13112025-ATR-01.qxd 11/12/2025 11:54 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY INTER-POLYTECHNIC YOUTH FEST HELD AT GNDU GNDU TO CREATE ARCHIVE OF LITERATURE ON 9TH SIKH GURU NEVER TAKE MY AUDIENCE FOR GRANTED: YAMI GAUTAM The PTIS hosted the second day of the Punjab Inter-Polytechnic Youth Festival 2025-26 at GNDU, Amritsar. P2 The GNDU VC has said they are going to create a digital archive of all literature related to Guru Tegh Bahadur. P2 Yami Gautam Dhar’s latest release, Haq, is ‘inspired’ by the landmark Shah Bano case. P4 » » » MAX 25°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 9°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.32 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.57 AM THURSDAY | 13 NOVEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR 14 booked for intimidating voters during Tarn Taran byelection Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, November 12 The district police have registered six cases against 14 individuals, mostly Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers, on charges of intimidating, threatening and misleading voters during the Tarn Taran by-election held yesterday. According to police sources, the accused include several Akali workers, notably Kanchanpreet Kaur, daughter of SAD candidate Sukhwinder Kaur of Mianpur, and gangster Amritpal Singh Bath, a resident of Mianpur, who is currently living abroad. The Chabal police booked Amritpal Singh Bath and his two associates for allegedly threatening Gurmeet Kaur, a housemaid from Padhari Kalan, to vote for the Akali Dal, warning her of dire consequences if she did not comply. Another case has been registered against Bath for intimidating Gurlal Singh, the hus- Body of man who died in Dubai reaches city airport Amritsar, November 12 The body of Ashok Kumar (50), son of Girdhari Lal and a resident of Khanna near Ludhiana district, was brought back from Dubai to his native place with financial assistance from the Ministry of External Affairs. The mortal remains arrived at Sri Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport here on Wednesday and were transported to his home at Khanna near Ludhiana through the free ambulance service of the Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust. Dr SP Singh Oberoi, a prominent Dubai-based businessman and founder of the trust, said Ashok Kumar had been working in Dubai for the past seven years to support his family. Ashok’s family informed him that he had died of a heart attack in Dubai on October 26. — TNS DAUGHTER OF SAD CANDIDATE ALSO BOOKED ■ According to police sources, the accused include several Akali workers, notably Kanchanpreet Kaur, daughter of SAD candidate Sukhwinder Kaur of Mianpur, and gangster Amritpal Singh Bath, a resident of Mianpur, who is currently living abroad. The Chabal police booked Amritpal Singh Bath and his two associates for allegedly threatening Gurmeet Kaur, a housemaid from Padhari Kalan, to vote for the Akali Dal, warning her of dire consequences if she did not comply. band of the sarpanch of Jhamka Kalan, and pressurising him to vote for the Akali Dal candidate. Inspector Navneet Kaur, SHO of Jhabal police station, stated that a case has been registered against the accused under Sections 174, 351(2) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). In a separate incident, the Chabal police registered cases against Gursewak Singh, a resident of Padhari Kalan, and two others for spreading fear among voters by brandishing weapons. Besides them, the police also booked a person, who was accompanying them in a car. They were booked for creating distur- bance during polling. One of them was arrested. The Tarn Taran police recovered a country-made pistol and two live cartridges from their vehicle. Additionally, Akali worker Raj Kumar Neeta was arrested by the same police station for allegedly misleading voters during polling. He was later released on bail. Meanwhile, the Sarai Amanat Khan police registered a case against Akali Dal candidate Kanchanpreet Kaur and Karan Gill of Mianpur following a complaint by the nodal officer of web control room. The due allegedly shared restricted information related to polling activities on Instagram during the election. Silence descends on Tarn Taran as candidates take a breather Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, November 12 A day after weeks of highpitched campaigning culminated in polling for the Tarn Taran byelection, calm has returned to areas where slogans once rang out. The bustling election offices that teemed with supporters, strategists and volunteers now wear a deserted look. Candidates who had spent sleepless nights rallying for votes finally appear to be catching their breath. Most contestants chose to stay away from public view on Wednesday, seeking muchneeded rest after a campaign that tested their stamina and patience. Reaching them proved difficult — many had switched off their phones, while others politely declined to speak. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Harmeet Singh Sand- The bungalow of AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu wears a deserted look in Tarn Taran on Wednesday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI hu, a resident of Tarn Taran, left home early in the morning for an undisclosed location with his family. His residence, once abuzz with party activity, appeared quiet and locked. Sandhu remained unreachable throughout the day. Similarly, the phone of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) nom- inee Sukhwinder Kaur remained switched off, while BJP candidate Harjit Singh Sandhu also refrained from responding to calls. Among the few who did speak was Mandeep Singh, the Waras Punjab De candidate. “For the first time in months, I woke up at 6 am instead of 4,” he laughed, adding that his supporters had handled much of the campaign work, giving him some peace of mind. He visited Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Shaheed in Amritsar to offer prayers and later met well-wishers at his residence. Confident of victory, he claimed to have received “moral support from the Sikh community across the world.” Mandeep Singh, who has yet to decide which political party to join, said he would soon chart his political course. Congress candidate Karanbir Singh Buraj also enjoyed a relaxed morning after what he described as “mental exhaustion.” Sharing breakfast with his family, he later met party workers and attended a wedding function. “The public response has been overwhelming. I am a loyal soldier of the Congress and will always serve the party sincerely,” he said. Independent candidate Harbans Kaur Usman began her day with prayers at Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Shaheed and later visited Mandir Rishi Valmiki at Ram Tirath. “This election taught me valuable lessons about people and politics,” she reflected. Two get 20 years in jail under New hope for Patti-Makhu railway line as POCSO Act for assaulting minor Centre takes charge of land acquisition Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 12 The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Tripatjot Kaur, has sentenced two men to 20 years of imprisonment each and imposed a fine of Rs 20,500 on each of them under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The convicts have been identified as Gagandeep Singh, alias Billy, son of Harjinder Singh, and Sahil, son of Ashok Kumar, both residents of Kot Khalsa. They were found guilty in an FIR registered at the Islamabad police station under Sections 377, 506 and 201 of the IPC and Section 4(2) of the POCSO Act. According to the court’s judgment, the incident occurred on July 17, 2020, INCIDENT OCCURRED IN JULY 2020 ■ The convicts have been identified as Gagandeep Singh, alias Billy, son of Harjinder Singh, and Sahil, son of Ashok Kumar, both residents of Kot Khalsa. They were found guilty in an FIR registered at the Islamabad police station under Sections 377, 506 and 201 of the IPC and Section 4(2) of the POCSO Act. ■ According to the court’s judgment, the incident occurred on July 17, 2020, when a 10-year-old boy went out with a friend on a motorcycle. when a 10-year-old boy went out with a friend on a motorcycle. The two accused, along with a minor accomplice, were already present at the location. They caught hold of the victim while his two friends managed to escape. The court observed that the accused beat up the child with slippers and forced him to engage in an obscene act. When the victim resisted, the minor assaulted him again until he complied out of fear. The accused then recorded a video of the assault and later circulated it online. The minor accused was ear- lier tried by the Juvenile Justice Board, which on July 31, 2024, sentenced him to three years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000. He had filed an appeal against the order, which was dismissed by the Fast Track Court while announcing the main judgment today, thereby upholding the Juvenile Justice Board’s decision. While delivering the verdict, the court remarked that such crimes are “heinous and deeply disturbing”, and the punishment should serve as a strong deterrent to prevent similar offences in the future. Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 12 Members of the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) and the trading fraternity on Wednesday welcomed Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu’s assurance that the 25.7-km-long Patti-Makhu railway line will soon be constructed at a cost of Rs 764 crore, including a Rs 400-crore railway bridge over the Sutlej river. They appreciated the Union Minister’s statement that the Central Government would take responsibility for land acquisition, removing a major hurdle that had delayed the project. The move, they said, gives new hope for the execution of this long-pending railway line, approved 12 years ago. Projects of this nature often face delays RAILWAY LINE PROJECT WAS APPROVED 12 YRS AGO ■ Office-bearers of the AVM appreciated the Union Minister’s statement that the Central Government would take responsibility for land acquisition, removing a major hurdle that had delayed the project. The move, they said, gives new hope for the execution of this long-pending railway line, approved 12 years ago. Projects of this nature often face delays when land acquisition responsibilities rest with state governments, especially amid Centre-state political rivalries. The Amritsar Vikas Manch has been pursuing this project since 2013, when it was first approved by the Centre. ■ In recent months, AVM office-bearers met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Rajya Sabha Member Padma Shri awardee Vikramjit Singh Sahney and BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh. when land acquisition responsibilities rest with state governments, especially amid Centre-state political rivalries. The Amritsar Vikas Manch has been pursuing this project since 2013, when it was first approved by the Centre. In recent months, AVM office-bearers met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Rajya Sabha Member Padma Shri awardee Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, appealing for their intervention to push the project forward. Their combined efforts helped persuade Bittu to ensure its implementation. AVM patrons principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi and Manmohan Singh Brar, along with president Surinderjit Singh, general secretary Yogesh Kamra, senior vice-president Rajwinder Singh Gill, Jaspal Singh, Kawaljit Singh Bhatia, and other members, expressed gratitude to all who contributed to advancing the project. Members of the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal also hailed the announcement, noting that once operational, the new railway line will reduce the travel distance between Amritsar and Mumbai by 240 kilometres, saving six hours of travel time and significant rail energy. It will also serve as an alternative route to the heavily congested Amritsar-DelhiMumbai corridor. Importantly, the PattiMakhu line will establish a direct rail link between Amritsar and Jammu & Kashmir, providing a major boost to trade, industry and agriculture in both Punjab and the union territory. GNDU champions climate-smart agriculture 90th edition of All India Art Exhibition opens through crop residue management Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 12 A day-long workshop on “Sustainable Crop Residue Management for Climate Resilient Agriculture” was on Wednesday organised by the Golden Jubilee Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (GJCEI), Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture. The inaugural session featured Dr Balwinder Singh, coordinator, GJCEI, who emphasised the importance of adopting innovative and ecofriendly approaches to crop residue management. “As evident in recent years, these practices are vital for ensuring environmental sustainability and improving farm productivity. With the global shift toward climate-sensitive and resilient agricultural systems, Punjab must actively be part of this transition,” he said. The participants who attended the workshop pose for a photograph at GNDU in Amritsar on Wednesday. Dr Aparna Bhatia, deputy coordinator, GJCEI, and Dr Sandeep Singh, principal agronomist, shared their insights on climate change and its impact on Punjab’s agriculture. Dr Sandeep, who has worked extensively in agrometeorology and established climatic requirements for improving rice, maize and wheat yields, highlighted the need for adopting climate-conducive farming practices. “This is the right time to integrate innovation and technology in agriculture. It allows both traditional and young farmers to embrace modern, sciencedriven methods,” he noted. Dr Bikramjit Singh, associate director, briefed participants on the role of advanced machinery in reducing crop residue burning and discussed the current status of farmers in adopting such technologies. Dr Raminder Kaur delivered an expert lecture on sustainable residue management techniques currently being implemented in Amritsar district. The workshop concluded with an interactive session and a live demonstration of residue management. c m y b Amritsar, November 12 The Indian Academy of Fine Arts (IAFA) opened the 90th edition of its annual All India Art Exhibition, featuring paintings, graphics, photography and sculptures by artists from across India. The exhibition was inaugurated by Tarun Chugh, national general secretary of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and RMS Chinna, Chairman, IAFA, and senior BJP leader. This year, 500 art workshops have been held featuring over 400 artists as compared to last year’s 339 works by 333 artists from across the country. Diverse artwork from almost every state of India is on display at the SG Thakar Singh Art Gallery in five different categories, including painting, drawing, photography, graphics and sculpture. Chinna said that it is one of the oldest and most prestigious platforms for visual arts in the country. “The exhibition con- BJP senior leader Tarun Chugh (R) during the inauguration of the art exhibition at art gallery in Amritsar on Wednesday. VISHAL KUMAR tinues the Academy’s distinguished legacy of promoting artistic excellence and cultural dialogue across India,” he said. Chugh appreciated the paintings and artwork displayed in the galleries of IAFA. Chhina, president of the Indian Academy of Fine Arts, said, “As we celebrate the 90th edition of the All India Exhibition of Arts, we take immense pride in our continuing role as a national platform for artistic expression. For nine decades, the Academy has been dedicated to nurturing talent, preserving cul- tural heritage, and inspiring new generations of artists.” Sharing details on the artworks displayed, general secretary, IAFA, Dr PS Grover, in his opening words remarked, “This year’s edition features a rich and diverse collection of paintings, sculptures, graphics, drawings, photography and mixed media works by both renowned and emerging artists from various regions of the country. The curated selection reflects the depth, innovation and vibrancy of contemporary Indian art.” As many as 602 artists from all over India sent over 1,000 artwork for the competition while 500 artworks were selected for the exhibition. On the occasion, the Academy conferred its annual awards on outstanding artists in recognition of their exceptional creative achievements. The IAFA, to encourage and celebrate artistic skill and technique, also gave away 24 awards, including a first prize of Rs 1,00,000.