21072026-ATR-01.qxd 7/20/2026 11:39 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 30°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 28°C WRITER VISH DHAMIJA ON HOW CRIME PAYS WELL INNOVATION & INTERNATIONAL FOOTPRINT IN LIFE SCIENCES 11-MINUTE FIFA SPECTACLE FAILED TO GENERATE BUZZ The book introduces readers to the memorable fictional character Rita Ferreira. P2 Dr Preet Mohinder Singh Bedi believes sustained investment in technology creates new opportunities. P3 Hollywood stars glitter at the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, where Tom Cruise led an A-list parade of celebrities. P4 » » » SUNSET TUESDAY 7.34 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:38 AM TUESDAY | 21 JULY 2026 | AMRITSAR Farm bodies, AAP halqa incharge at loggerheads Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 20 Farmer unions and halqa incharge of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party Sonia Mann have been at loggerheads over the control of a Kirti Kisan Union office at Rajasansi. Sonia Mann is the daughter Baldev Singh Mann, a prominent leader of the KKU, who lost his life to militants during 1986. KKU leader Jatinder Singh Chinna said the party office served not only as an office but a memorial to the memory of farm leaders Baldev Singh Mann. “Sonia Mann might be the daughter of Baldev Mann but she has not proven to an heir to his legacy and ideology,” he said, adding Mann laid his life for the people but Sonia Mann chose a political path which was against the interest of the masses. Sonia Mann had remained actively involved in the farmers agitation at Delhi borders. She even contested 2022 assembly elections at Samyukt Kisan Morchafrom Rajasansi. However, after the formation of the AAP government, she got closer to the party and was subsequently Continued on page 2 Man found dead in SUV in city’s Chheharta area Asphyxiation suspected; 33-year-old left home on Sunday Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 20 A 33-year-old man was found dead inside a Mahindra Thar in the Chheharta area on Monday morning. Asphyxiation is suspected to be the cause of death, the police said. As to what exactly happened would only be known after the autopsy, the police said. The deceased was identified as Fateh Singh (33), a resident of Jhanjoti village, falling under the Ajnala police station limits in Amritsar (Rural). The police said he left the house on Sunday afternoon in his Thar. When he did not return, his family made frantic calls to get through to him, but there was no response. On Monday morning, passersby noticed a man lying motionless inside a parked Thar in the Chheharta area and informed the police. Balwinder Singh, area SHO, reached the spot with his team. The vehicle was unlocked and the body brought out. His identity was established through his mobile The police say they are awaiting the autopsy report to find out the exact cause of death. VISHAL KUMAR PASSERSBY INFORMED COPS ■ Passersby noticed the a man lying motionless inside a Thar. ■ They informed the police, who reached the spot and unlocked the vehicle. phone, following which his family was informed. After the postmortem examination, the body was handed over to the family. Balwinder Singh said the ■ The deceased was identified as Fateh Singh (33), a resident of Jhanjoti village, falling under the Ajnala police station limits in Amritsar (Rural). vehicle’s windows were down, raising the possibility that Fateh Singh may have died of suffocation. In his statement to the police, Satwinder Singh, a resident of Jhanjoti village, said Fateh Singh lived with his wife and two children and was an alcoholic. He had previously worked with Mahindra but had quit his job around six months ago. He had recently started the business of buying and selling used cars. The police have initiated proceedings under relevant provisions and are awaiting the autopsy report. Fire at Ram Bagh: MC writes to police, calls for swift action Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 20 After a fire destroyed heaps of dry leaves, branches and tree residue at the historic Ram Bagh (Company Bagh), the Municipal Corporation (MC) wrote to the police, seeking action against those behind the incident. The civic body has also initiated departmental action against employees of the Horticulture Department for alleged negligence. In a letter to the Police Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Secretary Sushant Bhatia stated that unidentified persons allegedly set the heaps of dry leaves on fire, causing inconvenience to those visiting the park. The letter read that at night, those into drugs and gambling allegedly entered the park and committed thefts, robberies and other crimes. They also allegedly damaged public property. The civic body has requested the police to identify those responsible for the fire, take legal action against them and deploy police personnel in the park at night. The Municipal Corporation’s Landscape Officer has also sought explanation On Saturday, a fire destroyed heaps of dry leaves, branches and tree residue at the historic Ram Bagh in Amritsar. from Ram Pal, incharge of the garden, over the alleged lapse in maintenance and supervision. The official asked from garden incharge why dry leaves had not been removed from the park. The latter has been told to answer why they failed to discharge their Thousands leave for Delhi Kisan Ghat rally Sewage pipes fixed in Kishan Kot Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 20 Thousands of farmers from Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts on Monday left for Delhi from the Beas to participate in the maha rally at Kisan Ghat against the proposed India-US Trade Agreement on July 21. Meanwhile left-wing organisations and trade unions intensified protests over labour rights and recent political developments and burnt an effigy of the government. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said under the banner of the Desh Bachao Morcha, farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha would gather in the Capital to demand cancellation of the proposed free trade agreement. Amritsar, July 20 Residents of Kishan Kot, Ward No. 67, falling under the Central Assembly constituency, heaved a sigh of relief after the Municipal Corporation (MC) acted swiftly to resolve the problem of sewage backflow in the area. They took to the helpline to alert the civic body about the deplorable condition of sewerage. Central Assembly MLA Dr Ajay Gupta, along with Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill and a team of officials from the Municipal Corporation’s Operation and Maintenance Department, visited the site on Monday. Dr Gupta stated that it was found that sewage pipes in the Kishan Kot area, part of which falls under the Amritsar West Assembly constituency, had broken caus- Convoys of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee from Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts, comprising hundreds of buses and vehicles, will reach the national capital on July 21. Pandher said convoys of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee from Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts, comprising hundreds of buses and vehicles, would reach Delhi for the rally. The convoy is scheduled to halt at Fatehgarh Sahib-Sirhind before proceeding to Delhi via the Shambhu border. Farmer leaders said the pro- posed bilateral trade agreement could open India’s agriculture and dairy sectors to greater imports from the United States. They argued that subsidised American agricultural and dairy products could adversely affect Indian farmers, dairy producers, small traders and agrobased industries. They also demanded that the Centre should make all documents related to the negotiations and hold consultations with stakeholders before signing any agreement. Worker unions voiced anger over the alleged pressure of working 12-hour shifts, delay in regularisation of the services of contractual employees and pending service benefits. supervisory responsibilities, with the warning that disciplinary action would follow if their replies were found unsatisfactory. The fire at Ram Bagh on Saturday raised concerns over the safety of visitors. The park has been cleared by the MC. Stretches along BRTS corridor face neglect Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service The Municipal Commissioner assured residents that the sewerage system would start working by Tuesday night. ing sewage backflow. The civic body replaced the damaged pipes and started de-silting. The Municipal Commissioner assured residents that the sewerage system would start working by Tuesday night. He added that sewerage desilting was being carried out in some wards of the walled city and West Assembly con- stituencies as part of the “One City One Operator” project. Residents could call up on helpline numbers 6280020903 and 98726-20903 for their complaints. For waterlogging-related issues, one could contact the Lahori Gate Control Room on 01832558364 or the control room built in Company Bagh (0183-2563490), he said. Amritsar, July 20 While the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor was developed to provide faster and more efficient public transport in the city, the condition of its service lanes and slip roads has become a major concern due to years of neglect. Several stretches of the slip roads running parallel to the BRTS corridor have developed large potholes, uneven surfaces and damaged patches, making commute difficult. During the rainy season, the damaged roads accumulate water, increasing the risk of accidents. Two-wheeler riders are among the worst affected, with many reporting skidding and minor accidents. The BRTS project was Continued on page 2 E-vehicles to keep city roads, public places litter-free Bar members go on hunger strike Tribune News Service The vehicles will pick litter from roadsides and crowded areas. Amritsar, July 20 To keep the city litter-free, the Municipal Corporation is all set to introduce vacuumequipped electric vehicles (evehicles). The e-vehicles will collect waste scattered along roads and in public places through a vacuum system. Civic officials said roads, streets, parking areas, market zones and footpaths would be patrolled and made garbage-free. Bidding for the Rs 9.55 crore project has been completed and the proposal sent to the Chandigarh headquarters for approval. On receiving a nod, the Municipal Corporation plans to outsource the work by the end of this month. The contract will be awarded for a period of two years. Areas in focus will be those PROPOSAL SENT FOR NOD ■ Civic officials said e-vehicles would collect waste from roads, streets, parking areas, market zones and footpaths. ■ Bidding for the ~9.55 crore project has been completed and the proposal sent to the Chandigarh headquarters for approval. witnessing a high high footfall, including Heritage Street, roads leading to Sri Harmandir Sahib, Lawrence Road, Ranjit Avenue, major commercial markets, parking areas and tourist destinations. The e-vehicles will continuously patrol these busy locations to collect litter before it accumulates. The initiative will strengthen the city’s ongoing mechanised road sweeping programme. Under the existing system, mechanised sweep- c m y b ers remove dust and silt from roads, while manual cleaning is carried out at locations inaccessible to machines. The drive also includes washing of roads and footpaths, cleaning of roadside gully chambers, grass cutting, removal of horticultural waste, plastic and debris, ensuring that roads and stormwater drains remain clean throughout the day. All vehicles deployed under the project will be equipped with GPS, allowing sanitation operations to be tracked live through the city’s Integrated Command and Control Centre. Mayor Jatinder Singh Moti Bhatia said the Municipal Corporation was taking all necessary measures to maintain cleanliness in the holy city. He added that work on the project would begin soon. Want legal aid defence counsel policy rolled back Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 20 The Amritsar Bar Association (ABA) on Monday intensified its agitation against the legal aid defence counsel (LADC) policy by going on a hunger strike while continuing its “No Work Day” protest as part of the statewide movement led by the Punjab Bar Associations’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) here on Monday. ABA President Gurpreet Singh Panesar, along with office-bearers and executive members, sat on an indefinite fast outside the Judicial Court Complex in support of the demand for the withdrawal of the LADC policy. The association appealed to all advocates to join the Amritsar Bar Association protests on Monday. PHOTO: PAWAN KUMAR protest and strengthen the movement aimed at safeguarding the dignity, independence and future of the legal profession. The decision to intensify the agitation follows a unanimous resolution adopted by the executive body of the ABA at its meeting on Monday. The association resolved to continue the “No Work Day” protest on July 20 and 21, demanding the withdrawal of the existing policy and Continued on page 2