabated smuggling by unmanned aerial vehicles to strike terror in border state.

According to the police, Pakistan’s ISI and terror operatives are using drones to push in arms, ammunition and heroin at specific locations from where the consignment is transported using their local network. (Picture only for representational purpose)

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 19, 2024 05:04 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Chandigarh blast: Second accused arrested from Delhi

The accused has been identified as Vishal and he was arrested from Delhi by a team of State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, in coordination with central agencies, a senior police official, who did not wish to be named, added.

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 15, 2024 06:46 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Chandigarh blast case: Main accused arrested in Amritsar

9mm Glock pistol along with ammunition recovered from him, while second accused also identified, says Punjab DGP

Chandigarh

Published on Sep 13, 2024 12:50 PM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva

BJP’s membership drive gets tepid response in Punjab

The ongoing membership drive of the Bharatiya Janata Party has received a tepid response in Punjab with the party able to enrol only 1.3 lakh members to date.

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 13, 2024 05:36 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Punjab anti-drug task force gets more teeth, new name

Bhagwant Mann says Anti-Narcotics Task Force will be equipped with additional manpower, resources and technology to combat drug menace

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann inaugurates the new office of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) at Sector 79 at Mohali in Punjab (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 29, 2024 09:00 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

PM’s review by month-end, Punjab puts land acquisition on fast lane

Nearly 17 kilometres of land for the project was acquired in the past week in Punjab, with more than 25km acquired this month.

Work on Greenfield Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Highway Project stalled near Dakha in Ludhiana on August 13. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 28, 2024 07:04 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Nabha jailbreak mastermind extradited from Hong Kong

5-member Punjab Police team brings back Ramanjit Singh, alias Romy, to Delhi, will be produced in Nabha court

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 23, 2024 08:20 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Punjab: Nabha jailbreak mastermind Romy extradited from Hong Kong

Punjab Police team, comprising AIG CID, Patiala, Harvinder Virk and Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) DSP Bikram Brar, brings back 2016 jailbreak accused Ramanjit Singh, alias Romy, to Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi on Thursday evening.

A team of Punjab Police, comprising assistant inspector general (AIG), crime investigation department (CID), Patiala, Harvinder Virk and Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) DSP Bikram Brar, brought gangster Ramanjit Singh Romy (centre) back to Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, from Hong Kong on Thursday evening. (X)

Chandigarh

Published on Aug 22, 2024 04:51 PM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva

Rajya Sabha bypoll: BJP fields Ravneet Bittu from Rajasthan

BJP has nominated Ravneet Singh Bittu for the Rajya Sabha bypoll from Rajasthan, set for September 3. Bittu, a former Congress leader, is currently Union minister of state.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 21, 2024 08:44 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva

PIT-NDPS Act: Proposals awaiting nod, Punjab Police mull approaching MHA

Last week, NCB managed to detain three smugglers after getting sanctions from the Union home ministry

Punjab Police plans to take preventive custody of repeat drug smugglers. (HT file)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 19, 2024 10:52 PM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

2 more smugglers detained under PIT-NDPS Act, sent to Assam jail

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday detained two drug smugglers Akshay Chhabra and Jaspal Singh, alias Goldy, under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act and sent them to Dibrugarh Jail in Assam.

Chandigarh

Published on Aug 17, 2024 10:52 PM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Land acquisition hurdles puts brakes on NHAI projects in Punjab

Apart from the law and order situation, the land acquisition problems in Punjab are the major reason for the stalling of the National Highway projects, especially the Delhi-Katra Expressway projects.

Work on Greenfield Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Highway Project under the Bharatmala Project stalled near Dakha in Ludhiana on Tuesday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 14, 2024 08:40 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Drug smuggler Billa Havellian detained under PIT-NDPS Act, sent to Assam jail

Invoking the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act for the first time in Punjab, the police, in a joint operation with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), took notorious drug smuggler Balwinder Singh, alias Billa Sarpanch, alias Billa Havellian, into preventive custody and sent him to Dibrugarh Jail, Assam.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 14, 2024 06:14 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

8 PWD officials, contractor booked for ‘misappropriation’ of ₹11.5 crore

Eight officials of the public works department (PWD) have been booked for allegedly making excess payments to the tune of ₹11.5 crore to a contractor for the construction of the judicial complex in SBS Nagar. The contractor — Ms Tung Builders — has also been booked.

Eight officials of the public works department (PWD) have been booked for allegedly making excess payments to the tune of <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>11.5 crore to a contractor for the construction of the judicial complex in SBS Nagar. The contractor — Ms Tung Builders — has also been booked. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 12, 2024 06:24 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Gadkari urges Punjab CM to take action on threats to NHAI contractors

Minister says if the situation does not improve, NHAI will have no other option but to cancel/terminate eight other severely affected projects spanning 293 km and costing ₹14,288 crore

Chandigarh

Published on Aug 10, 2024 02:00 PM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Punjab Police nabs kingpin of international drug smuggling case

Punjab Police said the accused, Simranjot Sandhu, used his international links to play a major role in smuggling drugs into India and other European countries

The accused is a native of Amritsar. (File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 10, 2024 12:21 PM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Drug inspector under scanner for links with smugglers deposited ₹2 cr in parents’ accounts: STF probe

STF probe has further released that the accused had deposited a similar amount in the accounts of his in-laws and teenage daughter

The house of accused drug inspector’s parents in Maur Mandi in Bathinda. (HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 10, 2024 06:42 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Nihangs caught on wrong side of law

Hacking of a shopkeeper to death allegedly by nihangs on Tuesday at Patti town of Tarn Taran district over a monitory dispute is not an isolated incident. There has been a disturbing rise in such incidents in the past few years where they have taken law into their hands and killed at least five persons and injured many in the name of “on-the-spot justice”

On July 5, Sandeep Thapar, 58, a self-styled chief of the Shiv Sena in Punjab was attacked with swords by four assailants in nihang attire outside the Ludhiana Civil Hospital. The incident was caught on camera where the nihangs took away a two-wheeler of the Shiv Sena leader. Police investigation reveal that the attackers brutally attacked the Shiv Sena leader as he was openly speaking against pro-Khalistan supporters, especially newly elected MP from Khadoor Sahib Amritpal Singh. The lone gunman allotted to Thapar did not try to stop the assailants or fight back to defend him.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 02, 2024 06:36 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva

BJP rejig: After Rajasthan & Bihar, all eyes on Punjab

A Congress veteran and former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Sunil Jakhar, joined the BJP in 2022 and was appointed state chief on July 4, 2023.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 01, 2024 08:10 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

84% posts vacant, Punjab govt plans ₹80K monthly incentive for super-specialists

The idea aims to increase the retention rate by making the salary competitive with what they get in the private sector. According to a senior health official, the monthly salary of a super-specialist in a private hospital ranges between ₹2.5 lakh and ₹3.5 lakh whereas they hardly get ₹1.20 lakh per month in the government institutions.

Not able to attract super-specialists due to low pay and perks, the Punjab medical education and research department has planned to introduce a special incentive of <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>80,000 per month. The proposal has been sent to the finance department for approval. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/ Representational image)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 01, 2024 05:00 AM IST

ByRavinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Loan repayment, no RDF a double whammy for cash-strapped Punjab mandi board

The board, which oversees the expenditure of RDF, hasn’t received funds from Centre since 2021 and is also repaying loans raised by previous Congress govt

The Centre stopped the release of funds in 2021 asking the state to amend seeking specific provisions regarding the use of accruals

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 26, 2024 08:36 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Ravinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

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Ravinder Vasudeva

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

The need to provide immunity from prosecution was felt because in the past few years as large number of persons caught with small quantities, have been lodged in prisons under the NDPS Act

Sinha, a 1992-batch IAS officer, was serving as special chief secretary, revenue, rehabilitation, disaster management and was also holding the charge of special chief secretary, agriculture and farmer’s welfare, horticulture and soil and water conservation.

While the party has given preference to old timers and grassroots leaders, a section is upset over their “seniority being ignored”

BJP Punjab affairs in-charge Vijay Rupani, downplaying Sunil Jakhar’s absence, said that he couldn’t attend the state-level meeting as he had to be in Delhi for some personal work.

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar met party president JP Nadda to seek relief from his position amid confusion over his resignation.

Party functionaries privy to the development said that Sunil Jakhar is “miffed” with the high command for meddling in Punjab affairs and also not getting the Rajya Sabha seat as “promised” at the time when he made the switch from the Congress to the saffron party.

IMA Punjab president Dr Sunil Katyal has said that the suspension of work under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme will continue until the pending payments are cleared

Punjab private hospitals halt treatment under Ayushman Bharat scheme, citing unpaid dues of ₹600 crore, amidst ongoing controversies since 2019.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government is mulling the implementation of the Punjab Clinical Establishments Act-2020 in the state to regulate the functioning of private hospitals.

State has witnessed 388 sightings of drones, of which BSF shot down 150, in past eight months that shows unabated smuggling by unmanned aerial vehicles to strike terror in border state.

The accused has been identified as Vishal and he was arrested from Delhi by a team of State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, in coordination with central agencies, a senior police official, who did not wish to be named, added.

9mm Glock pistol along with ammunition recovered from him, while second accused also identified, says Punjab DGP

The ongoing membership drive of the Bharatiya Janata Party has received a tepid response in Punjab with the party able to enrol only 1.3 lakh members to date.

Bhagwant Mann says Anti-Narcotics Task Force will be equipped with additional manpower, resources and technology to combat drug menace

Nearly 17 kilometres of land for the project was acquired in the past week in Punjab, with more than 25km acquired this month.

5-member Punjab Police team brings back Ramanjit Singh, alias Romy, to Delhi, will be produced in Nabha court

Punjab Police team, comprising AIG CID, Patiala, Harvinder Virk and Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) DSP Bikram Brar, brings back 2016 jailbreak accused Ramanjit Singh, alias Romy, to Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi on Thursday evening.

BJP has nominated Ravneet Singh Bittu for the Rajya Sabha bypoll from Rajasthan, set for September 3. Bittu, a former Congress leader, is currently Union minister of state.

Last week, NCB managed to detain three smugglers after getting sanctions from the Union home ministry

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday detained two drug smugglers Akshay Chhabra and Jaspal Singh, alias Goldy, under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act and sent them to Dibrugarh Jail in Assam.

Apart from the law and order situation, the land acquisition problems in Punjab are the major reason for the stalling of the National Highway projects, especially the Delhi-Katra Expressway projects.

Eight officials of the public works department (PWD) have been booked for allegedly making excess payments to the tune of ₹11.5 crore to a contractor for the construction of the judicial complex in SBS Nagar. The contractor — Ms Tung Builders — has also been booked.

Minister says if the situation does not improve, NHAI will have no other option but to cancel/terminate eight other severely affected projects spanning 293 km and costing ₹14,288 crore

Punjab Police said the accused, Simranjot Sandhu, used his international links to play a major role in smuggling drugs into India and other European countries

STF probe has further released that the accused had deposited a similar amount in the accounts of his in-laws and teenage daughter

A Congress veteran and former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Sunil Jakhar, joined the BJP in 2022 and was appointed state chief on July 4, 2023.

The board, which oversees the expenditure of RDF, hasn’t received funds from Centre since 2021 and is also repaying loans raised by previous Congress govt

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