28042025-ATR-01.qxd 4/27/2025 11:49 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MLAS LAUNCH CLEANLINESS DRIVES IN HOLY CITY HORROR SERIES KHAUF HAS VIEWERS HORRIFIED KAMBAKHT ISHQ CHANGED EVERYTHING, SAYS FARDEEN Jeevanjot Kaur and Ajay Gupta launch cleanliness drives in different parts of the holy city. P2 Surya Balakrishnan, who co-directed the acclaimed OTT show Khauf, considers herself ‘medium agnostic’. P4 MAX 41°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 41°C | MIN 19°C The actor took a stroll down memory lane and shared how the song changed everything for him. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 7.08 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5.46 AM » MONDAY | 28 APRIL 2025 | AMRITSAR University student dies in hostel Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 27 A student of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Harpreet Singh (32), was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his hostel room here last night. He originally hailed from Mukerian in Hoshiarpur district. He was a PhD student. The police said they had informed the family of the deceased. The police said appropriate action would be taken after recording statements of the family of the deceased. Shivdarshan Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said the incident came to light when fellow stu- Batala residents urge MP to install traffic lights to prevent vehicle congestion dents informed the university authorities about it. Harpreet was found lying unconscious in the bathroom. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The ACP said apparently Harpreet died of cardiac arrest, but the exact cause of death would be ascertained in the autopsy. Tribune News Service Batala (Gurdaspur), April 27 Harried residents, who are irked over regular traffic jams, have approached Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa to get traffic lights installed at strategic places from his MPLAD fund. Batala is a part of the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency. Delegations of residents met social worker Jagjot Singh Sandhu and urged him to get in touch with the MP to get their work done. Sandhu has now written to Randhawa asking him to release funds so that traffic Inspector,accomplicebookedfordisappearance 6 travel agents booked for of 5.47 kg heroin from Customs malkhana defrauding clients of ~40L Policemen check records at a hotel in Amritsar on Sunday. Several roundedup during checking at hotels around Golden Temple Amritsar, April 27 With the Punjab Police on high alert following the massacre of around 25 tourists and a civilian at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir five days ago, the city police today carried out surprise checking at hotels and inns located around the Golden Temple here on Sunday. During checking, the police rounded up several suspicious persons. The police are inquiring about their antecedents. The police have issued stern warning to hotel managements to is mandatory ❝Itmanagementsfor hotel to keep a register of foreign tourists. Managements must take identity proof of visitors for maintaining record. ❞ Vishaljit Singh, ADCP, AMRITSAR keep proper record of visitors at their hotels. The police also asked managements to share information about those who lived on premises of their hotels for longer periods. Vishaljit Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of HealthDeptbeginsinstallation of CCTV cameras, biometric machines at OOAT centres Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 27 The Health Department has started installing CCTV cameras and biometric machines at Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres/clinics in the district to ensure better services for patients coming for drug deaddiction. Speaking during the device installation ceremony at a clinic, Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur said the decision to install these devices was taken to ensure success of war against drugs. Assistant Commissioner (General) Gursimranjit Kaur said, “These cameras and biometric machines are being installed at all OOAT clinics in the district.” She said patients visiting clinics would have to mark their visit on the biometric machine which would ensure that no there was no pilferage of medicines at the clinic. She said senior officials would be able to keep a watch and monitor the working at OOAT clinics with the help of CCTV cameras. She said it would save patients from any trouble as long as they were in queues. Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Gurmeet Kaur, Dr Charanjit Kaur, Baljit Kaur from Sun Foundation and others were also present on the occasion. Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur (second from left) and Assistant Commissioner (General) Gursimranjit Kaur (third from left) with CCTV cameras and biometric machine at an OOAT clinic in Amritsar. Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 27 Days after the arrest of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Inspector Manjit Singh with 1 kg of heroin, the Amritsar city police commissionerate have registered another FIR against him in connection with mysterious disappearance of 5.47 kg of heroin from the Customs malkhana. The contraband has been missing from malkhana since March 22 this year. Apart from arresting Manjit Singh and his accomplice Ravi Kumar of Ferozepur in the case, the role of a custom official identified as Prashant Kuhar has also come under scanner. The Civil Lines police have registered a case under Section 316 (5) of BNS against them. The duo was currently Police (ADCP) said police teams checked record of hotels and inns. There were discrepancies in record of some hotels, he said. Management of such hotels were warned for not keeping proper record of visitors, he said. “It is mandatory for hotel managements to keep a register of foreign tourists. Managements must take identity proof of visitors for maintaining record,” he added. Jaspal Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said the police was verifying antecedents of suspicious elements who were rounded up during search. in police remand after officials claimed that several names had cropped up during their interrogation. The police will also investigate the role of the Prashant Kuhar, the disposal in-charge of the malkhana of the Customs Department. A complaint regarding 5.47 kg of heroin having gone missing was lodged with the Civil Lines police on April 11. In the complaint, the Customs authorities had pointed out that Prashant in his statement had stated that Manjit Singh had received the contraband on the pretext of producing it in the court. However, Manjit had earlier told the police during preliminary probe that Prashant handed over narcotics to him to deliver it to some other man in D-block of Ranjit Avenue. Sources in the Police Department said during investigation couple of more names had cropped up and efforts were on to arrest them. Besides, the police teams would also be heading to Sonepat in Haryana to question Prashant Kuhar, the sources added. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said, “We are in touch with senior officials of the Central agencies and will take the investigation to a logical conclusion.” Earlier, Manjit was arrested by the CIA staff along with Ravi Kumar of Gandhi Nagar in Ferozepur with 1 kg of heroin on April 6. Bhullar had alleged that Manjit was misusing his position for running the drug network in connivance with Ravi. He said the duo were sourcing consignments from across the border. Voice of Amritsar holds candlelight vigil in memory of Pahalgam massacre victims Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 27 To pay homage to the victims of the Pahalgam massacre, the Voice of Amritsar (VOA) organised a candlelight vigil here today evening. The event was organised at Company Garden near the Mahatma Gandhi statue, a universal symbol of peace and non-violence. Indu Aurora, a representative of the VOA, urged residents to pray for the departed souls. She emphasised on the importance of collective remembrance and unity against violence. “This vigil is a tribute to those innocent lives lost in the Pahalgam massacre. It is also a reminder of our shared commitment to peace, harmony and human dignity,” said Indu Aurora. At least 125 people participated in a Shradhanjali Yatra at Company Garden, honouring Pahalgam martyrs here on Sunday. Organised by Maitri Bodh Parivaar, the yatra witnessed an extraordinary outpouring of love, unity and spirit. The people from all walks of life united to honour the departed souls and stand as one India. In a moving show of solidarity, the atmosphere resonated with the slogan “Ek Bharat, Hum Bharat” as participants walked hand-in-hand to pay silent tribute to the victims. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR Tribune News Service Vehicles stuck in a traffic jam on the Cinema road in Batala. lights could be installed at Gandhi Chowk, Simble Chowk, Hansli Bridge and Qadian Chungi. Sandhu said it was impossible for a commuter to pass through these areas during the peak hours. Complaints have been pouring in from residents about these places becoming accident-prone. Residents said something had to be done immediately to ensure there were no vehicle congestions in these areas. Batala’s businessmen claim that the traffic congestion played havoc with the city’s economy as the movement of goods was adversely affected. Members of Voice of Amritsar hold a candlelight vigil; and (below) residents pay tribute to Pahalgam terror attack victims at Company Garden during a Shradhanjali Yatra in Amritsar. They also lent their voices, expressing gratitude for this unparalleled initiative. Emotions ran high as residents remembered lives lost not to a natural calamity, but to hatred, yet found hope in unity. A participant said, “Innocent tourists lost their lives at Pahalgam. Through this yatra, we honour them with love and respect.” A spokesperson of Maitri Bodh Parivaar said, the yatra was not just a walk, it was a powerful statement that if c m y b hatred could divide, love could unite and heal. The yatra concluded with observation of disciplined “mauna” (silence) for the martyrs. “This historic walk will be remembered as the moment Bharat chose love over fear, unity over division and hope over despair,” the spokesman said. Besides, some Sikh organisations issued a helpline number for all districts in Punjab to help Kashmiri students. A delegation led by Jaswinder Singh, an advocate of Akaal Purakh Ki Fauj, Giani Kewal Singh, convenor, Panthic Talmel Sangathan, and Kendri Singh said, “Punjab lives by the values of love, peace and harmony, inspired by the teachings of our Gurus. The recent incident at Pahalgam has sown seeds of hatred between communities, which is detrimental to our nation’s well-being. While those responsible for the crime must face severe punishment, we cannot judge an entire community based on the actions of a few.” Tarn Taran, April 27 Six travel agents have landed in police net for defrauding their clients of Rs 40 lakh on the pretext of sending them abroad in three different cases. In the first case, Santosh Kumari, a resident of Pakhopur village, complained to the police that Kritika Sharma and her son Akash Kalia, who run an immigration centre at Gate Khajana in Amritsar, cheated her of Rs 24 lakh in the name of sending her son abroad. The Chohla Sahib police have registered a case under Sections 420 and 120-B of the BNS against the mother, son duo in this regard. The police said that the accused took money from Santosh Kumari to send her son Rahul Sharma to the UK. The police said the accused neither sent complainant's son abroad nor returned her money. In the second case, Kewal Singh, a resident of Bhojian village, was cheated of Rs 8 lakh by Sanjeev Kumar and Sooraj Singh, who run an immigration centre located on Jandiala Road. Kewal Singh was lured by the accused to send his son Harpreet Singh to New Zealand, but the duo failed to fulfil their commitment. The Chabal police have registered a case against accused. In the third case, Harpreet Singh, a resident of Verowal Bawian village, was defrauded of Rs 8 lakh by two travel agents, identified as Vijay Singh of Thatha village and Raj Singh of Assal Bhure village. The Verowal police have booked the accused under Sections 318 (4) and 61 (2) of the BNS in this regard. The accused had lured Harpreet Singh by promising to send him abroad. — OC Speed up wheat lifting to ensuresmoothprocurement of crop in mandis: Dhaliwal Amritsar, April 27 Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal visited grain markets at Bhagtanwala and Rajasansi on Sunday. During his visit, Dhaliwal took serious note of the slow lifting of procured wheat stock from the markets. Dhaliwal asked officials concerned to expedite the procurement and lifting process, instructing procurement agency officials to ensure that procured wheat was lifted within two days. He emphasised that the wheat season was short, and delayed lifting could lead to space crunch affecting the procurement process. Noting that private traders were lifting wheat stocks efficiently, Dhaliwal expressed concern over the slow lifting of government stocks. He warned contractors engaged for lifting stocks that failure to perform their duties would result in blacklisting. Upon noticing wheat lying in the open at Bhagtanwala grain market, Dhaliwal directed officials to build two large sheds to protect the crop from damage by rain. He said arrangements would be made in markets to ensure the welfare of farmers, labourers and vendors. However, the minister had made a similar announcement while visiting the mandi two years ago, but nothing had happened then. Every procurement season, shortage of sheds at grain markets across the district troubles farmers. A commission agent said, “We hope that the minister will not forget his announcement regarding construction of new sheds this time.” He said infrastructure at the grain market had to be upgraded. At Rajasansi grain market, Dhaliwal expressed satisfaction over the ongoing purchase of the crop and instructed officials to speed up lifting. — TNS Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal at the Bhagtanwala grain market in Amritsar on Sunday.