20102026-ATR-01.qxd 19-10-2026 22:49 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune AMRITSAR THRASH FARIDKOT IN RUGBY FINAL STUDENTS EXPLORE TIBET’S STORY OF EXILE Students explore not just political boundaries, but also the experiences of those forced into exile. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 31°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 16°C B-TOWN CONDEMNS FIRING AT ACTOR TIGER SHROFF Amritsar defeat Faridkot 24-0 to clinch the title in the U-17 boys’ rugby competition. P2 FORECAST BJP MP Ravi Kishan and Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit have condemned the targeting of actor Tiger Shroff. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 5.50 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:33 AM » TUESDAY | 20 OCTOBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Woman kills husband, mom-in-law with wooden pestle, flees with infant daughter Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 19 A woman allegedly killed her husband and mother-in-law with a wooden pestle before fleeing with her infant daughter, said the police, solving the mystery shrouding the death of the motherson duo in Ram Nagar Colony on the Majitha Road. The decomposed bodies were found after neighbours complained of foul smell emanating from the house on Sunday. The accused, Manisha, hailing from Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli district, allegedly murdered her husband Gaurav Kumar (35) and motherin-law Ritu (70) on the intervening night of October 15 and 16. According to the complaint lodged by Hardeep Singh, a resident of the same locality, Gaurav worked as a delivery executive for Blinkit. He lived with his ailing mother and wife. The couple had been married for around two to three years and had a daughter out of the wedlock. The complainant told the police that Manisha had fre- (Left) Police personnel in Ram Nagar Colony on Majitha Road; and the deceased, Gaurav and Ritu. quent fights with her husband and mother-in-law. On October 16 around 8 am, Manisha allegedly locked the house and left with her infant daughter. No one visited the house since, the complainant told the police. On Sunday afternoon, between 3 pm and 3.30 pm, Hardeep noticed a foul smell coming from the house and grew suspicious. He informed Ram Nagar Colony sarpanch Rahul Sharma, who reached the spot and in turn informed the police. Gaurav was found lying in ACCUSED HAD FREQUENT FIGHTS WITH THE TWO ■ The accused, Manisha, hailing from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district, allegedly murdered her husband Gaurav Kumar (35) and mother-in-law Ritu (70) on the intervening night of October 15 and 16. ■According to the complaint lodged by Hardeep Singh, a resident of the same locality, Gaurav worked as a delivery executive for Blinkit. ■The complainant told the police that Manisha had frequent fights with her husband and mother-in-law. On October 16 around 8 am, Manisha allegedly locked the house and left with her infant daughter. ■On Sunday afternoon, between 3 pm and 3.30 pm, Hardeep noticed a foul smell coming from the house and approached the sarpanch. a pool of blood near the stairs, while his mother’s body was found inside a room. A wooden pestle, allegedly bearing bloodstains, was lying on a bed. In his complaint, Hardeep expressed suspicion that Manisha had murdered the two with the wooden pestle before fleeing with her daughter. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Siriven- nela said efforts were on to arrest the accused. He said the motive behind the alleged double murder could only be ascertained after Manisha’s arrest. Meanwhile, the bodies have been kept at the mortuary of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital for 72 hours for identification as information about their relatives is not available. The police said anyone having information about the deceased or their family members can contact the Amritsar Commissionerate Police. Man hacked to death for not moving car aside Electric buses set to hit city roads in Dec Tribune News service Amritsar, October 19 A man was hacked to death for not moving car aside outside the MGM residency hotel near the interstate bus terminus last evening. The police said an argument erupted between the victim, Vicky Singh, and the accused, Amanjeet Singh and his brother Karanjit Singh, all residents of Gilwali Gate area. Things turned ugly and the duo, who also suffered injuries in the clash, killed Vicky. The two have been detained and further action is in progress, claimed the police. Ravinderpal Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (East) said the CCTV footage had been secured and a case registered. The deceased is survived by his wife and two minor daughters. His wife Poonam alleged that the accused picked up fights with her husband over one issue or the other; and even threatened that they would not let them live in the area. The ACP said as per preliminary investigation, both parties attacked each other with sharp weapons, leaving Vicky with serious injuries. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The electric buses will ply on nine routes in Amritsar. Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 19 Come December and Amritsar will be the latest addition to the list of cities having electric buses. The Centre has directed the authorities concerned to do the needful by November 30 as the buses are expected to start arriving in early December. The nine proposed routes will cover around 160 km and connect major educational institutions, hospitals, government offices, airport, railway station, bus stand and religious places. The Municipal Corporation may revise the routes or make new additions as per passenger demand. Areas to be covered include the Indian Institute of Management, Guru Nanak Dev University, Khalsa College, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Sri Guru Ram Das Charitable Hospital, the District and Sessions Court and the Mini Secretariat. The Golden Temple, Durgiana Temple and Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath also feature on the list. The buses will also ply in Model Industrial Park, Mustafabad and Khankot. Some stretches will extend up to 7.6 km beyond the city limits. The vehicles are expected to reduce vehicular emissions and boost connectivity. Charging infrastructure is being developed at the BRTS depot on the Verka bypass and the city bus workshop at Continued on page 2 Pilot, Pargat meet the grieving; Unrest sweeps city over anti-drug activist’s killing one killed in June, other yr ago Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Punjab Congress incharge Sachin Pilot and other senior leaders in Jandiala Guru. Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 19 Leveraging the wave of antigovernment protests to its advantage ahead of the Assembly poll, the Congress today attacked the AAP government over drug smuggling and rising gangster culture in Punjab. A meeting to extend support to a grieving family turned into a ground for blame game. On Monday, Punjab Congress incharge Sachin Pilot and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Pargat Singh and other senior leaders visited the family of Jagdeep Singh, a government teacher, who was shot dead by unidentified armed assailants in broad daylight in in the Jandiala Guru area here in June this year. The visit was part of the party’s outreach to families affected by gang-related violence, with the Congress leaders raising questions over the safety of people and the government’s response to such incidents. Pilot commenced his fiveday visit to the border state on October 16. He will be touring 11 districts and meeting the families of gang violence vic- CONG LEADERS TAKE SWIPE AT AAP GOVERNMENT ■ Tarn Taran: Sachin Pilot also ■ Taking a swipe at the AAP, Pilot visited the family of Ashwani Kumar Devgan, who was shot dead at Toot village 10 days ago. ■ The deceased was the village sarpanch and member of the AAP. ■The Congress leader also visited the family of Gurmel Singh, killed a year ago. said the government had failed to protect its people. ■Later, he met the family of Mintoo Sharma, also killed by gangsters. ■ The congress leaders condemned the killing Parvinder Singh Jhota. –Gurbaxpuri tims. He also met the family of Gurmel Singh, who was killed a year ago in Tarn Taran. He alleged that Punjab had witnessed a disturbing rise in shootings, extortion threats and gang-related violence, triggering fear among traders, small business owners and residents. Even families of murder victims continued to face threats and were being denied justice, while witnesses kept turning hostile, further weakening the prospects of conviction. The Congress leader also questioned the effectiveness of measures to prevent the smuggling of heroin and weapons through drones from across the International Border. Raising questions over the respective responsibilities of the Centre and the state, Pilot said instead of blaming each other for the situation, both governments needed to be held accountable. Pilot also questioned security measures along the International Border following the extension of the BSF’s jurisdiction from 15 km to 50 km. Targeting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Pargat Singh alleged that the Punjab Police had increasingly begun functioning as an extension of the ruling AAP rather than as an independent law enforcement agency. Referring to Jagdeep Singh’s death, Pargat Singh questioned the police handling of the case, alleging that the family had been denied justice. He said the Congress would ensure a fresh probe into cases where serious doubts had been raised about the probe; and seek punishment for those found guilty. Amritsar, October 19 Seeking justice for anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, three organisations staged sit-ins outside the residences and offices of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) representatives on Sunday. The protests follow a call given by the action committee formed by various organisations for timely justice and action. The protesters accused the Punjab Government of failing to check the drug menace, demanding a fair probe into the alleged nexus between drug smugglers, politicians and police officials. Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, too, held protests in the East and West Assembly constituencies. Under the leadership of Shamsher Singh Padhri and president (Urban) Amandeep Singh Daduana, party workers and supporters reached the residence of East MLA Jeevanjot Kaur and the office of West MLA Jasbir Singh Sandhu, where they pasted condemnation letters. The legislators were not (Left) Farmers stage a sit-in outside the residence of Cabinet minister Harbhajan Singh ETO in Amritsar; and barricades put up on the premises. present at their respective places, said the protesters. Barricades could be seen at both locations to avoid any disruption in law and order. The protesters raised slogans against the state government, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the MLAs, demanding justice for Jhota In another protest, hundreds of farmers, labourers, youth and women associated with various public organisa- Evil dead tions staged a sit-in outside the residence of AAP MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal. The protest continued from noon to 3 pm despite barricading and attempts to shift the demonstrators. Speakers, including All India Kisan Mahasabha national president Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala and representatives of farmer, youth and women organisations, alleged that drug traf- ficking had seen a rise under the present regime. The protesters submitted a nine-point condemnation letter through a representative of the MLA, demanding accountability from the state government and senior police officials, along with strict punishment for those found guilty in the case. The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee also held demonstrations. Meet procurement parameters, put straw to use, farmers advised Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service An effigy of Ravana being transported to the venue for Dasehra in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR c m y b In the city, protesters gathered outside the New Amritsar residence of Cabinet minister Harbhajan Singh ETO and the residence of AAP constituency incharge Sonia Mann. The committee demanded an impartial probe into the case, including the alleged role of people accused of backing drug traffickers, and strict action against the guilty. Amritsar, October 19 Paddy farmers have been asked to bring produce with moisture content below 17 per cent to mandis. They have also been advised to undertake harvesting only when the crop is fully mature. Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh said the Centre had fixed the maximum permissible moisture content in paddy at 17 per cent for procurement. Grain exceeding this limit could create difficulties for farmers in selling their produce. The Centre has fixed the min- Officials at a review meet in Amritsar on Monday. imum support price (MSP) for paddy at Rs 2,461 per quintal for the current season. The DC urged farmers to bring dry paddy to mandis to facilitate smooth procurement. The administration has directed the Chief Agriculture Officer and the District Mandi Officer to organise awareness camps in villages on crop maturity, moisture requirements and procurement norms. Combine harvester operators have also been instructed to carry out harvesting only between 10 am and 6 pm. Also, the DC held a meeting with officials of various departments at the District Administrative Complex to review measures to prevent stubble burning. He said harvesting was almost complete in most parts of the district, stressing the need for sustained awareness Continued on page 2