20122025-ATR-01.qxd 12/19/2025 10:25 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 22°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 20°C | MIN 10°C RESIDENTS URGED TO MAKE CITY GREEN, GARBAGE-FREE BETWEEN HISTORY & HIGHWAYS: THE STRUGGLE OF KOS MINARS I’M MANIFESTING ACTION FILMS: DINO MOREA Mayor and Municipal Commissioner have appealed to residents to cooperate in making the city waste-free. P2 For those who value old-world charm, the Minars represent the last remnants of the city’s architectural heritage. P3 The actor says he is happy to play romantic roles, but hopes that directors imagine him in an action avatar in movies. P4 » » » SUNSET SATURDAY 5.30 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 7:25 AM SATURDAY | 20 DECEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR 2 aides of gangster Donny Bal held; arms, drugs, cash seized Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 19 The Amritsar (Rural) police have arrested two operatives of a notorious gang led by foreign-based gangster Donny Bal and seized a cache of illegal arms, narcotics and cash from their possession. The accused have been identified as Balwinder Singh and Bakshish Singh, both residents of Mehta area. Acting on specific intelligence inputs that the duo were carrying a consignment of weapons and drugs to supply to local gangsters, the police laid a naka and arrested the accused. During the search, the police seized four foreignmade pistols, four magazines, 500 gm of heroin and Rs 24 lakh drug money from the accused. The police said that as per the preliminary probe the accused were in direct contact with Donny, who is currently operating from abroad. “On his directions, they were involved in supplying weapons and narcotics, besides executing criminal activities such as extortion and firing in the region,” the SSP said. Investigations revealed that the arrested accused had earlier supplied large consignments of narcotics in Goindwal area of Tarn Taran district and in and around Bharariwal village in Amritsar. The police also suspect that the two may have been involved in supplying drugs inside the Tarn Taran and Amritsar Central jails. The police have also seized three mobile phones from the accused, which have provided crucial leads. Investigators found that both were in constant touch with the gangster through various social media and internetbased platforms and were facilitating the supply of arms and drugs across the Majha region. The raids were being conducted to arrest other members of the gang. He added that more recoveries of weapons and narcotics were likely in the coming days based on disclosures made by the accused. Two peddlers nabbed with opium, pistols Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 19 The Ajnala police have arrested two drug peddlers and seized a large consignment of narcotics and illegal weapons from their possession. The accused have been identified as Sukhraj Singh and Jaskaran Singh, both residents of Jons Mohar village under Ajnala police station. Both were arrested on the spot. The police seized 1 kg of opium, 25 gm of heroin, four foreign-made pistols along with magazines and 24 cartridges. According to the police, a case has been registered under Sections 18, 21, 25, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and Sections 25(8), 54 and 59 of the Arms Act against them. The police said that its team, led by an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), along Cold no deterrent with other cops, had set up a naka (checkpoint) near the newly constructed bridge close to Boparai Baj Singh village when they noticed a motorcycle approaching from the side of Khurmanian village. When signalled to stop, the motorcycle rider abruptly tried to turn back. At the same time, the pillion rider attempted to throw away a polythene packet. The police immediately overpowered both suspects with the help of the naka party. During the search, the police seized the abovesaid contraband. A motorcycle used by the accused was also seized. Police officials said further investigation was underway to ascertain the source of the contraband and weapons as well as to identify their other links. Both accused will be produced before the court for further legal proceedings. Amritsar traffic police officials, led by ADCP Amandeep Kaur, point to an encroachment in Amritsar on Friday. Drive against traders encroaching upon roads Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 19 In a concerted effort to tackle the persistent problem of traffic congestion in the city, the traffic police here carried out a large-scale antiencroachment and traffic regulation drive over the past two days. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Amandeep Kaur, along with traffic zone in-charges, supervised enforcement operations at several congestion- Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Kids going to school on a foggy morning at Pandori Waraich village, Amritsar, on Friday. VISHAL KUMAR 7 yrs on, Raja Sansi blast accused gets default bail from high court Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 19 Nearly seven years after Raja Sansi grenade attack left almost 20 injured and three killed, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the release of an accused on default bail. The Bench of Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill and Justice Ramesh Kumari held that the challan was not filed within 90 days, which expired in February 2019. As such, there was “no room to come to a conclusion other than” that the accused had acquired the right to default bail. Allowing the appeal filed through counsel Vipul Jindal, the Bench set aside the April 11, 2019, order rejecting default bail and directed the appellant’s release. Appellant Avtar Singh, along with a co-accused, had moved a joint application for default bail immediately after expiry of the statutory period. That plea, however, was dismissed on the premise that the time for investigation stood extended from 90 to 180 days. The HC observed that the very order granting exten- sion was later set aside by Amritsar Additional Sessions Judge. “Thus, there was no extension of time and the accused was required to be released on bail, having specifically approached for the same,” the Bench observed, while making it clear that the right to default bail stood crystallised and could not be undone by later events once the statutory period lapsed. Jindal, during the course of hearing, submitted on the appellant’s behalf that he had been falsely implicated in the case. He pointed out that the appellant had remained behind bars for nearly seven years. It was contended that co-accused Bikramjit Singh had already been granted default bail in 2020. Referring to the legal position and the prolonged incarceration, Jindal argued that the appellant was equally entitled to the same concession. After hearing Jindal and going through rival contentions, the Bench observed that the co-accused, who moved the default bail application jointly with the appellant, encroachments that were causing bottlenecks at major junctions,” said ADCP Traffic Amandeep Kaur. “Our priority is to keep arterial roads clear and ensure hassle-free traffic flow.” Today, similar action was taken at Ram Bagh, Hall Gate, Sikandari Gate and from Gumtala Bypass Chowk to Meera Kot Chowk. Encroachments were cleared and traffic was effectively regulated. Additionally, at the New Amritsar Chowk, where a flyover is under construction, officials held a meeting with the contractor and ensured repair of the damaged slip roads on both sides, which were subsequently reopened to traffic. The police also set up checking points across various zones and issued challans to vehicles with black films, modified structures and those creating noise pollution, including bullet motorcycles exhausts. “This drive will continue in the coming days as well,” the ADCP maintained. Built years ago, Sanitation work in Improvement At 75, Gurbachan elected block tech park to be Trust managed areas comes to halt samiti member inaugurated Our Correspondent Contract of firm expires; ex-chairman Bassi threatens stir Tarn Taran, December 19 next year Neeraj Bagga Saurabh Malik prone areas. On Thursday, the drive was conducted along key stretches, including the one near Rialto Chowk, Ashoka Chowk, Shimla Printing Press road, Cycle Market near the railway station, Liberty Market and back to Rialto Chowk. Illegal encroachments by shopkeepers and street vendors on roads and footpaths were removed to ensure smooth vehicular movement. “In order to provide relief to commuters, strict action was taken against unauthorised carried the matter to the Supreme Court and was granted bail. The apex court had made strong observations, asserting that the illaqa magistrate/SDJM, Ajnala, was not competent to extend the period for concluding investigation from 90 days to 180 days and that an “indefeasible right” to default bail came to be vested in the accused. “The appellant is situated on absolute parity with that of the co-accused and as such, he also deserves the same concession,” the HC ruled. The case has its genesis in an FIR registered November 18, 2018, at Raja Sansi police station in Amritsar for murder and other offences under Sections 302, 307, 452, 341, 427 and 34 of the IPC and the provisions of the Arms Act; the Explosive Act; and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. According to the prosecution, two assailants arrived on a motorcycle and lobbed a hand grenade during a satsang attended by around 200 devotees at Raja Sansi. It left 22 injured, three of whom later died. The appellant was alleged to be one of the two. Amritsar, December 19 Built years ago, the operations of the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) stalled due to delay in inauguration is all set to be opened by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw next year. The STPI is likely to cater to students from not only Punjab, but also from adjoining Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, it is likely to cater to not only companies from Punjab, but also from adjoining Himachal Prdaesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. This will help the holy city become north India’s IT hub as the STPI will initiate steps to operationalise the software technology park centre here. Former Punjab BJP president Shwait Malik, who recently met the minister in Delhi and requested him to inaugurate the IT park, said the latter consented to visit the city early next year to inaugurate the project. The state government had allotted 2.72 acres in the New Focal Point on the Mehta road, and over Rs 22 crore have been invested in the STPI to raise a structure, which will also house a centre as well as the incubation facility. There is around 3,900 sq m built-up area with three storeys, including a ground floor at the centre. Sources in the STPI stated that the spaces in the building would be rented out to private IT companies. Experts are of the view that the holy city is equipped with international connectivity and quality infrastructure best suited to be developed as an IT hub. The then Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Parsad, had laid the foundation stone of the STPI here on November 7, 2016. c m y b Amritsar, December 19 After the contract for garbage-lifting awarded by the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) expired, sanitation services in several Trust-run schemes have come to a standstill, leading to the accumulation of waste across the area. The contract, which ended last week, had deployed 11 tractor-trolleys for garbage lifting, with nearly 22 trolleyloads of waste being cleared daily. But after the contract ended, cleanliness operations have been disrupted, resulting in worsening sanitation conditions, even in posh localities such as Ranjit Avenue and New Amritsar. Ranjit Avenue, now a major commercial hub, houses the District Shopping Centre along with hotels and various business establishments in Blocks C, D and E. The area witnesses heavy footfall on a daily basis. While door-to-door garbage collection in residential pockets is being handled by the Municipal Corporation, waste lifting from markets, parking areas and roads in schemes not yet handed over to the MC, is the responsibility of the Improvement Trust. Under the earlier contract, six tractor-trolleys were engaged to lift garbage from the District Shopping Centre and Blocks C, D and E of Ranjit Avenue. However, following the expiry of the contract, the AIT engaged labour through other contractors to continue sanitation work. The situation worsened on Thursday morning when labour associated with the old contractor allegedly stopped road sweeping work around 9:45 am. Meanwhile, former Chairman of the Improvement Trust, Dinesh Bassi, launched a scathing attack on the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) and the administration over alleged mismanagement, filth and illegal encroachments on AIT land in New Amritsar. He said New Amritsar, once considered a well-planned and posh locality, had turned into a large dumping ground due to administrative failure. A large number of New Amritsar residents gathered at the site along with Dinesh Bassi and expressed their anger against the Improvement Trust and the administration. Bassi said that if the authorities failed to take immediate action, residents would be forced to stage demonstrations to safeguard public convenience, safety and health. Gurbachan Kaur, who won the block samiti election from Chohla Sahib village at the age of 75, is considered as the oldest among the elected candidates in the area. Gurbachan, after putting in 35 years of service in the Education Department, superannuated at the age of 58 as head teacher in a government elementary school in the village. Her husband Ranjit Singh Rana, a commission agent, said that Gurbachan remained active in social services after her retirement. Gurbachan has won this election as a Congress candidate. She defeated her nearest rival of the Akali Dal by a margin of 178 votes. The AAP candidate got third place. She said that since her parental family was involved in political activities, so she decided to participate in public service at this age and her husband also agreed to it. MP Aujla meets Railway Minister, raises rail connectivity issues Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 19 Member of Parliament from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla today met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and raised several important and long-pending public demands related to Amritsar and Punjab. Submitting the demands, MP Aujla demanded the introduction of a weekly superfast AC express train between Amritsar and Pune (Hadapsar). He stated that a large number of students, businesspersons, working professionals and devotees travel on this route, but in the absence of a direct train serv- MP Gurjeet Aujla with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. ice, people are forced to face considerable inconvenience. He also raised the issue of restoration of DMU train stop- pages at Kotla Gujran and sought the introduction of a direct rail service from the remote village in Amritsar to the main station in the holy city, so that passengers from rural and semi-urban areas could get improved rail connectivity. Keeping in mind the convenience of devotees, the MP further demanded the resumption of train stoppages at Sangharana Sahib, stating that it was a highly revered religious site for the Sikh community and was visited by a large number of devotees from across the country and abroad. On the occasion of the 350th martyrdom year, MP Aujla also placed a historic and emotional demand to rename New Delhi railway station after ‘Hind di Chadar’ Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur.