13122025-ATR-01.qxd 12/12/2025 11:19 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MULTIPLE SMUGGLING ATTEMPTS FOILED IN 24 HOURS NEW INIATIVES LAUNCHED TO PROMOTE SIKH HISTORY ACTOR GURPREET GHUGGI IS ENJOYING A BUSY CALENDAR The BSF arrested one smuggler and recovered two high-end drones along the International Border . P2 The state government has announced multiple initiatives to strengthen the historical heritage of the state. P3 A significant staple in Punjabi cinema, Ghuggi has lived his professional inning on his own terms. P4 » » » MAX 22°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 23°C | MIN 6°C SUNSET SATURDAY 5.27 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 7.21 AM SATURDAY | 13 DECEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Campaigning for rural body polls ends in Amritsar, Tarn Taran dists Tribune Reporters Punjab AAP president Aman Arora and Harbhajan Singh ETO during a rally ahead of the rural body elections near Amritsar on Friday. AAP leaders hit out at Oppn; seek support for Talbir Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 12 Cabinet Minister and AAP Punjab president Aman Arora, along with Harbhajan Singh ETO, on Friday addressed a poll rally in Majitha and Jandiala Guru in support of Aam Aadmi Party candidates and constituency in-charge Talbir Singh Gill for the upcoming Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections. Both ministers launched sharp attacks on the opposition parties, especially the Congress and the Akali Dal, while highlighting the achievements of the Mannled government. Harbhajan Singh criticised the Congress Party, given the current in-party sling fest, stating that the Congress boycotting the elections in the Majitha constituency clearly shows their fear of defeat. He alleged that the Congress and the Akali Dal have secretly joined hands in the constituency and are campaigning together, but said that this time the people would not let their tactics succeed. He claimed that under the leadership of Talbir Singh Gill, the party would create history by winning all 33 Block Samiti seats and all four Zila Parishad seats. Aman Arora, in his address, said the previous Akali government had betrayed the people, Punjab’s youth and the farming community. Speaking on the issue of canal water, he said that the opposition did nothing except play politics over the SYL issue, while the Mann government has laid thousands of kilometres of underground pipelines to ensure water reaches the fields. Reiterating the Mann government’s cashless health scheme, Arora said that in the coming two to three months, the Punjab Government is going to provide every family with free medical treatment up to Rs10 lakh (cashless health scheme), ensuring that no poor person will have to spend from their pocket for medical care. Arora also addressed the issue of security after several schools received bomb threats in Amritsar, saying that the police and government agencies are monitoring the situation and that there is no need for panic. Amritsar, December 12 Election campaigning for the zila parishad and block samiti elections in Amritsar district came to an end this evening. On the final day of canvassing, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO and AAP leader Talbir Singh Gill addressed rallies in Jandiala Guru and Majitha in support of their party’s candidates. In the Majitha constituency, MLA Ganieve Kaur Majithia campaigned for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Pawanpreet Kaur Nimbrewind, who is contesting from zila parishad zone Tarsikka. She held meetings in several villages and appealed to voters to back SAD’s zila parishad nominee Jarnail Singh Sandhu from the Kathunangal zone and block samiti candidate Sunita from the Pakharpua zone. Amritsar district comprises 24 zila parishad zones and 195 zones under 10 block samitis. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has gained a significant edge ahead of polling, having already won 63 block samiti zones unopposed out of 195. The party has also been declared elected without contest in three of the 24 zila parishad zones. With these unopposed victories, 65 3,000 cops to ensure fair, peaceful elections Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 12 Over 3,000 police personnel, including senior officers, have been deployed to ensure peaceful conduct of the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections scheduled for Sunday. The police have identified over 250 polling stations as critical or sensitive, where additional forces will be stationed to prevent any untoward incident. SSP Amritsar Rural Sohail Qasim Mir on Friday briefed the force at a meeting held at the Daburji police lines, issuing detailed instructions to SHOs and other officials. Speaking to the media, the SSP said adequate deployment had been ensured at sensitive booths and warned SSP Rural Suhail Qasim Mir passes instructions related to the polls in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR that no one would be allowed to disrupt law and order. Meanwhile, the district administration has imposed prohibitory orders within a 100-metre radius of all counting centres. 22-yr-old woman ends life; probe under way Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 12 A married woman ended her life at Mandir Wala bazaar on Sultanwind Road here on Thursday. The family members of the victim have accused her in-laws of harassment that ultimately led her to take the extreme step. The police have started a probe while no arrest has been made till now. The deceased has been identified as Anmoldeep Kaur (22). The police have recorded the statement of Manmohan Singh, father of the victim, and initiated further probe. The police said Manmohan Singh stated that Anmoldeep Kaur was married to a youth in Amritsar around two years ago. He alleged that her in-laws used to harass her for not having a child even after two years of marriage. He said she had already told her mother about her harassment at the hands of the in-laws over the issue. The police said the victim committed suicide by hanging herself, though the family members alleged that she was murdered. Investigating officer Ashwani Kumar said the probe was on in the case and the body of the deceased was handed over to the family after a postmortem here today. Voting for 24 Zila Parishad zones — including Ajnala, Chamiari, Jasraur, Lopoke, Chowgawan, Vichhova, Harsha Chhina, Jagagir, Khasa, Varpal Kalan, Bandala, Jandiala Guru, Majitha, Bhangali Kalan, Kathunangal, Tarsikka, Tangra, Wadala Kalan, Beas, Mehta, Attari, Ramdass, Khurmanian and Muradpura — and 10 Block Samiti committees — including Ajnala, Attari, Chogawan, Harsha Chhina, Jandiala Guru, Majitha, Majitha-2, Ramdas, Rayya and Verka — will be held on December 14. According to police officials, 750 polling stations have been set up for the elections, of which 255 are classified as critical and 495 as noncritical. All personnel have been briefed thoroughly to ensure free and fair polling. Gazetted officers have been deputed to supervise security arrangements in every zone, while patrolling teams will maintain constant vigil. Police also conducted flag marches in sensitive areas yesterday. Supporters of a candidate during the door-to-door campaigning in Tarn Taran on Friday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI dates elected unopposed include: Sewakpal Singh (Goindwal Sahib), Shobha Kumari (Mundapind), Gurdial Singh (Sarhali Kalan), Rajwinder Kaur (Pakhoke), Darshan Kaur (Sheron), Milkha Singh (Ghariala), Amrik Singh (Mehmoodpura), Jatinder Kaur (Marimegha), Angaddeep Singh (Gaggo Bua), Harjinder Kaur (Kasel), Shushma Rani (Adda Chabal) and Kanwal Gill (Plasaur). The district has 492 villages, 572 panchayats and a voter population of 9,79,593, including 3,38,937 Scheduled Caste voters and 81,588 from Backward Classes, along with other communities. While Patti, Gandiwind and Bhikhiwind saw AAP winning all seats unopposed, two Block Samitis—Nagoke and Chohla Sahib—have not seen even a single unopposed candidate. As a result, 51 candidates are contesting from 16 zones of Chohla Sahib and 55 candidates are in the fray for 15 zones of Nagoke. In Valtoha Block Samiti, which has 18 zones, polling will be held only in the Dasuwal zone, where two candidates are contesting. Polling parties will depart for their respective stations on Saturday. With the formal campaign period now over, candidates have shifted their efforts to direct, door-to-door interactions with voters. candidates remain in the fray for the zila parishad elections and 379 candidates for block samiti seats on December 14. The district administration has completed all preparations for the polls. Polling staff will be dispatched to their respective booths on Saturday, while vote counting will take place on December 17 at designated centres. Tarn Taran: The election campaign for the zila parishad and nine block samitis in Tarn Taran district concluded on Friday evening, ahead of polling on December 14. The district comprises 20 Zila Parishad zones and 165 zones across nine Block Samitis. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has already secured victories in 12 Zila Parishad zones and 98 Block Samiti zones, with its candidates declared elected unopposed. The seven Zila Parishad zones where polling will take place are Bhalaipur Dogran, Naushehra Pannuan, Manochahal Kalan, Kairon, Sabhra, Valtoha and Sursingh, with 16 candidates in Flag march conducted in Tarn Taran GNDU reschedules exams; DC declares dry day for elections Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, December 12 The district police carried out a flag march with heavy force in Tarn Taran on Friday ahead of the upcoming zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections. The march was conducted under the leadership of SSP Surendra Lamba. SP (Headquarters) Sukhninder Singh, along with GOs and SHOs from the subdivision, also participated in the exercise. SSP Lamba urged the public to vote peacefully, freely and fairly to strengthen democracy. He said the initiative was aimed at reinforcing public confidence and ensuring the conduct of fair elections. Amritsar, December 12 The State Election Commission, Punjab, will conduct the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections on December 14, with the results to be declared on December 17. In view of the elections, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has re-scheduled all semester and final examinations earlier slated for December 13 and 15 across its affiliated and constituent colleges. The exams will now be held on January 2 and 3, 2026, respectively. As per directions issued by the Election Commissioner, Punjab, the Excise Commis- the fray. Elections in the Khadoor Sahib zone have been cancelled after all five nominations filed there were rejected during scrutiny. AAP has also swept the Block Samitis of Patti, Gandiwind and Bhikhiwind. All 16 candidates in Patti Block Samiti, home block of Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, were elected unopposed. Similarly, all 23 AAP candidates from Bhikhiwind and all 15 from Gandiwind have been declared winners without contest. The 12 Zila Parishad candi- sioner has declared a dry day in all villages falling under the jurisdiction of zila parishads and panchayat samitis from 00:00 hrs on December 14 to 10:00 hrs on December 15. Acting on these instructions, District Magistrate, Amritsar, Dalwinderjit Singh, exercising powers under Section 54 of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, has imposed a complete ban on the opening of liquor shops, sale of liquor, and storage of liquor on December 14. These restrictions will also apply to hotels, clubs and other licensed premises. For the elections, seven strong rooms and seven counting centres have been established in Amritsar. These include Government College, Ajnala; BBKDAV for Attari; Verka College; Government Nursing College, Medical Enclave; St. Soldier Elite Convent School, Jandiala Guru; Mai Bhago Government Polytechnic College for Girls, Majitha Road; and Srimata Ganga Kanya Senior Secondary School, Baba Bakala. The District Magistrate has also prohibited the assembly or activity of five or more persons within a radius of 100 metres around the strong rooms and counting centres from 4 pm on December 14 until December 17. This restriction will not apply to continued on page 2 Universal Health Coverage Day observed in city Illegal colonies razed on Fatehgarh Churian Road Amritsar, December 12 The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Amritsar, on Thursday conducted a series of awareness and legal literacy programmes across government schools and various localities in the district to mark Universal Health Coverage Day. Presiding over the events, Civil Judge-cum-Secretary, DLSA Amritsar, Amardeep Singh Banis stressed that healthcare is a fundamental right and emphasised the need for legal literacy to help citizens access health-related schemes and entitlements. Students took part in interactive sessions on universal health coverage, legal rights and government initiatives. A painting competition on the theme “Health for All” was also held. — TNS Amritsar, December 12 The Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) carried out a demolition drive against newly developed unauthorised colonies along the Fatehgarh Churian Road here on Friday. The action was taken under the supervision of District Town Planner (Regulatory) Gursewak Singh Aulakh, following the directions of ADA Chief Administrator Nitesh Kumar Jain. According to officials, the regulatory wing demolished illegal colonies coming up in Nangli, Muradpura and Ball Khurd villages under Tehsil Amritsar-2. Notices under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act (PAPRA), 1995, had already been issued to halt construction, but developers allegedly contin- Tribune News Service c m y b A demolition drive underway at an illegal colony along the Amritsar-Fatehgarh Churian Road in Amritsar on Friday. ued work in violation of government norms. Officials said that developers were developing colonies without the mandatory approvals from PUDA and other departments, openly flouting planning regulations. The drive is part of the government’s effort to curb haphazard and illegal urban expansion around Amritsar. The regulatory wing added that an unauthorised colony, The Urban Heights (AGM Heights Pvt. Ltd.), at Muradpura had been demolished earlier as well. However, the coloniser allegedly resumed development work, following which the newly developed structures were once again razed. Officials warned that as per the amended PAPRA Act1995 (2024), individuals involved in developing illegal colonies can face an imprisonment of five to 10 years and fines ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 5 crore. Based on revenue records, the police have been asked to initiate the required legal action against landowners and developers involved in the illegal projects. So far, the ADA has carried out demolition in 47 unauthorised colonies across the district. The details of these colonies have been uploaded on the ADA website for public awareness. The department has also written to the police seeking the registration of FIRs against the developers of 33 unauthorised colonies and to the Tehsildar to refrain from registering sale deeds or agreements for plots in such colonies. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has been instructed not to issue electricity connections in these areas. The regulatory wing said it continues to conduct field checks and issue notices under the relevant Act, ensuring that work in unauthorised colonies is stopped and the police officials concerned are asked to proceed with legal action. The ADA appealed to the public not to purchase plots in illegal colonies that do not have the approval from PUDA.