01102023-JTR-01.qxd 01-10-2023 00:39 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune INQUILAB FESTIVAL A HIT AMONG BOOK LOVERS POP ICON SHAKIRA IS PROUD TO HAIL FROM COLOMBIA KARISHMA GETS NOMINATED FOR SCOOP AT BUSAN FILM FEST Inquilab Festival witnessed a huge rush outside the book stall put up by the Language Department. P2 Hips Don’t Lie singer Shakira said she was proud to hail from the Latin American country. P3 Karishma Tanna is the only Indian actress nominated for prestigious Busan International Film Festival. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 33°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6:08 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6:16 AM SUNDAY | 1 OCTOBER 2023 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF TWO INJURED IN GROUP CLASH Phagwara: Two persons, including a leader, suffered injuries in a group clash on the Phagwara-Banga road on Friday night. A police party, headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Jaspreet Singh, rushed to the spot. Injured persons former AAP leader Inderjit Singh Khaliyan was admitted to Narula Hospital, Phagwara, while Manu Sharma from another group was admitted to the Civil Hospital here. Khaliyan told the police that as soon as he came out of his office on the Banga Road to return to his house, a group of around 12 assailants attacked him. Manu Sharma alleged that Khaliyan and his friends attacked him. The police are investigating the matter. OC PO LANDS IN POLICE NET Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested a proclaimed offender (PO), who was absconding for the past few months. Investigating officer Jagtar Singh said the accused had been identified as Rannjit Singh, alias Kalu, a resident of Mulle Wal Khehra village. He was wanted in a case of theft registered in 2016 and was declared a PO recently. OC WOMAN’S MOBILE PHONE SNATCHED Phagwara: An unidentified scooter-borne person snatched a mobile phone from a woman in the Hargobind Nagar locality here on Friday. The suspect managed to flee after committing the crime. The victim, identified as Manpreet Kaur, a resident of Ajnoha village. The incident took place while she was going to her office. The victim raised alarm and managed to note down the registration number (PB-12AH-5249) of the scooter. The police have registered a case under Section 379B of the IPC. They have launched a manhunt to trace the suspect. OC SEVEN BOOKED FOR ASSAULT Phagwara: The Nakodar city police have booked seven persons on the charges of voluntarily causing hurt and rotting. Investigating officer (IO) Rannjit Singh said the suspects had been identified as Ashok, Vinay, Naresh, Vishal, Bablu, Prince and Nawi Bacha, all residents of Nakodar. Gurdeep Singh, a resident of Mohalla Guru Nanak Pur, Nakodar, complained to the police that the suspects waylaid him and his brother near Baba Balmik Temple on September 23 and attacked them. They also suffered injuries in the incident. The IO said a case had been registered. OC Woman’s murder case solved, grandson held Wahid Sandhar Sugar Mills deceived over 600 farmers, reveals VB probe Tribune News Service Tribune Reporters Jalandhar, September 30 The police claimed to have solved the murder case of an elderly woman within 24 hours with the arrest of a 37-year-old man. The suspect has been identified as Neeraj Kumar. The woman, identified as Surinder Kaur, was murdered at Kartarpur and her daughter Meena Rani suffered serious injuries in the incident that took place on September 28. Meena was admitted to a Jalandhar hospital. Gurmeet Ram (70), husband of the elderly woman, lodged a complaint with the Kartarpur police. On the bases of his complaint, a case under Sections 302, 307 and 34 of the IPC was registered at the Kartarpur police station on September 28. The police also recovered the scooter stolen by the suspect from his house. In his complaint, Gurmeet said he was at his grocery store at the time of the incident. An unidentified man entered his house and killed his wife. He also attacked his daughter, who Jalandhar, September 30 Financial discrepancies by Golden Sandhar Sugar Mills, earlier known as Wahid Sandhar Sugar Mills, have been found responsible for debts of 600 sugarcane farmers, who find themselves ensnared in debts of ~3 lakh each. This was revealed by the Vigilance Bureau, following the arrest of SAD leader and former Markfed chairman Jarnail Singh Wahid, who was a former partner at the mill. The dharna by sugarcane farmers outside the Golden Sandhar Sugar Mills at Phagwara finally ended on the fourth day today, following the arrest of Wahid and sealing of the mill this afternoon. The dharna, led by the Doaba Kisan Union, was being held under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha demanding ~42 crore pending dues of sugarcane farmers. A team of the Kapurthala district administration, led by Phagwara SDM Jai Inder Singh, sealed the mill late The suspect in custody of the Kartarpur police. TRIBUNE PHOTO WITCHCRAFT MOTIVE BEHIND MURDER! The police said Neeraj Kumar suspected that Surinder Kaur, who is his grandmother, was performing witchcraft on his family. As a result, his and his brother's marriages were not being solemnised. The suspect also told them that he, his mother and his animals were repeatedly falling sick due to the witchcraft. He suspected that all this was the handiwork of the elderly woman. In a fit of anger, he murdered her. suffered serious injuries. After the murder, the accused also changed his clothes at the victim’s house to change his appearance. The police have recovered blood-stained clothes of the suspect and the weapon used to commit the crime. They also recovered the clothes he stole from the victim’s house to change his appearance. The police said Neeraj sus- pected that Surinder Kaur, who is his grandmother, was performing witchcraft on his family. As a result, his and his brother’s marriages were not being solemnised. The suspect also told them that he, his mother and his animals were repeatedly falling sick due to the witchcraft. He suspected that all this was the handiwork of the elderly woman. In a fit of anger, he murdered her. Over ~40 crore still unpaid; admn seals mill, farmers lift dharna Farmers return after ending their three-day rail roko protest at the Jalandhar Cantt railway station on Saturday. MALKIAT SINGH this afternoon. Apart from the charges against Wahid and his family members, the Vigilance probe has brought to light some glaring discrepancies and financial irregularities in the working of the mill. The Vigilance Bureau (VB), Punjab, in its investigations, revealed that the mill, previously known as Wahid Sandhar Sugar Mills, had failed to settle outstanding payments to cane farmers for the past four years, accumulating a staggering debt of approximately ~40,71,68,000. Under its previous management by Wahid Sandhar Sugar Mills, the mill neglected its financial obligations. The VB stated that approximately 600 farmers find themselves ensnared in Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan liabilities, with each farmer being held liable for ~3 lakh, apparently under the mill’s guarantorship. Farmers are now receiving legal notices from IDBI Bank, Phagwara, urging them to repay KCC loans totalling ~3 lakh each to the bank. Doaba Kisan Union president Kuldip Singh said: “Our unpaid dues amount to nearly ~42 crore. Along with interest, it reaches around ~46 crore. We had a meeting day before yesterday with the state agricultural minister, wherein the decision was taken that the mill will be run by the owner who will pay the amount to the farmers. As per the DC’s orders, the Phagwara SDM and the ADC sealed the mill today. Now, the government has assured us of action. It will run the mill, crushers and also ensure the payment. As long as we do not get our dues with interest, we will allow the mill to function.” Phagwara SDM Jai Inder Singh said: “As per the Vigilance probe, the mill, for the tenure of 2022-23, was being run by Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Rana Inder Partap, as per an agreement between him and the former directors. This agreement isn’t in public domain. The mill is on the government land. While farmers demanded pending dues from the current management, they were in turn told that the previous management was responsible for paying the dues. Due to this deadlock, the mill was sealed today.” 6 held for looting truck Paddy procurement begins today, 10.50L MT target fixed in dist loaded with iron rods Car used in crime also recovered Jalandhar, September 30 The state government will start paddy procurement from tomorrow. The administration has made adequate arrangements for the smooth procurement during the current season. Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal said a target to procure 10.50 lakh metric tonnes paddy had been fixed in Jalandhar district. He said elaborate arrangements had been made for smooth and hassle-free paddy The suspects in police custody in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 30 The Commissionerate Police have arrested six persons in connection with the loot of a truck loaded with iron rods. The incident took place near Lamba Pind Chowk on September 24. According to the police, the victim, Sanjeev Kumar, reported that his truck, loaded with iron rods, was targeted by a group of assailants. They arrived on a motorcycle and a car. One of them brandished a pistol and assaulted the truck driver before fleeing with the loaded truck. The suspect also threatened the truck driver. After Sanjeev’s complaint, a case was registered under relevant sections at the Division No. 8 police station. Acting swiftly, special teams, led by DCP Harvin- der Singh Virk and ACP Paramjit Singh, swung into action to trace the suspects. Through intelligence sources and technical means, the police blocked the Phagwara-Jalandhar highway before the Ramamandi bridge. The police noticed a truck coming towards the blockade. After seeing the police, the truck driver tried to flee. However, the police managed to apprehend him. A total of four persons were present in the truck. The police took them into custody after they failed to provide satisfactory response in connection with the loaded iron rods. Further investigations revealed that the truck was looted from near the Lamba Pind Chowk on September 24. On the basis of the information Continued on page 2 c m y b Preparations in the final stage at a grain market in Banga, Nawanshahr. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH procurement in all mandis of the district. The MSP for grade A paddy would be ~2,203 per quintal. The DC said grain markets had already been allotted to various government procurement agencies such as PUNSUP , Warehouse, Markfed and FCI. He said to facilitate the farmers, amenities such as drinking water, lights and toilets had made available at the mandis and instructions had been issued to the Food and Supply Department to ensure payment to farmers within 48 hours after against their crop. The Deputy Commissioner also gave instructions to arrange adequate gunny bags and timely lifting so that farmers would be able to sell their crop in a hassle-free manner. The DC also appealed to farmers not to harvest the crop at night and bring only dry paddy as per the prescribed standards in the market so that their crops could be purchased without any delay. — TNS