11112025-ATR-01.qxd 11/10/2025 11:51 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 26°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 27°C | MIN 10°C GURU NANAK'S LIFE, TEACHINGS BROUGHT ALIVE BY STUDENTS CKD TO SET UP STATE-OF-THEART SCHOOL IN BALACHAUR DELHI DANCES TO TUNES OF AKON’S BIGGEST HITS Guru Nanak Dev Academy, Noordi Road, Tarn Taran, celebrated the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. P2 The CKD is all set to expand its chain of 48 educational institutions by setting up a new school in Balachaur. P2 Global music sensation Akon swayed fans with his biggest hits from Smack That to Chammak Challo in Delhi. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 5.33 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.55 AM » TUESDAY | 11 NOVEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO reviews functioning of govt offices Farm fires down 56% in dist this year Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 10 The district administration’s efforts to check rising cases of stubble burning have shown remarkable results this year, with a 56 per cent reduction in such incidents compared to last year. Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh said this success was possible due to proper management, awareness campaigns and cooperation from farmers. During a meeting with officials on stubble management, the Deputy Commissioner said last year, 633 incidents of stubble burning were reported till November 7, while this year, only 280 fields have been affected so far. He appreciated the hard work of officials and urged them to continue their efforts in the coming days to help farmers complete the wheat sowing season smoothly. The Deputy Commissioner said stubble burning damages the valuable organic matter in the soil, which is essential for soil health and fertility. It also causes air pollution and Amritsar, November 10 Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO conducted a surprise inspection of the Education Department and Labour Department offices at the District Administrative Complex (DAC) here on Monday. During his visit, the minister checked staff attendance and interacted with people who had come to get their work done at the Labour Department office. He directed officials to ensure that public grievances and applications are addressed on priority. The minister instructed the Labour Department officials to make sure that the benefits of various government welfare schemes reach every labourer. He also asked them to organise awareness camps in different villages to inform workers about these welfare programmes. Addressing the Education Department officials, Harbhajan Singh ETO empha- Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO (right) during the inspection of a government office at the DAC in Amritsar on Monday. sised the need for field inspections. He directed them to visit schools in villages to personally review infrastructure, teaching conditions, and the quality of the mid-day meal programme. The minister also visited the Service Centre at the DAC, where he interacted with people availing government services. He later reviewed official records and inspected the infrastructure of both departments. Tribune News Service Last year, 633 incidents of stubble burning were reported till November 7, while this year, only 280 fields have been affected so far. FILE affects road visibility, creating problems for traffic. The DC said district administration teams are regularly keeping a check on farm fires and teams are dispatched to the spot after information is received from remote sensing centre. A majority of the farmers have already started alternate management of the crop residue, he said. Meanwhile, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Rohit Gupta has extended the ban on stubble burning in the district from November 14 to December 14. The order has been issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which empowers the administration to act in the interest of public safety and agricultural protection. The ADM stated that farmers must use Super SMS or SMS machines attached to combine harvesters during paddy harvesting to manage the residue instead of burning it, especially in areas where stubble baling is not practiced. The district administration has urged farmers to follow these directions strictly to protect the environment and maintain soil fertility. While most of the paddy crop has already been harvested, the late-sown basmati crop is still standing in the fields awaiting harvesting. MC Commissioner Shergill inspects Majitha Flood-hit farmers to get crop loss Road area, warns against encroachments compensation before Nov 25 Byelection: Dry days declared in Tarn Taran Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Amritsar, November 10 Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Amritsar, Bikramjit Singh Shergill on Monday conducted an extensive inspection of the Majitha Road and Fatehgarh Churian Road areas to review issues related to cleanliness and encroachments. During the inspection, Commissioner Shergill interacted with kiosk owners and street vendors (rehriwalas), urging them to maintain hygiene in their surroundings and refrain from throwing waste on the roads. He appealed to them to cooperate with the municipal corporation’s cleanliness initiatives and set an example of responsible civic behaviour. The Commissioner also issued a strict warning against encroachments on public roads. He directed MC officials to take immediate and firm action against viola- MC Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill talks to encroachers along Majitha Road in Amritsar. tors under the provisions of the Municipal Act. He emphasised that unauthorised structures and obstructions on roads not only inconvenience the public but also hinder smooth traffic flow. Highlighting the importance of community participation in maintaining urban order, Shergill said keeping the city clean and free from obstructions is a shared responsibility. “A clean and well-organised city reflects the civic sense of its residents. Citizens must work together with the administration to keep Amritsar beautiful and free from congestion,” he remarked. The inspection was carried out in the presence of Superintending Engineer Sandeep Singh and Medical Officer of Health Dr Yogesh, who were instructed to ensure regular monitoring and timely action to maintain sanitation and road discipline in their respective areas. Gangster module busted in city, four held Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 10 The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, has foiled a possible attempt to carry out targeted killings in the state with the arrest of four members of an international gangster module. The police have recovered two sophisticated weapons from their possession. Those arrested have been identified as Jagpreet Singh, alias Jagga, and Mohammad Singh, both residents of Kazi Kot Kalan in Tarn Taran; Lavish Nahar, a resident of Bori Wala Bazar at Gate Hakima, Amritsar; and Amarbir Singh, a resident of Preet Avenue at Gate Hakima, Amritsar. The recovered arms include a 9mm Glock pistol with a magazine and five live cartridges, and one .30 bore Star mark pistol with a magazine and three live cartridges. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investiga- The firearms recovered from the accused in Amritsar on Monday. tions revealed that the arrested accused were in direct contact with a Portugal-based wanted gangster and were acting under his instructions. “The foreignbased handler was responsible for arranging the supply of the recovered weapons,” he said. The DGP further disclosed that the accused had carried out a recce of specific individuals and locations in Batala and Amritsar to plan targeted killings. “The recovered sophisticated weapons were meant to exe- cute these attacks. Key leads related to their network and handlers are being thoroughly investigated,” he added. Sharing details of the operation, AIG, SSOC, Amritsar, Sukhminder Singh Mann said the module was busted following specific intelligence inputs. Acting swiftly, police teams from the SSOC, Amritsar, arrested the accused from the Amritsar area. He further said investigation has also established that, on the directions of their foreign-based handler, the accused had earlier facilitated the transportation of weapons and money on multiple occasions. “Further investigations are ongoing to trace the complete network, including backward and forward linkages,” he said. In this regard, an FIR has been registered under Section 25 of the Arms Act and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the State Special Operation Cell police station in Amritsar. c m y b Amritsar, November 10 The district administration has announced that compensation for crop loss suffered by flood-affected families will be credited to their bank accounts by November 25. Sanjeev Sharma, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Lopoke, who disbursed compensation in Chuchakwal, Muzaffarpur, Hasanpura, and Dhandal villages, stated that sanction letters for compensation amounting to Rs 22 lakh were given to affected families on Monday. He said the amount is being given to offset the damage caused to crops during the recent floods. Sanjeev Sharma said out of 58 villages in Lopoke subdivision, farmers from 20 villages have already received their compensation, while the remaining villages will get the payments by November 25. He assured that the amount distributed today will be credited to beneficiaries’ Two held with 47.7 kg of cannabis at city airport Amritsar, November 10 The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested two passengers arriving from Singapore with 47.7 kg of hydroponic weed, a high-grade variety of cannabis, at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport here today. DRI officials said the operation was conducted based on specific intelligence inputs. On November 9, 2025, officers intercepted two Indian nationals who had arrived on Scoot Airlines flight TR-512 from Singapore. During the examination of their check-in baggage, officials discovered 44 packets of hydroponic weed ingeniously concealed within layers of clothing. A total of 23.94 kg was recovered from one passenger and 23.76 kilograms from the other. Both accused have been taken into custody along with the seized consignment, and a case has been registered against them. — TNS RELIEF TO OFFSET DAMAGE CAUSED TO CROPS ■ Sanjeev Sharma, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Lopoke, who disbursed compensation in Chuchakwal, Muzaffarpur, Hasanpura, and Dhandal villages, stated that sanction letters for compensation amounting to Rs 22 lakh were given to affected families on Monday. He said the amount is being given to offset the damage caused to crops during the recent floods. He said out of 58 villages in Lopoke subdivision, farmers from 20 villages have already received their compensation. accounts by tonight or by tomorrow morning. He also urged farmers to ensure that their bank accounts, IFSC codes, and Aadhaar details are correctly updated with their respective patwaris to avoid delays in payment. “If anyone faces any difficulty, they should immediately bring it to my notice so that the issue can be resolved on the spot,” he said. The SDM added that announcements are being made through gurdwaras in each village to inform people about the compensation process. Administrative teams are personally visiting villages to distribute the crop loss payments, he added. The district administration officials stated that process to disburse compensation in Ajnala subdivision has also started and farmers are being paid for the crop loss as per government guidelines. The administration is also compensating residents for damage to their houses. On this occasion, Ravleen Sandhu, Halka incharge of the Women’s Wing, Naib Tehsildar Harish Kumar, Kanungo Nirwail Singh, and a large number of villagers were present. — TNS Tarn Taran, November 10 In view of the upcoming byelection, the Excise Commissioner, Punjab, has declared a dry day in the entire Tarn Taran Assembly constituency and its adjoining constituencies till 6 pm on November 11, and again on November 14, the day of counting. District Election Officer Rahul said all liquor shops within the Tarn Taran Assembly constituency and its adjoining constituencies, including areas within a 3-km radius, have been ordered to remain closed during this period. He added that a similar restriction will be enforced on November 14, when the counting of votes will take place. These orders have been issued for the general public to ensure the maintenance of law and order and the smooth conduct of the byelection. Double murder rocks Pathankot, police solve crime within an hour Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Pathankot, November 10 Residents were shocked when news spread that a double murder had taken place in a posh locality but at the same time, they heaved a sigh of relief when the police managed to apprehend the killer within one hour after taking the help of high-definition (HD) CCTVs. Police sources say the department had installed such devices at strategic places in the city following which the crime rate had dropped significantly. An HD CCTV refers to a security camera which provides clear, detailed video footage. These cameras allow for sharp image quality and better details for identifying people or objects and also the ability to zoom in on images. In this case, the images of the case were automatically CRIME TOOK PLACE NEAR DEFENCE ROAD T-POINT ■ SSP Daljinder Singh Dhillon said the crime took place near the T-point of Defence Road. A truck driver, Ricky, had a long-standing animosity with a woman called Nisha. Today, he decided to follow Nisha in a truck with the aim of driving the vehicle over her. transmitted to the cyber-cell. Officials of the cell checked the videos and instantly relayed the information to the higher-ups. SSP Daljinder Singh Dhillon said the crime took place near the T-point of Defence Road. A truck driver, Ricky, had a long-standing animosity with a woman called Nisha. Today, he decided to follow Nisha in a truck with the aim of driving the vehicle over her. Nisha was accompanied by a woman acquaintance on the Defence Road following which he started stalking the duo. Seeing that Nisha and the woman were all alone, Ricky mowed them down and escaped from the scene in the oppo- site direction. The incident was captured by the HD CCTVs. The cops swooped on the accused after the cyber cell came into action and relayed the information to senior officers. The accused was apprehended within one hour of the crime. Police officers say Ricky was oblivious to the fact that the entire area was covered with HD CCTVs. “No crime is perfect and the perpetrators, through oversight or inherent human error, invariably leave behind some form of evidence or clues. In this case the same happened,” said an investigator. A police case has been registered against the accused.