27122025-ATR-01.qxd 12/27/2025 12:09 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune LOOKING BACK 2025: FLIGHTS BROUGHT BACK INDIANS FROM US PALESTINIAN ACTOR BAKRI DIES AGED 72 IN ISRAEL Mohammad Bakri’s career spanned across decades and he rose to prominence with Beyond the Walls (1984). P4 FOG IN MORNING MAX 20°C | MIN 6°C YESTERDAY MAX 20°C | MIN 8°C A DEFINING YEAR FOR NEWCOMERS The first such flight touched down Amritsar airport on February 5, 2025, carrying 104 deported Indian nationals. P2 FORECAST If there’s one thing 2025 quietly proved, it's this: Bollywood debuts aren't what they used to be. P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 5.34 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 7.28 AM » SATURDAY | 27 DECEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Murder bid suspect injured in police encounter during weapon recovery DIG Sandeep Goel inspects anti-drone system Tribune News Service CPI leaders allege Centre pursuing ‘anti-people’ policies Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 26 The Amritsar police on Saturday claimed to have cracked a firing case reported in the Chheharta area four days ago and arresting the prime accused, identified as Amritpal Singh, alias Roni. However, he was allegedly injured in the retaliation after he opened fire on a police party during the recovery of the weapon used in the crime. Jaspal Singh, a resident of Guru Ramdas Colony, Chheharta, was present at the shop of his friend Simranjit when the accused along with his accomplice Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Niana, fired at him leaving him injured. Sharing details, Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that the incident was the outcome of an old enmity linked to some ‘compromise’ issue involving a mutual acquaintance. On December 22, Amritpal along with Harpreet Singh reached the spot in a car. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar along with other officers visits the encounter spot in the Chheharta area in Amritsar on Friday. Harpreet was driving the vehicle, while Amritpal Singh, armed with a pistol, fired two shots at Jaspal Singh. The bullets struck the complainant on the leg leaving him seriously injured. The victim managed to save his life by taking shelter inside a nearby house, while the accused fled the scene after issuing threats. The Chheharta police had registered an FIR on charges of attempt to murder and under the Arms Act and an investigation was initiated. During the probe, the main accused, Amritpal, a resident of Narayangarh, Chheharta, who is at present residing at Kale Ghanupur, was arrested. Following this disclosure, a police team led by ASI Talwinder Singh proceeded to recover the pistol used in the crime near a garbage dumping site near the Narayangarh cremation ground. Bhullar said the accused suddenly picked up the pistol and fired at ASI Jaibir Singh accompanying the police team in order to escape from the scene. He said in self-defence, ASI Talwinder Singh retaliated by firing a round from his service carbine, which hit the accused in the right leg. The accused was overpowered and taken into custody. He was provided first-aid on the spot and later shifted to a hospital for medical treatment. A fresh case of murder bid and under the Arms Act was registered against him in this connection. During the operation, the police recovered a .30 bore pistol and the car (XUV 500) used in the crime. Amritpal works as a delivery boy with Blinkit and had a case registered against him under the NDPS Act on April 2023 by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force in Mohali regarding the seizure of 530 grams of heroin in April 2023. Meanwhile, raids were on to nab his co-accused Harpreet Singh. He too had a case registered against him under the NDPS Act. Amritsar, December 26 DIG, Border Range, Sandeep Goel and SSP , Amritsar rural, Sohail Qasim Mir on Saturday inspected the anti-drone system installed by the Punjab Government in the Amritsar border belt to counter the smuggling of drugs, arms and ammunition from Pakistan. Goel said it was a routine checking to check the working of the anti-drone system. “Till now, we have only one anti-drone system in the entire border range, but more such systems would be installed at the Punjab border belt in the coming future,” he pointed out. Meanwhile, the Amritsar Rural Police have seized a pistol smuggled from Pakistan via drones in the Gharinda area. Police teams searched the area after a tipoff on the movement of drones there. Further probe was on to identify the person who was to retrieve the weapon. Tarn Taran , December 26 Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal, national leader of the CPI, condemned the alleged antipeople policies of the Union government and called upon farmers and other sections of the working class to unite and fight for their rights. He was here on Friday to address the district delegate session of the party in which the district-level officer-bearers were elected and the policies of the Union and the state government were discussed. Dhaliwal, in his address, said the CPI played a remarkable role in the movement for independence and led the struggle of workers, farmers and other downtrodden sections of society for the equality and prosperity of working classes after the independence. He said that the party managed to achieve great victories in the struggle launched for the working classes. Another national leader of the CPI, Prithipal SAY CENTRE FAVOURING CORPORATE HOUSES ■ The Union and the state governments were completely against the working classes. CPI leaders said the Union Gvernment was making laws in favour of corporate houses and breaking laws made to protect the interests of labourers and farmers. Marimegha, said that the Union and the state governments were completely against the working classes. The leaders said that the Union government was making laws in favour of corporate houses and breaking laws made to protect the interests of labourers and farmers. On the occasion, Davinder Sohal was elected as the district secretary, Balkar Singh Valtoha and Gurdial Singh Khadoor Sahib as the deputy secretary and Gurpreet Singh Gandiwind as the treasurer. Other leaders of the party also addressed the gathering on the occasion. Nagar kirtan taken out to celebrate Guru 3 teachers win Wipro Earthian Award 2025 Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary in city Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 26 The birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, along with the remembrance of the supreme sacrifices of the four Sahibzadas, was marked across Amritsar with a series of religious, social and cultural programmes held with deep devotion and enthusiasm. In this connection, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee organised a grand nagar kirtan from Akal Takht Sahib. Led by the Panj Piaras, the nagar kirtan was formally flagged off after the holy saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was ceremonially placed in the palanquin by Giani Parvinderpal Singh, granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib. Gatka parties displayed traditional martial skills, while shabadi jathas recited hymns in praise of the Guru. Addressing the sangat, Giani Parvinderpal Singh extended Woman raped, case filed Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 26 A married woman was allegedly raped by a youth by pointing a sharp-edged weapon at her at Bal Kalan village here. The incident occurred on December 23, but a complaint was lodged with the police on Thursday. In her complaint to the police, the 27-year-old victim said that on Tuesday, she was cleaning the house when the accused, identified as Joban, alias Manna, barged into the house with a sharp-edged weapon. She alleged the accused threatened to kill her in case she raised an alarm or told anyone about this. She alleged the accused forcibly raped her. The police have registered a case and launched a probe. A nagar kirtan being taken out by devotees in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR greetings on the Prakash Purb and said that the life of Guru Gobind Singh is unparalleled and continues to inspire humanity. He urged devotees to follow the path of Khande di Pahul and remain firmly connected with Gurbani and the Sikh way of life. The nagar kirtan passed through various areas of the city like the Ghanta Ghar Plaza, and Mai Sewa bazaar, Kathian Wala bazaar, Papran Wala bazaar, Bansan Wala bazaar, Chowk Chhatti Khui, Chaul Mandi, Dal Mandi, Dhab Wasti Ram, Jaura Peepal, Bazaar Lohara, Chowk Lachhmansar and Chowk Baba Sahib, where devotees welcomed it warmly. Senior functionaries of the SGPC, officials of Darbar Sahib and a large number of devotees participated in the procession. Amritsar, December 26 As the curtains draw on 2025, three government school teachers from Amritsar district have ended the year on a high by winning the Wipro Earthian Award 2025 in the state category. The annual Wipro Earthian Awards are presented to schools, educational institutions and educators for their commendable work in sustainability and environmental education. Sanjeev Kumar, vocational lecturer (horticulture) at Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Jabbowal, and Palwinder Kaur, science mistress at Government Senior Secondary School, Kot Khalsa, received the award for their impactful work under the waste management theme. Both teachers have been working consistently on sustainable waste management initiatives along with teams of students. Another teacher, Shubhkiran, science mistress at Government Girls Senior Secondary School (GGSSS), Nawankot, was Sanjeev Kumar Palwinder Kaur Shubhkiran honoured for her project under the biodiversity theme. Sanjeev Kumar has been actively guiding students in sustainability-based projects with a strong emphasis on practical learning and community awareness, particularly in agriculture and farm waste management. Shubhkiran has been promoting ecological sensitivity among students through biodiversity-centred initiatives such as community organic gardens and dry and wet waste management. Meanwhile, Palwinder Kaur has been encouraging scientific temper and responsible waste management practices through student-led environ- mental projects. According to the recognition letter, the Wipro Earthian Award recognises innovative, research-based projects that promote environmental sustainability, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving among school students. The award is supported by Wipro Limited and implemented in Punjab in collaboration with the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST). The award-winning projects focused on sustainable waste practices and biodiversity conservation through student-led research, community engagement, and hands-on learning. The achievement highlights the growing contribution of government school teachers from Punjab to national-level sustainability initiatives. Each teacher will receive a cash prize along with certificates for their respective teams of students. “Such recognitions inspire both teachers and students to actively contribute towards environmental conservation and sustainable development. As teachers, we hope this not only enhances academic standing at the national level but also reaffirms the importance of experiential and sustainability-driven education in government schools,” said Sanjeev Kumar. Alert BSF personnel City remembers supreme sacrifices of four Sahibzadas seize 767 gm of ICE Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, December 26 The Khalra police and the BSF in a joint search operation launched on Thursday in the fields of a famer at Dall village recovered 737 grams of ICE, which was wrapped in a packet. Sub-Inspector (SI) Sahib Singh, SHO, Khalra, said he received information in this regard which he shared with BSF officials and launched the search operation. The joint teams of the BSF and the police recovered a packet, weighing around 816 grams, from the fields of a farmer, Gursewak Singh. When the packet was opened, it contained 737 grams of ICE. The police have registered a DRUG WAS FOUND FROM AGRI FIELD ■ Sub-Inspector (SI) Sahib Singh, SHO, Khalra, said he received information in this regard which he shared with BSF officials and launched the search operation. The joint teams of the BSF and the police recovered a packet, weighing around 816 grams, from the fields of a farmer, Gursewak Singh. When the packet was opened, it contained 737 grams of ICE. case under Sections 22, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and Sections 10, 11 and 12 of the Aircraft Act, 1934. The SHO said the drug was dropped by a drone, which came from the Pakistan side. The police have started an investigation to trace the accused. Amritsar, December 26 Separate programmes were organised across the city on Friday to commemorate the supreme sacrifices of the four Sahibzadas. Akal Purakh Ki Fauj organised the “Galwakri Abhiyan” programme titled “Char Sahibzade: Our Heritage, Our Family” at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, New Amritsar. A range of competitions, including turban-tying, poetry recitation, Bhujangi Khalsa events and tug-of-war, were organised, with nearly 1,000 children participating. Addressing the gathering, advocate Jaswinder Singh said that young children dressed in Khalsa attire were living proof of being the true heirs of the Sahibzadas. He appealed to parents to edu- c m y b Children take part in the turban-tying competition during an event titled, 'Sada Virsa Sada Parwaar', organised in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR cate their children about the glorious history and heritage of the Sikh community so that they grow up with pride in their Sikh identity. Former jathedar Giani Kewal Singh informed the sangat that a door-to-door questionnaire campaign is being conducted across Punjab and several other states to connect families with Sikh history and values. All participating children were presented with school bags, while winners of various competitions were awarded smart watches, wall clocks and other prizes. City MC Mayor Jatinder Singh also addressed the children and their parents. Members of the gurdwara management committee and several social activists extended full support to the programme. Meanwhile, former Improvement Trust chairman and senior Congress leader Dinesh Bassi organised a programme titled “Dastar Di Shaan” at Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Hall in East Mohan Nagar. Turban-tying competitions were conducted in two age groups, with more than 100 children participating enthusiastically. Winners were awarded cash prizes, while all participants received certificates and medals. Speaking on the occasion, Dinesh Bassi said the sacrifices of the four Sahibzadas can never be forgotten and must be passed on to future generations.