15082025-ATR-01.qxd 8/14/2025 11:51 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLOUDY POVERTY-STRUCK JUDOKAS DESERVE THEIR DUES PATRIOTIC SONGS TO STIR YOUR SPIRIT LIST OF WOMEN-LED FILMS THAT ECHOS SPIRIT OF THE NATION Unsure of where their next meal will come from, young judokas remain undeterred. P2 Independence Day is observed in a grand manner every year, with multiple events and much more. P4 Indian cinema has gifted us with many remarkable female-led films that echo the spirit of the nation. P4 » » MAX 28°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.14 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5.55 AM » FRIDAY | 15 AUGUST 2025 | AMRITSAR Three cops selected for President, CM’s Medal Amritsar, August 14 Three cops from the city has made the holy city proud with their excellent services in the police department. Inspector Deepak Sharma, who hails from Amritsar and is currently posted with the intelligence wing, has been selected to be awarded the President’s Medal for Meritorious Services during the 79th Independence Day celebrations. He has been serving the department for the past 20 years and because of his honesty, integrity and hard work, he has been selected for the medal by the union ministry of homes. His father Om Datta Sharma also served in the Punjab Police for 37 years and retired as an ASI. Similarly, SI Bhupinder Singh, currently posted with the Counter Intelligence Wing, was also selected for the honour. Meanwhile, CIA in-charge, Amritsar city, Amolakdeep Singh has been nominated for the Chief Minister’s Medal for Outstanding Devotion to Duty on the recommendations of the Punjab Government. The Punjab Governor announced their names today. The police officials thanked the Central Government and the state government for recognising their services. — TNS Reflections on India’s journey since Independence Gurbaxpuri Tarn Taran, August 14 Pal Singh Gill, born on January 10, 1947, and a resident of Aladinpur village, recalls the early years following India’s independence with a sense of satisfaction regarding the nation’s progress across various fields. Reflecting on his youth, he notes that access to higher education was limited, with institutions like Khalsa College in Amritsar being among the few options available for talented students. He mentioned that there were very few schools at that time. One of his close relatives, who belonged to a village near Rayya (about 35 kilometers from here), had to come to Tarn Taran to study up to the 11th standard. He was admitted to the hostel of the local SGAD Senior Secondary School, which was a higher secondary institution back then. Pal Singh, who retired as a manager from an agricultural bank in 2005, recalled that even at the time of his retirement, most villagers lived in kutcha (non-permanent) houses. Only a few people had managed to build pucca (permanent) houses, often relying on loans to do so. He expressed contentment with the country’s development Strike by Punjab Roadways staff leaves people stranded Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Pal Singh Gill (left) and Balbir Singh in Tarn Taran. since then, particularly in areas like infrastructure, education and healthcare. However, he expressed his resentment over the lack of diversification in agriculture. While farming was once a profitable and diverse occupation, it has now largely been reduced to a wheat-paddy cycle. On the other hand, Balbir Singh, also a resident of Aladinpur and born on July 13, 1947, offers a more critical perspective. A practicing lawyer, he reflects on the devastating impact of Partition, which left people across all communities grappling with loss — of both property and lives. He recalls how many became dependent on manual labour due to acute financial hardships. Balbir Singh challenges the idea that infrastructure development alone, such as pucca roads and buildings, constitutes true progress. Accord- ing to him, the real golden period of India’s development was from 1970 to 1982. During this time, agriculture was labour-intensive and jobs were relatively accessible, enabling broader employment across society. However, with increasing mechanisation, he argues, much of that labour demand has disappeared, leading to rising unemployment in rural areas. He is especially critical of the growing influence of corporate interests in sectors like education and healthcare. In his view, the shift toward privatization and market-driven systems is making essential services less accessible to the common man. Balbir Singh warns that if this trend continues, the future may become even more challenging for the rural and workingclass populations. Amritsar, August 14 Thousands of passengers were left helpless after contractual employees of the Punjab Roadways and Punbus went on strike here on Thursday. The protest led to disruption of bus services with not even a single bus either being plied from the Interstate Bus Terminal or reaching here. As a result, many people were left stranded in the absence of buses to take them to their destinations. The employees, who are working on contract, observed the strike, demanding regular jobs and better job security. They also protested against the government’s ‘kilometre scheme’, which they say has been causing financial losses for years. “We did not get any information about the strike. I came here early in the morning to catch a bus to Patiala, but found no bus at all,” said Gurpreet Kaur, a passenger waiting at the terminal with her luggage. She added that even as private buses are being operated, a huge rush Aggrieved passengers wait for buses at the bus stand in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR of passengers has caused trouble as they are unable to board them. “I have a family function to attend and now I do nott know how I will reach on time,” she said. Harbhajan Singh, another passenger, who had to travel to Chandigarh for medical treatment, said, “The government and bus staff should think about the common man. I have been waiting here for three hours now and no one is giving any clear information.” However, the employees said they had already informed the authorities about the protest. Chanan Singh, a union leader of the protesting staff, said, “Before forming the government, AAP leaders had promised to regularise the services of all contractual employees. They said they would not add more buses under the kilometre scheme, but they have broken these promises.” He said, “We have been raising our voices against this scheme for the last seven years. We have had around 44 meetings with the government, but nothing has changed.” While passengers continue to struggle with delays and uncertainty, some employees say they will not call off the protest until their demands are met. The government is yet to respond to the strike officially. Tough days are ahead for passengers as the protest would continue, stated the employees. Open borders, Kartarpur Corridor for people Spl DGP Railways supervises to people contact: Hind Pak Dosti Manch security arrangements in city Police, BSF seize over 4 kg heroin, drone Neha Saini Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Amritsar, August 14 Special Director General of Police (Railways) Shashi Prabha Dwivedi arrived in the city to supervise security arrangements in view of the Independence Day celebrations on Friday. A search operation was also carried out at the railway station during her visit. Speaking on the occasion, she urged the people not to panic and share the unconfirmed reports on social media, which usually lead to tension or some kind of law and order problem. She also asked them to verify the details before forwarding the sensitive material on social media. “Stringent security measures have been made in order to thwart any untoward incident during the Independence Day celebrations in Amritsar,” she said. She was accompanied by Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and other senior police officials during checking of the railway station. Sniffer dogs were also pressed into service while anti-sabotage teams and Tarn Taran, August 14 In a joint operation conduced in the border area on Wednesday, the police and the BSF recovered 4.512 kg of heroin and a drone. Two motorcycle-borne persons were arrested from the spot. The district police said here on Thursday that the Khemkaran police, led by Sub-Inspector Balbir Singh, on the information given by Gurjit Singh, a resident of Mehaindipur village near the cremation ground, recovered a packet, which was containing 3 kg of heroin with 389 gm packing material. The packet was thrown via a drone from across the border. The Khemkaran police, led by SHO Balbir Singh Sub-Inspector, signalled to stop two motorcycle-born persons at a bridge in Machhike village. While searching them, they recovered 1 kg heroin. The accused have been identified as Balwinder Singh of Kamahevala village in Ferozpur district and Gurdit Singh, a resident of Ward No.1 of Ferozpur city. The motorcycle of the accused was taken into possession by the police party. In another case, a team of the Khalra police, led by Sub-Inspector Sahib Singh, while searching the fields of farmer Dilbag Singh, a resident of Wan Tara Singh village, recovered a packet containing 512 gm of heroin, which was despatched from Pakistan. The police have registered three cases under Sections 21-C, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and Sections 10, 11 and 12 of the Aircraft Act. Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 14 As hostilities continue between India and Pakistan post Pak army general Asif Munir’s statement in the US, the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch, an Amritsar-based cultural and literary organisation, on Thursday urged the governments of both countries to initiate a dialogue to improve bilateral relations. “Opening of the borders for people to people contact must be prioritised if peace is to be maintained. Both countries should generously grant visas to organisations, artists, journalists and intellectuals working for peace and friendship between India and Pakistan to cross the borders so that they can contribute to creating an atmosphere for peace and tranquillity,” said Syeda Hameed, human rights activist and president of the Hind Pak Dosti Manch. Agreeing to this, Satnam Singh Manak, a veteran journalist and activist, also suggested the opening of the significant Kartarpur Corridor that acted as link Members of the Hind Pak Dosti Manch release their annual literary magazine in Amritsar on Thursday. between people of both the countries. On recent remarks of veiled nuclear threats by Pak army general Asif Munir, Manak said, “The ruling and non-ruling leaders and the military generals of both countries should refrain from making provocative statements and pushing the region towards another protracted war. We have seen how it affects common citizens during the fourday military action.” The group also suggested that two ‘Peace Parks’ should be built on the Attari- Wagah and India-Bangladesh borders, respectively, in memory of the one million people, who died during the partition of the country. This year’s pre-Independence Day event were dedicated to promoting peace initiatives. The event also paid tribute to the 26 tourists who were killed by terrorists in Pahalgam on April 22. The Amritsar-based organisation, Hind-Pak Dosti Manch, in collaboration with organisations like the Folklore Research Academy, SAFMA, and Punjab Jagriti Manch, orchestrates a symbolic candlelight march and vigil at the Attari-Wagah joint checkpost every year on the night of August 14 and 15. This event commemorates both Pakistan’s Independence Day (August 14) and India’s (August 15), serving as a poignant appeal for peace and people-to-people harmony. Initiated nearly three decades ago by veteran journalist Kuldeep Nayyar, this vigil has grown from a small gathering into a sustained peace movement. Activists urge Railways to run trains on Patna Sahib routes Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 14 Local activists and an NGO have urged the Union Railway Ministry to introduce Vande Bharat sleeper trains on the Amritsar-Nanded (Hazoor Sahib) and AmritsarPatna Sahib railway routes to cater to the large number of devotees travelling to these revered Sikh shrines. In a detailed letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) patron Principal Kul- want Singh Ankhi, president Surinderjit Singh and general secretary Yogesh Kamra highlighted that both routes hold exceptional religious and cultural importance for the Sikh community. They said that every year, thousands of devotees from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and other states undertake long journeys to visit Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra, where the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, attained eter- nal rest and Takht Sri Patna Sahib in Bihar, his birthplace. Surinderjit Singh stated that the current travel options on these routes are limited in terms of comfort, speed and safety, especially for elderly pilgrims and families undertaking long-distance journeys. They stressed that the Vande Bharat sleeper version, recently introduced on select routes, offers modern facilities such as high-speed travel, advanced safety systems, better sleeping arrangements, clean restrooms and a smooth riding experience, making it ideal for overnight pilgrimages. The letter also commended the Modi government’s push for modernising the Indian Railways and described the Vande Bharat trains as a “symbol of India’s technological progress” that has transformed passenger travel nationwide. “Introducing these sleeper trains on religious routes will not only improve convenience for devotees but also boost spiritual tourism, strengthen regional connectivity, and deepen c m y b the cultural and historical ties between these sacred destinations,” the letter read. Calling the proposal a “religious and historical contribution” to the Sikh community, the AVM expressed hope that the Railway Ministry would consider their request on priority. The organisation believes that such a move would align with the government’s broader vision of modern infrastructure while preserving and promoting India’s rich spiritual heritage. Special DGP Railways Shashi Prabha Dwivedi supervise security arrangements in Amritsar on Thursday. bomb detection teams were also there. The DGP briefed the cops and also interacted with passengers. The belongings of passengers waiting for trains were also checked. The vehicles parked on the premises were scanned and their ownerships were verified through the Vahan application. The police teams checked the IDs of those found roaming at the railway platforms without any reasons. She pointed out that all the police officials were keeping a close eye in crowded areas, hotels, guest houses, inns and PGs, and on those who were released on bail recently. The Police Commissioner said the police have put up 24 hours shifting nakas and 64 permanent checkpoints while night domination operations were being carried out daily. He said vehicles entering the city were being checked thoroughly. He said more teams of Quick Response Teams, SWAT and PCT vehicles were being deployed with modern gadgets and weapons in sensitive areas. Meanwhile, the police have diverted traffic going towards Guru Nanak Stadium and Gandhi Ground for the district-level Independence Day celebrations. Tributes paid to martyr Abdul Hamid Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, August 14 On the eve of Independence Day, women of the Tarn Taran unit of Inner Wheel Club and members of INTACH braved the inclement weather to pay tributes to martyr Abdul Hamid at Assal Uttar in Khemkaran sector on Thursday. Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid, PVC was an Indian soldier who received India’s highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra, posthumously for his bravery in the IndoPakistan War of 1965. He was awarded the medal for his bravery in the Battle of Asal Uttar, where he destroyed several Pakistani tanks, including the formidable Patton tanks, before being killed in action.