18082026-JTR-01.qxd 8/17/2026 10:45 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune BJP TEAM MEETS TOP COP OVER DELIVERY BOY’S DEATH IN ACCIDENT BIOTECHNOLOGIST DEVELOPS DROUGHT-RESISTANT CROPS ACTOR PARVIN DABAS IS BACK WITH KHOSLA KA GHOSLA 2 They urged the authorities to take the matter seriously and ensure strong measures for road safety and traffic management. P2 Dr Sharma has published extensive research on water scarcity and drought resilience in major staple crops. P2 Nearlytwodecadesafterthecultclassic,Dabas returns as Cherry, revisiting a much-loved character&reunitingwiththeoriginalcast.P4 » » » FORECAST RAINY MAX 30°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.07 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:55 AM TUESDAY | 18 AUGUST 2026 | JALANDHAR HEALTH & WELLNESS The Tribune has started 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. Balachaur man gets 20-yr jail term in POCSO case 27-year-old convict is hearing and speech impaired Ashok Kaura INBRIEF GURMEET KAUR GETS SSP RANK Phagwara: Kapurthala SP Gurmeet Kaur has been promoted to the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and posted as Commandant of the 27th Battalion of the Punjab Armed Police (PAP), Jalandhar. A pipping ceremony to mark her promotion was held in the presence of MF Farooqui, ADGP, PAP. Farooqui congratulated Gurmeet Kaur on her elevation and wished her success in her new assignment. OC Nawanshahr, August 17 A special court in Nawanshahr has convicted 27-yearold Angad in a case of aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a minor and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The judgment was delivered by Judge Aprajita Joshi in connection with an FIR dated September 7, 2022, registered at Police Station, Balachaur, under Section 377 of the IPC and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. According to the court’s findings, the victim was a child aged around six or seven years. The court held that the prosecution had established the Angad’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The judgment also noted that Angad had hearing and speech impairment and interpreter, Kuldip Kumar from an engineering institute in Nawanshahr, was specially deputed to assist him through sign language during the proceedings. The court rejected several arguments advanced by the defence, including objections concerning the delay in registration of the FIR, absence of semen in the forensic report and the claim that conviction could not be based on the testimony of an uncorroborated child witness. The court held that the absence of semen did not rule out penetrative sexual assault, observing that penetration even to the slightest extent was sufficient to constitute the offence. It found the child’s testimony reliable, persuasive and trustworthy, while also noting that material aspects were corroborated by the statements of the child’s parents and the landlord. The court further observed that Angad was known to the victim’s family and had allegedly abused the trust placed in him. It noted the serious physical and emotional consequences of the offence for the child, observing that such trauma could have lasting effects on the victim’s sense of safety, trust and emotional well-being. The court sentenced Angad to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ~50,000 under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, directing that the entire fine be paid to the victim. In default of payment, he will undergo an additional eight months’ rigorous imprisonment. He was also sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ~20,000 under Section 377 of the IPC, with ~15,000 of that fine to be paid to the victim and ~5,000 to the state. A further six months’ rigorous imprisonment was ordered in default of payment of the latter fine. In addition, the court awarded ~5 lakh as compensation to the victim for rehabilitation and the mental trauma suffered, directing that the amount be deposited in a fixed deposit receipt in a nationalised bank. The matter was ordered to be sent to the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, for disbursement under the applicable victim compensation scheme. In its observations, the court emphasised the profound impact sexual assault can have on a child’s dignity, selfesteem, confidence and sense of trust, describing such offences against minors as a grave violation of their fundamental, constitutional and human rights. The court also stressed that appropriate punishment in proved cases is essential to maintaining public confidence in the justice system and ensuring that the seriousness of such offences is reflected in sentencing. Potholes, sewage woes irk commuters Tribune News Service FIVE BOOKED FOR ASSAULT Phagwara: The Mehatpur police have booked five miscreants for kidnapping and assaulting a youth. The accused have been identified as Soni, Jugraj, Bachi and Sonu, residents of Dharme Dian Chhana village, and Bagga of Umrewal village. Lovpreet Singh of Kayamwala village complained to the police that the accused and their four unidentified accomplices kidnapped him at pistol point and took him to the riverside and assaulted him there. A has been registered against the accused and their four accomplices. OC TWO 'DRUG PEDDLERS' HELD Phagwara: The Nakodar Sadar police have arrested two persons for selling intoxicating tablets. Sixty tablets were recovered from the possession of the accused Shankar of New Baradari, Jalandhar, and Balwant Singh, a resident of Pati Takhar Shankar village. OC ‘DRUG ADDICT’ ARRESTED Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested a 'drug addict'. The accused has been identified as Mangal Preet, alias Yama, a resident of Sadikpur village. A lighter, a silver paper, and plastic pipe used for consuming contraband were recovered from his possession. oc EXPIRED MEDICINE KILLS YOUTH Phagwara: A 19-year-old youth died after consuming an expired medicine. The deceased has been identified as Karandeep Singh (19) of Mohalla Balochan, Mehatpur. Simranjit Kaur, sister of the deceased, told the police that her brother consumed an expired medicine by mistake and died. oc Jalandhar, August 17 Residents of heavily populated Parshuram Nagar near Transport Nagar here say damaged and uneven roads have turned their daily commute into a nightmare with the situation worsening after every spell of rain. The stretch is dotted with potholes and craters while sewage overflow and waterlogging add to residents problems. Highlighting their concerns, residents said Street No 3, a prominent road connecting the locality with Transport Nagar and the Pathankot bypass, is among the worst affected. They said prolonged waterlogging had further damaged the road surface, making it difficult for pedestrians, twowheeler riders and other motorists to use the stretch. They also raised concerns over stagnant water and overflowing sewage, saying the conditions could create unhygienic surroundings in the densely populated locality. Manish Kumar, a local resi- The road at Parshuram Nagar in Jalandhar in a dilapidated condition after rain. A TRIBUNE PHOTO dent, said, “After every shower, water accumulates on the road as there is no proper outlet for its discharge. Over the years, the authorities have made several promises to repair the roads but the problem continues.” The MC, however, has announced road construction works in the area. A foundation stone for the works was laid on August 13, with the civic body assuring that the work would be taken up shortly. Ward councillor Harpreet Kumar Walia said the road construction work is expected to be completed within 10 to 15 days. He said Parasuram Nagar falls under the category of “undeclared areas”, where the Municipal Corporation could not directly undertake works. Instead, grants from the state government are used to fund civic projects in the area. “I have written to the MC for the construction of road gullies and ramps along the main road, which is around three feet higher than the adjoining locality, to prevent the rainwater from accumulating on the road,” he said. Youth Congress members hold a massive protest in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Youth Cong seeks Bains’ ouster over paper leaks Activists stage protest, submit memorandum to DC Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 17 Demanding the resignation of Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains over the alleged various paper leaks in Punjab during the tenure of the Aam Aadmi Party government, the Youth Congress on Monday staged a protest outside the DC office here. Punjab Youth Congress state president Shubham Elderly woman dies as roof falls amid rain Hoshiarpur, August 17 An elderly woman buried under debris and died when the roof of a house collapsed following heavy rain here on Sunday. Surinder Kumar Kaka of Mohalla Balmiki, Ghanta Ghar, said his sister-in-law, Kamla, 78, was sleeping in the verandah of her house around 6 am when the roof supported by wooden-beams collapsed on her amid heavy rain. With the help of local residents, Kamla was pulled out from under the debris and rushed to the Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur. She succumbed to her injuries, he said. Kamla lived in the house with her husband and son. Surinder Kumar said the family had not received any government assistance despite the house having a roof supported by wooden beams. Locals present at the spot urged the government to provide financial assistance to the bereaved family. — OC Sharma Shubhi led the march to the DC office and also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. Addressing protesters and speaking to the media, Shubham Sharma said, “During the four-and-a-half-year tenure of the AAP government, six papers had been leaked. The future of more than one million students has been affected. The first recruitment examination for Tehsildars was leaked just one-and-a-half months after the government came to power. The government is trying to suppress these paper-leak incidents.” Punjab Youth Congress state general secretary Deepak Khosla, district urban president Angad Dutta, Youth Congress rural president Manpreet Chaddha, along with other members of the state executive, also participated in the protest. Curbs on flashing lights, tinted films on K’thala vehicles Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 17 Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Kapurthala, Randeep Singh Heer on Monday issued orders that agencies, firms, stock dealers and shopkeepers dealing in car accessories are to maintain complete records of the sale and fitting of specified accessories, including hooters, sirens, flashing lights, blue and LED lights, black films, grills and guards. ADM Heer ordered that no car accessory repair shop or agency would install hooters, sirens, flashing lights or LED lights on the front or rear or bumper guard of any vehicle unless the vehicle owner produces permission obtained from the police station concerned. He also ordered that all shops and agencies installing such equipment to maintain records of the vehicles and preserve copies of the permissions. These records would be produced during inspection, whenever required. The order further prohibits car accessory shops and agencies from installing black film or tinted glass on vehicle windows in a manner that reduces visibility below the prescribed standards, unless permission has been obtained. The shops/agencies will maintain records of the vehicle and vehicle owner along with a copy of the permission. The ADM has directed that all such records be maintained and preserved for five years from the date of installation. For identification purposes, all car accessory shops/agencies would also affix a sticker bearing their name and telephone number on the installed equipment. Youth hurt in firing From personal loss to 100 blood donations in Sultanpur Lodhi Minister Mohinder Bhagat honours PSPCL staffer Tandon for his service on I-Day Rishika Kriti Our Correspondent Kapurthala, August 17 Panic gripped Sardullapur village in Sultanpur Lodhi subdivision following a latenight firing incident in which 25-year-old Sukhdeep Singh sustained a gunshot injury on the left side of his face. According to the family, the incident occurred late at night and was captured on a CCTV camera installed in the village. The footage is now being examined by the police. The injured youth was rushed to the Civil Hospital, Sultanpur Lodhi, by his family members and local residents. After providing initial treatment, doctors referred him to a higher medical cen- tre in view of his serious condition. His family said he remains in serious condition. Sukhdeep Singh’s brother alleged that attempts had been made to attack his younger brothers in the past as well. He said the family had learnt that the assailants arrived in a vehicle and fled the spot after the firing. The family has urged the police to identify and arrest the accused at the earliest. Village resident Karma also expressed concern over the incident, saying the firing had created fear among residents. Villagers appealed to the police administration to strengthen security in the area and take strict action against those found responsible. Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 17 When Sunil Tandon was 16, he could not donate blood to his father despite having the same blood group. His father Ashok Kumar Tandon was electrocuted and needed O positive blood but Sunil was too young to donate. His father could not be saved after failing to receive blood in time. Years later, that personal tragedy has become the driving force behind Tandon’s commitment to blood donation. Tandon, who works at Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) office in Boota Mandi, has now donated blood 100 times. He started donating blood in 1998, soon after turning 18. “I have been donating c m y b PSPCL employee Sunil Tandon honoured for scoring a century in blood donations. blood since 1998. My father was electrocuted and required blood during treatment at Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) in Ludhiana. I have the same blood group but I could not donate as I was only 16. My father could not be saved as he did not receive blood in time,” Tandon said. The experience left a last- ing impression on him. After turning 18, he decided to donate blood regularly, determined that others in need should not face the same difficulty in getting blood when it matters the most. Over the past 28 years, Tandon has donated blood on 100 occasions. What began with the loss of his father has since become a sustained effort to help patients requiring blood transfusions. His contribution was recognised during the Independence Day function at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium in Jalandhar on August 15 where Minister Mohinder Bhagat honoured him for his service. Tandon expressed his gratitude to the government and the district administration for recognising his contribution.