15102026-ATR-01.qxd 10/14/2026 11:11 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY BUMPY RIDE FOR DEVOTEES ON TEMPLE STRETCH DOC: CLEAR VISION, TIMELY INTERVENTION MATTER MOST GIPPY GREWAL TURNS HEADS AT TIGER TV LAUNCH EVENT Devotees visiting the Bara Hanuman temple in the Durgiana Temple complex struggle to navigate a broken road. P2 Dr Rajan Arora, an ophthalmologist in Gurdaspur, is committed to making eye care accessible. P3 Actor Gippy Grewal was in attendance at an event celebrating upcoming Punjabi projects. P4 » » MAX 31°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.52 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:26 AM » THURSDAY | 15 OCTOBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Fight against drugs turns a people’s movement Activist’s killing puts admn on checking overdrive Students join chorus, call for accountability Neha Saini Tribune News Service Cyclists take out an awareness rally against substance abuse. The rally started from the rear gate of Guru Nanak Dev University and passed through the Mahal Bypass before culminating at the India Gate in Amritsar. Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 14 With Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann scheduled to review the anti-drug campaign in Phillaur on October 16, the district administration has stepped up checks in drug hotspots, bringing the administration, the police and the Health Department together to engage residents and address the problem. From the Deputy Commissioner to Sub-Divisional Magistrates(SDMs),officialsareholding meetings in drug-affected areas alongside senior police officials. Earlier, such interactions were largely led by the police under Operation Sampark. The involvement of the civil administration and the Health Department indicates an attempt to broaden the campaign beyond enforcement and focus on treatment and rehabilitation. On Monday, Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh, along with senior officials of the Amritsar Commissionerate Police and the Border Range police, visited drug hotspots falling under the jurisdiction of the city and the Amritsar rural police. Civil ILLS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE A IMED at spreading awareness about the ills of drug abuse and encouraging youngsters to take up sports and other constructive activities, around 120 cyclists, including 80 Student Police Cadets (SPC), participated in an anti-drug awareness cycle rally organised by the Amritsar Commissionerate Police here on Wednesday. The rally started from the rear gate of Guru Nanak Dev University and passed through the Mahal Bypass before culminating at the India Gate. The participants urged youngsters to stay away from drugs and adopt a healthy Surgeon Dr Bharti Dhawan also attended the meetings. However, residents and activists say awareness meetings must translate into sustained action against drug suppliers and better access to treatment for addicts. Ratan Singh Randhawa, a senior farm leader, said treatment and rehabilitation remained areas of concern at lifestyle through sports and physical activities. District Sanjh Kendra incharge inspector Parmdeep Kaur, along with members of the Sanjh team, participated in the rally. Members of the Turbanet Cycle Group, including retired ADC Tejinder Pal Singh, retired agriculture officer Kulwant Singh and retired Punjab Police Inspector Hardeep Singh, also joined the campaign. the ground level even as the police were making efforts to break the supply chain amid the challenge of cross-border drug smuggling through drones. “There is a need to strengthen treatment and rehabilitation. The involvement of the administration and the Health Department could help bridge coordination gaps, particularly in identifying addicts who need treatment and ensuring rehabilitation,” he said. He added that the police would have to sustain their crackdown on drug traffickers to curb the supply of narcotics. Local activist Jaswant Singh said such interactions would have little impact unless followed by visible action on the ground. While public participation and awareness were important, he said residents expected concrete steps to tackle the drug supply network and address the needs of those battling addiction. Meanwhile, CM Mann has directed senior officials, including the Additional Chief Secretaries of Home Affairs and Transport, the Director General of Police (DGP), the Principal Secretaries of Health and Social Security, Deputy Commissioners, Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), SDMs and Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), to attend the October 16 meeting. The meeting will assess the implementation of the antidrug campaign, identify bottlenecks and strengthen inter-departmental coordination through a “whole-of-government approach”. Amritsar, October 14 Angered over the brutal daylight murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh “Jhota”, students of the Sath organisation rallied at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU). Carrying banners and raising slogans against the prevailing law-and-order failure in the state, students sought justice and action against the perpetrators. Banners with names of late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, Sandeep Singh Sandhu, alias Sandeep Singh Nangal Ambia, the Kannada icon who was brutally killed in an attack in 2022, and Jhota were seen all across the campus. “These killings expose the rule of terror that is happening in the state, in an attempt to instill hopelessness among people, especially the youth,” said Jujjhar Singh, founder member of Sath and a PhD scholar from GNDU’s School of Mass Communication. The student body con- Students burn an effigy of the state government on the GNDU campus in Amritsar on Wednesday. demned the administration and called for immediate accountability. They joined the broader statewide demands initiated by the Joint Action Committee for Jhota, insting on a CBI investigation into the murder and resignation of CM Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav. The GNDU will also remain closed on October 15, joining the bandh call given by various organisations against the killing of Jhota. Parvinder Singh Jhota, a prominent anti-drug crusader based in Mansa, was shot three times and killed on Tuesday (October 13). The attack occurred in broad daylight after Jhota confronted a local medical store owner regarding the alleged illicit sale of banned narcotics. The incident has triggered massive political outrage, with opposition parties criticising the ruling government for failing to protect frontline anti-drug activists. In the city, farmer groups, social, religious, Nihang organisations as well as political parties joined protests, accusing the state government and police administration of failing to curb the drug trade and protect activists. Bandh call by farmers over drug crisis Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 14 The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, Punjab chapter, has appealed to anti-drug crusaders to join the October 15 Punjab bandh, saying it was time the state was purged of the scourge. The bandh announcement was made at the Golden Gate following a meeting of the constituent organisations of the morcha. Leaders of the morcha said the drug crisis had severely affected the lives of the youth, including women, and called for collective action to make Punjab drug-free. The bandh will be observed from 6 am to 5 pm on Tuesday. The organisations THE CRUSADERS ■ The October 15 bandh announcement was made at the Golden Gate following a meeting of the constituent organisations of the morcha. ■ All medical services would remain operational during the bandh, leaders said. appealed to schools, colleges, transporters, labourers, street vendors, trade unions, government employees, milk producers, shopkeepers and other sections of society to extend their support. The morcha clarified that all medical services would remain operational during the bandh. The Kisan Mazdoor Sang- harsh Committee, Punjab, would burn effigies at the district headquarters across the state on Wednesday, the leaders said. The farmers’ bodies said making the bandh successful would strengthen the collective fight against drugs and send across a strong message against the drug mafia. They urged the people to participate actively in the protest as a tribute to Parvinder Singh Chhota, who they alleged was killed by the drug mafia. The morcha leaders also appealed to the people of Punjab to stand by his parents. Rising a united voice against the drug menace was the need of the hour, they said. 7 kg heroin seized; 2 held Protesters hold AAP govt responsible for sorry state of affairs Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Pathankot, October 14 The Pathankot police claimed to have busted a cross-border network with the arrest of two persons. Officials also recovered 7.82 kg of heroin from the possession of the accused.SSP Manpreet Singh said the arrested had been identified as Gurpanth, a resident of Amritsar, and Harmanjeet Kaur from Gurdaspur. “A team of the special branch was assigned the task of nabbing the two accused after receiving information that heroin was being smuggled from across the border. We are investigating the forward and backward linkages” he added. Amritsar, October 14 The killing of Mansa-based social activist has triggered widespread protests, with political parties too joining in. Parvinder Singh Jhota, who had been raising his voice against drug trafficking, was shot on Tuesday. Holding the state government responsible for the sorry state of affairs, the district unit of the BJP protested outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office today. Led by the party’s district president, Salil Kapoor, workers burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing the government of failing to ensure the safety of those fighting against the drug menace.Former MP and former Punjab BJP president Shwait Malik also lent weight to the demonstration. Raising slogans against the state government, the leaders demanded accountability over the killing and called for a CBI probe into the case. During the demonstration, a BJP delegation, led by Salil Kapoor, submitted a memorandum addressed to Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria through Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh, seeking an impartial investigation into the murder. Neha Saini BJP questions govt’s handling of narcotics menace BJP leaders and workers burn an effigy of CM Bhagwant Mann in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR BJP district president Salil Kapoor said activist Parvinder Singh Jhota had been campaigning against drug trafficking and the alleged illegal sale of narcotics in Mansa for a considerable period. “His killing raises serious concerns over the safety of individuals confronting the drug trade. Despite the tall claims of AAP government, narcotics are being sold right under the nose of enforcement agencies,” he said. Demand for CBI probe, security cover for kin The BJP’s memorandum called for a CBI probe, stating that an impartial probe was necessary to establish facts Continued on page 2 Deceased Prabhjot Singh 17-yr-old dies mysteriously; kin suspect drug overdose Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 14 Ahead of the anti-drug review meeting to be held by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a 17-year-old boy died under mysterious circumstances at Sultan Mahala village in the Ajnala subdivision along the India-Pakistan border on Wednesday morning. Suspecting drug overdose, the family of Prabhjot Singh said the victim had allegedly started consuming intoxicating medicines of late. The family alleged that drugs were being sold openly in the village. Speaking to the media, they said the victim was the eldest among three siblings, adding that the family had recently found that the boy had fallen into bad company and started consuming drugs. Despite medical intervention, he was in touch with those addicted to drugs. A relative of the victim said Prabhjot returned home in Continued on page 2 4th accused in ASI attack case nabbed Criminal wanted for murder, attempt to murder in police net Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 14 The Amritsar rural police have arrested the fourth accused in the murderous attack on ASI Sukhchain Singh posted with the Government Railway Police here. Identified as Baljit Singh of Gulgarh village, the accused had allegedly made the video of the attack on the police official. One of the accused, Sahib Singh, alias Guri, a resident of Khanwal village in Ajnala, was injured during an encounter when he was taken to the spot to recreate the crime scene on Monday. Earlier, the police arrested Simarjit Singh of Gulgarh village, while the fourth accused, Baljit Singh of Chak Dogra village, who had got the accused in touch with Pakistan-based handlers, was brought on production warrants and arrested in the case. Sahib Singh had opened fire at the ASI, while Simarjit was riding the bike used in the crime. The ASI was shot at on the evening of October 4 while he was returning home after duty hours. The attack was allegedly carried out at the behest of a Pakistan-based handler backed by the ISI, operating under the pseudonym Rana, who had promised a reward of Rs 10 lakh for carrying out the attack. However, the accused allegedly received nothing in return for the crime. Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 14 The Amritsar rural police have arrested a notorious criminal wanted in a number of cases, including murder, attempt-to-murder and firing. Superintendent of Police (investigations) Ramandeep Singh said the accused, Mandeep Singh, alias Mani, a resident of Tarasikka village, was arrested by the Tarsikka police from Ferozpur c m y b Also charged with barging into the residence of a local and opening fire Superintendent to Police (investigations) Ramandeep Singh sharing details said that the Tarasikka police arrested the accused from Ferozepur in connection with an attemptto-murder and arms case registered in July this year. The accused, along with over 12 accomplices, barged into the residence of one Santokh Singh and opened fire, apart from ransacking the house. The police had already made several arrests and recovered two pistols in the case. He had been evading arrest since then. The SP said Mandeep Singh had around 10 cases against him at different police stations in Amritsar Rural, Tarn Taran, Batala and Ferozepur areas. His arrest in four cases was still pending, he added. The police record lists his alleged involvement in several violent incidents, including a murder case, registered at the Ghuman police station in Batala in 2023 and cases involving armed attacks and firing in Ferozpur and Amritsar districts. In a case registered at the Makhu police station in December 2024, the accused allegedly demanded Rs 50 lakh as extortion from a resident through foreign telephone numbers. After the complainant failed to pay, the accused and his associates allegedly fired five shots at his house. He said the investigation was on to identify his accomplices, backward and forward linkages apart from other criminal activities and the weapons used in the incidents.