26092026-JTR-01.qxd 25-09-2026 23:07 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune DEVOTEES THRONG SODAL MELA IN JALANDHAR BHAGAT SINGH’S WRITINGS TO BE AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON SEPT 28 KEM CHO AHMEDABAD: DILJIT DOSANJH SHOW ON NOV 21 Sidh Baba Sodal Temple has been decked up since Wednesday when the fair started. P2 The distribution will include an English edition, along with the Punjabi that have been circulated for the past years. P3 Diljit Dosanjh is super excited to perform at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 21. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.19 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:18 AM » SATURDAY | 26 SEPTEMBER 2026 | JALANDHAR Police push firearm-free zones amid gun misuse Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 25 Trigger-happy youths are becoming a major headache for the Jalandhar police, with incidents involving firing and the brandishing of weapons going viral on social media. In the past week alone, a singer was booked after his supporters openly displayed weapons during a music video shoot at a college, a YouTuber has been arrested for allegedly opening fire at police personnel during a naka and now, a video showing two men firing shots in the air has surfaced online. Amid the spate of such incidents, the Police Commissioner, Jalandhar, on Friday issued orders enabling cafés, restaurants, clubs and other Madhvi Sharma, ADCP-II public establishments to voluntarily declare their premises as ‘firearm-free zones’. In the latest case, an FIR has been registered at Police Station Division No. 5 and two persons seen firing weapons in the viral video have been arrested. Madhvi Sharma, ADCP-II, VB arrests passport agent taking bribe Jalandhar, said the video had been widely circulated on social media. Acting on the information, the Commissionerate Police initiated immediate action and registered an FIR at Police Station Division No. 5. The two accused have since been arrested. The ADCP further stated that both weapons used in the firing are licensed firearms. She added that strict legal action will be taken against anyone found misusing firearms or displaying them in violation of the law. Meanwhile, aiming to strengthen public safety and prevent crime, Police Commissioner Satinder Singh issued orders under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023, and relevant provisions of the Arms Act, 1959, and Arms Rules, 2016, allowing public establishments to voluntarily declare themselves as ‘firearm-free zones’. Once notified as a firearm-free zone, no person will be permitted to carry, possess, display or bring a firearm into the premises, even if he or she holds a valid arms licence. The establishments will be required to prominently display notices informing visitors that carrying firearms is prohibited. Owners and managers must also ensure that patrons are aware of the restrictions. If any firearm is found within such premises, the management must immediately inform the nearest police station or control room and prevent any display, brandishing or use of the weapon. The order will remain in force till November 20. Teen injured in clash, 3 held Jalandhar, September 25 A group of youths clashed in Valmiki Mohalla of the Garha locality, leaving an 18year-old critically injured after he was allegedly attacked with a sword. The victim, Mintu, a resident of Idgah Mohalla, sustained injuries to his head, face and right shoulder. He reportedly fell unconscious on the roadside and was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where his condition remains critical. The incident occurred on Friday and was captured on CCTV cameras. According to eyewitnesses, a golden retriever intervened during the attack and pounced on the assailant, forcing him to flee. They claimed that had the dog not stepped in, the attacker might have continued assaulting the victim. The police have arrested three youths Chetan, Lavish and Lakshay. She said the incident had occurred due to old dispute among the youth. — TNS Gurindervir’s medal dream shattered, finishes 5th in heat Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 25 A day after raising hopes of a medal, sprinter Gurindervir Singh missed out on the same in the men’s 100m event after finishing fifth in his semifinal heat at the Asian Games in Japan on Friday. Gurindervir clocked 10.32 seconds in the semifinal, falling short of a place in the final. His exit came a day after he had advanced to the semifinals by finishing second in his heat with a timing of 10.38 seconds. The 100m sprinter, who hails from Bhogpur, has his personal best of 10.09 seconds, which he recorded at the Federation Cup in Ranchi in May this year. Gurindervir had also expressed confidence after qualifying for the semifinals and said he was fit and would give his 100 per cent in the finals. A whirl of lights and excitement US-returned youth killed in accident Tribune News Service ~35,000 DEMANDED Jalandhar, September 25 The Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Hardeep Kaur, an agent in Jalandhar, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 to facilitate the early issuance of a passport through her purported links with officials of the Regional Passport Office. An official spokesperson of the VB said the accused had been arrested on a complaint lodged by an applicant from Kandola Khurd village of Phillaur. According to the complaint, the applicant had applied for a passport and her police verification had already been completed. However, when she visited the Passport Office in Jalandhar with her original documents, she was informed by the dealing hand that her police verification had not been cleared. When she came out of the passport office, two agents Narinder Pal Singh and Hardeep Kaur approached her outside a booth situated near the office. They demanded Rs 35,000 for getting her passport issued early without police ver- Our Correspondent After being told her police verification was pending, the passport applicant was allegedly approached by two agents outside the Jalandhar Passport Office, who demanded ~35,000 to secure early passport issuance through their purported links with officials. ification through passport official. The complainant recorded the conversation regarding the demand for the bribe. Unwilling to pay the bribe, she approached the VB Range, Jalandhar. Acting on his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused Hardeep Kaur was arrested red-handed while accepting a bribe money of Rs 20,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. Other accused Narinder Pal Singh is yet to be arrested. Apart from this, the role of officials of passport office will be examined during investigation, said the VB officials A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused. His recent international outings, however, have been mixed. His performances at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Meet in Bhubaneswar were also not up to the mark. For his family, Gurindervir’s appearance on the international stage is the culmination of years of hard work. His father, retired ASI Kamaljit Singh, had earlier recalled how he first recognised his son’s natural speed when Gurindervir was a child. “He very quickly matched my speed, he was extremely agile from the beginning,” Kamaljit had told The Tribune, recalling the moment he took his young son to the ground and realised that he possessed an unusual turn of speed. He started training under Jalandhar coach Sarabjit Singh Happy. Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Visitors soak in the festive spirit while enjoying rides at the annual Sodal Mela in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Panthic leaders oppose SGPC inquiry committee Jalandhar, September 25 A gathering of Sikh leaders at Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib in Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar on Friday rejected the four-member inquiry committee constituted by the SGPC to probe allegations against rape accused Amarjit Singh Chawla. The leaders contended that since SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami had himself been drawn into the controversy, they did not expect an impartial inquiry against Chawla, who was recently excommunicated from the Panth. Among those present were SGPC members Jaswant Singh Purdain, Paramjit Singh Raipur, Mahinder Singh Hussainpur and Amrik Singh Shahpur, besides SGPC Executive Committee member Mithu Singh Kaneke. They said it had been decided to soon hold a large gathering of all Panth sympathisers at Sri Anandpur Sahib to improve the existing administration of the SGPC and hand over the premier institution of the Sikh community to the Panth. — TNS Kapurthala, September 25 A 26-year-old motorcycle rider was killed on the spot in a tragic road accident on the Nadala-Begowal road on Thursday evening. The accident occurred when his motorcycle collided with a truck carrying sacks of rice. The deceased has been identified as Manpreet Singh of Talwandi Kuka. According to information, Manpreet had returned to his native village from the United States around two months ago. Nadala police post incharge Baljinder Singh said the police received information about a collision between a truck (PB-11-AM-6550) and a motorcycle on the NadalaBegowal road. The truck was reportedly carrying sacks of rice from a sheller, while Manpreet Singh was travelling from Nadala towards his village Talwandi Kuka. The collision was so severe that Manpreet sustained critical injuries and died on the spot due to heavy blood loss. After receiving information, a police team reached the scene and took the truck and the deceased’s body into its custody for investigation. Police officials said statements of the family members are being recorded. Further legal action will be taken on the basis of the statements and findings of the investigation. Talwandi Kuka village sarpanch Harjinder Singh said Manpreet had returned to the village from the United States approximately two months ago. The news of his sudden death has left the family and residents of the village in shock. Local residents have urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances, leading to the accident and take action according to law. For many, homage to Bhagat Singh at Khatkar Kalan comes with hurdles Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 25 “On such days, we visit places and finish our work early in the morning. Later, there is no certainty whether we will be allowed to pass through. Even a sarpanch is stopped, let alone the common man,” says Sukhwinder Singh, sarpanch of Khatkar Kalan, referring to the restrictions around the village on the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. From the Punjab Chief Minister’s oath-taking ceremony, marked by pageantry and fanfare, to numerous official and non-official events commemorating Bhagat Singh’s birth and martyrdom anniversaries, Khatkar Kalan has remained a centre of activity for the past four years. This month too, a state-level function is scheduled at Dana Mandi, Banga, on September 28 to mark Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary. However, despite the extensive revamp of the martyr’s museum and the growing prominence of the village, residents, Bhagat Singh clubs and social organisations continue to raise concerns over the near-cantonment-like restrictions imposed during major commemorative events. These groups argue that since Bhagat Singh is revered across communities and political affiliations, the authorities should create alternative routes and visitor-friendly arrangements so that people wishing to pay homage are not forced to turn back because of VIP movement. Sukhwinder Singh said villagers have learned to brace themselves whenever a government function is held. “People are stopped from as far as the railway crossing. Reaching one’s own street or home becomes difficult. Most of us now remain indoors until the event concludes. We understand that the police are performing their duty, but even a sarpanch is not exempt from these restrictions,” he said. Mangaljit Pandori, state vice-president of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, said Bhagat Singh belonged to everyone. “He was a champion of an egalitarian society free from discrimination based on caste, creed, colour or status,” he said. Recalling an event held on March 23 this year to mark 100 years of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Pandori said organisers had set up a stage in fields near the museum. “The police asked us to move it because of the Chief Minister’s programme. We had to convince them that Bhagat Singh does not belong to any one group alone,” he said. “On the day of the event too, many of our vehicles faced problems entering the area. We understand the government’s sentiment to uphold Bhagat Singh. Good work has been done on the museum, with many exhibits and care taken to document history. But there is no care to ensure ease of movement for scores of citizens who want to visit the martyr’s village on special days, which are full of VIP activities. Something must be done to alleviate this trouble. People must be able to pay obeisance without being obstructed or harassed.” Pandori added that several vehicles carrying participants faced difficulties entering the area on the day of the event. “The government’s c m y b efforts to preserve and promote Bhagat Singh’s legacy are commendable. The museum has been upgraded with valuable exhibits and historical documentation. However, equal attention must be paid to ensuring smooth access for the large number of people who visit the martyr’s village on special occasions. Visitors should be able to pay their respects without undue inconvenience,” he said. Karnail Phillaur, leader of the Lok Insaaf Manch, Phillaur, said, “Many local and regional organisations have stopped going to Khatkar Kalan on his birth and martyrdom anniversaries due to security hassles. Even those travelling on the highway have to be cautious. Bhagat Singh must be revered, but not at the cost of the common man’s ease and comfort.” Residents seek easier access to village on commemorative days Shaheed Bhagat Singh Museum at his village Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr. PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH