12042025-ATR-01.qxd 4/11/2025 11:22 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST RAIN MAX 37°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 20°C CENTURIES-OLD FAIR DRAWS FARMERS, BREEDERS ACTOR SUNNY DEOL IS NOW EYEING OTT SPACE ‘HAPPY FORMULA IS NOT WORKING’ A vibrant biannual cattle and horse fair, rooted in Sikh tradition, is underway at Vallah village. P3 Sunny Deol, who plays the lead in the his latest movie Jaat, is now eyeing the OTT space. P4 Renowned director and writer Imtiaz Ali said, “The way to finding out the code is by finding what I would like.” P4 » » » SUNSET SATURDAY 6.45 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5.57 AM SATURDAY | 12 APRIL 2025 | AMRITSAR Murderous attack on salon owner: 4 nabbed with pistol Tribune News Service Project covers 7.5 km stretch of Outer Circle Road, streetlights to enhance visibility Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Four suspects in custody of the Amritsar police on Friday. when he along with his wife Khushi was returning home from Hall Gate area. Sandeep alleged that when he was returning home with his wife from Hall Gate area on his bike, around 10 persons led by Kaka Bhaiya attacked them. He said he had no enmity with the accused. He said Kaka was objecting to his attending a particular client. Waheguru Singh, father of the victim, said when Sandeep and his wife were returning, the accused intercepted and attacked him. They repeatedly hit the victim on his head with an iron ‘karah’ (bangle) while firing at his leg. He had urged the police to arrest the attackers and put them behind bars. Amritsar, April 11 After years of delay, the longpending Smart Road project on the outer ring road of the Walled City is finally nearing completion. The final phase of the project —- installation of LED streetlights —- is currently underway, marking the end of a long wait since work first began in 2020. Under the Smart City project, a budget of Rs 40 crore was allocated for installing LED streetlights along the Outer Circle Road. However, due to prolonged halts in construction activities, much of the infrastructure remained incomplete. While bases for the light poles were built, the poles themselves were never installed, leaving the road in darkness. As per the latest updates, new LED lights are now being set up. Contractors PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Amritsar, April 11 A day after a salon owner was shot at and injured, the police have arrested four persons in this connection. They were identified as Vishal, alias Kaka Bhaiya (21), of Bangla Basti here, Vikas Singh, alias Maddy (25), of Patti, Tarn Taran, Sahil Kumar (22) of Hindustan Basti and Rahul (18) of Guru Bazaar. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alam Vijay Singh said the police have recovered the pistol used in the crime. Vishal works as a painter while Vikas is a dance teacher. Similarly, Sahil and Rahul works at a garment shop and a hotel, respectively. Salon owner Sandeep Singh was shot at by several armed persons in the Gate Hakima police station area over a trifle issue on Wednesday night. The victim had suffered a bullet injury in the leg. The incident occurred After years of delay, final phase of LED streetlight project nears completion The LED light-fitted electricity poles installed on the median of a road in Amritsar on Friday. have resumed work and are installing poles along this stretch. It is worth mentioning here that underground wiring for the lights had already been completed from Gurdwara Shaheedan Sahib to Rambagh Chowk, but due to delays, poles had been missing. The project covers a 7.5 km stretch of the Outer Circle Road, where LED streetlights are being installed to enhance both visibility and safety. So far, poles and lights have been installed from Hall Bazaar and Hathi Gate to Chattiwind Chowk. Meanwhile, underground wiring is fully in place from Gurdwara Shaheedan Sahib to Rambagh Chowk. MC officials stated that underground cables have been laid at 90 points between Rambagh and Shaheedan Sahib Chowk to provide electricity connections for the lights. Only a few remaining locations still await pole installation. Work is progressing steadily from Shera Wala Gate towards Rambagh, with all electrical wiring already laid underground. The Powercom has also been informed and preparations are in place to energise the new system. The stretch, which has 12 historic gates, witnesses a high footfall of local residents and tourists, who come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. In September 2020, the then Cabinet Minister OP Soni had inaugurated the project under the Smart City Mission. The project was supposed to be completed in 28 months. However, it took four and a half years to complete. Rain brings respite from heat but 2 snatchers held for Akal Takht Jathedar meets slain wheat farmers remain concerned robbing girl of mobile woman’s family in Kang village Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 11 Light showers were witnessed in the city and its surrounding areas early on Friday morning, bringing a pleasant relief from the rising temperature. The brief spell of rain was followed by cool winds, leading to a noticeable dip in the day’s temperature. While city residents enjoyed the change in weather, local farmers expressed concern over the timing of the rain, as the wheat crop in the region is currently in its maturing stage. Despite the light nature of the rainfall, its impact has evoked mixed reactions from across the region. Many city dwellers welcomed the change in temperature after several days of rising heat. “It’s refreshing,” said Shiwani, a schoolteacher from Ranjit Avenue. “The breeze is cool and the weather feels like early Amritsar, April 11 The Cantonment police have arrested two snatchers who had robbed a girl of her mobile phone in Rani Ka Bagh area four days ago. They were identified as Deepak alias Chimpu and Rohit alias Chuhi of Ghandpur in Chheharta. They had four criminal cases of a similar nature in Ludhiana and Amritsar, said the police authorities. The police have also recovered the bike used in crime apart from the mobile phone snatched from the victim, identified as Kajal, a resident of Jammu. She had stated to the police that she was coming to hospital on an e-rickshaw when three youth came on a bike and one of them snatched her expensive iPhone. The Cantonment police had registered a case in this regard. Following a probe, it continued on page 2 Rainwater gets accumulated after the showers on a road in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR spring again. It’s a perfect break from the usual heat.” However, in contrast to the cheerful mood in the city, the farming community was concerned about the crop. The wheat crop, which is in its final stages before harvesting, is particularly sensitive to sudden changes in weather. While no damage has been reported so far, many farmers are worried about the potential future rainfall or hailstorms. “The rain was not heavy, so thankfully there is no damage to the crop as of now. But if this weather continues or worsens, it could affect the continued on page 2 Two snatchers in custody of the Cantonment police in Amritsar. Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, April 11 Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, the officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, on Friday visited the house of Gurpreet Kaur at Kang village here on Friday. Gurpreet Kaur was brutally murdered in broad daylight on Wednesday while she was reciting Gurbani. Jathedar Gargajj met with the woman’s family members and children and expressed grief over her death. The Jathedar raised serious concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, stating that the government has completely failed to protect its citizens. He said it is the government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the people. He urged all the peaceloving people to come forward and support the family in their quest for justice. Akal Takht Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargajj expresses his grief with the bereaved family in Tarn Taran on Friday. GURBAXPURI The grieving family members informed the Jathedar that though three days have passed, the police have yet to arrest the culprits involved in the murder. Jathedar Gargajj demanded the Punjab Government to immediately arrest the accused persons and awarded them severe punishment. Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargajj said Punjab has always protected its children and women, but such a change in the state — where a daughter is murdered while reciting Gurbani — is unprecedented. He termed the incident very continued on page 2 Police hunt down two ‘Sikhiya Kranti’ initiative continues as ministers, Three drug peddlers for attacking sarpanch MLAs inaugurate new infrastructure in dist sent to police custody Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, April 11 The Gurdaspur police on Friday claimed to have solved an attempted murder case in which two persons had opened fire on sarpanch Sukhjit Singh at Waraich village on April 5. Incidentally, even as the cops were tracing the case, they stumbled on 258 grams of heroin. More drugs are expected to be confiscated as the police claimed they were “actively investigating the case from all angles and more seizures are expected”. Senior Superintendent of Police Aditya said two persons — Ravinder Singh and Ajaipal Singh — had been taken into custody. Four .32 bore pistols, an equal number of magazines and 11 live cartridges were seized from 4 PISTOLS ALSO SEIZED ■ SSP Aditya said two persons — Ravinder Singh and Ajaipal Singh — had been taken into custody. Four .32 bore pistols, an equal number of magazines and 11 live cartridges were seized from the attackers. the attackers. He said personal enmity was the reason behind the attack on the sarpanch. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) had formed multiple teams to crack the case with DSP (Rural) Kulwant Singh Mann being the in-charge. DSP Mann said the third person involved was USbased Jaskaran Singh. “He and the sarpanch’s son were not on good terms. We are still investigating, but it seems that Jaskaran was the one who arranged arms and ammunition,” he said. Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 11 The Punjab government’s Sikhiya Kranti initiative continued as more government schools in the district received cabinet ministers, MLAs and senior AAP leaders to inaugurate the development works. Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, while inaugurating development works in 10 schools of Jandiala constituency, executed at an estimated cost of more than Rs 2.38 crore, said that 168 schools in Jandiala Guru constituency will be renovated under the initiative. Several schools in the district received grants to repair/construct boundary walls around schools, appoint security guards, construct new classrooms, clean toilets for students, playgrounds, clean drinking water and infrastructure upgrade. A delegation of the DTF hands over the demand letter to the DEO. Schools in Ghumanpura, Wadali, Rajasansi, Baba Bakala, Wadala, Sohian Kalan and Bhangali in Majitha and the School of Eminence, Mall Road, also inaugurated new infrastructure. No ‘Sikhiya Kranti’ without teachers: DTF The district unit of Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) on c m y b Friday handed over a demand letter to the District Education Officer about resolving several issues hampering the teachers’ recruitment process in state. The letter states that several cadres of teachers including 3704 Master, 4161 Master Cadre and 6635 ETT teachers have been facing hurdles due to which many cannot join their postings in schools. DTF state finance secretarycum-district president, Ashwini Awasthi, said that jobs and future prospects of hundreds of teachers of various cadres, who were excluded from the joining list due to recasting of appointment lists should be secured. “These teachers have been subjected to discriminatory selection policies. At a time, when the state government and all its machinery is busy promoting Sikhiya Kranti, one needs to notice that there is an acute shortage of teachers in all government schools. By further halting or hampering teacher recruitment process, what kind of Kranti can we achieve in education,” said Awasthi. They also raised the issue of revision and cutting down the salaries of PTI and art and craft teachers. “Computer teachers, meritorious school teachers, continued on page 2 Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 11 The Ajnala court has sent three drug peddlers arrested by the Amritsar rural police on Thursday to police custody for four days. Ranjit Singh, alias Rana, of Lopoke here, Gurdev Singh, alias Gedi, of Khakhriana village in Kapurthala and Shailendra Singh, alias Selu, of Bharatpur district in Rajasthan were arrested by the Special Cell with 500-gm heroin, ~33 lakh of Hawala money, and a 9-mm Glock pistol with two magazines. SSP, Amritsar Rural Police, Maninder Singh said during a preliminary probe, it was found that the crossborder drug racket was being operated by Rajwinder Singh, alias Raja, of Dhattal village who had escaped to foreign shores over a year ago. On his instructions, Shailendra Singh had come to receive the drug and weapon consignment from Ranjit Singh and Gurdev Singh. The police had got a specific input that Shailendra had arrived for receiving the consignment of drugs from two other traffickers. Following this, the special cell team led by SI Satinder Singh immediately swung into action and arrested the accused leading to the recovery. A case was registered at the Lopoke police station here and efforts are underway to trace the forward and backward linkages of this crossborder smuggling network, he said. He said Ranjit’s interrogation could lead to more drug seizures.