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P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 5.35 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:37 AM » SATURDAY | 31 OCTOBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Encroachments galore: Politics creeps into historic Ram Bagh ASI acting at BJP’s behest: Amritsar Improvement Trust denies involvement Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 30 The historic Ram Bagh, also known as Company Bagh, is in news over unauthorised constructions and encroachments, with questions being raised over the role of the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) and the Municipal Corporation in protecting the heritage site. The garden, which served as the summer capital of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), while the Municipal Corporation is its custodian. However, allegations have surfaced that the Improvement Trust has been undertaking construction and repair work inside the complex without obtaining the necessary permissions or taking the civic body in the loop. Recently, the ASI asked the Municipal Corporation to remove constructions allegedly carried out by the improvement trust and also lodged a complaint, seeking registration of a case against an engineer of the trust. Encroachments at Ram Bagh. VISHAL KUMAR ILLEGAL ELITE CLUBS The issue of encroachments at Ram Bagh is not new. The historic garden houses three illegal elite clubs and nearly a dozen private enclosures, where people gather for various recreational and sporting activities. Earlier, a children's park was built inside the garden. The issue of encroachments at Ram Bagh is not new. The historic garden houses three illegal elite clubs and nearly a dozen private enclosures, where people gather for various recreational and sporting activities. These include tennis, skating, volleyball, basketball, open gyms and traditional akharas. Allega- tions are that such private enclosures have been developed under political patronage in violation of the heritage protection norms. Although the ASI played its part by issuing notices and letters over the alleged violations, the Municipal Corporation has failed to keep a check and curb such activities. The AIT has also been accused of carrying out construction and repair work at these enclosures without the required permissions. Earlier, a children’s park and several other structures were built inside the garden. During the previous SADBJP government, former minister and leader Anil c m y b Joshi facilitated the development of parking areas across a large portion of the garden. These parking spaces are being used by nearby private commercial establishments. Local MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh had earlier raised objections when the children’s park was leased out. However, he has not reacted to the latest encroachments in the garden. Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill said neither the trust nor any other department had obtained an NOC from the Municipal Corporation for the recent constructions. “I will investigate the matter and remove all illegal constructions found there,” he said. Amritsar Improvement Trust chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu, however, denied that the trust had undertaken any fresh construction. He said funds had only been released for repairs, claiming that the AIT had not installed the tubewell either. Taking a political dig, Rintu alleged that the ASI was acting at the behest of the BJP to continued on page 2 10 kg heroin seized, 2 arrested Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 30 The Amritsar rural police have arrested two alleged drug smugglers and recovered 10.22 kg of heroin from their possession near Attari. The accused have been identified as Navsumit Singh, alias Manpreet Singh, a resident of Khehra village, and Balwinder Singh, alias Dhoni, a resident of Jhabal in Tarn Taran district. A police team was patrolling near the horticulture garden at Attari when it received a tip-off that the two accused were allegedly involved in large-scale heroin smuggling and were heading towards GT Road on a motorcycle (PB02AS3587) to deliver a consignment. Acting on the tip-off, the Police personnel at a press meet in Amritsar. VISHAL KUMAR 5 KG HEROIN SEIZED IN TARN TARAN ■ In a joint operation, the BSF and the Tarn Taran police recovered 5 kg of heroin from Sarai Amanat Khan. ■ The police said the accused were yet to be identified and that a probe was underway to trace the source of the contraband. ■ A case has been registered in this connection. police laid a checkpoint near Attari and intercepted the motorcycle. A search led to the recovery of 10 kg and 22 gm of heroin packed in a polybag, two mobile phones and the motor- cycle. The contraband was apparently smuggled from Pakistan via a drone. A case under Sections 21-C, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered. Arms cache: Eight land in police net Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 30 The Amritsar Commissionerate Police arrested eight persons and recovered 11 illegal pistols, four live cartridges, apart from 2.2 kg of heroin, in three separate cases. With the arrests, the police claimed to have busted rackets involved in the illegal supply of sophisticated weapons smuggled from Pakistan into the city. DGP Gaurav Yadav said as per preliminary investigation, the accused were allegedly in contact with foreign-based handlers, who facilitated the supply of illegal weapons for further distribution among criminal elements. Further investigation to establish continued on page 2 Youth gunned down over old rivalry Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 30 Unidentified assailants shot a youth and injured his friend over an old enmity near Taran Wala Pull. The police said the deceased was identified as Akashdeep Singh of Kotla Sakki village in Ajnala, while his friend continued on page 2