23062022-JTR-01.qxd 6/22/2022 11:59 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar TRIBUNE PRABHJOT SINGH FROM CITY WINS GOLD IN WORLD C’SHIP Student of PAU RRS, Ballowal Saunkhri, he performed at the World Powerlifting C’ship held in Kyrgyzstan. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY INBRIEF SEVEN ARRESTED UNDER NDPS ACT Hoshiarpur: The district police arrested seven smugglers, including two women, from different places and recovered a huge quantity of drugs from them in last 24 hours. The police have also recovered drug money and a stolen bike from the accused. The Garhshankar police arrested a woman smuggler, Praveen of Denowal Khurd, and recovered 15-gm heroin along with ~30,000-drug money. The Mahilapur police recovered a huge quantity of sedative injections and a stolen bike from Lakhvir Singh of Morawali and Sahil of Gondpur. Similarly, the city police arrested Sushant Sharma of Bhawani Nagar and recovered a large number of sedative pills from him. Also, the Model Town police arrested Preeti Sidhu of Hardokhanpur and recovered 82-gm intoxicating powder from him. Meanwhile, the Tanda police arrested two brothers and recovered 147gm intoxicating powder from them. The accused have been identified as Jaimal Fatta and Dheeraj Kumar, both residents of Chandigarh Colony, Tanda. Separate cases under the NDPS Act have been registered against the accused. OC CONVICT JUMPS PAROLE, BOOKED Hoshiarpur: A prisoner, who was serving a sentence in a murder case, did not return to the Kapurthala jail after coming out on parole. On the complaint of the jail superintendent, the Mehtiana police have registered a case against the accused. The Assistant Superintendent posted at the Kapurthala Central Jail had lodged a complaint with the police. He told the police that a murder case was registered against Balkar Singh of Phuglana on September 17, 2007, in which he was sentenced. Balkar was out on parole from 11 April to June 14. According to him, the accused did not return to the jail within the stipulated time. The police have initiated action after registering a case. OC BJP PROTESTS AGAINST RPO Jalandhar: In protest against the problems faced by people at the Regional Passport Office (RPO), members and senior leaders of the BJP on Wednesday sat on a dharna outside the Passport Office, Jalandhar, and also raised slogans. Raising questions on the passport office working, Arun Khosla alleged that people come from far-off areas for their passport-related grievances, but they do not get proper hearing. He alleged the behaviour of its staff with people is not right. The protesters said they have urged the Central Government to transfer Regional Passport Officer Jaspal Singh. TNS MAN ARRESTED FOR GAMBLING Hoshiarpur: The Model Town police arrested Amit Saini of Prem Garh and recovered cash and betting slips from him. A case has been registered against the accused under the Gambling Act. OC PAGE 2 DILJIT’S EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE TO SIDHU MOOSEWALA PAGE 3 SONA ANNOUNCES PREMIERE OF DOCUMENTARY SHUT UP SONA Diljit shared a clip from the concert on Instagram, where he performed a special segment for Moosewala. MAX 36°C | MIN 23°C | YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7:35 PM The singer recently treated her fans with the news of her intimate and unapologetic documentary. SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:24 AM THURSDAY | 23 JUNE 2022 | JALANDHAR Drug Control Officer suspended for graft LICENCES FOR SALECommissioner, Food & Drug Administration, told to transfer probe to VB Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 22 Amid a viral video and charges of seeking bribe against him, Drug Control Officer, Jalandhar-2, Ravi Gupta has been placed under suspension by the state Department of Health and Family Welfare. The Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, has also been directed to transfer the case investigation to the Vigilance Bureau and supply all the requisite documents to the VB. Deputed in Jalandhar, Ravi Gupta has been suspended at least two months after the video appeared in the public domain. In the video, he was seen demanding lakh of rupees in bribe in return for issuing a licence. Notably, while the video had been circulating on social media since April, the orders for Gupta’s suspension were issued by the Secretary, Punjab Government, Health and Family Welfare Department, on June 20. Copies of the PLAINT REMAINED PENDING FOR A MONTH While the video first became public in April, the case had previously been forwarded by the previous Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, for a probe, following which the file went to previous health minister Vijay Inder Singla. But following the probe into his own corruption charges, sources said this matter remained uninvestigated for nearly a month. It is when the file reached the current health minister that formal cognizance was eventually taken. Until then, the Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, also changed. The suspension of the officer was thus ordered on June 20. been marked to the ❝The case hasfor a probe. Prime facie, the Vigilance Bureau officer seems to be asking for money for a licence, which calls for action which has been duly ordered. Subsequent action will follow as per the findings of the probe. ❞ Ajoy Sharma, SECRETARY, HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE, PUNJAB WHAT THE OFFICER IS HEARD SAYING IN THE VIDEO THAT WENT VIRAL... allowed 3-3, 4-4 da rate chal ❝Vaise tandevange.nahi haige licence.2-3 (lakh)lakhjouga kharch.reha etthe par apan tan tuhanu fresh Tuhada takriban ho Baki je tusi kahonge apaan ghat vi kar dange thore bahut...Actually, 4-5 lakh ka bikta hai licence. Ye chal raha hai rate. Kyonki fresh to band hai. Hum kisi tarike se banva ke denge apko. Vaise totally band hai. ❞ order have also been marked to the Secretaries to the CM, Punjab, the Finance and Health Secretaries, the Civil Surgeon, Jalandhar, and the Zonal Licensing Authority, Jalandhar. Sources in the department said the video and the subsequent orders are proof of discrepancies in the issuance of licences to chemists in the drug department. The orders state that “As per the video received from a mobile number (which is mentioned in the order), Ravi Gupta, Drug Control Officer, Jalandhar-2, is being suspended with immediate effect as per rule 4 (1) of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970, for seeking money in exchange of a certain work.” PAGE 4 fresh one (licence). But you will have to shell out ~2-3 lakh for it. If you ask, we will even reduce the rate.) The officer, in the video, further adds, “Actually, 4-5 lakh ka bikta hai licence. Ye chal raha hai rate. Kyonki fresh to band hai. Hum kisi tarike se banva ke denge apko. Vaise totally band hai. (Actually, the licence can be procured by paying ~4-5 lakh. This is the rate. The issuance of fresh licences is closed. We will get it made for you somehow).” The Drug Control Officer is also seen promising the same while making references to the Zonal Authority and controllers. Ajoy Sharma, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, said, “The case has been marked to the Vigilance Bureau for a probe. Prime facie, the officer seems to be asking for money for a licence, which calls for action which has been duly ordered. Subsequent action will follow as per the findings of the probe.” Two held with 200-kg poppy husk Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 22 The Jalandhar rural police arrested two persons with 200-kg poppy husk and seized two trucks. The police said during patrol on June 17, they intercepted a truck near the Gidderpindi bridge, which was being driven by Lakhwinder SIngh of Vanjoke village of Ferozeour and later, another truck was intercepted by them at the same spot. The driver of the second truck was idenitfied as Barkat Masih of Dhakka Basti in Ferozepur. Upon a detailed search, 100kg poppy husk (each) was recovered from both the trucks by the police. A case has been registered under Sections 15 C, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act against the two accused. The duo, during investigation, revealed that they were bringing poppy husk from Jammu and Kashmir and were supposed to supply it to various districts in Punjab. They have been remanded to police custody. The Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, has been directed to transfer the case to the Vigilance Bureau for investigation. During his suspension, the head office, the Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Kharar, has been designated as the headquarters of suspended Drug Control Officer Ravi Gupta. In the video, the officer is seen speaking to another person not visible on the screen. He says, “Vaise tan allowed nahi haige license. 3-3, 4-4 lakh da rate chal reha etthe par apan tan tuhanu fresh devange. Tuhada takriban 23 (lakh) ho jouga kharch. Baki je tusi kahonge apaan ghat vi kar dange thore bahut. (Licences are not allowed. The rate is Rs 3-4 lakh per licence, but we will get you a Shortage of sanitation workers hits cleanliness in city again District reports 10 Covid cases 19 schools win Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar-2022 in Kapurthala City suffering from staff crunch for the last five years Jalandhar, June 22 As many as 10 new cases of Covid were reported from Jalandhar on Wednesday, taking the district tally to 78,487 cases. As many as 76,869 people have recovered from Covid in the district, while the number of active cases is 39. No death was reported in Jalandhar on Wednesday and the toll remains at 1,579. Tribune News Service Two cases in Kapurthala Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 22 “Mayor Saab, I do not have enough safai karamcharis in my ward and staff crunch is creating problems,” said a councillor during the General House meeting that was held last week, to which the Mayor replied, “Bharti honi hai, samasya da samadhan ho jaayega (Recruitments will be done and the problem will be resolved.” The councillor again said, “Panj saal ho gaye ehi sunde hoye, halle takk te hoyi nahee, hun ki hoyegi (Five years have already passed, but the matter has not been addressed so far, what will happen now.” This conversation sums up the problem almost every ward is facing. Even this basic facility of provision of safai karamcharis in the wards has not been done by the MC, forget about the completion of big development projects. Downpour in the city is enough to expose the MC’s claims when it comes to taking care of basic amenities for the residents. Amid rains and filth around, the absence of safai karamcharis has only worsened the situation. The shortage of safai karamcharis has been raised by residents and councillors The shortage of safai karamcharis in almost every ward has come to fore again as filth gathers all over. MALKIAT SINGH SEWERAGE PROBLEMS There are only five ALSO PERSIST Be it MC work or projects coming under safai karamcharis in ❝ the Smart City project, nothing is being my ward. We have to done. Pre-monsoon showers may have face the wrath of brought cheer to city residents, but problems related to sewerage are going people every day. I to overshadow it. Jagdish Samrai, from need more than 30 Ward Number 78, said sewage has been workers in my ward. overflowing in several areas and no cleaning has been done because of the Just look at the absence of super suction machines. difference in the “No tenders have been floated for super number and one will suction machines yet,” he claimed. Councillor Bachan Lal from Ward Number get to know how we 36 shared the same problem. He said, “I manage have talked to the MC officials several everything. times, but the sewerage issue has not been resolved. Is samasya ne bada Anita Rani, WARD NO.75 COUNCILLOR pareshan kitta hai.” ❞ in several meetings, through memorandums, but nothing has been done yet. Councillor Tarsem Singh from Ward No.34 said that in his ward there were only 10 safai karamcharis but he needed over 20 karamcharis. “It becomes difficult to clean areas. There are some mohallas where garbage is lifted and cleanliness is done after a gap of two days,” he said. Ward No.75 councillor Anita Rani said, “There are only five safai karamcharis in my ward. We have to face the wrath of people every day. I need more than 30 workers in my ward. Just look at the difference in the number and one will get to know how we manage everything.” She added that on a daily basis, they cover only one street in the entire ward. “People wait for days for their turn and the cycle continues. The MC was formed in January 2018, and for three years, I didn’t have even a single karamchari in my ward. It is only in 2021 that I got a handful of the karamcharis,” Anita said. In Ward No.78 too, against the requirement of 32, only five safai karamcharis are working. c m y b The Kapurthala district reported 2 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the district tally to 23,925. Meanwhile, no new death was reported in Kapurthala today. The toll in Kapurthala stands at 583. Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 22 Ninteen schools have won “Swachh Vidyalaya Purskar2022” in Kapurthala district on the basis of a survey, which was based on six parameters across the district comprising 1,057 government and private schools. While presenting the awards to the school principals here at the DAC, Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal said the winner schools made the districts proud. He also informed that the Ministry of Education has launched the project “Swachh Vidyalaya Purskar2022” across the nation to establish the best sanitation and hygienic conduct, capacity building and operation and maintenance aspects in primary and secondary schools along with private schools. The district has formed a survey committee under the Deputy Commissioner. The committee consisting of the DEO (Secondary) and the DEO (Primary) had surveyed the 1,057 schools in the district which was registered on the online portal of the Education Department. The committee found 780 schools eligible for the competition, out of which 19 schools were selected for 37 Purskars in different categories. Hailing the efforts made by the Education Department and teachers of the award winning schools, the Deputy Commissioner said the award-winning schools would also take part in the next competition at the state level. The Bhawanipur Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) has bagged the top position in the over- all category by showing remarkable performance in six aspects followed by the Sheikhupur Government Primary School (GPS) in five aspects. At the third position was the Bamuwal Government Middle School (GMS) by showing excellence in four aspects. The other winner schools are: GMS, Kuka; Prita Lee Lesson Senior Secondary School; GPS, Raipur Peer Baksh Wala; Shri Guru Harkrishan Public School; Bawa Lalwani Public School; Government High School (GHS), Gopipur; GMS, Jag; GMS, Bhandal Dona; GMS, Mustafabad; GMS, Sham Nagar; GPS, Dhaliwal; GPS, Farid Saria; GPS, Gazi Gudana; Swami Sant Dass Public School; GSSS, Tibba; and Army Public School, Gazi Gadana. Piqued over slow pace of work, residents block Hoshiarpur-Jal road Our Correspondent SDM assures protesters that the issue will be resolved by July 2 Hoshiarpur, June 22 Irked by slow pace of construction work on the Hoshiarpur-Jalandhar road, shopkeepers, villagers and locals staged a protest against the district administration and the contractor here on Wednesday. The protesters blocked the road at Adda Nasarla and raised slogans against Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Hans. The protesters said the condition of the road in Adda Nasrala was so bad that even after light rain, the road becomes nonmotorable. The commuter and locals face a lot of inconvenience due to this. The problem has not been resolved even after being repeatedly brought to the notice of the DC in the meetings held with him. The protesters said they had staged SDM Shivraj Singh Bal persuades protesters on the Hoshiarpur-Jalandhar road to end the stir at Adda Nasrala. protests on this issue earlier too, but nothing had been done by the administration. SDM Shivraj Singh Bal, Naib Tehsildar Nirmal Singh, XEN Ram Singh and police officers also reached the spot. While talking to the protesters, he assured the protesters that the issue would be resolved soon and asked the XEN to promise the same in writing, after which the road was cleared for traffic. XEN Ram Singh assured the protesters that the work of Adda Nasrala road would be completed by July 2.