26012025-ATR-01.qxd 1/25/2025 11:38 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY TARN TARAN SCHOOLS HOLD EVENTS ON EVE OF R-DAY DESPITE BEST ATTEMPTS, NO TOURISM POLICE IN CITY SITAR MAESTRO HIDAYAT KHAN REIMAGINES JANA GANA MANA On the eve of the 75th Republic Day, various edu institutions organised events in their respective schools. P2 Despite four attempts, no cop wearing tourism police insignia is visible around the heritage sites. P2 With aalap and vocals, he captures the beauty of India in his reimagined version of the National Anthem. P4 » » MAX 18°C | MIN 4°C YESTERDAY MAX 19°C | MIN 5°C SUNSET SUNDAY 5.59 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 7.26 AM » SUNDAY | 26 JANUARY 2025 | AMRITSAR School heads bound to follow safe vehicle rules, says DC Post terror threat, security beefed up for R-Day celebrations in city Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 25 Security has been tightened in the city after designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu of the banned organization Sikhs for Justice threatening to hoist Khalistani flag at the District Administrative Complex on the Republic Day here tomorrow. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the police have been on alert. He said he has also written to the Deputy Commissioner in this connection urging them to be vigilant in view of the threats by Pannu. As many as 2,500 cops have been deputed for security in the city to ensure a peaceful atmosphere during the Republic Day celebrations. Two days ago, Pannu in a video message had threatened to put up Khalistani flags at the DC office complex in various districts of the state, including Amritsar, Jalandhar and Gurdaspur. In order to ensure elaborate security arrangements, the police have set up checkpoints and are conducting thorough checks of every Amritsar, January 25 Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sahwney emphasised the importance of road safety during a high-level meeting, instructing school heads to adhere to safe school vehicle rules here on Friday. She directed the District Education Officer to ensure all school heads obtain a certificate confirming the safety of buses transporting children. The DC said the school heads must verify vehicles’ safety features and compliance with government regulations. She directed the MC and Improvement Trust officials to remove weeds, install white stripes, reflectors and traffic lights at the earliest to reduce road mishaps. She further directed the Secretary, RTA, to prevent overloading in vehicles and the department related with constructing roads must ensure quality control. Funds have been allocated to establish a treatment centre in the government medical college for road accident victims, which will be operational soon. Tribune News Service Stray dogs maul 6-yr-old boy to death in Tapiala His father is abroad while mother lives with her parents PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service into service for security. The entire complex of Guru Nanak Dev stadium where the district-level programme would be held tomorrow was searched by the dog squad. Suspicious vehicles were searched while senior police officials, including the DCP ADCPs , and ACPs also supervised security arrangements. Remembering Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Youths perform 'Gatka', an ancient form of Sikh martial arts, during a religious procession taken out to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sikh warrior Shaheed Baba Deep Singh outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Saturday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Patient’s attendants accused of misbehaving with hospital staff Tribune News Service vehicle and suspicious individuals, said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh. “Amritsar Police remains fully alert to prevent any untoward incident and ensure that the citizens of the city can celebrate the Republic Day peacefully and securely,” he said. Dog squads were pressed The villagers said Shehbaz was a student of Class I. His grandfather brought him today from school. After keeping his bag, he went out for playing. He ran behind a snapped kite to catch it. While running he reached near ‘Haddo Rodi’ (where animal carcasses are dumped) area KMSC to hold protest against Centre today Cops check the boot of a car in Amritsar on Saturday. SUNIL KUMAR Amritsar, January 25 In a shocking incident, a sixyear-old boy was mauled to death by stray dogs at Tapiala village falling in Lopoke subdivision here on Saturday. After reaching home from school, the victim, identified as Shehbaz Singh, saw and ran behind a snapped kite when a pack of dogs attacked him. Some villagers heard his cries and chased the stray dogs that dragged the boy. But by the time he was rescued, he was critically injured. He had critical injuries on the head and the neck. He was rushed to hospital where doctors declared him dead. Shehbaz along with his sister used to live with his grandparents as his father Sarabjit Singh lives in a foreign country while his mother was reportedly living with her parents. Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 25 Members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) on Friday unanimously announced that they will hold a protest against the Union government for one and A half hours from 12 to 1.30 pm by parking tractors in front of the warehouses of various corporate houses, shopping malls and residences of BJP leaders here tomorrow (January 26). This and other decisions were taken during the Kisan Mahapanchayat held at Abdal village in Majitha near here on Friday. Amritsar, January 25 Medical staff at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital were allegedly abused and threatened by attendants of a patient here on Friday night. Following the incident, members of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association and other organisations met the Medical Superintendent here on Saturday. The incident occurred in ward number two of the orthopaedics department of the hospital where a group of 10-12 persons misbehaved with a resident doctor and nurses. PCMSA general secretary Dr Madhur Pod- The wailing family members of Shehbaz Singh (inset) at Tapiala village in Amritsar on Saturday. when a pack of dogs surrounded and attacked him. Some passersby heard his shouts and ran to his rescue. Despite their best attempts, the stray dogs kept mauling him. By the time he was rescued, he was critically injured. They informed his grandparents about the incident who rushed him to a nearby hospi- NO FIR REGISTERED ■ Dr Madhur Poddar said even after the employees reported the matter to the police who helped in defusing the situation but refused to register an FIR. dar said, “The incident occurred despite the government’s claims of having enhanced the security of the medical staff.” The employees present on the occasion claimed that one of the main accused claimed himself to a councillor from Ajnala. They said the accused further flaunted that he is close to a Lok Sabha member. Dr Poddar further complained that even after the tal where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The villagers expressed shock that though the population of stray dogs has increased manifold over the years, the administration has failed to take any concrete measure in this regard. Cases of stray dogs attacking children have increased in the last few years. employees reported the matter to the police who helped in defusing the situation but refused to register an FIR. The doctors during the meeting with the management of the hospital asked the officials to get an FIR registered. “It is the duty of the hospital administration to file complaints if any of their employees are harassed while on duty. Instead, the doctors are being forced to pursue the complaint with the police,” said a doctor. When contacted, police officials posted at the Majitha road chowki said an FIR against the accused on the basis of the complaint received from the hospital is being registered. Swearing-in ceremony for 85 Sexual harassment ADA demolishes illegal colony at Rakh Cheeta village near IIM councillors to be held tomorrow suspect attempts suicide, probe begins Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 25 Elections for the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor are set to take place on January 27, following the swearing-in ceremony of the 85 newly elected councillors. Senior MC officials revealed that the event will be held in the auditorium of Government Medical College, Amritsar. As per the notice issued by the Divisional Commissioner of the Jalandhar Range, the poll would be conducted after the oath-taking ceremony on the same day. Municipal Corporation Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh said preparations for the event have been completed. The swearing-in ceremony will commence at 4 pm on January 27, after which the elections for the three key leadership positions will be conducted. The 85 elected councillors and six MLA members have been informed of the agenda for the ceremony and the Tribune News Service elections. To ensure smooth conduct of the event, the MC has coordinated with key officials and departments. MC Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh stated the agenda has been shared with the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, the Police Commissioner and the Principal of Government Medical College. Various duties have been assigned to Additional Commissioner Surinder Singh, Joint Commissioner Jai Indra Singh, Assistant Commissioner Vishal Wadhawan and Superintending Engineer Sandeep Singh along with other officials from various MC wings. This significant occasion marks the formal beginning of a new term for the MC and its leadership. Though the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party are claiming to nominate their Mayor, no party has a clear majority. The elections for the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Mayor would make it clear that which party will lead the House. The preparations, including logistical arrangements and coordination with relevant authorities, will be managed by the MC. Amritsar, January 25 An alleged sexual harassment suspect has attempted suicide by consuming poisonous substance here. His family had accused the complainant in the case of blackmailing him for extorting money while claiming his innocence. The women grievance cell had been probing the complaint and had called the two parties for investigations two days ago. The incident reportedly occurred near the woman counselling cell though the authorities concerned were unaware about it. It came to light when the victim was rushed to the hospital in a serious condition. Assistant Commissioner of Police (crime against woman and children) Tripta Sood later on City Police Commissionerate social media handle said that a woman had filed a complaint against suspect Harjinder Singh of Indira Colony, Mustafabad, for allegedly c m y b harassing her by passing objectionable remarks. She said both the parties had agreed to come on January 23. She said though the complainant reached for investigations, the accused did not. Later, it came to light through social media that he had consumed poisonous substance and was admitted to hospital in a serious condition. She said appropriate action would be taken after a thorough probe. The family members of the suspect alleged that Harjinder was being blackmailed by the complainant for extorting money. They alleged the complainant lives in the neighbourhood of Harjinder Singh. She had accused him and his relative of sexual harassment. However, his relative proved his innocence by providing CCTV footage of his presence at his office when the said incident was stated to have taken place. However, the complainant was seeking money from Harjinder for reaching a compromise. Amritsar, January 25 The Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) on Saturday demolished roads and the boundary wall of an illegal colony being developed near the IIM at Rakh Cheeta village on the Amritsar-Bathinda National Highway here. Following the instructions issued by ADA Chief Administrator Ankurjit Singh, the Regulatory Wing of ADA, led by District Town Planner (Regulatory) Gursewak Singh Aulakh, carried out the demolition of the unauthorised colony at Rakh Cheeta village. The action was taken in the presence of Duty Magistrate Jagbir Singh, SubDivisional Engineers of ADA, Amritsar, and personnel from the Chatiwind police station. District Town Planner Gursewak Singh Aulakh said as per the government instructions to regulate future development, a notice under the PAPRA Act, 1995, had been issued to the unauthorized colony being developed along the road leading to the IIM at Rakh Cheeta village. The demolition action was An illegal colony being razed at Rakh Cheeta village in Amritsar. taken against the colony, as its owners were found violating government rules by disregarding official instructions, selling plots, and advertising the colony plan through various unauthorised means. He further clarified that under the 2024 amendment to the PAPRA Act-1995, any individual involved in developing an unauthorized colony can face imprisonment ranging from 5 to 10 years and a fine between ~25 lakh and ~5 crore. Accordingly, a letter has been sent to the police department requesting an FIR against 14 colonizers involved in such activities. The regulatory wing of PUDA is conducting regular inspections of unauthorised colonies and constructions in Amritsar district. Notices are being issued under the relevant Act to halt such activities, and police officers concerned are being asked to take appropriate legal action. The DTP (Regulatory), Amritsar, also appealed to the general public to exercise caution while purchasing plots in unauthorized colonies that are not approved by PUDA. He advised buyers to verify the approval issued by PUDA for any advertised colony with the coloniser or directly contact the PUDA office. — TNS