17012025-ATR-01.qxd 1/16/2025 11:34 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MODERATE FOG FAMILY PROTESTS FOR ARRESTS IN SUICIDE CASE DECADE ON, GOVT FORMS PANEL TO LOCATE ‘MISSING’ STATE BIRD ATTACK ON SAIF ALI KHAN RAISES SECURITY CONCERNS Seeking arrest of accused, kin of a suicide victim staged dharna on Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh Road. P2 The govt has planned to form a special panel to trace Northern Goshawk, which it failed to do so in past 10 yrs. P3 Actors such as Ravi Kishen, Pooja Bhatt and Raveena Tandon seek enhanced security measures for celebs. P4 » » » MAX 19°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 19°C | MIN 7°C SUNSET FRIDAY 5.45 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7:19 AM FRIDAY | 17 JANUARY 2025 | AMRITSAR MC to expedite dog sterilisation efforts Amritsar, January 16 After reviewing the ongoing dog sterilisation project, Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh has announced plans to accelerate the ongoing dog sterilisation programme in response to rising complaints of stray dog attacks. The commissioner stated that a meeting will soon be convened to issue directives to municipal officials to enhance the pace of sterilisation efforts across the city. Highlighting the pressing need for action, Aulakh shared that the MC had awarded a contract on August 5, 2023, for the sterilisation of 20,000 stray dogs. A significant number of sterilisations have already been carried out under this agreement, and the remaining work is expected to be completed within the stipulated time-frame. The commissioner further announced that additional tenders for dog sterilisation will be floated in the coming days to tackle the city's growing stray dog population. With over 40,000 stray dogs currently living in across the city, incidents of dog bites have become a cause of concern for residents. “Sterilisation is a key measure to control the stray dog population and reduce the risk of aggressive behaviour,” Aulakh said. — TNS 6 associates of US-based gangster Dasuwal nabbed PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service amritsar, January 16 The police have arrested six associates of US-based gangster Prabh Dasuwal and seized a pistol along with six bullets and a scooter from them. Those arrested have been identified as Rohit of Dashmesh Colony, Attari Road, Sukhraj Singh, alias Gunga, of Thakkarpura village, Tarn Taran, and Jugraj Singh, alias Nikka, of Valtoha, Tarn Taran, Arshdeep Singh, alias Vicky, of Maradi Kalan village, Princedeep Singh of Sri Hargobindpur (Gurdaspur) and Anmol Singh, Patti Road in Bhikhiwind, Tarn Taran. They had conducted the recee of Rajwinder Singh Talwandi, a sarpanch, who was shot by armed assailants in Tarn Taran. They were in contact with Dasuwal through a social media app. Meanwhile, the police had arrested three more snatchers. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alam Vijay Singh said: “Rohit, Sukhraj and Jugraj used to conduct recee of their targets besides giving logistic support, including supplying illegal weapons, to the criminal elements for executing the task.” The accused in police custody. Armed men open fire at house in Bainka village Tarn Taran, January 16 Panic gripped Bainka village on the intervening night of January 14-15 when two armed men, said to be associates of gangster Prabh Dasuwal, fired at the house of an engineer, Harpal Singh. The victim Harpal Singh, in his complaint to the Bhikhiwind police, said that his family members were asleep in the house when two armed men fired at the gate of his residence which was captured in the CCTV cameras installed by him in the house. Harpal Singh said that gangster Prabh Dasuwal had been demanding an extortion money of Rs 30 lakh through SMS and WhatsApp calls and was also threatening to kill him and his family in case he refused to oblige him. The border area is one of the worst affected with extortion calls by gangster Prabh Dasuwal who himself is a resident of Dasuwal, which is also the native village of Sukhdev Singh Babbar, the self-styled ‘general’ of Khalistani terrorist outfit, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). A case has been registered. — TNS c m y b ADA demolishes illegal colonies in Pakharpura, Kathunangal villages Amritsar, January 16 The Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) has taken decisive action against unauthorised colonies being developed in Pakharpura and Kathunangal villages along the Amritsar-Pathankot National Highway. The ADA staff led by District Town Planner Gursewak Singh Aulakh, demolished the illegal colonies in a concerted operation conducted in the presence of Duty Magistrate Jagbir Singh, sub-divisional engineer of ADA and police officials from the Kathunangal police station. A JCB machine razes illegal structures in Amritsar on Thursday. Aulakh said notices under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act (PAPRA) of 1995 were issued to developers involved in the construction of new illegal colonies in these areas. The colonies were being built in clear violation of government instructions, prompting the demolition as a measure to enforce the law. — TNS AAP leader is district planning panel chief Tarn Taran, January 16 Senior AAP leader Gurwinder Singh Beharwal has been deputed chairman of the District Planning Committee for a third consecutive time by the Punjab government. Gurwinder Singh claimed that in the last three years of his term as the chairman of District Planning Committee, he released an amount of Rs 394.24 lakh as untied funds (earmarked funds used for local level planning), for different towns and villages for development works. The DPC chairman said these funds include an amount worth Rs 139.77 lakh for setting up of 11 libraries. He said he has been planning for the development of the border area belt. — OC MC takes over 4 acre land in Guru Ki Wadali Amritsar, January 16 The Municipal Corporation has reclaimed land worth crores of rupees in the Guru Ki Wadali area. The land, which had been illegally occupied and used for agricultural purposes, will now be utilised for the construction of four large tanks as part of the canal water project, said MC officials. Municipal Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh said approximately four acres of MC land had been encroached upon by some locals. This included three acres of land and an additional six kanals and thirteen marlas in the Guru Ki Wadali area. Following discussions with Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney, a detailed plan was formulated to reclaim the land. The land was first surveyed and marked before the possession drive. The operation was carried out with the support of Duty Magistrate Archana, local police from the respective police station and officials from other MC wings including Estate Officer Dharmendra Jeet Singh, Civil Department Executive Sunil Mahajan and the canal water project team. Under their supervision, the MC officially took possession of the land, erecting boards to declare ownership at both locations. The WTP team also installed poles to secure the area. Commissioner Aulakh announced that the reclaimed land would be used to install four large tanks for the canal water project. A tank will be construct- ed on the six kanals and thirteen marlas of land, while three additional tanks will be built on the three-acre site. The canal water project team has already placed containers on-site and begun preparations for the construction process. Materials for building the tanks and laying water pipes are expected to be delivered by the evening. The Commissioner revealed that soil testing will be conducted before the commencement of the project. — TNS