29082024-JTR-01.qxd 8/28/2024 11:13 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune TRAINING TO BOOST ENGLISH SKILLS OF TEACHERS SPL CLEANING CAMPAIGN AROUND DARBAR SAHIB INDIA’S PARALYMPICS TEAM INSPIRING: AYUSHMANN A comprehensive training programme for English teachers is underway in nine districts P2 Drive will also undertake cleaning and repair of choked sewerage and water supply systems. P2 The actor took to Instagram and shared a video cheering for the Indian contingent for the Games. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.54 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:02 AM » THURSDAY | 29 AUGUST 2024 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF YOUTH HELD FOR ABDUCTING GIRL Phagwara: The police have arrested a youth on the charges of kidnapping a minor girl. The accused had been identified as Gurwindar Singh, alias Gorra, a resident of Kot Sadar Khan village under Kot Esse Khan police station Moga. A case under Sections 137(2) (kidnapping) and 96 (procuration of the child) of the BNS was registered against the accused. OC TWO BOOKED FOR PHONE THEFT Phagwara: The police have arrested two youths and recovered four stolen mobile phones from them. They were identified as Tarun Kumar of Preet Nagar and Deepak Kumar of Bhagatpura locality in Phagwara. The accused have confessed to their involvement in stealing the mobile phone of Sandeep Kumar, resident of Gobindpura Mohalla, Phagwara two days back. OC MOTHER-DAUGHTER HURT IN QUARREL Phagwara: On a complaint lodged by migrant Sunalwari, the police have registered a case under Sections 354, 323, 340, 34, BNS, against Sanjay Kumar and his wife Kajal on the charges of attacking and seriously injuring the complainant and her daughter. The police are investigating the matter but no arrest has been made so far. The injured were admitted in the local Civil Hospital. OC MAN BOOKED FOR KIDNAPPING Phagwara: The police have booked a resident on the charges of kidnapping a minor girl and forcing her for marriage. The accused had been identified as Rahul Kumar of Jhugian Khude Road, Mehatpur. The father of the victim complained to the police that the accused kidnapped his minor daughter on the pretext of marriage. A case has been registered against the accused and raids are being conducted to nab him. OC Drug peddler held after heavy crossfire, 1kg heroin seized Hunt on to nab another suspect Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 28 A heavy gunfire exchange between the CIA staff of the Commissionerate Police and drug smugglers took place at the Lajpat Nagar area here on Wednesday evening, leading to the arrest of one smuggler and the seizure of one kilogram of heroin. The operation, spearheaded by Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma, was the result of a well-coordinated intelligence operation. He said they had reports which indicated that two smugglers with links with Pakistan-based drug network were in the city to deliver a substantial heroin consignment. Acting on this informa- A CCTV footage shows a police official in civilian clothing chases the drug smugglers before the encounter. SMUGGLERS HAVE LINKS WITH PAK GANG ■ The police had reports that two smugglers with links with Pakistan- based network were in the city to deliver heroin information, they laid a trap to apprehend the suspects. ■ As officers closed in on the smugglers, a gunfight ensued ■ The smugglers opened fire, forcing the police to return it. ■ Acting on this tion, they laid a trap to apprehend the suspects. He said as officers closed in on the smugglers, a gunfight ensued. The smugglers opened fire, forcing the police to return it. “During the crossfire, we managed to arrest one of the suspects,” Sharma said. The arrested individual sustained injuries, although it remains unclear whether these were due to gunfire or other causes, such as falling or colliding with a vehicle during the chase. The injured suspect has been admitted to the Civil Hospital for treatment. The second suspect, meanwhile, managed to escape the scene but has been identified and the police are actively pursuing his capture. An FIR has been registered under the NDPS Act and a detailed investigation is ongoing. Police officials said further information, including the identities of the suspects and additional details about the operation, was expected to be released during a press conference tomorrow. 2 nabbed for eve-teasing, murderbidatSuryaEnclave Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 28 Two men were booked on the charges of attempted murder and eve-teasing after a disturbing incident at Shourya Green Apartments in Surya Enclave late Tuesday night. The accused, identified as Gagandeep Singh and Kulbir Singh, were reportedly consuming alcohol openly on the society premises when they were confronted by a young girl who was out for a walk. According to reports, the confrontation escalated when the drunk men started making inappropriate remarks against the girl. As she alerted her family and other society members, they intervened and questioned them for drinking in open and passing objectionable comments. However, the situation deteriorated when the men attacked the society members with sharp-edged weapons. A person who was booked for eve-teasing in Jalandhar. Paramvir Singh Pathania, president of the Shourya Greens Residents Welfare Society, said three individuals, including family mem- bers of the victim, sustained injuries during the attack and were rushed to a private hospital. The incident was immediately reported to the Rama Mandi police. Following the report, the police arrived swiftly and filed an FIR under Sections 74, 62, 115(2), 118(1), 351(2), and 3(5) of the BNS Act. The accused Gagandeep Singh and Kulbir Singh have been arrested. Parminder Singh, SHO, confirmed their arrest and stated that legal proceedings were underway. He emphasised the zero-tolerance policy towards crimes against women and said additional charge of attempted murder was added at the directive of CP Swapan Sharma. He said investigations revealed that the accused were tenants in the same society but had not undergone police verification, prompting further scrutiny into the matter. In Cong fold, Arora Fake robbery case cracked in Nakodar; two held regrets joining BJP Ashok Kaura Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, August 28 After returning to the Congress fold, former Cabinet Minister Sundar Sham Arora has said in a statement issued here that he had joined the BJP one-and-ahalf years ago and for this he apologised to Punjab and Punjabis. He said, “I thought that there was a BJP government at the Centre and I would help Punjabis. But his thinking was wrong, so I decided to join the Congress again”. Arora said in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the people of Punjab have extended a huge support to the Congress and it showed that the party had been working for the progress of Punjab, establishing peace and strengthening mutual brotherhood. Arora said by staying in the Congress, he would work to strengthen Punjabis and Punjabiat. The Congress had always promoted secularism. Arora said he had no complaints against any BJP leader. Rahul Gandhi is working hard to get Punjab its due as per the Constitution of India. He appealed to the city residents to support him for the prosperity of the city and Punjab. Arora has been inducted into the Congress by Congress general secretary and Punjab affairs incharge Devendra Yadav. PHAGWARA,AUGUST 28 In a major breakthrough, the Nakodar police have cracked a fake robbery case within hours of its reporting. The incident, allegedly involving the theft of Rs 2 lakh in the Nakodar-Malsian area, was found to be a staged act orchestrated by two finance company employees to grab company funds. The arrested individuals have been identified as Surjit Singh of Nakodar and Sam of Adampur. They have been booked under relevant sections of the BNS, including provisions related to cheating and criminal conspiracy. SSP Jalandhar Rural, , Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh, talking to this correspondent here today, said the police received a distress call on the emergency helpline 112, reporting a robbery on Two persons in police custody for faking a robbery in Phagwara. the Nakodar-Malsian road. “Our Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) team immedi- ately reached the scene. The SHO, Shahkot, SHO Nakodar and the CIA staff team initiated an investigation under the supervision of the DSP Nakodar,” he said. , Movement begins to save From mobile screens to sports 250-year-old banyan tree — a positive spin to their lives Deepkamal Kaur Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 28 On a call of a farmer from Seham village falling in Nakodar, a mass movement has started to save a 250-yearold banyan tree in the middle of the land being acquired for the NHAI project. Farmer Balbir Singh has said, “This tree is the pride of our village. It is a home to hundreds of birds. Various cattle and small animals rest under the shade of this tree. Even labourers working in our village take rest in the afternoon under the huge canopy of this tree. We will not let this tree be axed”. While the farmer had already been getting the support from the village, members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) and nihang organisations, even the citybased environment lovers, have joined him for the cause. “This is a heritage tree and we have to save it”, wrote Jagdish Chander, an activist, on the social media, asking volunteers and NGOs to join for the cause. He has even Jalandhar, August 28 It was November 2023 when sports entered his life. Before that, Lakkshvir Rehal’s life was just a routine affair. Visually impaired, Lakkshvir (18) was figuring out what he should do so that he could settle and earn well for his family. Lakkshvir can see from one eye. His father is an architect and mother a chocolate maker. “I used to make v-logs on social media so that I could start earning. But then I was told by my teachers and parents that I should play games,” he said. Never in his school life he played any sport or game so the suggestion didn’t go well with him. “I knew one thing that I always loved watching Virat Kohli and Neeraj Chopra, who are the sports legends,” he added. He then embraced the idea to enter the world of sports and then decided never to leave it. In one year, he played barely four tournaments in the shotput game but won urged everyone to visit the spot to discuss alternative plans to save the tree and offer the solution to the administration. The residents have also appealed to Rajya Sabha member and environmentalist Balbir S Seechewal for the cause. Farmer Balbir Singh said, “About 4.5 acre of my land is set to be acquired by the NHAI for the Bharat Mala Project. I have no issues with my land being taken away. I am ready to give more land for the project. I am just insisting that this tree should be saved. It will add up to the beauty of the NHAI project and become a landmark too”. The farmer said he was being offered an additional Rs 45,000 for this tree but he had refused to accept the payment. “This tree did not come in the way of the original road plan for the NHAI project. The administration has worked at the behest of a former Congress minister to get the road passage shifted by 300 feet towards the tree to save a rice sheller of his relative from being acquired”, Balbir Singh revealed. c m y b Lakkshvir Rehal and Taskeen with their medals medals every time. A state-level championship was held in Bathinda in which he won a gold medal. Then he got introduced to the Sports Department coach Baba Gurdeep, who then started training him. His coach said, “He has every quality which a sportsperson should have. He has a right built and body structure for shotput game.” In the recently held 13th National Junior and SubJunior Para Athletics Meet, he won a bronze medal. The victory has brought a confidence and positivity in him. “My height has increased a bit and I can see some improvement in my vision too. Whenever I play and exercise, it gives me a lot of happiness and good vibes,” he added. Now Lakkshvir will be playing in Kheda Watan Punjab Dian too. The Paralympics started today and he started rigorous training so that he could represent his nation at that level too. “I want to be like Virat, successful and talented,” he said. Taskeen (18), another city based girl, has a somewhat similar story. It was only oneand-a-half years ago after she completed her Class X that she adopted shooting and, in a short time span, she won a gold medal in the 59th Punjab State Shooting Championship that was recently held in Mohali. It was her neighbour Avtar Singh, who himself is a national-level shooting champion, who encouraged her to start shooting. “Earlier, I couldn’t understand the importance but with time, I started enjoying shooting and now with every win and medal, my love for it is only growing,” she said. Her father Siraj Anwar owns a saloon and her mother also works with him. Taskeen, who is pursuing her studies in non-medical stream, said after Class X, her inclination towards social media was growing. “I was spending time on it, but when I took shooting, it helps in controlling the mind and social media is not a priority anymore,” she added. As the investigation progressed, a review of CCTV footages revealed that no such robbery had occurred, shifting suspicion on Surjit Singh, who had falsely reported the crime to divert company funds. During the preliminary investigation, both individuals confessed to faking the robbery, believing they could escape without consequence. Further investigation uncovered that the employees had intentionally torn their clothing to simulate a violent robbery. The swift action by the police led to the exposure of a plot and the recovery of the misappropriated amount. SSP Khakh commended the ERV teams for their vigilance and prompt response, which was instrumental in intercepting the culprits and preventing the misappropriation of company funds. Man held for snatchings Jalandhar, August 28 The Jalandhar Police Commissionerate has arrested a person in connection with a series of snatching incidents. On Tuesday, the police were alerted to a snatching that had occurred near Hansraj Stadium. The victim reported that three individuals on a motorcycle had snatched a mobile phone and cash, with the motorcycle lacking a number plate. Acting promptly, the police arrived at the scene and recorded the statement of the victim Vikas Virdi, residing in Sundar Nagar, Alawalpur. An FIR was registered. The investigation led to the identification and subsequent arrest of James Masih, a resident of Buta Mandi, Jalandhar. The police recovered the weapon used in the crime, a knife, the motorcycle and Rs 450 from his possession. The further probe revealed that Masih is a proclaimed offender with two previous FIRs against him. Police officials said the further investigation was underway and they are probing his connection to other snatching incidents reported in the city in the last few months. — TNS