26022026-JTR-01.qxd 2/25/2026 11:09 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune GOVT GRANTS UP TO 20% REBATE ON STREET VENDING FEES PARENTS SHOULD SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH CHILDREN: EXPERT BREWS AND BOOKS AT CAFÉ ON SHIMLA'S MALL ROAD The notification has come into force with immediate effect and shall remain operative until further orders. P2 Mental illness is misunderstood as poor upbringing, because of this families hide symptoms and delay seeking help. P3 Cafe on the Mall Road in Shimla offers a variety of books and cuisines along with hot and cold beverages. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 27°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 27°C | MIN 10°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.23 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:57 AM » THURSDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2026 | JALANDHAR 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. INBRIEF MAN ARRESTED UNDER NDPS ACT Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested a person on the charge of selling intoxicating tablets. Investigating Officer Major Singh said 27 tablets were recovered from the possession of the accused Nikka, a resident of Saidpur Jhirri village. A case under Sections 22A/ 61/ 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused. OC YOUTH BOOKED FOR SODOMY Phagwara: The Shahkot police have booked a youth on the charge of sodomising a nineyear-old child. The accused has been identified as Nitin Kumarson of Bhagwan Pandit, a resident of Shahkot. The mother of the victim complained to the police that the accused sodomised her 9year-old son and brutally injured him. A case under Section 4 of the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 has been registered against the accused. OC MAN BOOKED FOR RASH DRIVING Phagwara: The Nurmahal police have booked a Phillaur resident on the charges of rash driving and causing hurt by act endangering life. The accused has been identified as Nirmal Singh, a resident of Phillaur. Manpreet Kumar, a resident of Nurmahal, complained to the police that the accused was driving his car (PB-08-CB -7480) rashly and negligently on February 20 evening and hit his three-wheeler near Sanghe Jagir village on the NakodarNurmahal and seriously injured his family members. OC Nidhi takes over as ADC Hoshiarpur, February 25 Dr Nidhi Kumud Bambah has assumed charge as Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Hoshiarpur. A 2012batch Punjab Civil Services officer, Dr Bambah holds an MBBS degree from DMC Ludhiana. Prior to this posting, she served as Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) in Ferozepur. She has also held various administrative positions in Moga, Gurdaspur, Ajnala and Pathankot, gaining extensive experience in public administration. After taking charge, Dr Bambah said ensuring transparent, corruption-free and time-bound delivery of government schemes to eligible beneficiaries would be her top priority. She emphasised that administrative services would be made simple, accessible and citizen-friendly and that no inconvenience to the public in official matters would be tolerated. — OC 3 arrested with four pistols in Kapurthala 36 employees of DEO office working in unsafe building No relocation plan in sight Tribune News Service Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 25 Despite the severely dilapidated condition of the two-storey building housing the office of District Education Officer (Secondary), employees continue to work inside the unsafe building, with no clear plan for relocation in sight. At present, 36 employees are working inside the crumbling building, raising serious concerns about the safety of staff members and visitors, who come to the office daily for official work. The DEO office, located near Mission Compound in Adarsh Nagar, shows visible cracks on several walls. Plaster has peeled off at many places, exposing the inner structure. Employees working inside the office said they have to sit under the damaged ceilings and cracked walls everyday, with the condition worsening each day. Highlighting the grim situation, the employees said after the heavy rainfall in September this year, several official records kept inside the building were destroyed. They added that the condition becomes even more alarming during the rainy season as water enters the premises and parts of the building get inundated, putting important documents and infrastructure at further risk. The DEO (Secondary) office in poor condition at Adarsh Nagar in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH CRACKS VISIBLE ON WALLS ■ At present, 36 employees are working inside the crumbling building, ■ The District Education Officer (Secondary) office, located near Mission Compound in Adarsh Nagar shows visible cracks on several walls Despite this, there has been no official announcement about shifting the office to a safer location. Ironically, while parts of the district Education Department premises have recently undergone beautification and minor renovation work, the main building accommodating the DEO office staff has not received the similar attention. Fresh paint and improved surroundings in some areas ■ Plaster has peeled off at many places, exposing the inner structure ■ Employees have to sit under the damaged ceilings and cracked walls everyday, with the condition worsening each day. stand in sharp contrast to the crumbling condition of the office structure where core administrative work is carried out. The employees said the issue of the building’s condition has been discussed several times, but no concrete action has followed with them continuing to work in the same environment, managing important education related records, files and correspondence. Gurinderjeet Kaur, District Education Officer (Secondary), said, “We carried out minor repair works as per requirements. Since I joined the post two years ago, no plan to relocate the office has been discussed.” Responding to concerns about the reported damage to official records, she said, “I have not received any information from the staff regarding the damaged official records.” Jalandhar, February 25 The Sultanpur Lodhi police, under a drive being run against anti-social elements, on the instructions of SSP , Kapurthala, Gaurav Toora, arrested three persons with four pistols and live rounds. The three accused have been identified as Vishal, resident of Talwandi, Manpreet Singh, alias Mapi, resident of village Pamman, Talwandi Chaudhrian, and Amandeep Singh, alias Aman, resident of village Pamman, Talwandi Chaudhrian, Kapurthala. The arms recovered from the trio include one desi .32 bore pistol, two rounds, a foreign-made pistol (PX-5 Storm) with two rounds, another .30 bore pistol (Beretta) foreign made pistol and an open pistol. The police said on February 15, a police party under ASI Lakhvinder Pal Singh was on patrol near the police station Mauthwala to the Dadwindi stretch when they received a tip-off regarding Vishal’s presence in the area and the possibility of illegal arms in his possession. A case was registered under Sections 25, 24 and 59 of the Arms Act at Sultanpur Lodhi police station against Vishal on February 15. Vishal was arrested by the police and two illegal pistols and four rounds were recovered from him. During questioning, he revealed that he had procured the pistols for Rs 3 lakh from Manpreet, alias Mapi, about a month ago. Following this, Manpreet was also nominated in the case. Manpreet was also arrested and a Bretta .30 bore pistol as well as an open pistol was recovered from him. On further investigation, accused Amandeep was also nominated in the case and was brought on production warrant from the Hoshiarpur jail. The accused’s remand had been obtained and the case was being probed. Firing in Kalia Colony, youth hurt Jalandhar, February 25 A youth was injured in a firing incident that took place outside a private hospital in Kalia Colony near here late last evening. Saurav Singh, a resident of Shiv Nagar, sustained bullet injuries in his abdomen and is hospitalised. The police have lodged an FIR in the case and are hunting for the accused on the basis of CCTV footages available from the spot. The police reached the spot and took statements of the victim, his brother and other witnesses. CCTV footages were scanned but the police are yet to nab them. — TNS Jail inmate dies, family alleges negligence Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, February 25 An inmate serving a sentence at the Central Jail, Hoshiarpur, died on Tuesday, prompting his family to allege negligence in providing timely medical care. The deceased, identified as Manish, had been convicted under the NDPS Act and was lodged in the jail. According to his brother Kush Bhatti, the family received a call from the jail authorities, informing them that Manish’s health had suddenly deteriorated and he had been taken to the Civil Hospital. However, by the time the family reached the hospital, Manish had already died. Family members said they had spoken to him a day earlier and he had not reported any health issues. They alleged that the jail authorities delayed shifting him to the hospital, claiming that staff shortages and shiftchange delay often result in inmates not receiving timely medical attention. The police shifted the body to the Civil Hospital for further proceedings. The family has refused to perform the last rites until investigation is conducted and responsibility is fixed. The authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the allegations. ‘No road, no vote’: Hajipur Fresh death threats to Phagwara’s AAP villagers’ message to govt leader Raju raise law and order concerns Our Correspondent Talwara, February 25 Public anger spilled onto the streets of Hajipur block as residents of several villages launched a protest against the government over the deplorable condition of roads, raising the slogan “No road, no vote.” Sarpanchs, panchs and hundreds of residents of villages, including Sariyana, Marula, Sibochakk, Waziran, Hajipur and Sandhwal, gathered at Buddhabar Chowk to voice resentment. The protesters described key stretches, Hajipur to Sariyana, Sipriyan, Talwara-Jhir Da Khuh, Nangal Vihala, Jhang and Mansar, as accident-prone and severely damaged, with deep potholes and broken surfaces, posing daily risks to commuters. Speakers at the protest alleged that despite repeated representations, neither the administration, nor elected representatives had taken concrete steps to repair the roads. They accused the government of limiting development claims to advertisements while failing to address basic infrastructure on the ground. The villagers announced that they would circulate posters and pamphlets carrying the message “No road, no vote” across the region, warning political leaders that support in the upcoming elections would depend on action. They said taxpayers were entitled to safe and functional roads, not hazardous routes. Following the protest, a delegation of sarpanchs and residents submitted a memorandum to the PWD through the local SDO, demanding immediate repairs and construction of new roads. The copies of the memorandum were also sent to the Chief Minister and the PWD Minister. The protesters warned that if work does not begin soon, the agitation will be intensified in the coming days. Our Correspondent Phagwara, February 25 In a troubling development that has again highlighted concerns over public safety in Punjab, senior AAP leader Daljit Raju has reportedly received fresh death threats allegedly from gangsters. The incident, which occurred in November last year in Phagwara, has intensified anxiety not only for the political leader and his family, but also among locals who view the episode as part of a broader pattern of intimidation in the region. According to Daljit Raju, the threats were conveyed GOT THREAT LAST YEAR TOO ■ Unidentified assailants allegedly hurled an extortion note at his residence and fired multiple rounds outside the premises on November 26 night last year ■ The police arrested six individuals in connection with the incident through repeated phone calls and voice messages over the past few days. The callers allegedly issued direct warnings, stating that he would not be able to escape harm regardless of his location. In the purported recordings, the gangsters claimed that even police protection would not be sufficient to shield him. Raju, who also serves as the coordinator of the anti-drug campaign “Yudh Nashian Virudh,” stated that the callers warned that his family members and close associates too could be targeted. Phagwara SP Madhvi Sharma visited the residence of Raju and reviwed the security arrangements this afternoon. Following the threats, Raju met the Superintendent of Police in Phagwara and submitted the details of the calls and voice recordings to aid the investigation. The police authorities have confirmed that security around his residence has been strengthened. Barricades have been installed in the surrounding areas, additional personnel deployed and night patrolling intensified across the city. This is not the first instance in which Raju has faced intimidation. Unidentified assailants allegedly hurled an extortion note at his residence and fired multiple rounds outside the premises on November 26 night last year. The police arrested six individuals in connection with the incident. School of sports elevated to PIS Centre of Excellence Patient found dead in Kapurthala Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 25 The historic State School of Sports, Jalandhar, has been upgraded to PIS Centre of Excellence, marking a significant milestone in its illustrious journey of nurturing sporting talent. Renowned for producing several dozens of sportspersons over the years, the institution has again added a feather to its cap with this prestigious elevation. The move is expected to further strengthen the sports ecosystem in the region and provide enhanced facilities to budding athletes. Trials for five disciplines athletics, volleyball, boxing, PARTICIPATION DIPS Over the past few years, the trials have witnessed a steady decline in player participation, a trend that has increasingly concerned coaches and officials. The reduced turnout has not only affected team selection, but also raised questions about player engagement. gymnastics and swimming will be conducted on February 28 and March 1. Selected players will receive comprehensive support, including access to advanced-level coaching, enhanced dietary provisions and improved residential facilities. The school hostel is currently undergoing renovation and a fully equipped modern gym is being set up on the campus. Officials confirmed that the gym equipment have already arrived and installation work will commence shortly. District Sports Officer Gurpreet Singh said, “I request players to come forward in large numbers and participate in the trials so that they can benefit from the facilities being provided at the centre of excellence,” he said. The foundation stone of the school was laid in 1961 by first Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon. Olympians and Arjuna awardees such as Surjit Singh (hockey), Tejbir Singh (hockey) and Bahadur Singh (athletics) have all been through this school. c m y b FILE HEALTH & WELLNESS Phagwara, February 25 The body of a young man was found near the Police Training Centre on Subhanpur Road in Kapurthala. Passersby alerted the police, following which a police team reached the spot, took the body into custody and initiated an investigation. According to ASI Gursharan Singh, investigating officer, a search of the deceased’s clothes led to the recovery of a slip issued by the Civil Hospital, Kapurthala. Based on the document, the deceased was identified as 32-year-old Raj Kumar, a resident of Kapurthala. The body was immediately shifted to the Civil Hospital for further procedures. Police officials also questioned the duty doctor at the hospital. The doctor informed them that Raj Kumar had been suffering from a serious illness and had been admitted by his family for treatment. However, during the course of his treatment, he reportedly went missing from his hospital bed. After confirming the identity of the deceased, the police circulated information in nearby localities to trace his family members, but no relatives have come forward so far. — OC