22092026-JTR-01.qxd 21-09-2026 23:02 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune CHEMISTS OPPOSE CCTV MANDATE AT RETAIL PHARMACIES SCHOOLS TO CREATE DRUG-FREE ZONES AROUND CAMPUSES Schools have been directed to install boards outside their campuses declaring the 500m area as a drug-free zone. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 22°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 22°C HOMEMAKERS ARE THE REAL CELEBS: CHEF SANJEEV KAPOOR The association said CCTV footage could capture sensitive information about a person’s health. P2 FORECAST The chef said: “In India — probably more than anywhere else — the real celebrity are the homemakers.” P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 6.24 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:16 AM » TUESDAY | 22 SEPTEMBER 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. INBRIEF TIPPER DRIVER BOOKED Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have booked an unidentified tipper driver for causing death by negligence. Amarjit Singh of Gidarpindi village complained to the police that the accused was driving his tipper negligently and fast and hit a tractor. His father Balveer Singh, who was sitting on it, died. OC TWO ARRESTED WITH HEROIN Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have booked a man for selling opium. The police said 2.05 gram of heroin was recovered from the possession of Surinder Singh of Mianni village. The police arrested Harwindar Singh of Lohgarh village with 2 kg poppy husk. OC NAKODAR MAN ARRESTED Phagwara: The Mehatpur police arrested a Nakodar villager on the charge of outraging a woman’s modesty. The accused has been identified as Gurjit Singh of Nurpur Chatha. The victim had complained to the police that the accused and his accomplices barged into her house, assaulted and torn her clothes and threatened her. OC YouTuber among 3 held for police naka firing BJP turns to music, social media in anti-drug outreach MP Sahney dons singer’s mantle for BJP campaign Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Five imported pistols recovered Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 21 The Jalandhar police have arrested YouTuber Manpreet Singh, alias Mani Shoker, and two of his associates for allegedly possessing foreignmade weapons and firing at a police naka recently. The arrests are linked to a firing incident that occurred during a routine police check of a Scorpio vehicle at a naka near Jandiala on September 18. Mani Shoker was travelling in the vehicle along with an aide when the incident took place. The arrested accused have been identified as Mani Shoker, a resident of village Atti Baja in Phillaur; Dilpreet Singh, a resident of village Dharam Singh Wala in Moga; and Mehar Singh alias Prince, a resident of New Azad Nagar in Ludhiana. Mani Shoker and Dilpreet Singh were arrested on September 19, while Prince was arrested on Sunday. Addressing a press conference in Jalandhar, DCP Aditya S. Warrier said, “The accused was found in possession of a Glock pistol. Preliminary investigations suggest the weapons were procured through a contact based in Ludhiana. We are investigat- A YouTuber and two youths in Jalandhar police custody. A TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH. ing where the pistols originated and the purpose for which they were being used. The names of two to three more persons have surfaced during the probe, and police teams are searching for them.” The DCP added that neither Mani Shoker, nor Dilpreet Singh had any previous FIRs registered against them. However, one FIR had earlier been registered against Mehar Singh in another case. The police have, for now, ruled out any confirmed links between Mani Shoker and a larger criminal gang. However, investigators are probing how he came into possession of multiple foreign-made pistols and whether others were involved in the alleged arms supply network. An FIR was registered on September 19 under Sections 109 of the BNS (attempt to murder) and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at Police Station Sadar, Commissionerate, Jalandhar. According to the police, SI Narinder Mohan, in-charge of police chowki, Jandiala, was conducting a checking operation at the Jandiala turn when an SUV (PB-08-GB-1101) was stopped for inspection. During the checking, police personnel asked the occupants to produce their identity documents and driving licence. The police alleged that the passenger seated next to the driver pulled out a pistol and attempted to fire at the SI. The officer managed to grab hold of him and push him aside, but two shots were fired, striking the wall of a nearby dhaba. The two occupants were eventually overpowered and taken into custody. During the investigation, the police identified the alleged shooter as Mani Shoker. Following the arrest of Mani Shoker and Dilpreet Singh, who was driving the Scorpio, the police recovered the pistol allegedly used in the firing incident, a Glock pistol, along with three cartridges. Further interrogation led to the recovery of four more pistols and two additional rounds, taking the total recovery to five pistols and five cartridges. The recovered weapons included a Glock 19 Gen4 (Austria) , a Walther PP pistol made in Germany, and two other unmarked pistols. The police said the operation was carried out under the directions of Commissioner of Police Satinder Singh and supervised by DCP Aditya S. Warrier, ADCP Madhavi Sharma and ACP Kulwinder Singh Virk. Jalandhar, September 21 “Kise da ik marda, kise de do marde, galti sarkar di hai, harzane lok bharde. Nahi chalna hun bahuta chir jharoo valeyan da kara, Bhajpa da nara, nasha mukauna sara.” With these lyrics, the BJP has launched a new anti-drug anthem targeting the AAP government over the drug menace in Punjab. As drugs emerge as a key poll issue ahead of the Assembly elections, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Sahney has pitched in by crooning an anti-drug number as part of the party’s outreach campaign. Countering Sahney, Deepak Bali, Adviser to the Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department, said: “Just three months after leaving the AAP MP Vikramjit Sahney , has suddenly discovered the drug problem and started releasing songs on the issue. Did the problem arise only in the last three months? This sudden concern is politically motivated,” he said. Bali said “The BJP knows how to make songs, but we are doing the groundwork. We are not busy making videos because we have work to do. Never before has a state government run an anti-drug campaign of the scale that the AAP government is undertaking. Strict monitoring is carried out on a daily basis, reports are reviewed regularly, and law enforcement agencies are taking serious action against those involved in the drug POLITICALLY MOTIVATED: AAP after leaving the AAP, MP ❝Just three monthssuddenly discovered the drug Vikramjit Sahney has problem and started releasing songs on the issue. Did the problem arise only in the last three months? This sudden concern is politically motivated, ❞ Deepak Bali, ADVISER TO THE PUNJAB TOURISM AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT trade”, he added. The BJP on the sidelines of the ongoing Nasha Mukti Yatra, the party has released a number of songs, videos, reels and shorts, targeting the AAP government on the drug issue. Two of these videos include the songs “Bhajpa da nara, nasha mukauna sara” and “Chevan Dariya”. While the former is the BJP’s formal anti-drug campaign song, also released by national president Nitin Nabin at the start of the Nasha Mukt Yatra, the latter has been produced and sung by Sahney. The song ‘Chevan Dariya’ has also been written by Sahney in collaboration with musician/writer Jagmeet Bal. It features the MP himself donning a phulkari jacket. The visuals include lush fields going dry and flowing waters change into a sea of tablets juxtaposed with the vibrancy of traditional Bhangra. Meanwhile, the video of ‘Bhajpa de naal’ bears images of grieving women and BJP leaders Kewal Dhillon and Sunil Jakhar consoling despondent families. The song has specially been commissioned by a private music records firm. The BJP’s digital campaign also includes a short documentary on Nasha Mukti Yatra, highlighting drug-related statistics in Punjab, and a docudrama depicting the impact of drug abuse on families. Videos begin with the BJP Nasha Mukt Yatra logo and formal slogan “Bhajpa da nara, nasha mukauna sara”. Speaking to The Tribune, MP Sahney, who has sung a number of Sufi and devotional Sikh songs earlier, said, “The song is a reminder to the people of the cultural heritage, folk dances and bhangras of Punjab which we need to revive, to fight against the scourge of drugs. My attire is in keeping with that message.” Ajay Arora, state convener, BJP IT and social media, , said, “A number of these songs have been released in keeping with the drug problem in the state. The content is aimed to generate awareness on the issue. We are also visiting people affected with drugs daily. During the Nasha Mukti Yatra and ahead of the Home Minister’s rally, we remain focused on antidrug outreach and awareness campaigns.” Labourer dies soon after Ex-MP urged to intervene in Early paddy arrivals begin in mandis being released by police Saudi death penalty case Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 21 A 26-year-old labourer from Buttran village here, who was reportedly in police detention, died soon after being released by a team of Ladhran police post of Bhogpur on Sunday. After protest by his family and leaders of the Opposition, victim Kali’s post-mortem was conducted around noon today before his cremation was done. Victim’s father Sukhwinder Lal alleged that Kali was picked by the police on Saturday afternoon. He was brought home where the cops searched everywhere but found nothing objectionable, he said. “Despite our resist- After protest, victim’s post-mortem was conducted ance, he was taken to the police post on the suspicion of drug peddling”, he said. He added, “The next day, we were asked to take him back. I, my wife Semo and our daughter-in-law Kanchandeep went to the police post. They made us sign some papers and handed over Kali to us. His condition was bad. His hands were swollen and there were marks on his back as if he had been beaten up. He died soon after.” SSP Jalandhar Rural Harvinder S Virk said, “Kali had been taken for some verification. He already had some health issues. He did not stay in the police post for long. Still, we have got the postmortem done for the satisfaction of the family.” BSP Adampur halqa incharge Balwinder Kumar and Congress halqa incharge of Kartarpur Rajinder Singh have sought inquiry into the incident. “He died hours after being released. If he was actually into drugs, he should not have released at the first place”, they have said. The victim had got married about four years ago. He had two children aged 1 and 3. Hoshiarpur, September 21 A desperate appeal for help to save the life of a Punjab man facing a death sentence in Saudi Arabia came before former MP and senior BJP leader Avinash Rai Khanna during a public grievance hearing here on Monday. Sunil Lata submitted a representation to Khanna, seeking intervention for her husband Baljinder Singh, who is lodged in a Saudi jail in connection with a drug-trafficking case. According to the family, Baljinder has been in custody in Medina since February 6, 2024. The family maintains that he is innocent and had no knowledge that a packet he was carrying contained narcotics. Recent reports have also said Baljinder, a resident of Sujanpur in Pathankot district, had worked as a truck driver in Dubai and regularly transported goods to Saudi Arabia. The family claims that he was asked to carry a packet purportedly containing medicines for an elderly person. Narcotics were subsequently allegedly found in the packet during a check on the Dubai-Saudi border. The Saudi court subsequently convicted Baljinder and awarded him the death penalty, the family said. According to Sunil Lata, the sentence was upheld by higher courts and an appeal for roy- al clemency was also rejected. Seeking Khanna’s intervention, Sunil Lata urged the Centre to take up the matter with the Saudi authorities and save her husband’s life. Khanna said it was extremely painful for an Indian family to see a loved one facing a death sentence in a foreign country. He said all possible options available on humanitarian and diplomatic grounds should be explored. Khanna forwarded the representation to the Ministry of External Affairs and urged the Centre to take up the matter with the Saudi government. He assured the family that the Government of India stood by its citizens abroad. Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 21 Early arrivals of paddy have begun in grain markets across Jalandhar district despite government procurement scheduled to begin from October 1. So far, around 3,000 quintals of paddy have arrived in the mandis, but procurement has not yet started. Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) Principal Agronomist (Rice) Dr Buta Singh Dhillon said the early arrivals were mainly of the short duration PR 126 variety. He said farmers who had sown the variety early have harvested it, mainly to clear their fields for the next crop. “The PAU recommends sowing PR 126 around June 25 so that the crop is ready by October 1,” Dr Dhillon said. He explained that farmers who sowed the variety earlier than the recommended date have harvested it sooner, resulting in early arrivals at the mandis. Jalandhar district has 79 mandis where paddy procurement will take place during the upcoming procurement season. Leaving his Nabha home at 11, shuttler Jagsher now set for world stage Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 21 When Jagsher Singh Khangurra was just 11, his parents made a decision that was as difficult as it was necessary. They sent their young son from Nabha to a badminton academy in Bahadurgarh near Delhi so that he could train at a higher level. For Manpreet Singh and Rashpal Kaur, both government school teachers, it meant leaving their child away from home at an age when most children are still under the constant care of their parents. But they believed the sacrifice could shape his future. And now, that difficult decision has begun to bear fruit. Jagsher has been selected to represent India at the World Junior Badminton Championships, scheduled to be held in Cairo, Egypt, from October 5 to 17. The youngster has already won six medals in international tournaments and has established himself as one of Punjab’s promising badminton talents. “It was very tough. I cannot explain what it felt like leaving such a small child outside. But we knew we had to take that step for his future,” recalled his father, Manpreet Singh. Almost every weekend, his parents would travel to Delhi to be with him, watch his training and make sure he was settling into the demanding routine. “We used to see him performing early in the morning and would keep checking how he was doing there,” Manpreet said. Jagsher picked up a badminton racket when he was just seven. His father said no one from his family ever played professional sports. He (father) would drive Jagsher from Nabha to Patiala every evening for training. Jagsher’s progress was quick, and he went on to become a state champion, a title he has held since 2019. One of his early coaches, Suresh Kumar, who continues c m y b to remain closely associated with the family, eventually advised his parents that Jagsher needed to move out of Punjab if he wanted to compete at the international level. At 11, Jagsher moved to an academy in Bahadurgarh. At 14, he shifted to Mumbai, where he trained for a year. For the last two years, he has been training at the Centre for Badminton Excellence in Bengaluru. Jagsher is thankful to his coaches Sagar Chopda and Muni Ramu. For Jagsher, moving away from home at such a young age was not easy either. But he found motiva- tion in the players around him. “There were many good players when I went outside at 11. I took motivation from my seniors who used to go out to take part in various tournaments,” he said. There were emotional challenges, he admitted, but with every tournament and every step forward, the sacrifices began to make sense. His family has also been a source of inspiration beyond badminton. His elder sister is pursuing MBBS, while his parents have continued to support both their children in their respective pursuits. Jagsher’s life now revolves around a strict training schedule. His day begins at 5.30 am with yoga, followed by breakfast around 7.30 am and a badminton training session. After lunch, he takes about two hours of rest before returning for a fitness session between 3 pm and 4 pm, and then again a badminton training session. It is a routine that leaves little room for the usual distractions of teenage life. But for Jagsher, the long hours of training are part of a much bigger dream - competing against the best young badminton players in the world. He is now focusing on win- ning a gold medal at the World Junior Badminton Championships. Punjab Badminton Association secretary Ritin Khanna congratulated Jagsher on his selection, noting that he is the only player from Punjab to make the Indian squad for the World Junior Badminton Championships. Khanna also pointed to Punjab’s growing presence on the national badminton scene, stating that Tanvi Sharma from Hoshiarpur and Dhruv Kapila from Ludhiana are part of the Indian badminton contingent for the Asian Games being held in Japan.