30112025-ATR-01.qxd 11/29/2025 11:32 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY ROADWAYS EMPLOYEES CONTINUE DEMONSTRATION ZILA PARISHAD, BLOCK SAMITI POLLS IN TARN TARAN ON DEC 14 PARAMVIR MAKES BOLLYWOOD DEBUT WITH DHANUSH Contractual PUNBUS workers staged protest and kept buses off roads, while agitating against km scheme. P2 Voters from 492 villages in Tarn Taran district will elect members for Zila Parishad & nine Block Samitis on Dec 14. P2 Paramvir, who makes his debut with Kriti Sanon-starrer Tere Ishq Mein, says working with Anand L Rai is a dream come true. P4 » » » MAX 22°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 6°C SUNSET SUNDAY 5.26 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 7.12 AM SUNDAY | 30 NOVEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR BSF recovers heroin in two operations along border Tribune News Service Employees of the Municipal Corporation issue challan to a street vendor in Amritsar. Civic body issues over 1,000 challans for littering across city Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 29 The Municipal Corporation (MC) has intensified its cleanliness enforcement drive across the city, issuing more than 1,000 challans in the past month for littering, poor waste management, and violations related to vacant plots. Officials say the action is part of a sustained drive to improve sanitation and curb civic indiscipline. According to the consolidated report from all zones, a total of 1,022 challans have been issued till November 27 for violations related to vacant plots, unhygienic conditions, littering, and improper waste disposal. The West Zone recorded the highest number of challans at 308, followed by Central Zone with 220, South Zone with 182, East Zone with 170, and North Zone with 142. MC health wing officials said, “Street vendors continue to be among the major contributors to roadside waste, often leaving behind garbage at vending spots. Vacant plots, many left unattended by their owners, have turned into informal dump- Firing outside trader’s house in Tahli Sahib village Amritsar, November 29 Panic gripped Tahli Sahib village here last night when three unknown masked persons fired outside the residence belonging to one Palwinder Singh. The police have got the CCTV footage of the incident and launched probe to identify the accused. According to information, last intervening night three bike-borne persons arrived outside the residence of Palwinder Singh and fired indiscriminately leading to a panic in the village. The accused immediately fled the scene after committing the crime. Palwinder, a trader, told the police that all his family members were inside the house. He said they did not know who had fired at their house. They neither had any enmity nor did they receive any threat, he said. Four bullets pierced the entrance gate of the house. Palwinder urged the police to identify and arrest the accused. The incident has left the family in shock and fear. The police said their teams were analysing the footage of the CCTV cameras installed in the area. Around six bullets were fired by the shooters, the police said. — TNS ing grounds, prompting the Corporation to specifically target such properties in its ongoing cleanliness enforcement campaign.” Acting on the directions of Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill, Additional Commissioner Surinder Singh conducted a surprise inspection inside Lohgarh Gate area on Wednesday. The visit aimed to assess cleanliness, road discipline, and overall civic management in one of the city’s busiest heritage localities. During the inspection, the Additional Commissioner issued strict warnings against nuisance, littering, and encroachments on public pathways. Shopkeepers, vendors, and residents were instructed to maintain hygiene and ensure that no illegal occupation obstructs the movement of pedestrians or traffic. He reiterated that strict action under the Municipal Corporation Act would be taken against violators. Fourteen challans were issued in the Central Zone during the visit alone. Giving more information, Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill said, “The ongoing action is essential to break the growing culture of civic negligence. Despite repeated awareness campaigns, many residents continue to dump garbage in open spaces or abandon waste outside collection hours.” Shergill further said, “While enforcement is being tightened, the MC is simultaneously upgrading waste collection systems. Additional vehicles and manpower are being deployed to improve door-to-door collection and reduce delays that often compel people to dump waste in open plots.” He urged all plot owners to maintain cleanliness on their properties and comply with the waste management norms. The Municipal Corporation has announced that strict monitoring will continue across all zones, with more inspections planned in dense commercial areas and vulnerable residential pockets. Civic officials have appealed to citizens to support the drive and help keep Amritsar clean, disciplined, and free of encroachments. Amritsar, November 29 The Border Security Force (BSF) has foiled two cross-border smuggling attempts in separate operations along the Amritsar frontier, recovering over 1.6 kg of suspected heroin. According to officials, the first operation was carried out on Friday evening after the force received specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of smugglers near the border. Troops launched a swift search in the agricultural fields close to Dhanoe Khurd village, where they seized one packet of suspected heroin weighing 553 grams. In the second incident reported early Saturday morning, the BSF personnel recovered another packet of suspected heroin weighing 1.107 kg from the area of Uttar Dhariwal village during routine surveillance. “Further investigation into both recoveries is underway,” BSF spokesman said, while adding that Punjab police officials had been informed about the seizure and requested further necessary action in this connection. Extortion plot cracked, two women among four held Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 29 What began as a routine extortion complaint unravelled into a web of betrayal, foreign links and a family conspiracy. Commissionerate Police Amritsar on Friday announced the arrest of four individuals — including close relatives of the complainant — who allegedly plotted to extort Rs 50 lakh from a city landlord using a Dubai-based phone number. Those arrested were identified as Harjinder Singh, alias Jindu (30), a resident of Kanwan village, Moga; Jaspreet Singh, alias Baba (22), a resident of Manochahal village in Tarn Taran; Jasleen Kaur (27), a resident of Jandoli village in Hoshiarpur; and Sandeep Kaur (34), a resident of Kadrabad village here. The investigation was initiated after the complainant received a series of intimidating calls demanding money. The caller, confident and ruthless, claimed to be oper- The four accused arrested in extortion case being brought out of a court in Amritsar on Saturday. ating from abroad. But the trail soon led the police to a different reality. The first breakthrough came with the arrest of Harjinder Singh, who recently returned from Dubai, and Jasleen Kaur from Hoshiarpur. The police discovered that a Dubai SIM registered in Harjinder’s name was being used for the threat calls — but the WhatsApp linked to the number was operating right here in India, allegedly by Jasleen. As interrogations deepened, the case took a dramatic turn. Investigators zeroed in on Jaspreet Singh, alias Baba, a relative of the complainant. His arrest exposed the unsuspected family involvement. The police revealed that Harjinder, Jaspreet and a Dubai-based associate Vishal had once worked together abroad — a past connection that later evolved into a criminal alliance. Before returning to India, Harjinder is said to have handed over his Dubai SIM to Vishal, who then passed it to Jaspreet. The same num- ber, believed to be safely outside the reach of the Indian authorities, was used to issue chilling extortion threats. But the most shocking twist was still to come. During further investigation, the police arrested Jaspreet’s cousin — and finally the alleged mastermind Sandeep Kaur, the complainant’s wife’s sister-in-law (bhabi). According to the police, Sandeep conducted recces and designed the plot after learning that the complainant’s family had recently sold land and kept large sum of cash at home. Health Dept warns against smoking in public places Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 29 The district Health Department has issued a strict warning against smoking in public places, calling it a clear violation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). District Nodal Officer under the National Tobacco Control Programme, Dr Jagjot Kaur, said the department would intensify enforcement drives to ensure compliance of the Act across the city. Dr Kaur said, “COTPA prohibits smoking in all public places including markets, government offices, hospitals, educational institutions, restaurants, bus stands, rail- way stations, and workplaces. Any individual found smoking in a public place is liable for a penalty. The aim is not just to punish, but to protect non-smokers from harmful second-hand smoke.” She said as per COTPA guidelines, all public places must display “No Smoking” signboards of the prescribed size and design. “It is mandatory for institutions and commercial establishments to install proper signboards. Failure to do so also attracts penalties,” Dr Kaur said. Highlighting the rules on tobacco sales, Dr Kaur said, “The law strictly bans the sale of cigarettes or any tobacco product to persons below 18 years of age and within 100 metres of any educational institution. Schools and colleges must ensure that vendors do not operate within the restricted zone.” The Health Department has also reminded shopkeepers that tobacco products cannot be sold without proper authorisation. “All points of sale must follow packaging and display rules, including the mandatory pictorial warnings on tobacco packets,” Dr Kaur said. She urged residents to report violations and cooperate with the authorities in creating a smoke-free environment. “Our goal is to safeguard public health and reduce tobacco-related diseases,” she said. District health officials issue challan to a vendor for the COTPA violations in Amritsar. FILE PHOTO Pool of stagnant water on vacant plot Defacement of Company Bagh wall in Railway Estate worries residents sparks concern among residents Manmeet Singh Gill Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 29 Defacement of the public property, particularly sites with historical and cultural value, has become a serious concern in the city, with residents expressing frustration over the unchecked spread of illegal advertisements. The peripheral wall of the Company Bagh, one of the city’s most prominent and historic green spaces, is now dotted with posters of quacks, self-styled godmen and unauthorised service providers, leaving the structure looking neglected and visually cluttered. Residents say despite repeated appeals, no strict action has been taken to curb the practice. They complain that the people involved in such illegal advertising put up posters overnight, targeting highly visible public spaces where enforcement is weak. “Every week the wall looks worse. There are new posters on top of old ones. It feels like no one is bothered about protecting our heritage,” said a local resident who visits the bagh every day. Amritsar, November 29 A large pool of stagnant water on a vacant plot within the Railway Estate near the Amritsar Cantonment area has become a major cause of concern for residents. This comes at a time when the Health Department has launched an extensive dengue awareness and prevention drive across the city under its “Dengue Te War” campaign. The area, popular among morning and evening walkers, is also surrounded by three private schools attended by hundreds of children. Several residential quarters in the Railway Estate were vacated by the Railway authorities months ago, following which rainwater had accumulated and seeped in the open land. A nearby resident said the stagnant water had now become a severe nuisance. “It has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. Despite repeated requests, the Railway authorities and the district adminis- A pool of stagnant water in the Railway Estate near Cantonment in Amritsar. tration have failed to take note of the situation,” he alleged. Morning walkers Prem Kumar and Mahipal said the Cantonment Park and Cantonment Road attract residents from the adjoining areas including Putlighar. “A large stretch of vacant land in the Railway Colony, Railway Estate and Officers’ Colony is choked with wild vegetation and stagnant water. These pockets have become ideal breeding habitats for insects due to lack of upkeep,” they said. Gunbir Singh of the Dalbir Foundation said, “Though spraying larvicide at susceptible locations — even in this season — is appreciated, the scale of the problem demands more attention of the authorities concerned. Uncollected garbage, small pools of stagnant water inside and outside homes, and neglected government estates are contributing to the spread of the vectorborne diseases. A door-to-door awareness campaign, NGOs c m y b participation, and a strong social-media outreach by the Municipal Corporation could have a far reaching impact on the prevention of spreading diseases.” “Chikungunya and dengue are debilitating vector-borne diseases. They severely affect immunity, as platelet recovery takes years,” Singh warned. Expressing her ignorance about the issue, Dr Harjot Kaur, district epidemiologist, said health teams would visit the area soon. The outer wall of the historic Company Bagh defaced by illegal advertisers in Amritsar. What makes defacement more disappointing is the fact that in 2016, the entire peripheral wall of the Company Bagh was specially painted with tribal-style illustrations as part of a beautification project. The colourful artwork, created by artists, was widely appreciated at the time and had added aesthetic value to the historic surroundings. However, over the years, most of these illustrations have been buried under layers of crude posters, peeling paper, and glue stains. Residents say repeated defacement reflects lack of monitoring and insufficient penalties for offenders. They have urged the Municipal Corporation to launch strict drives against illegal advertisers and impose heavy fines to deter future violations. A local activist, Harjeet Singh says the issue extends beyond cleanliness. “Company Bagh is not just a park. It is part of the city’s shared history. Allowing its walls to be misused shows how casually we treat our public assets,” he said. The residents say, “Most posters have names, addresses and phone numbers of the advertisers. It is not difficult for the administration to track and take action against these culprits.”