20092025-JTR-01.qxd 9/19/2025 10:34 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune CANDLE MARCH HELD IN MEMORY OF HARVEER SEERRAT CHAWLA SHINES IN WORLD OF GLAMOUR Jalandhar’s Seerrat picked as brand ambassador for Mrs India Asia. At 38, she is married and has two kids. P3 Social organisations held a candle march to express solidarity with family of Harveer who was allegedly murdered . P2 » RAPPER CARDI B CONFIRMS HER FOURTH PREGNANCY Cardi B has confirmed her fourth pregnancy, set to embrace parenthood with boyfriend Stefon Diggs. P4 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.26 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:15 AM » SATURDAY | 20 SEPTEMBER 2025 | JALANDHAR HEALTH & WELLNESS The Tribune is starting a Q and A column to address your health-related queries. Please mail your questions (not exceeding 40 words) at healthandwellness@tribunemail.com. The Tribune’s panel of doctors will answer all your healthrelated concerns. PhagwaraMCmeetingendswith 1,158 Assistant Professors uproar minutes after beginning deserve justice, says Pargat Ashok Kaura Holds demonstration with educators at PAP Chowk INBRIEF THIEVES DECAMP WITH CASH, GOLD Phagwara: Thieves struck at a house in Upal Jagir village near here and decamped with Rs 22,000, $1200 and 20 grams of gold. House owner Amarjit Singh told the police that he was at a Dera when thieves barged into his house on Thursday night and stole cash and golden ornaments. The police reached the spot and initiated probe. OC MAN HELD FOR CULPABLE HOMICIDE Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested an individual on the charge of culpable homicide. Investigating Officer (IO) Buta Ram said the accused was identified as Jaswindar Singh, alias Hoshiarpuri, of Malsian village. Kajal, wife of Eklov, of Pati Laksian Malsian village, complained to the police that the accused administered some poisonous substances to her husband and killed him. The IO said a case was registered against the accused. OC Jalandhar, September 19 All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary and Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh on Friday held a demonstration, along with the 1,158 Assistant Professors and the Librarian Front Punjab, at PAP Chowk here this evening. He condemned the AAP government’s negligence and declared that Punjab’s future torchbearers must be given justice without delay. “They are not agitators, they are Punjab’s future torchbearers. They are the very backbone of our higher education system. If there were any shortcomings in the recruitment process, I hold myself accountable, because it was under my tenure as the Education Minister that this transparent, merit-based recruitment was held after 25 years. But why should these professors pay the price for political apathy?” Pargat said. While noting that the educators’ demands were simple and just, he said, “They are only asking the government to fulfil its promise —legal support, a review petition in the Supreme Court, and an ordi- TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Tribune News Service AICC secretary Pargat Singh with Assistant Professors during a protest at PAP Chowk in Jalandhar. nance if required — to secure their placements. If these professors and librarians are denied their rightful positions, the future of Punjab’s students will be the real casualty.” Notably, the Supreme Court in its decision on July 14 last had quashed the appointments of 1,158 Assistant Professors and Librarians. However, a petition was filed in the SC as removal of the professors was seen as a potential disruption to education in the government colleges of the state. Pargat Singh urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to hold direct talks with the protesting educators. He said “This is not a criminal lot, but an educated one. They deserve respect, not mistreatment. I will personally appeal to the CM to meet them. I too will raise this issue force- fully in the Vidhan Sabha.” He said education was the foundation of Punjab’s future. “A government that disrespects its teachers disrespects Punjab’s tomorrow. If the CM ensures their appointments, I will personally thank him. The Congress stands firmly with Punjab’s educators and will fight for their dignity, justice, and rightful place in classrooms,” Pargat Singh said. Phagwara, September 19 The fourth meeting of the Phagwara Municipal Corporation (MC), convened on Friday to discuss key civic concerns, ended in an uproar within minutes, leaving crucial issues unaddressed. The meeting, scheduled to begin at 3.15 pm, was expected to deliberate on faulty street lighting, defective sewerage, blocked drains, and deteriorating roads — issues repeatedly raised by residents of the city. However, the session collapsed almost immediately after commencement, when Opposition councillors began raising slogans and accused Mayor Ram Pal Uppal of ignoring their demands. Congress councillors Sanjeev Bugga and Jatinder Vermani led the initial protest, alleging that the Mayor was adopting what they described as a “dictatorial attitude” by not allowing agenda items to be taken up for discussion. Councillors Anita Sharma, Parminder Kaur, and Sonia Joshi also joined the protest, calling for immediate attention to basic civic grievances affecting residents across the city. The situation escalated when the Mayor reportedly left the meeting hall just four minutes after proceedings began following a heated exchange with the Opposition councillors. Councillors, who had come to attend the MC meeting; and (below) Mayor Ram Pal Uppal and Congress councillor Sanjeev Bugga enter into heated exchanges in Phagwara. In addition to raising civic concerns, the Opposition members strongly opposed a proposal to extend the municipal limits, insisting instead ownership rights be granted to 26 shopkeepers currently under the MC jurisdiction. Their demand, they said, represented a longpending commitment that needed urgent resolution. The departure of the Mayor and the Commissioner led to an abrupt adjournment of the meeting. With no agenda items discussed, residents’ concerns over drainage, road maintenance, and lighting remain unresolved, adding to growing frustration over the MC’s functioning. When asked, Mayor Ram Pal Uppal said, “The MC is working in an impartial manner, but the Opposition councillors, including those of the Congress, are opposing only for their publicity. They should adopt a co-operative attitude. Street light problems will be redressed by Diwali in all 50 wards of the city.” Phagwara, September 19 Two separate cases of largescale fraud have been registered in Kapurthala district in which complainants alleged that they were cheated of lakhs of rupees on the pretext of sending their family members abroad. The police have booked five accused under relevant sections of the BNS and the Punjab Travel Professions (regulation) Act for criminal breach of trust and cheating. SSP Gaurav Toora said in the first case complainant Veena Kumari of Shivpuri, Phagwara, alleged that her brother Pawan Kumar and brother-in-law Piyush were deceived by the accused who promised to send them to England. According to the FIR, the accused — Makhan Singh of Guru Nanakpura, Phagwara, and Kuljinder Kaur of Rurrka Khurad village, presently residing in Guru Nanakpura, Phagwara, — fraudulently took Rs 15,83,500 on the promise of facilitating overseas travel of the victims, but failed to send them abroad. SSP Toora said in the second case, complainant Swaran Singh of Bagaria village, near Bholath, told the police three individuals defrauded his nephew on the pretext of sending him abroad. The accused were identified as Raj Kumar, alia Raju, his wife Simran, and mother Balbir Kaur, all residents of Khasan village, near Bholath. They allegedly duped Swaran Singh’s nephew Sahjdeep Singh on the pretext of arranging a Canadian work permit for him. The accused took Rs 12,52,000 from the victim’s family, but failed to deliver on their promise. — OC Jalandhar, September 19 Lodging their protest against the state government, members of the Valmiki community held a massive protest outside the District Administrative Complex here this afternoon. Members of the Aadiwasi Guru Gian Nath Puran Sangharsh Dal sat on a dharna in front of the complex blocking the passage of everyone inside. The members led by Gagandeep, legal advisor of the Doaba zone of the dal, said the state government was not paying heed to their demand regarding postponing of the Zila TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH 5 booked for fraud in Kapurthala dist Sore over Zila Parishad poll dates Valmiki community holds protest Valmiki community members hold protest in Jalandhar. Parishad and Block Samiti elections. They said the elections had been scheduled for October 5, just two days ahead of Valmiki Jayanti which would badly affect their partic- ipation in parbhat pheris, satsang and shobha yatras across the state. Valmiki Jayanti falls on October 7 this year. The members including Bhupinder Sidhu, Dr Davin- der Guglani and Manohar Soni said the Valmiki community was facing such a deliberate attempt by the government to spoil the big day almost every year. Last year, Valmiki Jayanti was scheduled for October 17 and panchayati elections were to be held on October 15. “Even then, we had appealed to the government to advance dates, but no one paid heed. The celebrations got affected due to polls,” said Pal Sahota, a member. The members of the community came attired in white kurta pyjamas and red turbans. Joginder Mann, chairperson of the organisation and AAP leader, did not attend the event. But he said, “I stand with my community. I will definitely apprise Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann about the issue. It is a valid demand. The dates of elections should not clash with any religious event. We have planned shobha yatra in Phagwara on October 5.” Meanwhile, the government is learnt to have taken up postponement of the elections with the State Election Commission in view of the flood situation in the state. — TNS Amid devastation, baby girl brings hope for parents RoadsfromDrAmbedkarChowktoWorkshop The couple lost their home, fields in floodwaters | Name her Jaapleen Kaur to thank the Almighty Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Kapurthala, September 19 Amid the destruction brought by recent floods in Punjab, a new life has emerged at Rampur Gaura village, one of the worsthit areas in the Sultanpur Lodhi subdivision. On September 5, Kuldeep Kaur gave birth to a baby girl — Jaapleen Kaur — just weeks after surviving an ordeal when she and her family got stranded in rising floodwaters. Kuldeep had gone for a medical scan on August 11 when floodwaters hit the region. “When we returned, our house was surrounded by floodwater,” recalled her husband Gurnishan Singh. “We thought it would recede within a few days, so we stayed in the house. But after two days, when things got worse, we were rescued by volunteers who came on boat,” he said. Though the family was brought to safety, their house in Rampur Gaura village collapsed, and their three acres of standing pad- Kuldeep Kaur with her newborn baby girl and family at Nabipur village in Sultanpur Lodhi, Kapurthala. dy crop was completely destroyed by floodwaters. Gurnishan, a marginal farmer, spent those anxious days praying for the safety of his pregnant wife and the unborn child. “Main jaap karda reha ki sab theek thaak ho jaaye (I kept on praying that everything gets well),” he said. Their daughter was named — Jaapleen — a gratitude to the Almighty for protecting both mother and child. The couple, who also have a seven-year-old daughter, is currently staying at friend’s place at nearby Nabipur village. The challenges ahead are immense for the family. “It was an extremely difficult time. Childbirth is already a sensitive process and the floods just doubled the stress,” Gurnishan said. “Now, we are homeless, with two daughters. I just hope things return to normal so we can rebuild our lives,” he said. Gurnishan said he plans to approach the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) within a day or two to seek financial assistance. “We have not yet received compensation for our collapsed house. I sincerely hope we receive it soon,” he said. He also mentioned that an application detailing their loss was submitted to AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal during his visit to the Baupur area. Kuldeep Kaur, speaking to The Tribune, said, “We have a few heads of cattle, which we’ve sent to our relatives’ place for safety. Right now, they are our only hope. I used to stitch clothes to earn a liv- c m y b ing, but that’s no longer possible as the floods have destroyed everything. My main concern now is our daughters’ wellbeing.” Village sarpanch Gurprit Singh said rescue efforts were prioritised keeping in view Kuldeep’s condition. “The family was safely evacuated in time. Ensuring the safety of mother and child was our top concern,” he said. In Gurdaspur, 34 women delivered babies in the flood-affected areas. Dr Mamta Vasudev, Medical Officer (MO), Civil Hospital, Gurdaspur, told this reporter that after babies were born, they were vaccinated. Asha workers were in touch with mothers and their babies, the MO said. From flood-hit Ajnala in Amritsar, 26 childbirths were reported between August 26 and September 19. Shallu Aggarwal, Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Ajnala, shared that the health of expectant women was properly being monitored. Twenty-eight women delivered babies in Ferozepur. Chowk to be fixed soon, says AAP leader Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 19 Continuous rainfall this monsoon season has worsened the condition of roads in the city. All major roads, including Dr BR Ambedkar Chowk, Football Chowk, Kapurthala Chowk, and Swami Vivekananda Chowk (Workshop Chowk), have made commuting a biggest problem for residents as these are teeming with deep potholes and are broken at several spots. People have been facing several difficulties while going to their work places, business establishments, sending kids to schools, and even in emergency situations. Sensing the gravity of the situation, AAP’s Jalandhar Central constituency in-charge Nitin Kohli, along with party leaders and Municipal Corporation officials, conducted a detailed inspection of these roads. Kohli assessed the condition of potholes on roads and interacted with local residents. He said, “Residents’ problems will not only be heard, but also be resolved. I am a servant of AAP leader Nitin Kohli interacts with MC officials in Jalandhar. the people. Every problem of the people is my own problem. These roads are the heartbeat of the city. When roads are broken, the entire city comes to a halt. That is why I have given clear instructions to officials that repair and construction work of roads should start immediately. Delays will not be tolerated.” “We want to make Jalandhar a better and modern city. From Ambedkar Chowk to Workshop Chowk and other affected areas, road infrastructure will be strengthened and made durable so that people do not face problems while commuting. This time it will not just be temporary work, but a permanent solution for the broken roads issue,” said Kohli. Superintendent Engineer Rahul Dhawan, XEN Arvind Aggarwal, Municipal Corporation officials, Subhash Sharma, Dheeraj Seth, Goldy Marwaha, Manish Sharma, Rajiv Gill, Manjit Singh, Jatin Gulati, Sonu Chaddha, Harjeet Minhas, Ajay Chopra and Arun Saini were present on the occasion.