16022026-JTR-01.qxd 15-02-2026 23:16 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune EIGHT WOMEN DIE OF CANCER EVERYDAY IN STATE: SEECHEWAL STRENGTHEN POLICING AND REVOKE ILLEGAL GUN LICENCES Implement real-time crime mapping system and create a dedicated antigang task force. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 24°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 24°C | MIN 9°C RAHUL BHAT ON WHY KENNEDY STILL HAUNTS HIM The MP told the House that excessive use of chemical fertilisers in agriculture was having a direct impact on human health. P2 FORECAST As the film is ready to stream on Zee 5, the memory of playing Kennedy is still fresh on the gifted actor's mind. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 6.15 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:07 AM » MONDAY | 16 FEBRUARY 2026 | JALANDHAR Undertrial brutally beaten up inside Kapurthala jail 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. Injured seriously, victim admitted to Civil Hospital Our Correspondent INBRIEF TRACTOR DRIVER BOOKED Phagwara: The police have booked a tractor driver the on charges of rash driving and mischief. The accused has been identified as Dilbag Hussain, a resident of Gohir village. Pawandeep Singh, a resident of Mudh village, complained to the police that the accused was driving his tractor trolley fast and negligently on February12 and hit his uncle Shingara Singh's motorcycle and seriously injured him. A case has been registered against the tractor driver. OC TWO DRUG ADDICTS HELD Phagwara: The Mehatpur police have arrested two persons on the charge of consuming heroin. The accused has been identified as Deepak Kumar and Sandip Kumar, residents of Dalla village and Gorsian Peeran village in Nurmahal. A lighter, silver paper, and plastic pipes used for consuming contraband were recovered from their possession. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused. OC BOOKED FOR THEFT IN SHOP Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have booked some persons on the charge of stealing grocery from a shop. Rajindar Kumar Puri, a resident of Ismailpur village, complained to the police that the thieves barged into his shop on February 7 night and stole grocery worth Rs 80,000. A case has been registered against unidentified accused. OC Excise Department officials hold a raid and recover illicit liquor in Jalandhar. 62 litre of illicit liquor seized in police raids at Jalandhar Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 15 Acting on the directions of District Collector (Excise) SK Garg, the Excise Department conducted two raids in Jalandhar, leading to the recovery of a significant quantity of illicit liquor and the arrest of two individuals. The operations were carried out under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner (Excise), Jalandhar Range-II, Navjeet Singh. In the first raid, a team com- prising Excise Officer Jaspreet Singh, Excise Inspector Manjit Singh Dhindsa of Circle Basti Bawa Khel, along with Excise Police, conducted a search in the basement of a shop located behind a juice corner in Raj Nagar, Basti Bawa Khel, Kapurthala Road, following a tip-off. During the checking, 41.4 litre of “Punjab King” liquor was recovered. Accused Baldeep Singh, a resident of Basti Bawa Khel, was apprehended on the spot. An FIR has been registered at police station, Basti Bawa Khel. In another operation, Excise Inspector Somant Mahi of Excise Circle, Jalandhar North, along with the police raided village Kanpur. The team recovered 21.375 litre of “Punjab King” liquor. The accused, Gopi Bhagat of Paschimi Manoharpur, Madhepura (Bihar), was arrested. An FIR is being registered at Maqsudan. Assistant Commissioner Navjeet Singh reiterated that strict action against illegal liquor trade will continue in the coming days. Phagwara to be dist if SAD wins : Badal Phagwara, February 15 Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal has assured party leaders and workers that Phagwara will be granted the district status within three months of the formation of a SAD government in 2027. The announcement came during a special meeting held with senior office-bearers and party workers from the Phagwara constituency here late last night. The meeting was convened under the leadership of Phagwara urban constituency in-charge Ranjit Singh Khurana and rural constituency in-charge Rajinder Singh Chandi. — OC Phagwara, February 15 An inmate lodged in the Modern Jail, Kapurthala, was allegedly assaulted by other inmates late last evening, leaving him seriously injured and prompting a police investigation into the incident. The injured inmate has been identified as Muthu Murari. According to information, a dispute broke out between Murari and several other undertrials on the jail premises last evening. The argument reportedly escalated into a violent altercation, during which Murari was severely beaten. Following the assault, the jail authorities shifted the injured inmate to the Civil Hospital, Kapurthala, where he was admitted to the emergency ward. He is currently undergoing treatment and his condition is reported to be serious. The hospital authorities subsequently informed the Kotwali Police Station about the incident. Acting on the information, the police registered a case and initiated a probe to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the attack. SSP Gaurav Toora stated that a thorough investigation is underway and appropriate legal action will be taken against those found responsible. The authorities are also examining the security arrangements within the jail to determine how the incident occurred. The Modern Jail in Kapurthala is a high-security prison which had often Mahashivratri fervour The injured jail inmate in Kapurthala Civil Hospital. BRAWLS IN MODERN JAIL ■ In Janaury-end this year, an undertrial Surinder Singh Teji had been seriously injured after fellow inmates attacked him with iron rods In November 2025, a prisoner on remand, was seriously injured after several other inmates attacked him ■ In July 2025, five undertrials had been booked for hogged the limelight for frequent conflicts or brawls as well as recoveries from inmates from time to time. In Janaury-end, an undertrial prisoner identified as Surinder Singh Teji had been seriously injured after fellow inmates attacked him with iron rods, following an old rivalry inside the jail. The injured undertrial had been admitted to the Civil Hospital. In November 2025, a prisoner on remand, was seriously assaulting two jail wardens after a mobile phone was recovered from one of them during a routine inspection at the jail. ■ In June 2025, too, three inmates were seriously injured after a clash broke out between groups inside the Kapurthala Jail. injured after several other inmates attacked him with a ladle and spoon following a heated argument inside Kapurthala Modern Jail. The prisoner sustained a deep head injury. In July 2025, five undertrials had been booked for assaulting two jail wardens after a mobile phone was recovered from one of them during a routine inspection at the jail. In June 2025, too, three inmates were seriously injured after a clash broke out between groups inside the Kapurthala Jail. On January 25, this year, jail guards had recovered two mobile phones, a sim card and a data cable from two jail inmates raising questions about the status of security arrangements at the jail. Various other recoveries of phones and other items have also been made from the jail. A prison hosting over 3500 inmates more than its capacity. 10 boys, five girls rescued in drive against begging in Nawanshahr Tribune News Service Gatherings barred near exam centres Our Correspondent Kapurthala, February 15 The district administration has prohibited public gatherings within 100 metres of examination centres in Kapurthala during the coming annual examinations conducted by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB). District Magistrate Amit Kumar Panchal said the restrictions will remain in force from February 17 to April 4, covering the Class VIII, X and XII examinations, including open school, scheduled for the February-March session. Examinations will be held daily from 11.30 am to 2.15 pm at designated centres across the district. Only candidates and officials on examination duty will be permitted within the restricted zone. All other public assembly in the area has been banned during the notified period. The administration said the measure aims to maintain law and order, prevent interference and ensure a fair and disturbance-free environment for students. Thousands of devotees line up to offer prayers at Devi Talab Mandir on Mahashivaratri in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH 243 found sans ticket, Rlys recovers ~1.67L Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 15 With the aim of curbing ticketless travel, a special ticket checking campaign ‘Fortress Check’ was conducted at Jalandhar City Railway Station on Saturday by Ferozepur Division of Northern Railway. A total of 243 ticketless passengers were caught during this intensive check operation from which a revenue of around Rs 1.67 lakh was recovered. This campaign was con- ducted continuously from 9 am to 5 pm and 14 ticket inspectors and RPF jawans jointly participated in the campaign. Under the “Fortress Check”, unannounced intensive ticket checks are carried out on the station premises. During this, tickets of passengers are checked and action is c m y b taken against those who travel without tickets. The main objective of this campaign is to ensure the security of railway revenue and promote the habit of travelling with tickets among passengers. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Paramdeep Singh Saini has appealed to passengers to always travel only with a valid ticket. Keeping in mind the convenience of passengers and the protection of revenue, such special ticket checking campaigns will continue in the future as well. Nawanshahr, February 15 Under the directions of the Director, Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, Punjab and as per the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh, Project Jeevan Jyot 2.0 is being implemented in Nawanshahr to eradicate child begging. “Acting under the guidance of District Programme Officer Jagrup Singh, the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), in coordination with divisional-level teams, has been conducting regular inspections across the district to eliminate child begging at its roots,” officials said. On February 13, a special rescue operation was carried out in Nawanshahr, covering Banga Road, Kothi Road and Geeta Bhawan Road. District Programme Officer Jagrup Singh was present during the checking drive. During the operation, the team identified five children, aged approximately between one and six years, who were being used for begging while in the arms of their mothers. The children, along with their mothers, were rescued on the spot. Child Protection Officer Gaurav Sharma conducted on-the-spot counselling of the mothers, and the cases were Officials during a raid to check child begging menace in Nawanshahr presented before the Child Welfare Committee to ensure appropriate action in the best interest and safety of the children. Providing further details, the officials informed that under Project Jeevan Jyot 2.0, continuous checking drives are being conducted throughout the district. In 2026 so far, a total of 15 children (10 boys and 5 girls) have been rescued from begging and linked with formal education. Of these, nine children were rescued in January and six in February. During the drive, the DCPU team also sensitized shopkeepers and the general public, urging them not to encourage child begging or child labour involving children below 18 years of age. Citizens were requested to report any such cases to the Child Helpline at 1098 so that appropriate measures, including school enrolment and access to government welfare schemes, can be ensured. Officials emphasised that engaging children in begging or labour is a punishable offense under the Juvenile Justice Act, and strict legal action will be taken against offenders. The team further appealed to parents to send their children to school instead of forcing them into begging, thereby ensuring a brighter future for them.