14012026-JTR-01.qxd 1/13/2026 11:15 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune ~2 CR PROJECTS LAUNCHED AT HOSHIARPUR FOCAL POINT K’THALA CELEBRATES WORLD HINDI DAY WITH POETS’ MEET SUNIEL SHETTY TO HOST SHOW BHARAT KE SUPER FOUNDERS The projects include construction of a community hall, development of a modern park, construction of boundary walls. P2 Renowned poetess and writer Dr Jaspreet Kaur ‘Falak’ graces the occasion as the chief guest. P3 Bharat Ke Super Founders show brings together business tycoons to back India’s next wave of entrepreneurs. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 11°C | MIN 4°C YESTERDAY MAX 11°C | MIN 4°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.46 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 7:27 AM WEDNESDAY | 14 JANUARY 2026 | JALANDHAR ‘Drug overdose’ claims youth’s life Wife claims it’s murder |2 friends arrested Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 13 A 25-year-old youth died of suspected drug overdose in the Bhargo Camp locality here last evening. The deceased Amit was an autorickshaw driver. He was married for the past four years, had a two-yearold son and his wife was expecting their second child. He was the only breadwinner in the family. His mother alleged that he had gone out with two friends in the morning. The family received a message that his health had worsened all of a sudden. He was rushed to a hospital but the doctors declared him brought dead. Drug smuggler arrested with 101 gm heroin Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 13 The police have arrested a drug smuggler and recovered 101 gram of heroin from his car. Harvinder Singh Virk, SSP Jalandhar Rural, said Inspector Pushp Bali had sent a team of CIA staff under ASI Parvinder Singh to the area for patrolling towards from Adampur to Bhogpur. When the police party reached Beas village via Alawalpur from Jand Singha, a white Ertiga with number PB-01-G-0301 was seen parked on the link road of Beas village. A young man was seen sitting on the driver’s seat, who, seeing the police party’s vehicle, suddenly started his vehicle and started to move away. The ASI stopped the patrol vehicle in front of his vehicle and caught Parvez Sidhu, alias Ghoda, resident of Jalowal, Bhogpur police station. On searching his vehicle, 101 gram of heroin was recovered from the dashboard of the vehicle. An FIR under Sections 21B-61-85 NDPS Act was registered at Adampur police station. Virk said the accused used to sell heroin in Adampur, Bhogpur areas of Jalandhar by bringing it at cheap prices from Hamira and Subhanpur areas of Kapurthala. He was produced in the court and taken on remand. The movable and immovable property of the arrested accused, which was acquired from the drug trade, would be confiscated as per the law, he said. 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. The family has termed the incident a murder as they alleged that Amit had been given some poison or an overdose of an intoxicant by his friends which led to his death. Amit had reportedly undergone a de-addiction treatment. Ex-MLA and BJP leader Sheetal Angural has alleged that the incident exposed the false claims made by the government recently during the launch of phase-2 of Yudh Nashian Virudh. “The ground reality is that drugs are easily available. Just a day ahead of the festival of Lohri, a family has lost a youth which is sad”, he said. The body of the youth was taken to the Civil Hospital for post-mortem. SHO Bhargo Camp Mohan Lal said, “There is no confirmation yet about the drug intake. Postmortem was conducted today but the report is expected after a week. We have lodged an FIR and arrested two youths from the neighbourhood, at whose place the victim had died.” 36 hours on, no breakthrough in Phagwara sweets shop firing case Our Correspondent Phagwara, January 13 Even after 36 hours of the firing at Sudhir Sweets on Hoshiarpur Road, the Phagwara police are yet to identify the attackers or establish a definite motive behind the shocking act. The authorities, however, affirmed that investigation teams, led by SP Madhvi Sharma, are working relentlessly, examining every available lead with diligence and responsibility. The incident took place around 6:30 am on Monday when three masked youths arrived on a scooter, one entered the shop and reportedly threw a slip, carrying three names, while another fired multiple rounds at the glass entrance before fleeing. Although the front door and windowpanes were shat- Firing shattered the windowpanes of a popular sweets shop in Phagwara that was targeted by assailants last Monday. FILE tered, it is a matter of relief that no injuries were reported despite the presence of the owner and staff inside. Senior police officers, including SSP Gaurav Toora, visited the site and reviewed the situation. The shop owner has stated that he has not received any threat or extortion call, adding to the mystery surrounding the case. In view of public concern and the upcoming Lohri festival, when footfall and celebrations are expected to rise across the city, the police have intensified patrolling and strengthened security deployments to ensure public safety. The authorities have urged citizens to remain calm and cooperative, assuring that every effort is being made to trace the culprits and maintain peace. Former Union Minister Som Parkash and Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal condemned the incident, describing it as an attempt to create fear and disrupt harmony, and demanded strict action against those responsible. Tussle between Pargat, AAP Car-borne assailants fire shot leader rages on over Atishi at youth at broad daylight On debate challenge, Cong leader says ready to take on CM Mann, Speaker or Kejriwal Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 13 Following Saturday’s protest, tensions have escalated after minister Mohinder Bhagat visited the residence of Congress MLA Pargat Singh where he was challenged to a debate over Delhi LoP Atishi’s remarks and other Punjab-related issues. On behalf of Bhagat and other AAP leaders, party general secretary Deepak Bali on Sunday put up a Facebook post, saying that he was ready to take the debate challenge. “Pargat can give me 72hour notice. He can call the debate at just 24-hour notice or may be with immediate effect, I accept his challenge. A chit system may be arranged for choosing the topic of debate. I am wellversed with culture, heritage and issues of Punjab and I accept Pargat’s challenge. AAP leader Dipak Bali Cong MLA Pargat Singh My only condition is that the language to be used for the same must be decent”, he alleged, adding that Pargat had used some unparliamentary words while addressing AAP leaders and workers during a protest on Saturday. Pargat chose to reply back this morning on his Facebook, “I do not debate with ‘agents’. AAP has tried to give the minister the cover by asking their yesman to put this post. My only reason for the debate challenge was that a minister had come to my doorstep. Minis- ters do not even know how to maintain their position and status. AAP leaders have been protesting against me and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira even as the row is between the AAP and the BJP in Delhi. We do not know if some BJP leaders doctored the videos of Atishi or not.” He added, “I do not run away from any debate. But I have some conditions. I want to debate with either of the three AAP leaders - AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, CM Bhagwant Mann or Speaker Kultar Sandhwan. Also, three independent journalists should moderate the debate and allow equal time to either side.” Later in the evening, Bali ridiculed Pargat through another FB post writing, “The former hockey captain has taken excuses and run away.” vidual who regularly passed by while sounding a hooter. Reaching the spot, Sahil’s father Raj Kumar said the family had no rivalry with anyone and demanded justice in the matter. SHO of Sadar Police Station Harjit Singh said the incident was being investigated and further action would be taken on the basis of the complaint. Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, January 13 Unidentified assailants opened fire at a youth sitting in his car with the intention to kill him in broad daylight in Islamabad on the Hoshiarpur–Chandigarh road. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported in the incident. Victim Sahil, a resident of Mohalla Shanti Nagar, said around 6 pm, he was leaving Mohalla Islamabad in his car along with a companion. Some persons travelling in a car approached from the opposite side and fired shots at his vehicle. Sahil stated that the assailants fired one shot in the air and two shots directly at his car. He further revealed that five persons, including two women, were travelling in the Grand Vitara. He claimed to have identified some of the accused. The victim stated that he bore no personal enmity toward anyone, though he recalled a prior altercation with an indi- (Left) Victim Sahil; and (below) people look at the car after the firing in Hoshiarpur. Lohri then and nowMore display & less emotions, feel experts Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 13 “Sundar Mundriye Hoye, tera kaun vichara…”, the iconic Lohri song echoes every January 13. As Lohri was celebrated across Punjab, The Tribune spoke to noted writers and elderly farmers to understand whether the festival’s traditional fervour is still alive. Most agreed that while the josh and utsah remain, the way Lohri is celebrated has changed significantly over the years. Celebrated writer and recipient of the President’s Award, who has authored 77 books, including ‘Raakh’ and ‘Cheelein’, said the essence of Lohri has been diluted by modern practices. “Earlier, children would go house to house singing ‘Sundar Mundriye Hoye’. They would knock on doors and ask for wood, cow dung cakes, coins and ‘makki de daane’”, he recalled. “Now everything comes in (Left) Girls perform gidha during Lohri festival and gidha girls click a selfie in Jalandhar on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH neatly packed gift boxes. Marketing has changed everything. There is more display and less emotion,” he said, adding that while enthusiasm is still there, the soul of the festival is missing. Noted author, filmmaker and researcher Satnam Chana echoed similar sentiments. “We always used to go back to our village for Lohri, but this time it didn’t happen,” he said. “Mel-milaap has reduced and celebrations feel more like a formality now. People just send messages instead of meeting. There is more show and less togetherness. People remain confined to their c m y b homes,” Chana observed. He added that earlier children would collect peanuts and sweets by visiting homes, whereas now these items are simply bought from shops. Sharing a grassroots perspective, farmer Kirpal Singh from Musewal village said he and his peers were discussing how drastically things have changed. “Children now have mobile phones and don’t step out much. Many of them don’t even know why Lohri is celebrated or the history behind it,” he said. As bonfires continue to be lit and songs sung, voices across generations suggest that Lohri, once deeply rooted in community bonding and folklore, is gradually giving way to convenience-driven and commercial celebrations, raising concerns about how its traditional warmth can be preserved for future generations. City declared ‘no-flying zone’ from Jan 14-16 President Murmu to attend convocation at NIT on Jan 16 Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 13 As President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to attend the 21st annual convocation of Dr BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology on January 16, Jalandhar has been declared a ‘no flying zone’ from January 14 to 16. Additional Deputy Commissioner (G) Amaninder Kaur issued the orders, saying that other than the aircraft and choppers of the President or any other VVIP , no other helicopter, drone or remote operated object can be flown for three days. During the convocation, degrees will be conferred upon 1,452 students, comprising 1,011 undergraduate students (BTech), 238 postgraduate students (MTech), 21 MBA students, 90 MSc. students and 92 PhD students. The ceremony is also expected to witness the presence of Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and eminent academicians. A total of 31 medals, including 30 discipline-wise medals and one overall B.Tech topper medal, will be awarded to meritorious students in recognition of their outstanding academic performance. Speaking ahead of the convocation, Prof Binod Kumar Kanaujia, Director of NIT, stated that the presence of the President and other dignitaries and academicians would be a moment of immense pride and inspiration for the entire NIT Jalandhar fraternity. Lohri celebrated for 10 new-born girls in hospital Phagwara, January 13 Under the directions of the Civil Surgeon, Kapurthala, Dr Sanjeev Bhagat, “Dheeyan Di Lohri” (Lohri for daughters) was celebrated today at the Civil Hospital Phagwara, supervised by Senior Medical Officer Dr Simardeep. On the occasion, warm clothes were distributed to 10 new-born girls. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Simardeep Kaur said in today’s era, there remains no difference between girls and boys. There is no field where girls have not proven their worth and they are serving the nation by reaching high positions in various sectors. Present on the occasion were Dr Ravi Kumar, Dr Kashish Dhingra, Dr Nikhil, Dr Manjit Nagra, Dr Prabhjot Kaur, Dr Jatinder Sandhu, Sonu Bala, staff nurse Parminder Kaur, Urmila, Monika and other health staff members. — OC