28042024-JTR-01.qxd 4/28/2024 12:18 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune STRANDED ADITI RAO HYDARI WATCHES ‘AIRPORT CIRCUS’ SHAKIRA HASN’T LOST HOPE DESPITE HER SPLIT FROM PIQUE BRITNEY SPEARS SETTLES LEGAL DISPUTE WITH DAD The Bollywoood actor shared picture of Mumbai airport from her flight window after it had landed. P4 The pop singer, who split from Gerard Pique in 2022, has expressed her continued belief in love. P4 The pop icon was embroiled in lengthy legal battle with her father, Jamie Spears, over financial issues. P4 » » FORECAST RAIN LIKELY MAX 34°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET SUNDAY 7.05 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5:44 AM » SUNDAY | 28 APRIL 2024 | JALANDHAR Traders, vendors issued notices during anti-encroachment drive Jalandhar, April 27 In a move to tackle illegal encroachments and alleviate traffic congestion, the traffic police, led by ADCP (Traffic) Amandeep Kaur, have intensified their operations. Several meetings were held with market associations, roadside vendors, and shopkeepers to address the growing concern. Notices were issued to violators in prominent areas like Ladowali road, Jyoti Chowk, Bhagat Singh Chowk, Model Town and other areas following surprise inspections. Violations such as placing goods outside shops encroaching upon public roads were promptly addressed, with strict instructions for immediate removal to ease traffic flow. Additionally, meetings and awareness sessions were conducted with residents and shopkeepers along key thoroughfares like Defence Colony and Dulhan Palace to White Diamond Palace Road, Model Town and other areas. Emphasising a zero-tolerance stance on traffic viola- Mann’s wife visits temple Jalandhar, April 27 A day after the road show of CM Bhagwant Mann in Jalandhar in support of AAP Jalandhar candidate Pawan Tinu, Dr Gurpreet Kaur, the wife of CM Bhagwant Mann on Saturday visited Jalandhar. Accompanied by the CM’s sister, Manpreet Kaur, and her newborn daughter, Niamat, Dr Kaur visited the Balaji Temple at Sheikhan Bazar in Jalandhar. Speaking to media she said, “I’ve taken the blessings of Balaji Maharaj and prayed for the good of all. May God continue to uphold Punjab’s prosperity.” Both CM Bhagwant Mann and his wife also visited the residence of philanthropist-religious leader Baba Kashmira Singh at Jalandhar today. — TNS Police personnel in action against encroachments in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO tions, the initiative sought public cooperation in adhering to traffic regulations while welcoming feedback on prevalent issues. The ADCP said the drive to alleviate congestion in the city has been underway for the last many days. She highlighted various measures taken by the traffic police, including issuing notices, conducting meetings with shopkeepers, and devising a comprehensive roadmap. “Problematic areas causing significant traffic congestion have been pinpointed. Actions such as implementing one-way traffic on Defence Colony Road and prohibiting bus parking under the bridge near the bus stand and at PAP have been enforced,” she said. She further said strategic barricading and deployment of traffic personnel have been executed at congested spots such as Mai Hiran Gate, Jyoti Chowk, Basti Bawa Khel, and Model Town to ensure smooth commuting. She said that this drive would continue in the coming days and even MC officials have been urged to promptly address road maintenance issues, so the public face no inconvenience. — TNS After Delhi HC observations, BJP seeks Kejri’s resignation Delhi govt was slammed for not supplying books in MCD schools Jalandhar, April 27 The BJP today sought the resignation of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on moral grounds due to his involvement in the Delhi liqour scam and in view of the HC’s recent observations regarding schools in Delhi. The BJP also questioned Kejriwal’s continuation of running the government while in jail. BJP state general secretary Anil Sarin and BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Jalandhar, Sushil Rinku, held a press conference in Jalandhar today after the Delhi High Court’s rap to the Arvind Kejriwal-led gov- BJP candidate Sushil Rinku holds a press conference in Jalandhar. ernment for not supplying books to children studying in MCD schools. Sarin said, “I think Arvind Kejriwal should resign immediately after these observations from the HC.” Jalandhar BJP candidate Sushil Rinku alleged, “Arvind Kejriwal, despite being corrupt, does not resign from his post and considers himself above the law in front of the world.” — TNS Case of headless body solved, man arrested Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 27 The case of the decapitated body found near a nullah at Alawalpur village was solved the police with the arrest of a suspect, the police said. The victim has been identified as Kulwinder Kumar (35), a resident of Adampur, The suspect, Sonu, had murdered the deceased over an old dispute with a sharp weapon. Sonu had recently come out of jail after serving time for another previous case. The murder weapons have also been recovered by the police. Jalandhar SSP Dr Ankur Gupta said Asha Rani, victim’s sister, said when she, along with her son-in-law Madan Lal, went to give food to Kulwinder at his house, she found blood stains on the floor, after which they ventured out to search for him. Upon reaching the dipensary near Alawalpur, they saw Sonu near a nullah, setting afire a sack. After seeing them, he fled the spot. As per the police complaint, when Asha and Madan opened the sack, they found Asha's brother Kulwinder's body with its head severed. A case was registered under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC today. The SSP said the susepct had served jail for a year and was released on January 29 this year. Illegal mining:DC forms 5-member team Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi Hoshiarpur, April 27 The district administration has swung into action following public outcry against alleged illegal mining in the area. Following the memorandum given by the Khanan Roko Zameen Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Hoshiarpur DC Komal Mittal has constituted a five-member committee under the leadership of ADC Rahul Chaba. The committee visited the affected areas and held a meeting with the members of the samiti and the affected people at the local BDPO office on Thursday to know their problems at the ground level. The committee led by ADC Rahul Chaba also visited Bhol Badmania village where a new crusher was being installed. During the meeting, Sangharsh Samiti’s office-bearers Manoj Dhiman, Dharminder Singh, Naib Subedar Ashok Jaleria, Captain Rajesh Kumar, Deepak Thakur, Block Committee member Naresh Kumar Neetu etc, complained to the officials about the indiscriminate digging of rivers and mountains that has been going on in the area for a long time. People present expressed their ADC Rahul Chaba visits a crusher site in Bhol Badmania village. anger taking issue with the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). They said those, whose job was to stop pollution, have poisoned the calm and clean environment of the this Semi Hilly terrain of Kandi area by opening crushers and getting mining done. According to the mining policy of the government, no mines are allotted in the area. They also took a dig at the Forest Department saying, in case of death, people have to take permission from the department to cut wood for cremation even but this was not the case for crushers. They alleged that the PPCB has ignored all the rules and opened a number of crushers in the Kandi area. The PPCB officials claimed that they have been strict against the illegal mining and that the recovery notices of Rs 30 crore have been issued and matter was in court. Former Sarpanch Jeet Ram Bringli, Captain Sunil Parmar, Sarpanch Subhash Bittu Jandor Haar, Yadvinder Palhar etc. raised questions on the devastation caused by the mining mafia and the functioning of the department. “In Kandi area, people are not getting drinking water but the stone crusher mafia is using the underground water 24X7 for washing sand and gravel. On the other hand, the natural sources of water are shrinking. In the villages, the water level of the government and non-government deep bore wells is continuously falling,” they alleged. The struggle committee and the people present bluntly told the administration to rein in the crushers, to stop mining and not issuing NOC to new crushers. They warned that if the department or the government fails to solve this complex problem of the area, then people will be forced to adopt the path of struggle. The ADC assured to listen carefully to the problems of the people and solve them. He asked to hold a similar meeting next week and apprise the people about the action taken. The ADC said, “With regard to the new crusher being established in the area, a consent to establishment has to be issued by the SDM concerned taking the information and ground report from all concerned stakeholders and Mukerian SDM will take care of the on ground situation there for it. Regarding objections of people and the reported illegal mining, I have sought a detailed information from PPCB and the department on the issue”. Teen shows the way in Sultanpur Lodhi schools AAP reshuffle to come as a big fillip for Tinu during polls BRIDGING LEARNING GAP Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 27 Taking initiative and showing compassion, Lehnaaz Rana, a student at Strawberry Fields School in Chandigarh, has emerged as a beacon of change at a remarkably young age. Founding The Rattan Foundation at the tender age of 17, Lehnaaz’s journey began with a simple curiosity about the conditions of government schools in Sultanpur Lodhi. Now, with unwavering determination, she has transformed her curiosity into action, dedicating herself to improving the learning for countless underprivileged children. “I found that the schools in remote areas of Sultanpur Lodhi had a lot of students. However, there was a severe lack of teachers. Fewer government teachers wanted to join schools in this distant and remote belt and hence the teacher to student ratio was insufficient. I discussed this issue with my family members and some retired educators of our area. So, we ■ Lehnaaz Rana's NGO — The Lehnaaz Rana with students of a government school in Sultanpur Lodhi. TRIBUNE PHOTO Rattan Foundation — aims to address the teacher-student gap in government schools in Sultanpur Lodhi ■ She said we have provided additional staff to 23 schools in two years and shall be extending the same service to 42 schools gradually ■ She added that the initiative has helped students get proper attention in school, improve their learning process for a brighter future and at the same time has provided employment to the local youth tried to work out if we could hire local unemployed, qualified teachers as part of the Rattan Foundation Team and pay them salaries from the donations we received,” she explained while reflecting a thorough understanding of the issue. The teen went on, “Finally, we found that we could actually work on this model. There were young qualified graduate teachers in our area who were willing to process for a brighter future and at the same time has provided employment to the local youth. I visit these schools whenever I come to Sultanpur Lodhi on the weekends and during holidays and have seen great progress in the attendance, grades and communication skills of the students.” She added, “Our teacher training programmes equip faculty members with innovative teaching methodologies.” work in schools. With the guidance of retired educators and principals on our board, we select candidates after a rigorous interview process followed by a demonstration lesson to learn more about their teaching techniques. Our team has also been imparting proper training and helping selected teachers get well-versed with new teaching techniques to boost interest and engagement. We have hired them and are paying them salaries through this NGO and it gives me immense happiness that we have started seeing positive results.” She said, “Beginning with one school, we have provided additional staff to 23 schools in two years and shall be extending the same service to 42 schools gradually. It has helped the students get proper attention in school, improve their learning c m y b Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 27 Aam Aadmi Party seems to have smartly solved the issue of the brewing internal bickering within its factions in Jalandhar and has elevated all leaders associated with the party for a year or longer. The rejig follows meetings between Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and party candidate Pawan Tinu late evening and this morning. There had been a stiff competition between Pinder Pandori and Hardeep Singh Rana, nephew of Kapurthala Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh, over becoming halqa incharge from Shahkot post the demise of Rattan S Kakkarkalan. While Pandori had been announced as halqa incharge two months back, firebrand leader Rana was certainly miffed at the decision. However, he was today appointed as the vice president of Jalandhar Lok Sabha by the party, Pawan Tinu making it now easier for Tinu to seek his much needed support. Rana Hardeep had given a tough time to Shahkot Congress MLA Hardev S Laddi Sherowalia as both had been campaigning for their respective MP candidates in 2023 Jalandhar LS bypoll. Another issue that the party is learnt to have resolved is from Jalandhar Cantonment. Party's state secretary Rajwinder Kaur Thiara, who had been long looking to become the halqa incharge of the Assembly segment, has finally managed to seek the post. She has replaced Olympian and retired police IG Surinder S Sodhi, who has now been elevated as the state joint secretary. Two more last year joinees from Congress including Valmik leader and former DCC (rural) chief Darshan S Tahli, who has got the same post as that of Sodhi. The third Jalandhar leader getting the same post is former Congress Deputy Mayor Harsimran Bunty. Tinu perhaps has also managed to get his former Akali colleague and ex-MLA Jagbir Brar elevated as the state secretary. He too had joined ahead of the 2023 bypoll but had been reportedly feeling a bit sidelined. The next important change made by the party is giving the post of halqa incharge from Jalandhar West to Mahinder Bhagat. Son of ex-minister Bhagat Chunni Lal, the family can help the AAP candidate get a good boost from the Bhagat community in the reserved Assembly segment.