08122024-JTR-01.qxd 12/7/2024 11:23 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune 100-DAY TB ERADICATION PROGRAMME BEGINS FOOTBALL TOURNEY GETS UNDERWAY AT RAYAT BAHRA KAPIL SHARMA WINS GLOBAL ENTERTAINER OF YEAR AWARD As part of a campaign, a TB eradication programme was launched on Saturday at the Civil Hospital, Kapurthala. P2 A football tournament commenced at Rayat Bahra Education City on Saturday, featuring 32 teams . P2 Stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma was honoured with the Global Entertainer of the Year Award. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY SKY MAX 22°C | MIN 6°C YESTERDAY MAX 23°C | MIN 6°C SUNSET SUNDAY 5.24 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 7:15 AM » SUNDAY | 8 DECEMBER 2024 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF TWO ARRESTED WITH OPIUM Hoshiarpur: The Sadar police have arrested an accused, who was on bail in drug smuggling cases, and his accomplice and seized 1.5 kg opium from them. The police have registered a case against both. According to information, ASI Sushil Singh posted in CIA staff, said that the police had received a tipoff that accused Bajid Ali, a resident of Chandpura, Badaun district (UP), who was out on bail in a drug smuggling, and his accomplice Suraj were going to smuggle opium from UP. The police raided the house of Suraj at Purana Naru Nangal village. During search, the opium was seized from them, which they were going to sell. OC CASH, JEWELLERY STOLEN Hoshiarpur: Unidentified thieves targeted a house and stole cash, jewellery and other valuables worth lakhs. The city police station has registered a case in this regard. According to information, Yogesh Bagga, a resident of Akash Nagar, told the police that he had gone out with his family. When he returned, he saw that the locks of the house had been broken and the items scattered. During checking, he came to know that thieves had stolen Rs 4 lakh, gold and silver jewellery and a submersible motor. OC Three accident deaths in 4 days in N’shahr Our Correspondent Nawanshahr, December 7 In the past four days, three deaths due to rash driving have been reported from Nawanshahr. Sunita Rani, a resident Takarla village in Balachaur, lost her life when the Activa she was riding on got hit by a Bolero today. Her son Ravinder Nath in his complaint to the police said that he was on his bike and his mother was riding an Activa and they were coming back from a religious place. “My mother was ahead of me and I was following her when a Bolero coming from the opposite side hit her Activa. She died on the spot and the driver managed to flee,” he mentioned in his complaint. A case was registered against the unknown accused. An elderly man, Ram Prasad Babu from Rahon, Nawanshahr, died after the cycle he was riding was hit by a vehicle two days ago. His son Abhishek Kumar in his complaint to the police said his father used to go to his office at 7 pm and would return at 7am. “Yesterday, he went to his work at 6.30 pm and at 6.40 pm, I received a call that someone had hit my father’s cycle and fled the spot. I reached the spot and found my father lying in a pool of blood unconscious. He was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, where he was declared brought dead,” Kumar had said in his complaint. In the third case that happened three days ago, a tipper hit a tractor-trailer from behind, which made the man sitting on the tractor-trailer fall on the road. As per information, the man died on the spot. This incident also took place in Balachaur. We only want fair price, police should 8 nabbed in 7 cases, narcotic pills, drug have let us pass, say farm leaders money seized Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 7 “Ki gal, kisan es mulk de vasi nahi je? Jadon pani spray karde, disnon hat janda, jadon pani de chhitte marde haan, pher set hunda hai kamm.” (What’s the matter, aren’t farmers the residents of this country? When they spray water on us, we can’t see, then when we splash water on our faces, only then can we see). These are words of Davinder Singh Sandhwan, vice-president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Doaba, and Ranvinder Singh Farala, Nawanshahr vice-president of the same organisation, who were part of the first batch of farmers who reached Shambhu border yesterday to protest against the ‘meagre’ paddy MSP being received by farmers. While the duo saw farmer Surjit Singh Phool getting injured in front of their eyes, they say they would be back to the border in a few days. The duo today returned to their respective villages, Sandhwan and Farala. Speaking to The Tribune, Sandhwan said, “We had announced the protest long back but what peeved farmers yesterday was that we were still greeted with grills Jalandhar, December 7 In its ongoing crackdown against drug smugglers, Jalandhar rural police arrested eight persons in seven cases during the past 24 hours. The operations, conducted across various subdivisions of Jalandhar rural, resulted in the recovery of 504 narcotic pills, Rs 1,500 drug money, 47 gm opium, three motorcycles and one luxury car. The arrested individuals have been identified as Kushal, a resident of Rojari, Bhogpur, in Jalandhar; Jatinder Singh, a resident of Ghana village, Phillaur; Hina, a resident of Ghana Village, Phillaur; Jaspinder Singh, a resident of Nandanpur; Surinder Singh, a resident of Shahkot; Jagjivan Lal, a resident of Nakodar, and Suraj and his wife Simran, both residents of Ganna Pind, Phillaur. Speaking to mediapersons, Jalandhar SSP Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh stated that operations were being closely monitored by DSPrank officers and station house officers (SHOs) to ensure maximum impact. He said Bhogpur police station team apprehended a youth during a naka opera- Members of the BKU Doaba in Jalandhar before heading to the protest site at Shambhu border on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH and barricades. We were at the frontline yesterday when the barricades were being removed by farmers. Water was splashed on us through water cannons. And it is due to this reason that you can’t see for some time, unless you splash water and wash your face. Yesterday’s jathas of 101 farmers had gone under the leadership of farm leader Sarwan Singh Pandher and Satnam Singh Pannu. Another group of 101 farmers will head to the Shambhu border on December 8. We are not relenting until our demands are met.” Sandhwan further said, “The Supreme Court had said that there would be no obstruction if farmers walk to Delhi. But now, even peacefully walking farmers are being stopped. I also argued with a cop on the issue that had they imposed Section 144 (Section 163 of the BNS) only for farmers or for all Haryana residents. That’s my question, why are farmers being singled out.” Ranvinder Singh Farala, BKU Doaba’s Nawanshahr vice-president, said, “Asi tan shaheed hon gaye si, gharan ch das ke gaye si. Sirf jhanda te danda lai ke aye si, te ik kameez (we went to the border to be martyred, we had told families too. We took only flags and sticks and one shirt each)”. He added that, “They may say anything. We know ours is a peaceful protest. Haryana police should have allowed us to walk through. Even today I have a burning sensation in my cheeks from the tear gas shells they threw at us yesterday. We took off the barbed wires and barricades, but couldn’t remove the grills. The gas even affects kidneys.” He added, “Paddy MSP is our main issue, farmers only want a fair price for their crops. Tomorrow, 101 farmers will go again.” tion, seizing 174 narcotic pills from his possession. The Phillaur police team arrested a man and his wife at a drug sale point, seizing 105 narcotic pills and Rs 1,500 drug money. The Sadar Nakodar police station team arrested an individual at a checkpoint and recovered a motorcycle from his possession. Similarly, the Bhogpur police station team intercepted a Tata Harrier at a high-tech checkpoint and seized 47 gm of opium concealed in the dashboard. The car was impounded on the spot and the accused was booked immediately. At another checkpoint in Nakodar, the city police team apprehended a suspect who tried to flee after discarding an envelope by the roadside. Upon checking it, 105 narcotic pills were found in the envelope and the suspect’s bike was impounded. Acting on a tip-off, the Phillaur police team stopped a suspect near Ganna village and seized 70 narcotic pills concealed in his bike. Further questioning led to the seizure of 50 additional pills from his wife. Both were subsequently booked. Seven FIRs have been registered in these cases under the NDPS Act and other relevant provisions. Year on, govt school students continue to study in panchayat ghar at Sidhupur Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 7 It has been more than a year and the students of Government School, Sidhupur, are still attending classes in the panchayat ghar instead of going to their own school. It was in September last year when the roof of the school verandah had collapsed and students had then been shifted to a nearby panchayat ghar. After a year, a grant of Rs 2 lakh has been released by the Education Department, but the school authorities have not received the same yet. Strangely, 31 students from anganwadi, and pre-primary and primary classes have been studying in a single hall of the panchayat ghar. Students of Government Primary School, Sidhupur, attend classes in the village panchayat ghar. TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH It gets difficult for the teachers to manage the kids in one hall. “The anganwadi kids are too young, they cry and then the anganwadi head has to deal with them in a certain way. This creates problem in the class as other kids find it hard to focus,” a teacher said. The school authorities said that the studies were getting affected because every student was studying in the same hall. As per information, the school building had developed some cracks after floods hit the Lohian block last year. Later, the roof of the verandah collapsed. When the incident had happened, the school authorities had immediately contacted the officials concerned. The then block primary education officer (BPEO), along with officials of the Education Department, had visited the school, but nothing concrete was done and the situation remained the same. “The BPEO had asked us to take classes in a nearby panchayat ghar. We have also checked the safety of the panchayat ghar. Everything is fine there. We don’t want to compromise students’ safety,” a teacher had then said. But the authorities never knew that they would have to continue teaching the students there only. The parents have also started questioning the teacher on the status of the school, the kitchen and rooms of which are also in a poor condition. Amandeep Kaur, the school head, said that the grant had been sanctioned now. “I am hopeful that we will receive it soon. Also, I am thankful to the newly formed panchayat as well as they are ready to provide every monetary help to the school,” she said. Baljit Kaur (31), deputy branch manager in a private bank, is the new sarpanch of Sidhupur village, Lohian. She said that her priority was the renovation of the school. “We will do whatever it takes to ensure that the students are studying safely in their own school,” she maintained. The mangled remains of the pick-up van, the damaged bus and car at Bhattian village near Phillaur. TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH 24 hurt as 3 vehicles collide Phagwara, December 7 More than 24 passengers sustained injuries, 10 of them seriously, when a Jalandhar-bound bus rammed into a stationary pick-up van from the rear side, while another car rammed into the bus from the rear side at Bhattian village near Phillaur on the national highway late on Friday evening. The injured were admitted to the Phillaur Civil Hospital. The accident occurred when the bus driver lost control over the vehicle and hit the pick-up van, which overturned after the impact. The bus driver managed to escape, leaving the bus behind. The police have registered a case against the bus driver. Traffic remained suspended for more than one hour due to the accident.— OC Five arrested for ‘People’s Walk Against Drugs’ starts from Hoshiarpur ‘outraging religious sentiments’ of villager Our Correspondent Phagwara, December 7 The Lohian Khas police have arrested five villagers on the charge of intending to insult the religious sentimentsof a person. Investigating officer (IO) Balvir Singh said that the accused had been identified as Gurmail Singh, his brother Paramvir Singh, Harman Singh, Jaskaran Singh and Sandip Singh, all residents of Kakarr Kalan village Bhupindar Singh, a resident of the same village, had complained to the police that the sarpanch’s husband called him up on November 10 morning and asked him to attend a public meeting. The complainant said when he reached there, the accused questioned his presence by badmouthing his caste and attacked him. They even removed his turban, pulled his hair and dragged him by grabbing his beard, insulting his religious feelings as he was a baptised Sikh. The IO said a case under Sections 298 (injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 190 (unlawful assembly) of the BNS was registered against the accused.— OC Hoshiarpur, December 7 Former state Information Commissioner, Punjab, renowned author and cofounder of the Punjab Lit Foundation Khushwant Singh launched ‘People’s Walk Against Drugs-2 today. The 50-km long, five-day walk aimed at addressing the drug menace that continued to grip Punjab commenced from Chaunni Kalan village with an ardas to rejuvenate Punjab’s youth and free them from the clutches of addiction. It will conclude on December 11 at the Jang-eAzadi Museum in Kartarpur. The participants include LtGen (retd) KJS “Dhillon Tiny”, former Director General of the DIA, along with c m y b Former state Information Commissioner Khushwant Singh takes part in the ‘People’s Walk Against Drugs-2’ on Saturday. sarpanches and panchayat members from Ghani Kalan, Boothgarh, Shergarh, Bajwara, Dholenwal and Nangal Shaheedan villages. A group of 100 girls from Sahyog NGO took part in the walk. They were carrying placards and raising slogans, advocating for a drug-free Punjab. The walk made scheduled stops at various schools along the route and made the students aware against drugs. Six saplings and a football were given to each panchayat and school on the way during the walk. Soldiers from the Army Recruitment Centre in Jalandhar also participated, motivating the youth to explore career opportunities in the Army, Navy and Air Force, and highlighting Punjab’s proud legacy in defence. Khushwant said, “The message is simple: Stay away from drugs. Approximately 6.6 million people in Punjab are using drugs, including 7,00,000 children. This is unacceptable for a state that prides itself on its courage and resilience. I urge children to take an oath, a solemn pledge that come what may, they will not consume drugs.” This initiative follows Khushwant’s last year’s 100km walk from New Chandigarh to Khatkar Kalan. Punjab Governer to join on December 10 Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria will join the walk on December 10 and 11, covering 15 km along the Alawalpur-Kartarpur road. He will make stops at some points to interact with students, youth clubs and villagers, aiming to understand the gravity of the issue and inspire collective action against drugs.