10082026-ATR-01.qxd 8/10/2026 12:00 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY INTEGRATED PIG, FISH FARMING YIELDS FARMER RICH DIVIDENDS NURTURE TALENT, BUILD INFRA TO RESTORE SPORTING LEGACY FROMTHEFRONTLINETOTHEFRAME: INDIA’S WAR HEROES IN CINEMA Parminderjit Singh, a 48-year-old farmer's scientific approach to farming has earned him the Chief Minister’s Award. P2 Establish sports colleges, deploy nationallevel coaches; scholarships, incentives for winners may boost participation. P3 Over the years, several actors have taken on the challenge of portraying soldiers in films rooted in real-life conflicts. P4 » » » MAX 33°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.19 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5.52 AM MONDAY | 10 AUGUST 2026 | AMRITSAR Khankot’s ‘smart’ school struggles with basic infra Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 9 Government Elementary School at Khankot in Amritsar was rebranded under Punjab’s “Smart School” policy only a few years ago, but the plight of its infrastructure and campus speaks volumes against the ‘smart’ claims. Khankot is a village located in an urban area of the district, not far from the rural belt. Yet, the village has only one government primary school and a middle school, both on the same campus. The area around the school and its playground has been overtaken by wild growth of weeds and congress grass. During the monsoon, education takes a hit at this rural school. “The school building is in a severely damaged condition. On a rainy day, the ceiling leaks and most of the time, reaching the school campus becomes an uphill task due to the heavy waterlogging problem,” said a Class IV student of Government Middle School, based on the same campus as the Government Elementary Smart School, Khankot. Overtaking a large chunk of the playground, which is meant for students’ physical activities, the wild growth has become a habitat for insects and possibly snakes. On a rainy day, teachers do not allow students to play, while the fear of snake bites discourages many parents from sending their wards to school on rainy days. Both schools have been facing severe infrastructure The unkempt ground of the Khankot Government Elementary School. challenges. There are a total of 200 students studying in the schools, with a combined staff of 12 teachers. The road leading to the school was dug to lay a sewerage pipeline three years ago, but it was never repaired. “The road was never repaired or re-laid after that. During the monsoon, it becomes a stretch of swampy, heavy and deep mud. Walking the swampy stretch, students enter the classrooms with slush glued to their shoes. Even slush spots are visible on their uniforms and bags,” said Maninder Kaur, head teacher, Government Middle School, Khankot. Potholes hidden under rainwater pose a threat to commuters, making it difficult for students and outsiders, including bicyclists, auto-rickshaw drivers and pedestrians, to pass through the stretch. Maninder has written to the LACKS PROPER APPROACH ROAD ■ The school continues to struggle with waterlogging, a damaged building, overgrown grounds and poor infrastructure ■ The school lacks a proper approach road, kitchen shed, computer room and lab, while its playground is full of vegetation authorities concerned regarding the dilapidated condition of the school building and campus, seeking funds for ceiling repairs, wall painting and minor repairs. “No funds have been granted till date. The middle school does not have a kitchen shed so far, forcing us to store whatever food we can procure for mid-day meals in a verandah of a nearby anganwadi centre. The staff has to manage a makeshift store- room,” said Maninder. She said she had arranged Rs 25,000 for minor repairs and for chopping the wild grass that grows quickly in the vast school grounds. But that was three months ago. The school also does not have a computer room or a laboratory. “We did not receive a single penny for infrastructure upgrade under Sikhiya Kranti. The local panchayat members were also approached, but no one bothered. We are just managing things by ourselves,” said Maninder, who has also been juggling teaching, administration and Census duties. The village does not have even a single government high or senior secondary school. Despite tall claims of an education revolution in the state by the current regime, these two Khankotbased schools present a different story. Debt-ridden kulchaseller held for ~10- lakh extortion attempt Thieves strike at gas agency in Tarn Taran Pawan K Jaiswar Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 9 He ran a kulcha shop on Majitha Road, had no criminal record and, on the face of it, appeared to have little connection with the world of organised crime. But mounting debt allegedly drove 51year-old Sukhbir Singh to take a drastic turn — walking into a doctor’s clinic with a pistol and demanding Rs 10 lakh extortion. The alleged extortion attempt lasted only a few minutes, but the police managed to trace and arrest him within 12 hours, recovering the weapon and the scooter allegedly used in the crime. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Sirivennela said that Sukhbir entered the doctor’s clinic around 11.30 am on Saturday wearing a black helmet. He allegedly pulled out a .32-bore pistol, pointed it at the doctor and warned him and asked to keep Rs 10 lakh ready by Monday before leaving the premises. What initially appeared to be a conventional extortion threat took an unexpected turn during the investigation. The police found that the accused ASI assaulted by SUV occupants Tribune News Service Actor Sunny Deol and son Karan with conjoined twins Sohna and Mohna in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 9 Ahead of the release of the upcoming film Batwara 1947, actor Sunny Deol and his son Karan Deol, along with Preity Zinta, visited the Partition Museum in Amritsar. The film is based on Asghar Wajahat’s poignant Partition classic “Jis Lahore Ni Vekheya O Jamiya Hi Nai” and has been directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. Revisiting memories of one of the most tragic and historic chapters of India’s history, both Sunny and Karan said the visit was deeply moving and “heavy on the heart”. Their visit carried significance as Batwara 1947 explores the human cost of Partition, marked by violence, grief and displacement. “It was beautiful to see a space dedicated to preserving memories for future generations. But it was also heavy as one saw the reality of what happened at such a massive scale,” said Sunny. The duo, along with Preity Zinta, toured the different galleries and also listened to some of the audio-visual testimonials. “There were so many photographs and memorabilia that told people’s stories,” said Sunny, who added that he took as many photos as he could to study and understand the history of Partition more deeply. The trio later interacted with mediapersons as they promoted their film ahead of its August 14 release. Sunny has been touring various cities in Punjab to promote the film and talk about Partition with younger-generation audiences. Amritsar, August 9 In yet another indication of the continued use of the Amritsar border belt for movement of narcotics, the police have seized nearly 1.95 kg of heroin and four pistols in three separate operations in the Gharinda and Bhindi Saida areas and arrested seven persons in this connection. The recoveries were made during checking and patrolling operations conducted by the police, with BSF personnel also present during one of the operations. In the first case, the Gharinda police arrested three persons — Prince Singh of Jathol village, Harman Singh and Nishan Singh, both of Vadda Bhakna village — and recovered 543 grams of heroin, four pistols and three empty magazines from them. According to the police, a tip-off was received that the trio was allegedly involved in procuring heroin and weapons from Pakistanbased handlers through drones and supplying them to different villages and towns in Punjab. Acting on the information, a raid was conducted near a water tank, where the suspects were allegedly waiting to c m y b had no previous criminal case registered against him. Preliminary questioning has indicated that Sukhbir was facing financial distress because of mounting debt. He had taken a loan, which he was unable to repay. Investigators suspect that the financial pressure prompted him to choose crime as a way out, though the police are still probing the circumstances that led him to target the doctor. The Majitha Road police registered a case under Sections 351(2), 351(3) and 308(4) of the BNS and relevant sections of the Arms Act following the doctor’s complaint. A .32-bore pistol, two live cartridges, an Activa scooter (PB02 EH 1819) and the black helmet allegedly worn during the incident were recovered from him. The police are now investigating whether the accused acted alone, how he procured the firearm and whether he had conducted any prior reconnaissance of the doctor or his clinic. Sukhbir will be produced before a court, with the police seeking his remand for further questioning. Investigators are also trying to establish what turned a small-business owner with no known criminal history into an armed accused in a matter of hours. At Guru’s abode Tarn Taran, August 9 A Punjab Police ASI, Ranjit Singh, posted at the city police station, was severely beaten up by miscreants travelling in a Fortuner here on Saturday. The injured ASI was admitted to the Civil Hospital. SHO Inspector Paramjit Singh Virdi said Ranjit Singh continued on page 2 Ahead of film release, Sunny Deol, 7 nabbed with 1.95 kg son Karan visit Partition Museum heroin, four pistols in separate operations Pawan K Jaiswar The accused in the custody of the police in Amritsar on Sunday. Tarn Taran, August 9 Thieves stole seven empty LPG cylinders and other valuables from a gas agency at Kasel village falling under the Sarai Amanat Khan police station on the intervening night of August 7 and 8. Ranjit Singh, alias Goldy, owner of the gas agency, lodged a complaint with the Sarai Amanat Khan police that he was informed about the theft by the watchman, Talwinder Singh, employed by him. Ranjit Singh said as soon as he came to the gas agency, he saw that seven empty LPG cylinders, a Mahindra Super vehicle, a fan, a bed, a mobile phone belonging to the agency, an inverter and two batteries had been stolen from his agency. Investigating officer ASI Sukhwant Singh, posted at the Sarai Amanat Khan police station, said that the police have registered a case under Sections 305 and 331 (4) of the BNS. It is learnt that three masked robbers committed the crime in the night. receive a consignment. A case was registered under Sections 21-C, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. In another operation in the Gharinda area, the police arrested Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopa, of Naushera Dhalla and Amandeep Singh of Dhodiwind, recovering 1.147 kg of heroin along with packing material. The police said the two were allegedly involved in supplying heroin and had reached the area near the defence canal on the Harad Rattan-Attari side to deliver the consignment. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered. Meanwhile, the Bhindi Saida police arrested Sahib Singh, alias Saba, of Toot village, while Mangu Singh of Chhank Kallewal was named as an accused. The police recovered 260 grams of heroin from Sahib Singh during checking near the Tpoint on the Jastarwal Road. According to the police, the suspect allegedly tried to turn back after noticing the police and threw a weighted object he was carrying. The packet was recovered and tested with a narcotics detection kit before being weighed at 260 grams. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu (centre) pays obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Sunday. Kairon Market’s parking facility still incomplete Tribune News Service Amritsar, August9 The much-awaited multistorey automated modern car parking project at Kairon Market in the walled city has remained incomplete despite missing its scheduled completion deadline, causing continued inconvenience to residents, shoppers and visitors to the busy commercial area. Construction of the parking facility began in April 2023 and was originally scheduled to be completed within 21 months. However, even after the stipulated deadline passed by a considerable margin, the project is yet to be completed and made operational.The proposed parking facility is planned as a five-level structure, comprising a basement and four floors, with a capacity to accommodate around 325 cars and 70 two-wheelers. Once operational, it is expected to provide much-needed organised parking space in one of the city’s busiest commercial zones. continued on page 2 Police launch probe after youth’s stunts on moving Thar go viral Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 9 A video that went viral showing a youth performing a dangerous stunt on a moving black Thar on the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport road has prompted the police to launch a search for the vehicle driver and two of his alleged accomplices who reportedly filmed the act. Interestingly, the police initially faced a jurisdictional hurdle in initiating action against the youths. Cops from the Cantonment, Kambo and Airport police stations examined the location after the video surfaced, following a dispute over jurisdiction. After checking the boundaries, the police found that the spot fell under the jurisdiction of the Cantonment police station. Jatinder Singh, SHO, said the police were in the process of registering a case after examining the video and identify- ing those involved. The accused were yet to be traced, while the registration number of the Thar was also not known. The police are now trying to contact the person who uploaded the video on Instagram to obtain details that could help identify the youths. The video shows a youth standing outside the driver’s door of a moving black Thar while apparently controlling the vehicle from the driver’s seat. Two youths, apparently riding a motorcycle, appear to be recording the stunt. The stunt has raised concerns over road safety as the vehicle appears to have been driven with the door open while the youth stood outside the vehicle, potentially endangering himself and other road users. Police officials said the accused would be booked once their identities and the circumstances surrounding the stunt were established.