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Four arrested for targeted killings of religious leaders in Punjab, CM sees Pakistani hand

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Punjab government has been facing flak from all quarters for failing to prevent the targeted killings of religious leaders in the state.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said on Tuesday that the targeted killings of religious leaders in Punjab are not isolated incidents but part of a conspiracy hatched by Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI).

“There was a major conspiracy to fan communal disturbances and destabilise the state, hatched by the ISI in Pakistan and other countries,” Singh said at a press conference.

Singh also announced the arrest of four suspects in the cases and claimed that the police have solved seven out of the eight cases of targeted killings.

“The interrogation of the four conspirators showed they had met and been trained in various places abroad and had been using encrypted mobile software/ apps for communication with handlers based in Pakistan and some western countries,” he added.

The Punjab government had been facing severe criticism from the opposition as well as from within the ruling party for failing to prevent the targeted killings of religious leaders in the state.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1510132544697{margin-bottom: 20px !important;border-bottom-width: 20px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #a2b1bf !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Punjab government to bring PCOCA act to counter such killings

In line with the Maharashtra’s MCOCA, Punjab government is all set to bring in the Punjab Control of Organised Crime Act (PCOCA) to efficiently deal with the menace of organised crime and gangsters in the state.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday said he has asked the cabinet sub-committee to complete the modalities and bring in the legislation within a month.

The law, when enacted, will provide wide powers to the police to take any action as needed to control gangsters and criminal gangs operation in the state.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the past two years, Punjab has witnessed eight instances of targeted killing of religious leaders. These include Shiv Sena leader Durgadas Gupta, RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja, Sri Hindu Takht official Amit Sharma, Pastor Sultan Masih, Namdhari sect head Chand Kaur, RSS leader Ravinder Gosain and Dera Sacha Sauda followers Satpal and Ramesh Kumar.

Police claims to have solved all of the above cases except the case of Namdhari sect head Chand Kaur.

Speaking at the same press conference, Punjab DGP Suresh Arora said the murders that took place in Ludhiana, Khanna and Jalandhar since 2016 were connected and carried out by the same gang as similar weapons were used in all the eight cases.

The arrested accused have been identified as Jimmy Singh, a Jammu resident who recently returned to India from the UK, Jagtar Singh, a UK national who was apprehended in Jalandhar, and Dharmendra alias Guggni, a gangster from Meherban in Ludhiana, who is believed to have supplied weapons to the killers. The identity of the fourth accused was not disclosed as his interrogation was continuing.

However, Arora refused to completely rule out such incidents in the future in view of Punjab being a border state, with “international conspirators working against it”.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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