21092025-ATR-01.qxd 9/20/2025 11:47 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY NABARD CONDUCTS WORKSHOP IN KAPURTHALA UNION MINISTER VISITS AREAS HIT BY FLOODS IN AJNALA CAN HOMEBOUND BREAK INDIA'S DROUGHT AT OSCARS? A district-level workshop on the ACABC Scheme was organised by NABARD in Kapurthala. P2 Union Minister Dr Sukanta Mazumdar assured the farming community of support of Central government. P2 India has officially chosen Homebound as its entry for the Best Int'l Feature Film category at Academy Awards. P4 » » » MAX 36°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6.28 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6.18 AM SUNDAY | 21 SEPTEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Car crash leads to recovery of drugs, cash Illegal arms smuggling racket busted, 3 nabbed with weapons Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 20 A speeding car coming from the wrong direction collided head-on with a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) vehicle near Jethuwal village under the Kathunangal police station limits here on Friday. According to information, the NCB team was travelling from Amritsar to Batala when the incident occurred. However, no one was injured in the crash. After the collision, the accused driver attempted to flee the spot, but NCB officials quickly surrounded him. On searching the vehicle, the team recovered narcotic substances along with drug money from it. An NCB official, wishing not to be named, confirmed the incident, saying that the matter is under investigation. The police have also reached the spot. Two drug cartels busted, 3 held with over 11 kg heroin Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Police officials address mediapersons in Amritsar on Saturday. Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 20 The Amritsar police commissionerate has unearthed an illegal weapons smuggling racket with the arrest of three persons and seizure of a large cache of arms and ammunition. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said acting on a tip-off, the police set up a naka at Gumtala Chowk, where Beant Singh was intercepted and arrested. A search led to the seizure of two pistols (.32 bore) with two live cartridges, one pistol (.315 bore) with two cartridges and a Swift car. His interrogation led to the arrest of Gurpinder Singh, alias Sajan, while further disclosures resulted in the arrest of Yodhbir Singh, alias Yodha, from whom three pistols (.32 bore) and one revolver (.32 bore) were recovered. The police recovered five pistols, a revolver, a pistol (.315 bore) with cartridges and a car. Bhullar said the arrested accused have previous criminal records, except Gurpinder Singh. Beant Singh (30) is involved in three earlier cases registered under the Arms Act and the Indian Penal Code, while Yodhbir Singh (33) faced four cases. The police said investigations are underway to trace the source of the weapons and the wider network involved in the illegal arms trade. Amritsar, September 20 Punjab Police personnel have busted two drug cartels being operated across the IndoPakistan border by arresting three smugglers and seizing over 11 kilograms of heroin along with drug money from them in separate intelligence-led operations. In the first case, the Amritsar Rural Police arrested Shankar Singh, a resident of Guru Ki Wadali, with 6.286 kg of heroin and Rs 4 lakh suspected drug proceeds. Preliminary investigations revealed that Shankar Singh was in direct contact with foreignbased smugglers, highlighting the international dimension of the network. His interrogation led to the arrest of his accomplice Sachin of Ranjitpura area here. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said Shankar’s further interrogation would help trace his The seized contraband in the custody of the Amritsar Rural Police on Saturday. backward and forward linkages. “The recovery is significant as it indicates how deeply foreign handlers are embedded in Punjab’s narcotics supply chain,” he said. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered at the Lopoke police station. In another case, the Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Amritsar police unearthed another module being run by Harpal Singh, a native of Kohala village in Amritsar, who has been living in the US for two years. The police intercepted his local operative Pawandeep Singh near Beharwal village and recovered 5.032 kg of heroin from his possession. According to the DGP , Pawandeep confessed to working under Harpal Singh, who is believed to be in direct touch with Pakistan-based smugglers, and has been using drones to push consignments of narcotics and weapons across the border. “While Harpal initially had a clean record after migrating to the US, evidence suggests he later became involved in narcotics trafficking, exploiting Punjab’s vulnerable border areas,” Yadav disclosed. A case under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar. Investigations are underway to establish the full chain of operatives and financiers behind the racket. The DGP reiterated that Punjab Police is determined to dismantle smuggling syndicates and prevent foreign handlers from de-stabilising the state. Schools in flood-hit MC starts GIS mapping of all properties 30-yr-old set on fire by pouring petrol areas to reopen from He had tried to stop Sep 23: DC Sawhney mischievous elements Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 20 Based on the report of the assessment of the schools received from the District Education Officers, the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, directed that all the schools in the flood-affected areas should reopen on Tuesday and the students of the schools, buildings of which have been damaged, would be shifted to nearby schools. While interacting with the teams working for the rehabilitation of people in floodaffected areas at the SDM office in Ajnala, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney directed that the details of the damaged houses and other properties should be prepared on priority so that due compensation can be given to their owners. PWD official Dilbagh Singh said 47 teams are working to survey the damaged houses and the survey will be completed soon. The DC said the classrooms, which have been damaged, should also be kept closed keeping in mind the safety. Notably, 31 primary and 13 senior secondary schools in flood-affected areas of Ajnala and Chogawan blocks were shut and five school buildings had suffered significant structural damage, while school buildings have also been rendered unsafe. Making alternative arrangements for the education of students from these schools, the classes will be shifted to other nearest schools. Amritsar, September 20 The Amritsar Municipal Corporation has started a GIS (Geographic Information System) survey to digitally map all properties in the city, including houses, shops, factories and commercial as well as residential buildings. MC Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill said the survey is part of the Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project, which aims to provide better facilities to city residents. The last GIS survey was done in the year 2013-14 when about 3.58 lakh properties were mapped. This time, around four lakh properties will be surveyed within six months. The work has been given to Cyber Swift Company of Kolkata by Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Company (PMIDC). During the survey, teams will go door to door to collect information about A view of the Amritsar MC building. FILE PHOTO each property. In walled city areas where narrow lanes make the work difficult, drones with LiDAR (Light detection and Ranging) technology will be used to create 3D mapping. Drones will also be used in other areas of the city for accurate mapping. After the survey, every property will be given a UID card with complete details. The MC Commissioner said these UID cards will be easier and more durable than traditional plates. Joint Commissioner Dr Jai Inder Singh said the survey has started from Ward No.3, covering Ranjit Avenue blocks A, B, C, and D. He appealed to the citizens to fully cooperate with the survey teams and provide correct information. He said the GIS survey will have many benefits. It will help the municipal corporation in better town planning, upgrading infrastructure, improving public transport and strengthening emergency services. It will also make property records more transparent, help in fair tax collection and support future development projects. Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, September 20 A man who was on way to the Bala Chak grid station (near Amritsar) was set on fire by some mischievous elements quarrelling with each other in Tarn Taran about 10 days ago. The victim, identified as Manjit Singh (30), is a resident of Waras Wala Jatta at Makhu in Ferozepur district. The victim along with Sandeep Singh, a JE with state-run Powercom, was on way to Bala Chak to unload Powercom material from a vehicle. On the way, he saw two parties quarrelling in front of the Civil Hospital, Tarn Taran. Manjit Singh tried to intervene by getting them not to indulge in quarreling, but they in a fit of anger sprinkled petrol on from quarrelling him and set him ablaze. Manjit Singh was immediately rushed to the Tarn Taran hospital from where he was referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar. Led by a team, ASI Lakhwinder Singh rushed to the spot and collected information. The police have failed to locate the accused as yet and a case under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered against the unknown accused on Friday. The police said the accused are still at large. The condition of Manjit Singh is said to be out of danger. CKD calls SC decision on Scarred by floods, villagers struggle for survival Anand Marriage Act as historic Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 20 The office-bearers of Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD), in a meeting held here today, called the recent Supreme Court directions in regard to Anand Marriage Act as ‘historic’ and reformational for Sikh identity and marriage. The Supreme Court has directed several states and union territories to notify within four months the rules for registering ‘Anand Karaj’ or the Sikh wedding ceremony, putting a time-frame to the implementation of the 2012 amendment in Anand Marriage Act, 1902. In a statement, Chief Khalsa Diwan president Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar expressed happiness and said that the decision is going to strengthen the religious rights of the Sikh community and Sikh identity. He said that the founder of Chief Khalsa Diwan, Sundar Singh Majithia, with the support of NOTIFY RULES FOR REGISTERING ‘ANAND KARAJ’: SC ■ The Supreme Court has directed several states and union territories to notify within four months the rules for registering 'Anand Karaj' or the Sikh wedding ceremony, putting a time-frame to the implementation of the 2012 amendment in Anand Marriage Act, 1902. other Sikh leaders, had started a campaign to make a unique law to give legal recognition to Sikh marriage (Anand Karaj) and had played a significant role in getting enacted the Anand Marriage Act, 1909. “This historic decision is a fulfillment of the long-standing demand of the Sikh community and a victory for the Sikh Panthic identity,” said Dr Nijjar. In its September 4 order, the SC bench said when the law recognises ‘Anand Karaj’ as a valid form of marriage yet leaves no machinery to register it, the “promise was only half kept”. Despite being in existence for over a century, the law wasn’t implemented till 2012, when both Houses of Parliament passed the Anand Marriage Amendment Bill, 2012, legalising the Sikh traditional marriages and allowing their registration. While the Anand Marriage Act of 1909 was enacted to recognise the validity of marriages performed by the Sikh ceremony of ‘Anand Karaj’, they were registered under the Hindu Marriage Act before the 2012 amendment. The CKD office-bearers hoped that in compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, the state governments and union territories would soon issue notifications in this regard to make the registration process easier and faster, so that Sikh marriages can be registered under the Anand Marriage Act. Ajnala, September 20 The devastation caused by the recent floods has left scars not only on the cracked walls of homes but also on the minds of villagers, especially those from economically weaker families, who now struggle for survival amid uncertainty. For Paramjit Kaur (45), a widow from Kot Gurbaksh village, the nightmare is far from over. As floodwaters entered her home without warning, she and her children rushed to take shelter in the village gurdwara. Her three-room house, built by her late husband Gurdeep Kumar—a carpenter who died of a kidney ailment two years ago—now stands fractured with deep cracks. “We have nowhere else to go, even though the fear of these walls collapsing any time always hovers in our mind. As the walls dry up in the sun, the cracks will only get deeper,” Paramjit said, her voice trembling and worried. “Most of the time, we stay at the gurd- c m y b Asha Rani, wife of a cycle shop worker and other family members, at their damaged house in Kot Gurbaksh village in Ramdas area of Amritsar on Saturday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR wara. We only come home to feed the buffalo and clean what is left,” she added. Paramjit’s struggle is compounded by her responsibility for five children—four daughters, Priya (20), Manpreet (18), Rajpreet (16) and Gagandeep (14), and her youngest, a son, Arshdeep Singh (10). The two eldest daughters now work in shops while she sells milk from their lone buffalo. Still, survival remains a daily challenge. Asha Rani, another resident, broke down while showing the cracks in her house where even the foundations were laid bare by the floodwaters. Her husband, Joginderpal, works at a cycle shop, but the family’s condition has worsened after her two sons lost their jobs in the aftermath of the floods. With four sons — including two married ones — two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren, the family has shifted to the village Janj Ghar. “We cannot return to our home as it is not safe, and I don’t know for how long we would be allowed to stay here,” Asha said, adding that food for the displaced families is being prepared and distributed at the Janj Ghar. In Machhiwal village, Palwinder Kaur, who works as a mid-day meal worker in a government school, said half of her house collapsed during the floods while the rest of her belongings were washed away. Her husband, a daily wage labourer, has no means to rebuild. “We are living in a makeshift tarpaulin tent on what is left of our house. We can’t dream of building a new home. Right now, we are entirely dependent on the food from langar,” she said. “It is a massive disaster, and while immediate relief is being extended, permanent rehabilitation will require coordinated efforts from the government, NGOs and the community. Survey of damaged properties is underway,” said DC Sakshi Sawhney.