02112025-ATR-01.qxd 11/1/2025 11:47 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FARMERS PROTEST AGAINST POWER SECTOR PRIVATISATION YOUTH FESTIVAL WRAPS UP WITH FERVOUR AT GNDU The 'A' Zone Zonal Youth Festival, organised by GNDU, concluded successfully on October 31. P2 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 30°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 16°C SRK @ 60: LOVE, LEGACY & LIMITLESS STARDOM Members of the KMS burnt effigies of the state government and the Centre at Baba Bakala. P2 FORECAST Celebrations for the “Baadshah of Bollywood” have begun across the world — from Mumbai to Peru. P4 » » SUNSET SUNDAY 5.39 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6.48 AM » SUNDAY | 2 NOVEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Hall Gate turns eyesore as MC fails to act on sanitation 24-year-old woman killed by husband Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 1 A migrant woman, Joti Bai (24), was brutally killed by her husband at a brick kiln in Ranewali village here on yesterday. The police have booked the accused, identified as Nand Kishir Banzare, who fled the scene. Hailing from Chhattisgarh, the couple used to live near the brick kiln. Tika Ram Banzare, an eyewitness of the crime, said he along with his family works and resides near the brick kiln owned by Deepak Duggal. He said deceased Joti Bai and her husband also worked and lived there. He said yesterday, after the work, they returned to their huts near the brick kiln. He said at around 7.30 pm, Nand Kishore started quarrelling with his wife and in a fit of anger, attacked her with a spade. He repeatedly hit her on the chest and the head leaving her dead on the spot and later fled the spot. The police have registered a case in this regard while efforts were on to arrest him. Tribune News Service The property of a drug peddler being razed at the border village of Rangarh in Amritsar. Notorious drug peddler’s property in border village demolished Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 1 In a major action against the drug network operating in border areas, the district administration in a joint operation with Punjab Police on Saturday demolished an illegal property of a notorious drug peddler, Jobanpreet Singh, alias Joban, at Rangarh village located near the Indo-Pak border here. The action was carried out as part of the ongoing antidrug campaign launched by the Punjab Government since March this year. Giving details, SSP Maninder Singh said the accused was facing three criminal cases registered against him under the NDPS Act and the Arms Act at different police stations. The SSP said Jobanpreet Singh had encroached upon government land and constructed property on it. The district administration, supported by police teams, used a bulldozer to demolish the illegal structure. He said massive recoveries are being made across the state. No drug trafficker will be spared and strictest possible action ensured, he said. Issuing a stern warning to those involved in the drug trade, he said, “Those destroying the lives of our youth must stop before it is too late.” Amritsar, November 1 The entrance to the walled city has turned into an eyesore, with heaps of garbage and pools of stagnant water lining the old Sabji Mandi area outside Hall Gate near Bhandari Bridge, exposing the poor state of Amritsar’s sanitation system. The crucial route connecting the bus stand to Hall Gate, which should offer a smooth and welcoming approach for residents and visitors alike, has instead become a dumping ground. Heaps of waste, foul smell and stray animals now dominate the stretch, making it nearly impassable. Commuters say that apart from the unbearable stench, the accumulated filth poses a serious risk of diseases and accidents. Illegal kiosks have also been set up by unidentified persons in the area. The municipal corporation (MC) had earlier proposed developing a parking lot at the site, but the plan never materialised. Currently, private bus- Garbage and stagnant water at the old Sabji Mandi ground outside Hall Bazar near Bhandari Bridge in Amritsar. es can be seen parked illegally, worsening the congestion. The neglected condition around Bhandari Bridge highlights the urgent need for civic accountability and immediate remedial action. Residents say that without consistent monitoring and timely response, such problems will continue to damage the city’s image and threaten public health. “This road is the main entry to the heart of the city. But instead of a welcoming sight, all visitors see is garbage and sewage water. The administration seems to have completely forgotten this area,” said Ramesh Sharma, a shopkeeper near Bhandari Bridge. “The sewer water keeps overflowing, garbage piles up, and stray cattle make it worse. It feels like no one is responsible anymore,” said Ravi, a local resident. “This is the entry point to a city that attracts lakhs of devotees every year. Such conditions send the wrong message to visitors and tarnish Amritsar’s reputation,” said Gurpreet Singh, another resident. Customs nab wanted Farmers demand DAP fertiliser at govt rates Locals rescue newborn found abandoned trafficker at airport Tribune News Service Amritsar, november 1 The Customs Department at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, foiled an attempt by a wanted drug trafficker to flee abroad using a tampered passport. The accused, identified as Sagar, alias Teji, a resident of Ferozepur, was intercepted while trying to board a flight to Dubai. According to officials, during routine checks, Customs officers noticed inconsistencies in the passenger’s travel documents. Upon verification, it was found that several details in his passport had been altered. The accused had changed his father’s name from Jaswinder Singh to Savinder Singh in an attempt to conceal his criminal record and evade detection during immigration clearance. Sources revealed that multiple cases under the NDPS Act are already registered against Sagar in Punjab. Facing increasing police pressure and fearing imminent arrest, the accused allegedly planned to leave the country and settle abroad. After his detention, Sagar was handed over to the Airport Police for further investigation. A case under has been registered against him. Airport Police officials said investigation is underway to determine how the accused managed to alter official passport details and whether any agents or government officials were involved in facilitating the forgery. The probe also aims to uncover the network that aided the trafficker in planning his attempted escape from India. — TNS Amritsar, November 1 A delegation of farmers led by the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha met Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Gursahib Singh Patti to apprise him of the problems they are facing in procuring fertilisers, especially DAP for , wheat sowing. The delegation included state president Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala, vice-president Rattan Singh Randhawa, and district leaders Virsa Singh Tapiala, Tehal Singh Chetanpura, Harpreet Singh Butari, Bikramjit Singh Kohali, and Jagga Singh Sangatpura. The farmer leaders informed the officer that wheat and vegetable sowing is currently in full swing in the district. However, several cooperative societies are not functioning effectively, forc- Members of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha apprise Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Gursahib Singh Patti of their problems in Amritsar. ing farmers to purchase fertilisers from private dealers. These dealers, they alleged, are selling DAP at Rs 1,600Rs 1,700 per bag and urea at Rs 400 per bag, besides forcing farmers to buy unnecessary tagged items along with fertilisers. They demanded that all farmers should receive DAP and urea at government rates — Rs 1,350 per bag — and that the practice of tagging unwanted items should be stopped. They also urged the administration to make government machinery avail- able for managing paddy straw instead of burning it. Further, they demanded the withdrawal of cases filed against farmers for stubble burning. Responding to their concerns, Dr Gursahib Singh Patti assured the delegation that DAP fertiliser would soon reach farmers. He said that licences of dealers found selling fertilisers at inflated prices or tagging goods would be cancelled upon receiving complaints. Dr Patti added that cooperative societies and markets have adequate stocks of NPK 12:32:16, TSP and other fer, tilisers, which can serve as alternatives to DAP to ensure good yield. He also informed that subsidised wheat seed is being distributed at the block level and farmers can collect it by showing their Aadhaar cards. Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 1 In a shocking incident, a newborn boy was found abandoned in bushes along Bhai Manjpur Road in Amritsar’s Daburji area on Friday. Passersby heard the cries of the infant and, upon locating him, a local resident, Paramjit Kaur, and her family rushed the baby to a nearby hospital, where he was admitted to the ICU for treatment. The police have begun investigating the case and are reviewing CCTV footage from the area to identify those responsible. According to Gursevak Singh, a local resident, the baby was discovered lying on a plate in the bushes, with multiple thorn injuries on his body. “The umbilical cord was still intact. There are several houses near the spot, but the baby was rescued only after some residents traced the cries coming from the bushes,” he said. A video of the rescue showing locals wrapping the infant and carrying him to the hospital has gone viral on social media. Doctors said the baby was also suffering from hypothermia, as his body had turned blue when he was found unclothed. While residents suspect that a woman from the neighbourhood may have abandoned the child, the police have launched a probe and are questioning locals to ascertain the identity of the parents. Officials said that the infant is now under medical supervision and efforts are underway to ensure his safety and well-being. Manpower shortage stalls GIS City mountaineer all set to scale Mount Aconcagua property mapping project Neha Walia Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 1 The Geographical Information System (GIS) property survey launched by the municipal corporation, Amritsar, has been at a standstill for more than three weeks. The delay is being attributed to a shortage of manpower in the private firm executing the project. The last survey activity was carried out on October 7. In response, the municipal corporation has issued a stern warning to the company, directing it to resume work within seven days. The project, awarded to Cyber Swift Company, aims to digitally map around four lakh properties across the city using advanced technology. As part of the plan, a high-tech LiDAR (3D) survey is to be conducted over four square kilometres in the walled city area. According to the municipal corporation’s timeline, 60 per cent of the sur- vey was expected to be completed in the first month. Each survey team was required to cover around 3,000 properties daily, recording details such as the number of floors, covered and open areas and other structural features. However, from September 19 to October 7, the company managed to survey only about 2,200 properties, primarily in Ranjit Avenue, Basant Avenue, Green Avenue, and Anand Avenue. Survey work in other parts of the city, particularly in Ward 85 and nearby localities, remains incomplete. Drone-based surveys have been finished in most areas except two wards near the airport, where aircraft movement has restricted drone operations. Officials said the work in these wards will resume after obtaining the necessary clearances. The LiDAR-based mapping of the walled city also remains pending. Under the project, each property — residential, commercial, industrial, or vacant — will be assigned a unique identification number plate. The total MC area of the city spans 145 square km. Amritsar, November 1 The Seven Summits challenge is one of the most coveted goals in the mountaineering world. It involves scaling the highest peak on each of the seven continents — a test of endurance, technical skill, and mental resilience that only a few hundred climbers across the globe have accomplished. Among those aspiring to achieve this remarkable feat is Tarundeep Singh, a city-based mountaineer driven by a singular dream — to raise the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh religious flag, atop all seven summits of the world. The 36-year-old mountaineer has already completed two major summits in 2023, achieving them backto-back within a few months. He successfully completed the Mount Everest Base Camp trek in just 14 days and later summited Mount Kilimanjaro, part of the Seven Summits Challenge, finishing the 95 km climb in seven c m y b His dream is to raise the Nishan Sahib on the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. days to hoist the Nishan Sahib atop the 19,341-foothigh peak. Tarundeep has also scaled Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe and the tallest volcano in Eurasia. A self-trained climber, he prepares rigorously for each expedition, carrying his own gear and spending months in physical and mental training. “Ever since I started climbing, I wanted to see the Nishan Sahib on these peaks that challenge our limits. What began as a pursuit of thrill has turned into an exercise in self-exploration,” he said. “Every climb teaches me discipline, humility and gratitude and that’s why I always carry the Nishan Sahib with me.” Currently based in Perth, Australia, Tarundeep hails from a business family in Amritsar and also runs a hotel in the city. His next mission is Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, located near the Chilean border. Despite the enormous cost involved, Tarundeep has been funding his expeditions himself. “It’s said you don’t climb the mountain to reach the top — you climb it to see who you become on the way up,” he said. “At Everest Base Camp, I carried nearly 23 kg of extra weight in gear and shoes. When I returned, I found my toenails had come off with the shoes. These climbs push you beyond physical limits and teach you what it means to truly live.” Tarundeep is now preparing for his fourth summit and remains determined to complete the Seven Summits Challenge, one peak at a time.