26022023-JTR-01.qxd 2/25/2023 11:24 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune COMPUTER TEACHERS TO HOLD PROTEST MARCH IN CITY TODAY RRR BAGS FOUR AWARDS AT HOLLYWOOD CRITICS AWARDS INDIAN IDOL FAME DANISH TO FEATURE IN O MAAHI Over 1,000 computer teachers from all districts will gather in Jalandhar over long-pending demands. P2 Filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s RRR bagged four awards at the Hollywood Critics Association Awards. P3 T-series presents yet another love song O Maahi, sung by talented Indian Idol fame Mohd Danish. P4 » » » SUNDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2023 | JALANDHAR In Kapurthala, Cong councillor Farmers lay siege to sugar mill over dues caught in blue ration card row Annual income shown as ~30K IHusband runs medical clinic Avneet Kaur CARD CANCELLED, REPLY SOUGHT Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 25 While people from the margins of society are running from pillar to post to get their blue ration cards, those with political affiliations or sources have it much easier. A classic example of this misappropriation is this case from Kapurthala, in which the husband of a Congress councillor from Ward No. 35, whose annual family income is much more than what is shown on papers, had been availing the benefits of a blue card till recently. Dr Prem Kumar, councillor Bimla Devi’s husband, not only deceived the government by submitting forged documents proving his fami- INBRIEF 2 HELD FOR SELLING ILLICIT LIQUOR ■ District Food and Civil Supplies Officer, Kapurthala, Preet Kamal Singh said after receiving the complaint, councillor Bimla Devi’s blue ration card was immediately cancelled. A detailed-report in the case has been sent to the higher authorities for appropriate action ■ SDM Lal Vishwas said they had sought a written statement from her in the case. Meanwhile, councillor Bimla Devi could not be reached despite repeated attempts ly’s annual income of Rs 30,000, but he also provided incorrect family information in the blue card by mentioning his wife as his daughter. Nishant Kumar, an autorickshaw driver from Kapurthala, brought this matter to the attention of the District Food and Supply Department and also sent a complaint in this regard to the Chief Minis- ter’s office and the district administration. “I am an auto-rickshaw driver. I have been making rounds of the Food Supply Department on a daily basis to register myself for the blue card, but I am asked for hundreds of proofs. However, our councillor, despite earning lakhs, has been taking the advantage of the subsidised ration meant for poor people like me,” he added. District Food and Civil Supplies Officer, Kapurthala, Preet Kamal Singh, said after receiving the complaint, the councillor’s blue card was immediately cancelled. Besides, after verifying details like from when they were availing undue benefits and other things, a detailed-report in the case was sent to the higher authorities, and accordingly an action will be taken. Sub-Divisonal Magistrate Lal Vishwas said the ration card of Bimla Devi has been cancelled by the Food Department, and they have also sought a written statement from her in the case. Meanwhile, councillor Bimla Devi could not be reached despite repeated attempts. Man held for desecration at Nandanpur gurdwara Tribune News Service Phagwara: The Mehatpur police arrested two persons on the charge of selling illicit liquor.The police said 18 bottles of illicit liquor were recovered from Santokh Singh and Amarik Singh, both residents of Gaunsuwal village. A case under the relevant sections of the Excise Act has been registered against the suspects. OC WOMAN ASSAULTED, FOUR BOOKED Phagwara: The Bilga police booked four persons, including two women, on the charge of assaulting a woman. Those booked are residents of Thamanwal village. Joti Bala of the same village complained to the police that the suspects assaulted and injured her on January 29. The police said a case under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 325 (causing grevious hurt), and 34 of the Indian Penal Code had been registered. Further action will be taken after a thorough investigation, said the police. OC Jalandhar, February 25 A resident of Nandanpur village in Jalandhar was arrested under Section 295 (hurting religious sentiments) of the IPC here today. As per Nandanpur residents, the man allegedly smoked beedi on the premises of Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Nandanpur, and also urinated there. The accused was apprehended by the residents. Around 70 people had gathered at the site until the police reached the village at 8.30 am and arrested the accused. The police said the accused entered the gurdwara at 5.30 am and desecrated the premises by indulging in the aforesaid acts. Maqsudan police station ASI Satnam Singh said: “The man, who has been identified as Amrit Lal, a resident of the same village, desecrated the gurdwara premises for which a case under Section 295 of the IPC has been lodged against him. He has been arrested. While he seems to be mentally upset, we are thoroughly investigating the matter.” The villagers, however, said the man’s conduct was per- Sikh Talmel Committee members at the Maqsudan police station in connection with the sacrilege incident at Nandanpur village. ACCUSED APPEARS MENTALLY UPSET ❝A case under Section 295 of the IPC has been lodged against the accused. While he seems to be mentally upset, we are thoroughly investigating the matter. Satnam Singh, ASI, MAQSUDAN POLICE STATION ❞ plexing because he was a mechanic in the village. Kehr Singh, granthi, Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Nadanpur, said: “Our village is peaceful and it has only one gurdwara. This man is a mechanic at the village. We also talked to his family which is also shocked by the incident. All communities live peacefully in our village. In recent times, other men who carried out desecrations in the region’s gurd- waras were also found to be mentally upset. The question is why only gurdwaras are targeted like this.” Despite the presence of cameras at the gurdwara, no CCTV footage of the incident could be secured. Kehr Singh said new cameras had recently been installed at the gurdwara but due to technical fault in the hard disk, the CCTV footage couldn’t be available. Kapurthala 2nd best in timely approvals for new industries Kapurthala, February25 Kapurthala district has secured second place across Punjab in promoting investment by creating the best environment and providing other necessary approvals in time for establishment of commercial industrial units. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has honoured Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal during the ‘5th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2023’. It is pertinent to mention that under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal, applications for approval of shooting of films, mobile tower, RTB requests and expansion of industrial units were given nod in a single day in 2022 which boost investment. CM Bhagwant Mann felicitates DC Vishesh Sarangal in Mohali. While congratulating the administrative officials on the selection of the district for this award by the Punjab Government, the DC said this would give more encouragement to the district administration to promote investment. He said the district administration was committed to working more effectively to create employment opportunities for the youth by boosting investment in Kapurthala. — TNS c m y b Mukerian, February 25 Farmers, under the banner of the United Farmers Associations, closed all gates of Sugar Mill Mukerian, jammed the weighing scale and raised slogans against the government, administration and the mill management. After a six-hour long protest, an agreement was signed between the farmers and the mill management in the presence of administrative officers around 5.30 pm. While addressing the workers, farmer leaders said, “Private mills are cheating with farmers of Punjab. There is a law to deposit the amount payable against sugarcane RELENT AFTER MGMT PROMISES TO CLEAR PAYMENT BY MARCH 12 purchased by the mill in the farmers’ bank account within 14 days after selling the sugarcane crop in the mill but even after 46 days, the private mills are yet to deposit the money in the accounts of the farmers, due to which the subsidy from the government is also not being credited. Farmers are passing through a tough time, for which the private mills are directly responsible.” Farmers raised slogans against the continued on page 2 FORECAST MOSTLY SUNNY MAX 28°C | MIN 12°C YESTERDAY MAX 27°C | MIN 10°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6.19 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6:51 AM