06012026-JTR-01.qxd 1/5/2026 11:02 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune PROTEST AGAINST ATROCITIES ON WOMEN IN PHAGWARA CITY NGO WORKS TO BUILD SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR GIRLS ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, SUBVERSIVE COMEDY, WINS BIG The protesters demanded strict action against ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who has been accused in a rape case. P2 Special emphasis was laid on holding sessions for students covering personal safety, healthy boundaries. P3 The Pitt, Adolescence, The Studio dominate TV prizes at the Critics Choice Awards 2026. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 13°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 13°C | MIN 10°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.39 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:27 AM » TUESDAY | 6 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 MAN KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENT Hoshiarpur: A man died in a road accident on the Hoshiarpur-Jalandhar road, while his friend was injured. The Bullowal police station has registered a case. Simranjit Singh, a resident of Bullowal, told the police that he was going towards Jalandhar on a motorcycle with his friend Sandeep Singh riding pillion, a resident of Bassi Maroof Hussainpur. When they reached near Pandori Rukman, a truck hit the bike. He said both were first taken to the Civil Hospital. From there, seeing Sandeep's critical condition, he was admitted to a private hospital. His friend died there. The police have registered a case against the unknown truck driver and started further action. oc ONE HELD WITH BANNED TABLETS Phagwara: The Tanda police station, during a patrol in the area, apprehended an accused and recovered a large quantity of banned tablets from him. The accused has been identified as Prince Kumar, a resident of Udmuar. oc PIMS inks pact for health plan 5 women rescued fromOman,thanks to MP Seechewal Our Correspondent Phagwara, January 5 Through the efforts of Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, five women from Punjab, who were trapped in Oman, have been safely brought back to India. One of the victims, a resident of Jalandhar district, reached Nirmal Kutia in Sultanpur Lodhi and shared her painful ordeal with the media. The victim stated that without Seechewal’s timely intervention, her safe return would not have been possible. Her family approached Sant Seechewal on December 16, 2025, after which he immediately raised the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). As a result of these efforts, the victim was repatriated within just 14 days. She said she returned to India on December 30 along with four other women. Sant Seechewal had earlier written to the MEA regarding nearly 70 Indian women trapped in Oman, seeking their safe return. According to the victim, she was sent abroad in September on the pretext of employment. However, on reaching Oman, she discovered that she had been sold for 1,200 Omani riyals. Shockingly, she revealed that the person responsible for trapping her was none other than her own aunt, who abandoned her in Oman and returned to India. She described the four months spent in Oman as the most terrifying period of her life. She was subjected to continuous pressure to perform immoral acts and was beaten and abused whenever she resisted. When she expressed desire to return to India, she was told that she would only be allowed to leave if she paid ?2 lakh or call two other girls Victim reveals how she was betrayed by her aunt, exploited LETTER TO MEA ■ Speaking to the media, Balbir Singh Seechewal said the exploitation of Indian women in Arab countries was a serious and deeply concerning issue. ■ He said he had recently written to the Ministry of External Affairs regarding approximately 70 women trapped in Oman, following which swift action was taken and five women were safely repatriated. ■ He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy and emphasized that strict action must be taken against human trafficking networks, so that no other daughter falls victim to such criminal traps in future. from India in her place. The victim further stated that she worked as a domestic help for nearly two months, but when she realised that her dignity and safety were under serious threat, she managed to escape and reach a secure location. There, she found around 70 other Indian women trapped under similar circumstances. She revealed that in the Muscat region, young women were lured under the guise of domestic work and then subjected to physical exploitation. They are shown dreams of prosperity, but the reality after arrival was completely different. Resistance often resulted in denial of food, physical assault, and constant threats. Appealing to young women and their families, the victim urged them to be extremely cautious of false promises related to overseas employment, warning that under current conditions, Oman is not safe for young women. Jalandhar to have ~10 crore sports tech extension centre GILFT, PPDC-Meerut join hands to boost sports goods manufacturing in city Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 5 The Government Institute of Leather and Footwear Technology (GILFT) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with MSME’s Process and Product Development Centre (PPDC), Meerut, to open an extension centre here. Industries Minister, Punjab, Sanjiv Arora, addressed a stakeholders’ meeting on sports goods manufacturing. “The PPDC centre will be opened here to give a fillip to the sports industry by assisting in research and development (R&D) work. The agreement has been inked by Aditya Prakash Sharma, Principal Director, PPDC, Meerut, and Rohit Dahiya, Principal, GILFT, Jalandhar. The Cabinet Minister described the initiative as a game-changer, claiming that it would help position Jalandhar’s sports industry among the world’s leading manufacturing hubs. He said the proposed technology extension centre, to be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore, would offer facilities for testing, training, skill development and research and development (R&D) to meet evolving global standards. Arora said Punjab had emerged as the largest contributor to India’s sports goods manufacturing, accounting for nearly 65 per cent of national production and about 70 per cent of exports. He said Jalandhar alone housed more than 1,000 manufacturing units and supplied sports equipment to over 150 international markets. Arora further said the new centre would help the Officials of the NITI Aayog and the government with sports goods manufacturers before signing an MoU for MSME centre in Jalandhar. local industry remain competitive in a rapidly expanding global market. Quoting global trends, he noted that the international sports equipment market, valued around $180 billion in 2024, was projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8 per cent by 2030. India’s sports economy is expected to touch $80–90 billion by 2030, and Punjab will continue to play a decisive role in this growth story. He said the technology extension centre would focus on understanding the specific requirements of the sports and leather industry and preparing a skilled workforce aligned with modern technologies, automation and sustainable manufacturing practices. He added that the government had already provided land for the project. Faith illuminated Tribune News Service Decked-up gurdwara at Model Town in Jalandhar on the Parkash Purb of Guru Gobind Singh. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Jalandhar, January 5 As many as 800 families of Dr BR Ambedkar Nagar, who had been facing a threat of demolition to their houses on the encroached land by the PSPCL, got a sigh of relief as Punjab Power Minister Sanjiv Arora assured them that no such action would be taken. The residents met the minister during the latter’s visit today. After the meeting, Aam Aadmi Party Jalandhar Central halqa in-charge Nitin Kohli said the concerns trou- Man loses ~44 lakh in US visa fraud, kin booked Our Correspondent Phagwara, January 5 The Sultanpur Lodhi police have registered a case against Joga Singh, a resident of village Masitan under Sultanpur Lodhi police station, his wife Jaswinder Kaur, and Jagjeet Singh Bhullar, a resident of Sangat Singh Nagar, Jalandhar. They have been booked for allegedly duping Jagtar Singh, a resident of village Jainpur, Sultanpur Lod- hi, of Rs 44.15 lakh on the pretext of sending him to the United States. According to a complaint, the accused, who are relatives of the complainant, were allegedly involved in sending people abroad illegally under the guise of running a travel agency. Jagtar stated that Joga Singh claimed to have strong links for legally sending people to the United States and assured him that direct employment to over 1.5 lakh people and indirect employment to over 3 lakh through logistics, packaging, and other services. He said Jalandhar’s cluster was globally known for handstitched footballs, cricket gear, protective sports equipment and fitness products, catering to both domestic and international markets. Arora further said Punjab-based manufacturers supplied equipment to major global brands such as Adidas, Nike, Puma, Decathlon, and New Balance. Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog, Suman Bery, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog, Sanjeet Singh, and Administrative Secretary, Department of Industry and Commerce, Kamal Kishore Yadav, also highlighted the importance of technology upgradation and innovation in sustaining Punjab’s leadership in sports goods manufacturing. Bery called upon local manufacturers to focus on quality and innovation. Earlier in the day, the NITI Aayog team visited prominent sports goods manufacturing units in Jalandhar, including Saavi International, Alpha Hockey and Shrey Sports. Mukul Verma of Saavi International briefed the team on Jalandhar-made products being used at global platforms, including rugby balls used in the Women’s Rugby World Cup and hockey equipment featured in the Olympics. An exhibition showcasing Jalandhar-made sports goods, safety gear and related equipment was also organised, drawing appreciation from policymakers and industry leaders alike. No demolition in Ambedkar Nagar: Minister to residents Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 5 The Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has welcomed the launch and implementation framework of the Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana, terming it a transformational initiative. It has taken the lead by signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government for implementing the scheme, reaffirming its support and readiness to partner with the state for its rollout. The details of the scheme were deliberated in a high-level meeting chaired by Dr Balbir Singh, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Punjab, in the presence of officials and principals of medical colleges. The scheme provides comprehensive health coverage of up to Rs10 lakh per family for all residents, ensuring timely and cashless access to quality healthcare. “The Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana will prove to be a major boon for the residents. With assured coverage for critical illnesses, major surgeries, diagnostics, and emergency care, the scheme significantly reduces out-of-pocket expenditure and strengthens public confidence in the healthcare system”, a release read. The minister also highlighted slew of initiatives to be launched by the government to strengthen domestic production at the grassroots level. He noted that today’s event was a joint effort of the NITI Aayog and the Punjab Government to further give a major push to the sports industry of the state. He said Punjab contributed a major share to the country’s production and exports of sports goods, supported by skilled manpower, clusterbased manufacturing, and strong policy backing. Arora said this sector in Punjab had evolved from traditional craftsmanship to an organised, export-oriented manufacturing hub that met the needs of international brands, sports federations, and institutional buyers. He said this sector provided the he could arrange direct travel to the USA, claiming he already had an “arrangement” in place. Trusting these assurances, the complainant entered into an agreement with the accused in July 2024 to be sent to the United States for a total amount of Rs 50 lakh. The accused allegedly assured him that the payment would be taken only after the visa was granted. Later, Joga Singh reported- c m y b ly informed the complainant that his visa had been approved and even showed him a copy of the visa. On this pretext, the accused allegedly demanded money and got Rs 44.15 lakh from him. The complainant further alleged that instead of being sent to the US, he was illegally taken to Mexico, where he was kept under distressing conditions for about four months. He was subsequently sent to a camp and, after around seven months, was deported. Jagtar returned to India on July 18, 2025. After his return, the complainant approached the accused seeking a refund of the money. However, they allegedly refused to return the amount, following which he approached the police. After conducting a preliminary inquiry, the police registered a case. Police officials said that the matter was under investigation. 800 families facing threat of demolition to their houses bling the residents of Ambedkar Nagar regarding their houses had received a positive assurance. Kohli said the minister said no resident of Ambedkar Nagar would lose their house. This assurance has brought relief to colony residents. Kohli stated that the government stood firmly with the poor, labourers, and the middle class. The party’s clear message was that no injustice would be done against any citizen, and the government was working with sensitivity on issues related to public interest. He further said the problems of the colony residents had been strongly presented before the government, and concrete steps would also be taken in the coming days towards a permanent solution. At the end, Kohli appealed to all residents of Ambedkar Nagar not to pay attention to rumours and to contact public representatives directly for any issue. Rubber factory gutted by Vinay Nagar fire Jalandhar, January 5 A rubber factory in the Vinay Nagar locality caught fire late last evening owing to a likely case of short-circuiting. The factory, including machinery, raw material and the finished products, was gutted by the fire. However, no loss of life occurred. Since most of the material inside the factory was inflammable, huge flames were seen coming out. Since it was a windy evening, the smoke from the factory spread up to several hundreds of metres causing panic. The factory owner had immediately called up the Fire Department and two fire extinguishers were pressed into service. The staff managed to control the fire after lots of efforts. — TNS