05012026-JTR-01.qxd 1/4/2026 11:01 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune PUNJAB’S FIRST BRAILLE CALENDAR RELEASED HARIVALLABH AT 150: BEYOND NAMES, TOWARDS LEGACY Residents call for lasting institutional support, heritage conservation and year-round cultural recognition. P3 The Braille calendar was formally unveiled at the district digital library by Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain. P2 » DIRECTING SHABANA AZMI IN FILM A CAREER MILESTONE Celebrity chef-turned-filmmaker Vikas Khanna has directed Shabana Azmi in his upcoming film, Imaginary Rain. P4 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 15°C | MIN 6°C YESTERDAY MAX 15°C | MIN 7°C SUNSET MONDAY 5.38 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:27 AM » MONDAY | 5 JANUARY 2026 | 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 THREE HELD WITH KHAIR WOOD Hoshiarpur: The police have arrested three persons for stealing khair wood from a forest area and recovered the logs along with the vehicle used in the crime. A case was registered on January 1 at Bhunga police station under Section 303(2) of the BNS. The prime accused, Lashkar Singh, alias Bitta Pehlwan, a resident of village Gajjan, was arrested and a vehicle used in the theft was seized. The police also recovered 10 logs of Khair wood from him. His accomplices Vijay Kumar of Kahlwan and Sukhjinder Singh of Leel Kalan (Gurdaspur district), currently residing in Bhunga, were also arrested. oc 3 HELD FOR COPS’ MANHANDLING Hoshiarpur: The police have arrested three persons, including a woman, for allegedly obstructing the police from performing duty, tearing a policeman's uniform, and helping an accused escape. Sukhdev Singh, granthi of a gurdwara in village Bassi Umar Khan, had lodged a theft complaint. When the police reached the village and were questioning the suspect, Sandeep Singh, alias Kaka, Bhindi, alias Lucky, and Bobi allegedly manhandled the police personnel and helped the accused flee. During the scuffle, a policeman's uniform was torn. All three accused have been arrested. oc Kang opens renovated Baradari Kathua’s youth found dead in Garden, library in Nawanshahr Kapurthala field Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Nawanshahr, January 4 Member of Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang has inaugurated the renovated Baradari Garden and an upgraded public library at the historic Baradari Bagh in Nawanshahr. The park has been upgraded at a cost of Rs 10 lakh, while Rs 5 lakh was spent on modernising the library. The upgraded library will benefit students, especially the youth preparing for competitive examinations. He said the library had been equipped with wi-fi, new furniture and modern facilities. He further added that there was also a proposal to set up a district-level library in the future, which would provide additional support to students. Highlighting the importance of the historic Baradari Garden, Kang said the park had been beautified with new benches, fountains and a walking track for visitors. The renovation had given a fresh look to the nearly 200year-old heritage garden. He emphasised that such parks played a vital role in keeping the youth away from drugs by encouraging healthy and positive activities. Phagwara, January 4 On a complaint lodged by Jograj, a resident of Kathua (J&K), the Kapurthala police have registered a case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code against a youth of village Blor, Kathua, on the charges of murdering Jograj’s son Kuldeep Kumar, a migrant working at a private agro-food factory in Punjab. According to the complaint, Kuldeep had travelled to Punjab around 10 to 15 days back for employment at a private agro-food factory located in Rajapur near Kapurthala. On December 30, the complainant stated that he last spoke to his son on the phone. However, repeated attempts to contact him the following day failed as his mobile phone was found switched off. Growing anxious, Jograj, accompanied by his younger brother and local panchayat member, visited the factory on January 1, where they met the factory owner. The owner reportedly informed them that Kuldeep had gone missing on the night of December 31, and that no information was available regarding his MP Malwinder Kang inaugurates the renovated Baradari Garden and upgraded public library at the Baradari Bagh in Nawanshahr. The MP said the government was working on a war footing to construct parks, gyms and sports grounds in villages to promote sports culture among the youth. He also said a volleyball stadium in Balachaur had been completed and would soon be dedicated to the public. The renovation work at Baradari Bagh had been carried out using funds from the MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme. Under the project, existing buildings, park areas, walkways, fountains and chil- dren’s play equipment had been given a new look, while the garden had been made greener and more attractive. Kang said Baradari Bagh had a rich historical legacy and efforts had been made to preserve it as an important heritage site of the city. Spread over nearly five acres in the heart of Nawanshahr, the garden serves as an ideal space for senior citizens, women and families for sitting, morning and evening walks and for children to play. The MP said no effort would be spared in the continuous upkeep of this heritage site and its development as a tourist attraction. He also credited Deputy Commissioner Ankurjit Singh for taking the initiative to make this project possible. Open-air gym at Utaal village The trend of exercising in green parks and open spaces is steadily increasing among residents of Nawanshahr. Keeping this growing interest in mind, Kang has provided grants from the MPLAD Fund to set up open-air gym- Divine Radiance Canada man among two booked for ~3L visa fraud Our Correspondent DRUGS SEIZED, TWO ARRESTED Hoshiarpur: The police recovered narcotics from different locations and arrested two persons. The Bullowal police, during patrolling, apprehended Saurabh, alias Ghugga, of Bullowal, and recovered a large quantity of banned tablets from his possession. In another case, the Mukerian police arrested Narsimha, a resident of Jhuggian near Shah Nehar, and recovered 22,500 ml of liquor from him. oc nasiums in parks. An openair gym constructed at a cost of Rs 3 lakh in village Utaal. The gym is being equipped with all modern facilities to promote fitness among people of all age groups. Each open-air gym is fitted with around 20 types of exercise machines, designed in a way that they can be easily used by everyone. The MP said there would be no shortage of funds for such public welfare projects and that funds would continue to be provided as per requirement. whereabouts. Further inquiry revealed that on the same night, Kuldeep had allegedly been involved in a heated altercation with his co-worker, Singh, following which he went missing. A search was launched by the family members, relatives, and factory representatives. On January 3, Kuldeep’s body was recovered near the factory premises. The family identified the deceased, after which the police were informed. The complainant has alleged that his son was murdered by the co-worker following the dispute. Police officials stated that the forensic examination and post-mortem procedures had been initiated to ascertain the exact cause of death. The authorities added that all angles, including the altercation, were being investigated and legal action would be taken based on the evidence. A decked-up gurdwara on the eve of Parkash Purb of Guru Gobind Singh in Jalandhar on Sunday.TRIBUNE PHOTO:MALKIAT SINGH. Phagwara, January 4 The Nurmahal police have registered a case of cheating and immigration fraud after a local resident accused two individuals, including a Canada-based immigration firm director, of duping him of over ~3.13 lakh on the pretext of sending his son abroad. According to a complaint, Lovinder Singh, a resident of Basti Sheikh, Jalandhar, alleged that the accused promised to facilitate his son’s immigration to Canada. The accused have been identified as Sukaran Pathak, a resident of Nurma- hal, and Amrinder Singh, director of Sealink Immigration Services Inc, with registered addresses in Brampton and Mississauga, Canada. While one of the accused is based locally, the Canadabased director is yet to be arrested, the police said. The complainant stated that between different stages of the process, ~3,13,826 was allegedly taken from him under the assurance that his son would be sent to Canada. However, despite repeated follow-ups, neither the promised immigration process was completed, nor was the money returned, leading him to approach the police. On the basis of the com- plaint, a case under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered. The investigation has been entrusted to ASI Gurnam Singh, who has begun verifying financial transactions, documents, and the role of each accused in the fraud. Police officials said the matter is under investigation and further legal action will be taken based on evidence. The authorities have again advised the public to exercise caution while dealing with immigration consultants and to verify credentials thoroughly before making any payments, especially in cases involving overseas placements. Ward delimitation notification BLOs carry out voter list Girl abducted, youth issued for Sultanpur Lodhi revision in 4 N’shahr booths & his family booked Phagwara, January 4 The government has issued a fresh notification for ward delimitation in Sultanpur Lodhi, signaling possible changes in the city’s political and administrative landscape ahead of the upcoming municipal elections. The notification, released by the Department of Local Government, outlines the creation and restructuring of wards within the municipal council limits, a move that may significantly impact electoral dynamics. As per the notification, a total of 13 wards have been constituted in the city. Of these, five wards have been reserved for women candidates, while three wards ear- marked for Scheduled Caste women, Scheduled Castes, and backward classes, in accordance with statutory reservation norms. The remaining wards will be open category seats. Officials indicated that the reservation and delimitation exercise has been carried out based on population data and existing guidelines. Sources in the administration stated that several ward boundaries have been altered under the new arrangement, which could influence traditional vote banks and political strategies. The changes are also linked to ongoing urban development initiatives, including Smart Cityrelated works and expansion of municipal infrastructure, which have led to demo- graphic shifts in certain localities. The notification has been made public to invite objections and suggestions from residents and stakeholders within the stipulated time frame. After considering public feedback, the final ward structure will be notified, following which the election process is expected to move forward. Meanwhile, the revised delimitation has already triggered political reactions, with some leaders expressing concerns over the redrawing of boundaries, while others have welcomed the move as a step toward fair representation. The final outcome is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the electoral contest in Sultanpur Lodhi. Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Nawanshahr, January 4 Under the directions of the Additional District Election Officer, Nawanshahr, and in accordance with the instructions of the Electoral Registration Officer for Nawanshahrcum-Sub Divisional Magistrate Anamjot Kaur, voter list revision work was carried out today at four polling booths in village Saloh. The activity was conducted during special camps under the supervision of sector supervisor Charan Singh Bagga, where booth level officers (BLOs) remained present at their booths to facilitate voters. Deputy District Education and Information Officercum-SVEEP Nodal Officer Phagwara, January 4 On the basis of a complaint lodged by Ranjit Kaur, a resident of Jalandhar, the Sadar Kapurthala police have registered a case under Sections 363 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code against Yuvraj, alias Love, and his family members for allegedly abducting and illegally confining her daughter. According to the complaint, Ranjit Kaur stated that on December 23, she visited her parental village, Mannana, along with her daughter. During the visit, her daughter received a phone call and stepped outside the house to attend it. When she did not return, the family grew concerned and began searching for c m y b FILE Our Correspondent Tarsem Lal said BLOs Laxmi, Davinder Singh, Harjeet Kaur, and Tarsem Lal performed voter revision services at Booth Numbers 89, 90, 91, and 92. Services included registration of new voters, deletion of names, and correction of voter details. He further stated that applications were processed through the BLO App using Forms 6, 7, and 8. Voters were also appealed to take the maximum benefit of the special camps being organised on Saturdays and Sundays. Residents Mulk Raj, Sandeep, Kulwinder Kaur, Dheeraj Kumar, Shadi Ram, Narinder Kumar, Kamlesh Rani, Deepan Rani, Sanyogita, Resham Kaur, Varinder Mohan, Navdeep Kaur, Simran, and other voters extended cooperation in the process. her, but she could not be traced. The complainant alleged that her daughter was forcibly taken away by Yuvraj in connivance with his family members and relatives. She further claimed that her daughter was being confined at an undisclosed location. Police officials confirmed that an investigation had been initiated and efforts were underway to trace the missing girl. They stated that call detail records and the movements of the accused were being examined, and appropriate legal action would follow based on the findings. The authorities have assured the family that all steps were being taken to ensure the girl’s safety and to ascertain the truth behind the allegations.