16022024-JTR-01.qxd 2/16/2024 1:02 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune NATIONAL LAW-CUM-CULTURAL FEST KICKS OFF AT PU CENTRE TWO PUNJAB YOUTHS KILLED IN US ROAD ACCIDENTS A youth from Jahura village and his relative were killed in two road mishaps in Indiana, the US. P3 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 23°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 23.5°C | MIN 6.3°C KARAN WAHI REUNITES WITH JENNIFER AFTER 14 YEARS A three-day national law-cum-cultural fest, Aequitas-2k24, kicked off at Panjab University regional centre. P2 FORECAST Karan Wahi has reflected upon his reunion with Jennifer Winget in show Raisinghani vs Raisinghani. P4 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 6.11 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7:01 AM » FRIDAY | 16 FEBRUARY 2024 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF AAP’S NAKODAR RALLY DEFERRED Jalandhar: A rally planned by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the Jalandhar Parliamentary seat at Nakodar for February 18 has been postponed. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann were to address the rally. Administrative officials said they were informed by the government regarding the postponement of the rally this morning. The officials said no reason was specified for the deferment. Most officials, however, correlated it with the ongoing farmers’ stir. Some also linked it with summons issued to Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate for February 19. TNS MAN HELD WITH 170 GM HEROIN Phagwara: The Criminal Investigating Agency (CIA) of the Jalandhar (rural) police has arrested a drug peddler on the charge of selling heroin. The suspect has been identified as Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, a resident of Mohkam Ararian Wala village falling under the Makhu police station in Feroze Pur district. Investigating officer (IO) Pipal Singh said 170 grams of heroin was recovered from his possession. A case has been registered against the suspect. The police also impounded his car in which he was travelling with the contraband. OC SIX BOOKED FOR ASSAULT, RIOTING Phagwara: The Nurmahal police have booked six persons on charges of voluntarily causing hurt, mischief and rioting. Investigating officer (IO) Omesh Kumar said the suspects had been identified as Hapy, Hairry and Prit Pal, all residents of Uppal Khalsa village, Ranjha, a resident of Kot Badal Khan village, and their two unidentified accomplices. Deepak Kumar, a resident of Natt village, complained to the police that the suspects attacked him on February 12. He suffered serious injuries in the incident. A case has been registered. OC YOUTH ROBBED OF CASH, CHAIN Phagwara: Three unidentified motorcycle-borne miscreants snatched a mobile phone, a gold chain and ~15,000 from a youth near Bhakhariana village in the Phagwara sub-division on Wednesday night. The incident took place when the victim, Arshdeep Singh, a resident of Ranipur village, was returning from his job on a scooter. The suspects attacked him with sharp weapons and snatched valuables. They fled the spot leaving the victim in a pool of blood. The victim was admitted to the Civil Hospital. The police have registered a case. OC CONG TO GHERAO MINISTER’S HOUSE Phagwara: In support of the agitating farmers, members of the District Congress Committee, Kapurthala, led by its president Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, will gherao the Phagwara residence of Union Minister of State Som Parkash on Friday. Dhaliwal told mediapersons here on Thursday that all wings of the Congress would come together in protest against the dictatorial attitude of the BJP-led Union Government. OC Civic amenities in dire need of overhaul in Jalandhar Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Street lights, roads, sewerage in a mess; officials hope things will improve soon Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 15 With street lights non-functional at several places, roads in pathetic condition, poor sewerage and a miserable waste management system, the city is in dire need of improvement in civic amenities. Despite the suffering of city residents, the Municipal Corporation seems indifferent and has developed an unwavering attitude by not doing much to address the problems. Ajoy Sharma, Principal Secretary, Local Bodies Department, reportedly expressed disappointment during his recent visit to Jalandhar where he held a meeting with officials. Jalandhar Tribune team visited various areas and found out that most places were in a mess, when it came to sewerage, waste, roads or streetlights. A visit to Nakodar Road, Garha Road outside PIMS Hospital, Bhagat Singh Chowk and areas near Wadala Chowk and the bus stand revealed that work was being carried out in some areas and the roads have been dug up to lay pipelines. An ambulance driver, standing amidst the hospital and dug-up stretch of the Garha road, said it was getting difficult to take out an ambulance in case of an emergency or shift patients to some other hospital. “Just look at the chaos here. Due to the ongoing work, traffic gets blocked and it becomes difficult for the ambulance to make its way out,” he said. Superintending Engineer (B&R) Rajnish Dogra said every road under his jurisdiction was in a ‘good’ condition and there was no single lean patch anywhere. When asked about the Garha road, he said: “Work has been allotted and the problem will get resolved once it is completed. Sometimes, work gets delayed due to bad weather.” Regarding the Cool road, he said: “Pipeline is being laid for surface water project. It will take another two months to WADALA CHOWK ROAD NAKODAR ROAD Dilapidated roads pose a threat to the lives of commuters in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: MALKIAT SINGH COOL ROAD Garbage dumped along the Nakodar road; and (right) non-functional street lights at the Damoria flyover in Jalandhar on Thursday. WORKS TO BE OVER SOON Pipeline was being laid for surface water project at the Cool road. It would take another two months to complete the work. Similar was the case at the Nakodar road where it would take another two months to complete the ongoing work. — Rajnish Dogra, SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER (B&R) ❝ complete the work,” he said, adding that similar was the case at the Nakodar road where it would take another two months to complete the ongoing work. In terms of cleanliness, Jalandhar needs to get its act together with piles of garbage lying on the roads after every few metres. Garbage dumps are overflowing, emanating unbearable stench. Stretches in Partap Bagh, Nakodar Road, road ❞ near KMV College and BMC Chowk have garbage mounds emitting a foul smell which makes it difficult to stand there even for a minute. When Ajoy Sharma visited the city, he questioned officials on the issue and, according to unconfirmed reports, also told them that they could have ensured cleanliness ‘at least’ on the day he was to arrive. Shri Krishan Sharma, Assistant Health Officer, MC, Bharat Bandh today, confusion over closure of schools, markets Social media flooded with queries; emergency services to run Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 15 Due to the Samyukt Kisan Morcha’s call for Bharat Bandh on February 16, there is confusion among residents whether schools, colleges and markets will open or not. While the Petrol Pump Dealer Association of Punjab has announced support to the farmers by announcing the closure of petrol pumps from 10 am to 4 pm tomorrow (with exceptions for emergency services), there’s a dearth of information in people about the alternative routes, especially for those going to appear for exams at centres. Lack of clarity from the authorities has left parents apprehensive about transportation and logistics. Social media platforms were today flooded with queries such as which establishments will be affected and whether alternative transportation options will be available amidst potential blockades on highways and city centres. Rachna Monga, principal of BUS STAND ROAD SANITATION ON MAIN ROADS TO IMPROVE Sanitation on main roads would improve. “Machines are arriving for processing of waste and work may start after some time. ❝ claimed that sanitation on main roads would improve. “Machines are arriving for processing of waste and work may start after some time,” he said. MC Joint Commissioner Puneet Sharma said: “Projects for processing of waste have been sanctioned. Once they are in place, we will be directly moving the waste to the processing sites. In this way, we can eliminate the problem”. The MC Joint Commission- er said rag-pickers would also be integrated into the system. Non-functional street lights are another matter of concern. There seems to be a major problem as it is being said the Smart City owes an amount in crores to the contractor who will further pay the workers. The workers have not received their salaries for the last several months and they are not doing maintenance work of Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 15 The police have arrested a person with an illegal pistol and live cartridges. The suspect has been identified as Pardeep Kumar, a resident of Mohalla Ratan Nagar in Jalandhar. Divulging details, Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma said the police stopped Pardeep on suspicion at Basti Jalandhar, February 15 The body of a 21-year-old girl was found with a rope around her neck in a garbage dump near a dhaba at Adampur here yesterday. The body, which was wrapped in a blanket, was noticed by rag-pickers yesterday. The victim’s face also had injury marks. school buses will not be stopped ■ Private bus industry in Punjab announced that all private buses will stay off the road in solidarity with the farmers ■ PSEB issues advisory asking students to reach exam centre at least an hour before in view of disruptions due to the Bharat Bandh tainty among other educational institutions and private offices, with no directives from local administration regarding the Bandh. Some offices have declared a holiday tomorrow and asked Continued on page 2 c m y b age problems for long and it seems that it has become perennial now. Anurag Mahajan, Superintending Engineer (O&M), said the capacity of sewerage treatment plants (STPs) to treat water was less as compared to the quantity generated and this was creating a problem. “A proper channel of storm sewer is needed in the city. Planning is being done to resolve the issue,” he said. The police later identified her as a resident Gandhi Nagar area in Jalandhar. The police said the girl went out of her house to purchase chips on February 12, but didn’t return. Her body was later found at Adampur, which is around 22 kms from her house, yesterday. The police said it seems that the girl might have been murdered. A case against an unidentified person was registered under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC late last night. Inspector Premjit Singh of the Adampur police station said: “The body of a girl was found at a garbage dump. There is an injury on her face. The post-mortem examination will be conducted tomorrow. Further investigations are on in the case. The suspect will be arrested soon.” 4 injured by banned kite string Our Correspondent ■ Emergency services will not be affected. Milkmen, ambulances and the streetlights. XEN Sukhwinder Singh said: “The company that was given the contract needs to pay the workers for maintenance. The issue will be resolved soon as we are working on this.” Complaints regarding sewerage-related issues are being received in a large number in “Aap Di Sarkar, Aap De Dwar” camps. People have been grappling with sewer- ❞ Girl’s body found in garbage dump PVT BUSES TO STAY OFF ROAD ■ Markets and petrol pumps to remain closed from 10 am to 4 pm ❝ City resident held with illegal pistol, Was wrapped in blanket, cops suspect murder, probe on four cartridges Farmers block rail traffic near Shahkot in Jalandhar on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Sanskriti KMV School, said the school had rescheduled tomorrow’s exam for Classes IX and XI. However, the board exams would be conducted as per the schedule at the school, which is a centre for three schools. Similarly, there is uncer- ❞ — Shri Krishan Sharma, ASSISTANT HEALTH OFFICER, MC ISSUE OF STREET LIGHTS TO BE RESOLVED The company that was given the contract needs to pay the workers for maintenance. The issue of non-functional street lights will be resolved soon as we are working on this. — Sukhwinder Singh, XEN The suspect in police custody in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO Pulli Nehar. During checking, the police recovered an illegal pistol and four cartridges from his possession. He said a case under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered against the suspect at the Basti Bawa Khel police station. “During investigation, it came to fore that the suspect had unlawfully obtained the pistol due to a personal rivalry. Further probe is on in the case,” he said. Phagwara, February 15 Three persons, including a six-year-old girl, suffered serious injuries after they got entangled in Chinese kite string on Basant Panchami in Phillaur yesterday. Varinder Narula, a resident of Atwal Colony in Phillaur, along with her granddaughter Tarisha (6), was coming on an Activa scooter yesterday. They got entangled in the Chinese string and fell on the road. Varinder suffered injuries on his mouth and neck, while Tarisha suffered injuries around her eyes. They were admitted to a hospital in Phillaur. In another incident, Subhash Kumar, a shopkeeper, suffered serious injuries in his abdomen and fingers after he got entangled in Chinese kite string in Phillaur yesterday afternoon. He was admitted to Phillaur Hospital. Owing to excessive bleeding, he was sent to a hospital in Ludhiana. The incident took place while he was basking in the sun on the roof of his shop. Meanwhile, a 32-year-old man, Sunny, sustained serious injuries after he got entangled in Chinese kite string at Ranipur village near Phagwara yesterday. He was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Phagwara. Though the local administration had announced that “drones” would be used to identify people using the banned string to fly kites, the announcement remained restricted to paper only. Kiteflyers used the string with impunity and were least bothered about its harmful consequences, said social activist Vishwa Mitter. “The ban on Chinese string Continued on page 2
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