21082025-ATR-01.qxd 8/20/2025 11:23 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 26°C GNDU INKS PACT WITH CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN URBAN PLANNING BORDER-TOWN BHIKHIWIND BATTLES CIVIC NEGLECT POPULAR CHEF COMES TO TRICITY TO OFFER CHAI MAGIC The MoU will provide a vibrant and responsible link between academia and industry. P2 Despite its strategic and political significance, the town continues to suffer from a lack of basic civic amenities.P3 Sanjeev Kapoor made a quick dash to tricity bringing the latest offering — automatic tea maker Chai Magic. P4 » » » SUNSET THURSDAY 6.57 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:54 AM THURSDAY | 21 AUGUST 2025 | AMRITSAR Gangster’s operative injured One shot dead in Dera Baba Nanak in encounter at New Amritsar Tribune News Service Dera Baba Nanak, August 20 Fear gripped locals yesterday night when two motorcycleborne miscreants fired at and killed one person near his house. The deceased has been identified as Ravi Dhillon. His neighbours rushed him to a local hospital but he died on the way. He was the proprietor of a grocery shop in Dera Baba Nanak. Sources reveal Ravi Dhillon had been regularly receiving extortion calls. He had reported the matter to the police fol- Pawan Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 20 The city police have arrested two operatives of a foreignbased gangster Prabh Dasuwal in connection with demands for extortion. One of them was injured today in a police encounter that took place at a secluded place in New Amritsar area during the recovery of the weapon used in crime. The duo — Ravi and Joban Singh, both residents of Mohalla Nanaksar in Tarn Taran — were arrested by the police following a probe into the firing reported outside the residence of a trader in Division B police station area recently. Ravi was today taken to a secluded place in New Amritsar area for the recovery of a .30 bore pistol used in the crime when he was injured in the alleged encounter. Police authorities claimed that Ravi was injured in the leg by his own pistol when he tried to fire at the police team after the recovery of the weapon in question. He was overpowered by the cops and during the scuffle, a bullet was fired which hit him in the leg. The pistol ■ PPCC president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has condemned the murder of trader, Ravi Dhillon in Dera Baba Nanak last night, allegedly at the behest of some gangsters after he refused to pay extortion money. ■ Warring also condemned the attack on a Jalandhar doctor Rahul Sood last evening. He said there was an atmosphere of fear and terror in Punjab, as ransom killings have become a new normal. lowing which he was provided a two-man security cover. Incidentally, the security men were not with him when the incident took place. Dera Baba Nanak has become a hot-spot for extortion calls. SSP Suhail Qasim Mir said Tribune News Service Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar along with other officials at the encounter site where an alleged operative of gangster Prabh Dasuwal was injured on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR was later confiscated. Sharing details, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that Ravi and Joban had fired outside the residence of a trader in Division B police station area recently. Though the victim did not lodge any formal complaint with the police, investigations were started and people nearby questioned. Footage from CCTV cameras was also scanned to find clues about the perpetrators of the crime. During investigations, the police identified the duo and arrested them. Ravi had fired at the trader's house while Joban had provided them with logistics support and clothes to change after the firing incident. Passing through inside lanes, they escaped to Tarn Taran. One of their accomplices who was riding pillion with Ravi has been identified even as raids were on to arrest him. Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 20 The police have arrested two persons believed to be members of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang. Manjot Singh alias Muchi of Timmowal village and Amritpal Singh alias Amrit of Sarli Kalan village were among eight persons who were arrested in separate incidents. A total of eight pistols were seized from them. The Special Cell of the rural police have seized two pistols of .30 bore and .32 bore pistols along with 10 MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. and the standard of living of the people here will also improve,” he said. He said that for the protection of heritage structure, the help of world class architects and archaeology department should be taken. Amritsar is a tourist city and the centre of faith, Sri Harmandir Sahib, must be made more accessible by rail, air and road, but the inner part of the city needs better facilities and modernisation, said Aujla. “I have put forward proposals and I am happy that the Union Minister has given a positive response,” he said. Amritsar, August 20 The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for the Special Summary Revision of the voter list for the upcoming by-election in the Tarn Taran Assembly constituency. Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C shared the details and said that the revision will be based on July 1, 2025, as the qualifying date. He also shared the timeline for the process. According to the schedule, the work of updating and adjusting polling stations will be completed by August 28. The draft voter list will be published on September 2, 2025. Voters will then have time from September 2 to September 17 to file any claims or objections regarding the voter list. These claims and objections will be addressed by September 25. The final voter list will be published on September 30. CEO Sibin C said all major political parties in Punjab have already been informed about the revision in Tarn Taran. He said the Election Commission wants to make sure that every eligible person can vote. “The Special Summary Revision helps us keep the voter list correct, complete and fair before the by-election,” he said. He also requested the voters of Tarn Taran to check their details. live rounds from them. According to preliminary investigations, the duo had carried out multiple firing incidents at designated targets. A case has been registered with Kamboh police station under provisions of the Arms Act against them. Aditya Warrior, Superintendent of Police, said that their interrogation is in progress and the police expected their involvement in several other cases which would be traced during the probe. Meanwhile, the police arrested six more persons Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Batala, August 20 With the industrial city of Batala already bereft of railway services, the non-stoppage of the newly introduced Vande Bharat train from Amritsar to Katra comes as yet another blow with both businessmen and residents claiming that this development has upset the regional economic growth of Northern Punjab in a big way. Operated and maintained by Northern Railway, the semi-high-speed service is said to have enhanced passenger comfort, reduced travel time and has Amritsar, August 20 ASI Lakhwinder Singh, posted at Civil Lines police station here, was allegedly shot at following a personal enmity in Kamboh area on Monday night. He was admitted to a private hospital for treatment while the accused were absconding after the incident. On the complaint of his wife Rajbir Kaur, a resident of Malluwal village, the police have booked his neighbour Pargat Singh, his wife Kulwinder Kaur and son Manpreet Singh on charges of attempt to murder. The complainant told the police that Pargat Singh, a farmer who lives in their neighbourhood, had an enmity with her husband. He used to threaten her husband. She said on Monday night when her husband was returning home from duty, the accused allegedly taunted her husband and started quarreling with him. She alleged that the accused thrashed ASI Lakhwinder Singh and later Pargat shot at him. Lakhwinder suffered a bullet injury in the waist and was admitted to a private hospital for treatment while the accused fled from the scene. A case has been registered and raids were on to nab the suspects, the police said. improved regional connectivity. However, Batalvis have missed out on all the benefits the train has to offer. The train, introduced on August 10, connects Amritsar with Katra in J&K. Commencing its journey from Amritsar, it halts at Beas, Jalandhar city, Pathankot cantonment and Jammu Tawi. A senior railway official said Batala was not considered, despite being an industrial hub, “because of the fact that it lies out of the way.” Jagjot Singh Sandhu, a city-based social activist, and backed by a powerful section of residents, has writ- Olympian Shammi to head state women’s hockey selection panel Tribune News Service GRP returns ASI shot at in Kamboh area stolen mobiles Tribune News Service to owners along with six pistols in separate instances. The CIA staff of rural police arrested three weapon smugglers, Gurpreet Singh and Bikramjit Singh, both residents of Kotla Sultan Singh village and Sukhdev Singh alias Rinku of Kuralia village in Ramdas. It recovered three pistols, including two NP7 9mm and a PX5 pistol smuggled from Pakistan. The police also seized 35 live rounds from them. They were travelling in an SUV when they were intercepted near Thariyewal village following a tip-off. Their Pak- Amritsar, August 20 Hockey Punjab has appointed former Olympian Balwinder Singh Shammi as chairman of the selection committee for women’s hockey team. A resident of Amritsar, he is already a selector for Hockey India. He was made a member of the Hockey India selection committee in 2023. Hockey Punjab president Nitin Kohli and general secretary Amrik Singh Puar said Shammi, a selector of Hockey India, has been appointed as chairman, selection committee for women’s hockey. Shammi said the decision was taken during the annual meeting of Hockey Punjab held at Surjit Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar, in which the district hockey unit members of Hockey Punjab were present. Shammi was appointed c m y b Olympian Balwinder Singh Shammi (centre), who is from Amritsar, has been appointed chairman of the selection committee for all age-groups of Punjab women’s hockey teams. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR chairman of women’s hockey selection committee due to his achievements and expertise in selection. Hockey Punjab president Nitin Kohli said that Shammi has been given the responsibility of selecting all the women’s hockey teams of Punjab. Shammi has been running an academy for hockey players in the holy city for the past two decades. His dedication istan links were being inquired into. One of their accomplices, identified as Noor, managed to slip away in a case. Raids were on to arrest him, said the Superintendent of Police. Similarly, Mehta police nabbed Gurtaz Singh of Arjanmanga Theh with a 9 mm pistol, a magazine and four bullets. Apart from this, Kathunangal police also arrested Baljit Singh alias Balli and Gurmeet Singh alias Nikku of Babowal village and recovered two .32 bore pistols with 17 rounds from them. Vande Bharat skips Batala; residents, traders dismayed Neeraj Bagga Amritsar, August 20 Government Railway Police (GRP) handed over as many as 16 stolen mobile phones to their rightful owners here today. The victims had lost their mobile phones during their journey on the train or at the Amritsar railway station. Complaints were lodged with the police in connection with the phone thefts. “Following a technical probe, the police recovered these mobile phones and handed them over to their owners today,” said DSP Jaskaran Singh and SHO, GRP police station, Balbir Singh. — TNS Dhillon’s security was deployed at his grocery shop. “The incident happened near the house of the deceased and not at his shop. I have formed multiple teams to crack the case. We have stumbled on some concrete clues and we hope to nab the accused soon. One Shamsher Singh Shera, who resides in Armenia, is the prime suspect in this case. We have already issued notices for his extradition,” said the SSP . He urged people to maintain calm and not indulge in rumour-mongering. There were rumours in the town that Dhillon’s security cover had been withdrawn by the police without assigning any reason. The SSP clarified that the security had not been taken back. Sources say extortion calls are becoming common with every passing day. Bhagwanpuria aides among 8 held MP Aujla meets Gadkari, dwells on Voter list revision schedule for development of Golden Temple area Tarn Taran bypoll announced Amritsar, August 20 Member of Parliament from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla today met Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari to discuss important issues related to the development of Golden Temple area in the city. Aujla said that he raised the issue of parking and widening of roads in the Golden Temple area. “We also talked about the plan for a ropeway and minicapsule for the convenience of tourists. Apart from this, development of modern sewage and rainwater harvesting was discussed. The Golden Temple attracts lakhs of devotees every day but the infrastructure here is old and needs upgrade,” said Aujla. The MP said that a plan for change should be made here on the lines of the development model of Varanasi. “This will provide better facilities to the visiting devotees WARRING CONDEMNS ATTACK towards the game and financial support by city philanthropists led to the establishment of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Hockey Academy. The Academy did wonders to hockey by proving to be a nursery for young players. It produced three Olympians — Shamsher Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Dilpreet Singh — and over 150 national players. Every year, the Academy imparts training to several youngsters. During his seven-year-long eventful international career, Shammi played in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, the two World Cups — London, 1986, and Lahore, 1990. He also featured in the 1986 Asian Games and Asia Cups at Dhaka and Delhi. He is now a selector for the Punjab hockey team and is also employed with the Railways. Talking to The Tribune, he said there was huge potential in youngsters from the Majha region, to excel in the game of hockey. There are several villages, including Attari, Mehta, Sathiala, Butala, Timowal, Marar, Pakharpura and Chahlan in the area, where hockey has been adopted as a folk culture. He felt that apart from a good sports environment in the city, players required excellent infrastructure and proper coaching. ten a letter to the General Manager of Northern Railway, urging the authorities to include Batala in the scheme of things. “Batala is the eighth largest city of Punjab in terms of population. It holds immense historical, religious and cultural significance. Moreover, it is one of the country’s major business centres known for its foundry industry, agricultural machinery and machine tools. Industrialists, technicians and workers regularly travel to Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and other states to facilitate business activity,” he said. Medical store’s licence cancelled Amritsar, August 20 The Zonal Licensing Authority, Food and Drugs Administration, Amritsar, has cancelled the retail sale drug licences of M/s Harry Medical Store located at Kathunangal bus stand on Chawinda Devi road with immediate effect. The licence was cancelled because of serious violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and also under the provisions of NDPS Act. Kulwinder Singh, Zonal Licensing Authority, said that during a joint inspection on July 17 by the Drugs Control Officer, along with police, the raiding team had recovered 650 Tramadol tablets for which the owner and in-charge of the store failed to produce valid licence or purchase bills. Additionally, as many as 1,240 capsules of Pregabalin 300 mg and Gabapentin 300 mg worth Rs 35,366 were also seized for lack of records. The shop was sealed and the in-charge arrested. — TNS