01072025-ATR-01.qxd 6/30/2025 10:40 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune MC DISCUSSES URBAN UPGRADE PROPOSALS FUTURE TYCOON TO HELP SHAPE ENTREPRENEURS Minister emphasises state’s commitment to empower youth by making them job providers . P2 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 28°C NCC OUTREACH IN BORDER VILLAGE RAJOKE Additional Commissioner holds meeting with department heads to take stock of situation. P2 FORECAST The NCC conducted a “Vibrant Village” programme in the border village of Rajoke on Monday. P2 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 7.28 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5.25 AM » TUESDAY | 1 JULY 2025 | AMRITSAR Resident docs at GMC go on strike, get assurances Police nab 3 MC extends date for water, in extortion sewer connections till July 18 call case Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 30 With the arrest of three persons, Amritsar rural police claimed to have cracked an extortion case within 24 hours of the incident. Those arrested were identified as Pawanpreet Singh alias Pawan of Alakare village, Karajpreet Singh of Sohian Khurd village and Sajan alias Kalu of Ram Diwali Hindua village. The police seized a .12 bore rifle with five live rounds and a motorcycle from their possession. Maninder Singh, SSP Amritsar rural, said that around two days back, unknown persons called Judge Singh of Ram Diwali Hindua village threatening him and demanding Rs 10 lakh as extortion money. When he ignored the call, he again received a WhatsApp call from Canada in which the caller threatened to kill him or harm the family members. He lodged a complaint with Kathunangal police and a case was registered. Later, the accused were identified and arrested within 24 hours. Probe revealed that Pawandeep had taken a loan on his SUV vehicle. Unable to repay, he planned the extortion. Amritsar, June 30 Resident doctors and MBBS students at Government Medical College (GMC), Amritsar, went on strike today, demanding an increase in their stipend. The strike is part of a coordinated protest at all three government medical colleges in Punjab, at Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot. The protesters argued that while MBBS tuition fees in Punjab have been increasing steadily every year, stipends have remained stagnant. Dr Archit Bawa, president of the Government Medical College Students’ Association, said, “Becoming a doctor in Punjab has become extremely difficult. The annual hikes have pushed government MBBS tuition fee to nearly Rs 10 lakh, excluding living and food expenses. On top of this, students are required to sign a Rs 20 lakh bond for two years. Despite such burden, the monthly stipend for MBBS interns is just Rs15,000.” Dr Gurpreet Singh, president of the Resident Doctors’ Association, added that Punjab currently has the highest Members of Resident Doctors’ Association at Government Medical College in Amritsar went on strike on Monday to press for the acceptance of their demands. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR MBBS fees in India but offers one of the lowest stipends. The doctors have closed outpatient departments (OPD) as part of the protest, though emergency services remain operational. Dr Bawa stressed that this strike was the result of protests that repeatedly went unheeded. “We’ve protested peacefully and taken leave to raise our voice before, but the government has only given empty assurances,” he said. After a day-long strike, a meeting with the authorities was held later in the evening. As per the outcome, the monthly stipend for MBBS interns has been increased from Rs 15,000 to Rs 22,000, with increments also approved for Junior and Senior Residents. Additionally, the government agreed to constitute a committee to review the current MBBS fee structure and the contentious Rs 20 lakh service bond, with an official notification expected within two weeks. In light of these assurances, the protesting doctors called off their strike for the next two weeks, stating that further action will depend on the timely implementation of the promised reforms. Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 30 In a significant initiative, the Municipal Corporation Amritsar has reported notable public response to its week-long civic facilitation camps organised across various areas of the city. The camps, held from June 20 to June 30 under the directions of MC Commissioner Gulpreeet Singh Aulakh, aimed at streamlining the filing of property tax returns and regularisation of illegal water and sewerage connections. Encouraged by the public participation, the Municipal Corporation has announced an extension of the camp series from July 1 to July 18, covering various localities. The next camps are scheduled for July 1 and 2 at RB Estate in the Western Zone. According to Additional MC Commissioner Surinder Singh, a total of 1,160 property tax returns were filed, resulting in Rs 12 lakh in revenue. Simultaneously, around 200 illegal water and sewerage connections were regularised, generating an additional Rs 2.75 lakh for the civic body. On the final day of the camp series, a special drive was conducted at Kali Mata Mandir, Khadak Singh Wala, Verka Bypass, Majitha Road. The Municipal Corporation building in Amritsar. FILE PHOTO SPECIAL CAMPS Singh informed that the state government has announced a waiver on interest and penalty for previous years’ property tax dues, valid until July 31, 2025. This enables citizens to clear their dues from 2013-14 to 2024-25 without any financial burden of penalties. Highlighting the issue of unregulated utility connections, the Additional MC Commissioner noted that many residents in outer city areas have taken water and sewerage connections but failed to get them regularised by the Municipal Corporation. These camps were aimed at addressing such issues through on-thespot facilitation. Singh appealed to residents to make use of waiver scheme and regularisation process to avoid future complications. “This is a onetime opportunity to clear your dues and bring illegal connections into the legal framework without penalties. We urge all citizens to take advantage,” he said. Heroin worth ~10-cr seized at Jandiala Guru Drug smuggler’s house demolished Three arrested for illegal sand mining Pawan K Jaiswar Amritsar, June 30 The city police have demolished the house of a drug peddler, Rakesh Kumar alias Keshi, a resident of Navi Abadi area here on Monday. As many as six criminal cases including those under the NDPS Act, Excise Act and robbery were registered against him at various police stations, including one in Jalandhar. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the Municipal Corporation authorities sought security for demolishing the building which was against the norms and constructed allegedly from ill-gotten money of drug smuggling. Prior to this, the city police have already demolished the residential properties of around eight drug traffickers in the past. Bhullar said that the smugglers who were harming society and destroying the youth by pushing them towards drugs would not be spared at any cost. “There is no sympathy for Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 30 A Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) by the Amritsar rural police in Jandiala Guru area led to the seizure of 1.835 kg of heroin, worth over Rs 10 crore in the international drug market, here today. As many as 14 persons were arrested during the operation which also resulted in the recovery of three bikes, a scooter, two mobile phones and Rs 1,500 of drug money in six separate incidents. Apart from this, six persons were sent to deaddiction and rehabilitation centre for treatment. It is pertinent to mention here that Jandiala Guru is one of the most affected areas as far as rampant drug peddling and abuse is concerned. Amritsar rural police chief Maninder Singh said that CASO was part of the Yudh Nashiyan Virudh launched by the state government to smash the drug supply chain by nailing the drug traffickers at the street level. He said that today, CASO was conducted in various parts of the Jandiala Guru constituency. “In six separate seizures, the police confiscated a total of 1.835 kg of heroin. Fourteen persons were arrested in this connection and FIRs were lodged against them. Further probe was on to ascertain the source of contraband and smash the entire nexus,” he said while adding that their backward and forward linkages would be identified and they were put behind bars. He urged the people to share the information about drug peddlers at the helpline number 112 or Amritsar control room number 9780003387. Amritsar, June 30 Launching a crackdown on the illegal sand mining, the Ajnala police have arrested three persons with a truck, a tipper, canter and 3.5 hundred cubic tons of illegally excavated sand from them. Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 30 The District Revenue Department is all set to introduce online registration of properties and send an official on a call to the house of an applicant to carry out all necessary arrangements from tomorrow. An applicant, by calling at the number 1076, will be able to get the service of an official of the Sewa Kendra who will complete all procedures related to the registry for a fixed charge. Both the buyer and seller will have to go to the Tehsil office just to get Maninder Singh, SSP Amritsar rural, said the police recovered a truck (PB02-EB7173), a tipper (PB05- AK9227), Canter (PB06-V-1658) and a huge quantity of sand from them during the crackdown. — TNS MC officials along with the police demolish the house of a drug peddler near the Rattan Singh Chowk area in Amritsar on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR those indulging in drug peddling for easy money. They would be arrested and put behind the bars,” said the Police Commissioner. Apart from taking strict action against drug traffickers, he said that the police was also trying to provide treatment for drug abusers who wanted to quit the deadly addiction by admitting them to rehabilitation centres. He said the Punjab Police have made considerable seizures of contraband and arrested a number of drug traffickers. He also appealed to the people to share information regarding drug peddlers active in their areas while promising that their names would be kept a secret. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Alam Vijay Singh and ADCP Harpal Singh accompanied him to the spot. Property registry to undergo change from today, doorstep service on call Tribune News Service They were identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gora, a resident of Chaharpur village falling under Ramdas police station, Sakatar Singh of Sahowal village and Harpreet Singh alias Happy of Sarangdev village. SERVICE GOES ONLINE ■ By calling at the number 1076, an applicant can avai the service of a Sewa Kendra official to conduct all procedures. ■ Both the buyer and seller will have to go to the Tehsil office just to get their photo clicked. The DC will monitor if documents are received. ■ Rough copy of registry will have to be uploaded on Easy Registry Portal. the photo clicked. As per the new norms, both the parties will have to upload a rough copy of the registry on the Easy Registry Portal before 48 hours following which the sub-registrar will check the documents and give the endorsement. Then both of them can register the property from any tehsil or sub-tehsil who will be able to verify the documents and take photos. Apart from 13 lawyers in all tehsils of the district, five computer operators have been hired in three registry offices in urban areas. Their training course has been completed. At the same time, the Deputy Commissioner will c m y b monitor whether the documents are being received along with the registration of parties on time. Next week, the Sub-Registrar-3 office will be shifted to Tehsil-2. Cabins for lawyers, cash counter and computer operators are yet to be completed. Online connectivity to computers is yet to be provided. 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