13112026-ATR-01.qxd 11/12/2026 11:11 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune ACTION SOUGHT OVER SERVING INTOXICANTS TO KIDS BOXER BHUPINDER SINGH BAGS GOVERNMENT JOB National-level boxer Bhupinder Singh has received an appointment letter to join the Seema Suraksha Bal. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 28°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 17°C PYRE’S FIRST-TIMERS WIN HEARTS District Child Welfare Committee member MK Sharma has written to the police, seeking action. P2 FORECAST Vinod Kapri’s Pyre gets a new lease of life, with 200 additional shows set to hit theatres from Friday. P4 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 5.26 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:48 AM » FRIDAY | 13 NOVEMBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Rintu, Sonia AAP’s picks from Amritsar North, Rajasansi Tribune News Service Waste set afire; and (right) a firefighter puts out a fire that broke out in a garbage dump in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR AQI 218; farm fires behind rise, say experts 5,517 farm fires in Punjab 154 farm fires in Amritsar 150 locations inspected to Manch calls out MC over rising pollution levels since start of harvesting Charanjit Singh Teja Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 12 The city’s air quality deteriorated today, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 218. The AQI, which is recorded by the air monitoring device installed at the Golden Temple, was 164 on Wednesday. Attributing the rise to stubble burning, environmental experts said 5,517 farm fires were reported across the state since the start of the harvesting season, with the maximum cases coming from Ferozepur, Tarn Taran and Sangrur districts.The experts said waste burning and cracker bursting too had added to the pollution levels. Last month, cases of stubble burning were less. As per data released by the Punjab Pollution Control Board, there were 154 incidents of till October 29 check straw burning Tribune News Service Thick smog envelops Amritsar as the AQI reaches 218 on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR stubble burning till October 29. Inspections were carried out in 150 locations and stub- ble burning confirmed at 75 sites. The trend went downwards in Amritsar, which recorded only 152 farm fires. The number was extremely high, 472 in 2024. Amritsar, November 12 Expressing concern over the city’s deteriorating air quality, local activists have urged the Municipal Corporation to take immediate measures to control pollution and protect residents from its harmful effects. In a representation submitted to Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia and Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill, office-bearers of the Amritsar Vikas Manch said multiple factors, including vehicular emissions, construction activities, prolonged dry weather, paddy harvesting and firecracker bursting during Diwali, had added to the pollution levels. The manch urged the civic body to immediately put in place its dust suppression continued on page 2 Crackdown on unregistered de-addiction centre, 75 rescued Tribune News Service Officials at a meeting in Amritsar on Thursday. Voters can file claims, objections till Dec 11 Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 12 The Election Commission has opened a month-long window for voters in the district to check their registration details, seek corrections and ensure their names are included ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle. Under the Special Summary Revision (SSR) announced by the Election Commission, citizens can file claims and objections from November 12 to December 11, 2026, with January 1, 2027, as the qualifying date for voter registration. The draft rolls cover all 11 Assembly constituencies in the district and list 18,27,300 voters, comprising 9,40,749 men, 8,86,503 women and 48 third-gender voters. The immediate task for voters is to verify their names and particulars rather than wait until the final rolls are published. Eligible citizens whose names are missing can apply for inclusion using Form 6. Form 8 is meant for corrections to existing entries, while Form 7 can be used to seek deletion of a name. The draft rolls are available at the offices of the Electoral Registration Officers, through Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and on the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab’s website (www.ceopunjab.gov.in) and the Amritsar district administration website (https://amritsar.nic.in). To facilitate verification and applications, BLOs will be present at their respective polling stations on November 14, 15 and 29 as part of special campaign days. These provide voters an opportunity to approach election officials directly with enrolment applications, corrections and objections. The claims and objections received during the exercise are scheduled to be decided by December 28, followed by publication of the final electoral rolls on January 4, 2027. Following rationalisation under Election Commission guidelines, the number of polling stations has increased from 2,240 to 2,249, adding nine continued on page 2 Amritsar, November 12 The Health Department has rescued 70 to 75 patients from an unregistered de-addiction centre operating from Bhai Mani Singh Ji Gurmat Vidyala near Tangra Adda on GT Road. The action follows the directions of Civil Surgeon Dr Bharti Dhawan. During the inspection, officials found that the facility could not produce the mandatory documents or a valid registration certificate required to operate a de-addiction centre. The presence of both underage and adult patients on the premises added to the seriousness of the matter, raising concerns over regulatory compliance and the safeguards governing their treatment. Acting immediately, Deputy Officials during a surprise inspection at a de-addiction centre. Medical Commissioner Dr Sarabjit Singh said the Health Department facilitated the transfer of all 70-75 patients to the government-run Swami Vivekananda Drug De-addiction Centre in Amritsar to ensure medical supervision, continuity of care and appropriate treatment. The department reiterated that operating a de-addiction centre without the requisite registration and statutory approvals would invite strict action, stressing that vulnerable patients must not be exposed to unregulated treatment facilities. While this is not the first such instance in the city, the scale of the operation and patients rescued raises serious concerns over illegal deaddiction establishments. As many as 70-75 patients were continued on page 2 Amritsar, November 12 The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today namedKaramjitSinghRintu and Sonia Mann as their candidatesfromtheAmritsarNorthand Rajasansi constituencies, respectively, for the Assembly elections. Former city Mayor Rintu had joined the AAP in the presence of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann three days before the Punjab Assembly elections on February 16, 2022. Luck shone on him when the Amritsar North MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh was suspended by the AAP for five years on June 29, 2025, for alleged anti-party activities. Later, Rintu was appointed the party’s halqa incharge from the North constituency, brightening his prospects to be the party’s face in the elec- SONIA MANN tions. He has been spearheading development works in the constituency since. Rintu said his constituency knew him very well and the works he carried out in over one year would help him win the seat. Sonia Mann, the daughter of left-wing activist Baldev Singh Mann, who was gunned down by Khalistani militants in 1986, comes KARAMJIT SINGH RINTU from a village in Rajasansi. Before joining the AAP last year, she worked in Punjabi music videos and movies. She was also appointed the party’s Majha zone coordinator. Raising voice against drug menace, Sonia has held several meetings with Village Defence Committees and Ward Defence Committees. Kabaddi star Amba joins Waris Punjab De ahead of elections MP Harsimrat takes swipe at CM over drug menace Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 12 International kabaddi player Amritpal Singh Amba Sursingh joined the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De along with his supporters here today. Ranjit Singh Rana Wanjh and several other supporters also joined the party with Amba. Amritpal Singh Amba said he joined the party after being influenced by its policies and commitment towards Punjab’s interests. He assured the leadership that he would discharge any assigned responsibility with dedication and sincerity. His supporters also pledged to work for strengthening the party and taking its message to people across the state. Welcoming the new entrants, party leaders said the association of sportspersons and youth with the organisation reflected growing support for its policies. the party was committed to raising issues concerning Punjab’s rights, Punjabi identity, the future of youth, drug abuse, protection of the state’s river waters and justice. Amarjit Singh Wanchiri senior party leader said International kabaddi player Amritpal Singh Amba Sursingh with Akali Dal Waris Punjab De leaders in Amritsar. WPD’s objective was not merely to attain political power but to raise a strong voice on issues concerning Punjab. They also claimed that an increasing number of young people were showing interest in the organisation. Several other party leaders, including advocate Harjot Singh Mann, Amandeep Singh Daduana, president of the Amritsar urban unit, Chamkaur Singh, Shamsher Singh Padhri, Daya Singh, Narinder Singh Kalsian, Pargat Singh Mirankot and Mahinderpal Singh Tung, were present on the occasion. Sri-Hargobindpur (Gurdaspur), November 12 SAD leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to name the drug kingpins he had got arrested in the past five years. The latter was responsible for the proliferation of the drug trade in Punjab, the MP said. Harsimrat, who was addressing a women congregation, also demanded the CM to tell Punjabis which ‘chitta’ factory had been busted by him till now. “The very fact that big drug lords and their factories remain untouched is ample proof that Harsimrat Kaur you have no intention to tackle this menace and that you are actually facilitating this trade,” she said Asserting that an entire generation was being destroyed by the Aam Aadmi Party, Harsimrat revealed that drug related deaths had crossed unmanageable continued on page 2 Civic body acts as encroachments eat into public space CharanjitSingh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 12 The Municipal Corporation today removed illegal encroachments from Ramsar Road near Gurdwara Shaheeda Sahib as part of its ongoing drive. However, the action has once again brought the persistent traffic congestion in the area into focus, where encroachments and roadside parking routinely narrow the already congested stretch. Traffic bottlenecks are a regular feature in the area, particularly due to vehicles parked by devotees visiting Gurdwara Shaheeda Sahib. The problem Civic officials remove encroachments from Ramsar Road near Gurdwara Shaheeda Sahib in Amritsar on Thursday. becomes more acute every Sunday when thousands of devotees attend a special religious programme, ‘Chupehra,’ c m y b at the gurdwara. Encroachments and haphazard parking during these gatherings further restrict vehicle movement, causing inconvenience to commuters and locals. The residents said a few days after anti-encroachment drives, vendors and shopkeepers would reoccupy public spaces. They pointed out that removing encroachments alone would not resolve the problem. Those living in the area have demanded a permanent mechanismtokeeptheroadclear, regulate vehicle parking and ensuresmoothtrafficmovement, instead of relying on periodic enforcement drives. Dhiraj Kumar, a resident of Kot Baba Deep Singh said, sustained enforcement, coupled with a proper parking plan for devotees, was essential to address the recurring traffic bottleneck on the road. Sushant Bhatia, Estate Officer, Municipal Corporation, warned shopkeepers, vendors and others against encroaching upon public roads and footpaths.