Amritsar: Punjab Bandh Over Activist's Killing, Arms Bust, and Hotels Expand
Civic anger over the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Jhota shut Amritsar and much of Punjab this week, while police scored a major success against cross-border arms smuggling and the hospitality sector signalled confidence in the city with a new hotel opening.
Punjab Bandh Paralyses Amritsar as Outrage Over Anti-Drug Activist Jhota's Killing Mounts
Amritsar saw a near-complete shutdown as the Punjab bandh called in response to the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Jhota paralysed markets, transport, and commercial establishments across the city. The Tribune reported that anger over Jhota's death in Mansa had ignited a wider mobilisation against the drug menace, with farmer groups, trade bodies, and political parties joining the call for justice. Heavy police deployment was visible throughout Amritsar as authorities worked to prevent unrest during the bandh. Republic World noted that farmers' groups used the shutdown to voice demands for accountability and stricter action against narcotics networks. Separately, The Tribune reported that Amritsar Municipal Corporation postponed a contentious demarcation exercise and summoned political parties amid the charged atmosphere, reflecting how the bandh disrupted regular civic functioning. The New Indian Express highlighted the scale of police mobilisation, underscoring concerns that the killing of a public figure known for anti-drug activism could heighten social tensions across the state. The bandh drew attention to the broader crisis of drug dependency in Punjab and to the risks faced by activists working to combat it at the community level. [7]
🗳️ Punjab Police Crack Down on Cross-Border Drone Arms Smuggling Network in Amritsar
Punjab Police dismantled a cross-border arms smuggling module operating through drones in Amritsar, arresting five persons and recovering 13 pistols and two grenades. SSBCrack reported that the network had been using unmanned aerial vehicles to ferry weapons across the international border from Pakistan, a method that has increasingly concerned security agencies along Punjab's sensitive frontier. News18 reported corroborating details of the arrests, noting that the module's exposure came through sustained intelligence-driven operations by Punjab Police. The seizure of military-grade hardware, including grenades not commonly available in domestic markets, points to the sophisticated logistics and external support enabling such smuggling operations. Security analysts have flagged drone-based trafficking as a growing threat that conventional border surveillance struggles to intercept, prompting demands for upgraded counter-drone technology. The Amritsar bust is among a series of such operations in Punjab in recent months and reflects the heightened vigilance of state police working alongside central security agencies. Officials said the investigation is continuing and that further arrests are expected as police probe the network's reach, financing, and connections to criminal gangs operating within the state. [5]
🏢 Fern Hotels Marks Punjab Expansion with New Amritsar Property
The Fern Hotels and Resorts chain has expanded its Punjab footprint with the launch of a new property in Amritsar, ET HospitalityWorld reported. The opening signals growing investor confidence in Amritsar as a hospitality destination, anchored by the city's status as a major pilgrimage site, a tourism hub anchored by the Golden Temple, and a gateway to Punjab for both domestic and international travellers. The Fern brand, known for mid-to-upper-tier accommodation with an emphasis on sustainable hospitality, adds a recognised national chain to Amritsar's hotel market alongside existing options. Punjab's hospitality sector has been seeking to attract branded properties capable of absorbing the flow of pilgrims, tourists, and business travellers that the city draws throughout the year. Hotel developers have pointed to improving road and rail connectivity, including the proximity to Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, as factors supporting new investment. The Fern entry also comes as Punjab's government has been actively promoting the state as a destination for hospitality and tourism investment. Industry observers expect the opening to prompt further branded hotel activity in Amritsar as the city's visitor numbers continue to grow. [8]
Land Deal Scrutiny: Firms Allegedly Sold Punjab Cricket Body Land at 15x Market Rate
India Today reported that private firms acquired agricultural land in Punjab at approximately Rs 19 lakh per acre before selling the same land to the Punjab Cricket Association at Rs 3 crore per acre, a markup of nearly fifteen times. The investigation raises questions about the due diligence processes used by the sports body in approving the acquisition, the identity and connections of the intermediary firms involved, and whether public funds were used to finance the inflated purchase. Cricket administration bodies in India have faced recurring scrutiny over land transactions, infrastructure tenders, and governance standards, and the Punjab episode adds to that pattern of concern. Transparency advocates called for an independent audit of the transaction and disclosure of the decision-making chain that approved the purchase at the elevated price. The report did not name the specific land parcel or detail when the transaction occurred, but the price differential described is significant by the standards of Punjab's agricultural land market. Officials from the Punjab Cricket Association had not responded to the allegations at the time of publication. The story adds to pressure on sports governance bodies in Punjab at a time of heightened public scrutiny of institutional accountability. [3]
Sources: [7] The Tribune · [5] SSBCrack · [8] ET HospitalityWorld · [3] India Today