26012026-ATR-01.qxd 1/25/2026 11:44 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune CYCLISTS PEDAL FOR FITNESS & VOTING AT ATTARI BORDER CONSTRUCTION DUST BLURS CITY’S IMAGE IN VISITORS’ EYES Open House: Residents rue hardships to travellers; suggest traffic cop deployment, penalties. P3 FOG MIST IN MORNING MAX 15°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 17°C | MIN 5°C ACTORS REFLECT ON WHAT REPUBLIC DAY MEANS A cycle rally was held to promote an active lifestyle and democratic participation. P2 FORECAST Share perspectives on the one change they would most like to see in India today. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 5.58 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7.26 AM » MONDAY | 26 JANUARY 2026 | AMRITSAR 1,400 police personnel deployed for Republic Day security in city Tribune News Service Women cops during the Republic Day parade rehearsal in Tarn Taran on Sunday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI Dist-level Republic Day function at Police Lines in Tarn Taran Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, January 25 Preparations to celebrate the country’s 77th Republic Day are being made with great enthusiasm. The district-level function is to be held at Police Lines, Tarn Taran, in which the ceremony to unfurl the tricolor will be performed by Deputy Commissioner Rahul. Along with this, other political and administrative organisations are also holding functions to celebrate Republic Day. Besides the Municipal Councils of Tarn Taran and Patti, functions would also be held by the Nagar Panchayats in Bhikhiwind and Khemkaran on Republic Day. The Border Security Force (BSF) will unfurl the national flag at Khalra, Bhikhi- wind and Khemkaran on Republic Day. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) would be celebrating Republic Day at its Goindwal Sahib unit. In Tarn Taran, the Congress party is organising a function at Congress Bhawan, continuing a tradition for the past many decades. All sections of society participate in this function with great enthusiasm. Amritsar, January 25 Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, the Commissionerate Police, Amritsar, has put in place elaborate security arrangements and conducted flag marches across all three police zones of the city to ensure peace and public safety. A high-level security review meeting was held at Gandhi Ground, Guru Nanak Dev Stadium, Amritsar, under the chairmanship of RK Jaiswal, ADGP (NRI), Punjab, and Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Commissioner of Police, Amritsar. The meeting was attended by all gazetted officers, senior officials and police personnel, during which detailed discussions were held regarding security preparedness for Republic Day events. As part of the security measures, Deputy Commissioners of Police, along with zonal and area officers, led flag marches in their respective jurisdictions. Special nakas have been set up at all entry and exit points of the city, where roundthe-clock, shift-wise checking of vehicles is being carried out. Each vehicle is being thoroughly checked, relevant details are being recorded and CCTV cameras are being used to closely monitor movement. Additional nakabandi has been imposed in internal areas of the city, with police teams questioning suspicious per- sons. Foot patrols have been intensified in crowded areas, while anti-sabotage teams and sniffer dogs are conducting searches at sensitive locations. Special flying squads in civil dress have also been deployed at various points to keep a discreet watch. Any suspicious vehicle or individual is immediately reported through the wireless system, enabling swift action by nearby police teams. Special operations are also underway to strengthen area domination. The police are also checking visitor entry and exit registers at hotels, guest houses and sarais. Data of vehicles parked at these locations is being collected and verified to ascertain ownership, while CCTV cameras installed at these Mid-day meal workers hold protest, seek fulfilment of long-pending demands City mourns loss of eminent playwright Jatinder Brar Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 25 The demise of noted theatre personality Jatinder Singh Brar has cast a pall of gloom over the cultural and theatre circles of Amritsar. Founder of Punjab Natshala, Brar’s passing has been described as an irreparable loss to progressive, people-centric theatre. A native of Jagdev Khurd village in Amritsar district, Jatinder Singh Brar was professionally an engineer. Though he spent several years in the United States, his deep passion for theatre drew him back to his roots. After returning to Amritsar, he established a world-class theatre, Natshala, on half of his factory plot located on prime land opposite Khalsa College, Amritsar. The theatre was equipped with North India’s first revolving stage and modern technical facilities, setting new benchmarks for Punjabi theatre. Brar authored and directed several powerful and successful plays, including Paidaan, Kudesan and Faasle. Through hundreds of performances, he carved a distinct identity in the theatre world. Many artistes trained under him later made their mark in films and television, including Bharti Singh, Rajeev Kumar and Sukhi Puar. He was also instrumental in persuading renowned playwright Kewal Dhaliwal to actively contribute to the promotion of theatre in Amritsar. The Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) has expressed deep sorrow over his demise and paid heartfelt tributes to the theatre stalwart. AVM members Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi, Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, Manmohan Singh Brar, Hardip Singh Chahal, Rajwinder Singh Gill, Jaspal Singh and Advocate Gurjinder Singh continued on page 2 Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, along with other officers, during the flag march at Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR establishments are being inspected. Enhanced security checks are also being carried out at bus stands, railway stations and shopping malls. For Republic Day, around 1,400 police personnel have been deployed across the city under the supervision of Deputy Commissioners of Police of all three zones. The deployment includes commando units, SWAT teams, ARP teams, Quick Reaction Teams, PCR teams and staff from local police stations, especially in and around Guru Nanak Dev Stadium and other key locations. The Commissionerate Police, Amritsar, has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and immediately inform the local police or dial 112 if they notice any suspicious person, object or activity. The police assured that the identity of informers would be kept strictly confidential and prompt action would be taken on all inputs. The police reiterated their commitment to remain available round the clock for the safety and service of the public. Flood-affected farmers during a protest on the floodgates of Harike Headworks in Tarn Taran. Flood victims’ protest on Harike floodgates enters 25th day Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, January 25 Activists of the flood-affected Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, have been staging a protest atop the floodgates of the Harike Headworks for the past 25 days, demanding 100 per cent compensation for damage to their land and crops. Addressing the protesters, committee leader Gurjit Singh said that compensation announced by the government for last year’s floods has not been received by the affected farmers so far. He alleged that the patwari and the district administration were evading accountability, while leaders of the ruling party were avoiding responsibility and failing to protect the interests of the people. The farmer leader said that flood-affected farmers had been compelled to launch the protest by climbing the floodgates, despite the risk to their lives, due to the government’s apathy. He added that the committee was fed up with the government’s policies and would intensify the agitation by staging a protest on a national highway on January 28, with the support of likeminded public organisations. Gurjit Singh further said that families living along the riverbanks were facing severe financial distress, with no money to meet domestic needs or to revive farming activities. He urged both the Centre and the state government to announce a special package to improve the economic and social condition of people residing along the rivers. Tarn Taran, January 25 The district unit of the MidDay Meal Workers’ Union Punjab held a rally at Gandhi Municipal Park here on Sunday to press for the fulfilment of their long-pending demands. Mid-day meal workers from across the district participated in large numbers. The rally was chaired by union leader Manjit Kaur. Addressing the gathering, union leaders Manjit Kaur, Ranjit Kaur, Narinder Kaur, Dharam Singh Patti and Jagtar Singh Assal said that while the current government has failed to fulfill promises made to various categories of employees, it has also neglected mid-day meal workers by not increasing their allowances and forcing them to work for meagre honorariums. The leaders demanded that the monthly allowance of midday meal workers be raised to Rs 6,000. They also called for free insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh, the provision of two uniforms per year and payment of pending dues for additional work assigned to them. Following the rally, the Members of the Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Union submit a memorandum to Cabinet Minister Laljit Bhullar in Tarn Taran on Sunday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI workers submitted a memorandum of their demands to Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar in Patti. The minister assured the delegation that he would take up their demands with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. Union leaders Beant Kaur, Amandeep Kaur, Parveen Kaur, Rajwant Kaur, Sarabjit Kaur and Manjinder Kaur also addressed the gathering and expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s indif- ferent attitude. The protesting workers raised slogans against the Punjab Government and warned that their agitation would be intensified if their demands were not met in the coming days. Climate change, pollution hit migratory bird arrival at Harike wetland Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 25 An agriculture scientist, Dr Astha, who has a keen interest in bird-watching, has raised serious concerns over the declining number of migratory birds arriving at Harike wetland — one of the largest man-made wetlands in India. Situated about 45 km from here, the wetland has traditionally hosted thousands of winged guests from Siberia, Central Asia and Europe during winter. Dr Astha observed a steady decline in migratory bird numbers over the past few A view of Harike wetland in Tarn Taran. FILE PHOTO c m y b years. In 2022, when the mean January temperature stood at 12.3°C — categorised as unhealthy — around 74,869 migratory birds were recorded. The count fell to 65,624 in 2023, dropped further to about 50,000 in 2025, and this year it declined to nearly 45,000. Similarly, the average air quality index (AQI) has consistently remained in the unhealthy category since 2022. A regular visitor to Harike, Dr Astha compiled the data after studying several research papers published by experts on the wetland. She also noted that water hyacinth has reached alarming levels at the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers, severely affecting the ecosystem. Describing the phenomenon as a “winter silence” at Harike, she said the once vibrant sanctuary — echoing with the calls of migratory birds — is gradually losing both the number and diversity of its winged visitors. She attributed this alarming trend to continuously warming winters, deteriorating habitat quality and rising pollution levels in the region. According to Dr Astha, global climatic shifts have reduced the need for long- distance migration, as milder winters in breeding regions allow birds to remain closer to their native habitats. Locally, water pollution in the Sutlej river — laden with industrial and agricultural waste — has degraded water quality and reduced fish availability, a crucial food source for migratory birds. She further pointed out that habitat degradation caused by water hyacinth infestation, siltation and shrinking open-water areas has reduced the wetland’s suitability. Persistent human disturbances, including continued on page 2