19102025-ATR-01.qxd 10/18/2025 11:41 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY TWELVE MORE ASPIRANTS FILE PAPERS FOR ASSEMBLY BY-POLL MC HOLDS WELFARE FAIR FOR STREET VENDORS DEPICTING TRAUMA OF PARTITION THROUGH TALES OF SURVIVORS As many as 12 candidates filed their nomination papers for Tarn Taran Assembly by-election today. P2 The Amritsar Municipal Corporation organised a special Public Welfare Fair to support street vendors. P2 The UK-based visual artist brings her exhibition, titled, 'After the Partition: A Shared Cultural Heritage’. P2 » » MAX 30°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 18°C SUNSET SUNDAY 5.53 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6.37 AM » SUNDAY | 19 OCTOBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Project to drain out stagnant water from agri fields launched 32 spools of banned synthetic string seized in Kapoor Nagar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 18 Padma Shri Dr Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), inaugurated a de-watering facility at Jattan village in block Ramdas here on Saturday. Its purpose is to remove stagnant floodwater from over 150 acres of agricultural land that had been submerged during the recent floods. The newly established system is supported by nearly a 4km-long network of pipelines, which will channel stagnant water out of the farmland, enabling farmers to resume cultivation and protect soil productivity. This initiative is undertaken by Dr Sahney’s NGO, Sun Foundation. It is expected to bring a relief to dozens of families whose livelihoods were disrupted by prolonged waterlogging. Dr Sahney later distributed rehabilitation kits to the affected families of the village, including beds, mattresses, kitchen sets, furniture, ration, fogging machine, etc. Dacoity suspect injured in encounter at Ranjit Avenue Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service The banned Chinese string in the custody of the police in Amritsar on Saturday. Amritsar, October 18 Despite stringent prohibitions, traders and individuals continue to deal in this deadly material that has been responsible for numerous injuries and deaths over the years. Acting on a tip-off, the Division-B police seized 32 spools of the banned string from the possession of Dilraj Singh, a resident of Kapoor Nagar area, recently. The police conducted a swift raid at Singh’s residence where the synthetic thread was allegedly being sold. “The informer told that he was indulging in illegal sale of the deadly Chinese string at a rate of Rs 600 per spool. Following this, a raid was immediately conducted and the accused was nabbed with 32 spools,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police Gagandeep Singh. Though he was released on bail, a case under Section 223 of the BNS was registered against Dilraj Singh for violating the administration’s prohibition orders issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. “The Chinese manjha poses a grave danger not only to kite flyers, but also to pedestrians, motorcyclists, and birds. Its nylon coating makes it razor- sharp and highly conductive, increasing the risk of fatal injuries and electric shocks,” said Rohan Mehra, a local animal activist. He pointed out that enforcement alone is not enough unless there is public awareness and strict monitoring of markets, the menace will keep resurfacing, he said. DC Sakshi Sawhney and Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar have urged the local residents to report any sale or storage of the banned string to their nearest police station, assuring strict action against offenders. — TNS Amritsar, October 18 A dacoity suspect, Vikramjit Singh, alias Vicky, sustained a bullet injury during a police encounter in Ranjit Avenue area here on Thursday night while being taken to the spot for further investigation. Vicky (26), a resident of Mahlla Nanaksar, Tarn Taran, was arrested along with two other accomplices — Jatinder Singh alias Simu and Mandeep Singh alias Budhu — two days ago from areas adjoining Himachal Pradesh and Hoshiarpur. The three were wanted in connection with an armed robbery case registered on October 8 at the Ranjit Avenue police station here. As per the case details, around six unidentified assailants, posing as policemen, had robbed Rs 50,000 in cash and two gold rings from the house of Rajbir Singh, a resident of Ranjit Avenue, on the night of October 7. During the operation to trace the remaining suspects, the Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar along with other officials visits the encounter spot at Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar on Saturday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR police recovered three weapons and two cars used in the crime. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, who visited the spot today, said while ASI Tarsem Singh and his team were taking Vikramjit Singh for identification and arrest of other suspects, the latter asked to relieve himself in an open ground near a gurdwara in Ranjit Avenue. Taking advantage of the situation, he allegedly snatched the ASI’s service revolver and fired towards the police party with an intention to kill. The revolver, which was attached to a cord, went off during the scuffle, and the bullet struck Vikramjit’s right leg. Vikramjit was immediately shifted to the Civil Hospital, Amritsar, where he is undergoing treatment. A fresh case of attempt to murder and under the Arms Act has been registered against the suspect at the Ranjit Avenue police station. He said the suspect, who is a labourer, has a criminal background with nine previous cases registered against him. Gunshots fired at BSF foils drone-based smuggling attempts Old building collapses transporter’s house nearHeritageStreet Tribune News Service Assailants demand ~1 cr extortion Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 18 A group of assailants, allegedly linked to foreign-based notorious gangster Satta Naushera, opened fire on a man’s house in Varpal village falling under the Chatiwind police station here. The incident occurred on Wednesday late night after he refused to pay an extortion amount of Rs 1 crore to him. According to the police, the accused fired several rounds at the residence of Jobanpreet Singh, a transporter. After the attack, the assailants fled the spot. Police teams are scanning CCTV footage from nearby areas to identify the shooters. Himanshu Bhagat, SHO, Chatiwind police station, said that an investigation is underway. Victim Jobanpreet Singh told the Chatiwind police that he had been receiving repeated calls from unknown foreign numbers over the past few days. The caller introduced himself as gangster Satta Naushera and demanded Rs 1 crore in extortion. Initially, he ignored the calls, but they continued persistently. At around 11 pm on Wednesday night, Singh was walking in the courtyard of his house when the armed assailants arrived and began abusing and threatening him for not paying the demanded amount. Moments later, they pulled out pistols and started firing. Amritsar, October 18 The Border Security Force (BSF) has foiled multiple crossborder smuggling attempts along the Indo-Pakistan border in Punjab, recovering substantial quantities of narcotics and a firearm in a series of coordinated operations. Following an intelligence input about a potential drone drop, BSF jawans acted swiftly and an extensive search operation was launched near Bhaini Rajputa village resulting in the seizure of a large packet containing 3.675 kilograms of ICE (methamphetamine). The packet was wrapped in yellow adhesive tape, with metal rings and illuminating strips attached — clear indicators of a cross-border drone delivery mechanism. Further intensifying their crackdown on smuggling networks, BSF troops recov- The 3 kg ICE seized by BSF jawans in Amritsar on Saturday. ered a pistol wrapped in yellow tape from agricultural fields near Roranwala Khurd village in Amritsar. According to officials, these consecutive recoveries point towards the persistent attempts by transnational cartels to exploit drone technology for smuggling contraband into Indian territory. However, BSF’s sustained surveillance, technological upgrades, and timely intelli- gence sharing have greatly enhanced interception success rates along the Punjab border, said BSF spokesperson in a statement here today. He said that these recoveries reaffirm the force’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the nation’s border security and integrity. The BSF continues to work closely with state police and other law enforcement agencies to neutralize such threats and dismantle smuggling networks operating across the border, he added. On Friday, the BSF had neutralized four drones and seized opium from Amritsar and Tarn Taran’s border. Three drones along with two packets containing over 1 kg of opium was recovered from different locations in the Rajatal border village in Amritsar. Similarly, a drone was seized from Marikammoke village in Tarn Taran district. Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 18 Panic gripped the Heritage Street area in Amritsar on Friday when an old building suddenly collapsed during its demolition process, just a short distance from Darbar Sahib. The incident occurred in one of the busiest zones of the city, where thousands of devotees and tourists visit daily. According to eyewitnesses, the building was being dismantled by workers when, all of a sudden, the structure gave way and crumbled, sending clouds of dust into the air. In the chaos that followed, people nearby ran for safety fearing further collapse. One worker was reportedly trapped under the debris and sustained serious injuries. He was rescued by fellow labourers and local residents and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Residents in the vicinity said the incident could have resulted in a major tragedy, as the area remains heavily crowded throughout the day. “It was sheer luck that only a few labourers were inside when the building fell. Had this happened during peak hours, it could have been disastrous,” said a shopkeeper from Heritage Street. MC officials and police personnel reached the site soon after the collapse and cordoned off the area. The debris was later cleared to restore normal movement on the busy street. Officials have initiated an inquiry into the cause of the collapse. Preliminary reports suggest that the building was being demolished. Record-breaking festive sales on Dhanteras cheer up city shopkeepers Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 18 Dhanteras witnessed record-breaking sales across multiple sectors, including utensils, kitchenware, vehicles, electronic and electrical goods. The sharp rise in festive trade this year is largely attributed to reductions in GST rates and renewed consumer confidence. Shoppers thronged city markets—both traditional and modern—on the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras. Serpentine traffic jams were seen throughout the day, but they failed to dampen the festive spirit of residents on Saturday. Dhanteras is considered auspicious for shoppers who believe that purchasing gold or silver ornaments, utensils, or valuable goods will multiply their wealth. The festivities began with attractive discounts on a wide range of articles. “It is considered lucky to buy silver or gold ornaments or items on Dhanteras. So, traditionally, people mostly purchase silver utensils. The high prices of silver this year haven’t had much impact. People are buying smaller items like bowls or glasses,” said G.S. Bhatia, a store owner at Guru Bazaar—a centuries-old market near the Golden Temple. Traditionally, gold was the preferred purchase on Dhanteras. However, the steep rise in gold prices has subdued market enthusiasm for the precious metal. On Dhanteras, people were seen buying gold, silver, utensils, kitchenware, vehicles, electronics, idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, clay lamps, and other puja materials. Bhatia explained that purchasing new utensils made of copper, silver, or steel is symbolic of purity and prosperity. While older generations leaned towards traditional items, younger A crowd of people buy utensils at a showroom on Dhanteras in Amritsar. shoppers opted for mobile phones, laptops, iPhones, and other electronic gadgets. Last year, gold prices hovered around Rs 80,000 per 10 grams. This year, they have crossed Rs 1.30 lakh per 10 grams — an increase of roughly 60 per cent. Similarly, silver prices surged from Rs 98,000 per kilogram in 2024 to Rs 1.80 lakh — a rise of about 55 per cent. Despite the steep prices, markets were flooded with buyers, bringing a fresh lease of life to the age-old bazaars of the c m y b walled city. Apart from Guru Bazaar, several other traditional markets — such as Khidoniyan Wala, Mishri Bazaar, Bhadbhunjiyan Wala, and Bhandiyan Wala — also experienced massive footfalls. These markets are renowned for selling traditional sweets and festivalrelated items. Tastefully decorated and glowing with festive charm, these bazaars reclaim their historic glory in the days leading up to Diwali. The Khidoniyan Wala and Bhadbhunjiyan Wala bazaars were specially decked up for the occasion. Guru Bazaar, established during the era of the Sikh Gurus, remains a hub for gold ornaments and silverware. Due to the congested layout, many shopkeepers have opened branches on nearby open roads. On Dhanteras, crowds packed the narrow, winding streets of Guru Bazaar to purchase ornaments, silver idols, and other festive items. Nearby, Mishri Bazaar, located near the Golden Temple, is famous for shops that have been making traditional sharbat, achaar, and murabba for centuries. Some stores also offer mishri, meethe chhole, phuliyan, and makhane, which are sold across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. One rare specialty, “Khand De Khidone” (edible sugar toys), is still prepared in limited quantities for Diwali. Balbir Singh, a traditional sweet-meat maker, said that once, making sugar toys was a booming business, but today, only a few shops make them, as demand is mostly limited to the festive season. “Modern choices have replaced many traditions, and only a handful of us still continue this craft,” he said. In Bhadbhunjiyan Wala Bazaar, Harish Madaan explained that they sell batase, phuliyan, bhuji dal de laddu, khand de murundey, and gur de murundey (murundey means round balls). However, he added that the popularity of these traditional snacks has waned over the years, especially with the influx of fast-moving consumer goods and gift packs. “These items are mainly purchased for puja now. Phuliyan and bhujey chhole are no longer considered snacks,” he said. Tradition still thrives in Khidoniyan Wala Bazaar, once a bustling center for earthenware. Although most people have shifted to stainless steel and modern alternatives, the market continues to sell terracotta idols, toys, figurines, and earthen lamps. Ahead of Diwali, shopkeepers set up roadside stalls covered in white sheets to display their offerings. Shoppers were seen crowding to buy finely crafted idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi, along with a wide variety of earthen lamps. A local vendor shared, “No matter how modern we become, people — whether rich or poor —still feel bound by tradition to buy idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi and light earthen lamps for Diwali Puja.”