27042025-JTR-01.qxd 4/26/2025 10:52 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune JCDAV COLLEGE STAFF SIT ON HUNGER STRIKE OVER DUES JALANDHAR TECH INSTITUTE HOLDS CANDLE MARCH ‘CRAFT WITHOUT EMOTION OR THEME IS POINTLESS’ Protest against college management for not releasing the 7th Pay Commission benefits. P2 Students came together to express solidarity with the victims of Pahalgam terror attack. P2 Director Abhishek Chaubey is known to explore complexities of human natureand the harsh realities of society. P4 » » FORECAST SUNNY MAX 42°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 38°C | MIN 18°C SUNSET SUNDAY 7.04 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5:46 AM » SUNDAY | 27 APRIL 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF HIRDEBIR IS NEW NAIB TEHSILDAR Hoshiarpur: Following transfer orders issued by the Punjab government, Hirdebir Singh Cheema took charge as Naib Tehsildar in Hoshiarpur. Cheema was earlier serving in Garhshankar. He had started service as Naib Tehsildar of Mohali in 2023. Upon taking charge, he issued clear instructions to the employees posted in the office and said that the work of the people coming to his office should be done on priority basis. He said that if anyone faces any problem, then he can meet him in his office without hesitation. TNS TWO KILLED IN MISHAPS Hoshiarpur: Two people were killed in separate road accidents in the area while a mother and daughter duo was injured. Police have registered cases and arrested two alleged accused in this regard. According to information received, Harta resident Harjinder Singh told the Mehtiana police that his sister Pooja Rani was returning with her husband Gurbachan Singh and daughter Khushdeep after buying medicines. When they reached near Mehtiana, a canter passing by hit them due to which his brother-in-law died. His sister and her daughter were injured and admitted to a hospital. Police have registered a case against the accused driver Vijay Kumar, a resident of Boothgarh and arrested him. OC FOUR ARRESTED, DRUGS SEIZED Hoshiarpur: The police have arrested four persons after recovering drugs from them at different places. According to the information received, Garhdiwala police arrested Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Jamsher Chathiala and recovered 26 grams of heroin from him. Tanda police arrested Anku, a resident of Tanda and recovered 11 grams of heroin from him. Meanwhile, Sadar police arrested Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Bajwara Kalan and recovered 10,500 ml of liquor from him. In yet another case, the police at Garhdiwala arrested Amit alias Lal Singh, a resident of Bhatoli and recovered four boxes of liquor from him. OC Phagwara unites in protest over terror attack City observes bandh, holds marches, vigils in rare display of solidarity Ashok Kaura Phagwara, April 26 In a citywide response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the city witnessed a complete bandh on Saturday following a call by the Shiv Sena and various trader associations. The shutdown was observed in protest against the killing of 28 tourists, with shops, commercial establishments, government offices, banks and schools remaining closed throughout the day. Even establishments that had initially remained open shut their doors following appeals by the protest organisers. Extensive security arrangements were made by local police under the leadership of SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti. The situation was closely monitored by Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora to ensure peace and order. Protesters, waving placards and shouting slogans against terrorism and Pakistan, rallied through the city. Shiv Sena leaders Inderjit Karwal, Deepak Bhardwaj and Rajesh Palta addressed a protest gathering attended by members of various Hindu organisations. The leaders strongly Deserted markets in Phagwara during the bandh on Saturday. condemned the Pahalgam attack, calling it a “heinous crime” that was “intolerable under any circumstances”. A protest march followed, during which effigies of Pakistan and terrorism were set ablaze amid loud and passionate slogans. Though markets wore a deserted look all day, both road and rail traffic continued to operate normally. In a significant show of communal harmony, members of the Muslim community in Phagwara organised a protest march on Friday under the leadership of Jama Masjid President Kaasif urRehman. Beginning at Jama Masjid, the march passed through Borr Wala Chowk, Kultham Chowk, Gandhi Chowk and Chatkaiyan Chowk before concluding at Gol Chowk. Participants raised slogans condemning terrorism and Pakistan’s alleged role in cross-border militancy. Effigies were again set on fire as a symbolic act of protest. Addressing mediapersons, Rehman stated, “Terrorism has no religion. We, the Muslims of Phagwara, condemn the Pahalgam attack in the strongest terms. Our religion teaches peace, not violence.” The demonstration remained peaceful, with full support from local police and administration. Adding to the collective outpouring of grief, a candlelight march was held in the city on Saturday evening to honour the victims. In a rare display of political unity, representatives from Congress, BJP , SAD, AAP BSP General , , Samaj Manch and various social and religious bodies participated in the procession. Starting from Hargobind Nagar, the march wound through major markets, drawing emotional responses from the public. Speakers from various organisations described the attack as “extremely unfortunate” and emphasised that “the pain of the victims’ families cannot be measured”. Participants called for strong action from the Indian government, urging unity against violence. “Our religion teaches peace, not violence,” one speaker echoed. Prominent personalities including MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, former Market Committee Chairman Naresh Bhardwaj, Anita Som Prakash, Ashu Sampla, Ashok Sethi, Arun Khosla, Gurjit Walia, Tarunjeet Singh Walia, Harjinder Gogna, Anurag Mankhand, Tejasvi Bhardwaj, Sunil Chamm, Chander Rekha Nikki, Ashok Duggal, Satish Prabhakar, Harbans Lal, Pradeep Singh Basra, Jatinder Palahi, Inderjit Basra, Jaswinder Ghumman, Raju Chahal, Rajan Sharma and Avtar Singh were in attendance. The march concluded near the National Flagless Pole along the national highway late in the evening. Many participants expressed anger and disappointment that the pole stood without the national flag, especially on such a solemn occasion. Hoshiarpur prays for Pahalgam victims Representatives from diverse faiths and organisations unite at an all-religion prayer meet to pay tribute to the victims of the attack. Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, April 26 An all-religion prayer meeting was organised by the Sarv Dharm Sadbhavana Committee at Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary Model School, Shimla Pahari, to honour the memory of those martyred in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The ceremony began with a two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls. Members from various religious communities came together in a display of unity and solidarity, offering prayers and advocating for peace and justice. Anurag Sood, the convener of the Sarv Dharm Sadbhavana Committee, condemned the attack. He called for harsh punishment for the perpetrators and their supporters, while also urging people to seek wisdom through prayer and follow the path of righteousness to foster global peace and brotherhood. Prominent social worker and patron of the Eye Donation Society Hoshiarpur, Professor Bahadur Singh Sunet, recited the ‘Mool Mantra’ and offered heartfelt prayers for the martyrs. Lawrence Chaudhary, chairman of the Christian National Front India, shared a message of love and unity, quoting the Holy Bible. He emphasised Christianity, like all faiths, stands firmly against violence and upholds values of compassion and fraternity. Sheikh Shahbaz Mannan from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Qadian, also condemned the cowardly attack on unarmed civilians in Pahalgam. He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and reiterated that Islam is a religion of peace, rejecting any form of violence or terrorism. Punjab surpasses procurement target: Minister Surprise raids on agro dealers to curb sale of banned rice varieties Tribune news Service Jalandhar, April 26 Punjab Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Lal Chand Kataruchak, said the state has surpassed its wheat procurement target for the season, thanks to a bumper harvest and efficient procurement operations. He credited the hard work of Punjab’s farmers for helping the state exceed its goal of procuring 124 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of wheat. During a visit to the grain market in Kapurthala to review procurement progress, the Cabinet Minister said the Punjab Government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, had ensured smooth procurement by making timely arrangements for cash credit limits, gunny bags, lifting and market management. Sharing the latest figures, he said around 90 LMT of wheat had arrived at the mandis so far, with state agencies including PUNSUP Punjab State , Warehouse Corporation, Markfed, and PUNGRAIN having procured nearly 82 LMT. Emphasising the state’s Tribune News Service Labourers sift wheat from husk at the grain market in Jalandhar on Saturday. SARABJIT SINGH commitment to supporting farmers, the minister stated, “Payments for procured wheat are being made within the stipulated 24-hour window.” He added that nearly 5 lakh farmers have brought their wheat to the markets, and payments totalling Rs 15,000 crore have already been made. Addressing labour welfare, Kataruchak said the state government has increased loading charges to Rs 2.64 per gunny bag, following demands from labourers. This move, he said, will result in an additional Rs 10 crore in earnings for the workforce involved in procurement and transportation. On being asked about the current wheat demand in the open market, the minister attributed the increase to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has disrupted global wheat supply. “The Punjab Government is committed to purchasing every grain of the farmers’ produce,” he assured. He also touched upon compensation for wheat crops damaged by fire, stating Deputy Commissioners across districts have been directed to expedite relief measures to compensate affected farmers without delay. While inspecting the market, the minister reviewed transport and lifting operations and issued instructions to accelerate the pace of grain movement. He interacted with farmers and commission agents, many of whom expressed satisfaction with the arrangements and timely payments. Nawanshahr, April 26 In a surprise crackdown on Saturday, the Chief Agriculture Officer, Dr Rajinder Kumar Kamboj carried out raids on fertiliser, seed and pesticide dealers across the Nawanshahr district to assess the availability of key agricultural inputs for the upcoming Kharif season. Acting under directives from Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Deputy Commissioner Ankurjit Singh, Dr Kamboj issued a firm warning to seed sellers to avoid dealing in banned rice varieties, particularly the longduration hybrid Pusa 44. He said the sale of these varieties has been prohibited by the Punjab Government in an effort to counter the alarming depletion of groundwater levels. “Strict legal action will be taken against any dealer found stocking or selling banned varieties,” Dr Kamboj said. Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Rajinder Kumar Kamboj during the raid in Nawanshahr on Saturday. To reinforce compliance, he said dedicated monitoring teams would soon be deployed at the block level to check for the presence of banned seeds in the market. Dealers have also been instructed to provide a valid bill to every farmer purchasing seeds. Farmers were urged not to use uncertified seeds and to report any dealer refusing to issue a bill to the relevant block Agriculture Officer. The government aims to tighten regulations on seed sales and improve transparency in transactions. Reiterating the administration’s commitment to water conservation, Dr Kulwinder Kaur, Assistant Plant Protection Officer, advised farmers to begin paddy sowing only after 9 June. She strongly recommended the use of shortduration, water-efficient rice varieties such as PR 126, 127, 128, 129, 130 and 131, which have been promoted for sustainable cultivation. Brothers held with 4.2 kg opium Phagwara-Hoshiarpur four-lane project set to begin soon Jalandhar, April 26 In a major breakthrough under its ongoing anti-drug drive, the Jalandhar Rural Police arrested two brothers with a large consignment of opium from Bhogpur. Acting on a tip-off, the police seized 4 kg and 200 gm of opium from the suspects, who were allegedly using public transport to supply drugs across the state. SSP Jalandhar (rural) Harvinder Singh Virk said the arrests were made as part of a campaign against drug trafficking. The operation was led by SP (Investigation) Sarabjit Rai, with a team from Bhogpur Police Station headed by DSP Adampur Kulwant Singh. The accused, identified as 24-year-old Wasim and his 40year-old brother Rafique — both residents of Fazilpur in district Sujanpur, Uttar Pradesh — were intercepted by a police party at Adda Ladra in Bhogpur on 25 April 2025. SHO Inspector Ravinder Kumar, who was leading the naka (checkpoint), found the duo acting suspiciously. Upon a thorough search, the team recovered the opium consignment from their possession. According to the police, the brothers were en route to Hoshiarpur to deliver the narcotics when they were caught. A case has been registered against them under Sections 18(c), 61 and 85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Bhogpur police station. Preliminary interrogation revealed that the brothers, who run a roadside eatery (dhaba), had turned to drug trafficking with the aim of accumulating quick wealth. They were using public transport as a cover to transport large consignments of opium across the state, believing it would help them evade detection. SSP Virk stated, “The duo are brothers who operated a dhaba but got into the drug trade using public transport as a front.” Police also confirmed that backward and forward linkages are being thoroughly probed to uncover the full extent of the smuggling network and identify any other individuals involved. — TNS Our Correspondent Phagwara, April 26 Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Som Parkash announced on Saturday that the long-awaited Phagwara-Hoshiarpur fourlane road project is expected to commence shortly. Addressing mediapersons at his residence in Urban Estate, Phagwara, he shared the latest developments following a detailed meeting with officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Parkash stated nearly all administrative and technical formalities related to the project have been completed. “The groundwork is almost done. We are now at c m y b Local stakeholders are hopeful that the project will ease traffic problems, stimulate economic activity. FILE the stage where actual construction work will begin soon,” he said. The proposed upgrade of the Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road into a four-lane high- way is set to provide significant relief to daily commuters, while also benefitting tourists and pilgrims travelling to religious destinations in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh. The expanded road is expected to reduce travel time and improve safety for motorists. Key attendees at the meeting included former Mayor Arun Khosla, former District BJP President Rakesh Duggal, BJP Kisan Morcha National Secretary Avtar Mand and Anita Som Parkash. Senior NHAI officials directly involved with the project were also present and reportedly expressed readiness to move forward with the construction phase. Residents and local stakeholders have welcomed the development, hopeful that the long-pending project will not only ease persistent traffic problems but also stimulate economic activity and infrastructural progress in the region. The PhagwaraHoshiarpur route has long served as a crucial corridor for both commercial and personal travel between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The upcoming four-lane expansion is expected to enhance regional connectivity and support sustained growth for adjoining towns and villages. With most approvals and documentation now in place, the region is poised to benefit from a long-overdue infrastructure boost that many believe would transform mobility and promote broader development.