17082025-ATR-01.qxd 8/17/2025 12:10 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune GOVT WILL REALISE DREAMS OF MARTYRS: MINISTER Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak hoisted the national flag on 79th Independence Day at a function. P2 » FORECAST MAINLY CLOUDY MAX 30°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 28°C IN TUNE WITH EACH OTHER TRAFFIC SIGNALS IGNORED, CITY INTERSECTIONS IN CHAOS Traffic signals at many busy chowks in the city are often ignored by commuters. P2 SUNSET SUNDAY 7.11 PM The Akhtar Brothers, Shehnaz and Sahil, are steadily making their mark in the music industry. P4 » SUNRISE MONDAY 5.56 AM » SUNDAY | 17 AUGUST 2025 | AMRITSAR Health Minister hoists national flag on I-Day Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 16 Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh hoisted the national flag on 79th Independence Day and took salute from the marching contingents at Guru Nanak Stadium here on Friday. In his address, the minister urged people to celebrate the national festival with enthusiasm and rekindle the spirit of patriotism, brotherhood and harmony. Various teams of Punjab Police, women’s platoon of the state police, Home Guards and Children’s Police Band participated in the parade. Seven platoons of NCC contingents, 214 cadets of NCC group also marched smartly in the parade. Students of different schools presented a gymnastics show and cultural programme comprising giddha, bhangra and folk dances followed by National Anthem. In a separate release issued here on Saturday, Prof Sukhdev Singh, vice-chairman of INTACH, wished the countrymen on Independence Day. He said while we should never forget the sacrifice of the freedom fighters who by choice challenged the foreign rule and lost their lives, we Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh takes the salute from contingents of Punjab Police on the occasion of the Independence Day celebrations at Guru Nanak Stadium in Amritsar. should also remember the sufferings of those unwittingly caught in the struggle and consequences. He lamented the sufferings of Partition. The freedom of the country came with unplanned partition to carve out two countries resulting in huge loss of lives, wealth and dignity of the common people; freedom came with communal hatred and insane rivalry. It turned people of both countries ene- mies, impacting the development and welfare of the masses, Dr Singh said. The INTACH vice-chairman suggested that neighbouring countries which shared cultural bonds should focus on mutual development, benefitting the masses, instead of fighting wars. Since there is cultural closeness and regional continuity between the two, they should work on the principle of ‘culture for peace’, he said. Dr Singh sought a memorial near the border for those who were unwittingly forced to dislocate from their homes to unspecified destinations while many of them murdered, raped, plundered, starved and converted en route in the name of independence of two nation-states. Tourists should be encouraged to pay homage to all those who suffered on the day of ‘independence’, he said. Amritsar, August 16 Just like a solider is never off duty, a cop is also never off duty. After days of hectic security measures in view of Independence Day that was celebrated on Friday, the police are now on toes for security in view of the Janmashtami festival. Today, the presence of cops on roads was less, but many of them were deployed around religious shrines due to the Janmashtami festival. “The festival season has just commenced. Owing to the Janmashtami festival, people are thronging the temples in huge numbers,” said Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar while adding that adequate security measures are in place to thwart any untoward incident. He said cops are also deployed to regulate traffic near various shrines. The police have been put on high alert for the past couple of weeks in view of Indepen- Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Amandeep Kaur along with cops regulates traffic near Durgiana temple in view of Janmashtami in Amritsar on Saturday. dence Day functions and because some anti-national forces had issued threats to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the country. A few days ago, pro-Khalistan slogans have appeared at three places in Amritsar — outside the district courts, near Khalsa College and outside a temple. Nevertheless, the two Batala-based accused, including a juvenile, were arrested by the police in this connection. US-based designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu of the banned organisation, Sikhs for Justice, had taken the responsibility of scribbling these slogans. A police official said after the peaceful passage of the Independence Day celebrations, the police personnel are relaxed a little, but are not off guard. “We have been on alert always and still on duty,” he said. “With the holy city having a diverse culture, there are a number of famous temples and a huge rush of devotees are visiting these shrines to pay obeisance to mark the Janamastami festival,” he pointed out. Campaign to check stubble-burning begins Cops feted for distinguished services Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 16 A big campaign has started in the district to ask farmers not to burn stubble (parali), the leftover straw after harvesting paddy. The campaign is being led by Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney. Even though the paddy harvesting season is still some time away, the district administration has already started Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 16 Inspector Vinod Kumar has been honoured for his commendable services by Cabinet Minister Dr Balbir Singh during the district-level Independence Day function held at Guru Nanak Stadium here on Friday. Currently posted as the Station House Officer at the Chheharta police station, he was instrumental in nailing criminal elements and making significant seizures of drugs and weapons during the year. His name was recommended for the honour by Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar. This is for the fifth time that he has received this honour. After joining the Chheharta police station as the SHO around a year ago, he played a significant role in seizing over 81 kg of heroin, 4.3 kg of opium and drug money to the tune of Rs 4.52 lakh. A total of 141 persons were arrested in 41 FIRs registered at the police station. Besides, he had also cracked the hand grenade blast case at the Thakurdrwara temple in Chheharta area in a record time. Apart from Vinod Sharma, Inspector Ranjit Singh was also honoured for his good work. He was instrumental in the seizure of over 9 kg of heroin, weapons and Rs 4.3 lakh of drug money. Sub-Inspector Ashwani Kumar, posted at the Division A police station, was also honoured on the occasion for his commendable work that led to the seizure of over 74,000 of tramadol tablets, 325 kg of tramadol raw material and Rs 7.65 lakh of drug money recently. The recovery was made following the probe into the seizure of just 35 tablets of tramadol initially. The investigations led to the busting of an illegal pharma opioid drug supply network originating from Haridwar in Uttarakhand. After I-Day hectic security measures, cops relax a bit BSF jawans celebrate Independence Day on the Attari Border on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Thousands attend grand Beating Retreat ceremony at Wagah Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 16 On the country’s 79th Independence Day, the AttariWagah joint check-post (JCP) witnessed a spirited, grand Beating Retreat ceremony with thousands of visitors from across the country attended the ceremony at Attari-Wagah joint check post (JCP) here on Friday. Director General, Border Security Force (BSF), Daljit Singh Chawdhary was the chief guest on the occasion while other senior BSF officers, including Satish S Khandare, Additional Director General, and Dr Atul Fulzele, IG, BSF Punjab Frontier, were among others accompanying him. Nevertheless, the gates at the JCP remained closed at the zero line and the traditional handshake between BSF and Pakistani rangers did not take place. This was stopped in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor as the Indian Government snapped all diplomatic and other ties with the neighbouring nation. The Beating Retreat ceremony was later resumed after certain changes, including closing down of the gates and no traditional handshake continued on page 2 In devotion Children dressed up as Lord Krishna on the occasion of the Janmashtami celebrations at Durgiana Temple in Amritsar on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR c m y b Cong workers burn effigies of PM, Home Minister Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, August 16 The Congress party organised a candle march in the town here on Saturday and burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to protest against alleged ‘vote theft’. Ramanjit Singh Sikki, former MLA from Khadoor Sahib, led the party workers. Sikki and Rajbir Singh Bhullar, senior leaders of the party, while addressing the workers, said that Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, has successfully brought the reality before citizens of the country that the present Union Government, allegedly in connivance with the Election Commission, has indulged in ‘vote theft’ to form the government. The Congress leaders said that their party has been fighting to safeguard the Constitution of the country and the fight would be carried out till justice is delivered. The Congress leaders stressed that there is need for the countrymen to unite to protect democracy and save the Constitution. Yudhveer Singh Sarli, district co-ordinator of the party, besides Devinder Singh Lali Dhala, Lakhwinder Singh Lakki, Karanbir Singh alias Karan Burj, Avatar Singh Tejana and Harsharan Singh Mallha were among those who addressed the gathering on the occasion. preparations to make sure that no farmer burns stubble this year. The aim is to protect the environment and help farmers improve their fields without harming nature, said Sakshi Sawhney. The Deputy Commissioner has asked the Agriculture Department to provide more machines to manage stubble properly. Special awareness camps are also being held in many villages to educate farmers. One such camp was organised at Gaggomahal village in the Ajnala area. Officials, including SDM Ravinder Singh, Agriculture Officer Dr Harbhinder Singh and others were present, during the camp. During the event, SDM Ravinder Singh requested farmers not to burn stubble. He encouraged them to use eco-friendly methods like insitu management, where straw is mixed back into the soil. These methods improve soil health and reduce pollution, he said. Agriculture experts informed farmers that those who did not burn stubble last year got two to three quintals more yield and used less fertiliser. Some farmers also shared their positive experiences of growing wheat without burning the previous crop’s straw.