19072025-ATR-01.qxd 7/18/2025 10:46 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY TOURISM HIT AGAIN BY BOMB THREAT IN HOLY CITY ACTRESS KIRRON KHER'S RARE APPEARANCE AT FILM PREMIERE LET PEOPLE BE: ACTOR VAANI KAPOOR ON BOYCOTT CULTURE The tourism industry in the city has suffered a downturn in room occupancy due to security concerns. P2 Actress Kirron Kher made a rare public appearance at the premiere of her husband's film Tanvi The Great. P4 Vaani Kapoor believes censorshipin any form restricts an artiste’s freedom to take creative risks. P4 » » MAX 33°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET SATURDAY 7.34 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5.38 AM » SATURDAY | 19 JULY 2025 | AMRITSAR Encroachers to be penalised by traffic cops Tribune News Service BSF jawans recover six drones, 2.3 kg heroin in past 24 hours Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 18 To tighten the noose around encroachers, the traffic police would register FIRs against the violators. Rampant encroachments on roadsides by shopkeepers and vendors have been causing inconvenience to residents of the city. Repeated attempts by the civic body and the police have failed to bring the desired results. Encroachments on roadsides and public land return when the civic body and the police fail to take action. The district administration has now decided to register FIRs against the violators. It had recently banned encroachments under Section 163 of the BNSS. The traffic police on Thursday registered several cases against offenders. ADCP Amandeep Kaur said they had apprised the shopkeepers and vendors encroaching on footpaths of the law, besides warning them of registering a case against them if they tried to encroach again. Despite that, several people violated the law and they filed FIRs for violating the orders. Amritsar, July 18 There is no let-up in cases of intrusions of flying machines carrying drugs and arms at the International Border between India and Pakistan. The Border Security Force (BSF) has neutralised multiple drones in the past 24 hours. Six drones were shot down and recovered from Amritsar border alone. In addition to this, the BSF also confiscated 2.34 kg of suspected heroin dropped by these flying machines. “In a remarkable achievement, alert BSF jawans recovered six Pakistani drones along with four packets of suspected heroin in the border area of Amritsar in multiple incidents last night,” revealed BSF authorities on X. Sharing details, a BSF spokesman said on Thursday night, BSF troops on duty intercepted successive drone intrusions near the Pul Moran border outpost at Amritsar border. “In a quick response, the Tribune News Service The seized drones in the custody of BSF jawans in Amritsar on Friday. technical counter measures deployed on border were activated, thereby neutralising these drones carrying narcotics,” said a BSF official, adding that subsequent search operations led to the recovery of four DJI Mavic 3 Classic drones along with three packets of suspected heroin with a gross weight of 1.744 kg from the farming fields near Pul Moran village. Similarly, in another operation near Roranwala Tribune News Service Illegal kiosks being razed in front of the Gol Bagh railway station in Amritsar on Friday. municipal corporation has launched a dedicated campaign to keep the city’s major roads clean and pedestrianfriendly. For this purpose, the Land Department has been permanently equipped with JCB machines and tippers to Civic body officials elated but residents feel long way to go Charanjit Singh Teja Khurd border village last night, vigilant BSF jawans seized a DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone along with one packet of heroin weighing around 596 gm. The drone crash-landed in the fields because of the technical interference of the counter drone measure. Another DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone was intercepted and shot down in the early hours today in the vicinity of Dhanoe Kalan village. Civic body razes illegal structures near Gol Bagh railway station, Gillwali Gate areas Amritsar, July 18 The Estate Wing of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation carried out an anti-encroachment drive here on Friday. MC workers razed six illegal kiosks raised outside the Gol Bagh railway station, while encroachments on MC land near Gillwali Gate, opposite the C-Division police station, were also cleared. During the operation, roadside encroachments done by shopkeepers in the Bhagtanwala and Gol Bagh areas, where goods were displayed on main roads and footpaths, were removed. MC workers took the seized materials into their custody. Estate Officer Dharminderjeet Singh, Inspector Aman Kumar, Arun Sahaj Pal and a police team were present during the drive to ensure smooth execution of the operation. Joint Commissioner Jai Inder Singh stated that the SWACHH SURVEKSHAN RANKINGS facilitate daily removal of illegal structures and encroachments. He said illegal kiosks installed outside the Gol Bagh railway station had become a nagging issue, which was addressed today. Similarly, shanties and temporary shelters erected on vacant MC land near Gillwali Gate were demolished using heavy machinery. Shopkeepers near Bhagtanwala and Gol Bagh had extended their shops onto roads and pavements, causing inconvenience to pedestrians. These encroachments were also cleared. The Joint Commissioner appealed to shopkeepers and vendors not to extend their shops or occupy public roads and footpaths beyond the authorised areas like designated vendor markets. He emphasised that vehicles should be parked only in the official parking zones to avoid congestion. He warned that anti-encroachment drives will continue across the city and urged people to voluntarily remove any illegal structures or goods placed on public property. He also cautioned that any items confiscated during such drives will not be returned. Amritsar, July 18 Despite the deteriorating waste management and sanitation situation in Amritsar, the city has secured 30th rank at the national level and 17th in the state list in the recently announced Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings. This two-position improvement over last year has surprised local residents, who find the survey results hard to believe given the visible decline in civic services after the exit of the private solid waste management company, Averda. The survey, conducted around four to five months back during the winter season, presented a relatively better picture of the city’s sanitation scenario, when sewer water problems were minimal and Averda was still handling waste collection and processing. After the 4,200 notices issued to water, sewerage bill defaulters Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 18 The Amritsar Municipal Corporation has recovered Rs 2.30 crore from water and sewerage regulation defaulters in just four months, from April to July 14. The MC recovered Rs 1.15 crore more as compared to the same period in 2024-25, reflecting the intensified recovery drive launched by the MC. Notices have been issued to 4,200 defaulters across the five city zones with the civic body making serious efforts to meet its recovery targets. According to officials, the North zone has reported the highest number of defaulters with 1,200 consumers receiving notices. The lowest number of defaulters has been recorded in the Central zone, where 600 notices were issued. The North zone also continued on page 2 Task force to protect child rights, end begging in districts PROJECT JEEVANJYOT 2.0 Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 18 After the legal action against child begging, where two women and a man were taken into custody by the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) yesterday, the Punjab State Child Rights Commission (PSCRC) today launched Project JeevanJyot 2.0, a transformative initiative dedicated to the protection, welfare and rights of children across the state. Gunjeet Ruchi Bawa, vicechairperson of the commission, announced that all districts have been directed to establish a district-level task force for child protection to ensure the effective implementation of the project. Each task force will be chaired by the Deputy Commissioner and include key offi- A girl child beggar along with an elderly man at Heritage Street in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR cials such as the Commissioner/Superintendent of Police, Civil Surgeon, District Education Officer and District Labour Officer. These task forces will receive comprehensive support and coordination to ensure effective implementation of the project. A detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) has been circulated to all districts, outlining structured guidelines for the implementation of Project JeevanJyot 2.0. A significant provision within the SOP mandates DNA testing to verify the biological parentage of children found begging with adults—a critical step toward identifying and addressing cases of child exploitation and trafficking. Bawa emphasised the urgent need for collective responsibility in child protection and called upon all stakeholders—including government officials, law enforcement agencies, educators, healthcare providers and civil society organisations—to work in close collaboration. “Project JeevanJyot 2.0 is a crucial step in our mission to safeguard the rights of children and eliminate all forms of exploitation. Through the creation of district-level task forces and the enforcement of strong verification mechanisms, we aim to build a system that protects and uplifts every child. This initiative reflects our shared responsibility as a society to ensure that no child is left behind,” she said. The commission reiterated its commitment to creating a c m y b safer and more secure environment for every child in Punjab and urged prompt action and full cooperation from all districts for the successful execution of Project JeevanJyot 2.0. Meanwhile, the District Child Protection Unit has been instructed to amplify its rescue and rehabilitation programmes for children in need, including those involved in child begging and labour. As a standard practice, the DCPU members are accountable for rescue, immediate rehab and medical check-up of children found living on the streets. Last month, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development Baljit Kaur had issued directions to all deputy commissioners to declare their respective districts as ‘beggar-free’ and ensure regular monitoring in this regard. Garbage lies strewn on the Majitha road in Amritsar on Friday. company’s departure, garbage collection has become irregular, and the city’s streets and dumpsites show clear signs of neglect. However, officials of the Municipal Corporation Amritsar (MCA) are treating the rankings as a significant achievement. Municipal Health Officer Dr Kiran Kumar stated that compared to Punjab’s industrial hub Ludhiana, Amritsar has performed substantially better across most cleanliness and waste management indicators. “In the national list, Amritsar secured the 30th rank against Ludhiana’s 39th. At the state level, Amritsar holds 17th position, while Ludhiana has slipped to a dismal 144th rank. In terms of a total score out of 12,500 points, Amritsar accumulated 8,173, ahead of Ludhiana’s 5,272. Key cleanliness parameters show Amritsar outpacing Ludhiana in crucial areas. Amritsar’s waste processing rate stands at 99 per cent, dumpsite remediation at 41 per cent, and water body cleanliness at 100 per cent. Public toilet cleanliness in Amritsar also scores higher at 83 per cent, compared to Ludhiana’s 53 per cent,” said Dr Kiran Kumar. Interestingly, Ludhiana fares better in door-to-door waste collection, covering 89 per cent of households, compared to Amritsar’s 75 per cent. But in source segregation, both cities lag, with Amritsar at 7 per cent and Ludhiana slightly behind at 6 per cent. Four peddlers held with heroin Amritsar, July 18 The Majitha police have arrested four drug peddlers and confiscated 100 gm heroin from their possession. Those arrested were identified as Manish Kumar, alias Mannu, Vikrant of Majitha, Harpreet Singh, alias Happy, and Sajandeep Singh of Khasa Patti, Majitha. Sharing details, DSP , Majitha, Pawan Kumar said the Majitha police arrested Manish and Vikrant from the Kathunangal road in Majitha with the contraband. After their interrogation, the police arrested Harpreet and Sajandeep. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against them and further probe was on to establish their backward and forward linkages. Meanwhile, the Mattewal police have arrested Mehakpreet Singh of Kaler Bala village for allegedly possessing a country-made pistol of .32 bore caliber. In addition, they also seized two live rounds from him. The police said they got a tip-off that the accused was in possession of an illegal weapon following which he was intercepted near the Kaler Bala village drain. During search, the police seized the weapon and a case under the Arms Act was registered against him. The source of the weapon was being ascertained. — TNS
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