31122025-ATR-01.qxd 12/30/2025 11:01 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY CHAWINDA DEVI: WHERE MYTHOLOGY, FAITH CONVERGE MAN BEATEN TO DEATH IN TARN TARAN BOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES SHARE THEIR NEW YEAR PLANS Ancient shrines here — including Chamunda Devi temple, a Sidh-peeth — await recognition. P2 Kin stage dharna outside police station, allege that cops acted under political pressure. P3 While some are planning relaxing getaways, others are looking forward to welcoming the year with family & friends. P4 » » » MAX 17°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 16°C | MIN 7°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.36 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 7.29 AM WEDNESDAY | 31 DECEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Several flights cancelled, delayed as dense fog persists in district Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Vehicles move at a slow speed due to poor visibility caused by dense fog in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR celled. Dense fog at Delhi airport resulted in large-scale cancellations, diversions and delays, affecting flight connectivity across several cities, including Amritsar. Airport officials said that even when local weather conditions improve, flights may continue to be impacted due to aircraft availability issues, crew constraints or network-related disruptions at other airports. Passengers have been advised to check their flight status directly with the respective airlines before heading to the airport. Airlines have also urged travellers to rely on official airline apps, SMS alerts and email updates for the latest information to avoid inconvenience. Airport authorities stated that efforts are underway to normalise operations as weather conditions improve, with visibility and operational readiness being monitored continuously. Amritsar, December 30 The Amritsar police have busted a cross-border drug smuggling cartel with alleged links to Pakistan-based handlers by arresting seven persons. The police also seized 4.075 kg of heroin, 1 kg of methamphetamine (ICE), and a 9 mm Glock pistol from the accused. Those arrested were identified as Judgebir Singh alias Judge (21) of Jasraur village; Jaspal Singh alias Jass (22) of Ajnala; Dawinder Singh alias Bau (33); and Mandeep Singh (24) of Bua Nangli village in Amritsar. The others include Anmolpreet Singh (19), Harpinder Singh alias Bhinda (32), and Tarunpreet Singh (20), all residents of Sandalpur and Lopa villages in Gurdaspur district. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said on Tuesday that preliminary investigations revealed the contraband was smuggled from Pakistan and distributed PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Amritsar, December 30 Dense fog disrupted flight operations at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport here last night and early this morning, leading to delays and cancellations of several international and domestic flights. According to airport sources, Air India Express flight IX-320 from Dubai, scheduled to arrive in Amritsar at 1 am today, was cancelled. Malaysia Airlines flight MH-148 from Kuala Lumpur, scheduled to land at 8.30 pm, was also cancelled. In addition, an Air India A321 flight from Delhi to Amritsar, scheduled to arrive at 10.35 pm, did not operate. Apart from these cancellations, at least five other international and domestic flights arrived with significant delays due to poor visibility and operational disruptions caused by dense fog. On the departure side, Malaysia Airlines flight MH149, scheduled to leave Amritsar for Kuala Lumpur at 9.30 pm, was also can- Cross-border drug racket busted; seven nabbed with 4 kg heroin, ICE Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar addresses mediapersons in Amritsar on Tuesday. across Punjab through local modules operating under the directions of handlers based across the border. Communication and coordination were allegedly carried out through social media platforms. Sharing operational details, Bhullar said the police action was initiated based on specific and credible intelligence inputs. Police teams first nabbed Judgebir Singh and recovered 225 grams of heroin from his possession. Sustained interrogation and technical analysis of digital communications led to the arrest of his associate Jaspal Singh, from whom 1.6 kg of heroin was recovered. The operation was subsequently expanded, leading to the arrest of Anmolpreet Singh, Harpinder Singh, and Tarunpreet Singh, resulting in the recovery of another 2.2 kg of heroin. The Police Commissioner said investigations revealed that these accused were working as couriers and distributors, executing instructions from Pakistan-based handlers who coordinated narcotics drops and distribution across multiple districts. During the same operation, the police also apprehended Dawinder Singh and Mandeep Singh during routine patrolling, recovering a 9 mm Glock pistol and a motorcycle. Their interrogation led to the recovery of 1 kg of ICE. The Police Commissioner said investigations revealed that Judgebir Singh was previously involved in an attempt to murder case, while Jaspal Singh was already facing prosecution under the Arms Act. Similarly, Dawinder Singh had two cases registered under the NDPS Act. It also emerged that Dawinder had returned to India around one-and-a-half years ago after living in Dubai for nearly a decade, where he allegedly developed contacts with international drug smugglers. Two separate FIRs have been registered at the Sadar and Cantonment police stations in this connection. Bhullar said further arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days. March held against termination of sanitation workers Road mishaps snuff out two lives without any explanation or formal notice. “No written communication was issued to us before our work was stopped,” he said. He further stated that on December 25, the workers were called for a meeting with the Local Bodies Minister, but on the same day, their work was officially discontinued. “This has caused severe distress among the workers. Many elderly women, who have spent years working as sanitation staff, are now left without any source of income. Several young workers have also lost their livelihoods, pushing their families into financial hardship,” he added. The protesters said that despite repeated appeals, no concrete response has been received from the authorities so far. They demanded the immediate reinstatement of the removed sanitation workers and an end to what they termed arbitrary and unjust termination practices. RMPI observes death anniv of freedom fighter Dalip Tapiala One booked for kidnapping teenage girl Depite clear provisions, individuals saving accident victims get no recognition: Activist Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 30 The Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI) on Tuesday organised a political conference at Tapiala village near here to observe the death anniversary of noted freedom fighter and veteran communist leader Dalip Singh Tapiala. Dalip Singh Tapiala, a close associate of prominent freedom fighter Sohan Singh Josh, was among those arrested in the historic Meerut Conspiracy Case. He played a key role in organising the first unit of the All India Kisan Sabha in Amritsar and, after Independence, was elected twice to the Punjab Legislative Assembly. Addressing the gathering, RMPI national general secretary Mangat Ram Pasla said that remembering freedom fighters like Tapiala had become even more relevant at a time when the country was being governed by forces that did not actively partici- Tarn Taran, December 30 The city police have booked a person for allegedly kidnapping a teenage girl by luring to marry her. The police said the accused has been identified as Baj Singh, a resident of Fatehgarh Churian (Batala). The victim’s father said she went to a sports stadium three weeks ago in the evening, but did not return home. He thought that she might have gone to her mother’s house, who has been living separately from him for the last five years. Later, he got to know that the accused had abducted her by luring to marry her. Sub-Inspector Simarjit Kaur, posted at the city police station, recorded the statement of the victim’s father and registered a case under Sections 137 (2) and 96 of the BNS on Sunday. The police said a hunt is on to nab the accused and trace the victim. Amritsar, December 30 Government schemes aimed at supporting and encouraging Good Samaritans who assist road accident victims by taking them to hospitals in time are not effectively reaching people at the ground level. This was alleged by social worker Sarbjit Singh Sonu Jandiala. Sonu Jandiala, who is also a member of the Akal Sewa Foundation, said that despite clear provisions by both the Centre and the Punjab Government, many individuals who save lives by helping accident victims are deprived of official recognition, certificates and financial assistance. He made these remarks after meeting the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar and submitting a memorandum on the issue. He said both the Centre Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 30 The Mazdoor Action Committee (Sanjha Morcha) organised a foot march here on Tuesday to protest against the termination of contractual sanitation workers of the Amritsar Improvement Trust. The march began from Hall Gate and concluded at the statue of Baba Sahib Dr B R Ambedkar on Heritage Street, where protesters raised slogans against what they described as the government’s anti-labour policies. The temporary sanitation workers had been rendering services for several years. Members of the Mazdoor Action Committee alleged that dozens of workers were arbitrarily removed from service without any prior notice or written order. Addressing the gathering, Nishan Singh said sanitation workers had been working The Mazdoor Action Committee (Sanjha Morcha) during a protest in Amritsar on Tuesday. VISHAL KUMAR with the Improvement Trust for many years under the contractor system. He said that on December 15, the workers were suddenly removed from their jobs A political conference, organised by the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI), underway at Tapiala village near Amritsar. pate in the freedom movement and had indirectly sided with the British rulers. Pasla said Tapiala dedicated his entire life to the cause of the poor and marginalised. He pointed out that while Tapiala was arrested six times during British rule, he was imprisoned on 12 occasions even after Independence for continuing his struggle for people’s rights. Criticising the BJP senior , RMPI leader Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala alleged that the party was promoting hatred among communities and pursuing policies that favoured large corporate houses. He also targeted the state government, accusing it of allowing unchecked exploitation of natural resources, failing to create sufficient employment opportunities for the youth. c m y b Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, December 30 Two persons were killed in two different road accidents here on Monday. Respective police stations have registered cases in this regard. A 50-year-old man, identified as Kublir Singh, a resident of Bharowal, was killed on the spot when his moped was hit from the rear on Monday near the local Majha Public School. The deceased was on his way back home on his moped and was hit by some unidentified car. Kulwant Singh of Bharowal, a close relative of the deceased, said on receiving information, the police reached the spot and started a probe. The body was kept in the mortuary the Civil Hospital, Tarn Taran, and the postmortem was conducted on Tuesday. Kulwant Singh said Kulbir Singh had come to the District Administrative Complex and the Punjab Government have schemes under which people who rush road accident victims to hospitals are entitled to appreciation letters, honour certificates and monetary support. However, these schemes are not being implemented effectively at the grassroots level, resulting in Good Samaritans not receiving the intended benefits. Sonu Jandiala said the Akal Sewa Foundation has been working for a long time to spread awareness about these schemes and ensure their proper implementation. So far, the organisation has helped shift injured persons to hospitals in more than 100 road accident cases. Despite this, availing benefits under government schemes continues to remain a challenge. He said the issue has repeatedly been raised The mangled remains of a moped hit by an unidentified vehicle at Adda Chabal in Tarn Taran. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI (DAC) for some work. He is survived by his wife and three children — two daughters, who are married, and a son. In another case, Mangal Singh (34), a resident of Pandori Ran Singh, was killed on the spot at Adda Chabal when his moped was hit from the rear with administrative officials, the Punjab Government, and the Central Government. Letters have also been sent several times to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, following which the matter was raised during a Parliament session. The issue was also discussed with Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla. During the meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, Sonu Jandiala demanded that social service organisations be included in review meetings held every two to three months on the issue to ensure better outreach of government schemes. He said the Akal Sewa Foundation is ready to extend full cooperation, as the matter is directly linked to saving human lives. The Deputy Commissioner assured that efforts would be intensified to promote the campaign and that appropriate steps by a speeding car. Sukhchain Singh, a passerby, said a speeding car hit his moped and fled the spot. The deceased is survived by his wife and two minor sons (aged four-year-old and two-and-a-half-year old). The postmortem was conducted at the local Civil Hospital. would be taken to create public awareness. Sonu Jandiala said that under Central Government provisions, treatment of road accident victims is free up to Rs 1.5 lakh, while the Punjab Government also provides free medical treatment. Under the Farishtey Scheme, honour certificates are awarded on January 26 and August 15. In addition, the Punjab Police issues certificates in the name of Bhai Ghanaiya Ji, and the Central Government provides financial assistance of Rs 25,000. He expressed concern that despite the existence of such important schemes, many citizens — and even government employees — lack adequate information about them. He appealed to the public to come forward to help accident victims and make use of these schemes to save precious lives.