10032026-ATR-01.qxd 3/10/2026 12:27 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 30°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 18°C AWARENESS CAMPAGIGN FOR GLAUCOMA LAUNCHED GRAB SOULFUL BITES AT SECTOR 26 SINDHI SWEETS WHEN ALE ALE ALE MEETS OH HO HO HO! World Glaucoma Week was launched in Amritsar district, informing people about its dangers. P2 The popular restaurant in Chandigarh’s Sector 26 food hub serves extensive vegetarian delights beyond the ‘thali’. P4 India's T20 World Cup victory sees viral moment as Ricky Martin grooves to Sukhbir's Oh Ho Ho Ho. P4 » » » SUNSET TUESDAY 6.34 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.45 AM TUESDAY | 10 MARCH 2026 | AMRITSAR 3 snatchers held; stolen bike, cellphone recovered Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 9 The Maqboolpura police have busted a gang involved in snatching incidents with the arrest of its three members and the recovery of a stolen motorcycle, a mobile phone, and weapons used in the crime. The accused have been identified as Shamsher Singh, alias Sherry, and Harpreet Singh, alias Happy, both residents of the Maqboolpura area, and Dharamvir Singh, alias Haddi, a resident of Jawahar Nagar here. The police said the arrests were made in connection with a February 27 incident in which a migrant worker was robbed by the accused. According to the police, the case was registered on the complaint of Rahul Kumar Choudhary, a resident of Muzaffarpur in Bihar, who is currently staying at Dashmesh Avenue near Focal Point in Amritsar. He alleged that at around 4.40 am on February 27, three unidentified persons intercepted him near the Rajinder Nagar turn and snatched his motorcycle (PB-08-FB-3615), mobile phone and Rs 4,000 at gunpoint and with a sharpedged weapon before fleeing the spot. During the probe, the police identified and arrested the three suspects. The police team recovered the snatched Splendor motorcycle and mobile phone, besides seizing a sharpedged weapon (datar) and a toy pistol allegedly used during the crime. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Harpal Singh said the accused have a criminal background. Shamsher Singh has two previous cases related to assault and dacoity, Harpreet Singh has one case registered against him under the NDPS Act, while Dharamvir Singh is involved in four earlier cases, including dacoity, kidnapping, assault and violations under the Arms Act. The police said further investigation is underway to ascertain their involvement in other criminal incidents in the city. Police bust drug smuggling racket; 1 held with 9 kg heroin Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 9 The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Punjab Police arrested an alleged drug smuggler and recovered 9 kg of heroin during an operation in the district on Monday. The accused has been identified as Ranjit Singh, alias Rana, a resident of Gillan Wali village in Dujowal under the Ramdas police station. The police also impounded his motorcycle (PB14D0554), which was allegedly being used to transport narcotics. According to officials, the arrest was made following specific intelligence inputs that Ranjit Singh was in contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler identified as Jutt. Investigations revealed that heroin consignments were being smuggled into India using drones and dropped near the fenced border areas of Ghonewala village. The accused allegedly collected these consignments and supplied them to various parties across Punjab. As per information, the accused was travelling along the Amritsar-Ramdas road near the bus stop of Anaitpura village to deliver the consignment. Councillor’s husband among five held for staging fake attack Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service The seized contraband in the custody of CI wing officials in Amritsar. Acting on a tip-off, police teams set up checkpoints on the Amritsar-Ramdas road near the Anaitpura village bus stop and intercepted the suspect. During a search, police officials recovered the contraband from his possession. “Investigations are underway to determine how long he has been involved in the illegal trade. He will be produced before a court and brought on police remand for further interrogation,” said Balbir Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Counter Intelligence. He added that the police were also trying to ascertain the quantity of contraband he had smuggled so far. A case under various provisions of the NDPS Act has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) police station. Further investigations are in progress to trace the backward and forward linkages of the drug cartel, including the Pakistanbased handlers and their local associates involved in the trafficking and distribution of narcotics. The police expect more arrests as the investigation progresses. Amritsar, March 9 Two days after the alleged firing at the house of a woman MC councillor, the police have arrested five persons, including her husband, for allegedly orchestrating a fake armed attack on his own house to implicate a young man who had married his niece against the family’s wishes. Five persons, including the complainant himself, have been arrested in the case. According to the police, a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 25 of the Arms Act was registered at the Majitha Road police station on the complaint of Inderjit Singh, alias Bobby, a resident of Faizpura and husband of Ward No. 7 councillor Kajal. Inderjit had alleged that at around 12.30 am on March 7, four youths — identified as Sajan, alias Sajju, Vinay Kumar, alias Golu, Jassi and Rahul — fired shots in the air outside his house and attacked the gate with sharpedged weapons. However, during the investigation, the police found that the attack had been staged as part of a conspiracy to falsely implicate Sajan and his relatives. “The motive behind the plan was family resentment after Inderjit’s niece Nidhi, who is studying in the United Kingdom, married Sajan without the consent of her family and had approached a court in Jalandhar seeking police protection,” said the Police Commissioner. The Police Commissioner said Inderjit Singh, along with his nephew Danish and another relative Vishu Pahalwan, had hatched the plan. Vishu allegedly arranged several acquaintances — Akash of Ram Tirath Road, Manav of Rajasansi and Akhil of Dhapai, along with two others — to fire shots and strike the gate with sickles outside Inderjit’s house to create the impression of an attack. So far, the police have arrested Vishu Pahalwan, Danish, Akash and Manav, in addition to Ashok Kumar, who had allegedly provided the licensed pistol used in the incident. The weapon has been recovered. Akhil and two other suspects are currently absconding, and police teams have been deployed to arrest them. Police officials said further investigation is underway and more arrests are likely in the case. Police recover 58 stolen vehicles Murder victim’s family members among 50 booked for blocking national highway Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 9 Amid rising incidents of vehicle theft, the city police have recovered 58 stolen vehicles during a special anti-theft campaign conducted across different parts of the city in recent weeks. Police officials said that during the drive, special focus was placed on curbing property crimes, particularly the growing problem of motorcycle and scooter theft. All Station House Officers (SHOs) carried out targeted operations in their respective areas under the supervision of ACPs, ADCPs and DCPs, said Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar. Out of the 58 recovered vehicles, 49 are motorcycles while nine are Activa scooters, indicating that two-wheelers continue to be the primary target of vehicle thieves in the city. The recovery operations were carried out across all police subdivisions. In the eastern subdivision, police stations including A-Division, B-Division, Verka Tribune News Service The stolen two-wheelers recovered by the police in Amritsar. and Vallah together recovered 20 vehicles, including motorcycles and Activas. In the northern subdivision, police stations of Ranjit Avenue, Sadar, Civil Lines and Majitha Road recovered 23 vehicles — the highest among all zones during the drive. Similarly, in the western subdivision, Cantonment and Chheharta police stations recovered five motorcycles, while in the central subdivision, Islamabad police stations recovered six vehicles. In the southern subdivision, C-Division and Sultanwind police stations recovered four vehicles, including motorcycles and Activas. Police officials said the drive was launched after analysing vehicle theft patterns and identifying suspected locations where stolen vehicles were being hidden or disposed of. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the recovered vehicles will be returned to their rightful owners after the completion of legal formalities, he added. Amritsar, March 9 The Jandiala police have booked around 50 persons, including the family members of a murder victim, who held a demonstration and disrupted traffic on the national highway in Jandiala on Sunday. The newly married girl was shot dead allegedly by her husband on Friday. Traffic on the JalandharAmritsar National Highway was disrupted for several hours after a group of people allegedly staged a protest. According to the police, a case under Sections 326(B) and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 8-B of the National Highways Act, 1956, was registered on the statement of ASI Baljeet Singh. The police said the accused blocked traffic on ESI Hospital without medicine specialist for nearly 3 yrs Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 9 Even as the Aam Aadmi Party government claims to have opened more than 90 new clinics in the district during its tenure, the reality is that the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Hospital here has been functioning without a medicine specialist for nearly three years. In effect, out of the four years of AAP’s tenure in the state, the hospital has remained without a medicine specialist for three years. A visit to the hospital’s modern building revealed that two of its upper floors are largely vacant. These floors house the indoor patient wards. In the absence of a medicine specialist, the hospital has been unable to utilise its manpower and infrastructure to their full potential. Earlier last year, the hospital had stopped admitting Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar briefs mediapersons in Amritsar on Monday. A view of ESI Hospital on Majitha Road in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR patients to its indoor wards because a medicine specialist is essential for most types of surgeries. Even now, with nearly two lakh ESI cardholders and their families dependent on the facility, the wards remain underutilised and many patients are referred to other hospitals. “It is surprising that the government is making so many claims about improving healthcare services in the state, yet it has failed to appoint a permanent medicine specialist here for the past three years,” said Rajbir Singh, a local resident. A hospital employee high- lighted the seriousness of the issue, stating that even the Health Minister, Balbir Singh, was informed about the situation during his visit. The employee stressed that a medicine specialist is crucial for delivering comprehensive medical care to patients. Employees also expressed c m y b concern that the government may not be keen on strengthening healthcare services at the ESI hospital. “The cost of patient treatment is borne by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation. Since most patients are being referred to private hospitals, the authorities do not object much as many feel private hospitals offer better facilities,” said an employee. The hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Dr Sushma, said that whenever the consultation of a medicine specialist is required, the hospital seeks assistance from Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. “At present, we are performing surgeries in most departments,” she added. She further said that the higher authorities have been informed about the vacant posts of medicine specialists. “We have been assured that specialists will be made available soon,” she added. TRAFFIC DISRUPTED FOR HOURS ■ The police said the accused blocked traffic on the national highway around 1 pm. The protesters allegedly parked their vehicles on both sides of the GT Road near the Jandiala flyover and then sat in the middle of the highway, bringing traffic movement to a complete halt. The action reportedly caused major inconvenience to commuters, including ambulances and other emergency services, besides causing long traffic jams on the busy highway stretch. Traffic on the JalandharAmritsar National Highway was disrupted for several hours. ■ Officials said the protest was allegedly organised to influence the investigation in a murder case registered with the Jandiala police three days ago. the national highway around 1 pm. The protesters allegedly parked their vehicles on both sides of the GT Road near the Jandiala flyover and then sat in the middle of the highway, bringing traffic movement to a complete halt. The action reportedly caused major inconvenience to commuters, including ambulances and other emergency services, besides causing long traffic jams on the busy highway stretch. Among those named in the case are Balwinder Singh, a resident of New Gurnam Nagar on Sultanwind Road in Amritsar, Hardial Singh, Baljinder Kaur, Gurvinder Kaur, Mandeep Singh, Upkar Singh, Aukar Singh, Ranjit Kaur and Palwinder Singh, along with 40-50 persons, including women. The police said no arrests have been made so far. Officials said the protest was allegedly organised to influence the investigation in a murder case registered with the Jandiala police three days ago. A newly married woman, Narinder Kaur (22), was allegedly shot dead by her husband Amrinder Singh and in-laws over dowry demands in the Behek Bamma road area of Gehri Mandi. The victim was married to him on February 4 this year. Based on a complaint filed by Balwinder Singh, the police have registered a murder case against four members of the husband’s family. Apart from Amrinder Singh, the police had booked Gurvinder Singh (brother-in-law), Rajwinder Kaur (sister-inlaw) and Rajwinder Kaur (mother-in-law), all residents of Gehri Mandi in the murder case. Admn bans overcrowding of schoolchildren in auto-rickshaws Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 9 Despite repeated warnings, violations of traffic norms by auto-rickshaws ferrying schoolchildren have drawn the attention of the district administration, prompting it to impose a ban on vehicles carrying more students than the permissible limit. Concerned about the safety of students and the growing traffic problems, the district administration has issued strict orders prohibiting autorickshaw drivers from carrying children beyond the prescribed seating capacity. The administration stated that doing so is a violation of traffic and motor vehicle norms. Additional District Magistrate Rupinder Pal Singh issued the order under Sec- Ignoring safety norms, an overloaded auto-rickshaw ferries schoolchildren in Amritsar. tion 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). According to the order, no vehicle or auto-rick- shaw driver in the district will be allowed to transport schoolchildren beyond the continued on page 2