24022025-ATR-01.qxd 2/23/2025 11:30 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 23°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 23°C | MIN 10°C BSF, AFI ORGANISE BORDERMEN MARATHON-2025 ACTRESS KALKI KOECHLIN IS VERY MUCH HER OWN PERSON LISA RAY KNOWS HOW TO CHARM HER AUDIENCES With the aim of developing cordial relations between the BSF and the youth, a marathon was organised on Sunday. P2 She identifies as an Indian, is named after the 10th avatar of Vishnu, doesn’t reject her French origins. P4 In Chandigarh for Chitkara Literature Festival, Lisa Ray was looking stunning in a white and gold saree. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 6.24 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7.02 AM » MONDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2025 | AMRITSAR Govt to help road accident victim’s family: Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 23 While visiting family of the farmer, who died in an accident between his tractortrailer and a bus on the bridge of Sakki Nullah last evening, Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal assured his kin of all help from the state government. Dhaliwal said that the government would provide ample compensation for the loss of life of 42-year-old Baljit Singh. Dhaliwal said he visited the accident spot when he came to know about the mishap. “The bridge on the nullah is narrow and has to be widened so that such accidents do not occur in the future,” said Dhaliwal. He said Baljit was the only earning member of the family. After him, his family needs help, the minister said. Law and order failed in state, CM should resign: Brahmpura Amritsar, February 23 SAD vice president and former Khadoor Sahib MLA Ravinder Singh Brahmpura took a dig at Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today, while stating that the Administrative Reforms Department, supposedly headed by Dhaliwal, seems to be nothing, but a figment of imagination. Brahmpura during his visit to Manochal village in Khadoor Sahib said, “The dismal failure of the AAP government in Punjab is evident from the lack of law and order, departmental disarray and the betrayal of Punjabis,” expressed Brahmpura. He said handing over the state to such inept individuals would only bury Punjab under insurmountable debt by the time they vacate office. Demanding Mann’s resignation, Brahmpura emphasised on the need to revoke AAP’s control over Punjab to prevent further deterioration in law and order and economic instability. “Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann must acknowledge his shortcomings and step down as running the state is a serious business,” he said. — TNS 113 candidates left in fray for Tarn Taran MC election Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, February 23 On Saturday after the withdrawal of nomination papers for the election of the 25member House of the Tarn Taran Municipal Council (MC), 113 candidates are left in the poll fray. In all, 171 candidates filed their nomination papers of which 26 were rejected and 32 were withdrawn on Saturday. The ruling AAP has fielded its candidates from all the 25 wards. AAP candidate Sarbarinder Singh from Ward No. 12 is set win the poll as no other candidates filed his nomination papers against him. Navjot Kaur Hundal, wife of the Tarn Taran AAP MLA Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal, too is one of the party candidates here. It is a reality that the existence of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is nowhere to be seen in the election as not even a single party candidate filed his/her nomination paper from any of the ward. A candidate campaigns along with his supporters in Tarn Taran on Sunday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI Three are 50 candidates, who are contesting the election as Independents, 23 aspirants are from the BJP and 15 from the Congress. The election symbols were allotted to candidates on Saturday. The candidates took full advan- tage of today’s holiday and started their election campaign by going house-tohouse as was the precedent for the civic body election. Deputy Commissionercum- District Election Officer (DEO) Rahul said, “In 25 wards of the city, there are 56,600 voters, which include 28,992 men, 27,603 women and five third gender. The first election rehearsal for the staff was held here on Sunday and the second will be held on February 27.” Cancel ~70-cr tenders floated by MC: Congress councillors to CM Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 23 In a letter written to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary, Congress councillors in the Municipal Corporation (MC) have demanded cancellation of tenders scheduled to be opened on February 27, while reasoning that these were issued to benefit big contractors. Earlier, the MC had issued a tender of Rs 21.48 crore for various works in North and East constituencies and another tender of Rs 49.40 crore for the construction of roads and widening in Central, South and West constituencies. Vikas Soni, councillor and leader of the Congress said, “The MC has empanelled at least 150 contractors for works upto Rs 1 crore, five contractors for works upto Rs 15 crore and only two contractors for work above Rs 15 crore. By issuing big tenders, the MC has ended the competition which will benefit big contractors.” Soni further alleged that The office of the Municipal Corporation in Amritsar. the only job of elected councillors was to list the necessities of their respective wards and seek funds for the same. Now, when the MC Commissioner had already issued constituency wise tenders, it would further increase disparity in development of different areas, said Soni. The Congress leader said contractors, who were eligible to apply for tenders with small amounts, too had been affected. “Not only councillors, the public and contractors have also been affected. Even the government will suffer losses as there is no competition among contractors,” Soni said, while adding that the government should cancel previously issued tenders. He said fresh tenders should be floated to improve chances of better development in the city. Police carry out Cordon and Search Operation in various parts of city Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 23 In order to nail drug peddlers in street and miscreants creating law and order problems, the city police commissionerate carried out Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in various areas of three zones of Amritsar on Sunday. The police teams were led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alam Vijay Singh and Additional Deputy Commissioners of Police Vishaljit Singh, Harpal Singh, Harkamal Kaur and Navjot Singh while Assistant Commissioners of Police, SWAT teams and personnel from police stations were also part of the operation. Among the areas where CASO was carried out included Maqboolpura, Mohkampura, Gate Hakima, Fateh Singh Colony, Sultanwind village, Anngarh, Housing Board Colony, Ranjit Avenue, Faizpura, Navi Abadi, Mustafabad, The police conduct checking at a house; and (right) the police personnel interact with people on a platform at the Amritsar railway station on Sunday. Kapatgarh, Kale Ghanupur, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar flats, Guru Ki Wadali, Bharariwal and Gujjarpura. All these areas are infamous for rampant drug abuse, peddling and crime. During the operation, the police checked houses, especially of vehicles, questioned PEOPLE QUESTIONED AT RAILWAY STATION Police teams led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (North) Arvind Meena conducted a search operation at the Amritsar railway station. The police checked vehicles and also questioned people on the platforms. The Civil Lines police along with the Railway Protection Force and the Government Railway Police also participated in the joint operation. suspicious elements apart from investigating activities of drug peddlers, snatchers and miscreants who had come out on bail. The police teams visited their homes and inquired from family members and people in the area. “The main aim of CASO is instil a sense of fear among criminals and drug traffickers and ensure sense of security among the people in the city,” said Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Police Commissioner (CP). He said the operation was aimed at better coordination between the police and public. He appealed to the people to help the police to maintain law and order in the city and share information about drug peddlers. He ensured that the police would promptly act on the information provided by them. He said the name of the informer would be kept secret. Plethora of problems await new Gurdaspur SSP AAP govt wants to increase retirement age to 60, says Aujla Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, February 23 A plethora of problems awaits the new Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Aditya even as residents are elated that the state government has continued its policy of appointing IPS officers as district police chiefs in this border police district. For the new officer, “problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines”. His theory is that the best way to escape from a problem is to solve it. And that is what city residents and villagers living in the vicinity of the international border (IB) expect as they are at their wit’s end trying to handle the twin scourges of drones and drugs. The new police chief joined today. He has replaced Harish Dayama, an IPS officer, who has been shifted as AIG, Intelligence. Aditya has remained as an SP in adjoining Pathankot. He possesses the much-needed knowledge and know-how to tackle things in the border areas. IB sources maintain that the three Lashkar-e-Taiba militants, who attacked the Dinanagar police station in June, 2015, had infiltrated from Bamial in Pathankot district. Likewise, six months later, four Jaish-eMohammed terrorists crossed over from Bamial, kidnapped an SP rank officer, freed him and went on to attack the Air Force base. The officer is aware of Pakistan’s reprehensible intentions. His first task will be to deal with the ever-increasing phenomenon of drones being sent by Pakistan and nonstate actors. That the problem has assumed gigantic problems is evident from the fact that BSF reports at least four drones crossing into the Indian territory in a week. With every drone made-inAfghanistan pure-grade heroin lands in villages. New Gurdaspur SSP Aditya. TASKS TO BE DEALT WITH ■ To deal with ever-increasing phenomenon of drones being sent by Pakistan. ■ With every drone made-inAfghanistan pure-grade heroin lands in villages. ■ Unemployment has increased manifold. Youngsters foray into the make-believe world of heroin smuggling. ■ Focus on strengthening Village Defence Committees. Unemployment has increased manifold in this area. Youngsters have little or no job opportunities once they complete their education. This, in turn, acts as a catalyst in their foray into the makebelieve world of heroin. Drones carrying payloads of heroin ensure the drug is never in short supply. Opium and poppy husk are passé. It is the pure white powder which is destroying families’ lives and livelihoods big time. Police officers say a new device has been developed which can combat a drone. It has been placed somewhere in Amritsar district. Smugglers know this and hence have diverted their attention to Kalanaur and Dorangla areas of Gurdaspur district. The new SSP will have to work in tandem with security agencies to try to find an antidote to combat the flying-machines. His focus will also be on strengthening Village Defence Committees (VDC). Officers agree that these VDCs are doing a superb job c m y b by providing timely inputs. There is a school of thought that IPS officers should be given tenures that are at least three years at their place of posting. An officer will not be able to work freely if the sword of Damocles hangs over his head. Insecurity kills ideas. Diffidence and uncertainty are the last things a police chief would want. A senior officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, lamented that the political class had developed an unhealthy knack of interfering in the department’s working. “SHOs and lower-level constabulary are appointed by AAP leaders. They seldom report to the SSP They can be . found at the residences of these politicians every morning before they go to their offices. Under these circumstances, an SSP is reduced to a lame duck officer. And that is the last thing we want as we fight terror, terrorists, drones and drugs,” he said. Alleges that state has no funds, wants to deprive youth of opportunities Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 23 The Congress party’s Member of Parliament from Amritsar today alleged that the AAP government in Punjab was preparing to increase the retirement age of its employees from the present 58 to 60 years. In a press release here today, Gurjeet Singh Aujla stated that the decision would prove regressive in the long run as unemployment rate was already high in the state. He said his information was based on reliable sources in the government. He said it was a decision to push Punjab backwards. The MP said such a decision if it comes would mean that the government does not want to give funds to people who are retiring. “Punjab is passing through a serious phase, he said, while adding that the youth were forced to go abroad in search of employment. “The industry has moved. So, the youth have no other opportunity except to apply for government jobs. But the government wants to snatch that opportunity too,” he alleged. “The AAP government has always been claiming that it was giving jobs, whereas such a decision will only eliminate jobs. Giving opportunities to youth is not only good for them, but will also contribute to the development of the state,” he said. He said at a time when the youth of Punjab wants to return from foreign countries, these decisions would only push them out of the state. The Amritsar MP said, “Instructions have been given by the government to release funds as recommended by the Sixth Punjab Pay Commission, but the state appears to be dithering, having decided to release the funds in 12 to 24 installments in which the schedule extends till 2029.” Aujla said that as per government notification, the outstanding funds of any department would be given according to resources that the department had. He said funds would not be given by the State Finance Department. “The Punjab Government has completed three years in power. People in the ruling dispensation are probably apprehensive that they will not return to power. Hence, these decisions are being taken,” Aujla alleged.