07072025-JTR-01.qxd 7/6/2025 11:05 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune TEACHERS HONOURED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO PBI OLYMPIAD CLEAR DRAINS, BAN PLASTIC & RAINWATER HARVESTING Conduct ward-wise inspections for hazards and strengthen river embankments with ripraps. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 26°C NASEER’S FACEBOOK POST THAT VANISHED Nawanshahr teachers were honoured for preparing study material for the International Punjabi Olympiad. P2 FORECAST Naseeruddin Shah’s vanished Facebook post sparks debate on art, freedom & censorship. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 7.35 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:29 AM » MONDAY | 7 JULY 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF 3 BOOKED IN TWO FRAUD CASES Phagwara: Two separate cases of immigration fraud have come to light in Kapurthala, with the police registering FIRs against three individuals, including a couple and a fake travel agent, for allegedly duping victims of large sums of money on the pretext of sending them abroad. In the first case, Amandeep Singh of Toorna village accused Gunit Chawla and his wife Beeri Chawla of cheating him out of Rs 25 lakh with false promises of arranging his travel to the US. The couple neither facilitated the trip, nor returned the money. In a similar case in Kapurthala, Gurmeet Singh and his brother alleged they were defrauded of Rs 12 lakh by travel agent Jasvir Singh from Mandi Chhanna Fattudhinga village. Jasvir had promised to send them to Spain and Canada but failed to do so and later stopped responding. Investigations in both cases are ongoing. OC 3 WOMEN HELD UNDER NDPS ACT Phagwara: Five persons, including three women, were arrested on the charge of durg peddling. The Shahkot police have arrested a woman on the charge of selling heroin. Ten gram of heroin was recovered from the possession of the accused, identified as Gurjit Kaur, a resident of Mohalla Baghwala, Shahkot. A case under Sections 21/ 61 / 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused. The Nakodar police arrested a woman Priya of Shankar village with six gram of heroin. The Mehatpur police arrested Jaswindar Kaur of Khurlapur village with 20 intoxicant tablets.The Bilga police arrested Sukhwindar Singh of Sangowal village with 6 gram of heroin. The Nurmahal police arrested a drug peddler, Bhupindar Singh of Cheema Kalan village with 20 intoxicating tablets. OC MAN HELD FOR ILLEGAL MINING Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested a person for illegal sand mining. The accused has been identified as Gurdial Singh, a resident of Bagian village under Sidhama Bet police station, Ludhiana. A case under Section 21 of the Punjab Mining Act and Section 303 (theft) of the BNS was registered against the accused Italy returnee found dead; drug overdose reason, says father Land pooling policy an assault on villages, theircourt to halt loot of land: MLA Pargat Singh culture, future: Cong Villagers will approach apex Our Correspondent Phagwara, July 6 A young man, who had returned from Italy just two days ago, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on the road between Mushkewal and Dainwind villages in Kapurthala district. The body was found early this morning, raising concerns among local residents and officials. According to Station House Officer Kirpal Singh of Kotwali Police Station, Kapurthala, they received information about the body and immediately reached the spot with a team. The body was taken into custody and has been sent to the Civil Hospital mortuary for the post-mortem examination. Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 6 Members of the Congress on Sunday held a meeting with representatives of six villages - whose land is set to be acquired under the state government’s proposed land pooling scheme. Congress leaders expressed solidarity with the villagers. Accompanied by Shahkot MLA Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, Congress leader Pargat Singh said they would fight for their land “legally, socially, and politically”. Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh warned, “If necessary, farmers will approach the Supreme Court to halt this ‘loot of Punjab’s land.’” The statements were made referring to the plans to shift 1,000 acres of land across six villages in Jalandhar to develop Urban Estate Phase-3 near Jalandhar Cantonment under the land pooling scheme. Addressing a large gathering of farmers at Gurdwara Singh Sabha at Kukkad Pind, one of the villages set to witness the shift under the scheme, Pargat said the strong opposition was brewing against the government’s controversial land pooling policy, with farmers from across political lines joining forces to fight what they describe as a blatant attempt to transfer their lands to large corporate houses. Farmers of various villages give a memorandum to Congress MLA Pargat Singh and MLA Laddi Sherowalia in Jalandhar on Sunday. Farmers from six affected villages in Jalandhar — Kukkad Pind, Kot Kalan, Nangal Karar Khan, Kot Khurd, Sofi Pind, and Bulla Rai — participated in the protest meeting along with villagers from Kapurthala and Phagwara. Local leaders, including Sarpanch Jagraj Singh (Kukkad Pind), Balkar Singh Manga (Kot Khurd), Avtar Singh Bittu (Kot Kala), Randhir Singh (Sofi Pind), and Dr Sukhbir Singh (Salarpur), pledged to mobilise their communities. Pargat called on villagers to convene gram sabhas and pass resolutions, opposing the policy. He said, “Under the law, 70 per cent consent is needed for pooling, but only 20 per cent signatures are needed to oppose it. Use your legal rights. Resist.” Pargat alleged, “The AAP government, under directions from Delhi, has prepared a plan to hand over 50,000 acres to corporate houses. Farmers are being kept in the dark as this policy is being implemented without consent.” He demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should hold an open discussion on the issue during the upcoming special session of the Vidhan Sabha on July 10–11. The notification of the policy was flawed. “There was no environmental or social impact assessment or fair compensation mechanism. The policy lacks basic due diligence and violates the principle of consent. Once land is taken, an entire village’s social and economic fabric is destroyed.” Congress district president (Rural) and MLA from Shahkot Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia also opposed the policy, stating: “This is not merely a policy, it is an assault on Punjab villages, culture and future. Land is being snatched in the name of development. We will fight this battle unitedly.” According to Pargat, the policy targets 1,000 acres in Jalandhar, with large tracts also identified in Ludhiana (23,000 acres), Mohali (3,500 acres), Pathankot (1,000 acres), Patiala (1,100 acres), Bathinda (900 acres), Sangrur (600 acres), Moga (500 acres), Nawanshahr (400 acres), Ferozepur and Barnala (300 acres each), Hoshiarpur (550 acres), Kapurthala (150 acres), Nakodar (200 acres), Gurdaspur (80 acres), Tarn Taran (97 acres), and Sultanpur Lodhi (70 acres). Brother-in-law booked for rape in Kapurthala Phagwara July 6 The Kapurthala police have registered a rape case against a man accused of sexually assaulting his sister-in-law, following a two-year-long investigation. The incident reportedly occurred in the Sultanpur Lodhi area of the district. The victim had filed a complaint with the police in 2023, alleging that her brother-inlaw Swaran Singh was sexually exploited her. The police have found sufficient evidence to register a case. SHO Sonamdeep Kaur con- Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, July 6 A downpour early this morning left Hoshiarpur and nearby areas severely waterlogged, exposing the shortcomings of an ambitious drainage project launched by the Municipal Corporation just a year ago. The Rs 1.57 crore drainage scheme was initiated to resolve the long-standing problem of water accumulation near Shimla Pahari Chowk, located in the heart of the city. As part of the project, two inlets were constructed and a portion of the area near Shimla Hill was demolished to redirect rainwater into a large pit. From there, the water was supposed to be carried to Bhangi Chow via an underground pipeline along Mall Road, assisted by motor- firmed that a case has been filed against the accused. According to Harvinder Kaur, she married Dalvinder Singh on January 27, 1999. The couple has two children – a 21year-old son and a 19-year-old daughter. Her husband has been working in Dubai. Kaur stated that since the early days of her marriage, she faced ongoing disputes with her husband and in-laws. She alleged that her brotherin-law took advantage of her vulnerable situation and sexually assaulted her. — OC Teacher dies as bus hits truck Elderly woman loses earrings to snatchers from behind, 2 of J-K injured Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, July 6 A person died on the spot while a man and his son from Kashmir were injured when a speeding tourist bus of Lucky Tourist company hit a truck from behind on the outskirts of Mahilpur around 5:15 am today. The accident was so terrible that the bus was damaged. The bus driver and conductor fled, leaving the bus there, and the truck driver also fled with the trailer. According to information, Gagandeep Singh Mahajan (30), a resident of Bhangala (Mukerian), was coming to village Golia (Garhshankar) by bus. It collided with a moving truck from behind, leaving Mahajan died on the spot. Two passengers, Nazar Mohammad and his son Mohammad Asif, residents of Kashmir, were injured. They were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Mahilpur. The deceased was serving as a teacher in an Adarsh ??school at Pojewal. The police reached the spot and started further action. Police official Satnam Singh said the bus driver may have got a nap due to which the bus hit the trailer from behind. Gagandeep, who was sitting in the front cabin, died while the other two passengers sustained injuries. — OC Phagwara, July 6 An elderly woman was robbed early this morning. The incident took place near Noor Mahal Road, Phillaur. Robbers, reportedly two women and a young man, were travelling in a car and are suspected to be part of a gang involved in similar crimes across the region. According to sources, the incident occurred around 8 AM when Nirmal Kaur was out for a morning walk near the residence of Comrade Jarnail. A white car approached her from the Noor Mahal side and stopped nearby. Two women stepped out of the vehicle and, pretending to know her, claimed their sister was also out for a walk. They then hugged Nirmal Kaur in a friendly gesture during which they stealthily removed her gold earrings. By the time the elderly woman realised what had happened, the suspects had already sped away towards Phillaur. She raised the alarm, and resident Master Karnail Chand came to her aid. Nirmal Kaur narrated the incident in detail. Shortly after, other woman returning from the nearby Radha Soami Satsang centre also reported that the same white car had offered them a ride. Fortunately, they were not wearing any jewellery, and the suspects dropped them off a short distance away. These accounts suggest the criminals are targeting elderly women wearing gold. This is not the first such case Rain has H’pur inundated despite costly drainage plan 2 duped by travel Water enters houses, roads flooded The deceased was identified as Amandeep Singh, a resident of Dainwind, by his father Narinder Singh Bains. Amandeep’s mother, Sarbjit Kaur, is the sarpanch of Dainwind. Speaking to the media, Bains said his son had not returned home last night and the family had been searching for him throughout the night. He suspects that Amandeep may have died due to a drug overdose. He further alleged that he had repeatedly informed local police officials about the rampant drug trade in the area, but no action was ever taken. The police have initiated further investigation into the case. The exact cause of death will be determined following the post-mortem report. driven pumps. At the time of its inauguration, officials had assured the public that the work would be completed before the monsoon to prevent further flooding. However, today’s heavy rainfall rendered those claims hollow. Other major areas of the city, including Shimla Pahari Chowk, Clock Tower, Kotwali Bazaar, Committee Bazaar, Railway Road, Kacha Tobha, and Red Road, were also flooded, severely disrupting daily life. The rain brought an overwhelming volume of water into the choes, creating a flood-like situation. A large crowd gathered to witness the heavy flow in the Bhangi choe, leading to traffic jams on the bridge and hours-long delays for commuters. The rain also forced city markets to shut down, leaving business activities stalled. However, farmers wel- agent in Banga Heavy rain leaves roads flooded and water enters houses in Hoshiarpur. comed the downpour, calling it a much-needed relief. With paddy sowing in full swing, they had been struggling to irrigate their fields by purchasing costly diesel for water pumps amid a pro- longed dry spell and scorching heat. They believe that this rain will not only reduce their dependency on artificial irrigation but also boost the yield of paddy, maize, vegetables, and green fodder. c m y b Waterlogging in the inner areas of Hoshiarpur’s old city brought traffic to a standstill, especially on the Hoshiarpur–Una road, which remained blocked for several hours. Nawanshahr, July 6 Two residents of Banga, identified as Baljit Singh and Smilepreet Rai, have allegedly been duped by a man posing as a travel agent. Accused Jasvir Singh reportedly promised both victims work opportunities in New Zealand, collecting Rs 16 lakh from Baljit Singh and Rs 15 lakh from Smilepreet Rai. A case has been registered against Jasvir Singh. Jasvir Singh’s name has also surfaced in a previous fraud case from Banga last month. In that case, Ranveer Singh, a local resident, lodged a complaint stating that Jasvir Singh, along with an accomplice Amarjeet Kaur, col- lected Rs 22.47 lakh from him, claiming they would arrange his travel to Australia. The accused allegedly failed to deliver on the promise and have since gone missing. The police said Jasvir is suspected to be involved in two or three fraud cases. “We are actively investigating all complaints,” a police official said. The authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious and verify credentials before engaging with agents promising overseas opportunities. Such cases are on the rise where youngsters are getting duped by the fake travel agents. Despite all this, the craze for going abroad is not going down. — TNS involving this vehicle. According to locals, a similar white Swift car was involved in multiple snatching incidents in Apra town in recent weeks. Despite earlier complaints, the culprits have managed to evade arrest. However, in this latest incident, the car has reportedly been captured on CCTV footage, which may assist police in identifying and tracking down the suspects. Social activist Jarnail Ram has urged the police to take swift action, citing growing public fear. 3 nabbed in K’thala jeweller robbery case Phagwara, July 6 The police arrested three suspects on Friday in connection with an armed robbery that took place on the night of June 16, targeting a local jeweller near Gate No. 3 of the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala. According to police officials, victim Surjit Singh, who owns Palak Jewellers, was returning home after closing his shop when the incident occurred. Needing cash, he stopped at an ATM and withdrew Rs 8,000. As he stepped out around 8:30 PM, he was ambushed by three men armed with sharp-edged weapons. The assailants struck Singh on the head, stole his Activa scooter — which contained Rs 25,000 in the storage compartment — and fled the scene on a motorcycle towards Kapurthala. ASI Davinder Pal, in charge of the Bhulana police post, arrested the first accused, identified as Jaskaran Singh. During interrogation, Jaskaran named his accomplices Kamalpreet Singh, alias Billa, and Lovepreet Singh, alias Love. Jaskaran had conducted a recce of the victim’s routine. All accused have been taken into custody. — OC