26062025-ATR-01.qxd 6/25/2025 11:22 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 31°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 28°C FIRST WOMAN BISHOP OF BHOPAL VISITS AMRITSAR CHOHLA SAHIB: GURU ARJUN DEV’S HOME FOR TWO YEARS DILJIT DOSANJH-HANIA AAMIR CONTROVERSY RAGES ON Neena Charan, the first woman Bishop of the Diocese of Bhopal, is on her first papal visit. P2 Once called Bhaini, this historic village is sanctified by Guru Arjun Dev & Guru Hargobind. P3 As Diljit talks about Hania casting row in Sardaar Ji 3, here’a look at Bollywood films caught in cross-border tension.P4 » » » SUNSET THURSDAY 7.28 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5.24 AM THURSDAY | 26 JUNE 2025 | AMRITSAR Rain brings relief, inundates city areas Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 25 An overcast sky in the morning gave way to downpour at about 9:25 am sending the schedule of officegoers haywire. The rain, however, brought respite from heat and sultry weather to the residents. Days after the hot and humid weather conditions persisted, residents of the city woke up to a pleasant Wednesday morning. Rain lashed the city and the downpour continued for around 20 minutes. But after the rain stopped, humid weather returned to trouble city residents. The sun did not shine brightly and the scorching heat of the last few days took a backseat. An overcast sky kept the temperature at a moderate level in the city. Normal life was affected as the downpour occurred at a crucial time for office and market-goers. Nodal teams constituted for enrolments under ULLAS scheme Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 25 A district-level meeting regarding the ‘ULLAS’ campaign was chaired by the district education department officials. ULLAS, also known as the New India Literacy Programme (NILP), is a scheme sponsored by the Government of India, aiming to achieve 100 per cent literacy among people aged 15 and above, who have missed out on formal education. It focuses on providing foundational literacy and numeracy skills, along with critical life skills, and is implemented through volunteerism. The programme is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, and will be implemented from 2022-2027. A boy uses an umbrella during the rain in Amritsar on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Water-logging was witnessed in the low-lying areas of the city after the rain. The Heritage Street leading to the Golden Temple and many other areas, including the Outer Ring Road around the historic wall, Taylor Road, Madan Mohan Malviya Road, Batala Road outside the Celebration Mall, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital road, Majitha Road, SSSS Chowk, Fatehgarh Churian Road and many other stretches were inundated with rainwater, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk and two-wheeler riders to drive. People were seen enjoying their rides on two-wheelers and other vehicles during the rain which offered them a reprieve from the hot and sultry weather conditions. Tourists in the Heritage Street also enjoyed the pleasant weather on way to the holiest Sikh shrine. The rain, however, brought other problems with streets in the city getting filled with litter and refuse once the rainwater subsided. It proved that there was no regular cleaning and garbage lifting in the city. Roads were littered with refuse kept on sides. At many places, the waste emanated a foul smell. High drama during Majithia’s arrest Pawan K Jaiswar ‘DARK DAY FOR DEMOCRACY’ Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 25 High drama was witnessed during the arrest of former Punjab minister and senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia amid heavy police bandobast near his residence located in posh Green Avenue area here on Wednesday. Every road leading to the residence of Majithia was cordoned off and barricades were put up to restrict entry towards his house. Cops from Special Operations Group (SOG) and SWAT (Special Weapon and Tactics) team along with senior police officials stood guard at the spot. Neither the media nor the SAD leaders who gathered at the spot were allowed inside as information about the Vigilance raid at Majithia’s residence spread. Bikram Majithia also argued with the Vigilance personnel who, he ■ While condemning the arrest of former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia by the Vigilance Bureau in a drug and disproportionate assets case, senior BJP leader Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina termed it an act of political vendetta and a major attack on the democratic rights of the opposition. alleged, had barged into his residence in civvies. He asked for their identity proof and alleged that they had illegally trespassed into his property. SAD leaders led by former Punjab minister Gulzar Singh Ranike and Avtar Singh Trukawala tried to storm the barricades and go towards Majithia’s house but faced resistance from the cops. A minor scuffle also took place when SAD leaders tried to enter the house after the Vigilance team took him to Mohali. ■ He said that the AAP government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was adopting a vindictive stance under the remote control of Delhi AAP leaders, Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh. ■ Meanwhile, vice-president and Khadoor Sahib Constituency in- sioners were also present there in order to thwart any untoward incident as several SAD leaders and workers tried to storm the barricade and try to reach Majithia’s house. It may be mentioned that a flying squad of Punjab Vigilance Bureau raided the house of Bikram Majithia and arrested him in a disproportionate assets case registered at Mohali. The flying squad was led by SSP Vigilance Swarandeep Singh who was assisted by other officials during the raid. Firing at grocery store after owner refuses to pay extortion money Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 25 Two alleged operatives of notorious gangster Happy Jatt fired at a shop near Tangra bus stand after the victim refused to pay extortion money. The incident occurred late last evening. The police have registered an FIR against Happy Jatt and his unknown accomplices while further investigations were on to identify and nab them, said the police. Vikas Kumar, a resident of The railway crossing at Jandiala road reopened three days after it was closed. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI Rly crossing reopens after 3 days Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, June 25 Three days after the closing of the railway fatek (crossing) No. B-27 on the local Jandiala road near bus stand, the gate was re-opened on Wednesday. Senior Section Engineer (Rail Track) Kaluwa Ram Koli of the Northern Railways said that the crossing remained closed for three days from June 22 for necessary repairs. The district administration on the appeal of the Northern Railway, had made alternative arrangements for the normal flow of the traffic, from the crossing of C-28, B-29 and C-30 (Gurud- wara Takkar Sahib). The railway crossing at B-27 which remained closed for three days is the busiest. As a result, the residents had been facing inconvenience during these three days. The people of the town, especially those living on Jandiala road, heaved a sigh of relief. Wife, son arrested for abetting SGPC employee’s suicide Tribune News Service Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 25 Four members of a tourist family from Jharkhand were injured when two bike-borne persons tried to snatch the purse of a woman near Khasa area here late last evening. They were returning from Attari-Wagah joint check-post after watching the retreat ceremony. The injured were admitted to a private hospital for treatment while investigations are on to identify and arrest the suspects. Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Jharkhand, told the police that he along with his wife Sunita, daughter Khushi and a relative had come to Amritsar on Monday to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and to watch the flag-lowering ceremony at Attari-Wagah joint checkpost here. He said yesterday, when they were returning from the joint check-post on an e-rickshaw after watching the retreat ceremony, two bikeborne persons tried to snatch the purse of his wife Sunita. However, she resisted their attempt. During this, the erickshaw turned on its side and his wife and daughter suffered serious injuries. He and the e-rickshaw driver, identified as Prince, also sustained minor injuries. Amandeep Singh, SHO, Gharinda police station said that technical investigations are on to identify the snatchers. They would be arrested soon, he said, while adding that a case has been registered in this regard. Tourists are an easy target for the snatchers, especially those coming from Attari in late evening hours. Earlier, a similar incident had occurred in which a tourist from Sikkim, Ganga Maya, had lost her life in February 2023. Meanwhile, four persons looted Rs 4 lakh from a woman from Haryana on the pretext of selling a car. The victim, Jagroop Kaur of New Model Town, Shahbad, was accompanied by her relatives. They were in touch with the accused who had promised to sell a car to them. Among those booked are Dilbagh Singh and Gursewak Singh, both residents of Mohkampura area in Amritsar city, Harpreet Singh of Guru Nanak Pura in Beas and Jatinder Singh. Amritsar, June 25 A day after the body of Kartar Singh, an employee of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee was found in canal, the police have arrested his wife and son on charges of abetment to suicide. They were identified as Ravinder Kaur and Harmohit Singh. The victim had been missing for the past two days. The police had found his scooter along with its documents near the Sultanwind Canal yesterday. Since then, speculations were rife that he may have drowned in the canal. Dr Sheetal Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police, said that it was a family dispute. The police have arrested his wife and son in the case. “The investigations carried out so far pointed towards suicide though the exact cause of death would be ascertained only after the autopsy report is received,” he said. Meanwhile, SGPC president Harinder Singh Dhami has expressed his grief over the tragic incident. Kartar Singh was employed with the Dharm Parchar Committee. charge ex-MLA, Ravinder Singh Brahmpura condemned Majithia's arrest and said it was a manifestation of political vendetta directed by the AAP government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, under the influence of Arvind Kejriwal. He termed it a dark day for democracy in Punjab. They were pushed back by the cops stationed there led by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Harpal Singh. Earlier, Majithia’s wife and Majitha MLA Ganieve Kaur also tried to take the media to the residence and argued with the cops. Apart from Vigilance officials, senior police officials including Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations) Ravinderpal Singh Sandhu, DCP (Law and Order) Alam Vijay Singh and Additional Deputy Commis- Tourists from Jharkhand injured in snatching bid Tangra, lodged a complaint with the Tarsikka police in this regard. He said that he runs a grocery store near Tangra bus stand. He said on June 11, he received a call from abroad on his WhatsApp number in which the caller identified himself as Happy Jatt. He demanded extortion money and threatened to harm him and his family. However, he refused to pay the extortion money. He said that on Tuesday, he along with his father was continued on pg 2 Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur chairs a meeting on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Seeking bail for peddlers to invite name & shame action Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 25 The Department of Health held a district-level meeting with the office-bearers of Drug De-Addiction Morcha at the Civil Hospital today, under the “War against Drugs” campaign. Dixit Dhawan, in-charge of the Urban Drug De-Addiction Morcha and Husanpreet Singh Sialka, in-charge of the Rural Drug De-Addiction Morcha, briefed officials on the focus and ground impact of the anti-drug action being taken. He said that the Morcha will run a public cam- paign against drugs and by reaching out to the general public, patients in need of treatment will be identified and supported. “The government is providing free treatment to drug addicts at de-addiction centres and skill training is also being provided to them for job opportunities. Under the public campaign, people from villages and cities, who go to the police for recommendation or go to the court for bail of drug peddlers, will be named and shamed and boycotted socially. The public campaign begins its next phase from July 1.” Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur said that under the Punjab Government’s campaign, the purpose of the meeting was to disseminate information about the public campaign. “All those who want to quit drugs can be motivated and brought for free treatment at the government drug de-addiction centres. The treatment is free of cost and rehabilitation also aims at successful re-integration into society. A toll-free number has been issued by the Health Department in this regard. Volunteers can call on 18001376-754 for information about the campaign,” she said. Be safe before monsoon comes, schools told Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 25 As monsoon knocks on the door, the district education department has issued letters to school heads to ensure safety and preparedness and review the unsafe structures, including classrooms in schools. District Education Officer (Elementary) Kanwaljit Singh said that as a precautionary exercise, the school heads have been c m y b issued letters and responsibility fixed for any lapse regarding safety during monsoons. “At the beginning of the month, we had conducted review meetings and issued letters to schools to ensure that classrooms or any other structures deemed unfit for use must be locked and made out of bound for students. We have also issued unsafe certificates by PWD for classrooms that have been found unfit for use or unsafe,” he said. MC Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh too chaired a meeting last week, directing officials to inspect and carry out desilting of areas in and around schools on priority basis. The MC officials were asked to review, carry out inspections and repair of roofs, ensuring proper drainage and clearing of gutters to prevent waterlogging and potential structur- al damage to weakened structures. Additionally, school heads have been asked to review disaster management plans, particularly regarding potential flooding or outbreak of waterborne diseases, and ensure access to clean drinking water. The DEO said that the letter issued to school heads directed them to check for leaks, cracks and damage to the roof and ensure that downspouts and gutters are clear to allow for proper flow of water during heavy rain. Inspection of wiring, connections and electrical panels for any damage or potential hazards related to moisture is to be done. Meanwhile, a large number of schools in the district have received funds for repair and construction of classrooms. Schools which have unsafe structures marked are granted Rs one lakh for repair.