Mohali, Oct 16: CGC University, Mohali, came alive as Saviskar 2025, a two-day techno-cultural festival, showcased innovation, creativity, and youthful energy. The event featured competitions such as the VaultHeist Hackathon, Robo Wars, National MUN, Thinkathon, TechXhibit, Forensic Evidence Research, and The Best Manager Competition. Winners from various institutions were awarded cash prizes ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 31,000, with top honours going to Raghav Sharma, Divya Yadav, Vishal Kumar, and Team Slot Smart.

The festival also included Battle of Bands, dance contests, drift shows, and a spectacular aerial drone show. Food stalls and exclusive movie promotions for Godday Godday Chaa 2 and Soohe Ve Cheere Waleya added to the festivities.

Evening performances by Kushagra Thakur, Sunanda Sharma, and Salim–Sulaiman lit up the campus,

Chandigarh, Oct 16: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested Punjab Deputy Inspector General of Police Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a graft-related matter, sources said.

Bhullar was apprehended from his Mohali office here, sources state, adding that his office and his residence were searched by the CBI sleuths.

The senior Punjab Police officer was caught following a complaint by a scrap dealer from Fatehgarh Sahib, who alleged that Bhullar had demanded a bribe.

After his arrest, Bhullar was taken to the CBI office in Chandigarh.

A 2007-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Bhullar has been serving as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Ropar Range, a position he assumed in November 2024. The Ropar Range includes the districts of Mohali, Rupnagar, and Fatehgarh Sahib.

Bhullar is the son of former Punjab Director General of Police M S Bhullar.

Throughout his career, Bhullar has held several positions, including DIG of the Patiala Range, joint director of the vigilance bureau, and senior superintendent of police in Jagraon, Mohali, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Khanna, Hoshiarpur, and Gurdaspur.

He also led a special investigation team that probed a drug case in 2021 against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)leader Bikram Singh Majithia.

Additionally, Bhullar was actively involved in the Punjab government’s anti-drug initiative, ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh.’

New Delhi, Oct 16: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday suggested the creation of a special prison for fugitives in each state that meets international standards, and cancel the passports of those facing Interpol red notices to blunt their claims of mistreatment upon extradition and stop their free movement across borders.

Several fugitives, including Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, have raised the issue of “poor conditions” of Indian prisons to counter their extradition in foreign courts.

Inaugurating a conference on ‘Extradition of Fugitives – Challenges and Strategies’ organised by the CBI, Shah said, “Till the time we create fear for the Indian legal system in the minds of fugitives who are hurting the Indian economy, our sovereignty, and our security from abroad, we cannot ensure security of the country.”

India has 338 extradition requests pending with various countries to bring back fugitives wanted for financial crimes, terrorism, and narcotics smuggling, among others.

Shah said the passports of fugitives could be red-flagged upon the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice against them.

“It is not a difficult thing to do with the present technologies. When a red notice is issued, the passport should be cancelled to block the fugitive’s international travel. If we can build this provision into the system, it will help bring back the fugitives,” he said.

Giving his suggestions on the actionable outputs to be deliberated during the two-day conference being attended by all the state police chiefs, the home minister said a scientific database on fugitives should be developed and shared with all the states, which should include the type of crime committed by the offenders, present location, network in the country, and the status of repatriation attempts.

He also asked every state to “create a special prison for fugitives, which should fulfil international standards”, aimed at blunting the fugitives’ defence in foreign courts that their human rights will be violated if imprisoned in India, as the prisons do not meet international standards.

“This is needed because fugitives argue in foreign courts that prisons in India are not up to the standards, that their human rights will not be protected. While I do not agree with that, if it is an excuse, why give them that chance? Every state capital should have a cell which conforms to international standards in its entirety,” Shah said.

The home minister also suggested the creation of a coordination group for narco, terrorism, financial, and cyber criminals in each state police department, supported by the Intelligence Bureau and the CBI.

Every state police should create a special expert cell for extradition matters, he said.

“This is an area of specialised knowledge where you must study treaties of India with other countries, international laws, and expedite the process in coordination with our domestic laws.

“At present, there are a few special cells in state police departments. I urge all the police chiefs to create such special cells as soon as possible. The CBI should also make a dedicated unit on extradition issues to guide the cells of the state police,” Shah said.

The home minister also asked the police chiefs to maximise the newly-introduced “trial in absentia” provision, under which fugitives can be tried in India. If convicted, they can appeal in the high courts only through physical presence.

The trial in absentia provision was introduced under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), part of the new criminal laws brought in by the Modi government that replaced the 160-year-old British-era laws.

The home minister said there is a need to develop coordination and protocols for synergy between passport-issuing agencies and law enforcement agencies.

He also said that there is a need to establish a special cell in each state police force to convert ‘blue’ notices into ‘red’ notices, and that the CBI and the IB should create special units under the multi-agency centre to successfully implement this programme.

Officials said Interpol blue notices are issued to obtain information about the location of a fugitive. Red notices are aimed at detaining them, which can only be done after chargesheets are filed.

In a number of cases, state police receive a blue notice but do not upgrade it to a red notice, even after chargesheets are filed, due to a lack of awareness, they said.

Pune, Oct 16: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that Operation Sindoor was a symbol of the country’s self-reliance, and the Army performed bravely using weapons made in India.

“The Indian youth have taken a big initiative in the production of defence equipment, and in the last 10 years, our defence equipment production has increased from Rs 46,000 crore to Rs 1.50 lakh crore. In this, the private sector has contributed about Rs 33,000 crore. The goal is to increase our production capacity to Rs 3 lakh crore and exports to Rs 50 lakh crore by 2029,” he said while speaking at the sixth convocation of Symbiosis Skills and Professional University.

“India has always given the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ through its actions. While the country is trying to become self-reliant in the field of defence, the courses started in institutions like Symbiosis are a commitment to nation-building along with education. The graduates here will prepare the defence equipment of the new era,” said the Defence Minister.

He asserted that a capable India will be built through skill development, and at this time, when the world is changing rapidly and new ideas, new systems, and new technologies are emerging every moment in such an uncertain world, skills will play a crucial role. “Therefore, there is a need for everyone to move the country forward through skills. Along with the Central government, the Maharashtra government is also setting up skill development training facilities and encouraging them to build a capable and self-reliant India through skill development,” said the Defence Minister.

The Minister further stated that skill education is important for building a country, and a skilled person contributes to creation. Creation is an important characteristic of a human being, and only a person engaged in creation can give direction to society. “In today’s era, not only is knowledge useful, but also the art of applying it is important. Therefore, the aim of today’s education should be to instil in the minds of students how to bring the things learned into life,” he added.

“As the country moves towards a new India, emphasis is being placed on Skill India, Startup India and Make in India. The Central government has set up a separate ministry to promote skill development. This ministry has tried to convert the challenges in this sector into opportunities. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, skill training has been provided to 1.63 crore candidates. Through Jan Shiksha Sansthas, more than 30 lakh candidates from rural, tribal and marginalised groups have been trained in sewing, embroidery, handicrafts, fruit processing and health care assistant,” said the Defence Minister.

According to Rajnath Singh, under the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, traditional artisans of the country are being empowered, and 22 lakh artisans have been provided with modern tools of trade. This has created a conducive environment for skill development in the country.

“If the youth of the country have skills, no power in the world can stop us. Considering the progress in the field of skill development in the country, I believe that today’s generation will acquire skills and create the technological generation of the next era. However, it is necessary to be sensitive with skills and use them for society,” said Minister Singh.

He said the whole world will now be like a new university for the graduates who will graduate from the university. These graduates should have a broad perspective without worrying about the future. “The graduates will lay the foundation of a new era by continuously working on the basis of their skilled intellect and with skill, determination and hard work,” he noted.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in his address, said Maharashtra will be made a hub of defence technology. “As the country continues to move forward in the field of defence production, the state government is trying to make Maharashtra a hub of defence technology. Maharashtra has played an important role in this field. In the coming time, investment, production and manpower generation in this field will take place in the state,” he added. He appealed to the graduates to contribute to the society that has built the education system for us.

“If the country wants to emerge as a superpower, there is a need to provide skills to the youth of the country and transform them into skilled manpower. However, the number of educational institutions that have created the necessary system for this sector is limited,” he said.

Earlier, the University’s School of Defence and Aerospace Technology was inaugurated by the dignitaries. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Fadnavis visited the Skill Training Centre of Excellence and interacted with needy students sponsored for skill training by various industries.