31082026-ATR-01.qxd 8/30/2026 10:40 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY BATTH BROTHERS MAKE IT BIG IN ORGANIC FARMING CHECK ON HOARDING, BLACK MARKETING NEED OF HOUR BOLLYWOOD DIVAS TURN HEADS IN STUNNING GOLDEN SAREES Ranjodh Singh Batth and Ranjit Singh Batth developed a pear orchard over 4.5 acres. P2 Locals say timely govt intervention is a must as rising prices straining household budgets ahead of festive season. P3 The new generation of Bollywood actors is proving that nothing matches the timeless elegance of a golden saree. P4 » » » MAX 35°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.51 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:01 AM MONDAY | 31 AUGUST 2026 | AMRITSAR 300 flyers stranded at airport as multiple delays hit Dubai flight Police flag bail racket in district courts; probe on Charanjit Singh Teja Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 30 As many as 300 SpiceJet travellers were left in the lurch following the airline’s failure to ensure timely departure of the Amritsar-Dubai flight on Sunday. With the hours-long ordeal testing their patience, the flyers waiting at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport flayed the airline for its inability to handle the situation. A traveller said the flight was scheduled to depart at 8.40 am. “We were first told that the flight would take off at 11 am and then the departure time was pushed to 2.30 am,” he added. Fuming and frustrated, the passengers gathered at the SpiceJet counter and asked the airline employees to either make alternative or announce the exact departure time of the flight. The flyers said each time, they approached the airline counter staff, they were given a new departure time. The worst affected were those travelling with their wards. From a new mother asking the counter staff as to where she could breastfeed her baby to women and elderly persons waiting under the scorching sun, the scenes at the airport were upsetting. Fed up with the slack attitude of those present at the SpiceJet counter, several passengers took to sloganeering. They said the airline did not Amritsar, August 30 The arrest of two alleged members of a bail racket has set the alarm bells ringing and exposed the re-emergence of gangs arranging bogus surety and securing bails of those arrested in different criminal cases at local courts. Two days ago, the police arrested Sukhchain Singh and Heera Singh for helping arrange fake documents and surety. It is being suspected that the duo, along with the other gang members, helped the accused get bail in around 12 criminal cases, though a probe is in progress. A police official said they received a tip-off that several such gangs had recently become active in the courts complex. According to police sources, members of these gangs arrange bail for even those whom they don’t know personally, and after getting bail, the accused allegedly abscond. The gangs reportedly charge money according to the seriousness of the offence. Some clerks and munshis working in and around the courts complex are suspected of acting as intermediaries by providing information about cases and connecting accused persons with the alleged facilitators. Earlier, the authorities at the courts complex had taken serious action against such persons. Stranded passengers take to sloganeering at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar on Sunday. SLACKNESS LEAVES WOMEN, ELDERLY FUMING ■ Fuming and frustrated, the passengers gathered at the SpiceJet counter and asked the airline employees to either make alternative or announce the exact departure time of the flight. ■ The flyers said each time, they approached the airline counter staff, they were given a new departure time. ■ The worst affected were those travelling with their wards. ■ Fed up with the slack attitude of those present at the SpiceJet counter, several passengers took to sloganeering. ■ They said the airline did not even make any arrangements for those waiting. ■ Anchal Sood, who had come all the way from Ludhiana with her six-year-old daughter to catch the Dubai-bound flight, said after checking the status of the flight, she took a cab to the city airport. even make any arrangements for those waiting. Anchal Sood, who had come all the way from Ludhiana with her six-year-old daughter to catch the Dubai-bound flight, said after checking the status of the flight, she took a cab to the city airport. The departure was delayed by hours with no prior infor- mation, she added. “What do we do when such a a situation arises? Taking care of toddlers becomes difficult in the absence of any alternative arrangements,” Sood said. Duty officer at the airport said the SpiceJet flight from Dubai arrived five hours after its scheduled time. The issue was sorted around 2.15 pm, he added. 2 HELD 2 DAYS AGO Two days ago, the police arrested Sukhchain Singh and Heera Singh for helping arrange fake documents and surety. It is being suspected that the duo helped the accused get bail in around 12 criminal cases. In one such case involving fake bail documents, accused Baljinder Singh of Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi, and Harbans Singh and Madan Lal of Ludhiana, who allegedly secured bail in a case involving cheque bounce, embezzlement and fraud, remain untraced. A case has been registered at the Civil Lines police station. In 2022, the Civil Lines police had registered an FIR on the court directions and named six persons who allegedly furnished fake surety. Their whereabouts are still unknown. The amount charged for securing bail in minor assault cases by arranging fabricated documents ranges from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. While for murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and POCSO cases, anything between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh is charged.DCP (Law and Order) Ravinder Pal Singh Sandhu said such cases were registered earlier too. “The accused are being interrogated. Also, the cases in which they helped accused get bail will also be reviewed,” he added. SGPC extends humanitarian aid to Nepal flood victims Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 30 The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to send a special delegation to Nepal to extend humanitarian assistance to flood victims. SGPC president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said the delegation comprises Rajinder Singh Mehta, Gurcharan Singh Grewal and Advocate Bhagwant Singh Siyalka, besides Deputy Secretary Azad Deep Singh. The SGPC president said a large number of people had been affected by the floods in Nepal, with several families suffering loss of life and property. The SGPC delegation would assess the ground situation and identify the immediate requirement so that relief materials could be sent accordingly. He added that the SGPC had assisted people affected by natural calamities on several occasions in the past, following the path shown by the Sikh Gurus. The committee would similarly provide all possible assistance to the flood victims. Dhami stressed that the relief initiative would not be restricted to any particular community. Under the Sikh principle of Sarbat da Bhala (welfare of all), efforts would be made to extend assistance to each person in need. The delegation will coordinate with the local administration and organisations involved in relief activities. Hotel owner, staff assaulted near Golden Temple Heroin bust near Kahangarh 2 kg heroin, drone seized near Pak border border outpost; accused flees Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 30 The Border Security Force, in a joint operation with the Amritsar rural police, recovered 4.8 kg of heroin smuggled from Pakistan near the Kahangarh border outpost here. Though the police failed to nab the accused who allegedly came to retrieve the consignment, the bag he left behind helped the former identify him. A resident of Brar village here, Sandeep Singh is also wanted in connection with the seizure of 1 kg contraband in the Lopoke area. On seeing BSF and police personnel, who noticed suspicious activity in the Kahangarh border outpost, Sandeep fled the spot. The Amritsar, August 30 A group of youths allegedly assaulted the owner and employees of a hotel near the Golden Temple and vandalised the property after the staff stopped three of them from entering rooms occupied by women without producing identification documents on Sunday morning. According to information, some women had checked into rooms at a hotel. Around an hour later, three youths arrived at the hotel and sought permission to enter the rooms where the women were staying. Though the women reportedly agreed to their entry, hotel employees asked the youths to show their identity cards as per the hotel’s verification procedure. The youths allegedly objected to being asked for identification and started abusing the hotel staff. They eventually left the premises but returned about five minutes later with seven to eight associates. The group allegedly attacked the hotel employees at the reception area and damaged property before fleeing the spot. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed inside the hotel. On being informed, the police reached the spot and initiated an inquiry. Officials said the statement of hotel owner Rocky was being recorded and further action would be taken accordingly. They added that the CCTV footage was also being scanned. Tribune News Service Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Suspect leaves bag containing Aadhaar card, mobile behind bag that the police found contained two Aadhaar cards, a mobile phone, a Toyota car key and an AirPod. Amandeep Singh, SHO, Gharinda police station, the documents helped officials establish the identity of the person who had allegedly come to collect the contraband. The BSF recovered nine packets of heroin weighing 4.869 kg along with packing material. A case was registered following the complaint of Rakesh Negi, Assistant Commandant, Kahangarh border outpost, 181 Battalion of the Border Security Force. Preliminary investigation was conducted by ASI Amolak Singh, incharge, Kahangarh police post. The police are now trying to establish the source of the heroin, the person who had placed the consignment at the designated spot and its intended destination. Investigators are also examining the mobile phone and other belongings recovered from the abandoned bag to trace the wider network behind the consignment. Gurdaspur, August 30 The Gurdaspur police claimed to have seized a drone allegedly used to drop heroin and arrested one person from a village falling in the jurisdiction of the Behrampur police. SSP Aditya said 2.164 kg of heroin was recovered from one Nishan Singh, alias Sonu, whose accomplice managed to flee. “Nishan Singh was caught transporting the drug consignment reportedly dropped by a drone last night in a village near the International Border (IB) to some other village,” the SSP said. He added that a case under the NDPS Act and the Arms Act was registered against two persons. In another case, two persons — Dalbir Singh and Gurdaspur SSP Aditya briefs the media about the seizure on Sunday. Nitish Kumar — were arrested with 262 gm of heroin. The police said the duo was on a motorcycle. During search, two weapons were recovered Morcha reiterates farmers’ demands, announces one-day stir Tribune News Service DEMANDS Amritsar, August 30 The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, Punjab chapter, will hold a one-day protest outside the DC office in 22 districts on August 31, pressing for a range of demands concerning farmers, agricultural labourers, youth, land, water and employment. The organisation has appealed to farmers, labourers, youth and women to participate in large numbers in the protest, stating that the issues raised by it concern the future of Punjab’s agri- ■ Demands put forth by members of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha include a long-term scientific policy to address recurring floods, depletion of water table and increasing air/water pollution. ■ They have also sought a resolution in the Punjab Assembly against the India-US trade agreement and withdrawal of the Punjab Land Pooling Policy. <
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