11062026-JTR-01.qxd 6/10/2026 10:49 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune GOVT TEACHERS’ UNION SEEKS STATE-SPECIFIC EDU POLICY AS MIGRATION GROWS, STATE GOVT EXTENDS HEALTH BENEFITS Flags several concerns during a meeting with the Punjab Education Secretary, Sonali Giri. P2 Senior citizens, widows, widowers and individuals living independently can now avail the benefit of state scheme.P3 » » AS GULLAK ENTERS SEASON 5, JAMEEL REFLECTS ON ITS MAGIC Jameel Khan elucidates, “This is my story, your story, that of the middle class; it’s relatable for it picks up relevant issues.” P4 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 40°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 43°C | MIN 29°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.31 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:22 AM THURSDAY | 11 JUNE 2026 | JALANDHAR 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. City geared up for Lord Shiva event, AAP leaders to attend Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service INBRIEF NRI BOOKED FOR EXTORTION Phagwara: The Shahkot police have booked an NRI on charges of extortion and criminal intimidation. The accused, Gurpreet Singh Marok of Partabpura village in Phillaur subdivision, is currently residing in the US. Complainant Manjinder Singh of Malkiat village alleged that the accused had threatened to kill him and engaged contract killers. OC VILLAGER HELD UNDER ARMS ACT Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested a villager on charges of outraging a woman’s modesty and under the Arms Act. Investigating Officer Tirath Ram identified the accused as Sahibjot Singh, alias Timmu, of Mannakpur village. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly forced the victim into a relationship and threatened her at gunpoint. OC TWO HELD WITH INTOXICANTS Phagwara: The Bilga police have arrested two alleged drug peddlers and recovered 85 intoxicating tablets from their possession. The accused Harwinder Singh, alias Abhu, of Bhikhiwind (Tarn Taran) and Kala of Khem Karan, are residing in Hambran village, Ludhiana. A case has been registered under the NDPS Act. OC SIX NABBED FOR ASSAULT, TRESPASS Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have arrested six persons, including three women, on charges of assault and house trespass. The accused are Bhajan Kaur, her son Shindar Singh, Gurdeep Singh, his wife Shindar Kaur (all of Ismailpur), and Mandeep Kaur of Chak Pipli. Complainant Prem Singh alleged that the accused and their accomplices barged into his house, assaulted him, his wife and mother. oc VILLAGER DIES MYSTERIOUSLY Phagwara: A villager has died under mysterious circumstances. The deceased has been identified as Jaswant Singh of Rayeewal Bet. The police said the deceased had sustained injuries in a fire incident. The body was handed over to the family after post-mortem. oc TWO HELD FOR USING HEROIN Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have arrested two persons for allegedly consuming heroin. SHO Sukhjinder Singh identified the accused as Pawan Kumar of Padda Colony and Makku Nath of Ward No. 1, Lohian Khas. A lighter, silver foil and a plastic pipe used for drug consumption were recovered from their possession. oc Jalandhar, June 10 Three days ahead of a religious event dedicated to Lord Shiva, the entire city is decked up with hoardings and banners with pictures of all bigwigs of the Aam Aadmi Party along with Adviser to the Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department Deepak Bali. The event, titled “Ek Shaam Bhagwan Shiv Ke Naam”, will be held on June 13 at the Sain Dass School ground. Renowned devotional singer Hansraj Raghuwanshi is scheduled to perform, with a gathering of over 5,000 devotees expected. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, party incharge Manish Sisodia, besides MLAs and ministers, are likely to attend. Addressing a press conference with Minister Mohinder Bhagat, Bali said the event was being organised with support from the government, but was primarily driv- A hoarding for a religious programme put up in Jalandhar on Wednesday. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH en by local temple committees and residents. “The initiative aims to promote communal harmony, peace and spiritual well-being,” he said. The briefing was also attended by Sanatan Sewa Samiti president Vijay Sharma. The event has drawn attention in political circles in Jalandhar Central ahead of the Assembly elections. While the party continues to sideline AAP MLA Raman Arora, the pictures of Jalandhar Central halqa in-charge Nitin Kohli are also missing from the hoardings. The Arora camp views the event as an attempt to overshadow a recent bhajan programme by Kanhiya Mittal, organised by a temple committee he is associated with. The event had drawn large crowds despite an alleged last-minute attempt by the Punjab Police to cancel it. The same evening, AAP leaders, including Bali and Kohli, had to clarify that there had been some confusion which had been sorted Major haul of illicit liquor in Kapurthala village 7,500 litre of lahan seized Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 10 During a special drive against illicit liquor in Jalandhar and Kapurthala, 7,500 litre of lahan (country-made liquor) was seized by the Excise Department and the police. The seizure was made during an operation in Sherpur Dogra village in Kapurthala. Officials reached the village by crossing the river in the ‘Mand’ area using boats. The day-long operation began at 5 am on Wednesday. Excise and Taxation Offi- cer (ETO), Kapurthala, Sukhjit Chahal said the crackdown was part of a special campaign conducted under the directions of Deputy Commissioner (Taxation), Jalandhar, Surinder Kumar Garg, and Assistant Commissioner (Taxation), Kapurthala range, Navjit Singh. DTF flags acute shortage of principals in govt schools Jalandhar has vacancy rate of over 67 pc, far higher than state average of 57.75 pc Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 10 The Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) has flagged a severe shortage of principals in government senior secondary schools across Punjab. According to data compiled by the union, SBS Nagar has emerged as the worst-affected district in the state with the highest vacancy rate of 86.5 per cent. Jalandhar has also reported a major shortfall, with 67.3 per cent principal posts lying vacant, much higher than the state average of 57.5 per cent. According to data compiled by the union, 1,113 of the 1,927 sanctioned principal posts in government senior secondary schools across Punjab are lying vacant. The union said the shortage has left many schools functioning without regular principals and forced the Education Department to rely on additional charge arrangements. The problem is particularly severe in several districts. SBS Nagar has only 7 principals against 52 sanctioned posts, Mansa 10 principals against 73 sanctioned posts, Taran Tarn has 16 principals against 77 posts and Barnala has 10 principals against 47 sanctioned positions. Digvijay Pal Sharma, DTF SBS NAGAR WORST-AFFECTED ■ SBS Nagar has only 7 principals against 52 posts ■ Mansa 10 principals against 73 sanctioned posts ■ Taran Tarn has 16 principals against 77 posts ■ Barnala has 10 principals against 47 positions In Goraya Block-I, only seven principals are posted against 14 sanctioned posts while Goraya Block-II has just three principals against 14 posts Punjab president, said the vacancies expose a gap between the government’s claims of educational transformation and the situation on the ground. “Since coming to power in 2022, the Aam Aadmi Party government has made tall promises regarding education and health. However, despite repeated claims of a ‘Sikhya Kranti’, a large number of principal posts continue to remain vacant,” he said. Sukhwinderpreet, a DTF representative in Jalandhar, said instead of filling posts, the department has been assigning additional charge of multiple schools to the available principals. “In many cases, one princi- pal is handling three to five schools. In two Shahkot blocks, only one principal is posted against eight to 10 sanctioned positions. Similarly, despite having five government senior secondary schools, Lohian Khas block does not have a single regular principal,” he said. DTF district secretary Avtar Lal said, “Amid the absence of regular principals, senior teachers are often asked to head schools while continuing their teaching responsibilities. In Nurmahal block, there is no regular principal in any government senior secondary school. In Goraya Block-I, only seven principals are posted against 14 sanctioned posts, while Goraya Block-II has just three principals against 14 posts,” he said. He further stated that this creates administrative difficulties in managing school funds, approving bills, processing salaries and arrears, besides affecting academic supervision and overall school administration. The DTF has demanded that the state government fill vacant principal posts at the earliest through recruitment and promotions to ensure effective academic and administrative functioning of government schools. c m y b During the inspections, 7,500 litres of illicit lahan stored in drums was recovered. The raiding team destroyed the liquor on the spot. Excise and Taxation Inspector Jatinder Pal Singh of Sultanpur Lodhi circle, along with the excise police staff, carried out intensive checks in the village. out and that the bhajan sandhya would be held as per the plan. Political observers are also drawing links between the event and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s recent social media post, alleging that “Hindu traders” were being targeted by the “ED party.” “Just as the BJP is set to show more presence in the state, AAP wants to polarise the Hindu votebank towards its side”, said a political observer. AAP has been attempting to woo the votebank from other communities too. In Doaba, it cannot ignore the huge Guru Ravidas community. Last week, it organised a kirtan darbar to mark the upcoming 650th Parkash Purb of Guru Ravidas in Phagwara. Two days ago, a similar event was held in Kapurthala. AAP is also holding its religious pilgrimages for devotees from across the state. With the Assembly polls approaching, political and religious outreach activities appear to be moving in tandem. Harassed passengers wait for buses at Jalandhar. SARABJIT SINGH Buses go off roads, travellershassled Tribune News Services Jalandhar, June 10 Passengers in Jalandhar faced severe inconvenience on Wednesday after contractual employees of the Punjab Roadways and Punbus joined a statewide strike, leading to widespread disruption of bus services from local depots here. At the Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Interstate Bus Terminal, commuters were seen waiting for long hours as these buses remained off roads. The disruption hit daily commuters, students, women travelling under the state’s free travel scheme and daily wagers the hardest, with many left stranded or forced to look for costly alternatives. Ranjit Singh, union secretary at Punjab Roadways Depot-1, Jalandhar, said, “More than 160 Punjab Roadways and Punbus buses remained off the roads in Jalandhar. Bus services on local routes remained suspended, while buses operating on longer routes were asked to return to depots.” Harpreet Kaur, a resident of Nakodar, said, “I have been waiting since long. Normally buses are frequent, but today there is no clarity.” The strike been called off Wednesday evening following the talks with Transport Secretary Varun Roojam. Disabled persons hold protest at hospital Phagwara, June 10 Disabled persons staged a protest at the Civil Hospital, Phagwara, and raised slogans against the hospital administration, alleging poor arrangements during a scheduled camp meant for their welfare and certification work. According to protesters Palwinder Kumar and Mohan Lal, they had submitted a memorandum to the SDM earlier, requesting correction of errors in their disability certificates. Following this, they were given a time slot from 10 am to 1 pm for the camp work. However, they alleged that proper arrangements were not made at the hospital, causing inconvenience to them. They said they were forced to wait for long hours despite their physical disabilities, which led to anger and protest at the site. On the other hand, Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr Simarjit Kaur stated that the camp was delayed due to an urgent surgical operation. She added that despite the delay, all cases related to the camp were eventually resolved. — OC Lyallpur Khalsa College Technical Campus G.T ROAD, JALANDHAR ADMISSIONS 2026-27