24042025-ATR-01.qxd 4/23/2025 11:41 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune 2L MT OF WHEAT PRODUCE ARRIVES IN MARKETS HONEY SINGH ON WITH RAID 2 PROMOTIONAL SONG Rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh has collaborated with Devgn for Raid 2 promotional song Money Money. P4 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 38°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 38°C | MIN 18°C PRIYANKA SETIA MAKES A MARK IN WEB SERIES KHAUF An official said out of nearly 2 lakh MT of wheat arrived so far, about 1.90 lakh MT purchased. P2 FORECAST She says patriarchy and violence against women are the leitmotif in her latest web series Khauf. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 6.52 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5.45 AM » THURSDAY | 24 APRIL 2025 | AMRITSAR Pahalgam terrorist attack: Police on high alert in dist The 11 suspects in custody of the rural police in Amritsar on Wednesday. 11 held with heroin, drug money Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 23 The Ajnala police have arrested 11 persons in two separate cases and recovered 276 grams of heroin along with Rs 1.03 lakh in drug money from their possession. Police said that during patrolling in Kotli Amb village, they intercepted three persons travelling on a bike. While the pillion rider managed to escape, the remaining two were nabbed by the police. They were identified as Sajan Masih of Ajnala and Harbhej Singh of Kot Maulvi Ramdas while the absconder was identified as Daljit Singh of Surapur village in Ajnala. During a search, the police recovered 255 kg of heroin and Rs 1.02 lakh in drug money from them. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against them. Following their disclosure, the police also arrested their accomplices — Kali of Hardowal Kalan village in Dera Baba Nanak and Cap- tain Singh of Umarpura village. Their interrogation is underway. The police also arrested Gurwinder Singh of Phule Chak village and Happy of Adarsh Nagar, Ajnala, with 21 gram of heroin and Rs 700 in drug money. Following their interrogation, the police arrested their accomplices, Palwinder Singh of Ajnala, Ranjit Singh of Surepur, Jasbir Singh of Nangal, Dosanjh Chopra of Ajnala and Simranjit Singh of Chamiari village. Amritsar, April 23 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Wednesday arrested Harpreet Singh, Revenue Patwari, posted at revenue Halqa Sultanwind here, red-handed accepting a bribe of ~50,000. An official spokesperson of the VB said the arrest was made following a complaint by a resident of Sultanwind area here. The complainant approached the Vigilance Bureau alleging that the accused demanded a bribe of ~2,50,000 for making correction in the revenue record pertaining to his plot. As per the complaint, the Patwari told him that the bribe money would be shared with a Tehsildar and a Girdawar and he would take ~50,000 out of it. He said after a preliminary probe, the VB team (Amritsar Range) laid a trap during which the accused was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of ~50K from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. A case has been registered against the accused,he added. — TNS Despite yesterday’s fatal road accident, motorists take wrong turn on elevated road Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 23 Even as three youths from Himachal Pradesh lost their lives in an accident while ascending the elevated road by taking a wrong turn from near Jahajgarh area adjacent to Ramtalai chowk, commuters continue to take the wrong route while the traffic police look the other way. These commuters are not only putting their own lives at risk but also posing a threat to the lives of those coming down the elevated road for their onward journey to Golden Temple or towards the bus stand. Earlier too, such incidents had occurred following which traffic cops were deputed to stop the commuters from climbing the elevated road from the wrong side. However, after a few attempts, this black spot was left unattended. “Call it the careless attitude Commuters continue to drive on the wrong side at the elevated road in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR of traffic cops or scant regard for traffic norms by the people who deliberately take the wrong way while going up on the elevated road, the problem continues,” said Vijay Kumar, a local resident. The traffic coming from the main road takes a ‘U-turn’ to climb up the elevated road the wrong way in order to avoid the traffic congestion near the inter-state bus terminus. This has created a black spot on the elevated road which is known as the lifeline of the holy city. Whenever a mishap takes place, the traffic police come out of their slumber and start checking for over-speeding and other violations, including wrong side driving on the road. However, it should be a routine practice in order to avoid any accident, said another local resident Sarabjit Singh. Not only two-wheelers, car occupants and commercial vehicles also take the route. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Amandeep Kaur said that it is an irony that the people know it is a wrong practice, still they indulge in this in a blatant manner. “We try to make commuters aware and sensitise them, but it hardly makes any difference,” said the ADCP (Traffic). She said strict action would be taken against the violators in the coming days. Environmentalist Seechewal urged to lead cleaning of Tung Dhab drain Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 23 Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal visited the Tung Dhab drain and claimed that much of the pollution in the drain, around 74 per cent, is caused by dairy waste, while the remaining 26 per cent comes from untreated water from local residential colonies and industrial discharge. Targeting dairy owners, Seechewal said, “Those who keep cattle and sell their milk must also take responsibility for managing the waste properly.” He told administration officials that dairy owners should first be educated and then held strictly accountable for any waste released into the drain. Seechewal stated that he was in Amritsar at the invitation of Punjab Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Pollution Control Board Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal and minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal visit the Tung Dhab drain in Amritsar. Chairman Adarsh Pal Vig to address the issue of pollution in the Tung Dhab drain. Prior to the meeting, he held discussions with officials to get an understanding of the drain’s condition and said he was now working towards developing a strategy to address it. Seechewal also called upon municipal authorities to ensure that colonies treat their waste water before releasing it into the drain. After surveying the site, a comprehensive action plan would be drawn up and implemented, he said. Earlier, speaking at a meeting held at the DC Complex in Amritsar, Seechewal said that ensuring clean air, water and soil is a shared responsibility. He laid stress upon the importance of involving not just government departments but also the general public in the cleaning operation and preservation of water bodies like the Tung Dhab drain. “These are the basic elements of life, and it’s unfortunate that we’ve long ignored their importance. Over time, rivers have been treated like dumping grounds, the air has been poisoned and the soil degraded, while society remained silent.” Dhaliwal said whether it was the revival of the Kali Bein or Buddha Nullah, Seechewal had shown through action what was possible, what could be done with firm determination. He urged Seechewal to lead the efforts for cleaning the Tung Dhab drain as well, to help purify the environment around the holy city of Amritsar. c m y b PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR/SUNIL KUMAR VB arrests Patwari for taking bribe BJP supporters; and (right) members of the District Bar Association raise anti-terror and anti-Pakistan slogans in Amritsar on Wednesday. Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 23 Following the deadliest terrorist attack in the last 25 years in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam area in which around 25 tourists from different parts of the country were killed, the Punjab police have been put on high alert. Police officials held a meeting with the managements of various educational institutes to ensure security and safety of the students of Jammu and Kashmir studying in their campuses. Guidelines were issued to the private security guards of the institutes, besides deputing patrolling parties near their premises. Moreover, round-the-clock patrolling has been initiated in the border district and vehicles entering the holy city from the Gurdaspur and Pathankot sides were being scanned to check the sneaking of unscrupulous elements. SSP , Amritsar Rural, Maninder Singh said the police have been holding nakas since morning while round-the-clock patrolling is also being done in different parts of the district, especial- ly in border areas. “We have also held meetings with educational institutes and Kashmiri students. The number was very less, but in order to avoid any backlash in view of the Pahalgam incident, we have taken all the precautionary measures,” he said, while adding that in case of any untoward incident, we could rush to the spot. continued on page 2 US trying to influence India’s agriculture policy, says Kisan Mazdoor Morcha Amritsar, April 23 In a strong show of dissent against potential trade agreements between India and the United States, the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha burnt effigies of US vice-president JD Vance and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Wednesday. The protest coincides with the visit of vice-president Vance to India and is aimed at highlighting concerns of farmers over growing foreign influence on domestic agricultural policies. Sarwan Singh Pandher, senior leader of KMM, criticised what he described as the imperialistic agenda of the United States. “Since Donald Trump returned to power, the US has aggressively used its economic influence to force unethical trade deals on various countries,” Pandher said. He expressed concern that under pressure from the US, the Indian government is Attack on dairy owner: Police nab gangster’s operative Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, April 23 The city police led by SHO Sub-Inspector (SI) Avtar Singh on Tuesday night arrested one of the three operatives of foreign-settled gangster Jaisal Chambal, who had fired at the owner of the milk dairy at the local Goindwal Sahib bypass on the night of April 15 and managed to escape. SSP Abhimanyu Rana stated here on Wednesday that the arrested operative has been identified as Jobanjit Singh, a resident of Sheikh Chak village. The other two operatives, who are still absconding, have been identified on the information provided by the arrested accused, said the SSP . The SSP said a joint team of continued on page 2 Members of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha during a protest at the Golden Gate in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR preparing to enter into trade agreements that would enable large American corporations to flood Indian markets with heavily subsidised agricultural products, including dairy, meat and grains, thereby undermining local producers. “The United States provides nearly $80 billion in subsidies to its dairy industry alone. Indian farmers simply cannot compete with such artificially lowered prices,” he warned. If India allows low- or zerotariff imports on American farm goods, small and marginal farmers, as well as dairy producers may be forced out of business, Pandher cautioned. The farmer leader also highlighted that the US is pushing the Modi government to dismantle India’s public distribution system (PDS), which provides subsidised or free grains to millions of low income families. “This is not just about trade. It’s about dismantling the very systems that protect India’s poor and working class,” he said. Pandher accused the Modi administration of caving in to foreign pressure and prioritising corporate interests over the livelihoods of Indian citizens. He called on all farmer unions, labour organisations and small business associations across the country to unite in protest. The farmers also criticised the killings of tourists in Kashmir by terrorists and demanded from the government to serve justice. The farmers also prayed for the victims and expressed solidarity with their families. — TNS Hydroponic weed, e-cigarettes seized at Amritsar airport Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 23 In two separate incidents, the enforcement agencies at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International (SGRDJI) Airport, Amritsar, intercepted smuggled goods, including hydroponic weed and electronic cigarettes, here on Tuesday. In the first case, acting on specific intelligence provided by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Amritsar, a joint team of the NCB and Customs officials intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok by a Thai Airlines flight (SL214), which landed at approximately 11.12 pm. While checking, the officials recovered 6.36 kg of a green substance, identified as hydroponic weed (ganja), a high-grade narcotic. The seized substance was PASSENGER TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ■ Acting on specific intelligence provided by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Amritsar, a joint team of the NCB and Customs officials intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok by a Thai Airlines flight (SL214), which landed at approximately 11.12 pm. While checking, the officials recovered 6.36 kg of a green substance, identified as hydroponic weed (ganja), a high-grade narcotic. The seized substance was confiscated and the passenger was taken into custody by the NCB for further investigation. The estimated market value of the seized drugs is yet to be determined. confiscated and the passenger was taken into custody by the NCB for further investigation. The estimated market value of the seized drugs is yet to be determined. In a separate but similarly timed operation, Customs officials, acting on a tip-off, intercepted another passenger arriving from Kuala Lumpur via a Malaysian Airlines flight (MH118), which landed at around 10.30 pm the same night at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International airport. A total of 603 units of Elf Bar Raya d1 electronic cigarettes, valued at approximately ~6.48 lakh, were found concealed in the passenger’s baggage. The goods were seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, and further investigation is underway. Authorities have highlighted the importance of timely intelligence and coordination in preventing illegal smuggling activities, especially through international transit routes.