12122024-JTR-01.qxd 12/11/2024 11:09 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune POLICE NAB TWO ‘BURGLARS’ WITH ~4L STOLEN MONEY GNDU BAGS RUNNERS-UP TROPHY AT YOUTH MELA NANDITA SUPPORTS SHEENA’S DRIVE ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY The Gate Hakima police have arrested two thieves who had decamped with ~10 lakh from a house. P2 GNDU has bagged the second runners-up trophy at the Punjab State Inter-University Youth Fair 2024. P3 Acclaimed actress Nandita Das said the right ‘Don’t Discriminate’ is the only way to create a peaceful world. P4 » » FORECAST CLEAR MAX 20°C | MIN 4°C YESTERDAY MAX 19°C | MIN 4°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.25 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:17 AM » THURSDAY | 12 DECEMBER 2024 | JALANDHAR After flip-flop, AAP names 85 nominees, Congress first list of 58 candidates out MC POLLAAP had withdrawn its list earlier; BJP opens 79 cards CONG TOO FIELDS A COUPLE Like the couple Jagdish Raja and Anita Raja fielded as AAP candidates from Ward nos. 64 and 65, the Congress too has fielded a couple. Paramjit S Sharry Chadha, who was ex-councillor, is set to contest again from Ward no. 28 while his wife Prabhjot Kaur Chadha is the candidate from ward no. 27 on the Congress list. DCC CHIEF'S WIFE IN THE FIELD Just as ex-MLA Sheetal Angural continues to remain in limelight with his brother contesting on BJP ticket, Congress ex-MLA and District Congress Committee chief Rajinder Beri's wife Uma Beri too is set to contest from Ward no. 25. Other prominent names in the Congress list are those of excouncillors Dr Jasleen Sethi from Ward no. 30, Balraj Thakur from Ward no. 32, Gurvinder S Banti Neelkanth from Ward no. 66. Harsharan Kaur, who had recently rejoined Congress after having a short stint in the AAP, has got ticket from Ward no. 35. GIVEN TICKETS TO 30 CANDIDATES: SAD SAD district president Kulwant S Mannan claimed that the party had given tickets to 30 candidates in Jalandhar but said the list would be released tomorrow after all candidates get announced. He said the party had chosen not to release the ticket list in bits and pieces. Turncoats find place on AAP’s final list Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 11 A slew of Congress and BJP turncoats, who joined AAP just in time for the MC elections, feature prominently on AAP’s final list of 72 candidates released today. The party withdrew it’s first list and re-released the second list shortly afterwards. While a number of turncoats had been missed out on the first list - they found place in the second one. Former Mayor Jagdish Raja and his wife Anita Raja were chosen AAP candidates from Ward number 64 and 65. Another Congress turncoat Aruna Arora who shifted to AAP only yesterday was fielded from Ward no 33. Former Congressman Harjinder Ladda (who also had a Jagdish Raja short stint in the BJP) was fielded from Ward no. 48. Former BJP leaders - who too shifted just a day ago - Vaneet Dhir has been chosen from ward 62 and Amit Luthra ward 55. AAP leader Dinesh Dhal’s brother Amit Dhal has been fielded from ward 24 and AAP district women wing president Gurpreet Kaur has been fielded from ward 67. KISAN ACTIVIST IS BJP FACE Hopefuls rush to MC office to seek NOCs for civic body elections in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH On the BJP list of candidates is Prof Kanwar Sartaj, who has been an aggressive campaigner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on all issues of farmers, especially on the Lakhimpuri Kheri killings. After the BJP announced ticket in his name late last evening from ward no. 18, his videos of campaign against his own party have been going viral in the BJP’s internal circle with many criticising the move. Sources in the party said Sartaj was roped in just two days ago on the intervention of ex-MLAs Jagbir Brar and Sarabjit Makkar. The candidate is also a professor of management at a local college. Party leader Arjun Trehan, who was trying for ticket from the same ward, has put the candidate’s old speech against the BJP on his FB page. Jalandhar, December 11 Even as there is just a day left for the filing of nomination papers for Jalandhar Municipal Corporation elections, only seven papers were filed on Wednesday from 85 wards. The nominations were received mostly from Independent candidates. The Congress released the list 58 of its candidates this evening. The BJP released its list of 79 candidates late last evening, keeping six tickets on hold. The party, however, issued authority letters to its candidates quite late and hence they could not file papers. The AAP had released its list of 72 candidates on its official page on ‘X’ this afternoon but withdrew it soon after with leaders citing clerical errors in it. A complete, revised list of 85 candidates was released again around 9 pm. The AAP missed naming exMayor Jagdish Raja who, along with his wife Anita Raja, had joined the party just two days back after quitting the Congress. He was a claimant from Ward no. 64 while his wife, who had earlier served as the Senior Deputy Mayor, was seeking ticket from Ward no. 65. The list that the party released had the name of party worker Ravinder Kumar Bansal for Ward no. 64. Ward no. 65 was kept pending. This clearly annoyed Raja who took up the matter and the list 2 Inds file papers in Phagwara Cong declares names for MC byelections 10 nabbed with 8 mobile phones, 9 bikes Deepkamal Kaur/ Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Tribune News Service PHAGWARA, DECEMBER 11 Just one day before the last date of filing nomination papers for the elections of MC, Phagwara, only two candidates filed their papers before the Returning Officer Jashanjit Singh on Wednesday. He said Kamaldeep Singh filed his papers as an Independent from Ward number 50 (General) while Amandeep Kaur filed her papers from ward number 25 (Reserved). — OC Jalandhar, December 11 In a major crackdown on street crime, the Jalandhar Rural Police arrested 10 persons in four separate operations and recovered eight stolen mobile phones, nine vehicles, including a scooter, and 360 narcotic pills in Phillaur and Nakodar. The arrested accused have been identified as Gurpreet Singh, alias Bagga, Mandeep Singh, alias Money, Rahul was withdrawn. Their names appeared in the revised list. Party workers Mukesh Sethi, Anmol Grover and excouncillor Harjinder Ladda too reportedly expressed annoyance over the rejection of ticket. Ladda’s Ward no. 48 was reportedly given to Shiv Nath Singh (more popularly known as Shibu Lahoria). Ladda was a Congress councillor after which he had shifted to the BJP and then AAP hoping for better prospects. After he expressed annoyance, his name was replaced with Shibu’s name. Sethi too was adjusted from Ward no. 56 with deletion of name of Harcharan Sandhu. Grover, however, could not be re-adjusted. List of candidates on P2 Gill, alias Gyani, Navjot Singh, alias Ravi, Nindar Kumar, Rohit Dhir, alias Chariya, Darbara Ram, alias Bara, Vijay Kumar, Rajan and Vijay, all residents of SBS Nagar, Nakodar or Mehatpur. The Phillaur police, led by DSP Sarwan Singh Bal, arrested two highway robbers, Gurpreet Singh, alias Bagga, and Mandeep Singh, alias Money, during patrolling. Four stolen mobile phones and a motorcycle were recovered from Angural’s brother in the ring Former MLA Sheetal Angural’s brother Rajan Angural had got the BJP’s ticket from Ward no. 58. Sheetal Angural, who quit AAP to recontest as the BJP candidate from Jalandhar West in the bypoll held in July this year, is trying to come back into active politics through his brother. their possession. In another case, Darbara Ram was caught with 100 narcotic pills while attempting to flee during a routine checkpoint. His motorcycle was also seized. In Nakodar, a police team under the DSP Nakodar, , arrested four individuals on two motorcycles near Rahmanpura Chowk and seized 260 narcotic pills. In another operation, the police apprehended three individuals involved in a robbery and series of thefts in AAP LEADER LAUNCHES TIRADE Ward number 43 AAP leader Raman Bunty launched a public tirade against the party by taking to social media. Bunty said he worked painstakingly for the party and AAP leaders also visited his house frequently before the poll. But, at the last moment, the ticket was given to someone else. BJYM LEADER RESIGNS Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader and Advocate Arjun Trehan wrote to party state president Sunil Jakhar on being denied the ticket. Resigning from the membership of the party, Trehan wrote to the state president, alleging that a person who had attacked him and tore the party’s posters was being chosen for the MC ticket. Jalandhar, Nakodar, Mehatpur, and Shahkot. The accused had attacked and robbed Inderjit Singh of his mobile phone, documents and motorcycle on December 8. Following their arrest, the police recovered four mobile phones, four motorcycles, and a scooter. Preliminary investigations revealed the accused were habitual offenders with prior criminal records under the NDPS and Arms Acts. Four FIRs have been registered. Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, December 11 The Congress has released a list of Congress candidates for the Hoshiarpur Municipal Corporation byelections for wards number 6, 7 and 27. The Congress has named social worker Sunil Dutt Parashar from ward number 6, Paramjit Kaur from ward number 7 and social worker Davinder Kaur Mann from ward number 27 as party candidates. Former Cabinet Minister Sundar Sham Arora thanked the party high com- mand and said the Congress would achieve a spectacular victory in the byelections due to the hard work of the workers. He said every section was troubled by the government. The government had become a burden for the people. Not even a single rupee was given to the Municipal Corporation for the development of the city. Arora said the party had given priority to the candidates associated with social service in the byelection so that they could serve the residents of the ward. Members of Coaching Federation of India during a press conference in Jalandhar. Coaching body seeks ban on Candlelight march against garbage dump in city smartphones for students Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 11 Scores of residents from Urban Estate, Phase 1 and Phase 2 and members of the Urban Estate Market Association assembled this evening and held a candlelight march, demanding the permanent closure of a garbage dump in the market area. The protest, that started from Chauhan Motor Garage at Phase II and passed through the market area before concluding at the same spot, highlighted the growing frustration over the health risks and environmental hazards posed by the dump, which has plagued the area for years. The demonstrators, holding candles and placards, resolved to intensify their efforts if their demands are not met. They announced plans to escalate Urban Estate residents take out a candlelight march for their demand to shut garbage dump. the matter legally by approaching the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Residents also warned that stronger actions, including mass protests, would follow if the dump is not shut down permanently. Those participated at the march included Prof Kanwar Sartaj Singh, Amarjit Singh, Karanbir Singh, Dr Jangpreet, Dr Sachar and other local residents, who c m y b expressed concerns over the government’s inaction. “The dump has turned into a serious health and environmental crisis. Our patience has worn thin and we will not relent until this issue is resolved,” said Sartaj. The residents also called on the administration to address the ground realities and take immediate steps to shut the dump. As the protest concluded, the residents vowed to continue their fight, signalling that this was only the beginning of a larger movement. “The dump has long been a source of contention in the area, with reports of foul odors, pest infestations and potential contamination impacting daily life. Despite repeated appeals, the lack of action from the authorities has forced us to take matters into our own hands”, said Amarjit Singh. Jalandhar, December 11 The Coaching Federation Punjab, led by its president Prof MP Singh, held a press conference today, urging the government to impose a nationwide ban on smartphones for students under the age of 18. The federation has also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner of Jalandhar, calling for a law to regulate smartphone use among minors. Prof Singh highlighted the growing concern over smartphone addiction among students, citing the phenomenon of ‘Nomophobia’ – the fear of being without a mobile phone. He expressed alarm over the negative impact smartphones are having on the mental, emotional and social development of children and teenagers. “Smartphones provide unfettered access to the internet, where children can easily fall prey to cyber bullying, exposure to inappropriate content and social media pressures,” Singh said. He said the federation’s demand comes in the wake of increasing evidence, suggesting that excessive smartphone use is detrimental to the cognitive and social skills of young people. He stressed that early exposure to smartphones inhibits the development of critical life skills such as empathy, problem-solving and impulse control. “Young children, especially those between the ages of 4 and 7, are particularly vulnerable. They are at a critical stage of brain development and overexposure to screens can cause long-term damage, including lower cognitive abilities and impaired attention span,” he said. Another federation member, Prof Jaspreet Singh, pointed out that the excessive screen time, particularly on social media, is linked to the higher rate of anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts among teenagers. “We have seen a disturbing rise in mental health issues among students, much of which can be attributed to their addiction to smartphones and social media,” he said. The federation’s memorandum urges the government to take steps to safeguard the mental and emotional wellbeing of young students. It points out that several countries have already introduced laws or policies to restrict smartphone use among minors. In the United Kingdom, France, Norway and the Netherlands, smartphones are banned in schools and some countries like Russia have recommended that children under 18 should not use cellphones at all.