09062026-ATR-01.qxd 6/8/2026 11:20 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAIZE PROCUREMENT HALTED AMID DISPUTE IN TARN TARAN CLASS TESTS, PRE-BOARDS TO PLAY KEY ROLE IN FINAL RESULTS BOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR IMTIAZ ALI’S LOVE LETTER TO PUNJAB Procurement has been suspended since three days due to a dispute between buyers and commission agents. P2 The new norms will also apply to students enrolled under the open school system. P3 His upcoming film, Main Vaapas Aaunga, set to release on June 12, will be his third movie set in Punjab. P4 » » » MAX 42°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 41°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.34 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5.24 AM TUESDAY | 9 JUNE 2026 | AMRITSAR Amritsar airport gets long-awaited inline baggage handling system Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service reaches the aircraft. The development has been welcomed by frequent flyers and activists of Fly Amritsar Initiative, who had long been demanding the installation of an inline baggage handling system at the airport. With passenger traffic witnessing steady growth and several new international and domestic services being added in recent years, the need for modern baggage infrastructure had become urgent. The Airports Authority of India described the operationalisation of the ILHBS as a major step towards smarter airport operations, improved passenger convenience and enhanced safety and security. Airport officials believe the system will help reduce congestion in the departure area and bring the airport’s passenger handling facilities in line with modern aviation standards. The facility is expected to particularly benefit international travellers and passengers carrying larger volumes of baggage, making departures from Amritsar more efficient and hassle-free. Amritsar, June 8 Passengers travelling through Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, can now expect a smoother and faster check-in experience with the operationalisation of the longawaited Inline Hold Baggage Handling System (ILHBS). The new system, which has been fully commissioned at the airport, addresses one of the major concerns faced by passengers for years. Due to the absence of an inline baggage handling facility, travellers were required to first get their baggage screened at standalone X-ray machines before proceeding to airline check-in counters, often resulting in long queues, congestion and delays during peak travel hours. Under the new arrangement, passengers can directly hand over their checked baggage at airline counters. The baggage is then automatically transported through a network of conveyor belts where it undergoes multiple levels of security screening, sorting and processing before being loaded onto aircraft. The airport authorities said the state-of-the-art system integrates baggage movement, security screening and sorting operations into a single streamlined process. The Cop injured in accidental firing Firing at tea stall: Owner, neighbour injured Amritsar, June 8 A police employee was seriously injured after a licensed pistol accidentally went off during a weapon inspection at the Arms Branch of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) office on Monday. The injured employee Naryan Dass was examining a .30-bore pistol brought in by its owner for mandatory verification when the firearm went off unexpectedly. The bullet struck Dass, causing serious injuries.—TNS Tribune News Service Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Amritsar, June 8 Panic gripped the 100-foot road area when some drunken men opened fire at a tea stall owner over a minor argument regarding payment for “bhujia” packets. The firing resulted in injury to shopkeeper Sunny Malhotra and his neighbour. They were rushed to hospital, where their condition was stated to be stable. automated facility is expected to significantly reduce passenger waiting times, improve operational efficiency and enhance security standards. The system features a complex multi-tier conveyor network behind the check- Eight booked for attempt to murder, three arrested Harpal Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, said following the incident, the police lodged an FIR against unknown persons on charges of attempt to murder and under relevant Sections of the BNS and Arms Act. Among those booked in counters, equipped with integrated X-ray screening and baggage sortation technology. The automated process minimises manual handling of luggage while ensuring thorough security checks before baggage included Tirathpal Singh, Amritpal Singh and Gurpartap Singh. They were arrested by the police, said the ADCP , adding that raids were on to arrest the remaining accused. He said the accused, who were in a drunken state, bought some packets of chips and “bhujia” from Vinod tea stall on the 100-foot road. During the payment of the same, the accused had an argument with Sunny Malhotra. The accused created a scene at the place and called his accomplices to the spot. Soon they took out pistols and fired at Sunny Malhotra who sustained bullet injury, while his neighbour was also injured in the incident. The accused also indulged in hooliganism in the area, creating panic. The ADCP said efforts were on to recover the weapon used in the crime. Police teams had been formed to arrest the accused at large, he added. Workers of the Estate Wing of the MC remove encroachments in Amritsar on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTOS Municipal Corporation removes encroachments on key city roads Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 8 The Municipal Corporation (MC) Amritsar on Monday carried out a major antiencroachment drive in different parts of the city, removing unauthorised structures and obstructions from public spaces. The Estate Wing teams covered the stretch from SSSS Chowk to Novelty Chowk, the Verka area, and the road from Maqboolpura Chowk to Golden Gate. The operation targeted encroachments on roads, footpaths and municipal land that were affecting traffic movement and pedestrian access. During the drive, the MC staff removed several temporary encroachments, unauthorised extensions and other obstructions. Shopkeepers and street vendors were instructed not to occupy public spaces and to comply with civic regulations. The enforcement operation was conducted under the supervision of Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr Jai Inder Singh and Secretary-cum-Estate Officer Sushant Bhatia. The drive was undertaken by the Estate Department with the support of the Municipal Corporation police wing. Bhatia said the campaign was aimed at ensuring smooth traffic flow, improving pedestrian safety and maintaining public infrastructure. Residents and commercial establishments were urged to coop- Kisan Mazdoor Morcha holds protests Ration depots inspected in Kot Khalsa area, probe ordered into complaints in district, demands fertiliser supply Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 8 Responding to a call by the All India Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), farmers and labourers staged large-scale protest demonstrations at 12 different places in the district here on Monday. The KMM leaders stated that protests were held in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar over fertiliser shortages, rising fuel prices and forced land acquisition. The leaders stated that in Punjab, protests were organised at around 74 locations across all 22 districts. Demonstrators burnt effigies and voiced their opposition to “anti-farmer and anti-people policies of the Centre and state governments”. The KMM leaders alleged that a serious shortage of urea fertiliser had emerged across the country, leaving farmers unable to obtain fertiliser at the government-approved rates. They claimed that private dealers were indulging in black marketing, while cooperative societies were forcing farmers to purchase nano urea and other products along with regular urea. The organisation demanded immediate Farmers of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee burn an effigy of the Centre and state governments in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO VISHAL KUMAR availability of urea as per farmers’ requirements and strict action against those involved in black marketing. The protesters also highlighted the rising prices of diesel, petrol and cooking gas, stating that increasing fuel costs had sharply raised agricultural expenses and household budgets. They argued that consumers had not benefited despite a decline in international crude oil prices. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher criticised the acquisition of agricultural land in several states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. The organisation alleged that fertile farmland was being acquired in the name of development, leading to displacement and economic hardship for farming families. It demanded that no land be acquired without the consent of farmers. The morcha also opposed the proposed India–US trade and agriculture agreement, claiming that increased imports of cheaper agricultural products could adversely affect Indian farmers already struggling to receive remunerative prices for their crops. In Amritsar, the protests were held at Golden Gate, Rayya, Jandiala Guru, Mehta Chowk, Kathunangal Toll Plaza, Majitha, Khiala Kalan, Ramdas, Gaggomahal Chowk, Ajnala, Lopoke and Khasa. c m y b Amritsar, June 8 A member of the Punjab State Food Commission on Monday inspected several government ration depots in the Kot Khalsa area and ordered an inquiry into complaints of irregularities in the distribution of food grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Vijay Dutt, a member of the Commission, conducted the inspection on the first day of his two-day visit to the district. During the visit, councillors Virat Devgan of Ward 66 and Shamsher Singh Sandhu of Ward 71 submitted complaints against two depot holders, alleging delays in wheat distribution and rude behaviour towards beneficiaries. A large number of local residents also gathered at the inspection site and raised similar grievances. They alleged irregularities in the distribution process and claimed that eligible beneficiaries were facing difficulties in receiving their allotted food grains. Taking serious note of the complaints, Dutt directed District Food and Civil Supplies Controller (DFSC) Harveen Kaur, who accompanied him during the inspection, to record the statements of all complainants on the spot. He A ration depot being inspected in Amritsar on Monday. instructed officials to initiate strict action against any depot holder found guilty following a proper investigation. Addressing the issue, councillors Devgan and Sandhu said that the negligent and arbitrary conduct of some depot holders was undermining public confidence in government welfare schemes. “The Punjab Government is making continuous efforts to ensure a transparent and efficient ration distribution system. However, the behaviour of a few depot holders creates dissatisfaction among beneficiaries and damages the government’s image,” they said, demanding stringent action against those found violating rules. Dutt also directed that the Punjab State Food Com- mission’s complaint and helpline number — 9876764545 — be prominently displayed at all government ration depots across the state. He warned that if the helpline number was not displayed at any depot in future, the concerned Food Inspector would be held accountable and appropriate action would follow. The Commission member also reviewed the progress of the distribution of special ration kits being provided under the government’s ‘Meri Rasoi Yojana’. DFSC Harveen informed the Commission that around 94,000 ration kits had reached the district so far, of which more than 50,000 had already been distributed among beneficiaries. erate with the civic body in keeping roads and footpaths free from encroachments. The Municipal Corporation officials stated that similar enforcement drives would continue across the city in the coming days. Stolen ornamental iron grills recovered Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 8 The C-Division police, under the City Police Commissionerate here, have solved a theft case of ornamental iron grills installed under the Smart City Project and arrested two accused in this regard. The police also recovered the stolen property from their possession. The arrested accused have been identified as Vicky and Bablu Kumar. Assistant Commissioner of Police (South) Preetinder Singh said acting on specific inputs and following investigation, the police team traced the accused and arrested them. During probe, the accused confessed to stealing ornamental grills that had been installed at various locations in the city as part of the Smart City beautification and infrastructure development project. investigations further revealed the possible involvement of two junk dealers who were suspected of purchasing the stolen material from the accused. Their names surfaced during the investigation and police teams were conducting raids to nab them. Officials said efforts were on to uncover the entire network involved in the theft and disposal of government property. A case has been registered.