30082026-JTR-01.qxd 8/29/2026 10:35 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune MP CHABBEWAL REVIEWS PREPARATIONS FOR DRONE SHOW Chabbewal issued directions to officials to ensure elaborate arrangements for the successful conduct of the event. P2 » A HAUNTING THAT OUTLIVES ITS GHOSTS FIRST LOOKS OF DRISHYAM’S CHARACTERS UNVEILED The novel is about what remains after devastation and about the quiet, unglamorous work of carrying on. P3 After standout eye campaign, Ajay Devgn returns as Vijay Salgaonkar alongside Tabu, Shriya Saran and Rajat Kapoor. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6:54 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6:03 AM SUNDAY | 30 AUGUST 2026 | JALANDHAR 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. INBRIEF 6 SHOTS FIRED WITH INTENT TO KILL, ONE BOOKED Hoshiarpur: The Tanda police have booked a person for allegedly firing at a man with an intention to kill him.According to the complaint lodged with the police, Ranjit Singh, a resident of Ahiyapur, alleged that a resident of his locality, Harwinder Singh, was speaking abusively to women. When he objected to his behaviour, Harwinder allegedly fired around six shots at him with an intention to kill him.On the basis of the complaint, the Tanda police registered a case against Harwinder Singh. Further investigation is on. OC ILLICIT LIQUOR SEIZED, TWO HELD Hoshiarpur: The district police have seized a large quantity of illicit liquor in separate operations and arrested two persons. According to the police, the Sadar police, acting on a tipoff, intercepted a person near the drain close to the New Court Complex. During a search, 18,000 ml of liquor was seized from his possession. The accused, identified as Karan Kumar, a resident of Bajwara, was arrested. In another operation, the Focal Point police stopped a vehicle during patrolling and seized 1,80,000 ml of liquor from it. The accused, identified as Amritpal Singh, a resident of New Gobind Singh Nagar, was arrested. Cases have been registered and further investigation is on. OC DA row: Teachers burn copies of CM’s post, absenteeism letter as protest Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 29 Government school teachers stepped up their agitation against the Punjab Government on Saturday, burning copies of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s August 27 post on the employees mass leave strike and a state government letter directing departments to identify employees absent from duty for possible action under the service rules. The protest by the Government Teachers Union (GTU), Punjab, came two days after nearly four lakh state government employees went on mass leave to press for their long-pending demands including the release of pending instalments of the dearness allowance (DA). The August 27, letter issued by the Personnel Department, amid the mass leave protest, said complaints had been received from public about inconvenience caused by officials not being present at government offices. It directed Administrative Secretaries and heads of departments to compile and submit lists of Government school teachers burn copies of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s post in Jalandhar on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO employees absent from duty to the Department of General Administration for “further necessary action” under the applicable service rules. The teachers union burnt copies of the letter, along with the Chief Minister’s post, outside the gates of several government schools across Jalandhar district. The protests were held at schools in Dhani Pind, Mao, Mianwal, Bilga, Rajewal, Kang Sahib Rai, Goraya, Khun Khun Kalan, Adampur, Nurmahal, Nakodar and Phillaur, among other places. In his August 27 post, the Chief Minister had said employees were an “important part” of the government’s family and that it was ready to listen to their legiti- mate concerns. He, however, also said talks and a strike could not continue simultaneously and that dialogue would be held only after the strike was withdrawn. Meanwhile, the union accused the government of adopting a pressure tactic instead of addressing employees’ grievances. The GTU leaders said teachers and oth- Spirit of sportsmanship Fire at K’thala bank, documents damaged Our Correspondent CRICKETER SUPREET KAUR SELECTED FOR ALBERTA TEAM Woman cricketer Supreet Kaur of the Hoshiarpur District Cricket Association (HDCA) has been selected for the Alberta State Under-19 women’s cricket team in Canada. She will represent Alberta in the Canada Under19 Championship scheduled to be held in Toronto from September 1. P2 er employees had been pursuing their demands through democratic means and would not be intimidated by warnings of action over participation in protests. “We will continue to raise our voice for our legitimate demands,” union leaders said, while demanding immediate talks with employees. The GTU has also sought the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, implementation of old pay scales in Punjab, restoration of the Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme and the regularisation of contractual employees from various categories, besides the resolution of other pending demands. The GTU district president Karnail Phillaur, secretary Sukhwinder Singh Makkar and state leaders Teerth Singh Bassi and Baljit Singh Kular said the government should end its “confrontational” approach and resolve the pending issues through dialogue. The union warned that failure to address the demands would lead to further agitation. Players practise on a hockey field ahead of the National Sports Day celebrations, their silhouettes capturing the spirit of sportsmanship and determination, in Jalandhar on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Phagwara, August 29 Panic and confusion prevailed on Saturday morning after fire broke out at the branch of IDBI Bank located on Railway Station Road in Kapurthala. A four-member firefighting team, led by Fire Officer Gurpreet Singh, rushed to the spot along with a fire tender and controlled the blaze in 30 minutes. The fire was suspected to have been caused by a short- circuit, said Gurpreet Singh. The branch manager said important documents, furniture and other items in the bank were damaged in the fire. Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat, Mayor Vineet Dhir and others at the cleanliness drive in Jalandhar on Saturday. A TRIBUNE PHOTO Minister, mayor, DC launch ‘Clean Punjab’ drive in Jalandhar Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 29 Punjab Horticulture and Defence Services Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat, Mayor Vineet Dhir and Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia on Saturday launched a cleanliness drive at Bhagwan Mahavir Marg here, marking the beginning of the 10-day statewide campaign to eliminate garbage vulnerable points (GVPs) across Punjab. Mohinder Bhagat, Vineet Dhir and senior AAP leader Nitin Kohli joined sanitation workers and personally swept the road to underline the state government’s “Clean Punjab” message. The campaign, being held from August 29 to September 8, seeks to intensify efforts to remove open garbage dumping sites and prevent their recurrence. Speaking to mediapersons, they said the initiative was part of the Punjab Government’s larger cleanliness drive being undertaken under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. Ministers, MLAs, deputy commissioners, municipal commissioners and other officials have been asked to participate in field activities to ensure that sanitation efforts translate into visible improvement on the ground, they added. Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat said the cleanliness was a collective responsibility and urged residents to cooperate with civic authorities by disposing of waste responsibly and refraining from dumping garbage at locations Take part in 10-day statewide campaign to clear garbage vulnerable points that had already been cleaned. Mayor Vineet Dhir said the Municipal Corporation would focus on identifying and clearing vulnerable garbage spots in the city, while stressing the need for sustained public cooperation to prevent such sites from reemerging. He furthrer said residents will also be able to contribute to the campaign through the Punjab Government’s M-Seva app by uploading photographs of Garbage Vulnerable Points in their respective areas. Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia called for coordinated efforts among government departments, civic agencies and residents to make the campaign effective. He also urged people to segregate their dry and wet garbage at home to help the authorities dispose of waste more precisely. They also appealed to residents to actively participate in neighbourhood cleanliness activities and help make the campaign a sustained public movement rather than a one-time exercise. Meanwhile, senior AAP leader Nitin Kohli also highlighted the need for mass participation in the event to make it a huge success in the district. He urged people to keep their surroundings clean by not dumping waste indiscriminately. FARMERS’ LOSSES, SUGAR MILL ARREARS Six seriously hurt as car crashes into bridge railing near Phagwara BKU-Doaba announces protests in Phagwara Our Correspondent Our Correspondent Phagwara, August 29 A serious accident took place on the Chandigarh bypass near Khangura Cut on Saturday when a speeding car crashed into the railing of a bridge before plunging into fields alongside the road. Six occupants of the vehicle sustained serious injuries in the accident. According to preliminary information, the occupants were returning towards Balachaur after paying obeisance at Beas Dera. When the car reached the Khangura Cut area, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle. The car first rammed into the bridge railing and then veered off the road before falling into the adjoining fields. Preliminary reports suggest that the driver may have dozed off while driving, although the exact cause of the accident is yet to be established. ■ The occupants were returning towards Balachaur after paying obeisance at Beas Dera. When the car reached the Khangura Cut area, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle. ■ The car first rammed into the bridge railing and then veered off the road before falling into the adjoining fields. Preliminary reports suggest that the driver may have dozed off while driving, although the exact cause of the accident is yet to be established. The impact left the occupants injured and prompted an immediate rescue response. A team of the Road Safety Force reached the spot soon after receiving information about the accident. The son of MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal also reached the site and assisted in the rescue efforts. With the help of passers-by and Road Safety Force personnel, the injured occupants were safely pulled out of the damaged vehicle. The injured were subse- quently shifted by ambulance to the Civil Hospital, Phagwara, where they were provided medical treatment. Their condition and the nature of their injuries were being assessed by doctors. Police officials, who reached the scene, said they had received information about an accident on the Mehta bypass, from the reported location. Acting promptly on the information, the police team reached the site, assessed the situation and coordinated the shifting of the injured to hospital. The police began examining the circumstances surrounding the crash. While the possibility of the driver falling asleep at the wheel has emerged as the preliminary reason, officials have not yet established it as the confirmed cause. Further details are expected after the police investigation and medical assessment of the injured. Phagwara, August 29 A state-level meeting of leaders and members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Doaba) was held at Gurdwara Sukhchaina Sahib, Sukhchain Nagar, Phagwara, on Saturday to discuss issues concerning farmers and chalk out the organisation’s future course of action. The meeting was chaired by Manjit Singh Rai, State President of BKU-Doaba. State Press Secretary Gurpal Singh Pala, State Vice-President Kirpal Singh Mussapur, Phagwara Circle In-charge Kukwinder Singh Kala, besides other office-bearers and activists, participated in the deliberations. The major issue discussed during the meeting was the call given by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) to submit memorandums to deputy commissioners on August 31, seeking compensation for the losses allegedly suffered by c m y b The protesting BKU-Doaba activists over farmers' losses and sugar mill arrears in Phagwara. farmers at the ShambhuKhanauri border. According to the BKUDoaba leaders, tractors and trolleys, gas cylinders and other essential items belonging to farmers were allegedly stolen during the farmers’ agitation, and the organisation held the AAPled Punjab Government responsible for ensuring compensation for the losses. The BKU-Doaba leaders decided to organise protest programmes and submit memorandums to the deputy commissioners in their respective districts on August 31. The programmes will be held across the Doaba region, including Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur districts. The meeting also discussed the KMM’s proposed programme of holding sit-in protests outside the residences of AAP MLAs from September 14 to 18. The BKU-Doaba leadership decided that its cadre from the Doaba region would participate in a sit-in outside the residence of Mohinder Bhagat, AAP Cabinet Minister, in Jalandhar during the stipulated period. The leaders further warned that if the Punjab government failed to provide compensation for the losses suffered by farmers even after these programmes, the organisation could announce a more stringent agitation. The proposed escalation, they said, could include road and railway blockades. Another key issue raised at the meeting was the alleged pending payment of around Rs 27-28 crore to farmers by Golden Sandhar Sugar Mill, Phagwara. The BKU-Doaba leaders said they had already taken up the matter with the Agriculture Minister and Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, AAP MP from Hoshiarpur, and that the government had sought another seven to eight days to resolve the issue. After deliberations, the leaders decided to wait for another seven to eight days for the government to provide a satisfactory solution regarding the outstanding sugarcane payments.