NAROWAL: Royal Belgium Kabaddi Club won the final match of the Baba Guru Nanak International Kabaddi Festival 2024, held in Kartarpur city on Tuesday.

The festival, organised by the Project Management Unit of Kartarpur, marked the 555th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan, India, and across the globe gathered to witness the exciting matches.

The final match was a gripping contest between Bandisha Royal Belgium Kabaddi Club and Royal King Kabaddi Club. Both teams showed exceptional skills, thrilling the crowd. After a hard-fought battle, Royal Belgium Kabaddi Club emerged victorious.

The champions were awarded a cash prize of Rs600,000, while the runner-up team, Royal King Kabaddi Club, received Rs400,000. The prizes were presented by Shafi Hussain, chairman of the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation, and Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, provincial minister for minority affairs and President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, who served as chief guests.

Speaking at the ceremony, Shafi said that there should be no politics in sports. He said that they had tried to get Indian kabaddi team to participate in the festival, but like the cricket team, the Kabaddi team of India was also not allowed. He said that they would try again that India send its Kabaddi team to the festival next year.

Mr Arora highlighted the role of sports in fostering peace and goodwill. He stated that the Baba Guru Nanak International Kabaddi Festival would become an annual event at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, promoting Kabaddi at a global level.

He said that Baba Guru Nanak International Kabaddi Festival would be organised in Gurdwara Darbar Sahib every year. He paid tribute to the government for promoting the sport of Kabaddi at the global level. He said that sport festivals would pave the way for the development of the sport sector. He said that the relations between Pakistan and India will improve through sports as “the people of both countries will get the message of love and brotherhood”.

robberies: Eleven robbers targeted three houses in Narowal district and looted 46 tolas of gold, Rs1.7 million in cash and other valuables.

In the first incident, businessman Rashid Mahmood of Wazirpur reported that robbers scaled the outer wall of his house on Monday night and took his family hostage at gunpoint.

The masked intruders, dressed in tracksuits and gloves, looted 25 tolas of gold ornaments and Rs1 million.

In the second robbery, Advocate Mudassar Akram, also of Wazirpur, said that four masked robbers entered his house through the roof. The intruders blindfolded him and confined his family in a room. They looted eight tolas of gold ornaments and Rs500,000 in cash.

Witnesses reported hearing gunfire during the incident as the robbers attempted to intimidate residents.

The third incident occurred in Bil Shahan, Zafarwal, where businessman Muhammad Shafiq was targeted.

Four robbers entered his home after abducting his father, Rafiq, from an outdoor area. They threatened and locked the family in a room before stealing 13 tolas of gold ornaments, valuable mobile phones, cash, and other valuables.

The family also suffered physical assault during the ordeal.

FIRs have been registered in the Narowal Saddar and Zafarwal police stations without any arrests.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2024