04032026-JTR-01.qxd 3/3/2026 10:57 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune BJP SOLD AGRI SECTOR TO US THROUGH TRADE DEAL: PARGAT UNREGISTERED E-RICKSHAWS POSE TRAFFIC, SAFETY RISKS INDIAN COFFEE HOUSE RETURNS TO PU CAMPUS He termed the agreement as one that will force farmers onto the streets, demanded that it be immediately revoked. P2 Traffic Inspector said checking drives will be intensified to verify documents and ensure compliance with traffic norms.P3 Indian Coffee House has reopened unit on the top floor of the Student Centre at Panjab University, Chandigarh. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 30°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 11°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.27 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 6:50 AM » WEDNESDAY | 4 MARCH 2026 | JALANDHAR Keep watch on crops as aphid threat looms, farmers told Tribune Reporters Kapurthala/Hoshiarpur Mar 3 Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Balkar Singh has urged farmers to regularly monitor their wheat and mustard fields in view of the possible attack of aphids with rising temperatures. During a recent field inspection of wheat and mustard crops in Kapurthala district, Dr Singh stated that both crops are currently free from major diseases. However, he cautioned that the increasing temperatures may create favourable conditions for aphid infestation. Aphids are sap-sucking insects that feed on the leaves and grains of crops, leading to weak and shrivelled grains. The infestation usually begins from the outer edges of the fields and intensifies under tree shade and cloudy weather conditions. Although the aphid species attacking wheat and mustard are different, wheat fields located near mustard crops are more vulnerable to infestation. Dr Singh advised farmers to conduct regular field visits and closely inspect their crops. In wheat, if the aphid population exceeds five aphids per ear head, farmers should spray 20 gram of thiamethoxam 25 WG per acre. The spray should preferably be carried out during afternoon hours to minimise harm to honeybees. He further clarified that there is no likelihood of disease outbreak in wheat, therefore, farmers should avoid unnecessary fungicide sprays. Advisory for mango growers HOSHIARPUR: Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Senior Extension Scientist (Entomology) at the Farm Advisory Service Centre, Gangian, has advised mango growers in the district to remain alert against the increasing attack of mango hopper during March. During February-March, when flowering (bloom) appears on trees, mango hoppers gather in large numbers on flowers and tender leaves and suck the sap. This directly affects fruit setting and reduces yield. Last year, many orchards faced serious infestation of the pest. Two nabbed for firing at city doc’s house, plotter at large Govt school teacher booked for student’s suicide Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 3 The Commissionerate Police has arrested two persons in connection with the recent firing incident outside the house of a government veterinary doctor in the Santokhpura locality of the city on Saturday. On February 28 night, unidentified persons had opened fire at a car parked outside the house and at the gate of a government veterinary doctor Yashpal. In this connection, the police have arrested Jagjit Singh and Lovepreet Singh, both residents of Badala Johal village of Jandiala Guru in Amritsar, said Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur. As per reports, both accused were shooters and the police are yet to nab the main conspirator behind the incident. The shooters had only been given the location and the picture of the house of Dr Yashpal as the target. The police had registered an FIR under Sections 125, 109 of the BNS and 25 of the Jalandhar, March 3 The Jalandhar Rural Police have booked a teacher of Government Senior Secondary School, Nurpur, for the alleged suicide of a Class XII girl on the campus. The girl died yesterday but the FIR was lodged on Tuesday against teacher Taranjot Kaur for abetment to suicide after the family held a massive protest on the school campus this morning. No arrest has been made so far. The school authorities claimed that Khushpreet hanged herself in a room in the school and when spotted, they had immediately taken her to a hospital. But the family termed the incident to be a case of murder. As per the reports, she had gone to her school to get her roll number for the coming Punjab School Education Board examination. Father Jarnail Singh has told the police, “My daughter went to the school at 11:30 am on Monday. At 12:30 pm, I received a call from her teacher Shivani, alleging that my Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur holds a press conference after two persons were arrested in a firing incident outside the house of a doctor at Santokhpura. Arms Act at Police Station Division No. 8, Jalandhar, based on the statement of Dr Yashpal and initiated an investigation. Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur stated that under Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation) Manpreet Singh Dhillon, ADCP (Investigation) Jayant Puri, teams were formed comprising ACP (D) Amarbir Singh, ACP (North) Ashok Meena, Inspector Sahil Chaudhary, SHO Division No. 8, Inspector Surinder Kumar, in-charge CIA staff, and SI Manjinder Singh, in-charge, special cell, and the operation was carried out. She further stated that from the accused, two pistols along with magazines, five rounds of .32 bore, one round of .30 bore, a magazine of .30 bore, the motorcycle used in the crime and the clothes worn during the incident were recovered. She said the accused would be produced in court to obtain remand and they will be interrogated regarding other crimes and the recovered weapons. Accused Jagjit Singh is already booked on May 2025 under Sections 109, 3(5) BNS and 25/27, Arms Act, at Police Station Sadar Tarn Taran. daughter had stole money from a teacher’s purse. After a while, I got another call that it was not my daughter, but another girl who had stolen the money. In 15 minutes, there was another call from the school that Khushpreet had attempted suicide. At this, I along with some people from my neighbourhood reached the school and was told that she was no more”. Jarnail alleged that his daughter was under pressure over the false allegations. Angrez Singh, inquiry officer from Maqsudan Police Station, said statements of the parents of the victim and school staff had been recorded. “On the basis of the statements, we have got an FIR lodged against the teacher”, he said. Consumer forum pulls up PSPCL for sending Underpass approved for village, residents relieved consumer inflated bills of ~6.99 lakh Orders firm to quash bills along with all late payment surcharge and interest Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 3 In a glaring lapse of meter handling and billing oversight, the Corporate Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum has pulled up Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for burdening a Jalandhar consumer with an inflated electricity bills of Rs 6.99 lakh during a four-month period of erratic meter readings. The case was filed by Udham Chand Saroa, on behalf of consumer Chakshu Saroa, who holds a 10.44 kilowatt domestic supply connection under PSPCL’s Cantt Division in Jalandhar. The dispute began after the consumer was issued a bill Sakshi tops CA exam in city Jalandhar, March 3 The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) on Monday declared the results of chartered accountants. The Jalandhar Branch of the Northern India Regional Council of the ICAI saw a total of 12 students becoming chartered accountants. Sakshi Bang got the first rank, followed by Khushdeep Wadhwa second and Archita Jain got third position. — TNS 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. dated July 30, 2025, for 15,294 units consumed within just 50 days (June 10 to July 30) amounting to Rs 1.43 lakh. This was a sharp spike compared to the family’s usual monthly consumption which ranged between 200 and 700 units in previous months. Despite the consumer repeatedly flagging abnormal readings, the billing pattern continued to escalate. On October 14, 2025, the PSPCL issued another bill reflecting 59,223 units, pushing the total demand to Rs 6.99 lakh, including arrears. The consumer maintained that the meter had malfunctioned and he had already submitted a written request for its replacement. However, the meter was replaced only on October 15, more than two months after the initial complaint. By then, the reading had shot up to 1,77,885 units. Although the meter was declared “ok” in the department’s technical lab, officials admitted that no data download could be carried out due to the absence of an optical port, leaving the abnormal spike unexplained. With no relief from the department and the disputed amount continuing to reflect in his account, the consumer approached the redressal forum in January, seeking quashing of the inflated bills and revision of his account. On examining past records, the forum found that the household’s annual consumption between 2021 and 2024 ranged between 3,430 and 8,127 units. In stark contrast, last year consumption jumped to 77,425 units, largely due to the disputed readings. After installation of a new smart meter, the average monthly consumption dropped to 339 units, reinforcing the forum’s finding that the earlier meter had behaved abnormally and the excessive billing could not be sustained. Observing that such abnormal consumption had never been recorded before or after the disputed period, the forum held that the meter was to be treated as defective under regulation 39.4(ii) of the Supply Code 2024. In its final order dated January 28, the forum concluded that the bills issued from June 10 to October 15, 2025, were liable to be quashed along with all late payment surcharge and interest. It directed the PSPCL to overhaul the consumer’s account for the disputed period as per the prescribed regulatory provisions. Project gets nod after intervention of Sampla Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, March 3 An underpass has been approved at Bassi Ghulam Hussain village following intervention by former Union Minister of State Vijay Sampla, bringing major relief to residents, who had been protesting the closure of their main village road due to ongoing highway construction. The decision came after the issue was highlighted by Shiromani Akali Dal national vice-president Sanjeev Talwar. Village representatives said the 16.5-foot-wide road linking the village to the Kandi Canal service road was being blocked by the highway authority. As the road lies at a lower level, it also serves as the Former Union MoS Vijay Sampla talks to the officials regarding the underpass at Bassi Gulam Hussain village. primary outlet for rainwater drainage, and its closure had raised fears of severe waterlogging during the monsoon. Despite repeated representations to the government, the villagers had failed to secure a solution and were forced to stage a protest. Following Sampla’s intervention, officials agreed to construct an underpass at the site, addressing both connectivity and drainage concerns. ‘Rangnoor’ & ‘Rangotsav’ city Holi festivities promise fun and music , Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 3 With the festival of colours around the corner, Jalandhar is gearing up for vibrant Holi celebrations with a series of cultural events and themed gatherings planned across the city on Wednesday. Several event managers are preparing day-long festivities that combine traditional Holi elements with contemporary music and entertainment, offering residents different ways to celebrate the occasion. Many venues have lined up programmes featuring organic colours, live performances and themed celebrations. From classical and folk music to electronic beats, organisers say the aim is to create festive spaces where people can enjoy Holi in different ways while keeping the spirit of the festival alive. One such event, titled ‘Rangnoor’, is being organ- WATER GUNS IN HIGH DEMAND ■ Amid the preparations, markets across Jalandhar have also witnessed brisk sale of colourful accessories and water guns in the run-up to the festival. ■ Traders said modern designs of pichkaris, including battery-operated and backpack tank water guns, are flying off the shelves this year. ■ Shopkeepers added that alongside these, packets of organic gulal and herbal colours are witnessing steady demand as more people opt for skin-friendly options during the celebrations. ised at Wonderland Farms on the Nakodar road. According to organisers, the programme will feature live performances of classical instrumental music with artistes playing traditional instruments such as sitar, tabla and flute. Along with music, the event will also include kathak dance performances, showcasing the grace and storytelling style of the classical dance form. Adding an international touch, performers from Colombo have also been invited to participate. Organisers said the celebra- tions will also feature a viral kavadi act, adding a visually striking performance to the celebrations. Sharing details about the concept, Harman Virk, head of experiential design and events at Wonderland Farms said, “The idea behind Rangnoor was to present a different interpretation of Holi celebrations. Holi does not always have to be loud and chaotic. The thought was to create an immersive experience where colour, music, decor and food come together as one cohesive celebra- c m y b tion,” he said. Meanwhile, Dope Skybar Cafe, located near PPR Mall, is hosting a couples exclusive event titled “Rang Rave”, featuring music performances and themed Holi celebrations aimed at young visitors. Another venue, Forever Villa near Partapura is planning ‘Rangotsav’ as part of its Holi celebrations. The event will include live dhol performances to add a traditional touch along with a poolside celebration for visitors. Organisers are also setting up a Holi themed photo booth for guests to capture moments from the day. Organic colours will be used during the celebration, allowing people to enjoy the festival in a safe and festive environment. Students of KMV College celebrate Holi in Jalandhar on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH