06022026-JTR-01.qxd 2/5/2026 11:53 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune 649TH GURU RAVIDAS BIRTH ANNIV: DAY 2 DRAWS LARGE CROWDS 600 STUDENT-ATHLETES VIE FOR TOP SPOTS AT INTER-NIT MEET KESARI, BORDER 2: A DREAM RUN FOR HARWINDER AUJLA A large number of devotees pay obeisance during the Shri Akhand Path at Khuralgarh Sahib. P2 The three-day tournament features athletics and chess competitions for men and women. P3 After leaving a mark in Kesari, actor Harwinder Aujla is earning acclaim for his powerful turn in Border 2. P3 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 21°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 5°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.07 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7:15 AM » FRIDAY | 6 FEBRUARY 2026 | JALANDHAR Minister, Dhir among 11 Centrefordomesticviolencevictimsopens acquitted in 9-yr-old case Tribune News Service JALANDHAR, February 5 In a significant move to strengthen victim-centric policing and support mechanism for women, the police have set up a ‘Saanjh Rahat Kendra’, a dedicated support centre for victims of domestic violence, at the Civil Hospital in Jalandhar. Inaugurating the centre here on Thursday, Special DGP Community Affairs , Division and Women Affairs, Gurpreet Kaur Deo said the centre marks a pivotal step in ensuring timely psycho-social and legal assistance to women in distress through proactive community partnership. The special DGP was accompanied by Commissioner of Police (CP) Dhanpreet Kaur. The centre, a collaborative effort under the aegis of the Commissionerate Police, Jalandhar, is established within the hospital premises to ensure the easy accessibility and confidentiality for victims. It aims to identify cases at the earliest and provide integrated support, including immediate Had blocked gate of police station during 2017 MC poll Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 5 The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Sushil Bodh on Thursday acquitted 11 political leaders from Jalandhar, including AAP minister Mohinder Bhagat and Mayor Vaneet Dhir, in a case pertaining to a protest that they had organised in the midst of the MC elections in 2017. Bhagat, Dhir, ex-MLA Sheetal Angural, Robin Sampla, Pardeep Khullar, Amit Taneja, Ajay Joshi, Ramesh Sharma, Raman Pabbi, Saurav Seth and Ravi Mahendru had been booked when they had sat on a dharna in front of Basti Bawa Khel police station on December 12, 2017. All these leaders had then represented the BJP However, . Two women arrested with heroin in Kapurthala Kapurthala, November 5 In separate incidents under the NDPS Act, the Kapurthala police have arrested two women and recovered heroin from their possession at different locations in the district. SSP Gaurav Toora stated that in the first case registered under Section 21 of the NDPS Act, the police arrested Gurmel Singh, alias Ays, of Kapurthala. During the operation, woman Gurbachan Kaur of New Pind Bhatthe under Kotwali Police Station, Kapurthala district, was found involved in the case. The arrest was made when a police party was conducting patrol near a land close to Sacred Heart School. On spotting the police party, the woman allegedly tried to turn back and flee. The police apprehended her and during a search, 6 gram of heroin was recovered from her possession. A case has been registered. In another case registered under the NDPS Act, ASI Puran Chand and his police team arrested Ramandeep Kaur alias Billo, of Latianwal village under Sultanpur Lodhi. The police party was on patrol when they noticed two youths who fled after seeing the police vehicle. During the chase, the police observed a young woman standing outside her house holding a heavy polythene envelop. On noticing the police vehicle, she allegedly threw the envelop near the boundary wall and attempted to run inside her house. She was apprehended. Upon checking the discarded polythene envelope, 140 gram of heroin was recovered. A case has been registered and further legal action is in progress. — OC 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. Mohinder Bhagat Sheetal Angural Vaneet Dhir Bhagat, Dhir and Robin Sampla are now in the Aam Aadmi Party. Non-bailable warrants too had been issued against Sheetal Angural in the case. On December 12 night, then Congress candidate Jagdish Samrai (who too now is in AAP) from Ward no. 78 had alleged that he was being attacked by BJP candidate Ravi Mahendru from Ward no. 48. He had also alleged that the leaders had come in vehicles loaded with weapons. The police had then reached the spot where no weapons were found. No injury had been caused to anyone. The police had managed to settle the issue between both sides. Both sides had been asked to disperse and leave for their places. However, the 11 leaders had reportedly blocked the gate of the police station. Former BJP state president Kamal Sharma too had been booked in the case but he passed away in 2019. An FIR had been lodged against them under Sections 143 and 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharging of duty) and 505 (conducting public mischief) of the IPC at Basti Bawa Khel police station on December 13. Special DGP Gurpreet Kaur Deo inaugurates the Saanjh Rahat Kendra at the Civil Hospital in Jalandhar on Thursday. counselling, legal guidance, and rehabilitation linkages. Deo emphasised the critical need for sensitised police response and robust interdepartmental coordination in Two arrested with 10,000 litre of illicit liquor Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 5 As many as 10,000 litre of illicit liquor has been seized by the Goraya police in a special operation here on Wednesday night. An offender already out on bail in a case along with an employee have been arrested by the Goraya police for preparation of illicit liquor (lahan). Those arrested include Sukhdev Singh (who is also wanted in a previous case) and a labourer Nathu, resident of Bihar. The third accused, Bharat Singh, is absconding. Receiving a tip-off that illicit lahan in huge quantities was being prepared at an establishment in Rurka Kalan, the Goraya police raided the establishment, late on Wednesday evening. DSP Phillaur Bharat Masih, A huge cache of liquor seized by the Goraya police during a raid. along with the SHO, Phillaur, raided the establishment where lahan was found to be ‘Our senior citizens, our pride’ drive in city from Feb 16 Tribune News Sevice Jalandhar, February 5 The administration is starting the ‘Our Senior Citizens, Our Pride’ campaign in the district from February 16 for the welfare of the elderly. Presiding over a meeting, Additional Deputy Commissioner (J) Amaninder Kaur said under the campaign, special camps will be organised for the care of the elderly persons on health, yoga and psychological support till March 16. She said special check-up camps will be organised to maintain the mental health of the elderly in addition to the problems they face in old age, including cataracts, joint pain and other physical diseases. She instructed Health Department officials to ensure timely arrangements for the camps. He said yoga camps would also be organised for the health care of the elderly. Cultural activities will also be organised to increase mutual TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH. made in a massive cauldron. The SHO said the illicit liquor was being prepared with a distillery also operational and upon an intensive search, four big drums were also found. The police said the drums were buried and plastered in a way that their storage site was indistinguishable from the floor. The police said the accused had earlier also been caught during a raid and Sukhdev Singh was currently out on bail. In total 10,000 litre of illicit lahan and 100 litres of illicit country-made liquor was recovered from the site. Sukhdev and absconding aide Bharat Singh collectively had nine cases against them - all of them under the Excise Act. Sukhdev’s brother Bahadur Singh had also been arrested with a huge amount of illicit liquor being prepared illegally. The police said further investigation in the case is on and the search for the third accused is ongoing. addressing domestic violence. “The Saanjh Rahat Kendra will serve as a vital bridge connecting victims with essential support systems — be it legal aid, professional counselling, Crying for food, child murdered by father Jalandhar, February 5 A five-year-old girl was done to death by father at Doordarshan Enclave near here on Wednesday. Victim Niharika’s mother was away for work. She was reportedly hungry and asked her father Arvinder Singh for food. Since he was then reportedly in an inebriated condition, he got angry over the repeated pestering and screaming by her daughter and pushed her towards the floor. He then strangulated her to death. The accused reportedly hailed from Chhattisgarh and had come to settle in Jalandhar a few years ago. He was a daily wager. It was later when the victim’s mother came home from work that she saw the body of her daughter. Chasing big dreams The inconsolable mother of the victim. A complaint was lodged with the police by the victim’s paternal uncle Himmat Kumar. The accused has been arrested and sent to two-day police remand. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime. — TNS Panic after fire in garbage dump Phagwara, February 5 Panic broke out among residents of the old post office road in Phagwara following a garbage dump catching on fire today. Fire Department official Manpreet Singh said a team from the department rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control with a single fire tender. “The exact cause of the fire is not known at this stage,” he added. The Army Eminence School is located adjacent to the wall of the garbage dump. If the fire had spread further, it could have led to a major mishap. However, timely action by the department averted any loss of life or property. — OC Special camps will be organised for the care of elderly persons contact between the elderly and the youth. Apart from this, awareness programmes will also be organised to provide information about government schemes to the elderly. He said the elderly are an integral part of society and it is the joint responsibility of not only the government, but also the entire society to respect, protect and take care of them. The Additional Deputy Commissioner directed all departments to work in coordination with each other to carry out this campaign for the welfare of the elderly. Apart from District Social Security Officer Naresh Kumar, Secretary District Red Cross Society Surjit Lal, officials of various departments, including Health, Youth Services, Education Department, were present at the meeting. shelter homes, or government welfare schemes. It embodies our commitment to creating a safe and supportive ecosystem for women,” she added. She highlighted that trained counsellors with expertise in psychology and social work would be stationed at the centre to assist victims reporting at the hospital. The centre will work in close synergy with Women Help Desks at police stations and other authorities to ensure swift and effective redressal, she said. Dhanpreet Kaur reiterated the police department’s unwavering focus on women’s safety and community-oriented policing. “The establishment of this kendra reflects our proactive, victim-friendly approach. It is about being accessible and acting as a pillar of support when it is needed the most,” she said. The inauguration ceremony was attended by ADCP-II Akarshi Jain, Civil Surgeon Dr Rajesh Garg, CJM Rahul Kumar Azad, and representatives from the Sakhi One Stop Centre. Athletes do evening running practice in Jalandhar on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Conduct aerial survey of illegal mining: Cong’s Lally to CM Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 5 Ahead of the visit of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to Shri Khuralgarh Sahib for the state-level 649th Parkash Purb of Guru Ravidas, Congress leader from Garhshankar Amarpreet c m y b Lally has demanded that he should do an aerial survey of the illegal mining done in the area before landing in his chopper at the holy shrine. Lally said, “There already have been reports in the media about the illegal cutting of Shivalik Hills with Poclain machines to excavate soil and stones. The rampant mining being done on large scale can lead to massive ecological imbalance in the area. Forests have been wiped out and the hill cutting has been so brazenly done that some hills have come out to the ground level”. The Congress leader, who went to the site today, said, “We hope that when CM Mann flies to Khuralgarh, he will do an aerial survey of the area for a few minutes and get the work stopped immediately. He must issue directions to the officials for quick intervention so that there is no further loss to the environment by some unscrupulous elements. Since minister Harjot Bains too is coming to the shrine and it is his constituency which is the most affected, we expect him also to take action.”