24122025-JTR-01.qxd 24-12-2025 00:02 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune AAP LEADERS MEET CHABBEWAL AFTER ELECTORAL VICTORY STRICT CHECKS ON SCHOOL BUSES UNDER SAFE VEHICLE POLICY VIDEO GAME CREATOR VINCE ZAMPELLA DIES IN CAR CRASH The newly elected zila parishad and block samiti members of AAP visited MP Chabbewal’s house. P2 A joint team conducted a drive today to strictly enforce the Safe School Vehicle Policy in Nawanshahr district. P3 Vince Zampella, co-founder of Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment, was killed in an LA car accident. P4 » » FORECAST FOG IN MORNING MAX 22°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 9°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.30 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 7.24 AM » WEDNESDAY | 24 DECEMBER 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. Shahkot murder case: Hired shooter held, pistol recovered Tribune News Service Protests over killing of youth in Bangladesh planned Phagwara, December 23 The Punjabi Hindu Group has announced statewide protest demonstrations across Punjab to condemn the brutal killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, who was allegedly set on fire in an act of religious hatred. The decision was taken during an important meeting of the group’s state body held under the leadership of its chairman, Mahant Shri Ravi Kant Muni. During the meeting, members strongly denounced the incident, terming it horrifying, inhuman and a blot on the conscience of humanity. — OC Jalandhar, December 23 The Jalandhar Rural Police have arrested a local youth involved in the murder of Sandeep Kumar, alias Sonu (33), in Shahkot. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jalandhar Rural, Harvinder Singh Virk, during a media interaction on Tuesday, said that Sandeep Kumar was shot dead on December 19 at around 6.30 pm. The deceased was employed at the shop of a scrap dealer, identified as Jinder. A police team reached the spot and recovered two empty 9 mm cartridges and live ammunition. On examination, the victim was found bleeding profusely from the neck and mouth. In this connection, a case was registered under Sections 103 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at the Shahkot police station. Fur- SSP Rural Harvinder Singh Virk along with other cops addresses mediapersons in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO ther action was initiated by a police team led by Sarabjit Rai, SP (Investigation), and Sukhpal Singh, DSP Shahkot, along with Inspector Balwinder Singh Bhullar, SHO, Shahkot police station. During the investigation, Sher Singh, alias Shera (32), a resident of Rajewal village in Shahkot, was arrested. The accused was apprehended from outside the Ferozepur court on Monday with the help of human intelligence and technical inputs. The accused was produced before the court, which remanded him in police custody for four days. A 9 mm pistol, made in Turkey, along with two live car- tridges, was recovered from his possession. During interrogation, the accused revealed that the murder was committed for a consideration of Rs 2 lakh. He was allegedly hired by a village youth, Jagpreet, alias Jaggi, alias Judgepreet, to kill Sonu. The police said Sonu had married a woman who was previously in a relationship with Jagpreet. As Jagpreet is settled in the United States through illegal immigration, he could not return to execute the crime himself and instead hired Shera to carry it out. Shera had reportedly gone to Dubai around one-and-ahalf years ago, where he worked for nearly four months before returning. The criminal background of the accused has also come to light. An FIR had been registered against him under Sections 109 and 3(2) of the BNS and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act at the Phillaur police station. The case was lodged on the statement of Karan, a resident of Unchi Ghati, Phillaur. According to the complaint, Shera had gone to a house in Jagatpur Panjdhera village to demand money, fired two gunshots and fled the scene. He was later identified as the accused in the case. PPCB officials to take strict action against garbage burning Tribune News Service Nawanshahr, December 23 In a bid to protect the environment and improve air quality, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has initiated strict action against the open burning of municipal solid waste in municipal corporations and municipal councils across the state. Under the leadership of the Senior Environmental Engineer, Zonal Office–I, a highlevel review meeting was held to address the issue. As per the decisions taken, the Regional Office, Hoshiarpur organized a special awareness and sensitization programme at the Municipal Council, Nawanshahr, to ensure a complete ban on garbage burning. During the programme, Assistant Environmental Engineer Er. Arshpreet Kaur interacted directly with sanitation workers and educated them about the severe environmental and health hazards caused by burning waste. She emphasized strict compliance Musician Ustad Puran Shah Koti laid to rest Court orders lodging of FIR of fraud against 4 docs, 2 CAs Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 23 Veteran musician Ustad Puran Shah Koti was laid to rest on Tuesday amid scenes of deep grief and emotion. As per his wish, his body was buried in the backyard of his house. A large number of admirers, artistes and singers gathered to pay their final respects to the legendary musician, with many visibly moved and tearful. Master Saleem, son of Ustad Puran Shah Koti, was seen crying inconsolably. Speaking to mediapersons, he described it as the most difficult time of his life and said he was struggling to come to terms with the immense personal loss. Renowned singer Hans Raj Hans paid an emotional tribute to the late maestro, crediting his success entirely to him. “He was like my mother and father. Whatever I am today, I owe it all to him,” said Hans Raj Hans with folded hands. Several prominent singers from the Punjabi music industry, including Jasbir Tribune News Service Master Saleem along with his brother breaks down as their father Ustad Puran Shah Koti laid to rest in Jalandhar on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Jassi and Yuvraj Hans, were also present to offer their condolences and bid a final farewell to the legend. An emotional Jasbir Jassi told reporters that words failed him at the moment. “The situation is such that I don’t know what to say,” he said, reflecting the profound sense of loss felt by the music fraternity. Ustad Puran Shah Koti’s contribution to folk and devotional music remains unparalleled, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations of artistes, admirers said. He will be remembered as a towering personality with Christmas fervour extraordinary intellect and a deep understanding of life and culture. Known for his vast knowledge of society, politics, music and literature, Ustad Puran Shah Koti was admired for being constantly updated and intellectually engaged with the world around him. Jalandhar, December 23 The court of Arjun Singh Sandhu, JMIC, has issued an order directing the SHO from Navi Baradari police station to register an FIR against four city-based doctors and two CAs for an alleged fraud and forgery. The order comes on a complaint moved by Dr Pankaj Trivedi against Dr Kapil Gupta, Dr Rajesh Aggarwal (transplant surgeon), Dr Sanjay Mittal (nephrologist), Dr Anwar Ibrahim Khan and CA Sanjay Kumar Bansal of Jalandhar and CA Sandeep Kumar Singh of Noida. The court has directed the SHO to lodge an FIR under Sections 420, 465, 467, 471, 474, 477 and 477-A with Section 120-B of the IPC and Section 66 of the IT Act. The matter dates back to December 2021. Through his lawyer Manit Malhotra, Dr Trivedi had stated that he is a partner in Sarvodaya Hospital at Jalandhar and was running the neurosurgery unit as head of the department from September 1, 2018, till July 20, 2020. “The hospital was not flourished and to help with the finances, I suggested and shifted his entire unit inside the hospital under the name NIMS. I started working as a partner in the hospital under a partnership deed. It was decided that whenever the firm would be in loss, no salary or remuneration would be paid from the hospital funds,” he stated. He said that in March 2021, the PNB railway branch informed all partners that they had received balance sheet of 2018-19 bearing signatures of only four partners. He said that he was surprised that the original balance sheet which was prepared under the signatures of nine partners on December 10, 2019, ■ Under the leadership of the Senior Environmental Engineer, Zonal Office–I, a high-level review meeting was held to address the issue. As per the decisions taken, the Regional Office, Hoshiarpur organized a special awareness and sensitization programme at the Municipal Council, Nawanshahr, to ensure a complete ban on garbage burning. with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, highlighting the importance of sourcelevel segregation, door-to-door waste collection, and scientific disposal of waste. The programme at the Municipal Council, Nawanshahr witnessed the participation of one sanitation inspector, one community facilitator, and 53 sanitation workers. All the participants collectively took a pledge to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards garbage burning and to work actively towards maintaining a clean and pollution-free environment. MP Chabbewal slams Centre’s move to replace MGNREGA Our Correspondent Phagwara, December 23 Lok Sabha member Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal has strongly criticised the Union Government’s reported proposal to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the proposed VB-G RAM G Bill, describing it as a serious blow to the economic security and constitutional rights of rural India. He said the move reflects a systematic attempt to dilute one of the country’s most significant rights-based welfare legislations. Dr Chabbewal emphasised that MGNREGA is not an ordinary government scheme but a legally guaranteed right enacted to ensure livelihood security for rural households by providing assured wage employment. Doaba farmers plan to start ‘Kisan Hut’ for direct sale Aakanksha Bhardwaj Tribune News Service A vendor sells Santa Claus balloons on the eve of Christmas in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH was not uploaded. He said that he never gave the consent for the appointment of Sandeep Kumar Singh as the CA. The balance sheet showed salary and remuneration payable to the four doctors. It was shown that hospital suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1.27 cr and hence there was no question of payment of salaries. He alleged that the forgery had been committed to defraud him and other partners by preparing fabricated balance sheets. An FIR in the matter had been lodged on October 26, 2021, but was cancelled later. The court found that there was sufficient ground in the case for registration of an FIR. It directed the SHO to register an FIR and proceed against the accused. The court also directed him to conduct an investigation strictly and in accordance with law. Orders were issued for immediate compliance. HOLD REVIEW MEET Jalandhar, December 23 After the organic mandi that has been running successfully for the past two years, plans are now underway to set up a “Kisan Hut” to further strengthen direct farmer-toconsumer linkages. The initiative is being planned by farmers registered under the Doaba Kudrati Kisan Society, which intends to implement the project in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture. Once implemented, the “Kisan Hut” will provide a platform for non-certified farmers and self-help groups (SHGs) producing unadulterated organic food items and products to sell their produce directly to consumers. The move is expected to benefit small farmers and women-led groups by eliminating mid- c m y b The initiative is being planned by farmers registered under the Doaba Kudrati Kisan Society. A TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH dlemen and ensuring better returns for their products. The weekly organic mandi, which has already been operating successfully, is an initiative of the Department of Agricul- ture and Farmers Welfare in collaboration with the Punjab Agri Export Corporation. At present, only farmers certified by the Agriculture Department are permitted to sell their produce at the mandi. Farmers from Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur participate regularly, offering fresh organic produce and processed products every Sunday. Ashok Kumar, patron of the Natural Farmers Association, Punjab, said the Doaba Kudrati Kisan Society has been registered recently and has several agendas lined up. “One of our major objectives is to start a “Kisan Hut” that will help farmers and women from self-help groups market and sell their products directly to consumers without any middlemen. It will help them immensely,” he said. He added that the first meeting of the newly registered society will be held at Soora village, where the proposal to set up the “Kisan Hut” will be formally discussed. The initiative is being viewed as an important step towards promoting organic farming, empowering rural producers and encouraging consumers to access safe and unadulterated food directly from farmers. Ashok Kumar further said that a similar model is already yielding positive results elsewhere in the region. “A “Kisan Hut” is already functioning in Hoshiarpur, and it has proved very beneficial for those who sell their produce there,” he said, adding that such platforms help farmers build consumer trust and secure better prices. He also noted that the weekly organic mandi has witnessed a steady increase in footfall. “The number of consumers visiting the organic mandi every week is only increasing, which clearly reflects growing awareness and demand for chemical-free and unadulterated food,” he said.