19062025-JTR-01.qxd 6/18/2025 10:33 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune AGRICULTURE DEPT STRUGGLES TO MEET MAIZE SOWING TARGET URBAN ESTATE WOES GROW, RESIDENTS DEMAND ACTION TAKING ALL FANS BACK TO DANGEROUS DINOSAUR REALM Despite setting a target of covering 1,500 hectares, progress remains slow, with only 450 hectares sown. P2 Residents of the area said authorities of PUDA had shown no seriousness in resolving the issues. P3 Jurassic World: Rebirthfollows a team of specialists that embarks on an expedition to a forbidden island. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 37°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.34 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:23 AM » THURSDAY | 19 JUNE 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF 4 KILLED IN ROAD MISHAPS Hoshiarpur: Four persons, including two women, died in various accidents in the area while a youth was injured. Shaukeen Singh of village Sahri told the police that Gurpal Kaur of village Sahri was coming with her married daughter Baljeet Kaur on a bike. When they reached near Adda Basi Daulat Khan, a trolley passing by hit it. Gurpal died on the spot. Police have booked accused driver Balveer Singh. In another accident, a woman riding a scooty died in a road accident near the bridge at village Nanowal Vaid. Due to a pothole near the bridge, her scooty went out of control. She fell on the road and died. A youth Karandeep Singh died while another youth Satnam Singh Sattu was seriously injured in a road accident. He has been referred to PGI. Both were from village Sekhowal. Meanwhile, Valaiti Singh of Dasuya told the police of that his father Kala Singh was returning after participating in a fair last night. When he reached near the railway station, a vehicle hit him. His father died in the hospital. oc WOMAN’S DRESS TORN, 4 BOOKED Hoshiarpur: The police have booked four persons on the charge of misbehaving with a woman. Gurmeet Kaur of Rahimpur told the police that she was returning from the market. When she reached the street leading to her house, she asked the people standing there for a way to proceed. According to her, Lal Chand Lal, Arun Kumar, Lucky and Deepa of Rahimpur caught her and misbehaved with her and tore her clothes. oc MAN DUPED OF ~6 LAKH Hoshiarpur: The police have booked an accused for allegedly cheating a man of Rs 6 lakh on the pretext of sending him abroad. Jaswinder Singh of village Charhat of Thana Bhogpur, Jalandhar, told the police that on the pretext of sending his son to Portugal, travel agent Lakhwinder Singh of Rajubela, Gurdaspur, allegedly cheated him of Rs 6 lakh. After registering the case, the police have started further action. oc MAN ARRESTED UNDER NDPS ACT Phagwara: The police have arrested a 'drug peddler' for selling heroin. As much as 100 gram of heroin was recovered from the possession of the accused. Surindar Singh, alias Minda, of Baba Suleman village . A case under Sections 21/61/85 of the NDPS Act has been registered. OC MAN HELD WITH 120 LT LAHAN Phagwara: The Mehatpur police have arrested a villager on the charge of brewing and selling illicit liquor. As much as 120 litre of lahan were seized from the possession of the accused, identified as Mangal Singh, a resident of Khaira Mushtarka village. OC ASSAULT ACCUSED PO ARRESTED Phagwara: The police have arrested a proclaimed offender (PO) absconding for the last three years. The accused Soni is a resident of Shankar village. The accused is wanted in a case of assault. OC Commissioner visits Gajigulla, Residents face traffic hassles after rly crossings’ closure orders machines for desilting Ward 18 councillor leads delegation to DC Aggarwal Tribune News Service Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 18 A day after initiating strict disciplinary action against three Municipal Corporation (MC) employees, MC Commissioner Gautam Jain made a visit to Gajigulla, which has been grappling with persistent sewerage issues. The Commissioner met locals, heard their complaints, and announced immediate measures to provide relief ahead of the monsoon season. The visit comes in the wake of stern action taken by the Municipal Corporation over the ongoing sanitation failures in the locality. Among the officials against whom the action has been taken are Superintending Engineer Rahul Gagneja, who has been issued a show-cause notice. Meanwhile, corporation engineer Sukhwinder Singh has been charge-sheeted and Gursharan Singh from the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) branch has been terminated with immediate effect. “Since the monsoon is coming, we want to provide immediate relief. For now, we will use our own machinery to get the work done,” said Jain. He added that agencies have been lined up and the MC is mobilising resources to ensure the situation is brought under control swiftly. As part of the immediate response, the Commissioner ordered the deployment of six to eight grab machines and super-suction machines for desilting work. He empha- Jalandhar, June 18 In a shocking incident from Jalandhar, a 15-year-old has allegedly been raped by a property dealer. The accused has been identified as Naushad Ali and the police have registered a case under Section (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) POCSO Act. The incident reportedly happened after the accused gained the trust of her family and convinced them to let her stay with him. ings, which was shut on April 25 following the commissioning of the Subana railway underbridge. The shopkeepers claimed that the closure had caused a sharp drop in customer footfall, severely affecting their livelihoods. “The C-8 crossing, which, for decades, connected Mithapur to Jalandhar Cantt Road, was a key route for both residents and businesses. Since its closure, the road has effectively become a dead end, cutting off access and isolating businesses along Punjab Avenue”, the shopkeepers said, adding that they were struggling to repay loans taken to run their establishments as customer flow has almost has dropped to a new low. Adding to the problem, traders have also raised concerns about the Subana underbridge, citing its limited width of about 13.5 feet, which cannot accommodate large trucks. This forces transporters to take a five-kilometre detour, increasing both travel time and transportation costs. They have also flagged steep slopes and design flaws in the underbridge, making it difficult for street vendors, hawkers, and manual cart-pushers to use the route safely. Shopkeepers and residents have demanded that either the closed crossings be reopened or the underbridge be widened and improved for safer and more convenient passage for all commuters, including heavy vehicles and pedestrians. The district administration has indicated that discussions with the railway authorities are ongoing and efforts are being made to find a solution that balances public convenience with railway safety norms. 3 travel agents booked for duping woman Two held for armed attack in Jalandhar Ban on bathing in Sutlej, Bist Doab Canal Phagwara,June 18 The police have booked three travel agents for allegedly duping a woman of Rs 18 lakh on the pretext of sending her daughter abroad. Jasbeer Singh of Sidhupur village said she had paid Rs 18 lakh to the accused for facilitating her daughter’s migration abroad. However, neither was she sent abroad, nor did she get the money back. — OC Phagwara, June 18 The Phillaur police have arrested two youths in connection with an armed assault that took place in Bilga on the night of June 10. The police said today that some assailants had conducted a recce and then opened fire outside the residence of Jasvir Singh of Burjkhela village, with the intent to harm his family. The DSP said a police team apprehended the two accused from Moga district on June 16. The accused have been identified as Bikramjeet Singh of Kamalke Khurd, Luvpreet Singh of Sangla village, Moga. He disclosed that the police recovered a 7.65 mm pistol, two magazines, seven cartridges, a motorcycle, and two mobile phones. Both accused were produced in judicial court, Phillaur, and remanded to one-day police custody for interrogation. — OC Nawanshahr, June 18 District Magistrate Ankurjeet Singh has issued orders prohibiting bathing in the Sutlej and Bist Doab Canal within the district limits. The decision has been taken under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023. The ban has been enforced to prevent incidents of drowning. Anyone found violating this ban may face legal action. The order will remain in force until August 23. — TNS MC Commissioner Gautam Jain along with officers visits Gajigulla in Jalandhar; and (below) residents drain sewage from a road in the area. sised that once the desilting of the sewer lines is complete, road construction in the affected area will follow. Residents of Gajigulla had long been complaining about the overflowing drains, stagnant water, and a pervasive foul odour in the locality. The Commissioner had earlier asked the contractor to deploy machines as the situation was getting worse in the area. “However, no deployment of the machines was made after which the contractor’s firm will be blacklisted,” an official said. The Commissioner’s onground visit appears to be a direct response to the growing unrest among residents and criticism of the MC’s handling of basic civic services. His assurances and swift action have been welcomed by the area residents. As the sky will be overcast in the coming days, people of 15-year-old raped by realtor Tribune News Service Gajigulla wait to see if this renewed focus will finally bring an end to their chronic sanitation woes. Jalandhar, June 18 A delegation led by Prof Kanwar Sartaj Singh, Councillor of Ward No. 18, has met Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal to raise concerns over severe traffic congestion and daily hardships faced by residents following the closure of the C-7 and C-8 railway crossings. The delegation submitted a representation, urging the district administration to resolve the issue at the earliest. Prof Singh said the closure has disrupted the daily commuting of people living in Urban Estate, Phase-I, village Garha and Kanyavali, causing delays. He pointed out that the increased travel time is affecting students, senior citizens, and daily wage workers, making their routine travel inconvenient and time-consuming. “We have requested the Deputy Commissioner to find a workable solution in the interest of the public,” he said, adding that the DC assured the delegation that steps are already underway to address the issue. Senior BJP leaders Amarjeet Singh Goldy, Amarjit Singh Amri, Yash Pal Dua, Sunil Bhardwaj and Paramjit Singh, Additional SE of the PSPCL, were also present during the meeting. This is not the first time that the issue has sparked concern among locals. Last month, shopkeepers and residents of Urban Estate PhaseI staged a protest against the closure of the railway cross- Parents trusted accused, allowed daughter to stay with him According to officials, Naushad Ali had initially helped the girl’s family in some personal matters, which led to a growing trust between him and the family. Acting on his persuasion, the family allowed their minor daughter to stay with him. “However, what followed was a series of alleged exploitative and abusive actions,” police officials said. The police added that the accused also married the girl and physically abused her as well. “The girl, in her complaint, said she was not allowed to go outside and was confined. She was not allowed to step outside,” the police said. Once she returned to her family and revealed the ordeal she had suffered, they approached the police and a complaint was registered. A case was filed under sections of the POCSO Act. The closed railway crossing of Urban Estate Phase 2 in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH 6 new sports nurseries established in Nawanshahr 6 booked for gurdwara Tribune News Service Nawanshahr, June 18 In a significant move to promote sports and engage the youth in their preferred athletic disciplines, the government has established six new sports nurseries in Nawanshahr. These nurseries are expected to be a game-changer for aspiring athletes, offering specialised training in athletics, football, volleyball, wrestling and badminton. Previously, the department had only three coaches. However, with the establishment of the new nurseries, the number of coaches has been increased, ensuring wider training coverage across various sports. Additionally, a dedicated supervisor has been appointed to oversee the operations of the nurseries and ensure everything runs smoothly. Officials confirmed that Coaches appointed at the sports nurseries in Nawanshahr. TRIBUNE PHOTO this initiative is part of a phased plan. The second phase will see the addition of more coaches, which will further strengthen the district’s sports infrastructure and contribute to improved sporting achievements. “Every basic necessity will be provid- ed in the nursery,” officials stated, emphasising the administration’s commitment to fostering a nurturing and supportive environment for young athletes. District Sports Officer Vandana Chauhan provided further details, confirming that c m y b coaches for each nursery have already assumed their roles. Their expertise is expected to greatly benefit the trainees. The appointed coaches include Satvir Singh for football in village Jagatpur, Manpreet Singh for volleyball in village Thopian, Ramandeep Singh for badminton at the Nawanshahr Badminton Hall, and Jaspreet Singh for wrestling in village Raipur Dabba. Deputy Commissioner Ankurjeet Singh congratulated all involved parties for the successful establishment of the nurseries and the appointment of qualified coaches. He stressed the pivotal role that coaches play in refining the skills of young athletes and expressed confidence that these nurseries will serve as a stepping stone for district athletes to compete at national and international levels. He urged the coaches to ensure that local athletes fully utilize the facilities and training available to them. During the launch, all coaches reiterated their commitment to their duties, vowing to carry them out with dedication and passion. clash in Phagwara Phagwara, June 18 In the wake of a clash at Pipli Saheb Gurdwara in village Hardaspur, Phagwara, the police have registered an FIR, naming six individuals allegedly involved in the incident, which left one person by a gunshot injury and several others wounded. The clash, which occurred on June 17, involved three factions of Nihangs, who had assembled on the gurdwara premises to resolve a longstanding dispute between Nihang Ranjit Singh of Hardaspur and Nihang Jatinder Singh, pradhan (chief) of Pipli Saheb Gurdwara. The altercation escalated during the course of the meeting, resulting in the use of firearms and sharp-edged weapons. Based on a complaint by Ranjit Singh, the police have registered an FIR against Baba Jaswinder Singh, dera head of Pipli Saheb Gurdwara, Preetpal Singh, alias Mahakaal Nihang, resident of village Tallhan, Malkiat Singh of Garhshankar, Harjinder Singh Baddal of Satnampura, Phagwara, Binddri of Hardaspur and Baba Gurdev Singh of village Bajwara, Hoshiarpur. The accused were part of the group that clashed with the faction led by Ranjit Singh, during which Ranjit’s son Jaspreet Singh sustained a gunshot injury in his waist. Jaspreet was referred to Johal Hospital in Jalandhar. Police sources have confirmed that three others Ranjit Singh Jittu, Malkit Singh and Dharamveer Singh also received minor injuries from knives and swords during the confrontation. — OC