28032026-JTR-01.qxd 3/27/2026 10:53 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune CITY RURAL POLICE CONDUCT SPECIAL OPS TO BOOST SECURITY MEGA BOOK FAIR IN CITY TO OFFER RARE LITERARY TREASURES TRAILER OF MIHIR AHUJA’S FILM MAA KA SUM OUT During the operations, police teams led by SHOs established checkpoints at key locations in cities and towns. P2 The fair, organised by ‘The Thrift Books’, promises to be a one stop destination for readers of all age groups. P3 The trailer of Mona Singh and Mihir Ahujastarrer Maa Ka Sum introduces math prodigy Agastya and his single mother.P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 28°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 18°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.44 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:20 AM » SATURDAY | 28 MARCH 2026 | JALANDHAR Delay in LPG cylinder supply sparks tension in Phagwara Ashok Kaura Amid fuel crisis, one of the busiest petrol pumps in Jalandhar runs out of fuel on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH BMC Chowk petrol station runs dry amid panic buying Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 27 One of the busiest petrol stations in Jalandhar situated next to a posh hotel near BMC Chowk ran out of fuel on Friday, triggering panic among residents. The petrol station exhausted its stock following panic buying by consumers. By afternoon, barrels and barri- cades had been placed at the entrance as the station remained shut. The rush for fuel during the morning hours led to the shortage. However, no panic buying was reported at other petrol stations across the city, which continued to operate smoothly through the day. At the affected station, long queues of motorists were seen from morning till early after- noon, leading to depletion of stocks. Employees also urged the public to exercise restraint and avoid overstocking fuel. An employee of the station said, “We had to shut the petrol station after stocks ran out. Other petrol stations are functioning normally. We have been facing supply issues for the past few days due to the war. Services will resume as soon as fresh supplies arrive. We appeal to citizens not to overstock and to purchase only what they need.” While the fuel supply at other petrol stations continued smoothly, crowds were witnessed at some stations as people scurried to ensure their vehicles were fully stocked. Administration officials also appealed to residents not to pay heed to rumours being spread by unscrupulous elements. PHAGWARA, MARCH 27 Amid rising global tensions linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict, signs of panic buying of fuels have emerged in Phagwara, raising concerns about public anxiety and its possible impact on law and order. Some residents have reportedly started stocking LPG cylinders as well as petrol and diesel, fearing a possible disruption in supply. Long queues were seen outside petrol pumps and LPG agencies as demand increased suddenly. Meanwhile, residents gathered outside an LPG agency on the Hoshiarpur road to collect domestic cylinders this morning. The agency staff informed them that the next supply would arrive later in the evening. This led to dissatisfaction among the people, who alleged that cylinders were not being supplied properly and accused the agency of unfair practices. The situation briefly turned tense as some individuals raised slogans and threw empty cylinders onto the road in protest. However, the police reached the spot in RESIDENTS HOLD PROTEST ■ Residents gathered outside an LPG agency on the Hoshiarpur road to collect cylinders this morning. The agency staff informed them that the next supply would arrive later in the evening. ■ The situation briefly turned tense as some individuals raised slogans and threw empty cylinders onto the road in protest. time, controlled the situation and dispersed the crowd. Fuel station operators said there is no shortage of petrol or diesel, although there are delays of one or two days in supply due to transportation issues. LPG distributors also stated that they are receiving supplies, but demand has increased by about 30 per cent in recent days due to panic among the public. They said this sudden rise in demand is putting pressure on their delivery systems and staff. This correspondent during a round of the city saw slips pasted on the dispensers of a few petrol pumps “No petrol” and people were seen returning with empty hands. A local political leader, Raman Sharma, claimed that domestic cylinders are being widely used in hotels, restaurants, roadside food stalls and other commercial establishments despite rules against such use. He alleged that the authorities have failed to take action, which is causing difficulties for ordinary consumers who are unable to get cylinders even after booking. Woman among three arrested with drugs Kapurthala, March 27 The police have arrested three youths in separate incidents and recovered heroin and intoxicating tablets during routine patrol operations, officials said. In the first case, a police team near a local school observed a woman approaching from the opposite side. On noticing the police, she allegedly threw a polythene packet on the ground and attempted to flee. The team acted swiftly and detained her. She identified herself as Sukho, a resident of a village under Kotwali police station in Kapurthala district. A search of the discarded packet led to the recovery of 6 gram of heroin. A case has been registered. In another incident, the police intercepted a youth walking along a rural path. On seeing the police, he reportedly panicked and tried to escape but was apprehended after a brief chase. He was identified as Anchit, a resident of a locality in Phagwara. During the search, the police recovered 40 tablets from his possession. In a third operation, a police patrol team noticed another suspect behaving suspiciously near a roadside. The individual allegedly threw a packet and attempted to flee but was caught by officials. — OC Day after, situation turns normal in Hoshiarpur BJP leader assaulted at Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, March 27 Hoshiarpur witnessed a surge in petrol sale yesterday, triggered by panic buying that continued for a few hours. However, as of today, no further panic buying has been reported and the situation has returned to normal. Most petrol stations in the district saw a steady supply of fuel today and sales at most stations were slower than usual after yesterday’s rush. The sudden increase in demand was fuelled by rumours circulating on social media. These rumours led people to rush to petrol pumps, resulting in sales almost tripling in a short period. Robin Sharma, secretary of the Association of Petroleum Dealers in Hoshiarpur, said the issue surfaced yesterday evening when a petrol station near the jail area ran out of fuel due to RUMOURS LED TO PANIC BUYING ON THURSDAY On Thursday evening, a petrol station near the jail area ran out of fuel due to unusually high demand. A video shared on social media, with a comment suggesting that stations were drying up, further aggravated the situation, prompting people to panic buy. A petrol station in Hoshiarpur having a negligible number of consumers on Friday. unusually high demand. A video shared on social media, with a comment suggesting that stations were drying up, further aggravat- ed the situation, prompting people to panic buy. Sharma added, “Even at my station, we ran out of petrol late last night due to the unexpected surge, especially from two-wheeler owners. However, the tanker carrying petrol arrived in the morning and normal supply resumed. The problem was also caused due to the cashand-carry policy of petroleum companies, which caused delays in tanker supply at some areas.” Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain assured the public, saying, “The supply of LPG, petrol, and diesel is continuous and there is no need to panic. The situation in the Middle East has caused some concerns, but fuel and gas are being regularly supplied to the district. People should stay calm and avoid unnecessary hoarding.” Kapurthala police station Our Correspondent Phagwara, March 27 Senior BJP leader Sham Sunder Aggarwal was allegedly assaulted inside Kapurthala police station while attempting to mediate a dispute between two groups, raising serious concerns over public safety and law enforcement response. The incident reportedly escalated further when the injured leader was attacked again later last evening at a government hospital where he had gone for medical treatment. Aggarwal reached the police station to help resolve a clash between two parties. During his presence there, some individuals from one group allegedly assaulted him within the premises. Later when he arrived at the Civil Hospital for legal formalities and Was attacked again at govt hospital where he had gone for treatment treatment, more than a dozen individuals reportedly attacked him again. He is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. The exact cause of the initial dispute remains unclear and police officials have not yet provided a detailed statement on the matter. However, it has been confirmed that two suspects have been detained for questioning, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the attacks. Following reports of violence at the hospital, police teams, including PCR units, rushed to the emergency ward. By the time officers arrived, the alleged attackers had already fled the scene. Aggarwal, a former councillor, is said to be in a condition where he is not yet able to give a statement. Meanwhile, another party leader Umesh Sharda criticised the situation, stating that such incidents raise serious questions about law and order. He remarked that if a political leader can be assaulted inside a police station in the presence of officers, it creates fear among the public regarding their own safety. After news of the incident spread, several local political leaders gathered at the Civil Hospital to show support. Station House Officer Amandeep Nahar stated that CCTV footage is being collected and statements from both sides will be recorded before further legal action is taken. MC to present ~569 cr budget Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News service Jalandhar, March 27 The Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar (MCJ), is set to present its annual budget of Rs 569.40 crore in the upcoming General House meeting scheduled for March 30, with a major focus on strengthening sanitation services and improving waste management infrastructure across the city. According to the proposed budget, Rs 312.70 crore has been earmarked for establishment expenses, Rs 56.56 crore for miscellaneous expenditure and Rs 200 crore for development works aimed at enhancing civic amenities. A key highlight of this year’s agenda is the corporation’s plan to modernise its sanitation operations. With the recent expansion of MCJ limits and the inclusion of 12 villages, officials have acknowledged that manual litter picking has become inefficient and labourintensive. The civic body manages around 416 public parks, in addition to green belts and footpaths across the city, all of which require regular cleaning. To address these challenges, the MCJ has proposed the procurement of six litter picker machines, which will be deployed across constituencies. Each machine is expected to operate for eight hours daily, ensuring continuous cleaning of high-footfall areas without overburdening sanitation workers. The move is also expected to improve worker safety by minimising direct contact with waste. The project, estimated at Rs 469.16 lakh and vetted by the competent authority earlier this year, includes operation and a five-year annual maintenance contract. Officials say the machines will enhance efficiency, particularly in areas with heavy litter accumulation, including newly added villages. In addition to solid waste management, the corporation will also place a proposal for the purchase of four threewheeler grab bucket machines to strengthen liquid waste management. With rising population and changing consumption patterns, the city has witnessed a sharp increase in liquid waste generation, putting pressure on the existing infrastructure, including sewage treatment plants. The estimated cost for the grab bucket machines stands at Rs 41 lakh, and the procurement is proposed to be funded through Smart City allocations. Ranked No. 2 in INDIA & Ranked No. 1 in PUNJAB and JALANDHAR Design Thinking and experiential Learning Leader (Source: Education World, Grand Jury Indian School Ranking 2025-26) ADMISSIONS OPEN Batch 2026-27 c m y b