08052025-ATR-01.qxd 5/7/2025 11:10 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FUTURE TYCOONS PROGRAM IN FINAL STAGE, SAYS DC TEACHERS ASKED TO MEET ENROLMENT TARGET IN SCHOOLS The Education Department launched its annual enrolment drive in the district in line with the state policy. P2 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 24°C CELEBS HAIL OP SINDOOR, COURAGE OF ARMED FORCES The Future Tycoons programme being run by the district administration has reached the final stage. P2 FORECAST Operation Sindoor was the answer we needed — not out of hate, but to protect peace and dignity. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 7.00 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5.34 AM » THURSDAY | 8 MAY 2025 | AMRITSAR Panic buying as Indo-Pak tension escalates Holiday today for schools, educational institutions in dist Amritsar, May 7 In view of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney on Wednesday issued an order directing the closure of all educational institutions in the district tomorrow (on May 8). This includes schools, colleges, and other academic establishments. The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students and staff in view of the current situation. Authorities have urged citizens to remain calm and cooperate with the law-enforcement agencies. While holding a meeting regarding the situation arising out of the Indo-Pak tension in the district, the Deputy Commissioner said a decision will be taken after reviewing the situation. Earlier today, the schools and colleges were ordered shut as reports of Indian defence force’s air strikes in Pakistan emerged early in the DC says there is no shortage of oil, ration, cooking gas in district; avoid panic, stocking Tribune News Service morning. As the order disseminated, parents rushed to pick their wards from schools, creating panic and causing huge traffic jams outside schools. With the ongoing tense situation and prevailing uncertainty surrounding a potential retaliatory attack by Pakistan against India’s Operation Sindoor, GNDU has announced the postponement of three exams. These exams were scheduled to be held on May 8, 9 and 10. These exams have been postponed and will be rescheduled, with new dates to be assigned in a further notice. Prof Shalini Behal, Controller of Exams, GNDU, said the university has announced the postponement of three exams scheduled for May 8, 9 and 10. “We have not been directed to change the examination schedule and till further instructions, the schedule will remain the same,” she said. The DC appealed to the residents not to pay heed to rumours. — TNS Amritsar, May 7 With India carrying out precision strikes on terrorists’ infrastructure under Operation Sindoor and the level of uncertainty surrounding a potential Pakistani retaliation high, there have been reports of panic buying among residents of the district. Fear gripped residents after reports about Operation Sindoor and escalating tensions between India and Pakistan were widely circulated in the morning. People crowded local grocery stores, utility stories and even supermarkets to stock ration and utility items. Vehicles lined up at petrol stations across the city as panic buying of supplies, including fuel, medicines, eatables and ration, was seen. “By noon, we ran out of flour stocks, at least 250 quintals of it, all sold as people bought in bulk. A single customer bought around 20 kg to 30 kg of wheat flour and sim- People flock to a flour mill; and (right) a long queue of cars at a petrol pump in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR ilarly, stocks of most lentils and everyday items like cooking oil, soap, sugar, salt, etc, are almost near end,” said Ashu, a store manager at a local Kiryana shop on the Lawrence Road. Supermarket chains like DMart, Reliance Fresh and others saw people rushing to stock up supplies. “There is a lot of panic among people as to when Pakistani might attack and since Amritsar is a frontline border district, fear is obvious. Panic buying of medicines and supplies is an obvious reaction,” said Ritu Sareen, a resident of Chheherta, who along with her extended family was seen stocking on flour, cooking oil. Medical shop owners say that they are getting customers seeking to buy bulk of medicines, including painkillers, medicine for diabetics and gastro infections. Most petrol stations saw long queues of vehicles con- sistently since 8am after the DC announced closure of all schools and colleges in the district due to escalating border situation. What added to the panic was a fake advisory claiming an “ongoing tense situation at the border” and urging people to stock up on cash, fuel, medicines, and emergency supplies, which has been widely circulated on social media and messaging platforms since Tuesday night. Authorities have confirmed that no such notice has been issued and warned the public against falling for continued on page 2 Security beefed up in city areas SGPC offers shelter, Mock drill conducted in city to langar to affected check readiness for air attack border belt residents Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service BSF, Punjab Police nab 3 smugglers with arms, heroin Amritsar, May 7 In a joint operation based on concrete information by the BSF intelligence wing on Tuesday, BSF troops and Punjab Police laid an ambush in a suspected area of Awanbasu village in Amritsar and apprehended three smugglers with a pistol, a magazine, four live rounds, ~2,000 as drug money, four smart phones, a motorcycle, a tractor and 25 grams of heroin from their possession. The apprehended smugglers are residents of Kotla village and Chak Dogar of Amritsar district. Further questioning is being carried out by the police to find out their illicit linkages. The apprehension of narcosmugglers with the recovery of arms, ammunition and narcotics shows the competence of BSF troops and Punjab Police. — TNS Tribune News Service Tribune News Service A police personnel makes enquiries at a checkpoint in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR border. “We have asked the residents not to panic as the situation was very much under control. We also urged them to take note of the advisory being issued by the district administration from time to time,” she said. DIG Satinder Singh said the Punjab Police have been on high alert and adequate measures taken to thwart any untoward incident. “We have been keeping a close eye on the miscreants and are capable of giving a befitting reply to anti-national forces who would try to create trouble during the escalation of tensions between the continued on page 2 Amritsar, May 7 In view of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has announced to provide shelter to people being displaced from their houses located in border areas in gurdwaras and inns (sarais) here. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has said that arrangements would be made for accommodation and langar (community kitchen) at historic gurdwaras located near border areas. In this regard, letters have been issued to the managers of the following gurdwaras: Gurdwara Sri Barth Sahib (Pathankot), Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur), Gurd- wara Baba Budha Sahib Ji Ramdas (Amritsar), Gurdwara Gurusar Satlani Sahib Patshahi Chhevin (Hussainiwala, Amritsar), Gurdwara Sri Chehharta Sahib Patshahi Chhevin (Amritsar), Gurdwara Baba Bir Singh Rattoke village (Tarn Taran), Gurdwara Bhai Tara Singh Ji Shaheed in Wan village (Tarn Taran), Gurdwara Jamni Sahib Patshahi Dasvin in Bajidpur (Ferozepur), Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib in Sri Muktsar Sahib, Gurdwara Bir Baba Budha Sahib Ji in (Tarn Taran), Gurdwara Baba Budha Ji in Teja Kalan (Gurdaspur), Gurdwara Sanh Sahib in Basarke Gillan village (Amritsar), and Gurdwara Patshahi Chhevin and Nauvin in Guru Ka Bagh, Ghukewali (Amritsar). Amritsar, May 7 A mock drill was conducted in the city on Wednesday to test the preparedness of the administration and general public in the event of an air strike. Sirens were sounded at various public places, including the Post Office, Government Textile College, Government Medical College, Agriculture Bhawan, Railway Workshop, Cooperative Bank, Hall Gate, Town Hall, Government Senior Secondary School, Kot Khalsa, D-Division police station and Mai Bhago Polytechnic College. The loudspeakers installed under the Smart City project also alerted the public about the drill. The residents were informed about the safety measures they need to adopt during air strikes and blackouts. All 22 flights cancelled, city airport shut till May 10 Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 7 Along with many other airports that were temporarily shut for operations in the aftermath of the military attack on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) under ‘Operation Sindoor’, flight operations at Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport in Amritsar were also suspended leading to cancellation and diversion. All 22 flights have been cancelled, said the police authorities. The international airport is located just 20 km from the Indo-Pak border. The cancellation of flights left several passengers harried though airport authorities and officials of the local administration said that the passengers were informed on time about the temporary shutting of operations in wake of escalating tension between the two countries after the attack on terror camps. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Amritsar, May 7 Even though the Border Security Force (BSF) has been on high alert in view of the recent developments and military attack on terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) areas, the Punjab Police have tightened security in border villages. The police have enhanced area domination, besides holding special nakas and intensifying patrolling in the border belt. Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney along with senior police officials, including DIG, Border Range, Satinder Singh and SSP Amritsar , (Rural), Maninder Singh on Wednesday visited border villages and urged the people not to panic while assuring them that the situation was under control. They visited Maude, Dhanoe and Rorawala villages located adjacent to Indo-Pakistan Passengers stranded outside Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International airport in Amritsar on Wednesday. Qatar Airways flight, which was en route from Doha to Amritsar, was rerouted mid-air and diverted toward Muscat airport in Oman after being denied access to Pakistani airspace. The flight was originally scheduled to land in Amritsar at 2:10 am. In addition, a SpiceJet flight arriving from Sharjah to Amritsar was also cancelled due to the unfolding situation. Airport authorities advised the passengers to check the status of their flights with the respective airlines before heading to the airport. “It is intimated to all concerned that all commercial/civil domestic and international flight operations are suspended from c m y b Amritsar airport till 5.30 am on May 10,” said Amritsar airport authorities on X. Neeraj Kumar, who lives in London, said that he had come to Kapurthala to see his ailing father who is on deathbed. “I came on Friday and today I had to fly back to London, but due to the current situation, I am stranded here,” he said while backing the Indian government’s decision to target terror camps in Pakistan. Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Bathinda, said that he arrived at the airport to pick up his mother-in-law Jaswinder Kaur who was returning from the UK after six months. “We came to know about the shutting of airport after reaching here since midnight. We did not have any prior message. The airport authorities were telling us that flights had been diverted to Delhi. We really don’t know where she is currently as her mobile was switched off,” he said. Meanwhile, the security at the airport has been increased. Senior police officials were deputed at the entrance. Sirivennela, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) said, “All 22 flight operations at the airport have been shut till further orders and passengers informed about this on time.” Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney stated that the drill was an exercise to check the preparedness of the administration and the general public. A blackout drill was also conducted in the district from 10:30 pm to 11 pm, during which people were asked to keep all lights switched off. The PSPCL also switched off lights in residential areas to ensure compliance with the orders. The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the public not to panic and not to believe in rumours. She also urged people to avoid panic buying, adding that special teams have been constituted to check black marketing of essential items. The administration has imposed a ban on the use of firecrackers in the district, citing the potential for confusion during critical times. The ban has been imposed under Section 163 of the BNS and will remain in force until further orders. The Punjab State Women’s Commission has postponed its Lok Adalat scheduled to be held in the city on May 9 till further orders. The administration is taking all necessary precautions to ensure public safety and security amid the rising tension. The public is advised to follow the instructions and guidelines issued by the administration and remain calm and vigilant. The administration has also instructed media professionals not to click any pictures or record any videos during the blackout. Officials of the district administration stated that any photography or videography would require the use of light which is not allowed. KMSC calls off protest, expresses solidarity with armed forces Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 7 Expressing solidarity with the Indian Armed Forces, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) called off its rail roko programme today. The decision was taken after farm leaders learned about India’s missile strikes on targets harbouring terrorists in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and in Pakistan. KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said farmers had reached near Devidaspura to block rail tracks around 12 pm last night. However, senior police officials arrived at the scene in the wee hours and informed about the air strike on Pakistan, said Pandher. “We have postponed our protest in national interest,” Move comes after farm leaders learned about India’s missile strike he said. The decision to call off the protest was taken as a mark of solidarity with the Armed Forces, he added. Pandher said the police administration had assured the KMSC that all farm leaders arrested during the protest would be released. He said the administration had also promised that no land belonging to farmers would be acquired without paying compensation. Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra, another leader of the KMSC, alleged that the Punjab Government had tried every means to stop the farmers from holding the protest on May 6.