27062026-ATR-01.qxd 6/27/2026 12:20 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY FARMERS, POLICE CLASH NEAR EDU MINISTER’S EVENT VIRGINIE EFIRA TO RECEIVE AWARD AT LOCARNO FILM FEST IT’S TIME TO REVISIT JOURNEY THAT UNFOLDED IN BHATHKANDI Farmers protesting the transfer of ownership of the cooperative sugar mill at Sheron clash with the police. P2 Virginie Efira will be honoured with the Leopard Club Award at the 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival. P4 What happens when an overachieving city doctor, armed with a gold medal and zero street sense, lands in a village. P4 » » » MAX 37°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET SATURDAY 7.39 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5.27 AM SATURDAY | 27 JUNE 2026 | AMRITSAR CKD asks M’rashtra Govt to withdraw Hazur Sahib Act Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 26 The Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD), one of the oldest and most prominent socio-religious and educational institutions of the Sikh community, has strongly opposed the Maharashtra Government’s proposal to repeal the Nanded Sikh Gurdwara Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Act, 1956, and replace it with a new law, calling the move discriminatory and demanding its immediate withdrawal. The state government has put the proposed law in abeyance. At a meeting held at its Amritsar headquarters on Friday, CKD president and former Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjer expressed deep concern, saying Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib is one of the five Takhts of the Sikh Panth and that any modification or interference in its administrative structure is a highly sensitive issue directly linked to the religious sentiments of the Sikh community. Referring to history, Nijjer said the Chief Khalsa Diwan, established in 1902, has Panthic affiliation and enjoys permanent representation on the Sri Hazur Sahib Board through one of its members. Members of the CKD executive during a meeting held in Amritsar on Friday. “For decades, CKD representatives have discharged their responsibilities with dedication and made valuable contributions towards preserving the sanctity of the Takht Sahib while ensuring transparent and smooth administration. The attempt to exclude such a historic institution from the management system under the pretext of a new law is not only an insult to the glorious legacy of the CKD but also a direct attack on the religious rights of Sikh institutions and the community,” he said. He added that the proposal to repeal the existing Act could pose a serious chal- lenge to the rights of Sikh institutions and undermine the dignity and self-governance of the Takht Sahibs. CKD secretary Ramnik Singh said the Takht Sahibs are the highest centres of Sikh religious faith and their management should be carried out in accordance with Sikh traditions, Panthic consensus and religious principles. “The move has created unrest among Sikh sangats and Panth Dardis in India and abroad due to the attempt to alter the existing legal framework governing Sri Hazur Sahib or impose a new law. The five Singh Sahibs of Takht Sri 10 mobile phones, 8 SIM cards seized from Amritsar Central Jail Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 26 The Amritsar Central Jail seized 10 mobile phones, eight SIM cards and a charger during a search operation inside the prison premises, prompting the registration of a case under Sections 42 and 52-A of the Prisons Act at the Islamabad police station here on Thursday. According to the FIR, the prohibited items were allegedly recovered from the possession of inmates and undertrial prisoners lodged in the jail. The seizure included two touch screen mobile phones, eight keypad handsets, eight SIM cards of different telecom companies and one mobile charger. The accused named in the case include undertrials Damanpreet Singh, Resham Singh, Sahil Singh, Jaspal Singh, alias Jassa, Azad Singh, Deepak Kumar Bhandari, Arshdeep Singh, Karanbir Singh, Navpreet Singh alias Yada alias Lovepreet Singh and a convict, Avtar Singh. The complaint was lodged by Assistant Jail Superintendent Amarbir Singh, who stated that the recovery of the prohibited articles amounted to a violation of prison rules. Following the recovery, a case was registered at the Islamabad police station and further investigation has been initiated to ascertain how the contraband mobile phones and SIM cards were smuggled into the high-security prison. The police are probing the source of the devices and whether any jail staff or outside persons were involved in facilitating their entry into the prison. Authorities said further legal action would be taken based on the outcome of the investigation. Hazur Sahib have also passed a Gurmata opposing the proposed legislation,” he said. The CKD office-bearers and members appealed to the Centre and the Maharashtra Government to immediately withdraw the controversial proposal. “If the government considers it necessary to make any amendment in the Act, then before that, the principles of Panthic consensus and complete transparency should be adopted while respecting the religious sentiments of the community so that the Panthic rights of the community are not mingled with,” said Ramnik Singh. Illegal drug de-addiction centre busted Tarn Taran, June 26 A police team led by Inspector Paramjit Singh Virdi, SHO of the city police station, busted an illegal drug de-addiction centre on Chabal Road here on Thursday evening. The drug de-addiction centre was being run by Sarabjit Singh, alias Sunny, a resident of Sultanwind Street, New Azad Nagar, Amritsar, and Rana Pratap Singh, a resident of Street No. 1, Antaryam Colony, Amritsar. SHO Paramjit Singh said that Rana Pratap Singh has been arrested and a raid is being conducted to arrest Sarabjit Singh. — OC 2,677 students sit for GNDU Common Entrance Exam Amritsar, June 26 Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) on Friday conducted its Common Entrance Examination-2026 at 10 examination centres. A total of 2,677 candidates appeared for the entrance test. The examination was held for admission to various postgraduate and professional programmes offered by the university’s science and engineering departments. These included Master of Science courses in Botany, chemistry, environmental science, food technology, human genetics, mathematics, microbiology, physics and zoology, besides programmes in agriculture, pharmacy, computer engineering, textile processing technology, artificial intelligence and robotics engineering and urban and regional planning. The examination process was conducted under the supervision of Prof Aman Mahajan, Coordinator, and Dr Sachin Kumar, Deputy Coordinator. University officials and employees also played a key role in ensuring the smooth conduct of the examination. The university administration said the results have been uploaded on the university website and admission portal. continued on page 2 Members of the BKU (Ugrahan), along with others, hold a march in Amritsar on Friday. VISHAL KUMAR Farmers hold flag march against proposed India-US trade deal Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 26 Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) on Friday took out a flag march at Ranjit Avenue to protest against the proposed India-US free trade agreement, rising prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas, shortage of urea fertiliser and the increasing cost of living. The march began from Ranjit Avenue and concluded near the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Addressing the gathering, Dr Parminder Singh Pandori Waraich alleged that the country was passing through a serious economic crisis and accused the Centre of imposing an additional financial burden on ordinary citizens in the name of national security and war, while extending conces- sions to large corporate houses. He said the soaring prices of petrol, diesel and LPG had fuelled inflation, affecting both farmers and common people. The increase in the price of diesel had significantly raised cultivation costs, further deepening the agrarian crisis for farmers already burdened with debt. Waraich also highlighted the shortage of urea fertiliser and criticised what he termed as anti-farmer policies, including the proposed Seeds Bill 2025, power-related reforms, attempts to weaken the rural employment guarantee scheme (MGNREGA) and the proposed free trade agreement with the United States. He alleged that such measures would adversely impact farmers and the In mourning Two extortion gang members arrested, 3 aides absconding Devotees perform self-flagellation during a Muharram procession taken out to commemorate Ashura in Amritsar on Friday. PTI Over 15,000 Akal Academy students unite for anti-drug campaign Students take anti-drug pledge in Gurdaspur Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 26 To mark International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, more than 15,000 students from 121 Akal Academy schools run by the Kalgidhar Trust across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan participated in a unique anti-drug awareness initiative on Friday. At exactly 8 am, students assembled simultaneously on their respective campuses to form the human message, ‘WE ARE DRUG FREE’, demonstrating their collective pledge to stay away from substance abuse and promote a healthier society. The initiative is part of an attempt to secure recognition from the World Book of Records, London. In Amritsar, students from four Akal Academy branches participated in the campaign. Akal Academy, Basarke, Students of Akal Academy form human formations in a record attempt for drug abuse awareness at Khadoor Sahib; and (right) a human formation of ‘We are drug free’ in Gurdaspur on Friday. recorded the participation of 60 students, while Chogawan had 120 participants, Sheron Bagga 85 and Vacchoa 112. Gurdeep Kaur, principal of Akal Academy, Basarke, said, “This initiative reflects the determination of our students to stand against drug abuse and promote healthy living. Through year-round awareness programmes, value-based education, counselling support and preventive interventions, our schools continue to maintain drug-free campuses.” The Kalgidhar Trust, a non-profit Sikh organisation, has consistently cham- pioned drug prevention and social awareness campaigns through its network of educational institutions. Akal Academy students have previously helped secure two World Records and one Limca Book of Records recognition through similar large-scale public aware- c m y b ness initiatives. A student from Akal Academy, Basarke, who participated in the human formation, said that through awareness and determination, Punjab’s youth are sending a message of hope against drug abuse and helping break its vicious cycle. rural economy. Announcing the next phase of the agitation, the union leaders said BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) and BKU Dakaunda would organise a massive protest at Sector 34, Chandigarh, on July 4. They said village-level meetings and flag marches were being organised across Punjab to mobilise farmers for the demonstration. The speakers said despite a decline in international crude oil prices, the Union Government had failed to pass on the benefit to consumers by reducing fuel prices. They demanded an immediate reduction in the prices of diesel, petrol and cooking gas and urged the government to place the burden of economic challenges on large corporate houses rather than ordinary citizens. Gurdaspur: As many as 881 students from five Akal Academy branches in the twin districts of Gurdaspur and Pathankot marked International Day Against Drug Abuse by participating in awareness programmes at different locations on Friday. The event was organised by Akal Academy branches at Mullianwal, Tibber and Rasulpur Bait in Gurdaspur district, and Bharyal Lehri and Sujanpur in Pathankot district. The students formed a human chain spelling out the message, ‘We are free from drugs’. Standing together to create the words, they conveyed a strong visual pledge to reject substance abuse and reaffirmed their commitment to building a healthier, addiction-free society. Gurvinder Kaur, principal of Akal Academy, Tibber, said, “This initiative reflects the determination of our students to stand against drug abuse while promoting healthy living. Our institution continues to maintain a drug-free campus by organising awareness programmes throughout the year.” A school official said similar programmes were held at all 121 Akal Academy branches across North India. “The campaign is an attempt to secure recognition in the Book of World Records, London, this year. Earlier, Akal Academy earned recognition in two editions of the World Book of Records and the Limca Book of World Records. The initiative reinforces the Kalgidhar Trust’s commitment to nurturing responsible citizens and encouraging young people to become ambassadors of a drugfree India,” the official added. All Akal Academy branches across the country are run under the aegis of the Kalgidhar Trust. Amritsar, June 26 The Amritsar Rural Police have arrested two members of an alleged extortion gang involved in threatening traders and shopkeepers to extort money. The police also recovered the mobile phone allegedly used by the accused to make extortion calls. Three other members of the five-member gang are still absconding and raids were on to arrest them, said Harchand Singh Sandhu, SHO, Chatiwind police station. Sandhu said the accused, identified as Sukhdev Singh and another accomplice, were taken into custody during a targeted operation. The suspects are being interrogated to trace the remaining gang members and uncover the network’s activities. Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang had been targeting businessmen and traders in the area for a long time. The accused allegedly demanded protection money over phone calls and threatened to harm them and their family members those who refused to pay. To create fear among victims, the gang is also accused of opening fire outside shops, homes and business establishments, the SHO said. He said efforts are underway to arrest the remaining accused, identified as Vishal, Shamsher Singh and Harpreet Singh, alias Happy. Investigators suspect that one of the absconding accused may be armed, prompting the police to intensify search operations. The accused have been produced before a court and sent to police custody for further questioning. The police are examining the number of traders allegedly targeted by the gang and whether the accused were involved in other extortion and firing incidents. — TNS