17022025-JTR-01.qxd 16-02-2025 22:46 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune GO ABROAD WITH CLEAR AIM TO AVOID DEJECTION HER PEPPY VOICE, INFECTIOUS ENERGY ARE HARD TO MISS THE INDIA’S GOT LATENT ROW REFUSES TO DIE Govt should provide jobs, skill-based training to youths to arrest the trend of illegal migration. P3 Kanika Kapoor calls Gori Hai Kalaiyan 2.0 a vibrant reinterpretation of a beloved number. P4 Ranveer Allahbadia's comment was highly disrespectful, just an apology isn't enough, say celebrities. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 25°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 24°C | MIN 9°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.16 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:06 AM » MONDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2025 | JALANDHAR Garbage dump fire spreads hazardous fumes INBRIEF TWO BOOKED FOR ASSAULT Phagwara: The Nakodar Sadar police have booked two villagers on charge of outraging woman's modesty. The accused have been identified as Harjit Singh and Avtar Singh, both residents of Khanpur Dhada village. The victim complained to the police that the accused used obscene words and assaulted her with dangerous weapons on January 28. A case under Sections 74 (assault or criminal force to women with intent to outrage her modesty) 115(2) 118(1) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt with dangerous weapons or means) and 3 (5) (committing crime with common intention) of the BNS has been registered against the accused. OC VILLAGER HELD FOR SNATCHING Phagwara: The Nurmahal police have arrested a miscreant and booked another for snatching a man's purse and assaulting him. The accused has been identified as Sonu of Kot Badal Khan village. Tarsem Lal of Uppal Khalsa village complained to the police that the accused and his accomplice snatched his purse on February 13 evening and attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon. A case under sections of the BNS has been registered against Sonu and Amarjit Singh and impounded a motorcycle. OC MAN HELD FOR ‘ENCROACHMENT’ Phagwara: The Nakodar police have arrested a person on the charge of attempting to encroach a shop and threatening its tenant. The accused had been identified as Amarjit Singh of Mohalla Sherpur. Sunil Kumar of Mohalla Tandona had complained to the police that he was operating a computer shop in Dakhni Adda which Amarjit Singh owns. The latter forcibly trying to vacate it. The complainant said he had obtained a stay order from a court for the shop. On December 27, the accused demolished the walls of the shop to encroach it. Sunil Kumar said when he stopped him from encroachment, the accused threatened him with dire consequences. OC UE residents write to MC Commissioner Tribune News Service NCC cadets from various educational institutions participate in an awareness rally against drug abuse in Jalandhar on Sunday. Police lead drug awareness drive with massive youth participation Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 16 In a major push against drug abuse, the Commissionerate Police organised a series of awareness campaigns across the city, drawing over 1,000 participants. Led by Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma, the initiatives spanned four subdivisions — Central, North, Model Town and West — engaging students, volunteers and the public in creative and impactful ways. In subdivision Central, an anti-drug awareness rally took place across key city locations, led by the ACP-Central with support from the ADCP Traf, fic, and the ACP PBI, NDPS. , More than 200 persons participated, marching through prominent areas like Sai Dass School, Patel Chowk, Jyoti Chowk and Pudda Ground. Phagwara, February 16 Ankush Kailey, an unemployed youth of Kirpalpur, Phagwara, went to the USA through dunky route to earn more money but he was forced to return after seven months. SSP Kapurthala, Gaurav , Toora said here on Sunday as per details given by Hans Raj, father of Ankush, his son Ankush was unmarried and wanted to settle in the USA so they made a deal of Rs 35 lakh with a Jalandhar based travel agent who sent his son first to Holland then after a few days he was sent to Mexico by road then he crossed the border and landed the USA on January 21 but was arrested. OC Another leg of the rally covered Rama Mandi Chowk, GND University and Ladhewali. Participants were awarded certificates of appreciation for their efforts in spreading awareness. Experts highlight role of films, art in preserving heritage Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service Deported youth paid ~35L to agent A wall painting competition was held to generate awareness against drug among the youth on Sunday. Jalandhar, February 16 A state-level discussion on “Unveiling Tangible and Intangible Heritage through Films, Documentaries, and Art: Exploring Punjab’s Cultural Heritage and Interfaith Narratives” was held in the city today, bringing together experts, historians and artistes from across the state to deliberate on the role of visual storytelling in heritage preservation. The event, organized by INTACH Punjab, aimed to explore innovative ways to document and promote Punjab’s cultural legacy, emphasising the need for greater representation of the region’s history, traditions and interfaith narratives. Maj Gen Balwinder Singh (retd), state convener, INTACH, highlighted the urgent need to preserve Punjab’s heritage, which includes historical monuments, religious sites, traditional crafts, folk music and oral histories. He pointed out that despite Punjab’s rich cultural heritage, much of it remains underrepresented in the mainstream media. He said films and documentaries offer a powerful means to capture and convey these elements to a wider audience, ensuring that fading traditions and stories are not lost to time. Lt Gen Amrik Bahia (retd) emphasised the need to preserve Punjab’s military heritage through films and historical documentation. He pointed out that the state’s military legacy, spanning centuries, remains an integral part of its cultural identity. Vikram Ditya Sharma, INTACH member, discussed the importance of integrating Ferozepur into the mainstream tourism circuit, suggesting that documentaries and heritage-based storytelling could help highlight its historical significance. Rajni, INTACH member and Heritage Club Incharge at APJ College, spoke on the revival of vanishing cultural traditions, stressing that films and art projects can play a crucial role in keeping these practices alive. Manish Ahuja, a wetland and bird conservation enthusiast from Ferozepur, emphasized the role of visual storytelling in creating awareness about Punjab’s natural heritage. He highlighted the threats to wetlands and the need for films and documentaries to showcase their ecological and cultural significance. Turn on page 2 At PPR Mall in subdivision North, a flash mob captivated hundreds of onlookers with a powerful anti-drug message. Under the leadership of the ACP North, along with ADCP, I and ACP Special Cell, the , high-energy performance used dance and music to convey the dangers of substance abuse, leaving a lasting impact on the audience. The campaign took an artistic turn in subdivision Model Town with a wall painting competition held at Police Lines. Eight teams from various colleges created thoughtprovoking murals under the guidance of the ACP Model , Town, ADCP Operations, and , ACP Cyber Crime. , DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology (DAVIET) won the first place and received Rs 10,000, followed by Layallpur Khalsa College with Rs 7,500 and Kanya Maha Vidyalaya (KMV) College securing the third place with Rs 5,000. All other teams were given Rs 1,000 as a token of appreciation. In subdivision West, a tug- of-war at Sports College, Kapurthala Road, saw 15 teams competing for top honours. Led by the ACP West, , with support from the ADCPII and the ACP Special Branch, the event encouraged teamwork while reinforcing the anti-drug message. Ward No. 36 emerged victorious with a cash prize of Rs 15,000, while Ward No. 55 and Ward No. 42 secured second and third place, earning Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000. Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma emphasised that more such initiatives would follow to strengthen awareness, particularly among the city’s youth. “The large-scale participation reflected a growing commitment to tackling drug abuse, with the events underscoring the collective effort needed to build a drugfree Jalandhar”, he added. Jalandhar, February 16 Members of the AGAPP , Jalandhar, residents of Urban Estate, Phase 1, have written to the Municipal Commissioner, Jalandhar, flagging concerns over the continued burning of garbage dumps and waste sites in the area. Residents of Urban Estate Phase 1, Jalandhar, whose houses are near the railway line between the two phases of Urban Estate, said they are facing grave health risks due to toxic fumes from burning garbage mounds. In their letter to the MC Commissioner, the complainants Dr Navneet Bhullar and Dr Pallavi Khanna, president, AGAPP said certain , houses across the railway line had been dumping their household waste by the side of the railway track on Phase 1 for several months and these were often set on fire by unknown people, emitting carcinogenic fumes from the plastic wastes. Residents complained that this week on two days, back to back, they had to smell acrid fumes for hours while sitting inside rooms. A resident stated, “I have been taking buckets of water for the last several months to extinguish the smaller fires, but it’s more than enough. Two days ago, in the morning, even after dousing two spots with buckets, the fumes of burning plastic did not cease.” Residents also said they had called the area councillor and he immediately asked the MC trucks to come THEIR PLAINT Dr Pallavi Khanna, president, AGAPP, said certain houses across the railway line had been dumping their household waste near the railway track on Phase 1 for several months and these were often set on fire by unknown people, emitting carcinogenic fumes from the plastic wastes. and pick the garbage heaps. However, they could not touch all garbage heaps as the fire went on for hours after they arrived. Residents said neither punitive action had so far been taken to punish the persons setting these heaps on fire, nor was anything done to prevent the area from becoming a minilandfill. Attaching geotagged photos of the dumps with their complaint, they also questioned inaction on illegal manufacture, distribution and use of single use plastic. They demanded immediate action to stop garbage dumps and punish the guilty. They also stated that as per a National Green Tribunal judgment (November 2016), the open burning of garbage had been declared illegal. Nature Fest to begin with bird watching at Pong Dam Hoshiarpur, February 16 The district administration in association with the Punjab Tourism Department is set to organise a Nature Fest from February 21 to 25 at local Lajwanti Sports Stadium. DC Komal Mittal said the administration in consultation with all stakeholders had issued the itinerary. She said the first day would mark the opening ceremony with bird watching at the Pong Dam while in the evening, the ‘star night’ be held at Lajwanti Stadium where renowned Punjabi singer Aalap Sikander would mesmerise the audience. She said adequate arrangements were being put in place to ensure the seamless and memorable event. On the second day, night camping has been scheduled at Solis and Tharolli followed by a Cyclothon at Lajwanti Stadium, besides Kid’s Carnival at Van Chetna Park on February 23. Referring to off-road activity, the DC said the activity would be held at Kukanet for which requisite arrangements were being made to facilitate participants. The booting and jungle safari at Nature Retreat, Chohal and star night of Punjabi singer Kanwar Grewal would be the main attraction on the concluding day. — OC c m y b Participants take part in the national-level tent pegging championship at PAP in Jalandhar on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Riders show skills, wow onlookers Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 16 As many as 125 horses along with riders have arrived the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) headquarters, Jalandhar, to participate in the the National Equestrian Championship Tent Pegging 2024-25 that started on Saturday. On the first day, veterinary inspections were held. Today, the teams participated in individual lance and paired lance events. The riders and horses showcased their skills, leaving everyone mesmerised. A total of 14 teams are taking part in the championship, including the 61st Cavalry, AMU Riding Club, ASC Equestrian Team, Assam Rifles, BSF Equestrian Team, Chandigarh Police, Chetak Equestrian Sports Academy and Verina, Dhruv Equestrian Node, Haryana Police, Indian Navy, ITBP Bhanu. , The teams had reached the headquarters a day before. The riders also got their own horse feed along with tentage. The Punjab Armed Police (PAP) team comprises of DIG Inderbir Singh, DSP Jaswinder Singh, DSP Ram Pal and Inspector Youngbir Singh. DSP Ram Pal started teaching tent pegging to DIG Inderbir last year in June. It was for the first time that the teams that have been participating in the championship reached here after clearing two national qualifiers. Youngbir Singh said, “It has happen for the first time that the team had to pass national-level qualifiers to par- ticipate in this championship.” The PAP team emphasised the importance of preparing the horse mentally and physically before the game. “Everything that happens ‘behind the scenes’ is essential. One needs to know how to coordinate with the speed and instil josh,” Inderbir stated. The horses are fed black chana, alsi, jaggery, carrots, oil and forage, ensuring they are ready for the competition. On Monday, individual lance (ring and peg) event will be held.