09102025-ATR-01.qxd 10/8/2025 11:43 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY SWEET SHOPS ROLL OUT KARWA DELIGHTS IN HOLY CITY ACTRESS DEEPIKA PADUKONE’S HIJAB KICKS OFF DEBATE LDH CELEBRATES PRE-KARWA CHAUTH WITH MEHENDI PARTIES Pheniya and Meethi Mathi are typically included in the Sargi, a pre-dawn meal consumed before the fast begins. P2 Deepika Padukone is back at the centre of a social media storm with a tourism campaign for Abu Dhabi. P4 With Karwa Chauth just a day away, the festive spirit has begun to envelop the city, especially among women. P4 » » » MAX 30°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 17°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.05 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.29 AM THURSDAY | 9 OCTOBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Customs nab two with 2.5 kg BSF foils cross-border ganja hidden in shampoo bottles arms smuggling bids Tribune News Service The ganja seized by officials of the Customs Department at the Amritsar airport. Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 8 Customs authorities at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport have arrested two passengers for allegedly possessing 2.5 kg of hydroponic weed (ganja) concealed in bottles of shampoo. Officials said the contraband, valued at over Rs 2 crore in the international drug market, was recovered from the duo who had arrived from Bangkok on Indo-Thai Airlines flight SL214. The nar- Man ends life over domestic dispute in Majitha Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 8 In a tragic incident, a man identified as Gurkirten Singh, a resident of Gurjarpura area in Majitha, ended his life by consuming a poisonous substance after reportedly being harassed by his wife and mother-in-law. Following the incident, his wife managed to flee to her parental home. The police have taken possession of the body. After a post-mortem, the body was handed over to the family. ASI Kuldeep Singh said a police team has been dispatched to Jalandhar to arrest the accused, adding that they would be nabbed soon. The case was registered on the complaint of the deceased’s father, 70-yearold Gareeb Singh, who alleged that his son was provoked to commit suicide by his wife Supreet Kaur and her mother, Satish Kumari, residents of the Masudan area near Jalandhar. According to the complainant, Gurkirten Singh, the younger of his two sons, was into a finance business. About two years ago, he was married to Supreet Kaur. However, shortly after the marriage, disputes began between the couple, instigated by Supreet’s mother, he alleged. Gareeb Singh claimed that his daughter-in-law often refused to cook food or tea for his son and quarrelled with him over trivial matters, causing him deep distress. He said on Monday morning, Gurkirten reportedly asked his wife to make tea, but she abused him. Disturbed by the ongoing tension, he went to the fields and consumed some poisonous substance near a tubewell room. When the family members reached the spot, they found him writhing in pain and rushed him to the hospital, where he died on Tuesday. A case has been registered. cotics were hidden inside tin containers and PET bottles of shampoo. Both accused are under interrogation and further investigation is ongoing. This is the third seizure of hydroponic ganja by Customs officials at the Amritsar airport within a month. Earlier, 1.1 kg of ganja worth Rs 1.15 crore was recovered on September 25 from a passenger who had also arrived from Bangkok via Indo-Thai Airlines. In another case, 2.095 kg of ganja valued at Rs 2.09 crore was seized on Septem- ber 30 from a passenger who landed from Bangkok via Kuala Lumpur. Earlier this year, the Customs Department at the airport had made two major seizures — 7 kg of hydroponic weed valued at Rs 7 crore from a Malaysia returnee on May 5, and 5 kg valued at Rs 5 crore from a Thailand returnee on May 17. Officials said these repeated recoveries indicate that the airport is being used as a transit point by international drug traffickers. Surveillance has since been intensified. Amritsar, October 8 Border Security Force (BSF) jawans, in a series of coordinated operations with Punjab Police, foiled multiple smuggling attempts along the International Border with Pakistan in Amritsar and Tarn Taran during the past 24 hours. Acting on a specific intelligence, BSF personnel recovered drone-dropped weapons and ammunition and apprehended three criminals involved in smuggling activities. A BSF spokesperson revealed that alert BSF jawans recovered 75 live rounds of 9mm caliber, stamped with Pakistan Ordnance Factory markings, from the area near Rajoke village in Tarn Taran district, further confirming the crossborder link in the supply chain. Meanwhile, in a separate operation, based on reliable information from the BSF Intelligence Wing, BSF personnel intercepted a suspi- cious car in Tarn Taran district and nabbed three criminals along with a vehicle and a mobile phone. On the basis of their disclosure, a pistol wrapped in yellow adhesive tape was recovered near Dal village. The accused, residents of Lakhna village, were handed over to Punjab Police for further investigation. The spokesperson said the successive recoveries reflect the high vigilance, accurate intelligence, and seamless coordination between BSF and Punjab Police, effectively thwarting the nefarious designs of Pakistan-based smugglers attempting to disturb peace and security in Punjab. Meanwhile, alert BSF personnel on Wednesday seized two packets of suspected heroin. In the first seizure, the BSF seized a packet containing 838 grams of heroin at Bachhiwind village, while in the second seizure, it recovered a packet containing 576 grams of seized from a farming field near Ranian village along the Amritsar border. Two held with 16 kg heroin in Tarn Taran Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, October 8 The Tarn Taran police busted a cross-border drug smuggling cartel with the arrest of two smugglers here on Tuesday. The police also seized 16 kg of heroin along with a Swift car (registration number PB08-DG0128) from their possession. Those arrested have been identified as Manpreet Singh, alias Mannu, a resident of Chheena Maan Patti in Rayya (Amritsar Rural), and Harpreet Singh, alias Happy, of Dhianpur (Amritsar Rural). A case under Sections 21(C), 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered against them at the Sadar Tarn Taran police station. Sharing details, Tarn Taran SSP Ravjot Grewal said acting on a tip-off about cross-border smuggling, a team of CIA staff of the Tarn Taran police inter- Tarn Taran SSP Ravjot Grewal briefs mediapersons about the contraband seized in Tarn Taran on Wednesday. cepted the accused near Tarn Taran district when they were coming from Amritsar to deliver the drug consignment. During checking, the police recovered 16 kg of heroin concealed in their car. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers and were bringing heroin consignments across the border for supply in different parts of Punjab. The police said both accused will be produced in a court and further investigation is likely to uncover more links in the cross-border smuggling network. Investigations were on to ascertain the drug route from where it was smuggled into Indian territory. More arrests are likely to be made during the further course of interrogation. Helicopter showers flowers on Parkash Purb of Guru Ramdas celebrated Darbar Sahib to mark Gurpurb Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 8 On the sacred occasion of Guru Ram Das’s Gurpurb, a helicopter showered rose petals over the parikrama of Harmandir Sahib, taking off from the sports ground of Guru Nanak Dev University here on Wednesday. The helicopter circled over the Golden Temple 13 times, spreading flowers in a gesture of reverence. Vice-Chancellor Dr Karamjeet Singh extended heartfelt greetings to the Sikh community on this auspicious occasion. He described it as a matter of great pride and privilege for the university to contribute to the sacred service of showering rose petals over Darbar Sahib. “The teachings of Sri Guru Ram Das, emphasising service, humility, and love, continue to inspire us,” he said. He urged the Sikh community to pledge to follow the Guru’s teachings to strengthen social unity and communal harmony. The event was attended by The helicopter at the GNDU sports grounds in Amritsar. several university officials, including Dean of Academic Affairs Dr Palwinder Singh, Dean of Students Welfare Dr HS Saini, Dr Amandeep Singh, Dr Tejwant Singh Kang, Harpreet Singh, Security Officer Harwinder Singh, and Director of Public Relations Praveen Puri. Representatives from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), including manager Bhagwant Singh Sanghera, were also present. During the event, Dr Palwinder Singh and SGPC officials felicitated Satnam Jewellers from Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, and their team for their dedicated service in arranging the flower shower. The helicopter showered rose petals not only over Harmandir Sahib but also along the routes of the Nagar Kirtan, filling the atmosphere with devotion as the Sikh sangat raised spirited slogans of “Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Ram Das Ji”. Amritsar, October 8 A sea of devotees from across the country and abroad paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and took a dip in the Amrit Sarovar to celebrate the Parkash Purb of Guru Ramdas, founder of the holy city. Serpentine queues were seen at the holiest Sikh shrine since the wee hours of Wednesday. At night, fireworks mesmerised everyone. The Golden Temple was not only illuminated with colourful lights but also adorned with over 10 tonnes of 35 varieties of ornamental flowers brought from across the country and abroad. The Jalaus, showcasing historic, religious and rare artefacts, were put on display in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple, Akal Takht and Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai. Langars were also set up to mark the birth anniversary of the founder of the holy city. The holy Sikh shrine was beautifully decorated. The resplendence of the Golden Temple was enhanced at night, with lights illuminating the entire complex. Beautiful decorations at Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib, Sri Akal Takht Sahib Devotees pay obeisance at the Golden Temple on the occasion of the birth anniversary of fourth Sikh master Guru Ramdas in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR and Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai Sahib remained the centre of attraction for devotees. On the occasion, Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Kuldip Singh, Head Granthi of Sachkhand Harmandar Sahib, Giani Raghbir Singh, and SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami congratulated the sangat on the occasion of ‘Avtar Power infra renovation project worth ~307 cr launched Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 8 Power Minister Sanjeev Arora on Wednesday launched the statewide campaign “Roshan Punjab”. Following the announcement, Amritsar AAP leaders also inaugurated several micro power repair and expansion projects across the district. Under this initiative, construction, expansion and modernisation of power infrastructure at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore will be done in the state. But in Amritsar district, the power infrastructure overhaul will be done at a cost of Rs 307 crore. Dr Ajay Gupta, MLA from the Central Assembly constituency, today inaugurated two new power transformers in Shakti Nagar and Waryam MLA Dr Ajay Gupta inaugurates tranformer repair and installation projects in his constituency in Amritsar on Wednesday. Singh Colony. The MLA said these two new transformers will end the perennial problem of power outages in these areas. He said under this project, pow- er-related work is being carried out in Amritsar city and various major towns within the district, such as Baba Bakala, Jandiala Guru, Majitha, Raja Sansi, c m y b Ajnala and Ramdas. “The power load on a total of 54 11 kV feeders in the Amritsar urban area will be reduced and new feeders constructed. Work on eight of these 54 feeders has been completed. There are many overloaded distribution transformers in various areas of Amritsar city. Additional transformers will be constructed to reduce the load on these transformers. Under this initiative, 94 new transformers would be installed and the construction of 19 transformers has already been completed by September 30,” he said. The capacity of 161 transformers will be increased and the capacity of 35 transformers has already been increased. The leaders claim that completion of the work of improving and modernizing the power system will ensure an uninterrupted supply to consumers in Amritsar district. “Dilapidated LT/HT cables in the streets and markets of various areas of Amritsar district will be replaced with new cables, ensuring proper voltage and uninterrupted supply to consumers,” said Karamjit Singh Rintu, Chairman of Improvement Trust Amritsar and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) North Assembly constituency in-charge, as he inaugurated the construction, expansion and modernisation of power infrastructure at 132 KV Power Colony on Majitha Road. Karamjit Singh Rintu said PSPCL has approved a new 66 KV substation at the old Focal Point, Amritsar, to meet the demand of industrial consumers. This substation will be completed by 2026. Purb’ of Guru Ramdas. The SGPC organised the Bhog of Sri Akhand Path Sahib at Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib Diwan Hall, after which famous Raagi, Dhadi and Kavishar jathas rendered the Gurbani kirtan and connected the devotees with history. Dhami said the life of Guru Ramdas serves as a guide for all of humanity. He urged the sangat to follow his teachings. Famous Kathavachak Bhai Pinderpal Singh enlightened the sangat about the life history of Sri Guru Ramdas. In the Kavi Darbar, poets shared the life history of the fourth Guru and his contribution with the congregation through poems. Man dies by suicide, woman booked Amritsar, October 8 Perturbed over the alleged harassment by a married lover, a 35-year-old man, identified as Baljinder Singh of Pakharpura village, falling under the Kathunangal police station, allegedly died after consuming some poisonous substance here on Tuesday. He was rushed to the hospital, but died on the way. His body was later handed over to the family after a post-mortem. SI Manpreet Singh, investigating officer in case, said Simranjit Kaur, a resident of Mudal village under the Verka police station, has been booked on charges of abetment to suicide on the statement of the victim’s father Ram Singh. The complainant told the Kathunangal police that his son used to drive an auto-rickshaw. About two years ago, he came in contact with Simranjit Kaur, who is married and has four children. Around seven to eight months ago, the woman allegedly started living with Baljinder. He said his son was deeply involved with the woman and used to hand over all his earnings to her. Gradually, he even stopped visiting his family, causing concern among his parents. He said yesterday when Baljinder returned home he was looking disturbed. Later, he apparently consumed some poisonous substance. He was immediately taken to a government hospital, where doctors declared him dead. — TNS