24052025-JTR-01.qxd 23-05-2025 22:33 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune JIMPA INAUGURATES DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN HOSHIARPUR Former Cabinet Minister and MLA Brahm Shankar Jimpa inaugurated infrastructure development works in Industrial Estate.P2 » DON’T LET THEM PUT YOU IN A BOX, SAYS KUNAL AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN DAZZLES IN GAURAV GUPTA OUTFIT “I’m an actor, entrepreneur, I fly planes, race cars and write. Let your interests collide. That mix-that’s your magic:” Kunal Kapoor.P4 At the Cannes Film Festival, Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai chose a custom couture ensemble by Gaurav Gupta. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 39°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET SATURDAY 7.22 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5:26 AM SATURDAY | 24 MAY 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF JUVENILE HELD FOR GANG RAPE Phagwara: The Mehatpur police have arrested a juvenile on the charge of gang-raping a minor. Investigating officer (IO) Niranjann Singh said the accused was identified as Gurwindar Singh, a resident of Vehran village. The IO said a case under Section 70(2) (gang rape of woman under the age of eighteen) of the BNS and Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered against the accused. He said the main accused, identified as Bobbi Singh, a resident of Umrewal village, was arrested earlier. OC 3 DRUG PEDDLERS ARRESTED Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested a drug peddler on the charge of selling heroin. Investigating Officer (IO) Sukhwindar Pal Singh said 55.34 grams of heroin was recovered from the possession of the accused, identified as Naresh Kumar Gill, a resident of Saidpur Jhirri village. The IO said a case under Sections 21-B/61/85 of the NDPS Act was registered against the accused and his motorcycle was impounded. The Bilga police arrested two drug peddlers, Amrit Pal Singh and Ratanjit Singh, residents of Poadharra village, and recovered 120 intoxicating tablets, said IO Avtar Lal. OC MAN HELD FOR CONSUMING DRUG Phagwara: The Mehatpur police have arrested a drug addict on the charge of consuming heroin. Investigating officer (IO) Jaspal Singh said the accused, was identified as Rannjit Singh, a resident of Sangowal village. The IO said a lighter, a silver paper and a plastic pipe used for consuming drug was recovered from his possession. A case under Sections 27/61/85 of the NDPS Act was registered against accused, the IO added. OC 27-YR-OLD YOUTH FOUND DEAD Phagwara: A 27-year-old youth was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Friday at a village under the Bilga police station. Station House Officer (SHO) Palwindar Singh said the deceased was identified as Lovdeep Singh, a resident of Ladharr Kalan village. The SHO said village residents informed the police about a body. He said the police took the body into possession and sent it to the Phillaur Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Further investigation was on, he said. OC Illegal structure of two drug peddlers razed in Garha Jalandhar, May 23 The Municipal Corporation (MC) in coordination with the commissionerate police demolished an illegal structure belonging to notorious drug smugglers in Phagwari Mohalla, Garha locality, as a part of the ongoing drive under “Yudh Nashian Virudh”. Giving information, Dhanpreet Kaur, Commissioner of Police (CP), Jalandhar, said the MC had received information about an illegal structure of notorious drug smuggler brothers Sahil Atwal, alias Kali, and Sanjiv Atwal. They had 12 cases against them, including those registered under the NDPS Act, with a massive recovery of intoxicating injections, prohibited tablets and heroin, the CP said. Sanjiv is currently lodged in jail, while Sahil is wanted in various cases. The structure was reportedly built using proceeds from his illegal drug trade, the CP said. Acting promptly, the MC and police teams led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Roopdeep Kaur and Assistant Town Planner Pooja Mann demolished the illegal structure, sending a strong message that drug-related activities would not be tolerated in the city. — TNS Phagwara, May 23 The city police have registered a case against four youth for allegedly breaking into a home, vandalising property and issuing threats to owners. The incident reportedly occurred on the night of May 18 in the Prempura locality. According to SHO City Usha Rani, a complaint was lodged by Paramjit Kaur, wife of Vijay Kumar, a resident of Prempura. In her statement to the police, she alleged that a youth named Tanish arrived at her residence late at night accompanied by a group of associates. After knocking on the door, they inquired about Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 23 Reacting to the arrest of Jalandhar (Central) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Raman Arora by the Vigilance Bureau, the leaders of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said they expected the state government to take the case against Arora to a logical conclusion. BJP leaders, including exminister Manoranjan Kalia, ex-CPSes KD Bhandari and Avinash Chander, ex-MLAs Sheetal Angural and Jagbir Brar said, “We expect this case not to be left midway like those against previously indicted AAP MLAs Vijay Singla, Amit Rattan Kotfatta and Fauja S Sarari. People of Punjab want to know the follow-up of the reports that came against these AAP leaders. If Arora had indulged in corruption, his case should be completely unearthed, all his wrong-doings must be exposed and he should be tried in the court of law.” The BJP leaders flashed pictures of AAP leaders who recently attended a wedding Former BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia holds a press conference along with other party leaders in Jalandhar on Friday. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH at Singla’s place. “If he was not a clean leader, why were the AAP leaders and Bhagwant Mann’s family members at his place?” they questioned. Sheetal Angural, who has been claiming that he has audio evidences against AAP MLA Raman Arora, said he had handed over the audio clips to relevant persons. “The clips have not been made public by me, but they have reached where they should have ideally gone,” he said. The BJP leaders refuted that there were any talks of taking Arora into the AAP’s fold. Vigilance Bureau releases official statement The Vigilance Bureau (VB) today evening released a statement regarding Arora’s arrest. The bureau said on May 14, they received a joint complaint signed by three office-bearers of the Engineers and Building Designer Association, Jalandhar, alleging that Sukhdev Vashisht, Assistant Town Planner (ATP), Municipal Corporation (MC), often demanded illegal gratification from them. The complainants further said whenever the ATP went in the area under his jurisdiction, he threatened people that their buildings would be sealed and demolished. It was further alleged that the ATP had many files pending with him. It was found that Sukhdev Vashisht was posted in Pathankot in the substantive rank of senior draftsman, but held the additional charge of ATP Jalandhar , MC also. The accused had been continuously posted in Jalandhar, with small breaks inbetween, from April 2022 till now. During search of the office premises and residence of the arrested ATP Sukhdev Vashisth, hundreds of official notices for unauthorised construction were recovered. Some of these notices did not have entry in the dispatch register. The VB release stated: “The arrested ATP at the , behest and in consultation with MLA Raman Arora, identified constructed or under-construction buildings, both commercial as well as residential, and served them notices for alleged violations. When building owners, or their representatives approached official concerned, he would direct them to the said MLA. The MLA would then settle the matter by taking illegal gratification. Upon receiving an affirmative message from the said MLA, the files were consigned by the accused ATP and no action initiated. Close to 75 to 80 such notices related to the said nexus have been recovered.” Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 23 With a recent surge in Covid19 cases in the country in the past few days, the district health authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation. Four new Covid cases were reported in Haryana. No such case has so far been reported in Punjab. The last three cases of coronavirus were reported in Jalandhar in January 2025. After that, no case was reported. The first Covid case in Jalandhar was reported on March 24, 2020, and the last on January 17, 2025. From March 2020, until now, 81,790 Covid cases were reported in Jalandhar. In all, 1,993 deaths from Covid were reported during the same period. As per the health authorities, in 2024, 83 people tested positive for Covid and three died after contracting the virus. The last death from Covid was reported in February 24, 2024. The health authorities, said people who died after getting infected also had co-morbid conditions. District Epidemiologist Dr Aditya Paul said, “So far, there is no surge or fresh Covid case in the region. But the Covid scenario in Jalandhar is strictly being monitored. There is no cause for alarm at present.” Khaira calls arrest of AAP MLA an ‘eyewash’ DrugnetworkrunfromabroadbustedinHoshiarpur Says political gimmick ahead of Ludhiana (West) bypoll 419 gm heroin, ~5.10L & 2 country-made pistols recovered from accused The Congress MLA fur- He accused the Bhagwant Our Correspondent Phagwara, May 23 Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, today strongly condemned the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Raman Arora by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, terming it a “blatant eyewash” and a “political gimmick” orchestrated by the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government to mislead the public ahead of the Ludhiana (West) by-election. Khaira drew parallels to the arrest of former AAP Minister Dr Vijay Singla prior to the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-election in 2022, pointing out that despite serious corruption charges, no chargesheet was ever filed against Singla. “Dr Vijay Singla continues to enjoy the full patronage of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and the party, proving that such arrests are mere stunts to create a false narrative of accountability,” Khaira stated. 4 booked for trespassing, vandalism,issuingthreats Our Correspondent Take MLA Raman Arora’s arrest to logical conclusion: BJP leaders Health Dept keeps close watch amid Covid surge reports her son Himanshu’s whereabouts. When informed that he was not at home, the group forcibly entered the house. The accused allegedly damaged an LED television, a water motor, and a CCTV camera. They also used abusive language and issued threats. One of the accused, identified as Deepa, reportedly brandished a pistol from his waistband, further intimidating the family before fleeing the scene. Based on the complaint, the police filed a case under relevant sections of the BNS against Tanish, alias Bhinda, of Subhash Nagar, Deep Chicha of Palahi Gate, Deepa of Daddal Mohalla, and Fateh of Baba Gadhia. Further investigation into the matter is underway. ther questioned the selective inaction of the AAP government against its own leaders, citing the cases of Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak and MLA Sarabjit Kaur Manuke. “Despite video evidence of exploitation of a young boy against Minister Kataruchak, no action was taken. He continues to hold office with impunity. Similarly, MLA Sarabjit Kaur Manuke, who was held guilty of illegally occupying an NRI’s expensive house in Jagraon, faces no consequences. This exposes the AAP’s double standards and its protection of corrupt and criminal elements within its ranks,” Khaira alleged. Khaira asserted that if a genuine and impartial inquiry was conducted into activities of AAP MLAs, “most of them would have to be arrested, as they were neck-deep in corruption.” Mann government of shielding its leaders, while projecting a facade of anticorruption measures to gain electoral mileage. “The arrest of Raman Arora is a repeat of the same script played out before the Sangrur by-election. The AAP government is desperate to divert attention from its failures and rampant corruption within its ranks. Punjabis are not fooled by these tactics,” Khaira said, urging the public to see through the “political drama” and hold the AAP accountable for its betrayal of the common man’s trust. Khaira reiterated his commitment to exposing the AAP’s “hypocrisy” and vowed to continue raising issues of public interest. He called for a transparent investigation by an independent agency into the alleged corrupt practices of AAP legislators to ensure justice for the people of Punjab. Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, May 23 The district police claims to have busted an international drug network. District Police Chief Sandeep Kumar Malik, while addressing a press conference at the Police Lines today, said under the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, strict action was being taken against smugglers and gangsters in the district. He said under the drive, a CIA team arrested Arjun Sharma on March 28, a resident of Hari Nagar, with 270 grams of heroin. A case was registered against him at the Model Town police station under the NDPS Act. He said during the investigation it was found that Saurav Jindal, alias Saubi, a resident of Mohalla Kirti Nagar, was also involved in drug smuggling at the behest of a person living in the USA. He said Akashdeep of Purhiran used to supply drugs to addicts on instructions of Saurav Jindal. A case was registered against Saurav Jindal and Akashdeep under the NDPS Act. Akashdeep was arrested. Malik said during interrogation, Arjun Sharma and Akashdeep disclosed that after many drug smugglers were caught with weapons recently, Jindal stopped contacting them directly. He used to contact them through Canadian resident Ashutosh Sharma, presently residing at Mohalla Bahadurpur, who was currently in India. He used to give money collected to Ravinder Adia, a resident of Khanpuri Gate, and Bhawani Singh, a resident of Kachche Quarter, on the instructions of Jindal. Malik said a case was registered against Ashutosh Sharma, Saurav Jindal, Ravinder Adia and Bhawani Singh under the NDPS Act. He said Ashutosh Sharma was arrested. During interrogation, Akashdeep and Ashutosh Sharma disclosed that Jindal used to supply heroin to them through Gurinder Singh, a resident of Banga in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district. Malik said Gurinder Singh was arrested on April 14. He said during interrogation, Gurinder admitted that he used to supply heroin to Jindal on the instructions of Jaspreet Singh, alias Jassa, a resident of Mohanwal under the Garhshankar police station. Gurinder paid for the drug to unknown persons sent by Jaspreet Singh. Malik said on May 7, the CIA staff arrested Sahilpreet Singh, a resident of Kila Baroon village with 149 grams of heroin. He said during interrogation, Sahilpreet disclosed that he also supplied heroin to Sourav Jindal. After this, the CIA staff arrested Hemant, a resident of Abadpura in Jalandhar district with a 315 bore countrymade pistol and one live round. A case was registered against him at the Sadar police station. Malik said Hemant and his partner Neeraj Kumar, alias Ranjha, of Hardokhan- pur village, currently a resident of Banjarbagh, used to supply drugs and weapons on the orders of Saurav Jindal. On May 7, the police arrested Sahilpreet Singh with heroin. During interrogation Sahilpreet disclosed that he too supplied heroin on the orders of Saurav Jindal. On May 8, he collected payment for the drug and gave it to Jyotipreet Kaler, a resident of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. Malik said Jyotipreet Kaler was arrested by the CIA on May 16 in Jalandhar and Rs 5.10 lakh drug money was recovered from his possession. A 32 bore country-made pistol and a magazine were also seized from Kaler and a case registered against him under the Arms Act. During interrogation, Kaler told the police that he worked at the behest of Akash Chauhan, alias Rocky, a resident of District Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, who now lived in the USA. Senior police officers visit drug hotspots, interact with women Our Correspondent Phagwara, May 23 In a significant step toward consolidating Punjab’s efforts against drug abuse, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Jalandhar Range, Naveen Singla, along with Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), conducted a comprehensive field visit to several drug-sensitive villages (Drug hotspots) across the region, including Kingra, Sangran and Khanurra. The purpose of the visit was to assess the impact of ongoing anti-drug initiatives and to engage directly with local communities for honest and unfiltered feedback. During the visit, the DIG Singla himself interacted with residents across various social Claim massive decline in substance abuse DIG Naveen Singla talks to residents at a village near Phagwara. and economic backgrounds, particularly focusing on areas that were once considered hotspots for narcotics activity. The feedback received was overwhelmingly positive. Locals pointed to a dramatic reduction in drug abuse and c m y b related crimes, with some estimating a decline as steep as 90 to 95 per cent. According to villagers, this remarkable turnaround was possible due to the Punjab Police’s sustained and uninterrupted crackdown on drug net- works operating in the region. DIG Singla said, “The visits are marked by open and candid discussions, where community members shared their experiences and acknowledged the police’s consistent presence and quick action in curbing drug-related activities. Many expressed relief at the restored sense of safety and community wellbeing. Women, especially those working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), are particularly vocal. They shared personal stories about how drug addiction had torn families apart, and how its retreat has helped reunite and heal them.” Women described how the absence of drugs improved not just the security of their villages, but also the overall economic and social environment. They said, “Children are returning to school. Young men are finding employment and families are beginning to rebuild what was lost to addiction.” Several women emotionally expressed how they can now work in fields without fear, send their children out safely and live without the constant anxiety of violence or theft linked to drug abuse. Beyond enforcement, the rehabilitation aspect of the police strategy also drew praise. Residents highlighted the positive role of awareness campaigns, de-addiction centres and support programmes that helped former addicts reintegrate into society. The dual focus on cracking down on offenders and uplifting victims had been key to the success of the campaign. Speaking during the visit, DIG Naveen Singla stressed on the importance of community participation in sustaining the fight against drugs.