04032025-JTR-01.qxd 3/3/2025 10:52 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune PHAGWARA MC URGED TO SHIFT DUMP YARD HOPE FOR SOCIALISM STILL EXISTS: YADAV ANORA, THE BRUTALIST WIN BIG AT 97TH ACADEMY AWARDS Members of the society said the dump yard had become a major nuisance for residents.. P2 This year's 'Naad Pragaas Shabad Samman' award conferred on poet Vijay Vivek. P2 Sean Baker's Anora won the Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 21°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 20°C | MIN 8°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.27 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:49 AM » TUESDAY | 4 MARCH 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF Bar to build four b’minton courts, track at Raizada Hansraj stadium Tribune News Service GURMEET SSP OF JALANDHAR (R) Phillaur: The government on Sunday appointed Ferozepur Vigilance SSP Gurmeet Singh as Jalandhar Rural SSP in place of HPS Khakh. The Punjab Home Secretary issued the transfer order. oc 2 ARRESTED FOR BLACKMAILING Phagwara: On a complaint filed by Ludhiana resident Bhawna, the police have arrested two persons on the charge of blackmailing and demanding Rs 2 lakh from the complainant in the name of the police to delete the name of her father from a police case registered against him in Phagwara. SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti said here on Monday that the arrested accused were identified as Damanpreet Singh and Manjit Singh, both residents of Jamalpur near Ludhiana. OC TWO DRUGS PEDDLERS HELD Phagwara: The Phagwara police have arrested two drug peddlers and seized 980 intoxicated tablets from their possession. SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti said in the first case, drug peddler Rajat Kumar of Balmiki Mohalla, Phagwara, was nabbed near Malhotra Hospital at a check-point and 630 tablets were recovered from his possession. In the second case, cops arrested another peddler Naresh of Subhash Nagar near Guru Nanak Medical Hall last night and seized 350 tablets from him. OC MAN ARRESTED FOR CHEATING Phagwara: The Nakodar police have arrested a Jalandhar resident on the charges of cheating and breach of trust. The accused is Rakesh Kumar of Gurdev Nagar, Jalandhar. Jaswant Singh of Mehsampur village had complained to the police that the accused reached an agreement to sell his house in Mohalla Purewal Colony, Nakodar, which was mortgaged with a bank and received Rs 3 lakh as earnest money but did not return. OC MAN NABBED FOR RASH DRIVING Phagwara: The police have booked an SUV driver for causing death by negligence. The accused belongs to Pati Gillan Jamsher village in Jalandhar. Jagdish Kumar of Mohalla Gauns, Nakodar, complained to the police that he was going to Jalandhar on March 1, carrying four passengers of Nakodar in his three wheeler when the accused driver driving fast and negligently hit it from behind and killed Surinder Mohan of Ashok Vihar, Nakodar. oc EXPIRED MEDICINE KILLS MAN Phagwara: A 35-year-old man died after taking expired medicine. The deceased has been identified as Harpreet Singh of Mohalla Dhorra. Sarabjit Kaur, sister of the deceased, told the police her brother consumed an expired medicine and died. oc The Youth Football Club and Generation Amazing Foundation have joined hands to establish a state-of-the-art multi-sports facility at Rurka Kalan in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Multi-sports complex at Rurka Kalan opened Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 3 The Youth Football Club (YFC), Rurka Kalan, in partnership with the Generation Amazing Foundation, a FIFA World Cup 2022 sponsor, has opened a state-of-the-art multi-sports complex in Rurka Kalan to promote grassroots sports development. The facility aims to nurture young talent by providing the world-class infrastructure and training to aspiring athletes. The Generation Amazing Community Club was inaugurated on February 24 at Rurka Kalan after the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that signed recently in Chandigarh. The Rs 8 crore project is expected to benefit over 10,000 children by offering free sports training under qualified coaches. Gurmangal Das, founder and CEO of the YFC, highlighted the project’s transformative impact on the community. “When we started the YFC-Rurka Kalan in 2001, our goal was to provide sports facilities to every child in the village. This new investment will give thousands of children access to high-quality training at no cost,” he said. The first phase of the project includes six-acre sports grounds, featuring a football pitch, a 50-station gym, a sports hall for table tennis and pickleball, an auditorium and a 32-bed dormitory for resident trainees. The second phase will add an indoor hall, a 2,000-3,000 capacity pavilion for nationallevel football matches and a swimming pool. As part of the collaboration, Ajay’s book ‘Khelai Sagal Jagat’ out Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 3 Jalandhar-based noted Hindi novelist Dr Ajay Sharma has penned another compelling novel titled ‘’Khelai Sagal Jagat’’, dedicated to “those Muslims whose ancestors were once Hindus.” The novel features three characters who are converted Muslims, one of whom is Hafiz Jalandhari. A resident of Jalandhar, Hafiz’s ancestors had embraced Islam and he later moved to Pakistan during the Partition. He also wrote Pakistan’s Qaumi Tarana (national anthem), yet Jalandhar and Sanatan traditions remained deeply ingrained in his consciousness. His poetry includes references to Hindu gods and goddesses, reflecting his ancestral roots. In the ‘’Sant Sipahi’’ chapter, a woman character traces her lineage to Sudama, one of the 52 poets in the Darbar of Guru Gobind Singh. Sudama had composed a Kabit for Kalgidhar Maharaj and two lines from it are quoted in the novel. The storyline revolves around the Ayodhya temple and delves into Hindu-Muslim politics that has been ongoing for decades. Each chapter has been uniquely titled, adding to the intrigue of the narrative. As the reader progresses, the novel evokes a sense of history repeating itself— especially with the last chapter named after Ayodhya. The novel portrays Sanatan culture in such a vivid manner that it feels like watching a cinematic experience. Dr Ajay Sharma explores numerous themes that require further discourse, tackling complex topics with remarkable simplicity and depth. Writing on such issues is a challenging endeavour, but he has managed to keep the story engaging. Through his novel, Dr Sharma brings crucial societal issues to the forefront. He remarks, “Conversion is a significant issue and I have extensively researched. This novel presents that issue in depth.” The book also addresses sexual harassment among men, a topic rarely discussed in literature. Beyond its themes, the novel captures the essence of Punjab — its environment, culture, festivals, folk songs and language. The plot remains gripping, touching on physical, mental and collective harassment. The title itself encapsulates the essence of the entire narrative and the language used is both powerful and impactful. Jalandhar, March 3 The District Badminton Association (DBA) has announced plans to construct four multipurpose badminton courts and a 200-metre running track at the Raizada Hansraj Badminton Stadium. This decision was made during a meeting of the association’s interim committee. Member secretary Ritin Khanna said the association had been receiving numerous requests from players eager to join Hansraj Stadium. However, due to all slots being full for the past two years, accommodating new members was not possible. After thorough discussions with association president Dr Himanshu Aggarwal, the committee decided to expand the stadium’s facilities. The association will soon invite quotations from reputed sports equipment companies. Construction is set to begin in April, with the inauguration by Aggarwal planned for June. Khanna mentioned that the new multipurpose badminton courts would feature a synthetic surface allowing players to perform various training drills. The 200-metre running track will be constructed along the outskirts of these courts. A specialized lighting and sound system will also be installed, allowing players to enjoy the game at night. The stadium has already undergone upgrades over the past four years, with almost Rs 1 crore investing in its development. With these additions, the Raizada Hansraj Badminton Stadium will become North India’s only stadium to offer 10 badminton courts, running track, gymnasium, yoga centre and multiple other sports facilities. A police team arrested an autodriver involved in multiple thefts and recovered Rs 70,000 of stolen money in Jalandhar. Auto driver held for snatching; ~70K recovered Tribune News Service Accused has history of theft cases registered against him coach Hamad Abdulaziz from Qatar conducted a four-day “Train-the-Trainer” programme to enhance the skills of local coaches in football and basketball. The initiative is part of the Generation Amazing Foundation’s global mission to empower the youth through sports, following similar projects in Qatar, the Philippines, Rwanda and Jordan. Jassim Al-Ali, Executive Director of the Generation Amazing Foundation, emphasised the shared vision between the two organisations. “Since 2017, we’ve seen how YFC’s dedication to grassroots sports aligns with our own goals. This partnership will enhance infrastructure, coaching and player’s growth in the region,” he said. The launch event was attended by former Indian international footballer Anwar Ali, who credited the YFC-Rurka Kalan for shaping his career. Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang praised the initiative, while former Deputy Mayor of Derby, the UK, Balbir Sandhu lauded the role of NRIs in supporting grassroots sports. Dignitaries, including Arjuna awardees Rajinder Singh Rahelu, Gurdev Singh Gill and Kartar Singh, along with representatives from sport for development organisations, Punjab Football Association members and Gram Panchayat of Rurka Kalan, were also present at the event. “The facility is set to become a hub for sports development in the region, offering young athletes the resources and opportunities to excel at national and international levels”, said Gurmangal Das. Barapur villagers fill up potholes on 3-km road stretch 1,370 taking part in national police games Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi Jalandhar, March 3 The formal opening ceremony of the 1st All-India Police Kabaddi Cluster was held today at the PAP headquarters in Jalandhar. As many as 1,370 players from 29 teams across the country are participating in kho kho, fencing, gymnastics and kabaddi. The players from various states and UTs, including Manipur, J&K, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, etc, are staying in DAV University, LPU and PAP hostel. At present, the PAP has become a haven of sportspersons from all parts of the world and everyone is getting to witness their skills. In kabaddi, 597 players have been participating (348 men, 249 women), 157 players in gymnastics. In fencing and kho kho, 199 (122 men and 77 women) and 417 (225 men and 192 women) players are competing. Fencing is being held in LPU. Interestingly, the Manipur team has not shown participation in any other team apart from fencing. The Punjab police Gymnastics women team, including seven participants, — Minakshi, Jashandeep, Ruhika, Prabhjot, Ritu, Priya and Rajwinder were all set to compete in the event. Of the seven, Minakshi and Jashandeep are the recipients of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award. Minakshi said she started learning gym- Garhshankar, March 3 Troubled by potholes on the three-km road from village Kot to Barapur, today villagers, filled up the potholes with soil and made the road potholed-free. There were many potholes on the road and it had become difficult for people to pass through this road. Being upset with the government and the administration for not even getting the road repaired, the villagers, under the leadership of the village panchayat of Barapur, took tractor trolleys and filled the potholes. Then the youth levelled and strengthened it by driving tractors on it. Former Sarpanch Surinder Pal said there were numerous potholes on the road due to which the movement of people had become difficult. Two-wheeler riders often fell and got injured. Therefore, the village panchayat and the villagers filled up the potholes. Sarpanch Santosh Kumari expressed her gratitude for the cooperation of the villagers and said they had gathered and made the road walkable. She demanded that the administration should make a special project and widen the road and rebuild it so that the problem can be resolved permanently. c m y b Jalandhar, March 3 The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police has arrested a man involved in multiple thefts and recovered Rs 70,000 of stolen money. The arrest was made under the supervision of Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur by the Division No. 2 police team. The incident occurred on February 25, following which an FIR was registered. The complaint was filed by Jagir Singh, a resident of village Pajiyan, Kapurthala, who reported that while attending to his wife admitted to Tagore Hospital, an autorickshaw driver approached him outside the hospital around 1pm. The driver claimed his vehicle had broken down and sought assistance. However, he snatched Rs 1,05,000 from him and fled. Following investigations, the police identified and arrested the accused as Tarlochan Singh, alias Goldy, hailing from village Sarala Ranua, SBS Nagar, and currently residing at New Shiv Nagar, Jalandhar. The police recovered Rs. 70,000 along with the autorickshaw (PB08-DG5130) used in the crime. Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur revealed that the accused had a history of theft cases registered against him. She said the police were committed to cracking down on criminal activities and that no unlawful behavior would be tolerated in the city. Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Players march in the opening ceremony function of the 1st All-India Police Kabaddi Cluster at PAP Headquarters; and (right) a kabaddi match in progress in Jalandhar on Monday. PHOTOS: MALKIAT SINGH nastics when she was 5-year old. “My initial years were spent in Patiala and I have taken part in over 13 international events, including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, world championships, etc,” she told The Tribune. ASI Satish Kumar, women gymnastic coach, said the team of seven players was fantastic. “We have been training for some time now. With such events, we hope that more participants will perform,” he said. From the UP Police, Gayatri Singh (24) and Anita Verma (24), who were here for kho kho event, said it was their first time in Punjab and for the first time this cluster was happening. “It is a great experience playing here. We are looking forward to the next three days in Jalandhar,” they said. Both Gayatri and Anita said they had started playing kho kho after they joined the police force. In kabaddi, where the maximum participation has been witnessed, as many as 27 teams have been taking part barring teams from Assam Rifles and Manipur.