01082024-JTR-01.qxd 7/31/2024 10:36 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune GANG OF HEROIN SMUGGLERS BUSTED IN SRIGANGANAGAR ANOTHER AAM AADMI CLINIC BURGLED AT ABOHAR CURLY HAIR, ONCE CONSIDERED ‘UGLY’, NOW IN VOGUE The police claimed to have busted a gang of drug smugglers with the arrest of two persons in Naggi village. P3 Thieves targeted Aam Aadmi Clinic in Patel Park in Abohar and made away with goods worth thousands. P3 It’s time to embrace the curls. Times change and so do trends. Curly hair, once considered ‘ugly’ is now in vogue. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 30°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 30°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.22 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:44 AM THURSDAY | 1 AUGUST 2024 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF TWO ARRESTED UNDER NDPS ACT Phagwara: The Mehat Pur police have arrested a drug peddler on the charge of selling poppy husk. Investigating Officer (IO) Jaspal Singh said 6 kg of poppy husk was seized from the possession of the accused Kala Singh of Gaunsu Wal village. A case under Section 15/61/85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against him. In another case the Lohian Khas police have arrested Gursewak Singh, alias Gora, of ward no 11 with 1,095 intoxicant capsules and 90 intoxicant tablets. OC MAN ARRESTED FOR THEFT Phagwara: The Nakodar police have arrested a man on the charge of stealing cash and mobile phones from a shop. The accused has been identified as Gurwinder Singh, alias Ginda, alias Inda, of Malrri village. Sonni Chopra of the same village complained to the police that the accused stole Rs 45,000 and three mobile phones from his grocery shop situated in Hussain Pur village on July 29 night. A case under Sections 331(4) (house trespass) and 305 (theft in a house) of the BNS has been registered. OC ONE BOOKED FOR ACCIDENTAL DEATH Phagwara: The Bilga police have booked a person on the charge causing death by negligence. Baljinder Kumar of Kandola Khurd village complained to the police that an accused, driving his SUV at a high speed on July 29, hit a motorcycle and killed his friend Lovely Kumar near Farwala canal. A case under Sections 281 (rash driving ), 106(1) (causing death by negligence),125(a) and 125(b) (causing grievous hurt ) and 324(4) (mischief ) of the BNS has been registered against the driver. OC MAN HELD FOR DRUG PEDDLING Phagwara: The Satnampura police have arrested a drug peddler and seized 105 intoxicant tablets from his possession on Tuesday night. The peddler was identified as Mukesh Kumar of village Ranipur near Phagwara. The accused was nabbed at a check point. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused. OC Parents of underage drivers to face ~25,000 fine, 3-yr jail Nakas outside schools from today | Awareness drive held Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 31 As the Punjab Police are set to execute the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act 2019 from tomorrow to check the underage driving, an exhaustive plan has been readied by its traffic and road safety wings. Nakas will be set up outside schools in the city and minor students found riding bikes or driving cars will be stopped and a warning call be made to their parents, informing them about the harsh punishment they can face under Section 199A in the amended Act. Challaning too will start from tomorrow, though on a slow mode to begin with. The police have already been holding seminars in all schools for senior students, informing them that their parents or owners of the vehicles could be imprisoned for up to three years with a fine of Rs 25,000. “Those caught will not be able to avail even a learner’s licence till the age of 25 years. The RC of the vehicle could be cancelled for one year”, the traffic police telling the students. The schools on their part too have been asked by the police to convey it to the parents not to allow children to An MC team led by Commissioner Anupam Kler consumes water in Sunder Nagar, Kapurthala. Diarrhoea: E coli found in 12 water samples in Kapurthala Most samples pass purity test, water supply resumed Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Students flout traffic norms outside a school in Jalandhar on Wednesday. PHOTO SARABJIT SINGH drive vehicle and that instead the parents should themselves drop and pick their kids or use a transport system. The school authorities have said they have already sent circulars to the parents in this regard. But despite all seminars and means of awareness being held by the police, gross traffic violations were observed outside all schools even today. As many as four students were seen riding a scooter outside Freedom Fighter Ajit Saini Government Model Co-Educational Senior Secondary Smart School, none wearing helmet. There were many engaged in triple riding. Many students came on their own vehicles. No one was carrying a helmet. Likewise, outside Apeejay School, it was common to see plus one and plus two students going back home on scooters around noon. Here too, many students were seen not wearing helmets. Amandeep Kaur, ADCP- Traffic, Jalandhar City Police, said, “Our teams will be on vigil outside all schools from tomorrow at the time of both opening and closing of schools. We will also not allow minors to ride scooters as only two-wheelers with less than 50 CC engine capacity can be allowed. To begin with, we will be focusing more on issuing warnings. A few challans will also be issued on day one as exemplary punishment, so everyone has to be watchful.” Jalandhar, July 31 Bacterial contamination has been found to be the cause for the diarrhoea outbreak which claimed several lives in Kapurthala in one week. As many as 12 samples collected by the Health Department in wake of diarrhoea outbreak in Sunder Nagar failed the quality test. These samples were taken from Sunder Nagar, Bakar Khana and Kadupur areas of Kapurthala on July 26 and 27. E.coli was the key bacterial contaminant found in all these samples. After the MC teams swung into action, leaks and sources of contamination were fixed in the area. Five samples collected from these areas subsequently on July 28 have passed the quality test. Water supply 11 NEW CASES REPORTED ■ 11 new Diarrhoea cases were reported in Kapurthala. Seven patients were admitted at the Civil Hospital. ■ Civil Surgeon said all 12 samples that failed tests had been collected from homes of victims was resumed at Sunder Nagar today. Five persons had died (one in Sheikhupur, rest in Sunder Nagar) in Kapurthala after a diarrhoea outbreak and seven tested positive for cholera. They have been discharged now. In all, the Health Department and Municipal Corporation collected 281 water samples in wake of the outbreak of which 29 were collected by the former and 252 by the latter. Of these, barring the 12 failed ones, all others passed the quality Wife’s suicide: Parents of ex-councillor nabbed Husband still absconding Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 31 The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police has made a significant progress in the investigation in the Sunaina suicide case. She hanged herself from a ceiling fan at her home in Jalandhar Cantt on July 10. Sunaina was the wife of former BJP councillor Bharat Atwal, alias Jolly. Acting on a complaint filed by Vandana Devi, Sunaina’s mother, the Jalandhar Cantt police have registered a case under Sections 80 and 3(5) of the BNS Act. Those named in the case include Sunaina’s Family members of a former BJP councillor in police custody in connection with the leader’s wife’s suicide. TRIBUNE PHOTO husband Bharat Atwal, her mother-in-law Baby, fatherin-law Sobha Ram and sis- ters-in-law Sonia, Monika, Manisha and Japji Sukh. The police have now arrest- ed Sobha Ram, his wife Baby and Monika. The search for the remaining accused is ongoing. According to the police, Vandana’s complaint revealed that Sunaina married Bharat about eight months ago. Shortly after the wedding, Sunaina’s in-laws allegedly began demanding dowry and harassing her. Bharat was also involved in an extramarital affair, aggravating Sunaina’s distress. Vandana stated that the tension due to her husband’s affair and the dowry demands led Sunaina to take the extreme step. Sunaina had reportedly confided in her family about her marital troubles and the strain she was facing. “When she stayed with us a week before her death, she disclosed everything. We intended to address the issue with Jolly and his family, but on the night of July 9, Sunaina called us in distress, asking us to take her back. She had warned that her husband and in-laws might harm her,” Vandana said. Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Sharma, addressing the media, confirmed the arrests and the ongoing efforts to apprehend the remaining accused. “After verifying all aspects of the case, an FIR was lodged. The in-laws and a sister-in-law have been arrested and raids are being conducted to arrest the others involved,” Sharma said. He also said the accused had no prior criminal history. The police on a drive to stop noise pollution in Jalandhar. Crackdown by cops on modified bike silencers Tribune News Service Ex-SMO, asst in Vigilance net JIT told to refund ~42 lakh for salary disbursement scam with 9% interest to allottee Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 31 The Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Dr Lakhwinder Singh Chahal, a retired Senior Medical Officer (SMO), and Ranjit Singh, a senior assistant at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Dhillwan, Kapurthala district. The arrests followed an investigation into a salary disbursement scam amounting to Rs 14,46,550 at the Dhillwan PHC. The investigation revealed that Rajwinder Singh, a clerk involved in the scandal and was served a 5-day notice, had a prior record of salary fraud at the Sub-Divisional Hospital in test. The result of some is awaited. Surprisingly, not a single MC sample failed the purity test. Health sources in Kapurthala informed The Tribune that presence of E. coli bacteria was found in all 12 water samples which failed the test. Municipal Commissioner, Kapurthala, Anupam Kler, today visited the affected area and drank water from a home, signalling that water of Sunder Nagar was now fit for consumption. Civil Surgeon Dr Surinder Kaur said, “In the subsequent tests on July 28, all water samples tested negative for contaminants. The reports of five samples arrived today which have passed the test. Water supply was also resumed in the area today at 4 pm. The number of patients has subsided.” Baba Bakala, Amritsar district. Rajwinder Singh was involved in a similar case back in 2013, leading to his transfer to PHC-Dhillwan by the Director of Health and Family Welfare Department, Punjab, in 2016. Despite being aware of Rajwinder’s history, Dr Chahal allegedly assigned him, along with Ranjit, to manage salary accounts. The investigation uncovered that Rajwinder fabricated salary and dearness allowance bills of the employees who were on long leave. These forged documents were then countersigned by Ranjit Singh and approved by Dr Chahal. The fraudulent bills were subsequently passed by the Bhulath treasury office, allowing Rajwinder to embezzle Rs 14,46,550, which he deposited into his bank accounts. In response, the VB has registered a case against Dr Chahal, Ranjit, and Rajwinder under various sections of the IPC, including 409 (criminal breach of trust), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). They are also charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act at the VB police station, Jalandhar. Both Dr Chahal and Ranjit were presented in a court on Wednesday, where they were remanded to judicial custody. Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 31 The National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission has delivered a blow to the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT). The commission ruled in favour of Lalit Kumar Sethi of Jalandhar Cantt regarding his 250square yard plot in Surya Enclave Extension. The Commission has mandated the JIT to refund Lalit the principal sum of Rs 42,61,575 with an interest rate of 9 per cent from the date of his complaint until realisation. Additionally, the JIT must pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation and Rs 20,000 for c m y b THE CASE ■ Lalit Kumar purchased a plot in the JIT’s residential scheme Surya Enclave Extension ■ Despite completing his payment for the plot in June 2014, he never received its possession litigation and harassment expenses, bringing the total amount, including interest and other costs, to approximately Rs 1 crore. Lalit Kumar’s troubles began with his purchase of plot number 156-D in the JIT’s residential scheme Surya Enclave Extension. Despite completing his payment for the plot in June 2014, he never received its possession. Frustrated by the delay and lack of communication from the JIT, Lalit discovered in 2016 that local farmers had filed a writ petition against the JIT in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, complicating the status of the Surya Enclave Extension land. Lalit reached out to the JIT again, but to no avail. This led him to file a complaint with the State Commission in 2017. In 2018, the State Commission ruled in Lalit’s favour, ordering the JIT to refund his principal amount with 9 per cent annual interest. However, the JIT challenged this decision and escalated the matter to the National Commission. Jalandhar, July 31 The Commissionerate Police has intensified its campaign against the use of illegal and modified silencers on motorcycles. This move is part of a broader initiative to ensure safer and quieter roads in the city. On Wednesday, under the guidance of Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma, a focused drive was carried out. The campaign aimed to identify and penalise the use of unauthorised and excessively loud silencers on motorcycles. Leading the drive, Aditya, ADCP City-2, and Aatish Bhatia, ACP Traffic, oversaw the efforts from 4pm to 6pm. They set up special checkpoints, at various busy intersections. The drive saw an active participation from SHOs of Rama Mandi, Baradari, PS Division 4 and PS Division 6. These officers, along with their Emergency Response Services (ERS) teams, were stationed at strategic points, including Rama Mandi Chowk, BSF Chowk, BMC Chowk, and Model Town Market. The primary objective of this drive was to take decisive action against motorcycles equipped with illegal and modified silencers that produce crackling noises. During the two-hour drive, 215 vehicles were inspected of these, five motorcycles were found to be in violation of noise regulations and were subsequently impounded. Additionally, 50 challans were issued to various violators. CP Sharma emphasised that such operations would continue to be a part of the police ongoing efforts to curb noise pollution and enhance road safety in Jalandhar. Residents are encouraged to comply with traffic regulations to avoid penalties and contribute to a quieter, safer city.