17042026-ATR-01.qxd 4/17/2026 12:34 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY SARPANCH, MEMBERS OF DHUNDA PANCHAYAT JOIN AAP PUNJAB POLICE CONSTABLE BALANCES DUTY AND KUSHTI KRITIKA EMBRACES GLAMOUR & GRIT IN MATKA KING Sarpanch Jaswant Singh said he was impressed by AAP’s policies and developmental work in the state. P2 Davinder grapples with the grind of policing a border region on duty and wrestles in an akhara after work. P3 The actress says it is a "welcome change" from the simplicity that defined many of her recent roles. P4 » » » MAX 33°C | MIN 22°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.00 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5.58 AM FRIDAY | 17 APRIL 2026 | AMRITSAR Man awarded 20-yr RI for raping minor Man held with four hand grenades, foreign-made pistols, ammunition Amritsar, April 16 The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (POCSO Court)-cum-Special Trial Court, Amritsar, on Wednesday sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and fined Rs 55,000 in a case of kidnapping and repeated rape of a minor girl. The convict, Bobby, alias Babbi, a resident of Khushupura village in Amritsar district, was held guilty under Sections 363 and 366 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4(2) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The incident occurred on the intervening night of April 12 and 13, 2024. The parents of the minor girl were sleeping in their room when the girl’s mother woke up around 1 am to answer the call of nature and found her daughter missing. Investigations revealed that Bobby, who used to work with the victim’s family, had lured the minor away on the false pretext of marriage. The accused was already married and had two minor children. After taking the girl with him, he allegedly repeatedly committed forcible sexual assault on her. — TNS Amritsar, April 16 The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Punjab Police, while dismantling an ISIbacked cross-border terror module, arrested one person and recovered a cache of arms and explosives, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Thursday. The arrested individual was identified as Sagar Singh, a resident of Galluwal village in Amritsar. The police recovered four P-86 hand grenades, two foreignmade pistols and ammunition from his possession. The operation was conducted jointly by the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, and the SSOC, Mohali. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused was operating on the directions of foreign-based handlers and had links with a terror module involved in the recent grenade attack in Chandigarh, the DGP said, adding that further investigation was underway to trace and arrest other members of the network. Sharing details of the operation, AIG Sukhminder Singh Mann said that the police had received specific intelligence inputs about a consignment of Engraved pistols new trend in cross-border arms smuggling Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service The seized hand grenades, pistols and ammunition in Amritsar. grenades and arms being smuggled from Pakistan. The teams launched a targeted operation and arrested the accused from the Khasa-Ram Tirath Road area. Mann said that Sagar Singh came into contact with a foreign-based handler through social media in January 2026. He subsequently began working on the handler’s instructions, retrieving and delivering consignments of arms and ammunition in exchange for payment per delivery. The accused had earlier been arrested by the Amritsar Rural Police in February 2026 with part of an arms consignment. After securing bail in March, he re-established contact with the handler via encrypted platforms and resumed his activities. A fresh case has been registered at the SSOC police station, Amritsar, under relevant sections of the Explosive Substances Act, the Arms Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). — TNS Amritsar, April 16 Pakistan-smuggled pistols engraved with specific names and coded numbers have put Punjab’s security agencies on high alert. Security agencies have flagged this disturbing new trend in cross-border arms smuggling, seen as a shift in tactics by Pakistan-based handlers. Personnel of the Amritsar Rural Police confiscated two sophisticated weapons bearing inscriptions such as “Awan Badshah-222” and “Butt-007”. The weapons were recovered from six accused held in connection with the Bhindi Saidan police station grenade attack. The Amritsar (City) police have also seized a pistol engraved with the name “Butt007” in a recent arms haul. Police officials believe these markings are deliberate, part of a strategy to create a distinct identity for suppliers and signal their presence across illegal networks. Amritsar (Rural) SSP Sohail Qasim Mir said the trend raises The seized pistols with engraved smugglers’ names and code numbers in Amritsar. serious concern as it indicates a move towards “branding” in the illicit arms trade — a tactic more commonly associated with organised crime syndicates. “The markings may serve as signatures of delivery, tools for building credibility among operatives and a way to psychologically influence recruits by showcasing reach and reliability,” he said. Police sources revealed that many of these marked weapons are being smuggled via drones from across the bor- der. The combination of drone delivery and identifiable markings points to a coordinated effort to expand influence while maintaining traceable command structures. The development has gained significance following disclosures by accused arrested in the Bhindi Saidan grenade attack case. During interrogation, it was found that such engraved weapons were supplied by Pakistan-based handlers linked to the ISI. These weapons were meant for circu- lation among local criminal modules and for targeted attacks, police sources said. Security agencies believe the trend could also be aimed at attracting vulnerable youth, particularly in rural areas and prisons, by projecting a sense of organised backing and cross-border support. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that while several modules have been dismantled, the emergence of continued on page 2 Farmers protest delay in wheat procurement Municipal corporation intensifies efforts to improve city’s cleanliness ranking this year Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 16 Farmers under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) on Thursday staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Amritsar, demanding immediate procurement of wheat. The protest was part of a state-wide call given by the union, during which demonstrations were held outside DC offices across Punjab. In Amritsar, a large number of farmers, labourers and women participated in the agitation and raised slogans against the Punjab Government and the Centre. In a press note, district president Kashmir Singh Dhangai and senior leader Parvinder Singh Pandori Waraich said that heavy rain, storms and strong winds had caused significant damage to the wheat crop this year. They said that despite the arrival of wheat in mandis, procurement has not started Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Farmers during a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office over the issue of tardy procurement of wheat in Amritsar on Thursday. properly. They alleged that Central Government agencies are refusing to purchase the crop due to strict quality conditions, while the Punjab Government has remained silent on the issue. They further said that due to natural calamities, many wheat grains have become discoloured or slightly damaged. Instead of relaxing the norms to provide relief, the authorities are not even purchasing the available crop, forcing farmers to wait in mandis for more than 10 days. The union warned that such policies could push farmers into financial distress and eventually lead to the loss of their land. They demanded that all unnecessary condi- tions be withdrawn and that the entire wheat crop be procured immediately at the minimum support price. The protesting farmers also criticised the Centre, alleging that its policies under global trade agreements are aimed at reducing government procurement and opening the market to foreign corporations. Amritsar, April 16 The Amritsar Municipal Corporation has intensified efforts to improve the city’s position in the nationwide Swachhata rankings, with a renewed focus on strengthening sanitation and restoring the city’s image, which had suffered in recent years due to garbage mismanagement. With a newly hired solid waste management company now ensuring regular door-to-door garbage collection across the city, the civic body is shifting its focus towards greater public participation in maintaining cleanliness. Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia and Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill said that to raise awareness among residents, the municipal corporation, in collaboration with social organisations Eco Sewa and Swachh Pun- The Amritsar MC gets another road-sweeping machine to clean major roads. jab Foundation, will organise cleanliness rallies on April 20, 21 and 22. The Mayor said that the municipal corporation’s primary focus at present is to streamline the sanitation system, with teams working round the clock. The sanitation department is operating in three shifts to ensure regular garbage lifting, while special night cleaning drives are being carried out in major commercial markets and on key roads. Commissioner Shergill said that around 750 metric tonnes of garbage is being lifted daily in the city, which he described as a record. To strengthen doorto-door collection, QR codes have been installed at nearly 80 per cent of households. A toll-free number has also been issued for residents to register complaints in case of non-collection of waste. He added that the waste management company is increasing the number of vehicles, including litterpicking vehicles and e-rickshaws are being procured to ensure garbage collection from narrow lanes. Emphasising public continued on page 2 Man shot dead in Bhullar village Punjab Assembly move on Guru Granth Sahib Act Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 16 A 32-year-old man was shot dead by two bikeborne assailants at Bhullar village falling under the Lopoke police station here on Wednesday night. The deceased, identified as Manjit Singh, a resident of Saudia village, was standing at a meat shop around 10.30 pm when unidentified assailants arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire on him. He sustained critical bullet injuries and was rushed to a private hospital, but succumbed on the way. Police officials said preliminary investigation suggested an old enmity as the probable motive behind the incident. The family members suspected the involvement of four persons — Randhir Singh and Gurshabad Singh, both residents of Rakh Othian village under the Rajasansi police station, and Jagbir Singh and Harpal Singh from Karyial and Dharamkot villages, respectively, under the Bhindi Saidan police station. Malkeet Singh, brother of the deceased, said that they were sitting in the car and windows were down when Gursahib Singh and Harpal Singh fired two shots each leaving Manjit Singh critically injured. He was rushed to hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Officials said the accused and the victim had a prior dispute, which is being investigated as the main angle in the case though the police were working on other theories also. Meanwhile, the police have arrested one of the suspects, identified as Randhir Singh, in connection with the murder case, while raids are being conducted to apprehend the remaining accused, officials said. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act at the Lopoke police station. Raids are underway to nab the suspects. “Forensic and technical evidence was also being collected to reconstruct the sequence of event,” said Aditya Warrior, Superintendent of Police (Investigations), Amritsar Rural Police. draws criticism from Sikh scholars, academicians Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 16 Academicians and Sikh scholars have expressed strong concern over what they describe as direct state intervention in Sikh religious matters, following the Punjab Vidhan Sabha's passage of amendments to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Act, 2008, earlier this week. They are of the view that a politically motivated move would give rise to more trouble in future, rather than assuage the feelings of Sikhs hurt by the sacrilege incidents. SGPC member Kiranjot Kaur said that neither the government nor the law has any authority to interpret religious c m y b doctrine. "In its very first line, the AAP government replaced the word 'Bir' used in the 2008 Act with 'Saroop' in the 2026 amendment. 'Bir' refers to a bound compilation, such as the Damdami Bir or Kartarpuri Bir, while 'Saroop' denotes a physical form, akin to an idol. In Sikhism, the 'Shabd' mentioned in the Guru Granth Sahib is the Guru. The 'custodian' who owns a Bir has traditionally been held responsible in cases of desecration. Does this now mean the police will check and decide whether Sikh 'Maryada' is being followed? How will misuse be prevented? A deeply personal bond between a devout Sikh and the Guru Granth Sahib will be regulated by law, which is unacceptable," she said. She further added that placing the printing, storage and distribution of the Guru Granth Sahib under government supervision is unacceptable to her and many devout Sikhs. Jagrup Singh Sekhon, former professor at Guru Nanak Dev University, also criticised the idea of the state and law policing blasphemy, noting that enforcing such legislation would remain a challenge. He said the highly emotive issue of sacrilege often draws political attention, with parties attempting to outdo each other in projecting themselves as protectors of the Panth and Sikhism. “The Congress, under Capt Amarinder Singh, came to power in 2017 promising action against those responsible for the 2015 sacrilege incidents and subsequent police firing on protesters. In 2022, the Aam Aadmi Party secured a sweeping victory with similar assurances regarding the Bargari sacrilege case and the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing incidents. However, both failed to deliver justice in desecration cases," he said. Tarlochan Singh, former Chairman of the National Minorities Commission, said, "In Sikhism, 'Shabd' is the Guru, and the word of God cannot come under the scrutiny of law or government. Neither ritualism nor legislation has a role in the sphere of divinity in Sikhism, which seeks to liberate humanity from all forms of bondage." He described the move as driven by vote-bank politics. "Had successive governments ensured punishment for those responsible in the first sacrilege case in 2015, the issue would not have escalated to such proportions. The failure to punish culprits has encouraged the continuation of such crimes," he said. Amarjit Singh, former director of the Centre for Studies in Sri Guru Granth Sahib at Guru Nanak Dev University, said that laws addressing such offences already exist. "The government does not need to introduce new legislation but must demonstrate the will to punish offenders, many of whom have escaped accountability after committing sacrilege," he said. He added that Gurmat philosophy encourages adherence to faith without ritualism.