14052025-ATR-01.qxd 5/13/2025 11:19 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY POOR HYGIENE IN FOOD HUBS POSES HEALTH RISK WHY JUNK FOOD SHOULD BE A RARE TREAT, NOT STAPLE THE 78TH CANNES FILM FEST IS A STAR-STUDDED AFFAIR Waterlogging and garbage heaps are a common sight around these food stalls, posing a health risk. P3 The result of consuming junk food can be severe. These foods are often low in essential nutrients. P3 MAX 38°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 23°C The 78th Cannes Film Fest opened with expectations running high for what could be a banner edition. P4 » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.04 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5.30 AM » WEDNESDAY | 14 MAY 2025 | AMRITSAR Timings of govt, private aided schools revised CBSE Class XII results: Rishank Sharma tops district with 99.2% Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 13 As per the orders issued by the Government of India and the Punjab Government, mock drills under the Civil Defence Act 1968 are being conducted in various districts of the state to deal with any kind of emergency. The same is also being implemented in Amritsar. In this regard, District Magistrate (Amritsar) Sakshi Sawhney on Tuesday announced that the timings of all government/private aided schools coming within the limits of Amritsar will be from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm from tomorrow onwards till further notice. She said these orders will come into effect immediately and the District Education Officer (Secondary/Elementary), Amritsar, will ensure compliance with these orders. Meanwhile, the district will continue to conduct blackout drills but a complete blackout will be voluntary. The district administration will switch off all street lights from 8 pm onwards and people have been asked to observe voluntary blackout. In case red alert is sounded, the administration will observe complete blackout. CBSE CLASS X RESULTS OUT Ganat tops dist with 99.6%, Rabaab, Divyesh come second Broke into a little jig but sad over Rohit Sharma’s retirement Neha Saini Tribune News Service (Clockwise from L): Rishank Sharma with his parents, Jaspreet Kaur, Mansirat Kaur Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 13 The Central Board of Secondary Education declared the Class 10th and 12th board exam results today. Despite the border hostilities and tension going on for past few days, students celebrated their success in CBSE boards exams, some by reaching their schools for a union while others calling each other up to share congratulatory messages. Rishank Sharma, a student of non-medical at Sri Harkrishan Senior Secondary School, Majitha road, bagged top spot in Amritsar in CBSE Class XII with 99.2% marks. An aspiring computer science engineer, Rishank has also cleared the JEE Mains with 95% percentile and will now take the JEE Advance. Crediting his success to focussed self-study and zero social media engagement, Rishank wants to take up Artificial Intelligence research in future. Jaspreet Kaur, a Commerce student of Spring Dale Senior Secondary School, bagged second spot along with Sri Guru Harkris- han Senior Secondary student, Mansirat Kaur of medical stream, with 98.6 percent in the aggregate. Reflecting on her journey, Mansirat Kaur shared, /”I worked diligently and followed a strict routine throughout my preparation./” She credited her success to the unwavering support of her parents and teachers. DAV Public School, Lawrance Road, students Shasak Arora from non-medical stream scored 98.4% and secured third rank in Amritsar. Krishna Gupta, with 98.2% continued on page 2 Amritsar, May 13 After a few tense days, students in the city celebrated to the beats of Dhol and sweets as the results of CBSE Class X Board examinations were declared. While some held cheerful celebrations, others abstained due to the ongoing conditions obtaining because of alert on the IndiaPakistan border. Emerging as district topper, Ganat Kaur, a student of Spring Dale Senior Secondary School, secured the first position by securing 99.6 per cent marks, while schoolmate Rabaab Grover and Divyesh Singh bagged the second position with 99.4 per cent marks. At third position was Ruhani Kaur Bhatia of Springdale, Aashwat Mehra and Hiiya Gogia of DAV International School with 99.2 per cent, followed by Niharika Khanna and Ekan- Ganat Kaur Rabaab Grover Divyesh Singh tika of DAV International School with 99 per cent. Ganat, while sharing her elation, said, “I did a little dance and was happy that my hard work paid off.” An aspiring doctor, like her parents, who are both practicing doctors of homeopathy, Ganat said that her scorecard will now drive to her to achieve her next goal. For her, a bad score was not a bother, what did bother her was Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma’s retirement from test cricket. “I am a big fan and I love cricket. I follow most of the matches that India plays and it provides a break from studies,” she said. Dr Harpreet Kaur, Ganat’s mother, said that her daughter’s results have come as a huge respite after the last few days of blackouts and fear of war. “It’s a good day today,” she said. Rabaab Grover said her results were as expected. “ For the last 10 years, the key to Board exams has been consistency. This will help in further studies. My topmost priority is now to crack the entrance exam for IIT Mumbai.” Her father Sarabjeet Singh is a businessman and her mother Harneet Kaur a homemaker. Her celebrations included attending 20 congratulatory calls from friends, relatives and well-wishers. Brahmpura for CBI Majithia demands Excise Minister’s ‘Liquor mafia-police probe into spurious resignation, action against culprits nexus prospering liquor tragedy under AAP regime’ Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 13 Taking note of the tragic incident in Majitha, where 20 individuals lost their lives to spurious liquor, Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, vice-president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), termed it as “a colossal administrative failure on the part of the state government”. During a visit to Tur village in his constituency on Tuesday, Brahmpura attributed this catastrophe to the state government’s criminal negligence and alleged collusion with the drug mafia, warning that Punjab stands perilously close to total ruin. Reiterating for justice, Brahmpura insisted on bringing the truth to light and account for the countless victims of spurious liquor and drugs across the state, the Central Government must immediately order an inquiry by an independent, high-level agency such as the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). “Only then can the real perpetrators of these heinous crimes be brought to justice,” he said. Brahmpura, also in-charge of the Khadoor Sahib constituency, said such a tragedy was also witnessed in Khadoor Sahib and neighbouring border constituencies earlier. The scourge of drugs continues to erode our youth like a termite while the government turns a blind eye.” He voiced serious concerns regarding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration, adding, “We have repeatedly informed the Chief Minister about the alarming situation in Khadoor Sahib and adjacent border areas, particularly given the sensitive India-Pakistan border context. The AAP government’s administration, however, has not only lacked in sincerity but also demonstrated an utter inability to implement robust border security and drug prevention measures.” Amritsar, May 13 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Excise Minister Harpal Singh Cheema as well as other perpetrators of the spurious liquor tragedy which resulted in death of 20 people in villages of Majitha. Majithia along with his wife Ganieve Majithia, MLA, Majitha, visited the grieving families. Terming it as a nexus between ruling party leaders and drug mafia, Majithia said it was shocking that those who had acquired genuine licences for running the liquor trade were being harassed while goons were having a field day by selling spurious liquor at their own rates. He said he was already aware of the situation but avoided raising it during heightened tensions and the subsequent conflict with Pakistan. “Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Excise Minister Harpal Singh Cheema were SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia along with his wife Ganieve Kaur Majithia meet aggrieved families in Majitha area on Tuesday. directly responsible for this sorry state of affairs. It was shocking that even the postmortem of the deceased had not been conducted,” he said. Demanding at least Rs 25 lakh compensation for the families of every deceased, Majithia said as the government earns Rs 11,000 crore as revenue from excise duties, it can easily provide adequate compensation to the victims of the spurious liquor tragedy. He said this was not the first such case during the tenure of the AAP government. “Earlier, more than 20 persons died in Sangrur last year, besides other tragedies. These tragedies were occurring because goons of the ruling party were hand in glove with those doing this illegal trade. He said SAD stands with the aggrieved families and would fight to ensure justice for them. Amritsar, May 13 Taking serious note of the spurious liquor tragedy that claimed over 20 deaths in Majitha area, Member Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla on Tuesday demanded that a DGP-level inquiry should be conducted instead of just suspension of a DSP and an SHO for negligence. Accompanied by former minister Dr Raj Kumar Verka, former MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma and Dinesh Bassi, he said the liquor mafia has thrived with the alleged nexus of the police. He pointed out that the mafia has been selling liquor and drugs which everyone knows but the police. “Even now, a woman was caught in this incident who used to operate from her house located near the police station. How could it be that the police did not know about it?” he said He said the branded liquor was allegedly being sold at exorbitant prices in con- MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla nivance with the Excise Department and the police under the AAP regime. “Poor people fell for cheap and chemically-infested liquor with some of them losing their lives,” he said, adding that he has been fighting for the issue for the last few years and has written letters to the DGP and the CM, but in vain. Meanwhile, Aujla said under the Congress government regime too, more than hundred people had died due to consuming spurious liquor and that cases did not reach any logical conclusion. — TNS CWSN students shine bright in Class X results Rajiv Sharma, principal, Spring Dale Senior continued on page 2 Two arrested with 435 gm of heroin Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, May 13 The Patti police led by SubInspector Manpreet Kaur arrested two persons with 435 gm of heroin, a Glock pistol and a magazine on the Kandiala road here on Monday. The police said the accused have been identified as Mahanbir Singh Sagar of Rajoke (Khalra) and Harpreet Singh of Saido village. A case under Sections 21-B, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered against the accused. The police said the Goindwal Sahib police arrested Pawandeep Singh of Bharowal with 10 gm heroin; the Chohla Sahib police arrested Balwinder Singh Mapi of Pakhopura with 9 gm heroin; and the Khemkaran police arrested Rajinder Kumar of Khemkaran with 5 gms of heroin on Monday. The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act by the police stations concerned. SGPC offers ~5 lakh each to families of Sikhs killed in Poonch attack Admn advisory calls for switching off lights voluntarily Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 13 The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has declared to provide an assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of Sikhs killed in the attack in Poonch, Jammu, recently. In another case of pending mercy petition filed on behalf of death row prisoner Balwant Singh Rajoana —- to commute his death sentence into life imprisonment —- the SGPC has sought public opinion before taking a call on it. These announcements were made during an executive body meeting chaired by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami today. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami addresses a meeting in Amritsar on Tuesday. Dhami said that the SGPC was committed to providing all help to the victims of the Poonch terror attack. In Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling in Poonch five days ago, several civilians, including Sikhs, were killed and the central Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha was hit. Four Sikh community members — - Amrik Singh (a raagi), Amarjeet Singh (retired army soldier), Ranjit Singh (local shopkeeper) and a Sikh woman Ruby Kaur were killed while they were in their shop or houses. “We will provide Rs 5 lakh each to the victims’ families. Besides, we offer any kind of assistance they would need during this tragic period,” he said. On Rajoana’s mercy petition, Dhami read out the three-page letter he received c m y b from him. He is lodged in Patiala jail at present. Dhami said that Rajoana has asked the SGPC to withdraw the petition. “Before taking a decision on it, the executive has decided to gather public opinion,” he said. The SGPC is trying to form national opinion by holding meetings with the representative of various Sikh, Nihang Singh and Taksal organisations. Two meetings have already been held in this regard and a meeting will be held with Sikh judges and lawyers in Chandigarh on May 17. “After this, a Panthic gathering will be called and a decision will be taken according to Panthic sentiments,” he said. Among other decisions, Dhami disclosed that the executive has decided to install the portraits of Golden Temple’s head granthi Giani Mohan Singh, former PM Dr Manmohan Singh, Baba Inderjit Singh Rakbewale, Baba Bishan Singh Tarna Dal Baba Bakala, former member Major Singh Swadi, kathavachak (narrator) Giani Pinderpal Singh’s father Hardial Singh and those Sikhs killed during the attack in Poonch. Tributes were paid by chanting the Mool Mantra and Gur Mantra. Meanwhile, the SGPC has also plans to spruce up the path from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee Langar Hall to Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai Sahib. Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 13 In an advisory issued here on Tuesday, the district administration asked the citizens to voluntarily switch off the external street lights in verandahs, garden lights, lights at the gate and the outside door, etc, at 8 pm. The administration asked people to follow a voluntary blackout. Once indoor, please use minimal light or ensure light does not escape Admn does not want to centrally shut power outside the house. The administration stated that it does not want to centrally shut power. However, in case there is a red alert and they find there is no compliance, they will be forced to centrally shut power. The administration announced that all schools will open tomorrow (on May 14) from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm.