19012026-JTR-01.qxd 1/18/2026 11:09 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune TENTH GURU’S BIRTH ANNIV OBSERVED AT KHUKHRAIN VILLAGE BEAUTIFY CHOWKS, PROTECT HERITAGE & PROMOTE TOURISM MAKE WAY FOR BOLLYWOOD STARS The nagar kirtan was carried out under the holy canopy of Guru Granth Sahib and led by the Panj Pyare. P2 Conduct district-wide heritage mapping surveys and allocate dedicated funds for conservation efforts. P3 Kriti Sanon, Ishita Raj and other Bollywood actors are ready to dazzle on the big screen. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 14°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 13°C | MIN 2°C SUNSET MONDAY 5.50 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:25 AM » MONDAY | 19 JANUARY 2026 | JALANDHAR Youth’s murder: 2 shooters held after brief encounter in Adampur Both injured in retaliatory firing |2 pistols, 3 cartridges, bike used in crime recovered Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 18 The Jalandhar rural police have arrested two men for the murder of youth Kesar Dhami (26) after an encounter which took place at Adampur today. The accused have been identified as Chandra Shekhar, resident of village Davida Ahrana, and Jaspal Singh, resident of village Drolli Kalan. The duo sustained injuries in their leg in retaliatory firing by the police after they fired shots at a police party. The duo had hit the motorbike Kesar and his friends were riding and shot him dead when he fell on the afternoon of January 16. The police recovered two pistols (.32 bore), 3 cartridges, 3 shells and the motorcycle used in the commission of the crime from their posession. Harvinder Singh Virk, SSP , Jalandhar Rural, said in connection with the murder incident that occurred on January 16 near Sant Baba Bhag Singh University, in which Dhami was shot dead, an had been registered at Adampur and multiple police teams were constituted by the SSP to carry out investigation. The operation was conducted under the supervision of DSP Adampur, Rajiv Kumar, , with the involvement of DSP (Detective) Inderjit Singh Saini, Inspector Ravinderpal Two shooters lie injured after a police encounter in Drolli Kalan near Adampur in Jalandhar on Sunday. A TRIBUNE PHOTO Victim Kesar Dhami Singh, SHO Adampur, and Inspector Pushp Bali, incharge CIA staff, along with specially constituted teams. The SSP stated that on January 18, the police received secret information that after committing the murder, the accused had concealed their weapons near a motor (pump) close to Sant Baba Bhag Singh University, and were likely to arrive there to retrieve them. Acting on this information, police teams cordoned off the area and launched an operation. When the police party was approaching the spot from the Droli side, the accused reached the location, retrieved the hidden weapons, and attempted to flee. When the police attempted to stop them, the accused opened fire on the police party. Of the three shots fired by the accused, one bullet struck Mahant was ‘strangled to death’ by his disciple Shvani, arrested from Amritsar Our Correspondent Phagwara, January 18 The Goraya police have arrested Nitika Mahant, mastermind behind the murder of Shivani Mahant. The arrest marks a major development in a case that initially appeared to be an accidental death but later revealed clear signs of homicide. DSP Phillaur, Bharat Masih , Ladhar stated that on September 5, 2025, Garo Ram, a resident of Laswara, Jammu, approached the police and reported the suspicious death of his brother Shivani Mahant (50). 1 held with heroin Nakodar, January 18 The police have arrested a person with heroin during a routine patrol near the grain market at Sangowal near Nakodar. During patrolling, the police team apprehended Pritam Singh, alias Pita, a resident of Beetal Jhuggian and recovered 15 gm of heroin from his possession last night. — OC 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. According to the complaint, Shivani had lived with various groups of mahants since birth and had been residing permanently with Bhagwanti Mahant Haji since 2013. Nitika, daughter of Karnail Singh and resident of Chandralok Colony, Ludhiana, had been living with Shivani as his disciple for the past five to six years. On September 4, 2025, Nitika informed the family on the phone that Shivani had died after slipping in the bathroom. However, when the family reached Goraya later that evening and saw the body at the Charitable Hospi- tal in Bilga, they noticed visible marks around the neck of the deceased, raising strong suspicion. Based on the complaint, the police registered a murder case and named Nitika along with Hardeep Singh, alias Deepa, of Lehal, Ludhiana, Jatinder Singh, alias Pappi, of Majitha Road, Amritsar, and one unidentified person. With the help of the technical cell, the police earlier arrested Hardeep Singh and Jatinder Singh. Multiple police teams were constituted to trace the prime accused Nitika, who was eventually arrested from Amritsar. The police obtained her remand from the court. During questioning, Nitika allegedly confessed that she, along with her accomplices, strangulated Shivani using a dupatta and suffocated him with a pillow, leading to his death. She further revealed that gold ornaments belonging to the deceased were looted after the murder. During police remand, the dupatta and pillow used in the crime were recovered. Inspector Sikander Singh stated that investigations are ongoing to trace and recover the stolen gold and to identify where it was sold. the right side of the vehicle of the Adampur police, one hit a tree, and one missed the target. In self-defence, the police retaliated during which both accused sustained gunshot injuries in their legs. They were overpowered and immediately shifted to the hospital for medical treatment. The criminal antecedents of the accused are being verified and further legal proceedings in the case are underway. Retired SI shoots self in Phagwara Man hangs himself over marital discord Was facing legal stress, got summons in Phagwara Our Correspondent Our Correspondent Phagwara, January 18 A retired Sub-Inspector of the Punjab Police, Karamjit Singh (71), a resident of Guru Nanakpura Mohalla, Phagwara, died by suicide on Sunday, police officials said. The incident has sent shock waves through the local community, while the authorities have initiated proceedings to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the tragic step. SP Madhvi Sharma rushed to the spot after getting the news of his suicide. According to preliminary information, Karamjit Singh, who retired from the Punjab Police in 2015 after serving as a Sub-Inspector, allegedly ended his life by shooting himself with his licensed weapon. The body was later shifted to the mortuary for the postmortem examination. No suicide note has been found so far. According to information, the deceased had been facing prolonged legal stress. He was involved in a criminal case dating back to 1992 and had received summons in connection with a writ petition in the High Court. Senior police officials confirmed that they had spoken to the family members to understand the background and circumstances surrounding the incident. It is also being examined whether domestic or family- Jalandhar, January 18 The persistent problem of stray dogs continues to cause concern among city residents and time and again comes under discussion during the general house meeting of the Municipal Corporation (MC). During the last general house meeting as well, councillors raised the issue. Municipal officials stated that the corporation has been making sustained efforts to control the stray dog population and ensure public safety. According to officials, nearly 40,000 stray dogs have been sterilised in the city since 2017. As part of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and AntiRabies Vaccination (ARV) programmes, sterilisation and vaccination drives are being carried out on a regular basis. “Sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs are ongoing under the ABC and ARV programmes. These initiatives are being implemented together to effectively control the dog population and reduce health risks,” an official said. To speed up the process, the capacity for sterilisation is set to be increased in the coming months. At present, the city has 17 kennels, while five new kennels will be constructed soon. Once these facilities become operational, officials said the sterilisation capacity will double. In addition, following directions from the Deputy Commissioner, the sterilisation drive is now being conducted ward-wise. “So far, around 1,000 dogs have been sterilised across 10 to 11 wards. Work is currently underway in wards number 8 and 9,” the official added. The Municipal Corporation has also identified land in the Nangal Shama area for the construction of a dedicated dog c m y b related issues may have contributed to the incident, though no conclusion has been drawn at this stage. Officials stressed that the matter is under investigation and that no cause should be inferred until all aspects, including legal, personal, and psychological factors, are examined. Statements of family members and other relevant persons are being recorded as part of the inquiry. The police have reiterated their appeal to the public and media to avoid speculation and respect the privacy of the bereaved family during this difficult time. Further details are expected to emerge following the completion of the post-mortem and investigation. Spiritual stroke An artisan gives a final touch on an idol of Goddess Saraswati ahead of Basant Panchami in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Stray dog menace Five kennels to be set up soon Tribune News Service Karamjit Singh (71) Phagwara, January 18 A tragic incident came to light in village Kotrani near Phagwara where a young man allegedly died by suicide after hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his rented accommodation. The deceased has been identified as Ashu. According to information, Ashu had been residing in a rented house in the Kotrani area. He was married around a year ago and was reportedly facing marital discord. It was stated that efforts were made to counsel him late at night, following which the informant left for work in the morning. Upon returning later in the day, Ashu was found dead, having allegedly taken the extreme step. On receiving information about the incident, the police from Satnampura police station promptly reached the spot. The body was taken into custody and sent to the Civil Hospital for the post-mortem examination. The SHO stated that no conclusive reason has emerged behind the incident. The police have initiated an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the death and are recording statements of relevant individuals. shelter. The shelter is expected to provide better care for stray dogs and help in managing aggressive or injured animals. To improve response to complaints, the corporation is also in the process of procuring a dog-catching vehicle. “Tenders have been floated for the catching vehicle, which will help us respond more efficiently to complaints,” officials said. Despite these measures, residents continue to face daily challenges. The MC reportedly receives around five complaints every day related to stray dog issues. Ravneet Kaur, a bank employee, shared her ordeal, saying that commuting has become stressful due to stray dogs. “Whenever I ride my Activa, stray dogs often chase me. I am forced to speed up, which has led to skidding on several occasions. It is extremely dangerous,” she said. Residents have urged the authorities to resolve the issue at the earliest, stressing that while animal welfare is important, public safety must remain a top priority. Thieves target ‘Fauji Di Hatti’ in Phillaur Phillaur, January 18 A major theft incident was reported in Phillaur late last night where thieves took advantage of the biting cold and struck a local shop, Fauji Di Hatti, creating panic among traders and residents of the area. While most people in the Phillaur constituency were indoors, wrapped in blankets to escape the severe cold, three thieves allegedly broke open the shutter of the shop located in the Phillaur market and carried out the theft. According to preliminary information, the entire operation was completed within just 15 minutes. The shop owner stated that the thieves made away with goods worth approximately ?50,000 to ?60,000, including bidis, cigarettes, and other valuable merchandise. In addition to this, important documents kept in a plastic container and some currency notes were also stolen. The theft came to light when residents of nearby houses noticed suspicious movement during the night and alerted the shop owner. Upon reaching the spot and discovering the broken shutter and empty shelves, the owner immediately informed the police. Police teams reached the scene promptly and initiated an investigation. — OC