29052026-ATR-01.qxd 5/28/2026 11:54 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune RESIDENTS RESENT DELAYS IN VALLAH FLYOVER PROJECT CITY WRESTLER EYES OLYMPIC GLORY AFTER NATIONAL SILVER Inspired by his Taekwondo champion sister, 18-year-old wrestler Munish took up sports at a young age. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 42°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 44°C | MIN 26°C SHERBET, SEVIAN & DOLLOPS OF HISTORY Residents alleged that the incomplete project has turned daily travel into a nightmare. P2 FORECAST Eid-al-Adha in Amritsar is all about history, interfaith harmony, shared culture and good food. P4 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 7.26 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5.26 AM » FRIDAY | 29 MAY 2026 | AMRITSAR Strong security in place for Patti, Bhikhiwind counting centres AAP leader among two injured in gunfire over parking issue Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, May 28 The district administration has completed all arrangements for counting votes — polled in the Patti municipal council and Bhikhiwind nagar panchayat elections — scheduled for May 29. Deputy Commissionercum-District Election Officer Rahul said that counting of votes will begin on May 29 at 8 am and the election results will be declared on the same day. He said that counting for the municipal council, Patti, will be held at Sri Guru Gobind Singh Government High School (Boys), Kairon, while counting for the nagar panchayat, Bhikhiwind, will be held at Government Polytechnic College (PTU building), Bhikhiwind. He said that strict security arrangements have been made at both counting centres and strong rooms to ensure smooth and uninterrupted counting so that law continued on page 2 Amritsar, May 28 A minor dispute over the parking of a car turned violent when two groups allegedly opened fire at each other in the Kot Atma Ram area under the Division B police station here on Thursday. An AAP leader, identified as Jaipal Singh, was among the two persons injured in the clash. The other injured person was identified as Narinder Singh, who runs a spare parts shop near the spot. Both sustained bullet injuries to their legs and were rushed to a private hospital for treatment. Senior police officials, including Assistant Commissioner of Police (East) Ravinder Singh, reached the spot and initiated an investigation. According to the police, the incident stemmed from an argument over the parking of a vehicle near Pathra Wala Park. Karan, son of injured AAP leader Jaipal Singh, had allegedly parked his car near the spot when Tejinder Singh, a retired police employee residing opposite 1 burnt alive in massive fire at Rambagh bamboo market Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service A CCTV grab of the incident that took place at Kot Atma Ram. the park, objected and asked him to move the vehicle so he could park his own car there. Narinder Singh, a tenant of Tejinder Singh, along with his son, also joined the argument, which soon escalated into a heated verbal altercation between the two groups. ACP Ravinder Singh said the situation turned ugly when members of both groups allegedly pulled out their licensed pistols and opened fire at each other. During the firing, a shot allegedly fired from Jaipal Singh’s side continued on page 2 Amritsar, May 28 A massive fire broke out at Bansan Wala bazaar (bamboo market) in the Rambagh area on Thursday evening, leaving one shopkeeper dead and causing extensive damage to more than 25 shops. According to eyewitnesses, the fire erupted around 6 pm and spread rapidly through the congested market due to the presence of highly inflammable materials, such as bamboo, wood, tyres and other related goods stored inside the shops. The deceased, whose identity was yet to be established till the filing of the report, was reportedly physically challenged and could not escape from the flames. Eyewitnesses said he was seen struggling to come out of the burning shops but was trapped inside and burnt alive. The market is known for manufacturing and selling Shopkeepers shift their goods to a safer place at Ram Bagh in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR bamboo products, wooden ladders and related items. Several shops dealing in bamboo, wood, iron materials and tyres were completely gutted in the blaze. The adjoining tyre market also suffered major losses. Eyewitnesses said huge flames rising several feet into the sky could be seen from a distance, triggering panic in the surrounding areas. Thick smoke engulfed the locality as shopkeepers and residents rushed to save goods from nearby establishments. Some local shopkeepers alleged that the Fire Brigade reached the spot nearly half an hour after the fire broke out, by which time the blaze had already intensified. Soon after receiving information, multiple teams of the Fire Brigade and officials continued on page 2 Eid-al-Adha celebrated with religious fervour in city All eyes on Majitha as civic body results set to be announced today Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 28 Eid-al-Adha was celebrated in Amritsar with religious fervour, reflecting the city’s rich tradition of shared culture and interfaith harmony. At Jama Masjid Khairuddin, one of the oldest mosques located in Hall Bazaar and among the city’s main congregation points, a sea of people from different backgrounds and faiths could be seen exchanging Eid Mubarak greetings as members of the Muslim community gathered for the morning namaz (prayer). Members of the local Muslim community, including migrants and some international tourists, attended the Eid celebrations, greeted the community and offered special prayers. Jama Masjid Khairuddin remains one of the most historically and culturally significant centres of faith in the city, renowned for its unique archi- president of the All India Ulama Board, stated that Eid-ulAdha prayers offered at Maula Baksh Masjid were attended by a large number of Muslim devotees. He said the festival symbolises sacrifice and devotion to Allah. Referring to the sacrifices of Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and Hazrat Ismail (peace be upon him), Maulana Shahid Ahmed said Eid-al-Adha conveys the message of humanity, faith and true devotion to Allah. The city’s second major mosque on Sultanwind Road was also decked up for the celebrations, where traditional seviyan (semolina dessert) and sherbet were served among devotees after prayers. Several Eid delicacies prepared by the local community, including rose petalinfused seviyan kheer and sherbet, were also distributed among traders and shopkeepers at Hall Gate. Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 28 With the results of the civic body elections scheduled to be announced tomorrow (Friday), all eyes are on the Majitha municipal council, where the real battle is clearly not between the contesting candidates, but between senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia and AAP’s halqa incharge Talbir Singh Gill. A classic case of friendsturned-foes, both Majithia and Talbir have contested this election keeping in mind its impact on the future Assembly elections. As is well known in politics, perception is often larger than reality, and both leaders are trying to strengthen their positions ahead of the real political battle. Though Talbir may appear to be an amateur in front of SAD leader Bikram Majithia AAP leader Talbir Singh Gill heavyweight Majithia, it is not uncommon for former subordinates to prove an Achilles’ heel for their former mentors in major political battles. “Ever since Talbir parted ways with Majithia and joined AAP the SAD leader was prac, tically not present here as he was in jail. This is the first election he is facing in which Majithia is active in the constituency. It is a bigger test for Talbir than it is for Majithia,” said a local political observer. The results of four civic bodies — three municipal councils of Jandiala Guru, Ramdas and Majitha, and one nagar panchayat (Rayya) — will be announced after counting of votes on Friday. In Ramdas too, which is part of the Ajnala Assembly segment represented by AAP MLA and spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, an unfavourable result may reflect poorly. In Jandiala continued on page 2 Police arrest two in RMPI protests against police Mobile phones seized attempt-to-murder inaction in double murder case atAmritsar Central Jail case, pistol recovered Patti resident shot in head by friends, injured Muslims devotees and police officers celebrate Eid-al-Adha at the historic Jama Masjid Khairuddin in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR tectural design. Built in 1876, the mosque reflects traditional Islamic architecture with its exquisite arches and beams. The walls of the mosque were adorned with elaborate calligraphic ‘Aayats’. Several political leaders, including Dinesh Bassi, senior Congress leader from the East constituency and former chairman of the Amritsar Improvement Trust, also extended Eid-al-Adha greet- ings. Bassi visited a mosque in the Verka area to greet members of the Muslim community. He said the festival conveys the message of mutual love, brotherhood and unity. Maulana Shahid Ahmed, Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 28 The Amritsar police have arrested two persons wanted in an attempt-to-murder and Arms Act case and recovered the pistol allegedly used in the firing incident, officials said here on Thursday. Those arrested were identified as Jagmeet Singh, alias Piddi, a resident of Baba Deep Singh Colony on Tarn Taran Road, and Mani Kumar, alias Mani, a resident of Gali Masit Wali Chowk, in the Manna Singh area. The police recovered a .32 bore pistol along with a magazine and one live cartridge from the possession of the accused. The case was registered at the C-Division police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act regarding the case. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh said that the case was lodged on the complaint of Lakhwinder Kaur, a resident of Bhagtanwala. She alleged that on March 28 night, she, along with her husband Pavandeep Singh, son Harshpreet Singh and other family members, had gone to attend a family function at Golden Leaf Palace located on the Tarn Taran road here. During the function, an argument reportedly broke out between the complainant’s family and Jagmeet Singh along with his associates. The police said that while the complainant was returning home after the function, the accused allegedly intercepted them near Guru Ramdas market on Tarn Taran Road and continued on page 2 Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 28 Activists of the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI), along with residents of the Gumtala area, on Thursday held a dharna at Bhandari bridge over police failure to arrest the suspects in alleged ‘double murder’ case. The dharna was lifted only after Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Harpal Singh assured the protesters of arresting the accused within the next 10 days and also promising departmental action against the SHO of the Cantonment police station following an enquiry. The residents were demanding suspension of the SHO for his inaction and negligence in the case. Jagtar Singh Karampura, district secretary of the RMPI, said that the incident took place on April 22 near Blue Valley Colony when two youngsters from Gumtala vil- Amritsar, May 28 Seven mobile phones and a huge quantity of prohibited material, including cigarettes and tobacco products, were seized from the high-security Amritsar Central Jail complex on Wednesday. The recovery of the material, found abandoned inside the jail premises, once again highlighted the persistent menace of smuggling and throwing contraband and mobile phones into prisons. Jail Superintendent Sukhdev Singh said that during a search operation, officials recovered seven abandoned mobile phones, including two touchscreen smartphones and five keypad phones. Besides, two headphones, four chargers, two data cables and one adapter were also seized. The jail authorities further recovered 187 bundles of bidis, cigarette packets, Members of the RMPI along with other residents of Gumtala during a protest in Amritsar on Thursday. lage were allegedly attacked with murderous intent over a dispute, he added. The victims, identified as Surjit Singh (17) and Lovepreet Singh, aka Labha (21), were allegedly assaulted by the sarpanch of Haer village and two to three unidentified persons. Both injured youngsters were rushed to Hartej Hospital, where doctors c m y b declared Surjit dead. Lovepreet was admitted to hospital in a critical condition, and remained unconscious for several days before succumbing to his injuries on May 3. The residents alleged that despite repeated requests, the SHO of the Cantonment police station initially refused to register a case. He continued on page 2 tobacco products, two packets of chaini-kheni, 67 paper smoke rolls, nine packets of adhesive solution and five heating springs, all of which are prohibited inside prisons. Sources said the recovery once again exposed the growing challenge faced by jail authorities in curbing the smuggling of banned material into prisons. In several cases, contraband articles are allegedly thrown over the jail walls by accomplices of inmates, as the Amritsar Central Jail is located in the densely populated Fatehpur area. Some items are also suspected to have been smuggled in through other illegal channels, while the involvement of insiders cannot be ruled out. The police said a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Prisons Act against unidentified persons in connection with the seizure. Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, May 28 A Patti resident, Vishal Singh, was allegedly shot in the head by his own friends here on Tuesday night. The accused later admitted him to a hospital in Amritsar. Injured Vishal Singh’s brother, Gurinder Singh, a resident of Patti, stated in his complaint to the police that his brother was brought to Tarn Taran by his friends — Akashdeep Singh, Vishal Singh, Kartik and Akash Sandhu — from Patti on Tuesday night in his own car. He alleged that the accused shot Vishal Singh in the head before taking him to a hospital in Amritsar. SHO (city police) Inspector Navdeep Singh said Akashdeep Singh and his brother Vishal Singh, both allegedly involved in the shooting, have been arrested, while Kartik and Akash continued on page 2