12032026-JTR-01.qxd 3/11/2026 10:36 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune 300 COPS TARGET SUSPECTED DRUG HOTSPOTS IN VILLAGES The Jalandhar Rural Police conduct a large-scale cordon and search operation to target drug hotspots. P2 » PHAGWARA CHC LEFT WITHOUT DOCTORS AT NIGHT ALANKRITA COLLABORATES WITH KARAN AUJLA FOR SONG Residents of 97 villages are facing a serious healthcare crisis due to the absence of doctors at night at the CHC. P3 Actress Alankrita Sahai will be seen opposite Punjabi music sensation Karan Aujla in his new song 5-7. P4 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 26°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 19°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.33 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:40 AM » THURSDAY | 12 MARCH 2026 | JALANDHAR Civic apathy on display as stretch behind PUDA Complex in city falls into neglect Tribune News Service The road behind the PUDA Complex in a deplorable state in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Jalandhar, March 11 In a glaring example of civic apathy in one of Jalandhar’s busiest administrative areas, a stretch behind the PUDA Complex, housing the offices of the Agriculture Department and the Water Supply and Sewerage Department, has fallen into a state of neglect. Shop-cum-office owners in the area allege that despite repeated appeals, the municipal authorities have failed to take any remedial action. They further added that the neglected stretch located behind SCO numbers 28 to 40 at the PUDA Complex has ceased to resemble a functional road with the entire area littered with garbage, debris and overgrown vegetation. Adding to the problem is the complete absence of streetlights which has turned the stretch into a dark and unsafe corridor, particularly during evening hours, the owners added. Ironically, the dilapidated road also faces the Tehsil office and the Suvidha Centre and is located close to several other major government establishments, including the PUDA office and the DC office. With multiple banks and corporate offices operating in the SCOs, business owners noted that the area witnessed a large footfall of visitors, making the continued neglect of the stretch all the more baffling. In a complaint written to the Municipal Corporation, the SCO owners said despite being regular taxpayers, their grievances have gone unheard for years. They allege that the poor condition of the road has made it virtually unusable, forcing people to avoid the stretch altogether. The situation has also raised serious security concerns. According to the shop owners, the deserted and poorly lit road has become a safe haven for drunkards and drug addicts while many people have begun using the area as an open urinal, further worsening the sanitation crisis. Additionally, they asserted in their complaints that neglect has also resulted in repeated theft incidents in the area. Since the rear side of the buildings houses generators and outdoor units of air conditioners installed by banks and corporate offices, several generator batteries and other equipment have reportedly been stolen in recent months, they added. 2 held for firing at Banga hospital Tribune News Service Kotli raises ‘Adampur flyover’ in House Tribune News Service Car driver hurt in accident near Talwara Our Correspondent Talwara, March 11 A car was damaged after it collided with an overloaded tractor-trolley carrying paddy straw in Hajipur town on the Talwara-Mukerian road today. The car driver sustained serious injuries. According to witnesses, the car (CH-01-CN-8261) was heading from Talwara to Hajipur. At the same time, a tractor-trolley loaded with paddy straw was coming from Hajipur towards Talwara and was on its way to an industrial unit located in the Sansarpur Terrace industrial area of Himachal Pradesh. As the car reached near the Hajipur cremation ground, it reportedly collided head-on with the overloaded tractortrolley. The impact was so severe that the car was wrecked. The injured driver Rampal of Sthana in Himachal Pradesh was travelling with his wife and granddaughter at the time of the accident. He was rushed to Government Hospital in Mukerian. Traffic on the TalwaraHajipur road remained disrupted for about half an hour following the accident. The Hajipur police reached the spot, removed the damaged vehicles from the road and restored traffic. An investigation into the incident has been initiated. 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. Jalandhar, March 11 There is a ray of hope for thousands of commuters frequently moving past the under-construction JalandharHoshiarpur road. The issue of the incomplete Adampur flyover and potholed JalandharHoshiarpur road was raised before the government in the Legislative Assembly by Congress MLA Sukhwinder Singh Kotli on Wednesday in reply to which PWD Minister has assured him that the work would be restarted in June. MLA Kotli said the work had started in 2016 but had not been completed. He questioned why action had not been taken against the responsible officials. He told the House that the people of Adampur and those passing through the area are facing a daily grind. Kotli said he had earlier also taken up this issue in the Assembly and even staged Work will begin in June, PWD Minister assures MLA protests. After that, the road work in Adampur was completed, but the bridge work remained incomplete. Thousands of commuters between Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur pass through the narrow service lanes along the stretch facing a lot of inconvenience. During the Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had come to the site and assured the residents that their problem would be looked into. The minister assured the Adampur MLA that the work on the flyover and the road would start in June. MLA Kotli thanked the minister for his assurance and Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan for giving him time to speak on this serious issue. Ruckus after AAP wins Block Samiti chief’s poll Phagwara, March 11 Tension prevailed outside the BDPO office at Rurka Kalan in Phillaur after AAP candidates won the election of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Block Samiti today. SAD and the BSP workers staged a protest, alleging irregularities in the polling process. Following the announcement of the election results, SAD and BSP supporters gathered outside the BDPO office and raised slogans against the government. Former SAD MLA Baldev Singh Khaira alleged that there are 15 Block Samiti members in Rurka Kalan. Nine members expressed support for SAD-backed candidates Sunita Rani for Chairperson and Jaspal Kaur for Vice-Chairperson. However, when the votes were counted inside, Sunita Rani received only seven votes. — OC Nawanshahr, March 11 The Nawanshahr police claimed to have arrested two main suspects of an international extortion gang responsible for the recent firing incident outside Mahindra Hospital in Banga. The accused have been identified as Sawan, resident of Sahri, Mehtiana, Hoshiarpur, and Tushar Sareen, resident of Kirti Nagar, Hoshiarpur. The police recovered the weapons used in the crime. The operation was conducted under the directives of SSP Tushar Gupta, SP (Investigation) Sarabjit Singh Bahia and DSP Surinder Chand. The CIA staff, Nawanshahr, and the SHO of Banga apprehended the suspects on March 9. The police held a press conference in which they said Dr Onkar Singh, owner of Mahindra Hospital on Mukandpur Road, received a threat call on March 3 from a foreign mobile number. “The caller, identified as Jaspreet Singh, alias Kannu, a resident of Kukkar Majara, demanded an extortion amount of Rs 50 lakh and threatened the doctor’s life,” the police said. Consequently, an FIR was registered at the Banga police station. “On March 8, another threatening call demanding money was made to the doctor. The following morning, around 6:30 am on March 9, two unidentified motorcycleborne youths sent by Jaspreet Kannu opened fire outside the hospital,” the police said. “Recognizing the gravity of the crime, the police extensively analyzed CCTV footage and utilised technical and human intelligence to trace the culprits. The investigative efforts led to the arrest of the two main shooters. The police added that during preliminary interrogation, the arrested individuals confessed that they were brought into contact with the Jaspreet Kannu through social media. Kannu lured them with the promise of money to carry out the shootings for extortion and also supplied the weapons. No shortage of LPG, petrol in N’shahr, K’thala: Admn Tribune Reporters Smashed rear glass of the car of AAP leader Daljit Raju. AAP leader Raju’s car vandalised Phagwara, March 11 Panic prevailed in Phagwara on Wednesday evening after the rear glass of an Innova car belonging to AAP leader Daljit Singh Raju was found shattered under mysterious circumstances on the Khera road. The incident took place when Raju arrived at a flex board shop along with his security personnel. Raju stated that he had gone inside the shop for some work while his vehicle was parked on the roadside. While he was inside the shop, he suddenly heard loud voices coming from outside. On stepping out to check what had happened, he was shocked to find that the rear glass of his vehicle had been broken. Soon after receiving information about the incident, Phagwara SP Madhvi Sharma reached the spot and inspected the scene. Police officials conducted a preliminary inquiry and also scanned CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity. However, the CCTV footage did not reveal any clear clue regarding the incident. In November last year, unidentified persons had opened fire at Raju’s residence in Darvesh village. — OC Nawanshahr, March 11 Additional Deputy Commissioner, Nawanshahr, Balbir Raj Singh on Wednesday assured residents that there is no shortage of LPG cylinders, petrol or diesel in the district and urged people not to panic over the availability of these essential commodities. Referring to concerns arising amid the prevailing situation, the ADC reiterated that the district administration is closely monitoring the supply and availability of fuel and LPG to ensure that residents do not face any inconvenience. Chairing a review meeting with LPG and petroleum dealers, Balbir Raj Singh reviewed the stock position in the district. He said sufficient stocks of LPG and petroleum products are available and there is no reason for the public to feel anxious. He appealed to residents to refrain from panic buying of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders, stating that such practices can lead to unnecessary disruption and mismanagement in the supply chain. The ADC further said the c m y b Amid apprehension of LPG shortage, residents resort to panic buying of gas cylinders in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH government has already invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act to prevent the misuse of these essential commodities. He warned that hoarding, black marketing or stocking of LPG cylinders and petroleum products would invite strict action. Balbir Raj Singh also directed representatives of oil companies and LPG agencies to keep a close watch on stock levels and distribution to ensure transparency and prevent any misuse. He also called upon people to clear their pending e-KYC by visiting the agency for uninterrupted supply of LPG and share OTP with delivery person at the time of delivery. The ADC also advised consumers to avoid rushing gas agency counters for booking as they can easily book their cylinders with just a missed call. The ADC also mentioned that customers can book their LPG cylinders by giving a missed call on their respective oil companies numbers i.e. IOC booking number 8454955555, HPCL booking number 9493602222, and BPCL booking number 7710955555. PHAGWARA: Kapurthala DC Amit Kumar Panchal has clarified that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or domestic LPG gas anywhere in the district. The DC issued these directions while chairing a special meeting at the District Administrative Complex to review the availability and supply of petroleum products and domestic LPG in the district. The meeting was attended by officials of oil companies, the District Food and Supplies Department and owners of petrol stations and gas agencies in Kapurthala district. During the meeting, the DC emphasized that in view of the ongoing tensions in the Gulf region, it was important to ensure uninterrupted supply of petrol, diesel and LPG to consumers at the rates fixed by the government. He directed all petrol pump operators and LPG agency owners to maintain adequate supply and ensure that consumers do not face any inconvenience. He urged citizens not to worry about the supply and continue purchasing fuel and gas as per their usual needs.