23062026-JTR-01.qxd 6/23/2026 12:13 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune MANDIR COMMITTEE URGES DC TO CLEAR GARBAGE DUMP ONLINE GAMING EMERGING AS GROUND FOR PREDATORS MAANVI SPEAKS ON BODYSHAMING & HER LATEST FILM HEER SARA The panel has requested the Governor to grace the inauguration ceremony of the newly built temples. P2 An expert encouraged schools to introduce digital safety education and awareness sessions for parents. P3 Manvi Gagroo was recently seen in the film Heer Sarawhere she played a body-shamed firecracker. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 39°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 39°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.35 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:24 AM » TUESDAY | 23 JUNE 2026 | JALANDHAR Woman SI caught red-handed taking ~20,000 bribe Our Correspondent Phillaur, June 22 A woman Sub-Inspector in Phillaur has been arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the mother of an accused in a drugs case in exchange for extending official favour and returning the seized mobile phone. The accused officer Amandeep Kaur was caught redhanded during a trap operation conducted by the Vigilance Bureau, Jalandhar. The complainant, Raj Rani, a resident of Mohalla Choudhrian, Phillaur, alleged that her son had been arrested for carrying intoxicating pills. The officer allegedly demanded Rs 20,000 to register the case with a lesser quantity of contraband to enable bail and for the return of his seized mobile phone. According to the complaint, the officer had already received Rs 1,000 from her. Raj Rani further alleged that she recorded the conversation regarding the demand for the bribe and submitted the recording to the Vigilance Bureau as evidence. Unwilling to pay the remaining amount, she approached the Vigilance Bureau, seeking action against the officer. After verifying the allegations, the Vigilance Bureau laid a trap under the supervision of DSP Ashwini Kumar. During the operation, SI Amandeep Kaur was apprehended while accepting Rs 20,000 as bribe in the presence of official witnesses. The currency notes were recovered from her possession. Vigilance DGP Sharad Satya Chauhan told The Tribune that the operation was conducted after verification of the complaint and supporting evidence submitted by the complainant. He said the accused officer was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount and that further investigations were underway to ascertain whether any other persons were involved in the matter. A case has been registered against SI Amandeep Kaur under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Mystery firing at city clinic Realty firm told to return ~41.97L leaves owner shocked to city resident Police suspect accidental or stray shot, investigation on Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 22 A homeopathic clinic owner in Jalandhar was left shocked after discovering a bullet mark on his clinic’s shutter and shattered glass pane in the store on Monday morning. The police have started a probe into the mysterious incident. The incident occurred at a clinic on the Salempur–Verka Milk Plant road. When he returned to open the clinic on Monday morning, he found a bullet hole in the iron shutter. Upon opening it, he noticed that the glass display pane inside was completely shattered, with cracks radiating from what appeared to be a corresponding bullet impact point. The bullet shell was found inside the clinic when it was opened. A complaint was immediately lodged with the Jalandhar police and a probe has begun. Incidentally, the clinic owner said he was perplexed by the incident as he neither had feud, nor received any threats from any unscrupulous elements. Police station in-charge Yad- Jalandhar, June 22 Nearly two decades after paying for two flats that were never handed over, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Jalandhar, has directed a Noida-based private realty firm, Shourya Towers Pvt Ltd, to refund Rs 41.97 lakh to a city resident along with interest, holding the builder guilty of deficiency in service and unfair trade practice. According to complainant’s counsel Jatinder Arora, Randeep Singh Chatha of Urban Estate had booked two 1,565 sq ft flats in the company’s Shourya Greens project near the Amritsar Bypass. He paid the entire sale consideration in instalments but was repeatedly assured of possession without any firm timeline. According to the case record, after failing to deliver the possession of the originally allotted flats despite receiving the full sale consideration, the builder offered the complainant alternative flats through email communications and Sprinter Gurindervir joins Alia Bhatt to promote Alpha Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 22 India’s fastest athlete Gurindervir Singh has teamed up with Bollywood star Alia Bhatt to promote her upcoming film ‘Alpha’. The duo recently shared a video on their Instagram accounts. In the clip, Gurindervir delivers the message: “Sabse aage, sabse tez hone ke liye lagta hai focus, lagan aur hard work.” The video is captioned with the tagline, “Alpha meets an Alpha.” Alia Bhatt describes him as the Apha of the running track who finished 100 m race in 10.09 seconds. During the interaction, Alia Bhatt asked Gurindervir about his journey in athletics and the inspirations behind his success. Reflecting on his early days, the sprinter revealed that legendary runner Usain Bolt played a key role in motivating him to take up the sport. “ I watched Usain Bolt and then thought of becoming an athlete,” Gurindervir said. He also spoke about the influence of his father, who had to give up his volleyball career after suffering an injury. “My father once told me that if he had continued playing volleyball, his life would have been different. That motivated me to pursue sports seriously,” he shared. Gurindervir fondly recalled receiving his first pair of running spikes from his father, who had brought them from New Zealand. The shoes were so precious to him that he treated them with extraordinary care. “I would not even let them touch the floor. I used to keep them on a table only,” he said with a smile. The athlete also revealed a lighter side of his life, naming his father as his favourite chef. “My father makes very good food,” he said. A forensic team inspects the cracked glass at a homoeopathic clinic; and (right) a bullet hole in the shutter of the clinic in Jalandhar on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTOS vinder Singh said since the clinic owner didn’t receive any extortion calls, prima facie, it appears to be a case of stray or accidental firing, possibly by miscreants or someone under the influence of liquor. A detailed probe is under way. Dutta re-elected Jalandhar Urban YC president Jalandhar, June 22 Youth Congress leader Angad Dutta has again been elected as president, Youth Congress, Jalandhar Urban. He had earlier held the post in 2019. Dutta dedicated his victory in the Youth Congress organisational elections to his late father Anil Dutta. Anil Dutta was the Block Youth Congress president in 1976. He later served as District Youth Congress president, Jalandhar, for more than 10 years, general secretary, Punjab Youth Congress, and organising secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC). During his political journey, Angad Dutta has led several youth movements, public welfare campaigns, Covid relief initiatives, blood donation drives and protests on the issues affecting people. He thanked Youth Congress workers and supporters for their faith and said this mandate had increased his responsibility. — TNS said a revised allotment would be finalised from the available inventory. However, these assurances never materialised into actual possession. The proposed alternative flats were also a part of the Shourya Greens Apartments, which subsequently stalled and remained incomplete. Consequently, neither the original flat nor the alternative unit was delivered, leaving the complainant without the promised property. The builder contested the complaint, arguing that the dispute fell within civil jurisdiction and should be addressed through RERA or arbitration provisions in the buyer agreement. The commission rejected these objections, observing that remedies under consumer law operate independently. In its order, the commission directed the company to refund Rs 20.98 lakh for each flat along with 9 per cent annual interest from the dates of deposit. It also awarded Rs 30,000 as compensation for mental harassment and Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs per flat. Heritage tree reduced to trunk in city’s Model Town, probe sought Environmental activist writes to Chief Minister, seeking action Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 22 The severe lopping of a mature roadside tree on Mall Road in Model Town, Jalandhar, has come under scrutiny after a complaint was filed with the Chief Minister’s Office, Punjab. The tree, located outside a building near the Central Bank of India opposite Akal Eye Hospital, has reportedly been reduced to a bare trunk after its canopy and major branches were cut. According to the complaint, the tree has been mutilated well beyond routine pruning, stripping it of its ecological, environmental and aesthetic value. Once known for its dense canopy and shade, it now stands leafless. Environmental activist Tejasvi Minhas has approached the Chief Minister’s Office, Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, DC and The severely lopped heritage tree in Jalandhar. Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, seeking intervention and accountability. The representation describes the tree as a prominent green feature that enhanced the ornamental appeal of Mall Road, adding that its removal has turned the spot into an eyesore. The complaint requests an urgent site inspection to determine whether any permission was granted for such drastic cutting. It further seeks identification of all responsible persons, registration of an FIR if violations are established, recovery of environmental compensation and publication of a detailed action taken report. The representation cites possible violations of the Punjab Protection of Trees Act 2025, Punjab Trees Preservation Policy 2024, Punjab Municipal Corporation Act 1976, Environment Protection Act 1986 and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to damage of public property and unlawful removal or sale of tree wood. The incident has renewed concerns over the rapid loss of mature roadside trees in Model Town, with the complaint warning of shrinking green cover, rising carbon footprint and long-term environmental damage. Jalandhar woman rescued from Oman with MP Seechewal’s help, narrates ordeal Ashok Kaura Phagwara, June 22 The harsh reality of women being trafficked to Arab countries on false job promises has come to the fore again, with a Jalandhar woman rescued after being taken to Dubai and later Muscat. Her family expressed gratitude to Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, saying that they lived in constant anxiety until their daughter finally returned home safely. The victim revealed disturbing details that expose the dangerous reality of human trafficking. She said in Muscat, she saw many girls from Nepal, Sri Lanka, GIRLS FACE PHYSICAL ABUSE ■ The victim revealed that upon arrival, girls’ passports and documents are often confiscated and they are forced to work from early morning until midnight ■ They are kept virtually confined inside homes or offices, with no permission to rest or go outside. Many girls do not even know the area or city where they are being held ■ Girls from different countries were enduring similar suffering while being separated from their families. They were transferred from one employer to another in exchange for money ■ Whenever they talked about returning home, they faced physical abuse, demands for money, or other forms of harsh treatment Family members of the woman who was rescued from Oman with the help of MP Balbir Singh Seechewal. Myanmar and India living in extremely poor conditions. According to her, girls were being sold from one employ- er to another for amounts ranging from 1,200 to 1,350 Omani Riyals. She explained that on February 14, she left for Dubai through a girl from her village, hoping for a brighter future. She had been promised a c m y b good job with a monthly salary of ~40,000. However, after reaching Dubai, the travel agents kept her there for a month before sending her to Muscat. In Muscat, she was forced to perform domestic work from early morning until late at night. There was no fixed time for sleep and no opportunity for rest. Waking up before 5 am was mandatory every day. She further stated that whenever she expressed a desire to return to India, she was treated harshly and even subjected to physical abuse. She was allowed to speak with her family for only 20 minutes. According to her, the premises where she was confined also housed several other girls, many of whom would break down while recalling their families and children. Their only wish, she said, was to somehow return to their home countries. The victim’s family said they approached Seechewal for help on June 4. Recognising the gravity of the situation, he promptly contacted the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy. As a result of these efforts, the young woman safely returned to India on June 14. Seechewal said such cases involving young women in Arab countries are extremely alarming and that immediate action is needed to stop human trafficking. He appealed to the public to verify agents and companies before accepting overseas job offers so that no other daughter falls victim to such dark and painful circumstances.