18092025-JTR-01.qxd 9/17/2025 10:59 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune SUBMIT FLOOD DAMAGE REPORT WITHIN TWO WEEKS: DC OVER 11,000 PATIENTS REPORTED IN FLOOD-AFFECTED JALANDHAR SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL TO OPEN WITH TANNISHTHA’S FULL PLATE DC says that state govt compensation must reach all affected people transparently and promptly. P2 These cases were recorded through health camps set up across 84 villages in the district.P3 Sydney is poised for a revival of its Indian Film Festival this October, as the event returns after a hiatus. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.29 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:14 AM THURSDAY | 18 SEPTEMBER 2025 | JALANDHAR Richie’s deathMain accused movescourt for pre-arrest bail 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. Hearing on Sept 22 INBRIEF MISCREANTS' GANG BUSTED, 10 HELD Phagwara: The Nakodar police have busted a gang of miscreants and arrested its 10 members. The accused have been identified as Harnek Singh, Rohit of Pati Havel Malsian in Shahkot, Gurpreet Singh, Hajoor Singh, Manjindar Singh and Kuljit Singh, all residents of Bangiwal village under Mehatpur, Raj Kumar of Parjian Kalan village, Krish of Birpuind village and Harwindar Singh of Baloki Kalan village and Sundar Bhatti of Killi village. They were hiding themselves in a basement near Shankar Chowk, planning criminal acts and were arrested and two illicit country made pistols, and some sharp-edged weapons were recovered from them. OC ARREST OVER CASTEIST REMARK Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have arrested a villager for using casteist remarks and assault. The accused have been identified as Baljit Singh alias Nika of Basti Kang Kalan village. Gurpreet Daudhar, alias Yama, of the same village had complained to the police that he was sitting in his house on May 27 discussing a village issue when Harbhajan came and requested him to come to his house where the other two accused were already sitting. He said the accused started beating him up and used remark on his caste. OC 2 WOMEN BOOKED FOR DEATH Phagwara: The Mehatpur police have booked two women 'drug peddlers' on the charge of culpable homicide. The accused have been identified as Jaswindar Kaur and Nirmal Kaur of Gaunsuwal village. Vijay of Mohalla Rehmanpura, Nakodar City, complained to the police that his friend Amarjit of the same locality, purchased heroin from the house of the accused and went to the Sangowal Stadium to consume it. Kali said the deceased mixed water in the powder to make it liquid and injected it into his vein and died on the spot immediately. oc HC ADJOURNS EKTA HEARING TO NOV 20 Phagwara: The Punjab and Haryana High Court have adjourned the hearing to November 20 on a petition filed by film and television serial producer Ekta Kapoor in connection with a case registered against her and others by the Nakodar police in 2013. oc TWO 'DRUG PEDDLERS' HELD Phagwara: The Nurmahal police have arrested two persons for selling intoxicants. As many as 31 intoxicating tablets were recovered from the accused Gopi Ram and Gurpreet Singh, both residents of Fatehpur village. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused. OC Tribune News Service Mayor Vaneet Dhir conducts a surprise visit to various areas of Jalandhar. Surprise checks by Mayor at fuel station, streets MC workshop dumper driver placed under suspension Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 17 In a series of surprise inspections early this morning, Mayor Vaneet Dhir visited various municipal facilities, taking stock of operational efficiency and addressing issues of negligence. The Mayor commenced his inspection at the municipal petrol pump at 10:15 am. He observed delays in the issuance of petrol, which he deemed unacceptable for ensuring timely field operations. Accordingly, he issued clear instructions to the officials concerned to rectify the issue.” Further, the Mayor directed that fogging oil will now be issued only after receiving satisfactory performance certificates from the respective area councillors. He emphasised that all fogging machines must operate at full capacity, and directed all sanitary inspectors to monitor fogging operations in their wards. During his second visit to the municipal workshop, the Mayor noticed that several vehicles, including a dumper placer (DP) and a tipper, were parked outside the facility after refuelling, instead of being deployed for duty. The driver of the DP vehicle falsely claimed to have completed his assigned duty. Upon verification, it was confirmed that no work had been carried out. Consequently, the Mayor ordered his immediate suspension. Later, the Mayor visited Baba Budha Ji Road, where he observed large amounts of uncollected garbage along the roadside. He immediately instructed the area sanitary inspector and sanitation contractors to clear the garbage without delay and ensure cleanliness is maintained. Jalandhar, September 17 Absconding for four days since the death of ex-Jalandhar MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee’s son Richie Kaypee, accused Gursharan Singh Prince has moved an anticipatory bail petition in the local court. His petition was heard in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Dr Deepti Gupta and the matter was put off for September 22. Prince, who resides at Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, has been absconding since Saturday night when the accident took place. He was driving Creta at a high speed which had collided with Richie’s Fortuner car, leading to his death. He had immediately left the spot but was identified from the number plate of the car and the CCTV trails that the police have been following. Meanwhile, the police have intensified search of Prince and been putting pressure on his kin to urge him to surrender. His house is locked since the accident. Apprehensive The mangled vehicle of Richie Kaypee in Jalandhar. FILE that he could be in the national capital and could take a flight to escape from being arrested, the police have issued a LookOut Circular against him. The other accused Vishu Kapoor is still taking treatment at a private hospital. He was driving Grand Vitara that too had bumped into Richie’s Fortuner on the fateful night. Once discharged, the police will arrest him too. Roopdeep Kaur, ACP Model , Town, said, “We are on our job. We shall share the details of the case as and when there is more development into it”. Being law graduates, Richie Kaypee and his father MS Kaypee have been members of the District Bar Association, Jalandhar. As Prince’s family had approached a few lawyers, there had been a little reluctance from the lawyers initially in taking up the accused’s case from the defence side. However, the family managed to rope in prominent lawyer Mandeep Sachdev. He said, “We presented the case in the court today, appealing that Prince was driving steadily when the accident took place and the sections imposed against him were too harsh. He had no intention to hurt anyone.” Vishu Kapoor and Prince have been booked under Section 281 (rash or negligent driving, 125 (a) (act endangering human life), 125 (b) (act endangering life/personal safety), 105 (causing death by rash or negligent act) and 324 (4) (mischief causing damage of Rs 20,000-Rs 1 lakh) of the BNS. Section 105 of the BNS is non-bailable offence. Target to buy 8.20 lakh MT paddy in Kapurthala Minister kickstarts Of the paddy sown on 2,89,113 acres, crop damaged totally or partially on 33,264 acres Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 17 The Kapurthala administration has set a target to purchase 8.20 lakh metric tonnes of paddy across 42 mandis this year. With the procurement of paddy starting in the mandis of the district, 60 metric tonnes of paddy has been purchased by government agencies until yesterday. While paddy crop has been destroyed across over 30,000 acres in Kapurthala, the administration said last year’s yield was being treated as benchmark for this year’s purchase target as well. Amid widespread crop damage across Kapurthala this year, the total floodaffected area where crops have been damaged is 39,300 acres of which 33,264 acres in under paddy. While paddy crop is estimated to be damaged across all 22,000 acres in the worst-affected Sultanpur Lodhi, officials said in some areas of Nadala and Dhilwan blocks, some crop land has Farm labourers spray insecticide in paddy fields at a village near Sultanpur lodhi. MALKIAT SINGH been recovered. This year paddy had been sown across 1,17,000 hectares (2,89,113 acres) across Kapurthala, of which 33,264 acres under paddy has been damaged (totally or partially). Meanwhile, of the 13,450 acres of area under paddy in Nadala and Dhilwan, 5,660 acres was found in the category of 25 to 75 per cent crop damage, officials said. There had also been a mar- Elderly couple lose life in road accident Phagwara, September 17 A devastating road accident occurred on the Sultanpur Lodhi-Goindwal road near village Mangupur, involving a collision between a car and a motorcycle. The motorcycle was being ridden by an elderly man and his wife was riding pillion. They sustained critical injuries in the crash. An emergency team from the road safety force arrived promptly at the scene and rushed the injured to the Civil Hospital in Sultanpur Lodhi. Unfortunately, doctors declared both dead on arrival. Preliminary reports suggest that the couple was on their way to Goindwal to purchase medicines. As they attempted to turn their motorcycle to a petrol pump near Talwandi Chaudhrian ahead of Mangupur, they were struck by a speeding car from behind. The impact proved fatal, and the victims succumbed to their injuries. The deceased have been identified as retired Subedar Fakir Singh, 73, and his wife Balbir Kaur, 71, residents of Paramjitpur in Sultanpur Lodhi. — OC ginal increase in the area under paddy cultivation in Kapurthala where it was 1,16,600 hectares last year and increased to 1,17,000 hectares this year. Last year, the paddy yield target in Kapurthala was also approximately 8.20 lakh metric tonnes. While sources said the total paddy production yield target this year was pegged at 8.54 lakh metric tonnes in Kapurthala, the target was set at 8.20 metric tonnes after factoring in damage from floods. However, officials said this may change depending on special girdawari which is currently going on. Meanwhile, the moisture limit in the paddy at the time of procurement has been fixed at 17 per cent, while this year the price of the paddy crop has been fixed at Rs 2,389 per quintal. In various block, the recov- ered crop land is also faced with various diseases. Chief Agricultural Officer HPS Bharaut said, “Due to the increased moisture in the past and sudden increase in temperature in the last days, the paddy crop has been affected. However, crops have also been recovered in Nadala, Dhilwan as well as Phagwara. Paddy has been hit by discoloration and false smut in various areas. Of an average estimated yield of 29 quintals per acre, this may impact yield by two to three quintals an acre in some areas. Apart from this, our estimated yield target is pegged at 8.20 lakh MT in the district, procurement for which is on across mandis. It is a tentative figure. The actual yield estimates will depend on results of special girdawari which is currently going on. “ DC Amit Kumar Panchal said, “Last year’s yield is a standard benchmark for setting targets. This is a variable figure as yield may be affected in some flood hit areas and also may be bettered in others due to good moisture.” Aided school staff without salaries for six months Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, September 17 A meeting of principals and representatives of government-aided schools was held at SD Senior Secondary School, Hoshiarpur, to discuss the worsening financial crisis in aided institutions. Teachers expressed deep concern over the non-release of salary for the past six months, which has left hundreds of families in severe hardships. Speakers said teachers, who c m y b are entrusted with shaping the future of children, are today unable to meet household expenses, pay for children’s education, or manage urgent medical needs. “It is shameful that those who educate society are being forced to live without dignity,” they remarked. The meeting strongly appealed to the government to release the pending grants without further delay. It also reminded the government of its election promise to merge aided-school staff with gov- ernment schools, describing it essential to ensuring stability and respect for teachers. The principals said delaying this commitment amounts to betrayal of the teaching community. A memorandum was sent to the Punjab Education Secretary through Assistant Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, Oishi Mandal. The speakers underlined that this is not just a fight for survival, but for the future of quality education and the preservation of aided schools. procurement in Bhogpur mandi Tribune News Service Bhogpur, September 17 Food, Civil Supplies Minister and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak today kickstarted the paddy procurement season at Bhogpur Dana Mandi in Jalandhar district, reaffirming the government’s commitment to lift every single grain farmers’ produced. Reviewing the procurement arrangements, the minister said the government is determined to ensure the smooth and hassle-free procurement season for all stakeholders. Despite the challenges posed by recent floods, robust arrangements had been made across Punjab to ensure that farmers face no problems in selling their crops, added Kataruchak. Addressing the media, the minister said the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy has been fixed at Rs 2,389 per quintal, and the government has already secured Cash Credit Limits (CCL) worth Rs15,000 crore for September and Rs 27,000 crore for October. He further said adequate arrangements of bardana (gunny bags) have been made to avoid inconvenience to farmers. This year, the target of 172 lakh MT paddy procurement was given to Punjab but arrangements have been made to procure nearly 190 lakh MT paddy. The minister assured that lifting and payment will go hand in hand, with prompt transfer of payments directly into farmers’ accounts. He directed officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Punjab Mandi Board, and the district administration to monitor Mandi Board operationalises 1,822 centres in state operations in mandis to ensure transparency and efficiency. The Punjab Mandi Board has operationalised 1822 mandis/purchase centres to ensure smooth procurement, besides ensuring the adequate arrangements with regard to electricity, clean drinking water and other amenities in the mandis. During his visit, the minister also interacted with farmers Gurkirat Singh, Jaspal Singh, and Sukhraj Singh, who appreciated the swift procurement process in Bhogpur Dana Mandi. He assured them that their payments would be made at the earliest. He also appealed to farmers to bring only fully dried paddy to the mandis, as higher moisture levels could hinder procurement. Senior AAP leader Pawan Kumar Tinu, SDM Randeep Singh Heer, DFSC Harveen Kaur, and officials from various departments were also present on the occasion.