08112025-ATR-01.qxd 11/8/2025 12:03 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 25°C | MIN 12°C YESTERDAY MAX 25°C | MIN 11°C SEMINAR HELD FOR PM SHRI SCHOOL TEACHERS AT DIET INTER-ZONE YOUTH FESTIVAL BEGINS AT GNDU VICKY & KATRINA KAIF BECOME PROUD PARENTS An extensive training seminar for teachers of PM Shri schools was organised at the DIET in Kairon. P2 The Inter-Zone Youth Festival got off to a grand start at Guru Nanak Dev University on Friday. P2 On November 7, the couple announced the arrival of their baby boy in a joint statement on Instagram. P4 » » » SUNSET SATURDAY 5.35 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6.53 AM SATURDAY | 8 NOVEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Two Pak-backed drug supply modules busted; two arrested with 2.8 kg ICE Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 7 The Amritsar Commissionerate Police have busted two Pakistan-backed drug supply modules and arrested two key operatives, recovering a total of 2.815 kg of methamphetamine (commonly known as ICE). The operation was carried out under the ongoing drive to make Punjab a drug-free state as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Friday. Those arrested have been identified as Gursevak Singh, alias Sevak, a resident of Gharyala village in Tarn Taran district, and Baljit Singh, a resident of Guru Nanakpura, Amritsar. DGP Gaurav Yadav said the preliminary investigation revealed that both accused had been in contact with Pakistan-based handlers through virtual numbers. The duo coordinating the pickup and delivery of drug consignments within Punjab and often choosing locations near religious places to avoid suspicion. “These modules were operating with clear cross- Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar addresses mediapersons in Amritsar on Friday. VISHAL KUMAR border links, and the Punjab Police are committed to dismantling such networks to safeguard the youth of the state,” the DGP said. He said further investigation is underway to trace the forward and backward linkages, identify the handlers operating from across the border, and unearth the entire chain of the syndicate. Providing operational details, Amritsar Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the first operation was conducted following specific intelligence inputs. A police checkpoint was set up near the Dana Mandi, Amritsar, where accused Gursevak Singh, alias Sevak, was apprehended. A search of his belongings led to the recovery of 40 grams of methamphetamine (ICE). During his interrogation, Gursevak disclosed information leading to the recovery of an additional 1.96 kg of the same drug from a location identified by him. The Amritsar Police Commissioner said Gursevak, who hails from a border area, had been in regular touch with a Pakistani smuggler through encrypted virtual communication platforms. Acting as a courier, he personally collected consignments at pre-decided points and delivered them within the state as instructed by his foreign handler. In a separate operation, police teams set up another checkpoint near Ryan International School at the Vallah bypass road in Amritsar, acting on reliable intelligence. During this operation, the police nabbed Baljit Singh and recovered 45 grams of methamphetamine (ICE) from his possession. Based on his disclosure, a further recovery of 770 grams of the drug was made from another location. “Investigation is being conducted in coordination with central intelligence agencies to identify the cross-border suppliers, local distributors and financial facilitators involved in this racket,” said Gurpreet Singh Bhullar. He emphasised that the Punjab Police are determined to dismantling the entire network connecting smugglers across the border with local drug peddlers. In this regard, two separate cases have been registered under Section 21 (B) of the NDPS Act at the Gate Hakima police station in Amritsar and under Sections 21(B) and 21(C) of the NDPS Act at the Maqboolpura police station in Amritsar. Officials said more arrests are likely as investigation progresses and efforts are being made to trace the financial channels and communication networks used by the accused to maintain contact with their Pakistanbased handlers. The Shaheedi Nagar Kirtan at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Shaheedi Nagar Kirtan from Assam reaches Golden Temple Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 7 Amidst a shower of rose petals, the Shaheedi Nagar Kirtan, which began its journey from Assam to mark the 350th centenary of the martyrdom of the ninth Sikh master, Guru Teg Bahadur, reached the Golden Temple here on Friday. The Nagar Kirtan departed from Gurdwara Sahib Patshahi Chhevin, Chheharta, after the Gurmat Samagam held earlier in the day. On this occasion, Gurbani Kirtan was rendered by the Raagi Jatha during the religious Diwan. Giani Kewal Singh, Granthi Singh of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, shared the life and teachings of Guru Teg Bahadur, inspiring the sangat to lead their lives according to the Vande Mataram resonates at Amritsar airport Trafficker nabbed with Pending salary issue: Aided school teachers 201gm heroin, pistols stage protest outside Tarn Taran DC office Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 7 The timeless national song “Vande Mataram” resonated through the premises of Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, as officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), employees from various airport agencies, and passengers came together for its collective singing to mark the 150th anniversary of the iconic patriotic hymn. The event, held with great enthusiasm, witnessed participation from all sections of the airport fraternity, reflecting a spirit of national pride and unity. A live telecast of the national-level event addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was streamed across the airport, including the Departure and Arrival Terminals, Air Traffic Control (ATC), Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) unit, Fire Section, Cargo Terminal, Security Offices, and the administrative building, through LED screens and digital display boards. Officials said the event not only celebrated the 150year legacy of “Vande Mataram” but also served as a reminder of the shared commitment to integrity, unity, and national pride. The atmosphere at the airport was filled with patriotic fervor as employees and passengers joined voices to honor the spirit of the motherland. The initiative was part of a nationwide celebration organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, reinforcing the message that unity and dedication are the true identity of the nation. Amritsar, November 7 The Anti-Gangster Operation Cell of the city police arrested a drug trafficker and recovered 201 grams of heroin, two 9mm Glock pistols, four live cartridges and Rs 10,000 drug money, officials said on Thursday. The accused has been identified as 25-year-old Mandeep Singh, alias Manni, a resident of the area near Veterinary Hospital, Kathu Nangal, Amritsar. A case under relevant sections of the NDPS Act and the Arms Act has been registered at the Sadar police station. The operation was conducted under the directions of Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and the supervision of DCP (Investigation) Ravinder Pal Singh Sandhu, ADCP (Crime) Jagbinder Singh and ACP (Detective) Harminder Singh Sandhu. The raid was led by SubInspector Balwinder Singh, incharge, Anti-Gangster Operation Cell, Amritsar city. The police said on November 3, an ASI-led team, headed by ASI Pargat Singh, apprehended the accused near Fortis Escorts Hospital, Amritsar, while he was riding a scooter. A search of the accused led to the recovery of 201 grams of heroin, two 9mm Glock pistols with four live cartridges, and Rs 10,000 in Indian currency suspected to be proceeds from drug trafficking. After being presented before the court, the accused was sent to police custody for three days. During interrogation, Mandeep Singh allegedly disclosed the source of the recovered contraband and handed over the Rs 10,000 drug money to the police. Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 7 Members of the Aided School Union Punjab on Friday sat on a dharna that continued till the time of filing this story in front of the DC office in Tarn Taran as they gathered for mass arrests. Led by Aided School Union state president Gurmeet Singh Madnipur, who had announced the Jail Bharo movement in protest against the state government’s nonpayment of salaries to teachers for the last eight months, around 700 members of the Aided School Union began their dharna in the afternoon and till 8 pm, many of them continued with their sit-in. “We came for arrests, but the police did not let us in. Even none of the district administrative officials cared to address our issue. We will Aided school teachers during a protest in Tarn Taran on Friday. continue to hold our protest,” said Ajay Chohan, secretary, Punjab Aided School Union, and a teacher of DAV School, Hathi gate. Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mudian, who was in Tarn Taran today to campaign for the party candidate, met the teachers and prom- ised a meeting on November 10. “But we refused. We have been called for a meeting with various cabinet ministers and officials of the Punjab Education Department many times previously. But these did not work for us,” said Madnipur. Amid daily visits by politi- cal leaders during canvassing for their candidates contesting the Tarn Taran bypoll, the protesting teachers said they were again ignored by busy administrative officials. “We have been facing financial constraints for the last six months. For some of us, it has become difficult to run our household. We need accountability from the state government,” said a teacher requesting anonymity. There were around 300 women teachers in the protest. The government has not released the salaries of 1,700 employees of aided schools for the last eight months and teachers allege that it is delaying grant disbursement by issuing audit notices to aided schools instead of releasing salary funds. The state government is responsible for 95 per cent of their pay. Skirmishes between Afghanistan, Pak dash city importers’ trade hopes Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 7 Hopes of early resumption of cross-border trade through the Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP) have been dashed following frequent skirmishes between Taliban-led Afghan forces and Pakistan. Until seven months ago, Amritsar-based importers regularly brought in consignments of fruits, dry fruits, spices and herbs from landlocked Afghanistan. Optimism had briefly resurfaced last month when Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, during his visit to Delhi, spoke of the possibility of resuming Afghan airline operations to India, which was being seen as a precursor to renewed trade ties. A dry fruit seller sits idle at his shop in Amritsar. Pardeep Sehgal, senior vicepresident of the Indian Importers Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the ceasefire agreement between the Taliban government and Pakistan had kindled hope for stability in South Asia. “However, the recent escalation of clashes shows peace will take c m y b longer to settle. A peaceful and conducive environment is a prerequisite for human exchange and trade to thrive. Any conflict risks undoing years of effort,” he said. Rajdeep Singh Uppal, citybased fresh fruit importer and former president of the Confederation of International Chambers of Commerce, echoed similar concerns. He said continued hostilities would hamper the region’s long-term development and discourage investors. The Attari ICP has remained closed for over six months after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), on April 23 — a day after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including one Nepali national — ordered its immediate closure. A day later, Pak- istan suspended all trade, including transit trade with third countries. Entrepreneur Rajan Bedi recalled how the UAE and the US launched the IndiaMiddle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) in 2023, envisioning multiple sea and land routes to boost trade. He noted that one potential route could pass through the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post (JCP). “IMEC could transform the regional economy, but recurring disturbances have delayed its implementation,” he said. Historically, Amritsar’s markets exported green tea, brass kitchenware, traditional footwear, and shawls to Afghanistan and neighboring regions, while importing dry fruits, fresh fruits, and herbs in return. Bedi added that the holy city could once again become a gateway of prosperity for northern India by extending its land trade route through Pakistan to Afghanistan, and further to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, connecting ultimately to Iran, Iraq, and the Gulf. Closer economic ties with Central Asian and Gulf countries, he said, would significantly benefit Punjab’s hospitality, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors. Hotelier APS Chatha added that Amritsar already possesses the necessary infrastructure — an international airport, bus terminal, integrated check post, and a wide range of hotels — to support smooth movement of goods and people once trade resumes. Guru’s principles. The organisers honoured the Panj Pyare Sahibans, Nishanchi Singhs and prominent personalities by presenting them with siropas. The Nagar Kirtan received a warm welcome from the sangat at various points along the route from Chheharta Sahib to Sri Darbar Sahib, where devotees paid homage to Guru Sahib. City flights hit by delays after ATC snag at Delhi airport Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 7 Air traffic operations at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport were disrupted on Friday following a technical glitch in the air traffic control (ATC) system at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The snag triggered widespread delays across northern India, including Amritsar. From Amritsar, IndiGo flight 6E2506, scheduled to depart at 6.05 am, took off at 7.08 am, while Air India flight AI1884, slated for 7.55 am, departed only at 1 pm. Another Air India flight, AI496, scheduled for 10.30 am, left at 11.45 am. IndiGo’s 6E6848, planned for 10.40 am, finally departed at 1.20 pm, and Air India’s AI492, expected to leave at 1.20 pm, took off at 1.50 pm. According to airport sources, at least 10 Amritsar-Delhi flights were delayed due to the air traffic control system malfunction. Passengers on several flights reportedly remained seated onboard for over an hour awaiting clearance for takeoff. The disruption began when a technical fault struck Delhi’s air traffic control system early Friday morning, grounding several aircraft on runways and causing long queues of stranded passengers at terminals. Both Air India and IndiGo issued advisories urging travellers to check their flight status before heading to the airport, as several services continued to experience delays ranging from two to four hours.