28092026-JTR-01.qxd 9/27/2026 11:28 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune AMRITSAR FARMER KEEPS FIRE, CHEMICALS OFF 30-ACRE FARM DISMANTLE DRUG MAFIA, STRENGTHEN REHAB CENTRES ‘INTERSTELLAR, INCEPTION INSPIRED BY INDIAN EPICS’ For the past six years, Sukhbir said he has not burnt paddy straw or wheat residue. P2 Break cross-border drug supply chains and ensure sustained action beyond elections. P3 At Shimla Film Festival, filmmaker Amit Rai links Hollywood blockbusters to Ramayana and Mahabharata. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 30°C | MIN 22°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 22°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.15 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:20 AM » MONDAY | 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 | JALANDHAR LPU on the boil as students vandalise campus Protesters seek action in ‘rape’ case, safety in hostels | Unrest triggered by rumours: Varsity pace and findings of the investigation. They alleged that force was used late on Saturday night and attempts were again made on Sunday evening to disperse demonstrators. Police officials rejected these claims. Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora said the situation stemmed largely from distrust between students and the university administration. “Despite sharing details of the investigation with students, many remain dissatisfied. They are repeatedly raising older concerns and grievances. We have appealed to them to cooperate with the ongoing probe,” he said. Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 27 Amid allegations, denials, rumours and a prolonged standoff between students and the university administration, unrest at Lovely Professional University (LPU) remained unresolved till late Sunday night. Students again expressed dissatisfaction with the police investigation into allegations that a girl student from the GH3 hostel was sexually assaulted on the campus. The LPU authorities maintained that the unrest was triggered by rumours that were being blown out of proportion to malign the institution. Police officials also said investigations so far had not revealed any evidence supporting claims circulating among students, adding that CCTV footage was still being examined. After the Kapurthala police registered an FIR against an unidentified person under Section 64 (rape) of the BNS on Sunday morning, the campus remained relatively calm for a few hours. However, tensions resurfaced by evening as protesting students allegedly vandalised a gate and later set a police vehicle on fire. The FIR, registered at the Satnampura police station, was based on a complaint submitted by hostel residents who demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the alleged incident. Students resumed protests in the evening, insisting that the probe had failed to address their concerns. “We are not satisfied with the police investigation. We want the Chancellor to meet us and ensure accountability in this case,” WHAT FIR SAYS LPU students block the Jalandhar-Phagwara national highway; and (below) property of the university vandalised in Phagwara. LOOT ON THE CAMPUS ■ Videos shared online purportedly showed individuals with covered faces carrying away goods from a campus shopping complex. In another video, a person allegedly boasted of taking a gaming console from the premises. ONLY RUMOURS: LPU ■ The LPU authorities maintained that the unrest was triggered by rumours that were being blown out of proportion to malign the institution. NO EVIDENCE SO FAR: COPS ■ Police officials also said investigations so far had not revealed any evidence supporting claims circulating among students said a protesting student. As the situation escalated, police vehicles on the campus were allegedly vandalised and a police jeep was set ablaze. Videos circulating on social media showed damage to police vehicles and scenes from the campus following the incident. Some students alleged that outsiders had infiltrated the protests on Saturday night and were responsible for violence and vandalism. “Outsiders entered the campus and indulged in hooliganism and arson. Property was damaged and items were taken away from shops in the campus mall. We only want justice in the alleged sexual assault case,” a stu- dent claimed. Videos shared online purportedly showed individuals with covered faces carrying away goods from a campus shopping complex. In another video, a person allegedly boasted of taking a gaming console from the premises. The police said these allegations were also being examined. WHY STUDENTS REMAIN ANGRY Students have repeatedly alleged that the police used force to disperse protesters. Police officials have denied these allegations. The protesters, including hostel residents, who filed the complaint, have maintained that they are dissatisfied with the According to the FIR, the alleged incident took place on September 23. Registered at 10.17 am on September 27, the case names an unidentified person accused of raping a girl in the GH3 hostel. The complaint, submitted by hostel students, alleges that no action had been taken in the matter and demands identification and punishment of the accused. It also calls for stronger safety measures for female students on the campus. However, the identity of the alleged victim remains unknown. The university authorities have released a video of Room No. 504 in the GH3 hostel, claiming that no such incident occurred there in the past two months. Girls residing in the room stated in the video that they were safe and urged people to stop harassing them and spreading rumours. Agitation brings traffic to a halt Police personnel deployed in large number near the university. Ashok Kaura Phagwara, September 27 The student protest at LPU on Sunday severely disrupted traffic on the PhagwaraJalandhar national highway, with a large number of students gathering on and around the highway and bringing vehicular movement to a halt. The blockade caused inconvenience to commuters travelling between Phagwara and Jalandhar, with long queues of vehicles building up on the stretch and motorists being forced to take lengthy alternative routes. The disruption was particularly significant for long-distance travellers heading towards Jalandhar, Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Jammu and Kashmir. Vehicles approaching Jalandhar from the Phagwara, Phillaur, Goraya, Banga and Nawanshahr sides were affected as police and traffic personnel attempted to prevent further congestion near the protest site. With the main highway blocked, the police enforced diversions at multiple points to keep vehicles moving. Traffic Inspector Aman Kumar Daveshwar and other personnel reportedly diverted vehicles travelling towards Jalandhar from the Phillaur side through the Phillaur-Nakodar-Jalandhar route. Similarly, traffic approaching Jalandhar from Phagwara was diverted through the Phagwara-Jandiala-Jalandhar route. The alternative route was used to bypass the area affected by the protest and reduce the pressure of vehicles accumulating on the main highway. Motorists unfamiliar with the local road network faced additional difficulties in finding suitable alternative routes. Traffic coming from the Banga and Nawanshahr side was also diverted towards link roads. The diversions resulted in increased traffic on several smaller connecting roads, while motorists had to negotiate routes that were not normally used for such heavy traffic volumes. Commuters travelling from Ludhiana towards Jalandhar were among those facing delays as the main highway remained affected. Woman killed, son hurt in mishap Firing at house by youths sparks panic in K’thala village Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, September 27 A woman was killed and her son seriously injured when their scooter fell on the Mahilpur-Garhshankar road near Tootomajra village last night. The deceased was identified as Jaswinder Kaur, a resident of Halluwal village. She was returning home with her son from her parents’ house at Dadial village when the accident occurred. A pedestrian suddenly came in front of their scooter near Tootomajra. In an attempt to save him, the rider lost control of the vehicle and both fell on the road. Jaswinder Kaur suffered serious injuries and died on the spot, while her son sustained severe injuries. He was rushed to a hospital. The police have started an investigation into the incident. Our Correspondent Phagwara, September 27 Panic gripped Dhaliwal Dona village in Kapurthala late Saturday night after a group of around 20-25 youths allegedly opened fire at a house and reportedly vandalised two houses in the village. The incident is stated to have taken place around 1 am. On receiving information, the police reached the spot and initiated an investigation. Three cartridge shells and one cartridge were reportedly recovered from the scene. DSP Sheetal Singh said the name of Monu Dhappai had surfaced as the main accused in the preliminary investigation. He said Dhappai is wanted by the Jalandhar police in connection with two cases. Police teams have been conducting raids at possible hideouts to trace the accused. ASI Sandeep Singh said a case was being registered against Dhappai and other unidentified persons on the statement of Sukhpreet Singh, alias Laddi, a resident of Dhaliwal Dona. He said investigators were working to identify all those allegedly involved and determine their individual roles in the incident. The police said the preliminary investigation indicated that the firing could be linked to a fight that had taken place some time ago near Mand village in Jalandhar district. However, officials said the alleged connection was being verified and all aspects of the incident were being investigated. Police teams have been conducting raids at different locations to trace the suspects. Officials said further action would be taken in accordance with law against those found responsible for the firing, alleged vandalism and any other offences established during the investigation. Yellow, blue paint at hockey stadium sparks debate NHM staff to hold statewide Mayor calls these normal colours agitation over pending demands Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 27 With the Asian Champions Trophy set to begin in Jalandhar on October 27, renovation work at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium is in full swing. The stadium, which will host the tournament matches, is expected to be ready in the coming days. Amid the ongoing construction, the entrance of the stadium is being painted in yellow and blue, which is also the ‘colour theme’ of AAP The opposition leader . questioned the choice of colours. Congress MLA Pargat Singh said, “Earlier, the colour of the Indian hockey team was changed to orange by the BJP and now this. At , least sports and education should be kept away from politics. The stadium belongs to everyone and there should be nothing like this. Why do political parties paint every- thing in their own colour scheme,” Pargat Singh said. However, AAP north halqa in-charge and Jalandhar Mayor Vaneet Dhir dismissed that the colours had any political significance. “There is nothing like that. These are normal colours and there is nothing intentional about politicising anything,” Dhir said. Earlier also, the government had received flak when yellow-blue coloured bags were distributed to students in government schools and PRTC buses were also painted in the same colour scheme. The Asian Champions Trophy is being held in Punjab for the first time. Six teams will participate in the international tournament, with matches scheduled to be played in Jalandhar and Mohali. Hockey Punjab president Nitin Kohli also visited Burlton Park to inspect and mon- Tribune News Service A view of the renovated Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, which will host matches of the Asian Champions Trophy from October 27. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH itor the ongoing preparations and renovation work. The authorities are working to complete the stadium c m y b upgrades ahead of the tournament. Jalandhar, September 27 Essential healthcare services across Punjab may be affected on September 28 and October 1 as contractual employees working under the National Health Mission (NHM) have announced a phased agitation to press for their long-pending demands. The employees are seeking implementation of the principle of “equal pay for equal work”, a reasonable hike in salaries, and the resolution of pay-related issues affecting staff who have been serving in various NHM cadres for several years. They are also demanding the implementation of decisions and assurances made during previous meetings, besides the clearance of files pending with the government and the Health Department. The protests, announced by the NHM Employees Union Punjab, will begin with districtlevel demonstrations outside Civil Surgeon offices across the state on September 28. This will be followed by protests outside MLAs’ offices on October 1 and a state-level mega rally in Dhuri on October 9. The proposed agitation could have a significant impact on public healthcare services as NHM employees are deployed across district and sub-divisional hospitals, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres and Ayushman Arogya Kendras. The workforce includes medical officers, community health officers, assistant medical officers, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram teams, auxiliary nurse midwives and staff nurses. The union said the protests were announced following repeated postponements of its meeting with the Cabinet subcommittee constituted to discuss its demands. Dr Sunil Targotra, a senior NHM union leader, said, “We had a meeting scheduled with the Cabinet subcommittee under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Harpal Cheema. The meeting was initially fixed for September 10 but was subsequently postponed to September 23 and 24 before being rescheduled for October 6.” “The repeated postponement of the meetings reflects the government’s lack of seriousness in addressing our demands. If our concerns are not resolved at the October 6 meeting, we will hold a protest in Sangrur. If the government still fails to address our demands, we will launch an indefinite strike,” Targotra added.