09052025-ATR-01.qxd 5/8/2025 11:31 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune 10 KG HEROIN SEIZED, TWO DRUG PEDDLERS ARRESTED INJURED STAR BECOMES VOLLEYBALL COACH The Counter Intelligence (CI) unit of the Amritsar police has busted an international narco-smuggling module. P2 Amrit Pal Singh, a volleyball coach, has been selected as an Assistant Coach for the National Coaching Camp. P3 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 23°C PATRIOTIC SONGS CELEBRATE INDIAN COURAGE, VALOUR » SUNSET FRIDAY 7.16 PM The songs bring the nation together, some full on josh, others paying soulful tributes to bravehearts. P4 SUNRISE SATURDAY 5.37 AM » FRIDAY | 9 MAY 2025 | AMRITSAR BSF suspends Beating Retreat ceremony on Attari-Wagah border GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 8 The Beating Retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar has been suspended for visitors, till further orders, a Border Security Force (BSF) official said. The development comes after the Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir on early Wednesday. It is learnt that the ceremonious drill was suspended due to drop in number of visitors. The official said these measures had been taken keeping in view the security of visitors. “The customary flag-lowering ritual has to be executed, which is done by the BSF but no public is per, mitted to watch the event. There will be no ceremonial show,” he said. The notice “Parade is closed” in English and Hindi BSF jawans stand guard near the Attari-Wagah joint check post in Amritsar. languages has been pasted on the passage leading to the spectators’ gallery. The military strikes were conducted under “Operation Sindoor”, two weeks after the terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22 that left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead. Following the attack, the BSF had “scaled down” the event with “close gates at the zero line, suspension of the symbolic gesture of “handshake” between Indian guard commander and his counterpart from the Pakistan side. Meanwhile, some outstation tourists reached the border to attend the ceremony, but were supportive when denied access. A group of tourists from Gujarat said they had no regrets for not being allowed to watch the flag lowering ceremony. Tourists said they had come to cheer up soldiers. Nikhil Aujha said India had given a befitting reply to the Pahalgam terror attack. “There is no reason to show resentment over not being allowed to watch the flag lowering ceremony,” he said. Echoing same views, another tourist GB Patel said, “We are proud of our soldiers. We are ambassadors for peace and love, but that does not imply that we should not retort to the nefarious designs of our enemies,” he said. Adhiram Chauhan from Madhya Pradesh said, “We have come for the first time here. We no grudge over not being able to watch the retreat ceremony. All decisions are taken keeping in view our security.” Earlier in 2021, the surge in Covid-19 cases had compelled the BSF to suspend visitors’ access to the spectators’ gallery. Schools, colleges closed till May 11 Residents urged to follow ONLINE CLASSES guidelines on blackout drills FOR STUDENTS Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 8 As per the orders issued by the Government of India and the Government of Punjab, mock drills are being conducted under the Civil Defence Act, 1968, in various districts of the border state to deal with any kind of emergency situation. Keeping in view the escalating tension between India and the neighbouring country, District Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney ordered to keep all government, private aided, schools and colleges and other educational institutions within the limits of Amritsar district closed till May 11. District Education Officer would ensure compliance with the orders to keep secondary and elementary institutions closed within the district. “There is no need for residents of the district to panic. The district adminis- As schools and colleges, including government and private, will remain closed till May 11, their managements have been instructed to hold online classes for students. Earlier, government schoolteachers in Tarn Taran were asked to come to school for conducting online classes from May 8. Now, they have been asked to conduct online classes from their homes. tration is keeping an eye on every situation,” Sakshi Sawhney said. The DC said the helpline number 79738 67446 had been issued for the assistance of the people in case of any emergency situation. She said, “If a resident needs any police help and if anyone wants an accurate information about any incident, he/she should dial the phone number 112.” She said asked residents to be on alert. “In future, if any blackout drills are conducted, residents must ensure strict compliance of its norms. They must switch off of lights of their homes during the drill. People need not be afraid and must coordinate with officials of the defence forces.” She said there was no shortage of essential commodities, petrol, diesel, cooking gas, medicines and animal fodder in the district. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar appealed to the people to share information of any suspicious person or any loose object with the police authorities. He said the people should not tamper with any suspicious object by themselves. Bhullar said, “We have deployed the police SWAT and quick response teams for the safety of the people.” Amritsar district (Rural) police chief Maninder Singh also appealed to the people to not believe in rumours. Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 8 The district administration has asked residents to ensure that all electric lights of their homes are switched off during blackout drills in the future as it is very important for their safety. In a blackout drill held last evening, many households failed to switch off lights. Even the authorities concerned failed to turn off streetlights in the city. Many private vehicles were seen moving with their headlights on in several parts of the city during the blackout drill. Officials of the administration said majority of the population abided by the guidelines, but a few violations were also observed. The administration has appealed to the public to follow all guidelines during blackout drills in the coming days. Deputy Commissioner Sak- shi Sawhney said the administration and senior officials of the defence forces were coordinating with each other. Police Commissioner (CP) Gurpeet Singh Bhullar asked residents to be vigilant of suspicious persons or items in the city. He said residents must share information about such persons or objects with the police. Bhullar said residents should not touch any suspicious object. Meanwhile, the administration also clarified that there were no orders regarding observing blackout in Ajnala every night. The administration said some social media platforms and web channels were circulating such information which was completely baseless. Officials of the administration said blackout could be announced only by the district magistrate and no such orders had been passed. Improvement Trust razes illegal structures on its land in Bhai Gurdas Nagar area Amritsar, May 8 The Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) today cleared encroachments from its land in the Bhai Gurdas Nagar area, also known as the New Amritsar 340-acre scheme. The operation, carried out using JCB machines, was conducted under the supervision of Trust Chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu. Giving information about the operation, Chairman Rintu said permanent illegal structures were constructed on land worth crores of rupees belonging to the Trust. He said the Trust was now undertaking the construction of a road at the site from which encroachments were removed. The road would provide significant relief to residents from traffic snarls, he said. Upon receiving complaints regarding encroachments, Trust officials including Superintending Engineer Rakesh An employee of the Amritsar Improvement Trust razes illegal structures with a JCB machine in the Bhai Gurdas Nagar area on Thursday. Garg and Executive Engineer Amandeep Singh were instructed to take immediate action. Under their supervision and in the presence of Duty Magistrate Naib Tehsildar Angadpreet Singh Brar, along with Makboolpura Station House Officer and a large police force, more than a dozen permanently built shops were demolished with JCB machines. Rintu said all encroachments on the AIT land would be removed in the coming days. He emphasised that the Trust was committed to developing a 60foot-wide road at the site. Earlier, a team from the AIT reached Ranjit Avenue’s booth No. 91 on Wednesday to remove an alleged illegal occupant. However, the operation was disrupted, when the occupant resisted eviction. Executive Engineer Amandeep Singh said despite reaching the site as scheduled, the situation escalated quickly when the booth’s owner and his associates created a ruckus, obstructing official from performing their duty. “We were not allowed to remove illegal occupant from the booth despite government’s order c m y b for resumption of the property way back in 2018,” he said. The booth owner, on the other hand, presented a different side of the story. The owner claimed that he had already paid around Rs 8 lakh to the AIT in six instalments for purchasing the booth. However, due to a family dispute three to four instalments were delayed, he said. According to him, the booth was originally allotted in 2001 to his mother, uncle and aunt. “We are willing to pay the outstanding amount with interest. We are not here to illegally occupy government property,” the owner asserted. “The Trust is refusing to accept the payment despite our willingness to comply with all conditions,” he said. Following public resistance and heated exchanges, the Trust’s team was forced to return without eviction of the occupant from booth. — TNS A bazaar wear a deserted look in Tarn Taran on Thursday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI Border tension dulls bazaar activity in Tarn Taran district Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, May 8 Tension on the India-Pakistan border has affected normal business as customers are missing from bazaars, preferring instead to remain inside four walls of their houses. The rates of vegetables and fruits have gone up. Roads and bazaars in Tarn Taran town are a witness to the situation. The main road heading from Chabal-Amritsar bypass to the T-Point on the Sarhali road often witnessed traffic jams the whole day due to the construction of an overbridge on the bypass near Kakka Kandiala village. Now, the movement of the traffic has eased as few vehicles are seen on this stretch. Kanwaljit Singh, proprietor of Modern Shoes in local Tehsil Bazaar, said tension prevailing on the border, had badly affected their business as customers were not venturing out of their houses. He said no customer came to his shop till 3 pm in the afternoon on Thursday. He said bazaars of the town, which remained overcrowded during working hours, wore a deserted look. On the main road, where traffic is controlled by the police, very few vehicles are seen. Anish Narula, a cloth merchant and owner of "Romesh Di Hatti" at Adda Bazaar, said on May 7, more than 75 per cent of shopkeepers failed to entertain even a single customer throughout the day. Shopkeepers said shoe and cloth stores and jewellery shops were the worst affected in terms of business. The price of onions and garlic have gone up by 50 per cent. Townships like Chabal, Gandiwind, Bhikhiwind, Khalra, Khemkaran, Valtoha, Harike, Chohla Sahib, Khadoor Sahib and other parts of the district too are witnessing an adverse effect on businesses. Uncertainty prevails as people in the border areas are gripped by terror. Do not believe in unconfirmed reports,rumours:Admntoresidents Amritsar, May 8 The district administration has appealed to residents to remain calm and cautious in the face of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, urging them not to fall prey to rumour-mongering and unsubstantiated news circulating on social media platforms. With uncertainty looming large, residents had taken to panic buying, resulting in shortage of essential items like wheat flour and onions in city markets. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney assured the public that there was no shortage of daily necessities and no need to panic. “We urge residents to verify information ADA removes encroachments from Galiara around Darbar Sahib Amritsar, May 8 Acting on the directions of Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney and the Amritsar Development Authority (ADA), Chief Administrator Nitesh Kumar Jain and Additional Chief Administrator Inayat removed encroachments from Galiara around Sri Darbar Sahib in Amritsar today. Multiple complaints were received regarding unauthorised occupation of public walkways. ADA Estate Officer Harjinder Singh Jassal led a building and enforcement (B&E) team to clear the area. Shopkeepers and street vendors had encroached upon footpaths, originally meant for pilgrims and general public movement, causing inconvenience to visitors coming to pay obeisance at the holy shrine. Despite warnings, vendors and shopkeepers had occupied designated pedestrian spaces. — TNS through authentic sources before believing or sharing it,” she said, adding that there was no cause for an alarm, and the administration was working to ensure the availability of all essential items for residents. To prevent hoarding and black marketing, the administration has constituted special teams to monitor the situation. Officials attribute the panic buying to unfounded rumours and unverified social media posts. “We are taking all necessary measures to maintain peace and order,” the DC said. “Residents should rely on official statements and news reports for accurate information,” she said. The DC also said that resi- dents should follow all guidelines and instructions issued by the administration for the public safety. She said, “The administration is fully prepared for any situation. Mock drills are being conducted to access level of preparedness of the government machinery and the general public.” Lok Sabha member Gurjeet Singh Aujla said the people should not believe on any unverified news. He said the entire country stands united and it was duty of citizens to maintain calm and peace. Aujla, who has been touring the border areas of the district, said residents of villages were upbeat and ready to face any situation. — TNS District Magistrate orders complete ban on bursting of firecrackers Amritsar, May 8 In a significant move aimed at maintaining public safety the District Magistrate has issued an order completely banning the bursting of firecrackers within the limits of Amritsar district. The prohibition, enforced under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), comes into immediate effect from May 7 and will remain in force until further notice. According to the official order shared by the Amritsar commissionerate police on their social media platforms, the ban covers all categories of fireworks commonly used by individuals during weddings, festive celebrations and religious events. This includes highdecibel explosives such as bombs, aerial firecrackers and Chinese-made firecrackers. The administration cited public safety during the Indo- COVERS ALL CATEGORIES OF FIREWORKS According to the official order shared by the Amritsar commissionerate police on their social media platforms, the ban covers all categories of fireworks commonly used by individuals during weddings, festive celebrations and religious events. This includes highdecibel explosives such as bombs, aerial firecrackers and Chinese-made firecrackers. Pak conflict, as primary reason behind this decisive step. The order empowers local police to take strict legal action against violators under the relevant provisions of the BNSS. Public awareness campaigns and additional enforcement measures are expected to be rolled out in the coming days to ensure compliance of the ban. — TNS