10042026-ATR-01.qxd 4/9/2026 11:58 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 27°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 13°C TEACHERS’ FRONT CRITICISES ONLINE ATTENDANCE SYSTEM LUDHIANA BUNDLED OUT FOR 82 IN U-16 MATCH SIBLING GOALS IN BOLLYWOOD STYLE The Democratic Teachers Front has slammed the govt for implementing an online attendance system. P2 Patiala well placed at 174 runs for loss of five wickets at close of play on Day 1. P3 From Ayushmann-Aparshakti to Saqib Saleem-Huma Qureshi, here’s a toast to Bollywood’s beloved sibling duos. P4 » » » SUNSET FRIDAY 6.48 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:04 AM FRIDAY | 10 APRIL 2026 | AMRITSAR HURRY!! Few Plots Left GT ROAD, AMRITSAR PBRERA-ASR02-PR0239 Booking with • Booking Amount 20% • Balance within 90 Days • Constructed villas on unsold plots are also available • Visit Sample Villa BUILDWELL LTD. Discount Regd. Office: 118 UFF, Prakash Deep, 7 Tolstoy Marg, New Delhi-110001 E-mail: sales@ansalabl.com Site Office: Ansal City, G.T. Road, Amritsar (Punjab)-1433115 Rs. 5 to 10 Lacs # 9779291487, 7428306002, 8198000668 "SITE SALES OFFICE ALSO OPEN ON SUNDAY" ! Crackdown on meat, liquor, tobacco shops in Walled City 16 shops closed, 50 served notice | Traders seek relocation Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 9 Four months after the Walled City of Amritsar was granted “holy city” status, the implementation of restrictions on tobacco, meat and liquor has begun to gather momentum, though significant challenges remain. Following a government notification issued on December 15, 2025, several departments—including the Municipal Corporation, Health Department and Animal Husbandry Department—were tasked with enforcing the ban within the inner city. Since then, the Municipal Corporation’s estate wing reports that 16 tobacco vends have been removed from the Walled City. In addition, notices have been served to around 50 tobacco vendors, with the seven-day compliance deadline already expired. Officials have indicated that a stricter enforcement drive will commence next week, targeting vendors selling A shop at the Walled City in Amritsar on Thursday. VISHAL KUMAR tobacco products and raw meat. Authorities have warned that non-compliant shopkeepers may face the sealing of their establishments if they fail to relocate or shut down their businesses. However, enforcement on the ground is proving difficult. The Walled City contains more than 700 hotels and Divine light nearly 150 dhabas, many of which serve non-vegetarian food. A recent survey identified 34 shops selling raw meat and around 110 eateries serving cooked meat. Concerns also persist about clandestine liquor consumption in certain establishments. Officials acknowledge that regulating meat and liquor TRIBUNE PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR across hundreds of outlets will be a complex task requiring sustained monitoring. To strengthen enforcement, the Animal Husbandry Department has formed a special committee under the supervision of Deputy Director-level officials. The team includes senior veterinary officers Dr Sudeep Kumar Dhawan, Dr Darshan Kashyap, Dr Kuldeep Singh Kalsi and Manjot Singh Randhawa. The committee will coordinate with district authorities and the Municipal Corporation to take action against meat sellers and consumers in the restricted zone. Tobacco enforcement, meanwhile, will largely be handled by the Health Department. Traders dealing in fish and meat have raised concerns about their livelihoods. Representatives of affected vendors have already met Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia, demanding alternative spaces for the relocation of their businesses. The administration has yet to announce a concrete rehabilitation plan. 2 held for theft at Bhagtanwala health centre Amritsar, April 9 The C-Division Police of the Amritsar Commissionerate today arrested two persons in connection with a theft at the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC), Bhagtanwala. The accused have been identified as Amit Sharma alias Mannu and Ankush, both residents of the Gujjarpura area in Amritsar. A case has been registered against them under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). ACP Parvesh Chopra stated that the theft occurred during the intervening night of April 7–8, when the duo allegedly broke the window grill of the health centre and stole an inverter, batteries, a WiFi modem, a UPS and electrical wiring. They also caused damage to air conditioning units and related infrastructure. Acting on a complaint filed by UPHC officials, the police traced the accused and recovered one inverter, two batteries, two automatic stabilisers, a WiFi modem and one UPS. Both accused have a history of criminal activity. The duo was produced before a local court on Thursday, where police remand was obtained for further interrogation. — TNS Drug peddler’s ‘illegal’ property in Gumtala village demolished Amritsar, April 9 The Amritsar police commissionerate, along with the Municipal Corporation authorities, demolished an allegedly illegally constructed property belonging to a notorious drug peddler in Gumtala village on Thursday. The demolition drive took place near Fauji Di Chakki in Gumtala village, as part of the intensified crackdown against the narcotics trade in the border state. The property belonged to Ramandeep Singh, alias Raja (32), who has multiple cases registered against him under the NDPS Act. He was last released on bail on January 7, 2026, said Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar while sharing details. Officials said the accused faces six FIRs registered between 2018 and 2025 under various sections of the NDPS Act, besides one preventive action under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). “The demolition was aimed at sending a strong message to drug peddlers and those involved in illegal activities,” said the police commissioner. Meanwhile, the police have appealed to the public to sup- A JCB machine razes a building at Gumtala village in Amritsar. port the anti-drug campaign actively by providing credible information. “People can contact the Punjab Police Anti-Drug Helpline (97791-00200) or the Anti-Gangster Helpline (93946-93946) to share information, while their identity will be kept confidential and rewards of up to Rs 10 lakh are being offered for actionable inputs,” he said. Campaign achievements Detailing the seizures and recoveries from January 1 to date, the police said the Amritsar city police have registered 526 cases and arrested 899 persons under the “Yudh Nashian Virudh”campaign . Authorities seized over 33.8 kg of heroin, 7.83 kg of opium, 0.523 kg of methamphetamine, 1.37 kg of charas, along with nearly 6,000 capsules and tablets. — TNS Accident victim’s plight exposes flaws in insurance scheme Pvt hospital refuses to treat mishap cases under scheme, health official claims otherwise Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service The Golden Temple decked up on the birth anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev on Thursday. PAGE 2 Amritsar, April 9 The state government’s muchpublicised Rs 10 lakh Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana is under scrutiny after a floodaffected family alleged that they have been denied cashless treatment for four days, despite repeated hospital visits and mounting medical bills. Karnail Singh, a resident of Sangra village near Baupur Mandi in Sultanpur Lodhi, an area among the worst hit during last year’s floods, met with a road accident on Monday evening while heading out for Karnail Singh’s wife shows his Sehat Bima Yojana Card. work. Since then, his family claims, they have been caught in a web of referrals, delays, and conflicting rules. “We first rushed him to a hospital in Kapurthala, but they referred us elsewhere. The second hospital said the head injury was too serious and sent us to Government Medical College, Amritsar,” said Singh’s wife, struggling to hold back tears. What followed, she alleges, was chaos and confusion. “At the medical college, no one attended to him for nearly two hours. Then some people, including an ambulance driver, suggested a private hospital nearby and brought us to Global Hospital,” she said. The family, already devastated after losing their home in last year’s floods, had pinned all hopes on the government’s Illegal constructions flourish, town planning dept turns blind eye Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 9 Serious concerns are being raised over the functioning of the Municipal Town Planning (MTP) Department, as illegal constructions continue unchecked across the city despite repeated notices, sealing drives and demolition orders issued on paper. Allegations suggest the department is limiting itself to paperwork, with little enforcement on the ground. In upscale localities such as Green Avenue and IDH Market, blatant violations of Violations rampant in upscale localities building norms have reportedly gone unpunished. In Green Avenue, the MTP Department issued a notice nearly eight months ago regarding an unauthorised four-storey structure. More recently, the owner was given a 15-day deadline to demolish the construction, failing which the Municipal Corporation was to take action. The deadline, which expired on Wednesday, passed without any visible enforcement. A similar situation exists in IDH Market, where two additional floors were illegally added to a four-storey building. Although the structure was sealed and action initiated on the third floor, violators allegedly broke open the seals and even demolished walls to regain access. Despite such blatant defiance, no strict legal action has yet been taken. The issue is even more alarming in the Walled City, where over 25 hotels continue to operate illegally from residential buildings without mandatory approvals. In February, the then Municipal Commissioner ordered disconnection of electricity and water supply to these establishments, citing the absence of approved building plans, fire safety clearances, occupation certificates and legal sewerage connections. Despite earlier sealing actions, these hotels remain operational, using domestic electricity connections in clear violation of norms. The order also referenced a recent Supreme Court ruling, which stated that essential utilities such as electrici- c m y b ty and water can only be provided to buildings with valid occupation certificates. Officials have warned that these unauthorised constructions lack fire escape plans and basic safety designs, posing a serious risk not only to tourists staying in these establishments but also to nearby residents. The absence of follow-up action has therefore raised concerns over public safety and administrative accountability. Further, on March 25, the Assistant Town Planner (ATP) issued demolition orders for an illegal four-storey building, giv- ing violators 15 days to comply. The deadline ended on April 8, yet no demolition drive has been carried out. Continued inaction has sparked criticism from residents. Local activist Jagdish Singh Mitha remarked, “The MTP Department is limiting its role to issuing notices and warnings, while illegal constructions flourish across the city.” He also pointed out that a former councillor is constructing an illegal building in Abadi Mahant Lashman Das on Sultanwind Road, and despite directions from the Secretary of Local Bodies, no action has been taken. flagship insurance scheme. With no savings left, they expected cashless treatment under the policy. Instead, they say, they have already spent over Rs 1 lakh in just a few days. According to the family, the private hospital initially denied coverage, claiming that road accident cases are not included under the scheme. However, when contacted on Thursday, Sagar, who identified himself as the hospital owner, gave a different explanation. “The patient is unresponsive and in the ICU. For processing the claim, we require biometric thumb impression,” he said. The shifting explanations have only deepened the family’s distress, raising questions about the implementation of the scheme at ground level. Ironically, while the government continues to promote the insurance programme, beneficiaries like Karnail Singh are struggling to access its promised benefits in emergencies. Deputy Medical Commissioner Gurmeet Kaur said the health insurance scheme does cover road accident cases. “The matter will be investigated and the hospital will be asked to process the claim,” she assured. UK Sikhs donate sound system to Golden Temple Amritsar, April 9 Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), inaugurated a state-of-the-art sound system at the Golden Temple on Thursday. The system was donated by Sikh families based in the United Kingdom. Dhami informed that the families of UK residents Gursewak Singh Shergill, Gulinder Singh, Jatinder Singh Hair, Ranjit Singh Saggu, Pardeep Singh Nijjar and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu had collectively offered the sound system. He added that the Sikh body, through its Sikh Mission in England, will continue to support Sikh congregations in the UK and SGPC representatives will also visit England for religious propagation. Expressing gratitude, Gursewak Singh Shergill said he was thankful to the Guru Sahib for granting him the opportunity to perform this service with the cooperation of several families. — TNS