In a major action against corruption and drug networks in prisons, the Punjab government on Saturday said it has suspended 25 officials, including three Deputy Superintendents and two Assistant Superintendents.

The government said the action is part of the drive to root out corruption and dismantle drug networks operating inside prisons.

"Following reports of irregularities and drug-related activities within jails, the government said the action was to end corruption and drug networks. The big action was taken as per information received about corruption and drug networks in jails," the government said in a statement.

In March, the government shifted notorious jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria from the high-security Bathinda Central Jail to Silchar Jail in Assam as authorities suspected that detained gangsters were running drug syndicates from Punjab’s prisons.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had arrested Bhagwanpuria, also an accused in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act.

Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said here on Friday that the Punjab Police have busted a Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module, being operated by the UK-based Nishan Singh on the directions of terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda, with the arrest of its three associates, including a juvenile.

Those arrested have been identified as Sehajpal Singh and Vikramjit Singh, both residents of Ramdas in Amritsar, and a 17-year-old juvenile.

The Intelligence-led operation was carried out by State Special Operation Cell of Mohali.

The students of government schools having modest backgrounds on Friday showered heaps of praise for the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for providing them required logistical and infrastructural support to crack the coveted NEET exam.

Interacting with the Chief Minister here at Municipal Bhawan, Gurshan Sodhi from Fazilka said that he cracked both the JEE Advanced and NEET exams with support of the state government. He said that under the leadership of the Chief Minister the misconceptions about government schools are changing day by day as these schools are now equipped with ultra modern facilities.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday said that the state government is taking ‘out of the box ideas’ to give a boost to the education sector in the state.

Addressing the gathering after facilitating the students clearing NEET exam, the Chief Minister said that in the last more than three years a paradigm shift has taken place in the Education sector. He said that these revolutionaries’ steps have given major fillip to the Education sector due to which students are excelling in every sphere these days. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is the red letter day as 509 students of the government schools have cracked the coveted exam of NEET.

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) Director (Administration) Jasbir Singh Sur Singh on Friday chaired a crucial meeting at Patiala to review the status of pending compassionate appointment cases across various zones. Senior representatives from the Chief Offices of all zones participated in the meeting, which focused on fast-tracking the resolution process and ensuring timely support for eligible applicants.

During the discussion, Director Sur Singh underlined the vital role of compassionate appointments in extending relief to the families of deceased employees. He urged all departments to treat these cases as a top priority, pointing out that a considerable number of vacancies are available and can be promptly filled to support deserving applicants.

Notorious jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s mother Harjit Kaur was shot dead by two bike-borne assailants in Punjab’s Batala town, police said on Friday.

Bhagwanpuria is also an accused in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. Kaur was going somewhere in an SUV when the goons came on a bike and opened fire on Thursday night near her house in the Urban Estate area, killing her and her driver Karanvir Singh.

She was referred to a hospital in Amritsar, but she succumbed to the bullet injuries, a police official said.

The Bambiha gang has claimed responsibility for the crime.

The Punjab Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, on Thursday approved significant amendments to the state’s conversion policy, enabling the conversion of industrial plots into hospitals, hotels, industrial parks, and other permitted uses.

Punjab government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday commemorated the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by taking a historic step to intensify the fight against drugs with signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up the Data Intelligence and Technical Support Unit.