17112025-ATR-01.qxd 11/16/2025 11:40 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 24°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 25°C | MIN 9°C CITY-WIDE SURVEY TO BE HELD TO BLOCK DRUG SUPPLY LINES AWARENESS PAY OFF AS FARMERS TURN TO GREEN ALTERNATIVES KEERTHY IS UNICEF INDIA'S ADVOCATE FOR CHILD RIGHTS The police are working to dismantle drug networks under the state government’s “War against drugs” campaign. P2 Thanks to the administration's efforts, the number of stubble-burning incidents has declined this year. P2 National Award-winning actor Keerthy Suresh will join the movement to champion the rights of children with UNICEF. P4 » » » SUNSET MONDAY 5.30 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7.01 AM MONDAY | 17 NOVEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Youth booked for abducting teen girl in Tarn Taran Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, November 16 A teenage school girl was abducted by being lured into marriage by a youth here on Thursday. A case was registered on Saturday. The Harike police have nominated Sonu, alias Gurlal Singh, a resident Aliwala, under the Mallawala police station in Ferozepur district. Family says she was lured into marriage and abducted by a youth The father of the victim girl, in his complaint to the Harike police, said the girl went to school, but did not return home. The family said the accused lured her into marriage and abducted her while she was returning home after school. Assisant Sub-Inspector Gurmit Singh said a case under Sections 137 (2) and 87 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered against the accused. The Assisant SubInspector said the police have initiated a hunt to nab the accused. Sukhbir Badal running politics through gangsters, says Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 16 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, accusing him of openly running his politics through gangsters and pushing Punjab towards a dangerous and unacceptable trend. Dhaliwal said during the Tarn Taran byelection, Sukhbir Badal not only gave a ticket to a relative of a notorious gangster, but also fought the entire election on the strength of the gangster’s terror network. He revealed that the gangster, acting on Sukhbir Badal’s directions, allegedly made repeated threat calls to sarpanches, influential villagers and even the AAP candidate, warning them to vote for the Akali Dal or face dire consequences. An FIR regarding these threat calls has already been registered. Dhaliwal said Sukhbir Badal’s actions have inflicted deep wounds on Punjab’s political culture. “Forty to 50 villages were terrorised. Sarpanches were threatened. Voters were intimidated. This is not politics,” he said. Police bust module linked to foreign smuggler, arrest five Tribune News Service Punjab AAP chief spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal addresses mediapersons in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR He said Punjabis, especially Sikhs, must take a serious note of this alarming development. “Akali Dal once represented Panthic values, but today Sukhbir has turned it into a gangster-driven outfit,” Dhaliwal alleged. He demanded that the Chief Minister constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to thoroughly investigate Sukhbir Badal’s alleged links with gangsters, the political use of gangster networks and the threat calls made during the Tarn Taran election. Leaders who patronise gangsters and threaten citizens must face strict legal action and be sent to jail, he said. Dhaliwal stated that despite the atmosphere of fear, the people of Tarn Taran rejected Sukhbir Badal’s “model of terror” and elected the AAP candidate by a margin of 12,000 votes. “This victory proves that Punjabis do not bow before fear,” he added. He warned that Sukhbir Badal is now preparing to expand this gangster model across Punjab, making a highlevel investigation even more urgent. Dhaliwal appealed to the government, media and citizens to ensure such practices never enter state’s politics again. “Punjab has already suffered due to drug mafias and gangsters during previous Akali regimes. We will not let Sukhbir push the youth into another dark era,” added Dhaliwal. Amritsar, November 16 In a major breakthrough against organised crime and cross-border smuggling networks, the Special Cell of Amritsar Rural Police has arrested five associates linked to a UK-based smuggler and recovered a sizeable cache of illegal weapons and live ammunition. Those arrested were identified as Babaldeep Singh, alias Love, a resident of Pakha Tara Singh in Ajnala; Gurpreet Singh from Bhalla Colony, Chheharta; Karanbir Singh, alias Pistol; Prince from Basarke Bhaini in Ajnala; and Rohit from Ajnala. During the operation, the police recovered two 9mm pistols, a double-barrel 12-bore rifle, 10 live cartridges of 12bore and seven live cartridges of 9mm. SP (Detective), Amritsar Rural, Aditya Warrier said the accused were working at the behest of their foreign-based handler and were actively involved in supplying illegal weapons and strengthening the smuggling network. The arms and ammunition seized by the Amritsar Rural Police on Sunday. He added that several more associates linked to this module have been identified and raids are underway at different locations to trace them. DSP (Detective) Gurinderpal Singh said preliminary interrogation of the arrested individuals has yielded important information regarding the supply chain, financial channels and communication methods used by the gang. Police teams are now working Cong leader Anil Joshi calls for protest Kirtan Darbar held to mark ninth tomorrow over Ranjit Avenue garbage dump Sikh Guru’s martyrdom day anniv Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 16 Former cabinet minister and Congress leader Anil Joshi has announced a two-hour protest on Tuesday against the garbage dump at Ranjit Avenue. Joshi visited the site in front of the Housing Board Colony and went live on social media to make the announcement. He also recorded and shared visuals of the fire burning at the dump, alleging that continuous waste burning is putting the health of nearby residents at serious risk. Joshi said the garbage dump near Government ITI College, Amrit Anand Park and the Housing Board Colony has been repeatedly opposed by residents, yet civic authorities have failed to act. He alleged that wet garbage mixed with burning plastic bags is releasing toxic fumes, forcing people in the surrounding posh localities to breathe polluted air. The After a fire broke out at a garbage dump, former cabinet minister and Congress leader Anil Joshi (right) visits an illegal garbage dump and raises concern at Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar. situation, he added, is particularly harmful for children studying in nearby schools. He claimed that the smoke and foul smell are spreading far beyond the immediate neighbourhood, and that even visitors inside Trilium Mall are finding it difficult to breathe. Joshi said that during his tenure he had developed Amrit Anand Park and improved sanitation in the area, but accused the current government and the Municipal Corporation of ignoring public health concerns. Residents who met Joshi complained that their family members often fall ill due to the pollution caused by the dump. Joshi blamed the Punjab Government, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation and the Amritsar Improvement Trust for negligence, saying that repeated complaints have led to no action. Woman gets new lease of life after complex brain surgery Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 16 A team of doctors at Livasa Hospital here has successfully performed a highly complex neurosurgical procedure, giving a 54-year-old woman a new lease of life. The patient had been diagnosed with a fourth ventricle choroid plexus papilloma, a rare tumour lodged deep inside the brain. She was brought to the hospital with severe headaches, persistent vomiting, blurred vision, difficulty in walking and rapidly worsening consciousness. A multidisciplinary team stabilised her condition and carried out detailed evaluations. Sharing details of the case, Dr Amanjot Singh Boparai, consultant neurosurgery, said advanced imaging confirmed the presence of a tumour that required urgent and meticulous surgical intervention. Dr Manish Gupta, consultant critical care, supervised the patient’s critical condition and ensured she remained stable during the course of treatment, he added. To manage the rising intracranial pressure, the patient first underwent a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt procedure. This was followed by the microscopic excision of the tumour, executed with the help of the latest neuronavigation and intraoperative ultrasound technologies to maximise precision and safety. Despite the tumour’s challenging location near vital brain structures, the surgery was completed successfully. The woman showed significant improvement soon after the procedure and was discharged within 12 days. She is now fully conscious, walking independently, has regained her vision, and has resumed her routine household activities. Calling the case exceptionally challenging, Dr Boparai said the deep-seated tumour required careful planning and execution to preserve essential neurological functions. Urging residents to unite, he appealed to all nearby colonies to join the protest. The demonstration will be held on Tuesday from 10 am to 12 noon as a warning to the government and civic bodies. Joshi said that if the issue is not resolved, the agitation will be intensified, and symbolic actions such as blocking the municipal corporation’s gates may also be considered. Amritsar, November 16 A special Kirtan Darbar was organised to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur at Ranjit Avenue here on Sunday. A large number of devotees gathered and listened to divine hymns for several hours. As per the directions of the Punjab Government, the district administration is holding Kirtan Darbars and religious gatherings at all historical places connected with Guru Tegh Bahadur. Today’s event was also part of this ongoing programme to spread awareness about the ninth Sikh Guru’s supreme sacrifice. The programme was conducted under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Dalvinderjit Singh, along with ADC (Urban Development) Amandeep Kaur and SDM Gursimran Singh, who, along with their teams, performed seva to ensure smooth arrangements. Duringtheevent,ajathaofBhai Jatinder Singh Bharatgarh recited Dhadhi Vaaran. Later, the Tarn Taran, November 16 The poor performance of Congress candidate Karanbir Singh Burj in the Tarn Taran by-election has triggered widespread discussion across the constituency, with many party workers expressing disappointment. Karanbir Singh finished in fourth place, securing only around 15,000 votes, compared to the more than 42,000 votes polled by the winning Aam Aadmi Party candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu. He also failed to save his security deposit. Although Tarn Taran is known for its Panthic background, Congress candidate Dr c m y b Dharamvir Agnihotri had won the seat in the 2017 elections. When contacted, Karanbir Singh admitted he had not expected such a poor result. While refraining from giving detailed reasons for the defeat, he said the party suffered because most workers had dispersed after the 2024 elections and no leader had been appointed as the Halqa (constituency) in-charge. He said the party must work harder in the future. Similar views were shared by former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Gurbaz Singh Gill, who blamed the leadership’s failure to appoint a constituency in-charge as a major factor behind the set- Gangster’s aides fire at immigration firm office Our Correspondent A Kirtan Darbar was held at Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar on Sunday. hazuri ragis from Darbar Sahib, ledbyBhaiTaarBalbirSingh,performed kirtan and inspired the sangat to remember Guru Tegh Bahadur’s unmatched sacrifice. Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO paid tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur and the great Sikh martyrs — Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Diala — who sacrificed their lives to protect religious freedom and human rights. He said everyone should take inspiration from their life and teachings. The minister said a special Nagar Kirtan will enter Amritsar on November 20 via Mehta Chowk. After an overnight halt, it will leave for Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 21. He appealed to all residents to come forward and give a warm welcome to the Nagar Kirtan. On the occasion, several dignitaries, including Mayor Jatinder Singh Moti Bhatia, senior district officials, police officers, and prominent personalities, were present. Event organisers honoured members of the administration and other guests for their support. — TNS Poor performance of Cong candidate in bypoll sparks dissent within party ranks Gurbaxpuri on verifying the forward and backward links to fully dismantle the network. A case has been registered at the Ajnala police station under relevant sections and further investigation is in progress. back. He added that the late announcement of the Congress candidate, in contrast to other parties, also contributed to the poor outcome. With more than five aspirants seeking the ticket, he said, those who were denied nominations did not campaign wholeheartedly for Karanbir Singh. Gill added that one senior leader even quit the party midcampaign after failing to secure the ticket. Another aspirant, Avtar Singh Taneja of Tarn Taran town, said he too had not expected such a humiliating defeat. He attributed the setback partly to the candidate being a new face, and partly to the long-standing absence of a constituency in-charge, which led many party workers—especially in Tarn Taran city, home to about 55,000 voters—to drift to rival parties. Taneja said comments made by state party president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring regarding former Union Minister Buta Singh further weakened the party’s standing within the SC community. Political expert Advocate Stalinjit Singh Sandhu said the party’s weak organisational structure at the grassroots, poor public connect and the lack of an established leader in the area were key reasons for the loss. He added that internal factionalism continues to drag the party down. Tarn Taran, November 16 Two operatives of gangster Jaisal Chambal fired at Five Star Immigration Visa Consultancy Centre situated near the local bus stand here on Friday. They were demanding an extortion amount of Rs 50 lakh from the owner of the immigration centre, which he did not pay to them. Were demanding ~50 lakh in extortion money from owner Parminder Singh, a resident of Bharowal village, and owner of the immigration centre, informed the local police that at the time of the incident he was away to Chandigarh and was informed of the incident by his assistant. Parminder Singh informed the police that he was being repeatedly threatened by Jaisal Chambal to pay him the extortion amount, which he had refused to pay. Parminder Singh, in a complaint to the local police, stated that two unidentified persons came to his immigration centre on a motorcycle, one of whom was masked, and they opened fire and fled. Immediately after this, Jaisal called him on his mobile phone and threatened him with dire consequences if he did not pay the extortion amount. The police have recovered three empty cartridges from the spot. ASI Kulbir Singh said a case has been registered against Jaisal Chambal and his two unknown operatives under Sections 308 (4), 351 (3) and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).