29032026-JTR-01.qxd 28-03-2026 22:43 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune NEPAL’S WOMAN CYCLIST REACHES HOSHIARPUR DIGITAL ATTENDANCE SYSTEM ROLLOUT IN FOCUS AT PTM Carrying message of peace & environmental conservation, Yamuna Dhakal embarked on a global journey on a bicycle. P2 A PTM held across government schools focused on a new digital attendance system set to rollout from April 1.P2 » STANDING OVATION FOR FILM MEHTA BOYS PARTLY CLOUDY/RAIN MAX 28°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 18°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6.45 PM The auditorium at the International Film Festival Delhi erupted into thunderous applause as Boman Irani took a bow. P4 » FORECAST » SUNRISE MONDAY 6.19 AM SUNDAY | 29 MARCH 2026 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF ONE ARRESTED FOR EXTORTION Nakodar: The Sadar police have arrested a person on the charge of extortion. Station House Officer (SHO) Dilbag Singh said the accused was identified as Tirath Singh, a resident of Bahadarpur village, under the Bilga police station. A woman had complained to the police that the accused demanded Rs 2 crore from her and threatened to kill her in case she failed to pay the amount. The SHO said a case under Sections 308(5) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered against the accused. OC YOUTH HELD FOR KIDNAPPING Nakodar: The Sadar police have arrested a youth for kidnapping a minor girl and criminal conspiracy. Investigating Officer (IO) Paramjit Singh said the accused was identified Sunil Gill, a resident of Chandpur village. The victim’s mother had complained to the police that Sunil kidnapped her minor daughter from her school. The IO said a case under Sections 137(2), 96, 61(2), 64 and 351(2) of the BNS and Section 4 of the POCSO Act was registered against the accused and others. OC THREE ARRESTED UNDER NDPS ACT Nakodar: The Sadar police have arrested three persons for selling intoxicating tablets. Investigating Officer (IO) Buta Ram said 30 intoxicating tablets (loose) were recovered from Harjindar, alias Mandeep, his brother Harwindar Singh and Sandeep, alias Jangli, all residents of Uggi village. The IO said a case under Sections 22/ 29/61/85 of the NDPS Act was registered against all three accused. OC ONE HELD FOR CONSUMING DRUG Nurmahal: The Bilga police have arrested one person on the charge of consuming heroin. Investigating Officer (IO) Avtar Lal said the accused was identified as Rakesh Kumar, alias Saabi, a resident of Talwan village. The IO said a lighter, silver paper and plastic pipe used for consuming drug were recovered from the accused. A case under Sections 27/61/85 of the NDPS Act was registered against the accused. OC ONE HELD FOR CHEATING, THEFT Nakodar: The police have arrested a person on the charge of cheating and theft. Investigating Officer (IO) Rup Singh said the accused was identified as Balwindar Singh, a resident of Moga. Amit Kumar, a resident of Guru Teg Bahadar Nagar, complained to the police that the accused persuaded him to sell his SUV (Bolero bearing registration number PB-10-CQ-8586). Amit said the accused went on a test ride of the SUV, but did not return and fled with the vehicle. The IO said a case under Sections 318(4), 303(2) and 3(5) of the BNS was registered against the accused. OC No disruption in supply of fuel, LPG across district: Admn People told to refrain from panic buying of essential commodities Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 28 Amidst the fuel crisis triggered by the West Asia war, the administration has assured residents that petrol, diesel and LPG are available in adequate quantities across Jalandhar district. Amaninder Kaur, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), General, today said the supply of diesel, petrol and gas in required quantities was continuing at 280 fuel pumps and gas agencies across district. She said the situation was completely under control. She said officials under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Agarwal were maintaining regular contact with petrol and gas agencies. There was no shortage of fuel and LPG in the district, she said. In view of the current situa- A worker carries an LPG cylinder at a gas agency in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH tion, commercial supply was being ensured as per the government instructions, she said. Gas was being supplied to educational and health institutions on priority basis, she said. Apart from this, gas was also being supplied to hotels and restaurants and on wedding occasions, she said. The ADC said long queues at petrol pumps on previous day were only due to rumours. She appealed to residents not to believe in rumours and refrain from panic buying of fuel and gas. The administration appealed to petrol pump associations to fill fuel only in vehicles. Narinder Singh, Controller, Dis- trict Food and Civil Supplies, said the Punjab Government had implemented the Essential Services Management Act to prevent misuse of essential commodities. He warned that strict action would be taken against those indulging in black marketing and hoarding of essential commodities. Surprise checks at petrol pumps in Nawanshahr Nawanshahr, March 28 Amidst the prevailing West Asia fuel crisis, the district administration on Saturday conducted surprise checks and inspections across 16 gas agencies and over 30 petrol pumps during which officials said no lapses were found. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Gulpreet Singh Aulakh today reiterated that there was no shortage of the LPG, petrol or diesel in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) district and assured residents that the administration was keeping a close watch on the entire supply chain to ensure uninterrupted availability of these essential commodities. The DC said the administration was conducting surprise checking at three gas agencies and three petrol pumps on daily basis so that stocking, hoarding or any kind of black marketing of LPG cylinders and petroleum products could be prevented. He said that so far, officials had inspected 16 gas agencies No shortage of LPG, fuel in district: DC Ex-DSP duped of ~17.51 lakh Hoshiarpur, March 28 In a major cyber fraud, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was duped of Rs 17.51 lakh. The Cyber Crime police have registered a case and initiated a probe into the matter. According to information, 73-year-old Karnail Singh, a resident of Jalalpur village under the Tanda police station, lodged a complaint stating that he had retired as a DSP from the ITBP and was currently engaged in farming. He maintained a joint account with his wife in a branch of Punjab National Bank, which had a balance of Rs 11.26 lakh. Karnail said when he visited the bank along with his son to transfer the amount, officials informed him that only Rs 167 remained in his account. Further inquiry revealed that another sum of Rs 6.25 lakh had also been withdrawn from other linked account. In all, unknown persons fraudulently siphoned off Rs 17.51 lakh from complainant’s accounts. — OC Woman dies, daughter hurt in road mishap Our Correspondent Officials during a surprise checking at a petrol pump in Nawanshahr. TRIBUNE PHOTO and more than 30 petrol pumps across the district. He said no lapses had been found during these inspections. Reassuring the public, the DC urged residents not to panic over the availability of LPG cylinders, petrol or diesel, stating that sufficient stocks of these essential commodities was available in the district. He appealed to people to refrain from panic buying of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders as it could lead to unnecessary disruption and mismanagement in the supply chain. He further said the government had already invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prevent misuse of essential com- modities and warned that hoarding, black marketing or illegal stocking would invite strict legal action. The DC also urged consumers to book LPG cylinders through missed call and complete their pending e-KYC at their respective agencies to ensure uninterrupted supply. — TNS Hoshiarpur, March 28 A woman died, while her daughter sustained injuries in a tragic road accident in Mukerian. The police have registered a case and arrested the accused driver in this connection. As per reports, Reena Kumari, a resident of Khadak Balra village, was going to market on an Activa with her mother Bakhsho Devi to purchase medicines. When they reached near Vishram Ghar on the GT road in Mukerian, a speeding truck hit their vehicle. Bakhsho Devi died on the spot, while Reena Kumari suffered injuries. Acting on Reena Kumari’s complaint, the police registered a case and arrested the accused truck driver, identified as Ramesh Chander, a resident of Udhampur district. Further investigation into the incident is underway. Ransom-linked crime syndicate busted, three arrested Phagwara, March 28 The Kapurthala police have arrested three members of an organised crime syndicate involved in issuing Rs 50 lakh ransom threat and attempting to fire, marking a significant breakthrough in the district’s ongoing crackdown on organised crime. Talking to The Tribune here on Saturday, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora said the case originated on March 21, 2026, when a resident of Ahli Kalan village, under Kabirpur police station, received a ransom call of Rs 50 lakh from an accused using a foreignbased virtual number. When the demand was not met, three unidentified assailants on a motorcycle allegedly attempted to fire at the complainant’s location. Following the incident, a case was registered under Sections 308(4), 125, and 3(5) of the BNS, along with Section 25 of the Arms Act, at the Kabirpur police station. The SSP said the police acted swiftly, tracked the accused across a distance of nearly 100 km to Tarn Taran. Through coordinated efforts involving Kapurthala CIA, Kabirpur police station, the Kapurthala Technical Cell, and the Tarn Taran police, all three accused were apprehended after sustained surveillance. The arrested individuals were identified as Amritpreet Singh, a resident of Khera village in Tarn Taran district; Nisha Singh, alias Nishan, a resident of Naushehra Pannuan in Tarn Taran district; and one juvenile, whose identity was not disclosed in accordance with the legal provisions. During the operation, the police recovered a 7.65 mm pistol along with a magazine believed to have been used in the firing attempt, the SSP said. A motorcycle used in the crime, a black Platina (bearing registration number PB 46 AJ 7438), along with two mobile phones was also seized from the accused, the SSP said. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were acting on the directions of organised gangs operating from abroad and were tasked with issuing threats and executing firing incidents to extort money, the SSP said. The accused were planning more such attacks, he said. One of the accused, Nisha Singh was already facing charges in a previous criminal case, Toora said. — OC Police personnel during a raid at the spa centre in Jalandhar. Police raid spa centre, exit building via ladder Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 28 An image and video of the Jalandhar police making an exit from a building through a ladder has gone viral on social media. The image and video concern a Friday evening raid at a spa centre where officials of the police station No. 7 had gone after receiving a tip-off regarding alleged illegal activities. Trying to gain a quiet, secret access to the spa centre to bust any untoward activities, the police, however, could not make it down from the first to ground floor as main door of the adjacent building was locked. The police said no untoward activity was found at the centre, which was also locked. A policewoman and policemen had to employ a ladder on the first floor to make it back on the ground floor. The spa centre in question was reportedly found locked after its owner fled the premises. While sections of the media reported that the police personnel were locked on the spa centre premises when its employees closed doors to prevent their exit, officials denied the same. Ramesh Kumar, SHO, police station No. 7, said, “We gained access to the spa centre through a secret passage in the adjacent building. The raid was conducted to bust untoward activities at the centre after receiving a tip-off in this connection. Since this was a police raid, it was deemed best not to alert neighbours and avoid chaos by not gaining access to the centre through front doors or formal entrances. During the raid, the spa centre was found closed. We came out through a ladder. It was the most plausible way of exiting the building.” Overloaded truck rams into electricity pole, triggers 17-hr blackout in Kabir Nagar Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 28 Residents of Kabir Nagar in the Gandhi Camp area were left grappling with a prolonged electricity blackout lasting nearly 17 hours after an overloaded truck rammed into an 11 kV electricity pole and overhead cables on Friday evening. The impact of the collision was so severe that it snapped 11 kV power lines, disrupting electricity supply across Gandhi Camp and plunging the locality into complete darkness. According to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) officials, the incident took place around 9 pm when an overloaded truck entered narrow lanes of the locality. As the truck moved forward, the goods it was carrying got entangled with overhead wires. While trying to move the truck ahead, its driver unintentionally pulled overhead wires, bringing down an electricity pole with a loud crash. The snapped high tension wires and poles fell onto the road, creating panic in the c m y b area. “It could have turned into a major accident. But fortunately, no one was standing there at that time,” said a locality resident. Explaining the situation, Junior Engineer Gurbachan Singh said the department received information around 9.15 pm. “By the time our team reached, the driver had fled from the spot. We man- aged to restore supply to most areas by 10.30 pm, but Kabir Nagar remained without power due to extensive damage,” he said. The power supply to Kabir Nagar was finally restored around 2 pm on Saturday after emergency repairs, including installation of a new pole and rewiring of the damaged network, he said. PSPCL Sub-divisional Officer Kamaljeet Gill said the incident severely disrupted the functioning of the Gandhi Camp feeder. “A 11 kV pole was badly damaged after being hit by truck. Two transformers had to be disconnected as a precautionary measure. We restored the power supply in most of the areas by 10.30 pm on Friday. But the impact led to a complete breakdown of supply in the Kabir Nagar area,” he said. “We started the restoration work immediately after receiving an alert. Since replacing damaged poles and overhead lines is a time consuming process, power supply in Kabir Nagar could only be restored by Saturday afternoon,” Gill said.