09122024-JTR-01.qxd 08-12-2024 22:26 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune CHOKED BY VEHICLES, CITY ROADS NEED TO BREATHE EASY MIC DROPS, BUT MISOGYNY REMAINS SANJAY MISHRA SPEAKS OF ACTORS BEING TYPECAST Designating parking lots, evolving rules for stationing vehicles and proper road management required: Residents. P2 Rap music has emerged as a powerful force, giving voice to frustrations and aspirations of a generation. P4 The actor says he is grateful to directors who gave him the chance to play diverse characters. P4 » » FORECAST CLOUDY MAX 22°C | MIN 07°C YESTERDAY MAX 23°C | MIN 07°C SUNSET MONDAY 5.25 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:16 AM » MONDAY | 9 DECEMBER 2024 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF BIKER HELD FOR SNATCHING Phagwara: The police have arrested a person on the charge of snatching an ear ring of a woman pillion rider near old post office road on Friday evening. The accused Kuldip Kumar is resident of village Khalwara. The victim Balbir Chand of Prempura in Phagwara told the police that he was returning home along with his wife by scooter when a snatcher on a bike snatched ear ring from his wife and fled. OC 18 BOOKED FOR ASSAULT Phagwara: The police have booked 18 persons, including four members of a family, on the charge of assaulting a villager. The accused have been identified as William, alias Viki, of Saidpur village, his wife Mandeep Kaur, three sons Sahil, Anmol and Sourav and Dulla of Saragwal village and their 12 accomplices. Sukhdev Singh complained to the police that the accused barged into his house, attacked and injured him and ransacked his house. oc FATHER, SON DIE IN ROAD MISHAP Hoshiarpur: A man and his son died in a road accident on road while their two companions were hurt. Manoj Kumar told the police that he his sons Rahul, Jai Ram and his father Ram Yag were going towards Hoshiarpur on bicycles for work. When they reached near a marriage palace located on Tanda Road, a vehicle passing by hit them. The accused driver fled. People took them to the hospital where Jai Ram and Ram Yag died. oc No contact with youth stuck in Russia, brother meets MP Three arrested, 5 bikes and 190 narcotic pills recovered Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Jalandhar, December 8 In a crackdown on street crime, the Jalandhar rural police have arrested three accused in two separate operations, recovering five stolen motorcycles and 190 narcotic pills as part of their ongoing drive against organised crime and drug trafficking. The accused have been identified as Jagpinder Singh, alias Deepu, resident of Shiv Nagar, Maqsudan, Jalandhar; Ajay Kumar of Johlan, Pathara and Nikhil Bagga of Pathara. Speaking to mediapersons, SSP Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh said the operations highlighted the police’s commitment to curbing street crime, vehicle thefts and drug peddling under a zero-tolerance policy. He said the police were intensifying drive to dismantle criminal networks in the region. In the first operation, the Sadar Nakodar police team, led by SI Loveleen Kumar and supervised by DSP Sukhpal Singh, apprehended Jagpinder Singh, alias Deepu, near Tahli Chowk based on specific intelligence. He was found riding a stolen black motorcycle bearing registration number PB08-DY-0745. During questioning, two more stolen Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 8 Jagdeep Kumar from Goraya, whose brother is stuck in Russia-Ukraine warzone, is a restless man. There has been no contact with his brother for long. Today he met MP Balbir Singh Seechewal at Sultanpur Lodhi and raised issue of his brother’s missing status. He was accompanied by Rakesh Yadav from Azamgarh, UP who has returned , from Russia. Yadav shared his ordeals and told Seechewal and the media how difficult it was for him there. Jagdeep is keeping in touch with every family member of those stuck in Russia and he has been meeting them as well. “My only focus for now is to bring my brother back,” Jagdeep said. Jagdeep recently travelled to Delhi to meet an official from the Ministry of External Affairs, seeking information about his brother’s whereabouts. Jagdeep told Seechewal that there had been no contact or information regarding Mandeep for the last more than nine months. It is getting difficult for us with each passing day,” he said. Jagdeep further added that his brother was among the Jagdeep Kumar from Goraya meets MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal. other eight Indian nationals missing in Russia. He said he was allegedly duped of Rs 6 lakh on the pretext of legally sending his brother from Armenia to Italy via Russia, Finland and Germany. The police had lodged an FIR against eight travel agents in July and arrested one in the case so far. A 45- year-old suspect arrested from Dasuya, Hoshiarpur, was not a registered travel agent. The police said he also used to introduce himself as a journalist working for some news portal. “I will not stop, no matter how long it takes,” Jagdeep said. “Whenever I do anything here, I keep thinking about my brother — what he might be going through, what his condition is. It is always on my mind.” Mandeep had initially gone to Armenia in search of work, where he got in touch with a travel agent via social media who promised to send him to Italy. “But when my brother reached Russia, he was tricked into joining the Russian army.” Hoshiarpur: The Central Jail administration has recovered 10 gram of narcotic powder and five SIM cards from a prisoner who returned from parole. Kulwinder Singh, Assistant Superintendent of Central Jail, Hoshiarpur, said Bunty of Bhundri, Ludhiana, had returned to jail after serving 40 days of parole. When the jail administration searched him, five SIM cards and narcotic powder were recovered from him. oc WOMAN BOOKED FOR FRAUD Phagwara: On a complaint lodged by Navneet Kumar of Adarsh Nagar, Phagwara, the police have registered a case against a Shivpuri woman Asha Rani on the charge of selling a plot of the complainant with fake documents. OC MEDICAL SHOP BURGLED Phagwara: A medical shop was reportedly burgled in a nearby village Palahai on Saturday night.The burglars entered the shop after breaking the lock of the shutter and took away cash box and a laptop after ransacking the shop. On a complaint lodged by shop owner Vikas Sood, the police have registered a case. OC FUGITIVE ARRESTED AFTER 2 YEARS Phagwara: The police have arrested a proclaimed offender on Saturday night. The PO Mandip Singh was booked under Section 420, 406, IPC in 2022 but was still at large. OC PHAGWARA,DECEMBER 8 The Congress will field only strong and winnable candidates in the Phagwara Municipal Corporation elections. The announcement was made by former minister Aruna Chaudhary during a screening committee meeting of Congress workers held here today. She emphasized that this strategy was crucial to securing Congress’ control over the Municipal Corporation in Phagwara. The screening committee meeting was attended by key Congress leaders, including AICC-appointed coordinators Alok Sharma and Ravindra Umrao, committee chairman Aruna Chaudhary and former MLAs Navtej Singh Cheema, Sukhpal Bhullar, and Harinderpal Singh Harry, along with MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal.— OC motorcycles, Hero Honda models without registration plates, were recovered. In the second operation, a police team, led by Inspector Hardevpreet Singh and supervised by DSP Kulwant Singh, arrested Ajay Kumar and Nikhil Bagga near the lower canal bridge during routine patrolling. The accused, riding a stolen silver Splendor motorcycle with registration number PB-08-BZ-8540 and a fake number plate, were found in possession of 190 narcotic pills. A total of 100 pills were recovered from Ajay Kumar and 90 from Bagga. Another stolen black Hero Splendor motorcycle with a fake registration plate was also recovered during the operation. The cases have been regis- tered under FIR No. 152 at Police Station, Sadar, Nakodar, under Sections 303(2) and of the BNS, and FIR No. 54 at Police Station, Patara, under Sections 303(2) of the BNS and the NDPS Act. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused are part of a larger network involved in vehicle theft and drug trafficking. Efforts are underway to identify their accomplices and recover additional stolen vehicles. The arrested accused will be produced in a local court and their remand will be taken to further investigate their forward and backward linkages. “Zero-tolerance policy against street crime will continue to be enforced rigorously,” said SSP Khakh. Our Correspondent Jalandhar, December 8 Manoranjan Kalia, member, National Executive, BJP and former minister, Punjab, in a press statement today said the statement of Ravneet Singh Bittu, Union Minister of State for Railways, eulogising the attacker of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, was not in keeping with the BJP’s party line. Kalia said the party had condemned the December 4 attack on SAD chief and former state Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, when he was performing a sewa as sewadar at the entrance of Harmandar Sahib. He said the statement of Bittu was not in the party’s line. Kalia added that any statement scoring brownie points politically which had the cascading effect of damaging political and social fabric of Punjab denting communal Persons accused of vehicle theft in Jalandhar police custody. Winnability sole criterion for MC ticket: Cong Tribune News Service JAIL INMATE HELD WITH SIM CARDS BJP’s Kalia takes on Bittu for remark after attack on Badal Tribune News Service Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu with BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia during a function in Jalandhar. FILE harmony should be avoided. Bittu had recently asked SAD to honour Badal’s attacker Narain Singh Chaura with the title ‘Qaum de heere’ like they had felicitated killers of former CM Beant Singh. Bittu had said he condemned the murderous bid on Sukhbir, but he wanted to expose the Akalis, especially the Badal family, for their double standards. Bittu had said, “A total of 15 lives were lost when my grandfather was assassinated. SAD honoured individuals in such cases at the Golden Temple. Now, it is their turn to reciprocate by supporting Chaura with similar magnanimity.” Ex-Union Minister Vijay Sampla with social ativist Raman Nehra, who joined the BJP in Phagwara. Social worker Nehra joins BJP Our Correspondent PHAGWARA,DECEMBER 8 Social activist and Khatri Samaj Welfare Society, Phagwara, president Raman Nehra joined the BJP today in the presence of former Union Minister Vijay Sampla. Nehra said his ideology had always been rooted in nationalism and the BJP aligned perfectly with his beliefs. Nehra, a prominent figure in Phagwara’s Khatri community, holds significant influence due to his active involvement in various social organisations. The Khatri community forms a substantial influence in the region and their support is expected to bolster the BJP’s prospects in the upcoming municipal corporation elections. Welcoming Nehra into the party, Sampla assured him of respect and cooperation. Sampla highlighted the developmental strides made by BJP-governed states and criticised Punjab’s slow progress due to political reluctance to embrace the BJP “Phagwara residents . should ensure the BJP’s victory in the upcoming municipal elections to establish the city as a model of development for the entire state,” he urged. Several dignitaries, including former Municipal Council president Balbhadra Sen Duggal, senior leader Rajiv Pahwa, Tejaswi Bhardwaj, Mohinder Thapar, Ashu Sampla, Manish Khosla, Bharti Sharma, Reena Khosla, and Ankita Kauda, were present at the event. Yuvaa Theatre’s plays remind city audience of lost art of letter-writing Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 8 Three heart-warming theatre presentations in two different parts of the city regaled audiences in Jalandhar on Saturday and Sunday. Yuvaa Theatre’s ongoing Rang Utsav dedicated this week to letters with the plays “Tumhari Shehnaaz” and “Letters to the unborn Children of Fatima” which were staged at KL Saigal Memorial Hall here on Friday and Saturday. Additionally, the play “Zafarnama” was also staged at Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall on Friday. Zafarnama too talk about Guru Gobing Singh’s letter to Aurangzeb. For the staging of Yuvaa’s twin plays, a painstakingly acquired letter box was lodged both on the stage and at the venue – to revive the lost art of letter writing. A pile of letters and postcards were kept on a table and audience encouraged to respond to the plays through their reviews written on these letters. On Saturday, Yuvaa Theatre presented its latest offering “Tumhari Shehnaaz” as part of its ongoing annual theatre festival, the tenth edition of Yuvaa Rang Utsav, being held at KL Saigal Memorial Hall in association with the KL Saigal Memorial Trust. The play, a Hindi adaptation and translation of AR Gurney’s popular play “Love Letters”, reminded one of the ZAFARNAMA ■ Punjab Lok Rang, California, the ArtisteNact in a play ‘Tumhari Shenaaz’ in Jalandhar. now almost lost art of letterwriting through a heartwarming story of two friends, c m y b young people who write to each other as they explore the paths of their lives. USA’s play “Zafarnama” written and directed by Surinder Singh Dhanoa was staged at Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall by Sonu Rana, Ramneet Chaudhury, Mukesh Sharma, Parampal, Mukand, etc. ■ The play set in the time period of Guru Gubind Singh and Aurangzeb explores the Guru’s letter (Zafarnama) to Aurangzeb about his behaviour and agony. The play explores the adamant ruler’s whims and how Hindus of that period suffered. It also talks of how the entry of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in Northern India changed the course of history in Punjab. The play, directed by Ankur Sharma of Yuvaa Theatre, explores the intricacies of a life – explores through 45 years of written letters. Shehnaaz, a rich girl from a broken home, and her friend Avinash, a middle class boy - both of them friends since school days. The play, directed by Ankur Sharma, was about the now aged Shehnaaz and Avinash sitting on the stage and reading out their letters to each other written over the past 45 years. Ankur as Avinash and Dolly Ohri as Shehnaaz were convincing on stage. On Sunday, the utsav presented the play “Letters to the unborn children of Fatima Jahan”, which was developed and conceived as an ode to all women who have gone through the unbearable pain of child loss. Conceived and directed by Gaurav Das and Niti Phool, the play was brought from the Kolkata-based group – Santoshpur Anuchintan. The play was developed through a series of interviews with women who have experienced miscarriage, irrespective of their social class. The play chronicles the tumultuous journey of an adolescent girl called Fatima who hails from a small village in Punjab who gets pregnant out of wedlock. Next week Yuvaa Rang Utsav will host plays ‘Shradhaa Suman’ on December 12, ‘Dad’s Girlfriend’ on December 13 and ‘ Panchlight’ on December 14, followed by ‘The overcoat’ on December 15.