26032026-ATR-01.qxd 3/25/2026 11:59 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 29°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 16°C POLICE CONDUCT CHECKS ACROSS SENSITIVE AREAS HEALTH STAFF PLAN STIR, CITE GOVT INACTION ON SALARY PROMISE SAVOUR INDIAN COMFORT FOODS AT CHHOTA BANARAS The Amritsar police conducted extensive checking across crowded and sensitive areas of the city. P2 Workers have expressed disappointment over the govt’s failure to implement the promised 20 per cent salary hike. P3 Chhota Banarasin Sector 8, Chandigarh, offers channa bhatura, aloo puriand kachoriwith aloo sabzi and lassi. P4 » » » SUNSET THURSDAY 6.45 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.25 AM THURSDAY | 26 MARCH 2026 | AMRITSAR Marginal improvement in pollution levels fail to ensure clean air in city Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Counter Intelligence (CI) team personnel with the seized heroin in Amritsar on Wednesday. Police bust smuggling module, arrest two with 7 kg heroin Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 25 In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Punjab Police has busted a narcotics smuggling module with the arrest of two operatives and the recovery of 7 kg of heroin from their possession. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the accused have been identified as Inderjeet Singh, a resident of Kalsian Khurd in Tarn Taran, and Ravinder Sharma, a resident of Gurbaksh Nagar in the Nawan Kot area of Amritsar. The police also impounded a car and a motorcycle, which were allegedly being used to transport the contraband, he added. “Preliminary investigations suggest that both accused were actively involved in transporting heroin consignments and are suspected to be part of a larger narcotics network operating in the region,” said the DGP . Sharing details of the operation, police officials said the CI team received specific inputs about the movement of the suspects, who were reportedly on their way to deliver a consignment near Adda Bohru on the AmritsarJhabal road. Acting on the tip-off, police teams set up Hit by tractor, man dies on spot; driver absconds Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, March 25 A man was killed on the spot, while his wife and two children were injured in a road accident on the Tarn TaranChabal road near Noordi village on Tuesday. According to information, the deceased has been identified as Randhir Singh (32), a resident of Shukerchak village under the jurisdiction of the Sarai Amanat Khan police station. He was travelling to Tarn Taran along with his wife Komalpreet Kaur, son Shubhdeep Singh (one-and-a-half years old), and daughter Khushpreet Kaur (3). They were hit by a tractor driver near Noordi village, causing all four to fall onto the road. Randhir Singh died on the spot due to a severe head injury. His wife Komalpreet Kaur and children (Shubhdeep Singh and Khushpreet Kaur) were admitted to the Civil Hospital in Tarn Taran, where their condition is reported to be stable. The local police have registered a case against the tractor-trolley driver, Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Doburji, under Sections 106(1) and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The case was filed by investigating officer ASI Gurbhej Singh. The ASI said that raids are being conducted to arrest the accused, who fled the spot after the accident, leaving behind his tractor-trolley. The police have impounded the vehicle and initiated further investigation. checkpoints and intercepted the suspects. During the search, 4 kg of heroin was recovered from beneath the driver’s seat of the car driven by Inderjeet Singh, while 3 kg of heroin was seized from Ravinder Sharma. The police said further investigations are underway to establish both forward and backward linkages in the case, with more arrests and recoveries likely in the coming days. A case has been registered under Sections 21, 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act at the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) police station in Amritsar. Amritsar, March 25 Even as a marginal dip in pollution levels has helped Amritsar secure the 101st position in global air quality rankings, the figures offer only limited comfort as the city continues to struggle for clean air. According to data released by IQAir, the city recorded an annual average PM2.5 level of 46.6 micrograms per cubic metre in 2025, down from 57.3 μg/m³ in 2024. The improvement places Amritsar in the 100-200 bracket globally. IQAir, considered a reliable global air monitoring agency, released rankings for 9,446 cities across 143 countries. While authorities may highlight the decline as progress, experts caution that pollution levels remain dangerously high and far above limits prescribed by the World Health Organisation. Parkash Singh Bhatty, president of the Pollution Control Committee, an NGO, said the improvement could be temporary and influenced by weather patterns rather than sustained policy measures. While authorities may highlight the decline as progress, experts caution that pollution levels remain dangerously high and far above limits prescribed by the World Health Organisation. Key contributors to pollution — including vehicular emissions, industrial activity, construction dust, and stubble burning in the region — continue to persist with little structural change. He added that rising pollu- Seeking blessings Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh (2nd from left), with Air Chief Marshal Harvey Smyth (2nd from right), Chief of Air Staff, Royal Air Force, pay obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR RELATED STORY ON PAGE 2 Neha Saini Tribune News Service African students at Khalsa College of Engineering and Technology in Amritsar on Wednesday, VISHAL KUMAR South Sudan, said the adjustment is more cultural than personal. “African cuisine is largely based on pot cooking. We use flour-based staples, usually made from millets or maize, with mild spices, and prefer stews or boiled food. Punjabi dishes, on the other hand, are layered and rich, often cooked with oil,” he c m y b most critical threat, as it directly affects respiratory health and overall well-being. Air quality is measured using the air quality index (AQI), which categorises pollution levels on a scale from 0 to 500. An AQI between 0 and Man ends life, names accused in video clip Food, music help African students navigate life Amritsar, March 25 Food plays a significant role in the cultural adjustment of students from African countries who come to Punjab for higher education. Despite its popularity and rich culinary reputation, Amritsar’s famed street food poses a cultural challenge for nearly 400 African students studying in the city. “It’s a bit overwhelming for our taste, especially the spices and method of cooking,” said Isaac, a Bachelor of Science (Cardiac Care) student at Khalsa College of Engineering and Technology, Ranjit Avenue. He explained that their initial struggle with Punjabi flavours is not due to dislike but differences in culinary traditions. Having lived in Amritsar for the past two years, Isaac, who is from tion levels in soil, water, and air are emerging as a major public health concern in the region, with experts warning of an increase in allergies and lifestyle-related diseases. Among these, air pollution has been identified as the 50 is considered “good” and safe for all, while 51 to 100 falls under the “moderate” category, posing minor risks to sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions. Levels between 101 and 150 are deemed unhealthy for vulnerable populations, who are advised to limit outdoor exposure. However, the situation becomes alarming when AQI crosses 150. Readings above 300 fall into the “hazardous” category, posing serious health risks to the general population. Notably, Amritsar has recorded AQI levels beyond 300 on several occasions, raising concerns among environmentalists and health experts, Bhatty pointed out. “The ranking may have improved, but the air has not become safe,” said Indu Aurora, executive member of Voice of Amritsar, an NGO, and district in charge of Clean Air Punjab, an organisation working to improve air quality in the state. She stressed that incremental gains should not distract from the larger crisis. She added that without continued on page 2 said. Despite this, students have developed some local favourites. “We like gol-gappas and some of the fishbased dishes available here,” shared Pritchard Jamyure, a student from Zimbabwe pursuing engineering in the city. Many African students prefer cooking their own meals in the small kitchens provided on campus. They recreate a sense of home through food, forming close-knit communities and preparing familiar dishes using locally available ingredients or substitutes. “We prepare sadza or fufustyle dishes, where maize flour is cooked with meat or vegetables as a pot meal. It’s a staple across the African continent,” said Pamely from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who is pursuing a BBA at KCET. The city hosts a considerable continued on page 2 Amritsar, March 25 Days after Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, district magistrate, Punjab Warehousing Corporation ended his life by consuming celphos tablets and shot a video before taking the extreme step, another resident ended his life in a similar fashion here on Tuesday. He made a video after consuming poison and accused an alleged drug peddler for his taking the extreme step. The incident also raises questions the impact of the Punjab Government’s flagship programme ‘ Yudh Nashiyan Virudh’. The deceased, Hardavinder Singh, of Dharar village falling under the Jandiala Guru police station, accused Harpreet Singh, alias Ghulla, of the same village of harassment and exploitation in the video clip recorded before his death. 984 gm heroin, drone seized along border Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 25 The Border Security Force (BSF) has foiled a cross-border smuggling attempt by recovering a drone along with a consignment of heroin near the Indo-Pak border. According to official information, the seizure was made by troops of the 181 Battalion BSF deployed at the Rajatal Border Outpost (BOP) during a search operation in the area. The operation was launched following specific inputs and heightened surveillance in the border belt. During the search, BSF personnel recovered a DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone and a packet containing suspected heroin. The contraband, weighing approximately 984 grams, was also seized. Officials said the drone is suspected to have been used by cross-border smugglers to drop the narcotics consignment on the Indian side of the border. No arrests have been made so far, and the identity of the accused remains unknown. On the complaint of Ram Chandra, officiating Company Commander of ‘A’ Company, 181 Battalion BSF a case has , been registered at Gharinda police station under Sections 21-C, 61, and 85 of the NDPS Act, along with Sections 25, 26, and 29 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024. The police have launched further investigations to identify the handlers and trace the network involved in the smuggling racket. Officials said strict vigil is being maintained along the border to thwart such attempts. The police said he was rushed to Guru Ram Dass Hospital in Amritsar, where he succumbed on March 24. The police said that the victim recorded a video in which he alleged that Harpreet Singh, alias Ghulla, of the same village had ruined him financially. In the clip, the deceased claimed that the accused had taken away all his belongings, got his land sold, and pushed him into drug addiction, leaving him distressed. Following the incident, the police have registered a case under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (abetment of suicide) at the Jandiala police station. The police said the accused was allegedly involved in the illegal trade of narcotic substances in the area. However, no arrest had been made till now. — TNS Minor girl molested by van driver Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 25 A 13-year-old school girl was allegedly molested by a van driver. The accused identified as Pargat Singh was arrested and a case under relevant provisions of the Bharitya Nayaya Sanhita and Section 8 of the POCSO Act was registered against him. The victim’s mother in her complaint to the Jhander police station alleged that yesterday, her daughter had gone to school and returned by 2pm. She said her daughter was frightened. She said when she asked her about the reason, the victim cried and told her that while returning from school when all the school students had alighted, the accused driver stopped continued on page 2