28012025-JTR-01.qxd 1/27/2025 10:47 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune STRINGENT MEASURES NEEDED FOR ROAD SAFETY 'I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER', SAYS ANIL KAPOOR STAGE SET IN BATHINDA FOR MAHAKUMBH OF THEATRE Good roads, traffic management and abiding by norms by commuters can help, share residents. P2 Anil Kapoor shares priceless moments from Mr India to celebrate Shekhar Kapoor's Padma Bhushan. P4 The NSD will stage five plays at Balwant Gargi Auditorium as part of its Bharat Rang Mahotsav. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 21°C | MIN 3°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 2°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.58 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:22 AM » TUESDAY | 28 JANUARY 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF BJP COUNCILLOR JOINS AAP Phagwara: AAP got more strength and in a big shock to the BJP, its councillor Paramjit Singh Khurana has joined AAP in the presence of Lok Sabha member Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, AAP spokesperson Harnoor Singh Maan and former minister Joginder Singh Maan and AAP MLA Raman Arora in a brief function held here on Monday. OC TWO BIKE THIEVES ARRESTED Phagwara: The Phagwara police have arrested two vehicle 'thieves' and recovered a stolen motorcycle from their possession on Sunday night. The arrested 'thieves' were identified as Ashish Kumar and Balkar Singh, both residents of village Gondpur near Mahilpur.They were nabbed at a check point in the city, the police said. A case under Sections 379 and 411, IPC, has been registered against them. OC 5 nabbed for drug peddling, heroin seized Jalandhar, January 27 In a significant breakthrough in a war against drugs, the Jalandhar Rural Police have arrested five ‘drug smugglers’ and recovered 140 gm of heroin along with a car during a special operation near Dana Mandi, Adampur. The accused have been identified as Ravi, a resident of Rajasthan, Nitan Sharma of Hoshiarpur, along with three others Mukul and Ajay Kumar, both residents of Amritsar, and their associate. SSP Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh said the operation was conducted as part of an intensified anti-drug campaign. . SSP Khakh added that on January 26, a police party noticed suspicious activity near the railway gate at Dana Mandi, Adampur, where five individuals were seated in a parked car. Upon inspection, the police team discovered a wax-sealed package concealed in the vehicle’s gear console, containing 140 gm of heroin. A case under Sections 21(b), 61-85 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Adampur. The accused have been remanded to police custody for further investigation to uncover the broader drug trafficking network and their suppliers. — TNS Man held with 5 stolen bikes Jalandhar, January 27 The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police has recovered five stolen motorcycles and arrested a suspect. Police officials revealed that a team from Police Division No. 8 intercepted a suspicious person during a routine check near Nehar Pulli Gadaipur, Jalandhar. The accused, identified as Pawandeep Singh, alias Pintu, was found in possession of a stolen motorcycle (PB09-AV-2939). Further investigation uncovered that the accused had stolen more motorcycles, including a Hero Honda (PB08-FJ-0271), an Activa (PB08-DH-7470), a Hero Passion (PB09-AG-1894) and another Hero Splendor (PB08-EA-9663). All vehicles were recovered based on Pintu’s confession. — TNS Join hands with govt to make Punjab a leading state: Arora Unfurls Tricolour on R-Day Cabinet Minister Aman Arora salutes contingents of the police during the R-Day function in Jalandhar on Sunday. 100 get awards at function Jalandhar, January 27 Minister Aman Arora on R-Day awarded about 100 persons for their services who included government officials, members from various social bodies and distinguished persons. In the list were about 29 police personnel, including ACPs Nirmal Singh, Manmohan Singh and Harshpreet Singh. Visually impaired cricket player Tejinder Pal Singh and physically challenged judo player Mohit also got awarded. Kanchan Chadha, who is mathematics lecturer at Government Girls School, Nehru Garden, also received the award from the minister for her innovation in teaching methodologies. Her students have got placed in top MNCs, including Amazon. Among other teachers are Raman Mehra from Raipur Rasoolpur, Anju Bala from Goraya, Amandeep from Sabuwal, Amandeep Singh from Hardo Pharala and NSS programme officer Sukhwinder Kumar. Dalit leaders Jassi Talhan and Raj Kumar Raju were also among the awardees at the function. brating the success of Khedan Watan Punjab Dian, which saw the participation from over 5 lakh individuals, aiming to revive sports culture in the state. Earlier, he took the salute at the parade led by IPS officer Siri Vinnela. He also honoured 10 families of martyrs from various conflicts including IndiaChina war, India-Pakistan War and encounter in J&K. Prominent among others present on the occasion included MLA Raman Arora, Mayor Vaneet Dhir, Divisional Commissioner Arum Sekhri, DIG Naveen Singla, District and Session Judge Nirbhow Singh Gill, senior AAP leaders Rajwinder Kaur Thiara and Pawan Tinu, senior officials of civil and police administration. Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 27 Non-teaching employees under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the MidDay Meal Scheme in Education Department submitted a memorandum to Minister Aman Arora, demanding the regularisation of their jobs. The meeting took place at Police Lines during Arora’s visit to the city on Republic Day. Union leaders highlighted the delay in implementing the government’s announcement from September 2022, which had approved the regularisation of 8,736 contractual employees in the Education Department. They expressed frustration over the lack of formal orders, despite a notification being issued on Octo- Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 27 Minister for New and Renewable Energy Sources, Printing and Stationery Aman Arora unfurled the National Flag at the district-level Republic Day celebrations held at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium on Sunday. Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal and Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma, the minister urged Punjabis to join hands with the government to transform Punjab into a progressive and leading state, embodying the vision of ‘Rangla Punjab’. Arora highlighted several landmark initiatives, including the renaming of Mohali airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh Airport and the display of portraits of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Dr BR Ambedkar in government offices. He said the Mann government had started its working after taking oath at native village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh in Khatkar Kalan. Recognising the sacrifices of the armed forces, Arora noted that the ex gratia for martyred Army personnel had been doubled to Rs 1 crore and similar financial aid was extended to the families of police personnel, who laid down their lives in service to the nation. The minister lauded the government’s irrigation initiatives, including a ?275-crore project in Jalandhar and road safety measures such as the Sadak Surakhya Force, which has reduced the response times and saved thousands of lives in road accidents. Arora concluded by cele- Non-teaching staff meet minister for regular job Bhagat unfurls flag in SBS Nagar Tribune News Service Schoolchildren perform during the Republic Day celebrations in Jalandhar on Sunday. Nawanshahr, January 27 Punjab Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters, and Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat unfurled the national flag at the district-level Celebration at ITI Ground in SBS Nagar on the occasion of the 76th Republic Day. The Cabinet Minister, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman and Parade Commander DSP Shahbaz Singh, inspected the parade and took the salute during the grand march past. The minister honoured freedom fighters, the families of martyred soldiers and indi- PYC chief flays desecration of statue Dalit activists during a protest in Phagwara on Sunday. Dalit activists block highway over sacrilege in Amritsar Our Correspondent PHAGWARA, JANUARY 27 Hundreds of activists of various local level Dalit organisations such as the Ambedkar Sena Punjab, Ambedkar Sena Moolniwasi and Guru Ravidas Tiger Force assembled at Dr BR Ambedkar Park, Hargobind Nagar, Phagwara, against the incident of sacrilege of statue of Dr BR Ambedkar in Amritsar on January 26. Leaders of the Dalit organisations raised slogans against the Punjab Police and the AAP-led Punjab Govern- ment. The agitating youths later blocked Hargobind Nagar Chowk and halted the traffic plying from Phagwara to Ludhiana. SP Phagwara, Rupinder , Kaur Bhatti and SHO, City, Amandeep Nahar rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the protesters. The activists of the organisations submitted a memorandum of demands to the SP . They demanded that strict actions should be taken against the culprits who did the act in Amritsar and also demanded the protection of statues of Ambedkar in the whole nation. Bhatti assured the protesters that strict action would be taken and their demands would be raised with the higher authorities. Satisfied with the assurance of the SP , the protesters dispersed peacefully and dharna ended. Prominent leaders present in the protest were Dharamveer Bodh (District president, Ambedkar Sena Moolniwasi), Surinder Dhandha (Ambedkar Sena Punjab), Yash Barna (Chairman, Guru Ravidas Tiger Force, Punjab) among others. c m y b ber 7, 2022. During the meeting, Bhagat and Sharma also thanked the minister for resolving the issue of Rs 5,000 salary cut that had affected block-level employees. They acknowledged the release of arrears from April 1, 2024, and the assurance of pending arrears from 2020 to be paid in installments. However, they reiterated their primary demand for permanent employment. Minister Arora assured the delegation that their concerns were being addressed and informed them that the matter would be taken up during a cabinet sub-committee meeting scheduled for February 10. “Formal orders for regularisation are expected to follow soon after the discussion”, he told the union leaders. 2 youths die due to drug overdose Jalandhar, January 27 Punjab Youth Congress president Mohit Mohindra on Monday condemned the desecration of statue of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the father of the constitution of India at heritage street in Amritsar. He blamed the AAP government for the incident. In Jalandhar to hold a protest at Dr Ambedkar Chowk along with DCC chief Rajinder Beri, Mohindra said the desecration of the statue of Dr Ambedkar was not an isolated incident, but the result of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. He said the Amritsar incident was an insult for the whole Dalit samaj and the people who were observing Republic Day when the unfortunate incident took place. He said the incident had happened in the most secure area of the holy city. It was astonishing that no security personnel were present when the accused committed the heinous crime, he said. Mohindra said the AAP government was spending crores on publicity to hide its failures. The image of Punjab being projected by the party was different from the ground realities. He said Arvind Kejriwal was acting as proxy Chief Minister without any accountability. — TNS Our Correspondent DRUGS DESTROYED PHAGWARA, January 27 In a shocking incident, a village youth lost his life due to overdose of drugs in village Kot Rani, Phagwara, on Republic Day. Babita Rani, sister of the deceased Manvir Kumar, told the police that Sarabjit Singh alias Sahbi and Karambir alias Chhabbi, both friends of the deceased, were responsible for the death of her brother. The police have arrested Sarabjit Singh while his other friend Karambit is still at large. Complainant Babita Rani told the police that the accused Sahbi came to their house on the night of January 24, called her brother and both went out somewhere. She said Karambir came to her house on January 25 and said her brother was lying unconscious under the influence of intoxicants at Karambir’s house. She said they rushed to his house and saw her brother Manbir unconscious and found bleeding from his feet. The accused told her that they cut his feet at some places with a knife so that poisonous blood could came out from his body. Later Manbir was taken to the PIMS Hospital where he The Jalandhar police destroyed narcotics seized in 36 cases under the NDPS Act. These included 7.450 kg of poppy husk, 51 gram of heroin, 73 tablets, 32 capsules, 38 injections, 1.360 kg of ganja, 30 gram of intoxicated powder and other materials such as silver foil and matchstick boxes breathed his last. Babita told the police that the accused Chhabi told her that they sold a mobile phone of the deceased and bought intoxicants. The body of the deceased was handed over to the family after post-mortem conducted in the Civil Hospital today. The Phagwara police are investigating the matter. In another shocking incident, a village youth identified as Jassa Singh (22) lost his life after taking overdose of the intoxicant in village Chhokaran near Phillaur on Sunday. The body of the deceased was found near a tree by villagers who took him to the Phillaur Civil Hospital where he was declared brought dead. The police have handed over the body to his family members after autopsy. The case is being investigated by the police. viduals, who have made contributions to society. He distributed tricycles and sewing machines to those in need. A remarkable cultural programme, celebrating patriotism, was presented by schoolchildren, featuring vibrant performances of giddha and bhangra. The tableaux, showcasing the achievements of various departments, were a key highlight of the event. The event was also attended by MLA Banga and Chairman of the Punjab State Container and Warehouse Corporation Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, MLA Balachaur Santosh Kataria and MLA Nawanshahr Nachhatar Pal. Moranwali triple murder case accused held from UP Garhshankar, January 27 The main accused, who was absconding in the triple murder case in Moranwali village of Garhshankar, has been arrested in a joint operation with the UP Police from Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh. Of the 21 accused named in the murder case, 12 have been arrested so far. The main accused of the triple murder Jasvir Singh, alias Babbu, has been arrested from Lalitpur. After presenting Jasvir in a court there, the police will bring him to Garhshankar and interrogate him to unravel the mystery of the triple murder. DSP Jaspreet Singh said five police personnel from Garhshankar had gone to Lalitpur on the basis of input about Jasvir. With the technical support of the UP Police, the accused had been arrested. On January 9, in Moranwali, a number of youths attacked three youths with weapons and murdered Manpreet Singh, alias Mani, Gursharan Singh and Gursukhtyar Singh. On the statement of Jasbir Kaur, mother of Manpreet Singh, a case was registered against 11 youths and a dozen unknown youths in the triple murder. The police named 10 more people in the case. — OC