04042026-JTR-01.qxd 4/4/2026 12:04 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune POLICE CRACK DOWN ON PGS, HOTELS; VIOLATORS BOOKED SAVOUR BIHAR’S LITTI CHOKHA, CURRIES AT HYATT CENTRIC Hyatt Centric, Chandigarh, is offering litti chokha and village curries at a special Magadhi pop-up. P4 The operation aimed to ensure compliance with govt regulations in areas heavily inhabited by students. P2 » ‘NAMAK SHAMAK’ FAME SOKHI BRINGS KARIGARITO CHANDIGARH In the landscape of Indian dining, Harpal Singh Sokhi seamlessly manages to blend storytelling, nostalgia & innovation. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 26°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 19°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.50 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6.14 AM SATURDAY | 4 APRIL 2026 | JALANDHAR Kerosene aid for poor under PDS Armed men target PRTC bus in Sultanpur Lodhi, rob conductor yet to start; migrants bear brunt Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 3 Nearly three weeks after the Central Government allocated 1,176 kilolitres of superior kerosene oil to Punjab for distribution to needy families via the public distribution system (PDS), the relief remains mired in paperwork with no ground-level rollout, leaving the poorest—especially migrants—to cope alone amid a deepening cooking fuel crisis. The allocation, cleared by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on March 12, aims to provide low-income households with an alternative fuel for cooking and lighting needs. Yet despite the urgency, distribution has not started, as state authorities have issued no clear guidelines or instructions. Officials familiar with the matter say there is still no clarity on distribution methods, eligible beneficiaries or delivery systems. For migrant workers already battling rising fuel costs, the delay means daily hardship. Ashok Kumar, a labourer at a sports goods factory in Jalandhar’s Focal NO CLARITY ON DISTRIBUTION METHODS: OFFICIALS The allocation of 1,176 kilolitres of superior kerosene oil to Punjab for distribution to needy families via the public distribution system (PDS) was cleared by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on March 12. It aims to provide low-income households with an Point, said: “We’ve reverted to cooking on firewood because LPG cylinders are now too expensive. The kerosene news brought hope that relief was coming, but nothing has arrived. Every day is a struggle to find fuel and prepare meals.” alternative fuel for cooking and lighting needs. Yet despite the urgency, distribution has not started, as state authorities have issued no clear guidelines or instructions. Officials claimed there is still no clarity on distribution methods and eligible beneficiaries. Sunita Devi, a migrant domestic worker in rented accommodation in Preet Nagar, Jalandhar, echoed the distress: “We can’t afford gas regularly, so we skip meals or cook with wood scraps. The announcement raised our hopes, but it’s just words. We don’t know when we’ll get it.” Under the Centre’s directive, Punjab can choose distribution via fair price shops (ration depots) or oil marketing company outlets. The advisory urges prioritising rural households still reliant on kerosene for cooking and lighting. Meanwhile, the Centre stipulated that the stock must be lifted within 45 days, with no option to carry forward unused quantities. State authorities must coordinate with oil companies for timely PDS delivery. Yet Punjab’s ground reality shows no distribution roadmap in place. A senior Jalandhar district food and civil supplies official noted: “Punjab is largely kerosene-free. It’s been 11–12 years since PDS kerosene distribution here. Jalandhar has four distributors in Adampur, Bhogpur, Noormahal, and Nakodar with underground tank capacity, but we’ve received no supply instructions.” District Food Supplies Controller Narinder Singh confirmed: “Though the Centre made an ad hoc March allocation, we await state instructions on distribution.” A senior unnamed state food and civil supplies official added: “The Centre allocated kerosene but provided no clear modalities. Without guidelines on pricing or channels, the state cannot act unilaterally.” Passengers in the bus waylaid by robbers on the Jalandhar-Sultanpur Lodhi route in Sultanpur Lodhi. Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 3 In a rare broad daylight robbery at Sultanpur Lodhi, a moving PRTC bus was waylaid by armed assailants and looted on Friday afternoon. Threatening bus staff and passengers with sharp-edged weapons, the men forced their way into the bus, demanded money, and robbed the conductor. Though none of the passengers reported loss of money. The incident has shocked the area, being a rare case of robbers targeting a government passenger bus. Kapurthala police have registered a case against three people. The incident occurred at about 12.30 pm on Friday. The PRTC bus runs daily from Jalandhar to Sultanpur Lodhi via the Sidhwan Dona–Mothanwala route, raising concerns over the safety of regular passengers. The robbery took place near Kularan, where three to four men arrived in a white Honda City car near the Mothanwala police post. Bus driver Pavitar Singh (bus no. PB 08 D – G 5859) said: “Near Kuralan, men in Honda City signalled us to stop, but we did not as it was not a designated halt. They blocked our path with their car, forced open the doors, and two of them entered brandishing knives and sickles. They banged their weapons on the bus floor and bonnet, snatched the conductor’s money bag, took cash, and fled. We travel daily on this route, even at night. This poses a huge risk not only to us but also to passengers.” Conductor Malkit Singh said they were on their daily rounds when the men blocked the bus. “Two of them entered with a sickle and knife and demanded money. I gave them Rs 200, but they snatched my bag containing about Rs 900–1,200.” He added that during the incident, one of the accused revealed his identity and threatened that if passengers or staff spoke out, they would face consequences. The Kapurthala police have registered an FIR against three assailants under Sections 309(3) and 351(2) of the BNS. DSP Hargurdev Singh said: “An FIR has been registered against three robbers, who are being traced. Raids are underway at their establishments.” BSP slams govt over damage to Ambedkar’s statue Lightning strike kills teen cricketer, injures 2 Our Correspondent Garhshankar, April 3 The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), under the leadership of its state president and former MP Avtar Singh Karimpuri, staged an protest outside the office of the Garhshankar DSP, demanding the arrest of those responsible for the desecration of a statue of B R Ambedkar in village Nurpur Jattan. Addressing party workers and supporters, Karimpuri alleged that the government and police have failed to act even 72 hours after the incident. He said Holds protest outside Garshshankar DSP office, demands arrest of miscreants the BSP had given an ultimatum to arrest the culprits within that timeframe, but no concrete action has been taken so far. He further stated that the protest would continue indefinitely until the accused are arrested. Karimpuri pointed out that a similar incident had taken place last year in the same village, where arrests were made but complete justice was not delivered. He also claimed that such incidents have occurred at several places across Punjab, raising concerns about the safety of statues of Dr Ambedkar. He criticised the government for not deploying adequate security and held local authorities accountable. He added that the issue was deeply connected to the sentiments of millions of people and urged the Chief Minister and Director General of Police to personally intervene and ensure swift action. He also announced that a massive rally would be held in Garhshankar on April 18 if the accused were not arrested. Meanwhile, DSP Daljit Singh Khakh, who reached the protest site, informed the gathering that in last year’s case, two out of three accused had been arrested and a chargesheet had been filed, while one remains abroad. Regarding the recent incident, he said that a special investigation team has been formed under the supervision of SP(D) Major Singh and six to seven teams are actively working to trace and arrest the culprits. He assured that the accused would be apprehended soon. Our Correspondent Garhshankar, April 3 A tragic incident unfolded on the sports ground in Bakapur Guru village, where lightning struck a group of youths playing cricket. One young man died and two others suffered serious injuries. The injured are receiving treatment at a private hospital in Nawanshahr. Eleven youths were playing cricket on the village ground when lightning struck suddenly at around 12:30 pm. Tarnveer Singh (16), son of Omkar Nath; Jassi (17), son of Lakshman Das; and Ansh Loi (15), son of Mukhtiyar Bereaved family members of Tarnveer Singh (inset). Singh—all residents of Rasoolpur village—suffered severe burns. Meharwan Singh and others rushed them to a private hospital in Nawanshahr. Doctors declared Tarnveer Singh dead on arrival, but Jassi and Ansh Loi are now out of danger after treatment. The deceased’s body has been moved to the mortuary at Garhshankar Civil Hospital for a post-mortem tomor- row morning. Notably, a school holiday had drawn all the youths to play cricket. The deceased’s younger brother, Harmanveer Singh, was also playing at the time. Fortunately, the other nine escaped the strike unharmed. The deceased’s father, Omkar Nath, drives a private bus, while his mother, Naresh Kumari, serves as a village panch. News of the tragedy plunged the area into grief. Meharwan Singh said villagers flocked to Tarnveer’s home upon hearing the news. The entire village mourns, as no one foresaw such a devastating event. Body exhumed from house in Cops crack Nurmahal Gandhra village, man arrested murder case; 2 arrested Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 3 The Jalandhar rural police have arrested a man for murdering an associate five months ago and concealing the body beneath his own house. The victim’s remains were unearthed during an excavation at the accused’s residence in Gandhra village on Thursday, under police and panchayat supervision. The accused has been identified as Gurdev Singh, a native of Pachharhia village, Police Station Mehatpur, Jalandhar, currently residing in Gandhra village, Police Station Sadar Nakodar. The operation was overseen by SSP Rural Jalandhar, Harvinder Singh Virk. A special team led by Vineet Ahilawat, Superintendent of Police (Investigation), and Onkar Singh Brar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sub-Division Nakodar, along with SubInspector Dilbag Singh, SHO Police Station Sadar Nakodar, The body being exhumed at the Gandhra village. TRIBUNE PHOTO solved the five-month-old murder case using modern investigative methods to trace and arrest Gurdev Singh. Brar stated that on April 1, 2026, Amanpreet Singh, son of Balwinder Singh, resident of Patti Akalpur Malsian, lodged a complaint that his continued on page 2 Jalandhar, April 3 The rural police have solved a blind murder case in the Nurmahal area as part of their ongoing campaign against serious crime. The deceased has been identified as Iqbal Singh, alias Bablu, resident of Patti Purewal, Shankar, Police Station Sadar Nakodar, Jalandhar, aged about 44 (associated with Babloo Cloth House, Chhota Bazar Nakodar). The arrested accused – Satnam Singh, resident of Malowal, Police Station Mehatpur, Jalandhar, and Bablu alias Lalla, son of Raju, resident of Pandori Motua, Police Station Sadar Nakodar, Jalandhar – killed the victim following personal disputes and arguments that arose during work. The police stated that on March 1, Dalip Singh, resident of Patti Purewal, Shankar (Police Station Sadar Nakodar), alleged that his son, Iqbal Singh, alias c m y b Bablu, was travelling from Nakodar to Rampur village on a scooter on February 28. On the way, near a dirt track by the newly built highway near Nurmahal, unknown assailants attacked him with sharp weapons and killed him. In this regard, an FIR under Section 103 of the BNS was registered and investigation commenced. During inquiries, it was revealed that the deceased had been living at the house of Amarjit Singh Kang for about 17–18 years and used to look after the property. The accused Satnam Singh, a mason, and Bablu alias Lalla, a labourer, also worked there. Frequent quarrels had led to hostility. On February 28, 2026, at around 8:30 pm, the accused Satnam Singh and Bablu, alias Lalla, allegedly intercepted Iqbal Singh on the road, threw chilli powder into his eyes, and attacked him with a sickle, causing his death. The duo fled the scene with the deceased’s mobile phone and documents. Members of the Christian community take part in a Good Friday procession in Jalandhar. SARABJIT SINGH Prayers offered for world peace during Good Friday procession Jalandhar, April 3 A Good Friday procession was taken out in the city on Friday afternoon from the Sacred Heart Church, Civil Lines, with prayers sung all the way and priests giving a call for world peace. About 700 devotees led by Bishop Jose Sebastian Thekkumcherikunnel of the Diocese of Jalandhar took a round of the city. Starting from the church, the march passed through Kamal Palace Chowk, Shastri Market Chowk, main Post Office and Namdev Chowk, reaching back at the church. The devotees, who included a large number of women and children, came dressed in white attire and remained barefoot. Many of them fasted today to commemorate the suffering of Jesus Christ. They carried the Holy Cross and the posters of crucifixion of Lord Jesus. The youth came dressed up like Roman soldiers. The role of Lord Jesus was played by a devotee John. The church teams enacted the 14 stations of the Cross with the most emotional part being the meeting of Mother Mary and Lord Jesus. — TNS