23062025-JTR-01.qxd 6/22/2025 10:47 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune LAGHU UDYOG BHARATI ELECTS NEW LEADERSHIP RENOVATE PLAYGROUNDS, UPGRADE INFRASTRUCTURE JOHNNY DEPP CALLS HIMSELF ‘CRASH TEST DUMMY FOR METOO’ Alongside policy discussions, the meeting also saw the election of new office-bearers for the Punjab unit. P2 Punjab govt has recently announced plans to revamp Burlton Park into a state-of-the-art sports complex. P3 Depp has opened up about impact of the highly publicised legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 29°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.35 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:24 AM » MONDAY | 23 JUNE 2025 | JALANDHAR IAS officer, hubby, gunman booked for murder attempt Firing at workersPSO arrested, sent to 2-day police custody Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 22 The police have registered a case against Punjab cadre IAS officer Babita Kaler, her husband and Aam Aadmi Party leader Stephen Kaler and the officer’s personal security officer (PSO) Sukhkaran Singh, in the firing incident that took place in the Choti Baradari area on Saturday morning. A case of attempt to murder has been registered on a complaint of industrialist Karanjit Kang’s family, who alleged that their staff were attacked during a soil-filling activity at their plot in Choti Baradari. According to the complaint, Harpreet Singh, manager at Prabal TMT owned by the Kang family, was shot in both legs during the dispute. The Kang family claimed that Stephen Kaler along with his gunman Sukhkaran Singh IAS officer Babita Kaler, her husband and AAP leader Stephen Kaler. reached the site and attempted to stop the soil-filling work on their plot. They alleged that the gunman fired at their employee on Stephen Kaler’s directions without any provocation. The family maintained that they had legal ownership of the plot and was peacefully carrying out the work when they were confronted and attacked. Following the incident, the police arrested PSO Sukhkaran Singh and produced him in a court on Sunday. He has been sent to a two-day police remand. His government-issued weapon has also been seized for investigation. The FIR has been registered under Sections 109, 115 (2), 61 (2l) of the BNS along with Section 27 of the Arms Act. Assistant Commissioner of Police Roopdeep Kaur confirmed that the role of Babita Kaler and Stephen Kaler is also under investigation and that notices will soon be issued to them to join the inquiry. Police sources said the failure to cooperate may lead to further legal action against them. On his part, Stephen Kaler has denied all allegations, claiming that his PSO fired in self-defence after being verbally and physically assaulted by the workers. He said he had only asked the workers to confirm the plot ownership before continuing their work. The Kang family, however, rejected this version, insisting that the attack was unprovoked and that their team was well within its legal rights to carry out the earthwork. The police are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area and recording statements of the eyewitnesses to establish the exact sequence of events. 177 fake MC notices issued in Jalandhar West too: Angural Man held with 30 intoxicating tablets Bring these notices in public domain, says Bhagat Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 22 Ex-MLA and BJP leader Sheetal Angural on Sunday claimed that 177 fake Municipal Corporation notices had been issued in Jalandhar West against property owners in the same pattern as in Jalandhar Central. He said he had the proofs and expected Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to call him and take note of the same and take action against his minister Mohinder Bhagat, just as he did in case of Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora. Angural said certain aggrieved persons from Jalandhar West had already given statements over fake notices since May 17 but there had been no action on these statements. He challenged Jalandhar Mayor Vaneet Dhir and Commissioner Gautam Jain to clarify on the notices within two days or else he would hold a demonstration. He said, “I shall also go to Chandigarh, carrying BJP ex-MLA Sheetal Angural during a press conference in Jalandhar. these notices. I shall tell the CM that arresting one MLA is not enough”. Angural also claimed that 61 buildings had been sealed by the MC’s building branch in the past six months in Jalandhar West but the seals of all these buildings had been opened without following a proper procedure. Angural showed the copies of some ‘fake’ notices and sealed buildings on his phone to make his point. Reacting to the allegations by Angural, Bhagat said, “If the ex-MLA is levelling any charges against me, he should bring the evidences in public domain. He should produce the copies of these fake notices before MC officials. He should also hand out the list of the sealed and reopened properties and ask the officials to verify them too. Angural lost MLA election and is now levelling fake allegations against me. I am answerable to the public. If any notice recipient levels any accusation against me, I shall be answerable to that person but I owe nothing to Angural.” Jalandhar, June 22 A man was arrested with 30 intoxicant tablets by the Mehatpur police on Sunday. The probe in the case revealed the accused is a criminal wanted in previous cases. During routine patrol at Mehatpur by a team led by SHO Mehatpur Inspector Balbir Singh and SI Gurnam Singh, a search operation was carried out at Mohalla Shahpur. The team nabbed a man with 30 intoxicating tablets at Mohalla Shahpur in Mehatpur. The accused, who has been identified as Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, resident of village Dharme Dian Channan at Mehatpur. The police said said the accused was also wanted in previous cases by the Jalandhar and Kapurthala police and also by the Hisar police in Haryana. They said further investigation in the case is on. A case has been registered against accused Gurpreet under the NDPS Act at the Mehatpur police station on June 22. Elderly couple thwarts robbery Tragedy averted as crane falls at Cantt rly station bid at their house in Dhilwan 11 bikes, scooters crushed Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 22 An attempted robbery at the residence of an Indian Air Force ex-serviceman at Dhilwan village Rama Mandi here, was averted in the early hours of Sunday morning. The incident has left the local community shaken and raised concerns about increasing security threats in residential areas. According to sources, the ex-serviceman, who lives with his wife, was targeted by intruders late at night. The couple’s children, employed outside the city, were not present. The robbers managed to break into the house and locked the sleeping elderly couple inside their bedroom from the outside. They then proceeded to another room where valuables were believed to be stored. While attempting to break open the safe, the noise alerted them, who woke up and began shouting for help. Startled by the commotion, the intruders fled the scene immediately, leaving the robbery incomplete. The ex-serviceman quickly contacted his neighbours, who rushed over, unlocked the bedroom door, and helped the couple out safely. According to eyewitness accounts, the robbers were dressed unusually — wearing only black underwear and vests, with their faces covered in black paint to avoid identification. Their strange appearance has added a chilling and bizarre twist to the incident. The police arrived at the scene shortly after being informed. An FIR in the case has been lodged and police officials confirmed that the investigation is underway. Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 22 A major tragedy was averted when a huge hydraulic crane collapsed near the parking area of the Jalandhar Cantonment railway station on Saturday. Eleven two-wheelers, including bikes and Activa scooters, got crushed under its heavy arm while its head fell on a car parked in the area. The shed of a temporary toilet also got damaged. The cemented floor on which the crane collapsed also got smashed. Thankfully, no one suffered any injury during Duped by financier, man dies by suicide Our Correspondent Phagwara, June 22 A 40-year-old man of Garha village near Phillaur died by suicide after allegedly being defrauded of a substantial sum by a private financier. The deceased Kashmiri Lal reportedly consumed a poi- sonous substance on Friday afternoon and died later at DMCH in Ludhiana. Before taking the extreme step, Kashmiri Lal recorded a video and posted it on social media in which he alleged that he had been mentally harassed and financially ruined by a financier, who promised high returns and a better future. In the video, he claimed that he had been misled into believing that he could become wealthy quickly and, in pursuit of that dream, he ended up investing all his savings, amounting to Rs 22.75 lakh. He said the financier failed to return the money, leaving him in financial ruin. Family members rushed him to DMC Hospital after he consumed celphos tablets. Despite best efforts by doctors, he could not be saved. An autopsy was conducted at the Civil Hospital, following which the body was handed over to the family. the incident. Even the driver in the crane managed to jump out safely in time as it turned on one side. The incident occurred when the staff of a contractor was lifting some load and shifting it to a nearby location. The driver was engaged in crane jacking to raise the height by adding more sections when it lost its grip on the ground and turned on one side. A major renovation work has been underway for the past two years at the railway station. The site where the crane collapse took place is close to the platform and the staircase used by the passengers to move to the next platform. It was also about 150 m from the track from where hundreds of A crane loses balance and overturns at Jalandhar Cantt railway station. trains pass by daily. The staff at the railway station said they had informed the higher officials about the incident. The staff of the contractor maintained, “There could have been a technical glitch with the crane. We cannot rule that out. The crane experts have been called in. They shall dismantle 3 arrested for consuming drugs Jalandhar, June 22 Three men consuming heroin at an abandoned spot were nabbed by the Lambra police and the material being used by them was seized. The arrested three men were from Lambra. During routine patrol from village Chaugava drain to vil- lage Dhaliwal Qadiyan, three persons were found using heroin at the abandoned brick kilns near village Dhaliwal Qadiyan. The trio who were identified as Prabhjot, alias Pavi, resident of village Alichak, at Lambra, Jalandhar; Satnam Singh and Rakesh Kumar, alias Kesha, also both residents of village Alichak, at Lambra Jalandhar. The trio used the heroin with the help of a strip of paper, a lighter and a rolled Rs 10 note. The Lambra police arrested the trio from the spot. A case has been registered and investigation is on. — TNS RG Vihar residents threaten protest over non-functional streetlights Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 22 Frustrated over months of official apathy, residents of Rajiv Gandhi Vihar in Surya Enclave, Jalandhar, have accused the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) of turning a blind eye to the persistent problem of defunct streetlights in their locality. Despite making repeated complaints for over eight months, residents say no effort has been made to fix the issue, leaving large parts of the colony shrouded in darkness every evening. Residents claim that the dark streets have turned into unsafe zones, particularly after sunset, with a noticeable rise in petty thefts, chain snatching and harassment incidents in the area. Anmol Verma, a local resident, said, “We have approached the authorities multiple times, but nothing has been done. Streetlights have not worked for months and the colony has become a soft target for criminals.” Several people reported feeling unsafe, especially in the inner lanes where lighting is either completely absent or severely inadequate. Senior citizens said they have stopped venturing out after dark due to the fear of being attacked. JK Joshi, a senior citizen, said, “The situation is alarming. Streetlights are the basic need. How can we live like this? Already, the area struggles with sanitation WOMEN WORRIED Women in the colony have also raised concerns, saying that walking home from work or visiting nearby shops in the evening has become increasingly risky. and maintenance problems, and now the lack of lighting has made matters worse.” Women in the colony have also raised concerns, saying that walking home from work or visiting nearby shops in the evening has become increasingly risky. “We now avoid stepping out after sunset unless it’s necessary. Carrying a phone flashlight is not enough to guarantee our safety in these conditions,” said Priya Sharma, another resident. The residents, growing increasingly impatient, have now warned that they may resort to staging a protest if the authorities continue to ignore their appeals. “If the JIT fails to act immediately, we will be forced to come out on the streets to demand our rights,” said another local resident. Pointing to similar problems in other JIT-developed colonies, residents also alleged that poor civic management and delayed responses to public grievances have become a pattern. JIT officials they said they are aware of the problem and assured that necessary repairs will be carried out soon. Non-functional streetlights in Jalandhar. >> c m y b all parts of it. It is a slow process..” All owners are expected to get compensation for the losses incurred from the contractor. Disguised as customer, thief makes off with gold Phagwara, June 22 In a broad daylight robbery, two miscreants fled with gold ornaments worth approximately ?2 lakh from a jeweller’s shop near the School of Eminence in the Loharan Mandi area of Phagwara on Saturday night. According to Sarang Nishchal, shop owner, two young men arrived at the shop — one entered while the other stood guard outside on a motorcycle. The youth inside the shop posed as a customer and asked to see gold earrings. As the shopkeeper began showing the ornaments, the accused discreetly placed a box aside. When the shopkeeper’s attention was momentarily diverted, the accused quickly picked up the gold items and dashed out. He jumped onto the waiting motorcycle and both suspects fled the scene. The stolen items reportedly include a 10-gram gold chain, a pair of 3-gram gold earrings, and a 3-gram gold ring. The police have been informed and an investigation is underway. — OC