07062026-ATR-01.qxd 6/6/2026 11:33 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune RESIDENTIAL CAMP FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS BEGINS REMEMBERING BILLY MALHANS, CUSTODIAN OF SHIMLA’S PAST Though born to Punjabi parents, Billy, as Birinder Malhans was universally known, was a thorough Himachali. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 38°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 25°C BRITISH ACTOR ANTHONY HEAD DIES AT 72 During summer break, 677 students will receive specialised coaching from subject experts . P2 FORECAST Actor known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso, died at 72 due to pneumonia. P4 » » SUNSET SUNDAY 7.33 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5.24 AM » SUNDAY | 7 JUNE 2026 | AMRITSAR Peaceful shutdown marks 42nd Op Bluestar anniv Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 6 The Amritsar bandh called to mark the 42nd anniversary of Operation Bluestar remained largely peaceful, while the police stayed on high alert throughout the day on Saturday. Heavy security was deployed around the Golden Temple, while personnel in plain clothes were also stationed inside the shrine to prevent any untoward incident. The bandh call was given by the Dal Khalsa. Police personnel and paramilitary forces were deployed at various roads and chowks in the walled city leading to Darbar Sahib as well as at key locations, including the railway station, bus stand and several religious places. The heightened security came days after anonymous emails threatening to bomb temples across Punjab were received. Most shops remained closed throughout the day. While some traders began reopening their establishments in the evening, shopkeepers largely observed the bandh voluntarily. Apart from persuading a government bank branch in the Town Hall area to shut for the day, no reports emerged of traders being forced to close their shops. Most markets wore a deserted look, while vehicular traffic remained signifi- A market wears a deserted look following the bandh called by the Dal Khalsa on the 42nd anniversary of Operation Bluestar in Amritsar on Saturday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR cantly lower than on normal days. More than 4,000 police personnel, along with five companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), including the BSF ITBP and RAF , , were deployed across the city. In a statement, Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh Bittu said the military action at the Golden Temple and Akal Takht remained etched in the collective memory of the Sikh community. He said the organisation endorsed the Akal Takht Jathedar’s rejection of the anti-sacrilege law and warned the Punjab Government against interfering in Sikh religious affairs. Bittu claimed that major business, commercial and educational establishments in the city remained closed in response to the bandh call. He thanked the residents of Amritsar for their cooperation and solidarity with the victims of the 1984 riots, describing the participation as entirely voluntary. Meanwhile, Harmeet Singh Kalka, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, while addressing a gathering at Gurdwara Gurdarshan Prakash in Mehta Chowk, called for unity among Sikh organisations to secure the release of Bandi Singhs. He said all Sikh bodies and congregations should come together, whether through protests or legal means, to pursue the cause. Kalka said that if the SGPC launches any major initiative for the release of Bandi Singhs, the DSGMC would fully support it. He also expressed concern over alleged large-scale religious conversion activities in Punjab. He appealed to the Damdami Taksal, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and other Panthic organisations to formulate a joint and effective strategy for the propagation of Sikhism. 55-yr-old dies after being hit by truck in Tarn Taran NCB nabs medical store owner for illegal sale of banned drugs Our Correspondent Amritsar, June 6 The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested a medical store owner for allegedly selling prohibited drugs illegally. The agency recovered around 1,000 intoxicant tablets during a raid on his shop. The accused was identified as Deepak Kumar, who operated Rai Medical Store in the Naraingarh area of Chheharta. He was produced before a court on Saturday and remanded to two days of police custody for further interrogation. Based on his disclosures, the NCB also arrested one of his alleged accomplices. However, the identity of the second accused has been withheld due Tarn Taran, June 6 A man was killed in a road accident at Dhotian village on Friday. The deceased was identified as Kabal Singh (55), a resident of nearby Dugri village. The victim was riding a motorcycle to withdraw money from the State Bank of India ATM in Dhotian village. When he reached near the ATM, a speeding tipper truck coming from the opposite direction allegedly hit him. Kabal Singh fell on the road and sustained serious injuries. His son, Gurjant Singh, rushed him to a private hospital in Tarn Taran, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The truck driver fled the scene with the vehicle after the accident. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Salwinder Singh, incharge of the Naushera Pannuan police post under the Sarhali police station, said a case has been registered under Sections 106(1), 106(2) and 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service NCB officials during a raid at a medical store in Amritsar on Saturday. to the ongoing investigation. The case has raised several concerns, as the accused was allegedly running the medical store without a valid licence and had failed to maintain records of sales and purchases. Apart from tramadol tablets, the NCB team also recovered a large quantity of pregabalin tablets and continued on page 2 2 booked for opening fire near service station Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, June 6 The city police on Friday registered a case against two persons for allegedly opening fire near Dhingra Service Station here on Thursday evening. The accused have been identified as Harmandeep Singh, a resident of Gali Goldy MC Wali in Tarn Taran, and Prince Bhabha, also a resident of Tarn Taran. The complaint was lodged by Harjot Singh, a resident of Ward No. 17 in Patti. Harjot Singh currently resides at his maternal grandmother’s house in Tarn Taran. According to the complaint, Harjot and Harmandeep Singh were friends during their school days, but their relationship later deteriorated, leading to enmity between them. On Thursday, Harjot Singh was getting his car repaired near Dhingra Service Station along with his grandfather, Lakha Singh, when the accused allegedly opened fire at him. When one of Harjot’s friends tried to intervene and save him, the accused allegedly fired at him as well using an illegal pistol. Both escaped unhurt in the incident. The city police have registered a case under Section 109 of the BNS and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. Estd. 2008 Aujla visits kin of murdered teacher, seeks justice in case Tribune News Service A view of burnt saplings on the divider along the Amritsar-Majitha road on Saturday. VISHAL KUMAR Environmentalists demand probe after saplings burnt in two blazes Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 6 Thousands of saplings planted under greening initiatives along the Verka bypass and the central verge of the Amritsar-Majitha road have been destroyed in separate fire incidents, triggering concern among environmental activists and local residents. A large number of saplings in a forest area being developed in memory of Guru Tegh Bahadur on the Verka bypass were reduced to ashes after a fire swept through the site. Environmental activist Sonu Jandiala alleged that the blaze was not accidental and pointed out that a similar incident had occurred at the same location last year. “Thousands of saplings in the forest area, which was being developed in memory of Guru Tegh Bahadur, were burnt. The trees had been replanted after last year’s fire, but the same thing has happened again,” he said. Jandiala alleged that some residents of nearby slums deliberately set the area ablaze to collect dried wood for use as fuel. “The Fire Brigade had to be called in to control the flames. We even handed over the suspected culprits to the police, but they were released as they reportedly had no identification documents and no FIR was registered,” he claimed. In another incident, a large number of saplings and several medium-sized trees planted on the central verge of the Amritsar-Majitha road were also damaged by fire. Local resident Kewal Singh alleged that the blaze may have started during the burning of weeds growing on the verge. “Every year, weeds are burnt to clear roadside areas and central medians, and the resulting fires are often blamed on farmers. This practice is causing significant damage to young trees and plantation drives,” he said. The incidents have sparked outrage among environmentalists, who are demanding a thorough investigation and stricter monitoring to protect public plantations. They have urged the authorities to identify those responsible and ensure that valuable green cover created with public resources is not repeatedly destroyed. Amritsar, June 6 Lok Sabha member Gurjeet Singh Aujla on Saturday visited the family of school teacher Jagdeep Singh, who was recently murdered and assured them of his support in their fight for justice. He expressed condolences to the bereaved family and gathered details about the case. Speaking to media after the visit, Aujla said the murder had shocked not only the victim’s family but also people across the region. He alleged that there were attempts during the initial stages of the investigation to portray the broad daylight killing as an accident, raising serious concerns among the public. The MP said local residents and the victim’s family had reportedly shared important information and evidence with the police, but questions continue to be raised about the pace of the investigation. He said this has led to growing public frustration and fears that influential persons could be trying to affect the probe. Aujla demanded a completely transparent and impartial investigation to ensure that all doubts surrounding the case are removed. He said that if any evidence of political interference or attempts to shield the accused emerges, it should also be thoroughly investigated. Describing Jagdeep Singh as a socially conscious teacher, Aujla said he had consistently spoken out against drug abuse and other continued on page 2 c m y b NEW COURSE - PHARM D ( DOCTOR OF PHARMACY ) MERIT BASED EARLY BIRD B PHARMACY, D PHARMACY ( GNDU ) WINNERS OF 10 INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL AWARDS