07082025-JTR-01.qxd 8/6/2025 10:52 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune DEMAND FOR ARREST OF ACCUSED IN BEEF SMUGGLING CASE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LAUNCHES AGRI CENTRE TO AID FARMERS NAT’L HANDLOOM DAY: CELEBS’ SUSTAINABLE FASHION Leaders of various Hindu organisations express concerns and demand immediate action against the culprits. P2 Hoshiarpur-based society has recently launched a new project—the Centre of Excellence for Agriculture. P3 Several Bollywood actresses have been making conscious choices to support the weavers. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.18 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:48 AM THURSDAY | 7 AUGUST 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF OVERDRUNK MAN FOUND DEAD Phagwara: A migrant was found dead due to excessive drinking. The deceased has been identified as Newa Lal (40), a native of Bihar. The deceased was a drunkard and consumed excessive liquor on August 3 and died at a public place in Pati Bhalayi, Bilga village. The police, acting on a statement from Shail Kumar of Bihar, initiated proceedings under the BNNS and handed over the body to the family after post-mortem. OC GANG OF BIKE THIEVES BUSTED Phagwara: The Nakodar police have busted a gang of motorcycle lifters and arrested three of its members. The accused has been identified as Mangat Ram alias Manga, and Vishal, both residents of Kotla Janga village, and Baldev, alias Balli, of Tahli village. The suspects were arrested during a raid in Bopaand Rai Kalan village and recovered a stolen motorcycle from their possession. A case has been registered against the accused. OC MAN HELD UNDER NDPS ACT Phagwara: The Bilga police have arrested a man on the charge of selling intoxicant tablets. As many as 57 intoxicating tablets were seized from the possession of the accused identified as Ranjit Singh, alias Kaki, of Burj Hassan village. A case under Sections 22/ 61 / 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused. OC TRAVEL AGENT BOOKED Hoshiarpur: The police have registered a case against a travel agent for allegedly cheating a man of Rs 7.5 lakh. Sodhi Ram of Pansara had told the police that Jagpal Singh of Bajirpur, Dhuri, Sangrur deposited about the amount in his account at different times to send him abroad. The accused neither sent him abroad, nor returned his money. oc ONE KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENT Hoshiarpur: An e-rickshaw driver died in a road accident on the Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh road. Gaurav Gupta, a resident of local Mohalla Shastri Nagar, told the police that his brother was driving an e-rickshaw. When he reached near Islamabad, a car coming from the opposite direction hit the vehicle. He said when he was taking his brother to the hospital in an injured condition, he died on the way. The police have registered a case against the accused car driver Surya Kant of Chandigarh. oc Youth found dead in Italy jungle Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, August 6 A wave of grief has swept through Salempur village in Punjab following the tragic death of 30-year-old Sandeep Saini, who had moved to Italy a few years ago in search of a better life for his family. According to his family, Sandeep had gone to Italy to visit his sister and was in good health. On July 28, he left for work but never returned. Concerned, his sister and brother-in-law filed a missing person report with the police. On July 28, 30-year-old Sandeep left for work but never returned Despite extensive search efforts by the Italian authorities, the family received devastating news on August 3 — Sandeep’s body had been found in a forest area. His sister later confirmed the identity of the body. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, though his maternal uncle stated that Sandeep had no known disputes or enemies. Sandeep leaves behind his elderly parents, who are now appealing to both Punjab Government and the Central Government to help bring his body back home. The family wishes to perform his last rites in India and see him one final time. Jalandhar: The Commissionerate Police Jalandhar has arrested eight individuals linked to drug trafficking activities and seized 65.54 g of heroin. Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur said of the eight arrested, four were previously associated with drug trafficking network. She said eight FIRs have been registered under the NDPS Act. Additionally, four drug addicts have been admitted to deaddiction centres for treatment, offering them an opportunity to rebuild their lives. oc Tribune News Service Nawanshahr, August 5 Seven dengue cases have been reported in Khoja Bet village (Balachaur), Barnala village, Bairsian village, and the local Shankar Market area in Nawanshahr. Deputy Commissioner Ankurjeet Singh has urged residents to take strict precautions to prevent mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria. He appealed to the public to ensure that there is no stagnant water in or around their homes and strictly follow Health Department guidelines. Eleven cases have been reported so far. The authorities said the district has recorded a total of 11 cases this year. Three of these were reported in first three months in the year, followed by one in early June and seven new cases in August. “To ensure comprehensive prevention efforts, 50 larvae detection teams have been deployed across the district to inspect homes for mosquito breeding sites. Additionally, ASHA workers are actively spreading awareness across all 470 villages in the district,” the Health Department authorities said. Epidemiologist Dr Rakesh Pal added that students from local nursing colleges are also contributing significantly to the awareness drive. He reit- A Health Department team checks mosquito breeding in Nawanshahr. A TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH erated the importance of not allowing water to accumulate around homes and advised regular cleaning and emptying of items like fridge trays and coolers. He said fogging operations are being conducted by the Municipal Council in urban areas and by the Rural Development Department in villages to control mosquito populations. Dr Pal explained that dengue fever often results in a drop in platelet count. “To aid recovery, he recommended the increased intake of fluids such as juices, coconut water and lemon water, along with proper medical care under a doctor’s supervision,” he said. Clean plots: DC In view of the rising dengue cases, the district administration has appealed to owners of vacant plots to clean these regularly to prevent the breeding of dengue-carrying mosquitoes and larvae As part of the “War on Dengue” campaign, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized the importance of observing dry day every Friday, during which water-holding containers like coolers, plant pots and refrigerator trays should be thoroughly dried and cleaned. Speaking on dengue prevention, DC Ankurjeet Singh advised people to wear fullycovering clothing to minimise Man returns from Russia warzone, shares ordeal Ashok Kaura Phagwara , August 6 A man has returned home with haunting memories and a story that reveals the dark underside of international conflict and human exploitation. Sarabjit Singh of village Jagdev Khurd near Ajnala, who narrowly escaped death after being pushed into the Russia-Ukraine war, has shared a chilling account of survival that raises urgent questions about human rights, international trafficking and the vulnerability of migrant job seekers. Sarabjit, who hails from a modest family, left for Russia in April 2024, hoping to find work in the courier industry. Like many others lured by promises of employment, he landed in Moscow with a group of 18 individuals. How- Set to return to Russia to trace missing youths Sarabjit (centre) with Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal at Sultanpur Lodhi. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH ever, what awaited them was far from the job they were promised. Upon arrival, the group was detained, subject- ed to documentation and medical procedures, and within days, handed over for military training. After just two weeks of basic drills, they were sent directly to the frontlines of the RussiaUkraine war. Wearing military uniforms and carrying real weapons, Sarabjit and his group was pushed into combat with minimal preparation and no understanding of the language or the geopolitics of the conflict. “We were just thrown into the war. We didn’t know where we were, who we were fighting, or why,” he recounted, still visibly shaken. Describing the horror of the war, Sarabjit revealed that they often advanced through areas littered with corpses — many of them young men from India and other countries. Basic necessities like drinking water and food were scarce. Sleep and safety were luxuries they could not afford. “There were days we walked for kilometres, unsure if we would make it to the next morning alive,” he said. The trauma grew so intense that at one point, Sarabjit considered ending his own life by pulling the pin of a hand grenade. It was only through the intervention of Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal that Sarabjit managed to return to India. His family, overwhelmed with emotion, described his return as a second birth. “Our son came back from the jaws of death,” said his father, eyes brimming with tears. But Sarabjit’s ordeal has not ended. Driven by a sense of duty toward those who remain missing, he is preparing to return to Russia in an attempt to trace 14 missing Indians who were last seen in military camps. the risk of mosquito bites. He stressed the importance of regular and timely precautions and said the district administration and department teams to work in coordination to raise public awareness. The DC reassured the public that free testing and treatment for dengue is available at the Civil Hospital, Nawanshahr and at 19 Aam Aadmi Clinics, including three in urban areas and 16 in rural parts of the district. Jalandhar, August 6 To prevent the spread of water-borne and vector-borne diseases, Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal has directed the Health Department to identify local hotspots of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya for focused interventions. Chairing a meeting of the District Health Society at the District Administrative Complex, Dr Aggarwal emphasised the need for a coordinated, multi-departmental approach, particularly in localities where such diseases are frequently reported. Accompained by Additional Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh, Civil Surgeon Dr Gurmeet Lal, the Deputy Commissioner instructed all SDMs to monitor anti-disease efforts in their jurisdictions and adopt a multi-pronged strategy to manage outbreaks. Dr Aggarwal also reviewed the preparations for launching the Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojna in the district, set to roll out on October 2. He called for coordination among departments to ensure proper implementation. In a move to strengthen the physical and mental health of individuals undergoing treatment at de-addiction centres, Dr Aggarwal asked officials to introduce daily yoga sessions. Additionally, he directed the department to conduct a thorough assessment of infrastructural requirements at health centres to improve healthcare services. — TNS Water release from dam a routine: DC Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, August6 Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain has told residents that the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has released 11,500 cusecs of water each into the Mukerian Hydel Canal and the Beas by opening the floodgates of the Pong Dam. She said this is a routine annual procedure conducted during the flood season and there is no cause for concern. The district administration is in constant touch with the BBMB, and the water levels of the Pong Dam are being closely monitored. There is no emergency situation in the district at present. All precautionary measures have already been put in place. Citizens are urged to avoid believing or spreading rumours and to rely only on official sources for updates. As a preventive step, the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) of Dasuha and Mukerian have been instructed to remain alert in villages that had experienced flood-like conditions. This measure is intended to ensure timely warnings and minimize inconvenience to the public. Deputy Commissioner Jain emphasized that the district administration is fully prepared to handle any situation. In case of an emergency, relief and rescue operations, healthcare services, food supply, and other essential arrangements are already in place. 25 years of neglectResident seeks justice for unsafe Nakodar bus stand Aparna Banerji 8 HELD FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING Dengue rears its ugly head, 7 cases reported in Nawanshahr Jalandhar DC orders mapping of hotspots Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 6 Years ago, a man from Himachal Pradesh died when a large portion of the roof at Nakodar bus stand fell on him. Despite the tragedy, his family was not awarded any compensation. Since then, nothing has changed. The unsafe structure remains and the bus stand now operates from a makeshift shed that lacks basic facilities for passengers. This dilapidated and neglected bus stand has now become the subject of a petition filed before the Lok Adalat. Highlighting decades-long neglect of public transport infrastructure in Nakodar, Navraj Singh, a resident of Mohalla Rehmanpura, Nakodar, through his counsel Advocate JP Singh, a Jalandharbased lawyer, has filed a case before the Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services), Jalandhar. The petition demands the construction of a new bus stand at Nakodar. Filed on August 1, the petition seeks urgent directions to the Municipal Council, Nakodar, PWD (B&R), PUNBUS, Transport Department and other authorities to construct a new bus stand at Nakodar and address the hazardous conditions at the current premises. The petitioner has pointed out that the Nakodar bus stand, which serves thousands of commuters daily, including students, working professionals, women, the elderly and differently abled persons, has remained in a state of severe neglect for over 20–25 years. The building is structurally unsafe, suffers from regular flooding during monsoons and lacks basic amenities like clean drinking water, toilets, proper lighting, seating arrangements and accessibility features. Even by conservative estimates, at least 2,000 to 2,500 passengers use the Nakodar bus stand daily, with 200 to 250 buses halting at the stop every day. While there is no proper building, the site is still lucrative enough to host a ticketing counter and a cycle stand — proceeds from both of which go to the Nagar Council. The petition to the Lok Adalat states, “Given the age, c m y b condition and importance of the structure, mere repairs are no longer sufficient. A new modern bus stand is urgently needed to ensure public safety, civic dignity, and service efficiency.” The case has been fixed for hearing on August 8 before the Chairman, Permanent Lok Adalat, Jalandhar. Petitioner Navraj Singh says, “Nakodar is a busy township, yet for almost 25 years, residents have been denied a decent bus stand. They brave the hot summers and cold winters in the open shed and during the rains and wade through deep waters. There are no proper washrooms and no drinking water. Thousands of residents and passengers are being betrayed daily.” The dilapidated building of the Nakodar bus stand. TRIBUNE PHOTO:MALKIAT SINGH