19102026-ATR-01.qxd 10/18/2026 11:15 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY TURMERIC CULTIVATOR’S PROGRESSIVE JOURNEY BETTER POLICING, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION NEED OF HOUR RANBIR KAPOOR SINGS YJHD HIT WITH HARSHDEEP KAUR Gurdaspur’s Gurdial Singh transforms turmeric cultivation into a thriving business. P2 To check crime in the city, the police need to identify high-risk zones and step up surveillance, say locals. P3 MAX 30°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 17°C Ranbir Kapoor recreates Kabira magic with Harshdeep Kaur at Mumbai Durga Puja pandal. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 5.51 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:32 AM » MONDAY | 19 OCTOBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Trio having links with gangster Happy Jatt held; pistol, hawala cash seized The police at the crime spot. Elderly woman, son found dead at home Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 18 A 70-year-old woman and her son were found dead in the Ram Nagar Colony area here today. The incident came to light in the evening when neighbours complained of foul smell emanating from the house. The police reached the spot and sent the decomposed bodies for autopsy. The deceased were identified as Ritu and her son Gaurav (35). Suspecting it to be a murder, Sirivennela, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, said they received a call around 4.30 pm and immediately reached the spot. He said they were suspecting it to be the handiwork of Gaurav’s wife as she was missing. He said the exact reason of the death could only be ascertained after autopsy, though initial probe revealed that the suspect continued on page 2 Traders write to Centre, seek agency to revive sagging industry Was in touch with Pakistan handlers, probe on to trace source, say cops Friend has no role in ASI attack, still held: Foreignhandler’spost Pawan K Jaiswar Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 18 Europe-based alleged gangster Badalpreet Singh, accused of targeting police personnel and orchestrating petrol bomb attacks at a trader’s house claimed in a social media post that Gurwinder Singh arrested by the Amritsar rural police in ASI Jaswant Singh attack case was being falsely implicated. He alleged that Gurwinder was his classmate and friend, the reason why he was being targeted and falsely implicated. The police said the veracity of the social media post was yet to be established. Meanwhile, the Punjab Police have stepped up the probe to nail his accomplices and get him deported to India. The police are also contemplating issuing a red corner notice for his arrest. Sources privy to the investigation said the accused was in Spain or Portugal; and carrying out his nefarious activities, including targeted attacks and extortion rackets. He is also wanted by the National Investigation Amritsar, October 18 The Amritsar rural police have arrested three persons and recovered a 9-mm pistol, live cartridges and a large sum of cash transacted during hawala deals. They are learnt to be associated with foreign-based gangster Happy Jatt, who originally hails from Jandiala Guru. The accused were also in contact with a Pakistan-based handler, the police said. The accused have been identified as Gursewak Singh of Rampura village, Sajan of Khuh Kundian Wala, Batala road, Malkeet Singh of Rampura village and Yuvraj Singh of Nawan Kot village. According to the police, apart from a 9mm Glock pistol, three live cartridges, a mobile phone, a magazine, a sum of Rs 1.05 lakh was also recovered from their possession. Riding two unregistered motorcycles, the accused were intercepted during a hightech naka at the Amritsar-Tarn Taran T-point. Police personnel brief the media about the seizure and the arrest in Amritsar on Sunday. They were coming from the Beas side, the police said. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused ferried weapons, drugs and money made through hawala deals at the behest of Happy Jatt and their handlers in Pakistan, said Baljit Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, SEIZURE OF ASSAULT RIFLE, HAND GRENADES Ravi Dhaliwal Mobile phone used by jail inmate calling shots seized; probe stepped up Tribune News Service Pawan K Jaiswar Batala, October 18 To revive the dying industry, traders have shot off a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to get a nodal agency established in the town. Parmjit Singh Gill, president, Batala Industrial Estate Factories Association (BIEFA), said the Punjab Youth and Industrial Development Mission would breathe life into the otherwise sagging businesses. As many as 56 factories come under the umbrella of the Batala Industrial Estate Factories Association. “Punjab’s long-term security and stability are linked to the economic prosperity of the border region. The state has made immense contribution to India’s national security, agriculture and industrial development. However, traditional industrial centres, such as Batala, now require renewed investment, modern technology and sustainable employment opportunities,” Gill said. He added that the fight against drugs could not be won through law enforcement alone, it must be supported by meaningful employment, skill enhancement and social rehabilitation. The establishment of the PYIDM covering the border districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Ferozpur and Fazilka can go a long way to bolster the industry which, at present, is at its lowest ebb.” Headdedthattheagencywould revitalise traditional manufacturing centres, strengthen MSMEs, modernise industrial infrastructure and encourage fresh investment in the border districts. Such an initiative would create skilled employment and strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities. Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 18 A team of the Counter Intelligence has recovered a mobile phone from Ashish Masih, who is lodged in the Hoshiarpur jail in drug smuggling cases. He has been allegedly operating the cross-border smuggling network from behind bars for the past six months, as per the police. Now, the team is getting the phone forensically examined to establish his contacts and trace the network allegedly involved in supplying drugs and weapons across the border state. Preliminary investigation suggests that Ashish had been directing his accomplices to ferry heroin and weapons consignments at the behest of his Pakistan-based handlers. The police are likely to issue production warrant against him tomorrow. They have already arrested five persons, including a father- Father-son duo among five held earlier son duo, in the case; and confiscated an assault rifle, two hand grenades apart from 13 pistols. The police are also probing as to how Ashish managed to use a mobile phone inside the jail and tracking down his associates who remained in contact with him during his incarceration. The police remand of Gaurav and his four associates is also scheduled to end on Monday. Investigators are likely to produce them before a court and seek their remand. ~1.05 LAKH, 9MM GLOCK PISTOL AND LIVE CARTRIDGES ■ According to the police, apart from a 9mm Glock pistol, three live cartridges, a mobile phone, a magazine, a sum of ~1.05 lakh was also recovered from the possession of the accused. ■ Riding two unregistered motorcycles, the accused were intercepted during a hightech naka at the Amritsar-Tarn Taran T-point. More recoveries and arrests are likely in future, the police said. Jandiala Guru. The police now are investigating the source of the weapon and ammunition and the motive for which those were allegedly procured. Their forward and backward links are also being established in order to expose the entire module. More recoveries and arrests are likely in future, the police said. A case under Section 25(1A) of the Arms Act has been registered against them. Illegal cracker unit busted, three arrested Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 18 Busting an illegal firecracker unit, the Amritsar rural police have arrested three persons and recovered a large quantity of explosive material and other articles used for the manufacturing of crackers in the Jandiala Guru area here. The accused has been identified as Sahib Singh and his brother Shiv, both residents of the Anngarh area falling under Gate Hakima police jurisdiction in Amritsar Police Commissionerate, and Kulbir Singh of the Maqboolpura area here. Evidently, Anngarh locality has been infamous for the manufacturing of illegal crackers. Deputy Superintendent of Police Baljit Singh said the recovery included 1,200 rocket firecrackers and items having flammable properties like 300 gm of potash, 49,550 kg of coal dust, plastic pipe shells (18kg), iron pipe shells (13kg), plastic handles (6kg), two VERACITY OF POST YET TO BE CHECKED In his post on social media, Europe-based gangster Badalpreet Singh said Gurwinder was his classmate and friend, the reason why he was being targeted and falsely implicated. The police said the veracity of the post was yet to be established. Agency (NIA) in connection with the grenade attack on the Thakurdwara temple last year. The NIA had earlier carried out raids at his residence in the village. In the post, Badalpreet claimed Gurwinder Singh, arrested on Saturday was being tortured in the custody. He claimed that the police had no evidence against him. Badalpreet originally hails from Pandori Waraich village here. His name has figured in many criminal cases in the past. ASI Jaswant Singh was shot at by unknown persons near Bhalapind village in the Rajasansi area on September 11. Gurwinder Singh, the continued on page 2 Three held for illegal mining along Beas Tribune News Service The police at the illegal cracker unit in the Jandiala Guru area. machines used for making crackers, thread and paper, besides other articles. Baljit Singh said on receiving a tip-off that the accused had stocked the explosive material in buildings owned by Mahinder Singh and Dilbagh Singh, both residents of Patti Baaj Ki in Bandala, the arrests were made. Harpal Singh, SHO Jandiala Guru police station, said the police were ascertaining the antecedents of Sahib Singh and his brother and also finding out if any previous case of similar nature was registered against them. Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the accused had procured the material from other persons or were part of a wider network. A case under Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, was registered at the Gharinda police station. Amritsar, October 18 The Beas police have arrested three persons for illegal sand mining. The accused have been identified as Sukhdeep Singh of Devlavla village, Sarabjit Singh, alias Bagga, and Harman Singh, both residents of Mander Bet village in Dhilwan in Kapurthala. According to information, the three were involved in the illegal sand excavation along the Beas near the Dhilwan side. Acting on the tip off, the police arrested the trio and recovered a tipper truck and a trolley. Sarabjit Singh and Harman Singh were nabbed with a sand-laden tipper, owned by Sarabjit, the police said. Similarly, Sukhdeep Singh was held with a sand-laden tractor-trailer. Two separate cases under the Mining and Mineral Act have been registered against them. Unused space under flyover to have sports zone Curtains down on ‘Meri Dukaan, Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 18 A sports zone is set to come up under the SultanwindTarn Taran flyover in Amritsar South. Also, the facility will have boxed stadiums. Within two months, the deadline for the project’s completion, sports enthusiasts will be able to play badminton, football, basketball, volleyball and pickleball at the facility. To get the work completed at the earliest, MLA Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar visited the site and directed officials concerned to meet the deadline. The MLA said the facility would provide children and The project site under the Sultanwind-Tarn Taran flyover. youngsters with a plethora of options. They can play, learn and also train. “Our objective is to get youngsters inclined to sports, nurture their talent and c m y b strengthen the sporting culture in the city,” he said. As per the plan, four grounds are being developed under the flyover near Doburji in the South constituency. These will have spaces for basketball, volleyball, pickleball and badminton, besides boxed stadiums for badminton and football. The initiative aims at putting the unused space to use. The facility is expected to give children and youngsters access to sports facilities close to their residence. Nijjar said the aim was not only to provide sports infrastructure, but also create opportunities for youngsters to pick their choice of sporting event and pursue it. Mera Naam’ scheme on Nov 30 Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 18 Applications received under the Punjab Government’s “Meri Dukaan, Mera Naam” scheme, providing recognition and regularisation to eligible shopkeepers running businesses on municipal land for years, will be first scrutinised and then approved by November 30. According to the scheme document, eligibility is linked to 12 years of continuous occupation, with the prescribed period covering shopkeepers who began occupying the premises before April 1, 2008, Five-stage process for beneficiaries or during the period up to April 1, 2020. Applicants will have to establish their eligibility through the required documents and verification. The process involves five main stages — submission of applications, scrutiny by a committee, verification of records and technical details, approval by the competent authorities and the final clearance. The document lists October 8 to November 30 as the overall implementation period. Applications and initial documentation are scheduled to be processed between October 8 and November 6. Scrutiny by the department concerned is scheduled for November 10 to 12 followed by consideration by the MC from November 13 to 23; and government-level approval continued on page 2