14102025-ATR-01.qxd 10/13/2025 11:39 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY CONG STAGE PROTEST OVER IPS OFFICER’S SUICIDE MASTER CADRE UNION TO STAGE PROTEST ON OCT 26 RISHAB ON CRAFTING UNIVERSAL APPEAL OF KANTARA: CHAPTER 1 Leaders and workers of the Congress took out a candle march over the suicide of senior Haryana IPS officer Y Kumar. P2 An emergency meeting at the district level of Master Cadre Teachers Union was held in Tarn Taran. P2 The movie delves into themes of faith and spirituality, drawing deeply from the rich folklore of coastal Karnataka. P4 » » » MAX 30°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 18°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.59 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.33 AM TUESDAY | 14 OCTOBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Relaying of Jhabal Road begins, completion promised in 20 days MLA Dr Ajay Gupta inaugurates long-pending project Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 13 Commuters using the Amritsar-Jhabal Road can finally hope for a smoother journey, as MLA Dr Ajay Gupta on Monday inaugurated the long-pending road reconstruction project. Besides, he also announced that the work would be completed within the next 20 days. The stretch from Gate Khazana to Ibban Kalan had been in poor condition for a long time, causing immense inconvenience to daily commuters and pilgrims. The newly launched project will be executed at an estimated cost of around Rs 7.5 crore. Dr Gupta highlighted that the Jhabal Road holds significant historical and religious value, as it connects to the birthplace of Shaheed Baba Deep Singh at Pahuwind as well as Gurdwara Budha Sahib and the Radha Soami satsang centre. “Thousands of devotees travel on this road every day. Once completed, it will bring major relief to people residing on both sides of Farmers stopped from meeting CM Mann during Ajnala visit Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service MLA Dr Ajay Gupta inaugurates road construction work in Amritsar. the road,” he said. The MLA stated that the project is under the Public Works Department (PWD), and its approval had already been secured. He said a small bridge on the route has already been constructed. Though work was delayed due to the monsoon season, it has now resumed at full pace with the premix plant becoming operational. The upgraded road from Gate Khazana to Ibban Kalan will be a three-lane stretch. Footpaths and proper lighting will be installed on both sides to enhance safety and convenience for pedestrians. Aam Aadmi Party leaders and workers, including ward in-charges Ricky Kairo, Vishu Bhatti, Charanjit Singh, Rahul Kumar, Ajay Newal, and Manjit Singh, were present at the inauguration ceremony, along with a large number of local residents. Commuters, who have long endured potholes and damaged stretches, expressed hope that the long-awaited repair work would finally put an end to their daily struggles. Amritsar, October 13 Tension prevailed near Bhalla Pind village in Ajnala here on Monday when the police stopped a group of farmers who had gathered to question Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during his visit to a local sugar mill. The Chief Minister reportedly left the venue without interacting with the farmers, which led to resentment among the protesters. According to the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), hundreds of farmers, led by state leader Sarwan Singh Pandher and district president Ranjit Singh Kaler Bala, reached Bhalla Pind after learning about the Chief Minister’s scheduled visit. They said they had previously reached an understanding with the police to hold a peaceful demonstration on one side of the road and intended to seek answers from the Chief Minister regarding pending com- Farmers raise slogans during a protest in Ajnala on Monday. pensation for flood damages. However, after waiting for a long time without any communication from the administration, they urged officials to allow them to move closer to the venue. The police, citing security reasons, stopped them near the barricades. After brief arguments, officials assured the farmers that their concerns would be conveyed to the Chief Minister. But before any interaction could take place, CM Mann reportedly left the site in a helicopter. KMSC leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “The Chief Minister came to distribute relief for flood victims, but the amount announced is inadequate. We have demanded Rs 70,000 per acre for crop loss, 10 per cent compensation for farm labourers, full compensation for damaged houses and sugarcane crop, immediate release of pending dues and a judicial inquiry into the causes of floods.” He further urged the government to provide fuel, fertilisers and seeds for wheat sowing, remove the time limit for clearing sand from fields and construct permanent embankments along rivers to prevent future flooding. The committee also demanded Sunny Deol pays obeisance at Golden Temple Police, BSF step up security in Was accompanied by son; also visits Gyani tea stall for tea and kachoris city ahead of festive season Neha Walia Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 13 Former MP and actor Sunny Deol today paid obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib and expressed his devotion to the Guru Ghar. He is in Amritsar on a shooting schedule for his upcoming film ‘Lahore 1947’ where he shares the screen with his son Karan Deol. The shooting of the film has been going on for the past few days in the border area of Amritsar. Sunny was accompanied by Karan Deol, as he too paid obeisance at the Golden Temple. According to the information received, Sunny Deol reached Sri Harmandir Sahib early this morning where he stayed for about an hour. He stood in the usual queue of devotees and waited for his turn to pray and seek blessings. He also listened to the Kirtan of Gurbani for some time. Amritsar, October 13 With the festive season in full swing and persistent cross-border threats, security has been significantly tightened across Amritsar. The city remains on high alert following repeated recoveries of weapons and narcotics smuggled from Pakistan. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that all officials have been directed to remain on the ground and personally supervise the security arrangements. “Special nakas have been set up at all entry and exit points and checking of vehicles and suspicious individuals has been intensified,” he said. Authorities are also closely monitoring history-sheeters and recently released criminals Bollywood actor Sunny Deol pays obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Monday. During this time, they also sipped tea prepared for the langar sitting in a room in the Parikrama of Sri Harmandir Sahib. Later, the Deols visited the popular Giani Tea stall at Queens Road where they enjoyed tea and kachoris, a must have on every foodie’s list who visits Amritsar. Upon their arrival at Sri Harmandir Sahib, they were welcomed by Rajinder Singh Ruby, the manager of Sri Harmandir Sahib, and others on behalf of the Shiromani Committee. to prevent any potential disruption during the festivities. Over 4,000 police personnel have been deployed throughout the city, supported by a company of the Border Security Force (BSF). All police leaves have been cancelled and personnel instructed to report back to duty immediately. The enhanced security measures follow a high-level review meeting chaired by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav in Amritsar last week. He had ordered that all border districts, including Amritsar, be placed on maximum alert to counter smuggling and potential terror threats during the festive period. Meanwhile, on Monday, the Border Security Force recovered two AK-47 rifles, a pistol and live ammuni- tion along the International Border, successfully thwarting another attempt to push arms into Indian territory. In recent weeks, several drone-borne consignments carrying weapons and heroin have been intercepted in the Amritsar and Tarn Taran sectors, keeping security forces on high alert. Additional security layers have been established at key locations and religious sites, including the Golden Temple, Durgiana temple, the railway station, the bus stand and Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport. The police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious individuals or unattended items, especially in crowded areas, to help ensure peaceful celebrations during the festive season. the removal of the 5-acre limit for compensation eligibility so that all affected farmers could receive fair relief. Pandher also criticised the government for penalising farmers over stubble burning. “Farmers do not burn stubble by choice. If the government cannot manage it, it should provide Rs 200 per quintal or Rs 6,000 per acre to help manage crop residue. All fines, arrests and red entries against farmers must stop immediately,” he said. A farmer from Lopoke alleged that some protesters had their clothes torn during the commotion at the barricades. “If ministers and MLAs continue to avoid public questions, they will face stronger protests in the coming days,” he warned. Several district leaders, including Baldev Singh Bagga, Sukhwinder Singh Kolowal, Kulbir Singh Lopoke, Mukhtiar Singh Bhagwa, and others, were present during the protest. Heroin, drone seized near border area in Tarn Taran Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, October 13 The BSF seized 1 kg of heroin and a drone, which reportedly came from the Pakistani side into the fields of Cheema Kalan village in the border area here on Sunday. ASI Nirmal Singh said here on Monday that a team of the Sarai Amanat police station recovered the drone after receiving information in this regard. ASI Nirmal Singh said the police have registered a case under Sections 21-C, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and Sections 10, 11 and 12 of the Aircraft Act. Authorities suspect that the drone was used for crossborder smuggling and are continuing investigations to uncover any local links to the incident. Amritsar gets six new fire tenders Smuggling bid foiled: 7 drones, 3.3 kg heroin seized by BSF ahead of festival of lights Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 13 In a move aimed at strengthening fire safety measures ahead of the Diwali festival, Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation on Sunday handed over six new state-of-the-art Fire Brigade vehicles to the Fire Department. The addition, described as a “Diwali gift” for the city, is expected to significantly enhance emergency response and disaster management capabilities. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mayor Bhatia reaffirmed his commitment to the safety and development of the holy city. He noted that the risk of fire incidents typically increases during Diwali festivities due to the widespread use of fireworks, often resulting in property loss and, at times, casualties. “Our administration has taken preventive steps to avoid such mishaps by strengthening the Fire Brigade Department with modern equipment and vehicles,” he said. With the inclusion of these new vehicles, the total strength of Amritsar’s fire fleet has risen to 20 tenders. The newly inducted vehicles include three large fire tenders, one small tender, one small tender-cum-rescue vehicle, and one specialised safety vehicle designed for emergency operations. Mayor Bhatia further stated that the municipal corporation’s Fire Brigade Department extends its services beyond city limits, covering areas from the Attari border to Beas and Dera Baba Nanak. “Our fire service personnel are trained and prepared to respond swiftly to emergencies across the entire region,” he added. The Mayor highlighted ongoing efforts to improve sanitation and waste management in Amritsar. He said the municipal corporation is prioritising solutions to the city’s solid waste management challenges. “In the coming days, Amritsar will emerge as a cleaner, brighter, and safer city,” he said, appealing to residents to cooperate in maintaining civic cleanliness. Highlighting current development work, Bhatia announced that a heritagethemed project worth Rs 41 crore has been launched to beautify four major roads leading to Darbar Sahib. In addition, the MC is undertaking the repair and improvement of several other roads to ensure better infrastructure for both residents and pilgrims. Amritsar, October 13 Border Security Force (BSF) jawans have successfully recovered seven Pakistani drones in separate incidents over the past 24 hours, besides seizing 3.3 kg of heroin and a pistol along the Amritsar and Tarn Taran borders of the Punjab frontier. These seizures, which included multiple packets of heroin and a loaded pistol, have once again foiled persistent attempts by ISI-backed Pakistani smugglers to push arms and narcotics into Indian territory using drones. The purpose is to destabilise law and order in the border region. According to BSF officials, the recoveries were made during a series of well-coordinated, intelligence-driven operations. Acting swiftly on specific inputs, BSF jawans first recovered one DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone from an area c m y b The contraband seized by BSF jawans near the IB on Monday. near Naushera Dhalla village in Tarn Taran district. In another operation, alert BSF personnel neutralised and seized a DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone carrying 1.144 kg of heroin from a farming field near Havelian village in Tarn Taran. In the Amritsar sector, troops intercepted two more drones near Rajatal village. One A DJI Air 3 was found carrying 566 grams of heroin, while the second, a DJI Mavic 3 Classic, was recovered with 586 grams of heroin attached. In a separate incident near Dal village in Tarn Taran, BSF troops recovered a DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone carrying a pistol with a magazine from a field. Meanwhile, last evening, acting on information provided by the BSF Intelligence Wing, alert personnel conducted a search operation and recovered one assembled Hexacopter drone in damaged condition from a field near Havelian village in Amritsar. On Monday, based on another intelligence input, BSF personnel recovered a packet containing approximately 566 grams of heroin from the rooftop of a house in Daoke village of Amritsar. In yet another intelligencebased operation near Naushera Dhalla, Amritsar, BSF troops recovered a DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone along with a packet containing approximately 560 grams of heroin. The BSF has intensified its anti-drone operations along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, as drone-based crossborder smuggling continues to pose a serious threat to national security.