09022026-JTR-01.qxd 2/8/2026 11:14 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune CANE TRAINING CAMP BOOSTS FARMERS’ SKILLS IN PEST CONTROL ENFORCE LAW, REFORM CRIMINAL COURTS AND EMPOWER POLICE NORA LEADS OPENING CEREMONY AT THE ICC T20 WORLD CUP Experts gave information about sugarcane farming techniques, disease management and inter-cropping. P2 Increase police presence and routine nakas and boost public-police coordination committees. P3 Nora Fatehi delivered a power-packed performance at the opening ceremony of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 22°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 8°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.09 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:13 AM » MONDAY | 9 FEBRUARY 2026 | JALANDHAR Man cheated of ~53.78L in cyber fraud Our Correspondent Phagwara, February 8 The Bholath police have registered a case against a person for allegedly cheating a local resident of Rs 53.78 lakh through a cyber investment scam. The case has been registered under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 66-C and 66-D of the Information Technology Act, 2000. SSP Kapurthala, Gaurav , Toora today said the complaint was lodged by Balwinder Singh, a resident of Bholath, who alleged that a person convinced him to download a mobile application on his smartphone under the guise of a lucrative investment opportunity. The accused allegedly assured the complainant quick and high returns. The complainant transferred Rs 53,78,712.60 to the accused through online transactions over time. However, the promised returns did not materialise and the accused became impossible to contact. Subsequently, Singh approached the police with the details of the transactions and digital communications related to the alleged fraud. HOW IT HAPPENED ■ An unidentified person convinced the victim to download a mobile application on his smartphone for the lucrative investment opportunity ■ The complainant transferred ~53,78,712.60 to the accused through online transactions over time. ■ However, the promised returns did not materialise and the accused number became inaccessible to the victim According to the police, the identity of the accused is yet to be ascertained. A formal investigation has been launched to trace the digital trail, identify the perpetrators and ascertain whether the fraud is linked to a larger cyber crime network. SSP Toora appealed to the public to remain vigilant against unsolicited investment offers circulated through mobile applications, social media platforms or unknown digital sources. Woman duped of ~3.5 lakh on pretext of overseas job Phagwara, February 8 The Rawalpindi police have registered a case under Sections 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code against two residents of Jagjitpur village for allegedly cheating a woman of Rs 3.5 lakh on the pretext of arranging overseas employment for her son. The case has been registered following an inquiry conducted on the basis of an application filed by Rajinder Kaur, a resident of village Jagjitpur near Phagwara. The complainant stated that the accused assured her that they would arrange a computerrelated job for her son Ravinder Singh in Cambodia. According to SP Madhvi Sharma, the accused have been identified as Boota Singh and his son Bidhi Chand, residents of village Jagjitpur. The complainant alleged that the accused gained her trust by making false claims about foreign employment opportunities and subsequently took Rs 3,50,000 from her. However, neither was any job arranged, nor was the money returned. After conducting an inquiry, the police found prima facie evidence supporting the allegations. Based on the inquiry report and the application dated October 17, 2025, a case was registered. Police officials confirmed that two accused have been named in the case and that no recovery has been made so far. — OC Dilapidated roads, defunct streetlightsTrader flags crippling infrastructure in Phagwara industrial area Ashok Kaura Phagwara, February 8 Philanthropist and industrialist Sat Pal Sethi has urged the Phagwara Municipal Corporation and the government to take immediate steps to address deteriorating civic infrastructure in industrial area and Model Town, citing serious concerns over roads, streetlighting and sewerage systems. In a representation to Phagwara Mayor Ram Pal Uppal, he highlighted that roads in the industrial area were laid nearly 15 years ago and had not been repaired or re-carpeted since. As a result, the roads are now in a severely dilapidated condition, causing inconvenience to industrial units, workers and transport vehicles. Similar conditions prevail in Model Town, where a majority of the industrialists reside. The letter further pointed out that a large number of streetlights in the industrial area were non-functional. The company requested urgent repair and replacement of fused LED lights to ensure safety and smooth movement during night hours. Another major issue raised was the frequent blockage of sewer lines, particularly during the rainy season. According to the representation, the sewerage in the industrial area was laid in 1950 and has not been upgraded despite signifi- cant industrial growth over the decades. The existing drainage infrastructure is inadequate to handle the current load, leading to repeated overflows and unsanitary conditions. The industrial unit stressed that manufacturers operating in the area contributed taxes worth crores of rupees annually to both the state and Central government and, therefore, expected basic civic amenities to be maintained efficiently. The management also drew attention to the impact of poor infrastructure on industrial productivity as well as on residents living in adjoining localities such as Model Town. The copies of the request were also forwarded to Minister for Local Government and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Ravjot Singh and the Commissioner of the Phagwara Municipal Corporation, urging coordinated action at the earliest. Industrial circles in Phagwara have echoed similar concerns and expressed hope that the authorities will take prompt remedial measures to upgrade essential infrastructure and ensure a safer, cleaner, and more industry-friendly environment in the city. REPRESENTATION TO MAYOR ■ Industrialist Sat Pal Sethi, in a representation to Phagwara Mayor Ram Pal Uppal, says roads in the industrial area were laid nearly 15 years ago and had not been repaired or re-carpeted since ■ Streetlights in the industrial area were non-functional ■ Frequent blockage of sewer lines, particularly during the rainy season ■ The existing drainage infrastructure is inadequate to handle the current load, leading to repeated overflows and unsanitary conditions A road is in a dilapidated condition, causing inconvenience to industrial units workers and transport vehicle owners. >> Labour unions to hold rally in city on April 8 RS MP tables Bill to give legal Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 8 Following a meeting of the state working committee of the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha held at Shaheed Sarwan Singh Cheema Bhawan, Jalandhar, under the chairmanship of state president Darshan Nahar, the union announced to hold a statelevel rally in Jalandhar on April 8 to achieve the objectives of the peasantry and landless workers. Releasing the outcome of the meeting to the press, state joint secretary Baldev Singh Nurpuri and finance secretary Shamsher Singh Batala said, demanding the abolition of the ‘anti-labour’ policies of the Central and Punjab governments, the union — apart from holding a state-level rally on April 8 — will organise general body meetings across various districts from February 13 to March 10. A call was also given to intensify the campaign to prepare for a state-level rally by holding a march in Punjab from March 26 to 31, and the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha will also participate in the nationwide strike on February 12 by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), AllIndia Kisan Sabha (AIKS) 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. Demand scrapping of ‘anti-labour’ policies of Centre and state recognition to manifestoes Introduces Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as Private Member’s Bill Tribune News Service Dehati Mazdoor Union members hold a meeting in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO and All-India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) against the new labour codes, budgetary provisions and Indo-US trade deal. The key demands to be raised by union members in their rally and protests include abolition of the ‘antilabour policies’ of the Central and Punjab governments, against the VB G Ram G Act, the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill 2025, the amendment to labour laws and the creation of four codes, the privatisation of public sector institutions. The demands also included the increase in old age, widow and disabled pension to Rs 5,000, the announcement of the promised Rs 1,000 per month for women, grant of Rs 5 lakh to the homeless to build houses on the allocated 10 marla plots, waiver of government and non-government loans, the provision of kitchen items from govern- ment depots at cheap prices through the public distribution system, restoration of ration cards to the needy, provision of clean drinking water, elimination of all cases filed against workers and farmers during struggles and implementation of the Land Reforms Act etc. During the meeting, a resolution was also passed by union members, expressing regret over the tragic death of Gora Singh, a young man from a Dalit family from Lehra Sondha village near Bathinda, who was beaten up by a farm owner for plucking sugarcane from the field, and demanding strict action against the culprits and condemning the lathi charge on farmers. Two-minute silence was also observed at the meet’s beginning to pay tributes to Principal Piara Singh Hoshiarpur and Jaspal Singh Dhillon. Jalandhar, February 8 Taking a major step against political deception, Rajya Sabha MP and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal has introduced the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as a Private Member’s Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill is aimed to provide legal recognition to election manifestos. Seechewal stated that if the Bill is passed, promises made to the public during elections will no longer remain limited to speeches or paper documents, fulfilling them will become a legal obligation for governments. He emphasised that since Independence, political parties have made grand promises to voters, but there has been little accountability once in power, eroding public trust in democracy. According to the Bill, every political party or coalition will be required to submit its election manifesto to the Election Commission. Each promise will have to be categorised as short-term, medium-term, or LEGAL OBLIGATIONS FOR GOVT Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal stated that if the Bill is passed, promises made to the public during elections will no longer remain limited to speeches or paper documents, fulfilling these will be a legal obligation for governments. He emphasised that since Independence, political parties have made grand promises to voters, but there has been little accountability once they gain power, eroding public trust in democracy. long-term, along with its timeline, estimated cost, source of funds, and expected outcomes clearly stated. Governments will have to provide regular progress reports on their promises, which will be made publicly available through a dedicated online portal. An independent monitoring committee, chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge, will be set up to oversee the promises and submit an annual report to Parliament. The Bill also includes strict provisions. The failure to fulfil promises will result in warnings, followed by fines running into millions of rupees, and deliberate misinformation will attract public censure along with substantial financial penalties. Seechewal noted that the Bill is based on Supreme Court rulings from 2013 and 2021, which had called for a solid legal framework for election manifestos. He added that the law will elevate election manifestos from being merely “political declarations” to becoming a “legal contract with the public.” The Bill represents the voice of millions of voters who cast their votes in good faith but often feel betrayed afterward. ‘Sirari Yodha’dedicated to athlete Sucha Singh, unveiled to inspire next-gen athletes , Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 8 The book series “Sirari Yodha,” written by sports teacher and author Mandeep Singh Sunam, was released in Jalandhar today. It is dedicat- ed to the inspirational life of Arjuna Award (Lifetime) recipient Sucha Singh. The book highlights the challenging and struggle-filled journey of the legendary sportsperson who brought glory to the nation through sports. Releasing the book, Sucha Singh said athletes of his generation achieved success despite limited facilities and tough circumstances. He emphasised that the youth should learn from those struggles and take advantage c m y b of the modern facilities available to pursue sports seriously and represent the country. Sucha Singh received the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17 last year at the age of 74. A silver medallist in the Asian Games held in 1974 at Tehran, the veteran athlete, while talking to The Tribune, had said he waited for more than 54 years for the recognition. A former sprinter, Singh had also won a bronze medal in a 400-m race in the 6th Asian Games held in Bangkok in 170. In 1975, he won gold medal in 4×400 m relay race in the Asian Athletics Championship that was held in South Korea Author Mandeep Singh Sunam stated that he always keeps students at the centre while writing sports literature. His aim is to motivate young minds to adopt sports as a way of life and build discipline, confidence, and national pride through athletics.