14072026-JTR-01.qxd 7/13/2026 11:07 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune BATTLE FOR STATE JERSEY: OVER 100 COMPETE IN HOCKEY TRIALS 277 GOVT SCHOOLS GO DIGITAL, INSTALL INTERACTIVE PANELS STARS ATTEND AKANSHA-SHARAN’S WEDDING RECEPTION IN MUMBAI Around 125 players participated in the selection process, out of which 62 were shortlisted for the coaching camp. P2 277 schools have been equipped with interactive flat panels, paving way for smarter and tech-driven classrooms.P3 Akansha Ranjan & director Sharan Sharma exchanged vows during an intimate ceremony at their residence. P4 » » » FORECAST CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 29°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.33 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:33 AM TUESDAY | 14 JULY 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 FATHER-SON DUO THRASHES MAN Phagwara: The Nurmahal police have booked a father-son duo on the charge of attempt to commit culpable homicide. The accused has been identified as Gurchetan Singh of Sidham Mustadi village and his son Jaswindar Singh. Hardeep Singh, a resident of the same village, complained to the police that he was standing in front of his house when the accused came there and attacked him with sharp-edged weapons and he fell unconscious. When his parents came to rescue him, the accused attacked them. OC WOMAN'S CLOTHES TORN, 3 BOOKED Phagwara: The Mehatpur police have booked three members of a family on the charge of outraging a woman’s modesty. The accused have been identified as Bimla Ranni of Mohalla Khurampur, her son Gurpreet and her daughter Manjit Kaur. Paramjit Kaur, a resident of the same locality, complained to the police that the accused assaulted and tore her clothes, pulled hair and threatened her. No arrests have been made and raids are being conducted to nab the accused. OC Honorarium delay irks Jalandhar Census staff Employees say a month has passed since completion of assigned work, but payment is yet to be released Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 13 Nearly a month after the completion of the first phase of the Census, enumerators and supervisors engaged in the exercise in Jalandhar have raised concerns over the delay in the release of their honorarium. Several Census personnel said they were repeatedly asked to complete the enumeration work within strict timelines, often working under considerable pressure to meet deadlines. While the exercise was completed on priority, they said they are still waiting for the honorarium weeks after the first phase concluded. Voicing his plight, an enumerator in Jalandhar said, “During the Census, we were repeatedly reminded to finish the work within deadlines. We fulfilled our responsibility, but even after a month, there is no clarity on when our hon- Around 2,200 personnel -- nearly 1,700 enumerators and 500 supervisors -- were deployed for the Census in Jalandhar. FILE orarium will be released. At least, there should be a definite timeline.” Around 2,200 personnel, including nearly 1,700 enumerators and 500 supervisors, were deployed for the Census in the city. Besides government employees, college students and workers from non- governmental organisations (NGOs) were also engaged on a voluntary basis to meet the manpower requirement. As per the approved norms, both enumerators and supervisors are entitled to an honorarium of Rs 9,000. Census officials said although there is no pre- 2 boys ‘humiliated’, Phagwara people seek action MANY BOOKED FOR STEALING ~ 1.5L Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have booked unidentified miscreants on the charge of stealing cash from a government school. Satpal Singh, Principal of Avtar Singh Memorial Government Senior Secondary School, Seechewal village, complained to the police that unidentified miscreants barged into the school building, locked the room of the night watchman, and stole Rs 1.5 lakh from the principal’s office. OC People float paper boats in waterlogged street in Laksihan village, Hoshiarpur. A unique protest over road woes Villagers launch a ‘No Road, No Vote’ campaign by floating paper boats in stagnant rainwater Our Correspondent JEWELLERY STOLEN FROM HOUSE Phagwara: The Nakodar police have booked unidentified thieves on the charge of stealing cash and jewellery from a house. Harcharan Singh, a resident of Mohalla New Guru Nanak Pura, complained to the police that unidentified thieves barged into his house, stole Rs 85,000 and gold and silver jewellery. oc scribed timeframe for the release of the honorarium, it is expected to be released by August. They said the payments are released by the Department of Local Government, following which the amount is disbursed by the local authorities to the Census personnel. Clarifying the engagement of college students and NGO personnel for Census, the officials said the local authorities are permitted to enroll private individuals on a voluntary basis whenever there is a shortage of government staff. City Census Officer Sumandeep Kaur said, “We have submitted the details of all Census staff to the department in Chandigarh. However, the funds have not been released yet. This is not an issue confined to Jalandhar, as Census personnel across Punjab are awaiting their honorarium. It will be disbursed immediately after the funds are received,” she said. Hoshiarpur, July 13 The Labour Party launched a “No Road, No Vote” campaign at Laksihan village by floating paper boats in stagnant rainwater in large potholes, protesting the poor condition of village roads and alleged government apathy. Led by Labour Party president Jai Gopal Dhiman and contractor Gurbaksh Singh, protesters staged a demonstration on the village ring road, where rainwater has accumulated in deep potholes. They said the damaged road connects several nearby villages, including Mahlan, Bhana, Mogopatti, Ispur, Kot Fatuhi and Mahilpur, and is used daily by schoolchildren, cyclists and commuters. Dhiman alleged that despite people paying road tax, vehicle tax and cess on petrol and diesel, they continue to suffer due to neglected roads. He said the poor condition of the road has led to fre- quent vehicle damage, accidents, waterlogging during the monsoon and dust pollution during dry weather, posing risks to public health. Demanding immediate reconstruction of the road, the protesters warned that the campaign would be intensified if the authorities failed to act. Among those present were Gurbaksh Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Dalvir Singh, Jai Ram Pali, Lucky, Vinod Kumar, Amit Kumar, Kulwinder Rai and Manjinder Singh. Phagwara, July 13 Tension has gripped parts of Phagwara following an alleged incident involving the assault of two minor boys and the desecration of their religious identity, prompting widespread outrage among members of the community and demands for immediate action against the accused. The incident took place near Akal Stadium, Phagwara. Kanaiya, a resident of Bhagatpura,, along with his associate Anmol, were allegedly involved in a scuffle with the minor boys. During the altercation, the accused allegedly assaulted the minors and subsequently forced them to clean their shoes, using their turbans. The allegation has triggered strong resentment. The matter gained further attention on the night of July 12, when a large number of members of the community assembled outside the Civil Hospital, Phagwara, expressing anguish over the incident. Community representatives strongly condemned the act. While addressing the media, they demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and urged the police to register an an FIR.— OC Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar during a visit to Nawanshahr. Minister on Doaba tour to review counter-flood steps Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 13 Punjab Water Resources, Mines and Geology and Land & Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Monday commenced a twoday tour of the Doaba region as a part of statewide visits to assess the status of ongoing flood protection works being undertaken along rivers and other vulnerable locations. As part of the tour, the Cabinet Minister accompanied by MLA, Balachaur, Santosh Kataria visited Banga Bait and Khoja Bait villages along the Sutlej in Balachaur and inspected flood protection works executed at a cost of Rs 2.30 crore. This project involved the construction of a 910-foot-long flood protection revetment and eight studs on the bundh to prevent riverbank erosion and strengthen the embankment. Goyal said the government has spent over Rs 450 crore on flood protection measures across the state, the highestever investment in strengthening river embankments and safeguarding people from flood disasters. The minister further stated that the flood protection works include 101 boulder and hybrid protection works, 17 embankment raising works, 22 embankment strengthening works, 188 drain cleaning works and five flood control gate operation works involving an overall expenditure of around Rs 450 crore. Expressing satisfaction over the quality of this project, he said this project at Banga Bait and Khoja Bait will provide protection to around 2,500 residents and nearly 10,000 acres of fertile agricultural land from floods and river erosion. Goyal said a special committee had identified all vulnerable points along rivers across Punjab based on previous floods, almost all of which have been strengthened on a war footing. Wanted criminals, POs among over 100 nabbed in crackdown Prahar 3.0 sees 75 raids, 34 FIRs and seizure of drugs Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 13 In compliance with directions from the Punjab Government and the DGP Punjab, the , Jalandhar Rural Police on Monday launched Operation Prahar 3.0, a special drive aimed at cracking down on gangsters, their associates, proclaimed offenders (POs), wanted criminals and other anti-social elements operating in the district. The operation was led by Naveen Singla, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jalandhar Range, who visited Jalandhar Rural to review the exercise and supervise police teams engaged in the crackdown. Under the supervision of Harvinder Singh Virk, SSP , Jalandhar Rural, the operation was carried out simultaneously across the district. The SSP also visited various locations, reviewed raids and interacted with field teams to assess the implementation of the drive. During the operation, the police took legal and preventive action against nearly 300 persons involved in various DIG Naveen Singla and officers take part in Op Prahar in Jalandhar . criminal activities. A total of 75 raids were conducted, 34 FIRs registered and 36 accused arrested in fresh cases. The police also apprehended 71 wanted criminals and 11 proclaimed offenders, prepared nine dossiers and two intelligence reports, verified 12 history-sheeters, issued 370 traffic challans and impounded 51 vehicles. The operation led to the recovery of 347 gram of heroin, 182 intoxicating tablets, two motorcycles and over 15 litre of illicit liquor. The police registered 31 cases under the NDPS Act, resulting in the arrest of 34 accused, while three Excise Act cases led to the arrest of two persons. SSP Virk said a districtwide Cordon and Search Operation was conducted, during which police teams searched isolated locations, abandoned buildings, drug hotspots and other suspicious places. Verification of suspicious persons and wanted criminals was also carried out. Punjab SC panel seeks lecturer recruitment records from 1990 Man fires gunshot Reservation norms in recruitment under scrutiny Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 13 The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has sought recruitment records dating back to 1990 from the School Education Department while examining whether reservation rules were properly followed in the ongoing recruitment of school lecturers. The inquiry was triggered by concerns over the implementation of reservation in the Punjabi lecturer recruitment. The inquiry relates to the recruitment advertisement issued by the Directorate of Education Recruitment, Punjab, on June 25, inviting applications for 1,013 lecturer posts — 829 fresh vacancies and 184 backlog vacancies in various subjects. Soon after the advertisement was issued, concerns were raised that it did not clearly specify the subject- wise and category-wise distribution of vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Backward Classes (BC). The issue subsequently came under the commission’s scrutiny. It took up the matter on its own and held its first hearing on July 3, during which officials of the School Education Department appeared before it. The department has now been directed to submit a detailed report at the next hearing scheduled for July 14. In a Facebook post, commission Chairman Jasvir Singh Garhi said the department had been asked to produce recruitment records of all lecturer subjects covered under the advertisement, direct recruitment selection lists from 1990 to 2025 along with merit marks, reservation roster registers and records showing whether approvals had been obtained from the Welfare Department before reserved vacancies were either converted into general category posts or carried forward to subsequent recruitment drives. The commission, in its notice, has warned that failure c m y b to produce the required records could invite proceedings under the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Act. Mahinder Kaudianwali, general secretary of the Democratic Teachers Front, said, “As per norms, 25 per cent of direct recruitment posts are reserved for SCs and nearly 12 per cent for BCs. However, the recent recruitment advertisement did not specify how these reserved vacancies had been distributed. A similar situation existed during the 2021 lecturer recruitment as well,” he said. Garhi said the records produced by the department during the July 3 hearing were “not satisfactory.” “There were certain discrepancies in the records presented before the commission. We have, therefore, asked the department to submit complete recruitment records, reservation rosters and related documents at the next hearing,” he said. It would examine these to verify whether rules had been followed in accordance with the norms before deciding the next course of action. during scuffle Phagwara, July 13 A man allegedly fired a gunshot during a scuffle in Phagwara on Sunday, but no one was injured in the incident. The police have started an investigation and are yet to register an FIR. According to preliminary police information, the incident took place near the Palahi Gate area under City Police Station, Phagwara, following a confrontation between two rival groups. The police said Rahul Sahota, resident of Palahi Gate, allegedly fired a bullet at Kuldeep Basra, also a resident of Palahi Gate, during the altercation. However, the bullet did not hit the intended target, and no injuries were reported in the incident. The altercation is believed to have stemmed from an old rivalry between the two groups. The police are examining the circumstances that led to the scuffle. — OC