28112025-ATR-01.qxd 11/28/2025 12:21 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 20°C | MIN 6°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 6°C MLA AJAY GUPTA WELCOMES ‘HOLY CITY’ TAG TO AMRITSAR NEW FILM TERE ISHK MEIN CAST IN VARANASI FOR PROMOTION WORK INCOMPLETE WITHOUT EMOTIONS: PANKAJ KAPUR MLA Dr Ajay Gupta has welcomed the move to grant holy status to the Galliara around the Golden Temple. P2 The cast of the upcoming film, Tere Ishk Mein, arrived in Varanasi to promote their film. P4 Says as tech continues to evolve, it can never replace the essence of cinema, i.e. “human feeling”. P4 » » » SUNSET FRIDAY 5.26 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7.10 AM FRIDAY | 28 NOVEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Miscreants who attacked Batala Cong leader identified, one held Tribune News Service Batala, November 27 The Batala police, in what residents and officers claim as a major breakthrough against perpetrators of organised crime in and around the city, have identified the two accused involved in attacking a prominent Congress leader Guddu Seth on November 21. The incident had sent shock waves among residents as Guddu Seth is a prominent politician of the area. The assailants had come on a motorcycle and fired several rounds at Seth’s shop at Hansli gate knowing that he was sitting inside. He had escaped unhurt. He had received an extortion call a few days before the firing incident occurred at his telecom shop near Hansli gate in which one of the accused had demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore. Seth had immediately reported the matter to the cops. One of the accused, Kawaljit Singh, a resident of the neighbouring Tarn Taran district, has been apprehended by the cops. The police are not disclosing ADA demolishes illegal colonies in Budha Theh, Umranangal villages Tribune News Service Police officials at the crime spot in Batala. the identity of the second accused fearing that the “investigations may be compromised”. Kawaljit Singh is a close associate of gangster Nishan Singh Joriyan. SSP Dr Mehtab Singh said he was apprehended after an exchange of fire. Police officers have stumbled upon some vital clues pertaining to the whereabouts of the second accused and hoped to nab him soon. “We have tangible information about his movements. I have formed various teams and we expect to arrest him within a few days,” said the SSP . A case under various sections of the BNS and the Arms Act has been registered against the duo at the Civil Lines police station. Extortion calls being made by organised gangs in this industrial city have become a major headache for the cops. Two groups of gangsters, one led by Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and the other by foreign-based Donny Bal, are engaged in a turfwar in the town. Police sources reveal a majority of the extortion calls are made by henchmen of these two hoodlums. Amritsar, November 27 Acting against newly emerging unauthorised colonies, the Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) carried out a demolition drive on the AmritsarJalandhar National Highway in Baba Bakala tehsil here on Thursday. A team of officials, led by District Town Planner (Regulatory) Gursewak Singh Aulakh, with the support of the Beas police, demolished underconstruction illegal colonies at Budha Theh and Umranangal villages. Officials said notices were earlier issued under the PAPRA Act, 1995, and development work at these sites had been stopped. Despite this, the colonisers continued to carve out plots without the mandatory approvals from PUDA and other departments, prompting demolition. The regulatory wing highlighted that under the amended PAPRA Act, 2024, Punjab Food Commission member conducts surprise inspections at Beas, Rayya depots Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 27 Punjab State Food Commission member Vijay Dutt conducted surprise inspections at various ration depots in Beas and Rayya on the second consecutive day of his field visits. He thoroughly reviewed the stock and distribution status of wheat for the months of October, November and December. During the inspection, it was found that several ration depots had not displayed the Commission’s Complaint/AVN Helpline number. AFSO Sunit Singh, who was present on the spot, was directed to ensure that the helpline number of the Punjab State Food Commission is prominently displayed at all ration depots so that beneficiaries can register complaints without difficulty. Punjab Food Commission member Vijay Dutt inspects a food depot at Rayya in Amritsar on Thursday. Dutt also interacted with beneficiaries present at the depots and heard their concerns. He issued clear instructions that no slips (tokens) should be issued in advance. “We have been very clear in our directions that as soon as wheat reaches the depot, slips must be issued and distribution should begin immediately,” he said. Regarding issues related to the network/server of biometric and electronic weighing machines, he directed that Vision Tech, the agency responsible for maintenance, must conduct a mandatory check of all machines before distribution begins. During the inspection, Dutt also checked the moisture level of the wheat, which was found to be satisfactory. Officials informed him that due to delays in the procurement process this time, the distribution had also been delayed. However, wheat is now being gradually allocated to all depot holders, and the entire distribution process will be completed by the end of December. While interacting with the beneficiaries, he appealed to them, informing that the distribution of wheat for October, November and December has begun and that all cardholders can collect their entitled benefits from their nearest ration depots. Staff and workers of the Amritsar Development Authority demolish an illegal colony along the Amritsar-Jalandhar National Highway in Baba Bakala tehsil on Thursday. unauthorised colonisation can attract imprisonment of five to 10 years and a fine ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 5 crore. The police have been asked to initiate action against the landowners and developers involved, based on revenue records. So far, demolition has been carried out in 42 unauthorised colonies across the dis- Drug licence of Ajnala chemist cancelled over violations Youth dies of suspected drug overdose; family holds protest Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, November 27 An 18-year-old boy died of a suspected drug overdose in Tarn Taran town. The deceased has been identified as Abhi Kumar, a resident of Gali Mehar Singh Memorial School Wali, Mohalla Nanaksar. His body was found on Thursday morning in a house in the locality. Vijay Kumar, father of the deceased, stated in his complaint to the city police that his son was taken away by two residents of the same locality, who were living in a rented portion, on Wednesday evening. Abhi did not return home that night, and his mobile phone also remained switched off. Vijay Kumar alleged that his son was given a drug overdose by the two men who had Amritsar, November 27 The Zonal Licensing Authority of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Amritsar, has cancelled the retail drug licence of Sarwan Medical Store, located at Bhindi Saidan village in Ajnala, with immediate effect following serious violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The action follows an inspection conducted on October 6 by Drugs Control Officer Gurdeep Singh, accompanied by ASI Ranjit Singh of the Bhindi Saidan police station. During the raid, officials recovered 6,800 capsules of pregabalin 300 mg, worth Rs 1.83 lakh, from the premises. The store in-charge continued on page 2 Illegal vendors to be removed from sensitive areas Charanjit Singh Teja Amritsar, November 26 The Punjab and Haryana High Court disposed of a contempt petition filed by the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) after the state government submitted that it had passed a speaking order directing the Municipal Corporation, Amritsar, to take concrete steps for creation of street vending zones in the city. The AVM had earlier approached the High Court through a public interest litigation, alleging that Amritsar did not have any notified vending zone as required under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. In March this year, the court had directed the competent authority to decide the petitioner’s representation within 60 days. Hearing the contempt plea, Justice Vikram Aggarwal was informed by PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Tribune News Service The space reserved for the vending zone near the bus stand in Amritsar on Thursday. the state counsel that the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Local Government, had on November 18 issued detailed instructions to the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, for compliance with the Act. According to the speaking order, the civic body has been told to immediately constitute a new Town Vending Committee under Section 22 of the Act and conduct a fresh survey of all street vendors in Amritsar as mandated under Section 3. The government has also ordered eviction of illegal vendors from sensitive locations, including religious places, hospital zones, school areas and high-traffic roads. The corporation has been directed to identify specific sites for setting up vending zones, including land under the Amritsar Improvement Trust. The AIT has been instructed to cooperate in identifying suitable plots, and, if needed, send proposals to the government for approvals. In case municipal land is insufficient, the corporation c m y b against 32 colonisers and unauthorised builders. Directions have been issued to tehsildars concerned to stop registration or sale documentation of plots in illegal colonies. Besides, PSPCL has also been asked to ensure that no electricity connections are provided. The regulatory wing said it regularly inspects underconstruction illegal colonies in the district and issues notices under the relevant Act before stopping work and informing the local police for further legal action. Appealing to the public, the ADA advised buyers to verify PUDA approval before purchasing plots advertised in any newly developed colony. People have been urged to check details of unauthorised colonies on the ADA website to avoid financial loss and complications. The authorities further cautioned that no construction should be undertaken anywhere in the district without obtaining the required permissions from PUDA. must explore land parcels belonging to other departments or agencies. A plan is to be prepared in coordination with the departments concerned, followed by a meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner to resolve land-related issues. Where land belongs to another agency, an agreement or MoU must be executed, including revenue-sharing terms. If the owning department needs the land back in the future, the vending zone will be shifted accordingly. The entire exercise has to be completed within six months and a comprehensive report submitted to the state government. Counsel for the corporation assured the court that the directions would be implemented in letter and in spirit. Taking note of these submissions, the court disposed of the contempt petition, observing that no further orders were required at this stage. trict and their details are available on the Amritsar Development Authority website. The department has also written to the police for the registration of FIRs Our Correspondent Batala cops nab two with 1.5 kg heroin Batala, November 27 The Batala police, acting on a tip-off, have arrested four drug smugglers and recovered 1.5 kg heroin and 500 grams of crystal methamphetamine, also known as Ice, from them. The police say the recovery of Ice is dangerous as it means youth are slowly meandering towards it after the cops have tightened the screws against heroin smugglers. Sources say it is also known as crystal meth or rock. The names of the smugglers are being kept secret. Prabhjot Singh, SHO of the Qila Lal Singh police station of Batala police district, said, “We are on the lookout for their accomplices so that we can reach the bottom of the matter. A motorcycle and several mobile phones have also been recovered from their possession.” A case has been registered. — TNS The family members along with others during a protest in Tarn Taran on Thursday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI taken him along on Wednesday evening. The police registered a case under Section 194 of the BNSS on Thursday. After conducting the postmortem, the police handed over the body to the family. Vijay Kumar and other residents of the area claimed that drugs are easily available in the locality and accused the police of failing to take action against the problem. The family members of Abhi (18), along with residents of the Mohalla Nanaksar locality, have continued on page 2 Celebration ends in arrest: Gang members arrested with pistols Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, November 27 CIA staff of the Tarn Taran police on Wednesday night arrested seven members of two gangster groups who were celebrating their release from jail. The police recovered five illegal pistols from their possession. Inspector Prabhjit Singh, in charge of the local CIA unit, said the arrested suspects have been identified as Charanjit Singh Raju and Rajkaran Singh of Sangha village; Bobby and Jagraj Singh of Naurangabad village; Harpreet Singh “Happy” of Aladinpur village; Manjinder Singh “Mani” of Jodhpur; and Gurdev Singh of Kakka Kandiala village. According to the police, the suspects were involved in several criminal activities. Cha- ranjit Singh Happy and Harpreet Singh Happy were the leaders of their respective groups. They, along with their associates, were celebrating their release from jail at Shah Palace in Naurangabad village on Wednesday evening. Many of the participants were carrying illegal weapons, and the groups had also gathered to settle internal disputes. Inspector Prabhjit Singh said that the police suspected the possibility of a heated exchange if the two groups failed to reach an agreement. A case has been registered at the local Sadar police station. He said more weapons are expected to be recovered from the accused during their interrogation with the orders of the court during their police remand.