News / Author / Prabhjit Singh

Prabhjit Singh

A special correspondent, Prabhjit Singh is the bureau chief at Bathinda. He specialises in investigative stories, with rural reporting being his passion.

Articles by Prabhjit Singh

A year on, no trial for irrigation engineer caught taking bribe; promoted instead

The vigilance has violated the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) that states that a challan has to be filed within 90 days of the arrest of the accused.

cities

Updated on Feb 03, 2018 03:00 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh

For SAD, religion, politics go hand in hand: Sukhbir Badal

Sukhbir said this while responding to the Congress’ charge that the Akali Dal mixes religion with politics.

SAD president and former deputy CM of Pujab, Sukhbir Singh Badal (left) and Punjab BJP president Vijay Sampla during SAD’s conference at the annual Maghi Mela in Muktsar on Sunday.(Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

cities

Updated on Jan 14, 2018 09:36 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Muktsar | ByPrabhjit Singh, Muktsar

Punjab CM rolls out debt waiver scheme, admits to lapses

The government will pay nearly Rs 170 crore to different cooperative societies registered with the Punjab Agriculture Development Bank (PADB) from where these farmers had taken the loans.

Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh launching the farm debt waiver scheme in Mansa on Sunday.(Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

cities

Updated on Jan 09, 2018 12:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Mansa | ByPrabhjit Singh

Cronyism: Congress leaders dominate murky sand trade in Punjab’s Mansa, via ‘truck union’

Two leaders of ruling party form monopoly over sale of sand and gravel in Budhlada as another aids with transportation.

Illegal sand and gravel consignments being offloaded at the site where district Congress vice-president KC Bawa supervises the arrival from Sidhwan Bet near Ludhiana, in an office in Budhlada town of Mansa district.(Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

cities

Updated on Jan 04, 2018 10:02 AM IST

Hindustan Timers, Mansa | ByPrabhjit Singh

Deep disquiet as furnace at Bathinda thermal plant set to go shutdown

Death at 44: 600 jobs on contract are on the line due to govt decision to close the Bathinda thermal plant from January 1; employees continue stir, despite govt assurance

Employees of Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant and other unions protesting opposite the office of Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal in Bathinda on Saturday.(Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

cities

Updated on Dec 24, 2017 09:43 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh

Bathinda Cong factionalism comes to the fore on Rahul Gandhi’s coronation too

Harminder Jassi and those swearing allegiance to Manpreet Badal hold separate functions; Jassi again dubs Manpreet a turncoat

Ex-MLA Harminder Singh Jassi at a press meet in Bathinda on Monday.(Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

cities

Published on Dec 12, 2017 12:29 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh, Bathinda

Bathinda Congress factionalism to the fore on Rahul’s coronation too

Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal and former minister Harminder Singh Jassi came out in the open, with both camps organising their respective events to celebrate Rahul Gandhi’s coronation as party president.

Rahul Gandhi was declared the party president-elect, in Mumbai on Monday.(HT File)

cities

Updated on Dec 11, 2017 09:08 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh

‘Dereliction of duty’: Punjab SSP, SP indicted for release of accused in drug case

SP in dock too: Had filed cancellation report in a case in Ferozepur earlier this year.

SSP Gaurav Garg and SP Dharamvir.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 27, 2017 10:00 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh

Bathinda drug seizure: Inquiry slams DSP for dereliction of duty, SSP gets clean chit

The accused was released from the Bathinda prison on April 19 after the Bathinda police presented an "inquiry report" prepared by the DSP and endorsed by the SSP for the quashing of the FIR.

The accused in the case, Gobind Gupta, a drug trader was released, only to be rearrested, after HT reported that the two officers were under the scanner for releasing Gupta.(Representative image)

cities

Updated on Oct 05, 2017 10:54 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh, Bathinda

The dead too have a caste in this Bathinda village: Crematorium wall stands for ‘age-old tradition’

After AAP sent its MLA to the state assembly from the reserved constituency in February polls, the SAD-dominated panchayat from Kot Guru village lost interest in looking after Mazhabi Sikhs; the wall in the cremation ground was raised four months ago

People from Scheduled Caste (Dalit) community crossing a wall to enter the separate cremation ground for them in Kot Guru village as no thoroughfare has been left for them except a detour through a dumping ground.(Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

cities

Updated on Sep 22, 2017 09:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh, Bathinda

Speakerphone politics: When Manpreet Badal rang up PRTC MD for interests of mini-bus operators

In the call to PRTC MD Manjit Singh Narang, Manpreet said the corporation’s general manager at the Bathinda bus stand, Surinder Singh, was “playing a negative role” and that the mini-bus operators were being “harassed”.

Punjab finance minister manpreet Singh Badal(HT File)

cities

Updated on Sep 22, 2017 09:34 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh, Bathinda

At the crossroads: Dera Sacha Sauda devotees disillusioned, but wary of Sikh clergy’s call

“A Dalit remains a Dalit. You see Mazhabi Sikhs and Balmikis have separate gurdwaras.”

Gurmeet Singh, a young matriculate, points out the need for the media to explore the “hard realities of the daily lives” of the Dalits, including the premis.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Sep 15, 2017 04:27 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh, Bathinda

Gurmeet Ram Rahim jailed: Deras deserted, premis keep fingers crossed

The 'premis' still have a grudge against the Sikh radical groups in the backdrop of the appeal by the Akal takht jathdear to them to embrace Sikhism.

Dera Sacha Sauda follower Nachhatar Singh and others at Nasibpura village in Bathinda on Friday.(Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

cities

Updated on Sep 11, 2017 12:58 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda/Dabwali | ByPrabhjit Singh, Bathinda/dabwali

Followers in villages near Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters come to terms with new reality

“Baba (Gurmeet Ram Rahim) is right. He is not at fault, but his films and all the ‘chakachaundh’ (glamour) brought him the trouble,” she clarified.

india news

Updated on Sep 09, 2017 12:18 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Sirsa | ByPrabhjit Singh, Sirsa

Two minors rescued from Dera Sacha Sauda premises during search ops

Security agencies and district authorities began search operations at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters near Haryana’s Sirsa town on Friday morning

A deserted view at the main entrance to the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa district of Haryana on Friday, ahead of the search operations inside the Dera. PTI Photo (PTI9_8_2017_000048B)(PTI Photo)

india news

Updated on Sep 09, 2017 12:26 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Sirsa | ByPrabhjit Singh

This Bathinda village still awaits Dera Sacha Sauda chief as a ‘saviour’

Most Dera Sacha Sauda supporters here — 500 of 700 families — though have taken to ‘hiding’ the symbol of their faith, the locket that depicts his picture.

An angry Sukhminder Kaur — women had been largely silent — who stood behind the men, shouted back to a query, “Baba Wapis Aayuga (The godman will return)”.(File Photo)

cities

Updated on Sep 02, 2017 10:04 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Naseebpura (Bathinda) | ByPrabhjit Singh, Naseebpura (bathinda)

10 young women refuse to move out of Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters

The women refused to accompany the child protection unit officials after more than three-hour discussion at the dera complex.

The entrance to the place where ‘shahi betiyan’ were lodged in the dera.(HT Photo)

india news

Updated on Aug 31, 2017 09:35 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Sirsa | ByPrabhjit Singh, Sirsa

Disillusioned, premis leave dera premises with tinge of pain, remorse

18 girls ‘adopted’ by dera chief as ‘royal daughters’ sent to child care centre

Followers leaving the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa after they were evicted on August 29.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 30, 2017 09:53 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Sirsa | ByPrabhjit Singh, Sirsa

Uneasy calm at Dera’s Sirsa HQ, standoff on asset assessment continues

The standoff, however, between the authorities and the dera management continued as the latter did not cooperate for the assessment of dera properties in compliance with the Punjab and Haryana high court orders.

Police evicting dera followers in Sirsa on Monday.(Manoj Dhaka/HT)

india news

Updated on Aug 30, 2017 06:54 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Sirsa | ByPrabhjit Singh and Bhaskar Mukherjee, Sirsa

Ram Rahim rape verdict: Army seizes old Sirsa dera; death toll reaches 6 in Sirsa

Several hundred dera activists fled the dera premises in the past mid-night hours as a few were rounded up while running away in the wee hours, police sources said.

Army during a flag march in Sirsa.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 27, 2017 12:41 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Sirsa | ByPrabhjit Singh & Bhaskar Mukherjee

After Ram Rahim’s conviction, who will head Dera Sacha Sauda sect?

Now, all eyes are on Guru Brahmachari Vipasana, a 35-year-old woman who is second-in-command in the sect’s hierarchy and the sole authority to take call on things on his behalf.

Guru Brahmachari Vipasana, a graduate from the girls college run by the dera, controls the 250-member management of whom nearly 150 are women.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 25, 2017 11:56 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Sirsa | ByPrabhjit Singh

Journo who ‘exposed rapes in Dera’ was killed: Case at final stage in same court

The journalist was shot from point-blank range at his residence on October 24, 2002, months after the paper published an anonymous letter narrating how women finding solace in the Dera as sadhvis were sexually harassed and raped by the Dera chief.

Son Anshul with a photo of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and his local newspaper of May 30, 2002, carrying the rape report.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 25, 2017 11:32 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Sirsa | ByPrabhjit Singh

Inside Dera Sacha Sauda: ‘There are 7 crore of us... anything can happen’, say devotees

A day before a special CBI court pronounces its judgment in a rape case involving Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, followers say “anything could happen” if the verdict goes against their religious leader.

A police checkpoint near the Dera Saccha Sauda headquarters on Wednesday late night.(HT Photo)

india news

Updated on Aug 24, 2017 10:36 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Sirsa | ByPrabhjit Singh & Bhaskar Mukherjee

Dera verdict: Salabatpura calm as of now, but police taking no chances

Entry points to Bathinda have been put on alert amid round-the-clock nakas. Cops have also launched a special night vigil.

Barricades outsidethe Salabatpura branch of Dera Sacha Sauda in Bathinda on Saturday.(Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

cities

Updated on Aug 20, 2017 12:50 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Salabatpura (Bathinda) | ByPrabhjit Singh, Salabatpura (bathinda)

Transport mafia runs riot at Bathinda ISBT; oil tankers enter to fuel pvt buses

100-odd mini-buses paying Rs 30-40 each time they exit to henchmen operating from a kiosk at the stand for operating without permit; no one know where this money goes

This is not a fuel station: In a bizarre display of the clout that private bus companies enjoy , vehicles carrying oil tankers enter the Bathind aISBY to fuel buses of these companies.(Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

cities

Updated on Aug 12, 2017 10:03 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh, Bathinda

7 acres illegally transferred: No action against SAD ex-MLA’s son despite Mansa DC’s report

On July 6 this year, the DC had indicted Bikramjit Singh, the son of former Akali MLA Harbant Singh; former sarpanch Karnail Singh; tehsildar Kala Ram Kansal, presently Patran SDM; Kanungo Gurmail Singh and other revenue officials for carrying out illegal mutation of the land in question (54 kanal 13 marlas or 7 acres) in 2006.

In 2014, after residents raised a hue and cry over the matter, Punjab and Haryana high court ordered the then Mansa DC to conduct a probe into the matter.(Representative image)

cities

Updated on Aug 03, 2017 10:18 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh, Bathinda

Aadhaar card helps family reunite with 14-year-old runaway after 2 years

“It was my thumb impression that revealed my identity at Gurdaspur ‘ashram’,” says Lovepreet, now at his home with his mother.

Lovepreet Singh with his grandmother at Maur Mandi in Bathinda on Tuesday.(Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

cities

Updated on Aug 02, 2017 10:00 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Maur (Bathinda) | ByPrabhjit Singh

HT Special: No takers at home, girls in Punjab orphanages find homes abroad

Even though abandoned girls far outnumber boys in orphanages, the Bathinda child protection office has 1,300 applications for baby boys in the age group of 0 to 2 years, mostly from Punjab; couples from other states and abroad lead in adopting baby girls.

Childless parents in Punjab also prefer boys. That explains why five of the total six boys adopted from this orphanage, ever since its inception in 2007, have found parents from within Punjab.(Sanjeev Kumar/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 21, 2017 09:57 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Faridkot/Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh, Faridkot/bathinda

Goniana drug seizure: Bathinda IG orders probe against SSP, DSP; wants report in 10 days

Goniana drug seizure Officers were under inquiry for conduct in release of the accused; action after Faridkot SSP’s inquiry report indicts them for dereliction

HT had brought the discrepancies to light in its June 7 report.(HT Representative Image)

cities

Updated on Jul 20, 2017 09:40 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh, Bathinda

Bathinda wedding dancer shooting: Accused back in jail as court rejects ‘accidental death’ theory

Lucky and a co-accused had attained bail on the argument that the challan had not been filed; and had also cited the reported move of the police to convert section 302 (murder) into 304A (accidental death, punishable by up to two years in jail).

Dancer Kulwinder Kaur, nicknamed Janu, was shot dead on the spot while performing on stage as the accused, Lucky, fired a shot in allegedly inebriated state at a wedding function in Maur last December.(PHOTO COURTESY: FACEBOOK)

cities

Updated on Jul 05, 2017 09:51 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bathinda | ByPrabhjit Singh, Bathinda

Copy

Whatsapp Twitter Facebook Linkedin

Prabhjit Singh

A special correspondent, Prabhjit Singh is the bureau chief at Bathinda. He specialises in investigative stories, with rural reporting being his passion.

The vigilance has violated the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) that states that a challan has to be filed within 90 days of the arrest of the accused.

Sukhbir said this while responding to the Congress’ charge that the Akali Dal mixes religion with politics.

The government will pay nearly Rs 170 crore to different cooperative societies registered with the Punjab Agriculture Development Bank (PADB) from where these farmers had taken the loans.

Two leaders of ruling party form monopoly over sale of sand and gravel in Budhlada as another aids with transportation.

Death at 44: 600 jobs on contract are on the line due to govt decision to close the Bathinda thermal plant from January 1; employees continue stir, despite govt assurance

Harminder Jassi and those swearing allegiance to Manpreet Badal hold separate functions; Jassi again dubs Manpreet a turncoat

Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal and former minister Harminder Singh Jassi came out in the open, with both camps organising their respective events to celebrate Rahul Gandhi’s coronation as party president.

SP in dock too: Had filed cancellation report in a case in Ferozepur earlier this year.

The accused was released from the Bathinda prison on April 19 after the Bathinda police presented an "inquiry report" prepared by the DSP and endorsed by the SSP for the quashing of the FIR.

After AAP sent its MLA to the state assembly from the reserved constituency in February polls, the SAD-dominated panchayat from Kot Guru village lost interest in looking after Mazhabi Sikhs; the wall in the cremation ground was raised four months ago

In the call to PRTC MD Manjit Singh Narang, Manpreet said the corporation’s general manager at the Bathinda bus stand, Surinder Singh, was “playing a negative role” and that the mini-bus operators were being “harassed”.

“A Dalit remains a Dalit. You see Mazhabi Sikhs and Balmikis have separate gurdwaras.”

The 'premis' still have a grudge against the Sikh radical groups in the backdrop of the appeal by the Akal takht jathdear to them to embrace Sikhism.

“Baba (Gurmeet Ram Rahim) is right. He is not at fault, but his films and all the ‘chakachaundh’ (glamour) brought him the trouble,” she clarified.

Security agencies and district authorities began search operations at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters near Haryana’s Sirsa town on Friday morning

Most Dera Sacha Sauda supporters here — 500 of 700 families — though have taken to ‘hiding’ the symbol of their faith, the locket that depicts his picture.

The women refused to accompany the child protection unit officials after more than three-hour discussion at the dera complex.

18 girls ‘adopted’ by dera chief as ‘royal daughters’ sent to child care centre

The standoff, however, between the authorities and the dera management continued as the latter did not cooperate for the assessment of dera properties in compliance with the Punjab and Haryana high court orders.

Several hundred dera activists fled the dera premises in the past mid-night hours as a few were rounded up while running away in the wee hours, police sources said.

Now, all eyes are on Guru Brahmachari Vipasana, a 35-year-old woman who is second-in-command in the sect’s hierarchy and the sole authority to take call on things on his behalf.

The journalist was shot from point-blank range at his residence on October 24, 2002, months after the paper published an anonymous letter narrating how women finding solace in the Dera as sadhvis were sexually harassed and raped by the Dera chief.

A day before a special CBI court pronounces its judgment in a rape case involving Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, followers say “anything could happen” if the verdict goes against their religious leader.

Entry points to Bathinda have been put on alert amid round-the-clock nakas. Cops have also launched a special night vigil.

100-odd mini-buses paying Rs 30-40 each time they exit to henchmen operating from a kiosk at the stand for operating without permit; no one know where this money goes

“It was my thumb impression that revealed my identity at Gurdaspur ‘ashram’,” says Lovepreet, now at his home with his mother.

Even though abandoned girls far outnumber boys in orphanages, the Bathinda child protection office has 1,300 applications for baby boys in the age group of 0 to 2 years, mostly from Punjab; couples from other states and abroad lead in adopting baby girls.

Goniana drug seizure Officers were under inquiry for conduct in release of the accused; action after Faridkot SSP’s inquiry report indicts them for dereliction

Lucky and a co-accused had attained bail on the argument that the challan had not been filed; and had also cited the reported move of the police to convert section 302 (murder) into 304A (accidental death, punishable by up to two years in jail).

Join Hindustan Times

Create free account and unlock exciting features like