07112026-ATR-01.qxd 11/6/2026 11:24 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY WHY GRIEF IS BEING TURNED INTO A POLITICAL WEAPON IN PUNJAB LEARNING THE ROPES FROM BOXING GREATS DLSA CELEBRATES DIWALI WITH NARI NIKETAN INMATES Keeping the dead waiting until justice is done, and setting up Insaaf committees to carry on the struggle, has become familiar. P2 Young boxers Moikhik Dawar, Shubhbir Lal, Chahat and Mana get training from towering figures of Indian boxing. P2 MAX 29°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 15°C The District Legal Services Authority celebrates Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas with inmates of Nari Niketan. P2 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 5.37 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:52 AM » SATURDAY | 7 NOVEMBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Complexity of loneliness & musings of conflicted mind: Punjabi poet on facets of migration Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 6 From the many facets of loneliness to the dual identity that comes with the change of place, Punjabi poet and ghazal writer Bhupinder Duley’s literary works explore the changing realities of human life and the evolving experiences of the Punjabi diaspora. His poetry, shaped by international experiences and cultural encounters, reflects the complexities of migration, identity and belonging. These themes in Dhuley’s literary works came into focus during a special literary event, “Immigrant Punjabi Poetry: Creation and Dialogue”, organised by the School of Punjabi Studies at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) as part of the celebrations marking the 450th Foundation Day of Amritsar. Dhuley, who is based in Canada now, spoke about his literary journey and the influences that shaped his creative expression. He said GIFT OF GAB ❝ The conflict between one’s cultural roots and adopted surroundings formed an important part of my poetic expression . — Bhupinder Duley, PUNJABI POET ❞ << Punjabi poet Bhupinder Duley with the GNDU staff. his interest in literature was inherited from his father Randhir Singh Chand, a renowned scholar. Growing up in the company of eminent writers gave Diwali dampener: Essentials get dear 115 firefighters to be on ground Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service In the past fortnight, the prices of sugar, certain cereals and pulses have seen a ~10 increase per kilogram. VISHAL KUMAR Sugar sees ~10 hike Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 6 A surge in the prices of essentials has put buyers on a budget amid Diwali festivities. Be it edible oil, vegetables or sugar, the skyrocketing prices are burning a hole in the pocket of the common man. Despite government’s assurances, cereals, pulses, spices and cooking oil have become costlier. In the past fortnight, the prices of sugar, certain cereals and pulses have seen a Rs 10 increase for a kilogram, while Ëssential Present Previous Commodities price price Chole ki dal 105 95 Black gram 110 100 Mah sabut 135 120/125 Besan 110 100 Malka masoor 110 100 Chickpea 170 160 Rajma 180 160 rajma got costlier by Rs 20 per kg. Jaspal Singh, a consumer, said daily wagers and those with meagre salary were the worst-hit. A retailer, Sandeep Gupta, said: “It seemsthat those manipulating the system have no fear.” Now, helpline to reach SHOs for complaints Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 6 In a move aimed at improving police-public coordination, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police has issued a directory of contact numbers, enabling residents to directly reach the station house officers (SHOs) and MHCs (police station munshis) of their respective police stations. Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill said the initiative was intended to provide residents with easier access to police assistance and eliminate the need to approach multiple channels for routine com- plaints and information. The police have also provided dedicated helpline numbers for sharing information about drug trafficking and gangster activities. The identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential, the police have assured, urging residents to share information without fear. The initiative assumes significance as the police continue their drive against drug trafficking and organised crime in the city. The Commissionerate Police has asked residents to dial 1930 for reporting cyber fraud and 112 for emergency police assistance. Amritsar, November 6 The Municipal Corporation has deployed 23 fire tenders and around 115 firefighters across the city to deal with emergencies during Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas celebrations. All five fire stations in the city have been put on alert and firefighting teams directed to be on standby throughout the festive period. The fire brigade also arranged specialised equipment, including hydraulic platforms, water bowsers and firefighting pumps, to tackle emergencies in high-rise buildings and congested localities. Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia appealed to residents to celebrate the festivals responsibly and avoid excessive use of firecrackers, particularly in congested areas and near sensitive installations. He urged parents to ensure that children burst crackers only under adult supervision. Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill said all fire stations had been directed to ensure that vehicles and Civic officials appeal to locals to celebrate a peaceful Diwali. HELPLINE ■ The Town Hall fire station can be ■ For coordination, Assistant contacted at 0183-2541111 and 0183-2557366, Beri Gate at 0183-2551699, Gillwali Gate at 01832527000, Civil Lines at 0183-2566212 and Verka Bypass at 0183-2580211. Divisional Fire Officer Lavpreet Singh can be contacted at 9814255010 and District Fire Officer Dilbag Singh at 9855202066. equipment remained operational and adequate staff was available round the clock to respond to emergency calls. The Fire and Emergency Services Department has advised residents against bursting crackers near petrol pumps, LPG storage points, hospitals, electrical substations and vehicles. They have also been asked to keep water, sand and fire extinguishers handy and ensure that access roads remain clear for emergency vehicles. Residents can contact the fire brigade helpline 101 in case of any emergency. The five fire stations have also issued dedicated contact numbers. him an early exposure to literary thought and inspired his engagement with Punjabi literature. His first book, “Ahsaas Di Peed”, marked an important milestone in this journey. Sharing insights into his creative process, he emphasised that he believes in quality rather than quantity. “I do not rush to present my writings to readers. I subject them to a process of refinement and careful revision before publication. Not everyone’s observation Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, November 6 As the dance of democracy is about to begin, political parties are faced with the daunting task of choosing the best. While the Congress, this time, has just one candidate in the fray for the Assembly elections, the AAP will have to decide among three probables. The BJP has multiple candidates in contention, while the SAD, like the Congress, has one. In the last elections, Congress’ Aruna Chaudhary, who is banking on her mass appeal to carve out her fifth win, bagged 51,133 votes, while her rival AAP’s Shamsher Singh of AAP had got 50,002 votes. Despite the fact that the ruling dispensation appointed Shamsher Singh as the halqa incharge, depriving Chaudhary of her legislative powers, she managed to get development works initiated by using her contacts in Chandigarh. Although she is out among the rural masses before sunrise, the anti-incumbency factor can go against her, say poll analysts. Before she won her first poll in 2002, her father-in-law Jai Muni had remained a legislator for multiple times. my poetic expression as it was a lived reality for many,” he said. He also recited some of his compositions, offering the audience a glimpse into his literary world. Earlier, Prof Manjinder Singh, head of the School of Punjabi Studies and event coordinator, observed that Dule’s poetry deserved to be examined through both formal and informal literary perspectives as it captured emerging social and cultural realities. Foreigner loses mobile phone to snatcher, locals pay in kind Pawan K Jaiswar WAS IN AUTO WHEN SNATCHER STRUCK Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 6 A London-based tourist lost her mobile phone worth around Rs 1.5 lakh to a motorcycle-borne snatcher while returning from a visit to the Attari-Wagah border here on October 31. The incident took place near Ram Talai Chowk around 7 pm when the victim, identified as Lali, was travelling in an auto. The accused, who was riding an unregistered motorcycle, allegedly snatched the phone and fled. The incident came to light when she uploaded a video on her social media account, narrating the instance. However, she also posted how the auto driver, Vicky, and hotel staff helped her during the crisis. Lali, who has also modelled in Punjabi music videos, said she was sitting in the front seat of the auto with her phone in her lap and had held it firmly when the motorcycleborne suspect suddenly approached and snatched it. She was returning with a group of Punjabi and foreign tourists after visiting the border. Golden glow ■ The victim, Lali, was travelling in an auto. The accused, who was riding an unregistered bike, snatched the phone and fled. ■She was returning with a group of Punjabi and foreign tourists after visiting the Wagah border. The group had stopped to sip lassi when the incident took place. Auto driver, hotel staff offer help The group had stopped to sip lassi and was exchanging a banter with the auto driver when the incident took place. The auto driver offered her his spare mobile phone, while hotel owner Vikas set up a call with her parents. Both also assisted her during visits to the police station. Her friend helped her with money to purchase a new phone and booked her a flight to Pune to celebrate Diwali.Despite the incident, Lali said her affection for India, Punjab and Amritsar remained unchanged. It was her ninth visit to India and she was overwhelmed by the way people came forward to help her during a difficult time. She advised tourists visiting Amritsar to remain cautious about their mobile phones and other valuables. She said she had lodged a complaint with the police. The police said efforts were on to identify the suspects and their subsequent arrest. City airport yet to get shuttle bus service; flyers seek a fix Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service A woman is all smiles as she buys jewellery on Dhanteras in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Poll din: Parties decide candidates and the best path forward Ravi Dhaliwal or story needs to be pushed towards readers at the speed of lightning,” he said. His poetry, he explained, draws upon diverse experiences, particularly the emotional and psychological dimensions of migration. “The conflict between one’s cultural roots and adopted surroundings, alongside the loneliness of contemporary existence, were the things I experienced and observed during my migration. These formed an important part of Also much to her benefit, Shamsher Singh has been caughtinaseriesofcontroversies. Observers say if Chaudhary could hold out when there was an AAP wave in 2022, she surely can win by a big margin this time too. She is also doing her bit by spending from MPLAD funds c m y b of Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa here too. With Shamsher Singh finding himself not favourably inclined to the party’s powers-that-be, some AAP leaders are projecting party hopper Ravi Mohan and Pathankot SP Jagdish Raj as candidates. Raj is on the verge of retirement. His native village is Awankha, which forms a part of the Dinanagar seat. Like the Congress, the SAD, too, will not have to stretch a sinew as there are clear indications that the party will settle for a Hindu face Kamaljit Chawla in this Hindu domi- nated seat. The BJP will have to choosefromamultiplenumberof candidates. The equations are likely to change if the BJP and the SAD enter into an electoral alliance. A three-way contest, instead of a four way one, then could act as a damper for Chaudhary. “I am prepared for whatever comes my way. My voters know how hard I have worked for them in the past five years,” she said. Voters in a majority of the pockets of Dinanagar fear that if the AAP returns to power, there are chances that all welfare schemes will be scrapped for want of funds. This could dent the AAP vote bank. Amritsar, November 6 Despite handling more than 35 lakh passengers annually and serving as a major international gateway for Punjab and neighbouring states, Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar continues to lack a regular government bus service, forcing passengers to depend on private cabs and other expensive modes of transport. The Fly Amritsar Initiative and the Amritsar Vikas Manch have repeatedly raised this issue, urging the Punjab Government to introduce public bus connectivity to the airport. The demand comes at a time when the state government is operating Volvo bus services to the Delhi airport from various cities in Punjab. Sameep Singh Gumatala, global convener of the Fly Amritsar Initiative, said the Amritsar airport was being overlooked despite its significant passenger traffic and international connectivity. He added that the airport operated two daily flights each to Dubai and Sharjah, besides flights to destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, London, Birmingham and Bangkok. “Thousands of passengers arrive at and depart from the airport every day. Many of them come from different parts of Pun- Have to depend on cabs: Passengers jab and neighbouring states, but in the absence of the government bus service, they have to spend thousands of rupees on private taxis to reach the airport or return home,” he said. The airport catered not only to residents of Amritsar, but also to passengers from Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, among other regions. However, the lack of affordable public transport made airport access difficult, particularly for passengers travelling with families, he stated. Yogesh Kamra, national convener of the Fly Amritsar Initiative, said the Punjab Government had started luxury Volvo buses for passengers travelling to the Delhi airport, while the Amritsar airport hadbeendeniedevenanordinary government bus service. The campaigners urged CM Bhagwant Mann to introduce a regular bus service connecting the city and other major towns of Punjab with the airport.