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Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Lawrence Bishnoi interview: HC asks SIT to probe role of seniors
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday issued a set of directions aimed at tackling rising crime and addressing infrastructure gaps in Punjab's jails. Hearing a public interest litigation, the bench of Justices Anupinder Singh Grewal and Deepak Manchanda called for better use of video conferencing for high-risk prisoners and ordered an ongoing investigation to examine the alleged role of senior officers in a controversial interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi that appeared to glorify crime. The court noted that the Prison Inmate Calling System had been significantly upgraded, with the number of calling facilities increasing from 357 to 800. 'Inmates are allowed 10-minute calls. This facility is adequate but under-utilised in several jails,' the court observed. However, it raised concern over the poor use of video conferencing systems, particularly for the production of high-risk inmates before trial courts. Citing a submission by Punjab's Principal Secretary (Jails), Bhawna Garg, the court noted that while 159 video conferencing setups are available across jails, they are not being used adequately. The bench directed trial courts across Punjab to make maximum use of this facility, observing that it not only reduces the need for police deployment but also cuts down significantly on public expenditure. The court also flagged a rise in cases of extortion, threats, ransom demands, and targeted killings, especially after an interview that 'glorified crime and had garnered millions of views.' On August 7, 2024, the court had directed the Punjab DGP to submit data on such crimes between March and December 2023. The affidavit filed then showed an uptick in criminal activity following the broadcast. Now noting a 'further increase in crime in the recent past,' the court directed the DGP to file a fresh affidavit covering the period from January 1, 2024, to July 15, 2025, along with details of preventive steps taken. The affidavit is also to mention compliance with directions issued earlier. The bench also reviewed the ongoing probe being conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by retired IPS officer Prabodh Kumar. It inducted Dhruv Dahiya, IPS, AIG (Counter Intelligence), as a new member of the SIT and reiterated that the team must examine the role of senior officers in enabling the controversial interview of Lawrence Bishnoi. 'It is difficult to believe that the interview could have taken place without the involvement of senior officers, especially when the location of the interview was established only after this Court's intervention,' the bench remarked. The SIT has been directed to submit a status report within one month. Amicus Curiae Tanu Bedi raised concerns over poor infrastructure for the SIT, pointing out that weak Wi-Fi at the SIT head's office was disrupting video proceedings. The Advocate General for Punjab assured the court that necessary infrastructure would be provided immediately. The court was also informed that recruitment for 500 posts of Assistant Superintendents and Wardens has been initiated through the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board, while recruitment for Deputy Superintendent (Jail) is underway via the Punjab Public Service Commission. Additional personnel are also being engaged from PESCO and Punjab Police (868 to 189 officers) and CRPF (180 to 280 personnel), with the process expected to be completed by next month. The matter is listed for further hearing on August 18, with the State directed to file an updated status report by then.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
2 held in Punjab, 1 in Haryana on charges of 'spying' for Pakistan
Three people - two from Punjab and one from Haryana - were arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan on Monday. Haryana police's Mewat unit arrested Mohammad Tareef of Kangarka village, and said he "confessed" to sharing sensitive information about military and other agencies with two Pak high commission officials. Police alleged that he got cash and other facilities in exchange for the information. Tareef is the fifth person from Haryana to be held for spying in recent times, and the second from Nuh. The Punjab DGP posted on X that Sukhpreet and Karanbir were apprehended after credible inputs on May 15 revealed that the two were allegedly engaged in sharing classified details related to Op Sindoor, including troop movements and key strategic locationswith ISI. , 18 Nuh resident held for spying for Pak, sharing Sirsa airbase details by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo A resident of Nuh was arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive details about Indian Air Force with people in Pakistan in exchange for money. The arrest of Mohammad Tarif, a quack in Kangarka in Tauru Sadar, is the 13th on charges of alleged espionage since India launched Operation Sindoor and the second from Nuh. The FIR filed by Nuh police also names two staffers of Pakistan High Commission, who are identified as Asim Baloch and Zafar. The name of another Pakistani official posted in India, Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, had come up in another case of alleged espionage in which Hisar-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was accused of spying for Pakistan and arrested last week. Police said Tarif had in his confession said he was in touch with Baloch and Zafar and shared the location, videos and photos of the IAF station in Sirsa with Zafar, who sent those details to people in Pakistan. Incidentally, a Pakistani missile was intercepted over Sirsa during the recent India-Pakistan military confrontation. "Both Nuh police and central agencies received inputs about Tarif that he was sharing sensitive information on the country with Pakistan and provided SIMs to Pak officials in lieu of money. We arrested him and produced him in a local court, which sent him to police custody for seven days. A detailed investigation is under way," DSP (headquarters, Nuh) Harinder Kumar said. Tarif, according to investigators, claimed when he first went to the Pakistan High Commission for his visa in 2018, he met Baloch, who interviewed him. "Asim returned my passport and took my contact number. He told me he would update me over the phone about my visa status and assured me assistance. After four days, Asim called me and asked me to arrange two SIM cards in exchange for the visa," Tarif is believed to have told police. After providing the SIM cards, Tarif received his visa and travelled to Pakistan in 2018. When he returned to India, Baloch allegedly contacted him again. "He asked me to send him the files of Pakistan visa aspirants and offered me a commission. I referred 8-10 people to him. We shared the commission equally. I again secured a visa through him in 2021 to travel to Pakistan. Baloch contacted me in 2024 again and introduced me to Zafar, who replaced him at the high commission. I exchanged contact with Zafar and arranged two SIMs for him too. And then I again started referring visa aspirants to him and continued to be paid by the commission. Zafar helped me secure a Pakistani visa in 2024, following which I again went there for the third time," Tarif was quoted by police as saying. After his third Pakistan visit in 2024, Zafar allegedly offered him money for information on Sirsa IAF station. Police said Tarif attempted to remove certain chat records from his phone before his arrest.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Time of India
Sangrur jail smuggling racket busted, DSP, 18 others arrested
Patiala: Sangrur police have dismantled a well-organised smuggling operation run from inside the district jail, leading to the arrest of a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), a Class-IV employee, 15 jail inmates, and two others. The investigation began following intelligence inputs, prompting a raid inside Sangrur jail, where authorities recovered nine mobile phones, four smartwatches, 50 grams of opium, 12 grams of heroin, and other prohibited materials. As the probe progressed, authorities identified Class-IV employee Prashant as a key player in the smuggling network, allegedly facilitating the illicit trade of drugs and mobile phones. Following these developments, a case was registered at Sangrur city police station, and eight jail inmates were subsequently booked. They were brought to court on production warrants for further investigation. The investigation also led to the arrest of a woman, Banto, a resident of Sunam, who is said to have supplied mobile phones to Prashant. The probe expanded further with the arrest of Manpreet Singh, an associate of inmate Gurvinder Singh, currently housed at Sangrur jail. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 올 봄 패션 트렌드는? "이 반지로 준비 끝이에요" 굿네이버스 더 알아보기 Undo Police seized four kg of heroin, Rs 5.5 lakh in drug money, a Glock pistol, and live ammunition from Manpreet. On May 13, DSP (security) Gurpreet Singh, stationed at Sangrur jail, was arrested for his involvement in the racket. He has been sent to Barnala jail. Investigators found that the DSP played a significant role in facilitating the smuggling of drugs and mobile phones into the facility. Payments for these illegal activities were traced to UPI transactions linked to the DSP's family members. Sangrur SSP SS Chahal, revealed that the investigation uncovered the involvement of inmates Guraj Singh of Patiala, Raghbir Singh of Faridkot, and Gurchet Singh, of Tarn Taran, who had come into contact with DSP Gurpreet around a month ago. Gurchet is the son of Banto. "A relative of inmate Gurchet paid Rs 40,000 in cash to DSP Gurpreet and an additional Rs 26,000 via an online transaction to the DSP's family member. In return, DSP Gurpreet supplied 25 grams of heroin and two mobile phones to the inmates. Of the heroin, 12 grams were recovered from Ravi, an inmate from Malerkotla, while the remaining 13 grams are believed to have been consumed by other inmates," SSP Chahal stated. Following these revelations, DSP Gurpreet was sent to jail, and charges of corruption were added to his case. As of now, 19 individuals have been arrested in connection with the drug smuggling network, with more arrests expected as the investigation continues to unfold. In a tweet on social media platform X, Punjab DGP reiterated the state's "zero-tolerance" policy toward corruption and criminal collusion. "No one, regardless of rank, will be spared," the DGP stated, further affirming the Punjab Police's commitment to eradicating drugs and maintaining law and order in the state. SSP Chahal further noted that DSP Gurpreet Singh had only joined the services at Sangrur Jail in Jan this year. Of the 19 individuals arrested so far, around 15 are already incarcerated, and authorities expect additional arrests as the investigation continues to expand. MSID:: 121192751 413 |
