13052024-JTR-01.qxd 5/13/2024 12:29 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune FIRST-TIME VOTER COUNT DIPS DRASTICALLY IN VILLAGES FATHER-SON DUO AMONG THREE HELD FOR THEFTS LARA DUTTA CELEBRATES 24TH ANNIV OF MISS UNIVERSE WIN There are several booths where less than five first-time votes (18-19 years) have been made. P3 With the arrest of three persons, Sriganganagar police claimed to have cracked 38 cases of thefts.P3 Taking to Instagram, Lara took a stroll down memory lane and posted a picture from her Miss Universe victory. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 38°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET MONDAY 7:08 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:30 AM MONDAY | 13 MAY 2024 | JALANDHAR TWO BOOKED ON ASSAULT CHARGE Phagwara: The Nakodar city police have booked two persons on the charge of assaulting his aunt. The police said the suspects had been identified as Harman, a resident of Nawi Aabadi, Nakodar, and his unidentified accomplice. Prince, a resident of Partab Pura village falling under the Sadar Jamsher police station, told the police that the suspects waylaid him. They brutally beat him up near a dairy in Nakodar on May 6 and threatened him. He sustained serious injuries. A case under Sections 323, 324, 506 and 34 of the IPC has been registered. OC 1 HELD UNDER EXCISE ACT Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have arrested a person on the charge of brewing illicit country-made liquor. Investigating officer Major Singh said the suspect had been identified as Charanjit Singh, a resident of Pipply village. Lahan and utensils for storing/brewing were recovered from his possession. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered against the suspect. The Shahkot police booked Gurnam Singh, a resident of Thamu Wal village, for selling hooch, said IO Sulinder Singh. OC FCI STAFF TO GO ON PROTEST PATH Phagwara: All members of the FCI Executive Staff Union will start ‘Work to Rule’ from June 24 if their long-pending demands are not accepted. A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting held here on Sunday. Union national president HS Chatha presided over the meeting. Union members will hold protests at all district headquarters during the lunch break on May 21 and demonstrations on June 5 in support of their demands. They will also hold protest before regional offices on June 12 and before zonal offices from June 19 to June 21. Their major demands include amendments in ‘Railway Transit Loss’ and transfer policy. OC 2 MISCREANTS NABBED Phagwara: The police have arrested two miscreants and recovered a snatched mobile phone from their possession on Saturday night. Gaurav Dhir, SHO, Satnampura, said the suspects had been identified as Happy, alias Dholi, a resident of Hadiabad, and Pawan, alias Pamma, a resident of Chhajj Colony, Phagwara. The suspects were produced before the judicial magistrate who sent them to two-day police remand for further interrogation. OC MAN HELD WITH 500 GM GANJA Phagwara: The Satnampura police arrested a drug peddler and recovered 500 grams of ganja from his possession on Saturday night. Superintendent of Police Rupinder Kaur Bhatti said the suspect had been identified as Kabul Kumar, a migrant from Bihar and presently residing in Nanak Nagari, Phagwara. He was nabbed at a check-point near Law Gate, Miherru. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the suspect, said SP Bhatti. OC 10 more smugglers in police dragnet INT’L DRUG SYNDICATE 500 gm heroin, ~84.78L drug money, three vehicles seized Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 12 Investigations into the international drug syndicate, which was busted by the Jalandhar police recently, have revealed extensive supply chain involved in the operation. Investigations have resulted in the apprehension and identification of all stakeholders, ranging from suppliers, facilitators, purchasers and hawala operators. The police arrested 10 more smugglers and seized 500 grams of heroin, ~84.78 lakh drug money, two vehicles and a truck from their possession. Those arrested have been identified as Parminder Kaur, alias Rani, Rohit Kumar, Daljit Singh, Amarjit Sharma, alias Sonu, Anil Kumar, Surjit Kumar, Gurwinder Singh, alias Mehak, Manjit Singh, alias Sony, Khushal, alias Gopal Saini, and Malkit Singh. Divulging details, Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma revealed that the syndicate was orchestrated by a group of 13 persons. Three of them - Satnam Singh, his daughter Aman Rozi, and son-in-law Hardeep Singh - The police hold a press conference after the arrest of suspects; and (right) the seized vehicles in Jalandhar on Sunday. SARABJIT SINGH PROBE ON, SAYS POLICE COMMISSIONER CP Swapan Sharma said a case under Sections 21C, 25, 27A, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act had already been registered at the Division No. 1 police station. He said four cases each were pending against Parminder Kaur and Gurwinder Singh, adding that further investigations were on in the case. were arrested in April last week. The trio was at the helm when the syndicate was dismantled, leading to the recovery of 48kg of heroin. He outlined the meticulous operation of the gang, citing instances where individuals like Rohit Singh, through Hardeep Singh, utilised hawala channels to funnel money, while Gurwinder Singh and Manjit Singh operated as key players in the drug trade since 2021. Parminder Kaur emerged as a pivotal distributor, sourcing heroin from Satnam Singh and Hardeep Singh to supply it to small-scale smugglers. CP Sharma said the connections within the syndicate were deep-rooted, with Khushal Kumar establishing ties with Hardeep Singh through his brotherin-law Vinod Kumar’s heroin operation. Similarly, Bid to rob businessman foiled Daljit Singh and Amarjit Sharma, facilitated by Satnam Singh, used trucks to smuggle heroin to Srinagar, earning Rs 50,000 per head per round. Further, Anil Kumar and Surjit Kumar, in tandem with Satnam Singh’s associates, utilised an Innova SUV for their smuggling operations, earning a sizable amount per trip. Additionally, Malkit Singh occasionally collabo- rated with Gurwinder Singh and Manjit Singh, aiding in the delivery of heroin. CP Swapan Sharma said a case under Sections 21C, 25, 27A, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act had already been registered at the Division No. 1 police station. He said four cases each were pending against Parminder Kaur and Gurwinder Singh, adding that further investigations were on in the case. Woman dies by suicide, No cakewalk husband among 3 held Our Correspondent Phagwara, May 12 The Mehat Pur police have arrested the husband of a woman, her father-in-law and mother-in-law on the charge of abetting suicide. Investigating officer (IO) Davinder Singh said the suspects had been identified as Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Chhohle Bandh village, his father Surjit Singh and his mother Mohinder Kaur Singh. Surinder Singh, a resident of Khurshaid Pur village falling under the Shidham police station, told the police that his daughter Navjot Kaur’s marriage was solemnised with Jaswinder Singh in 2019. He, along with his father and mother, started harassing and beating up his daughter after the marriage following which his daughter committed suicide on May 11 by consuming some poisonous substance at her in-laws’ house. The IO said a case under Section 306 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against Jaswinder Singh and his father and mother. The body of the deceased was handed over to the family after post-mortem. Phagwara, May 12 Two unidentified armed robbers made an unsuccessful attempt to loot and attack a prominent businessman near the farm house of former ADGP Ishwar Chander Sharma in Rurka Kalan village near Goraya late on Sunday night. The businessman Amrik Singh raised an alarm and ran towards the fields to save his life. The incident took place near the farm house of exADGP Punjab, on Rurka, Mehsampur road where his family resides. The incident happened even as Punjab is on high security alert in view of Lok Sabha elections and the election code of conduct is in force. The miscreants managed to flee on their motorcycle. DSP Phillaur, Sarwanjit , Singh and SHO, Goraya, Madhu Bala rushed to the spot for further investigations. — OC Man shot at, critical A devotee, holding his child, walks on burning coal during Maa Maariamma Mela in Jalandhar on Sunday. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Jalandhar, May 12 A man was shot at in broad daylight near Wadala Chowk here. The victim, who suffered bullet injury, is undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, where his condition is stated to be critical. According to reports, the victim and the suspect were travelling in a same bus. The duo de-boarded the bus at the Wadala Chowk. The suspect started following the victim and later opened a fire at him before fleeing the spot. Passers-by shifted the victim to a hospital and informed the police control room about the incident. After getting information, the police reached the spot and started investigations into the matter. The incident was captured in CCTV cameras installed nearby. The suspect was seen shooting the victim from behind in the CCTV footage. ASI Balwinder of the Bhargo Camp police station said investigations were on into the case. The victim, who is yet to be identified, was not in a condition to record his statement. “We have registered a case against an unidentified person under relevant sections of the IPC and the Arms Act. On the basis of the CCTV footage, we are trying to trace the suspect,” he said. — TNS ‘Jago’puppet show held to motivate electorates AAP candidate campaigns in Adampur, , BJP’s Rinku canvasses support in Phillaur Tribune News Service Kapurthala, May 12 Continuing its ongoing initiatives to motivate voters for ensuring their healthy participation in the Lok Sabha elections, the District Administration has organised SVEEP activities in urban as well as rural areas by holding a special event of jago and puppet show to spread ECI’s message of more than 70 per cent voting. As many as 30 women members of a self-help group gave an impressive performance in a jago event highlighting the significance of right to franchise and why the participation of all eligible voters is required to uphold the ethos of democratic values. Through their folk couplets, these women urged the villagers to cast their votes without any bias, which could ensure the free, fair and peaceful elections. Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal said people were giving encouraging/enthusiastic response to SVEEP activities in the district. Members performing jago also went door to door in the village disseminating the message of the Election Commission for free and fair elec- Tribune News Service TRIBUNE PHOTOS INBRIEF People take part in a ‘jago’ event; and (below) a puppet show being held in Kapurthala on Sunday. tions, besides right to franchise, so as to record more than 70 per cent voting. A puppet show was also organised in the evening in the heart of Kapurthala city’s Mall Road to motivate voters. Officers of various departments told voters that they must cast votes freely and fairly. A message was given through the show, especially to young voters, to participate in this mega democratic festival. Additional Deputy Commissioner Shikha Bhagat and SVEEP nodal officer Assistant Commissioner Kiran Sharma said these activities were being organised to motivate voters towards their right to franchise. They also lauded the jago event held under the supervision of c m y b District Programme Manager Gagandeep Singh, SVEEP activist Suneeta Singh, Binder Kaur, cluster head Soma Rani and other participants. Jalandhar, May 12 AAP leader Pawan Tinu, while canvassing for his party at Johlan village, said dynastic politics had adversely impacted Punjab’s politics and drained its coffers. Tinu said the promotion of certain families had caused more harm than good and the trend was stalled only when the AAP came to power in the state. Tinu who will file his nomination from the Jalandhar constituency on Monday, today paid obeisance at the Dera Gurdwara Sant Sagar and toured villages in the Adampur constituency. While recounting the development agenda of the AAP, he was accompanied by leaders Gurcharan Singh Channi, Preetam Singh and Dyal Singh, among others. Tinu will file his nomination on Monday accompanied by Cabinet minister Harpal Singh Cheema after first holding a roadshow from BJP candidate Sushil Rinku; and (below) AAP's Pawan Tinu seek votes in Jalandhar on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTOS Kachehri Chowk to the DAC Complex. Meanwhile, in another development, leaders of various parties joined the BJP during an event held in Jalandhar under Karamjit Kaur Chaudhar who recently joined the saffron party after switching over from Congress. During an event held at a local venue in Phillaur, Continued on page 2