23122025-JTR-01.qxd 12/22/2025 11:19 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune FIRST DISTRICT KURASH CHAMPIONSHIP ORGANISED CLUB INAUGURATES WASHROOM PROJECT AT SCHOOL OF EMINENCE ACTOR SAMANTHA RUTH PRABHU FACES CROWD CHAOS Cambridge International School, Nakodar, hosted the Jalandhar District Kurash Championship for the first time. P2 Rotary Club in collaboration with Rotary Club of Fairfield Suisan, USA, inaugurated a washroom project at the school.P3 Videos show Samantha struggling to make her way through dense crowd as her security attempted to escort her to her vehicle. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 20°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 20°C | MIN 10°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.30 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7.24 AM TUESDAY | 23 DECEMBER 2025 | 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. Justice Surya Kant pays courtesy visit to Phagwara advocate’s family Tribune News Service Motorcycle parked outside PG stolen Phagwara: The Satnampura police have registered a case against an unidentified person following theft of a motorcycle parked outside a paying guest (PG) accommodation. Complainant Abhay, a resident of Ratta Khaira village, told the police that he had parked his motorcycle outside Global Stay-2 PG at Meharu village after returning from college. Abhay said he went inside PG and, upon coming back, found that his motorcycle was missing. He alleged that the bike was stolen by some unknown person. Acting on his complaint, the police registered a case and initiated probe into the matter. The police said footage of the CCTV cameras installed in vicinity of the PG was being examined to find clues about the accused who stole the bike. — OC Two arrested with three pistols, six live cartridges Jalandhar, December 22 The CIA staff team of the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police arrested two individuals and recovered three .32 bore pistols, along with six live cartridges, during a targeted operation. Jalandhar Commissioner of Police (CP) Dhanpreet Kaur said the operation was conducted under the supervision of Manpreet Singh Dhillon, DCP (Investigation), Jayant Puri, ADCP (Investigation), and Amarbir Singh, ACP and , was led by Inspector Surinder Kumar, in-charge, CIA Staff, Jalandhar. She said the CIA Staff police team apprehended two individuals from the Nakha Wale Bagh area. The arrested accused were identified as Rohan Kalyan and Roshan Sarki, alias Nepali, both residents of Bootan Pind, the CP said. During search, the police recovered two .32 bore pistols along with four live cartridges from Roshan Sarki, and one .32 bore pistol along with two live cartridges from Rohan Kalyan. An FIR No. 207 was registered against the accused at the Bhargo Camp police station. Rohan Kalyan was previously involved in a criminal case registered at the Division No. 2 police station, in which he had been declared a proclaimed offender, the CP said. — TNS Woman among 3 labourers killed, 5 hurt as tool crate falls in factory Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant being received by officials at the Adampur Airport near Jalandhar. Our Correspondent Phagwara, December 22 Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant paid a courtesy visit to the residence of late advocate KC Azad in Model Town, here on Monday. During his visit, the Chief Justice met Advocate Kumud Azad, daughter of late advocate, and interacted with family members over tea. Sources indicated that Justice Surya Kant shares long-standing family ties with the family of late KC Azad. He also took blessings from Kumud Azad’s wife. The Chief Justice arrived in Phagwara around 4.45 pm and, after spending a brief period at the advocate’s resi- dence, left for Adampur. In view of his visit, adequate police arrangements were made in the area. Earlier in the day, Justice Surya Kant arrived at the Adampur Airport, where he was received by senior civil, police and judicial officials. He was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by a police contingent on the occasion. Jalandhar, December 22 In a tragic incident, three labourers lost their lives as a heavy crate of tools, which was stored in an upper shelf of the factory, fell upon them while they were working on the unit premises on Dhogri Road near here today. The incident occurred at Mech Choice Tools this evening. Eyewitnesses said the rack where tools had been stacked perhaps could not bear the weight and it came down giving no time to anyone to prevent the situation and save themselves. The factory, where wrenches are being manufactured, was co-founded by Keshav Shoor, who is also the director of Vishal Tools and Forgings Pvt Ltd. The Managing Director, Vishal Tools and Forgings, Jyoti Parkash Shoor, chose not to comment on the incident. “I am away on a tour and will be back tomorrow. I will be in a position to com- Rana condemns stopping of water pipeline project Tribune News Service Kapurthala, December 22 Congress MLA from Kapurthala and former Punjab minister Rana Gurjeet Singh on Monday strongly condemned the sudden stoppage of work on the Rs 26 crore potable water supply project in the town. He termed the move highly condemnable and urged the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the local civic authorities to immediately restart the work in the larger public interest. “I got the work started and conducted an inspection last week on Saturday. When the digging work for laying water pipes was going on at full scale, it was stalled the very next day on Sunday (December 21), at the behest of the AAP leaders. This is unacceptable. The residents should not suffer due to political bias,” Rana Gurjeet Singh said. He added that governments function in continuity and development projects sanctioned earlier should not be stopped. “The government belongs to everyone. For public representatives like us and the governments, people’s interest must always be the top priority,” he emphasised. The potable water project was sanctioned during the Congress government regime in Punjab between Potable water pipelines which were being laid at Shiv Colony in Kapurthala. 2017 and 2022 under the Government of India’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)-II scheme. AMRUT-II is a flagship central scheme aimed at provid- ing 100 per cent coverage of safe and adequate drinking water to urban households, strengthening water infrastructure, and ensuring clean and sustainable water supply systems. Rana had initially taken up the matter with the Government of India when the earlier AMRUT-I scheme was nearing its end. Considering the urgent requirement in Kapurthala and the deteriorating condition of the water supply system, the project was approved under AMRUT-II. The project was necessitated due to the extremely poor condition of existing water pipelines in Kapurthala. In several areas, pipes had corroded, leading to frequent complaints of potable water getting mixed with sewage, posing serious health hazards to residents. Under the project, a new 95kilometre-long potable water pipeline network was planned to be laid across the town. Sixinch GI cement-coated, rustproof pipes were to be used to ensure durability and safe water supply. Water was to be supplied through tubewells, while household connections were to be provided using four-inch pipes. As per the project plan, 100 per cent of Kapurthala’s population was to be covered, and the work was scheduled to be completed within two years. Following the stoppage of work, local residents also came out in protest, demanding immediate resumption of the project to ensure safe and uninterrupted drinking water supply across the town. The premises of Mech Choice Tools on Dhogri Road near Jalandhar where the incident happened. ment on the incident only when I reach the factory and see the things for myself,” he said. The injured were immediately rushed to Fortis Hospital on Pathankot Road for treatment. The condition of two of the injured is slated to be seri- ous. Confirming the incident, Jalandhar (Rural) SSP Harvinder Singh Virk said, “Three persons, including a woman, have died in the incident. Four to five others have been injured because of the weight of tools which fell on them. The pillar of the rack could not bear the load of tools. The entire structure came down along with heavy tools.” The deceased woman worker identified as Simmi is learnt to have joined the factory just 10 days ago to make her two ends meet. She is survived by two children. Sugar mill’s licence put on hold over pending ~28 crore farmers’ dues: BKU Our Correspondent Phagwara, December 22 A meeting of the district administration officials, including Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal, Senior Superintendent of the Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora, SDM Jashanjit Singh, Punjab Cane Commissioner and leaders of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), Doaba, headed by Manjit Singh Rai and Satnam Singh Sahni was held at the SDM Office here on Monday to discuss the longpending sugarcane payments of farmers amounting to approximately Rs 28 crore against Golden Sandhar Mills Ltd, Phagwara. Addressing the media after meeting, Manjit Singh Rai said officials had decided that no licence for the current crushing season would be issued to the sugar mill until assurance for clearance of farmers’ dues was given the Rana Group, the present mill owners. Rai said at the time of acquisition of the sugar mill by the Rana Group, an agreement was signed under which the firm was to clear the pending arrears by paying 2.5 per cent of its annual crushingseason profits towards farmers’ dues. He alleged that the firm failed to honour this agreement as it did not clear the pending dues of sugarcane growers. The car, which was damaged in fire on the Talwara-Hajipur road. Running car catches fire, occupants escape unhurt Our Correspondent Talwara, December 22 A major accident was narrowly averted on Sunday night on the Talwara–Hajipur road when a moving car suddenly caught fire. The vehicle was completely gutted in the incident. However, all occupants of the car managed to escape safely in time. According to information received from the Hajipur police station, Pawan Kumar, a resident of Shivalik Enclave, Talwara, who is a professional photographer, was travelling in his car (bearing registration number PB07BR-8902), along with his three colleagues to Hajipur, for shooting at a pro- gramme. When the car reached near Nikuchakk Mod, smoke suddenly started billowing from the vehicle. Sensing danger, the driver immediately stopped the car. As soon as the driver and his companions got out the car, the fire intensified rapidly and engulfed the vehicle. Within minutes, the car was completely reduced to ashes. Expensive photography equipment, including cameras and other accessories kept inside the car, was destroyed in the fire. Due to alertness and timely action of the car occupants, a major loss of life was averted. However, the car was completely destroyed in the fire. Ustad Puran Shah Koti, a rare blend of maestro, mentor and thinker, passes away at 72 Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 22 Renowned musician and revered teacher Ustad Puran Shah Koti passed away at the age of 72 years on Monday morning after a prolonged illness. He had been unwell for the past two to three months. Ustad Puran Shah Koti will be remembered as a towering personality with an extraordinary intellect and a deep understanding of life and culture. Known for his vast knowledge across subjects such as society, politics, music and literature, he was admired for being constantly updated and intellectually engaged with the world around him. The legendary artiste mentored several prominent artistes, including Hans Raj Hans, Jasbir Jassi, and Sabarkoti. Recalling his association with the late maestro, Deepak Bali, Advisor, Culture and Tourism to the Government of Punjab, shared that he first met Ustad Puran Shah Koti in 1993. Bali described him as a rare combination of a great teacher and an exceptional presenter. “His personality was He mentored several prominent artistes, including Hans Raj Hans, Jasbir Jassi and Sabarkoti Ustad Puran Shah Koti; and (right) Hans Raj Hans consoles maestro’s sons in Jalandhar on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: MALKIAT SINGH c m y b deeply impactful, and his intellect was remarkably high. He could speak effortlessly on any subject, be it society, politics, music, or literature,” Bali said. He added that while many great teachers may not always be strong presenters, Ustad Puran Shah Koti stood out for his ability to communicate and connect with audiences. Bali also recalled hearing him sing live, noting that his voice and music had the power to bring deep joy and peace to listeners. Quoting the maestro, Bali said, “He would often say that singing can never stop.” “Even if I remain silent, music will continue,” the maestro said. Sharing an anecdote that reflected his unwavering dedication to music, Bali recounted that after a surgery, doctors advised Ustad Puran Shah Koti not to sing. His response, however, was characteristic of his spirit: “Even if I am not allowed,” he said, “I will sing under a blanket on my bed.” “His contributions to Indian music and culture will continue to inspire generations to come,” said Bali.