08022026-JTR-01.qxd 07-02-2026 22:38 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune FOUR INDIAN WOMEN STRANDED IN OMAN RESCUED CONG PROTESTS, CALLS HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME POLITICAL STUNT MARGOT ROBBIE WASN’T INITIALLY CAST TO PLAY CATHY In countries like Oman, a dangerous network of human trafficking has spread under the guise of fake job promises. P2 The District Congress Committee (Urban) protested against the govt by burning an effigy of CM Bhagwant Mann P3 Actor Margot Robbie revealed that she was not always set to play lead role of Catherine Earnshaw in film Wuthering Heights. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 20°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 9°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6.08 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 7.14 AM SUNDAY | 8 FEBRUARY 2026 | 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. Oberoi’s helper, who provided logistic support to shooters, held Victim had been friends with accused Joga Pholriwal too Tribune News Service INBRIEF YOUTH HELD WITH INTOXICATING PILLS Phagwara: The police have arrested a youth after recovering 55 intoxicating pills from him at a naka on the Phagwara–Paddori road. Phagwara SP Madhvi Sharma said a police party noticed a youth throwing a polythene packet on the roadside. On checking, 55 pink-coloured intoxicating pills were recovered from the packet. The accused was identified as Jaswant Singh, alias Santu, a resident of Chak Prema, Phagwara. A case under Sections 22, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act was registered against accused. oc TWO WOMEN HELD WITH HEROIN Phillaur: The police have arrested two women after recovering 40 grams of heroin from their possession. DSP Bharat Masih said the accused were identified as Kabbo, a resident of Ucchi Ghatti, Phillaur, and Sunaina, a resident of the bus stand area in Mansa. The police recovered 30 gm heroin from Kabbo and 10 gm drug from Sunaina, he said. A case under the NDPS Act (non-commercial quantity) was registered against both accused, he said. oc MAN ARRESTED WITH HEROIN Jalandhar, February 7 The Amritsar (Rural) police on Saturday evening arrested Shaminder Singh, alias Shingri, a resident of Mithapur locality, after an encounter while he was trying to flee from the Khasa area on a bike. He sustained a bullet injury. A Beretta .30 bore pistol was recovered from him with which he had opened fire on the police. He told the police about his 10 years of association with Satwinderpal Singh, alias Lucky Oberoi. The police also knows about Oberoi’s killer, but his name has not been officially declared. It was Oberoi’s own accomplices, who took a toll of him outside gurdwara in Model Town, Jalandhar, on Friday. Oberoi’s helper Shingri, who was missing since Friday morning, is learnt to have given all logistic support to shooters. Joga Pholriwal had taken claim for Oberoi’s murder on his FB post from the US where he is learnt to be settled. Phol- Wailing family members of AAP leader Lucky Oberoi at the cremation ground in Jalandhar on Saturday. riwal too was Oberoi’s close aide till a few months ago. The two youths, including the shooter, are learnt to have arrived at the spot near gurdwara parking on the Activa scooter of Shingri. In the CCTV footages that emerged today, Shingri himself was learnt to be driving Creta car and leading the shooters towards Mithapur. All three sat together in car near Lamma Pind Chowk from where they further escaped. Shingri is also learnt to have given a tip-off to the accused that Oberoi did not carry his licensed weapons to gurdwara in the morning and it was the best time to shoot him. Sources from Oberoi’s circle revealed that Shingri was managing all finance and other businesses for him. Oberoi had beaten him up over some issue weeks ago after which he reportedly colluded with those in his rival camp and planned the murder. The Creta car used by Shingri had been mortgaged to Oberoi by a person who wanted to take some loan from him. Shingri is also learnt to have taken some big payments from Oberoi two days ago. Meanwhile, Oberoi’s last rites were held this afternoon. His family, relatives, acquaintances and leaders of all political parties bid him farewell. His mother, wife, two daughters and a toddler son remained inconsolable. Politicians, including minister Mohinder Bhagat and AAP halqa in-charge Rajwinder Thiara, too expressed grief with the family of the deceased. Parents, gram panchayat members lockupgovtschooloverstaffshortage Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 7 Residents, students and their parents and members of the gram panchayat today locked up Government High School in Haripur Khalsa village. They held a dharna on road to protest against dearth of the staff at the school. They raised slogans against the government during protest. The protesters demanded more teachers for the school ahead of the board exams. The protest coincided with the parent-teacher meeting and “Pariksha Pe Charcha” scheduled at the school today. The school in Haripur Khalsa village, which is situated on the Nurmahal-Phillaur road, has 108 students and five teachers. Earlier, a Class VI teacher, who was formally on the school records, was shifted to a Sangrur-based school. Ashok Kumar, a member of the school managing committee, said, “My own children study in Classes VI and X in this school. We have been able to upgrade school infrastructure with help from NRIs and donors. In the past one year, 30 students from my neighbourhood have shifted from private schools Villagers, students and their parents and gram panchayat members protest outside the Government High School, Haripur Khalsa village in Phillaur, on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH to this school through our efforts. But if there are no teachers in the school, how will students study?” Kumar said, “Out of five teachers in the school, two remain on booth level officer (BLO) duties on and off. An English teacher was shifted to a middle school last month. The school already had less staff. Despite this, the remaining staff is being shifted to other schools. Days ago, we also took up the issue with the District Education Officer, but there was no response. Without teachers, how will students prepare for the board exams?” Sources said the school administration had written to the Education Department ahead of the shifting of the English teacher. The school currently has no teacher for English, Punjabi and Hindi subjects. Social studies and computer teachers are also deployed on the BLO duties. Gurinderjit Kaur, District Education Officer (DEO), Secondary, Jalandhar, said, “We have written to the Education Department regarding the paucity of teachers at the school. Temporary teachers will be deployed at the school as soon as possible. I will explore all options to address staff shortage at the school.” MC issues show-cause notices over illegal felling of heritage trees TRIBUNE IMPACT Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 7 Acting on a report carried in these pages, highlighting the alleged illegal cutting of trees by the management committee of a gurdwara in GTB Nagar and owners of an under-construction building on Rainbow Road in Model Town, the Municipal Corporation Jalandhar (MCJ) has issued show-cause notices to the parties concerned. The issue was highlighted in these pages in a news report titled “20 heritage trees axed, Jalandhar gurdwara management, building owner may land in trouble”. Over 20 heritage trees, including those on the road divider opposite the gurdwara, were cut to install ornamental lights. According to officials, a notice were served in person to the gurdwara management com- Nakodar: The police have arrested a man after recovering 2 gm heroin from his possession in Shahkot. DSP Sukhpal Singh said the accused was identified as Mandeep Singh, alias Deepa, a resident of Saidpur Jhiri village, Shahkot. The drug was recovered during a routine checking operation. Following the seizure, a case under the NDPS Act was registered against the accused. Further investigation was in progress to ascertain the source of the contraband, the DSP said. oc Man killed in road accident Hoshiarpur, February 7 A retired school principal riding a scooter lost his life after being seriously injured in a collision with a Scorpio vehicle in Chabbewal town. The accident took place around 12.30 pm in the main market area of Chabbewal on the Hoshiarpur–Chandigarh road. According to eyewitnesses, the scooter rider had crossed slightly ahead of the road divider and was attempting to turn towards Jian village when a Scorpio coming from the Hoshiarpur side collided with the two-wheeler. The impact damaged the scooter, leaving the rider critically injured. The Scorpio driver rushed the injured man to a nearby hospital. Considering seriousness of his condition, he was referred to the Government Hospital, Hoshiarpur, where doctors declared him brought dead. The deceased was identified as Ajit Singh, a resident of Khanur. He was a retired principal of Paldi school. — OC c m y b mittee, while a copy was pasted on the building construction site on Rainbow Road. The action follows a complaint filed by city-based environmentalist Tejasvi Minhas regarding the unauthorised felling of trees at both locations. Officials said clarified that any such activity requires pri- or permission from the MCJ and violations would invite strict action, including registration of FIRs and imposition of penalties. Commenting on the issue, complainant Tejasvi Minhas emphasised on the need for more public awareness on environmental protection. He said safeguarding existing trees was essential to combat climate change, deteriorating air quality and environmental degradation, adding that preservation was as important as plantation efforts. Dilip Kumar, MC horticulture expert, said, “Notices have been served to the GTB gurdwara management, the Rainbow Road building owner and a cafe owner in Model Town. Their cases have been referred to the tree preservation committee. Follow up notices will be issued based on the reply to which legal proceedings will be initiated against violators.”