Chandigarh MC celebrates its foundation day

Chandigarh: The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh celebrated its foundation day on Friday.  City Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla was the Chief Guest, while Amit Kumar, Commissioner, was the guest of honour at a cultural programme organised by employees of the Corporation. Addressing the employees, the Mayor said the role and responsibilities of the MC Chandigarh had increased manifold since its inception in the year 1994. She appreciated the officers and all employees of MC Chandigarh for their remarkable contribution towards rendering service to provide basic amenities to the citizens of city , besides spreading cultural values among masses through these types of cultural programmes.

Haryana Emerges as a National Leader in Deregulation and Business Reforms

Chandigarh: Haryana has taken a major step forward in transforming itself into a business-friendly state with a robust agenda of deregulation and compliance reduction. In a high-level Deregulation Review Meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, the state presented a sweeping roadmap aimed at reducing bureaucratic hurdles, simplifying regulations, and aligning with national priorities to boost ease of doing business.Speaking at the review, Rastogi said, “Our goal is to create a governance model that supports industry without compromising on safety or accountability. By reducing red tape and adopting digital solutions, we aim to position Haryana as a preferred destination for investment and innovation.” Haryana’s reform journey includes continuous engagement with stakeholders through capacity-building workshops, MIS orientation sessions, and industrial outreach. The Cabinet Secretariat’s recent review has further pushed departments to complete data uploads on the Deregulation Portal, enhancing transparency.

MCC conducts anti-encroachment drive in Ram Darbar Phase 1 & 2

Chandigarh: To ensure smooth pedestrian movement and maintain public order, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh carried out a major anti-encroachment drive in Ram Darbar Phase 1 and Phase 2 on Friday.  The drive was conducted following the directions of MC Commissioner Amit Kumar. Enforcement teams, along with local police, acted against unauthorized vendors and temporary structures that had illegally occupied public spaces. A total of 113 challans were issued during the operation, and illegal items, including rehri carts, tents, tables, and fruit crates, were removed from the area. The MCC reiterated its commitment to keeping the city clean and obstruction-free, ensuring that public areas are not misused by illegal encroachments. The Corporation has also appealed to residents and vendors to cooperate in maintaining public discipline and follow municipal regulations.

OLX Rental Scam Busted in Punjab: One Held for Duping 23 Victims Across 5 States 

 Chandigarh: Punjab Police's State Cyber Crime Police Station, in a major breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown against cybercriminals, has arrested a fraudster involved in a widespread OLX rental scam, which duped at least 23 unsuspecting victims across five states of nearly Rs five lakh. The accused, identified as Paramjit Singh, a resident of Kharar in Mohali, was apprehended by Inspector Daljeet Singh following a meticulous analysis of cyber fraud complaints registered on the Pratibimb portal of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The state’s Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Cyber Crime, V Neeraja said that the accused had been running a deceptive operation by posting fake property rental advertisements on the OLX platform. “He lured victims by offering attractive rental deals, and to gain their trust, he even shared forged documents and photos of the properties,” she said. Once victims showed interest, Paramjit would ask for advance rent, security deposits, or registration charges to be paid via UPI or bank transfers. After receiving the money, he would cut off all contact, leaving the victims with no property and no refund. The scam extended beyond Punjab, affecting individuals from Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The accused used multiple bank accounts — Axis Bank, Central Bank of India, Yes Bank, and HDFC Bank — to receive and reroute the illicit funds.  Issuing a public advisory, ADGP Neeraja urged citizens to exercise extreme caution while dealing with online rental listings, especially on platforms like OLX. “Avoid making any advance payments without proper verification. In case of any suspicious activity, victims must call Cyber Helpline 1930 or lodge a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in,” she added.

Himachal CM inaugurates Shoolini Fair at Solan

Shimla:  Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday inaugurated the three-day long State-level historic Shoolini Fair at Solan, a vibrant celebration of faith and devotion dedicated to Goddess Shoolini. The centuries-old fair, marks the symbolic journey of Goddess Shoolini to her elder sister Goddess Durga’s temple at Ganj Bazaar in Solan. The palanquin procession of the deity, a central highlight of the festivities, drew thousands of devotees who lined the streets of Solan to pay their respects and seek blessings of the deity. Sukhu participated in the festivities by offering prayers for the peace and prosperity of the people of the State. He shouldered the palanquin and joined the Shobha Yatra and also showered flowers on the palanquin as a gesture of reverence. He also released a souvenir to mark the event brought out by the Mela Committee on the occasion. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson of the Mela Committee, Manmohan Sharma welcomed and honoured the Chief Minister.