07062025-JTR-01.qxd 6/6/2025 11:10 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune ADOPT ECO-FRIENDLY HABITS, ADMN APPEALS TO PEOPLE JALANDHAR: A MOSAIC OF FAITHS AND CULTURES, SAYS INTACH SIRSA’S TURBANATOR GOES TO MR OLYMPIA IN LAS VEGAS The local admn solicited support and cooperation from people to adopt environment-friendly habits. P2 Once a Muslim-majority city, Jalandhar today is home to Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and Muslims. P3 Creating history in bodybuilding, Sunmeet Gill is all set to become first turbaned athlete to compete at Mr Olympia.P4 » » FORECAST CLEAR SKY MAX 39°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET SATURDAY 7.22 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5:21 AM » SATURDAY | 7 JUNE 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF MITTAL’S TENURE EXTENDED AS SEPPB VC Hoshiarpur: The Punjab Government has extended the tenure of AS Mittal as vicechairman of the State Economic Policy and Planning Board (SEPPB), with cabinet minister rank, for another three years — from August 24, 2025, to August 23, 2028. A formal notification was issued on Friday by Jaspreet Talwar, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Planning. Mittal, Vice-Chairman of Sonalika Group, has held this post earlier and brings deep industrial and policy expertise. He currently serves as Chairman of ASSOCHAM’s Northern Region Development Council, national president of the Tractor and Mechanisation Association (TMA), and is a member of the Punjab Pollution Control Board. Under his leadership, Sonalika ITL operates the world’s largest integrated tractor manufacturing facility in Hoshiarpur, with an annual production capacity of 3 lakh tractors. The company is India’s top tractor exporter, with a footprint in over 130 countries. Mittal’s reappointment has been widely welcomed by Punjab’s industry leaders, who view his continued guidance as a major boost for the state’s economic planning and industrial growth. — OC No relief for MLA Arora’s son Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 6 The court of Special Judge Jaswinder Singh on Friday rejected the bail application of Rajan Arora, son of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Raman Arora, in the alleged case of corruption lodged by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. Like the MLA, his son too has been booked by the VB under FIR No. 23 lodged on May 14 under Section 7, 7(a) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018 and section 61(2) of BNS. He had been evading arrest since the MLA had been taken into custody. The bail plea was presented through Rajan’s lawyers Darshan Singh Dyal and Naveen Chadha. Rishi Bhardwaj, Additional Public Prosecutor and DSP Naranjan Singh, Vigilance Bureau, represented the state. The VB submitted in the court that an unaccounted transaction of Rs 60 lakh dated March 21, 2024 had been found in the bank account of VB’S SUBMISSION IN COURT ■ Unaccounted transaction of Rs 60L in Rajan’s account. ■ MLA’s kin’s company ‘s turnover jumped 20 times. ■ 245 MC notices recovered by VB had no record in MC. Rajan. The VB has also reported that a relative of Aroras, who is running the firm M/s Jagdambey Fashion, had a turnover of Rs 39 lakh in 2021-2022 before the accused Raman Arora became an MLA. But after the accused became an MLA, the turnover of the firm jumped to a whopping Rs 10 crore in 2022-2023 and to Rs 12 crore in the year 2023-2024. The VB further submitted that as per the disclosure statements of the other arrested accused, including Sukhdev Vashisht, Assistant Town Planner of Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, MLA Raman Arora, his son Rajan Arora and PA Shivam Madaan were looking after the work of MC Jalandhar. “Rajan used to strike the deals with the building own- ers for obtaining bribe from them. All the accused in connivance with one another had been running a bribe racket through the office of MC,” the VB reported in the court.It further submitted, “Vashisht had issued 222 notices to the building owners during his tenure from 2022 to 2024 in MC, Jalandhar. Out of the above 222 notices, the record of only 58 notices has been recovered. Similarly, Vashisht issued 81 notices to the building owners during his three-month tenure from February 20 this year to May 14, the day he had been arrested. No record pertaining to these notices has been recovered till date. The accused has either destroyed the above record or the same has been kept by him with some co-accused. Moreover, five files, wherein notices were issued by accused Sukhdev Vashisht, have been recovered from the house search of MLA Raman Arora. Eleven blank notices have also been recovered during the house search.” The Additional PP and DSP VB, said that the allega, tions contained in the FIR were of a serious nature. During a search of the house of the accused Sukhdev Vashist, gold weighing 1.3 kg and 84.2 kg silver were recovered. ATP Sukhdev Vashisht had been working as conduit of co-accused, the MLA, they said. The court ordered, “Custodial interrogation of the petitioner will be required for further investigation of the present case and it is not a fit case where the concession of pre-arrest bail should be granted to the petitioner. Hence, the bail application is dismissed.” The same order was passed in the bail plea of Vashisht too, who is in judicial custody. Take action against Kala Sanghian polluters: RS MP Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 6 Rajya Sabha member and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal on Friday directed officials from various departments to take strict action against those responsible for polluting the Kala Sanghian drain. While chairing a review meeting on efforts to make the drain pollutionfree, Seechewal urged the Municipal Corporation Jalandhar, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), and Sewerage Board to adopt a coordinated strategy to prevent sewage waste from directly flowing into the drain. The MP stressed that FIRs should be filed against individuals or industries found polluting the water body, with regular inspections to ensure Seechewal stressed that FIRs should be registered against individuals and industries found polluting water body. compliance. He also instructed the Jalandhar MC and PPCB to monitor Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) for proper sludge management, warning of action against noncompliant operators. Seechewal emphasised the need for stricter surveillance of industrial units, directing officials to monitor discharge points and penalise violators of pollution control norms. He also called for the activation of the water treatment plant at the Jamsher dairy complex to ensure only treated water enters the drain. Further, the MP reviewed the progress of the biomining project at Wariana and proposals for a biogas plant at Jamsher, aiming to enhance environmental conditions in the region. He also directed Jalandhar Municipal Corporation to ensure water supply adheres to guidelines, as excessive supply could clog the functioning of STPs and the drain. Seechewal’s directives signal a renewed push for sustainable waste and water management in Jalandhar. Additional Deputy Commissioner Budhiraj Singh, District Revenue Officer Navdeep Bhogal, and representatives from various departments were present during the meeting. Kapurthala: The police has announced that it will hold a cyclothon on June 20. SSP Gaurav Toora officially released the event’s promotional poster on Friday and shared key details of the initiative. He stated that the cyclothon is aimed at sensitising youth and citizens about the dangers of drug addiction and encouraging a healthier, more conscious lifestyle. The event will begin from Guru Nanak Stadium, Kapurthala, and will pass through various heritage sites of the city, symbolising the importance of health, heritage and social responsibility. The poster release event was attended by SP (Headquarters) Gurpreet Singh, Akash Kapoor of Kapurthala City of Palaces, Navdeep Singh and Vishal. — OC ENVIRONMENT DAY AT VAJRA CORPS Jalandha: Vajra Corps marked the World Environment Day with a series of impactful initiatives designed to raise awareness and inspire collective action. Aligned with this year’s global theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution”, formation and military stations under Vajra Corps conducted a variety of activities including awareness lectures, plantation drives, painting competitions and a ‘Run for Fun’. These events witnessed enthusiastic participation from troops and their families, fostering a strong sense of community and shared responsibility toward protecting the planet. In keeping with this spirit, the efforts of Vajra Corps reflect the Indian Army’s broader commitment not only to national defence but also to environmental sustainability and nation-building. The initiatives undertaken represent meaningful steps on the path towards a cleaner and greener future. — TNS Pilot project for waste segregation in 5 wards from June 9 Tribune News Service K’THALA TO HOST CYCLOTHON Two arrested, over 100 intoxicating tablets recovered Our Correspondent IN POLICE NET Jalandhar, June 6 Two people were arrested with drug-laced paper and 104 intoxicating tablets during a patrol by the Patara police in Jalandhar. During patrolling, when a team of the Patara police reached village Isarwal, a man was found standing near a water motor. Upon seeing the police, he threw a polythene bag on the grass. On being apprehended, he was identified as Liakat Ali alias Liaku, a resident of village Dhandor at Patara. The Patara police recovered a silver paper with heroin on it, a Rs 10 note with heroin on it and a lighter from him. A case was registered against him under sections 27, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act at the Patara police station in Jalandhar against Liakat Ali. Police said Liakat Ali had three cases against him earlier (two of them under the NDPS Act) registered at the Adampur and ■ The Patara police recovered a silver paper, note with heroin. ■ A case has been registered under the NDPS Act. ■ The accused was identified as Liakat Ali or Liaku, of Dhandor. ■ In yet another case, a man was arrested at Kapoor Pind. He had a polythene bag with heroin. Patara police stations. In another case, a police team from Patara, spotted near a park at Kapoor Pind, a man who threw polythene on road on seeing the police and tried to flee. Arrested on the basis of suspicion, the man was identified as Ranjit Singh alias Sonu, a resident of Johlan village in Patara. Upon a search of the polythene bag thrown by him, police found 104 white intoxicating tablets in it. A case was registered against him under sections 22, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act at the Patara police station on June 5. Safai karamchari unions called off their strike after the Mayor assured them that their demands would be met. Till afternoon, no garbage was lifted from several areas of the city. TRIBUNE PHOTO Safai karamcharis call off strike Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 6 The safai karamchari unions, who had earlier announced a strike for today, called it off after last-minute talks with the Mayor led to acceptance of their demands. The union leaders confirmed that after discussions with the Municipal Corporation administration, the Mayor agreed to address several key issues raised by the workers, prompting them to withdraw the strike. However, noticeable delays were witnessed in garbage collection, with waste remaining uncollected in many areas until the afternoon. Residents expressed concern over the accumulating garbage, citing hygiene worries, especially as temperatures remain high. Till afternoon, the garage was lying in various parts of the city. Municipal officials have assured that all backlog will be cleared by evening and normal waste collection services will resume from tomorrow. Notably, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s visit is also scheduled on June 11 when he will be inaugurating the Burlton Park project. So, it was also a challenge before the MC to manage the situation. So, acting promptly, the authorities ensured that the strike was called off. Hoshiarpur, June 6 Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain has said that to strengthen cleanliness system in the city and encourage source segregation, a pilot project is being started in five wards from June 9. The DC was addressing a meeting of officials related to the project today. The DC said that an important initiative is being taken by the Hoshiarpur administration with the aim of making the city clean, beautiful and environmentfriendly. Under the project, door-to-door garbage collection will be done in ward number 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Wet and dry garbage from all the houses will be collected separately by special vehicles of the Municipal Corporation and taken directly to the dumping ground. The initiative will end the problem of garbage piling up in the area. Garbage will also not be collected at the dump shed located in front of DAV College, the DC said. Jain said that under the campaign, the dumping shed located in front of DAV College will be removed and beautifications drive undertaken there. She appealed to the residents of the ward to cooperate in making the project successful and clarified that if any person throws garbage in the open or does not separate wet and dry garbage and gives it to the Municipal Corporation, then he will be challaned. The Deputy Commissioner said that 50 garbage carts and Tata vehicles have been deployed in these wards to successfully implement source segregation and expand it across the district. Help is also being sought from the private sector in this enterprise, the DC added. Pharmacist caught sneaking in pills in jail Mann Bhatta workers stage Ashok Kaura Phagwara June 6 In a significant security breach at Kapurthala Modern Jail, a pharmacist was apprehended while attempting to smuggle a large quantity of intoxicant pills and banned capsules into the prison premises. The suspect, identified as Sanjeev Kumar, was intercepted by jail authorities and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) during a routine check. As many as 2,600 intoxicant tablets have been recovered from the pharmacist, 200 of which are banned capsules. This recent seizure is in line with repeated recoveries of mobile phones and tobacco products from the jail. Days before this recovery, 477 tobacco pouches were also recovered from the jail on May 12 and between May 22 -24, as many as 13 mobile phones have been recovered from the jail. THE RECOVERIES June 4 May 22 to 24 May 12 Pharamcist arrested with 2,600 tablets 13 mobiles recovered 477 tobacco pouches recovered According to officials, recently arrested pharmacist Sanjeev Kumar had arrived at the jail on his scooter to report for duty. Based on suspicion, authorities conducted a thorough inspection of his vehicle. During the search, a plastic container was discovered inside the scooter’s storage compartment, containing approximately 2,600 intoxicant tablets. Additionally, a waxsealed packet was found to contain 200 banned capsules. Assistant Superintendent of the jail, Satpal Singh, immediately reported the matter to senior officials and the Kotwali police. Acting on the report, the police registered a case against Kumar under section 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and relevant sections of the Prisons Act. While the Tower for Harmonious Call Blocking System (THCBS) at the jail has so far proven inadequate to prevent recent breaches at the jail, auhtorities said new jammers will be out soon to make the call blocking system at jail doubly effective. Superintendent, Kapurthala Jail, Shyamal Jyoti said, “It is true that mobile phones, tobacco pouches have been found from the jail recently as the pharmcist has been arrested with intixocating tablets, c m y b but the number of such incidents being reported at the jail has significantly reduced, compared to earlier. The THCBS system is also effective only against 4G and new systems will be brought in for the 5G system to prevent any calls to and from the jail.” The Superintendent said the Kapurthala jail had a 2.5 km outer cordon area through which such elements had also been throwing in intoxicants etc. The jail authorities have also sought a buffer zone to rein in such elements. Meanwhile, Kapurthala SHO Kirpal Singh confirmed that the accused was produced before the local court, which has granted a three-day police remand. “Our primary focus during the remand will be to trace the source of the seized substances and identify any possible recipients within the jail,” the SHO said. protest, want demands met Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 6 In response to a call given by the Maan Bhatta Workers Joint Front, Punjab, a massive rally was held on Thursday near Dussehra Park in Jalandhar. The rally was organised to remind the Punjab government of the promises made to Maan Bhatta workers. The march headed towards the office of Punjab Minister Mohinder Bhagat. Addressing the rally, state leaders of the Front—Mandeep Kaur Bilga, Kulwinder Kaur Amanatpur and Gurjeet Kaur Shahkot—said that before coming to power, the Bhagwant Mann government had promised to double the honorarium of ASHA workers and Mid-Day Meal workers. “However, the gov- ASHA & Mid-Day Meal Workers marched towards minister Mohinder Bhagat’s office. TRIBUNE PHOTO ernment has failed to fulfill this promise. Even after three years, there has not been an increase of a single penny in the meagre salaries of workers. This has worsened financial hardships, making it extremely difficult for us to support families,” the protestors said. District president of the Democratic Employees Federation, Harinder Dosanjh; general secretary Kulwinder Singh Joshan and Jasvir Singh Sandhu stated that the government had failed to pay Maan Bhatta workers at least the minimum wage.