02102026-JTR-01.qxd 10/1/2026 11:38 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune PADDY PROCUREMENT BEGINS AT MANDIS IN CITY YOUNG SHOOTER HONOURED FOR ASIAN GAMES SILVER ‘NEPALESE IN INDIA ARE LIKE MEXICANS IN AMERICA’ Officials say arrangements are in place for smooth crop procurement, lifting and prompt payments to farmers. P2 Neeraj Kumar, a resident of Beh Mawa village near Talwara, secured medal in 50m rifle 3 positions competition.P3 Meet Ashim Ahluwalia, Niharika Singh and Vishwendra Singh, who are behind Hindi-Nepalese film Khoriya. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 33°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 21°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.11 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6.22 AM » FRIDAY | 2 OCTOBER 2026 | JALANDHAR SIR nears completion with 99% work done in Kapurthala district Our Correspondent Kapurthala, October 1 The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Kapurthala district is nearing completion, with 99 per cent of the exercise completed, according to District Election Officer (DEO)cum-Deputy Commissioner (DC) Akash Bansal. Sharing constituency-wise progress, Bansal said the SIR 2026 exercise had been completed in Sultanpur Lodhi Assembly constituency, while 99.14 per cent work had been completed in Bholath, 99.92 per cent in Kapurthala and 97.50 per cent in Phagwara. To ensure inclusion of every eligible voter and facilitate electors, Bansal said booth-level officers (BLOs) would personally contact voters in cases where notices had been issued and hearings or document submissions were still pending. Instead of requiring electors to visit offices, BLOs would collect the necessary documents directly from them. “This arrangement will save electors from visiting the offices of electoral registration officers (EROs) for personal hearings and submission of documents, wherever applicable,” he said. He added that special camps would be held over the weekend at booths where some pendency remained to facilitate electors. Help desks have also been set up at the offices of district election officers (DEOs) and electoral registration officers (EROs) across the state to address queries and concerns related to electoral rolls. Bansal said the DEO office, in coordination with the election machinery, was making concerted efforts to ensure the smooth, transparent and timely completion of the process. Two held with 2 kg heroin, ~7.8L drug money, pistol Three thefts raise concern in Bholath subdivision villages Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Jalandhar, October 1 The Special Cell of the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police has arrested two persons and recovered 2 kg of heroin, Rs 7.8 lakh in drug money, a .32-bore pistol and five live cartridges. ADCP (Investigation) Dev Singh, ACP (Detective) Amarbir Singh and Special Cell in-charge Sub-Inspector Manjinder Singh said a white Hyundai i20 (bearing registration number PB-91-6313), driven by a youth coming from the Dashmesh Nagar side, was intercepted during a naka at Nakhan Wala Bagh T-point in Jalandhar. During search, the police recovered 1 kg of heroin and Rs 7 lakh in cash from Deepak, alias Deepu. Following the recovery, FIR No. 267 was registered under Sections 21(C), 27(A), The two accused in custody of the police in Jalandhar. Three months on, commuters face hardship as Khalwara-Wahad link road work remains unfinished 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act at the Bhargo Camp police station against Deepak. He was produced before a court and remanded to police custody. During interrogation, he disclosed the name of Sahil, a resident of Gillwali Gate, Amritsar, who is currently living near Karol Bagh in the Rama Mandi area. Acting on the information, the police arrested Sahil and recovered 1 kg of heroin, a .32-bore pistol, five live cartridges and a Hyundai Verna car (bearing registration number PB08-FM-7999) from his possession. Sahil was also booked in the same case, with Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act added to the charges. The police said Deepak had three NDPS cases registered against him in Hoshiarpur in 2022, 2023 and 2025. No previous criminal case was registered against Sahil. Kapurthala, October 1 Three theft incidents were reported overnight from Litan and Pandori Rajputan villages in Kapurthala’s Bholath subdivision, triggering concern among residents. The incidents involved thefts from havelis where workers were asleep and cash allegedly stolen from a car parked outside a house. According to the police complaints, unidentified persons allegedly entered a haveli in Litan village where two workers employed at a flour mill were sleeping. The suspects reportedly stole a wallet and a mobile phone belonging to one of the workers before fleeing. Another incident was reported in Pandori Rajputan village, where two workers were sleeping in a haveli owned by Kamaljit Singh. According Food safety wing steps up inspections ahead of festivals, collects 6 samples Singh Cheema Pandori, Phagwara Panchayat Union Block general secretary Agyapal Singh Khalwara, Dhakk Pandori sarpanch Vijay Kumar, Wahad sarpanch Purshotam Singh, Balalon sarpanch Dharminder Kaur, Sunny Wahad, Khalwara Colony sarpanch Surinder Singh and Fatehgarh contractor Kala said the incomplete road posed a serious risk to commuters. The representatives pointed out that when heavy vehicles pass through the stretch at high speed, loose stones were thrown up by tyres, posing a threat to pedestrians, motorists and customers at roadside shops. They said the situation could lead to serious accidents if not addressed promptly. The meeting passed a resolution demanding that the contractor complete the pending work and lay the blacktop without further delay. The representatives said the road witnessed substantial daily traffic and leaving the project unfinished for such a long period increased the risk of a fatal accident. They warned that if the road was not completed at the earliest, residents, panchayat representatives and farmers’ organisations would be compelled to launch an agitation against the contractor and the department concerned. They also stated that responsibility for any mishap arising from the road’s poor condition would rest with the authorities and the contractor. SAD demands impartial probe into attack on youth Akali Dal leader, warns of agitation e-rickshaw drive launched to curb stubble burning proceed according to law. A report published on September 28 stated that Walia was injured in an alleged attack at his farmhouse and was undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital, Phagwara. Khurana and Chandi said the SAD would stand by its workers and any allegation of an attack should be investigated impartially, irrespective of the political affiliation of those involved. They called upon the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kapurthala, to ensure a fair and timebound investigation and to record the statements of all parties concerned without political pressure. The SAD leaders alleged that Walia was attacked after he allegedly declined attempts to make him join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). They named Gursimar Singh, Pardeep Singh and Vissu Ghai in connection with the allegation. These allegations were levelled by the SAD leaders at the meeting and would require verification through the police investigation and other available evidence. The leaders further alleged City-based Vivacious Yog holds spiritual retreat in Rishikesh Phagwara, October 1 Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Navjot Sharma flagged off an e-rickshaw to create awareness among farmers about the harmful impact of stubble burning and encouraged them to adopt safe and sustainable methods of cropresidue management. Equipped with a publicaddress audio system, the specially deployed e-rickshaw will visit villages falling under the Phagwara subdivision and disseminate messages regarding the serious environmental and health hazards associated with burning of the paddy straw. Speaking on the occasion, SDM Navjot Sharma said collective efforts and active participation from farmers were need of the hour to curb stubble burning. She said the administration was making every possible effort to reach farmers at the village level and educate them about the harmful consequences of burning crop residue. Block Agriculture Officer Paramjit Singh said the erickshaw would cover 10 villages every day, ensuring that awareness messages reach farmers ahead of and during the paddy harvesting season. —OC Ashok Kaura Phagwara, October 1 The link road connecting Khalwara village with Wahad village has remained incomplete for nearly three months after the contractor laid stone aggregate but failed to carry out the final tarring work, causing inconvenience to commuters and residents of nearby villages. The uneven surface has particularly affected two-wheeler riders and students travelling by bicycle to schools and colleges. Residents said the loose stones and rough road surface had made the stretch difficult and unsafe for cyclists and two-wheeler riders. They alleged that several riders Our Correspondent Phagwara, October 1 The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has expressed strong concern over the alleged attack on Phagwara Youth Akali Dal president Sukhdeep Singh Walia and demanded an impartial and time-bound investigation into the incident. The demand was raised at an emergency meeting of the party leaders held under the leadership of Phagwara Urban constituency incharge Ranjit Singh Khurana and rural constituency in-charge Rajinder Singh Chandi. Senior leader and former chairman Jarnail Singh Wahad also attended the meeting. The meeting came three days after the reported incident, with SAD leaders expressing dissatisfaction over what they described as a lack of the police action. According to party leaders, statements had not yet been recorded in the case. They said the delay had caused resentment among party workers and urged the police to establish the facts of the incident and The unpaved Khalwara-Wahad village link road. had slipped and fallen, resulting in injuries and damage to vehicles. The condition of the road has also raised concerns about the safety of pedestrians and daily commuters. An emergency meeting of panchayat representatives, sarpanches and leaders of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Doaba) was held in Khalwara village to discuss the issue. Addressing the media after the meeting, farmer leader Gursharan that Walia was assaulted after the accused allegedly entered his premises and he suffered injuries to his legs. They demanded that the police examine all aspects of the incident, record statements of witnesses and take action against anyone found responsible under the law. Khurana and Chandi said the party’s demand was for justice through due legal process and not for confrontation. They maintained that if the police failed to take appropriate action after an impartial investigation, the SAD would announce its next programme of protest. They said the responsibility for any such further course of action would rest with the administration if the matter was not addressed. The leaders stressed that the police should determine the facts independently and that no individual or political group should be allowed to take the law into its own hands. They also urged the Kapurthala SSP to ensure that the investigation remained free from political influence and that all sides connected with the incident were heard. c m y b Our Correspondent Phagwara, October 1 In view of the festive season, the food safety wing is conducting a special inspection drive across the district to ensure the quality and safety of food products. A team led by Assistant Commissioner (Food) Harjot Pal Singh and Food Safety Officer Mehak Saini inspected grocery stores in Dhilwan and Miani Bakerpur villages. During the drive, five samples of different spices were collected for testing, including turmeric powder, red chilli powder, crushed red chilli, cumin and garam masala. The samples have been sent for analysis as per the prescribed procedure to verify their quality and compliance with the prescribed food safety standards. In addition, one sample of milk was also collected and sent for testing. The team also inspected cleanliness at food business establishments, storage of food items, quality of raw materials, packaging, labelling, expiry dates and compliance with other safety standards. Food business operators were directed to comply with safety standards and adher to good manufacturing and hygiene practices. Participants attended a yoga session at Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh. Jalandhar, October 1 Vivacious Yog, a city-based yoga training group, recently organised a three-day, twonight yoga and spiritual retreat in Rishikesh. The programme brought together 35 participants, including 24 women, for a blend of yoga, meditation and spiritual practices. The retreat was conducted under the guidance of yoga trainer Vikash Mahajan. Dr Reena Malhotra, a gynaecologist and regular yoga practitioner, was also part of the group. The programme focused on yoga, pranayama, meditation and activities aimed at fostering inner peace and spiritual well-being. Participants attended yoga and pranayama sessions at Triveni Ghat, where the serene surroundings of the Ganga provided an ideal setting for morning practice. The group also took part in a holy dip in the river and attended the Ganga Aarti, experiencing the spiritual ambience along the riverbank. “A sound-healing session was organised at Parmarth Niketan, adding another dimension to the retreat. Participants were provided two sattvik meals a day, while accommodation was arranged at a private lodge,” said Mahajan. The retreat coincided with Sharad Purnima, allowing participants to take part in traditional rituals associated with the auspicious occasion. Members said the experience gave them an opportunity to step away from their daily routines and spend time in a spiritually enriching environment. Mahajan said, “The objective was to create an environment where yoga, pranayama, meditation and spiritual practices could be experienced in a more immersive manner. The retreat concluded with participants returning with positive experiences and renewed enthusiasm for their regular yoga practice.” — TNS to the complaint, unidentified persons allegedly scaled the outer gate, entered the premises and searched a parked Dzire car. They reportedly stole the mobile phone of one of the workers sleeping nearby and escaped. In the third incident, unidentified persons allegedly smashed the window of a Brezza car parked outside a house and stole Rs 6,000 kept inside the vehicle. A CCTV footage purportedly linked to the incidents has surfaced, showing a person riding a numberless Platina motorcycle. The police are examining the footage to ascertain whether the rider was involved in the thefts. After receiving information about the incidents, Bholath SHO Harjinder Singh visited villages along with a police team and launched an investigation. Security check intensified after bomb threat email in Phagwara Our Correspondent Phagwara, October 1 A measured response by the civil administration and the police prevented any situation of unnecessary panic at the SDM Office in Phagwara for which a bomb threat had been issued via an email on Wednesday ahead of the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. SDM Navjot Sharma and Phagwara SP Major Singh ensured that the situation was handled with caution rather than alarm. The threat came through an email received at the official email address of the SDM office, shortly before the scheduled visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Jalandhar on Wednesday morning. The message claimed that the SDM office and other locations could be targeted. Taking the threat seriously, the police immediately informed the senior administrative authorities and initiated a comprehensive security exercise. Rather than allowing the information to create unnecessary anxiety among employees or the public, the SDM maintained her normal working routine. According to information available, the SDM did not even disclose the threat to her own office staff initially and continued with her official work in a composed manner till the evening. Her approach helped prevent rumours and speculation from spreading through the office and the city. The premises, including offices, corridors, parking areas and other accessible points, were thoroughly checked as part of the security operation. The search was conducted systematically and no explosive device or other suspicious material was found. Phagwara SP Major Singh maintained close supervision of the police response and ensured that the security exercise remained focused and professional.