04042024-JTR-01.qxd 4/4/2024 12:38 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune LPU OVERALL WINNER IN NATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL EXPIRED DRUGS THROWN ALONG ABOHAR ROAD PRIYANKA JOINS DOCU BORN HUNGRY AS A PRODUCER LPU emerged the overall winner at 37th National Youth Festival held at Punjab Agricultural University. P2 Hundreds of expired medicines found by roadside near a private college on the Abohar-Hanumangarh road. P3 Priyanka Jonas’ production company Purple Pebble Pictures has announced her new film as a producer. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 31°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 13°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6:43 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:07 AM » THURSDAY | 4 APRIL 2024 | JALANDHAR YOUTH RUN OVER BY TRAIN, DIES Phagwara: A youth was run over by a train near the Phagwara railway station on Wednesday morning. The deceased has been identified as Komal Bawa, a resident of Preet Nagar in Phagwara. The mishap took place while he was crossing the railway track. The Government Railway Police (GRP) have registered a case and sent the body to the Civil Hospital for postmortem examination. OC SCOOTERIST KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENT Phagwara: A scooterist died after being hit by a car near the Khalwara bypass here. The scooterist, identified as Sat Pal, a resident of Indira Nagar, died on the spot. The Sadar police have booked the car driver, Shamsher Singh, a resident of Jalandhar, on the charges of negligent driving. A case has been registered. OC MAN HELD WITH LIQUOR BOTTLES Phagwara: The Nurmahal police have arrested a person for selling illicit liquor. The suspect has been identified as Manpreet, alias Kaku, a resident of Shamsha Bad village. Investigating officer Jagjit Singh said 18 bottles of booze were recovered from his possession. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Punjab Excise Act has been registered against the suspect. OC 2 BOOKED ON FRAUD CHARGE Hoshiarpur: The Hajipur police have booked two persons for allegedly cheating people of ~16.70 lakh on the pretext of sending them abroad. According to information, Surinder Kumar, a resident of Gurdevpura, Mukerian, told the police that Madan Mohan, a travel agent and a resident of Nangal Bihala, and Roop Lal, a resident of Vikas Nagar, New Delhi, cheated him and Gurabkhsh Lal of ~16.70 lakh on the pretext of sending them to Portugal. The police have registered a case. OC TWO HELD FOR THEFT, SNATCHING Hoshiarpur: The police have arrested two persons for snatching and theft. According to information, Satnam Singh of Ludhiana told the Garhshankar police that he was returning on his motorcycle from Anandpur Sahib on March 23. When he reached Garhshankar, he asked a person for a place to stay for the night. The suspect took him to a deserted place. He beat him up and snatched silver jewellery, a mobile phone and 7,000 from him. The police arrested the suspect, Sagar Muhammad, a resident of Santosh Nagar, Ludhiana. In another case, Jaspreet Singh, a resident of Hadrowal, told the Bullowal police that Nitin Verma, alias Suraj Thakur, a resident of Nasrala, stole valuables from his house. The police arrested the suspect. OC YOUTH DIES IN ROAD ACCIDENT Hoshiarpur: A youth died after being hit by an unidentified vehicle. According to information, Surinder Singh, a resident of Maliya Nangal village, told the police that his 23-year-old son Rohit was returning from work. When he reached near Chungi Dasuya, Hoshiarpur, an unidentified vehicle hit him. He succumbed to his injuries. The police have registered a case. OC Crime in city shows no sign of abating Flag marches, heightened security fail to deter criminals Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 3 Despite the enforcement of the poll code, frequent flag marches and heightened security measures in the city, crime rate continues to spiral. Residents lament that while the police boast of maintaining law and order during daylight flag marches, criminals strike at night, targeting residents and robbing them of their hard-earned possessions, cash and jewellery. In the past week alone, the city has witnessed two murders, a robbery, suspicious death of a youth, an assault near the bus stand, gunshots at a singer’s residence and a few instances of snatching. Three days ago, a woman, Ruby, was found murdered in a house at Sheetal Nagar. The police suspect her husband to be the culprit as he locked the room from outside and fled the spot. However, his whereabouts remain unknown. In another incident, a murder incident took place at Nehri Colony on the Kapurthala road on Monday, which the police have reportedly solved. The suspect in that case has been apprehended. A labourer was shot by bikeborne robbers near the Sodal area late on Sunday night. FILE PHOTO INBRIEF In the past week alone, the city has witnessed two murders, a robbery, suspicious death of a youth, an assault near the bus stand, gunshots at a singer’s residence and a few instances of snatching. The robbers demanded cash at gunpoint. When the victim resisted and struck one of them with a tiffin box in an attempt to escape, he was shot. The suspects in this case have not yet been identified. Additionally, the son of a Shiv Sena leader was assaulted by unidentified individuals near the bus stand late on Sunday night. The victim sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Civil Hospital for treatment. Though a complaint was lodged with the Division No. 6 police regarding the incident, the suspects remain unidentified. Similarly, a 26-year-old unidentified man was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a vacant plot in the Bhargo Camp area on Friday INT’L DRUG CARTEL CASE Thakur posts another video on social media Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 3 Recent developments in the international drug cartel case have cast doubt on the claims made by the city police. Mani Thakur, alleged mastermind in the case, has once again taken to the social media, sharing incriminating call recordings involving a police officer. Days after vehemently denying all accusations in a live video, Thakur has released another 21-minute video late last night alleging police misconduct. In the video, he accused the police of framing him to shield another individual, accompanied by a video and call recording where a police officer is heard negotiating with one of the suspects, purportedly demanding opium in exchange for dropping charges. In the recording, the suspect expresses concern over being implicated in the case to Shares call recordings involving police officer which the officer allegedly assures him of manipulation within the system to alter names. Shockingly, the officer acknowledges involvement of higher officials, suggesting a deeper entanglement. Moreover, references to a local MLA add fuel to the fire, with the smuggler claiming political backing. The conversation further reveals negotiations for a larger quantity of opium, raising suspicions of collusion and corruption. Meanwhile, DCP (Investigation) Aditya Warrier has stated that the authenticity of the recordings was yet to be verified. He asserted that all named individuals, including Thakur and another suspect Harman, would face consequences after thorough investigation. night. Initial reports suggested the possibility of drug overdose, but the police have dismissed these claims. Furthermore, the authorities remain clueless in the case, lacking evidence about how the victim ended up at the plot or whether foul play was involved. Additionally, two snatching incidents were reported earlier in the week, including a senior citizen being robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight in Adarsh Nagar and a local journalist being robbed near the Laddhewali area. Residents have expressed disappointment over this trend where snatchers target individuals in broad daylight in posh localities and crowded markets with brazen confidence and without any fear of police. Stolen goods seized, 2 held Our Correspondent Phagwara, April 3 The district police, led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vatsala Gupta, have arrested two miscreants and recovered a huge quantity of stolen or snatched goods from them. The suspects have been identified as Varun Kumar, a resident of Barrapind village near Goraya, and Harminder Singh, a resident of Samradi village, also in Goraya. Roopinder Kaur Bhatti, Superintendent of Police, Phagwara, said the police recovered two stolen Activa scooters, a TVS scooter, a motorcycle, two tins of ghee, two tins of oil, a laptop, nine filter bottles and a water purifier from their possession. They suspects have confessed to their involvement in several criminal cases. Phagwara DSP Jaspreet Singh said the suspects were produced before a local judicial magistrate who sent them to police remand till Thursday. 2 held for firing at teacher’s house Our Correspondent Garhshankar, April 3 The police have arrested two youths and seized three live cartridges, three missed cartridges and a motorcycle in connection with the firing at the gate of a teacher’s house in Mahindwani village on March 24. Giving information, SHO, Garhshankar, Gurinderjit Singh said that an FIR under Section 384, 307 and 120B of IPC and Section 25, 27, 54 and The suspects in police custody in Hoshiarpur. TRIBUNE PHOTO 59 of the Arms Act was registered on March 25 on the statement of Deepak Dhiman, son of Naresh Kumar, a resident of village Mahind- wani against Pradeep Singh alias Khada, a resident of Samundra and Jaskarnpreet Singh alias Kannu, a resident of Kukkar Mazara, Rajesh Kumar alias Banta, a resident of Thana and an unknown person. The accused Pradeep Singh alias Khada was arrested in this connection. After his interrogation and disclosure, the accused Gurpreet Singh alias Gaggi, a resident of Barapur under Garhshankar police station was arrested. c m y b ~1.03 lakh unaccounted cash seized Our Correspondent Phagwara, April 3 In yet another seizure, the PCR police, Phagwara, led by Inspector Aman Kumar and Flying Squad and Surveillance teams constituted by Assistant Returning Officer Jashanjit Singh, seized unaccounted cash worth ~1,03,500 from a person near the Phagwara bus stand here this evening. The suspect, identified as Tirlochan Singh, a resident of Adarsh Nagar, Phagwara, was travelling in a car bearing registration number PB-07T-0068. The police signalled him to stop for checking. During frisking, the police recovered the money from his vehicle. Vatsala Gupta, Superintendent of Police, Kapurthala, said here today that the police had earlier seized ~18.20 lakh and US $5,000 in the district. The seized amount had been sent to the Income Tax Department. Four arrested for attacking farmer Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 3 The police have arrested four persons for attacking a farmer and inflicting serious injuries on him. Police officials said the victim, Rajdeep Singh (30), went to the market to buy ration around 5 pm on March 30. Around 9 pm, his parents came to know that he was admitted to a hospital with serious injuries. Following which, they informed the police about the incident. The police said during investigation, it came to fore Rajdeep was a drug addict. He quarrelled with a man, Anthony, and his wife over purchase of drugs. “After the fight, Rajdeep also did not repay the money to the couple. They issued death threats to the farmer and threatened to assault him in future if he did not repay the money,” the police said. The police said Anthony, Daniel, Rama, Munish, Vishal, Chandan and other unidentified persons attacked Rajdeep on March 30. Based on investigation, a case under Sections 324, 326, 307, 506, 120-B, 148 and 149 was registered against the suspects at the Sadar Jalandhar police station. The police said they had arrested Munish, alias Mani, Denial, Chander, alias Chandu, and Vishal Gill in this regard. Further investigations were on in the case and raids were being conducted to arrest other persons. Snatcher lands in police dragnet Our Correspondent Phagwara, April 3 The Shahkot police have arrested a person for snatching a gold chain from a woman. Investigating officer Sulinder Singh said the suspect had been identified as Punit Gupta a resident of Pati Khu- ram Pur, Malsian village. Kajal, a resident of Mohalla Dherian, Shahkot, told the police that she, along with her sister, was returning home on a scooter on the evening of March 31. A motorcycle-borne miscreant snatched her gold chain near Jain Hospital. The investigating officer said a case under Section 379(B) (snatching) of the IPC was registered against the suspect. The police added Section 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) to the case. They also recovered the chain from his possession. Crop loss in floods, mounting debt drive young farmer to die by suicide NO BREADWINNER IN THE FAMILY Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 3 A 27-year-old farmer from Baupur village in Sultanpur Lodhi committed suicide on Monday, depressed due to loss of his crops in the recent floods and the resultant mounting debts. His family alleged that if the floods hadn’t happened, he would still be alive. He is survived by his wife Harpreet Kaur and two children — a daughter and a son. Gurjant consumed a poisonous substance on Monday at his home in Baupur and lay on his bed after which his health condition deteriorated. He was taken to the local hospital but died soon afterwards. After 5 feet of sand was deposited in his fields after floods, his crops failed and he had taken to daily wage labour. However, he had been ❝ I don’t have any knowledge about his debts and the money owed to him by his employers. My children are in school and I don’t know if I would even be able to send them to college. There is no breadwinner in the family and I have never worked. We don’t know how we will make ends meet. I seek help from the government to keep our family afloat. ❞ Harpreet Kaur, WIFE OF GURJANT perturbed by some people refusing to pay him the money for the work he had done. Gurjant’s wife Harpreet Kaur (25) said, “Had the floods not happened, my husband would have been alive. After our crops were lost due to floods, and sand filled the fields, my husband took to labour and doing other daily wage jobs. But we are poor and some people used to harass him in making payments. He often cried about being refused his money back. He was also worried about paying back money borrowed from relatives and arhtiyas who were asking for it. I even offered to speak to lenders for him, but he refused. On Monday, he sent me and my daughter to get suits from a tailor and also tried to send my son. After we went, he consumed some poisonous tablets and lay on bed. When we returned, we saw doctors at home who had Strengthen monitoring of political ads, paid news: DC INDIA VOTES 2024 Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, April 3 District Election Officercum-Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal paid a surprise visit to the Media Certification and Monitoring Cell here. During the visit, she instructed officials to further strengthen the monitoring of political advertisements, paid news and false news. She said no political advertisement could be issued in electronic media, social media and e-papers without prior approval of the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee. Similarly, no political advertisement could be published in print media on the day of voting and a day before voting without the Hoshiarpur DC Komal Mittal reviews the functioning of the Media Certification and Monitoring Cell at District Administrative Complex. approval of the committee. The committee, formed at the district level, is keeping a close watch on the social media. She said the media played an important role in making people aware of their voting rights during the elections, but at the same time she appealed to people not to share news on social media without authenticating it. She also inspected the district webcasting cell and issued necessary instructions. Assistant Commissioner Divya P District Public , Relations Officer Hardev Singh Aasi, District Sweep Nodal Officer Preet Kohli, Assistant Public Relations Officer Lokesh Kumar, Election Kanugo Deepak Kumar and employees deployed in the Media Certification and Monitoring Cell and the district webcasting cell were present on the occasion. been called by my son.” Harpreet Kaur said Gurjant was taken to a local hospital but despite trying their best, doctors couldn’t save him. Harpreet said her husband laughed and talked normally and didn’t let anyone know he was planning to take a dire step on Monday. “I don’t have any knowledge about his debts and the money owed to him by his employers. My children are in school and I don’t know if I would even be able to send them to college. There is no breadwinner in the family and I have never worked. We don’t know how we will make ends meet. I seek help from the government to keep our family afloat,” said Harpreet. Harpreet’s daughter is 15 years old and is in Class X and her 12-year-old son is in Class IX. Youth posts objectionable video, nabbed Hoshiarpur, April 3 The traffic police held a youth who had posted a video in which a Punjabi song was being played in the background using inappropriate language against the police saying that “those policemen who lay nakas should be eliminated”. The video went viral on social media and taking cognisance of it, Subinspector Subhash Bhagat traced the motorcycle. After taking down the number of the motorcycle from the viral video, PCR in-charge Subhash Bhagat got its address with the help of RTO office. The youth was not found at home and the parents told the police that he was a student at local polytechnic college. The SI went to his college and brought the young man along with the motorcycle to the police station and informed his family. His family members too reached there. The youth confessed his mistake and apologised promising not to repeat any such act again. Continued on page 2
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