16102026-JTR-01.qxd 10/15/2026 11:12 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune CONGRESS’ ARORA GEARS UP FOR 2027 ASSEMBLY POLLS SURBHI LEADS PUNJAB UNDER-19 WOMEN’S CRICKET TEAM PERO OPENS LFW 2026 WITH BARBIE-INSPIRED LOOKS Former minister Sundar Sham Arora holds meeting with party workers under “Booth strong, Congress strong” campaign . P2 Hoshiarpur's Surbhi Narayan is leading the Punjab U-19 team as captain in BCCI women’s cricket tournament. P3 The ’70s seemed to be back on the runway as Pero opened LFW with a show full of retro styling. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET FRIDAY 5.55 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:31 AM » FRIDAY | 16 OCTOBER 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. Near-total bandh in Doaba, protesters detained Markets shut in city, periphery ANTI-DRUG CRUSADER’S MURDER TRIGGERS UNREST Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service INBRIEF THREE BOOKED IN ASSAULT CASE Phagwara: The Kapurthala police have registered a case against three persons and some unidentified youths following an alleged assault in the Shahriya locality. According to the complaint, Dinesh Kumar alleged that the accused surrounded and assaulted him. He further alleged that the group issued threats to kill him. OC GIRL GOES MISSING IN KAPURTHALA Phagwara: The police have registered a case following a complaint about a minor girl who reportedly went missing on October 12. According to the complaint, the girl (17), had left home in the morning to obtain a school certificate but did not reach the school. The complaint expresses suspicion that the girl might have been lured away on the pretext of marriage. OC THREE ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT Phagwara: The police have arrested three persons in connection with an alleged assault reported in the Kajibagh locality of Sultanpur Lodhi. Complainant Rajanbir Singh alleged that Anmol Singh, Akashdeep Singh and Rohitpreet Singh assaulted him with a sharp-edged weapon, causing injuries. OC TWO NABBED IN DRUGS CASES Phagwara: The police have registered separate cases in connection with suspected drug consumption in Phagwara. The Phagwara police apprehended Salim of Chak Hakim after allegedly finding him consuming an intoxicating substance. The report mentions the recovery of silver-coloured foil, a rolled Indian currency note and a lighter. In another case, the police arrested Ravi Kumar of Khanpur on similar allegations. A silver-coloured foil, a rolled ~10 note and a lighter were reportedly recovered. oc FIVE PACKETS OF CANNABIS SEIZED Phagwara: The police have registered a case under the NDPS Act after allegedly recovering cannabis from a shop in Begowal of Kapurthala district. A search of the shop of Amsu Kumar led to the recovery of five packets containing approximately 17 gram of cannabis. Amsu allegedly fled towards fields, while the case was registered against him. oc 27 BOTTLES OF LIQUOR SEIZED Phagwara: The police have registered a case after allegedly recovering 27 bottles of liquor from Phagwara. An excise team received information about the suspected illegal sale of liquor and reached the location for checking. A person carrying two bags allegedly fled after placing them on the ground when the team approached. The bags reportedly contained 27 bottles of liquor of different brands. oc Protesters hold a bike rally in Jalandhar on Thursday during Punjab bandh following the murder of anti-drug activist. TRIBUNE PHOTO:SARABJIT SINGH Schools closed, police foil road blockade Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, October 15 The call for the Punjab bandh given over the murder of anti-drug crusader Parminder Singh Jhota in Mansa two days back received a massive response across Doaba. There was a near-total bandh as almost all educational institutions remained shut. Most of the markets remained closed for the first half of the day, expressing solidarity against the killing. The police, however, did not allow any traffic blockade in any part of the city and hence traffic moved smoothly. Youth and farmer associations that gathered at some points were quickly removed and detained by the police and taken to police stations. Sikh activists had tried to block Guru Nanak Mission Chowk in Jalandhar around 9: 30 am but the police detained three of the leaders. Commis- Shopkeepers forced to down shutters Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, October 15 The bandh call given by the family of Parvinder Singh Jhota, who was shot dead in Mansa, along with various political, religious, social and farmers’ organisations, received a huge response in Hoshiarpur on Thursday. Markets wore a deserted look as shops, schools, banks and other commercial establishments remained closed. Members of various organisations took out a protest march through the city and raised slogans against the government. Protesters also visited shops and institutions that remained open, asking them to shut down. They demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav, alleging that the police and administration had failed to protect those raising their voices against drug trafficking. At the Hoshiarpur-Phagwara bypass, farm organisa- sioner of Police, Jalandhar, Satinder Singh and Deputy Commissioner of Police AS Warrier had reached the spot to dissuade the activists from any such attempt. Three activists, including Harjinder Singh Jinda, were dragged into a bus from the spot and detained. A similar action also took place on the PhagwaraJalandhar national highway where activists led by Sukhvir Singh Kukad Pind, district president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Doaba), had gathered and attempted to block the highway. The police brought them to a service lane for talks. They were not allowed to hold a dharna even on the service lane. All those who refused to move from the sit-in were taken away in the police bus. This led many to draw parallels between the police action in Delhi and Punjab against demonstrators. Jalandhar, October 15 In a response to the Punjab Bandh call given by various people and farm unions following the murder of antidrug activist Parwinder Singh Jhota at Mansa, a nearcomplete bandh was observed across Jalandhar and it’s periphery today. While key markets and majority of schools and colleges in the city remained closed, Mehatpur, Nurmahal, Nakodar, Kartarpur, Shahkot, Malsian and other towns observed a total shutdown. Several farmers holding a protest near an eating joint on the JalandharPhagwara highway were detained by the police. With markets remaining closed in most areas, farmers and political activists were detained on the Phagwara highway in Jalandhar. Various farmer and social organisations from Jalandhar held a protest across various spots. Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba) leaders held a protest at the Behram Toll Plaza. Except a brief blockade on the Phagwara highway, road and traffic movement remained smooth in Jalandhar. Despite major mobilisation Shops remain shut in Kartarpur market, Jalandhar. MALKIAT SINGH following the bandh, Jalandhar remained peaceful. The police also prevented various activists of the Waris Punjab De from blocking traffic at the Guru Nanak Mission Chowk. Waris Punjab De leader Maan Singh said, “Punjab is in the throes of drugs and yet the police don’t even allow us the right to protest. Our leaders were forced to enter inside the gurdwara when we tried to hold a peaceful protest.” Two leaders were also detained at the Guru Nanak Mission Chowk. Meanwhile, at Mehatpur, a complete shutdown was observed as various farmers, laborers, youths, students and shopkeepers enforced the call for a COPS, AGITATORS FACE OFF Youth Cong holds candlelight march tions staged a road blockade and raised slogans against the government. A heated argument broke out between the protesters and the police when the latter allegedly tried to remove the protesters due to their small number. The protesters later called more supporters to the spot. SDM office closed A group of protesters reached the SDM office in Hoshiarpur after learning that it was open. They raised slogans and insisted that the office be closed. The police reached the spot and tried to pacify them. The office was subsequently closed. statewide bandh. Leaders said while the Bhagwant Mann-led government was raising slogans of a “war against drugs,” smugglers openly shot and killed anti-drug activist Jhota under its rule. They added that large-scale drug smuggling previously persisted during the AkaliBJP government, followed by the Congress regime, but has now expanded to an even larger scale under the current government. Every day, young youngsters are losing their lives to this menace. The leaders said Mann and the DGP should resign immediately and that a CBI investigation be conducted into the murder of Jhota. Police detain protesters raising slogans at Guru Nanak Mission Chowk in Jalandhar; and (below) activists of farm unions block the Jalandhar-Phagwara national highway briefly during Punjab bandh. TRIBUNE PHOTOS AND MALKIAT SINGH Heated exchange at school Tension also prevailed at government school, Ghanta Ghar, when protesters reached there to get it closed. The school authorities said they had not received any official order to close the institution but had already sent the students home. Police officials intervened and pacified both sides. Phagwara, October 15 Several leaders and activists of the Indian Youth Congress held a candlelight protest at Dr BR Ambedkar Park in Hargobind Nagar, Phagwara, on Thursday evening. The programme was held from 6:15 pm to 6:50 pm under the leadership of Agam Prashar, Kapurthala president of the Indian Youth Congress. Addressing the media, Prashar alleged that the lawand-order situation had deteriorated under the AAP-led state government. He criticised the killing of Parminder Singh and attributed such incidents to what he described as the state government’s failure to effectively control the law-and-order situation. Activists lit candles to express concern over the incident and the prevailing lawand-order situation in Punjab. Congress leader Naresh Bhardhwaj and Honey Dhaliwal were among those who participated in the programme. Meanwhile, markets remained closed until 5 pm, while private schools declared a holiday. — OC Pathak set for India comeback after 10-month gap Phagwara govt schools, hospitals remain open Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, October 15 Punjab’s Krishan B Pathak is all set to return to international hockey after a gap of over 10 months, as he prepares to represent India in the Asian Champions Trophy, beginning October 27. Currently attending the camp in Bengaluru, the goalkeeper is looking forward to playing in his home state and is determined to make the opportunity count. Pathak, who last played in the Asia Cup held in Bihar, said he was focused on making the most of his return for the team. Having missed out on India’s gold medal winning campaign at the Asian Games, the goalkeeper admitted that his absence had been difficult to deal with but had also motivated him to work harder. “I felt bad about not being part of the team that won gold at the Asian Games. But I knew I had to improve in certain areas. With the guidance of the coaches, I am back, and I am fully focused on winning,” he said. For Pathak, the upcoming tournament holds special significance as he will be playing in Punjab, giving his paternal uncle’s family, who raised him after the early loss of his parents, an opportunity to watch him play. Originally from Nepal, Pathak’s parents had moved to Punjab in search of a better life. He lost both of them at a young age and was subsequently raised by his paternal uncle, who works with Rail Coach Factory (RCF). With no family background in sports, Pathak began playing hockey at 10 and went on to receive professional training at the Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar. Even as he celebrates his return to international hockey, the absence of his parents remains a deeply emo- c m y b tional part of his life. “I feel a continuous void that my parents are not here to see my achievements. But this is a feeling I have learnt to live with. I know that wherever they are, they must be very proud of me,” he said. Now a father to a 2.5 year old son, Pathak has another reason to cherish his achievements. As he prepares to don the Indian jersey once again, he hopes to turn his return into a memorable campaign, one that will also give his family in Punjab a chance to witness his journey on the international stage. Krishna B Pathak Phagwara, October 15 The bandh call evoked a mixed response in Phagwara on Thursday, with most shops and commercial establishments remaining closed, while road traffic continued to ply normally. No road or railway blockade had been reported in the city. However, public transport services were estimated to have been affected, while most private schools remained closed. Government schools continued to function normally. Hospitals, medical facilities and emergency services also remained operational. Meanwhile, protests were reported at three locations in the city as various political and social organisations staged demonstrations in connection with the bandh. Congress workers, led by Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, assembled at Dr BR Ambedkar Park in Hargobind Nagar and began a sitin protest against the incident. At Paper Chowk, members of the Yuva Vikas Morcha gathered and announced a programme to burn an effigy of CM Bhagwant Mann. OC