Punjab is abuzz with major political administrative shuffles, severe weather alerts, security operations, and developmental pushes. Here are the top news headlines from across the state on Friday, 12th June 2026:
1. CM Bhagwant Mann Demands ‘Special Category Status’ for Punjab at NITI Aayog Meet
At the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog chaired by PM Narendra Modi, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann officially demanded Special Category Status (SCS) for the state. Citing Punjab’s role as a frontline border state managing persistent cross-border drone smuggling, terrorism, and an ongoing drug epidemic, Mann pushed for a 90:10 funding model under all centrally-sponsored schemes.
2. Bureaucratic Stir: Punjab Govt Transfers DIG Border Range Just 11 Days After Posting
In a sudden administrative shake-up, the Punjab government has replaced Vivek Sheel Soni as the DIG of Border Range, mere days after his appointment on June 1. Soni—who was recently cleared in an inquiry regarding gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s custody interview—has been replaced by Harmanbir Singh Gill, leaving political circles speculating over the lack of an official explanation or fresh posting for Soni.
3. High Alert: Meteorological Department Issues Orange Alert for Punjab and Chandigarh
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed Punjab and Chandigarh under an Orange Alert. The region is bracing for continued turbulent weather, with forecasts predicting heavy rain, localized hailstorms, and strong, damaging winds over the next 48 hours.
4. Akal Takht Jathedar Lashes Out at State Govt After Attempted Sacrilege at Golden Temple Complex
Following the detention of a suspect who allegedly attempted an act of sacrilege inside Gurdwara Baba Gurbaksh Singh Ji within the Sri Harmandir Sahib complex, Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar and SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami strongly condemned the incident. The Jathedar stated that the state government has completely failed to prevent recurring sacrilege attempts and demanded a deep probe into the hidden forces behind the act.
5. Major Crackdown: Punjab Police Arrest 73 in 3-Day Drive Against Drug-Linked Hawala Networks
Targeting the financial lifelines of drug cartels, the Punjab Police successfully concluded a massive, state-wide three-day coordinated enforcement drive. Officials confirmed the arrest of 73 operatives heavily linked to illegal international hawala networks used to launder narcotics money.
6. Security Crackdown: NIA Conducts Raids Across 18 Locations in Punjab and Haryana
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched simultaneous raids at 18 distinct locations across Punjab and neighboring Haryana. The high-profile multi-district crackdown is aimed at dismantling the cross-border terror-human smuggling syndicate operated by the Shahzad Bhatti network.
7. Congress Appoints Three Special Observers to Assess Punjab Political Groundwork
Looking ahead to future electoral challenges, the Congress national high command has appointed a three-member panel of senior political observers to assess Punjab’s current internal factionalism and evolving political landscape. The observers are scheduled to meet local leadership and submit a ground report.
8. Tragic Double Loss: Two Brothers Die on the Same Day in Samrala
A heartbreaking incident shook Samrala when two brothers passed away within hours of each other. Local reports state that upon seeing the lifeless body of his younger brother, the grief-stricken elder brother suffered a massive cardiac arrest and passed away shortly after.
9. Mohali Municipal Corporation Elects Sarabjit Singh Samana as New Mayor
Following a tense round of local body meetings and political alignments post-civic polls, Sarabjit Singh Samana has been officially elected as the new Mayor of the Mohali Municipal Corporation, bringing an end to weeks of intense lobbying.
10. Education Minister Harjot Bains Faces Wage Complaints During Ludhiana Inspection
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains faced unexpected protests from sanitation and temporary workers during a surprise cleanliness and administrative inspection in Ludhiana. Workers directly confronted the minister over delayed minimum-wage disbursements and pending contractual regularizations.
