19042025-JTR-01.qxd 4/18/2025 10:20 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune MINISTER LAYS STONE OF NATURE AWARENESS CAMP IN TALWARA ALL GLAMOUR AT KESARI 2 SCREENING IRRFAN KHAN’S SON BABIL LOGS IN FOR WISE TALK The project is being developed under ecotourism, the estimated cost of which is about Rs 80 lakh. P2 Akshay Kumar urged his fans to not miss the initial 10 minutes of the film. P4 Babil Khan, who is seen in Logout, feels OTT series is more about our need for external validation. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 38°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.58 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5:53 AM » SATURDAY | 19 APRIL 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF 'DRUG PEDDLER' ARRESTED Phagwara: The police have arrested a 'drugs peddler' and seized 52 intoxicating tablets from his possession on Thursday night. The accused Pardeep Kumar of SBS Nagar, Phagwara, was nabbed at a check-point. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused. In another case, the police have arrested a liquor trader and recovered seven bottles of illicit liquor from his possession.The accused was identified as Harjit Singh of village Bhularai near Phagwara. A case under the Punjab Excise Act has been registered against the accused. OC MAN HELD FOR SELLING LIQUOR Phagwara: The Nakodar police have arrested a villager on the charge of brewing and selling illicit liquor. Fifteen kg of lahan (raw liquor) and utensils for brewing were seized from the possession of the accused identified as Karma, a resident of Chavinda village. A case under Sections 61/1/14 of the Punjab Excise Act has been registered against the accused. OC THREE BOOKED FOR MURDER BID Phagwara: The Mehatpur police have booked three miscreants on the charge of attempt to murder. The accused have been identified as Jagdish Singh of Dharme Dian Chhana village, his brother Surjit Singh and Sanju. Saurav Arora of Baghela village complained to the police that he went to Chhana village on April 16 for collecting money from his customers when the accused waylaid and attacked him with sharp-edged weapons with an intention to kill him. A case had been registered against the accused. OC FIVE BOOKED FOR ASSAULT Phagwara: The Bilga police have booked five miscreants for assaulting a family. The accused have been identified as Gagag Deep, Kaka, Vishal, Ravi and Bindari, all resident of Aujla village. Jaswindr Lal of Pati Mansoor, Bilga village, complained to the police that the accused assaulted his inlaws at Aujla village. A case had been registered against the accused. oc Protest over Waqf Act on Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 18 Activists of the Muslim community organised a demonstration outside Masjid-eQuba at Khambra village. The community under the leadership of Mazhar Alam burnt the effigy of BJP government and its allies for implementing the Waqf Amendment Act. At the demonstration held today, the Muslims burnt the effigy of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu, and Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan for staying mum over the issue. Mazhar Alam said, “We had hopes from the leaders but they too have betrayed us. For long, we stood shoulder to shoulder with them. In Bihar, a large section of our population supports Nitish Kumar, but backing this Bill was extremely unfortunate.” French envoy tours Jagatjit Palace, Moorish Mosque at Kapurthala Beas tragedyThird body recovered, one still missing Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Jalandhar, April 18 In an attempt to revive the deep-rooted Indo-French connection, French Ambassador Thierry Mathou toured various places in the princely town of Kapurthala here on Friday. Brigadier Sukhjit Singh (retd), grandson of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, warmly received the French envoy and shared anecdotes from the royal archives about his grandfather’s numerous visits to France and his efforts in promoting French language education in Punjab. Mathou visited the resplendent Jagatjit Palace, inspired by the Palace of Versailles, and the iconic Moorish Mosque. He admired its HispanoMoorish design, inspired by the Grand Mosque of Marrakesh. He also visited other heritage landmarks that came up in the tenure of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh. After the visit, the Ambassador lauded Kapurthala as a unique cultural bridge between France and India. Speaking on the occasion, the Ambassador expressed admiration for Maharaja Jagatjit Singh’s cosmopolitan vision. “He was a true Francophile and a royal patron of the French language, culture PHAGWARA, APRIL 18 The body of another teenager was recovered from the Beas on Thursday evening, raising the death toll to three in the tragic drowning incident that occurred on Baisakhi. Local divers from Peerewal village have discovered the body of Vishaldeep Singh, who had been missing for five days. Vishaldeep was the younger brother of Arshdeep Singh, whose body had been recovered earlier along with that of Jaspal Singh. The fourth youth, Gurpreet Singh, remains untraced. According to the police, the four teenagers — residents of Peerewal village — had gone to the Beas to bathe and celebrate the festival of Baisakhi when they were swept away by strong currents. Despite immediate search efforts, only two bodies were recovered the same day. A combined team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and local divers carried out extensive search operations for three consecutive days. An NDRF team member stated that they covered nearly 15 km of the river during their search, but eventually had to suspend operations after failing to French Ambassador Thierry Mathou visits Jagatjit Palace in Kapurthala. and architectural style. His vision turned Kapurthala into a living gallery of Indo-French harmony,” he said. Advocate Amarjot Singh said, “Ambassador Mathou’s visit came as a fitting tribute Villager held for attack on mining officers Our Correspondent PHAGWARA, APRIL 18 The Shahkot police have arrested a villager on the charges of attacking mining officers and stealing their valuable goods. Investigating Officer (IO) Sukhwindar Singh said the accused has been identified as Parmindar Singh, alias Raja, of Kotla Surajmal village. Jagsir Singh, district mining officer, Faridkot, had complained to the police that the Mining Department headquarters directed to check illegal mining at Dhussi Bandh of the Sutlej in Shahkot. He along with his department officers and police personnel reached the site inside Dhussi Bandh Chak Bahmania village and found two tractor-trolleys loaded with illegal sand but there was nobody. Jagsir Singh had said in his complaint that during the checking, the accused and his 34 accomplices on motorcycles and tractors and other vehicles, armed with sharp-edged weapons, reached the spot and ransacked one official vehicle and headed toward them by using abusive language and threatening them to kill but police personnel on guard duty with them opened fire in the air from his official gun and saved them. He said all accused fled. Jagsir said the accused fled with a loaded tractor trolly and a tractor without a trolly and stole Rs 5,000, one laptop and other valuables and documents from department vehicles. He said the accused stopped them from performing their duties. TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH 4 youths had gone to bathe in Beas on Baisakhi, swept away locate the remaining bodies. The loss has cast a pall of gloom over Peerewal village. Speaking to reporters, Sarpanch Harjinder Singh said villagers had earlier decided not to cremate the recovered bodies until all four were found. However, due to advanced decomposition, families have now agreed to perform the last rites for the three recovered boys. Villagers also expressed their anguish over the lack of response from the district administration. “Not a single senior officer has visited the bereaved families to offer condolences,” said a resident. Community members have also criticised the state government for failing to announce any ex gratia relief or financial assistance to the affected families. With the third body now recovered, the families and villagers remain hopeful that Gurpreet’s body will be found soon. The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for the administration to ensure safety measures and signage at vulnerable spots. to the timeless bond. The moment also serves as a gentle reminder to our government and the authorities to actively preserve Kapurthala’s heritage, not just for its historical value, but also for the cultural pride and identity it carries. These monuments deserve more than admiration. They deserve official recognition, protection and care to keep Kapurthala’s charm alive for generations.” 2 arrested with 4 gm heroin Rain prediction worries farmers Jalandhar, April 18 The Adampur police arrested two youths with 4 gm heroin and intoxicating tablets. Speaking to the media, DSP , Adampur, Kulwant Singh said on April 17, during a naka near the Alawalpur crossing, two men were apprehended by the police with heroin. The arrested accused have been identified as Harjit Singh, alias Babloo, resident of village Murar, Subhanpur, Kapurthala, and Pawan Kumar, resident of Bhogpur, Jalandhar. Harjit Singh was arrested with a bike (PB08-DW-6279) and a polybag was seized from him, which had 3 gm heroin and 50 tablets. Meanwhile, from the second accused Pawan, the police recovered a bike (PB08-FG-9757) and a polythene was also recovered from him with 2 gm heroin and 45 intoxicant tablets. A case under Sections 21 A, 22, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act was registered against them at the Adampur . — TNS Tribune News Service The visit marked yet a milestone in celebrating the historical bonds between France and India, with Kapurthala standing as a testimony to this cultural confluence, said Brig Sukhjit Singh. Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Jalandhar, April 18 Farmers have been looking at the sky and praying that it doesn’t rain. It is a harvesting season for them and winds and rain will play a spoilsport for them. Subeg Singh from Dhogri village said the weather has started worrying farmers. “Jado takk mandi vich fasal nai pohachdi, darr baneya hoya hai (Till the time the crop won’t reach mandis, there is a constant fear attached),” he said. Singh added that there was a prediction of heavy rain tomorrow evening as well. “I have harvested wheat on three acres and the crop is still there on 10 acres. It will take another week for the process to get complete. The weather should remain good,” he further added. Uggi village farmer Tarsem hasn’t harvested wheat yet. “Now that the yield seems good, the weather has started troubling us,” he said. Farmers check wheat crop damaged due to rain and hailstorm in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH “Agle kuch din mushkil lagde hai. Zyada baarish nuksan kregi (next few days seem difficult. Excess rain would affect the crop),” he added. Another farmer from Gatta Mundu Kasu said farmers were at the mercy of the weather right now. “There is a prediction that it will rain and this is bothering me. The harvesting will be completed soon and I am keeping myself positive that the weather will remain good. High velocity winds that hit the region didn’t affect the crops majorly, but definitely had a little affect on some parts,” he told The Tribune. In light of the forecast for rain, Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal has directed officials to ensure proper arrangements for tarpaulins in mandis. He emphasised that no effort should be spared in protecting the crops from rain and that any negligence will not be tolerated. Dr Aggarwal stated that the availability of tarpaulins must be ensured in advance so that the heaps of grains arriving in the mandis can be safeguarded from any potential damage. He instructed the officials to make all arrangements for the convenience of farmers and to prioritise the provision of tarpaulins and other essentials in every mandi. Road near Guru Nanak Pura rly crossing turns into dump site AAP’s ‘Sikhya Kranti’ drive facade: Khaira Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 18 The road across the railway crossing at Guru Nanak Pura has turned into a garbage dumping zone, raising serious health and safety concerns for residents and commuters. Large piles of waste now cover a portion of the road (from Guru Nanak Pura side to BSF Chowk side) attracting stray animals and obstructing traffic on one of the busiest routes in the city. Locals say that the area has gradually turned into an open dumping site, where not only roadside vendors, but also outsiders throw garbage openly. “Those who set up stalls here dump all their waste on the roadside before leaving. People from other areas also come and throw their household garbage here. This happens every single day,” said Gurpreet Singh, a shopkeeper near the crossing. Residents say the stench and unsanitary conditions have made life difficult. The waste has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies, posing health risks. Stray dogs and cows feeding on the garbage have become a c m y b common sight, creating additional danger for passersby. “The garbage is spreading onto the road. We can’t even walk without covering our noses. Children going to school use this road and it’s a serious health hazard,” said Ranjit Kaur, a local resident. “The Municipal Corporation is doing nothing despite repeated complaints,” she said. The road sees heavy traffic throughout the day and the garbage heaps are now obstructing the movement of vehicles. With stray animals frequently straying onto the road, the chances of accidents have increased significantly, especially during early morning and late evening hours. Shopkeepers and residents blame the MC for mismanagement to enforce basic sanitation rules. “This is not an isolated issue. The city is suffering. Roads are broken, garbage is everywhere and there is zero accountability,” said Sandeep Mehta, who owns a nearby hardware store. Residents are now demanding immediate action from the civic authorities, including strict enforcement against dumping, regular cleaning and installation of CCTV cameras to catch offenders. Meanwhile, MC officials said the officers concerned would be directed to immeditaley look into the matter and take action. PHAGWARA, APRIL 18 Senior Congress leader and MLA Sukhpal Khaira has criticised the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government’s “Sikhya Kranti” campaign, calling it a facade of false promises and a carefully staged political gimmick rather than a genuine effort to reform the state’s ailing education system. In a detailed press statement issued here today, Khaira alleged that the AAP government’s much-publicised 54-day education drive, which claims to cover 25,000 projects across 12,000 government schools with a budget of Rs 2,000 crore, is built on inflated figures and superficial efforts. “What is being showcased as transformative work often amounts to routine maintenance — whitewashing, repairing benches and fixing toilets — presented with unnecessary fanfare,” Khaira said. Citing specific incidents, Khaira pointed to a case in Bathinda where a four-yearold boundary wall was reportedly scheduled for inauguration under the campaign, only to be cancelled following protests by local residents and farm unions. — OC