12022026-JTR-01.qxd 2/11/2026 11:00 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune AAP MLA’S ‘KNEE ON NECK’ REMARK DRAWS CRITICISM EXCESSIVE SCREEN TIME LINKED TO SURGE IN EYE STRAIN CASES ACTOR SHAHID KAPOOR CONFIRMS FARZI SEASON 2 The MLA said it on the stage that her party will win all 117 seats in 2027 by putting a knee on the neck. P2 Regular breaks, the 20-20-20 rule and a vitamin-rich diet can help protect eyesight. P3 The actor made the announcement on Tuesday through his social media handle, sending fans into a frenzy. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 23°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 23°C | MIN 8°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.12 PM » SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:11 AM THURSDAY | 12 FEBRUARY 2026 | JALANDHAR Latifpura protesters climb down water tank after assurances 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. 28-hour standoff ends |Seven families shift to Bibi Bhani Complex in city Deepkamal Kaur INBRIEF Tribune News Service DRUGS SEIZED, 5 ARRESTED Hoshiarpur: The police have seized narcotics from various locations and arrested five of them. The Bullowal police arrested Ritik of Sham Churasi and recovered banned tablets from him. Meanwhile, the Chabbewal police arrested Balveer of Chabbewal and recovered prohibited tablets from him. The accused revealed that he had procured the tablets from Tajinder Singh of Sarangowal. The police have also named Tajinder Singh in the case. The city police arrested Vivek Adiya of Bassi Khabaju during patrolling and recovered a large quantity of banned tablets from him. The Bullowal police also arrested Rakesh Kumar of Haidrowal with prohibited tablets. In another case, the Garhshankar police arrested Dalip Kumar of Bakapur, and recovered 9,000 ml of illicit liquor. oc ONE KILLED, 2 HURT IN MISHAP Hoshiarpur: One youth was killed and two others were injured in a road accident. Chandan Bhatti, a resident of village Kanjli in Kapurthala district, told the police that his cousin Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Sangjola in Kapurthala, was riding a motorcycle along with his two friends, Avtar Singh and Ansh. On February 8, when they reached Naloiya Chowk, a Canter passing through the area hit them. Rakesh died, while the other two sustained injuries. A case has been registered. oc THREE DRUG PEDDLERS HELD Nurmahal: The Nurmahal police have arrested a drug peddler on the charge of selling intoxicating tablets. As many as 65 tablets were recovered from the possession of the accused Manoj Kumar, alias Manu, resident of Batura village. The Bilga police arrested Arash Deep of Burj Hassan village with 21 tablets. The Shahkot police arrested Gurpreet Ram of Kotla Suraj Mall village with10 tablets. OC YOUTH BOOKED FOR KIDNAPPING Nakodar: The Mehatpur police have booked a Moga youth on the charge of kidnapping a minor. The accused has been identified as Gurjit Singh of Sirsarri village in Dharamkot, Moga. Harmesh Singh, a resident of Beetlan village, complained to the police that the accused kidnapped his minor daughter on the pretext of marriage. OC PO FLEEING FOR YEARS ARRESTED Phagwara: The Nurmahal police have arrested a proclaimed offender (PO) absconding for the last many years. The accused has been identified as Deepak of Kang Sahibu village under Nakodar Sadar police station. The accused is wanted in a case of culpable homicide. OC The site at Model Town, Jalandhar, where a heritage tree has been axed. A TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH Another heritage tree felled near Masand Chowk Social activist seeks action Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 11 In yet another incident of alleged illegal tree felling in Model Town, an old heritage green tree located near Masand Chowk was felled on Tuesday. Only a stump now remains at the site. The tree reportedly stood adjacent to the underconstruction Max Mall. A complaint has been lodged with the Commissioner, MC, Jalandhar, by social activist Tejaswi Minhas, seeking an FIR against the owner. The incident comes within weeks of the chopping of over 20 heritage trees at various sites around Jalandhar including a gurdwara and other buildings in Model Town. The MC, Jalandhar, had issued show-cause notices to owners of those sites. According to local residents and workers, the tree was cut on the instructions of the owner of the under-construction commercial complex. The operation was carried out between 2 am and 6 am using heavy machinery, including JCBs and trolleys. No police personnel or PCR team reportedly arrived on the spot to prevent the felling. In a complaint regarding the incident, filed by Minhas, he termed the act a “deliberate destruction of natural heritage.” The site is located less than 50 metre from the Model Town Gurdwara. Condemning the incident, Minhas alleged that the tree was cut to improve the visibility of the commercial project, even though it was not located within the project site. He said the Act violated provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Punjab Trees Preservation Policy, 2024, and the Punjab Protection of Trees Act, 2025. He urged the district administration to take strict legal action against those responsible and ensure compensatory plantation at the location. Jalandhar, February 11 Coming as a huge relief for the local administration, the 11 occupants of the Latifpura locality, who had been protesting atop an overhead water tank at Butan Mandi, finally climbed down safely after 28 hours on Wednesday evening. The occupants had been averse to forcible shifting of their belongings to flats in Bibi Bhani Complex, about 8 km from Latifpura, on Tuesday as the demolition drive, started about three years ago, had resumed. ADC (Urban Development) Jasvir Singh went to the spot this evening and started negotiations with the occupants on the phone. The protesters, who had climbed the water tank around 1 pm on Tuesday, finally agreed to come down around 5 pm this evening. Members of the Latifpura Rehabilitation Front and the affected families were taken for a fresh discussion regarding compensation with Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal, ADC (Urban Development) Jasvir Singh, Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur and DCP Manpreet Dhillon. Post the discussion, the DC said, “We have offered the families a rehabilitation plan at Bibi Bhani Complex flats. Some of them wanted plots at Surya Enclave Extension as compensation. We are ready for that as well. They were also seeking monetary compensation, regarding which their request would be forwarded to the government.” As per the details received from administrative officials, 27 families from Latifpura had applied for an alternative site. So far, seven families have been shifted to Bibi Bhani Complex. During the Eleven people, who were sitting atop overhead water tank over the issue of demolition of their stuctures at Latifpura, climb down in Jalandhar on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO:MALKIAT SINGH meeting today, representatives of the affected people claimed that there were 72 families, who had got displaced. But the officials have told them to submit their documents for claim and get the allotment process completed within 24 hours for a departmental verification. The DC said 49 flats at Bibi Bhani Complex and 15 plots at Surya Enclave Extension would be allotted to the affected families, subject to verification of their claims. He also said the 5 per cent amount, usually required to be deposited for allotment of flats and plots, would not be charged from these families. Besides this, he also assured repairs of the flats by the administration. Dr Aggarwal said a team is also being deployed to resolve other issues of the families and ensure proper solutions to their problems. He said every possible help will be extended to meet the needs of the seven families who have got shifted from Latifpura. Dhanpreet Kaur also assured the members of the front and the affected families that the cancellation of cases registered against them during the protests in the last more than three years would be considered. Today’s meeting was attended by SDM Randeep Singh Heer, officials of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust, Santokh Singh Sandhu of the Kirti Kisan Union, Mandeep Singh of the BKU Rajewal, Kashmir Singh Ghugshor and Hans Raj Pabwan of the Pendu Majdoor Union Punjab, Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wala from the Kisan Union Amritsar, Gurdeep Singh Bhandal of the Punjab Kisan Union (Baghi), Dharminder Singh of Hoshiarpur depot buses go off roads, commuters suffer Tribune News Service 23 wanted criminals arrested in Nawanshahr Jalandhar, February 11 As part of the “War Against Drugs” campaign, a team from the Commissionerate Police and the Municipal Corporation bulldozed the illegal construction of drug trafficker Amarjeet Singh’s house in the Army Enclave at Dhina village on Wednesday. The trafficker was a notorious drug seller with 10 previous cases, against whom action was initiated by the MC for carrying out illegal constructions. During the operation today, people stood outside their homes, witnessing the police and MC’s action. A total of 10 cases have been registered against Amarjeet Singh, including two under the NDPS Act, five under the Excise Act, and three other cases. Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur stated that the MC had received information about an illegal construction by Amarjeet Singh in the Leather Complex Colony. The Commissioner said the police team had been informed by the MC that its officials were taking action Nawanshahr, February 11 The police intensified their crackdown on gangsters and anti-social elements under Operation Prahar 2.0, carrying out large-scale security checks across the district. SSP Tushar Gupta accompanied by SP Sarabjit Bahia, reviewed the security arrangements during the operation and issued on-the-spot directions to ensure effective implementation. The SSP also issued a stern warning to antisocial elements, asserting that any attempt to disturb peace in the district would be dealt with firmly and strictly as per law. As part of the drive, police teams conducted 80 raids across the district, during which 60 suspicious persons were rounded up. Following verification, 23 wanted criminals were arrested, while preventive detention proceedings were initiated against 20 persons to avert potential threats to public order. Fourteen individuals were released after verification and four FIRs were registered in connection with various offences during the operation. — TNS Hoshiarpur, February 11 Bus services at the Hoshiarpur depot remained suspended on from 12 noon on Wednesday following a strike call by the Punjab Roadways-Punbus Workers Union. As many as 76 buses did not operate, severely affecting routes to Pathankot, Tanda, Batala, Amritsar, Shimla, Chandigarh and Delhi. Volvo services were also suspended. The sudden halt in services caused significant inconvenience to passengers. Commuters were seen waiting at the bus stand for hours and struggling to find alternative transport. Students holding government bus passes were forced to purchase tickets of private buses to reach their destinations. While private operators witnessed increased demand, the state exchequer is estimated to have suffered a loss of around Rs 2 lakh a day. The union reiterated its demands, including regularisation of employees, equal pay for equal work, Drug trafficker’s illegal construction bulldozed Drug smuggler’s house demolished in Jalandhar. against the illegal construction. To ensure that the officers were not inconvenienced during the operation, the police accompanied the corporation team to the complex, where the illegal construction was acted upon and the house was demolished. A team from the Sadar police station was also present during the action. The police commissioner appealed to the residents that if anyone is promoting drug activities in their area, they should share the information on the government’s WhatsApp number 9779-100-200. Meanwhile, Assistant Town Planner Vikas Dua said his team had received information about illegal construction in village Dhina, after which they sent notices to the house owner but he did not respond, after which this action was taken. c m y b the BKU Dakaunda, Bibi Pinde Basi and Lakhvir Singh Saunti of the Kisan Union Amritsar, Sukhjit Singh Droli, Gurmukh Singh Bajwa, Gurpratap Singh, Haji Bittu Chauhan, Baljinder Singh Lasoi, Mahinder Singh Bajwa, Amrik Singh Chhina and others. Since the road in front of the demolition site was opened today, the traffic went on smoothly. The pipelines for surface water project were being laid by the staff of L&T. The police, however, remained deployed to keep an eye on the protesters. A fresh controversy has erupted after two residents of the same locality — Charanjit Kaur and Harjinder Kaur — alleged that they had also been asked to shift to the Bibi Bhani Complex as their houses were likely to be razed in the coming days. “Earlier, we were told that only a shed in front of our house would be demolished, but now we are being asked to pack up and leave. We have not received any notice, but at least four officials have visited us, saying we would have to vacate as our houses fall on the proposed 120 foot road to be extended through Latifpura. If our houses — where we have been living for over 70 years — were to be demolished, we should have been informed during the drive carried out in December 2022. At least we would have had time to plan our relocation. I don’t know how I will manage all this alone with my four children,” Charanjit Kaur said. While the DC denied any further demolition of houses, JIT Chairman Ramneek Singh Randhawa said there was a possibility of additional demolitions. Our Correspondent Roadways workers protest in favour of their demands at Hoshiarpur abolition of the contractual system and reinstatement of terminated workers. It also sought the withdrawal of cases registered during the agitation and the release of employees lodged in jail. Union leaders warned that the strike would continue until their demands are met. They also announced a protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence in Sangrur on February 12 if no concrete action is taken. THEIR DEMANDS The demands include regularisation of employees, equal pay for equal work, abolition of the contractual system and reinstatement of terminated workers.