Surjit Singh is a correspondent. He covers politics and agriculture, besides religious affairs and Indo-Pak border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran.
Articles by Surjit Singh
7 aides of jailed MP Amritpal Singh remanded in four-day Punjab Police custody
Produced before court on Friday in connection with attack on Ajnala police station in 2023, all seven sent to police custody till March 25.
Published on Mar 21, 2025 12:47 PM IST
UK jatha starts cleaning Golden Temple’s gold plating
To maintain the sheen of gold plating of the Golden Temple, UK-based Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha has begun the ‘sewa’ of cleaning these. The sewa has entered its 25th year.
Updated on Mar 18, 2025 09:34 PM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Akal Takht-constituted committee launches SAD recruitment drive
The Akal Takht-constituted five-member panel on Tuesday launched the Shiromani Akali Dal recruitment drive after offering ardas (prayer) at the highest Sikh temporal seat in the Golden Temple complex in the presence of rebel SAD leaders.
Updated on Mar 18, 2025 08:38 PM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Akal Takht-constituted committee launches SAD recruitment drive
Five-member panel, comprising Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Iqbal Singh Jhunda, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpuri and Satwant Kaur, discusses Panthic unity with Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj.
Published on Mar 18, 2025 03:42 PM IST
Amritsar temple blast suspect killed in encounter with police
Gursidak Singh, alias Sidak, wanted for the grenade attack on the Thakur Dwara temple in Amritsar, was killed in an exchange of fire with police at Bal Sachander village near Sri Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport in the Rajasansi area on Monday. Another suspect, Vishal, managed to flee and efforts were on to arrest him, police said
Published on Mar 18, 2025 08:56 AM IST
Punjab: Amritsar temple blast suspect killed in police encounter
Gursidak Singh, wanted for Saturday’s grenade attack on Thakur Dwara temple in Amritsar, was killed in an exchange of fire with police in Rajasansi, while his accomplice, Vishal, managed to flee and efforts are on to arrest him.
Published on Mar 17, 2025 03:47 PM IST
‘Mann to complete 5 yrs’: Kejriwal trashes leadership change rumours
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday dismissed rumours about a potential change in leadership in the Punjab government
Published on Mar 17, 2025 08:48 AM IST
Grenade attack on temple in Punjab’s Amritsar, no casualty
CCTV camera footage of the incident shows two masked men came to the temple on Shershah Suri Road in Khandwala area of border city on a motorcycle.
Updated on Mar 15, 2025 01:51 PM IST
Giani Raghbir alleges ‘violation’ of maryada during installation of new jathedar
Giani Ragbir Singh criticized the hasty appointment of Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj as jathedar, citing violations of Sikh traditions and calling for protests.
Published on Mar 12, 2025 09:12 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Giani Gargaj hints at review of Dec 2 recruitment drive edict
Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj added that all concerned factions are requested to refrain from making any remarks against each other and the edicts of December 2 included a directive for panthic unity
Published on Mar 11, 2025 07:20 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
SGPC’s covert move: Takht Kesgarh Sahib jathedar takes charge in wee hours
Giani Gargaj’s hasty installation amid nihangs protest call sparks major row; Later in the day, he also assumed charge as acting jathedar of Akal Takht with several SGPC officials skipping both ceremonies
Published on Mar 11, 2025 07:16 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Drug lord wanted by FBI lands in Punjab Police net
Punjab director general of police Yadav added that Shawn is a key player in the global narcotics syndicate and was arrested by Tarn Taran police
Published on Mar 11, 2025 06:07 AM IST
Ravinder Vasudeva/ Surjit Singh, Amritsar/chandigarh
Punjab Police arrest FBI-wanted drug dealer from Tarn Taran
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav says operation to catch ‘big fish’ Shehnaz Singh, alias Shawn Bhinder, follows the arrest of four of his accomplices in the US on February 26.
Updated on Mar 10, 2025 04:30 PM IST
Amid jathedars’ removal row, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj takes charge of Takht Kesgarh Sahib
After nihangs threatened to disrupt ceremony scheduled for 10am at Anandpur Sahib, installation of the new jathedar, who has also been given the additional charge of the acting jathedar of Akal Takht, was carried out at 2.45am on Monday.
Published on Mar 10, 2025 02:47 PM IST
Decisions against Sikh institutions will trigger outrage: Giani Raghbir Singh
On March 7, the SGPC’s executive committee terminated the services of Giani Raghbir Singh as jathedar of Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat, and Giani Sultan Singh as jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib nearly four weeks after removing Giani Harpreet Singh as jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib.
Published on Mar 10, 2025 08:38 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Won’t allow installation of new jathedar of Kesgarh Sahib: Nihang organisations
The SGPC executive committee, had on March 7, removed Giani Raghbir Singh as the jathedar of Akal Takht and Giani Sultan Singh as the jathedar of Kesgarh Sahib, appointing Gargaj in their place. Baba Tek Singh Dhanaula was appointed the jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib.
Published on Mar 10, 2025 07:34 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Jathedars who were shown the door abruptly
This is not the first time that the SGPC has removed jathedars, whose positions are considered sacrosanct within the community, with many critics dubbing it as a direct attack on the supremacy and sacredness of Sikh temporal seats founded by the Gurus.
Published on Mar 09, 2025 08:26 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Young Sikh preacher Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj is acting jathedar of Akal Takht
Born in Jabbowal village of Amritsar district, Giani Gargaj has a Master of Arts in History and has passed a diploma of Sikh studies from Sikh Missionary College
Published on Mar 08, 2025 09:20 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Black day for Sikh institutions, says Giani Harpreet Singh
Sikh leaders criticize SAD and SGPC for removing jathedars, calling it a black day for Sikh institutions and damaging community trust in leadership.
Published on Mar 08, 2025 08:58 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
SGPC removes Giani Raghbir Singh as Akal Takht jathedar
Former SGPC member Baba Tek Singh Dhanuala, who was the Barnala district president of the SAD, has been appointed as jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib
Published on Mar 08, 2025 07:32 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Punjab: 23kg heroin recovered from Amritsar village, hunt on to arrest smuggler
Sahilpreet Singh, alias Karan, a resident of Devi Daspura, was in touch with US-based smuggler Jasmit Singh, alias Lucky, who arranged the consignment.
Published on Mar 05, 2025 03:15 PM IST
Akal Takht panel to kickstart SAD membership drive from March 18
After failing to get support from the Sukhbir Singh Badal faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the Akal Takht-constituted panel on Tuesday announced to start the party’s membership drive from March 18 after holding ‘ardas’ before the highest Sikh temporal seat
Published on Mar 05, 2025 08:28 AM IST
Multi-storey building coming up near Golden Temple triggers row
The building, which is being built by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), appears to be higher than Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat.
Published on Mar 04, 2025 08:44 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
SAD cooperation not a must for recruitment drive: Akal Takht jathedar to panel
While interacting with the media here, the jathedar stated that as per the December 2 decree of the Akal Takht, the SAD recruitment drive had not started yet. This implies that he has rejected the recruitment drive being conducted by the Sukhbir Singh Badal camp.
Published on Mar 02, 2025 06:20 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Bhagwanpuria gang member caught with six pistols, ammo in Amritsar
Accused Gurbaaz Singh of Tarn Taran faces eight criminal cases, including attempt to murder; weapons smuggled from Madhya Pradesh for carrying out criminal activities in Punjab.
Updated on Mar 01, 2025 02:01 PM IST
Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel rules out any change in state leadership
Punjab Congress in-charge former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel also took a jibe at AAP convener and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
Published on Mar 01, 2025 06:28 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
NHAI scraps 4 lane greenfield Amritsar connectivity project due to land acquisition issues
According to the letter dated February 26, 2025, the NHAI has terminated the contract for the four-lane greenfield expressway segment connecting Amritsar with the DAK Expressway from MDR Junction at chainage 40+900 (Dhundha village, Tarn Taran) to chainage 70+950 (near Mannawalla village, Amritsar).
Published on Feb 28, 2025 09:44 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Takht jathedar-SGPC tussle: 1999 resolution surfaces, adds new twist to row
The ongoing controversy over questioning of authority of the Akal Takht jathedar by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has intensified following the resurfacing of a 1999 resolution
Published on Feb 26, 2025 08:40 AM IST
SAD ‘unwilling’ to conduct membership drive under Takht panel: Members
The meeting came days after the committee’s convener Harjinder Singh Dhami and member Kirpal Singh Badungar resigned from their roles.
Published on Feb 24, 2025 03:54 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar
Takht jathedar hits back, flays SGPC for questioning his authority
“The SGPC office-bearers during a press conference and at the meeting at my residence told me that I should not have shared a post on Facebook. Through that post, I only shared my feelings in support of Giani Harpreet Singh. I only shared what was going on in my mind over this issue. I did not issue any directive to the SGPC,” Takht jathedar said.
Published on Feb 23, 2025 05:06 AM IST
Surjit Singh, Amritsar