12072026-ATR-01.qxd 7/11/2026 11:21 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 37°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 27°C ILLEGAL DE-ADDICTION CENTRE BUSTED IN TARN TARAN ‘MODELLING IS NOT JUST ABOUT GOOD LOOKS’ ‘PAIN IS TEMPORARY… CINEMA IS PERMANENT’ The district administration uncovered an illegal de-addiction centre operating on Chabal Road. P2 Prabh Uppal’s remarkable journey from Jagraon showcases how talent and commitment are both essential. P3 As Main Vaapas Aaunga wins back the audience after a slow opening, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali reflects on Partition. P4 » » SUNSET SUNDAY 7.37 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5.34 AM » SUNDAY | 12 JULY 2026 | AMRITSAR Terror victims demand panel to reveal ‘full truth’ of militancy era 24-yr-old shot outside house as school friends turn rivals Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 11 What began as a friendship during school years reportedly ended in a deadly fallout years later. Two former classmates and close friends allegedly became bitter rivals over their associations with opposing groups, culminating in the murder of a 24-year-old youth outside his house in Shahura village under the Lopoke police station limits on Friday night. The victim, identified as Guravtar Singh, was allegedly shot dead by his former friend and neighbour, Gurjant Singh, along with his accomplices following an argument outside his residence. The police suspect the murder was the result of a long-standing personal rivalry. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kapil Kaushal said Guravtar and Gurjant had studied in the same school and class and were once close friends. However, their relationship deteriorated after Gurjant developed enmity with another group. Guravtar reportedly continued to maintain contact with members of that rival group, a fact that Gurjant frequently objected to. The dispute often led to heated arguments and SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BULLET INJURIES ■ According to the victim’s family, several persons, including Gurjant movie was not a solution. More than three decades after the peak of militancy, hundreds of affected families continue to await justice and adequate rehabilitation, Hastir said. “The Central Government should constitute a Truth, Accountability and Reconciliation Commission to comprehensively examine the events of the militancy period and ensure that all victims receive justice,” he added. Recalling her ordeal, Pawna Devi said she lost her husband, Pritam Chand, in the twin bomb blasts in Amritsar in June 1988. Pritam Chand worked at the well-known Gurdas Ram Jalebi Wala shop in Katra Ahluwalia in the walled city. “The truth has never fully come out. Many families are still living with the trauma of those years and continue to struggle to rebuild their lives,” she said. Pawna Devi was later appointed as a sewadar in PUDA on compassionate grounds. Another victim, Varsha Sharma, of Ghanupur Kale village, said terrorists entered her house and shot dead her husband, Sugriv Raj Sharma, in June 1990. “Successive governments have done little for the welfare of militancy victims. Many affected families continue to live in distress,” she said. ADA razes 3 newly developed unauthorised colonies in dist Three arrested with heroin in separate cases Govt schoolteachers oppose SIR duty on holidays, stage protest Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 11 The Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) carried out a demolition drive against three newly developed unauthorised colonies in the district as part of its ongoing crackdown on illegal real estate developments. The action was undertaken by the District Town Planner (Regulatory) wing under the directions of ADA Chief Administrator Nitesh Kumar Jain. During the drive, officials demolished an unauthorised colony being developed on Boparai Road in Kathunangal village and another in Nag Kalan village in the presence of police personnel from the Kathunangal and Majitha police stations. A third unauthorised colony, being developed under the name “Dashmesh Avenue” at Nan- Tarn Taran, July 11 The Sarhali police arrested a man and seized six grams of heroin from his possession on Friday evening. The operation was led by ASI Rachpal Singh. The accused has been identified as Jagroop Singh Gopa, a resident of Gali Dakkakhane Wali, Sarhali. The accused was arrested near the Lauhuka crossing at Naushera Pannuan. A case has been registered against him under Sections 21-B, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act, and further investigation is underway. In a separate operation, the Kacha Pakka police arrested two persons and recovered three grams of heroin, Rs 3,000 in alleged drug money and an electronic device from their possession. The accused have been identified as continued on page 2 Amritsar, July 11 As a mark of protest, government schoolteachers deployed on SIR duty on Saturday burnt copies of orders issued by the Punjab Government and the Election Commission, which made July 11 and 12 mandatory working days for SIR camps. The district administration had organised special camps in government schools on July 11 and 12, following which the Punjab School Education Department directed all District Education Officers (DEOs) and school heads to keep schools open on July 11 (second Saturday) and July 12 (Sunday), both official holidays. Describing the orders as illogical and arbitrary, several teachers condemned the decision. Despite the protest, Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 11 Amid the controversy surrounding the film “Satluj”, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and highlighting alleged extrajudicial killings during Punjab’s militancy era, the All India Terrorist Victims’ Association has demanded the constitution of a Truth, Accountability and Reconciliation Commission to present what it described as the “complete truth” of that period. The association said that while Khalra’s efforts and sacrifices in exposing the issue of unidentified and unclaimed bodies deserved recognition, the experiences of families who lost their loved ones to terrorism had largely remained unheard. It also alleged that many victims’ families were still awaiting relief and rehabilitation benefits announced decades ago by the Punjab Government and the Central Government. Dr BR Hastir, chairman of the association, which was formed in 1998 to fight for the All India Terrorist Victims’ Association chairman Dr BR Hastir (centre) during a meeting with militancy victims in Tarn Taran recently. FILE PHOTO rights of terrorism victims, said the proposed commission should be headed by a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court or a high court. “It is appropriate to make a film on Jaswant Singh Khalra and his struggle to expose alleged police excesses. However, that is only one side of Punjab’s tragic past. The suffering of hundreds of families who lost their loved ones to terrorism must also be acknowledged,” he said, adding that banning the A JCB deployed by the ADA to demolish an illegal colony on the Batala road in Amritsar on Saturday. gli village, was also demolished, although police personnel were not present during that operation. The District Town Planner said notices under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act (PAPRA), 1995, had been served on the developers, directing them to stop construction. However, despite the notices, the devel- opers allegedly continued the work without submitting any explanation, prompting the authority to carry out the demolition on July 9. The official said action would also be initiated against the landowners and developers on the basis of revenue records. Under the amended PAPRA Act, 2024, those found continued on page 2 Rain brings relief from heat in Tarn Taran PWD Minister ETO reviews ~17.72-cr works at Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, July 11 Moderate rain lashed parts of the district on Saturday morning, bringing muchneeded relief from the hot and humid weather. Residents, who had been reeling under intense heat over the past several days, heaved a sigh of relief as the showers ended a prolonged dry spell. The rainfall is also expected to benefit standing crops. Tajinderpal Singh Rasulpur, a farmer from Rasulpur village, said the rain had come at the right time and would be immensely beneficial for crops. He said the showers would significantly benefit both early and late varieties of paddy by continued on page 2 Amritsar, July 11 Punjab Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Saturday reviewed the progress of ongoing development and beautification works at Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal and directed officials to complete all projects within the stipulated timeframe while maintaining high quality standards. The minister chaired a review meeting with Bal Jogi Pragat Nath, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Bhagwan Valmiki Ji Tirath Sthal Shrine Board; Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer of the shrine board Dalwinderjit Singh; General Manager Madhur Bhatia; senior officials; and Punjab PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO (3rd from right) during a meeting with district administration officials in Amritsar. representatives of various departments. Later, he paid obeisance at the shrine and prayed for peace and prosperity. The PWD Minister said the Punjab Government had sanctioned development works worth Rs 17.72 crore, which are progressing at a rapid pace. He said Rs 3.74 crore is being spent on cleaning and rejuvenating the holy sarovar, including de-silting, laying fresh sand and carrying out other related works. He added that projects worth Rs 2.80 crore include painting and polishing the main temple, repairing pil- c m y b lars along the approach road and carrying out silicon treatment of sandstone structures. Another Rs 2.42 crore is being utilised for repairing stonework in the sangat hall and painting the langar hall, sarai and panorama hall. The minister said Rs 1.74 crore is being spent on providing new furniture, air-conditioners and other amenities in the pilgrims’ accommodation, while more than Rs 5 crore will be used to enhance the capacity of the sewage treatment plant, renovate bathrooms install new air-conditioners and geysers and upgrade the fire safety system. He asserted that there was no shortage of funds for the shrine’s development and continued on page 2 Singh, arrived at Guravtar’s house on motorcycles around 11 pm ■ They called him and as soon as he stepped out, an argument allegedly broke out between the two sides ■ The family alleged that as the confrontation escalated, the accused opened fire with pistols ■ Five shots were reportedly fired and Guravtar sustained multiple bullet injuries; he collapsed on the spot and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead eventually culminated in the fatal shooting. The police have registered a murder case and launched raids to arrest the accused. According to the victim’s family, several persons, including Gurjant Singh, arrived at Guravtar’s house on motorcycles around 11 pm and called him outside. Soon after he stepped out, an argument allegedly broke out between the two sides. The family alleged that as the confrontation escalated, the accused opened fire with pistols. Around five shots were reportedly fired and Guravtar sustained multiple bullet injuries. He collapsed on the spot and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The victim’s father, Lahora Singh, alleged that his son DTF members and government teachers tear copies of the state government’s orders on working on weekend for SIR in Amritsar. they reported for duty at their designated camps. At Government Senior Secondary School, Bhagtanwala, teachers burnt copies of the orders in protest. “Teachers are being treated like machines and are being made to work continuously without any leave. We had clearly demanded that the government recruit separate staff for BLO and other election or administrative duties. Instead, teachers are being burdened with additional responsibilities without any break,” said Ashwani Awasthi, head teacher at GGSSS, Bhagtanwala. Leaders of the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), Punjab, also strongly condemned continued on page 2 Block education officer, 4 clerkssuspended over financial irregularities Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 11 The Education Department has suspended a Block Primary Education Officer (BPEO) and four clerks and directed that an FIR be registered after they were allegedly found guilty of financial embezzlement and irregularities in salary, provident fund and leave encashment bills. The action followed the detection of alleged financial irregularities in bills related to salaries, provident funds and leave encashment during a preliminary inquiry. Based on the findings, District Education Officer (Elementary) Kanwaljit Singh Sandhu has written to the Police Commissioner, Amritsar, seeking the registration of an FIR against the officials concerned. According to an official communication issued by the department, any delay or negligence in implementing the directions will make the officer concerned personally responsible. Those suspended include Block Primary Education Officer Yashpal, who served as the Drawing and Disbursing Officer for the Majitha-1, Majitha-2, Rayya-1, Rayya-2 and Amritsar-4 blocks. The suspended officials also include clerk Gursewak Singh of Amritsar-3 block, clerk Sukhdev Singh of continued on page 2 had been involved in a longrunning dispute with Gurjant Singh, his accomplices Honey and others. He claimed the accused had come to their house with the intention of attacking his son. The killing has sent shockwaves through Shahura village, as Guravtar was the only child of his parents, leaving the family devastated. DSP Kaushal said the victim sustained a gunshot injury to his leg and succumbed to excessive bleeding. The police reached the spot soon after receiving information about the incident, shifted the body for a post-mortem, and registered a case on the statement of the victim’s father. A hunt has been launched to apprehend the accused, while further investigations are underway. History-sheeter ‘Cheeni’ killed in Bhakna Kalan firing; 10 held Amritsar, July 11 The police have arrested 10 persons in connection with the firing between two rival groups at the grain market in Bhakna Kalan village in the Attari area, which left a notorious criminal dead and another person injured. The deceased, identified as Gursharan Singh, alias “Cheeni”, was a historysheeter facing more than 12 criminal cases. He sustained bullet injuries to the abdomen and neck during the exchange of fire. He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Another member of his group, Sukhman, was injured and admitted to a private hospital. DSP Yadvinder Singh said the police recovered 35 spent bullet shells from the spot, though the preliminary investigation indicated that nearly 100 rounds were fired by the two rival groups during the clash. The police said the violence stemmed from an old rivalry that resurfaced on Friday evening following an argument between village sarpanch Gurdeep Singh and panchayat member Pargat Singh. The dispute, reportedly linked to differences dating back to the panchayat elections, escalated after both sides allegedly challenged each other over the phone before arriving at the Bhakna Kalan grain market in eight to 10 vehicles carrying their supporters. A heated argument soon turned into a physical altercation, following which both groups allegedly opened indiscriminate fire. The police said Cheeni had been booked in more than 12 criminal cases since 2018, including murder and attemptto-murder cases. He had been released on bail around twoand-a-half months ago after spending several months in jail in connection with an Arms Act case. — TNS