01062026-ATR-01.qxd 5/31/2026 10:19 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune 3 GENERATIONS, ONE VISION: A FAMILY’S FARMING LEGACY RISING TEMPERATURE, NO WATER COOLERS EXPOSE INFRA GAPS Identify vulnerable zones, establish cooling centres and undertake sapling planting to counter heatwave. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 21°C MADHURI BACKS AISH IN BODY SHAMING ROW Two brothers of Chahrke village in Jalandhar dist have been practising organic farming on 17 acres for two decades. P2 FORECAST You cannot reduce her to a number on a scale: Madhuri defends Aishwarya against trolls. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 7.30 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:25 AM » MONDAY | 1 JUNE 2026 | AMRITSAR 2 months on, Veer Enclave residents reel under potable water shortage Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 31 As temperatures continue to soar across the city, residents of Veer Enclave on the Bypass Road have been facing acute drinking water crisis for the past two-and-a-half months, with the disruption in municipal water supply causing severe hardship amid rising summer temperatures. Residents say they have been left without a regular water supply after the area’s borewell became nonfunctional nearly three months ago. Local residents alleged that despite repeated complaints to the MC, the issue remains unresolved. They pointed out that the Finance and Contract Committee of the MC had approved a proposal for the installation of a new borewell around a month ago, The defunct water tank in Veer Enclave, Amritsar. VISHAL KUMAR but the work is yet to begin due to alleged delaying attitude of officials. Amarinder Singh, presi- dent of the Veer Enclave Residents’ Association, said colony residents were facing immense difficulties because of the prolonged disruption in water supply. He said private borewells installed in individual houses do not provide clean potable water and were not a viable alternative to the MC supply. “Water consumption increases during the summer months, making the situation even more difficult. We have repeatedly requested the MC to restore the colony’s water supply by repairing or replacing the damaged borewell, but no concrete action has been taken so far,” he said. He further alleged that the colony’s overhead water tank had remained defunct for several years and that the MC had failed to undertake its repair despite repeated demands from residents. The issue reflects broader concerns regarding water supply management in the city. Complaints regarding drinking water shortages and the supply of contaminated water continue to surface from various localities. Residents have also raised concerns that the Municipal Corporation’s operation and maintenance wing does not provide timely feedback or updates on complaints registered through the official grievance redress portal. Social activist PC Sharma said providing safe drinking water was among the primary responsibilities of the municipal corporation and complaints related to such essential services should be addressed on priority. Residents of Veer Enclave have urged the MC to expedite the installation of the approved borewell and repair the overhead water tank to restore normal water supply in the area soon. Jail inmate among four held with over 1 kg heroin Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 31 Smashing a drug cartel operating from inside a jail, the city police have arrested four persons, including a jail inmate and seized a total of 1.145 kg heroin, Rs 64,000 drug money apart from an electronic weighing scale from their possession. Vishaljit Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, said that acting on specific inputs, a police team led by SI Davinder Singh of Kot Khalsa police post, intercepted two scooter-borne suspects and identified them as Danish of Lohgarh Chowk here and Gurpreet Singh of Cheecha village. A case under various sections of the NDPS Act was registered at Islamabad police station against them. During investigation, the police claimed to have uncovered a larger drug distribu- tion network allegedly being operated from inside Amritsar Central Jail. According to police, Kanwaljit Singh, currently lodged in the jail in connection with multiple NDPS cases, was orchestrating the network from prison. He was subsequently named and arrested in the case. Further interrogation led to the arrest of another alleged associate, Simranjit Singh of Batala, who is accused of supplying heroin for further distribution. Police records show that Danish had been involved in four previous criminal cases, including NDPS, theft and Arms Act cases. Kanwaljit is also facing multiple NDPS cases, while Simranjit Singh has one previous NDPS case registered against him. Gurpreet has no previous criminal record. Surinder Singh, ACP and Harsandeep Singh, SHO, Islamabad police station, said that further investigations were underway to identify additional links in the network and ascertain the source and destination of the seized contraband. Opium seized from two Tarn Taran: A police party led by ASI Mehal Singh of Chabal police arrested two persons with opium near Kot Dharam Chand Kala village in the area. The police said today that a case had been registered under Sections 18-B, 27-A, 29, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act against accused Rajinderbir Singh of Naushera Dhala and Abhaypal Singh of Bhaini Rajput in Gharinda police (Amritsar). 312 gm of opium and Rs 4,500 drug money have been seized from the accused. The accused were produced before the court today. The court has sent them to twoday police remand. Cong men on carts, tongas 1held with illegal arms near Naushera Pannuan to protest against inflation Tarn Taran, May 31 The police party of the local CIA staff led by SI Ravipal Singh has arrested one person with illegal weapons near Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 31 The Congress on Sunday took out an 11-km long protest march in the Amritsar East Assembly constituency against rising inflation and increasing prices of essential commodities, fuel and cooking gas. The march was led by former Member of Parliament Jasbir Singh Gill Dimpa and witnessed the participation of senior party leaders, officebearers, workers and a large number of local residents. The protest started from Verka and concluded at Chowk Tung Pai. Carrying Congress flags and placards, the protesters raised slogans against the Centre and Punjab governments over the rising cost of living. Several horse carts and tongas carrying participants were also part of the march, attracting attention along the route. Addressing the gathering, Dimpa alleged that the continuous increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG 9 days on, cops yet to trace missing NRI Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Congress workers stage a protest in Amritsar on Sunday. cylinders had made life difficult for common people. He said inflation, unemployment, a slowing economy and worsening law and order situation were adding to the hardships faced by citizens. District Congress Committee (Urban) president Saurav Madan and other leaders accused the governments of failing to control inflation and provide relief to the public. The leaders said that rising fuel prices had affected transportation costs and led to an increase in the prices of daily use items. During the march, Congress workers interacted with shopkeepers and residents and appealed to them to raise their voice against inflation. Morcha to submit memos on mill issue to DCs tomorrow Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, May 31 On the 11th day of the ‘pucca morcha’ launched by organisations affiliated to Samyukt Kisan Morcha against the transfer of ownership of the cooperative sugar mill at Sheron, these bodies have announced to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Tuesday in the name of Chief Minister and Prime Minister regarding their demands. The leaders of the organisations, Tarsem Singh Luhar, Manjit Singh Baggu, Jassa Singh Kadgill, Nachhattar Singh Pannu, Gurdev Singh Butala, Subedar Tara Singh, Havildar Bhupinder Singh, Gurmanjit Singh and Sukhchain Singh Sarhali Khurd addressed the farmers participating in the morcha. Farmers raise slogans against the Punjab Government on the eleventh day of the ‘pucca morcha’. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI The speakers demanded immediate halt to the construction started on the land given to other departments of the cooperative sugar mill, Sheron, and warned that if the constructions were not stopped, then these organisations would intensify their struggle in the coming days. The leaders further said that the morcha would hold a protest in front of the offices of the deputy commissioners across Punjab on Tuesday and submit demand letters regarding this issue. The organisations are also emphasizing on the demands of restoring the farmers’ loan limit, stopping the installation of electricity pre-paid meters, providing free electricity to all consumers, releasing hailstorm compensation, etc. Amritsar, May 31 It has been around nine days since an Australia-based NRI has been missing from Amritsar under mysterious circumstances, and the police is yet to trace him. Sunil Sharma is a high school teacher in Melbourne. However, he went missing on May 22, along with his car, under mysterious circumstances. As his brother has also disappeared the same day and was untraceable till now, the police were investigating his role. The incident came to light when his family members expressed fear of his kidnapping in the Australian media three days ago. Surabhi Sharma, daughter of the victim, told Australian media that Sunil had last talked to him on May 22 and since then his mobile had been switched off. “We are in touch with the family in Australia,” said Yadwinder Singh, Attari DSP . A mathematics teacher in Melbourne, he had arrived here for some renovation work at his property located in Ashiana Estate on Fatehgarh Churian road here. His daughter told the media her father was seen at the property just before he went missing mysteriously. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Embassy in India has been in touch with the family and assisting them, while Interpol has also been alerted. Opposition leaders have questioned the state government's handling of law and order. SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia described the incident as ‘extremely sad and worrisome’. Senior Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira also expressed concern over the case, calling it a "black blot" on the state's image. c m y b Naushera Pannuan village Sarhali police station area. The accused has been identified as Makhan Singh, a resident of Mundapind village. The police said that a foreign pistol and a magazine had been seized from the accused. A case has been registered. BSF seize broken drone The BSF seized a broken drone from the fields of Burj169 village in the area last evening. ASI Narinder Singh of Sarai Amanat Khan police said that the BSF had handed over the seized drone to the police, which registered a case in this regard.