22012026-JTR-01.qxd 1/21/2026 10:45 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune AAP SLAMS CENTRE’S MGNREGA OVERHAUL CELPHOS POISONING PATIENT REVIVED WITH ECMO TECHNIQUE PEECEE REWINDS TO 2016, JOINS VIRAL TREND WITH OSCARS DEBUT Minister Mohinder Bhagat said that the changes amounted to snatching bread from the mouths of poor workers. P2 The doctors at the hospital said that the patient was in profound shock after having allegedly ingested poison. P3 One of the biggest moments being her firstever appearance at the Oscars. One photo showed her receiving the Padma Shri .P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 17°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 19°C | MIN 3°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.53 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:24 AM THURSDAY | 22 JANUARY 2026 | JALANDHAR Thar-borne woman thrashes filling station worker, loots cash in Adampur Beaten up over fuel mix-up, hospitalised Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 21 In a filmy style, a young woman came in her Thar at a filling station, entered into a feud with the staff, then mercilessly beat up and kicked an employee and allegedly took away his phone and cash. The incident occurred in Bharat Petroleum filling station at Raowali village of Adampur and got recorded on the CCTV. Employee Jatin Kapoor suffered a major WHAT EMPLOYEE SAYS woman on a asked me (in pic) ❝Afuel. Shecameon theThar andwhen I asked her if it to fill was phone was a petrol vehicle. She nodded. I had started filling petrol when I spotted that oil cover had ‘diesel’ written on it. I warned her not to start the vehicle. I told her that I would call in a mechanic who will remove the fuel from the vehicle. She got furious and called two more youths and started kicking me. They even took away my phone and about ~50,000 that I had collected through the day from customers. Jatin Kapoor, FUEL STATION EMPLOYEE Tree felling at roadways workshop defies HC ban Workers flee with loaded trolley |Officials claim ‘no knowledge’ Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, January 21 Despite clear directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court banning the cutting of trees, neither contractors, nor government officials appear to be taking these orders seriously. A glaring example of this negligence surfaced at the Punjab Roadways Hoshiarpur workshop, where tree felling reportedly continued openly for two consecutive days, in blatant violation of court orders. At the workshop, lush green trees were cut, not only defying HC directions, but also raising serious questions about the government’s commitment to environmental protection. Officials of Punjab Roadways were seen distancing themselves from the incident, claiming ignorance about the ongoing tree cutting. The situation has raised serious concerns as trees were cut for two straight days on government land, right under the nose of officials, yet no one seems to know who permitted the activity or why it was carried out. Attempts to contact Jasveer 5 caught with mobile phones in K’thala jail Kapurthala, January 21 The Kapurthala jail authorities recovered five mobile phones, prompting the registration of an FIR against five inmates for violating prison rules. The action was taken on the complaint of Baldev Singh, Assistant Superintendent of the Kapurthala Jail, following which a case was registered at Police Station Kotwali, Kapurthala. In his complaint, Assistant Superintendent Baldev Singh stated that under the leadership of senior jail officials, jail guards conducted a thorough search of Langar-2 Block A. — 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. Trunks of a tree at the Punjab Roadways Hoshiarpur workshop. Singh, GM of Punjab Roadways Hoshiarpur Depot, were unsuccessful. Later, when Surinder Singh, a clerk, was contacted, he denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the trees had been pruned at the request of neighbouring residents. He stated that an inquiry was underway and insisted that the trees were not cut down, only trimmed. However, when questioned about the thick wooden logs loaded on the trolley, he claimed these were merely large branches. Regarding permission from the competent authorities, he admitted having no information and suggested that higher officials might have granted approval. Environmental activist Jai Gopal Dhiman termed the incident a direct violation of High Court orders and a con- spiracy to damage the environment. He demanded a high-level inquiry and strict action against those responsible for the tree cutting. Dhiman questioned how trees located on a department campus could be cut without permission by private individuals. He urged the district administration to take immediate and strict action, considering the gravity of the matter. ❞ injury in his forehead and got bruises all over his body. He got admitted to the Civil Hospital where doctors had to suture the cuts in his forehead with five stitches. The video of the incident got captured on the CCTV cameras and went viral. The victim said, “I was on duty when a woman, who was driving solo, came on a Thar and asked me to fill fuel worth Rs 2,000. She was on the phone when I asked her if it was a petrol vehicle. She nodded. I had started putting in petrol when I spotted Our Correspondent Phagwara, January 21 A grocery shopkeeper was brutally killed after being struck with a brick during a late-night altercation in the Bholath area of Kapurthala district. The deceased has been identified as Gurmeet Lal, alias Geeta, a resident of Khairabad Talwandi. According to the police, Gurmeet Lal was running a grocery shop near Green Palace on Alampur Bakka Road, close to Khairabad bus stand. On Tuesday night, an argument broke out after three youths from the village allegedly harassed him. The verbal dispute soon escalated into a physical fight, during which one of the youths allegedly struck Gurmeet Lal on the head with a brick, killing him on the spot. The incident came to light after locals informed the police, following which a police team reached the spot and initiated proceedings. The victim’s younger brother, Malkiat Singh, told the police that the accused had been troubling his brother, leading to the fatal confrontation. DSP Karnail Singh said the body has been sent to the Civil Hospital mortuary for the post-mortem examination. He added that statements of the victim’s family members are being recorded, and further legal action will be taken based on their versions. The police have registered an FIR against Gora, son of Satnam Singh, a resident of village Bada, on the statement of the deceased’s daughter Rubak. Raids are being conducted to arrest the accused, who is absconding. Police officials said that investigations are underway and assured that the accused will be arrested soon and dealt with strictly in accordance with the law. Hoshiarpur, January 21 Under the government’s flagship campaign ‘War Against Drugs’, the police carried out a major action against drug trafficking by demolishing illegal constructions belonging to drug peddlers in Mohalla Valmiki, near Ghanta Ghar, Hoshiarpur. SP Major Singh said the action was initiated on the c m y b and about Rs 50,000 cash that I had collected through the day from customers.” Kapoor said they warned him against making a complaint to the police. He said when he had gone to the Civil Hospital for getting the MLR done, two youths sent by the woman approached him and threatened him of dire consequences. “But I told them that I won’t budge”, he said. SSP Harvinder Virk said, “I too have gone through the whole case. I have directed the SHO to lodge an FIR on the basis of the complaint.” Couple arrested with 7 kg opium 25-yr-old dies, Anti-gangster Angural claims drive: Eight it’s death due held in 2 days to drug abuse ~4,900 drug money, vehicle seized Phagwara, January 21 by SP The police headed Tribune News Service Madhvi Sharma have carried Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 21 Another 25-year-old youth died under mysterious circumstances in the Avtar Nagar locality of Bhargo Camp on Wednesday morning. While the family of the deceased Sachit termed it a death due to heart attack and performed his last rites quickly without informing the police about it. BJP leader and ex-MLA Jalandhar West Sheetal Angural, said this could be the third death due to drug abuse in the area in the past eight days. Angural said, “While earlier a youth of Bhargo Camp, who was an autorickshaw driver, died under similar circumstances due to a likely case of drug overdose. He said another 25-year-old had died in Basti Danishmandan three days ago.” The BJP leader said it was high time that the AAP government and its minister Mohinder Bhagat, who represents the constituency, acted against the menace. “There is no point in starting the phase2 of ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ in the name only,” he said. SHO Bhargo Camp Mohan Lal feigned ignorance about the youth’s death today. “We have not received any complaint on the matter”, he said. Jalandhar, January 21 A couple was arrested with 7 kg opium and 4,900 drug money by the Jalandhar rural police today. The police also confiscated the vehicle used in the crime. The arrest was held under the directions of Harvinder Singh Virk, SSP Jalandhar , Rural, and as part of the ongoing special campaign against drug smugglers, antisocial elements, and criminal activities. The apprehended drug smuggler couple has been identified as Dharminder Singh Cheema and Charanjit Kaur, his wife, resident of village Bajuha Khurd, Nakodar. SSP Virk stated that a couple was caught burying large quantity of contraband on January 20 and arrested. The SSP said on January 20, a police party led by DSP Onkar Singh Brar, along with SI Dilbagh Singh, was conducting checking of suspected gangsters and criminals on the road leading from village Bajuha Khurd to village Jugral. During this operation, a vehicle was noticed. The occupants, a man and a woman, on spotting the police party, stopped it and Grocery shopkeeper Illegal structures of drug thrashed with brick peddlers demolished in Bholath, dies Our Correspondent that oil cover had ‘diesel’ written on it.” He said he told the woman about it and warned her not to start the vehicle. “I told her that I would immediately call in a mechanic who will remove the fuel from the vehicle”, he said. He added, “She got so furious that she got down and started manhandling me. She called two more youths and all three of them started beating and kicking me. I kept pleading before them but they were not ready to listen to me. They even took away my phone directions of SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik and was conducted in the presence of the civil administration, following due legal procedure. He said Keshav Gandhi, alias Krishna, Ashish Farwaha, alias Lundi, and Rubal, residents of the locality, are involved in drug trafficking cases, with nine cases registered against them. The SP reiterated that as per the directions of the gov- ernment, the police will continue its drive against drug smuggling and illegal encroachments. He appealed to the public to report any such illegal activities to the police and said swift and stringent action would be taken against those found guilty. Issuing a strong warning to drug traffickers, he said they must either give up drug trafficking or be prepared to face the strictest legal action. hurriedly entered a house under construction without doors, carrying a bag. Suspecting foul play, the police team immediately followed them into the premises. Upon entering the house, the police found the woman digging a pit with her hands in the sand beneath the staircase, while the man was preparing to conceal the bag underground. Both were apprehended on the spot. On searching the bag, the police recovered 7 kg of opium and Rs 4,900 drug money. The vehicle used in the commission of the crime was also seized. A case has been registered and both accused have been arrested. The SSP said the operation was conducted under the supervision of Mukesh Kumar, SP Jalandhar Rural, , and Onkar Singh Brar, DSP , Nakodar, with the active involvement of Sub-Inspector Dilbagh Singh, SHO, Nakodar, and his police team. out a crackdown, leading to the arrest of eight persons over two days, besides seizing narcotic capsules. Madhvi said on January 20, police teams led by DSP Bharat Bhushan rounded up 15 suspicious persons during checking. Two wanted accused were arrested in connection with cases registered in Phagwara and Rawalpindi. The arrested accused were identified as Sahil Thapar, alias Crispy, resident of Hadiabad Balmiki Mohalla, Phagwara and Karan Rall of Pashta, Rawalpindi. Police teams on January 21 rounded up 19 more individuals across the subdivision. As a result, five additional wanted accused were arrested in Phagwara and Rawalpindi. Among those arrested was Jagdeep Singh, alias Deepa, of Baba Gadia, Phagwara and Vishal Shaily of Mehli Gate, Phagwara with 400 pregabalin capsules and 15 intoxicating tablets alprazolam. In a separate action, the police arrested four accused Raja Singh, alias Raju, Gurpreet Singh, alias Bobby, Manpreet Singh, and Arjan Singh, all residents of village Harbanspur. Naresh Bangar of village Thakkarki was arrested in a case of hooliganism. — OC Two more held in Phagwara sweets shop firing case Our Correspondent Phagwara, January 21 The Kapurthala police have arrested two more hardened criminals in connection with the firing incident at village Lakhan Kalan near Kapurthala and firing at Sudhir Sweets Hoshiarpur road, Phagwara, and recovered illegal firearms and ammunition, marking another significant breakthrough in the case. SSP Gaurav Toora said on Tuesday the police arrested Gurpal Singh, alias Pala, resident of Khaira, near Phagwara, and Dharam Singh, alias Dhami, resident of village Chachoki near Phagwara. The police have recovered one .30 bore pistol along with a magazine and two cartridges and one .32 bore pistol with a magazine and one cartridge from their possession. The accused were produced before the court and police remand was obtained. During questioning, both accused disclosed their involvement in multiple criminal activities. The SSP further stated that during interrogation, the accused admitted their involvement in another firing incident that occurred on January 12 at Sudhir Sweet Shop on Phagwara–Hoshiarpur Road. The police are conducting further investigation to link them with the case. On January 14, the police had arrested four other accused involved in the Lakhan Kalan firing incident. They were identified as Kamalpreet Singh, Harjit Singh, Sukhraj Singh and Rupinder Singh. Based on the disclosure statements of the accused, the police had recovered two vehicles used in the commission of the crime, including a Hyundai Verna and a Hyundai Venue.