23062025-ATR-01.qxd 22-06-2025 22:48 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY CLOGGED DRAINS TRIGGER MONSOON FEARS PLASTIC WASTE FROM CHABEELS RAISES CONCERNS JOHNNY DEPP CALLS HIMSELF ‘CRASH TEST DUMMY FOR METOO’ As monsoon has set in, the Amritsar MC has yet to gear up to protect the city from waterlogging. P2 The noble gesture of distributing sweetened water has sparked an environmental concerns. P2 Depp has opened up about impact of the highly publicised legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard. P4 » » » MAX 34°C | MIN 29°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 30°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.38 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5.26 AM MONDAY | 23 JUNE 2025 | AMRITSAR Residents of Attari border villages want toll exemption Rural police seize 6 kg heroin, nab two peddlers Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 22 In an intelligence-led operation, the Special Cell of Amritsar Rural Police seized 6.15 kg of heroin and a pistol from two cross-border drug traffickers. The accused have been identified as Lovepreet Singh, alias Love, a resident of Rajatal (a border village), and Balwinder Singh, alias Bobby, of Cheecha village. As per a preliminary investigation, the two were in direct contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler via WhatsApp, indicating a strong cross-border nexus. In addition to the heroin and a PX5 pistol (.30 bore) with four live cartridges, the police also recovered Rs 10,000 in drug money, a mobile phone and a motorcycle from the accused. The arrests were made near Brar village, where a police team had set up a naka. On spotting the police, the suspects attempted to flee, raising suspicion. They were apprehended and a subsequent search led to the recovery of the contraband and weapons, said Maninder Singh, SSP Amritsar (Rural). A case has been registered under the NDPS Act and the Arms Act at Lopoke police station. Further investigations are underway to trace both forward and backward linkages of the smuggling operation, the SSP added. In a separate incident, Gharinda police arrested two drug and weapon smugglers, identified as Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, and Vishal Singh, alias Tupa, both residents of Navi Abadi, Attari. The operation led to the seizure of 85 grams heroin, two pistols, a PX5 (.30 bore) and a countrymade pistol, as well as two mobile phones. The police are continuing their investigation to uncover the drug and weapon supply routes, said the Senior Superintendent of Police. Tribune News Service East constituency MLA Jeevanjyot Kaur and the AIT Chairman launch road work in New Amritsar. Road construction work begins in New Amritsar after 35 years Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 22 Amritsar Improvement Trust Chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu and East constituency MLA Jeevanjyot Kaur jointly launched the construction of roads with premix material in New Amritsar locality after removing illegal encroachments, which had persisted here for over 35 years. Rintu said the land in this area, belonging to the Improvement Trust, had been encroached upon by people. “For decades, these encroachments prevented the execution of planned infrastructure. We have now successfully cleared them, allowing the long-pending development to begin,” he said. He said the construction of new roads under the scheme will directly benefit the residents of Bhai Gurdas Ji Nagar (New Amritsar) and surrounding localities. He emphasised the AIT’s commitment to revitalising its various schemes to ensure public welfare and improved civic infrastructure. MLA Jeevanjyot Kaur said comprehensive development work is underway across the East constituency. “We are focused on ensuring that long-neglected areas are brought into the fold of progress. The New Amritsar scheme by the Improvement Trust is now being fully revived,” she remarked. The work construction launch ceremony was attended by local councillors Amarjeet Kaur Maan, Sukh Hundal, Satnam Singh, Gurdayal Singh, as well as social figures, including Balkar Singh Sohal, Ajay Suri, Oshdeep Gill, former executive engineer SS Malli, SK Dheer and a large number of area residents. “There is no scarcity of funds and we are committed to overall development of the city,” said AIT Chairman Rintu. Five held with Glock pistols, heroin Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 22 In a search operation conducted over the last three days, CIA staff arrested five criminals and confiscated two Glock pistols of .30 bore calibre, five live rounds, 100 gm heroin and Rs 20,000 of drug money. Those arrested were identified as Aman, alias Vishu, Dhruv, alias Banu, of Katra Khazana area, Issu of Lahori Gate, Katra Karam Singh, Rajbir Chadda, alias Ritik, of inside Khazana Gate, Haidar Bhatti of Aman Avenue located opposite to Gate Hakima here. Giving details, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations) Ravinder Pal Singh Sandhu said CIA staff-III arrested Aman, alias Vishu, and Dhruv for allegedly possessing a Glock pistol and two live cartridges two days ago. They were produced in a court and brought on police remand. “On the disclosure of Dhruv, the police seized 100 gm heroin and Rs 10,000 drug money. Two more names of Rajbir Chadda and Aman, alias Issu, cropped up during the probe. Chadda was nabbed following the interrogation of Aman while Issu was held after the quizzing of Dhruv,” said the DCP He said Chadda had sold . bullets to Aman and Issu had given the contraband (100gm heroin) to Dhruv. Chadda’s quizzing helped in the arrest of Haidar Bhatti from whom the police seized another Glock pistol, Rs 10,000 drug money and two more live bullets. Issu had two cases of NDPS Act registered against him in Gurdaspur and Mohali while Haidar Bhatti had one case of culpable homicide. City heaves sigh of relief as heavens open up Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 22 A pleasant change in weather was witnessed with intermittent showers bringing down the temperature significantly here on Sunday. The city received nearly 11 mm of rainfall, providing relief to the city residents and farmers alike. For paddy cultivators, rainfall will prove to be a boon as it has helped simplify the process of flooding their fields before puddling. “Rain has saved us a lot of effort and resources. We can now prepare our fields for the new crop without worrying about irrigation,” said Gurpreet Singh, a local farmer. With the weatherman predicting more rain in the coming days, farmers are hopeful that it would decrease their dependency on the tubewell water. The drop in temperature would also help reduce the need for excessive irrigation, making their work more manageable as decrease in evaporation due to the heat would work in their favour. “Rain has come at the right time and we are hopeful that it would be bountiful monsoon this year,” added Hardeep Singh, another farmer. Amritsar, June 22 Residents of several villages in Attari under the leadership of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha held a protest accusing the toll plaza contractor of forcibly collecting fee from them. Residents of Attari, Mode, Bachiwind, Khasa Chicha, Bhakna, Rora Wala, Neshta, Mohawa, Puccapind and Raja Tal villages said the new contractor engaged by the toll company at Chiddan on the national highway is forcing residents of nearby villages to pay toll fee even as they are exempted by the government. They said the toll plaza authorities are harassing them and labourers from the border area by imposing toll tax. As per a ruling, the residents of villages within a certain distance of the toll plaza are exempted as they have to cross it several times a day. “Our villages are along the border. We have no big markets here. The nearest town is Khasa and we have to go there for all our needs. Earlier, the residents within 20 km of the toll plaza were exempted on showing the proof of residence,” said Jagtar Singh, a protestor. He said there The waterlogged parking lot at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR City residents also experiencing a welcome dip in temperatures and enjoying the cooler weather. “The weather is very pleasant now as rain has brought down the temperatures. We are feeling much more comfortable,” said Rohan Sharma, a resident. The fall in temperatures has also led to a decrease in demand for electricity, resulting in less unscheduled power cuts. “The power situation has improved significantly after the rain. We are grateful to the Almighty for the much-needed relief,” said Priya Kapoor, a resident. Cloudy conditions prevailed throughout the day, adding to the pleasant weather, making it a comfortable Sunday for city residents. The rainfall has brought a much-needed respite from the heat, and people are enjoying the cooler weather. However, more showers are expected to affect vegetable crops as their production would decrease. Showers have brought smile to the residents, but increase in vegetable costs in the coming days may burn a hole in people’s pocket. c m y b Estd. 2008 Residents of border villages during a protest at the Chiddan toll plaza on Sunday. is no other route and as such they are forced to pay every time they cross the road. Others said their residences fall on one side of the toll plaza and fields on the other side of it. “We have to go to fields frequently. Sometimes it happens three or four times a day. If we are made to keep paying toll fee for every visit, we will have no money to buy other things,” said Joginder Singh. They said despite a decision to make the toll plaza free for the people of this area after the farmers’ morcha at Delhi border, the contractor did not fulfil the promise. The farmers claimed that they have already suffered immense losses during various conflicts, includ- ing the 1965 and 1971 wars, the Kargil war, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the 2001 attack on the country’s Parliament. Addressing the gathering, Rattan Singh Randhawa said the harassment would not be tolerated and demanded that the old situation be restored, where no toll fee was taken from the people of the border areas.