19082026-ATR-01.qxd 8/18/2026 10:50 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY AIDED STAFF, ACTING PRINCIPAL CLASH OVER SALARY ROW MUSIC COMPOSER AR RAHMAN ANNOUNCES TAMIL IDOL MEGASTAR AMITABH BACHCHAN PRAISES UP POLICE ANTHEM The grant-in-aid staff and the acting principal of a college in Gurdaspur are on a warpath over salary issue. P2 AR Rahman has teamed with Sony Vizha and launched Tamil Idol, a show for aspiring singers. P4 Amitabh Bachchan has amplified the first official anthem, Khaki Ka Sitara, of the Uttar Pradesh Police. P4 » » » MAX 31°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.10 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5.58 AM WEDNESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2026 | AMRITSAR City’s Charoo Kapoor steals spotlight as showstopper NEWSMAKER OF THE WEEK Encroachment by shopkeepers, vendors worsens traffic congestion Manmeet Singh Gill Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 18 Illegal encroachments along roadsides by construction material sellers, vehicle mechanics and shopkeepers have increasingly become a major cause of traffic congestion in the city, with several stretches of roads being reduced to narrow passages for motorists and pedestrians. An apt example of roadside encroachments is the highly bust stretch near the bus stand. While most of the congestion near Hussainpura Chowk is caused by auto-rickshaws and private buses waiting to pick passengers, the sellers of used motorbikes only add to the existing problem. Merely a hundred metres towards the bus stand, both sides of the roads are occupied all day along by auto-rickshaws waiting to pick and drop passengers. Another hundred metres towards Ram Talai and the roadsides are occupied by tandoor sellers and others shopkeepers. A little further on the road near Jahajgarh market, the roadside is being used by construction material sellers and Amritsar, August 18 Pollywood and Bollywood actress Charoo Kapoor from Amritsar stole the spotlight as the showstopper at the 25th Gradiente Asian Fashion Tour India, held this month. A former Miss India North, Charoo was the showstopper at the gala event held in Mumbai. Walking the ramp in a striking couture creation by designers Imran and Himali Raj, Charoo captivated the audience with a seamless fusion of Indian heritage and contemporary fashion. Curated by Gradiente Infotainment Ltd under the guidance of Dr Vimal Raj Mathur, Nikhil Bhatnagar and Pia Roy, the star-studded event showcased top designers and celebrated the launch of Florencia Paris perfume in the presence of industry icons, page-three personalities and local dignitaries. In 2024, she had walked the ramp as the showstopper at the Asian Fashion Tour held in Dehradun by a leading lifestyle channel. She has previously been part of films such as Irrfan Khan’s ‘Qissa’, ‘RSVP’ and others. She was also part of a web series on Prime Video. “My experience working for Missing man’s body found in village pond Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, August 18 The body of a missing man, Rajan Singh Gaida, was found in a pond at Balachak village here on Monday. A case was registered against a family from the same village following the recovery of the body. The victim, who hailed from Uttarakhand, worked at a factory in Balachak village near Chhaba. According to a complaint lodged with the police by Rajan Singh Gaida’s brother Deepak Singh Khaida, Sukhdev Singh, his son Jaspal Singh and other family members allegedly beat up Rajan Singh on August 13. Rajan Singh was returning to his residence in Balachak after having dinner with other continued on page 2 Charoo Kapoor OTTs has taught me that there are ample opportunities for everyone,” she said. In addition, she also works as an anchor and judge for several talent shows. She said she was excited to be part of an event where young talent in fashion got an opportunity to showcase their work. Charoo is the daughter of playback singer Ramesh Kapoor, who has featured in several Hindi and Punjabi films and theatre productions. Eightyfour-year-old Ramesh has sung several Hindi, Punjabi and Pashto numbers. He got the opportunity to learn the nuances of singing from noted classical singers Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj and Master Piara Lal. He started learning music in 1949 and went on to become a playback singer for several Hindi movies, including “Maila Aanchal”. Illegal encroachments at a market in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR motor mechanics. From building material dealers occupying road margins with sand, bricks, gravel and other material to mechanics carrying out vehicle repairs on public roads, encroachments have become a common sight in almost every part of the city. Shopkeepers too often extend their displays and business activities beyond their premises, leaving little space for the smooth movement of traffic. vehicles remain parked for long periods, while mechanics use substantial portions of the road for carrying out repairs. Similarly, construction material dumped along roadsides not only occupies public space but can also create safety hazards for commuters. What has raised questions among residents is the nature of the anti-encroachment action undertaken by the Municipal Corporation. The MC teams are frequent- Minister ETO reviews functioning at Sanjh Kendra MC suspends JE for Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 18 Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO conducted a surprise inspection of the Police Sanjh Kendra at Jandiala Guru on Tuesday and reviewed the functioning of the centre and the services being provided to the public. During the inspection, the minister checked the attendance of officials and employees and reviewed records and the status of various public services. He also interacted with people visiting the centre and sought their feedback on the functioning of the facility and the services being provided to them. Harbhajan Singh said the Sanjh Kendras had been established to strengthen the relationship between the police and the public and provide police-related services in a convenient and peoplefriendly environment. He said these centres should function as public service offices where people can approach officials without fear or hesitation. The minister said several police-related services were being provided through the Sanjh Kendra within prescribed time limits. These include receiving complaints, providing information about action taken on complaints, copies of FIRs and DDRs, and copies of untraced reports in cases related to road accidents, vehicle theft and theft. Other services available at the centre include no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the use of loudspeakers and for fairs, exhibitions and sports events. NOCs for pre- Cabinet minister Harbhajan Singh ETO conducts a surprise inspection at the Sanjh Kendra in Amritsar’s Jandiala Guru on Tuesday. owned vehicles, police clearance certificates for visas, character verification, tenant verification, employee verification and verification of domestic help are also provided. The minister directed the staff to ensure that people do not face unnecessary delays or have to make repeated visits to government offices. He said every visitor should be treated with respect and courtesy and that their concerns should be heard carefully and addressed within the prescribed time. Women bikers pay tribute to Battle of Dograi heroes Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 18 The Panther Division organised a women’s bike rally to pay tribute to the brave soldiers of the Indian Army. The rally was held from the old Amritsar Cantonment to the Dograi War Memorial at the New Amritsar Military Station. Led by Gulmohar Kaural Kapoor, chairperson, FWO Panther Division, the rally was flagged off by Santosh Chhillar, vice-chairperson, FWO Panther Division. A total of 46 women bikers from the families of officers, JCOs and other ranks of the Panther Division participated in the rally, which was dedicated to the memory of Veer Naris and martyrs of the Battle of Dograi. The Battle of Dograi was one of the major battles of the The problem becomes particularly acute during peak hours when already busy roads struggle to accommodate the volume of vehicles. Encroached portions of roads force motorists to move into the main carriageway, resulting in bottlenecks, frequent traffic jams and inconvenience to pedestrians. Residents point out that roadside vehicle repair has an additional impact as damaged or under-repair ly seen removing rehris and small roadside vendors, while more permanent and substantial encroachments by established businesses often remain untouched or return soon after the enforcement teams leave. Residents have demanded that anti-encroachment drives be made comprehensive and impartial, irrespective of the size or nature of the establishment involved. “Strict action against those using public roads and footpaths for commercial activities and regular monitoring to prevent encroachments from resurfacing is the need of the hour,” said Jagjeevan Singh, a senior citizen. Residents suggested that merely removing rehris cannot resolve the city’s encroachment problem when large stretches of roads continue to be occupied by construction material, repaired vehicles and commercial displays. The residents have urged the Municipal Corporation and traffic police to conduct coordinated drives against all forms of encroachment and ensure that roads and footpaths remain available for their intended purpose. A total of 46 women bikers from the families of officers, JCOs and other ranks of the Panther Division participate in the rally in Amritsar. Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. Dograi, located near the Wagah border, was strategically important as it was very close to Lahore. During the war, the battle became partic- ularly famous for the determined assault and closequarters fighting by the 3 Jat Regiment. Indian troops subsequently held Dograi until the UN-backed ceasefire. Upon reaching the Dograi War Memorial, the participating women paid heartfelt tributes to the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice while defending the c m y b nation during the historic Battle of Dograi. A special interaction session with women was also organised on the occasion, during which discussions were held on women’s empowerment, self-confidence and the important role of women in society. The Veer Naris were also felicitated, with their courage, determination, sacrifice and contribution to the nation being acknowledged and appreciated. “The event served as a meaningful platform to bring the armed forces together in a shared spirit of patriotism, pride, remembrance and gratitude. The women’s bike rally further strengthened the values of patriotism, sacrifice, remembrance of martyrs and women’s empowerment,” said Gulmohar Kaural Kapoor. He further directed officials to clearly inform applicants about the documents and formalities required for any service. This would help people complete their work without unnecessary inconvenience, he said. The minister stressed that government employees must perform their duties with responsibility, honesty and dedication. He said people should not have to depend on middlemen or unnecessary intervention to obtain government services. He said the quality, transparency and timely delivery of public services must be ensured at every level. The purpose of surprise inspections, he added, was to assess the ground-level functioning of government offices and ensure immediate corrective measures wherever required. Man held with 1 kg heroin Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, August 18 A police team led by ASI Harjinder Singh of the local CIA staff arrested a person with 1.5 kg of heroin near Maniala Jai Singh village here on Monday. The accused has been identified as Balwant Singh, alias Phuman Singh, a resident of Pahuwind. ASI Harjinder Singh said the police team was patrolling when a suspicious person was spotted near Maniala Jai Singh village. He was asked to stop. During a search, the contraband was recovered from his bag. A case under Sections 21-C, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused by the Kacha Pakka police station. ‘demanding’ bribe from city resident Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 18 The Amritsar Municipal Corporation has ordered the suspension of Junior Engineer (JE) Nirvair Singh after allegations surfaced that he allegedly demanded money from a resident in the Joda Phatak area to settle a matter related to digging carried out outside a house to resolve a sewerage problem. A video showing a conversation between the JE and the resident has surfaced on social media. The video is claimed to have captured the interaction at the spot. Social activist Amritpal Singh Bablu, who shared the video on his social media accounts, said a family in the Joda Phatak area had undertaken minor digging in the street to address a sewerage-related problem outside their house. During this, the municipal corporation JE, accompanied by a work mistri, reached the spot. According to the resident, the JE allegedly warned him of municipal action, a hefty penalty of Rs 14,000 and other consequences for carrying out the digging without permission. The resident alleged that instead of initiating the official procedure, pressure was put on him to settle the matter at the spot by paying some money. The alleged conversation was recorded on CCTV and the video subsequently circulated on social media. Bablu said the allegations were serious as government officials were expected to deal with residents strictly according to rules and prescribed procedures. “If an official demands money from a common person in the name of getting legitimate work done or avoiding official action, it is a serious matter. The Punjab Government, senior MC officials and the Vigilance Bureau should conduct a fair inquiry and take strict action if the allegations are found to be true,” he said. Nirvair Singh, however, denied the allegations and said he had gone to the spot after receiving a report that around 15 feet of the street had been dug up without permission. “I went there along with the work mistri after receiving the report. The person involved invited me inside his house for water. I explained to him the procedure for paying the penalty for the unauthorised digging,” the JE said. He added that the work mistri later took the person outside and that he was not aware of what conversation took place between them. “I do not know what they discussed outside. I did not demand any money or ask anyone for a settlement,” he said. Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill said the allegations had been taken seriously and orders had been issued to suspend the JE. “We have ordered the suspension of the JE. A departmental inquiry will also be conducted,” Shergill said. The inquiry is expected to examine the video footage, statements of the people present at the spot and other available evidence. Its findings will determine whether any official misconduct or demand for illegal gratification took place.