18082025-JTR-01.qxd 17-08-2025 22:40 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune NAPA CONDEMNS ATTACK ON ELDERLY SIKH MEN IN UK CITY INSTALL MORE BINS, SEGREGATE WASTE & PENALISE LITTERBUGS CELEBRATING JOY OF HAPPY ACCIDENTS, LUCKY TURNS NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal has condemned the attack on 2 Sikh men in Wolverhampton. P2 Implement systematic waste management process and ensure regular garbage collection. P3 Serendipity Day: Celebrating life’s gentle magic, unplanned turns and fortunate accidents that lead us to destiny. P4 » » » FORECAST RAINY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.07 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:55 AM MONDAY | 18 AUGUST 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF ROBBERS' GANG BUSTED, 4 HELD Phagwara: The Shahkot police have busted a gang of robbers and arrested two of its members. The accused have been identified as Sata Singh, Simranjit Singh, alias Yadu, and Rajveer Singh, alias Raja, all residents of Toti village in Kapurthala. Gurpreet Singh of Nangal Ambian village had complained to the police that the accused, carrying firearms, reached his motor room on August 12, detained his servant and his daughter, beat them up, took Rs 5,000 and a smartphone, and stole 40 kg of wheat. The accused also barged into a poultry farm of Mukesh Kumar of Jalalabad village in Moga in Shahkot village on August 12, detained his servant, beat him up, stole ducks and duck feed. oc JAIL INMATE INJURED Phagwara: An undertrial lodged in Phagwara Central Jail was admitted to the Civil Hospital with serious injuries on Saturday. According to Dr Ashishpal Singh, on duty at the emergency ward, the inmate, identified as Pawan, was brought by jail officials in an injured condition. Officials informed the doctor that Pawan had fallen from the jail wall, resulting in fractures to both his legs. He was initially given treatment at the jail hospital before being shifted to the Civil Hospital. The police have been informed about the incident. OC WOMAN HELD FOR SELLING LIQUOR Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested a woman on the charge of selling illicit liquor. Eight bottles of illicit liquor were recovered from the house of the accused, identified as Dalveer Kaur Nikki, a resident of Mullewal village, who had managed to flee from the spot on August 1. A case was registered under Sections 61/1/14 of the Punjab Excise Act against the accused. OC TWO HELD UNDER NDPS ACT Phagwara: The Nurmahal police have arrested two persons for selling intoxicating tablets. Sixty tablets were recovered from the possession of the accused, identified as Salumudin Khan, a resident of Uppal Khalsa village, and Narindar Singh, alias Nindar, a resident of Chuheki village. A case has been registered under the NDPS Act against the accused. OC YOUTH BOOKED FOR KIDNAPPING Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have booked a youth for kidnapping a girl. The accused has been identified as Sahil, alias Gaddu, of Padda colony, Lohian Khas. The mother of the victim complained to the police that the accused had kidnapped her daughter from her college on August 10. A case has been registered against the accused, and further investigations are on. oc BKU, KKU UNITE FOR CANE DUES Jalandhar: Amid the call of a huge farmer mahapanchayat at Kukkar Pind by Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) Doaba and other unions on August 20 regarding various demand of farmers, a mobilisation of other farm unions of Doaba is also taking place. OC (P2) Admn reinforces embankments amid rising Beasissued on Pong DamK’thala levels in water release Night patrols ordered |Hourly updates Ashok Kaura Phagwara, August 17 With the rising water level in the Beas, the Kapurthala district administration has stepped up efforts to secure advance embankments by reinforcing weak spots with sandbags and stones on a war footing. Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal, who is supervising the operations, said both dhussi and advance embankments in the district are safe and face no immediate threat. As a precautionary measure, Drainage Department officials have been instructed to conduct night patrols under the leadership of officers at the SDO level. Panchal said the department is also issuing hourly updates on water releases from the Pong ADC Navneet Kaur Bal along with officials inspects a bundh site near Kapurthala on Sunday. Dam and inflow from seasonal rivulets and streams in the catchment area of the Beas. Additional Deputy Commis- sioner Navneet Kaur Ball inspected the reinforcement work being carried out at the advance embankment near Khijarpur. Executive Engineer (XEN) Sartaj Singh of the Drainage Department said sandbagging is underway on a large scale, with additional focus on placing stone crates along vulnerable stretches of the embankment. Meanwhile, XEN Sukhraj Singh reported that at the dhussi embankment near Butala village in Dhilwan, sandbags have already been placed, where necessary. He added that nearly 5,000 bags have also been kept in reserve for emergency use. Local farmers have expressed satisfaction with the administration’s preparedness. Sukhdev Singh of Chaudhriwal said the authorities were installing crates filled with stones and earthfilled bags, with villagers also cooperating in the efforts. Sarban Singh of Butala village noted that robust arrangements have been made by the department to safeguard the embankments. Disaster mgmt team set up at Sultanpur Lodhi Our Correspondent TEAM MEMBERS’ CONTACT NO. Phagwara, August 17 The Health Department has constituted a Disaster Management and Rapid Response Team at the Civil Hospital, Sultanpur Lodhi, to ensure uninterrupted medical care for residents of the affected areas. Acting on the directions of Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, the team will remain functional round the clock. Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal said medical officers have been placed on 24-hour on-call duty to provide immediate support in case of emergencies. The team comprises Dr Jaspreet Singh, Dr Harpreet Singh, Dr Ashish ■ Dr. Jaspreet Singh, (98149-77758), Dr. Harpreet Singh, (95019-88229) Dr Ashish Saraf, (98198-28469) Dr Navneet Singh, (82645-57767) and Dr Pratibha, Assistant Medical Officer (81969-60400) will be available online 24 hours to provide services. ■ Jaswinder Singh, (88723-48693), Amarjeet Singh, (79019-07042) Sunil Kumar, Ward Attendant (76961-16171), Diwan Singh, Ward Attendant (94176-32588) have also been included in the rapid response team. ■ Ambulance drivers Jaswinder Singh and Ram Kumar will be ready at all times (96530-42810). Saraf, Dr Navneet Singh and Dr Pratibha, who will be available online and on the phone to extend medical advice and services. Supporting staff, including laboratory technicians, ward attendants and ambulance drivers, have also been deployed to strengthen the response mechanism. Panchal further said an emergency ward at Sultanpur Lodhi hospital has been equipped to handle any situation, while pharmacy officers have been instructed to maintain adequate stock of essential medicines and equipment. To coordinate health services, a dedicated control room has also been set up. Meanwhile, Additional Struggle to success Sprinter gears up for national glory Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 17 A young sprinter from Punjab, Amandeep Kaur, who recently clinched gold and bronze medals in the 800 m and 1500 m events at the World Athletics Continental Tour (Bronze), is now preparing for the prestigious 64th National Inter-State Athletics Championship, scheduled to begin in Chennai on August 20. But her journey is far from an overnight success story. It is the result of determination and the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. Amandeep comes from a financially humble family. She originally belongs to Ghall Kalan village in Moga. Her father works as a labourer, while her mother earns a living as a domestic help. As the eldest of four siblings, she has carried the weight of both responsibility and ambition. Speaking to The Tribune, she shared insights into her rigorous routine: “I practise from 4 to 8 in the morning and again in the evening. It’s tough, but necessary.” Her introduction to sports began in Class V through kabaddi and kho-kho. However, without family support or financial backing, she had to step away for some years. Her return to athletics came unexpectedly when she started accompanying a cousin to a nearby ground. There, she rediscovered her passion — this time, for running. It was during a championship in Tarn Taran that she met her coach Deepak Kumar who saw potential in her. She then shifted to Dasuya for professional training under his guidance. Since then, there has been no looking back. “My parents never encouraged me to pursue sports because they couldn’t afford the diet, training or equipment. Even today, they don’t fully understand the sport,” she said with a smile. “But whenever I visit home and show them news clippings or videos of my achievements, their happiness says it all.” Currently a final-year BA student at GTB Khalsa College, Hoshiarpur, Amandeep lives in a hostel and balances academics with training. She credits her coach and college authorities for their unwavering support. “Deepak sir has been a pillar of strength. He keeps our training sessions exciting with new surprises every day. I wouldn’t be here without his mentorship,” she added. With her eyes now setting on the Asian and Commonwealth Championships Amandeep ❝ — Amandeep Kaur, ATHLETE (PIC) ❞ Kaur stands as a shining example of how perseverance can outshine even the most difficult circumstances. As the National Inter-State Championship approaches, all eyes will be on this rising star from Punjab, whose story continues to inspire countless young athletes across the country. c m y b MP writes to PM, CM, seeks aid for flood-hit farmers Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 17 Rajya Sabha member and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chauhan, and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, demanding compensation for flood-affected farmers. In his letter, he mentioned that in the mand area, such calamities occur almost every second or third year, resulting in the destruction of thousands of acres of crops. Through the letter, Seechewal also demanded that the repayment of loans taken by the affected farmers from banks should be deferred. He said when the crops have already been destroyed, how can the farmers be expected to pay back their loan installments? He further urged the government to conduct special surveys of the fields so that the actual extent of damage can be assessed. Today at 8 am, Seechewal visited Baupur to review the ongoing relief work at the Beas. He said the advance embankments on the Beas are under threat at three places — Karmuwal Pattan, Deputy Commissioner (General) Navneet Kaur Ball and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Varinderpal Singh Bajwa visited several affected areas in Sultanpur Lodhi and Dhilwan to review the relief operations. At a relief camp in Lakh Wariyan, ADC Ball inspected medical facilities and instructed teams to distribute ORS packets in large numbers, given the prevailing heat and humidity. She also directed that awareness be raised about water-borne diseases and that essential medicines be supplied without interruption. On his part, ADC Bajwa visited the villages of Mand Kukan, Ravan, Mand Kulla, Mand Nangal and Dhakran, where he interacted with residents and assured them that the administration was on a high alert and committed to extending all possible assistance. During his visit to Gurdwara Sahib at Mand Kukan, he emphasized that the district authorities were closely monitoring the situation and would continue to prioritize public welfare in this hour of crisis. The visits were accompanied by senior officials including SDMs Alka Kalia and Davy Goel, Executive Engineer Drainage Sukhraj Singh, Agriculture Officer Parminder Kumar and others, who reviewed arrangements relating to healthcare, drinking water, food supplies and cattle fodder. Travel office razed illegally, 20 booked MP Harbhajan flags garbage issue near city’s Burlton Park Our Correspondent CREDIT TO COACH Deepak sir (pic) has been a pillar of strength. He keeps our training sessions exciting with new surprises every day. I wouldn't be here without his mentorship. MP Balbir Singh Seechewal has written a letter to the Prime Minister and the CM, seeking relief for flood-hit farmers. Phagwara, August 17 An office of AYM Travels, located opposite the bus stand near ICICI Bank on the GT Road, Phagwara, was illegally demolished by using a JCB machine. Marnkern Walia, resident of Dashmesh Nagar, Phagwara, and owner of the office, said it happened in the early hours of August 16, between 2:30 am and 3 am. He claimed that the act was carried out deliberately by a group of individuals with whom he has been in dispute. The accused named in the FIR include Bikramjit Handa, resident of Handa Complex, Phagwara; Mayank and Karan Prabhakar of Khalwara Gate, Phagwara; Ravinder Kumar and Ranjit Singh of Ahmedabad, Sarbjit Nagra of Jalandhar, and Svaash Suneha of Jalandhar, among 13 others. The police said investigation is underway to verify the circumstances of the incident, assess the extent of the damages, and determine the involvement of the named individuals. The authorities confirmed that further legal action will follow once evidence is examined and statements are recorded. Minister asks Mayor to remove dump Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 17 Local Bodies Minister Dr Ravjot Singh on Sunday visited the Burlton Park site to review the progress of the Rs 78 crore Sports Hub project. During the visit, MP Harbhajan Singh said there were some delay in the project and also highlighted the presence of a garbage dump at the site, which, he said, should be cleared. “The dump needs to be cleared immediately, especially since children and residents visit the area,” said Harbhajan Singh, who also shared photographs of the dump with the minister. In response, Dr Ravjot Singh acknowledged the issue, stating, “It doesn’t look nice and must be addressed at the earliest.” He directed Mayor Vaneet Dhir to ensure that swift action is taken to remove it. The problem had earlier been raised by local environmental activists, who have also expressed concern over the felling of trees for the stadium’s construction. The Jalandhar Municipal Corpora- tion’s move to cut down over 50 trees has drawn criticism from environmentalists, with many calling for reconsideration of the plan to preserve the green cover. This issue was also discussed with the minister. During the review, Dr Ravjot Singh sought an update on the project timeline. Officials informed him that the targeted completion date is June 10, 2026. “Only 10 months are left. We will revisit the site and review the progress again in a month,” he said. Harbhajan said, “The commitments made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal during the foundation laying event must be fulfilled. Only then people will believe that what the government says, it actually does,” he said. Calling the Sports Hub a path-breaking initiative, Ravjot said the project aims to wean the youth away from drugs and redirect their energy into the field of sports. The minister said the project will provide thousands of people an opportunity to engage in sports and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Baupur, and Ahli Kalan. He stated that farmers are working tirelessly, day and night, to prevent these embankments from breaching. Seechewal also stressed that farmers in the mand area of Kapurthala and Tarn Taran districts should be given adequate compensation for their flood-damaged crops. He explained that the mand area, which lies like an island in the middle of the river, consists of 16 villages, all of which are affected at present. Continuous heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab over the past several days has further worsened the situation. Seechewal said water is being continuously released from the Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh. By the time it reaches the mand area, the water volume exceeds 1,25,000 cusecs. For the past week, paddy crop has remained submerged and now started rotting. Fodder for cattle is also decaying, causing foul odour across the region. Through his letter, Seechewal urged that the government must stand by every farmer in Punjab and across the country whose crops has been destroyed due to these floods. Minor girl ‘kidnapped’ in Kapurthala Phagwara, August 17 A 17-year-old girl has reportedly gone missing under suspicious circumstances. A police complaint, lodged by her brother Mohit Sharma, a resident of Mohalla Sudan, Sheikhupur, alleges that the minor was taken away on the pretext of marriage. According to the complaint, the girl had been at her paternal aunt’s house on the evening of August 14. Her brother received a phone call from another sibling Sahil Sharma, informing him that Komal was not at home. She had been sent to a shop to purchase some items but failed to return. Despite immediate efforts by the family to trace her whereabouts, she could not be located. The complainant stated that subsequent inquiries revealed that Sukhjinder Singh, alias Chinku, a resident of Gujri Mata Mandir, Sheikhupur, allegedly lured the girl into leaving home with the false assurance of marriage. The FIR further names his mother Sonia and father Sonu, along with an unidentified associate, as conspirators in the incident. Police have registered the case based on Mohit’s statement and initiated an investigation. — OC