12012026-ATR-01.qxd 1/11/2026 10:45 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST FOG MIST IN MORNING MAX 11°C | MIN 4°C YESTERDAY MAX 11°C | MIN 8°C MALAYSIAN POLITICIAN VISITS DARBAR SAHIB MEASURES TO CHECK RISING CRIME GRAPH IN DISTRICT OSCAR SPOTLIGHT ON UNTOLD TRUTHS Jagdeep Singh Deo visited Tarn Taran where he listened to Kirtan at the shrine and was felicitated. P2 Increased police deployment, fast-track courts and intelligence-driven operations needed, say residents P3 With Paroentering the Oscar Convention List, Trupti Bhoir marks her second Academyrecognised film, on global stage. P4 » » » SUNSET MONDAY 5.38 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7.20 AM MONDAY | 12 JANUARY 2026 | AMRITSAR Police nab key conspirator from Mumbai in advocate murder case Abhisharanjit Singh of Jandiala arrested by police along with an accomplice Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 11 In a major breakthrough in the murder case of Lakhwinder Singh, a lawyer, the police have arrested two more accused from Mumbai, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five. One of the arrested accused has been identified as Abhisharanjit Singh of Jandiala, who is alleged to be the key conspirator in the crime. According to police sources, Abhisharanjit fled to Mumbai immediately after the incident and went into hiding, working as a crane operator. He kept changing his locations to evade arrest, making it difficult for the police to trace him for nearly six months. Police said that last week, they received specific intelligence inputs about the presence of Abhisharanjit and two of his associates in Mumbai. Acting swiftly, a special police team was dispatched and conducted a late-night raid in Mumbai yesterday, leading to the arrest of Abhisharanjit and another accomplice. Both are expect- SHOCKING CRIME ■ On July 21, at around 10 am, The car of the lawyer which hit nearby shops after he was shot dead by armed assailants in Jandiala Guru; (right) advocate Lakhwinder Singh. FILE PHOTOS ed to be brought to Amritsar by Monday morning for further interrogation. Earlier, three accused — Lovepreet Singh alias Love, Manpreet Singh alias Money and Manminder Singh alias Billa — were arrested in connection with the case. During their arrest, the police recovered a cache of weapons, including two Glock 9mm pistols with three magazines and 14 live rounds, two .30 bore pistols with magazines and six live cartridges, and one .32 bore pistol along with four live rounds. The investigation revealed that the attack was carried out on the directions of Abhisharanjit Singh, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the conspiracy. Police teams had been conducting raids to apprehend him since then. The murder had triggered widespread outrage within the legal fraternity. Members of the Amritsar Bar Association had repeatedly met senior police officials, including the DIG and SSP demanding , arrests and justice in the case. It may be recalled that on July 21, at around 10 am, advocate Lakhwinder Singh was travelling in his car from MC installs QR code in houses to boost waste management efficiency Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 11 In a significant step to strengthen the city's door-todoor garbage collection system, the Municipal Corporation has installed QR codes in nearly 200 households over the past three days to enhance monitoring and service efficiency. The initiative aims to bring transparency and accountability in waste collection operations across the city. The waste management company, 3R, has also begun increasing the number of collection vehicles to ensure better coverage, especially in major markets and busy roads. Two large garbage collection vehicles have already been deployed, while eight more compactors are expected to arrive by next week. Additionally, 140 mini tippers have reached the city, and another 100 are scheduled to arrive by January 20, claimed office-bearers of 3R. As part of the city's push towards sustainable sanitation, 50 electric garbage collection vehicles will be Mini tippers of the waste management firm, 3R, parked at Bhandari Bridge in Amritsar. inducted in February. These vehicles will be deployed primarily in the Walled City area. Due to their compact size, the electric vehicles will be able to access narrow lanes and congested localities with ease. Once fully charged for four to five hours, each vehicle can cover a distance of up to 250 kilometres. Charging infrastructure has already been set up at the Bhagtanwala dump site, ensuring smooth operations. Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia said that the arrival of additional large vehicles would significantly reduce visible garbage accumulation in major markets and on main roads. He added that the Municipal Corporation is working at every level to improve cleanliness and urged residents to actively cooperate in making the city clean. With public support, achieving a top ranking in cleanliness is well within reach, he said. The Mayor further informed that around 1,200 institutions generating more than 100 kg of waste daily have already registered on the bulk waste generator app. Through the app, users can lodge complaints, receive guidance on segregating wet and dry waste, and access other waste management solutions online. Flouting traffic rules? Eat almonds to boost memory Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 11 In an innovative effort to encourage adherence to rules, the city traffic police distributed almonds at more than 20 major intersections, aiming to remind motorists not to "forget" basic road safety norms. Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Harpreet Singh said that a majority of traffic rule violators tend to cite "forgetfulness" when stopped by the police. Offences such as riding two- wheelers without helmets, not wearing seat belts, jumping signals or ignoring lane discipline are often brushed aside as minor lapses. "When motorists are challaned, many immediately say they forgot or promise to be careful the next time," the officers said. To 'address' this repeated excuse in a positive and non-confrontational manner, the traffic police came up with the symbolic idea of distributing almonds, popularly believed to help sharpen memory. The gesture was meant to send a clear message that traffic rules are not optional and must be remembered at all times while driving or riding on city roads. The officers emphasised that human life is extremely valuable and negligence on the road can have irreversible consequences. "Life is given only once. A moment of carelessness or disregard for traffic rules can lead to serious injuries, permanent disability or even death," said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Amandeep Kaur, while adding that most road accidents are preventable if basic safety norms are followed. Traffic personnel interacted with motorists, explained the importance of helmets, seat belts and responsible driving, and urged them to become role models for others on the road and also ensure their own safety and that of others. Sub-inspector Daljeet Singh and Head Constable Salwant Singh were also present during the launch of awareness campaign. Pic on P2 advocate Lakhwinder Singh was travelling in his car from Jandiala Guru to the Amritsar courts when his vehicle was intercepted by assailants, who opened indiscriminate fire. ■ He sustained critical gunshot injuries and was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed after nearly 10 days. Jandiala Guru to the Amritsar courts when his vehicle was intercepted by assailants, who opened indiscriminate fire. He sustained critical gunshot injuries and was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed after nearly ten days. Married woman found dead in Ajnala, husband held Amritsar, January 11 Following the suspicious death of a married woman, Kashmir Kaur alias Raju (26), the Amritsar rural police have booked her in-laws on charges of murder. The police have arrested her husband while the remaining accuseds are at large. According to Gurmeet Kaur, mother of the victim and a resident of Poonga village in Ajnala, her daughter Kashmir Kaur had been married for the past seven years to Avtar Singh alias Kaka of Chak Dogra village, presently residing at Bhakha Hari Singh village. The couple has two minor sons, aged about five and three years. The complainant alleged that soon after the marriage, Avtar Singh and his family members, including father Santokh Singh alias Soki and mother Rani Kaur, subjected her daughter to repeated harassment, physical abuse and domestic violence. On several occasions, Kashmir Kaur was allegedly beaten up and forced out of her matrimonial home. Each time, the parental family intervened and sent her back after counselling. Two days ago, Gurmeet Kaur visited her daughter's matrimonial home along with her son Sarabjit Singh on occasion of Lohri festival. However, Kashmir Kaur was not found at home. When questioned, Avtar Singh reportedly broke down and informed them that Kashmir Kaur had died. The complainant suspects that her daughter was murdered by her husband Avtar Singh, his father Santokh Singh and mother Rani Kaur, and alleged that the accused disposed of the body to destroy evidence. Police have arrested Avtar Singh. — TNS Cold wave conditions affect normal life, daily wagers hit hard Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 11 With cold wave conditions prevailing in the region for the past several days and the weather forecasts predicting a further drop in temperature, normal life has been thrown out of gear. Dense fog, icy winds and unusually low daytime temperatures have forced people to remain indoors, while movement on roads during early morning hours has been severely affected. In view of the intense cold, the government had earlier extended winter vacations for schools, bringing relief to students and parents alike. "The decision to extend holidays was necessary to protect children from harsh weather and the risk of seasonal illnesses," said a parent, Rajiv Mehta, adding that the cold this year feels more severe than in recent winters. Daily life, however, continues to suffer. Daily wage workers and labourers have been among the worst hit. "Work has slowed down because of fog and extreme cold. Many days, we return without full wages," said Ramesh Kumar, a construction worker. Shopkeepers and vendors also reported a sharp decline in customers during daytime hours. An elderly vendor selling balloons on a cold and foggy morning at Heritage Street in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR The cold wave has taken a toll on vegetable crops, with frost damaging leafy vegetables and early potato plantations in several areas. A farmer from the rural belt said the frost has damaged vegetable leaves, which may affect supply and push prices upward in the coming days. At the same time, farmers growing wheat are hopeful. Agricultural experts point out that sustained cold conditions are beneficial for the wheat crop at this stage. "Low temperatures help in better tillering of wheat plants, which can ultimately lead to higher yields, provided there is no prolonged or severe frost," said Gurpreet Singh, a progressive farmer. Health experts have urged people to take precautions. "We are witnessing an increase in cases of respiratory infections, body aches and joint pain. Elderly people and children should avoid exposure to cold, especially early in the morning and late in the evening," said Civil Surgeon Dr Satinderjit Singh. No merger of Punjab dists with Jammu, warns AISSF Cautions against taking away Pathankot, Gurdaspur from state Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 11 Days after Omar Abdullah Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, announced that the BJP-led Central Government is likely to carve out a separate state of Jammu from Jammu and Kashmir as it had earlier done with Ladakh, Sikh organisations have warned that speculations are already rife that the government may take away some areas out of Pathankot, a district of Punjab, bordering the hill state, to merge with Jammu. All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) leaders Sarbjit Singh Jammu, Gurkripal Singh and Jeet Singh Ludhiana, in a joint statement released here on Sunday, stated that if the Central Government wants to make Jammu a separate state, they do not have any problems, but it should not intend to snatch any area of Punjab for merger with the proposed state. They warned that if this happens, it will be very dangerous for the country and they appealed to all the political parties of Punjab to understand this move of the Centre to come together to stop further division. They said earlier during the country's Partition, more than half of Punjab was given to Pakistan. Then PEPSU was dissolved, and later, on the pretext of creating a Punjabi Suba, Haryana and Himachal were removed. All these moves made Punjab a small state. The statement made by the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, that "the Central Government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going to split Jammu and Kashmir" has given more strength to speculations that some areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur in Punjab are being planned to be included in the newly created state. They said the Union Government had already caused a flight of industry from Punjab to the adjoining mountainous states due to lopsided policies. Braving the chill Farmers work in the fields amid cold weather and fog in Amritsar on Sunday. VISHAL KUMAR c m y b