16122025-JTR-01.qxd 12/15/2025 10:31 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune BKU (DOABA) ALLOWS PHAGWARA SUGAR MILL TO RUN CANNOT AFFORD SARANGI YET STRIKES GOLD AT YOUTH FEST BAKERS SHINE AT CAKE PICNIC IN CHANDIGARH PRESS CLUB BKU (Doaba) announced that its workers would organise protest outside DC Office in the Doaba region on Dec 18. P2 My first motivation came from the moment when I got the best sarangiplayer award in my final year: Darshan Kaur. P3 Over 200 home bakers and professional pastry artists displayed 100 exquisite cakes at Chandigarh Press Club. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 22°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 7°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.26 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:20 AM » TUESDAY | 16 DECEMBER 2025 | JALANDHAR 11 city schools display calm amid bomb threat, ensure pupils safety DC takes stock of arrangements at counting centres Show exemplary crisis management | Schools to function normally from today Our Correspondent Students come out of a school after reports of bomb threat to 11 schools; and (right) a parent picks his ward in Jalandhar on Monday. ner of the campus and gave us an assurance that everything was okay to open school tomorrow”. Parents were informed about the half-day closure around noon through school apps and WhatsApp groups. By evening, schools confirmed normal functioning from Tuesday. Later this evening too, the parents were informed that the schools would function normally on Tuesday. A message from St Joseph’s Convent School this evening read, “This is to inform you that the school will remain open tomorrow, December 16, and will function as per regular timings. Government officials have personally conducted a thorough investigation of the school premises and the surrounding areas. They have confirmed that everything is completely safe and have issued an official safety clearance. We request you not to feel anxious. Your child’s safety and well-being have always been our highest priority, and we will continue to uphold the strictest safety standards within the campus. We also seek your cooperation in ensuring that children return to their normal routine with confidence. Together, we can help them step out of fear and continue their holistic growth and development. Thank you for your trust and support.” Director-Principal of IVY World School S Chauhan said, “The school has been checked. We are hoping to function normally tomorrow.” PHAGWARA, DECEMBER 15 Following the peaceful conclusion of polling for the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti Elections 2025, the District Election Officer-cum-DC, Kapurthala, Amit Kumar Panchal, on December 15 reviewed the preparations for the counting process at Virsa Vihar, Kapurthala, to ensure that all arrangements are in place for a smooth and transparent exercise. The DC stated that elaborate and foolproof arrangements were being made at all designated counting centres across the district. He said the counting of votes for Kapurthala and Phattudhinga blocks would take place at Virsa Vihar where the process would commence at 8 am on December 17. For Sultanpur Lodhi block, the counting centre has been established at the office of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Sultanpur Lodhi. Similarly, counting of votes for the Phagwara block will be held at Ramgarhia Polytechnic College, while votes polled in Nadala block will be counted at Guru Nanak Prem Karamsar College, Nadala. The District Election Officer said all Returning Officers had been issued strict instructions to ensure that the counting process was conducted in a fair, impartial and transparent manner. He also directed officials to ensure adequate security arrangements, proper discipline, and smooth coordina- tion at all counting centres so that the process was completed without any inconvenience to candidates, counting staff or the public. The review meeting focused on logistical preparedness, deployment of personnel and adherence to election guidelines, with the administration reiterating its commitment to maintaining transparency and integrity throughout the counting process. HOSHIARPUR: DC Ashika Jain said all preparations for the counting of votes have been completed. The counting staff have been handed over their duty orders and the counting process will be conducted at the designated locations in all 10 blocks of the district. Jain further said the counting for Garhshankar block will be held at BAS Khalsa College, Garhshankar, for Mahilpur block at SGGS Khalsa College, Mahilpur, for Hoshiarpur-1 at MSDC ITI Campus Hoshiarpur, and for Hoshiarpur-2 at Pandit Jagatram Polytechnic College Hoshiarpur. Similarly, the counting for Bhunga block will be held at Guru Nanak College of Education Dallewal, for Tanda block at Giani Kartar Singh Memorial Government College, Tanda, for Dasuya block at School of Eminence, Dasuya, for Mukerian block at SPN College, Mukerian, for Hajipur block at Government Senior Secondary School (Boys), Hajipur, and for Talwara block at Government Senior Secondary School (Boys), Talwara. Jalandhar, December 15 Panic spread after bomb threat e-mails were sent to 11 private schools this morning. Despite the alarming situation, schools demonstrated exceptional control, responsibility, and coordination, ensuring student safety and calm throughout the day. At Apeejay School, IVY World School, Police DAV Public School, Sanskriti KMV School and St Joseph’s Convent School, where threats were reported, Class X and XII students were appearing for pre-board examinations. But these students were not disturbed and allowed to con- tinue with their papers even as police teams arrived on the campus and started investigation. The school authorities maintained a complete control as no student was given any information regarding the bomb scare e-mail. The exams continued uninterrupted and students remained unaware of the situation until they were safely handed over to parents or reached home via school transport. The e-mails landed around 9 am but no panic-like scenario unfolded till 12 noon. The police instructed the school authorities to vacate the classrooms, assemble 3 arrested for petrol pump robbery Illegal structure of drug peddler AAP leader Raju gets threat again demolished in Jalandhar Jalandhar, December 15 Three persons who robbed a petrol pump at gunpoint have been arrested by the Jalandhar rural police following a special operation. The accused have been identified as Shammi Hans, alias Tori, resident of village Gakhla, Babrik, alias Baby, resident of village Gakhla and Pankaj Kumar, alias Panku, resident of village Safipur. The cash was snatched at gunpoint by unknown persons at Raj & Vij Petrol Pump in village Dhaliwal Kadian in Jalandhar. During the investigation, on the basis of intelligence information, ASI Baljinder Singh arrested three accused on December 13. During the arrest of the accused, Rs10,500 and a toy pistol have been recovered from them. The police said while they snatched more then Rs 40,000, the remaining money is also being recovered. The accused will be produced in the court. Further interrogation is going on. — TNS Jalandhar, December 15 The Municipal Corporation, with support from the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police, demolished an illegal structure belonging to a notorious drug peddler in Mohalla Mandi Road, Jalandhar, today. Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur said the operation was jointly executed by the MC and the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police. The ADCP- I and ACP North supervised the demolition on the ground. The illegal construction belonged to Rohit Tandon, alias Nitin Tandon, under the jurisdiction of Police Station Division No. 3. Tandon is a notorious drug peddler, already facing seven cases, including Tribune News Service 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. them to playgrounds and keep them engaged in some activities till the parents were informed about the situation. In St Joseph’s Convent School, students said their class was on when an announcement was made that they should all come to the ground for some exercise. “It sounded a bit weird to us then. It was about an hour later when the school announced the closure and our parents came to pick us that we got to know what had happened”, said a Class VIII girl. Students from Sanskriti KMV School said their classroom lights were suddenly switched off and they were asked to come out of classrooms. “We were only told that their was a power failure and hence the school could not run. So, we were told to go near the gates and wait till our parents arrived”, the middle section students said. Apeejay School Principal Yashpal Sharma said, “Thankfully, the situation was managed well. We ensured that no one got panicked on the school premises. All children reached back safely. We especially told our bus operators to carefully hand over all children to the parents only. Many parents opted to come to the school to pick their wards. Police teams later checked every nook and cor- Our Correspondent The police and the MC, Jalandhar, jointly executed the demolition of illegal structure of a notorious drug peddler. those under the NDPS Act, Excise Act and Gambling Act. The police reaffirmed that no illegal activity related to drugs would be tolerated and strict actions would continue to curb drug trafficking in the district. — TNS PHAGWARA, DECEMBER 15 A fresh WhatsApp message conveying a grave threat has again shaken Daljit Raju, an Aam Aadmi Party leader and Yudh Nasheya Virudh campaign coordinator, intensifying fear among his family weeks after his house was fired upon in Darvesh village near Phagwara. The message, received on his WhatsApp number yesterday, was sent by an unidentified person claiming to be “Kala Rana,” who warned that Raju could not be saved. The message has further heightened concerns for the safety of Raju, his wife and daughter, who continue to live under constant fear. Raju said the latest threat was part of a series of extor- Bullets pierce through the glass door of Raju in Darvesh village near Phagwara. FILE tion calls and messages he has been receiving from mobile numbers allegedly operating from Canada and Australia. Despite police claims of progress in the case, the continuation of such threats has left the family anxious and uncertain about their security. He stated that he has informed senior police offi- cials, including the DIG of Jalandhar Range Naveen Singla, SSP Gaurav Toora and SP Madhvi Sharma, about the renewed threats and the extortion demands being made in the name of the so-called “Kala Rana Group.” The threatening message follows the firing incident that occurred in the early hours of November 27, when two masked men arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at Raju’s residence. Several bullets were fired towards the first floor of the house where Raju, his wife and daughter were sleeping at the time. The assailants fled the scene after leaving behind papers bearing the words “Kala Rana Group — 5 Crore,” pointing to an extortion motive behind the attack. Woman’s gold chain Call to name Burlton Park after Olympian Surjit snatched in Phagwara Tribune News Service Phagwara, December 15 A woman was robbed of her gold chain by a bike-borne snatcher while she was travelling on a scooter on Khera Road here, triggering concern among residents over the rising street crime in the city. Victim Surinder Kaur, a resident of Rama Mandi, stated that she had come to Phagwara to visit her daughter and was on the way to the bus stand when the incident occurred. While her daughter was riding the Activa and she was seated as a pillion rider, a man, riding a motorcycle, snatched her gold chain. Surinder Kaur said her daughter attempted to chase the accused on the Activa, but the snatcher managed to escape. She stated that the value of the stolen gold chain is estimated to be around Rs 30,000. The incident has again highlighted the active presence of snatchers in the city. — OC Jalandhar, December 15 Months after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had raised the issue to rename the historic Burlton Park, the local Surjit Hockey Society has appealed that it should be renamed after former Indian hockey captain and Olympian Surjit Singh. In a communique to the CM on Monday, society CEO Iqbal Singh Sandhu reminded him of his previous announcement regarding the c m y b removal of symbols of the British rule. In the letter, Sandhu wrote that on June 12 this year, when the CM and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal had laid the foundation stone for the ?78 crore ‘Burlton Park Sports Hub,’ they made it clear that the name ‘Burlton Park’ should go. The CM had pointed out that the park continued to have the name of a British officer, representing a symbol of slavery. The CM had expressed his desire to rename it after a great player from Punjab to inspire the younger generation. Sandhu stated that Burlton Park is known as the “Mecca of Hockey” due to the presence of the world-famous Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium and the Surjit Hockey Academy. He said this academy had produced Indian hockey captains like Manpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh. Furthermore, Olympians and international stars such as Hardik Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shamsher Singh, Varun Kumar, Dilpreet Singh, Simranjit Singh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Jarmanpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, and Sukhjit Singh were the products of this soil, he pointed out. Sandhu has proposed that the name of the park be changed to “Olympian Surjit Singh Sports Park.” The step will not only fulfil the CM’s dream of eliminating symbols of slavery, but also a true tribute to the great athlete Olympian Surjit Singh, Sandhu added.