13102026-ATR-01.qxd 12-10-2026 22:41 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune DISTRICT’S FINAL ELECTORAL ROLL LISTS 18.27L VOTERS OFFICIAL STATUS FOR PUNJABI LANGUAGE IN J&K SOUGHT A Sikh educational and religious organisation seeks official-language status for Punjabi in the Valley. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 28°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 20°C REFLECTING ON THE MANY SHADES OF NAVRATRI Amritsar district’s final electoral roll for 2026 lists 18,27,300 electors after the Special Intensive Revision. P2 FORECAST Celebs reflect on finding festival's meaning in faith, family and celebratory outfits. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 5.54 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:24 AM » TUESDAY | 13 OCTOBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Suspected drone activity disrupts flights; second incident in a month 20-yr-old strangled to death; Haryana youth booked Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service CONNECTED IN RUSSIA Amritsar, October 12 A 20-year-old woman was allegedly strangled to death in a hotel room at New Golden Avenue here. The incident occurred on the night of October 10. The police have booked a Haryana resident following the complaint of the victim’s father, who alleged that the accused had been pressuring his daughter to marry him and even threatened to kill her if she refused. The victim, Tarunpreet Kaur, alias Vanshika, had gone to Russia on a student visa in March 2025, where she met the accused, Ritik, a resident of Nilokheri in Karnal district in Haryana. The two fell for each other and later fell apart following a dispute, the complainant stated. Her father Sukhjinder Singh, a resident of New Pawan Nagar on the Batala Road, alleged that Ritik had torn his daughter’s Indian passport during a dispute in Russia. The family subsequently arranged a new passport and brought her back to India. The complainant alleged that after returning to India, Ritik continued to pressure Tarunpreet to marry him and threatened to kill her if Tarunpreet Kaur, alias Vanshika, had gone to Russia on a student visa in March 2025, where she met the accused, Ritik, a resident of Nilokheri in Karnal district, Haryana. The two fell for each other and later fell apart following a dispute, the complainant stated. BAN ALREADY IN PLACE Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 12 Suspected drone activity near Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport at Raja Sansi late on Sunday night led to a temporary suspension of runway operations, forcing two incoming flights to be diverted. While Air India flight AI855 from Delhi was sent back to its originating destination, IndiGo flight 6E-5028 from Mumbai was diverted to Chandigarh. The disruption left several passengers inconvenienced, with some voicing anger over the sudden changes, alleging that no airport official was available to address their concerns. Airport Director Anirudh Kumar Sharma said the situation had returned to normal after 10.30 pm. According to information, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel deployed at the airport spotted two to three drones hovering over the airport premises and surrounding areas around 9.30 pm on Sunday. They immediately alerted the control room, following which, the security arrangements were reviewed and flight operations were suspended ■On September 6, drones were The disruption left several passengers inconvenienced, with some voicing anger over the sudden changes. as a precautionary measure. Sharma said flight diversions were ordered in view of the reported drone activity and the situation normalised after 10.30 pm. He added that the concerns of passengers following the sudden disruption were subsequently addressed. The incident comes barely a month after suspected drone activity near the airport dis- rupted flight operations. On September 6, drones were spotted near the runway and operational area between 9.40 pm and 9.50 pm, prompting the airport authorities to suspend operations for around 90 minutes. Seven incoming commercial flights, including those operated by Malaysia Airlines, Air India and IndiGo, were diverted to Delhi and Chandigarh. Notably, the district administration has already imposed a complete ban on flying drone cameras in rural areas surrounding the airport, citing aviation safety and security concerns. The official order states that the airport handles frequent domestic and international flight movements through the day and night. The surrounding areas also have spotted near the runway and operational area between 9.40 pm and 9.50 pm, prompting the airport authorities to suspend operations for around 90 minutes. ■ Seven incoming commercial flights, including those operated by Malaysia Airlines, Air India and IndiGo, were diverted to Delhi and Chandigarh. ■ The district administration has already imposed a complete ban on flying drone cameras in rural areas surrounding the airport, citing aviation safety and security concerns. ■ The official order states that areas surrounding the airport have hotels and marriage palaces, where drones are often used to capture aerial footage during social functions. ■ Such an activity could be misused by anti-social elements and pose a threat to aviation safety, it added. hotels and marriage palaces, where drones are often used to capture aerial footage during social functions. The administration has warned that such an activity could be misused by antisocial elements and pose a threat to aviation safety. The ban aims at preventing any untoward incident and ensure smooth flight operations. she refused. The family also claimed to have learnt that several criminal cases had been registered against him. Tarunpreet left home on her scooter around 9 am on October 10, saying she was going to attend a class. When she failed to answer repeated phonecalls, the family got worried. Her father said his brother-inlaw, Amritpal Singh, subsequently received a WhatsApp message from Ritik, stating that Tarunpreet was in room number 105 of a hotel. When the family reached there, Tarunpreet was found dead. She was gagged and had a scarf around her neck, the complainant said. The Mohkampura police have registered a murder case against Ritik and initiated a probe. SHO Harparkash Singh said CCTV camera grabs of the hotel had been procured and raids were on to arrest Ritik. Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma AAP’s education revolution claim a lie, says MLA Tribune News Service Pathankot, October 12 Former Punjab BJP president and Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma today claimed the Aam Aadmi Party’s claim of bringing an education revolution in Punjab had fallen flat. He said: “In a district like Jalandhar, many schools were being run from tin sheds, while in places where school buildings exist, there were no teachers.” “During 2025-2026, there were 1,749 single-teacher schools across Punjab. In several places, villagers had to hire teachers. Not only this, 50 per cent of principal posts in senior secondary schools were lying vacant. Even more surprising is that 110 out of 228 Block Education Officer (BEO) posts are lying vacant,” said the MLA. He added that teachers were being forced to spend money from their own pockets to organise sporting events in primary schools. Bittersweet: Sugar price sees 20% surge Four meat shops sealed ahead of Gurpurb Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 12 A rise in the prices of essential commodities has come as a jolt for those in festive mode. Despite the government’s word, the prices of sugar, cereals, pulses, spices and cooking oil have risen. While sugar, certain cereals and pulses have got costlier by over 20 per cent, spices remain in the below 5 per cent price bracket. For mustard oil, one will have to shell out Rs 15 more for a litre; and for refined oil, Rs 10 more. Buta Ram, a retailer, said: “The prices of essential items have gone through the roof. There’s a possibility of hoarding with the festive season around. One thing is clear that the government is not doing anything to check those leveraging the situation to their advantage.” Rahul Seth, a consumer, A grocer attends to a buyer in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR ESSENTIALS’ PRICES GOING THROUGH THE ROOF Commodities Sugar Choleyan Di Dal Black gram Mah Sabut Besan Malka Masoor Chickpeas Desi ghee Rajma Present price 64 95 100 125 100 120 160 640/650 160 said the common man had no idea what to do with the surge. “It has become difficult to make ends meet,” he added. Sandeep Gupta, a leading Previous price 52 75 `75 100/105 80 100 140 690/700 130 retail grocer in the city and an office-bearer of the Punjab Karyana Retailers Association, said the hike made no sense at this point of time. “As it is the demand for cereals, pulses and lentils falls around winter, with vegetables replacing these. He said there was no dearth of edible oil, sugar, cereals, pulses and lentils in the city. “The government does not have any control over markets and investors are running the show,” he added. He procured sugar at a wholesale price of Rs 51.50 per kg on Thursday and today, its price surged to Rs 62 per kg. It is learnt that wholesalers are not selling essentials to retailers, expecting another surge within the next couple of days. Additional Director, the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Punjab, who also looks after the price monitoring cell in the state, said the sugar price had increased across the state, adding that the department would check if any of the commodity was being hoarded. Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 12 The civic body on Monday sealed four raw meat shops at Karkhana Bazar in Sultanwind Gate in compliance with the government directions. Ahead of the Gurpurb of Guru Ram Das birth anniversary, the drive was carried out by the Estate Department under the supervision of Estate Officer Dharminderjit Singh, with the assistance of a team from the Slaughter House Department. Police personnel too were present. Shopkeepers reportedly claimed that they had obtained a stay order from a local court. However, they failed to produce the relevant papers, following which, the civic body sealed the four shops in accordance with the applicable directions and rules. Municipal Corporation Secretary-cum-Estate Officer Civic officials seal a meat shop at Karkhana Bazar in Sultanwind Gate, Amritsar, on Monday. Sushant Bhatia said the drive aimed at maintaining cleanliness, religious sanctity and cultural heritage of the historic city. Meat and tobacco traders operating within the walled city were also warned to shift their businesses outside the designated area in accordance with the applicable government directions. Officials cautioned that violations could invite further action under the relevant rules. Bhatia said the enforcement drive would continue against commercial activities found to be in violation of the applicable directions. Traders were urged to cooperate with the administration and help maintain the heritage and religious character of the walled city ahead of the Gurpurb celebrations. Two killed in road mishaps Century after Dalit movement, equality remains distanced from reality Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, October 12 A 22-year-old youth was killed after his motorcycle was hit by a car near Piddi village. The deceased was identified as Jarmanjit Singh (22) resident of Rasoolpur. He was admitted to a private hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. In another incident, A 73year-old man was killed after being hit by a car. The deceased, Mukhtiar Singh, a resident of Kotli village, was on going for a religious event on a motorcycle. Cases have been registered in both cases. The police said they had initiated a probe to get to the accused. Amritsar, October 12 More than a century after Dalit Sikhs challenged caste discrimination at the Golden Temple and played a key role in taking control of the Akal Takht from the mahants on October 12, 1920, caste continues to shape Sikh society, even as political parties in Punjab remain headed by Jat Sikh leaders, reviving questions about representation and equality. Sikh organisations on Monday commemorated the historic event, which paved the way for the restoration of the Sikh religious tradition at the Golden Temple and the Akal Takht, and became a landmark in the struggle against Charanjit Singh Teja caste-based discrimination. Researchers and activists said the movement was not confined to Dalits, with Jat Sikh leaders and members of other communities also playing a significant role in the campaign for equal religious rights. Sham Singh, a leader of the Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Chandigarh, who attended an ardas ceremony held to mark the occasion, said the events of October 12, 1920, were the result of sustained efforts by the Khalsa Biradari and Sikh reformers, including Mehtab Singh Beer, Jathedar Kartar Singh Jhabbar, Jathedar Teja Singh Bhuchar, Principal Bawa Harkishan Singh and Principal Teja Singh. The initiative launched by Dalits on October 12, 1920, was followed by several far-reaching changes. He said the mahants controlling the Golden Temple had refused to accept karah parsad offered by Dalit Sikhs. The Khalsa Biradari had spent nearly two years rais- c m y b ing awareness against the discriminatory practice before a group of its members reached the shrine on October 12, 1920, and pressed the priests to offer prayers for the karah parsad. Following the development, the gathering moved collectively to the Akal Takht, also known as Akal Bunga. Jhabbar proposed forming a group of 25 young men to take charge of its management. Seventeen volunteers came forward, including 10 from Dalit communities and seven from other castes, Sham Singh said. He said the episode demonstrated that the movement was not merely a Dalit struggle, but a collective effort in which Jat Sikh leaders and members of other communities worked to restore the dignity and religious rights of Dalits. Harinder Singh of the Sikh Research Institute recently highlighted the role of Jat Sikh leaders in the struggle against caste discrimination while speaking at Bhai Vir Singh Hall. Sham Singh said a number of non-Dalit activists continued to join Dalit participants in commemorating the day. While caste discrimination was less visible at Sikh religious shrines today, caste-based divisions remained prevalent in villages, he added. Historian Raj Kumar Hans said some upper-caste activists associated with the Singh Sabha movement had supported the cause of Dalits, although they were not entirely free of caste prejudices themselves. He said Khatri Sikhs had exercised considerable influ- ence over Sikh religious affairs during the 19th century, while Jat Sikhs emerged a dominant force in the 20th century. The British-era canal colonies and recruitment into the Army had contributed significantly to the rise of Jat Sikh dominance, he said. Hans said the initiative launched by Dalits on October 12, 1920, was followed by several far-reaching changes, including the formation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). He regretted that historians and writers had not adequately assessed the significance of the event, which he described as one of the most consequential developments of the century.