16062025-JTR-01.qxd 6/15/2025 10:27 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune MATERNAL HEALTH SERVICES TO LAUNCH AT AAM AADMI CLINICS EXPAND GREEN SPACES AND ENSURE POST-PLANTATION CARE SIMRIT’S NATURE-INSPIRED SOLO SHOW BLENDS SERENITY The primary goal of these services is to provide maternal healthcare and family planning options. P2 Form an expert committee for plantation guidance and set up water systems to protect plants. P3 Simrit Luthra's exhibition is presented by Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi in collaboration with Chd Tourism. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 40°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 40°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.33 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:23 AM MONDAY | 16 JUNE 2025 | JALANDHAR Kidnapped Nawanshahr man rescued in Iran, war tensions keep kin on edge INBRIEF TWO ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT Phagwara: The Nakodar police have arrested two persons on the charge of assaulting a villager. The accused have been identified as Asgar Ali and Surmudeen, residents of Chak Kalan village. Mohamad Yunus, a resident of Birr Baloki village, had complained to the police that the accused waylaid and attacked him with a sharpedged weapon and seriously injured him on May 7 near Gohir village. A case under sections 118(2) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), and 190 (unlawful assembly) of the BNS was registered against the accused. OC GANGSTER HELD FOR EXTORTION Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have arrested a ‘gangster’ on the charge of extortion. The accused has been identified as Manpreet Singh, alias Mani, of Sansawala village under Goindwal Sahib police station in Tarn Taran district. The accused had demanded a ransom from a resident, threatening to kill him if he failed to pay in time. A case under Sections 308 (5) (extortion by putting person in fear of death), 351(3) (criminal intimidation) 249 (harbouring offender) 253 (harbouring offender who has escaped from custody) of the BNS and Sections 25/54/59 of the Arms Act was registered against the accused. OC MANY BOOKED FOR THEFT Phagwara: The Nakodar Sadar police have booked some unidentified persons for stealing cash and jewellery from two houses. Tarlochan Singh, a resident of Hairan village, complained to the police that unidentified thieves barged into his house on June 1 and stole Rs 1.25 lakh and gold jewellery. Meanwhile, Daljit Singh of Jahangir village complained to the police that some persons barged into his house on June 11 and stole cash and jewellery. A case has been registered against unidentified accused. OC THIEVES’ GANG, BUSTED, 1 HELD Phagwara: The Shahkot police have busted a gang of thieves, arresting one member in connection with the theft of valuables. Investigating Officer (IO) Sukhwindar Singh stated that the accused, Amandeep Rinka alias Bhola, hails from Saidpur Jhirri village. Rakesh Kumar, a local resident, informed the police that the accused and his accomplices stole an LCD and two gas cylinders from his house on May 25, followed by valuables from Asha, wife of Lovpreet Singh, on May 26. A case under has been registered against the accused and his two absconding accomplices, Som Nath and Jagdeep, both residents of Saidpur Jhirri village. oc 2 PEDDLERS HELD WITH HEROIN Phagwara: The Nakodar Sadar police arrested two drug peddlers for selling heroin. Investigating Officer Jagtar Singh and Shankar Police Post In-charge stated that 7 grams of heroin were seized from the accused, Harwindar Singh and Vijay Singh, both residents of Fateh Pur village. A case under the NDPS Act has been filed against the two. oc Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service File photo of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann along with AAP MP crickter Harbhajan Singh at the Burlton Park event, Jalandhar. Harbhajan visits Ramgarh, opens ~75 lakh projects Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 15 With his absence in his area being felt for years, cricketer Harbhajan Singh’s presence at events and inaugurals, post-Burlton Park Sports Hub event has been largely welcomed by fans and people. After attending the Burlton Park Sports Hub event in Jalandhar on June 11, Harbhajan on Saturday participated in the inauguration of various sports and other related works at Bholath. He unveiled projects worth Rs 75 lakh for the development of village Ramgarh in Kapurthala. Bholath constituency incharge of AAP and Director, Water Resources Department, Harsimran Singh Ghuman was also present. During the beginning of the inauguration ceremony, Ghuman along with AAP workers welcomed Harbhajan. After inaugurating various development works, Harbhajan, while talking to journalists, said the development of villages was a good step. Lakhs of rupees were being given by the government for the bet- terment of rural areas. Harbhajan said development works worth Rs 75 lakh had been carried out at the village. He also added said the works worth Rs 20 lakh on streets and drains were inaugurated, Rs 5 lakh for a dharamshala, Rs 6.45 lakh for solar lights and Rs 6 lakh for a crematorium. Harbhajan said, “I have a close relationship with this village. Whichever work is needed in the village, it will be promptly carried out.” Speaking on the byelection in Ludhiana, he said party members were involved in the election campaign and whatever decision comes on June 19, will be good and he expressed hopes that the AAP candidate would emerge victorious. Ghuman warmly welcomed the Rajya Sabha member upon his arrival in this constituency and said while the Rajya Sabha member has been a star in the field of cricket, today he is making his valuable contribution by serving Punjab and fulfilling the responsibility assigned to him by the party with dedication. Nawanshahr, June 15 After a few days of relief, apprehension has gripped the family of Langroya-based Jaspal Singh (32) again. Jaspal, who was allegedly kidnapped in Iran, was rescued. It had brought happiness to his family. However, the rising tensions between Iran and Israel have left them anxious. According to the family, Jaspal is still in Iran. Back home, Jaspal’s brother Balwinder Singh expressed cautious optimism. “After recording his statements regarding what had happened when he was kidnapped, there were some network issues.He was not reachable for the last two days, but we received a message from him on Saturday, saying he is safe and everything is fine,” Balwinder said. “Although my brother clearly told us that everything is fine and we know there is no need to worry, news about the growing tensions between Iran and Israel is a little worrying. We hope he’ll return home in a day or two,” he added. “We are continuously watching the news about the tensions between Iran and Israel and are just waiting for him to come back to us,” Balwinder said. Jaspal, one of three youths from Punjab reportedly abducted in Iran, had ventured abroad in search of a better future for his family. With aspirations to reach Australia, he approached a travel agent based in Hoshiarpur, who promised to arrange his Talwara youth drowns in lake Women pass by a house covered with blooming pink white vine of bougainvillaea on a hot summer day in Jalandhar on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Over 750 gram of heroin, 850 gram of opium and 4,500 tablets seized Tribune News Service The city police conduct a search operation under Yudh Nashian Virudh in Jalandhar. FILE putting peddlers behind bars. Every possible step is being taken to dismantle these networks. Alongside enforcement, we are also focusing on rehabilitation to help many individuals return to a normal, healthy life.” In a decisive move, the police have also targeted habitual offenders. Properties belonging to notorious drug peddlers, including Jaspal Singh, a youth from Nawanshahr. FILE Bloom amid summer gloom 103 arrested in cops crackdown on drug peddlers since March Jalandhar, June 15 As part of the war against drugs, the Jalandhar Cantt police have launched a sustained crackdown to dismantle drug networks operating in the Cantt subdivision. Acting under the statewide mission ‘Yudh Nasheya Virudh’ spearheaded by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and guided by DGP Gaurav Yadav and Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dr Dhanpreet Kaur, the Cantt police have delivered a major blow to drug syndicates in recent months. Since March 1, police teams in the Cantt have registered 84 FIRs under various sections of the NDPS Act and arrested 103 drug peddlers. The ongoing operations have also led to the seizure of over 750 gram of heroin, 850 gram of opium, and around 4,500 intoxicating tablets, significantly curbing the illegal supply. Speaking about the sustained efforts, ACP Cantt Babandeep Singh said, “We are committed to breaking the entire drug chain and journey. The family painstakingly gathered Rs 18 lakh— through loans and savings— and handed it over to the agent, unaware of the ordeal that would follow. Jaspal is the father of two young children — the eldest is just three years old, while the younger is only threemonth old. The incident also highlights the growing trend of youths from Punjab seeking overseas opportunities through unverified agents, often leading to distressing situations. Kuldip Kaur had earlier said that the family was receiving daily video calls in which her husband was seen being beaten brutally. “It was only today that we received a normal phone call from Jaspal saying he was fine and safe,” Kuldip Kaur had told The Tribune. Bunty and Shunty, each facing six NDPS cases, were demolished as part of the campaign. The authorities said these actions send a strong message that habitual offenders will not be spared. “We are addressing this as a policing issue,” Babandeep Singh added. “It’s also a social fight. Rehabilitation is equally important so that those affect- c m y b ed can reintegrate into society and live drug-free lives.” He further said the Jalandhar Cantt police continue to conduct targeted search operations and are actively tracking the financial backbones that support the drug trade. Police officials have called on the public to join hands in this fight by promptly reporting any suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods. Talwara, June 15 A youth died of drowning in ‘Jannat’ lake near Shah canal of Mukerian Hydel Channel passing from near Adda Jheer Da Khuh. The depth of the lake formed by canal water near bridge, is said to be about 40 feet. In this lake, a large number of youths come here to bathe in the summer season to get relief from the heat. On Saturday, Rohit Kumar, alias Ravi (22), a resident of village Karadi (Beh Jogan) of Block Talwara, left home to bathe in the lake. He jumped into the lake but did not come out of water. The people present there searched for him but when he was not found till late in the evening, the Baba Deep Singh Seva Dal was called from Garhdiwala and they recovered the body. — OC Girl kidnapped, rescued; boy arrested Italy NRI booked for immigration fraud Jalandhar, June 15 A Jalandhar Cantt resident has been arrested by the Rama Mandi police for the kidnapping of a 15-year-old girl on June 11. Identified as Shivam, resident of Mohalla no. 16 in Jalandhar Cantt, he allegedly kidnapped the girl on the pretext of marrying her, however, the police arrested the youth on the girl’s parents complaint after which the girl was also handed back to her family. Arrested on Friday, the accused was presented in a court by the police today. Chowki Incharge Nangal Shama, said, “Prima facie, it is a case of the minor girl going along with the boy consensually. However, since the girl is a minor, the boy has been arrested. The girl had been handed back to the family by the Rama Mandi police a day ago. Further investigation in the case is also on.” A 15-year-old minor girl had gone missing since June 11, after which her family was on the lookout for her. Following the arrest of the boy after the apprehensions raised by the girl’s family, the boy was arrested and girl was also found after which she was handed back to her parents. — TNS Our Correspondent Phagwara, June 15 The Phagwara police have registered a case against an Italy-based NRI, identified as Tersem Chand, for allegedly defrauding a local villager on the pretext of facilitating his immigration to Italy. The accused, originally from village Jagatpur-Jattan in Punjab, is facing serious charges following a complaint by Arun Kumar, a resident of village Khera near Phagwara. According to the complaint filed at the Phagwara Police Station, Arun Kumar alleged that Tersem Chand had promised to arrange his settlement in Italy in exchange for a payment of Rs 16,00,000. The amount was reportedly handed over in instalments. Kumar stated that the accused neither provided the necessary documents, nor fulfilled any commitments made regarding travel or settlement abroad. The police have registered a case under Sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code, along with applicable provisions of the Punjab Trav- el Professionals Regulation Act. These laws are intended to protect individuals from being exploited by unlicensed travel agents or fraudulent immigration consultants. Speaking on the matter, Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora confirmed that the complaint was found to be credible after preliminary inquiry, leading to the registration of an FIR. “We have initiated an investigation into the allegations. The complainant has submitted relevant evidence, and efforts are underway to trace the accused and ascertain the scope of the fraud,” the official said. He said further legal action would be taken based on the outcome of the investigation. The authorities have not ruled out possibility of other victims coming forward, as such cases involving unauthorised immigration agents have been on the rise in the region. Meanwhile, the SSP has urged residents to verify the credentials of travel agents and immigration consultants before making any financial commitments. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activities to the police promptly. As of now, Tersem Chand remains at large.