11092026-JTR-01.qxd 9/10/2026 11:19 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune VAJRA CORPS PAYS TRIBUTE TO HEROES OF ASAL UTTAR EIGHT FROM CITY SELECTED FOR YOGASANA CHAMPIONSHIP NETAS, CRICKETERS TURN BACK THE CLOCK TO 80S Vajra Corps commemorated Battle of Asal Uttar by paying tributes to soldiers who defeated Pakistani armoured offensive. P2 A total of eight students from Jalandhar have been selected for the upcoming national championship.P3 Ministers, cricketers & movie stars had the same idea -rewind clock & let Internet decide who did it best. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.38 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:09 AM » FRIDAY | 11 SEPTEMBER 2026 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF MAN BOOKED FOR ~15L LAND DISPUTE Phagwara: The police have registered a case on the complaint of Gurpreet Singh, a resident of City Enclave, Kapurthala, against Mandeep Kaur of village Aujla and another person. The complainant alleged that the accused received ~15.25 lakh in connection with a land agreement and later attempted to interfere with his possession of the property. OC Complete bandh in city over Ludhiana statue desecration Protests staged, arrest of guilty sought Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service THEFT AT AAM AADMI CLINIC Phagwara: The police have registered a case after a theft was reported at an Aam Aadmi Clinic in Baba Gadhiya, Phagwara. According to the complaint, staff found the clinic’s lock broken when they arrived on September 7 after a holiday on September 6. An inverter with two batteries, a modem and a CCTV camera were allegedly stolen from the premises. OC MAN HELD WITH 21.40G HEROIN Phagwara: The Sultanpur Lodhi police have arrested Ravinder Kumar during patrolling and allegedly recovered 21.40 gram heroin and 17 intoxicating tablets from his possession. According to the police, the suspect was intercepted near a cremation ground while a police party was patrolling the area. A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act. The accused has been arrested. OC MAN CHEATED OF ~4.90 LAKH Phagwara: The police have registered a case after Boota Ram, resident of village Rudka Kalan, alleged that unidentified persons cheated him of ~4.90 lakh through an online transaction. The case was registered on the basis of a complaint and zero FIR. oc ~5.49 LAKH ONLINE FRAUD REPORTED Phagwara: The Shahkot police have registered a case after Gurbachan Singh of village Miawal Araian alleged that unidentified persons cheated him of ~5.49 lakh through an online transaction. The police said investigation has been started to establish the circumstances of the alleged fraud and identify the accused. oc THEFT AT ELDERLY MAN’S HOUSE Phagwara: The Nurmahal police have registered a burglary case after Avtar Singh, 67, a resident of village Kandola Kalan, reported that unidentified thieves allegedly entered his house during the intervening night of August 7 and 8. They broke through a wall and allegedly stole gold and silver jewellery, including rings, earrings, bangles, chains and other ornaments, besides approximately ~12,000 cash. oc Jalandhar, September 10 A complete bandh was observed here on a call of Dalit, religious and social organisations against the alleged desecration of a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar in Ludhiana. Key commercial outlets and markets remained closed in solidarity with the bandh call. In many areas, streets wore a deserted look as establishments remained closed. The Bhagwan Valmiki Shakti Kranti Sena and Bhim Kranti Sena, among other organisations, had announced to hold a bandh in Jalandhar today from 9 am to 5 pm. Activists of the BSP and Congress also held protests and dharnas in the district against the desecration. BSP state president Avatar Singh Karimpuri said, “Ever since the first Ambedkar statue desecration, we have repeatedly been raising the issue in the state but these incident are repeatedly happening raising a question on the law and order situation. Phagwara: The Goraya police have arrested Jagtar Singh, alias Jagga, in an Arms Act case and allegedly recovered a country-made pistol, two magazines and four 7.62-mm rounds from his possession. According to police, the accused was apprehended during investigation following information received from a confidential source. oc Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, September 10 Shops and commercial establishments remained closed in Hoshiarpur city and several towns of the district on Thursday in response to a shutdown call given by Dalit organisations in protest against the alleged desecration of a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar in Ludhiana. While commercial activity remained largely suspended in Hoshiarpur, vehicular movement in the city continued normally. Members of various Dalit organisations took out a protest march through the city and raised slogans against the state government, demanding immediate arrest of those responsible. Leaders said the community would not tolerate any disrespect to the architect of the Constitution. They alleged that trodden. We demand immediate arrest of the culprits and installation of CCTV cameras around all such statues.” Congress councillor Sherry Chadha said, “We also held a protest yesterday holding a march to Ambedkar Chowk and today also we were here to demand action against those who desecrated the statue in Ludhiana. The incidents raises serious concerns on the culprits who repeatedly get away with such acts.” During the bandh, the City Valmiki Sabha, Jalandhar, also submitted a memorandum to Class XII student run over by roadways bus Man killed, another hurt in road accident Jeweller, kin booked for sexually exploiting, blackmailing woman Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, September 10 A man was killed and another injured in a road accident on the Hoshiarpur-Tanda road near Bure Rajputan. Hoshiarpur, September 10 The Mukerian police have booked a jeweller and two members of his family for allegedly blackmailing a woman, sexually exploiting and extorting around Rs 40 lakh from her. The main accused Gaurav Verma has been arrested. According to the complaint, the woman’s family had been getting jewellery made from Laxmi Jewellers for a long time, due to which she was acquainted with the accused’s family. The complainant alleged that in 2024, when she visited a shop, Gaurav was present there. She alleged that he offered her a glass of drinking water, after consuming which she became unconscious. When she regained consciousness, she allegedly found herself without clothes. Jalandhar, September 10 A youth Rajat (17) from Chuharwali village was run over by a Punjab Roadways bus on the JalandharHoshiarpur main road near Mohalla Gazipur. The situation became tense when the deceased youth’s family members and local leaders blocked the main road. Father of the deceased youth Surjan Lal said his son was studying in Class XII and had an exam today. So he had come from his village on a motorcycle. His uncle Sohan Lal said he reached near School of Eminence Adampur before 8 am when a bus was dropping off passengers ahead. Rajat had stopped his motorcycle and parked it on the side, when bus coming from the Jalandhar side hit him from behind, causing him to fall onto the road. The bus ran over him, due to similar incidents had occurred at different places in Punjab in the past but those responsible had not been brought to book. The shutdown also evoked a response in Hariana town, where members of the Dalit and Valmiki communities kept the market closed. Protesters held a demonstration at the chowk near the Civil Hospital and raised slogans against the government. A road blockade during the protest affected traffic on the Hoshiarpur-Dasuya main road. In Chabbewal, markets on Bassi Road, Bham Road, Mahilpur Road and Hoshiarpur Road remained closed. Members of various organisations staged a protest at the main chowk and briefly disrupted traffic. They submitted a memorandum to DSP Bharat Bhushan and the SHO, Chabbewal, demanding the early arrest of the accused. The market in Model Town wears a deserted look during a bandh in Jalandhar on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO :MALKIAT SINGH The government has been unable to rein in such unscrupulous elements. The state government has failed to act against miscreants. These incidents are a reflection of hatred against Ambedkar who remains a symbol of emancipation of the down- Family, leaders block Hoshiarpur road for 4 hours which he died on the spot. The driver fled from the spot. Around 9 am, family members, locals and AAP constituency in-charge Pawan Kumar Tinu, constituency MLA Sukhwinder Singh Kotli, Akali leader Dharampal Lesriwal reached the spot and blocked the Adampur main road and raised slogans against the Adampur police. The blockade continued for four hours. DSP Rajiv Kumar and Adampur SHO Pankaj Kumar reached the spot and said the bus driver had been arrested and a case had been registered against him. The police took the body into custody, got the post-mortem conducted and handed it over to the family members. According to the police, the victims, identified as Jatinder Singh and Pukhraj, were returning from Tanda on a scooter. A vehicle allegedly hit their scooter near Bure Rajputan. Jatinder Singh died in the accident, while Pukhraj sustained injuries. On the complaint of Munish Kumar, brother of the deceased, the Bulhowal police registered a case against Gurcharan Singh, a resident of Pandori Sumla.— OC the Deputy Commissioner and the Police Commissioner of Jalandhar. The sabha demanded that proper and adequate security arrangements be made at all places in the city where statues of Dr Ambedkar and other great personalities are installed. Protesters during a procession in Hoshiarpur. 3 booked for duping woman of ~18.10 lakh She alleged that the accused had made an objectionable video of her and subsequently used it to blackmail her. According to the complaint, he allegedly threatened and sexually exploited her repeatedly. He also allegedly extorted around Rs 40 lakh from her. The woman further alleged that when she informed Gaurav’s brother Nannu Verma and father Pamma about the matter, they too allegedly threatened her. The police have registered a case against Gaurav Verma, Nannu Verma and Pamma under Sections 376, 406, 384, 506 and 120-B of the IPC. The police said the matter was being investigated. Hoshiarpur, September 10 The Mukerian police have booked three persons, including a couple, for allegedly duping a woman of Rs 18.10 lakh on the pretext of sending her abroad. Manjinder Kaur Ghuman, a resident of Bhagla, complained that Rakesh Rikhi of Mohali, along with his wife Prabha and son Kashish, allegedly took Rs 18.10 lakh from her on the promise of facilitating her travel abroad. The complainant alleged that despite taking the money, the accused neither fulfilled their promise, nor returned the amount. The police said a case was registered against the three accused after verification of the complaint. — OC LPU B.Tech student dies by suicide Phagwara, September 10 A 21-year-old student of Lovely Professional University (LPU) allegedly died by suicide after jumping from the seventh floor of the girls’ hostel on the university campus on Thursday morning. The deceased has been identified as Laxmi Chandra, a native of Telangana and student of B.Tech Agriculture at LPU. The incident took place around 11 am. Following the incident, the student was reportedly taken for medical examination, but she was declared dead. Her body was subsequently sent to the Civil Hospital, Phagwara, for the post-mortem examination and other legal formalities. The circumstances that led the student to take the extreme step remain unclear. The police have initiated an investigation to ascertain the sequence of events and the possible reasons behind the incident. — OC Chunni Lal Bhagat’s journey from Partition survivor to three-time MLA Dies after a prolonged illness Tribune News Service COUNTRY-MADE PISTOL RECOVERED Hoshiarpur-Dasuya highway blocked Jalandhar, September 10 Bhagat Chunni Lal, former state minister, BJP veteran, a man largely known for his clean, non-controversial image, died on Thursday after a prolonged illness. His son Mohinder Bhagat is a state Cabinet Minister of the Aam Aadmi Party. The death of 94-year-old Chunni Lal marks the end of an era of politics. Upon his passing, condolences poured in from across party lines and the AAP government declared a half-day holiday. Chunni Lal served as the Local Bodies Minister in the Parkash Singh Badal-led Akali-BJP government and held various other portfolios. The Bhagat family served the BJP in the Jalandhar West constituency for over three decades, before Chunni Lal’s son Mohinder Bhagat embraced AAP in 2023. Bhagat Senior was part of a BJP trio, who collectively held sway over the electorates of Jalandhar’s three urban seats - West, North and Central - for a considerable time. Displaced from Pakistan (Sialkot, where he was born) during the Partition, he set- tled along with his family in Jalandhar and rose to be a successful sports businessman. Chunni Lal started his political career by contesting as an independent in 1985, an election which he lost. Subsequently, he joined the BJP and Jalandhar South (as Jalandhar West was then called) was won by Chunni Lal in 1997, 2007 and he won Jalandhar West in 2012 (after delimitation). In 2023, his son Mohinder Bhagat embraced AAP and emerged victorious in the byelection in 2024 and was inducted in the state Cabinet the same year. Chunni Lal remained a loyal BJP worker despite his son’s c m y b dramatic entry into the Aam Aadmi Party in 2023. He had tearfully shared his misgivings with party colleagues when Mohinder made his sudden exit from the BJP Howev. er, he broke tradition to seek votes in the name of Mohinder Bhagat in the 2024 elections. Chunni Lal Bhagat was respected for his non-con- frontational, amalgamative style of politics and for his characteristic restraint in the face of opposition. Upon Chunni Lal Bhagat’s death, CM Bhagwant Mann shared on X, “Received the sad news of the passing of former Minister and senior leader from Jalandhar, Chunni Lal Bhagat Ji. He was the respected father of my colleague in the Punjab Cabinet, Mohinder Bhagat Ji. In this hour of grief, my deepest condolences are with Mohinder Bhagat Ji and his entire family. May the Almighty grant the departed noble soul a place at His holy feet and give the family the strength to bear this loss.” SAD chief Sukhbir Badal shared a post on X with Bhagat and senior Badal’s photo, stating, “Deeply saddened by the demise of former Punjab Minister and senior leader Chunni Lal Bhagat Ji. His long public service and contribution to Punjab will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his son Mohinder Bhagat and the entire bereaved family. May Gurusahab grant eternal peace to the departed soul.” Senior BJP leader and former state minister Manoranjan Kalia wrote, “I am shocked to hear the news of sudden demise of former minister and senior BJP leader Bhagat Chuni Lal ji. He was elected three times as MLA from Jalandhar South/West Constituency. We both had opportunity to work together for the development of Jalandhar and raised a number of questions in the Vidhan Sabha. His death is a great loss to the BJP and my personal loss because he guided me many times on the current political situation when we both were in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. His death is irreparable loss for the BJP and his family. May the Almighty give power to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss of his demise. May the departed soul rest in peace.”