15042025-JTR-01.qxd 4/14/2025 10:30 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune POP STAR KATY PERRY TO SING IN SPACE PRAYERS AT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE BY STARS MEGHNA TO DIRECT KAREENA AND PRITHVIRAJ IN NEW FILM Six women set to blast off on a selfdriving rocket by company owned by Jeff Bezos, for joyride to space. P4 Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan and Ananya Panday are in Amritsar to promote their film Kesari 2. P4 Kareena and Prithviraj Sukumaran have boarded the new film by Talvar & Raazi director Meghna Gulzar. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 19°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.56 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:58 AM » TUESDAY | 15 APRIL 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF 2 'DRUG ADDICTS' ARRESTED Phagwara: The Bilga police have arrested two persons on the charge of consuming heroin. The accused have been identified as Harkirat Singh and Akash Deep, both residents of Farwala village. Two lighters, silver paper and plastic pipes used for consuming contraband were recovered from their possession. A case under Sections 27/61/85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused. OC MAN HELD FOR SELLING LIQUOR Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested a villager on charge of selling illicit liquor. Seven bottles of hooch were seized from the possession of accused Mandeep Singh of Saidpur Jhirri village. A case under Sections 61/1/14 of the Punjab Excise Act has been registered against the accused. OC Ram Pyari Sarpanch’s mom-in-law found murdered in her house Phagwara, April 14 In a shocking broad daylight incident, an elderly woman Ram Pyari (67), mother-inlaw of Hardaspur village Sarpanch Balwinder Kaur (BJP), was allegedly found murdered under mysterious circumstances at her residence this afternoon. According to Phagwara SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti and DSP Bharat Bhushan, who visited the scene, the victim had been living alone in her house in village Hardaspur. Four students were reportedly residing as paying guests on the upper floor of the same building. The deceased’s son, Binder Kumar, informed the police that his two brothers are currently settled abroad. The DSP revealed that two empty cups and sweets were found near the crime scene, suggesting the possibility that the victim may have been offered something before the attack. Injury marks were visible on her neck and mouth and an almirah in the room was discovered open. Miscreants took away valuable worth Rs 38 lakh, including 35 tolas of gold ornaments, 5,000 euros and Rs 2.5 lakh. “Preliminary investigations indicate that unidentified miscreants may have targeted the victim for her valuables,” DSP Bhushan stated. Bhatti confirmed that the body had been sent to the local Civil Hospital for a postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Bhatti said it had to be ascertained yet as it was natural death or a mysterious murder. Forensic experts had also been summoned to assist in the investigation. The police have registered a case under relevant sections and are actively pursuing leads.— OC Kalia comes in Bajwa’s support over FIR Khaira slams govt for gagging Oppn’s voice Laddi burns effigy of state govt Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 14 Post the registration of an FIR by the Punjab Police against Leader of the Opposition Partap Bajwa yesterday over his statement that 50 bombs had reached Punjab, senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia too has come in his support. While the Congress leadership has already been backing Bajwa, the support by the BJP leadership has come as a big boost for him. Kalia, on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti on Monday, said, “It was wrong on the part of the government to make politicians accountable for any information that they are sharing. By that means even AAP minister Mohinder Bhagat should also be inquired for he too had information regarding the alleged involvement of Lawrence Bishnoi and Shehzad Bhatti even before the police were to make the revelation into the bomb blast case at my place”. Kalia also mocked at Bhagat for using the suffix ‘ji’ and giving respect to terrorist Bishnoi while issuing statement to the media on Tuesday last. “We cannot have different parameters for different leaders. If Bajwa has been booked, action should be initiated against Bhagat too.” As Kalia said this, he was accompanied by other party leaders, including BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia and others during Ambedkar Jyanti in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Sarabjit Makkar, Avinash Chander and Sushil Sharma. District Congress president (urban) Hardev S Laddi Sherowalia too held a protest with Congress workers and halqa in-charge Nakodar Dr Navjot Dahiya in support of Bajwa. They burnt the effigy of the state government and alleged that the Punjab Police were working in an irresponsible manner. Jalandhar Cantt Congress MLA Pargat Singh too said, “It is completely wrong to book Bajwa in the case. What he has said has already appeared in newspapers. He could be having some additional information through his own sources.” He drew similarity between the FIR lodged against Bajwa as akin to the ‘Operation Lotus’ FIR that was lodged on the complaint of ex-MLA of Jalandhar West Sheetal Angural. “The complaint in that case had been lodged after the ex-MLA had given statement in the police headquarters. There is no seriousness in the working of this statement”, he said. District Congress Committee chief (urban) Rajinder Beri had led the Congress delegation for Ambedkar Jayanti programme. Harvesting gold Phagwara, April 14 Senior Congress leader and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira has come down heavily on the AAP government, strongly condemning the utterly false and frivolous FIR registered against Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa for merely highlighting the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Khaira stated, “This is not just an attack on an individual, it is a direct assault on our fundamental right to freedom of speech. In a democracy, the Opposition has every right and indeed, the duty to hold the government accountable. But in Punjab under Bhagwant Mann, anyone who dares speak the truth is branded as a criminal.” He said AAP’s vindictive politics and authoritarian mindset have transformed Punjab into a police state, where democratic voices are silenced through intimidation and misuse of state machinery. “By resorting to such blatant political vendetta, Mann has confirmed our allegations. Instead of answering tough questions about governance, his government is unleashing the police on critics,” he added. Khaira further warned that the Opposition will not be cowed down by such oppressive tactics. “If speaking the truth is a crime in today’s Punjab, then every conscien- Tribune News Service A combine machine harvests wheat crop in a village near Jalandhar on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Two synthetic handball courts to come up at arts & sports college Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service also sent a proposal to the PWD. “The tender will be floated soon and it is expected that within 21 days, the work will be completed. We are hoping that the work will start from May 15 and it be completed in June last week,” Dr Ranbir Singh, college principal told The Tribune. Apart from this, the football wing is also going to start in Dhaliwal flays govt Phagwara MLA and District Congress Committee president Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal has come out strongly against the FIR against Leader of the Opposition Partap Bajwa. He termed the move a “disgraceful and desperate attempt to silence the voice of truth.” In a statement issued today, Dhaliwal said, “The act of slapping an FIR on Partap Bajwa for raising legitimate concerns about the deteriorating law and order is not only condemnable, but also reeks of political vendetta. It is clear that the government, rattled by growing public criticism and the failure to maintain peace and security, is now misusing power to target the Opposition.” “Instead of taking constructive criticism in the right spirit, the government is reacting like an insecure regime that cannot tolerate dissent. The FIR is an attack on democratic values and such authoritarian conduct has no place in a democratic set-up.” Jalandhar, April 14 Highlighting the initiatives undertaken by the AAP government to uphold the vision of Dr BR Ambedkar, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday said with six SC ministers in the Cabinet, the AAP government has set a precedent in representation and inclusivity. He said for the first time ever, the government has introduced reservation in the Advocate General’s office, ensuring equitable opportunities in the legal domain. Additionally, the hassle-free disbursement of SC scholarships has empowered countless students to pursue their dreams without financial barriers. Addressing a district-level function held at DAVIET to commemorate the 134th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar, Cheema also called upon the youth to become torchbearers of Ambedkar’s ideology. The minister, accompanied by MLAs Balkar Singh and Inderjit Kaur Mann, Mayor Vaneet Dhir, DC Dr Himanshu Aggarwal and Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur, emphasised that Dr Ambedkar’s vision of social and political equality remains as relevant today as ever. The minister distributed allotment letters to beneficiaries under the Ashirwad Scheme, Shagun Scheme and PostMatric Scholarship Scheme. The minister also released a coffee table book showcasing the government’s initiatives for the welfare of SC/ST. — TNS Encroachments, garbage choke PUDA Complex Avneet Kaur Jalandhar, April 14 Two synthetic handball courts are going to come up at Government Arts and Sports College in Jalandhar. For decades, there had been no wing for handball in the college. But now, with the efforts of the college principal Dr Ranbir Singh, the courts will be constructed and the wing be started. Under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), Rs 98 lakh has been sanctioned with which the works will be done. There will be enclosure and floodlights as well. The Sports Department has tious citizen should be ready to face an FIR. We will continue to raise our voice for the people, come what may.” He called upon civil society, the media and democratic institutions to take serious note of the AAP government’s attempts to muzzle dissent and erode the very foundation of democracy in the state. Letters issued to beneficiaries of SC schemes this famous sports college of the state. For the last few decades, despite having a ground, there was no football wing in the college. The ground, which was previously considered unsuitable, is now being upgraded with the grant received from the Central Government under the c m y b RUSA programme for 201314. A sum of over Rs 11 lakh has been spent on the project. In 1961, under the leadership of then Chief Minister Partap Kairon, the foundation was laid for what would become Asia’s first-ever sports college — later renamed the Government Arts and Sports College. Its alumni include legendary hockey players such as Surjit Singh and Harcharan Singh (Flying Eagle), along with champion athletes like Ishar Singh Deol and Jagdeep Singh, to name just a few. Dr Ranbir Singh leads the institution, continuing its legacy of excellence. Jalandhar, April 14 What was once a prime commercial space near the Deputy Commissioner’s office has now turned into a chaotic dump, with car scrap dealers occupying footpaths and parking areas inside the PUDA complex and vacant plots converted into open garbage dumps. Visitors and SCO owners say repeated complaints have fallen on deaf ears and the inaction by the authorities has now made the situation unbearable. The stretch of Ladowali Road from Ajit Chowk to Alaska Chowk is lined with illegally parked scrap vehicles, forcing commuters to navigate through the congested road. The situation is so grim that locals now sarcastically refer to the stretch as ‘Kabaad Wali Road’. “It’s impossible for big vehicles to pass. Shopkeepers have placed scraps right on the roadside,” said Kamaljeet Singh, a regular commuter. “The area stinks, garbage lies scattered and those who live or work nearby are forced to bear it every day.” But the worst-hit is the PUDA complex itself. Footpaths, pavements and designated parking spaces have been overrun by scrap dealers who have dumped unused vehicles and heaps of solid waste across the area. The plot has been converted into a dumping ground, creating a serious health hazard. Mahesh, who runs an office in the complex, said, “We’ve made repeated requests to the authorities to clear encroachments. But every time we speak to the scrap dealers, they brush us off, asking where else they should put their vehicles.” Manish, another businessman, added, “Our clients avoid coming here now. The environment is filthy and parking is impossible. This is hurting our businesses. The authorities need to act not just here, but across the entire Ladowali Road where the same issue continues.” Frustrated SCO owners allege that both MC and Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) have been passing the buck for years. “No one wants to take responsibility. This mess has been growing for years and we’re the ones paying the price,” said one office owner. PUDA officials claim that encroachment removal and cleanliness fall under the MC’s jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Mayor Vaneet Dhir has assured immediate intervention. “I will instruct the officials concerned to act on it without delay,” he said. Encrochment by scrap dealers at PUDA Complex, Ladowali Road, Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH,