30012025-JTR-01.qxd 1/29/2025 11:02 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune SGPC ANNOUNCES KABADDI TEAM The SGPC has been making continuous efforts to connect the Sikh youth with sports. P2 » MISSING SKEWERS GAVE BIRTH TO PATHAR KE KEBAB SHAHID KAPOOR TALKS ABOUT HIS UPCOMING FILM DEVA A missing set of skewers on a hunting trip gave birth to Hyderabad’s scrumptious pathar ke kebab. P4 Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor on Tuesday teased a connection between Devaand the 1975 classic Deewaar. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 23°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 23°C | MIN 7°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.00 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:20 AM THURSDAY | 30 JANUARY 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF TWO HELD FOR ILLEGAL MINING Hoshiarpur: The police and Mining Department received information last night that illegal mining was being done in village Sahari. They reached the spot, arrested two persons and seized a JCB and tractor. A case has been registered against two persons. OC BIKES RECOVERED FROM THREE Hoshiarpur: The police have arrested three members of a vehicle theft gang and recovered five stolen bikes from them. On the basis of secret information, the police stopped three youths riding a bike coming from the Chohka village side and asked their names and addresses. When the police interrogated the persons, they disclosed information of theft of five stolen motorcycles, which were recovered. The police have arrested the three accused and started further action. OC Firemen, who suffered burns, honoured Jalandhar, January 29 Two firemen Abhi Gill and Ramandeep Singh, who received severe burn injuries on January 7 while they were on their duty, were honoured this Republic Day. They were given certificate by Cabinet Minister Aman Arora. Gill and Singh had gone to douse the fire at a home at Babu Labh Singh Nagar in Jalandhar. They had reached the spot with two fire tenders. The moment they entered the home, the cylinder blast took place, leaving them injured. They both were immediately taken to the hospital and a new team of firemen doused the flame after that. Gill (24) said he had received injuries on his hands and face and he was still not able to join the duty. “I remained in the hospital for 15 days and still recovering. Also, I got to know about the honour a day before Republic Day,” he said. Gill said he had joined the department three-and-a-half years ago and had been working tirelessly in the field. — OC Tug of war for Mayor gets intense in Phagwara Elections on February 1 Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Phagwara, January 29 The appointment of a retired Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge, Justice Harbans Lal, for conducting the mayoral elections in Phagwara on February 1 has come as a shot in the arm for the Congress, but a little late. Given the numbers and present affiliations, neither the Congress, nor AAP may be able to reach the magic figure of 26 in the 50-ward MC. Since the mayoral elections that were postponed on January 25, the Congress has already lost its three councillors to AAP Even the BJP has . lost one councillor to the ruling party. Had the election been held as per the previous court orders on January 25, the Congress would have a clear majority - 22 councillors of its own, one local MLA Balwinder Dhaliwal and three of the BSP The party was confi. dent of getting Sanjeev Bugga elected as the Mayor and his supporters had even got Congress councillors react after the mayoral elections was postponed in Phagwara. FILE garlands and sweets and had come in a celebratory mode. But AAP had devised another plan and the election could not be conducted. The Congress now stands a chance of falling short of majority. Also AAP which got , only 12 councillors elected has 18 councillors by its side, including three of the Congress, one BJP and two Independents. The party still falls short by six votes. SAD and the BJP which have three councillors each now hold the key. SAD leader Jarnail S Wahid said, “We are not sure of supporting any side. We are still to finalise our cards”. Ex-BJP minister Som Parkash too maintains, “I am yet to discuss the matter with my councillors after the court orders. Let see what plan they have”. There also is a possibil- Martyr gets back respect ity of both parties not participating in the mayoral elections since the oath-taking process of all SAD-BJP councillors had already been done in the January 25 meet. The Congress leadership too does not want to leave any chance in the Phagwara mayoral election since the party lost it to AAP in Ludhiana and Amritsar despite being better placed. 2 arrested with 100 gm heroin After the Mayor’s announcement, hoardings have been removed in front of the statue of martyr Major Raman Dada at Kapurthala Chowk in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH P2 Jalandhar, January 29 The police have arrested two ‘drug smugglers’ and recovered 100 gram of heroin from their possession, said SSP Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh here today. The accused have been identified as Karan Kumar, alias Karan (22) of Ward No. 09, Mohalla Chadi Patti, Begowal, Kapurthala, and Hansdeep Singh, alias Nikka (21), of Mohalla Arfanwala, Kapurthala. SSP Khakh said following specific inputs, a special operation was conducted on January 27 which resulted in the drug seizure. “The team intercepted a car 100 metre from Bholath Mor, Kartarpur. The accused attempted to flee but were held,” he said.— TNS Phagwara Bar members join protest, stay away from work On run, ASI held in bribery case PHAGWARA, JANUARY 29 The Bar Association, Phagwara, today announced a “No Work Day” in solidarity with a statewide protest against the brutal attack on Advocate Hasan Singh, a member of the Samrala and Khanna Bar Association. The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the association’s executive members. The attack on the advocate has sparked an outrage among lawyers across Punjab, with multiple associations, including those of Samrala, Khanna, Fatehgarh Sahib, Amloh, Ludhiana, Jagraon and Khmano, demanding action. Despite widespread protests, the police have yet to register an FIR against the perpetrators, raising concerns over law enforcement’s handling of the case. In a statement, Dhandeep Kaur, general secretary of the Bar Association, Phagwara, condemned the assault and criticised the police for their inaction. “The Bar Association, Phagwara, stands firmly with the legal fraternity in demanding justice. The failure to register an FIR despite statewide protests is unacceptable,” she said. Members of the Bar Association, Phagwara, headed by president Karanjot Jhikka abstained from work. — OC Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 29 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing crackdown against bribery has arrested Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Prashotam Lal, posted at Aur, Nawanshahr, on the charges of taking bribe of Rs 15,000. He had been absconding for the last four months. A spokesperson of the VB said a case was registered after investigating the complaint filed by Dev Raj, resident of Gudapad village near Aur, against the ASI on the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line. He said the complainant had alleged that in return for helping in the case registered against him and his sons, the ASI had demanded a bribe of Rs 30,000. The complainant had recorded the conversation with ASI Prashotam Lal on different dates regarding the transaction of bribe money in his mobile phone. During inquiry by the VB, the allegations made in this complaint regarding demanding Rs 30,000 bribe and taking a bribe of Rs 15,000 from the complainant on different dates were proved. Subsequently, an ASI Parshotam Lal in the custody of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in Nawanshahr on Wednesday. FIR was filed under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 308(2) of the BNS was registered against the accused. It was also revealed that the ASI had also taken bribes from the accused Amanpreet in another case in July last. The accused ASI was produced in the court today and was on a one-day remand. 2 nabbed for stealing gold at Kutbiwal wedding Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 29 The Jalandhar Rural Police have arrested two ‘thieves’ and recovered gold jewellery worth several lakhs from them, said SSP Harkanwal Preet Singh Khakh here today. The accused have been identified as Gurpreet Singh of Kabirpur, Kapurthala, and Prince Pradeep Singh of Sultanpur, Kapurthala. Khakh said following the directions of SP Investiga, tion, Jasroop Kaur Bath, a special investigation was launched under the supervision of DSP Onkar Singh Brar and Inspector Jaipal, SHO, Lohian. The police team arrested the accused, who had committed theft during a wedding ceremony at village Kutbiwal on January 23. The SSP further revealed that the incident occurred when the complainant Navdeep Singh had gone to see his disabled brother Satinderpal Singh during wedding ceremonies. Taking advantage of the situation, the accused broke into the house and stole 17 tolas of gold from a locked wardrobe. “Our teams worked meticulously using both human intelligence and modern technological tools to crack this case,” said Khakh. He added that the accused were arrested on January 26 and all stolen items were recovered following their police remand. The recovered items include gold ornaments weighing approximately 17 tolas, comprising two sets of gold jewellery. The police also seized a black motorcycle that was used in the commission of the crime. SSP Khakh said the main accused Gurpreet Singh has a previous criminal record with a case registered against him under Section 61-1-14 of the Excise Act at Sultanpur Lodhi. Marathon in village with a message to shun drugs Theft, drug peddling cases reduced to zero in 5 Kartarpur villages, thanks to ‘Theekri pehra’ Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 29 The number of thefts have been reduced to zero in five villages of Kartarpur after five panchayats decided to take up cudgels against drugs and thefts just a fortnight ago. The resolution of five panchayats to reduce thefts and curb the entries of “nasheris” (drug users) in their villages has yielded dividends. Men with a stolen bikes, syringes, ‘chitta’ (heroin) and foil papers have been stopped at nakas held by alert villagers. With the entry of these elements prohibited in the villages, crime has reduced, say villagers. Prompted by rampant theft and drugs abuse by “outsiders” in and around their villages, panchayats of five Kartarpur villages - Dayalpur, Kudowal, Dhirpur, Bheekha Nangal and Mallian village had decided to hold theekri Jalandhar, January 29 ‘Saada khwab nasha rahit Dabulia’. Such messages are being displayed in a village in Kapurthala. In a unique effort, gram panchayat of Dabulia village, under the guidance of Arjuna Awardee Sajjan Singh Cheema, is going to hold a marathon titled - ‘Tandrust Dabulia’. It is for the first time that a village-level marathon will be held. The motive is to create a healthy village and ultimately a healthy Punjab. Villagers will run with a message to shun drugs. Arjuna Awardee Sajjan Singh Cheema, who is also the halqa in-charge of Sultanpur Lodhi, said drugs had found its way even in the interiors of villages and it is an alarming situation. “A youngster can only be saved if he gets utilised the energy in sports. Otherwise, it will get tough for everyone to save the upcoming generations,” he added. The marathon will be held on February 8 and will start at 6am. The village has a great contribution in sports as five from the village are international and national sports players. Also, youngsters have been good positions in other fields as well. All sportspersons from the village, who have excelled in various sports and those who are at the learning stage, will run from the stadium in Dabulia village to Kapurthala octroi post. Cheema has started this initiative from the village and slowly he wishes to expand it pan-Punjab. He said, “After village Dabulia, we will take it to other villages as well. There are 23 blocks under Sultanpur Lodhi and one village will be selected in each block,” he added. Aparna Banerji c m y b Members of five villages of Kartarpur during a theekri pehra at Dyalpur in Jalandhar. pehras (night watches) and formed a committee to take decisions regarding the same on January 11 this year. Within a fortnight of the decision, the villages are setting an example in community policing - which even the police are taking note of. Less than a week ago, the villagers caught three riders with a stolen bike and a small amount of chitta, at one of the nakas. The offenders were handed over the Kartarpur police. The other day, villagers apprehended two men with syringes. Village heads say in the past fortnight, the nakas have led to about 100 to 150 men being apprehended and stopped from entering villages. Harjinder Singh Raja, Sapranch, Dayalpur villages said, “We have caught about 100 to 150 men. Most of these were drug users. Some of them trickle into neighbouring villages. Three youths were apprehended with a stolen bike a few days ago. They also possessed chitta. Two more youths were caught with syringes the other day. Where police action is required, villagers promptly hand them over to the police. In other cases, they send them back after warnings. The main idea is to ensure they do not trouble villagers. No thefts have been reported in our villages as a result.” Harjinder says other villages have also begun calling them, keen to emulate the initiative. Tejinder Singh, sarpanch, Kudowal, says, “Nakas are held as per decisions in the mahapanchyat by the five villages. After the villages’ decision, police patrol on the Jammu-Katra highway, which was also giving us a lot of trouble, has also been made more stringent.”