19012026-ATR-01.qxd 18-01-2026 23:34 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 14°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 13°C | MIN 2°C PRIORITY CLUSTER STATUS DEMANDED FOR BATALA CIVIC STEP FORWARD WELCOME, BUT MILES STILL TO GO MAKE WAY FOR BOLLYWOOD STARS Statistics indicate that a majority of industrial units have either shut down or relocated to neighbouring states. P2 Open House: Praise for govt’s water conservation incentives mixed with claims of inaction. P3 Kriti Sanon, Ishita Raj and other Bollywood actors are ready to dazzle on the big screen. P4 » » » SUNSET MONDAY 5.52 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7.29 AM MONDAY | 19 JANUARY 2026 | AMRITSAR Rintu launches development works in Bhawani Nagar Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 18 Karamjit Singh Rintu, Chairman of the Amritsar Improvement Trust and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in-charge for the North Assembly constituency, inaugurated development works and commenced construction activities in the Bhawani Nagar area of Ward No. 9 here on Sunday. While inaugurating the works, Rintu said that all development projects would be completed expeditiously in the coming days. He assured residents that longpending issues in the area would now be resolved. He added that the sewerage problem in Bhawani Nagar had been addressed on priority and that construction of the gali had now begun. Rintu said that approval had already been obtained for the renovation of all roads in the North Assembly constituency. He stated that construction of damaged roads had been taken up earlier, but due to the winter season, premix plants used for road con- Potable water project launched in Gumtala village after decades Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service AIT Chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu launches developments works at Bhawani Nagar in Amritsar on Sunday. struction were currently shut. He added that once the premix plants resume operations by the end of February, the remaining road construction work would be initiated. Rintu said he meets residents daily, listens to their concerns and works towards resolving their issues. He further said that since assuming responsibility for the North Assembly constituency, development works of all kinds have been carried out across the area. He asserted that there is no shortage of funds from the Punjab government for development projects. He added that welfare schemes launched by the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government are being effectively implemented on the ground. As a result, people from various political parties are joining the Aam Aadmi Party every day. On the occasion, AAP ward in-charge Shivani, Sahil Saggar and a large number of prominent residents of the ward were present. Amritsar, January 18 Highlighting decades of official neglect in providing basic civic amenities, the government has initiated steps to supply potable water to Gumtala village, located within the municipal corporation limits. The area has remained without this essential facility even after many decades of Independence. Jasbir Singh Sandhu, MLA from Amritsar West, along with Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia, inaugurated the work of laying drinking water pipelines in Gumtala village, which falls under Ward No. 2. Ward councillor Amarjit Singh and a large number of local residents were present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, Sandhu said that despite more than seven decades of Independence, areas like Gumtala village had remained deprived of gov- Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia, MLA Jasbir Singh along with other people during the inauguration of the work of laying drinking water pipelines at Gumtala village in Amritsar on Sunday. ernment-supplied drinking water. He alleged that previous governments failed to pay attention to this basic issue, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, immediately after coming to power, prioritised the funda- mental needs of the people. He said that for the first time in decades, drinking water pipelines are being laid in the village. These pipelines will soon be connected to a tubewell, after which the supply of government drinking water will begin. The Mayor said that the demand for clean drinking water in Gumtala village had been pending for a long time and that the AAP government has now taken a historic step by fulfilling it. He stated that clean and safe drinking water is the right of every citizen and that the municipal corporation is working with full seriousness to complete the project within the stipulated timeframe. Once connected to the tubewell, regular water supply to every household in the village will be ensured. Sandhu said that the primary objective of the AAP government is to provide basic amenities at the doorstep of the people. He added that development works are being carried out at a fast pace in every ward and village of the Amritsar West constituency. In the coming days, issues related to water supply, roads, sewerage and sanitation will be given even greater priority. He assured residents that the AAP government would fulfil every promise made to the people with complete honesty. AAP hails Centre’s nod to shift security fence near IB Lack of enthusiasm as polling Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 18 Residents of Chak Allah Baksh village, particularly farmers, expressed happiness after learning that the security fence would be shifted closer to the International Border (IB), which is located less than 300 metres from the village. The development has brought much-needed relief as nearly 62 acres of fertile agricultural land belonging to several farmers lies across the border fence, and there is no gate in the village. As a result, farmers are forced to travel daily to nearby Raniya village, located about 2 km away, to access their fields for cultivation. Bikram Singh, sarpanch of Chak Allah Baksh village, said that he, along with fellow villagers, had been raising the demand for providing a gate in the village for a long time. “I took up the matter with the Border Security Punjab AAP chief spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal addresses mediapersons in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Force (BSF) and the district administration. The former Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, Sakshi Sawhney, had even approved the case and forwarded it to the Revenue Department,” he said. He added that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s announcement that the Centre has agreed in principle to shift the security fence closer to the International Border would bring relief to farmers who have agricultural land across the 532-km-long India-Pakistan border, where fencing lies deep inside Punjab’s territory. The move, he said, would pave the way for unhindered cultivation of over 60 acres of farmland currently trapped beyond the fencing. Farmers have long been compelled to cross the fence with identity cards and under BSF escort to reach their own fields, facing daily hardship and uncertainty. However, he noted that repair work on the fence is currently underway in several border villages, and it may take considerable time for the decision to be implemented at the grassroots level. Office-bearers of the Border Area Sangharsh Committee, an organisation that takes up issues related to border residents, said that the Chief Minister mentioned in his statement that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had informed him during a meeting that the issue was under active consideration. They said this indicates that the proposal is yet to be ratified by the concerned ministry and that even after approval, implementation could take years. Addressing mediapersons on Sunday, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, chief spokesperson of the Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), thanked Chief Minis- ter Bhagwant Mann for resolving what he termed a decadesold issue faced by border farmers. He said the barbed wire fencing installed along the border would now be shifted closer to the International Border by up to 200 metres. Dhaliwal said that earlier farmers were allowed limited access to their land from 9 am to 4 pm, and all labourers, including women, had to undergo strict security checks. Due to the absence of tubewell connections beyond the fencing, farmers suffered heavy losses. With the new decision, farmers will be able to cultivate their land freely. He further said that during the meeting, the Chief Minister raised the issue of Punjab’s pending Rs 10,000 crore Rural Development Fund (RDF) and demanded the immediate release of 25 per cent of the amount, to which the Centre has responded positively. remains low in Tarn Taran villages Tarn Taran, January 18 Voter turnout remained low during elections to four village panchayats in the district on Sunday, reflecting a lack of enthusiasm among the electorate. The villages where elections were scheduled included Mari Kamboke in the Bhikhiwind block, Pandori Gola in the Khadoor Sahib block, and Kakka Kandiala and Kajikot in the Tarn Taran block. Of the four panchayats, elections in Pandori Gola and Mari Kamboke were completed unopposed, with candidates elected unanimously. In Kajikot village, the election to the post of sarpanch was postponed for unspecified reasons. However, polling was held for Ward No. 5, which is reserved for Scheduled Castes and has 93 voters. The remaining eight wards in Kajikot were elected unopposed. Sat Pal, presiding The polling station at Government Elementary Smart School, Kazikot, wears a deserted look. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI officer of Booth No. 51 in Kajikot, said that only 50 votes had been cast till 2 pm. Similarly, in Kakka Kandiala village, eight out of nine panches were elected unopposed. A direct contest was held in Ward No. 3, which has 379 voters, but polling remained sluggish, with only 110 votes cast till 2 pm. In view of firing incidents reported during last month’s zila parishad and block samiti elections in Kajikot, the administration deployed a heavy police force at the polling station to ensure peaceful voting. Harpal Singh, a former sarpanch of Kajikot, criticised the postponement of the sarpanch election in the village. — OC Family accuses hospital MC takes steps to curb waterlogging with Gangster Happy Jatt staff of harassment after rainwater harvesting in low-lying areas booked for extortion, man’s death in Lopoke criminal intimidation Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 18 Family members of a man have accused a government hospital in Lopoke of gross medical negligence and inhuman behaviour after the victim allegedly committed suicide within the hospital premises following harassment by hospital staff. The incident occurred five days ago. The victim has been identified as Vinod Kumar, 35. The family has submitted a complaint to the SSP Amritsar (Rural), seek, ing action against those responsible for his death, while the police said they are investigating the case. According to the family, Vinod was brought to the Lopoke hospital around 10 am after developing severe breathing problems. He was admitted to the emergency ward but was allegedly nei- ther provided timely treatment nor referred to a higher medical facility despite his deteriorating condition. At around 11.54 am, Vinod called his brother, stating that even after more than an hour in the emergency ward, no medical aid had been given. The family alleged that doctors and staff misbehaved with him, used abusive language and threatened him. Vinod was reportedly left unattended, humiliated, and repeatedly asked to leave the hospital, which left him mentally shattered. Overwhelmed by pain, distress, and alleged neglect, Vinod Kumar allegedly took his own life within the hospital premises. The family has demanded the registration of a case against the doctors and staff for abetment to suicide and criminal negligence. The police said the matter is currently under investigation. Amritsar, January 18 The Amritsar Municipal Corporation (MC) has begun installing rainwater harvesting systems at 12 major low-lying locations across the city to tackle waterlogging and improve groundwater recharge. The project is being implemented using funds received under the Central Government’s Special Assistance Fund. Several parts of the city witness severe water accumulation for hours after rainfall every year, causing inconvenience to residents and disrupting traffic movement. With the installation of these systems, rainwater will no longer stagnate on roads. Instead, it will be channelled directly into the ground rather than flowing into the sewerage network, thereby helping to improve groundwater levels. The rainwater harvesting systems are being constructed at Town Hall, Taylor Road, The MC has identified more than 30 low-lying areas in the city where waterlogging remains a recurring issue during rainfall. Court Road, Madan Mohan Malviya Road, Putlighar, Khalsa College, Bus Stand, Railway Station, Circuit House, outside Guru Nanak Dev University, Makbool Road and Berri Gate. Each unit consists of three to four chambers through which rainwater will be diverted into underground wells. These locations were prioritised as they experience the most severe waterlogging during the monsoon season. Once operational, the systems c m y b are expected to provide longterm relief from water accumulation and prevent the wastage of rainwater. The MC has identified more than 30 low-lying areas in the city where waterlogging remains a recurring issue during rainfall. These include Town Hall, Lawrence Road, Batala Road from Court Road to Swani Motors, areas near Gandhi Ground, Madan Mohan Malviya Road, Putlighar, Berri Gate, areas near auto workshops at Hathi Gate, Bus Stand, Railway Station, Circuit House Road, Macleod Road, Makbool Road, Mahna Singh Road, Ghee Mandi Chowk, Bali Singh Bhavan Road, Chamerang Road on GT Road opposite Alpha One, Sultanwind Road, Miglani Road, inner Lakhar Mandi, Dholi Mohalla, Chowk Baba Bohri Wala, Cooper Road, Crystal Chowk, Lakshansar to Viveksar, Chowk Karori to Viveksar, Shiwala Bhaiyan Road to the railway crossing, railway crossing to Hussainpura Chowk, Rambagh Chowk to GT Road bankside Bus Stand and Tyre Market at Mahasingh Gate, Rambagh Chowk to Hall Gate, Majitha Road from Nari Niketan to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Race Course Road to Adlakha Hospital, Kichlu Chowk to Ratan Singh Chowk, Circular Road, Kichlu Chowk to Army Cantt Chowk, and Government Women’s College to Sher Shah Suri Road near the Sadar police station. Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 18 The Jandiala Guru police have booked foreign-based notorious gangster Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Jatt, for extortion and criminal intimidation. According to the complaint lodged by Surinder Kumar, a resident of Jyotisar Colony, Jandiala Guru, the complainant is engaged in the property business and intended to contest the Jandiala Guru municipal council elections from Ward No. 6. Surinder Kumar stated that on January 15, around 7 pm, he received a WhatsApp call from an unknown foreign number (+44 7777 427142). The caller introduced himself as gangster Happy Jatt, originally from Jandiala Guru. The caller demanded Rs 20 lakh, claiming the money was necessary if the complainant wished to contest the election. The complainant alleged that when he refused to pay, the caller began issuing threats, warning him against contesting the election and allegedly threatening to kill him and cause serious harm to his family. Based on his statement, the police have named Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Jatt, and unidentified persons in the case. A case has been registered under Sections 308 (5) and 351 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Jandiala Guru police station. The police said investigations are underway following the registration of the FIR.