08062024-JTR-01.qxd 6/8/2024 12:25 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune CONG GAINED IN URBAN, RURAL AREAS AT AAP, BJP’S EXPENSE INT’L STUDENTS AT LPU CONFERRED WITH DEGREES The university hosted ‘International Students’ Graduation Day-2024’ for overseas students. P2 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 41°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 39°C | MIN 23°C MUSICIAN KING DROPS STILL THE SAME SONG The Ram Mandir issue in urban segments and farmers’ protests in rural segments split the votes in Jalandhar this time. P2 FORECAST It’s a contrast to King’s previous release and features a minimalist production by Abhijay Sharma. P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 7.23 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5:21 AM » SATURDAY | 8 JUNE 2024 | JALANDHAR Planning Board chief demands inquiry into misuse of funds INBRIEF WOMAN, KIDS CONFINED Phagwara: Following a complaint lodged by a villager Gurmit Singh, resident of village Ghurrka, the Satnampura police have registered a case under Section 346 of IPC against unknown persons on the charges of wrongfully confining his wife and two kids with wrong intention. The complainant told the police that his wife and two kids are missing since May 10. OC THIEF ARRESTED WITH IRON RODS Phagwara: The police have arrested a thief, identified as Rohit, a resident of village Jamshed on the charges of stealing a huge quantity of Saria (iron rods) from a construction site near here last night. On a complaint lodged by Munna Shah, a resident of Khajurala, the police have registered a case under Section 379 of IPC and succeeded in arresting the suspect. OC MOTORCYCLE STOLEN Phagwara: A motorcycle, bearing the registration number PB-36K-8293, was found stolen from outside an electricity shop in village Khurampur near Phagwara yesterday. Shop owner Hardev Paul, a resident of village Rampur-Sunrra, told the police that he went to his shop after parking his bike but forgot to take the key from the ignition socket. He said that when he came out after sometime, he found his bike stolen. The police have registered a case under Section 379 of IPC and are investigating the matter. OC MAN KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENT Phagwara: A motorcyclist was killed while his wife and son sustained serious injuries in a car accident between their bike and a speeding Innova car near Bhanoki—Phagwara road today. The deceased was identified as Jaswinder. resident of village Jagatpur-Jattan. OC PUNJAB NIRMAN YOJANA Ashok Kaura Kot Sadik residents protest against the Municipal Corporation authorities for getting dirty water in their areas. TRIBUNE PHOTOS Residents of Kot Sadik block road over lack of water supply Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 7 To ensure that their voices are heard, the residents of Kot Sadik area today blocked the Kala Sanghian road as they were not getting proper water supply in their area. They claimed that they have been suffering from the problem for the last two months, and had also raised the issue but to no avail. Deficient water supply in the scorching heat has come as a dampener. The protesters who sat out- Swapan back as Jalandhar CP Jalandhar, June 7 In the very first round of transfers soon after the lifting of the code of conduct for Lok Sabha polls, the state government has brought back IPS officer Swapan Sharma as the Commissioner of Police. Swapan had been transferred out in the midst of the polls and Rahul S had been appointed in his place. As Swapan is back, Rahul S has been appointed as the Director of Vigilance Bureau. — TNS side and protested against the MC authorities also included elderly women. One of the residents, Kanta Devi, said that it was an everyday problem for them as they were getting poor water supply in Kot Sadik. “There are small kids at home. If the authorities and government cannot guarantee such basic amenities, what else can we expect from them,” she asked. “Ethe aande hai te vote laike chale jaande hai, fer nai puchde. We had cast votes, but still we are grappling with the same problem,” said another resident. Recently, The Tribune had highlighted that the Municipal Corporation had been receiving nearly 20 complaints daily related to lack of water supply from several areas. Most of the cases were coming from Kishanpura, Basti Peer Daad areas. Even the residents of Kabir Nagar protested against the MC for no water supply in their area. They sat on road and raised slogans. The residents had then claimed that they were not getting clean drinking water in their area. One of the complainants said there was no water supply in their locality for the past three days as the pipeline had been damaged. Notably, until two months ago, there was a huge pendency of complaints with the Municipal Corporation. It received over 300 complaints regarding poor sewerage and contaminated water supply. The situation doesn’t seem to be getting resolved as people from different areas have been protesting almost every day. Jalandhar, June 7 Erratic power supply for the past three days has been causing a lot of harassment to the residents of the city. While the residents faced a long power snap of three to seven hours on June 5 evening following duststorm and rain, they are still reeling power outages for an hour or so daily for two to three times a day. The residents of posh Lajpat Nagar locality said that the power went off this morning around 8 am and hence the water sup- ply also got disconnected. "By that time, we will still engaged in getting household chores done using water. We could not save enough of water. The power supply got restored by 9:15 am and after that there was no water supply till the evening. We faced triple harassment that of rising mercury, no water and no power", said Meenakshi Sharma, a resident. Subhash, a resident of Makhdoompura, said, "My job is to iron the clothes. I have stopped using coal iron. I can- not work if the power goes off. There used to be no power cuts till the time LS election was to be held. Once the poll got over, power cuts have resumed". Gopal Sharma, PR officer, PSPCL, said, "No power cuts are being imposed by the PSPCL as we have enough power supply. The power outages are still happening because of the repair work post the storm is still on at some places. It usually takes two to three days for things to come to a normal.” —TNS Want to know what exactly happened |Farm leaders visit village, to hold march to Mohali SSP office Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Sher Singh Mahiwal (2nd from left), brother of Kulwinder Kaur, in Kapurthala on Friday. MALKIAT SINGH laid out – village Sath style — under a big tree. Since yesterday, farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Balwant Singh Behramke, among others, have been visiting the village. BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) spokesperson Tejvir Singh also came from Ambala today. Sher Singh says the family is taking decisions in consultation with farmer organisations. A call has also been given by farmer unions to hold a march to Mohali SSP’s office on the issue on June 9. phillaur June 7 Jalandhar Planning Board Chairman Amritpal Singh has recommended a comprehensive probe into the alleged embezzlement of Rs 10 crore by the Phillaur Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) office. In his letter addressed to the Director of Vigilance Bureau, Amritpal Singh detailed the alleged misuse of funds that were disbursed under the Punjab Nirman Yojana. As per the Chairman, these funds were reported to have been embezzled through fake bills, which points to a wellconceived conspiracy within the BDPO office. He said that during the financial year 2021-22, these funds were released by the then Congress government for the development of assembly areas. In Amritpal Singh’s letter, stressing upon the seriousness of the matter, he has recommended the Vigilance Bureau to start a full-fledged investigation into the matter. He demanded a thorough investigation of all financial transactions and documents related to the scheme so that embezzlement can be fully exposed and those responsible can be identified. The Chairman said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption, and the perpetrators of such acts will face strict legal action. Cooling off Phagwara, June 7 The Nakodar City police have booked two Jalandhar residents on the charges of fraud and criminal conspiracy. The police said the accused have been identified as Rohan Pande, a resident of Rajput Nagar, Model House, Jalandhar City, and Navjot Singh, a resident of Mohalla Lasurri, Tagore International School Road, Jalandhar City. Viral Joshi, the legal representative of Indian First Life Insurance Company Limited, complained to the police that the accused opened accounts in various banks by submitting fake documents. The complaint said the accused sent fake documents to the company to surrender money of various policyholders in fake accounts and thus credited Rs 82,45,512 to these fake bank accounts and committed fraud. The police said a case under Sections 419, 420 465, 467, 468, 471, 511, and of the IPC and 66-D of the Information Technology Act has been registered against the accused. — OC TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH 3 days on, no end to power cuts in city At Kulwinder’s Kapurthala house, kin seek proper inquiry Mahiwal (Kapurthala), June 7 A winding, meandering, long dirt road takes one to a house in the middle of nowhere across maize fields in Mahiwal village. At the very approach, the dusty track gives way to sturdy cars bearing farm flags, swaying in the hot breeze. This remote dwelling near the dhussi bundh in Kapurthala has become a hot spot for farm unions’ activity for the past two days, ever since word got out yesterday that the household’s daughter allegedly slapped a high-profile BJP MP . CISF constable Kulwinder Kaur, who is in the eye of the storm for allegedly slapping Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut, hails from the pastoral Mahiwal village in Kapurthala district. Kulwinder Kaur was brought up in this village. Her brother Sher Singh is the organising secretary of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Kapurthala. The incident has turned the nondescript dwelling into an epicentre for farmers’ activity where at any time at least 15 to 20 farm leaders huddle around Kuwinder’s brother Sher Singh in chairs Asks Vigilance Bureau to investigate, take strict action against culprits Two booked for fraud, conspiracy The family said Kulwinder Kaur was born and brought up in the village and studied in government schools in the neighbouring villages of Channa Sher Singh and Talwandi Chaudhrian. The family has a history of serving in the defence forces which sparked in her the desire to be in security forces, said Sher Singh. He said she had no history of any such incidents. Kulwinder Kaur had been serving with the CISF since 2008-09 and got married in 2016. After yesterday’s incident, Kulwinder’s two children (son and daughter) were also brought back to the village. Sher Singh says, “We got to know through the media that Kulwinder Kaur (allegedly) slapped Kangana. Then the MP’s statement came in media. I tried to contact Kulwinder, but couldn’t. Many videos came, no media showed any picture that she (Kangana) was slapped. It should come out. I talked to her husband yesterday, all we know is some kind of refusal from the MP about scanning her purse, c m y b sparked an altercation.” Speaking about the demand raised by actor Kangana Ranaut’s sister for action against Kulwinder Kaur, Sher Singh said, “Proper inquiry should take place. And it should be determined what exactly happened.” Sher Singh added, “If we had got justice on the statement made by Kangana that women can be hired for Rs 100, then this wouldn’t have happened. The verbal duel may have sparked memories in Kulwinder about the derogatory statements by Kangana against mothers and sisters.” He said while the family backed and visited the Kisan Andolan at Delhi two years ago and the ongoing protest at Shambhu border, Kulwinder Kaur didn’t attend the protests. Speaking on Kangana’s statement about terrorism in Punjab, Sher Singh said, “Now she’s not just an actor but also an MP The state. ment she gave is dangerous.” Kulwinder’s cousin (uncle’s son) Amar Singh says, “Kulwinder is not a violent girl. We are awaiting more information presently.” Pigeons drink water to quench their thirst on a hot summer afternoon in Jalandhar on Friday. As MP, Kangana should think before she speaks, says Mahila Kisan Union Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 7 “When Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders come to Punjab and seek votes, then we are not terrorists. And now that elections are over, MP Kangana Ranaut has labelled us as terrorists again,” said Rajwinder Kaur, president of Mahila Kisan Union. Rajwinder Kaur was present at the Shambhu border when the first farmers’ movement was held. On Thursday, newly elected MP Kangana Ranaut was allegedly slapped by a Central Industrial Security Force personnel, Kulwinder Kaur. Reportedly, Kulwinder Kaur was upset over Kangana’s remark that she had made earlier stating that women who were sitting during farmers’ protest at Shambhu border had come for Rs 100. The Tribune spoke to a few women who were present at the Shambhu border and they said that they got hurt by the statement made by Ranaut. Rajwinder Kaur and Surinder Kaur from Nangal Shama village said Women farmers during a protest. FILE PHOTO WE STAND BY FAMILY OF KULWINDER ❝ Now that Kangana has become an MP, she should know how to talk to people and how to behave. I was there at the border when she made the derogatory statement about women protesters. No matter what, we stand by the family of Kulwinder Kaur. Rajwinder Kaur, PRESIDENT, MAHILA KISAN UNION ❞ that after the incident, Kangana had released a video in which she stated, ‘Punjab mein ugravad aur atankvad badhta ja raha hai’. “We would like to us ask her why senior BJP leaders then come here for votes,” they said. Rajwinder Kaur further said, “Now that Kangana has become an MP, she should know how to talk to people and how to behave. I was there at the border when she made the derogatory statement about women protestors. ‘Saanu kide paise chahide ne’.” The women farmer organisation is further planning to go and meet the family of Kulwinder Kaur who resides in Kapurthala. “We will go to them tomorrow to extend our support. No matter what, we stand by the family of Kulwinder Kaur,” said Rajwinder Kaur.