09042026-ATR-01.qxd 4/9/2026 12:22 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY HEALTH UNION SUBMITS MEMO, DEMANDS MOBILE ALLOWANCE HEALTH DEPT WARNS OF SURGE IN SEASONAL DISEASES SAVOUR AUTHENTIC KASHMIRI FOOD AT SHIMLA’S WAZA CAFÉ ANM-LHV Union members have warned of a protest if their demands are not met. P2 Officials have urged residents to remain cautious and adopt preventive measures. P3 Waza Café in Shimla offers Goshtaba, Rista, Kashmiri Dum Aloo, Tamar Paneer, Tabak Maaz, Rogan Josh. P4 » » » MAX 24°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 19°C | MIN 14°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.55 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.07 AM THURSDAY | 9 APRIL 2026 | AMRITSAR 35 injured as pvt bus turns turtle near Gurdaspur Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, April 8 As many as 35 persons were injured, five of them seriously, as a private bus turned turtle after hitting a road divider at the Bri bypass on the GurdaspurBatala road this evening. A car got trapped under the tyres of the bus. It took the police a long time to salvage the car. Ninteen of the injured were admitted to the Gurdaspur Civil Hospital while the remaining preferred getting treatment at private hospitals. The bus was being driven at breakneck speed when the driver lost control of it after a tyre ran over a road divider. The Civil Surgeon, Dr Mahesh, said that the entire staff of doctors and paramedics was summoned when he got information about the accident. “All the 19 are responding to treatment and there was no cause to worry,” he said. Bassi flags safety risks at Daburji flyover, warns of major accident Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 8 Senior Indian National Congress leader and former Improvement Trust chairman Dinesh Bassi has raised serious concerns over the poor condition of the Daburji flyover on the Airport-Attari road, warning that it could lead to a major accident if immediate action is not taken. Bassi strongly criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the departments concerned, alleging negligence and failure to ensure public safety. He said the condition of the flyover has deteriorated to such an extent that it may collapse at any time, putting thousands of lives at risk. He pointed out that three MLAs of the ruling party reside in nearby areas and are likely to use the same route daily, yet no steps have been taken to address the issue. Questioning their silence, Bassi said it appears that public safety is not a priority for them. Bassi added that residents of the area have been facing prob- Cross-border arms smuggling module busted, four nabbed Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Former Improvement Trust chairman and senior Congress leader Dinesh Bassi at the Daburji flyover in Amritsar. lems for several years. He said that when the flyover was being constructed, no service lane was provided, causing inconvenience to locals. Now, even after completion, fears of structural damage have created panic and insecurity among residents. He mentioned that Member of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla had earlier raised concerns and demanded stronger pillars for the flyover, but his suggestions were ignored. Bassi said that if timely action had been taken, the situation could have been avoided. Alleging corruption, Bassi claimed that the contractor company and officials were involved in substandard construction work. He demanded that an FIR be registered against those responsible and that a high-level, impartial inquiry be conducted. He urged Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to intervene in the matter. Amritsar, April 8 In a major crackdown on illegal arms trafficking, the Punjab Police have dismantled a cross-border smuggling racket operating in border areas of Amritsar, arresting four persons, including a 16-yearold juvenile, and recovering seven sophisticated foreignmade pistols along with live ammunition. Disclosing this here on Wednesday, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said that the arrested accused were in regular contact with Pakistan-based handlers through social media platforms. The weapons were being smuggled across the border using drones and dropped at pre-designated spots in the Attari sector, particularly in the vicinity of Bhaini and Neshta villages. The arrested individuals have been identified as Gurwinder Singh, alias Ginder (32), and Jobanbir Singh, Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar addresses mediapersons in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO VISHAL KUMAR alias Joban (23), both residents of Laddhewal village in Amritsar; Lovepreet Singh, alias Love, from Bhuse village in Tarn Taran district; and a 16-year-old juvenile. The police recovered two .30 bore PX5 Storm pistols, two .30 bore pistols of Italian make, one .30 bore pistol of Chinese make, one .30 bore pistol, and one 9mm pistol of Austrian make, along with 12 live cartridges. A motorcycle used in the operation was also seized. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said three of the accused were initially apprehended with six pistols during a raid. Their fourth associate, later identified as the juvenile, managed to escape but was arrested the next day, from whom one more pistol was recovered. Investigations have revealed that the accused were acting on the directions of their cross-border handlers. They would pick up the weapon consignments from specified drone drop points and supply them to local networks. The police are now probing both the forward and backward linkages of the module to dismantle the entire smuggling syndicate. It may be mentioned that two of the arrested accused — Gurwinder Singh and Lovepreet Singh — have prior cases registered against them under the NDPS Act. The juvenile too has a criminal history and was earlier booked under the Arms Act in a case involving recovery of three pistols at the Gharinda police station. A case has been registered under Section 25(8) of the Arms Act at the Chheharta police station here while further investigations are underway. MP Aujla raises concern over BJP leader Chhina welcomes move to shift border fence cancer, pollution & corruption Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 8 Lok Sabha MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla has raised serious concerns over the rising number of cancer cases in Amritsar, blaming pollution, food adulteration and a failing administrative system for the worsening situation. Speaking during a press conference here on Wednesday, Aujla said the issue is not just a health crisis but a result of systemic failure. He said that the food people eat and the water they drink are increasingly becoming harmful. He blamed excessive use of pesticides, adulterated food items and the presence of toxic elements like uranium in water as major reasons behind the growing number of cancer cases. He pointed out that farm- MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla ers are not being properly guided on the use of pesticides, calling it a major failure of the Agriculture Department. At the same time, adulterated food is being sold openly in markets, putting public health at risk. The MP also highlighted the long-pending issue of the Tung Dhab drain, which he said he has been raising for the past eight years. Although Majithia for CBI probe in Randhawa case, slams delays in arrests Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 8 Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia once again visited the residence of the late Punjab Warehousing Corporation District Manager (DM) Gagandeep Singh Randhawa to extend support to the bereaved family. He criticised the government over the delay in the arrest of prime accused Laljit Bhullar’s father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar and his personal assistant Dilbagh Singh. He also alleged that the main accused was being provided VIP facilities inside jail, calling it a serious lapse in the system. During his visit, Majithia met Randhawa’s wife, children and mother and assured them of his party’s continued support in their fight for justice. The family reiterated their demand for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), alleging a lack of progress in the investigation. The SAD leader questioned the functioning of the Punjab Police, alleging political interference in the probe. He stated that under the current circumstances, the family has little faith in the state investigation and stressed the need for an independent and transparent inquiry. Majithia further assured that he and his party stand firmly with the family and will continue to raise the issue until justice is delivered. The visit has added political momentum to the case, which is already witnessing growing public and diaspora attention. a new drain is being constructed at Manawala, untreated waste from dairies and chemicals continues to flow into it, he added. He criticised various departments, including the Pollution Control Board and the Agriculture Department, for not working together and passing responsibility instead. Aujla said it is unfortunate that such a sacred place is facing severe pollution issues. He expressed concern over the increasing number of cancer patients in the region. Aujla also alleged widespread corruption in development projects, mentioning that the Daburji bridge has already sunk and the Tangra bridge has serious flaws. He warned that these could lead to major accidents if not addressed. Union opposes non-academic duties to govt school teachers Amritsar, April 8 Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina on Wednesday hailed the Centre’s decision to shift the barbed wire fence along the Indo-Pak International Border in Punjab. The Ministry of Home Affairs recently issued a notification regarding the relocation of the fence along the Indo-Pak International Border. The long-pending issue pertains to the fencing constructed during the 1990s, which effectively ‘locked up’ thousands of acres of productive and fertile agricultural land. The fence had been laid several metres and in some cases even kilometres, inside Indian territory due to security concerns. This resulted in persistent hardships for farmers, who faced restricted access to their own land for cultivation. Welcoming the notification, The barbed fence at Kakkar village near the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar. FILE PHOTO 1 held with cannabis Preparations begin for Punjab worth ~96L at airport voter roll revision exercise Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, April 8 The Government School Teachers’ Union (GSTU), Punjab, has condemned the Punjab Government for engaging thousands of teachers in various non-academic duties at the cost of students’ future. Union state president Surinder Kumar Puari, general secretary Jinder Pilot, press secretary Gurpreet Marimegha, along with leaders Balkar Valtoha and Karaj Kairon, while addressing a meeting of the union here on Wednesday, said that the Punjab Government has assigned thousands of teachers to various non-academic duties such as BLO work, census operations, preparation of free state health cards and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. They alleged that this has adversely affected continued on page 2 Chhina stated that the decision reflects the Prime Minister’s commitment to the welfare of farmers and the resolution of genuine public grievances. He added that he had submitted a request for relocation of the fence in December last year and that the Union Government’s decision would bring muchneeded relief to affected farmers and help restore agricultural productivity in border areas. He further stated that the move would not only benefit the farming community but also strengthen border management and help curb cross-border smuggling activities in the region. Chhina also appreciated the consistent efforts of the Central Government in addressing critical issues affecting Punjab and expressed hope that the implementation of the notification would be carried out in a timely and effective manner. The seized contraband in Amritsar on Wednesday. Amritsar, April 8 In a significant seizure, the Customs Department at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport recovered cannabis worth approximately Rs 96 lakh from a passenger arriving from Bangkok. Acting on inputs generated through the advanced passenger information system (APIS) profiling and subsequent baggage screening, officials intercepted the suspect on arrival. The passenger had landed in Amritsar on flight SL-214 from Bangkok. During the inspection of the c m y b luggage, Customs Department officials discovered 964 grams of cannabis concealed inside four sweet boxes. The narcotic substance was cleverly hidden to evade detection, but thorough checking led to its recovery. The accused was immediately taken into custody, and a case has been registered under relevant provisions of the law, said Customs Department officials. Authorities stated that further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the accused is part of a larger international drug trafficking network. — TNS Amritsar, April 8 Ahead of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Punjab and as per the directions of the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, Additional District Election Officer Rohit Gupta held a meeting with representatives of recognised political parties in the district regarding the appointment of booth-level agents here on Wednesday. The meeting was convened to discuss the appointment of booth-level agents for each polling station across the 11 Assembly constituencies of the district. Rohit Gupta stated that the Election Commission of India, New Delhi, may soon announce the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state of Punjab. “In view of this, booth-level agents should be appointed at every polling booth in accordance with the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. These agents will work alongside Booth Level Officers ADC Rohit Gupta during a meeting with representatives of political parties ahead of SIR in Amritsar on Wednesday. (BLOs) to improve the electoral roll and assist applicants in submitting forms for new voter registrations, deletions and corrections. The meeting was held to discuss how the exercise will be implemented smoothly without any disruption on the ground,” he said. The instructions received from the Election Commission of India regarding the appointment of booth-level agents, along with Forms BLA-1 and BLA-2, were also discussed and shared with the representatives during the meeting. Representatives from the Indian National Congress (Rural), the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Aam Aadmi Party (Urban), and Inderjit Singh were present at the meeting.