03082026-JTR-01.qxd 8/2/2026 11:08 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune WOMAN TURNS WATERLOGGED FIELDS INTO SHRIMP FARMING BIZ MORE THAN A PROTEST, A GENERATION FINDING ITS VOICE RANDEEP HOODA JOINS ASSAM FLOOD RELIEF DRIVE She received a 60 per cent government subsidy under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). P2 Wake-up call for the nation, public opinion can influence decision-making. P3 Randeep sought support for flood-hit people in Assam as he joined a relief programme in Sivasagar district. P4 » » FORECAST RAINY MAX 32°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.22 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:46 AM » MONDAY | 3 AUGUST 2026 | JALANDHAR HEALTH & WELLNESS The Tribune has started 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 FOUR ‘DRUG PEDDLERS’ HELD Phagwara: The Nakodar police have arrested a man for selling intoxicating tablets. SHO Harmindar Singh said 40 intoxicating tablets were recovered from the possession of the accused Ranjit, alias Laadi of Mohalla Sherpur, Nakodar. A case has been registered under Sections 22, 61, and 85 of the NDPS Act against the accused. The Lohian Khas police have arrested Sachdev Singh of Seechewal village and Harmanjot Singh of Badshahpur village with 85 intoxicating tablets. The Bilga police arrested Mohindar Singh of Mao Sahib village with 38 tablets. OC 3 BOOKED FOR SNATCHING PHONE Phagwara: The Nakodar police have booked three unidentified miscreants for snatching a smartphone from a car owner. Gagan Deep Singh, a resident of Grover Colony, Kadupur, Kapurthala, complained to the police that he was returning home on June 20 when three unidentified motorcycle-borne accused threw eggs on the windscreen of his car near Uggi village on the NakodarKapurthala road and broke it with a sharp-edged weapon and snatched his smartphone. OC SIX BOOKED FOR ASSAULT Phagwara: The Nakodar police have booked six villagers on the charge of assaulting a co-villager woman. The accused have been identified as Viki, Shali, Bhola, Ajay, Rangla and Sheela, all residents of Khurshaidpur village. Chhindo of the same village complained to the police that the accused waylaid and attacked her. oc Delayed Bibi Bhani Housing Project costs JIT ~50.5 lakh Consumer panel holds it responsible for failing to hand over possession in time Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 2 More than 16 years after the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) launched its Bibi Bhani Housing Complex scheme, promising affordable homes, the project continues to leave allottees battling delays instead of moving into their flats. In a significant relief to three families, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed the JIT to refund nearly Rs 50.5 lakh, including interest and compensation, holding it responsible for failing to hand over possession within the promised period. The three separate orders relate to allottees of low income group (LIG) flats in the Bibi Bhani Housing Complex. The project was launched in 2010 and the possession was promised by July 2012. However, when the possession was offered after years of delay, allottees noted that basic facilities required for habitation, including water supply, electricity, sewerage and street- The commission ordered the JIT to refund the deposited amount with 9 per cent annual interest. lights, were not in place, prompting them to approach the District Consumer Redressal Commission for relief. In the first case, Naranjan Singh, who was allotted LIG Flat No 66 A under the pensioner category had deposited Rs 6.14 lakh in January, 2010. The JIT had promised possession within two-and-a-half years by July 2012 but the trust handed over only paper possession of the flat in Octo- ber 2018, more than six years after the scheduled date. Naranjan Singh died just days after receiving the possession and the complaint was later pursued by his legal heirs, his wife Rajvinder Kaur, son Pritpal Singh and daughter Kirandeep Kaur. The commission ordered the JIT to refund the deposited amount with 9 per cent annual interest from the date of deposit till realisation. If the amount is not paid within the stipulated period, the interest rate will increase by 3 per cent. It also awarded Rs 30,000 as compensation and Rs 10,000 towards litigation expenses. The total amount payable is around Rs 16.5 lakh. In the second case, Sarabjeet Kaur, who deposited Rs 5.87 lakh for LIG Flat No 43 on first floor, had never got possession. The commission directed the Trust to refund Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 2 Ahead of the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas in 2027, Jalandhar will witness a grand Kalash Yatra on Monday to mark the arrival of holy soil brought from Seer Gowardhanpur in Varanasi, the birthplace of Guru Ravidas. The sacred soil reached Jalandhar on Saturday in a heavily garlanded kalash amid chants by devotees and BJP leaders. The soil will now be distributed among several holy urns and taken across the city during the Kalash Yatra before being installed at Guru Ravidas temples, gurdwaras and other religious sites. The soil from Seer Gowardhanpur holds deep significance for followers of Guru Ravidas, particularly in the Doaba region, which has a large Ravidasia population. BJP leader Avinash Chander, who participated in the ceremony at Varanasi which also saw the presence of UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Dera Sachkhand Ballan head Sant Niranjan Das, said the initia- tive would enable devotees unable to visit Seer Gowardhanpur to pay their respects to the sacred soil associated with Guru Ravidas. He said the urns would be installed at hundreds of temples, gurdwaras and religious places across Punjab. Besides Guru Ravidas temples, the holy soil will also be installed at prominent shrines, including Durgiana Mandir in Amritsar and Shri Devi Talab Mandir in Jalandhar. District BJP vice-president Bhupendra Kumar said the urns would be distributed to the party’s 14 mandals from Sri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Dham in Buta Mandi at 11 am on Monday. Thereafter, Kalash Yatras would be taken out in different parts of the city. Bhupendra Kumar and BJP leader Roshan Lal described the arrival of the holy urn in Jalandhar as a matter of great spiritual significance. They said devotees, social organisations and BJP workers would participate in large numbers and pay homage to Guru Ravidas. The kalash received a warm welcome upon its arrival in the B.Ed exam rush triggers gridlock city on Saturday, with devotees greeting it with flower showers, drumbeats, devotional chants and fireworks. Laddus were also distributed and a pledge was taken to spread the teachings of Guru Ravidas. Several BJP leaders, including district president Ashok Sarin Hickey, former Cabinet minister Manoranjan Kalia, Krishan Dev Bhandari, former MP Sushil Kumar Rinku, Sheetal Angural, Raman Pabbi, Amarjit Singh Amri, Manjit Singh Titu and Sunny Sharma, were present during the reception. of pending DA installments and regularisation of contractual employees. The rally has been called under the banner of the Punjab Mulazam te Pensioners Sanjha Front (Punjab employees and pensioners joint front) and Sanjha Mulazam Manch Punjab (Punjab joint employees’ platform). — TNS BJP leaders with holy soil being brought from Varanasi. Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service MAN BOOKED FOR BIKE THEFT Phagwara: The police have booked unidentified miscreants on the charge of stealing rice bags from a mill. Ashwani Kumar, a resident of Mohalla Gandhi Chowk, Shahkot, complained to the police that unidentified miscreants barged into his rice mills and stole many rice bags. oc Jalandhar, August 2 Government employees and pensioners from across Punjab will hold a statewide rally in Chandigarh on August 7, coinciding with the ongoing Punjab Assembly session. The unions have announced to protest for their long-pending demands, including restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), release No medal but athletes make their presence felt at CWG Phagwara: The Nakodar police have arrested a man on the charge of consuming heroin. The accused has been identified as Deepak of Mohalla Sherpur, Nakodar. A lighter, silver paper, and plastic pipes used for consuming contraband were recovered from his possession. OC MANY BOOKED FOR RICE BAGS’ THEFT Protest over pending DA, OPS on August 7 Kalash Yatra to mark arrival of sacred soil from birthplace of Guru Ravidas ‘DRUG ADDICT’ ARRESTED Phagwara: The Shahkot police have booked a man for stealing a motorcycle. Bhupindar Singh of Billi Baraich village complained to the police that an unidentified thief stole his motorcycle on July 30. oc the amount with 9 per cent interest, failing which the interest will rise by 3 per cent, besides paying Rs 40,000 as compensation and litigation costs. The total refund works out to around Rs 16 lakh. The third case involved Santosh Kumari, who had been allotted LIG Flat No 51A after depositing Rs 5.99 lakh. She died in 2011, before the promised possession date and the complaint was later filed by her legal heirs, husband Dharambir, son Sunish and daughters Sangita Kamal Kapoor and Ruchi. The commission passed a similar order, directing the JIT to refund the deposited amount with interest and compensation. The total amount payable is around Rs 18 lakh. The three orders together require the Trust to pay nearly Rs 50.5 lakh, including applicable interest from the date of deposit and compensation to the affected families, highlighting the prolonged delays that continue to affect one of the city’s long pending housing schemes. Heavy traffic jam was witnessed during the B.Ed examination in Jalandhar on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH ‘Chitta-free village’ campaign launched Our Correspondent Phagwara, August 2 Rajya Sabha MP and environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal on Sunday launched the ‘Chitta-free village’ campaign from Seechewal village, calling for active community participation to eliminate the drug menace from Punjab. Addressing a massive gath- ering at Nirmal Kutia, attended by sarpanches, panches, prominent residents and police officials from nearly 32 villages, Seechewal said Punjab could not become drugfree unless the chain connecting drug suppliers, traffickers and buyers was broken. He stressed that society must now take responsibility alongside the police to save the future of the state’s youth. The participating village panchayats unanimously pledged to introduce Thikri Pehra (village vigilance patrols), install CCTV cameras, maintain constant coordination with the police through WhatsApp groups and strengthen surveillance against drug traffickers in their villages. Seechewal said addiction to synthetic drugs such as chitta was pushing youths towards c m y b theft, robbery and other criminal activities, destroying families and disturbing social harmony. He appealed to villagers not to treat drug addicts with hatred but with compassion and help rehabilitate them through collective social support. Assistant SP SD Dhirendra Verma of Sultanpur Lodhi appreciated Seechewal’s initiative. Jalandhar, August 2 Punjab marked its presence at the Commonwealth Games, which began on July 23 in Glasgow, Scotland, with players representing India across various disciplines. Two weightlifters brought home silver medals. The state’s representatives included India’s fastest man in the 100 metre Gurindervir Singh, 4×400m relay runner Rashdeep Kaur, judokas Avtar Singh and Karanjit Maan, weightlifters Lovepreet Singh and Harjinder Kaur, shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, and cyclist Harshveer Singh Sekhon. Among them, Lovepreet of Amritsar and Harjinder Kaur of Nabha secured silver medals, providing Punjab with its only podium finishes so far till filing of this story. Jalandhar also had strong representation and connections with several members of the Indian contingent. Gurindervir hails from Bhogpur in Jalandhar district, while Rashdeep Kaur, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Avtar Gurindervir Singh Singh and Karanjit Maan all share links with the city. Both Rashdeep Kaur and Tajinderpal Singh Toor trained in Jalandhar before making it to the international events. Rashdeep honed her skills under athletics coach Sarabjit Singh Happy, while Toor was coached by veteran Mohinder Singh Dhillon. Meanwhile, Avtar Singh and Karanjit Maan, who are originally from Gurdaspur, are currently posted with the Punjab Police on the PAP Complex in Jalandhar. Although most of Punjab’s athletes narrowly missed out on medals, they delivered good performances and remained optimistic about the future. After missing out on a medal, Gurindervir shared a message on social media, writing, “The hunger within me has only just begun and the dream is still alive and so is the determination to chase it. Back to work.” Similarly, Tajinderpal Singh Toor expressed his disappointment, stating, “I am honestly very disappointed that I couldn’t win a medal for India. This is not the result I wanted, but it’s not the end and I will come back stronger.” Toor also revealed that a calf muscle strain hampered his preparations ahead of the competition, affecting his performance. Despite falling short of more medals, Punjab’s athletes have already set their sights on future international competitions.