10072024-JTR-01.qxd 7/9/2024 10:44 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune ROBBERY BID ENDS IN CHAOS AS VICTIM’S CAR OVERTURNS ACTOR AND SINGER AYUSHMANN’S NEW SINGLE Actor and singer Ayushmann Khurrana has released his new single titled Reh Ja. P4 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 38°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 27°C CELEBS SPREAD COLOUR AT ANANT & RADHIKA’S HALDI A robbery attempt turns into chaos when women who were targeted fled leading to a dramatic car crash. P2 FORECAST After their sangeet ceremony, Anant Ambani and Radhika celebrated their haldi ceremony on Monday. P4 » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.27 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:30 AM » WEDNESDAY | 10 JULY 2024 | JALANDHAR YOUTH HELD FOR DESECRATION BID Phagwara: A Nepalese youth, Ganesh Khadka, was apprehended for attempting to desecrate the Nishan Sahib at a gurdwara in Goraya near here on Monday. According to head Granthi Gobind Singh, the incident took place around 5:30 am during morning prayers. The youth, seen loitering outside on CCTV, entered the gurdwara without covering his head and attempted to damage the Nishan Sahib with a wiper. Congregants intervened and discovered tobacco products from his possession. The youth also attempted to assault the head granthi before being subdued. Confirming the arrest, SHO Sukhdev Singh from the Phillaur police station said Khadka, a labourer from Ludhiana, had caused significant disruption within the gurdwara. OC THEFT AT MONEY CHANGER’S SHOP Phagwara: Three unidentified motorcyclist-borne miscreants looted ~1.5 lakh from a money changer’s shop at Nagar village on Monday. As per the reports, the suspects, who covered their faces with mask, arrived on a motorcycle and asked the shop owner, Baljit Singh, for dollars. When he refused, the armed robbers threatened to kill him. They looted the cash and fled the spot. The entire event was captured on CCTV cameras. After getting information, the police reached the spot. They are scrutinising the footage of CCTV cameras from the shop and the escape route to identify the culprits. OC DRUG PEDDLER HELD WITH HEROIN Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested a drug peddler on the charge of selling heroin. The suspect has been identified as Surjit Singh, alias Gabbar, a resident of Rame village. Investigating officer (IO) and Malsian police post-incharge Kewal Singh said 5 grams of heroin were recovered from his possession. The IO said a case under Sections 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act had been registered against the suspect. OC Chaos, allegations, accusations dominate on eve of byelections Rivals seem more focused on scrutinising each other’s actions Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 9 Usually on the last day before the polls, candidates make last-minute efforts to woo voters through door-to-door visits, indoor meetings, and trips to religious shrines. However, in Jalandhar West, the scene was dominated by allegations, accusations and chaotic events. Political rivals seemed more focused on scrutinising each other’s actions than on directly engaging with the electorate. Though a few candidates, including Congress’ Surinder Kaur and SAD’s Surjit Kaur, along with two of their supporters, took to the streets in certain areas in the morning, trying to connect with residents and promise muchneeded development in Jalandhar West, it was BJP candidate Sheetal Angural who opted for a different strategy. Angural spent the day monitoring his rivals’ activities and repeatedly going live on social media to accuse the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of distributing freebies. He claimed that AAP was offering liquor, ration, and suits to voters, aiming to buy their votes rather than earn them through legitimate means. Election Commission deploys 872 polling staff, 96 micro-observers JALANDHAR WEST BYPOLL Tribune News Service BJP leaders gherao a car of AAP workers in Jalandhar West on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH TENSION ERUPTED NEAR BABRIK CHOWK The tension reached a boiling point in the evening near Babrik Chowk. BJP and Congress workers intercepted a Black Scorpio vehicle that contained a box of liquor and AAP flags. The scene quickly devolved into chaos as Angural arrived on the spot, accusing AAP of vote-buying and chastising the police for not taking immediate action. The tension reached a boiling point in the evening near Babrik Chowk. BJP and Congress workers intercepted a Black Scorpio vehicle that contained a box of liquor and AAP flags. The scene quickly devolved into chaos as Angural arrived on the spot, accusing AAP of vote-buying and chastising the police for not taking immediate action. “The police are turning a blind eye while AAP blatantly tries to bribe voters,” Angural claimed in an impassioned statement at the site. Meanwhile, police officials of the Division Number 5, maintained that they were conducting an unbiased investigation and examining all aspects of the incident. Adding to the day’s drama, Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi also accused AAP of distributing suits near Tej Mohan Nagar, further fuelling the allegations of Continued on page 2 Hardcore criminal, aide nabbed Laptop, cell phones, scooter recovered from them Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 9 The Jalandhar Police Commissionerate has arrested a hardcore criminal and his accomplice. The police recovered a laptop, two mobile phones and a scooter without registration number from their possession. Divulging details, Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma said a city resident, Rajiv Singh, lodged a complaint with the police stating that two suspects, with their faces covered, entered his wine shop around 10:15 pm on July 2. The armed miscreants stole cash from the counter and Sharma said the police arrested the suspects and recovered two snatched mobile phones, a laptop and a scooter without registration number from their possession. During investigation, it came to light that the suspects were also involved in several other crimes such as snatching and theft in the city. He said Prince had a criminal past as 16 cases were already registered against him at various police stations in Jalandhar and Kapurthala. However, no criminal background of Neeraj had been tracked so far. “Further investigations are on in the case,” the CP said. CRIMINAL PAST Paramjit Singh, alias Prince Baba, has a criminal past as 16 cases were already registered against him at various police stations in Jalandhar and Kapurthala. However, no criminal background of Neeraj has been tracked so far. fled the spot on their scooter. After receiving the complaint, the police started investigations into the matter. Based on technical evidence and intelligence, they identified the suspects as Paramjit Singh, alias Prince Baba, and Neeraj Kumar, alias Neeju, residents of Jalandhar. Latifpura oustees protest outside Chief Minister’s rented residence Unidentified woman dies in road accident Want reconstruction of demolished houses at original site . PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Jalandhar, July 9 An unidentified woman was killed in a road accident near Raipur Rasulpur on the Pathankot road late last night. Her body was found in a mutilated condition. The incident came to light early this morning when a passerby informed the police about the mishap. A team from the Maqsuda police station, led by SubInspector Sukhwinder Singh, reached the spot and initiated Latifpura residents protest outside the CM’s rented residence in Jalandhar Cantonment on Tuesday. Body found in mutilated condition, further probe on ment here today. The delegation demanded reconstruction of the demolished houses on the original site. Members of the displaced families said they had been forced to sleep under the open sky for the past over one and a half years. The government had shown little inter- investigations into the matter. “The body was severely mutilated. It seems that the woman was run over several times. Her body parts found were found scattered nearby,” said SubInspector Sukhwinder Singh. He said the police team collected the body parts and Continued on page 2 Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 9 Latifpura residents, along with a 17-member delegation of the Latifpura Murh Waseba Morcha, held a protest outside the rented residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at Jalandhar Canton- 1.71 lakh voters to decide fate of 15 candidates today est in addressing their plight. The delegation members handed over a demand letter to CM’s OSD Onkar Singh and sought a meeting with Mann on the issue. Onkar Singh assured the delegation members that their meeting with the CM would be scheduled Continued on page 2 c m y b Jalandhar, July 9 The stage is set for the Jalandhar West bypoll where as many as 1.71 lakh voters will decide the fate of 15 candidates tomorrow. The main candidates in the fray include Mohinder Bhagat from AAP Surinder , Kaur from the Congress, Sheetal Angural from the BJP Sur, jit Kaur from the SAD and Binder Lakha from the BSP . The voting will be held from 7 am to 6 pm at 181 polling booths. As many as 872 government employees have been deputed as polling staff. They were given EVMs and kits and were dispatched to the polling booths. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed 96 micro-observers for 51 vulnerable polling booths. The ECI has allowed use of alternative identity card for electorates to cast their votes. Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Dr Himanshu Aggarwal said those who did not have the elector’s photo identity card (EPIC) could exercise their franchise using alternative documents such as Aadhaar card, passport, driving licence or service ID cards (with photograph) issued by Central or state governments or public sector undertakings and public limited companies, smart card issued by RGI under NPR, and official ID cards issued to MPs, MLAs and MLCs. He said bank or post office passbooks with photographs, PAN card, MGNREGA job card, health insurance smart card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour, pension documents with photographs could be used as identity proof. Any of the above mentioned ID proofs could be used along with voter information slip to cast the vote. Dr Aggarwal also announced a unique initiative launched by the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, to assist voters in checking queue status outside TRIBUNE PHOTOS: MALKIAT SINGH INBRIEF Clockwise from top: Polling staff leave for their respective booths; and Congress candidate Surinder Kaur and BJP's Sheetal Angural interact with voters during door-to-door campaigning on Tuesday. MAIN CANDIDATES IN FRAY The main candidates in the fray are Mohinder Bhagat from AAP, Surinder Kaur from the Congress, Sheetal Angural from the BJP, Surjit Kaur from the SAD and Binder Lakha from the BSP. polling booths. This innovative step aims at providing realtime information about crowd conditions at polling stations, allowing voters to plan their visit more efficiently. He said voters could receive updates on queue status by sending a message, “vote”, on WhatsApp number +917447447217. It will inform voters about the number of people currently queued outside specific booths, helping them avoid long waits and making their voting experience more convenient. The DEO emphasised that this move was part of the district administration’s commitment to conducting free, fair and transparent elections. Dr VOTING BEGINS AT 7 AM ■ Voting to be held from 7 am to 6 pm at 181 polling booths ■ As many as 872 government employees deputed as polling staff ■ ECI allows use of alternative identity card for electorates to cast their votes ■ Voters can receive updates on queue status by sending a message, “vote”, on WhatsApp number +917447447217 Aggarwal urged all voters to take advantage of this service and participate in the electoral process in a large number. AAP failed to act against its ‘corrupt’ MLA: Bajwa Jalandhar: Following Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s statement that Jalandhar West will get an honest MLA, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa on Tuesday asked why the AAPled Punjab Government failed to take action against its previous AAP MLA, if he was not honest. Bajwa said the Punjab CM had been telling the voters of Jalandhar West that a corrupt person had resigned, and now this Assembly seat would get an honest MLA. He pointed towards former AAP MLA and BJP candidate Sheetal Angural, who had left AAP to join the BJP and resigned as an MLA. “Can the Punjab CM bother to explain why no action was taken against the same corrupt MLA when he was still part of his government? The AAP government saved him for more than two years just because he belonged to the AAP Bajwa said. A senior ,” Congress leader, Bajwa said the AAP Government claim to have been a staunch honest party, yet failed to take action against those ministers, MLAs and other party leaders, whose names cropped up for corrupt and immoral activities.