16102025-ATR-01.qxd 10/15/2025 11:20 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY PREVENTING FUTURE FLOODS BY DESILTING PUNJAB’S RIVERS WINTER, POLLUTION POSE DOUBLE THREAT TO PATIENTS SALMAN TURNS SHOWSTOPPER FOR VIKRAM PHADNIS Minister Barinder Goyal says 85 sites identified for desilting for which approval has been granted. P2 With onset of chill, hospitals report rise in respiratory cases amid falling temperatures. P3 Salman Khan turned showstopper for designer Vikram Phadnis, who celebrated 35 years in fashion. P4 » » » MAX 30°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 19°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.51 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:25 AM THURSDAY | 16 OCTOBER 2025 | AMRITSAR HEALTH & WELLNESS The Tribune is starting a Q and A column to address your health-related queries. Please mail your questions (not exceeding 40 words) at healthandwellness@tribunemail.com. The Tribune’s panel of doctors will answer all your healthrelated concerns. Arms smuggling accused sent to police custody by local court Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 15 A local court on Wednesday remanded Chamkaur Singh, a resident of Nat village in Batala, to police custody till October 17 in connection with a major cross-border arms smuggling case. His interrogation has revealed shocking details linking the network to USbased gangster Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi, who is allegedly in direct contact with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). According to police sources, Gopi has been orchestrating targeted killings and weapon smuggling operations in Punjab from abroad. Acting on his instructions, the ISI has reportedly airdropped multiple consignments of sophisticated and assault rifles and explosives via drones in Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Tarn Taran sectors over the past several months. During interrogation, Chamkaur Singh allegedly disclosed that he had been working for Gopi's network and had retrieved weapons from drone drops near the international border. Following his arrest, the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) recovered a cache of arms, including an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, three Glock pistols, seven magazines, and 110 live cartridges. In light of these revelations, senior officials from security agencies have arrived at the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) in Amritsar for coordinated questioning. Police have also seized Chamkaur Singh's mobile phone. Earlier, SSOC teams had arrested Gurvinder Singh alias Ginder, a resident of Sangrai village and Vipin Kumar alias Manish from Mariyanwala in Gurdaspur. Their questioning had led police to Chamkaur, whose disclosures have exposed a terror and smuggling nexus spanning Pakistan, the US and Punjab. Cross-border arms smuggling module busted, three nabbed Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 15 Close on the heels of the seizure of three AK-47 assault rifles and pistols smuggled from Pakistan by the Border Security Force (BSF) and State Special Operation Cell, the Amritsar police have confiscated yet another consignment of weapons and nabbed three operatives of a cross-border drugs, arms and narcotics smuggling module here. The city police have recovered as many as 10 sophisticated pistols — four Glock 9mm and six .30 bore Chinamade — apart from 500 gm of opium from their possession. Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, said the accused were part of an inter-district gang engaged in smuggling weapons and drugs into Punjab, operating under the directions of a Pakistanbased handler. “The recovered arms were meant to be supplied to gangsters and criminals to fuel unlawful activities in the state,” he added. Those arrested have been identified as Rajan alias Sagar (28) of Faizpura, Amritsar; Surinderpal Singh alias Pali (24) of village Tali Wala, Fazilka; and Jagjit Singh (25) of Cheema Kalan, Tarn Taran. Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar addressing media persons regarding the seizure on Wednesday. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that the operation began with the arrest of Rajan, from whom one .30 bore pistol and opium were recovered. His interrogation led police to the other two accused. From Surinder's possession, police recovered three .30 bore and one 9mm pistol, while Jagjit's arrest yielded five more pistols-three Glock 9mm and two .30 bore. Preliminary probe revealed that the gang was retrieving drone-dropped consignments from Amritsar to Fazilka and Tarn Taran sectors, later supplying them through direct and locationbased delivery systems. Jagjit had reportedly returned from Dubai four months ago, while the villages of Surinder and Jagjit are located close to the inter- Teachers asked to identify out-of-school children Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 15 Kanwaljit Singh Sandhu, District Education Officer, Amritsar, conducted a review meeting at the district level with all the education officers and school heads present. The meeting was held at Sri Guru Nanak Kanya Senior Secondary School, Ghee Mandi, with Deputy DEO Indu Bala Mangotra and all the Block Education Officers and Centre Head Teachers of the district present. Sandhu instructed the teachers to work at the ground level and identify the out-of-school children and make efforts to connect them with school education. "As part of the education elevation programme under Sikhiya Kranti, we have asked teachers to go door-todoor to identify children, who Two cops among 3 held for taking bribe from peddler are not in schools and make efforts to enroll them," he said. The teachers were also briefed on setting up data of Adhaar card updation of the children on e-Punjab portal. During the review meeting, a detailed report was received regarding the schools damaged due to the recent floods, an assessment report of which has already been sent to the state government. He also informed that in order to promote and preserve Punjabi language as mother tongue, the PSEB has announced the launch of the International Punjabi Olympiad 2025. The registration process for the Olympiad will end on October 31. Unlike the previous two editions, this year the Olympiad will be held in online and offline mode, with questions being framed from a set curriculum. national border. A case under the NDPS Act and Arms Act has been registered at Sadar police station, Amritsar. Further investigation is underway to trace the entire network and identify cross-border links. Notably, the Border Security Force in a joint operation with State Special Operation Cell, had confiscated two AK47 assault rifles along with a pistol on Monday from Tarn Taran's Mehdipur village followed by confiscation of another weapon consignment, including an AK-47 assault rifle and three pistols from three persons. Yesterday, Amritsar rural police also recovered six pistols with 11 magazines and 91 live cartridges of .30 bore and 20 bullets of 9mm calibre from Amarbir Singh alias Amar of Dairiwal village in Tarsikka. Amritsar, October 15 In a major crackdown on corruption within the force, the Amritsar rural police have arrested three persons including two police personnel persons for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh in exchange for releasing a drug peddler and misappropriating seized narcotics. The duo was posted at Daburji police post falling under Chatiwind police station here. The accused have been identified as ASI Narinder Singh, Head Constable Pargat Singh and alleged drug Accused land in police net for receiving ~2.5 lakh to release a drug trader trafficker Kulbir Singh, a resident of Darshan Avenue, located near the Golden Gate area. All three have been booked under sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and Sections 21, 22, 59, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act. According to the complaint lodged by DSP Yadwinder Singh, a reliable input was received that ASI Narinder Singh and Head Constable Pargat Singh, both posted at Duburji police post under Chatiwnd police station, had recently arrested Kulbir Singh with a consignment of prohibited intoxicating drugs and capsules. However, instead of taking legal action, the two officials allegedly released him after accepting Rs 2.5 lakh as bribe from his son, Shamsher Singh. “The duo was accused of keeping the recovered intoxicating substances with themselves and letting the accused go scot-free without any registration of case. The informer's disclo- sure led to an internal investigation, which confirmed the allegations to be credible,” said the DSP . Following the inquiry, a case has been registered and all three accused - including the two police officials - have been arrested. The DSP added that strict departmental and legal action will be taken against those found guilty to ensure transparency and accountability in the police force. SSP Maninder Singh said that strict departmental action will be taken against any police personnel found indulging in unlawful or unethical practices. Poultry farm owner shot dead in Majitha Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 15 A poultry farm owner, identified as Sandeep Singh alias Sonu (51), was found shot dead in Nav Naag village in Majitha area here yesterday. The police have registered a case against unknown persons and started a probe into the incident. Jaspinder Kaur, wife of the deceased, told the police that on Monday, her husband Sandeep Singh had gone to his poultry farm as per his routine but did not return home at night. She said she then took her son Shauriyaveer Singh to see him. Jaspinder Kaur said he was found lying on the bed in a shop at the farm and blood was oozing out of his head and ears. She said there was a bullet injury in his head. He had been apparently been shot dead by unidentified miscreants. Karampal Singh, Station House Officer, Majitha police station, said a case has been registered and further probe was on to identify the killers. The deceased Sandeep Singh. SAD, Cong candidates file papers for bypoll Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, October 15 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD ) candidate Principal Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa and the Congress candidate Jaskaran Singh Burj filed their nomination papers for the upcoming by-election to Tarn Taran Assembly seat today. The candidates held a grand road show in the area under the leadership of their respective party leaders on the occasion. Thousands of people, including Akali workers as well as common citizens, participated in a massive road show in support of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Principal Randhawa who filed her papers for the by-election before the Returning Officer in the office of the local SDM. The candidates of both the parties as well as the SAD candidate Principal Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa files her papers for the Tarn Taran assemby bypoll. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI SAD president and senior leadership of the party first paid their obeisance at Gurdwara Bir Baba Budha Sahib, Thatha. Speaking to newsmen on the occasion, Sukhbir Badal thanked the electorate for reposing faith in the candidature of Sukhwinder Kaur who belongs to a Dharmi Fauji family. He said the out- pouring of love for the SAD candidate and the party had made it clear that the people had made up their mind. "I am confident that the voters of Tarn Taran will honour the sacrifices of the Dharmi Fauji family and make sure that their own, one and only regional party, wins the byelection and that turncoats and Delhi-based parties are defeated soundly," he added. Badal also spoke on how the people were eager to see the back of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which had failed each and every section of society besides failing to bring in development in the state. Senior SAD leaders including Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Sikander Singh Maluka, Hira Singh Gabria, NK Sharma and Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke were also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, Congress candidate Jaskaran Singh Burj too filed his nomination in the office of the SDM for the upcoming by-election to Tarn Taran Assembly constituency today. For this, the Congress too conducted a grand road show in the area. Bhupesh Baghel, former Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh, along with PPCC president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Pargat Singh and other senior leaders accompanied the party candidate. The road show passed through villages like Jhabal, Kot Dharam Chanda Kalan, Kot Dharam Chand Khurd, Noordi etc and reached the SDS office in Tarn Taran where the Congress candidate filed his nomination papers. The party's road show started from Gurdwara Bir Baba Buddha Sahib and reached Darbar Sahib in Tarn Taran. The Congress leaders also inaugurated their election office. PPCC chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring assured the people of getting a government elected in 2027 that would be in their interests. Terracotta items Hatri, Chandol & Haathi, flood city markets on Diwali FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 15 Days before Diwali, the festival of lights, artisans are working overtime to make available terracotta-made items, including diyas, Hatri, Chandol, idols, Haathi (elephant), Ghoda (horse) and others used for puja on Diwali night. Diyas of different sizes and shape are available for the festival in local markets. The tradition of burning oil lamps by placing wicks on Hatri, Chandol and Pari, besides diyas, offered a peep into the past when they were the prime sources of light after the sunset, said experts. Pari is a woman figurine, which has space to place wicks in its two hands. Hatri looks like a one-room house, in which one finds walls on three sides while one side is left open. On the top, lamps are visible in all its four corners and another in the middle. Provisions for three more lamps are also made to place wicks around it. Chandol, on the other hand, has four sides to place wicks and is bigger than the normal diva (earthen lamp). Another form of clay lamp is called Diwali, which is a tower-like structure. It has four places to light the wicks around it, in the middle and another on its top. The names of traditional clay or earthen lamps used during Diwali puja reflect the A crafts woman paints diyas or traditional earthen oil lamps ahead of Diwali in Amritsar on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR age-old Punjabi culture. Bhola, a trader and potter, said a Diwali prayer remains incomplete without placing terracotta Haathi, Ghoda, idols of Ganesha and Laksh- c m y b mi. He said being earthen, these were considered pure. After performing the prayer on Diwali night, all these need to be released in a running stream of water. Even as anthropomorphic and animal terracotta figurines come to represent Harappan sites, which now fall in Pakistan's Punjab province, the tradition is visible even now in different ways during the festival of lights. Ravi Kumar, a young potter, said customers tend to think of their creations as just an item made of simple earth and argue for charging only a limited price. They should value not only their labour but also creativity which goes into making these pieces of art. The creation of any terracotta item involves a string of processes requiring physical hard work and patience. After drying the earth, it is pounded to make it in a powder form. Then, it is mixed with water. Upon its acquiring a dense liquid form, it is sieved to ensure that no oversize particle is left. The acquired soil is then kneaded and its rolls are made. Before giving it a final form, it is dried in sunlight and put into hearth for three to four days. Eventually, these figurines and lamps are painted in beautiful colours. In the digital age with numerous means of entertainment, it is the enthusiasm of residents as well as the potters that has kept this centuries-old tradition alive. Apart from being locally made, idols of Lakshmi, Ganesha and others are being brought from Agra and Luc- know. Local artisans prefer preparing Diwali, a big earthen lamp, Hatri, elephants, horses, Pari and Kandola (a pot for holding parshad). Potter Rajiv, selling terracotta items at a shop in Khidoneyan Wala Bazaar, situated in the narrow maze of the walled city, says the sale of terracotta articles picks up around festivals and school students prepare project reports on traditional trades. He said customers are ready to pay more for terracotta items, provided they are of fine quality besides good looking. Six pieces of small 'diya' cost Rs 10, a piece of Hatri between Rs 20 to Rs 40, a piece of Diwali between Rs 50 to Rs 80 and Kandola and Chandol for Rs 50 to Rs 80.