27082024-JTR-01.qxd 8/26/2024 10:36 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune ADAMPUR SCRAP DEALER WINS ~2.5CR LOTTERY GOVT SCHOOL STUDENTS SHINE IN KHO KHO TOURNEY LOOKING AT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCES THAT DID WELL Pritam Lal Jaggi and his family has been into the scrap dealing business for several decades. P2 U14 and 17 players from Mundi Kasu village in Jalandhar secure podium finishes at zonal meet. P3 The recent success of It Ends With Us is a testament to how bestsellers succeed on the big screen. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.57 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:01 AM TUESDAY | 27 AUGUST 2024 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF VILLAGER HELD WITH PISTOL Phagwara: The police have arrested a villager with an illegal firearm. Investigating officer Dalvara Singh said the accused had been identified as Sunni Deol of Burj Hassan village under Bilga police station. An illegal pistol and 3 cartridges were recovered from the accused and impounded a motorcycle. A case under Sections 303 (2) ((theft) 317(2) (dishonestly receiving stolen property in the commission of a dacoity) of the BNS and Sections 25/54/59 of the Arms Act has been registered against the accused. OC SCHOOL BUS DRIVER BOOKED Phagwara: The Bilga police have booked a school bus driver on the charge of causing death by negligence. The accused has been identified as Gagan Deep Singh, a resident of Gadra village under Bilga police station. Gurwindar Singh, a resident of the village, complained to the police that the accused was driving his school rashly on August 25 and hit his brother Gurmit Singh's (31) motorcycle and killed him and his pillion-riding friend Ranjit Singh (28). A case has been registered against the school bus driver. OC NRIS BOOKED FOR REMARKS ON FB Phagwara: The police have booked three persons, including two NRIs, on the charge of misusing social media. The accused have been identified as Sukhwindar Singh Chandi of Safi Pur Chak village in Ludhiana and living in Canada, Davindar Singh of Mohalla Khurmpur, Mehatpur, presently living in Canada, and Sharanjit Singh of Mohalla Khurampur , Mehatpur. Lakhwindar Singh of Mehatpur complained to the police that the accused used objectionable words against him on Facebook and created his wrong image. A case has been registered against the accused. OC Couple injured as MUV hits scooter Jalandhar, August 26 A couple was grievously injured in a collision between an MUV and a scooter on the Malsian-Lohian road near the Chitti Bein. As per information, Gyan Singh, resident of village Sohal Jagir in Shakot, was heading to Lohian with his wife Baldish Kaur, on his scooter (PB08-BQ6240) when they were hit by a vehicle. The accident happened as they reached a petrol pump near the Chitti Bein on the Malsian-Lohian road to get its tank filled. While crossing the road, an overspeeding black colour (PB08 EY 8763) MUV coming from the Lohian side hit the scooter. The vehicle dragged the scooter with the husband and wife for a distance. The impact of the incident was such that the scooter was crushed. The scooter-borne couple was seriously injured. The vehicle driver has been identified as Jaspal Singh, resident of village Wara Jagir in Lohian. Following a do-gooder’s call on 112, ASI Jatinder Pal Sharma reached the spot and the injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar. The police said the vehicles had been seized. — TNS 13-year-old scooter rider loses life in road mishap Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 26 In a heart-wrenching incident that highlights the ongoing menace of underage driving, a 13-year-old boy lost his life in a tragic road accident, despite the enforcement of the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act 2019. The law, aimed at curbing underage driving through stringent penalties, appears to be struggling to achieve its intended impact as parents continue to allow minors to drive vehicles. The fatal accident occurred near Sanjay Gandhi Nagar close to the Gadaipur area here this afternoon when a truck suddenly applied its brakes, causing a young boy on a scooter to crash into the vehicle from behind. The boy, identified as Avi Malhotra, a resident of Bhagat Singh Colony, died on the spot from the impact. Police officials have confirmed that Avi was on his way back home after handing over a lunch box to his neighbour at Sanjay Gandhi Nagar when the accident took place. His family, devastated by the loss, rushed to the scene only to find their only son lying lifeless on the road. Their cries of sorrow at the accident scene painted a poignant picture of the irreversible consequences of underage driving. Truck impounded, driver flees HOSHIARPUR MONEY CHANGER’S ARREST Sood had no GST account, money-changing licence Was dealing in transactions of ~10-15 lakh daily Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service The damaged scooter of Avi Malhotra after it met with the accident in Jalandhar. After the passersby reported the incident at the control room, the police from Division Number-8 arrived promptly at the scene to begin their investigation. ACP North Sheetal Singh, who also reached the spot, expressed concern over the ongoing issue of minors being allowed to drive. He reiterated the need for parents to understand the dangers and legal consequences of letting children operate vehicles. “We urge all parents not to give vehicles to minors under any circumstances,” the ACP said, emphasising the importance of adhering to the law. Despite numerous awareness campaigns and special drives by the police, urging SCOOTER PLOUGHS INTO TRUCK FROM BEHIND The fatal accident occurred near Sanjay Gandhi Nagar close to the Gadaipur area here on Monday afternoon when a trucker suddenly applied the vehicle’s brakes and a boy riding a scooter ploughed into the truck from behind. The boy Avi Malhotra of Bhagat Singh Colony, died on the spot . parents to take responsibility and prevent underage driving, incidents like this continue to occur. The Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act 2019 was designed to enforce stricter punishments and hefty fines for those found violating the rules, but the tragedy in Jalandhar indicates that many are still not taking the law seriously. Meanwhile, the truck involved in the accident was immediately impounded by the police, though the driver reportedly fled the scene. The ACP North said they were reviewing the CCTV footage from the area to identify and apprehend the driver responsible for the accident. A case was registered and the investigation was ongoing, he said. Jalandhar, August 26 The arrest of Hoshiarpurbased money changer Puneet Sood with a recovery of nearly Rs 3 crore Indian and foreign currency by the Jalandhar police last month has opened up a pandora’s box on the nexus of illegal agents running hawala racket in the region. This was not for the first time that , had been caught with unaccounted cash. He was among two more Hoshiarpur-based persons who had also been arrested by the Customs Department with a recovery of Rs 2.3 crore at IGI Airport in May 2021. The cash had been found wrapped in a foil in their bags which was checked by department sleuths. The accused were then set to fly to abroad. During interrogation by the city police since his arrest, Sood confessed that his company Pankaj Enterprises had no GST account and that he was still dealing in Rs 15-20 lakh transactions on a daily basis. Investigations also revealed that he was a sub-agent for Paul Merchants but his licence had become invalid in 2017. Sood, however, had maintained, “The licence of several other people in the trade had also become invalid at that time. I am also into property dealing business”. He had also revealed he had been keeping the recovered cash with him at his place in Hoshiarpur for the past 45 days. He had also shared the details of his dealings with other money changers and said the money confiscated was his commission-based income. Sood had also not been able to produce any trade licence to run his shop from the Municipal Corporation, Hoshiarpur. Even though his family had claimed last week that Rs 1 crore more in Sood’s possession on July 21, the day of his arrest, was found missing after the police action, he had confirmed before the court that he was only in possession of Rs 2.93 crore in Indian currency and $3100 at the time of his arrest. Sood is also facing FIR under the NDPS Act, Excise Act and Arms Act. Unconvinced with his theories, the police have also written to the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department to track his account details, forward and backward linkages and transactions for more shady deals. Several Puneet Sood has been on bail for the last four days people who were connected with him for such deals are now wary as more agencies are set to follow the case and check his involvement in any alleged drug trade. He has reportedly taken the names of some high-profile people from Punjab and Delhi involved in his alleged racket. Inspector of Navi Baradari Kamaljit Singh confirmed that Sood could not produce any GST account detail or money changing licence. He said, “We have forwarded all his case details with the ED and I-T departments for tracking the money trail”. 4 nabbed for MC employee Two arrested with 10.5kg opium murder, weapons recovered Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 26 The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police has apprehended four persons involved in a brutal murder of MC employee Deepak Kumar at Buta Mandi on August 20. According to police officials, the investigation began following a complaint from Ajay Kumar, a resident of Deol Nagar, Bhargo Camp. Kumar reported that his elder broth- er Deepak Kumar, alias Deepu, who worked as a cleaner for the Municipal Corporation, had been embroiled in a financial dispute with Avtar Singh, alias Tari. Avtar of Mohalla Jallowal Abadi, had allegedly borrowed Rs 1.5 lakh from Deepak about two months ago. On the evening of August 20, around 7pm, Deepak, accompanied by his friend Anil Kumar, alias Gaggu, went to Buta Mandi to retrieve the borrowed money from Avtar. However, the confrontation quickly turned violent. Avtar, along with a group of 9-10 accomplices, allegedly attacked Deepak and Anil. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Deepak succumbed to his injuries. Anil, who also sustained injuries during the attack, is currently undergoing treatment. The police had been registered an FIR at the Bhargo Camp Police Station. Jalandhar, August 26 The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police, led by Commissioner Swapan Sharma, has dismantled an inter-state opium smuggling network and seized 10.5 kg of opium and Rs 4 lakh drug money from two accused. The breakthrough came after the Special Cell of the Jalandhar police, acted on a tip-off, set up a trap near the Dakoha crossing. It intercepted a car, suspected of transporting narcotics. The vehicle, driven by notorious A person held with opium in police custody. smuggler Captain Singh, was found to be carrying 3.5 kg of opium, leading to his imme- diate arrest. An FIR was registered under the NDPS Act at Police Station Rurka Kalan village on way to reclaim its lost glory Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 26 Rurka Kalan, a village now celebrated for its sweeping environmental initiatives and sports prowess, harbours a revolutionary past rooted in defiance and community service. This village, which traces its origins to the mid1700s, has emerged as an example of strength, unity and progress in Punjab. Founded by Baba Bula and his four brothers of the Sandhu clan, who migrated from Sarhali in Tarn Taran district, Rurka Kalan is more than a small settlement. With a population of around 9,000, spanning 3,200 acres, this village has witnessed and contributed to significant historical movements while nurturing a strong sense of community. The village’s foundation is deeply intertwined with the legacies of its founders. Rurka Kalan is divided into five wards or ‘Pattis,’ each named after one of the found- ing brothers — Bula, Rawal, Bhunder, Gau and Heta. This sense of history was further enriched by Baba Bula’s son, Bhai Sadhu, a revered saint who became a social reformer by joining the Udasi sect, founded by Baba Shri Chand ji, son of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Bhai Sadhu’s contributions, including the establishment of the Dera Bhai Sadhu, a charitable institution that provided free kitchen services and other community support initiatives, strengthened the village’s commitment to collective welfare. During the British colonial era, Rurka Kalan became a hotbed of revolutionary activity. The village produced 42 freedom fighters, with Baba Bachint Singh standing out for declaring Rurka Kalan an independent state in 1929. The village played a pivotal role in the Ghadar Party, hosting key conferences and drawing the attention of national leaders like Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, Lala Hardyal To give it a vintage look, the red bare-bricked structures called the heritage saths have been constructed across Rurka Kalan village . PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH and Sardar Patel. In sports, Rurka Kalan has also made its mark internationally. The village created over 25 international players, particularly in football and c m y b kabaddi. Among them were Surjit Sandhu, who was the goalkeeper for the Indian Football Team in 1982 Asian Games, and Anwar Ali, who played crucial roles in the SAFF Cup and Nehru Cup victories. However, Rurka Kalan’s journey has not been without challenges. The dark days of Punjab militancy claimed 13 young lives and led to the mass exodus of the youth, disrupting the village’s once-thriving sports culture. The village faced a decline as many children fell into the grip of drugs and anti-social activities. Yet, after these trials, a new era of renewal emerged. Led by Gurmangal Dass, a passionate son of the village, and supported by Dera Bhai Sadhu, Rurka Kalan began to reclaim its former glory. Gurmangal dedicated himself to the village’s development. In 2000, he founded the Youth Football Club (YFC), Rurka Kalan, which was registered in 2001. The club has since grown into a global grassroots development entity, transforming the lives of thousands of children and the youth through its initiatives. Today, Rurka Kalan’s environmental and agricultural projects have attracted the attention across the country and the village’s transformation is nothing short of extraordinary. Cantt, Jalandhar. Further investigation led to the arrest of another key figure in the operation, Maan Singh. His arrest resulted in the recovery of an additional 7 kg of opium, Rs 4 lakh cash, believed to be drug proceeds, and a car. Commissioner Sharma highlighted that the investigation was ongoing, with further arrests and developments expected. He reiterated the Jalandhar police’s resolve to eradicate the drug menace from the city, ensuring that all those involved in such criminal activities would be brought to justice. Garbage dump: NGT hearing begins today Jalandhar, August 26 Fed up with the MC for not acting to shift the garbage dump near the cremation ground, residents under the banner of the Joint Action Committee had filed a case in the NGT the hearing of which is on Tuesday. The committee had unfurled the flag on August 15. Committee members said they also wanted ‘azadi from this dump’. They had then raise the issue of lack of cleanliness, waste accumulation in their area too. Jaswinder Singh, president of the committee, said, “Since long, we have been raising this issue with everyone, but, strangely, nobody has ever listened to us.” Residents of several colonies adjoining Model Town, under the banner the Joint Action Committee, have raised the issue of shifting of the garbage dump from their locality. — TNS