19092026-ATR-01.qxd 9/18/2026 10:54 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY JUSTICE ASHWANI KUMAR MISHRA PAYS OBEISANCE AT GOLDEN TEMPLE PHILATELISTS SEEK SPACE TO EXHIBIT COLLECTION SHIKHA PANDEY ON BOLLYWOOD DEBUT WITH OYE CHILL MAAR After being sworn in as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra visits Golden Temple. P2 Around 30 philatelists say the hobby can be revived only if they get space to exhibit their collection. P3 Actor Shikha Pandey, who is seen in television show Mannat, will make her Bollywood debut with Oye Chill Maar. P4 » » » MAX 32°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.28 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:13 AM SATURDAY | 19 SEPTEMBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Hours before ASI’s murder, youth sprayed with bullets Relief for flood-hit Pawan K Jaiswar WAS OUT ON A STROLL Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 18 Armed assailants shot a youth in the Harkrishan Nagar area late last night. The deceased, Sahilpreet Singh, who worked as a delivery executive for Zomato, was out for a walk post dinner when the accused attacked him, the police said. He was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his bullet injury, they added. According to information, Sahilpreet was strolling near his house when the scooter-borne assailants An SGPC delegation reaches Kathmandu with relief material meant for the flood-hit. REPORT ON P2 ■ The deceased, Sahilpreet Singh, who worked as a delivery executive for Zomato, was out for a walk post dinner when the accused attacked him, the police said. ■ The victim’s father, Mukhtiar Singh, said barely 10 minutes after Sahilpreet left the house, passersby broke the tragic news to the family, following which, they rushed to the spot. opened fire at him. The victim’s father, Mukhtiar Singh, said barely 10 minutes after Sahilpreet left the house, passersby broke the tragic news to the family, following which, they rushed to the spot. “My son was injured and bleeding profusely. We took him to hospital, but he couldn’t be saved,” the grieving father added, writing off the personal enmity angle. Jogeshwar Goraya, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (City-1), said they had begun a probe and that CCTV cameras were being scanned to get to the perpetrators. The accused would be arrested soon, he added. A couple of hours later, an ASI was gunned down in the Bhagtanwala area. The backto-back instances have raised serious questions over the prevailing law and order situation in the area. Two drones, 4 pistols seized; probe launched Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 18 The Amritsar rural police have confiscated two drones and pistol consignments allegedly smuggled from Pakistan. According to information, the two drones were found from fields in the different places. The police said they recovered four pistols and seven magazines. A case under the Arms Act has been registered with the Gharinda police as the area from where the seizure was made falls under their jurisdiction. The police said they had launched a probe. Get your act together, MC warns building law violators Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 18 The civic body on Friday halted unauthorised construction at a proposed hotel site in the Green Land area on Majitha Road. According to the Municipal Town Planning Department, despite repeated warnings, the construction was not stopped. The property had already been Enforcement staff demolish part of illegal structure, say notices ignored sealed twice for flouting the norms, officials said. Taking note of the repeated violation, the Town Planning Department partially demolished the hotel. On this, Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill warned property owners, builders and developers against starting or continuing construction without obtaining all mandatory approvals and clearances from the competent authority. He clarified that merely submitting an application or initiating the process of obtaining approval did not authorise anyone to start construction. The Town Planning Department also warned that violation of sealing orders, continuation of construction despite notices or undertaking development without statutory approvals could invite further action under the applicable laws. The MCA appealed to citizens, builders and develop- ers to comply with building bylaws and planning regulations and obtain all necessary approvals before starting any construction work. Shergill said the civic body would continue the drive against unauthorised construction in the city and take action against violations to ensure planned development and compliance with building regulations. 76-yr-old killed, grandson hurt as bus rams into motorcycle Key operative of drug network arrested; 10 kg heroin seized Man held with 880 gm opium Pawan K Jaiswar Our Correspondent Amritsar, September 18 The Counter Intelligence (CI), Amritsar, arrested a suspected key operative of a cross-border drug smuggling network and recovered 10 kg of heroin from his possession during a raid at his residence in Jathaul here. The accused, identified as Sehajpreet Singh, was allegedly receiving consignments of heroin through drones on the directions of a foreign-based smuggler, DGP Gaurav Yadav said on Friday. As per preliminary investigation, the accused was in contact with a foreign-based smuggler and was receiving consignments for onward supply, the DGP added. The CI team received information that Sehajpreet had Tarn Taran, September 18 The Khalra police and the BSF have arrested a person with 880 gm of opium. ASI Sukhwinder Singh said the accused, Gurvinder Singh, resided in Dode village. He was stopped at a checkpoint and during search, 880 grams of opium, packing material and a mobile phone were recovered from him. The police impounded the two-wheeler and registered a case under relevant sections of the NDPS Act against the accused. Tarn Taran, September 18 A 76-year-old man was killed and his grandson injured in a road accident near Kullha village. The police said the deceased, Harjit Singh, along with his grandson Prabhnoor Singh, was returning home from Bir Baba Budha Sahib, Thatha village, when a bus hit the motorcycle he was riding. Passersby rushed the two to the Patti hospital, where Harjit Singh was declared dead, while Prabhnoor was referred to the Civil Hospital. A case has been registered against the bus driver, Armaan Singh. HAS PAK LINK Tribune News Service ■ The CI team received information that accused Sehajpreet had received a heroin consignment through a drone near his residence. ■The accused had links with a Pak-based peddler, officials said. received a heroin consignment through a drone near his residence and was preparing to deliver it to another person. The team subsequently raided his residence and recovered the contraband. The sources in the CI said the accused was in contact with a Pakistan-based drug peddler with pseudo name King who was also nominated in the FIR. The arrest comes two days after the CI busted another cross-border smuggling module in Amritsar with the arrest of four persons and the recovery of 27 kg of heroin, a .30-bore PX5 pistol and three cartridges. The latest recovery has prompted the police to investigate its intended recipients. The investigators are also trying to establish the accused’s links with other members of the cross-border smuggling network. A case has been registered under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act at the State Special Operation Cell police station, Amritsar. Our Correspondent MC staff at the demarcation site on the Mall Road in Amritsar. Demarcation of disputed land deferred after locals’ opposition Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 18 Faced with resistance, officials of the civic body and the Revenue Department had to defer demarcation of 1,000 sq yards of allegedly disputed prime land on the Mall Road opposite Company Bagh near Thandi Khui to September 24. The Tehsildar deputed a Local Commissioner to carry out the demarcation. The Local Commissioner examined the old maps and other available records related to the land. He said the ownership details of old properties could be verified through the “Masavi” record. The “Masavi” record gen- TUSSLE OVER OWNERSHIP RIGHTS ■ A few shops have been constructed on nearly 1,000 sq yards of land opposite Company Bagh. ■ A long-standing dispute over ownership rights of the property exists between the occupants and the MC. erally contains details such as the khasra numbers, status and division of land parcels, details of occupied land and other revenue records. The Local Commissioner said the demarcation would be carried out after obtaining and examining the relevant “Masavi” record. A few shops have been constructed on nearly 1,000 sq yards of land opposite Company Bagh. A long-standing dispute over ownership rights of the property exists between the occupants and the civic body. A few weeks ago, the Municipal Corporation sealed these shops and asked the occupants to produce documents establishing their ownership rights. According to Municipal Corporation officials, the occupants failed to provide them with the required documents. Various departments concerned with the property are now examining the ownership records to establish the rightful ownership of the land. Time to repay, say artistes seeking heritage tag for playwright’s house Tax payment made easy Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 18 Artistes often fall short of words while talking about playwright Gursharan Singh — the man who turned Punjabi theatre into the voice of people. Under the spell of his craft, creativity and storytelling, the theatre fraternity leaves no stone unturned when it comes to ensuring that his work inspires the youth and they follow in his footsteps. And, continuing to work in this direction, renowned artistes converged on his ancestral home in Ranjit Pura on his 97th birth anniversary, seeking heritage status for the place. Theatre personalities, including Kewal Dhaliwal, said the house could become a cultural and learning space for future Artists and theatre personalities from Amritsar gather outside the ancestral home of Gursharan Singh in Ranjit Pura. generations as Gursharan Singh worked there for decades. They also hosted an event reflecting on his five-decade contribution to Punjabi theatre. Various organisations, such as the Gursharan Singh Memorial Trust, in collaboration with the Gursharan Singh Heritage Conservation Committee and Manch Rangmanch, joined the clamour. Remembering Gursharan, Kewal Dhaliwal said: “His theatre career began in 1958 and accounts of his work emphasise his focus on marginalised communities, including women, Dalits and landless people. Today, when Punjab faces similar social, economic c m y b and political crises, we have gathered to pledge to carry forward the revolutionary and people-centred values of this legendary theatre personality and social thinker,” he said. He transformed the stage into a powerful space for socio-political questioning and democratic expression. Through his plays, writings, songs and cultural activism, he challenged injustice and inequality, seeking to make theatre accessible beyond conventional auditoriums. Dhaliwal added. Dr Navsharan Singh, human rights activist and daughter of Gursharan Singh, said his work stood in solidarity with ordinary people, in opposition to injustice, and embodied the belief that culture should engage with society rather than remain detached from it. The Gursharan Singh Memorial Medal was presented to folk artist Amolak Singh, president of the Punjab Lok Cultural Manch, in recognition of his longstanding contribution to peopleoriented revolutionary cultural movements and the democratic movement. Playwright Dr Swarajbir spoke about Gursharan’s role in developing the cultural platform and carrying forward the revolutionary democratic cultural tradition. The artist fraternity also adopted resolutions concerning democratic rights and contemporary social issues, including demands relating to political prisoners, the restoration of the original form of the Shaheed Pash-Hans Raj Memorial Complex at Talwandi Salem, and action against those accused of threatening committee leader Harmesh Maldi. as MC offices to remain open on weekends Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 18 Now, property owners can pay dues and avail of 10 per cent rebate, available till September 30, on weekends too. For, the civic body has urged them to leverage additional working days to their advantage and clear their dues before the September 30 deadline. Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill said revenue generated from property tax was used for providing civic amenities to locals. “To facilitate property owners, the MC offices will remain open on September 19, 26 and 27 from 9 am to 3 pm. Residents should not wait for the last date and should pay their property tax Property owners can also avail of 10% rebate at the earliest to avail of the 10 per cent rebate available till September 30,” he added. Assistant Municipal Commissioners Vishal Wadhawan and Daljit Singh advised the residents to pay the tax before the last date to avoid inconvenience during the final days of the rebate period.