24122025-ATR-01.qxd 12/23/2025 10:38 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST CLEAR SKY BABA BAKALA ITI TO BE NAMED AFTER BHAI JAITA: MINISTER KATHUNANGAL: BIRTHPLACE OF 1ST GURU’S TEEN DISCIPLE VIDEO GAME CREATOR VINCE ZAMPELLA DIES IN CAR CRASH The Government ITI at Baba Bakala will be named after Shaheed Baba Jiwan Singh (Bhai Jaita). P2 The town holds immense religious significance in Sikh history as the birthplace of Baba Buddha. P3 MAX 22°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 18°C | MIN 10°C Vince Zampella, co-founder of Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment, was killed in an LA car accident. P4 » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.32 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 7:27 AM » WEDNESDAY | 24 DECEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Residents demand action as Chinese ‘manja’ sale still on Tribune News Service Police officials and BSF personnel with the seized contraband at Mari Kamboke village. GURBAXPURI 504 gm heroin seized from field at Mari Kamboke Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, December 23 The Khalra police and the BSF in a joint search operation in the fields of Mari Kamboke seized 504 gm of heroin, which was packed in a packet. The district police said here today that the police and the BSF launched a joint search operation in the field of farmer Angrej Singh of Mari Kamboke village and seized a packet having 504 gm of heroin. ASI Gursahib Singh said the consignment was dropped by the drone, which came from the Pakistan side. The Khalra police have registered a case under Section 21C, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act and Sections 10,11 and 12 of the Aircraft Act. The police further said that the police party led by Sub-Inspector Vipin Kumar of Patti Sadar police arrested a person involved in heroin smuggling last evening. The accused has been identified as Gurlal Singh, a resident of Dubli. The police seized 22 gm of heroin, a small electronic weigh machine and Rs 1,300 drug money from the accused. The police have registered a case under Sections 21-B, 27-A, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act. In other cases, the Chabal police seized 9 gm of heroin from Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of Pakka Qila Chabal, and Bhikhiwind police seized 6 gm of heroin from Mani Kumar, a resident of Sursingh. Cases under the NDPS Act have been registered by the police under relevant sections of the NDPS Act. Amritsar, December 23 Even as the kite flying season has already begun and is expected to gain momentum during the upcoming winter holidays, the continued sale and use of plastic kite flying thread has emerged as a serious concern for residents. Despite a complete ban on the plastic thread, also known as the Chinese ‘manja’, it is allegedly being sold openly in several parts of the city, putting lives at risk. Residents said that every year during the kite-flying season, cases of injuries to pedestrians, two-wheeler riders and birds are reported due to the sharp plastic thread, which does not break easily and has a razor sharp coating, leading to many fatal accidents in the past. People riding motorcycles often get the thread entangled around their necks or hands, leading to serious injuries. Some local residents and social organisations have demanded strict implementation of the ban imposed by the administration. They alleged that while the ban exists on paper, enforcement on the ground remains weak. “Plas- tic thread is still available in the market. Shopkeepers sell it secretly, and no serious action is taken against them,” said a resident of the walled city, Gurcharan Das. Environmental activists have also raised concern over the harm caused to birds and animals by the Chinese ‘manja’. Many birds get trapped in the thread during kite flying and suffer deep cuts on their wings and necks. Veterinary volunteers say that such cases increase sharply during winter holidays when children and youth spend more time flying kites. While schools and administration have been urging parents to discourage children from using plastic thread and instead opt for traditional ‘dor’, which is safer and biodegradable, the outcome has not improved. Several residents have appealed to the district administration and police to conduct regular raids, seize banned material and impose heavy fines on violators. Officials from the administration said that instructions had been issued to the departments concerned to keep a strict watch on the sale of plastic kite thread. A team of traffic police pastes reflectors on a school bus during checking in Amritsar on Tuesday. One school bus impounded, another challaned in checking Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 23 Keeping in mind the safety of the children while commuting to school, a traffic police task force team under the District Child Protection Officer today conducted inspection of various school buses. Under the three-day campaign conducted in the district, a total of 50 buses of nine schools were checked. The team impounded one vehicle, which was found faulty, and issued a challan against another school bus for violat- ing Safe Vahan policy norms. District Child Protection Officer Taranjit Singh said that continuous efforts were being made for the safety of schoolchildren in collaboration with the Education Department and Police Department to implement the Safe School Vehicle Policy, which will continue in the future as well. He further said that under this campaign, keeping in mind the safety of children, especially during foggy days, bus drivers, necessary equipment, documents and other facilities were being checked Round 2 of ‘beggar-free city’ Vets hold protest, burn state govt effigy drive launched after 6 months Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 23 Almost six months after its much-hyped launch, project Jeevanjyot 2.0 has once again brought the District Child Protection Unit into action as they launched a drive to pick up child beggars from streets. With the aim of preventing begging and exploitation of children in Amritsar district, a special inspection and rehabilitation campaign has begun as the team searched through Heritage Street and area around Harmandir Sahib. The unit, led by Taranjit Singh, District Program Officer, Amritsar, checked the streets. “The aim is to save children from the practice of begging and protect their rights. Project Jeevanjot 2.0 is an important and pro-people initiative and aims to provide a safe environment to children,” he said. During this drive, three minors were found begging in the area near Harmandir Sahib. The unit team took immediate action and rescued them. After this, the children were counselled and would be sent to a social or children’s organisation for proper care and protection. “Keeping in mind the welfare and all-round development of the children, they were linked with the relevant departments and social schemes, so that the process of their rehabilitation, educa- tion and re-integration into the society could begin. During this drive, it was also ensured that the legal rights of the children were fully respected and protected,” said Taranjit about the campaign. The three-day campaign will continue while the unit will ensure it works in collaboration with other organisations to rehabilitate the kids. Such campaign was also carried out in July this year and children were picked up from streets for rehabilitation. But months later, they are back on streets. The unit has released helpline numbers 1098 (child helpline) and 9876357202 to give information about child beggars. Tarn Taran, December 23 On a call given by the Joint Action Committee, veterinary doctors observed a strike on the first day of the two-day protest for pay parity, due to which the working of the Animal Husbandry Department remained paralysed. The agitating vet doctors staged a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Director of the department and burnt the effigy of the state government. The action committee leaders warned that in case the disparity with the medical officers of the Health Department is not removed, then they would start an agitation till their demand is met. Tejinder Singh, Harmandeep Josan, Sukhraj Bal, Gurkirpal Singh, Kirpal Vet doctors hold protest, seek pay parity with medical officers. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI Singh, Jagjit Singh and Sukhpreet Kaur were among others who addressed the protesters. The speakers stressed that for the last five years, veterinary doctors had been on the struggle path for their legitimate demands, including the restoration of pay parity with medicos. The speakers said that the leaders of the state government had been assuring them at the time of the election with regard to the removal of disparity, but they were looking the other way now. The leaders also stressed for the restoration of DACP (Dynamic Assured Career Progression) 4-9-14 scheme, HRA on NPA and full salary during probation period. The leaders said that the dharna would be held on Wednesday too in case their demands were not met. and fog lights reflectors installed on school vehicles to prevent accidents. A few days back, a school bus met with an accident in Ajnala due to foggy conditions, though there were no injuries or damage reported. Director, Social Security and Women and Child Development Department, Chandigarh, has also issued instructions to implement the Safe School Vehicle Policy for the safe operation of school vehicles during the winter and foggy season in the state. Bank donates 20 LED TVs to Golden Temple Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 23 RBL Bank here has donated 20 LED TVs to the Golden Temple. These were handed over to SGPC secretary Pratap Singh and Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, also a secretary today. On this occasion, SGPC secretary said that a large number of devotees visit the holiest Sikh shrine every day to pay obeisance and make offerings with devotion at the ‘Guru ghar’. Officials of the bank said it was a grand occasion for them to be part of the services of the ‘Guru ghar’. They also assured that the bank would soon provide an ambulance to the SGPC for the convenience of the sangat. Religious procession taken out on martyrdom day of Sahibzadas (From left to right) Schoolchildren take part in a religious procession held to observe the martyrdom day of Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh in Amritsar on Tuesday; Nihangs perform gatka; and children in traditional attires. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR Tarn Taran: A religious procession was taken out by the Guru Amardas Adarsh Institute situated in Goindwal Sahib today, dedicated to the martyrdom day of the Sahibzadas, with great devotion. On the occasion, a special prayer meeting was organised aimed at making the students aware of the unparalleled martyrdom of the four Sahibzadas and to keep them connected with the rich Sikh history. The prayer meeting began with the singing of a shabad. Students presented speeches, poems, etc. related to the martyrdom, making c m y b others aware of the history of the Sahibzadas through a powerpoint presentation. Director of the institute Jatinderpal Singh Randhawa and principal Manisha Sood inspired the students to chant ‘naam’ and follow the path of truth and not bow down to any kind of oppression. The administrators of the institution also informed the students about the Sikh principles. OC