13012025-ATR-01.qxd 12-01-2025 23:31 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune OPEN HOUSE: NEW AMENITIES TOP RESIDENTS’ WISHLIST NCC CADETS’ CYCLE RALLY IN HONOUR OF FREEDOM FIGHTERS To commemorate the sacrifices of freedom fighters, cadets of NCC have undertaken a cycle rally. P2 DENSE FOG MAX 13°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 13°C | MIN 11°C A DAY TO LIGHT A BONFIRE, DON TRADITIONAL ATTIRE Residents elected new municipal councillors so that they can solve the problems and beautify the city. P2 FORECAST The very first festival of the year, Lohri, spells new beginnings, new hopes and happy times. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 5.47 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7.30 AM » MONDAY | 13 JANUARY 2025 | AMRITSAR 125 panchayats pass resolution to boycott drug peddlers Our Correspondent Security beefed up at Gumtala flyover Despite denial of blast, iron frames & tin sheets put up as preventive measure PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, January 12 In a unique move against drug peddlers and other anti-social elements, 125 Sarpanches of different villages falling under Khadoor Sahib Vidhan Sabha constituency have resolved not to cooperate with these elements in any way. Local MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura, while talking to newsmen here on Sunday, said that the Sarpanches appealed through the public address system on Saturday urging residents to distance themselves from such elements. The MLA said that from today onward, no village elder or member of panchayat would come forward to support drug peddlers, thieves and other anti-social elements. The MLA said that he has instructed police officials in his constituency to take action against persons who come to them in support of such elements. Khadoor Sahib MLA (middle) Manjinder Singh Lalpura addresses newsmen in Tarn Taran on Sunday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura said that he was doing his best to provide a playground in all the villages of his constituency with sports equipment. He lauded the police for their efforts to eradicate the drug menace and said that during the tenure of AAP government, the police have recov- ered 25 kg of heroin and arrested 300 drug peddlers from the Khadoor Sahib constituency. The MLA said that drugs were a serious threat to society and claimed that the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in state was determined to eradicate the drug menace and maintain law and order in the state. Amritsar, January 12 Though the police have denied a grenade blast outside Gumtala police post on Amritsar-Attari bypass road, the administration has been putting up huge iron frames along with tin sheets at the Gumtala chowk flyover as a preventive measure. On Thursday night, a blast occurred underneath a car outside Gumtala police chowki. The police claimed that it was a car radiator blast even as ISI-backed terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) claimed responsibility on its social media handle. US-based gangsterturned-terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Pashia who was also behind the earlier blasts in Amritsar and Gurdaspur, had termed it a hand grenade blast while claiming responsibility. Iron grills and tins being fixed on the Gumtala flyover from where miscreants had allegedly lobbed a grenade near a police chowki in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Despite initial denial, the police have launched a thorough probe into the incident with Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar saying that they were open to probe all possible angles though he maintained that it was radiator blast in the car belonging to ASI Tejinder Singh posted at Gumtala police post. It has been reliably learnt that police teams have scanned CCTV footage in the adjoining areas and at roads leading to Gumtala chowk. They are looking into suspicious activity of miscreants. Besides, the police have also intensified the night domina- tion operation besides movement of cops in civvies to nail the unscrupulous elements following the blast. It is believed that bike-borne miscreants hurled a grenade from Gumtala flyover in order to attack the police chowki. However, as the entire premises was covered with green net in view of similar attacks at the police establishments in Punjab earlier, the explosive material bounced back after hitting the green net. Nevertheless, no police official confirmed this, but putting up big iron frames and tin sheets hints towards it. Amritsar has witnessed around five such instances while the IED attached with RDX planted outside Ajnala police station did not explode. A total of nine incidents have occurred in Punjab. Apart from Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Nawanshehar had witnessed the explosions at police establishments. Gurdaspur MLA, admn lock horns over traffic intersection MC shifts homeless to night Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, January 12 The district administration and the local MLA have locked horns over the construction of a traffic juncture which has acquired the contours of an intense debate even before it has been officially built. The intersection, named Bhai Lalo chowk, has become controversy’s favourite child not only because of its abnormally large size but also due to the fact that hundreds of vehicles, including schoolgoing buses, have to spend hours trying to make their way through the everincreasing stream of traffic. Things have come to such a pass that ADC (General) Harjinder Singh has written to the SDM to see if Section 152 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) can be clamped on the people engaged in the construction. This section relates to any person who assaults, threatens to assault, obstructs or attempts to obstruct a public servant. A potentially volatile situation had developed yesterday when MLA Barindermeet Singh Pahra and dozens of his men virtually hijacked the proceedings and started the Supporters of MLA Barindermeet Singh Pahra construct the Bhai Lalo chowk against the orders of the district administration in Gurdaspur. construction after the administration had banned it. Even as the tug-of-war between the MLA and the administration continues, residents, including hundreds of school-going children, are endlessly getting trapped in traffic snarls. In December last year, work had commenced but PWD officials wrote to the administration saying the “design needs to be reconsidered”. Ever since, work had come to a standstill. When work was stopped, a large wire-mesh was installed around the area. Traffic from all four sides remains blocked for a long period of time because of this wire mesh. One of the roads leads to the bus stand through a railway underbridge while the other three roads lead to different parts of the city. It has become a common sight to see vehicles stranded for hours on all four sides. Not surprisingly, a section of residents has written to the administration seeking action against the MLA and his brother “for indulging in politics”. Baljit Singh Pahra, president of the Municipal Committee, said the project was being built after following norms. Residents, however, claim that had rules been followed, there would have been no traffic jams. Incidentally, he is the younger brother of the legislator. The ADC claimed that the administration had written to the Municipal Committee asking it to keep the project in abeyance. The ADC had received complaints from residents and shopkeepers following which he took the decision. Even as aggressive postures are being adopted by both sides, residents are watching with bated breath the next step of the administration. A section of city folks says the city is already overwhelmed by the Kahnuwan chowk which like the Bhai Lalo juncture, is so huge that normal flow of traffic is impeded throughout the day. Several structures have come up in the city, all of which are devoid of logic. Buildings which should have been inside the city like the civil hospital have been constructed several kilometres away while structures which should have been on the outskirts, like the Gurdaspur Central Jail, are located inside the city. Residents are keenly looking forward to what action the administration takes against the legislator and his men. shelter as cold wave intensifies Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 12 With no let-up in cold wave conditions, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation has stepped up efforts to protect the city’s homeless population. On the directions of MC Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Aulakh, MC staff took immediate action to relocate homeless individuals from footpaths, roads and parks to designated night shelters. As the temperatures continue to drop, Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh emphasized the importance of providing safe and warm shelter to those living in the open during the harsh winter conditions. Various MC officials was tasked with organizing teams to transport homeless people to the shelters established by the MC at Gol Bagh, ensuring their safety and well-being. A dedicated team, led by the Estate Office of MC, shifted several homeless individuals to the Rain Basera shelter home located at Gol Bagh. “Today, a group of homeless Homeless people being taken to a night shelter in Amritsar. people from Hall Gate and Bhandari Bridge were transported to the shelter. We have made arrangements for the daily transportation of homeless individuals to Rain Basera,” said Dharminderjeet Singh, Estate officer. The Rain Basera shelter at Gol Bagh, being run by the MC, is fully equipped to accommodate individuals during the ongoing cold wave. The municipal corporation has ensured that all necessary facilities, including bedding, food, and basic care, are provided to those seeking stay at the shelter. Sushant Bhatia, in-charge (night shelter), MC, said, “The teams are working daily to ensure that homeless people are not left to mercy of freezing temperatures. We are providing room heaters, water heaters, and food to the homeless. A senior official of the district administration had asked officials to provide anything they needed. Around 10 persons walk in daily to take shelter on their own. The MC teams are also shifting homeless people to night shelters.” Khajoor, gachak add sweetness to Lohri In novel way, police use loudspeakers to dissuade people from using Chinese dor Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 12 The sale of gachak made of jaggery and fried khajoor has increased ahead of Lohri. During winter, these delicacies are consumed by people of all age-groups. Expert cooks at halwai shops are engaged in rolling out khajoor sweets for Lohri. This sweet is made especially during the winter and assumes importance because of its association with the festival. The scrumptious traditional sweet khajoor is available in the local markets from December till February, making it a novelty for the local residents. With winter at its peak, it is surely catching the eyes of a lot of visitors. It is believed that these are exclusively available in the holy city. Made of ‘maida’ (refined flour), it is fried in clarified butter and ghee, which determines their price in the Tribune News Service A shopkeeper prepares local delicacy khajoor for Lohri festival in Amritsar. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR market. The product is then kept at room temperature for sale and can last for a week. “We started preparing khajoor in the first week of December. People eagerly wait for them to enjoy in winter as well as on Lohri,” said Rajesh Ahuja, the owner of a local sweet shop. People have been purchasing the sweet to savour it with a cup of tea on foggy days. Its sale increases manifold ahead of Lohri as families gift it along with bhugga and gachak, especially to their married daughters. Jaideep Singh, who was buying these sweets for her sister who recently got married, said, “My sister’s in-laws savour khajoor. It is an unavoidable delicacy which is only prepared in winter.” c m y b Amritsar, January 12 In its endeavour to dissuade people from using the deadly synthetic kite string, known as Chinese string, the police have now started making announcements at different localities through loudspeakers in the city. They were making people aware of the harms of using the Chinese kite string and its legal implications. “This is our request as well as a warning that those who would be found involved in the illegal sale, purchase and storing Chinese kite string or even using flying kites with the banned string, strong legal action would be taken against them,” said cops while making announcements through loudspeakers in Verka police Cops check vehicles on the eve of Lohri festival in Amritsar. station area on Sunday. “There will be no leniency as the synthetic string, also known as dragon dor, has claimed many innocent and precious lives in the past,” said Sapinder Kaur, SHO, Vekra police station here. The district administration has banned its use keeping in view its hazardous nature. On the other hand, the Punjab Pollution Control Board has also launched a helpline for sharing information of the offenders. Recently, it had seized 1,200 spools following a tip-off provided by a resident on the helpline. As the Chinese string is non-biodegradable, the PPCB has also planned to take action under the Environment Protection Act in this connection. Meanwhile, the Sultanwind police used drones to check the use of plastic dor in Khalsa Nagar and Kot Mit Singh area but they found none using the banned string. Only a minor boy was found using it and he was left after being issued a warning.