23052026-JTR-01.qxd 5/22/2026 10:57 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune VIREN, JAPLEEN CLINCH DOUBLE CROWNS IN B’MINTON TOURNEY ARTIST TURNS FAITH, MEMORY INTO HYPER-REALISTIC PAINTINGS The self-taught artist has carved a distinct identity through works that blend realism with emotion and faith. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 43°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 44°C | MIN 29°C INDONESIAN-LANGUAGE ADAPTATION OF DRISHYAM Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament concluded at the Raizada Hansraj Badminton Stadium. P2 FORECAST The Indonesian-language adaptation of Mohanlal-starrer Drishyam is all set to hit theatres on August 20. P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 7.21 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5:26 AM » SATURDAY | 23 MAY 2026 | JALANDHAR Inquiry ordered into spate of incidents at Jalandhar ashram Dept flags deaths, alleged assault and recent self-harm attempt by minor Aparna Banerji ANOTHER MINOR GIRL SENT BACK Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 22 In the wake of a spate of troubling incidents involving inmates at the Gandhi Vanita Ashram in Jalandhar, the Punjab Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development has sought a detailed report on recent developments and questioned whether adequate care is being provided to the residents. In a letter to the District Programme Officer (DPO), Jalandhar, on May 19, the Deputy Director, Social Security, Women and Child Development Department, has sought a detailed inquiry and report regarding an ashram inmate, who recently drank toilet cleaner to “harm herself”. The communication also flags a series of serious incidents reported at the institution since November 2025, including two inmate deaths, an alleged assault on a girl, and the latest case of attempted self-harm. The post-mortem report of a 17-year-old girl, who was mysteriously found dead at the Children’s Home of ■ Another minor inmate of the A file photo of Gandhi Vanita Ashram in Jalandhar. WHAT HAPPENED ON MAY 14 ■ A minor girl had been admitted to the Gandhi Vanita Ashram, Jalandhar, on May 3 following orders of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Tarn Taran. ■ On May 14, the Superintendent of the Children’s Home informed the CWC that the girl had attempted self-harm by consuming a toilet cleaner and was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar. ■ The ashram authorities stated that if the inmate, after medical examination, were to attempt self-harm again upon return to the institution, the responsibility would not lie with the institution ■ A declaration, purportedly signed by the inmate and attached with the communication, stated that she consumed the substance due to distress over not being able to return home, as her parents were unwilling to take her back. The note further mentioned that she was acting of her own accord, expressed regret over her actions, and stated that she would be responsible for any future difficulties. Gandhi Vanita Ashram in Jalandhar on November 21, 2025, had revealed 21 injuries on her body, including lacerated wounds and bruises. The latest case pertains to a Children’s Home at Gandhi Vanita Ashram is currently undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar. ■ According to ashram officials, the girl, a resident of Gurdaspur, had been admitted to the institution in connection with an alleged rape case while she was pregnant. ■ She was shifted to the Civil Hospital four to five days ago for delivery and gave birth to a baby girl. ■ Officials said the newborn had to be intubated but died on May 20. The mother continues to remain under treatment. minor girl brought to the ashram from Tarn Taran on May 3, 2026, under orders of the Child Welfare Committee. On May 14, she was reported to have consumed a toilet cleaner and was subsequently admitted to the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar. The Deputy Director, in the letter, stated that in addition to the recent case of an inmate allegedly attempting self- harm by consuming a toilet cleaner, several serious incidents have been reported at the ashram in recent months. These include the deaths of inmates on November 21, 2025, and February 2, 2026, as well as an alleged case of an inmate being beaten. The letter notes that repeated reports of deaths, assaults and other incidents at the Children’s Home raise concerns about the standard of care being provided. It further states that, as per the Juvenile Justice Act, a safe environment must be ensured for children, indicating that this requirement may not have been adequately met. The letter further states, “Regarding the case of inmate drinking Harpic, you are being directed to submit a report making it clear how the incident happened, what was lacking in the girl’s care/counselling/individual care plan, who are the officials/employees responsible, what steps have been taken to prevent such incidents in future.” An inquiry report has also been sought in the girl’s case. AAP hands Phagwara’s charge to Chabbewal Replacement of Harnoor Harji Mann seen as move to placate leaders before Assembly elections in state Deepkamal Kaur/Ashok Kaura Tribune News Service Phagwara, May 22 Months ahead of the Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party has changed its halqa incharge in Phagwara, replacing young Harnoor Harji Mann with a more seasoned politician and its Hoshiarpur MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal. A radiologist by profession, Dr Chabbewal is now all geared up to contest the coming elections from the reserved seat and re-enter the state politics. He is currently one of the three Lok Sabha MPs of AAP in the state. About a month ago, when seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs defected to the BJP there was specula, tion that two of the party’s three Lok Sabha MPs might follow suit. The move of AAP is being seen as a strategy to appease at least one of them by keeping him engaged in the coming polls. Dr Chabbewal too maintained, “I have always been happier working in the state politics. I am glad that the party has trusted my capabilities and is giving me a chance to contest from Phagwara, which is already a segment of my Lok Sabha constituency Hoshiarpur.” He has twice been MLA from the Chabbewal Assembly segment in 2017 and 2022 on the Congress ticket. He was then also the party’s chief of the SC cell but later joined AAP ahead of 2024 LS polls and won the election. His son Dr Ishank Chabbewal, who too is a radiologist like his father, is the AAP MLA from the Chabbewal Assembly segment. While Dr Chabbewal represents the Ravidassia community, Harji Mann is a Majhbi Sikh. Though he remained active, he could not win the confidence of majority of the party workers. Harji’s father Joginder Singh Mann has been a former Congress minister. He had contested on AAP ticket in 2022 but had trailed by 2,700 votes from Congress MLA Balwinder Dhaliwal. But now Dr Chabbewal’s entry in Phagwara has put all his rivals from other parties on an alert mode. Chabbewal is credited by AAP in Phagwara for one big reason. In Municipal Corporation polls of Phagwara in December 2024, AAP had won only in 12 of 50 wards but Dr Chabbewal had managed to rope in 14 councillors from other parties so as to bring AAP in a position to elect its own Mayor, in which he had succeeded. Dr Chabbewal is expected to start his electioneering in Phagwara in a day or two. AAP workers distribute ration kits in poll-bound areas: Oppn Gold medallist teacher Pooja steps into politics Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 22 Just four days ahead of the Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections in Jalandhar, the government’s ‘Meri Rasoi Scheme’ has triggered a major political storm, with Opposition parties accusing the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of openly misusing a public welfare scheme for election campaigning. Opposition leaders alleged that in several poll-bound areas, AAP workers and local candidates are carrying out the door-to-door distribution of ration kits to woo voters, calling it a blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the civic polls. Under the scheme, the kits are meant to be distributed through ration depots after beneficiaries receive slips generated through e-POS machines. However, the opposition leaders claimed that while depot holders are allegedly being pressured to MLA Bram Shankar Jimpa distributes of ration kits to the beneficiaries in Hoshiarpur. issue the kits, the actual distribution is being carried out by AAP workers. The row has further intensified with allegations that personal details of beneficiaries are being collected under the guise of welfare outreach. The Opposition leaders claimed that specially circulated forms seeking Aadhaar details, voter card numbers and mobile phone numbers of ration card hold- ers are being filled to create a voter database during the election period. Congress leader Angad Saini from Nawanshahr alleged that the ruling party was resorting to such tactics because it had “failed to deliver on development front” in the past four years. “No major project has been initiated in Nawanshahr and the city has many civic issues. Now AAP workers are reaching door-to-door with these kits to influence voters,” he alleged. Saini further claimed that he had informed officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department about the matter on Thursday, but no action had been taken so far. Similar allegations were raised by Shiromani Akali Dal halka in-charge Mohinder Singh KP from Kartarpur, who claimed that AAP volunteers were distributing kits directly to beneficiaries in his constituency as well. Congress leader Dr Navjot Dahiya from Nakodar alleged that along with these ration kits distribution by AAP workers, voter profiling was also being carried out through forms linked to welfare schemes such as ‘Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana’ and ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Card Yojana’. “Reference numbers and phone numbers of voters are being collected in the name of welfare schemes,” he claimed. The controversy comes amid earlier criticism over the branding of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on ration packets distributed under the scheme. It has also reignited allegations that the government has been aggressively promoting its flagship welfare schemes through branding on distribution bags ahead of the civic polls, including the ‘Meri Rasoi Scheme’, ‘Mukh Mantri Tirth Yatra Yojana’, free electricity, government schools claiming to provide “global-level education” and the ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana’. Under the ‘Meri Rasoi Scheme’, beneficiaries are being provided 2 kg chana dal, 2 kg sugar, 1 kg salt, 200 gram turmeric and 1 litre mustard oil. Hoshiarpur karatekas bag 8 gold in state championship Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi Hoshiarpur, May 22 Karate players of Hoshiarpur district delivered an outstanding performance at the Punjab State Karate Championship organised by the Sports Karate Organisation of Punjab at Khanna by winning an impressive tally of eight gold, five silver and six bronze medals, bringing laurels to the district. Shihan Jagmohan Vij, general secretary of the District Karate Association, Hoshiarpur, and chief karate coach, said the team participated under the guidance of international player and assistant coach Aarti Kumari and displayed remarkable technical excellence and fighting spirit throughout the championship. Among the youngest achievers is promising karateka Aryaansh Chaitanya Juneja who won the first gold medal for Hoshiarpur district in the 6-year boys’ individual kata category. In the boys’ individual kata events, Dhairya Kalia and Arush Sharma clinched the gold in 11 and 13-year age category. In the girls’ individual Kata events, Nayra Verma won gold in 9-year and Parineet Kaur captured gold in the 12-year age category. Onish Gupta earned the first gold medal in kumite events for Hoshiarpur district. Continuing his impressive performance, Dhairya Kalia also won gold in above 45 kg kumite division. In the girls’ kumite category, Parineet dominated the 12-year above 55 kg division by winning all her bouts convincingly, securing another gold for the district. Adding further glory to the team’s achievement, Ryan Barhpagga won two silver medals in both kata and kumite events. Other silver medal winners included Prabhnoor Goswami, Krishnav Thakur, Rudrakshi Rani Sachdeva and Sahil Thakur, who showcased commendable performances in their categories. Parinoor secured two bronze medals, while Nayra Verma, Krishnav Thakur, Prabhnoor Karatekas, who won medals in state championship, along with coach Sensei Jagmohan Vij. Goswami and Onish Gupta also added bronze medals to Hoshiarpur’s tally. c m y b All these karatekas are receiving advanced training at Jagmohan’s Institute of Traditional Karate under the mentorship of coach and WKF Referee Jagmohan Vij. Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Nawanshahr, May 22 In a significant political debut, 48-year-old Pooja Sharda, a highly qualified teacher and former school principal, has entered the political arena as a Congress candidate from Ward Number 12, Nawanshahr. Known for her academic excellence and years of contribution to the education sector, Sharda says her decision to join politics stems from her deep concern over the condition of the city and her desire to work for the people. A respected name in the field of education, Pooja recently resigned from her position as a school principal, a role she held until two months ago. She is currently serving as a District Training Coordinator with the CBSE and has an impressive academic background, holding triple Master’s degrees in history, English and geography, along with a B.Ed degree. Pooja has also taught in several prominent schools in Chandigarh and was honoured with a gold medal by the HRD Ministry in 2014 for her contribution to education. Though entering politics for the first time, public service has long been a part of her journey. Even before officially joining politics, she actively initiated cleanliness drives in the city and participated in community welfare activities. Speaking about her decision to contest elections, she said, “Look at the condition of our city. Someone needs to step forward and work sincerely for people.” Political involvement is not entirely new to her family. Her husband has been an active member of the Congress for Contesting Nawanshahr MC poll from Ward No. 12 many years, which also exposed her closely to public life and grassroots issues. A mother of two, Pooja shared a personal side of her political journey as well. While her son has been enthusiastic and supportive of her new role, her daughter expressed concern about getting even less time with her mother if she wins the election. “My daughter says she already gets very little time with me, and now if I win, I will dedicate even more time to the people,” Sharda said with a smile. Over the past few weeks, she has been actively meeting residents across Ward 12, listening to their concerns and sharing her vision for development. According to locals, her educational background, approachable personality, and social work have helped her receive a warm welcome from the people of the ward.