31032025-ATR-01.qxd 3/30/2025 11:22 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MID-DAY MEAL WORKERS STAGE PROTEST, DEMAND WAGE HIKE ISHAAN RAISES TEMPERATURE AS HE FLAUNTS CHISELLED ABS SALMAN KHAN’S EIDI, SIKANDAR, IS SO DISAPPOINTING The Mid-Day Meal Workers Union organised a protest at the Civil Hospital complex on Sunday. P2 On 4th day of Lakme Fashion Week, Ishaan caught everyone’s attention with his hot showstopper look. P4 Sikandarthat starts off with usual bad guy getting bashed up by superhero is a project that should have remained on paper. P4 » » » MAX 29°C | MIN 13°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 10°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.49 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:18 AM MONDAY | 31 MARCH 2025 | AMRITSAR Surprise inspection at three medical stores of private hospitals in city Tribune News Service Three weapons seized by the Amritsar rural police on Sunday. Amritsar, March 30 As part of the state government’s efforts to combat the scourge of drugs, Drug Control Officer Sukhdeep Singh conducted surprise inspections of medicine shops at three private hospitals in the city. The inspections, which were carried out today, targeted the Cancer Centre of America Pharmacy, Amandeep Pharmacy, and Rimple Pharmaceutical, Sahaj Enclave. However, no drugs or violations of drug laws were found at any of the three medical stores. No drugs or violation of laws found Sukhdeep Singh said, the inspections were part of a broader crackdown on the illegal drug trade. “Our teams are working tirelessly to inspect medicine shops and distributors across the city,” he said. Singh warned that any individual or business found violating drug laws would face severe consequences, including registration of police cases. He urged the public to cooperate with the authorities concerned in their efforts to combat the drug menace. Three arms smugglers arrested, pistols seized Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 30 The Amritsar rural police have arrested three smugglers and recovered two Glock and one other pistol from their possession. Those arrested were identified as Bachitar Singh and Beant Singh, both residents of Daoke border village and Sukhchain Singh, a resident of Rangarh village here. Maninder Singh, SSP Amrit, sar rural, said the trio was nabbed by the special branch at a naka laid near Khasa when they were travelling on a bike without registration number. During search, the police seized two 9mm Glock pistols (Glock 26 Gen4 Austria 9X19) and a .30 bore pistol (5 Rolex) along with four live bullets from their possession. A case under the Arms Act was registered at the Gharinda police station in this connection and further probe initiated to identify their backward and forward links of the accused. On Saturday, CIA staff of the rural police arrested four persons and recovered four sophisticated pistols and Rs 3 lakh hawala money from them. Those arrested were identified as Jagroop Singh, alias Baba, a resident of Boparai Khurd village, Hardeep Singh, a resident of Chak Mukand village, Rajbir Singh, alias Gullu, a resident of Mohalla Nanaksar (Tarn Taran) and Arsal Singh, alias Rasal Singh, a resident of Jhanjhoti village in Rajasansi, Amritsar. The accused had links with Pakistani smugglers. They were also involved in facilitating illegal financial transactions through Hawala. Similarly, the counter intelligence wing of the Punjab Police here had arrested three persons — Gurjant Singh, a resident of Sangatpura in Amritsar, Gursharan Singh, alias Gursharandeep, and Abhishek, alias Abhi, both residents of Lakhuwal here — and confiscated one 9MM Glock, two .30 bore and three countrymade .32 bore pistols from their possession. They were part of the Pak-backed illegal arms smuggling racket. Kunwar challenges Malik for debate over development works Amritsar, March 30 Two days ago, former Rajya Sabha member Shwait Malik lambasted the AAP while , alleging that internal conflicts of the party were hurting development of the North Assembly constituency. Today, Dr Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, AAP’s North Assembly constituency MLA, challenged him for debate during a press conference which was held just opposite his house. “Ninety per cent of development works have already been completed in my constituency. I informed Malik about holding press conference in front of my house and asked him to come for debate if wanted to, but he failed to turn up,” Kunwar said. “Malik talks about my differences with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, but everybody in the city knows who played ‘instrumental’ role in the defeat of the BJP leaders who contested for Amritsar Lok Sabha seat,” he quipped. He said, “I could have ideological differences with the CM, but it did not affect development works in the North Assembly constituency. Development works have been carried out with the CM’s discretionary funds,” he pointed out. Holds press conference in front of his house AAP MLA Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh (centre) addresses mediapersons in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR “Almost all development works in the North Assembly constituency have been completed and even the court road outside Malik’s house has been re-laid during my tenure,” he said. He said, “Former Rajya Sabha member has been targeting the North Assembly constituency only to make a ground for contesting polls from here in 2027.” Kunwar said former Rajya Sabha member was making false claims over the inclusion of 12 gram panchayats in the city’s jurisdiction, while he himself failed to do so when he was mayor of the city. “I do not lay any foundation stones bearing my name plate on every small development work. I inscribe my name on people’s heart through my honest works,” he said. Meanwhile, Malik alleged that the proposal to include 12 panchayats of the Amritsar North Assembly constituency in the Municipal Corporation was passed, but the AAP’s infighting brought development in the area to a grinding halt. He pointed out that the situation was worrisome with issues like broken roads, neglected parks and poor sewerage and garbage management not being paid attention to by the authorities concerned. Malik said AAP’s internal conflicts would lead to its downfall, citing the example of Delhi and predicting a “backbreaking defeat” for the party in 2027 elections to be held in Punjab. — TNS Municipal Corporation collects ~43L property tax on Sunday 14 held on charge of trading in drugs Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 30 Despite Sunday being a holiday, the Municipal Corporation (MC) managed to collect Rs 43 lakh property tax today, the second last day to pay current tax dues. Providing an update on the recovery of tax during the current 202425 financial year, Assistant Commissioner Daljit Singh said, “The Municipal Corporation has collected a total of Rs 39.66 crore property tax so far. All officials of the corporation’s Property Tax Department are actively engaged in tax collection. Citizen Facilitation Centres (CFCs) remained open on Sunday to facilitate taxpayers in clearing their pending dues.” He also issued a reminder that residents failing to make their payments before March 31 would be subject to a 20 per cent penalty and an annu- An official at the Property Tax Department of the Municipal Corporation in Amritsar on Sunday. al interest rate of 18 per cent would be levied on the due amount. Emphasising the urgency, he urged property owners to clear their tax dues by tomor- row to avoid additional charges. Notably, in the previous 2023-24 financial year, the MC had collected Rs 37.90 crore property tax. With just one day left for the deadline to deposit tax, officials expect a surge in payments as residents rush to meet the cut-off date. The offices and the CFCs would remain open on Monday (Eid holiday) for collecting property tax. Yesterday, the Property Tax Department sealed several buildings to press their owners to clear pending dues. Thought the MC intensified efforts to boost tax collection before the end of financial year, it was far away from achieving the target. The MC had set the target to collect Rs 50 crore property tax in its 2024-25 Budget. However, the corporation managed to collect Rs 40 crore till date. Officials are expecting that they would be able collect good amount of tax on last day of the fiscal. Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, March 30 In a crackdown on elements involved in drug trade, the police arrested 14 persons during its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign on Saturday. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abhimanyu Rana said here on Sunday that 502 grams of heroin, 590 intoxicating tablets, 50 litres of lahan and 11,250 ml (15 bottles) of illicit liquor were recovered from the possession of the arrested accused. The SSP said the Khemkaran police led by SHO Gurinder Singh arrested Jagga Singh Jagga of Mehindpur village while patrolling near the place of Baba Sheikh Braham at Mianwala village and recovered 260 grams of heroin from him. He said Gurpreet Singh Gopi of Maddar Mathra Bhagi village was arrested with 111 grams of heroin by the Khalra police. The SSP said Harjit Singh Sandhu and his associate Paras, residents of Patti city, were arrested with 20 grams of heroin. The city police arrested Manjinder Singh, a resident of Kakka Kandiala, with 7 grams of heroin, he said. In another case, Aman Singh Fauji and Sagar Singh, both residents of Goindwal Sahib, were arrested with 21 and 23 grams of heroin, respectively, by the police, the SSP said. Ajaypal Singh, alias Ajay Maon, a resident of Khemkaran, was arrested with 40 grams of heroin by the Valtoha police, he said. The Bhikhiwind police arrested Gurlal Singh, a resident of Sursing village, with 20 grams of heroin, he said. The SSP said the accused Gurlal Singh confessed that he used to procure drug consignment from Gagandeep Singh and Dilbag Singh of Sursing village who too were named in the FIR as an accused, the SSP said. All the accused were booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act by the police, the SSP said. The SSP further said Fateh Singh, a resident of Patti, was arrested by Patti city police with 500 intoxicating tablets. The Kacha Pakka police led by SHO Balraj Singh arrested Bhaini village resident Gurmukh Singh with 90 intoxicating tablets, he said. Jasbir Kaur, a Tarn Taran resident, was arrested with 4,500 ml of illicit liquor and Kulwinder Singh, a resident of Gandiwind Dhattal village, was arrested by the Chohla Sahib police with 6,750 ml of illicit liquor, while the Khemkaran police arrested another person and seized 50 litres of lahan from him, the SSP said. The accused were booked under provisions of the Excise Act, he added. Minister inaugurates sewerage project in Ajnala, Gang of snatchers busted, four members arrested says govt making efforts to improve amenities Amritsar, March 30 The long-pending sewerage project in Ajnala Assembly constituency, once considered among the most underdeveloped areas of Punjab, has finally been completed. Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal today inaugurated the project at Sakianwali village. Addressing gathering on the occasion, Dhaliwal said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was truly a people’s government, ensuring that every penny of public funds was spent for their welfare. He emphasised that villages once deprived of basic infrastructure, such as proper streets and drainage systems, were now being equipped with modern facilities. Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal during inauguration of the sewerage project at Sakianwali village. Recalling his earlier visits to the village, Dhaliwal mentioned that stagnant water in streets often flooded homes, causing significant inconvenience to residents. During election campaigns, he had promised villagers a proper drainage system. Today, he expressed his satisfaction in having fulfilled that commitment by launching the sewerage project. Block Development and Panchayat Officer Malkeet Handa, numberdar Harjeet Singh, Jasbir Sahota, Panchayat Officer Kulwinder Singh and Junior Engineer Sushil Kumar, were present on the occasion. — TNS c m y b Amritsar, March 30 The city police have busted a gang of snatcher with the arrest of its four members. They had recently snatched a car on gunpoint. The police recovered the snatched car and an expensive iPhone from the possession of the accused identified as Abhishek, alias Abhi, a resident of Deol village in Gurdaspur, Rohit, a resident of Amipur village in Kalanaur (Gurdaspur), Gurkirat Singh, alias Kirat, and Himanshu, both a residents Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur). Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Navjot Singh said on the intervening night of March 12 and 13 several unknown persons had snatched a car and mobile phone from The four snatchers in custody of the police in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Gurinder Singh near Majitha road bypass flyover. A case was registered at the Sadar police station in this connection and probe initiated into the matter. The police scanned footage of the CCTV cameras installed in the area and found that the accused had fled towards Gurdaspur side. While investigating the CCTV footage trail, the police managed to identify the accused and recovered the robbed car which they were using after replacing its original registration number plate with a false number. The ADCP said the accused were produced before a court and brought on police remand for further investigation to recover the weapon used in the crime. More cases could likely to be cracked during interrogation of the accused, the ADCP said. — TNS