30122025-JTR-01.qxd 12/30/2025 12:20 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune FOCUS ON INFRA REVIVAL, GREEN INITIATIVES ARYA VEER DAL WINTER CAMP PROMOTES DISCIPLINE, FITNESS ACTRESS HUMA QURESHI STUNS AS ELIZABETH Jalandhar saw civic upgrades; Hoshiarpur led in solar power development and cleanliness. P2 The camp began on December 26, offering a unique experience focused on physical fitness and Vedic culture. P3 The first look of Huma Qureshi from the upcoming film, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, has been released. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 19°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 19°C | MIN 6°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.32 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:18 AM TUESDAY | 30 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. INBRIEF SELF-IMMOLATION BID BY MAN Kapurthala: A man allegedly attempted suicide by setting himself on fire following a domestic dispute in Inder Vihar Colony, prompting swift medical intervention and police action. The incident has caused concern among local residents. According to information provided by Karandeep Singh, a resident of Inder Vihar Colony, the incident occurred after a quarrel broke out between him and his wife. In a moment of extreme distress, he allegedly poured petrol on himself and set himself ablaze. Family members rushed him to the Civil Hospital in Kapurthala for treatment. Hospital sources confirmed that he was admitted in a critical condition and is currently undergoing treatment under the supervision of the on-duty doctor. His condition is being closely monitored. The matter has been reported to the concerned police station and further inquiry is underway to ascertain the circumstances leading to the incident. OC SUICIDE BY WIFE OF CONSTABLE Kapurthala: A 20-year-old married woman, wife of a constable, died by suicide after hanging herself at her residence in Kapurthala the police said. The incident came to light after family members informed the police, following which the body was taken into custody and sent to the Civil Hospital for post-mortem examination. According to police officials, the deceased was married to Sukhdeep Kumar, a constable posted with the Punjab Police. Initial information suggests that the woman allegedly took the extreme step by hanging herself with a rope at their house. City SHO Manjit Singh said that the body was shifted to the Civil Hospital, where a post-mortem will be conducted. Police officials said that no suicide note has been recovered so far and the exact reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained. OC JPMO RALLY ON MGNREGA Jalandhar: The state-level convention of the 'Jantak jathebandiya da Sanjha Manch' or Joint Platform of Mass Organisations (JPMO) held at the Jalandhar railway station has announced to launch a phased, joint and united struggle against the ‘raids’ being carried out on the rights of the people by the Modi government at the Centre and the anti-people policies of the BJP-led NDA government. The resolution demands that the 'VB-G Ram G' Act, passed to deprive more than 12 crore landless and resourceless rural labour families of guaranteed employment, be repealed without delay; the repealed MGNREGA Act should be reinstated without delay and all adult workers should be given work throughout the year. TNS MC conducts e-auction for outdoor ads after 10-year gap Chill sets in Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 29 The e-auction for managing outdoor advertisements on DBOMT basis (Design, Build, Operate, Maintain & Transfer) has been successfully conducted by the MC after a prolonged gap of 10 years. The e-auction witnessed a healthy and competitive response, with three bids received. The reserve price was fixed at Rs 13,50,00,000, against which the highest bid of Rs 13,71,00,000 was quoted by M/s Creative OOH, thereby exceeding the reserve price and reflecting strong market confidence. With the addition of GST at the rate of 18 per cent amounting to Rs The MC office in Jalandhar. 2,46,78,000, the total bid value stands at Rs 16,71,78,000. The tender covers a comprehensive inventory of 2,092 outdoor media device sites across the city. Officials said that the successful finalisation of this long-pending tender marks a significant boost to the financial position of Municipal Corporation and represents a decisive step towards transparent, regulated and aesthetically planned outdoor advertising in the city. Further action shall be taken strictly in accordance with the prescribed rules and approvals. Commuters cautiously make their way through railway tracks as dense fog enveloped the city on Monday morning, reducing visibility. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH State, Centre chip in with aid for Harivallabh fest F&CC meeting today, recarpeting of roads on agenda ed to the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur this year, which teaches us that religion is the sacrifice made for protection of humanity and truth." Shekhawat added, "I took up with Anurag Thakur ji that the Mahasabha must have an auditorium of its own. I request the mahasabha to make a proposal to the Culture Ministry of Government of India on the issue. We will do whatever we can to offer our little tribute.” Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 29 The Municipal Corporation is set to table and pass several important agendas related to the re-carpeting of city roads at the upcoming Finance & Contract Committee (F&CC) meeting scheduled for Tuesday. The first agenda concerns the re-carpeting of the road with DBM and BC from Narinder Cinema to BMC Chowk (single side) in the Lal Rattan zone. The project was initially estimated at Rs 38.25 lakh and was allotted to a company. The contractor was granted a six-month completion period. The F&CC agenda reads, "However, when work was to commence, the road was included under the World Class Road Scheme, due to which the project could not be started at the original site. Subsequently, the area incharge and the local councillor submitted a written request proposing a change of site. It has been suggested that the work be shifted to Adarsh Nagar, from Laxmi Sweets to Bolina Park and adjoining roads, where the road condition has dete- riorated significantly. Approval for the site change is now being sought." The second agenda relates to the re-carpeting of the flyover road with DBM and BC from the Smart City office to APJ College and MBD Mall (Lal Rattan Zone). This project was prepared at an estimated cost of Rs 70.34 lakh. Similar to the first case, this road was also later included under the World Class Road Scheme, preventing execution at the original location. The area in-charge and councillor have proposed shifting the site to roads around Adarsh Nagar Chopati Park and the road outside Ranjit Hospital, citing the severely damaged condition of these roads. It was also noted that this route forms part of the 350th Guruparv Shobha Yatra route, increasing its importance. In both cases, change of work site is mandatory for execution, and formal approval from the competent authority is required. The Municipal Corporation will place these proposals before the F&CC meeting on Tuesday for consideration and approval. Jalandhar, December 29 While a bevy of politicians attended the 150th Shree Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan in 2025, which concluded in Jalandhar in the wee hours of Monday, the Shree Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Mahasabha has been promised Rs 55 lakh worth of funds at the conclusion of the 150th edition of the festival this year. An additional Rs 25 lakh had already been promised by the MC Jalandhar for the Sammelan this year. While Rs 55 lakh has been promised through various AAP politicians and through the local bodies department, the Centre has also asked the Mahasabha to send a proposal for building an auditorium. The Mahasabha members said Rs 70 lakh had already been received through government help and CSR funds this year to host sammelan. Of the total Rs 55 lakh, Rs 20 lakh has been assured by the Jalandhar DC, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema had declared an aid of Rs 25 lakh and Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat also declared a help of Rs 10 lakh. Apart from this, the Jalandhar MC had already announced an aid of Rs 25 lakh for the Harivallabh Sammelan this year. Majority of the funds from state bodies Three Utsavs this year People in attendance at 150th Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan in Jalandhar. PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH have been received through the Sammelan general secretary Deepak Bali, who is state advisor to the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Board. On Sunday, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Shekhawat, through a video message, also asked the Harivallabh Mahasabha to send a proposal for an auditorium to be constructed for the Sammelan to host its gatherings. The Harivallabh Sammelan this year was visited by BJP MP Anurag Thakur, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, state Cabinet Ministers Mohinder Bhagat and Harpal Cheema, among others. Union Minister for Culture Gajendra Shekhawat gave a video message on Sunday. Shree Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Mahasabha presi- dent Purnima Beri said, "It is heartening to receive the state and Centre's support. A proposal regarding the auditorium had already been sent to the Central government and will be sent again. An aid of Rs 10 lakh through SAIL via Union Minister Hardeep Puri has also been promised. Rs 55 lakh worth of funds have been declared through various government departments --- Rs 20 lakh assured by Jalandhar DC in a letter, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema has declared aid of Rs 25 lakh, Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat of Rs 10 lakh. Efforts of our general secretary Deepak Bali, have been pivotal in this. The MC had also already declared Rs 25 lakh for the Harivallabh Sammelan. We had received Rs 70 lakh in funds through government, donations, CSR funds etc. We are looking forward to the continued support and patronage of the Indian and state governments. We are already processing a proposal for Harivallabh to be declared the oldest festival of India at the national level. Efforts are also on to make it a part of the Guinness Book of World Records, like the Limca Book of Records." What Union Minister said In his address to the committee, Shekhawat said, "Harivallabh not just a music festival, it's a testimony to the spirit of India. It's a carrier of a tradition, where music isn't just entertainment but a means to achieve God. It is a symbol of India's immortal enlightenment. It's dedicat- An early pursuit of funds has given way to the Sangeet Sammelan getting generous aid from all quarters. Apart from the Rs 25 lakh announced for the festival (this year's budget) by the Jalandhar MC, cabinet ministers Mohinder Bhagat and Harpal Cheema collectively announced Rs 35 lakh more. The assurance of a Harivallabh Auditorium, made by BJP MP Anurag Thakur and reiterated by Union Minister of Culture, Gajendra Shekhwat in a video address, left the Mahasabha members with keen interest and a promise of more from the Centre. A beaming Harivallabh Mahasabha president Purnima Beri announced that the organisers would, this year, be holding the trimonthly Basant (Spring), Malhar (Monsoon) and Hemant Utsavs as well. 20-yr-old youth found Thieves loot gold, silver worth Armed robbers loot petrol murdered by friends ~80 lakh from jewellery shop pump, take away ~44,000 Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 29 A 20-year-old youth was done to death at his place in Guru Ravidass Colony near Rama Mandi this morning. The victim Hardeep Singh was reportedly stabbed by his friends following an altercation. As per reports, the youth was at his place at 4 am. He had argument with his friends after which he was attacked with a knife. Hardeep bled to death. Forensic teams visited the spot and started investigation. The body of the victim was sent to Civil Hospital for postmortem. Father of the victim, Kanna Sidhu, has reported that his friends had come to his place at 11 pm. He said that they Jalandhar, December 29 At least 12-13 miscreants broke into a jewellery shop in Shaheed Babu Labh Singh Nagar and took away items of gold and silver valued at approximately Rs 80 lakh. The masked thieves struck at Babbar Jewellers around 2:30 am and left in just 10 minutes. They decamped with about 2025 kg of silver and 4-5 tolas of gold. A CCTV footage from inside the jewellery shop emerged this morning where they are seen ransacking the shop, collecting the valuable items and dumping them in a bag and a bed sheet. A file photo of Hardeep Singh. stayed for the night at his place on the first floor of the house. He said that when he went upstairs this morning, he found his son bleeding and dead. c m y b Police check the jewellery shop after the loot incident in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO The owner of the shop, Gurpreet Singh, said that he came to know about the theft in the morning and soon informed the cops at Basti Bawa Khel police station. He said that he got a call at 3:30 am that the shutter of his shop had been broken. He said that he immediately checked the footage on his phone and contacted the police. The thieves had broken the shutter using iron rods and had gained an easy access. The incident has left the city residents in a state of panic once again. There was a robbery at a jeweller's shop two months ago in the Bhargo Camp area too. The accused in that case had, however, been identified and arrested and the recovery of all robbed valuables made. Phagwara, December 29 An armed robbery was reported at a petrol pump in Kapurthala late on Sunday evening, where three unidentified youths allegedly looted cash at gunpoint before fleeing. The incident has raised serious concerns over security and public safety at commercial establishments operating during late hours. According to the complaint filed by Karan Pratap Singh, son of Parmjeet Singh and a resident of House No. 63, Urban Estate, Kapurthala, the robbery took place at Doaba Petrol Mart, located in village Sidhwan Dona. He stated that on December 27, at around 7:30 pm, he received a phone call from his employee, Neeraj Maurya, informing him that three unknown youths had arrived at the petrol pump on a Bullet motorcycle without a number plate. The accused reportedly had their faces covered with cloth and two of them were armed with pistols. The complainant alleged that the assailants pointed a pistol at the staff and looted approximately Rs 44,000 in cash from the petrol pump before escaping. On reaching the spot, he further learned that the same suspects had committed a similar robbery at the Rajapur filling station, where they allegedly robbed an employee of around Rs 4,500 by pointing a revolver at him. Police have registered a case under the laws.