12042026-ATR-01.qxd 4/11/2026 10:16 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 29°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 14°C MALERKOTLA NURSERIES DRAW FARMERS’ ATTENTION 800 STUDENTS HONOURED AT BBK DAV AWARDS DAY INCREASED BIRD ACTIVITY AROUND AIRPORT FLAGGED Plants, saplings and seeds showcased by two individuals from Malerkotla major attraction at an exhibition. P2 BBK DAV College for Women felicitated achievers in academics, sports and cocurricular activities.P2 A meeting of the Airport Environment Management Committee discussed issues related to safe operation of aircraft. P3 » » » SUNSET SUNDAY 6.57 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6:04 AM SUNDAY | 12 APRIL 2026 | AMRITSAR City devp authority demolishes illegal colonies at 2 villages Tribune News Service Residents of Cheema Khurd village, along with the family of the victim, hold a protest in front of the police station at Sarai Amanat Khan on Saturday. PHOTO BY WRITER Man shot dead at Tarn Taran village, kin protest Gurbaxpuri Tarn Taran, April 11 One person was shot dead at Cheema Khurd village falling under Sarai Amanat Khan police station on Friday, while four persons were injured in a firing incident in border area township of Khemkaran. Both incident occurred on Friday night. Sukhbir Singh, city DSP , said that there was a free-forall situation between two rival groups of youths of Cheema Kalan and Cheema Khurd villages, in which besides stone pelting, there was also firing, in which one was injured seriously and died on way to the MP Aujla seeks compensation Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 11 Member of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla visited Nag Kalan and Nag Khurd villages in the Majitha Assembly constituency to assess the damage caused by the recent rain and hailstorm to the crops. During his visit, he met farmers, listened to their problems and visited the damaged fields. Aujla said continuous rain and strong winds had caused waterlogging in fields, leading to heavy losses to wheat and maize crops. In many areas, the crops have been flattened. He added that farmers were already under debt, and such losses had created a serious financial crisis for them. He urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to immediately order a proper survey in this regard. the local Civil Hospital. The deceased have been identified as Khajan Singh (46) of Cheema Khurd. Later, the family of the deceased staged a dharna in front of the police station at Sarai Amanat Khan on Saturday and demanded the arrest of the killers. The DSP said that a case had been registered against as many as 14 persons, of whom four had been identified as Husanpreet Singh, Yadu, Bhikhi and Tutta Singh, while others are yet to be identified. The case has been registered on the statement of Varinder Singh, son of the deceased. The Khemkaran police informed that a group of as many as 16 assailants armed with weapons attacked the house of Satnam Singh in Khemkaran on Friday night and fired indiscriminately, in which Chamkaur Singh, Arashdeep Singh, Soni and Bikram were injured while many other had a narrow escape. The police have registered a case under Sections 109, 324 (4), 191 (3), 190 of the BNS, besides Sectoins 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. Of the 16 assailants, six have been identified as Lovepreet Singh, Prem Singh, Rakseh Kumar, Ashu, Gurbhej Singh and Harpreet Singh. Amritsar, April 11 In an enforcement drive against unregulated urban expansion, the Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) has demolished several newly developing unauthorised colonies at Manawala and Rakh Jheeta villages, located along a key highway and link road stretches. The action was carried out by the District Town Planner (Regulatory) wing of ADA under the directions of Chief Administrator Nitesh Kumar Jain in compliance with the Punjab Government guidelines. Officials said that these colonies were being developed without the mandatory approvals, in violation of the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 1995. Despite issuance of notices under the Act, developers allegedly continued construction activities at the sites, prompting the authorities to initiate demolition proceedings. The District Town Planner stated that the action aimed to regulate future urban development and curb illegal land colonisation. “Even Rain-hit farmers demand easing of wheat procurement norms Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 11 Amid widespread crop damage caused by unseasonal rain and hailstorm, the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha here has urged government procurement agencies to relax norms for wheat to prevent heavy financial losses for farmers across Punjab. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that while crops in several areas had been completely destroyed, many fields had been flattened due to the adverse weather. He explained that such conditions severely impacted grain quality. “When crops remain flattened, they fail to get proper sunlight. As a result, the grain becomes smaller in size or discoloured,” Pandher said, adding that such produce was often rejected by government procurement agencies, leaving farmers with limited options. The situation has put farmers in a double crisis. On one hand, they have already lost a significant portion of their yield to hailstorm; while on the other, they now face uncertainty in selling the remaining produce at the MSP . Pandher warned that if procurement norms were not relaxed, affected farmers could be forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices to private traders. “This will open the door for exploitation as traders may offer much lower rates than the MSP he ,” added. Meanwhile, the farmers’ body has welcomed the Centre’s recent decision to ease procurement norms in Rajasthan, calling it a positive step. However, it has demanded that similar relief be extended to farmers in Punjab, where large-scale damage has also been reported. At the same time, the organisation criticised the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government, accusing it of failing to effectively present Punjab’s case before the Centre. Pandher said that timely crop damage assessments, commonly known as girdawari, could have strengthened the state’s claim. “Had the government conducted proper and timely girdawaris and submitted a detailed report, the Centre might have considered similar relief measures for Punjab farmers,” he said. From being bedridden at 32 to winning beauty pageant at 59 Gungun Arora Amritsar, April 11 For Amritsar’s Geetanjali Om Parkash, glamour comes from being her most authentic self, when she is an international beauty pageant winner, a philanthropist or a mother. The 59-year-old was recently crowned Mrs International World Classic 2026 in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. Along with the title, she also bagged ‘Mrs Empowerment’ and’ Most Exotic National Costume’ titles, wearing a 30kg guilded costume on a global stage. But her most profound victory did not come under the glaring lights of a pageant runway, it was decades earlier, in the quiet, agonising con- Geetanjali Om Parkash fines of a bedroom, where she laid completely paralysed. “I suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis since the early age of 32, which kept me bedridden most of the time. There was a time I couldn’t even move a finger,” she recalls, her voice remark- ably steady as she looks back. “Every joint in my body was locked in place.” It took years, countless misdiagnoses and eventually, rehabilitation and treatment before she recovered. Supported deeply by her husband, Rohit Om Parkash, it took five gruelling years for her to walk again. “You have to keep feeding your mind that everything is okay. Positive mindset is the key to every ailment,” she adds For the past 25 years, she has quietly run initiatives from her own pocket, focussing on the economic independence of underserved people in Amritsar. Through her charitable institute, she has guided over 500 individuals — transforming raw, untrained men and women into skilled optical counsellors and fitters. “We first give them a job, money and then training. That’s the most gratifying thing,” she said. When the opportunity for the pageant arose, Geetanjali entered alongside her daughter-in-law Seher and mother. “I wanted to break the stereotype of the mother-in-law,” she notes. It was the ‘National Costume’ round that truly encapsulated her spirit. Donning a staggering 30-kg structure depicting ‘cosmic shakti’ and Indian astrology — an idea sparked by her daughterin-law — Geetanjali carried the weight of the planets on her shoulders. “Womanhood is the cosmic power,” she says. c m y b after being served notices, the colony developers failed to submit any clarification and continued development work, forcing the department to act as per law,” the official said. In a separate case, an unauthorised colony along a link road leading to the Indian Institute of Management at Rakh Jheeta village was once again demolished. The same site had earlier faced demolition action on August 5, 2025, and the Police Department had also been informed for legal proceedings. However, developers resumed construction, leading to fresh action by the authorities concerned. ADA officials reiterated that under the amended provisions of PAPRA (2024), those involved in illegal colonisation could face imprisonment ranging from five to 10 years, along with fines between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 5 crore. The department has also initiated steps to involve the police based on revenue records to take action against landowners and developers. The regulatory wing has urged the people to remain cautious while purchasing plots. Drug, arms racket busted; 3 held, 6.5 kg heroin seized Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 11 The Batala police have dismantled a cross-border drug and illegal arms smuggling network, arresting three persons, including a juvenile. DGP Gaurav Yadav said the police seized 6.5 kg of heroin, a .30-calibre pistol with six cartridges and Rs 1 lakh drug money from the accused. They also impounded a vehicle used in the operation. Those arrested have been identified as Nishan Singh of Mulianwal in Batala, Ravipal Singh of Raipur and a juvenile. The operation stemmed from a thorough investigation into an extortion-related firing incident on March 30, under the jurisdiction of the Civil Lines police station in Batala. In that case two accused — Vansh and Heroin and arms seized by the Batala police. Sukhchain — were earlier arrested, leading to the seizure of two .30-bore pistols. DGP Yadav highlighted a deep nexus between extortion, drug trafficking and illegal arms supply networks. “Preliminary investigations indicate that weapons were being supplied to operatives within the network,” he said. DIG, Border Range, Sandeep Goel said the arrested accused were operating on instructions from a foreignbased handler. Efforts are on to trace all links and dismantle the entire module, he added. Batala SSP Mehtab Singh said that during interrogation, Vansh and Sukhchain revealed that the weapons were supplied by Ravipal Singh and his juvenile accomplice. Police teams swiftly arrested the two, who confessed to coordinating the smuggling operations. Further disclosures by Ravipal led to the arrest of Nishan, who had received the consignment on directions from their overseas handler, the SSP added. The police intercepted Nishan’s SUV near Kamla Devi Avenue in Amritsar, resulting in the seizure of the heroin, pistol, cartridges and drug money. Activist alleges illegal tree felling near Kathunangal Amritsar, April 11 Social activist Sonu Jandiala has flagged blatant felling of trees near a canal at Kathunagal on the Amritsar-Pathankot highway. The activist stated that along with many fully grown trees, small ones had also been chopped off. He added that such activity was often seen near the Irrigation Department’s canals and canal minors. The activist said that they had filed a complaint with the departments concerned and the district administration. Sonu said that most of the time, people involved in such activity had secured contract for pruning of the trees, but under its garb, they axe fully grown trees as well. “We demand from the administration to keep a check on such illegal felling of trees and penalise all those involved in it,” he said. — TNS