J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Apra heist: 3 robbers arrested
Jalandhar, March 6
The Jalandhar (Rural) police today claimed to have arrested three of the five-member gang, which had conducted the Rs 40-lakh robbery at Apra village on February 11. The trio has been remanded in police custody till March 10 after their arrest on Saturday and cases have been registered against them.

Policemen show weapons recovered from a gang in Jalandhar on Sunday. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh

CT Half Marathon
Rashpal Singh, Navjoban Kaur win race
Jalandhar, March 6
A vibrant morning welcomed the city residents today as scores of them gathered to participate in the annual fourth CT Half Marathon amid feeling of nationalism, cultural ties and glitz. The marathon was conducted with an aim to raise funds for organisations, which work for the deprived sections of society, like Pingalwara, Red Cross, Apahaj Ashram and other city-based NGOs.

Sugar trader robbed of Rs 15 lakh
Amritsar, March 6
Four miscreants robbed a sugar trader of Rs 15 lakh on a gunpoint at Namak Mandi in the walled city area here late last night. The victim, Gurjinder Singh, was returning home from this shop along with his father and mother when the incident took place. This is the second incident of looting within two months. Earlier, Satish Kumar, another sugar trader, was robbed of Rs 22 lakh by unidentified armed youths.

Residents block traffic
Phagwara, March 6
Hundreds of residents residing in different localities along the national highway passing through the town held a demonstration and blocked vehicular traffic for about half an hour on the Phagwara-Jalandhar highway near Chack Hakim here today.

Apra heist: 3 robbers arrested
Kusum Arora
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 6
The Jalandhar (Rural) police today claimed to have arrested three of the five-member gang, which had conducted the Rs 40-lakh robbery at Apra village on February 11. The trio has been remanded in police custody till March 10 after their arrest on Saturday and cases have been registered against them.

The arrested gangsters are Jagjeet Singh, alias Dhami, of Begampur Jandiala, Pradeep Singh, alias Soni, of Hariana village (both from Hoshiarpur district), and Ranveer Singh, alias Gandhi, of Bhogpur in Jalandhar district.

There two accomplices, Jagjeet Singh, alias Sabi, of Dakoha village, and Deepak Kumar, alias Deepa, of Apra village in Jalandhar district, are still at large.

The police also recovered a Santro car (PB 02 AB 2991), Pajero (PB 07-0007), two rifles, revolver, two country-made pistols, several live cartridges and 500 gm of opium from them.

Addressing a press conference, Inspector-General (IG), Jalandhar Zone, R.P. Mittal praised DSP (Detective), Jalandhar (Rural), Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh, CIA, Jalandhar, in charge, SI Inderjit Singh along with Bhogpur SHO Ruman Lal Bhatti for solving the case.

A police party arrested Soni and Gandhi from the back of Dana Mandi, Dalli Bhogpur, whereas Dhami, Sabi and Deepa managed to flee from the spot taking advantage of the dark, he added.

Later the police raided Dhami’s village Begampur Jandiala and found a Santro moving swiftly on the outskirts. The police followed the car and nabbed Dhami and recovered .32-bore revolver and the Santro car from him.

During investigation it came to the fore that Sabi masterminded the robbery. He along with his accomplice Deepak Kumar hired Dhami for executing the robbery. “Dhami convinced his accomplices Soni and Gandhi for it”, he maintained.

The IG said the as the gangsters failed to loot much during the Apra heist, they sent a threatening letter to the owner of Ghai Jewellers demanding more gold and cash. “The gang threatened to kill the family of Ghai Jewellers and demanded Rs 2 crore and 2 kg of gold to be handed over to them at Jalandhar,” he said.

It might be noted that on February 11 at around 7 am, Dhami along with Gandhi and Soni had struck at Ghai Jewellers. Investigations also revealed that the same gang had attempted to loot Prahlad jewellers in Jalandhar on February 26.

“Both Soni and Gandhi had gone to loot Prahlad Jewellers, while Dhami kept sitting in his Pajero. Though the looting was unsuccessful, but Soni opened fire from his .32 bore revolver on one of the workers Sanjay at the shop,” the IG added.

CT Half Marathon
Rashpal Singh, Navjoban Kaur win race
Kusum Arora/TNS

Jalandhar, March 6
A vibrant morning welcomed the city residents today as scores of them gathered to participate in the annual fourth CT Half Marathon amid feeling of nationalism, cultural ties and glitz. The marathon was conducted with an aim to raise funds for organisations, which work for the deprived sections of society, like Pingalwara, Red Cross, Apahaj Ashram and other city-based NGOs.

Renowned Punjabi singer and actor Harbhajan Singh flagged off the marathon at 6.30 am from the CT Shahpur campus. Harbhajan was accompanied by Diljit Dosanjh, Punjabi actor Pooja Tondon, Miss World Punjaban Japji Khaira, comedians Bhotu Shah and Kake Shah and the CT fraternity.

From city college youths to children, industrialists, doctors, academicians and the oldies, all ran for the show of charity enjoying some foot-tapping Punjabi hits en route. Harbhajan Mann sang and Diljit Dosanjh kept the city youth hooked with their melodious Punjabi numbers while many preferred to shake a leg too.

The 21 km marathon concluded on its Maqsudan campus and went through Dulhan Palace, Urban Estate, Cool Road, Masand Chowk, Guru Nanak Mission Chowk, Nakodar Chowk, Football Chowk, Workshop Chowk, DAV College and finally reached the CT Institutions.

To make the marathon a hassle-free event, adequate police arrangements, drinking water stalls and district health authorities stalls were installed en route. While various stalls of music and DJ’s on the way ensured everybody cheered for the noble cause.

Even the closing ceremony was a treat for all as leading Pakistani band “Shajar-Fakar” enthralled the audience with some of their hit performances. On the occasion, a special 100 m race was conducted for the mentally challenged students of Prayas School on CT Maqsudan Campus. All the participants of Prayas School were given prizes and certificates of participation.

Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner S.R. Ladhhar along with Adampur MLA Sarabjeet Singh Makkar and Chairman of CT Group Charanjit Singh Channi gave away prizes to the winners. The winners were given Rs 21,000, 11,000, 5,100 and 1,100 as cash awards along with certificate of participations.

Results:

Male category: Rashpal Singh (first), Angrez Singh (second), Ramesh Mor (third) and Joginder Singh (fourth).

Female category: Navjoban Kaur (first), Kiranjit Kaur (second), Kulwinder Kaur (third) and Manpreet Kaur (fourth).

Sugar trader robbed of Rs 15 lakh
P.K. Jaiswar
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 6
Four miscreants robbed a sugar trader of Rs 15 lakh on a gunpoint at Namak Mandi in the walled city area here late last night. The victim, Gurjinder Singh, was returning home from this shop along with his father and mother when the incident took place. This is the second incident of looting within two months. Earlier, Satish Kumar, another sugar trader, was robbed of Rs 22 lakh by unidentified armed youths.

According to information, Gurjinder Singh, owner of Tejinder Singh Avtar Singh firm situated in Kanak Mandi, had just left his shop after closing it. They had gone just a few metres from his shop when two motorcycle-borne unidentified persons stopped their car (PB-02-BD-7831) by parking their motorcycle in front of it. Another two persons, one of whom had worn a turban and covered his face, came from the left side and surrounded their car.

They opened the back door where his mother Pushpal Kaur was sitting, and took the two bags containing Rs 15 lakh and fled away. Gurjinder revealed that the robbers were between 25 and 26 years of age. Being Saturday, the bank had closed early and he had all the payments with him.

As the news spread, senior police officials visited the spot and took statements. A case under Sections 392, 397 and 34 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered. Parampal Singh Sidhu, Commissioner of Police, said police teams had found vital clues in the looting incident and expressed hope for a “positive development” soon.

“We got a number of vital clues about the incident and hopefully we will be able to catch the culprits soon,” he said.

He also revealed that the police teams had identified the accused involved in the looting of Rs 22 lakh from Satish Kumar. They were on a run and would be nabbed soon.

Residents block traffic

Phagwara, March 6
Hundreds of residents residing in different localities along the national highway passing through the town held a demonstration and blocked vehicular traffic for about half an hour on the Phagwara-Jalandhar highway near Chack Hakim here today.

The protesters, led by sarpanch Rajni Bangar, were demanding an underpass on the highway near the Civil Hospital to facilitate the patients and thousands of the residents. They said the staff of a construction company, SOMA, had started the construction work of six-laning of the highway without providing any underpass, despited assurances given by the administration. The blockade was lifted when SDM Amarjit Paul reached the spot and assured the protesters of construction of the underpass. — OC