17032026-JTR-01.qxd 3/16/2026 10:44 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune LPG CRISIS: MAHILA CONG PROTESTS OUTSIDE DC OFFICE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO LEARN ROBOTICS, AI AT NEW STEM LAB Long queues were witnessed outside gas agencies, accompanied by a protest by Mahila Congress over the LPG crisis. P2 Govt school students will soon get hands on exposure to modern technology such as robotics, AI and 3D printing . P3 » PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS STUNS IN DIOR GOWN PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 23°C | MIN 11°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 12°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.36 PM Priyanka made a stylish return to the Academy Awards stage, presenting an award at the 98th Oscars ceremony. P4 » FORECAST SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.34 AM » TUESDAY | 17 MARCH 2026 | JALANDHAR 3 city schools receive bomb threat email Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 16 Three schools in city, including Delhi Public School, Cambridge International CoEd School and a branch of Apeejay School at Rama Mandi, received a threatening email today morning. Through the same email sent to schools, the sender also threatened to blow-up the “Assembly” and “Delhi trains”. The sender also called for removing of all statues of Dr BR Ambedkar by April 14, failing which he has threatened to destroy them. This is the fourth such threatening email received by Jalandhar schools from a sender through an abroadbased server. So far, all emails had been found to be a hoax. Following the threat, the schools have not been evacuated, but anti-sabotage teams had been pushed in. Jayanti Puri, ADCP (Investigation), said, “We are getting the school premises checked. Our technical teams are also examining the email. Our PCR teams keep on checking sites around Dr BR Ambedkar’s statue. So far, there is nothing to get panicky about.” AAP has its way, MLA Rana alleges foul play in block samiti chief’s polls Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Sultanpur Lodhi, March 16 The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has managed to appoint its candidate Vidya Rani as the block samiti chairperson and another member Labh Singh Nabipur as its vice chairman in Sultanpur Lodhi. Rana’s faction had won by 8-7 in the 15-member block samiti election held three months ago. Notably, Vidya Rani had won from the faction of Independent MLA Rana Inder Partap, but AAP leader Sajjan Singh Cheema managed to get her join his side after the victory. Cheema had to do this as the post of chairman was reserved for the SC woman candidate. The AAP did not have a candidate who could qualify under this category. The move had equalised both sides since Rana too could cast vote, making it 8-8. But Rana managed to bring AAP winner Harwinderpal Singh Lali (Zone Dalla) to his fold. Cheema got a whiff of it this morning. Earlier, an FIR Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh and his supporters hold a dharna. TRIBUNE PHOTO was lodged against Lali three months ago for reportedly manhandling a cop. Just as Lali was about to enter the Block Development and Panchayat Officer’s office with Rana this morning at 10 am, the police stopped him from doing so, threatening him with arrest orders. At this, Rana and his entire team came to Lali’s rescue. They too refused to go in to protect Lali against the police action. Taking advantage of the situation, the AAP got its Rainbringsmercury down in city Jalandhar, March 16 Almost three weeks since the maximum day temperature had risen upto 32°C, the mercury ranged from minimum of 11°C to maximum 20°C here on Monday. Most city residents, who had tucked away their winter wear, had to take them out again. Commuters could be spotted wearing thick jackets as in the peak winter season to protect themselves from cold winds throughout the day. Though it did not rain much, the temperature dropped all of a sudden. It started drizzling on Sunday evening. The light rainfall continued till this afternoon. The sky remained overcast throughout the day. “I had packed up all jackets and pullovers just 10 days ago thinking that the summer season was already in. We all had been wearing T-shirts for the Man held with 4.30 gm heroin Phagwara, March 16 The Kapurthala police have arrested a man after he was allegedly found in possession of heroin. ASI Bhupinder Singh stated that he, along with Head Constable Amrik Singh, was present at the Sadar police station when several residents arrived and produced a man before them. The residents informed the police that they had apprehended the man on suspicion of drug trafficking. Acting on the information, the police took the individual into custody and conducted further inquiries. During preliminary probe, accused identified himself as Raman Kumar of the Dera Jaggu Shah area under the Kapurthala city police station. The police said during checking, 4.30 grams of heroin was allegedly recovered from the accused. Following recovery, a case was registered against him under the NDPS Act. — OC Sky remained overcast with drizzle bringing a significant drop in temperature in Jalandhar on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH last nearly two weeks. It was cloudy for the past three days, but the weather became cold all of a sudden this morning,” said Shalini, a schoolteacher, who said she wore a full-sleeve pullover throughout the day on Monday. — TNS Jalandhar, March 16 Punjab is set to host the Asia Cup Hockey Championship 2026 in October, marking a significant moment for the state as it prepares to welcome the prestigious event. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a press conference today. “It is for the first time that an international championship is being held here. Earlier, an India-Pakistan hockey match was played in Jalandhar in 1997,” said Nitin Kohli, president of Hockey Punjab. Sharing information, Mann said the tournament would be jointly hosted in Jalandhar and Mohali. Matches would be played at the newly upgraded ground at Burlton Park in Jalandhar, he said. “Preparations are under- way. Tomorrow, I will hold a meeting in this regard. A new ground is coming up and there are some lighting issues that will be resolved soon,” said Kohli. Chief Minister Mann described the development as a major achievement for the state. “It is good news for Punjab that we will host the championship in October. By then, the new ground at Burlton Park will also be ready,” he said. According to the Chief An overturned tipper truck on the Hajipur–Mansar road. Overloaded tipper truck carrying gravel overturns, damages power lines Talwara(Hoshiarpur), March 16 Accidents involving overloaded tipper trucks carrying stone crusher material continue to raise concern in the Kandi region of Talwara and Hajipur blocks. In the latest incident, a gravel-laden tipper truck overturned late Sunday night near Thakur Filling Station on the Hajipur–Mansar road, causing significant damage to electricity poles and lines disrupting power supply in the surrounding area. According to information, the overloaded tipper truck was going from Mansar towards Hajipur when its driver reportedly lost control over the vehicle near Thakur Fill- ing Station in Sandhwal village. The vehicle overturned on the road and struck an electricity pole, severely damaging the power infrastructure. Fortunately, the driver escaped serious injury. Local residents quickly rushed to the spot and managed to pull the driver out of the overturned vehicle safely. However, the accident led to a major power outage in the area, causing inconvenience to residents. Despite adverse weather conditions and heavy rain, Electricity Department staff remained at the site throughout the night to repair the damaged infrastructure and restore power supply. — OC chairman and vice chairman elected though it lacked majority with only seven members on its side. Rana staged a dharna. He also presented eight members of his side before the media with a ninth vote of his own. Reacting to the incident, Rana Inder Pratap Singh said a compromise had already been reached in the Lali’s case. “Preventing an elected representative from participating in the voting process by citing an already settled case raises serious questions about the neutrality of the administration. Such actions clearly indicate an attempt to manipulate the outcome of the chairman’s elections,” he said. The women representatives from the Rana camp strongly protested the action. During the protest, women alleged that they were pushed and subjected to inappropriate and abusive language by officials present on the spot. Rana Inder Pratap Singh also pointed out that the Pun- Thieves strike at battery shop PSPCL rolls out cheaper electricity for night time industrial operations Phagwara, March 16 The Bilga police have registered a case of burglary after unidentified individuals allegedly broke into a shop at Darapur village and stole batteries, inverters and other equipment during the night. According to the complaint filed by Sulakhan, a resident of Darapur village near Bilga, unknown persons broke lock of his shop and opened its shutter. As per the police report, the accused allegedly stole two new tractor batteries of the Su-Kam brand, one battery charger, five customer batteries kept for service, six locally made inverters, six small and large scrap batteries, along with other spare parts and three tool boxes from the shop premises. Following the complaint, the police registered a case against unidentified persons. — OC Punjab to host Asia Cup Hockey Championship, first international event Tribune News Service jab Vidhan Sabha session was currently underway. Rana said he had earlier requested government officials not to conduct the block samiti chairman’s elections during the ongoing session. “I had requested the government to hold these elections after the Vidhan Sabha session. However, the elections were deliberately scheduled during the session so that an MLA is forced to choose between attending the Assembly to raise issues of his constituency or monitor the election process. This clearly appears to be a planned move,” he said. Criticising the AAP government, Rana Inder Pratap Singh said the entire episode exposes how the ruling party was willing to misuse the administration in order to secure political control, even if it meant undermining democratic norms and ignoring mandate of the elected representatives. Sajjan Singh Cheema, AAP halqa in-charge, however, maintained that the election was held in a most fair manner. “Rana is unnecessarily crying foul,” he said. Minister, teams from India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and China, along with other qualifying sides, were expected to participate in the championship. Half of the matches would be played in Jalandhar, while the remaining fixtures would be held in Mohali. The event is expected to provide a major boost to the sporting culture in the state. Jalandhar, widely known as a sports hub due to its thriving sports goods industry and rich hockey legacy, will once again come into the spotlight by hosting the tournament. Meanwhile, development at Burlton Park is part of an ongoing Rs 78-crore sports hub project. The upcoming championship is expected not only to revive Punjab’s association with international hockey events, but also inspire young athletes across the region. c m y b Jalandhar, March 16 In an effort to ease daytime power demand, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPL) has announced a special concessional electricity tariff for industries willing to shift operations to night hours. Under the scheme, industrial consumers opting for the category will be charged Rs 5.50 per unit for electricity used between 10 pm and 6 am, significantly lower than regular industrial tariffs. As per commercial circular issued by the PSPCL following approval from the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), industries falling under small, medi- um and large supply categories will be able to avail power at a significantly lower tariff if they choose to operate primarily during the night hours. Under the scheme, industries that opt for the special tariff will pay Rs 5.50 per kVAh for electricity consumed between 10 pm and 6 am which is lower than the normal industrial tariff. The scheme will remain applicable from April 1 to March 31, 2027, the circular reads. However, certain conditions have been laid down for industries for availing the benefit. While the scheme is meant for operations carried out exclusively at night, consumers will still be allowed to use electricity between 6 am and 10 am at the normal tariff rates applica- Migrant robbed of ~12K at gunpoint Several injured as earth caves in Phagwara, March 16 A migrant labourer was allegedly robbed at gunpoint by an unidentified motorcycle-borne assailant near City Heart Nagar on the bypass road in Phagwara on Sunday afternoon. According to available information, the victim is a migrant worker, who originally hails from Bharatpur, earns his livelihood by collecting scrap. He was targeted by a youth who arrived on a motorcycle with his face covered. The accused reportedly brandished a pistol and threatened the labourer before snatching Rs 12,000 in cash from him. After committing the robbery, the assailant fled from the spot on his motorcycle. The incident created panic in the area. Upon receiving information, the police reached the spot and initiated an investigation into the matter. The police said CCTV footage from nearby locations was being examined to identify and trace the accused. — OC Phagwara, March 16 Several villagers of two different groups were injured after a section of earth reportedly collapsed during alleged illegal excavation on the panchayat land at a village in Kapurthala district, prompting the authorities to initiate an official investigation into the matter. According to local sources, the incident occurred at Mah Dewa village near Sultanpur Lodhi, where soil was allegedly being excavated from land belonging to the village panchayat. During the digging activity, a portion of the ground caved in, leaving multiple people trapped under the debris. The injured individuals were immediately rescued by locals and rushed to the district hospital for treatment. Among those reported injured were Salwinder Singh, Malkiat Singh, Sandeep Singh, Jaspal Singh, Arshdeep Singh and Sarabjit Kaur, all residents of the near- Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service ble to their category. In addition, industries will be permitted to consume upto 10 per cent of the total units used during the night hours in the daytime period between 10 am and 10 pm, but these units will also be billed at the normal tariff. The PSPCL has clarified that if a consumer exceeds this permitted limit in any billing cycle, the entire electricity consumption for that month will be billed at the normal tariff applicable to the category. In such cases, additional time of day surcharge may also be imposed for consumption during the peak hours. The power utility has also specified that time of day (ToD) rebate will not be avail- able under this scheme as the tariff itself has already been reduced. Another incentive offered under the scheme is a 50 per cent reduction in fixed charges compared to the normal tariff for the relevant industrial category. Officials said, “The initiative is designed to encourage industries to shift non-essential or heavy energy consuming operations to late night hours, helping balance demand on the power grid and improve overall load management.” Industries interested in availing the special tariff will need to submit a written request to switch from the normal tariff to the exclusive night-time tariff with at least one month’s prior notice. Incident happened during ‘illegal excavation’ on panchayat land by areas. Medical staff at the district hospital confirmed that the injured had been admitted for treatment and were currently under medical observation. The victims were receiving treatment for head and body injuries sustained during the earth collapse. Relatives of the injured alleged that the excavation was being carried out illegally on the panchayat land. They claimed that proper safety measures were not in place at the site. Some villagers also raised concerns about unauthorised soil mining in the area, stating that such activities had been going on for some time without strict monitoring. During allegations and counter allegations levelled by both the groups Sultanpur Lodhi DSP Dhirender Verma, who reached the excavation site, said the matter was being investigated minutely. Following the incident, a writ- ten complaint was reportedly submitted to the authorities demanding an inquiry into the matter. The issue has also gained attention on social media, where locals have called for strict action against those responsible for illegal mining. Officials from the Panchayat and Mining Department have taken note of the incident and initiated a preliminary investigation into the matter. The authorities stated that a team was directed to visit the site, examine the circumstances under which the excavation was being done, and determine whether the activity was carried out legally or in violation of regulations. The DSP confirmed that further action would be taken on basis of the findings of the inquiry. If illegal mining or negligence was established, appropriate legal proceedings would be initiated against those responsible, he said. — OC