24032025-JTR-01.qxd 3/23/2025 10:35 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune JCT WORKERS PROTEST, DEMAND ACTION IN PF SCAM SARGUN MEHTA, A CREATIVE POWERHOUSE RASIKA DUGAL WANTS TO WORK WITH DILJIT DOSANJH JCT workers have now come forward with serious allegations against JCT officials and EPFO. P2 Committed to breaking stereotypes, the actor is actively shaping her career and industry around her. P4 Rasika Dugal is known for effortlessly inhabiting diverse characters across films, web series and theatre. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 32°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 12°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.41 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:25 AM » MONDAY | 24 MARCH 2025 | JALANDHAR K’thala fest ends to preserve heritage SHO, cop suspended Renowned singer Prabh Gillwith callaudience with melodious songs mesmerises after suicide by youth Our Correspondent Kin claim bribe demanded for his release ■ Home Guard jawan shifted to lines ■ Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 23 Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur, in the orders issued on Sunday, suspended SHO, Inspector Harinder Singh, and Head Constable Jaspal Singh of Jalandhar Cantt police station while Home Guard Jaswant Singh has been transferred to Police Lines. The action was taken following the suicide of 20-year-old youth Harry, who was taken into custody in connection with a drug supply investigation. Harry, a resident of Jalandhar Cantt and drug addict, was arrested four days ago by Head Constable Jaspal Singh and Home Guard Jaswant Singh. The police had detained him to ascertain the source of his drug supply. He was kept in custody for nearly seven hours before being released late at night. The next day, in the wee hours, he died by suicide. The victim’s family alleged that the two cops, demanded a bribe for his release and later threatened him on the phone, pushing him to take the extreme step. The CCTV footage has also surfaced, allegedly showing police personnel, thrashing him while arresting him from his residence. ACP Cantt, Babandeep , Singh confirmed that he received a complaint regarding the incident and said the investigation was ongoing. “To ensure there is no laxity, the Commissioner Police has taken strict action. SHO Harinder Singh has also been suspended since the case was under his supervision,” he said. 14 years on, Nurmahal sewer project yet to be completed Ashok Kaura Phagwara, March 23 The ongoing Rs 24.4-crore project for laying sewer pipelines in Nurmahal has not been completed and commissioned even after the passage of 14 years. The project, started by the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) and allotted to private agencies, is going on at a snail’s pace. As per schedule, the project was to be completed in nine months. Then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had laid the foundation of the project on February 11, 2011. Under the project, the main sewer ~5.2 CR NEEDED TO COMPLETE PROJECT The sub-committee had concluded in its report that an amount of Rs 5.22 crore was required to complete the sewage treatment plant and for the allied works. pipelines and branch lines were to be laid in the town for streamlining drainage of sewage to one place. The Estimate Committee of the Vidhan Sabha had constituted a sub-committee to conduct a joint survey of sewer system in Nurmahal and working of the sewage treatment plant (STP). Following directions, the sub-committee had conducted a joint survey and submitted its report at the office of the Deputy Commissioner. The Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner reviewed the draft report of the sub-committee and submitted it to the Estimate Committee. The sub-committee had concluded in its report that an amount of Rs 5.22 crore was required to complete the sewage treatment plant and for the allied works. GLADA junior engineer Anmol Chopra said a subcommittee estimate report was pending with the government. He said the sewer project would be completed after the release of funds. PHAGWARA, MARCH 23 The Kapurthala Heritage Festival-2025, organised by the government’s Tourism Department and District Administration at Guru Nanak Stadium, concluded on Saturday night, showcasing the rich culture of Punjab, particularly Kapurthala’s heritage. Over the span of three days, a large number of people at Guru Nanak Stadium enjoyed a variety of cultural performances, including bhangra, giddha, sammi, dhadi kala, boliyan, poetry recitations and stand-up comedy along with performances by renowned singers Kanwar Grewal, Mohammad Irshad and Meet Kaur. The festival featured Punjab’s music, dance, handicrafts and traditional cuisine, which remained a major attraction for attendees. Additionally, local artistes and artisans got an opportunity to showcase their talents, further enhancing the significance of the heritage festival. On the concluding evening, popular singer Prabh Gill captivated the audience with his soulful songs, making them dance to tunes like “dholna, pyaar tere da asar, tainu main milgi, taarian de desh, ik reejh and naina,” providing wholesome entertainment. Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal stated, “The primary objective of this heritage festival was to connect people with Punjab’s rich heritage and culture, an endeavour in which the government’s efforts have succeeded” . He added, “Not only the heritage festival highlights Girls perform; and (below) Kanwar Grewal enthralls audience during the Kapurthala Heritage Festival. Kapurthala’s rich legacy, but it also explored immense possibilities for promoting tourism in Kapurthala.” Panchal thanked the officials and employees who had been on duty for the past week, ensuring the event’s success as well as the large number of people who attended the festival. Earlier, students from Hindu Kanya College presents folk dances and songs, while Lyallpur Khalsa College showcased traditional attire. Anand College of Engineering and Management performed a choreography and students from Government College, Kapurthala, presented a group song. People at large have hailed the government for organising the heritage festival to showcase Kapurthala’s lega- cy and culture as such events help the younger generation to connect with rich heritage. Mandeep Singh, a resident of Kapurthala, said, “it was for the first time he had witnessed such a festival in Kapurthala”. The Deputy Commissioner facilitated the singer Prabh Gill, artistes and students. Present at the event included District Planning Board chairperson Lalit Saklani, ADC Navneet Kaur Bal, ADC (Development) Varinderpal Singh Bajwa, ADC, Phagwara, Dr Akshita Gupta, Vishal Watts (PCS under training), Science Technology Board member Kanwar Iqbal Singh, joint secretary Gurpal Singh Indian, joint secretary Parvinder Singh Dhot, SDM Major Irwin Kaur and others. Left parties, SAD pay tributes to martyrs at Khatkar Kalan Tribune News Service Food Safety Officer Munish Sodhi checks food items of vendors in Dasuya and Mukerian. Food safety team collects samples from vendors Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur March 23 A team led by Food Safety Officer Munish Sodhi today raided several vendors in Dasuya and Mukerian and collected seven samples of food items. Sodhi said various places where fast food was prepared at homes in Mukerian were checked and instructions given to take special care of cleanliness. Fast food stalls/hawkers were also checked in Chowpatty Market of Mukerian and expired mayonnaise being used was destroyed on the spot. The vendors were reprimanded not to use expired food items and follow the rules of the FSSAI so that there is no adverse effect on the health of any person. They were also motivated not to use too much food colours to prepare fast food. During checking, three samples of wax were also taken. Sodhi said in Dasuya today, a total of four samples of jaggery, cake, rice and pulses were collected from a mill and food vendors asked to follow the rules. The Food Safety Officer said these seven samples collected have been sent to the food lab for examination and further action will be taken after the report comes. He appealed to parents to motivate their children to stay away from fast food and take care to avoid eating items that are colourful. Jalandhar, March 23 On the martyrdom day of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, a political conference was jointly held by the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) at Khatkar Kalan. First, central and state leaders paid tribute to the statue of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and slogans of Inquilab Zindabad were raised. This martyrdom conference was jointly chaired by Naranjan Das Mehli, Jaswinder Singh Bhangal, Kuldeep Jhingar. CPI national secretariat member Dr K Narayana (Andhra Pradesh) and Comrade PP Sunir, Member, Rajya Sabha (Kerala), addressed the gathering and said during the struggle for the country’s Independence, by Punjab, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other states, Bhagat Singh and his comrades kissed the noose and sacrificed their lives. Leaders said they had come to the village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, feeling proud. They said the ideology of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Mahatma Gandhi was being forgotten and there were attempts to impose only one language on everyone. They also termed the slogan of one nation one election detrimental for the country. Leaders said they rejected the attempts at changing the Constitution written by Dr Ambedkar. Comrade Bant Singh Brar, secretary, CPI Punjab, comrade Devi Kumari Sarhali Kalan, general secretary, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha; comrade Ram Singh Nurpuri, state president, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union; comrade Mahan Singh Rori, president of the Indian Communist Party UK; comrade Harsev Bains, comrade Gurnek Singh Bhajjal among others said to liberate India from the British, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Ghadri Babas and many patriots made sacrifices. Meanwhile, the entire team of the Shiromani Akali Dal of the district paid homage to Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at Khatkar Kalan and vowed to follow the martyr’s teachings. District president Sukhdeep Singh Sukar said a college and a medical college are being brought in the name of the martyrs. If something is being built with the right thinking and with the right intention, whether it is in the form of a medical college or any other form, it is a good thing. But he wants to ask the CM one thing. Before this, the foundation stone of c m y b four medical colleges in Punjab was laid by him. First, the foundation stone of a medical college was laid by him in the name of Gurdwara Mastuana Sahib, Sant Baba Atar Singh, which CM’s own district has also come and till now the work has not been started and the land not acquired. Despite the passage of three years, no work has been done in Kapurthala. No work has been done in Malerkotla. Only in Hoshiarpur, the Centre had offered Rs 50 crore for a medical college, but the Punjab Government’s share of Rs 20 crore has not been received. For the last three years, that work has also been stalled there. No work has been started on the last four medical colleges till now. He would like to request CM to complete the projects. While on the one hand, the Akali Dal questioned the AAP on the status of medical colleges whose foundations tones were formerly laid in the state, the BSP state president Avtar Singh Karimpuri also targeted the state government. Karimpuri, who along with party leaders and supporters went to pay homage to martyrs at Khatkar Kalan, shared a live feed of the posters put up at the event venue, questioning AAP for leaving out Bhagat Singh and Dr. BR Ambedkar from the posters. BKU (Doaba) leaders after meeting in Phagwara on Sunday. BKU (Doaba) to protest over farm leaders’ arrests today Our Correspondent PHAGWARA, MARCH 23 The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Doaba, under the leadership of state general secretary Satnam Singh Sahni, today held a state-level meeting at Gurdwara Sukhchian Sahib, Phagwara, to plan a protest against the government. The meeting was convened in response to the arrest of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) (NonPolitical) leaders at the Shambhu and Khanouri borders on March 19. During the meeting, Satnam Singh Sahni condemned the AAP-led government, calling the arrests an “act of cowardice.” He alleged that the detained leaders were taken into custody while returning from a meeting in Chandigarh and despite several days passing, they had not been released. PLAN TO BURN EFFIGY OF STATE GOVT ■ As part of the demonstration, BKU (Doaba) members plan to burn an effigy of the government and demand the immediate release of the arrested leaders. ■ They warned that if their demands were not met, a larger agitation would be launched. ■ All eyes will be on the March 24 demonstration and the government’s response in the coming days. He further accused the police of using excessive force, accompanied by bulldozers, to dismantle farmers’ set-ups at the Shambhu and Khanouri. Leaders at the meeting also alleged that along with the state police, miscreant AAP volunteers looted farmers’ belongings, including tractortrolleys, washing machines and other household appliances from the protest sites. Expressing their strong resentment, BKU (Doaba) members criticised the state government for failing to take action against those responsible for the alleged looting. To intensify their opposition, the leaders unanimously decided to organise a protest at the SDM office in Phillaur, Jalandhar district, on March 24. As part of the demonstration, BKU (Doaba) members plan to burn an effigy of the government and demand the immediate release of the arrested leaders. They warned that if their demands were not met, a larger agitation would be launched. The situation remains tense as farm organisations continue to express discontent over the state government’s handling of protests. All eyes will be on the March 24 demonstration and the government’s response in the coming days.