08062026-JTR-01.qxd 6/7/2026 11:08 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune PROVIDE SECURITY TO WHISTLE-BLOWERS RETIRED TEACHER LEADS GROUNDNUT REVIVAL IN STATE WHEN RAM CHARAN STOOD UP FOR JANHVI KAPOOR Improve police response and readiness and fix accountability for police lapses. P2 He moved to UP about 13 years ago, where he successfully cultivated groundnuts on nearly 20 acres of land.P3 The actor tried to stop director Buchi Babu from objectifying Janhvi's character in Peddi. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 40°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 39°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.30 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:22 AM » MONDAY | 8 JUNE 2026 | JALANDHAR Harjit 10.17s Shrinking habitats push pythons Sprinterto win clocksgold in Pune 100m intorescued in one year | Wildlife teams report steady rise in rescue calls fields, canals and houses Over 25 Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Most rescued snakes are rock pythons Jalandhar, June 7 Over 25 pythons have been rescued in the foothills of the Shivaliks in one year due to the incessant construction activity in the foothills, resulting in shrinking animal habitats and increased human interference in the area. The construction of farm houses, resorts, highways, roads and private residences in the area is leading to more pythons straying into human habitation and also being frequently found in pucca canals. Staff of the Garshankar wildlife range said 20 to 30 pythons had been rescued in the past one year. There are much frequent sightings of pythons at the Bist Doab Canal as well, especially after the fourlaning of the Ropar-Nawanshahr highway, and these are also frequently seen in the areas of the Garhshankar Wildlife Range in Hoshiarpur. The most frequently rescued snakes are the Indian Rock python, also called the Indian Python. Ranging from 12 to 15 feet in length, the pythons sometimes weigh up to 50 to 70 kgs. Falling under the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, of India, the Indian Rock Python is an endangered species. It is also classified as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List, due to a estimated population decline Aparna Banerji Cops attacked during op against ‘gangsters’ Our Correspondent Kapurthala, June 7 A police operation aimed at intercepting members of a suspected criminal gang turned violent when officers allegedly came under attack near Hamira Bridge in Subhanpur. Acting on a tip-off, an anti-narcotics police team had laid a check-point after receiving information that several individuals involved in criminal activities, including robbery and drug trafficking, were travelling towards the area on motorcycles. When the police signalled the suspects to stop, the occupants allegedly attempted to evade arrest and launched an attack on the police party. Investigators stated that chilli powder was thrown at officers and an attempt was made to assault personnel with a sharp-edged weapon. The police managed to avoid injuries and chased them. During the pursuit, one motorcycle reportedly skidded off the road, leading to the apprehension of two suspects identified as Jaspreet Singh, alias Jassi, and Parukh. Weapons, mobile phones and other articles were recovered from their possession. Several other suspects managed to flee and are being traced. Police officials said the arrested individuals are being questioned and further raids are underway to apprehend the remaining accused. A case under various sections related to attempt to murder, obstructing public servants, unlawful assembly and other offences was registered at Subhanpur. 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. of 30 per cent in the 2010-20 decade, due to habitat loss, over-exploitation and lack of conservation actions. Wildlife conservationist and former Wildlife Warden, Nawanshahr, Nikhil Senger has rescued 200 to 250 Indian Rock Pythons in his lifetime, and continues getting calls for rescue in the present season. In the past one month, he has rescued 5 to 7 snakes. Nikhil Senger, who has also been bitten by pythons, during rescue, says, “Much of the foothills of the Shivaliks have now been taken over by human activity. This remains one of the few prominent areas in Punjab where Indian Rock Pythons are still found. Many have been rescued from pipes in fields, farms, pucca canals, and even from people’s store rooms. Several are also spotted near the Ansro hi-tech naka — the first police naka on entering Nawanshahr from the Ropar side. These pythons prefer ‘choes’ (seasonal rivulets) or their banks. Earlier, such drains ran through forests, but many now cut across farms and residential properties, leading snakes to enter inhabited areas from where they often struggle to exit. Personnel of the Garhshankar and Balachaur Wildlife ranges have been playing a proactive role in these rescues.” Senger specially lauds the Ansro naka’s police’s role in facilitating the rescue of many pythons. “At the Balachaur-Ropar highway, the fourlaning has caused many snakes in the Bist Doab Canal to be stuck because on one side, there’s the highway and on the other, the Shivaliks. Tragically, some also died while attempting to cross the highway. Typically, snakes can’t cross the highway, the drain is also unmanageable now, as it is pucca. So snakes huddle up on the banks. Cops have been very patient, never panicking or harming the snakes, but always call for rescue instead,” he said. Charanjit Channi, Range Officer, Garshankar Wildlife Range, said, “Many pythons are being rescued from the area with three or four calls in a month. There is heightened awareness now as people refrain from harming the animals. As pyhtons come out to rest, the rescue may further increase in winters,” he said. Jalandhar, June 7 The 28-year-old sprinter from Majri village, Fatehgarh Sahib, continued his remarkable rise in athletics by clinching gold in the men’s 100-metre race at the Indian Athletics Series-8 in Pune today, clocking an impressive 10.17 seconds. Harjit’s victory adds to a series of stunning performances. Three days ago, he ran 100 metre in 10.21 seconds at the Punjab State Senior Athletics Meet in Ludhiana, demonstrating consistency and speed that mark him as one of Punjab’s fastest emerging sprinters. A friend and contemporary of sprint sensation Gurindervir Singh, Harjit is rapidly making a name for himself on the national athletics stage. Just over a month ago, he had a breakthrough run at the National Athletics Series-5 in Sangrur on May 9, setting the tone for what has become a string of impressive performances. Youth’s death: Khaira Phagwara trader cheated of demands murder case ~54L in paddy payment fraud against guilty cops Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 7 Senior Congress leader and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira today condemned the brutal killing of 22-year-old Dalit youth Lovepreet Singh, alias Labha, of village Bangiwal, Mehatpur, and demanded the immediate registration of a criminal case of murder against all police officials involved in the firing incident. Khaira also urged the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to take suo motu cognizance of the shocking incident and ensure an independent judicial probe. Lovepreet, a wanted accused in a January 2026 case, had succumbed to his injuries after being shot at by police personnel during a raid at his house on Friday evening. While the police had claimed cops fired in self-defence after hostilities from villagers, Lovepreet’s family and villagers had alleged he had been shot and had demanded an FIR against the cops. Villagers also objected to the absence of any FIR against police personnel, even as a case was registered against members of Lovepreet’s family. Khaira said the circumstances surrounding Lovepreet’s death raise serious questions about the conduct of the police and expose the dangerous culture of impunity prevailing under the AAP government. While the police have attempted to justify the shooting as an act of self-defence, the victim’s family and villagers have alleged that Lovepreet was mercilessly beaten and then shot by the police. They have further alleged that he was prevented from receiving timely medical treatment. These conflicting versions make it imperative that the truth be established through an impartial judicial investigation rather than an internal police inquiry. “The killing of a young Dalit man at the hands of the police cannot be brushed aside by merely ordering a departmental inquiry. When a citizen dies due to police firing, the law demands the highest standards of transparency and accountability. The police cannot be allowed to investigate and then grant themselves a clean chit,” said Khaira. The Congress MLA said the emergence of videos from the spot and the widespread protests by villagers further underline the need for an independent investigation supervised by the judiciary. Phagwara, June 7 A Phagwara businessman has allegedly been cheated of more than ~54 lakh in a paddy transaction, following which the police have registered a case against the accused after an inquiry into the complaint. According to the police, a case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Mahesh Aggarwal, a resident of Regency Town, Phagwara. The complainant alleged that he had supplied paddy worth ~54.37 lakh to the accused during a business transaction but he did not received the payment. During the course of the investigation, the authorities examined documents and statements connected with the transaction. Following the completion of the preliminary inquiry, the police found sufficient grounds to proceed with legal action and registered a case of criminal breach of trust and cheating. The accused, identified as Davinder Singh, a resident of Salarpur village in Jalandhar district, has been named in the FIR. The complainant had approached the authorities seeking legal intervention after efforts to recover the money through other means failed. The sprinter’s journey to the tracks is as inspiring as his times. The son of a retired PSPCL employee, Harjit played kabaddi until Class XI before switching his focus entirely to athletics. Under the guidance of coach Sarabjit Singh Happy, Harjit has honed his skills, turning heads across national competitions. Speaking to The Tribune, coach Happy remarked, “This is the best era for 100metre sprinters in India. Gurindervir always wanted to see this level of performance, and Harjit has certainly delivered.” “With his speed, determination, and growing track record, Harjit Singh is not just winning races, he’s sprinting into the spotlight,” the proud coach said. 2 held for agri motor wires theft Our Correspondent Kapurthala, June 7 Farmers in rural areas of Kapurthala have expressed concern following a series of thefts targeting electrical wiring and equipment used for agricultural irrigation. The latest incident came to light when a former village sarpanch discovered that wiring connected to a tubewell motor had been stolen during the night. According to a complaint, the theft was noticed when the complainant visited his fields and found the wiring and related equipment missing. During inquiries, suspicion fell on individuals allegedly involved in similar thefts in nearby villages. The police subsequently launched an investigation and arrested two accused, identified as Sukhdev Singh and Jasmail Singh. Officials believe the accused may be linked to multiple theft incidents. The arrests have provided some relief to residents who had been worried about recurring thefts of agricultural equipment. ‘MSP hike not enough’ BKU warns of agitations , Will stage protest in Phagwara today Ashok Kaura Phagwara, June 7 Leaders and members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Doaba) criticised the Union Government’s recent increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for kharif crops for the 2026-27 marketing season, alleging that the hike was inadequate and failed to address the rising cost of agricultural inputs. They also expressed concern over the shortage of urea and fertilisers in Punjab, pending sugarcane dues and suppression of democratic protests by the Punjab Government. The issues were discussed during a state-level meeting of the BKU (Doaba) held at Gurdwara Sukhchaina Sahib in Sukhchain Nagar, Phagwara, Kapurthala district, under the leadership of BKU (Doaba) state president Manjit Singh Rai. The meeting was attended by around 50-60 leaders and members, including state vice-president Kirpal Singh Mussapur, state press secretary Gurpal Singh Paala, Nawanshahr district president Davinder Singh Sandhwa and Phagwara circle president Kulwinder Singh Kaala. During the meeting, farmer leaders alleged that the increase in MSP announced by the Centre was insignificant compared to the rising prices of urea, fertilizers, petrol and diesel. The leaders further alleged that the Punjab Government had failed to ensure the timely availability of urea and fertilisers, forcing farmers to purchase essential inputs from the black market at higher rates, increasing their financial burden. The meeting also discussed the Punjab Government’s announcement of a bonus of ~68.50 per quintal for sugarcane growers. The leaders claimed that despite the announcement, no sugar mill had received the promised funds from the state government. They demanded immediate release of the amount and warned that farmer organisations would be compelled to launch protests across Punjab if the dues were not disbursed soon. Another major issue raised during the meeting was the alleged non-payment of approximately ~28 crore to farmers by Golden Sandhar Sugar Mill, Phagwara. The leaders alleged that the Rana Gurjit Group had agreed to clear the dues when it acquired the mill but had failed to pay any amount even after two to three years. The BKU (Doaba) warned that if the state government did not intervene and ensure payment of the arrears, the union, along with other farmer organisations, would launch an agitation against the sugar mill. The meeting resolved to support the call given by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) to organise effigy-burning protests against both the Union and Punjab Governments over rising inflation. BKU (Doaba) leaders announced that an effigyburning protest would be held in front of the ADC Office, Phagwara, on June 8 at 11 am, while similar protests would be organised at district headquarters across Punjab. MMT, D’sala hotels told to pay up for pre-World Cup booking cancellations Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 7 The Jalandhar Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered MakeMyTrip (MMT) and two Dharamsala hotels to compensate a Jalandhar-based businessman after his confirmed hotel bookings for the India-New Zealand ICC Cricket World Cup match in 2023 were abruptly cancelled, derailing his plans to witness one of the tournament’’s biggest clashes live from the stadium. The commission held that cancelling confirmed hotel reservations ahead of a major international sporting event amounted to deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice, observing that consumers have a legitimate expectation that a confirmed booking will be honoured. The complaint was filed by Harjit Dhillon, a cricket goods manufacturer from Jalandhar, who had planned a trip to Dharamsala for the October 22, 2023, World Cup fixture between India and New Zealand. Besides watching the match, Dhillon said he also hoped to meet several national and international cricketers owing to his business ties in the cricket industry. According to the complaint, Dhillon booked rooms through the MMT platform in June 2023, more than four months before the match. The bookings worth over Rs 15,000 were fully paid and c m y b confirmed. However, in August 2023, he was informed that both hotels would be unable to accommodate him allegedly due to renovation and construction work. Dhillon contended that the cancellations were driven by the sharp surge in demand and room tariffs ahead of the World Cup fixture. He argued that as hotel prices soared and accommodation became scarce, the properties cancelled existing reservations to accommodate higher paying customers. By then, finding alternative accommodation in Dharamsala had become difficult and expensive. Dhillon said the sudden cancellations ultimately forced him to abandon his trip, costing him the opportunity to watch the high-profile World Cup clash live despite already having match tickets. In its defence, MMT maintained that it merely acted as an online intermediary and that the cancellations were initiated by the hotels. The company submitted that full refunds had been processed and that alternative accommodation along with reimbursement of up to Rs 3,000 per booking had been offered, which the complainant declined. After examining the booking records, match tickets and communications between the parties, the commission observed that cancelling the confirmed bookings during a global sporting event had caused inconvenience, disappointment and mental harassment. Holding the two hotels primarily responsible and MMT jointly liable as the booking facilitator, the commission directed the parties to jointly pay Rs 10,000 as compensation for mental agony and deficiency in service, besides Rs 10,000 towards litigation expenses. The amount must be paid within 45 days, failing which it will attract interest at 9 per cent per annum.