29052024-JTR-01.qxd 5/29/2024 1:08 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune FARMERS ORGANISE PROTEST OUTSIDE RINKU’S RESIDENCE Farmers staged a dharna outside the residence of BJP candidate Sushil Kumar Rinku here on Tuesday. P2 » FIRE BREAKS OUT AT JUNGLES IN VILLAGES OF TALWARA BLOCK Fire in forests at Bhol Bhadmaniya and Sukhchainpur villages of Talwara block has damaged flora and fauna. P2 FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 45°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 45°C | MIN 24°C SOHNI MAHIWAL, STAGED BY STUDENTS LEFT AUDIENCE SPELLBOUND The play, written by Ekaam Maanuke, was dedicated to Prof Balwant Gargi, Padma Shri. It was inspired by his play Sohni. P4 » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.25 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:24 AM » WEDNESDAY | 29 MAY 2024 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF ATTACK ON OFFICERS: CMO SEEKS REPORT Phagwara: The Punjab Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has directed the Department of Home Affairs and Justice to submit a detailed report on the attack on mining officers in the Shahkot subdivision. In an email to the administrative secretary, the CMO forwarded a report published in newspapers regarding the attack on mining officers at dhussi bandh on the Sutlej river. The news report stated that the Shahkot police had booked 30 unidentified suspects in this connection. OC COPS HOLD FLAG MARCHINNURMAHAL Phagwara: A police team along with the paramilitary force on Tuesday held a flag march in Nurmahal ahead of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held on Saturday. Starting from the police station, policemen covered the entire city on foot. "We are fully prepared to ensure peaceful elections and deal with anybody who tries to breach the law and order," said Nurmahal SHO Varinder Singh Uppal. OC 94% OF LICENSED ARMS DEPOSITED Phagwara: As many as 1,539 licensed weapons have been deposited at the police stations in Nakodar police subdivision. Of these weapons, 1,450 were deposited after imposition of the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections. Kulwinder Singh Virk, DSP, said arms licence holders had been told to deposit their weapons at the earliest otherwise, the police would send reports to the Deputy Commissioner recommending cancellation of their licences. OC VEHICLE LIFTERS’ GANG BUSTED Phagwara: The police busted an inter-district gang of vehicle thieves with the arrest of five of its members on Tuesday. The police recovered seven stolen motorcycles from their possession. Rupinder Kaur Bhatti, Superintendent of Police, said those arrested were identified as Herry of Suraja village, Jaspreet Ram, alias Jassi, of Patti-Gaoiki village, Tirth Singh of Zand village , Vikki Yadav, alias Gaundar, of New Satnampura, Phagwara, and Gagandeep, alias, Gerry, of Goraya. Bhatti said the suspects were produced before a local judicial magistrate, who sent them to three-day police remand for further probe. OC Boy assaulted by group of youth Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 28 A young boy was assaulted by a group of youth outside a gym in the city’s posh Model Town area last night. In a CCTV footage of the incident the group is seen beating the boy. The police said both the victim and the attackers were students of a private school in the city. The police said the attackers, who forcibly took the boy along with them in their car, left him near Adarsh Nagar. “No official complaint has been received in this connection,” the police said, adding that they had obtained the CCTV footage from the gym. The police said both the parties would be called to police station for recording their statements. 1 critically injured as speeding car ‘driven by minor’ hits four Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 28 A speeding car allegedly driven by a minor injured four people on the 66ft road yesterday night. The accident that happened near Jalandhar Heights, involved individuals riding on a bicycle, a scooter, and a bike. According to eyewitnesses, a Creta car was travelling at approximately 120 km per hour when it hit one of the victims, Manish, a resident of Alipur, who was driving his bike. The vehicle then collided with an Activa scooter and a bicycle, leaving the riders injured. Passersby rushed the A cycle after the accident on the 66ft road in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO injured to a nearby private hospital. While three of the victims were discharged after treatment. The condition of Mala (40), who was on a bicycle, was stated to be critical. Earlier, conflicting reports were received today morning about Mala’s condition. Her relatives claimed that she had died, but SHO Jagdeep Singh from the Sadar police station confirmed that she was still undergoing treatment, and further action would be initiated on the basis of her statement. The other victims and passersby alleged that the car was being driven by a minor when it met with an accident. Another minor boy was sitting beside the car driver. Both the boys fled from the spot after the accident. The police claimed that the car had been impounded and an investigation launched into the matter. The car, bearing registration number PB07-BP-0060, is registered with the Hoshiarpur RTO. The police had yet to find if the car was being driven by a minor. 2 bike-borne men snatch gold chain Our Correspondent Phagwara, May 28 Two unidentified motorcycleborne persons snatched a gold chain from Kherra Masjid resident Harish Kumar near Basra Palace here on Monday evening. The victim tried to chase them, but the suspects managed to flee from the spot. The police have registered a case in this regard. In another incident, an Activa scooter bearing the registration number PB-36K-8161 parked outside a cloth shop in Gaushala Bazar here was stolen on Monday afternoon. Vehicle owner Shikhajit told the police that he parked the scooter and went inside his shop. After a few hours, when he came out, the scooter was not there. A case has been registered by the city police in this connection. Hospitality Masters in Tourism & Hotel Management B.Sc. Hotel Management Bachelors in Hotel Management and Catering Technology B.Sc. Culinary Arts B.Sc. Airlines Tourism and Hospitality Teacher arrested for Hoshiarpur hopes for big ticket projects from PM rape of minor girl Modi to address rally in Hoshiarpur tomorrow: Chugh People hope demand for medical college, reviving industry would be met Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi Himachal Pradesh. The governHoshiarpur, May 28 BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh along with Manjinder Singh Sirsa visited Hoshiarpur today to take stock of the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election rally to be held here on May 30. Talking to the media, Chug said a strong government at the Centre under the leadership of Narendra Modi in 2024 would give a new direction and a new chapter of development for the country. Attacking the AAP and the Congress, he said both parties were the two sides of the same coin. He said, “There are 18 contenders for the post of Prime Minister in the INDIA Alliance, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.” He said All the Rajya Sabha members of the AAP including Sanjay , Singh, were keeping distance from these elections, which showed that all was not well in the party. He said AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, caught in the liquor scam, knew that he was going to jail for a long time and on the lines of Rabri Devi, he would make his wife the Chief Minister of Delhi. — TNS SCHOOL OF Hoshiarpur, May 28 With Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to hold a public meeting on the penultimate day (May 30) of polling at Hoshiarpur, all eyes are on the promises which are repeated in every election for years, yet remain pending despite the passage of years. With Modi’s visit scheduled for the closing day of campaigning, expectations have risen over the local issues likely to be addressed at the meeting. Four major issues have seemingly surfaced in the constituency, including finishing the medical college for which foundation stone had been laid twice, and once it was missed by Modi, Tertiary Cancer Care Hospital for which the foundation stone was laid just before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections by the then Union Minister for Health Santosh Chowdhary, a mega project for Kandi to provide employment on a large scale to the youth of the area and restoration of an industrial package for Hoshiarpur. A native of Janauri village, Rakesh Sharma, says, “The area is not much fertile, agricul- The area not much fertile. Agricultural productivity ❝low. Thereisare no irrigation facilities. Water level is toois too deep to bore for tube wells. There is no industry. Many of the roads are still seasonal and there is no rail link. What we require is a mega project so that the unemployed youth of the area may get employment and living standards of people can be improved. Rakesh Sharma, RESIDENT OF JANAURI VILLAGE ❞ tural productivity too low, there are no irrigation facility, water level is too deep to bore for tubewells, there is no industry, many of the roads are still seasonal and there is no rail link. What we require is a mega project so that the unemployed youth of the area may get employment and living standard of people can be improved.” “During every election, the leaders come and repeat the promises, but no one bothers about Kandi area after coming to power. For them, Kandi is just a place to ignore and they don’t even have time to listen to the woes of the people. The wild animals entering the residential areas and agricultural land have emerged as one of the biggest problems, yet no one pays heed to it,” says Rakesh Sharma. In the 1970s, the government had given a package to promote industry in the area under which various facilities were being provided to start industries here. As a result, units came in here, but the package was discontinued and the facilities provided to the industries vanished because of which growth came to a halt. Adding to the odd situation is the industrial package being provided in the neighbouring areas of Himachal Pradesh. Umesh Jain, a small-scale industrialist, says, “Around half of the industry in the micro and small sector has suffered a huge setback and closed after the GST regime came into being. The existing units are also not far from closure if it continues to be like this. Adding to the woes is the industry enjoying ample facilities in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh like cheaper electricity and tax holidays, just 20 kms away from here in Himachal. The need of the day is an industrial package at least on par with ment has to be clear if it wants to save the micro and small industries or not. If it wants to save this sector, specialised GST reforms and special package for micro and small industry is the need of the hour.” There is a long-pending demand for a medical college in the area as there are no specialised health facilities in the district. People have to rush to either Ludhiana or Chandigarh for it. A medical college was announced for Hoshiarpur and the foundation stone had been laid twice, once by the then CM Captain Amarinder Singh in 2021. Once the stone laying was missed as it was in the proposed list of foundation stones to be laid by PM Modi in January 2022, but he had to return due to a security lapse. Then the foundation stone for the same medical college was laid by Bhagwant Mann as CM of Punjab in 2023, in the presence of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal. Also, for the tertiary cancer care hospital to be built in Hoshiarpur, the foundation stone was laid in February 2014. Even after 10 years and tall claims by the government at the Centre and in state, the project failed to take off. Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 28 A case of rape of a minor girl, studying in Class V, has been reported at the Jalandhar Cantt police station. The victim’s parents had alleged that a schoolteacher was sexually harassing their daughter and threatening to kill her if she revealed anything to anyone. Acting on the complaint, the police lodged an FIR under relevant Sections 376 (A) of the IPC and 4, 6 of the POCSO Act and arrested the teacher, identified as Tobias Thapar, a resident of Jalandhar Cantt. The police reportedly produced the suspect in a court today and brought him on a one-day remand. Victim’s mother, in her complaint to the police, stated that the suspect was teaching piano to her daughter in the school. She said he used to call her daughter to the old canteen side and rape her. As per information, the victim’s mother reported in her statement that the teacher had been sexually assaulting the girl for the past few months, and had threatened to kill her if she revealed anything to anyone. She said her daughter was traumatised, and did not share anything with them as she was scared. The police said the matter came to light after the school’s summer holidays started, and the parents observed that their daughter was acting differently and seemed traumatised. They then questioned her, and she revealed the whole matter to them. Following this, a complaint was made to the police and a case was registered in this connection. Amritpal Sharma, SHO, Cantt, said the suspect was arrested from the Jalandhar Cantt area. He said further investigation in the case was underway. 422 voters above 85 yrs, with disabilities exercise right to franchise at home Tribune News Service Parties trying to lure voters withfreebiestobedealtwith strictly: Election observers Jalandhar, May 28 As the district inches closer to the Lok Sabha polls, election observers along with the District Election Officer (DEO), today held a meeting with candidates/their representatives and enforcement agencies to ensure strict implementation of the model code of conduct during the last phase of the elections. Addressing a gathering, general observer J Meghantha Reddy, police observer Satish Kumar, expenditure observer Madhav Deshmukh, DEO Dr Himanshu Aggarwal and Commissioner of Police Rahul S today said strict action would be taken against those found violating the model code of conduct. They said these last 96 hours were critical for all stakeholders and anyone found violating the norms would be dealt with strictly. They further highlighted that a zero-tolerance policy would be adopted against can- didates/parties found involved in distributing freebies to allure voters in their favour. The election observers mentioned that such malpractices on the part of candidates/parties would be highly unwarranted, if reported. The District Election Officer said certain instructions had been given to ensure smooth and hassle-free elections in the district. He said candidates cannot canvass within polling station or any public or private place within the 100 meters of polling stations. Likewise, cellular, cordless and wireless phones were not allowed at polling stations. Identity slips given to voters should be without the name of candidate/party symbol and bulk transmission of SMS would be prohibited. Besides, the use of loudspeakers, mega phone and disorderly conduct was prohibited within 100 metres of the polling stations. — TNS Uttarakhand CM campaigns for Rinku, meets industrialists, doctors INDIA VOTES 2024 Jalandhar, May 28 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today campaigned for the BJP candidate Sushil Rinku at Pholariwal village during which he interacted with farmers and locals. A semi-rural pocket of the city, Dhami asked the people about the problems they were facing and the solutions that the BJP government could offer for them. He said Jalandhar could develop on a far better pace if they elected a BJP MP . The second-time CM of the hill state also visited the club house of Jalandhar Heights II where he held a meeting with city’s top hoteliers, industrialists and doctors. Among those, who interacted with him, were Satish Jain of Haveli, Rajan c m y b Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami interacts with people while campaigning in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO Chopra of St Soldier Group, realtor Rocky Sehgal, Ashwani Victor of Victor Tools, Dr Harprit of Orthonova Hospital, Dr Anoop Bowry of Innocent Hearts Group, Dr Sandeep Goel of NHS Neurocare, Dr SS Dhingra of Diabetics Care, Nitin Kohli of Tracer Shoes, hotelier Raj Kumar Julka, and Sukhdev Singh and Varinder Singh of AGI Infra. The event was organised by BJP leader Amit Taneja. Dhami told all present on the occasion that the BJP was set to make it towards the victory mark on June 4. “Unless Punjab pushes for a larger number of BJP parliamentarians, the state government would continue to block Central funds and hamper development,” he said. BJP North East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari also campaigned in Jalandhar today evening. He was accompanied by former Jalandhar Central MLA Manoranjan Kalia. — TNS Kapurthala, May 28 Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal said teams had been deputed to facilitate voters with physical disabilities (PwDs) and those above the age of 85 years to cast their votes at their respective homes in compliance with the ECI guidelines. He said 453 voters had opted for this facility of which 422 cast their votes, including 99 in Sultanpur Lodhi, 57 in Bholath, 118 in Kapurthala Assembly segment and 148 in Phagwara till Tuesday evening. He said 6,26,866 voters across the district included 3,26,989 male voters, 2,99,844 female and 33 are transgender. He said, “Likewise, 4,421 are PwD voters including 2,578 male and 1,843 females. There are 6,759 voters above the age of 85 years as well as 19 NRI voters. The number of voters within the age group of 18 to 19 years is 12,555, besides 1,254 service voters.” Panchal said the administration had fully geared for peaceful conduct of polls with elaborate arrangements. Four pink polling booths had been set up one in each Assembly segment with different A poll official helps an elderly cast her vote in Kapurthala. facilities including crèche, sitting area, eco-friendly environment and decorative entrances, he said. “Similarly, a polling station has been setup, which would be managed by all young officials,” Panchal said, while adding that this exclusive booth was set up at Montgomery College for women in Kapurthala. He said, “Four polling stations fully managed by officials with disabilities have been setup at Government Senior Secondary School, Nadala; MDSD Senior Secondary School, Kapurthala; Government Senior Secondary School Girls, Sultanpur Lodhi; and Government Primary School, Sukhchain Nagar, Phagwara.” He said, “The administration has also set up 20 model polling stations —five for each of the four Assembly segments — in the district.”