31012026-ATR-01.qxd 1/31/2026 12:06 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune DEMOLITION DRIVE BY MC AT LOHARKA, BATALA ROADS NO BREAKTHROUGH IN WOMAN’S MURDER CASE Even as the police launched a hunt to nab the suspects in the woman's murder, the accused remained at large. P2 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 19°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 20°C | MIN 8°C KASHMIRI FOOD FESTIVAL AT THE LALIT-CHANDIGARH The Amritsar Municipal Corporation carried out an anti-encroachment drive at Loharka and Batala road. P2 FORECAST The LaLiT is hosting Kashmiri food festival at its signature Indian finedining restaurant, Baluchi. P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 6.03 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 7.23 AM » SATURDAY | 31 JANUARY 2026 | AMRITSAR 2 drug peddlers held with over 1 kg heroin MC reviews door-to-door waste collection, warns of strict action Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 30 The Gharinda police have arrested two drug peddlers, identified as Sukhraj Singh of Burj village falling under the Sarai Amanat Khan police station in Tarn Taran, and Amritpal Singh of Kalas village under the Khemkaran police station in Tarn Taran. The police seized over 1 kg heroin from their possession. The police said a police team was patrolling in the border village of Rajatal when they got a tip-off that the duo were involved in the cross-border drug smuggling and used to smuggle contraband and weapons using drones. They used to supply the same to other parts of the Punjab. The informer told that they were going from Rajatal to Nausherha Dhalla road for delivering the consignment. The police team immediately swung into action and arrested them from near Bhaini Rajputa village. During search, the police seized over 1 kg of heroin from them. The police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act against them. Amritsar, January 30 A review meeting on doorto-door solid waste collection in Amritsar was held on Thursday with RRR Company, the agency engaged for waste collection in the city. The meeting was convened as per the directions of Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill and was chaired by Additional Commissioner Surinder Singh. The objective was to review ongoing waste collection operations, assess compliance with contract conditions and solid waste management rules, and issue directions for further improvement in services. During the review, the Additional Commissioner conducted a zone-wise assessment of waste collection and emphasised the need for immediate improvement in commercial areas such as markets, shops, hotels, restaurants, and bulk waste generators. Key decisions taken during the meeting included ensuring 100 per cent doorto-door waste collection in all residential and commercial areas. Special priority was given to increasing the frequency and coverage of waste collection in commercial zones. Emphasis was also laid on source-level management of wet waste, and bulk waste generators were directed to strictly comply with prescribed rules. It was clarified that no user charges shall be collected in cash from commercial establishments and that recovery must be made only through approved modes. Directions were issued for deploying separate vehicles and preparing suitable route plans specifically for commercial areas. All waste collection vehicles will be required to display ward numbers and oncall vehicle details. Zone-wise improvement in vehicle deployment and collection timings was also directed. To strengthen monitoring and public feedback, a QR code-based system will be introduced. The provision of electricity connections at required locations will be considered, subject to feasibility and necessary approvals. RRR Company has been directed to submit a detailed ward-wise action plan by Monday. Orders were also issued to appoint a dedicated nodal officer for billing and coordination purposes. The Additional Commissioner stated that the work would be closely monitored and any violation of contract conditions would invite strict action as per rules. Reiterating its commitment to strengthening the city’s sanitation system, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation appealed to citizens, particularly commercial establishments, to cooperate in maintaining cleanliness and ensuring proper waste segregation. The meeting was attended by Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC) representative Kavya, officials of RRR Company, and senior officials of the Municipal Corporation Amritsar, including MOH Dr Kiran, Dr Yogesh Arora, Dr Rama, Chief Sanitary Inspector Malkiat Singh, along with all CSIs. Blind murder of Himachal man cracked, three held Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 30 Nearly three weeks after a man from Himachal Pradesh was found dead opposite a prominent shopping mall on the main GT Road in the Maqboolpura police station area, the police on Friday claimed to have cracked the blind murder case with the arrest of three persons. During the investigation, the victim was identified as Pappi Vijay, a resident of Parwanoo in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh. He had been missing since November 2, 2025, and a missing complaint had been lodged with the Parwanoo police in this regard. His body was found on January 13. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Law & Order, Alam Vijay Singh said during the preliminary probe, the police noticed injury marks on the body, following which a murder case was registered at the Maqboolpura police station. Although his photographs and details were circulated across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for DCP (Law & Order) Alam Vijay Singh (C) addresses mediapersons in Amritsar on Friday. identification, no claimant initially came forward. As per norms, the body was kept in the mortuary for 72 hours and was cremated after a postmortem on January 17. A preliminary medical examination revealed grievous injuries, with wooden pieces forcibly inserted into the victim’s private parts, leading to excessive bleeding. On January 20, the deceased was identified by his relatives on the basis of photographs and clothing. He was confirmed to be the same person reported miss- ing from Himachal Pradesh. The police examined the case from all angles and arrested three accused on January 25. They were identified as Gurpreet Singh (36), a resident of Vihra village under Bhindi Saidan police station in Ajnala; Gurbhej Singh alias Kalu (20), a resident of Enokate village under Ghuman police station in Batala (Gurdaspur); and Vishal (20), a resident of Jawahar Nagar on Mehta Road here. “During interrogation, the accused confessed that on the intervening night of Jan- Floral tributes paid to Father of the Nation Army man killed in celebratory on his death anniversary at Jallianwala Bagh firing; one nabbed with weapons Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 30 To observe the martyrdom day of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, the Deputy Commissioner and other administrative officials on Friday paid floral tributes to his photograph installed at the Martyrs’ Memorial Museum at Jallianwala Bagh. A solemn tribute was also paid at the eternal flame at the martyrs’ memorial in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the country. Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh said that the martyrs of the nation whether freedom fighters, officers on duty, police personnel or others who laid down their lives in the line of duty or while protecting the interests of the Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh pays floral tribute to the martyrs at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on Friday. nation are invaluable assets of the country. During the ceremony, police personnel presented a special salute at the eternal flame, a symbol of the martyrs of India’s freedom struggle and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Officials observed a twominute silence, and the police band played patriotic tunes. “Martyrs are the true capital of any nation and always remain a source of inspiration for future generations. Today’s generation should draw guidance from the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi, whose principles of non-violence and tolerance are what the world needs the most today,” he said. Senior officials of the district administration, along with others, were present on the occasion. Tarn Taran, January 30 An Army personnel who had got married just a week ago died after sustaining bullet injuries while attending a wedding function in a village. The incident took place at Malmohri village, where the Army personnel had gone to attend the wedding celebrations of his soldier friend. The deceased has been identified as Gursewak Singh (28), a resident of Khadoor Sahib. According to information, Gursewak Singh had reached Malmohri on Thursday night to attend the wedding, where celebrations were underway with music playing on a DJ. During the festivities, some mischievous youths began dancing and singing while firing shots indiscriminately in the air. WAS ATTACKED WHEN OBJECTED TO FIRING ■ According to information, Gursewak Singh had reached Malmohri on Thursday night to attend the wedding, where celebrations were underway with music playing on a DJ. During the festivities, some mischievous youths began dancing and singing while firing shots indiscriminately in the air. Gursewak Singh reportedly objected to the firing and asked them to stop. However, instead of complying, the youths allegedly opened fire on him. He sustained serious bullet injuries in the incident. Gursewak Singh reportedly objected to the firing and asked them to stop. However, instead of complying, the youths allegedly opened fire on him. He sustained serious bullet injuries in the incident. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Tarn Taran, where his condition remained critical. He later succumbed to his injuries today. The Sadar police have initiated action in the matter. SHO Inspector Gurcharan Singh said that statements of the injured party and other witnesses are being recorded, and further investigation is underway. SSP Surendra Lamba said that the police have registered a case and arrested one of the accused. Two weapons were also recovered during the arrest. Further investigation is underway, and the case is being thoroughly examined. Strict legal action will be taken in accordance with the law. — OC uary 12 and 13, they stopped the victim with the intention of robbing him. When he resisted, they struck him on the head with a wooden stick, rendering him unconscious. The accused then dragged him into a vacant plot and robbed him of Rs 56,000 in cash. When the victim regained consciousness and raised an alarm, the accused allegedly killed him in a brutal manner,” said the DCP . On the basis of their disclosure statements, the police recovered the wooden stick used in the crime. 5 members of robbers’ gang held with arms Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, January 30 A police team, led by ASI Mehal Singh of the local CIA staff, arrested five members of a gang of robbers along with weapons near village Kakka Kandiala last midnight. The police said here today that the accused have been identified as Ajaypal Singh Ajay, Surjit Singh and Jaspal Singh, residents of Kakka Kandiala; Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Mughalchak and Kanwalpreet Singh of Kotli village. The police recovered two pistols, four rounds of ammunition and three datars from the accused. The local city police have registered a case under sections the BNS and the Arms Act. Bhog ceremony of Jatinder Brar organised PPBM urges Centre to include Cleanliness drive: Civic body to introduce daily mechanical sweeping on city roads traders’ demands in Budget Amritsar, January 30 The bhog ceremony of late Jatinder Brar, noted Punjabi playwright and founder of Punjab Naatshala, was held at Gurudwara Chhevi Patshahi, Ranjit Avenue. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries and prominent residents of the city. Political leaders, including former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, OP Soni, senior BJP leader RMS Chinna, officials of the district administration and theatre artists also attended. The family members paid solemn tribute to the theatre stalwart, as he was remembered for building productive theatre space in city. Brar was fondly called the Baba Bohar of Punjabi theatre in city and founded the Punjab Naatshala in a space that was once his factory. He has mentored several actors and artists including Kapil Sharma, Bharti Singh and Chandan Prabhakar. — TNS Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 30 The Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal (PPBM) has urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to incorporate its demands in the ensuing Union Budget. The traders’ body has dispatched a communiqué to the Union Finance Ministry, stating that to strengthen the country ’ s trade and industry sector, it is extremely important that long-pending demands are given due consideration in the 202627 Union Budget. The main demands of the PPBM include further simplification and rationalisation of taxes under the GST regime, a reduction of at least 20 per cent in petrol and diesel prices in line with the fall in crude oil prices in the international market, and provision of a single monthly return facility for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs 50 crore. It also demanded that medical insurance coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh be provided to GSTregistered traders with a turnover of up to Rs 5 crore. The PPBM further sought income tax exemption for a period of 10 years for young people aged between 25 and 30 who set up new industries, with the objective of promoting job creation and preventing migration. Other demands included addressing the practical difficulties faced by traders in obtaining loans from banks and simplifying the loan approval process, taking effective steps to control continu- ously rising inflation, standardising electricity tariffs across the country to provide a level-playing field for industries, ensuring that buyers are not unnecessarily harassed if sellers fail to file GST returns, and reducing interest rates on home loans. The organisation also sought the immediate withdrawal of amendments made to Section 43B(h) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. PPBM president Piara Lal Seth and general secretary Sameer Jain further demanded that the Central Government announce a special economic package to strengthen Punjab’s trade, industry and agriculture-based economy so that investment, employment and trade in the border state receive a fresh impetus. c m y b Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 30 The Amritsar Municipal Corporation has invited a tender for mechanical sweeping to ensure regular and comprehensive cleaning of city roads. Under the new tender, 192 km of major and internal roads will be cleaned daily through mechanical sweeping. Earlier, these roads were being cleaned on alternate days. The fresh tender has been issued at an estimated cost of Rs 25.57 crore. Notably, an earlier tender floated on December 30 and opened on January 27 did not receive any bids. In the interim, the municipal corporation deployed four mechanical sweeping machines from January 7 to carry out cleaning work on alternate days. Following this, mechanical sweeping of 192 km of outer main roads was initiated using four machines. For this A view of the MC office building at Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar. FILE work, four tractor-trolleys and four water-sprinkling vehicles have also been deployed. At present, each road is being covered on alternate days. The conditions laid down for mechanical sweeping include removal of dust and debris from roads. In areas where machines cannot reach, man- ual cleaning will be carried out. The scope of work also includes washing of footpaths and roads, cleaning of road gullies and chambers, and grass cutting through mechanical machines. The bidder will be responsible for ensuring that roads remain clean and garbage-free throughout the day. Stormwater drains, wherever present, must also be kept clean and free of waste. The bidder will also handle the removal of horticulture waste, plastic waste, construction debris, bricks, and bin cleaning. All vehicles deployed for cleaning will be equipped with GPS under an off-site real-time monitoring system, and live monitoring of work will be carried out through the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). In case of any breakdown of vehicles or machinery, timely repairs and uninterrupted cleaning will be the responsibility of the bidder. It has also been made mandatory for all sanitation workers engaged in mechanical sweeping to wear uniforms, gloves, masks, and carry identity cards. Failure to comply will attract a penalty of Rs 100 per worker per day.