06092026-ATR-01.qxd 9/5/2026 10:17 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C AIDED SCHOOL TEACHERS CALL OFF PROTEST DINESH KUMAR —- AN INSPIRATION, INDEED SEPTEMBER’S MUST-WATCH LINE-UP IS HERE The Punjab Aided School Union has called off its protest after the government invited it for talks. P2 National Teachers’ Award recipient Dinesh Kumar built an entire physics lab virtually, without any funding. P3 Mirzapur: The movie, arguably the franchise’s most anticipated title yet, opened in theatres on Sept 4. P4 » » SUNSET SUNDAY 6.44 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6:06 AM » SUNDAY | 6 SEPTEMBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Finding parking space around Golden Temple uphill task: Locals Police, BSF seize drone, illegal arms; 3 held in 24 hours Pawan K Jaiswar Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 5 There seems to be no end to the parking crisis around the Golden Temple, locals say. To tide over the shortage, PUDA had handed over two parking lots to the Municipal Corporation, but that too failed to serve the purpose. “The situation turns from bad to worse on weekends and holidays, with finding parking space becoming a tedious task,” said the locals The shortage of parking has resulted in the mushrooming of unauthorised and private parking lots in various parts of the city. Left with no choice, visitors pay hefty fee in these private parking lots. Meanwhile, the MC has identified two more parking sites and plans to invite tenders for them next week. These include the parking site opposite Rani Ka Bagh on the district court complex side and the parking lot at Guru Nanak Bhawan. The contract for the Guru Nanak Bhawan parking lot has, for the time being, been given to the existing contractor with a 10 per cent increase over the previous contract amount. The parking site near the Cops yet to ascertain motive behind ‘desecration’ Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 5 Two days after the desecration incident inside the Golden Temple complex here, the police are yet to ascertain the motive behind the act. The Amritsar police had arrested Mandeep Singh, a resident of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, for the alleged desecration act inside the shrine. He allegedly tore the ‘angs’ of Gutka Sahib and later tied those to a dupatta of a woman devotee on Monday. When she came to know about this, she immediately approached the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) employees in this connection. During the scanning of CCTV cameras, the accused was identified and subsequently arrested. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Surinder Singh said SGPC employee Simranjit Singh had filed a complaint with the Kotwali police. He said a case was being registered and that the accused was under police remand for further probe. The woman devotee and her family also belong to the same area. They were paying obeisance at the Akal Takht when the accused allegedly tied the torn ‘angs’ of Gutka Sahib to her dupatta. She came to know about this later. She immediately alerted the SGPC staff about this. They, immediately, scanned the CCTV cameras installed in the Golden Temple complex and zeroed in on Mandeep Singh. The accused reportedly continued on page 2 A parking lot in the Nehru Shopping Complex in Amritsar. PUDA HANDED OVER TWO FACILITIES TO CIVIC BODY ■ PUDA had handed over two parking lots to the Municipal Corporation, but that too failed to serve the purpose. ■ The contract for the Guru Nanak Bhawan parking lot has, for the time being, been given to the existing contractor with a 10 per cent increase over the previous district court complex is currently lying vacant. Earlier, the MC had allotted five parking sites on its own. These included parking areas at Machhi Mandi, both sides of Kacheri Chowk, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay contract amount. ■ The parking site near the district court complex is currently lying vacant. Earlier, the MC had allotted five parking sites on its own. These included parking areas at Machhi Mandi, both sides of Kacheri Chowk, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Market, Telephone Exchange and the old Sabzi Mandi. The civic body is also managing two major parking lots at Saragarhi and Kesari Bagh. The Saragarhi parking lot can accommodate around Market, Telephone Exchange and the old Sabzi Mandi. ■ The civic body is also managing two major parking lots at Saragarhi and Kesari Bagh. The Saragarhi parking lot can accommodate around 900 vehicles, while the Kesari Bagh facility has space for around 300 vehicles. 900 vehicles, while the Kesari Bagh facility has space for around 300 vehicles. The civic body has deployed its clerical staff along with the outsourced workers in both locations and prepared a duty roaster. At present, the MC has no plan to give the Saragarhi and Kesari Bagh parking lots on contract. Both facilities were handed over to the civic body by PUDA in July this year. The MC started collecting parking fee at Saragarhi from July 23 and at Kesari Bagh from the middle of August. The two parking lots are generating around Rs 1.30 lakh revenue every day. “With the number of devotees rising sharply during weekends and holidays, the city continues to need more organised and affordable parking facilities near the Golden Temple to prevent visitors from being forced to rely on unauthorised parking operators,” said Parmjeet Singh. a volunteer of Sewak Jatha in Darbar Sahib. City residents said the parking shortage was also affecting vehicular movement. With the parking space being limited, many visitors and motorists are forced to park their vehicles along roads, leading to traffic jams and inconvenience for commuters. Ravi, another resident, said the traffic police should first ensure adequate parking facilities near busy areas and then declare those towaway zones. Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 5 The Amritsar rural police and the BSF have arrested three persons in separate cases registered under the NDPS Act and other relevant laws, recovering heroin, drug money, an illegal pistol and a drone in the past 24 hours. In the first case registered under Sections 21, 25, 27-A, 29 and 61-85 of the NDPS Act, the Kamboh police arrested two brothers — Harvinder Singh, alias Gudda, and Sukhwinder Singh, alias Sukha, — both residents of Vehra village under the Bhindisaida police station. According to the police, the accused were allegedly involved in large-scale heroin smuggling and supplied drugs in different cities of Punjab and other states. Acting on a tip-off, a police party intercepted the duo near the bridge at Kamboh village. The police said the accused were travelling on an unregistered Splendor motorcycle. During search, the police recovered 468 gm of heroin, Rs 1,400 in drug money and the motorcycle from their possession. Similarly, the BSF reported the recovery of 555 gm of heroin, 19 live rounds of 7.63 mm calibre and a Mavic Pro drone from the Rajatal Border Outpost area near the border. 555 GM OF HEROIN ■ The BSF has reported the recovery of 555 gm of heroin and 19 live rounds. ■ The police said the accused were allegedly involved in large-scale heroin smuggling. The case under Sections 21-C and 61-85 of the NDPS Act, Sections 25 and 54-59 of the Arms Act and Sections 25, 26 and 29 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam was registered against unknown persons. The case was registered on the complaint of BSF Inspector Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. Meanwhile, the Jandiala police also arrested Vikramjit Singh, alias Vicky, a resident of Patel Nagar, Jandiala, while his alleged supplier Vijay, a resident of Sheikhupura, was identified in the case. Vijay was yet to be arrested. The police said Vikramjit was intercepted near the Jandiala bypass while travelling in an unregistered white i20 car. He allegedly attempted to flee after spotting the police. During questioning, he continued on page 2 Clash leaves Cong leader, 1 other injured Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 5 A personal rivalry between two groups led to a clash and firing in Jagdev Khurd village under the Ajnala police jurisdiction last night. The injured were rushed to hospital, while a probe is on. The police said those associated with Gurdeep Singh, a Congress leader, and Karanbir Singh clashed over an old dispute. Both Gurdeep and Karanbir were injured in the clash, said Ramandeep Singh, Superintendent of Police (detective), Amritsar rural police. Sharing information, he said the police received information about a clash leading to firing between two group. Senior police officials, including the DSP , Ajnala, and SHO, Ajnala police station, reached the spot and Gurdeep Singh took stock of the situation. Members of both groups sustained injuries in the incident and are undergoing treatment. Gurdeep suffered a bullet injury in the leg. He was rushed to the Ajnala Civil Hospital, from where he was referred to a private hospital in Amritsar. His condition is stated to be stable. SP Ramandeep said an FIR was being registered. Fresh curbs on eateries, clubs Won’t budge until demands met: Farmers Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 5 In a move aimed at maintaining law and order, and curbing noise pollution, Amritsar Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill has imposed restrictions on the operating hours of restaurants, eateries and clubs across the city. Issuing an order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the Commissioner said late night operations by eating establishments and high volume music from vehicles had been disturbing the peace and tranquillity of neighbourhoods. As per the order, no restaurant, eatery or club will be allowed to take orders for food or beverages after 11.30 pm, Eateries can’t take orders after 11.30 pm. while no new customer will be permitted to enter the premises after that time. All such licenced eating establishments will have to completely shut by midnight. The order also states that premises attached to liquor vends will have to close by midnight or as per the conditions of their licence. The police have further imposed restrictions on sound systems. In accordance with the Supreme Court directions, noise levels cannot exceed 10 dB(A) above the ambient noise standard or 75 dB(A), whichever is lower. DJs, live orchestras, singers and other sound producing sources must be switched off by 10 pm. After 10 pm, no sound generated within an establishment or its premises should be audible outside its boundary. The order also directs that music systems installed in vehicles should not be audible outside the vehicle at any time of the day. The restrictions, issued on September 3, will remain in force from September 5 to November 4. The order has been issued ex-parte in view of the urgency. Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 5 On the seventh day of their indefinite sit-in, members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) tried to enter the DC office, but were stopped by the police, triggering heated arguments. Farmers, workers, employees and youths joined the protest and took to sloganeering. BKU leaders Kashmir Singh Dhangai said the policies of the Central and Punjab governments were increasingly becoming anti-people. The protesters alleged that instead of resolving the genuine demands of farmers, workers and employees, the governments were promoting privatisation and procorporate policies, and taking decisions that weakened Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) protest outside DC office in Amritsar. people’s rights. Farmer leader Baghel Singh said a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) on crops, loan waiver for farmers and workers, and protection of farmers’ land were essential to safeguard agriculture. He Celebrating women whose art is class apart Tribune News Service Artists during the inauguration of an exhibition at the art gallery. Amritsar, September 5 To celebrate women whose works have transcended boundaries, the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi and the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademiare jointly organising an exhibition on the theme, “Celebrating Together — Women Artists of Punjab and Chandigarh”. The Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar, is also part of the collaboration. They say art is the only way to bring people together and strengthen bonds. The exhibition that opened today at the art gallery, brings together distinguished and emerging women artists from different cities and diverse social and personal backgrounds, expressing themes of love, c m y b The exhibition brings together distinguished, emerging women artists from different cities harmony, patriotism, unity and human sensitivity through art. These artists include Kamal Sohal, Rajinder Kaur Pasricha and Jeewan Dureja from Punjab, and Prof Sadhna Sangar, artist Aradhna Tandon and sculptor Gurmeet Goldy from Chandigarh. At the exhibition, paintings, sculptures, graphics, drawings and video installations caught the fancy of art lovers. “The role of women artists in the history of Indian art has been immensely significant. Amrita Sher-Gil gave modern Indian art a distinctive vision, making Indian life, rural society, and the experiences and emotions of women important subjects of her artistic expression. Not only in India, but also in the history of world art, numerous women artists have established independent identities despite social and institutional barriers. Artists such as Georgia O ’ Keeffe, Frida Kahlo and Louise Bourgeois transformed their experiences, struggles, relationships, social realities and human emotions into creative expressions,” said Sumeet Dua, president, Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi, and an artist. “The exhibition presents women empowerment not merely as an idea, but as a creative force. When a woman expresses her experiences, thoughts and emotions through art, her voice does not remain confined to the canvas, it becomes part of a larger social and cultural dialogue,” said Rajinder Mohan Chinna, president, Indian Academy of Fine Arts. Through this exhibition, an effort is also being made to convey the message that when art connects, hearts connect, creating new dimensions of harmony, understanding and shared joy. “In a society that increasingly needs empathy, coexistence and sensitive dialogue, art can play a vital role in strengthening these values,” said The exhibition will remain open to visitors till September 8 from 10 am to 7 pm daily. also demanded that employees’ pending salaries, dearness allowance,arrears and other financial benefits be cleared and the old pension scheme restored. The leaders alleged that attempts were being made to suppress the employees’ movement, including transfers of leaders. The protesters also opposed the proposed India-US free trade agreement, claiming that it could pose a serious threat to farmers, workers and small businesses. They demanded the withdrawal of the Punjab government’s land pooling policy and protection of farmers’ land and ownership rights. The leaders demanded the filling of vacant posts in government departments and regularisation of contractual and temporary employees. Four held with 200 gm opium Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, September 5 The police have arrested four persons and recovered 200 gm of opium, Rs 1,500, a weighing machine and four mobile phones from them. 4 mobiles recovered A police team intercepted the accused near Jarmastpur village. The police said the accused had been identified as Gagandeep Singh, alias Gagan, a resident of Brahmpura, Gursukhdev Singh, alias Tima, a resident of Lauhuka, Harpal Singh, alias Pal, a resident of Pandori Ran Singh and Rupinder Singh, alias Ruby, a resident of Garden Colony, Patti. The Thar they were in was also impounded, officials said.