19072025-JTR-01.qxd 7/18/2025 10:54 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune MC CLEARS ENCROACHMENTS TO EASE TRAFFIC NIKKIAN KARUMBALAN CONNECTS KIDS GLOBALLY LET PEOPLE BE: ACTOR VAANI KAPOOR ON BOYCOTT CULTURE Responding to public complaints over traffic congestion, the MC conducted an encroachment removal drive. P2 Nikkian Karumbalan has stood tall as a torchbearer of Punjabi culture, literature and values for readers. P3 Vaani Kapoor believes censorshipin any form restricts an artiste’s freedom to take creative risks. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET SATURDAY 7.31 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5:36 AM » SATURDAY | 19 JULY 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF MAN BOOKED FOR DUPING WOMAN Phagwara: The Shahkot police have booked a man on the charge of duping a Shahkot woman on the pretext of helping his relatives to join the police service. The accused has been identified as Anmol Rattan, presently residing at Sarhind in Fatehgarh Sahib. Raveen Kaur of Baupur Bet village complained to the SSP that the accused duped her of Rs 31.50 lakh on the pretext of helping her cousin sister and brother to join the police service. Mandeep Kaur, wife of the accused, has also filed a complaint against her husband. oc THEFT BID AT MAIN CHOWK SHOP Phagwara: An attempted theft was reported near the busy Main Chowk here. The latest incident took place next to the Zimindar Seed Store. According to a shopkeeper, the incident occurred around 7 AM. Upon arriving at his shop, he noticed that the shutter of the adjacent Zimindar Seed Store had been tampered with and appeared damaged. Additionally, the CCTV camera installed outside had been turned away and some goods from the targeted shop had been moved toward his. He informed the shop owner, who reviewed the CCTV footage. The footage revealed two young men arriving on a motorcycle and attempting to break the shutter. OC MAN BOOKED FOR DEATH IN MISHAP Phagwara: The Bilga police have booked a driver on the charge of causing death by negligence. The accused has been identified as Pawan Kumar of Mohalla Santokhpura, Phillaur. Seema of Bajrra village under Lambrra police station complained to the police that her husband was returning home from Phillaur on his scooter on July 16 when the accused hit his two-wheeler at Shampur village and injured him seriously, who died in a hospital. OC MAN HELD FOR CHEATING Phagwara: The Mehatpur police have arrested a resident on charge of selling duplicate parts of Kalsi company. The accused has been identified as Saksham Setia of Model Town, Mehtabpur. Rajesh Sharma of Surya Enclave, Jalandhar, complained to the police that the accused had manufactured and sold duplicate submersible pumps of the company. A case had been registered against the accused. OC WOMAN HELD FOR SELLING LIQUOR Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested a woman on the charge of selling illegal liquor. Nine bottles of illegally produced liquor were recovered from the possession of the accused Darshan Kaur of Mullewal Arian. A case under the Excise Act has been registered against the accused. oc MAN HELD UNDER NDPS ACT Phagwara: The Bilga police have arrested a drug peddler on the charge of selling heroin. Ten gram of heroin was recovered from the possession of accused Sarabjit Singh of Burj Hassan village. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused. oc Top officers hit the streets in mission to keep the city clean Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 18 After making a significant leap in this year’s Swachhta Survekshan rankings — from 239th to 82nd — the administration has launched an ambitious road cleanliness mission. Even though the Municipal Corporation authorities have the responsibility to ensure civic amenities in the city, the district administration has shouldered the task onto itself. Recently, Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal had directed the locally posted IAS and PCS officials to adopt roads of the city and ensure cleanliness, including daily brooming, lifting of waste, pruning of extra vegetative growth, working streetlights, cleaning of road gullies, clearing of sewage and rainwater, etc. Under the mission, Additional Deputy Commissioner Amaninder Kaur inspected Old Suranausi Road. She instructed the officials con- Start making rounds of adopted roads DC Himanshu Aggarwal orders the Jalandhar MC to clear sewer blockage on the adopted road. FILE cerned to clear waste piles lying beside the road. ADC Jasbir Singh visited the BMC Chowk to Cool Road stretch. He directed officials to repair footpaths near MC office to collect pending property tax on weekends too Phagwara, July 18 In a citizen-centric move under the One-Time Settlement (OTS) Policy-2025, the government has fixed July 31 as the last date for depositing pending property tax with full exemption on penalty and interest. To facilitate this, special tax collection camps are being organised at the Municipal Corporation Office, Phagwara. Municipal Commissioner Dr Akshita Gupta said the property/house tax branch at the MC complex will remain open everyday, including Saturdays and Sundays, till July 31 to ensure residents face no inconvenience while clearing their dues. She appealed to all property owners in Phagwara to take advantage of this opportunity and make their contributions toward the city’s development. Dr Gupta stated that as per the notification issued by the Department of Local Government, property owners, who pay their original outstanding tax amount in full by July 31, will receive a complete waiver on penalty and interest. Those who make payments between August 1 and October 31 will be eligible for a 50 per cent waiver on penalty and interest. However, after October 31, full penalty and interest will be applicable as per the prevailing laws. Highlighting the purpose of the policy, Dr Gupta explained that the initiative is aimed at easing the burden on taxpayers while enabling timely recovery of municipal revenues. It also offers defaulters a fair and timebound chance to settle their dues without additional financial strain. — OC Phagwara, July 18 Former Union minister Som Parkash has called upon all like-minded political parties, social organisations and community leaders to unite in opposing to the government’s proposed “Religious Places and Scriptures (Prevention of Desecration) Bill, 2025,” which, he alleges, omits sacred texts and religious symbols of Dalit communities. In a strong-worded statement issued on Friday, Parkash accused the AAP-led state government of attempting to marginalise the religious identity of millions of Dalits by excluding revered figures and scriptures such as the Amritbani Guru Ravidas ji, idols of Guru Ravidas ji, Bhagwan Valmiki ji, Sant Kabir ji, and Sant Nabhadas ji from the legal protection proposed under the new Bill. A gas tanker overturned on highway near Adampur in Jalandhar. Gas tanker overturns near Adampur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 18 A tanker filled with LPG overturned near Kathar on the Hoshiarpur road near Adampur last night. The tanker driver fled the spot. No one was injured in the accident. Traffic remained suspended on the road until 6.30 am this morning as a precautionary measure after the gas leaked. A tanker filled with gas was going from Hoshiarpur to Jalandhar around 1:30 am when its driver lost control of the tanker and after hitting a gate built near the road, it overturned on the road. A team of the Sarak Surakhya Force reached the spot and informed higher offi- Chunmun Mall and undertake shrub/tree cutting and pruning. Likewise, SDM Randeep Singh Heer inspected Bulandpur Road. He issued strict instructions for laying proper sewer lines. Following his visit, road patches lying across the area were cleared. SDM Shayari Malhotra inspected NH 44. She also 3 women among five booked for assault Remove circus by Sunday, orders MC Commissioner Phagwara, July 18 In a disturbing incident stemming from an alleged ongoing property dispute, five villagers, including three women, have been booked for forcibly entering a private residence and allegedly assaulting a woman in her house in Khalwara village near Phagwara. According to a complaint filed by the victim, she was residing in a haveli, the accused Manu, Sunita Rani, Jaswinder Kumar, Pawan Kumar and Paramjit Kaur (residents of Khalwara), illegally entered the haveli. She was in her garden when the accused allegedly opened the main gate and entered the compound. The complainant alleged that the women began to assault her without provocation. Her clothes were torn during the attack and that one of the accused recorded a video footage. The complainant added that the accused fled the scene before the police arrived. THE TRIBUNE IMPACT Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 18 Following a report by in Jalandhar Tribune titled ‘Circus, bazaar come up at sports hub project site at Burlton Park’, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Gautam Jain visited the site this afternoon and ordered the exhibitors to wind up their setup by Sunday afternoon. Jain along with Superintending Engineer Rahul Dhawan and other officials inspected the site after which they decided that the circus and bazaar were required to be removed as they were a “hindrance to the ongoing construction work” for setting up multipurpose sports hall just near the site. After this, Jain told the exhibitors that they have Ex-minister for united front against exclusion of Dalit scriptures in sacrilege Bill by govt Our Correspondent noted the absence of grills and drain covers on the roadside. The long-pending construction of a foot overbridge was reported to NHAI officials due to its potential for road accidents. SDM Vivek Kumar Modi visited the Pathankot highway and Kishanpura Chowk. He gave strict instructions to officials to install streetlights on Kishanpura Road, clear potholes behind Doaba College, and address waterlogging near the service road. SDM Lal Vishwas inspected NH 71 along Nakodar Road. He noted debris scattered near the Kapurthala Bypass Flyover on NH 71 and issued instructions for its removal. Other key officials who visited their allotted stretches include DRO Navdeep Singh Bhogal, RTO Amanpal Singh, Secretary RTA Balbir Raj Singh, Joint Commissioner MCJ Mandeep Kaur, and Assistant Commissioner Mukilan R. The DC has asked the officials to ensure regular inspection of the roads. “This is not an accidental oversight — it is a calculated move that exposes the anti-Dalit mindset of the government,” said Parkash. “The legislation, as it stands, reflects systemic bias and discrimination against Dalit religious traditions and their followers,” he said. Taking direct aim at AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Parkash said the party has failed to live up to its electoral promises made to Dalit communities. He reminded the public that AAP had pledged to appoint a Dalit Deputy Chief Minister, if voted to power, a commitment that remains unfulfilled more than three years into the government’s tenure. He further pointed to the party’s promise of forming a SIT to probe atrocities and false cases against the Dalits, which, according to him, has seen no progress. Parkash also criticised the silence of Dalit MLAs and ministers within the ruling party, saying their inaction amounts to a betrayal of their communities. “Those who were elected to give voice to the concerns of Valmiki, Ravidasia, Kabirpanthi and Mahasha communities have chosen the comfort of power over the duty of representation,” he said. Calling the exclusion of Dalit scriptures from the Bill a matter of grave concern, the BJP leader warned that if the government fails to amend the legislation to include Dalit religious icons and texts, the party will launch a statewide agitation. “We will take to the streets in peaceful protest. If unrest follows, the responsibility will lie squarely with the government and its discriminatory policies,” he declared. c m y b MC Commissioner Gautam Jain visits Burlton Park and orders the removal of circus from the site in Jalandhar on Friday. to remove all stalls, equipment and tents by 2 pm on Sunday, failing which they could be penalised. Congress leaders and representatives of the cracker market association too had gathered at the site during Jain’s visit. They alleged that even as 5,000 sq feet area had been allocated to the exhibitors, they had covered up more space. The cracker market association had been demanding that if a circus had been allowed at the site, they too should be allowed to continue to hold cracker stalls in the festival season in the months to come. cials of the police administration and officials of the HPCL, Mandiala. Fire brigade was also called to the spot. To allay fears of damage due to a huge gas leak, nearby schools, electricity supply and other institutions were closed and traffic on the railway line and main road was stopped. The tanker had 17,000 kg of LPG. The gas tanker reportedly reached the Mandiala plant from Bathinda and after making its entry, it went back towards Jalandhar for unknown reasons and the accident happened on the way. Meanwhile, SHO Hardevpreet Singh said the empty tanker will arrive by evening and the gas will be transferred into it in the morning. 2 travel agents booked for ~18 lakh fraud Phagwara, July 18 The Lohian Khas police booked two travel agents, including a migrant, on charge of duping a Shahkot resident of Rs 18 lakh on the pretext of sending him abroad. Investigating Officer Harwindar Singh said the accused has been identified as Alfak Ahmad, a resident of UP and Kamaljit Singh, a res, ident of Seechewal village. Bhupindar Singh, a resident of Seechewal village, complained to Jalandhar SSP that he had paid Rs 18 lakh to the accused for facilitating his migration abroad. However, neither did the accused send him abroad, nor did they return the money. A case under Sections 316 (2) (criminal breach of trust), 318(4) (cheating), and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the BNS has been registered against the accused. — OC Half-burnt body Strengthen dhussi bundh: found at hadda rodi Seechewal to officials Hoshiarpur, July 18 The Mahilpur police discovered a halfburnt body of an unidentified man at the Mananhana hadda rodi (carcass dumping site) late last night. A man had arrived at the site to dispose of a dead animal. However, as he approached, he noticed flames and saw the head of a person visible at the edge of the fire. Suspecting something unusual, he recorded a video on his phone and immediately alerted the Kot Fatuhi police post. The police arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire. They discovered the body of a man, believed to be around 45-year old, with more than 60 per cent of his body severely burned. It was taken to the mortuary at the Garhshankar Civil Hospital, where they will be kept for identification. The authorities found that the fire had been fuelled by large plastic bags rather than wood. This suggests the victim may have been transported to the remote site in a vehicle, set on fire to conceal the identity, and left there. — OC Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 18 Rajya Sabha MP and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal along with administrative officials and farmers visited the dhussi bundh on Friday. The MP accompanied by , SDM Adampur Vivek Kumar Modi, who also holds the additional charge of Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development), directed Drainage Department officials to immediately strengthen all sensitive and vulnerable points of the dhussi bundh to prevent any damage in case of a flood-like situation. Seechewal, along with officials, visited villages along the river, including Jiani, Gatta Mundi Kasu, and other villages. He instructed the officials concerned to take immediate action to remove illegal encroachments on the dhussi bundh. During the visit, the MP stated that the long-standing demand for the construction of a permanent road on the dhussi bundh from Gidderpindi to Phillaur is now going to be fulfilled. He said tenders for this road construction will be opened soon. Seechewal also listened to the problems faced by the farmers of the area and instructed the officials on the spot to take appropriate action. He assured the farmers that the government, under CM Bhagwant Mann, is committed to safeguarding the lives and property of the people, and has already issued orders to ensure advance arrangements in flood-prone areas.