News / Author / Jatinder Mahal

Jatinder Mahal

Jatinder Mahal is a staff correspondent. He covers Jalandhar, Kapurthala and SBS Nagar district for Hindustan Times.

Articles by Jatinder Mahal

21 child labourers rescued in Kapurthala, no legal action against employers

The child labour prevention week from June 12 to 18 observed by the state government across the state did not yield very encouraging results as only six children were rescued from their workplaces in the district.

District child protection officer Harpreet Kaur Sandhu and other labour department officials interacting with a child labourer in Kapurthala.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Jun 24, 2016 03:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

World No Tobacco Day: Campaign against public smoking fails in Kapurthala

Though the district health department is claiming of taking several initiatives to ensure a tobacco-free district, yet the reality is otherwise when it comes to issuing challans for smoking in public places.

The violation attracts a maximum fine of Rs 20 only against Rs 200 as per the rules.(Photo: Shutterstock)

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Updated on May 31, 2016 03:22 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Illegal hoardings dot Kapurthala, MC to scrap private firm contract

Illegal hoardings galore on almost all major roads and other public properties in the city, with little or no action against violators.

Illegal hoarding defacing public property at Kacheri chowk in the Kapurthala on Wednesday.(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 27, 2016 02:55 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Jalandhar

One dies, dozens taken ill after drinking dirty water in Kapurthala

Even after one person died and dozens fell ill in Santpura locality in Kapurthala after drinking contaminated water during the past four days, municipal council (MC) officials have failed to locate the fault in the water supply pipeline.

Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh addressing protesters in Kapurthala on Monday.(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 24, 2016 01:14 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Jagmeet Brar not welcome in Aam Aadmi Party: Chhotepur

Brar has been vociferous in his praise for the AAP for several weeks now, since before he was expelled by the Congress

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab unit convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on May 23, 2016 09:33 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Jalandhar

To clean Yamuna in Delhi, AAP govt to use Seechewal model from Punjab

Impressed by his work to clean the Holy Bein at Gurdwara Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi, Delhi water minister Kapil Mishra on Monday invited environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal to his state for the project to clean another sacred river — the Yamuna.

Impressed by his work to clean the Bein, Delhi water minister Kapil Mishra on Monday met and invited environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal to his state for the project to clean another sacred river — the Yamuna (above).(HT File Photo)

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Updated on May 23, 2016 10:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Seechewal (kapurthala)

No labour department in SBS Nagar, labourers a harried lot

Despite tall claims of the Punjab government of launching various schemes for the welfare of poor and labourers but, in the absence of a district labour department office here, the labourers in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (SBS) district, are even finding it tough to get themselves registered with the labour department and avail benefits of various government-run schemes.

A team of labour officials interacting with labourers at a construction site in SBS Nagar.(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 21, 2016 03:40 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Sbs Nagar

100-yr-old Kapurthala school building cries for govt’s attention

The oldest and only Government Senior Secondary School for Boys in Kapurthala, built in 1915 by the then ruling Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, is now struggling to adjust students in the few rooms as the heritage school building was declared ‘unsafe’ by the Public Work Department (PWD) four years ago.

The heritage building of the Government Senior Secondary School for Boys in Kapurthala.(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 18, 2016 06:33 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Car-borne snatchers mow down ASI in Kapurthala, 3 held

An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Punjab Police, Surinder Singh (53) of Kuka village in Kapurthala district, on Saturday evening was mowed down by three car-borne snatchers when the vehicle they were travelling in was signalled to stop at a check post. Constable Harpal Singh, who was accompanying the ASI, sustained serious injuries in the incident.

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Updated on May 15, 2016 10:12 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Sehajdhari Sikhs debarred: Cong, AAP target SAD for playing religious card

The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took the Punjab government to task accusing it of playing religious card by amending Sikh Gurdwara (Amendment) Act, 2016, debarring Sehajdhari Sikhs from voting in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections.

“Even I don’t have a beard, but I practise Sikhism more than the deputy chief minister, who plays politics on the religion,” senior Congress leader Sunil Jakhar said.(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 10, 2016 12:53 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Sultanpur Lodhi

126-year-old ‘Palace of Justice’ to be palatial again

The 126-year-old Durbar Hall, a monument of Indo-Saracenic architecture built by Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala, is set to get its grandeur back. The Hall is being renovated and construction work has been on full swing since January.

The Durbar Hall in Kapurthala city.(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 09, 2016 04:40 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Kapurthala boy’s murder: Police arrest jealous cousin, two friends

The police claimed to have solved the murder of Jaskirat Singh, four weeks after the 14-year-old son of a Kapurthala industrialist was found tortured to death. They said the Class-10 student was murdered by his cousin, Parvinder Singh Shelly, 18, and his two friends.

Nath said the teenagers had killed Jaskirat immediately after abducting him in an i20 car, but made a ransom call to his uncle the next day to earn money and mislead police investigation.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on May 08, 2016 11:21 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Elementary teachers training: SCERT forms committee to reexamine results

The State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) has formed a special committee to reexamine the recently-declared results of the Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) examinations (2013-15 and 2014-16) conducted early this year.

The moves comes after students submitted memoranda to the SCERT alleging many students had passed the examination despite not scoring enough marks.(Representative image)

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Updated on May 07, 2016 04:26 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

One-teacher-one-student Kapurthala school to be shut

The education department is going to close the government primary school of Bhalipur, where no new student has joined in four years and which is left with just one teacher and a pupil.

The cost of keeping that one student in Bhalipur’s school was Rs 50,000, of which the teacher took Rs 40,000, the cleaner Rs 2,000, and a cook Rs 1,200 a month.(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 07, 2016 10:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

1 teacher, 1 student: That’s a govt school in a Kapurthala village!

Free education, mid-day meal, monthly stipend — give them anything, children won’t come to Bhalipur’s government primary school in this district. Its ‘one student, one-teacher’ ratio is least attractive. The children will rather travel 4 kilometres to expensive private schools. The only primary school of the village is left with only one student this session. On Tuesday, even its only student, Jagdeep Singh of Class 5, was absent. The classroom was filled with bags of grain, rice, and other midday-meal provisions, besides six empty benches and three chairs.

Give them anything, children won’t come to Bhalipur’s government primary school in Kapurthala district.(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 04, 2016 12:03 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

DGP forms 3-member SIT to probe Kapurthala boy murder case

After the Kapurthala police failed to crack the case even after three weeks, Punjab Police have formed a three-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe the case of 14-year-old Kapurthala boy Jaskirat Singh, who was found murdered at Goindwal Sahib in April.

14-year-old Kapurthala boy Jaskirat Singh(HT File Photo)

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Updated on May 02, 2016 07:52 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Police dismiss Deepa’s allegations of BJP MLA’s involvement in drug trade

Following allegations of drug smuggling by political leaders levelled by Kapurthala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Gurdeep Singh Deepa a few days back, the city police challenged him to submit an evidence to prove the charges.

The police claimed that the BJP leader was levelling baseless allegations. Phagwara superintendent of police (SP) Ashwani Kumar said: “The allegations are baseless. If Deepa has any evidence of drug peddling in the city, he should come up and submit it to the police and we will take action.”(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 02, 2016 02:38 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Phagwara

Jaskirat’s killers yet to be found, Kapurthala to remain shut

Religious and political groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called for a half-day shut down in Kapurthala on Thursday, to protest the police’s “shoddy” probe into the murder 14-year-old Jaskirat Singh earlier this month.

Activists of various organisations appealing to people to support the protest on Jaskirat Singh’s murder, in Kapurthala on Wednesday.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Apr 28, 2016 02:57 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Two outlaws try to run over SHO in Kapurthala, nabbed

In yet another example of deteriorating law and order situation in the district, two outlaws tried to run over the Begowal station house officer (SHO) Parminder Singh with a tractor-trailer when he along with his team intercepted the duo at a checkpoint, leaving the police official seriously injured.

Two outlaws tried to run over the Begowal station house officer (SHO) Parminder Singh with a tractor-trailer when he along with his team intercepted the duo at a checkpoint, leaving the police official seriously injured.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Apr 22, 2016 02:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Jalandhar

Accused tortured Kapurthala boy before murder, reveals autopsy report

The minor son of city industrialists who was found murdered on Wednesday was subjected to torture by kidnappers, revealed the post-mortem report.

Class-10 student Jaskirat Singh (14) was kidnapped on Monday.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Apr 19, 2016 11:15 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Kapurthala boy’s murder: Family accuses police of shoddy handling of case

The family of 14-year-old boy Jaskirat Singh, son of a local industrialist, who was kidnapped on Monday and was found murdered on Wednesday, has accused the police of shoddy handling of the case.

Singh’s grandfather, Baldev Singh, said SSP Rajinder Singh had claimed that a high alert was issued in the state after the kidnapping on Monday evening but the police found the victim’s scooter only on Wednesday lying dumped on Subhanpur-Hamira road.(HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Apr 17, 2016 05:56 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

CPS Som Parkash ‘misses’ inviting Sampla to Ambedkar function

Differences among leaders of the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to the fore on Thursday here after chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) and

Senior SAD-BJP leaders, including Punjab education minister Daljit Singh Cheema, cabinet minister Sohan Singh Thandal ,CPS Pawan Tinu and MLA Som Parkash at a function in Phagwara on Thursday.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Apr 17, 2016 06:05 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Phagwara

40% schoolchildren suffering from diseases in Kapurthala

Around 40% children studying in government schools in the district are suffering from various types of diseases, revealed the annual health screening report of the health department.

Symptoms of heart diseases were found in 128 children while skin infection was detected in 1,436 children.(HT File)

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Updated on Apr 16, 2016 02:36 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

30,000 farmers yet to apply for health insurance scheme

With an eye on the assembly elections, the much-hyped Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana launched by the state government for farmers offering them Rs 5 lakh insurance cover along with and free health cover up to Rs 50,000 to the farmer and his family has received a lukewarm response in the district.

Of the over 50,000 farmers in Kapurthala district, the agriculture department had managed to register only around 20,000 farmers for the free insurance scheme despite active awareness campaign by the government.(Livemint photo)

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Updated on Apr 13, 2016 07:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Fee row: Kapurthala admn forms three-member probe committee

In the wake of protests by parents against charging of arbitrary fee by private schools besides the alleged nexus between schools and booksellers, the district administration has formed a special three-member committee to look into the matter.

Officials talking to students at MGN Public School in Kapurthala on Tuesday.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Apr 06, 2016 01:54 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Kejriwal against SYL canal: ‘Punjab has no spare water’

Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said he was against the construction of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal as the Punjab does not have enough water to share with other states.

AAP convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal addressing a gathering at Pirthipur-Bunga Sahib village in Rupnagar district on Tuesday.(Bharat Bhushan/HT Photo)

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Updated on Mar 16, 2016 12:17 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Seechewal (kapurthala)

Cartoons to greet children in paediatric wards

Kids live in a world of their own fancy and conjure up adventures with their beloved cartoon characters. To make paediatric wards in government hospitals more pleasant and engaging for their visitors, the Punjab health department is going to wield the brush and make bare walls of these wards its canvas. Popular cartoon characters including Mickey Mouse, flowers and smileys will adorn paediatric

The move is geared towards creating a warm ambience for children, promote institutional deliveries and compete with private hospitals.(HT photo)

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Updated on Mar 13, 2016 09:28 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Minority students to get free coaching for entrance tests

With an aim to up lift the standard of education among students belonging to the minority communities, Punjab education department is going to provide free coaching classes for competitive exams from March 15 till May this year.

Potential minority community students can avail benefits under the scheme only if the family’s income does not exceed Rs 3 lakh per annum from all sources.(Shutterstock)

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Updated on Mar 08, 2016 01:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Kapurthala

Schoolchildren waiting to see their eyeglasses

It belies the claims of Punjab health minister Surjit Kumar Jyani about the mass distribution of these pairs of spectacles after eyesight examination in all districts. The pairs are free of cost under the National Programme for the Control of Blindness (NPCB), to which the Centre contributes 70%. The state health department had a target of examining 1.33 lakh children in the academic session 2015-16.

Students at a government elementary school in Patiala.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Feb 16, 2016 03:27 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Patiala

Patiala school buses found violating SC’s safety guidelines

If you think your child is safe while travelling in school buses, think again. A special team formed by the district administration found most school buses violating the Supreme Court’s guidelines for vehicles transporting school children.

Over 300 school buses in the district were inspected by a special team formed by the Patiala administration.(Bharat Bhushan/HT Photo)

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Updated on Feb 07, 2016 02:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByJatinder Mahal, Patiala

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Jatinder Mahal

Jatinder Mahal is a staff correspondent. He covers Jalandhar, Kapurthala and SBS Nagar district for Hindustan Times.

The child labour prevention week from June 12 to 18 observed by the state government across the state did not yield very encouraging results as only six children were rescued from their workplaces in the district.

Though the district health department is claiming of taking several initiatives to ensure a tobacco-free district, yet the reality is otherwise when it comes to issuing challans for smoking in public places.

Illegal hoardings galore on almost all major roads and other public properties in the city, with little or no action against violators.

Even after one person died and dozens fell ill in Santpura locality in Kapurthala after drinking contaminated water during the past four days, municipal council (MC) officials have failed to locate the fault in the water supply pipeline.

Brar has been vociferous in his praise for the AAP for several weeks now, since before he was expelled by the Congress

Impressed by his work to clean the Holy Bein at Gurdwara Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi, Delhi water minister Kapil Mishra on Monday invited environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal to his state for the project to clean another sacred river — the Yamuna.

The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took the Punjab government to task accusing it of playing religious card by amending Sikh Gurdwara (Amendment) Act, 2016, debarring Sehajdhari Sikhs from voting in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections.

The 126-year-old Durbar Hall, a monument of Indo-Saracenic architecture built by Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala, is set to get its grandeur back. The Hall is being renovated and construction work has been on full swing since January.

The police claimed to have solved the murder of Jaskirat Singh, four weeks after the 14-year-old son of a Kapurthala industrialist was found tortured to death. They said the Class-10 student was murdered by his cousin, Parvinder Singh Shelly, 18, and his two friends.

The State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) has formed a special committee to reexamine the recently-declared results of the Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) examinations (2013-15 and 2014-16) conducted early this year.

The education department is going to close the government primary school of Bhalipur, where no new student has joined in four years and which is left with just one teacher and a pupil.

After the Kapurthala police failed to crack the case even after three weeks, Punjab Police have formed a three-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe the case of 14-year-old Kapurthala boy Jaskirat Singh, who was found murdered at Goindwal Sahib in April.

Following allegations of drug smuggling by political leaders levelled by Kapurthala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Gurdeep Singh Deepa a few days back, the city police challenged him to submit an evidence to prove the charges.

Religious and political groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called for a half-day shut down in Kapurthala on Thursday, to protest the police’s “shoddy” probe into the murder 14-year-old Jaskirat Singh earlier this month.

The minor son of city industrialists who was found murdered on Wednesday was subjected to torture by kidnappers, revealed the post-mortem report.

The family of 14-year-old boy Jaskirat Singh, son of a local industrialist, who was kidnapped on Monday and was found murdered on Wednesday, has accused the police of shoddy handling of the case.

Differences among leaders of the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to the fore on Thursday here after chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) and

Around 40% children studying in government schools in the district are suffering from various types of diseases, revealed the annual health screening report of the health department.

In the wake of protests by parents against charging of arbitrary fee by private schools besides the alleged nexus between schools and booksellers, the district administration has formed a special three-member committee to look into the matter.

Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said he was against the construction of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal as the Punjab does not have enough water to share with other states.

With an aim to up lift the standard of education among students belonging to the minority communities, Punjab education department is going to provide free coaching classes for competitive exams from March 15 till May this year.

If you think your child is safe while travelling in school buses, think again. A special team formed by the district administration found most school buses violating the Supreme Court’s guidelines for vehicles transporting school children.

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