18062025-JTR-01.qxd 6/17/2025 11:34 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune CENTRAL TEAM VISITS K’THALA TO ASSESS WATER CONSERVATION JALANDHAR REPORTS ONLY 8 COVID CASES SO FAR THIS YEAR HILLANG YAJIK WINS TOP PRIZE AT BODYBUILDING C’SHIP A two-member team visited Kapurthala as part of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan to assess region’s water conservation. P2 In all, a total of eight cases of Covid have been reported this year—three in January and five in June. P3 Yajik became the first woman athlete from Arunachal Pradesh to win a gold in physique sports at int’l event. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.34 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:23 AM » WEDNESDAY | 18 JUNE 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF TWO ARRESTED WITH INTOXICANTS Phagwara: The Phagwara police have arrested two drugs peddlers and recovered 10 gm of heroin and 60 intoxicating pills from their possession last night. SSP Gaurav Toora said the police apprehended a youth identified as Rohit, native of village Kharkuwal (SBS Nagar), presently residing in Maherru colony and recovered 10 gm of heroin at a check point. In another case, the police arrested a 'peddler' identified as Shiva, resident of the Gobindpura locality in Phagwara, and recovered 60 tablets from his possession.Two separate cases under the NDPS Act have been registered against the accused, said SSP Toora. OC 2 ARRESTED FOR TAKING DRUGS Phagwara: The Nakodar police have arrested two persons on the charge of consuming heroin. The accused have been identified as Amanjot Bhatta of Gohir village and Karamjit alias Monu of Tutkalan village. Two lighters, two silver papers, and plastic pipes used for consuming contraband were recovered from his possession. A case has been registered against the accused. OC 2 ARRESTED UNDER NDPS ACT Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have arrested a 'drug peddler' for selling intoxicating tablets. As many as 40 tablets were seized from the possession of the accused Rajdeep Singh, alias Raja, a resident of Nihaluwal village. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused. The Mehatpur police arrested Narindar Kumar, alias Bhima, of Mehatpur, with 20 tablets. OC TWO OF MOGA HELD FOR FIRING Phagwara: The Bilga police have arrested two Moga residents on the charges of endangering life and firing. The accused have been identified as Lovpreet Singh of Sangla village and Vikramjit Singh of Kamalkekhurd village in Moga. Jasveer Singh of Burj Hassan village, had complained to the police that the accused and his accomplices had fired at his main gate, intending to kill his family. A case was registered against the accused. oc MAN HELD FOR MOLESTATION Phagwara: The Mehatpur police have arrested a miscreant on the charges of outraging the modesty of a woman and snatching. The accused has been identified as Mandeep of Maherru village. The victim had complained to the police that the accused and his 26 accomplices had assaulted, threatened, and outraged her modesty and snatched her gold chain. oc GANGSTER HELD FOR EXTORTION Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have arrested a gangster on the charge of extortion. The accused has been identified as Anmolpreet Singh of Yusafpur Aalewal village. The victim had complained to the police that the accused and his accomplice had made two calls from different numbers on his phone number and demanded Rs 50 lakh as ransom money. A case was registered against the accused. oc Rain brings smile on people’s faces, Met predicts more showers Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 17 After days of sweltering heat, Jalandhar residents finally got a much-needed respite as light rain and cool breezes swept through the city today. The city, which had been reeling under an intense heat wave with temperatures soaring up to 45°C, experienced a noticeable drop in temperatures, much to the relief of citizens and farmers alike. After a brief spell of drizzle, the temperature, which had been soaring, dropped to 37 degree C in the morning following the light rain. The brief yet refreshing drizzle brought smiles on many faces as streets, parks, and rooftops witnessed people stepping out to enjoy the sudden change in weather. For the agricultural community, the change in weather couldn’t have come at a better time. Farmers and labourers engaged in the ongoing paddy sowing season welcomed the showers as a blessing. The cooler conditions are expected to ease the physical strain of working in the fields, which had become nearly unbearable over the past week. “Working in 45-degree C heat was extremely exhausting. Today’s rain feels like a gift,” said Subegh Singh, a farmer from Nakodar. Agricultural experts also pointed out that even light rainfall at this stage can be beneficial. A senior official from the Agriculture Department said, “The weather will be helpful for the paddy sowing in the district.” While the rain was not heavy enough to significantly impact irrigation needs, the drop in temperatures will prevent heat stress in workers. City residents, too, found relief from the relentless heat. Children could be seen playing outside, and families took to balconies and terraces to enjoy the cool breeze. “It was like living in an oven for the past few days. The fan and cooler were of no use. But today, we finally got a relief,” said Ravneet Kaur, a banking professional. The local authorities have urged residents to continue staying hydrated and watch out for sudden changes in weather, as sporadic heat and humidity may still follow. However, with forecast indicating the possibility of more showers in the coming days, optimism is on the rise. Students enjoy jumping into a puddle after light rain brings respite from the scorching heat in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Man dies, 2 brothers hurt in Another youth duped of ~22.5 lakh by travel agents attack over minor argument Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 17 In a shocking incident late Monday night, a group of around five or six men attacked three brothers with sharp-edged weapons in the Suchi Pind area of Rama Mandi. One of the brothers Mandeep Singh succumbed to his injuries, while his brothers Mukesh Kumar and Pawan Kumar sustained serious wounds and are undergoing treatment at a private hospital on the JalandharPathankot highway. The brutal attack took place around 9:45 pm. Initial investigations by the police suggest that the assault was the result of a minor argument with attackers. Following the incident, BROTHERS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL Mandeep’s brothers Mukesh Kumar and Pawan Kumar sustained serious wounds and are undergoing treatment at a private hospital on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway. << Mandeep Singh, who succumbed to his injuries. police teams rushed to the spot and recovered CCTV footage from the area. The body of the deceased has been sent to the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, for post-mortem. According to police sources, the attackers arrived in a black Scorpio. Mandeep Singh, who had gone out for a walk after dinner, had stopped by his brother Pawan at his shop, where the three brothers were sitting and chatting with their father Jairam. It was then that Prince, one of the accused, who was with his friends, approached a woman at a nearby dhaba, pretending to ask for directions. As Mandeep stepped out of the shop, Prince and his accomplices launched a sudden and violent attack on him. When Mukesh and Pawan rushed to save their brother, they too were assaulted. Witnesses said the assailants fled the scene. Locals immediately rushed the injured to the hospital, where doctors declared Mandeep dead. Jairam, the father, told the police that the number plate of the vehicle could not be noted due to poor visibility. Rama Mandi police officials confirmed that an FIR has been registered against the accused and they are close to arrest the main accused. They said multiple police teams have been formed to track the remaining suspects. The police said further investigation is underway. Nawanshahr, June 17 In yet another case of immigration fraud, a young man from Banga has reportedly been duped of over Rs 22 lakh by two individuals posing as travel agents who promised to send him to Australia. This is the second such incident reported in the Nawanshahr district within a week, raising serious concerns about the growing number of fraudulent immigration cases targeting the youth in the region. Ranveer Singh, a resident of Banga, filed a complaint alleging that Jasveer Singh and Amarjeet Kaur had taken Rs 22,47,000 from him on the pretext of sending him to Australia. According to the complaint, the accused failed to deliver on their promises and have since become SECOND CASE IN SEVEN DAYS A similar case came to light last week, where Jagroop Kaur, a resident of Behram village in the district, lodged a complaint against two individuals, who allegedly duped her son of Rs 9 lakh with false promises of sending him to Australia. untraceable. Based on Ranveer’s complaint, the police have registered a case under Section 420 of the IPC, which pertains to cheating. However, as of now, no arrests have been made. The authorities are conducting raids at multiple locations in a bid to apprehend the accused. This incident closely follows a similar case that came to light last week, where Jagroop Kaur, a resident of Behram village in the same district, lodged a complaint against two individuals, who allegedly duped her son of Rs 9 lakh with false promises of sending him to Australia. In both cases, the victims were promised that they will be sent abroad, tactics commonly used by fraudulent agents to exploit the dreams of the youth aiming for better prospects overseas. The district administration officials often ask everyone to verify the credentials of travel and immigration agents before making any commitments. The public is being cautioned to exercise extreme care when dealing with individuals or firms claiming to offer overseas employment or migration services. The cases serve as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by unscrupulous agents preying on the aspirations of young individuals hoping for a better future abroad. Shopowner attacked Copper pipes stolen from lawyer Clash between 2 over parking issue chambers at Sultanpur Lodhi Nihang groups Phagwara, June 17 A shopkeeper was seriously injured in a violent attack on Phagwara’s Sarai Road. The police believe it to be an old rivalry. The assailant, allegedly a neighbouring shopkeeper’s son, attacked the victim with a sharp-edged weapon after a minor altercation. The victim has been identified as Kamal Chawla, owner of “Kamal Kiryana Store.” He was rushed to the Phagwara Civil Hospital with serious injuries. According to Chawla, the incident took place when an individual parked a scooter in front of his shop and went across the street to purchase goods from a sweet shop. Chawla stated that he merely asked the person not to block his store front. A short while later, the son of the sweet shop owner allegedly stormed into his store in a fit of rage and assaulted him with a kirpan (a ceremonial sword), causing severe injuries. The sudden and brutal attack left onlookers in shock. Local residents quickly intervened and transported Chawla to the hospital for medical treatment. He has filed a complaint, seeking justice and strict legal action against the accused. — OC Our Correspondent Phagwara, June 17 In a daring theft incident during the summer recess, thieves targeted the Sultanpur Lodhi court complex, stealing copper gas pipes from air conditioners installed in lawyers’ chambers. The incident came to light when local advocates returned to the complex after the weekend break. According to Bar Association president Jarnail Singh Sandha, the theft occurred during the ongoing summer holidays that began on June 15. With most lawyers away, the culprits gained easy access to the complex and systematically dismantled and stole the copper pipes from air conditioners in 10 different chambers. Sandha also claimed that apart from the copper pipes, other valuable items were stolen. A complaint has been lodged with the Sultanpur Lodhi police. The police have registered a case against unknown persons. SHO Sonamdeep Kaur said efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the culprits at the earliest. “We are examining CCTV footages and conducting a thorough investigation. The culprits will be nabbed soon,” she stated. The incident has raised serious concerns over security arrangements at the court complex, especially during holiday periods when official vigilance is low. Lawyers have urged the administration to enhance surveillance and deploy security personnel year-round to prevent such incidents. This theft highlights a growing trend in metal-related crimes, with copper being a prime target due to its high resale value in the scrap market. Cops are also looking into whether this was a one-off incident or part of a larger pattern of thefts in the region. MC official sacked, notice Crop residue loaded in trolleys comes to SE, engr chargesheeted in contact with electric wire, burnt Jalandhar, June 17 The Municipal Corporation Commissioner has taken stern action against officials over the ongoing sewerage problem in the Gajigulla area. Among those facing consequences is Superintending Engineer Rahul Gagneja, who has been served a showcause notice. A corporation engineer has been chargesheeted, while another official from the O&M branch has been terminated from service with immediate effect. Residents of Gajigulla have expressed frustration over overflowing drains and foul smell in the area, prompting the civic authorities to launch an internal probe earlier this month. — TNS Vehicles, house also gutted Phagwara, June 17 A major fire was reported last night near village Wahid, Phagwara, when several trolleys loaded with crop residue came in contact with lowhanging electricity wires. The collision sparked an c m y b immediate fire, which quickly escalated, resulting in significant property damage. According to villager Palwinder Singh, the trolleys belonged to a private company and were transporting crop residue through the area. Due to the dangerously low height of the overhead electric wires near a local transformer, the trolleys came in contact, leading to electrical sparking and an instantaneous blaze. He said along with the damage to the trolleys, private property in the vicinity also suffered extensive damage. Although no casualties have been reported, the fire is estimated to have caused financial losses running into lakhs of rupees. — OC has four injured Our Correspondent Phagwara, June 17 A clash between two groups of Nihangs at Pipli Saheb Gurdwara at village Hardaspur in Phagwara left four persons injured on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred around 5:15 pm and is believed to have been triggered by personal disputes involving a local Nihang and the gurdwara management. Ranjit Singh, a resident of Hardaspur and taxi driver, had longstanding animosity with certain villagers, including Jathedar Jatinder Singh, the pradhan of Pipli Saheb Gurdwara.In a bid to resolve the issue, a group of around 20 to 25 Nihangs from Garhshankar in Hoshiarpur district arrived at the gurdwara today. The group was led by Baba Malkit Singh of Budha Dal (Garhshankar) and Baba Fateh Singh of Tarna Dal (Bijwara, Hoshiarpur). The situation escalated during the meeting. Amid the verbal confrontation, Jaspreet allegedly attempted to open fire but accidentally shot himself in the left thigh. He was An injured Nihang at a hospital. initially rushed to the Civil Hospital and later referred to Johal Hospital in Jalandhar for advanced treatment. In the scuffle, three more individuals Ranjit Singh Jittu, Malkit Singh and Dharamveer Singh sustained knife injuries. All three are undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital. Following the incident, members of both groups, including around two dozen Nihangs, assembled on the hospital premises. The police and local authorities swiftly intervened to maintain calm.