11012026-ATR-01.qxd 1/10/2026 11:32 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST FOG MIST IN MORNING LOHRI CELEBRATED WITH SPECIAL CHILDREN AT NARI NIKETAN AAP LEADER PROTESTS OUTSIDE CONG MLA’S HOUSE RIGHT NOW I’M FOCUSING ON WRITING, SAYS PURAB Lohri was celebrated with special children at the Community Home for Children With Special Needs, Nari Niketan Complex.P2 Pargat Singh said, “Let me receive some responsible people, who have come to meet me. I want to serve tea to them.” P3 Kohli, who is basking in praise for The Great Shamsuddin Family, talks about his life and career. P4 » » MAX 11°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 10°C | MIN 6°C SUNSET SUNDAY 5.45 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 7.30 AM » SUNDAY | 11 JANUARY 2026 | AMRITSAR Panic in Jandiala Guru after firing at beauty salon, woman injured Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 10 Panic gripped the Jandiala Guru area on Friday night after two motorcycle-borne youths opened fire outside a beauty salon, allegedly over an extortion demand, leaving a woman injured. According to the police, the incident occurred when two masked youths arrived on a motorcycle and fired multiple shots at the salon owned by the victim, Kashish, before fleeing the spot. One of the bullets pierced the shutter of the shop and struck Kashish in the leg while she was working inside the salon. She was immediately rushed to a hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment. Kuldeep Kumar, the husband of the victim, told the police that he runs a mobile repair shop along Gaushala Road in Jandiala Guru, while his wife operates a beauty salon near their residence. He said on January 3, he received an audio message from an unknown foreign City police deploy drones to check Chinese manjha ahead of Lohri Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service The victim, Kashish, under treatment at a hospital in Amritsar. WhatsApp number demanding Rs 1 crore as extortion. The sender allegedly identified himself as gangster Karan Bath, claiming to be based in Australia, and threatened dire consequences if the demand was not met. Kuldeep said the family ignored the message, assuming it to be a prank or mischief, and did not lodge a police complaint at that time. Following Friday’s firing incident, police teams reached the spot and initiated an investigation. CCTV cameras installed in and around the area are being scanned to identify the attackers and trace their escape route. Police officials said investigations are underway and all possible angles, including the extortion threat, are being examined. They confirmed that the assailants were wearing masks during the attack. Amritsar, January 10 With three days to go for the Lohri festival, the Amritsar police have intensified preparations by deploying drones to monitor and curb the illegal use of banned synthetic kite string, popularly known as Chinese manjha, during kite-flying celebrations. The decision has been taken in view of past incidents in which the sharp synthetic string caused serious injuries and even fatalities, particularly among twowheeler riders, pedestrians and birds. Police officials said drone surveillance would be conducted across residential colonies, congested localities, rooftops and open grounds where kite flying is common during Lohri. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Parvesh Chopra said special teams equipped with drones would maintain Festivities in the air ACP Parvesh Chopra, along with other cops, takes the help of drones to check the use of banned synthetic kite string in Amritsar on Saturday. close surveillance throughout the festive period. The ACP along with the Station , House Officer (SHO) of C Division, carried out checks using drones in the walled city area. “Chinese manjha is extremely dangerous and its use is strictly prohibited. Through drone surveillance, we will be able to identify rooftops and areas where banned strings are being used and take swift action,” he said. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said strict instructions had been issued to all police stations to ensure effective enforcement. “Lohri is a festival of joy and tradition, but celebrations should not come at SAD workers stage dharna, burn effigy over Atishi’s alleged remarks in Tarn Taran Gurbaxpuri Boys purchase kites ahead of Lohri and Makar Sankranti festivals in Amritsar on Saturday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Six children rescued as project Jeevanjot 2.0 continues in city Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 10 Continuing under Project Jeevanjot 2.0, the district administration launched a special campaign for the second consecutive day to curb child begging and exploitation. During the drive, six children were rescued from the streets while begging here on Saturday. Leading the drive, District Child Protection Officer Taranjit Singh and District Program Officer Gurmeet Singh, members of the District Task Force, Amritsar, said that such checking and awareness drives would continue regularly under Project Jeevanjot 2.0, with special focus throughout the year. “The main objective of this campaign is to provide a safe environment for children and protect them from inhuman practices such as begging. With the support of the local administration, the district District Child Protection Task Force members rescue child beggars in Amritsar. will be made free of child begging. We are working in collaboration with several stakeholders for the rescue and rehabilitation of these children,” said Taranjit Singh. The District Child Protection Unit has also activated helplines — 1098 (Child Helpline), 98763-57202, 95012-91402 and 93192-67958 — for citizens to report cases of child begging and exploitation. the cost of human lives. The use, sale or storage of Chinese kite string is a punishable offence, and we will not hesitate to register cases against violators,” he said. He appealed to citizens to cooperate with the police and act responsibly. “We urge parents to guide their children and ensure that only safe and legal cotton thread is used for kite flying,” he added. Apart from drone surveillance, the police have also launched special checking drives in markets to prevent the sale of banned kite strings. Shopkeepers have been warned of strict legal action if found stocking or selling Chinese manjha. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh said, “Even a single strand of Chinese manjha can prove fatal. Public cooperation is crucial to making this festive season safe for everyone.” Tarn Taran, January 10 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers staged an hour-long dharna in front of the District Administrative Complex here on Saturday to protest against the alleged objectionable remarks made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Atishi Marlena. The remarks were allegedly made against the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, during proceedings of the Delhi Assembly. Expressing strong resentment, the protesters burnt an effigy of Atishi and raised slogans against the Aam Aadmi Party. The party workers also submitted a memorandum to the Punjab Governor, the Speaker of the Delhi Akali workers protest in front of the District Administrative Complex in Tarn Taran on Saturday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI Assembly, and the Delhi Vidhan Sabha through the Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner. Addressing the gathering, senior party leader and former MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha demanded that a case be registered against Atishi Marlena under relevant sections of the Few takers for night shelters in city Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 10 The night shelters run in the city to help homeless people battle the winter chill find a few takers. Despite officials making outreach efforts, the facilities remain mostly empty. The Amritsar Municipal Corporation runs a 125-bed Raen Basera at Gol Bagh in addition to two temporary facilities at the bus stand and near the railway station, Yatri Niwas, equipped with 20 beds. The Gol Bagh shelter offers bedding with blankets, drinking water facility and functional toilets. However, about 20 people have used the shelter this year, with two of them availing the facility regularly. Officials said despite intensified efforts to shift people from streets to these shelters in view of cold wave, the facilities remained empty. “Homeless people, mostly beggars, demand money or employment after spending a night or two at these shelter homes,” said Kamal Kumar, superintendent incharge of Raen Basera. “Many of them prefer to stay Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and cybercrime laws for using what he described as highly objectionable language against the ninth Sikh Guru in the Delhi Assembly. Valtoha further demanded the immediate arrest of Atishi and the revocation of Missing saroops case being politicised, says Giani Harpreet Singh Tribune News Service The 125-bed shelter home at Gol Bagh remains empty in Amritsar. close to tourists spots, expecting alms from visitors,” he said. Besides, homeless also don’t prefer to stay at shelter homes due to alcohol and smoking restrictions. “There are instances when drunk beggars or homeless people walk in at night, demanding beds. They create nuisance and sometimes, cause security issues. Due to this reason, women avoid availing the facility,” shared the caretaker of c m y b women section at the Gol Bagh Raen Basera, which does not have security cameras. Though Aadhaar card is mandatory for accommodation at such night shelters, officials are lenient on the condition, especially for beggars. The Amritsar MC has invited NGOs to support food distribution at its night shelter homes (Raen Basera and Yatri Niwas). At present, there is no provision for a free kitchen at these shelters. “The objective is to reach out to the homeless by offering free food or tea during winters. Previously, night pick-up drives were also conducted by officials to ensure no one sleeps on the street in cold weather,” said Kamal Kumar. Kuldeep, a daily wager and a regular at Gol Bagh shelter home, said, “The facilities are fine to spend a few cold winter nights.” her membership of the Delhi Assembly. He also called for strict action against individuals posting video clips on social media that allegedly insult Sikh Gurus and other revered Sikh personalities, and demanded that such content be removed immediately. Former MLA Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, SGPC members Gurbachan Singh Karmunwala, Iqbal Singh Sandhu, Dalbir Singh Jahangir and Kuldeep Singh Aulakh, along with district president of the SAD IT wing Jagjit Singh Jaggi and Gursewak Singh Sheikh, also addressed the gathering. Amritsar, January 10 Akali Dal (Punarsurjit) president Giani Harpreet Singh here today said that politics was being played over the sensitive issue of the alleged disappearance of 328 sacred saroops of Guru Granth Sahib, saying the matter was linked to the faith and sentiments of the Sikh community and should not be used as a political weapon. Giani Harpreet Singh was addressing the media in Amritsar, where he arrived to launch the party’s districtwise meetings across Punjab. He said the issue of missing saroops was not meant to target any particular government or institution, but required a sincere and transparent approach to bring the truth before the Sikh sangat. He alleged that while on one hand, efforts were being made to delay the investigation to evade responsibility, on the other hand, the issue was being exploited for political gains. “The Akali Dal (Punarsurjit) demands that truth must come out, those responsible must be held accountable and justice must be delivered to the sangat instead of indulging in political rhetoric,” he said. Levelling serious allegations against the Punjab Government, the former Jathedar said the present dispensation was adopting what he described “anti-Punjab policy” with regard to the state’s land and institutions. He alleged that under the guise of administrative authority, attempts were being made to weaken Punjab’s shared heritage, panthic institutions and bodies working in public interest. He warned that if such actions continued, Akali Dal (Punarsurjit), along with the continued on page 2