07092026-ATR-01.qxd 9/6/2026 11:21 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY FARMER’S SUSTAINABLE JOURNEY SHOWS THE WAY URBANISATION DISTURBING BALANCE OF ECOSYSTEM BROOKLYN BECKHAM-NICOLA’S LOVED-UP MOMENT IN VENICE Harinder Singh Goraya aims to free Gurdaspur’s Ransike Talla village of stubble-burning. P2 Locals says increasing green cover and conserving water bodies the need of the hour. P3 MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 25.5°C Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz looked smitten as they made an appearance together at the Venice Int’l Film Fest. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 6.38 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:03 AM » MONDAY | 7 SEPTEMBER 2026 | AMRITSAR People risk lives to cross Tung Dhab drain through temporary bridges Makeshift crossings lack railings, lights |Residents flag pollution in storm-water channel Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 6 Temporary bridges installed over the Tung Dhab drain are endangering the lives of commuters. Due to fastpaced urbanisation several localities have come up along the drain, forcing residents to install such bridges, which lack safety railings and streetlights. Several residential localities and over 40 industrial units are situated along the 20-km drain that passes through the centre of the city. At some places where the width of the drain is narrow, the residents have installed concrete slabs to gain access to the four-lane road, connecting Golden Gate on GT Road to the Attari border. Manpreet Singh, a resident of Anmol Enclave, situated close to the drain, said at some places residents have made makeshift arrangements over the drain. These bridges do not have any kind of safety railings and there is always a risk of a mishap, he added. Quoting a study conducted Commuters cross a bridge over the Tung Dhab drain in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR over two years ago, he said sewage from 17 localities was being discharged into the Tung Dhab drain. Besides, 28 MLD (millions litres per day) of effluents discharged by 19 industries and about 550 KLD (kilolitres per day) of waste, including livestock dung, generated by nearly 176 dairies is dumped into the drain daily, he added. Simran Singh, a resident of Amardas Colony, demanded that the government get the structural safety of the tem- Waris Punjab De announces in-charges for 4 constituencies Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 6 The Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) has appointed in-charges for four constituencies as part of its organisational strengthening exercise ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls. According to an announcement made by the party office on Saturday, Iqbal Singh Jhunda has been appointed in-charge of Amargarh, Lakhwinder Singh, alias Rabbi Kandola, for Sri Anandpur Sahib, Bhupinder Singh Sajjan for Sham Chaurasi and Kulwant Singh Rauke for Baghapurana constituencies. Former MLA Iqbal Singh Jhunda is a senior Akali leader. He had quit the Shiromani Akali Dal and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) before joining the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) last month. Jhunda had held an important position in the SAD and had headed the analysis committee constituted by the party following its successive electoral defeats. Lakhwinder Singh is a Punjabi film actor, who came into prominence with the film, Mitti (2001). He has consistently voiced his views on Punjab and Sikh issues through social media. Bhupinder Singh Sajjan had been active as an independent web journalist and was in list of scribes under surveillance by Pegasus spyware in 2021. The Sham Chaurasi Assembly constituency is reserved for Scheduled Castes. Sajjan had played an active role in opposing the BJP-led government during the farmers’ agitation at Delhi. Kulwant Singh Rauke, a native of Rauke village in the Baghapurana constituency, was detained in the Dibrugarh jail along with Amritpal Singh under the National Security Act (NSA). Continued on page 3 porary bridges assessed. He added that the residents got these installed on their own and as per their need. The drain that was meant to carry storm water is receiving domestic, industrial, dairy and agricultural sol- id waste, leading to groundwater contamination, Simran Singh said. Harmful gases emanating from the drain not only cause health issues but also lead to the breakdown of household appliances. The gases damage copper pipes in appliances such as air-conditioners and refrigerators in a couple of years, he claimed. Dug up in 1955 to prevent floods, the Tung Dhab storm water drain, also known as the Hudiara drain, has become an unending source of inconvenience and a host of health problems for residents of the district. Originating from Gurdaspur, it passes through the centre of the city and falls into Lahore’s Hudiara drain, which further merges into the Ravi river. Being a stormwater drain, it cannot be covered under the guidelines of the National Green Tribunal. Anita Kumari and Priyanka Sharma, councillors of Ward No. 17 and Ward No. 11, respectively, through whose wards the drain passes, said they had never come across any accident on these bridges. Villager dies in Ajnala attack, 12 booked 10 held with 48 gm heroin in separate cases Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, September 6 The District Police arrested 10 persons on Saturday under a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) and recovered 48 gm of heroin from them. The arrested persons included a brother-sister duo. SSP Surinder Lamba today said the Chohla Sahib police arrested Lovepreet Singh, alias Love, and his sister Jasmeet Kaur, residents of Bath Road, Tarn Taran, near Chamba Kalan village, with 20 gm of heroin and an electronic weighing machine. In another case, the Chabal police arrested Gurjant Singh, of Sohal village, and recovered 5 gm of heroin from him. A team of the Sarai Amanat Khan police station recovered 4 gm of heroin from Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Havelian village in the area. The Valtoha police arrested three people with 7 gm of heroin. The accused include Satnam Singh, Davinder Singh and Jaskaran Singh. The Sarhali police recovered 8 gm of heroin from Gurdial Singh, of Naushera Pannu, and Tehal Singh alias Tehla, a resident of Banwalipur. A team of the Sadar Patti police station arrested Arjan Singh, a resident of Ward No. 13, Patti, with 4 gm of heroin. Separate cases have been registered against the accused under various sections of the NDPS Act. — OC Amritsar, September 6 A resident of Dalla Rajputa village died after a group of persons allegedly attacked him in the Ajnala area late last night. Kuljit Singh, accompanied by his nephew Shabba Singh, was returning home from Gurala village after some work related to a tractor-trailer when the accused intercepted and attacked the former, leaving him critically wounded. The police have registered a case against 12 suspects and are making efforts to arrest them. Among those booked were Sukhchain Singh, Sukha Singh and Bhinda Singh, all residents of Teda Rajputa village, Surma Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Babbu Singh, all residents of Dalla Rajputa village, and Happy of Chhanna Ballarwal village. Five unknown persons have also been booked. In his complaint to the Ajnala police, Shabba Singh said that on Friday night, his father, Satta Singh, and mother, Jeet Kaur, were returning home on a motorcycle from Bhindi Saida when around 8 pm the accused allegedly stopped their motorcycle near Nava Dalla Rajputa village and assaulted his father. The complainant said the family took Satta Singh to the Civil Hospital, Ajnala, from Civic negligence Dragged down from tractor, assaulted with sharp-edged weapon where he was referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar. He said they could not lodge a police complaint at the time as the family was busy getting the best possible treatment for his father. Shabba Singh added that yesterday he and his uncle Kuljit Singh had gone to Gurala village on a tractor-trolley. While returning home around 6 pm, they allegedly encountered the accused involved in previous night’s clash and four-five unidentified youths near Teda Rajputa village. He alleged the group stopped their tractor. They allegedly shouted that Satta Singh had survived the previous night’s attack and that Kuljit Singh should not escape this time. Two accused allegedly dragged Kuljit Singh down from the tractor. One of them attacked Kuljit Singh with a sharpedged weapon. Kuljit Singh died on the way to a hospital. The accused allegedly fled the spot after stealing the tractor’s battery, a tyre and horn, according to the FIR registered under Sections 103, 303(2), 190 and 191(3) of the BNS. Further investigation is under way. Shortage of chambers, poor infra dominate Bar election campaign Tribune News Service A plastic pipe inserted into a broken manhole cover to alert commuters on a road near the Civil Hospital in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Amritsar, September 6 With the shortage of chambers, poor infrastructure and pending civic amenities at the court complex emerging as key issues, all 52 candidates contesting the Amritsar Bar Association elections hit the campaign trail on Sunday, seeking votes from advocates through door-to-door visits. With the September 11 poll drawing closer, candidates visited the court complex and the residences of fellow lawyers to canvass for support. Several contestants are taking to social media to reach out to voters. Providing chambers to advocates, expediting the construction of lifts and developing chambers on the 1,500-sq-yard site behind the court complex are among the major issues being raised by the candidates. Promises to secure exemption of up to 300 units of electricity for advocates have also figured in the campaign. Improvement of basic infrastructure, including laying of interlocking tiles, construction and upkeep of bathrooms and provision of clean drinking water, is another plank. Continued on page 3 Web of wires in city raises safety concerns Fifth accused in Chamiari police post attack arrested Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 6 A tangled web of electricity and communication wires hanging dangerously from poles has become a common sight across the city, raising serious concerns over public safety and the condition of the city’s electrical infrastructure. In several busy areas, poles can be seen carrying a large number of cables, with wires criss-crossing roads and hanging at low heights. Many of these cables appear loosely installed, while some are left coiled around poles or dangling close to the ground. The situation is particularly worrying in areas witnessing heavy movement of pedestrians, two-wheelers and cars. Residents fear that loose or damaged wires could pose a serious risk, especially during heavy rain, strong winds or other adverse weather con- Wires hangs precariously from poles over a busy road in Amritsar on Sunday. VISHAL KUMAR ditions. The mess also makes it difficult to identify which cables are active and which have been abandoned. Residents said the unchecked addition of cables by different service providers over the years has contributed to the problem. With electricity, internet, telephone and other communication lines sharing the same poles, the infrastructure has turned into an increasingly complicated network. They urged the electricity authorities and civic agencies to conduct a comprehensive c m y b survey of such locations and remove unused and redundant cables. They also called for proper bundling and installation of functional wires at a safe height. “The authorities concerned should also fix damaged poles and ensure that private telecom and cable operators follow safety norms while laying or shifting their lines,” said Harnam Singh, a senior citizen. Apart from being an eyesore, the tangled wires pose a potential hazard to both residents and maintenance workers. A short-circuit or an accidental snapping of a cable could lead to a dangerous situation in a crowded locality. Residents have demanded a coordinated drive involving the electricity department, Municipal Corporation and private service providers to clean up the overhead network and prevent further accumulation of cables. Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 6 The Amritsar Rural Police have arrested the fifth accused in connection with the July 20 bottle-bomb attack on the Chamiari police post under the Ajnala police station. Shah Nawaz, a resident of Old Delhi, who was brought from a Sangrur jail on a production warrant, had allegedly funded the attack by transferring Rs 40,000 through GPay to a bank account of the four accused, including a juvenile, who are already arrested in the case. The police said Shah Nawaz was in contact with an alleged Pakistan-based ISI handler, identified as Rana Bai, and made the payment on his directions. The police are questioning him to ascertain the funding channel and establish the SECURITY UP AT POLICE ESTABLISHMENTS Police sources said Pakistanbased handlers were allegedly trying to target police establishments in Punjab. Following intelligence inputs, security has been strengthened around police stations and wider network behind the attack. Manideep Singh, Pardeep Singh and Karanveer Singh, alias Gora, were arrested earlier for allegedly hurling twin bottle bombs at the police post during the intervening night of July 20 and 21. They had arrived on a motorcycle and fled after carrying out the attack. The four accused were traced with the help of CCTV footage and were arrested a week after the incident. During the interrogation, they allegedly revealed that they had been in contact with posts. The Chamiari attack comes amid a series of lowintensity blasts and grenade or incendiary attacks targeting police infrastructure in Punjab’s border districts over the past two years. Rana and carried out the attack at his behest. Shah Nawaz was arrested by the Sangrur police in another criminal case a few days after the Chamiari incident. The Amritsar Rural police subsequently secured his custody on a production warrant. Investigators are also examining whether the accused had any connection with other attacks on police personnel or establishments, including the killing of ASI Joga Singh, who was shot dead while riding a two-wheeler.