30102024-JTR-01.qxd 10/29/2024 10:33 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AID TO SAINIK SCHOOL: MINISTER SEARCH OP AT MALERKOTLA SUB-JAIL AHEAD OF DIWALI THIS DIWALI, JAZZ IT UP WITH ZARDOZI Harbhajan Singh ETO asks PWD officials to submit detailed project report for renovation of building. P2 Nearly 100 police officials comb premises to rule out presence of narcotics, phones. P3 Contemporary silhouettes with traditional elements — check out the best you can wear this Diwali. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 32°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 19°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.40 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:42 AM WEDNESDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2024 | JALANDHAR Most parks a picture of neglect INBRIEF FIRE BREAKS OUT IN GURDWARA Phagwara: A devastating fire broke out in a Gurdwara Tiksa Sahib at village Saprod near Phagwara, causing the extensive damage to the building and its surroundings. The fire, which began in the early hours, quickly spread, leading to significant losses. Furniture and other valuable items were destroyed in the blaze. On receiving the call, the fire department despatched three fire engines to the spot to bring the situation under control. Short-circuit was said to be the likely reason. OC YOUTH BOOKED FOR RAPE Phagwara: The police have registered a case against a youth Happy Rai of village Zandiali near Phagwara on the charge of repeatedly raping a girl. The victim told the police that the accused made physical relations with her with an assurance to marry her but after a few months, he refused to marry with her. No arrest has been made so far. OC MISSING GIRL YET TO BE TRACED Nakodar: A 19-year-old girl of Maherru village has been missing for the last 20 days. The victim has been identified as Muskan, daughter of Ranjit Singh. Muskan went out of her home on October 8 but did not return and a missing report has been registered in this connection. OC Tribune News Service The accused in Vigilance sleuths’ custody. Excise dept clerk arrested for graft Our Correspondent Phagwara October 29 The Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Sanjiv Malhotra, clerk, posted in the Excise and Taxation Department, Kapurthala, for accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 and demanding Rs 20,000 more. Inspector in the department Jatinderpal Singh had already been arrested. The clerk had been evading arrest for two months. Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the VB said a case had been registered against the accused on a complaint filed by Neeraj Sharma, a resident of Mohalla Kiampura, Kapurthala, on the CM’s Anti Corruption Action Line. He said the complainant had disclosed in his com- plaint that he was running an electronic shop at Kiampura and had sold a cooler in April 2024 to a customer and a dispute arose. The accused had intervened to settle a dispute. He further alleged that both accused had asked him on his mobile phone to come with his accountant in the office where they demanded a bribe of Rs 45,000 from him to settle irregularities of the bill. The complainant said clerk Sanjiv Malhotra had demanded a bribe of Rs 1 lakh but the deal was struck at Rs 30,000. He had taken Rs 10,000 as the first instalment and now they were demanding Rs 20,000. The complainant recorded a conversation on the phone with the accused and submitted it to the VB as an evidence. Jalandhar, October 29 Getting hardly any push for development works since the Municipal Corporation House had got dissolved in January last year, parks here remain the victim of apathy . Most parks in the city are being maintained by residents of societies as there is hardly any upkeep by the Municipal Corporation. Left to themselves, there is no pruning of trees or mowing of grass for years. The triangular-shaped park on Ajit Saini Marg is the best example. The park has huge dense bushes and gates remaining shut all the time and only the anti-social elements making into it by scaling the walls. Most parks in posh colonies like Urban Estate, Model Town, Lajpat Nagar and Jawahar Nagar are well-maintained by resident welfare societies but those in the industrial area or near Sodal Temple have been left in a state of neglect. A park in the industrial area has almost all swings in a broken condition with no repair done for the past few years. Another one in Dada Nagar has the same story. The only facility in the name of parks in these colonies is some patches of green grass and shade of some trees along the boundaries. The park in a bad shape at the industrial area in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Some clubs in the city too have been working to maintain the ‘lungs of the city’. Rajat Mahendru, an activist based at Krishna Nagar said, “The park near our locality was not properly maintained till the Rotary Club took it over. It has developed it planted several saplings. The process to hand it over to our mohalla society has started and we shall now soon take it over”. Aruna Arora, ex-MC councillor, said, “There are seven parks in my ward and all of them are well-maintained. The MC contributes some fund but most of it is by the residents themselves who pay up Rs 300 per house. The MC itself has no machinery for cutting or pruning. The societies have bought it all through own funds. Gar- deners of the MC are all underpaid and it is the societies who are paying them the larger component of salaries. For the park on the back of gurdwara in Model Town, we are also collecting funds from morning walkers as its maintenance cost is very high.” Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh said, “Having good clean parks will be a luxury for people in my constituen- cy where residents in several localities are still struggling for the sewage connectivity, good roads and proper streetlights. The present government dispensation has changed 7-8 MC Commissioners in 2.5 years, most of whom were not happy to work in Jalandhar and hence the mess all around. A seriousness to ensure proper civic amenities remains a big miss in Jalandhar”. JCT Mill former staff write to CM, Hawkers get bicycles as Diwali gift seek justice for affected families Tribune News Service TWO ARRESTED FOR KIDNAPPING Nurmahal: The police have arrested two persons on the charges of kidnapping and rioting. The accused have been identified as Kulwant Singh of Maulli village, Phagwara, and Varindarjeet Singh of Nurewal village in Phillaur. Lakhwindar Kaur of Mohalla Ravidaspura, had complained to the police that the accused and their accomplices attacked her husband at his shop, kidnapped him and threw him after a few hours on the road in a serious condition. OC 3 NABBED FOR SNATCHING Shahkot: The police have arrested three miscreants on the charge of snatching a migrant's motorcycle and phone. The accused have been identified as Jeeta of Kang Kalan village, Harpreet Singh, alias Happy, of Khosa village and Gursharan Singh of Talwandi Salem village in Nakodar. Jai Kishan Mehta of Bihar and presently living at Koharr Kalan village had complained to the police that he was returning home on September 21 night when three motorcycle-borne miscreants snatched his motorcycle and a phone. oc POLICE HOLD FLAG MARCH Phagwara: The police on Tuesday took out a flag march because of the festive season and visited various places. The parked vehicles were also checked and special instructions were given to shopkeepers to stay alert. "We have been directed by the CM and DGP to keep a strict vigil during the festive season. Strict action will be taken against those who would try to disturb peace," said the DSP. oc Ashok Kaura Phagwara, October 29 The Ex-Employees Union of the JCT has come forward to support the JCT workers, who are struggling for their six-month pending salary, besides alleging a scam in PF and ESI by directors Samir Thapar and Mukulika Sinha. The union has shot emails to the Chief Minister, DGP Chief Secretary and , other officers concerned. The union has expressed frustration over “lack of justice” with around 5,000 families. While narrating a recent episode, the union members alleged that the Chairman and Executive Director of the company attempted to mislead the staff and workers by claiming that bankers had come to sell the plant and dues would be paid soon. But, in reality, they were dealing with secondhand machinery buyers from Rajasthan in an illegal manner, while the company was under the NCLT proceedings, they added. It reflected a panic sale to make as much money as possible, with no intention to JCT Mill employees submit a memorandum to SP Rupinder Bhatti on Tuesday. pay the dues to the affected workers, the union alleged. In light of the action, hundreds of workers, along with women and children, gathered, demanding the arrest of those responsible for the fraudulent activities. Unfortunately, the police did not take any action, the union said. The union has urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, DGP Gaurav Yadav and Kapurthala SSP Vatsala Gupta to intervene and register a case against Samir DM fixes time for cracker bursting PHAGWARA, OCTOBER 29 District Magistrate Amit Kumar Panchal has fixed the time schedule of fireworks display on Diwali, Gurpurab, Christmas and New Year in Kapurthala district. It has been made clear that there will be ban on bursting of firecrackers after or before the specified time. On the occasion of Diwali on October 31, it’s from 8 pm to 10 pm, on Gurpurb, November 15, from 4 am to 5 am and on Christmas and the New Year eve from 9 pm to 10 pm and from 11.55 pm to 12.30 pm. Apart from this, firecrackers will not be allowed within 100-metre radius of silence zones like hospitals, educational institutions, courts and places of worship, etc. These orders will remain in force from October 30 to January 1, 2025. — OC Thapar and Mukulika Sinha under Section 406 and 409 of the PF Act for non-payment of the funds to the workers. The union has alleged that the company has committed fraud by failing to pay ESI contributions after deducting these from wages over the past year. Numerous representations have been made to the Phagwara SP , but no action has been taken on record, the union alleged. They requested the CM to issue directives to the DGP and Kapurthala SSP to ensure justice. The union leaders said despite their repeated emails and representations, the CM’s office has yet to take any concrete action, undermining the stance of zero tolerance against corruption. They urged the CM to initiate an inquiry to ascertain why the Phagwara police have not taken action against Samir Thapar and Mukulika Sinha since April 4, 2024. Nawanshahr, October 29 In a unique gesture, the Nawanshahr administration saluted the hard work of newspaper hawkers and accorded them a special honour by giving them new bicycles as a Diwali gift at a simple ceremony organised at ITI gound here today. The occasion was organised with the support of the District Red Cross Society. As many as 35 newspaper distributors were honoured. The event was named as Navi Udaan-Suchna di Sawari. Hawkers were overwhelmed with such a gesture shown for the first time to them. Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman said newspaper distributors wake up around four in the morning without leave and sacrifice their comforts in extreme winter, hot and bad weather. “They deliver newspapers at homes and offices without delay. But people do not even know their names,” he added. The DC said the main religion of these headstrong, tireless and hardworking people is their hard work. The Deputy Commissioner said this was not a charity, but a noble effort by the district In a unique gesture, the Nawanshahr DC has distributed cycles to 35 hawkers ahead of Diwali. administration to salute their hard work and passion. Dhiman further added that the purpose of honouring these hardworking people was also to give them respect along with encouragement The hawkers said by receiving the honour, they have got a ‘Nayi Udaan’ (new flight). The hawkers said even after several years of experience in distributing newspapers, today was the happiest moment for their families. The hawkers also thanked the Deputy Commissioner for this initiative. Many newspaper distributors were also seen getting emotional on the occasion of receiving the honour. MLA, Banga, Dr Sukhwinder Sukhi, AAP leader Lalit Mohan Pathak Ballu, Additional Deputy Commissioner (G) Rajeev Verma, SDM, Nawanshahr, Dr Akshita Gupta and others were present. Stuck in mandis, no cheer for farmers ahead of Diwali Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, October 29 Farmer Amritpal of Sheikhein village is spending nights in Maqsudan Mandi. A day is left for Diwali and the hapless farmers like Amritpal are left with no option but to stay in mandis, look after their produce and waiting for it to be put into the bardanas. Amritpal said he had not received any payment yet. He sleeps on his tractor. “Ehi saadi Diwali hai ji (This is our Diwali). I have got my two c m y b tractors here. Half of my produce is lying here on the road in the absence of proper space while rest is still on the tractor as I don’t know where will I keep it) he said. Festive season is here, but there’s nothing to cheer about for farmers. Farmers have been sitting in mandis awaiting their produce to get purchased so that they can get money to clear their debts. “With the payment that we get for our produce, we don’t do anything for ourselves. First, we have to clear the dues of moneylenders, then we can buy seeds and fertilisers for the next crop. This time, things have been too hard,” said Sandeep Singh, a farmer from Khichipur. These have been distressing and depressing days for them. Farmer Hardev Singh from Bhogpur allege that the arhtiyas had been asking them agree to the point that they will be given payments with a cut. “The situation is tensed. We are in dire need of money for our next crop as well and there is a huge debt,” he added. Farmers wait for lifting of paddy at New Grain Market, Jalandhar.