27042023-JTR-01.qxd 4/27/2023 12:17 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune WHEAT PROCUREMENT SET TO MEET TARGET THIS SEASON JAMES GUNN WANTS TO WORK WITH NTR JR Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn shares that he wants to work with RRR-fame NTR Jr. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 21°C SOUNDOUS MOUFAKIR JOINS KHATRON KE KHILADI 13 Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal says wheat procurement in 42 mandis of the district going on smoothly.P2 FORECAST Stunt-based reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi, makes a roaring comeback with its 13th edition. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 6.57 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:43 AM » THURSDAY | 27 APRIL 2023 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF FAKE TRAVEL AGENT COUPLE BOOKED Phagwara: Following a complaint lodged by a resident of Hoshiarpur, Mahesh Kumar, the Sadar police have registered a case against a fake travel agent couple under Sections 420 and 406 of the IPC and other relevant provisions of the law on the charge of duping the complainant of ~30 lakh on the pretext of sending him to Canada. The accused were identified as Mandip Singh and his wife Nisha, residents of Glaxy Enclave, Jalandhar. The victim told the police that the accused could neither send him to Canada nor return their money back. No arrest has been made so far. OC FIRE BREAKS OUT IN POULTRY FARM Phagwara: Goods worth estimated ~3 lakh were destroyed in a fire that broke out at a poultry farm in Mohalla Kaulsar here on Tuesday. Eight fire tenders were pressed into service to extinguish the fire. No animal was inside the poultry farm at the time of the incident. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. OC DRUG PEDDLER IN POLICE NET Phagwara: The Phillaur police arrested a drug smuggler and recovered 25 grams of heroin from his possession on Tuesday night. According to the police, the accused was identified as Kuldip Kumar, a resident of Mukandpura Banga. He was nabbed at a check-point. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused. COVID: 22 TEST +VE IN HOSHIARPUR Hoshiarpur: The district witnessed 22 fresh Covid cases on Wednesday. Civil Surgeon Dr Balwinder Kumar said there were 86 active cases in the district. OC WHEAT EMBEZZLEMENT Former food & civil supplies inspector held Our Correspondent Phagwara, April 26 The Nakodar city police have arrested a former food and civil supplies inspector, who was posted at Nakodar, on the charge of embezzling wheat stored in government godowns. Investigating Officer (IO) Mandip Singh said the accused has been identified as Inspector Sukhjinder Pal, son of Surinder, a resident of Nawan Pind, Arayina. The Controller, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Jalandhar, Rahul Bassi, complained to the Jalandhar (rural) SSP that the accused embezzled wheat stored in government godowns. During the checking of stores, 6,043.1 quintals of wheat was found to be less. The IO said a case under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant), 420 (cheating), 380 (theft in dwelling house) and 201 (disappearance of evidence of offence) of the IPC was registered against the accused after an inquiry. The Investigating Officer said his accomplice Daljit Singh, son of Nachhtar Singh, a resident of Gill village, was arrested earlier. Tributes pour in across party lines Mourning the demise of SAD patriarch BADAL’S DEATH End of an era in state politics, saysJalandhar bypoll co-incharge Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 26 BJP leaders today paid tributes to former Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, who passed away on Tuesday. The entire leadership of the BJP observed a two-minute silence at the election office here in the memory of the Akali stalwart. Leaders also paid floral tributes to the five-time Punjab CM. Co-incharge of the Jalandhar bypoll and former UP cabinet minister Dr Mahinder Singh, BJP national secretary Dr AAP leaders remember five-time Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal in Jalandhar on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Narinder Singh Rana, former MLA and National Executive member Manoranjan Kalia, state general secretary and zonal in-charge Jeevan Gupta, Dr Subhash Sharma among other leaders paid tributes to senior Badal. Mahinder Singh said the death of the Akali stalwart sent a wave of grief in the political circles. He said the demise of Parkash Singh Badal was an end of an era in the state and country politics. AAP also offered tributes to Parkash Singh Badal at an event held at the party office near the Ravidass Chowk. State general secretary Harchand Singh Barsat, MLAs Amritpal Kohli, Jeevan Jyot Kaur and other senior party leaders were present on the occasion. AAP leaders remembered the Akali Dal patriarch with folded hands and offered prayers. Congress leaders also paid tributes to the Akali patriarch commemorating his decades’ long contribution to the politics of the region. National Flag flies half mast at the railway station; and (below) BJP leaders and workers pay tributes to former Punjab CM and Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Confusion among staff, students over holiday Doubts cleared after government notification for Thursday closing Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 26 Punjab government employees and students of various schools and colleges remained in confusion till Wednesday morning over whether it was a holiday or a working day following the demise of former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The employees said they did not know till 9 am on Wednesday whether it was a working day or not. At 9 am today, the government issued a notification that it was a holiday tomorrow (Thursday), indicating that it was a working day today i.e. on Wednesday. “Last evening, some channels flashed the news of a holiday on Wednesday after the death of the veteran leader. We got complacent after that and thought that it would definitely be a holiday today as has been the tradition in Punjab and going by the stature of five-time CM. A two-day state mourning was declared and we took it for two-day holiday. After I got some calls and messages this morning, then I realised that it was not a holiday and got ready hurriedly,” said an employee from the Revenue Department. A government school teacher from Kapurthala said she got late due to the confusion. “Everyone was so sure that it would be a holiday, but we were in for a surprise that the holiday has been announced for tomorrow, instead of today. Since my school is about 15 km from my place, it took me time to get information that it was indeed a working day today and go to the school,” the teacher said. Even there was confusion among private school students today. While some schools, including Sanskriti KMV School, had announced late last evening that it would be a holiday today, others remained on wait-and- Jauramajra visits former MLA Sarhal’s native village in Banga Says govt committed to transforming Pb into prosperous state Tribune News Service Banga, April 26 Punjab Information and Public Relations Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra today reiterated the commitment of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mannled state government to transform Punjab into a progressive and prosperous state. Addressing the gathering after paying floral tributes to former MLA of Banga (1985) Balwant Singh Sarhal at his native Sarhal Qazian village near Banga, who was assassinated by militants in 1992, the minister said personalities like Sarhal would always remain etched in public memory for their noble deeds. Punjab Information and Public Relations Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra during a visit to Sarhal Qazian, native village of former MLA Balwant Singh Sarhal, near Banga. TRIBUNE PHOTO He said the footsteps left by former MLA Balwant Singh Sarhal had inspired his son Kuljit Singh Sarhal to do social service by joining politics. He appreciated the family for commemorating the great son of soil for long time by observing his death anniversary. While nteracting with mediapersons, the Minister Continued on page 2 watch mode. Some schools like St Joseph’s Convent School announced it to be a holiday on the school app this morning. While some who checked the app got the information, others who reached the school had to come back finding the gates closed. Several schools even conducted online classes today, since it was declared a holiday for tomorrow. “Two-day holiday all of a sudden changes our lesson plans, which have to be revised and syllabus has to be covered through extra or online classes,” said a teacher of a school in Model Town. Villager held for theft, conspiracy Phagwara, April 26 The Lohian Khas police arrested a Ferozepur villager on the charges of theft, criminal conspiracy and destroying evidence of offence. Investigating officer (IO) Iqbal Singh said the accused had been identified as Angrej Singh, a resident of Kussu Wala village under the Makhu police station in Ferozepur, his brother Angrej Singh and scrap dealer Gurindar Singh, a resident of Nihal Singh Wala town in Moga. Resham Singh, a resident of Lalu Wala village under the Makhu police station, complained to the police that the accused and his accomplice stole his Tata bus (PB-29-K-9666) parked at Giddar Pindi toll plaza on November 28 and sold it to a scrap dealer. The IO said a case under Sections 379, 201 and 120-B of the IPC was registered against the accused. — OC 11 food samples collected in Hoshiarpur Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, April 26 To keep a check on the adulteration of food items in the district, District Health Officer Dr Lakhvir Singh today collected 11 samples from five different food business operators (FBO) from various places in Hoshiarpur. The food samples were sent to the Food Testing Laboratory, Kharar. The Sent to Kharar laboratory for testing A team collects samples of food items in Hoshiarpur on Wednesday. c m y b District Health Officer urged people to remain alert to adulteration and report it to the authorities concerned if they came across any kind of stale or adulterated food items being sold. Dr Lakhvir Singh said he collected samples of lentils and mustard oil from Bittu Karyana Shop in the Vakilan Bazaar; matri and seviyan Continued on page 2 SARABJIT SINGH & MALKIAT SINGH Police get 3 youths admitted to drug de-addiction centre Help 200 addicts shun drugs in past few yrs Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 26 In a move to extend a helping hand to drug addicts so that they can shun drugs and get back to their normal lives, Jalandhar Cantt ACP Harshpreet Singh and police officers of Jalandhar Heights chowki got three youth, who were hooked to drugs, admitted to Bolster Drug De-addiction Centre, Khurla Kingra here for the treatment. ASI Victor Masih, incharge Jalandhar Heights police chowki, said the youth were from Kadianwali and Pholriwal villages of Jalandhar Cantt. He said they got addicted to drugs due to family issues and unemployment. “All three of them belong to poor families, with their parents working as labourers and house helps. Village residents had informed us that the youngsters were trapped in drug abuse, however, they are now willing to recover”, he added. He said after getting their medical tests done from their own pocket, he with the help of his senior officials and the management of Bolster Drug Deaddiction Centre got them PLAYING PRO-ACTIVE ROLE ❝ We pay regular visits to the villages falling in our area and talk to residents about youngsters addicted to drugs. Sometimes, it’s the addict’s family members who bring them to us, seeking help, and on other occasions, we motivate them to get treatment. ❞ ASI Victor Masih, IN-CHARGE, JALANDHAR HEIGHTS POLICE CHOWKI admitted there. “They are now being given treatment free of cost”, said Masih, adding that under the supervision of his senior officials, he had in the last few years got nearly 200 addicts admitted to different de-addiction centres and at Civil Hospital, Jalandhar. ASI Victor said on the directives of Police Commissioner Kuldeep Chahal and ADCP-2 Aditya, the police have adopted a humanitarian approach towards those addicted to drugs. “We pay regular visits to the villages falling in our area, and talk to the residents about youngsters addicted to drugs. Continued on page 2 Woman among 7 arrested with liquor, intoxicants Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, April 26 The district police have arrested seven smugglers and recovered a huge amount of narcotics and liquor from their possession in separate cases. The Mahilpur police arrested Rajesh Kumar, alias Baba, a resident of Tuto Mazara village, from Dana Mandi in Bhagtupur village with 320 intoxicant pills. The Model Town police arrested Mani, a resident of Bhagat Nagar, New Model Town, from near the Bhagat Nagar T-point and recovered 20 intoxicating injections from him. In another case, the Model Town police arrested Amandeep from Purhiran and recovered 60 grams of intoxicant powder from him. Acting on a tip-off, the Tanda police recovered 40 intoxicating pills from a medical store and arrested Ravinder Singh, a resident of Khun Khun Kalan. Priya, a resident of Ganna Pind, Phillaur, was arrested with 3 grams of heroin and 180 grams of intoxicant powder. Similarly, the Dasuya police arrested Rakesh Kumar, alias Kesha, a resident of Baharampur district, Gurdaspur, with 200 bottles of liquor at a naka at the Hajipur turn T-point. The Hariana police arrested Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of Lehal village, from the Nikkiwal Lehlan T-point and recovered 12 bottles of smuggled liquor from him.