04062025-JTR-01.qxd 6/3/2025 10:42 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune MOCK DRILL HELD TO ASSESS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DOCTORS’ SHORTAGE HITS EMERGENCY SERVICES ACTOR NAVNEET MALIK SHARES HOW FITNESS FUELS HIS CRAFT A mock drill was conducted to assess emergency preparedness in the event of a potential air strike. P2 The health centre, which has 10 sanctioned posts, currently has only two doctors on duty. P3 Actor Navneet Malik reveals the disciplined fitness regimen behind his on-screen transformations. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.20 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:21 AM » WEDNESDAY | 4 JUNE 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF ROBBER NABBED WITH 10 MOBILES Phagwara: A suspected robber was apprehended near Nakodar railway crossing during a checkpoint operation by the Kapurthala police, while his accomplice managed to escape. The arrested individual was found in possession of 10 expensive mobile phones believed to have been stolen. The operation was carried out under the supervision of PCR in-charge Charanjit Singh Khaira. DSP Deepkaran Singh said that an FIR has been registered against the arrested suspect at the city police station and further probe is underway. — OC ONE DEAD IN AC EXPLOSION Nawanshahr: One person died and 10 other sustained injuries following an explosion in the compressor of an airconditioner in Nawanshahr. The deceased has been identified as 62-year-old Kashmir Kaur. Baljeet Kaur (60), who was severely injured, was referred to the PGI, while the rest were stated to be out of danger. The incident happened at around 1 in the afternoon at a gurdwara in Balachaur subdivision. There was a huge rush of devotees in the gurdwara when the explosion took place and after the incident, people started running in panic. People had come from Ropar, Ludhiana, Garhshankar and other places. The police has started investigating the matter. — OC Pen-down strike by staff halts work at Fard Kendras Dalit organisations convene meeting to condemn sacrilege Contract of company handling the system expires, not renewed yet Phagwara, June 3 Leaders of several Scheduled Caste (SC) organisations gathered in Phagwara on Tuesday to strongly condemn the act of sacrilege involving the defacement of Dr BR Ambedkar’s statue at village Nangal in Phillaur tehsil of Jalandhar district. The meeting, held at the Phagwara Rest House, was organised by prominent Dalit outfits, including the Guru Ravidas Tiger Force, Ambedkar Sena Moolnivasi and Yuva Vikas Morcha. The meeting was convened in response to the incident that took place on the intervening night of June 1 and 2, where unidentified miscreants allegedly vandalised a statue of Dr Ambedkar — a revered figure among the SC community and principal architect of the Indian Constitution. The gathering saw participation from notable SC leaders including Yash Barna (Chairman, Guru Ravidas Tiger Force), Dharmender Both (president, Ambedkar Sena Moolnivasi), Anu Suhota and Ashvini Suhota (president and vicepresident, Yuva Vikas Morcha), along with other activists and representatives from Ambedkarite and Moolnivasi organisations. Addressing the attendees, advocate Randeep Kumar Kailey, a member of Ambedkar Sena, unequivocally condemned the incident and expressed concern over the Our Correspondent Phagwara, June 3 All Fard Kendras (Land Record Facilitation Centres) across Punjab have come to a standstill as the staff launched an indefinite pen-down strike starting today. The protest has caused significant disruption in public services, leaving citizens grappling with delays and inconvenience in accessing essential land record documentation. A delegation of Fard Kendra staff from Phagwara, led by Sandeep Kaur, met Naib Tehsildar Gurcharan Kaler and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Tehsildar. In the letter, employees expressed their deep dissatisfaction with the state government’s “apathetic attitude” towards their longstanding demands and job security. Speaking to the media, Fard Kendra employees— including Sandeep Kaur, Babandeep Kaur, Gurinder Singh, Harjit Singh, Jyoti and Kaushalya—highlighted that over 900 employees, including district managers, operators and engineers, have been working in these centres for the past 18 years. They claim to have digitalised land records across Punjab, often under difficult conditions and for meagre The staff at Fard Kendras have begun a stir accusing the government of compromising their jobs. salaries, especially in remote areas. The staff alleged that despite years of dedicated service—including working overtime during the land mutation season, election duties and even during the Covid-19 pandemic—they are now being pushed towards unemployment. “We were promised that our services would not be terminated. But now, the government is preparing to shut down our roles without offering any alternative employment,” one employee said. The employees also raised the issue of unpaid salaries for April and May 2025. When questioned, officials from CMS Computers Ltd—the company contracted to manage Fard Kendras—revealed that the contract expired on October 31, 2024, and has not yet been renewed by the government. Furthermore, no payments have been released to the company, making it impossible for them to disburse staff salaries. They also pointed out that nearly 60 per cent of the current staff is over the age limit for alternative employment, making their future uncertain. “On the one hand, the government claims to be creating employment, and on the other, it’s rendering around 900 employees jobless,” they added. The striking staff emphasised that their protest will remain peaceful and that they will continue to sit in their offices without resuming work until the government provides clarity and assurance about their future. They also appealed to the state administration to either reinstate their services or absorb them into other suitable roles if the Fard Kendras are to be restructured. Our Correspondent 2 killed in mishap Now, civic concern over contaminated as SUV hits bike water supply in Rail Vihar area Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Phagwara, June 3 In a road accident on the Chandigarh bypass near Khungura cut in Phagwara, two young men riding a motorcycle lost their lives following a violent collision with an SUV. The incident occurred early Tuesday and prompted an immediate response from the Sadar Police Station. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Bindarpal, who arrived at the scene with a police team, reported that the accident involved a high-speed crash between the SUV and the motorcycle. Upon receiv- ing the information, the police rushed to the location and began an initial investigation. Preliminary details from Civil Hospital authorities confirmed the deaths of both motorcyclists. One of the deceased has been identified as Baljinder Singh, a resident of Mehatpur (Balachaur). The identity of the second youth remains unknown at this time. The driver of the SUV has been identified as Satnam Singh, a resident of Raipur Pharala. Police have taken both the SUV and the motorcycle into custody and initiated further legal proceedings. Jalandhar, June 3 Plea after plea is being filed before the Permanent Lok Adalat, Jalandhar, as civic concerns mount following a public appeal by a group of lawyers urging residents to raise issues affecting daily life. Days after a complaint was lodged regarding the deteriorating condition of Guru Nanak Pura road, a new application has now been submitted over the supply of contaminated drinking water in the Rail Vihar locality. The latest petition, filed by legal activist advocate Mayan Ranaut, calls for Public appeal by a group of lawyers urging residents to take up issues affecting their daily lives before the Permanent Lok Adalat urgent intervention to ensure safe drinking water for residents. The complaint states that the existing pipeline system in the area is severely compromised, leading to the mixing of sewage with the drinking water supply. Despite repeated complaints, authorities have allegedly failed to take effective action, prompting residents to escalate the matter to the court. The application, filed through counsels Vikram Dutta and Taranum Ranaut, argues that access to clean drinking water is not only a basic civic necessity but also a fundamental right protected under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life. A bench of the Permanent Lok Adalat has taken cognisance of the issue and issued notices to the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation and the Executive Engineer of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department. They have been asked to file their response, and the matter has been fixed for hearing on June 19. The legal move forms part of a wider campaign under the banner of ‘Jaagda Punjab Morcha’, which seeks to push for greater accountability from public officials and safeguard citizens’ rights through legal recourse. “With the floodgates now open for civic complaints, more such applications are expected in the coming days, as residents find a platform in the Permanent Lok Adalat to voice grievances long ignored by local authorities,” said advocate Ranaut. failure of the local administration and police to safeguard symbols of Dalit pride. He urged community leaders to unite on a common platform to counter the alleged provocations by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a separatist and pro-Khalistan advocate. Kailey also noted the financial challenges in pursuing legal redress, stating that “justice through the judiciary remains out of reach for many in the SC community due to high legal costs”. Yash Barna, representing the Guru Ravidas Tiger Force, referred to Article 25 of the Constitution, asserting that Dr Ambedkar envisioned equal respect for all religions and rejected the conflation of Sikh identity with that of ‘Keshdhari Hindus’—a claim he said was being promoted by Khalistani elements. Barna accused Pannu of using local youth to incite communal tension and facilitate their escape abroad by supporting asylum claims. The silence of elected SC representatives drew sharp criticism from Manveer Bodh of the Ambedkar Sena Moolnivasi, who questioned the absence of statements from local SC MPs and MLAs, particularly targeting former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Similarly, Money Ambedkari raised concerns over the future of Dalits, warning of the danger of suppressing SC voices. He added that no separatist group or leader had condemned the act, further deepening the community’s sense of alienation. Ajay Moolnivasi, president of the National Moolnivasi Sangh, echoed the call for unity, urging all Dalit organisations to consolidate their efforts to prevent future acts of sacrilege. He also held the Central Government accountable for not acting against Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, demanding his deportation from the United States. Moolnivasi further alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was indirectly behind such incidents in Punjab and West Bengal—states where it traditionally has weaker influence—claiming that Pannu might be acting as an “agent of RSS” to create instability. At the conclusion of the meeting, it was resolved that all SC leaders and supporters in Phagwara would assemble on Wednesday morning at 10 am at Ambedkar Park, Hargobind Nagar. They plan to submit a memorandum to the local Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) demanding swift justice and immediate steps to safeguard Ambedkar statues across the region. Among the measures proposed is the installation of sensor-based alert systems on statues to notify local police in realtime in case of tampering. Residents rejoice over Kings XI Punjab’s final foray People in city watch the IPL final match telecast. TRIBUNE PHOTO CM Di Yogshala turns two with 3,000 free yoga classes Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 3 The ‘CM Di Yogshala’ programme, launched by the Punjab government for health and wellness of the people, is set to complete two years in the state. More than 3,000 free yoga classes have been conducted daily across Punjab. These classes have been held regularly from morning till evening to bring positive changes in the lives of thousands of people. District coordinator of the programme, Jatin Kumar, informed that over 155 yoga classes are being conducted daily in Jalandhar, with approximately 5,000 participants benefit- ing physically and mentally every day. The programme was launched in Jalandhar during the second phase and will complete its two-year journey on June 20 this month. The state government is also providing career opportunities to the youth in the field of yoga. In this direction, a one-year course titled ‘Diploma in Meditation and Yoga Science’ has been started across the state through satellite centres. The diploma is trimesterbased and aligned with the New Education Policy(NEP), divided into three phases of study. Students who complete the first trimester are given the opportunity to take yoga classes in the field, helping them gain practical experience. During this period, the government also provides them a monthly stipend of Rs 8,000. In Jalandhar district, this diploma course is being conducted at the Multi-Skill Development Centre, Leather Complex. The students of the first batch have completed their first trimester and are currently taking yoga sessions in the field. Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal, Additional Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh and their entire team are supporting the scheme so that it achieves its aims. People take part in CM Di Yogshala in Jalandhar for health and wellness benefits. TRIBUNE PHOTO c m y b Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 3 With Kings XI Punjab in the finals of the IPL match after 11 years, the residents of Jalandhar did not want to miss the crazy atmosphere sitting in front of TV sets at home. Many families stepped out to watch the match on big screens put up at various locations in the city. One of the biggest venue to watch the match was Jullundur Gymkhana Club where families occupied tables sitting in the lawns. The cool breeze that followed a storm in the evening made the atmosphere just perfect to cheer up their favourite team. Sandeep Behl, honorary secretary of the club, said that the guests had a good time watching the finals as all arrangements were in place. Another big screen site in city was the Curo Mall on 66-feet road. Here, the youth came in large numbers as they watched each ball with passion and reacted with hooting or clapping. Many viewers donned the red jerseys of Punjab team to express solidarity with their team and keep the atmosphere alive and re-create a stadium-like atmosphere. Several restaurants and hangout places in the city, including Reefers and Notorious, also installed big screens. Several pubs in the city had offers for their customers on liquor. On customer demand, the restaurants announced to remain open till 11:30 pm so that they could watch the match till the last ball played.