17062026-ATR-01.qxd 6/17/2026 12:54 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 27°C | MIN 37°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 37°C MEDICAL COLLEGE PERFORMS COMPLEX SURGERY VARPAL VILLAGE A NURSERY OF BRAVEHEARTS ACTOR DISHANI CHAKRABORTY GETS ENGAGED TO MYLES A complex lung surgery on a newborn suffering from multiple rare congenital disorders has been performed. P2 Varpalvillageishometoamaximumof45 gurdwaras,afeatthatmaybeunmatchable anywhereintheworld. P3 Dishani,daughterofveteranstarMithun Chakraborty,hasannouncedherengagement to boyfriend Myles Mantzaris. P4 » » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.37 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5.25 AM WEDNESDAY | 17 JUNE 2026 | AMRITSAR Tarn Taran man strangles wife to death, arrested Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, June 16 A woman was allegedly strangled to death by his husband at Sanghwa village here on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Gagandeep Kaur (40), who had been married to Manpreet Singh for about 15 years. The couple has two daughters, aged 9 and 12. Lovepreet Singh, brother of the deceased, a resident of Manochahal Kalan, said that Gagandeep Kaur was married to Manpreet Singh 15 years ago. The accused, being an addict, strangled his wife on Sunday in his house. The accused has been booked under Section 103 (1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by the Patti Sadar police on Monday. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Gurpal Singh said that the accused has been arrested. City kite maker’s four-decade journey wins global recognition NEWSMAKER OF THE WEEK Pawan K Jaiswar Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 16 For most people, kite making is a seasonal occupation rooted in tradition. But for veteran kite maker Jagmohan Kanojia, it has become a medium of innovation, creativity and excellence that has earned him national and international acclaim. Kanojia’s journey began in an unlikely setting. His father ran a dry-cleaning business in the upscale Basant Avenue locality of Amritsar. While the family business provided a livelihood, young Jagmohan was fascinated by the colourful kites that filled the skies during festive seasons. Recognising his son’s passion, his father took him to the historic Lohgarh area, known for its traditional kite makers, where he learnt the intricate art of making kites. Amritsar, June 16 Even though the Punjab Government allowed paddy transplantation from June 1 this year, the pace of transplantation remains slow across many villages in the district. Farmers say that the late announcement regarding the revised transplantation schedule left them with little time to prepare nurseries, resulting in delays in field operations. Traditionally, paddy transplantation in the district used to begin after June 20 as part of measures to conserve groundwater. However, the government advanced the date to June 1 this year. While the decision was welcomed by farmers, many claim that the announcement came too late for them to make timely arrangements for raising paddy seedlings. A visit to several villages Kite maker Jagmohan Kanojia at his workshop in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR What started as a hobby soon became a lifelong pursuit. Over the past 40 years, Kanojia has dedicated himself to mastering and innovating the craft, proving that kite making is much more than a simple trade. Through unique designs and artistic creations, he has transformed a traditional skill into an art form. His achievements have been recognised by several presti- gious record books, including the Limca Book of Records, Unique World Records, India Book of Records, Elite World Records, World Records India, Amazing World Records, USA World Records, National Book of Records, Asian Book of World Records and GN National Records. Apart from these recordbook recognitions, he has continued on page 2 Amritsar-Katra Vande Bharat flagged off Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 16 Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu on Tuesday flagged off the Amritsar-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express on its new route via Gurdaspur and Batala. The occasion also highlighted the ongoing redevelopment of Beas junction railway station under the ambitious Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Addressing the gathering, Ravneet Singh said the introduction of the Vande Bharat Express on the revised route marks another milestone in the modernisation of Indian Railways and will significantly improve connectivity between the holy city of Amritsar and the revered shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi at Katra. According to Ravneet Singh, the new routing of the Vande Bharat Express through Gurdaspur and Batala will reduce the travel distance by nearly 84 km and cut journey time by around 40 minutes. The train will cover approximately 283 Late schedule change slows paddy sowing across district Farmers say the late announcement regarding the revised transplantation schedule left them with little time to prepare nurseries, resulting in delays in field operations. FILE PHOTO revealed that large areas are yet to be transplanted and farmers are still preparing their fields. Agricultural experts believe that transplantation activity is expected to pick up in the coming days as nurseries mature. Gurmeet Singh, a farmer from Pandoori village, said that he could not sow his nursery on time because the revised schedule was announced only a few weeks before the transplantation season. MC holds anti-encroachment drive at UT Market near GNDU Tribune News Service Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, along with BJP leaders, flags off the train in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR km in about five hours, providing faster, safer and more comfortable travel for pilgrims, tourists and regular passengers. He said the train is equipped with modern AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car coaches offering world-class amenities. The service is expected to strengthen the religious tourism circuit connecting Harmandir Sahib, Durgiana Temple, Sri Ram Tirath and the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, while also boosting tourism, trade and economic activity across the region. Beas railway station to be redeveloped at ~62 crore On the occasion, Ravneet Singh Bittu also announced that the Beas junction railway station is being redeveloped at an estimated cost of Rs 62 crore under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme to meet future passenger demand and provide worldclass facilities. He said Beas station currently handles around 106 trains daily, including 98 halting trains and eight originating or terminating services. The station records an average daily passenger footfall of continued on page 2 Amritsar, June 16 The Amritsar Municipal Corporation here carried out an anti-encroachment drive at UT Market, opposite Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), to clear footpaths and roads for the public. The drive was supervised by Secretary-cum-Estate Officer Inspector Preeti Chauhan. The action was taken after residents, students, commuters and visitors complained that footpaths and roadside areas had been occupied by unauthorised rehris and temporary structures. These encroachments were causing inconvenience to pedestrians and affecting the smooth flow of traffic. During the drive, MC teams removed illegal structures and cleared public pathways. Officials said the move is part of the MC’s efforts to create pedestrian-friendly streets and ensure that public infrastructure is used properly. Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 16 Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport has received a major boost in domestic air connectivity with the launch of two new direct flight services linking the holy city with Noida International Airport at Jewar and Pune. The new routes, launched by IndiGo and Air India Express respectively, are expected to enhance travel options for pilgrims, business travellers, students, tourists, and members of the Punjabi diaspora while strengthening Amritsar’s position as a key aviation hub in northern India. IndiGo commenced its daily Amritsar–Noida (Jewar) service on June 15, coinciding with the start of commercial operations at Noida International Airport. The new route establishes a direct link between Amritsar and the newly developed airport, offering passengers from Punjab an alternative gateway to the National Capital Region (NCR) and convenient onward connections to destinations across the country. According to the airline’s schedule, flight 6E 2490 departs Hyderabad at 6.25 am, arrives in Noida at 8.35 am, and continues to Amritsar at 10.10 am, reaching the city at 11.20 am. The return service, flight 6E 2491, departs Amritsar at 12.15 pm, reaches Noida at 1.20 pm, and then proceeds to Hyderabad, arriving there at 4.50 pm. The service is part of IndiGo’s broader network expansion from Noida International Airport, which currently connects more than 16 destinations, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Jaipur, Lucknow, Navi Mumbai, Pantnagar, and Srinagar. Sameep Singh Gumtala of the Fly Amritsar Initiative said the Amritsar-Noida route would strengthen domestic connectivity from Punjab and provide seamless access to southern India through Hyderabad. He added that the service would benefit devotees, business travellers, and tourists while offering an alternative to travelling through Delhi’s international airport. In another development, Air India Express has launched daily direct flights between Pune and Amritsar. The inaugural flight departed Pune on June 15, marking the beginning of a service aimed at improving connectivity between Maharashtra and Punjab. The airline said the direct connection would provide convenient travel options for leisure travellers, pilgrims, continued on page 2 MC workers remove goods during an anti-encroachment drive in Amritsar on Tuesday. Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill said roads and footpaths belong to the public and cannot be used for private purposes. He added that keeping these spaces clear is important for the safety and convenience of schoolchildren, senior citi- Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 16 Once arch-rivals and known for delivering fiery speeches, BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla and Congress leader Prof Darbari Lal have now come on one page, as “corrupt politicians are yielding space to non-political entities like the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)”. Once, their rivalry was so keen that BJP and Congress, respectively, could not think of any other candidate from the Amritsar Central Assembly constituency. They contested four Assembly elections against each other — in 1985, 1992, 1997 and 2002. Both won two elections against each other. The result of their Assembly seat used to be among the mostwatched in Punjab. They never went to their party offices to seek ticket. Instead, senior leaders of their parties c m y b Congress leader Prof Darbari Lal and firebrand BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla share their views in Amritsar. used to approach them to contest the election. Both are presently above 80 years of age, having been were born in undivided India. They weathered several political storms, saw the Partition of India, migration of refugees, Punjabi Suba Movement, formation of present-day Punjab, Emergency and the militant movement. Bains inspects cleanliness drive in city at midnight Tribune News Service zens and daily commuters. Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr Jai Inder Singh said the MC is focusing on areas where people face the most inconvenience. He assured that similar drives will continue in other parts of the city whenever required. IndiGo, Air India Express expand Once arch-rivals, Laxmi Kanta Chawla & city connectivity with new routes Prof Darbari Lal on same page now Charanjit Singh Teja “We were preparing according to the old schedule. By the time the government announced the new date, many farmers had already missed the ideal period for nursery sowing. As a result, the seedlings were not ready by June 1,” he said. Another farmer, Harjit Singh, said that the change created confusion among cultivators. “The government should have informed farmers several months in advance. Most of us arrange labour, seeds and irrigation plans according to the expected transplantation date. A sudden change disrupted our preparations,” he said. Farmers also pointed out that power disruptions in some rural areas following recent storms have further slowed field activities. Adequate irrigation is essential for transplantation, and many growers are waiting for a stable electricity supply before proceeding. Three-time MLA Darbari Lal, commenting on the present generation of politicians, said they are corrupt as political parties give ticket to the affluent and ignore their party workers and their years of service. He added that these affluent leaders do not have any regard for social boundaries, etiquettes and do not feel embarrassed when exposed. Instead, their supporters go to receive them at their release from jail with pomp and show. Earlier, when people with limited economic means were given ticket, they used to think hard before taking any decision that could bring disrepute to him and his family. He said that these days, politicians are known for leading luxurious lifestyles, wearing shoes and wrist watches worth lakhs and owning flashy cars. The mindless pursuit to acquire material wealth has forced them to take unjust decisions. Laxmi Kanta Chawla remained a legislator thrice and was a Cabinet Minister in the Parkash Singh Badal government. She had cycled her way to Punjab Assembly to attend a session after learning about a taunt by a legislator. She said the present flock of continued on page 2 Amritsar, June 16 Punjab Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains walked through the lanes of the walled city at 1 am on Tuesday to inspect the ongoing night sweeping drive. “Amritsar is not just a city; it is a centre of spirituality,” said Bains. “For the first time, cleanliness efforts here extend beyond daylight hours. A dedicated sanitation shift now operates daily from 10 pm to 2 am, ensuring roads are clean when devotees arrive for Amrit Vela at Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple),” he added. After reviewing the drive, Bains said the initiative was not a one-night exercise and warned that he would conduct surprise inspections at any time to ensure the holy city remains clean. The minister spent several hours in the walled city, inspecting areas around Darbar Sahib. He reviewed the clearance of secondary garbage collection points, monitored door-to-door waste collection in narrow lanes and noted that several open dumping sites identified earlier had been removed. He also interacted with nightshift sanitation workers and discussed the challenges they face on the ground. Bains said Heritage Street would regain its shine through daily cleaning of key stretches in the walled city. He added that once garbage collection points are eliminated, efforts would focus on reducing the presence of stray animals on roads. “I do not want to see a single wrapper, envelope or plastic bottle on the roads of the holy city,” he said. He noted that while municipal corporation teams sweep roads from 10 pm to 2 am, their efforts are often undermined when residents throw waste from balconies and rooftops. “Sanitation workers are on duty while the city sleeps. The least we can do is avoid littering the streets from our windows,” he said. continued on page 2