14012026-ATR-01.qxd 1/13/2026 11:46 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune WOMEN ACHIEVERS LAUDED AT LOHRI CELEBRATIONS ‘GENRE IS A LIMITING FACTOR’ A state-level function of ‘Virasat-e-Punjab: Lohri Dhian’ held at Khalsa University invited women achievers from Punjab.P2 Members of The Tapi Project say their music reflects their surroundings & manifested reality. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 11°C | MIN 4°C YESTERDAY MAX 11°C | MIN 4°C SUNIEL SHETTY TO HOST SHOW BHARAT KE SUPER FOUNDERS Bharat Ke Super Founders show brings together business tycoons to back India’s next wave of entrepreneurs. P4 » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.47 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 7.30 AM WEDNESDAY | 14 JANUARY 2026 | AMRITSAR Sterilisation drive faces uncertainty as Wanted criminal held after brief encounter in Lopoke tender awaits Local Bodies Dept nod Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 13 The long-pending proposal for the sterilisation of 20,000 stray dogs in the city has remained stuck for nearly eight months due to the absence of approval from the Local Bodies Department, despite having been duly passed by the MC House and forwarded for clearance. The municipal corporation had moved the proposal to float a fresh tender for the sterilisation of 20,000 dogs in view of the rising stray dog population and growing public safety concerns. However, even after eight months, the proposal has not received the required approval, resulting in delays in initiating largescale sterilisation work. Between 2018 and August 2025, the municipal corporation managed to sterilise around 30,000 stray dogs CONTINUITY DISRUPTED ■ MC officials pointed out that, as per norms, the civic body is empowered to assign up to 25 per cent of the new tendered work to the previous contractor after the completion of the original contract to avoid disruption in essential services. This provision was invoked solely to maintain continuity in the sterilisation programme. ■ Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia said he would take up the matter with senior officials to ascertain the level at which the proposal is pending. He assured that efforts would be made to obtain approval from the Local Bodies Department at the earliest. across the city. In August 2023, a tender worth Rs 1.80 crore was awarded to the Animal Welfare Charitable Trust for sterilising 20,000 dogs. The tenure of this contract concluded in August 2025. To ensure that the sterilisa- tion drive does not come to a halt due to delays in issuing a fresh tender, the municipal corporation exercised its provision to allot up to 25 per cent of the proposed new work to the existing agency, provided its previous performance was satisfactory. Under this arrangement, the same agency was assigned the task of sterilising 5,000 dogs. So far, approximately 2,000 dogs have been sterilised under this interim arrangement. Officials said the agree- ment will automatically lapse once 3,000 more dogs are sterilised, after which no further work can be undertaken without the approval of a new tender. MC officials pointed out that, as per norms, the civic body is empowered to assign up to 25 per cent of the new tendered work to the previous contractor after the completion of the original contract to avoid disruption in essential services. This provision was invoked solely to maintain continuity in the sterilisation programme. Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia said he would take up the matter with senior officials to ascertain the level at which the proposal is pending. He assured that efforts would be made to obtain approval from the Local Bodies Department at the earliest so that a fresh tender could be floated without further delay. Amritsar, January 13 The Amritsar Rural Police arrested a wanted criminal and recovered a looted vehicle along with a pistol after a brief encounter here on Tuesday. The arrested accused has been identified as Mani Prince, who was actively involved in criminal activities and was being searched for in a recent case. According to the police, the incident took place in the Lopoke area, where a checkpoint had been set up based on specific inputs. When Mani Prince was signalled to stop, he allegedly opened fire at the police party. In retaliatory action, the police fired back, during which the accused sustained injuries and was overpowered. The SP (Detective), Amritsar Rural Police, Aditya S Warrier, said that two days earlier, the Kambo police had arrested another accused, identified as Navdeep Singh, alias Lovjeet Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran. During his arrest, the police Cops carry out investigation at the crime spot in Amritsar. recovered 7 grams of heroin, Rs 90,000 in cash and a car from his possession. During interrogation, Lovjeet Singh disclosed the involvement of two more persons in criminal activities, including Mani Prince, a resident of Jandiala. He revealed that Mani Prince was a habitual offender and had been involved in several criminal incidents in the past, operating mainly in the Jandiala area along with Gurpreet Singh, alias Krishna. Police records revealed that Mani Prince is already facing Teachers to hold rally in Moga KMM burns copies of ‘anti-people’ Bills seeking justice, compensation Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 13 Following the tragic death of teacher Jaskaran Singh and his wife, teacher Kamaljit Kaur, in a road accident during the panchayat samiti and zila parishad elections held on December 14, all teachers’ organisations in Punjab rejected the meagre assistance of Rs 10 lakh each announced by the Punjab Government, terming it a “nasty joke”. The teachers have now announced a massive statelevel ‘Justice Rally’, which will be organised in Moga on January 18. DTF state president Vikramdev Singh, general secretary Mahinder Kaurwali and finance secretary Ashwini Awasthi said the Punjab Government has adopted an insensitive and biased attitude towards the teacher couple, who lost their lives while performing election duty due to poor management by the government and the district administration. The teaching community has launched a protest DTF DEMANDS ~2 CR FOR TEACHER COUPLE ■ Jarmanjit Singh added that the Teachers’ Justice Committee would continue its struggle until justice is delivered to the bereaved family. The committee has demanded compensation of Rs 2 crore each for the families of the deceased teachers, Rs 20 lakh compensation for the injured teacher, government jobs for the children of the Moga teacher couple after completion of their education and full government support for the children’s educational expenses. against this attitude by holding candlelight marches in all districts of Punjab, including Amritsar, under the banner of the ‘Teachers’ Justice Committee’. The next phase of the agitation will be a grand statelevel rally at Dana Mandi in Moga on January 18. DTF state president Jarmanjit Singh alleged that despite repeated demands by teachers’ organisations to the Election Commission to assign election duties at the local level, district administrations deployed teachers and employees to distant locations. As a result, teachers and staff from various departments were forced to risk their lives, along with those of their family members, to reach duty points amid dense fog. He said that on the same day, apart from the two teachers from Moga district who lost their lives, a teacher from Sangrur district, Rajvir Kaur, suffered serious injuries while travelling for election duty in a similar road accident. Jarmanjit Singh added that the Teachers’ Justice Committee would continue its struggle until justice is delivered to the bereaved family. The committee has demanded compensation of Rs 2 crore each for the families of the deceased teachers, Rs 20 lakh compensation for the injured teacher, government jobs for the children of the Moga teacher couple after completion of their education and full government support for the children’s educational expenses. Amritsar, January 13 The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) on Tuesday organised protests during Lohri celebrations across 20 districts of Punjab by burning copies of the alleged anti-people Bills proposed by the Central Government. The protests were held in cities, towns and villages, where copies of the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025, Seed Bill 2025, VB-G-Ram-G Bill 2025 and tax-free agreements were burnt in Lohri bonfires. The protests took place in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Bathinda, Sangrur, Mansa, Patiala, Mohali, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Nawanshahr, said Kisan Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher. The Morcha alleged that the laws have been brought under the influence of international institutions such as the WTO, World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), and are aimed at benefiting corporate houses at the cost of common people. Despite severe cold, a large Protesters burn copies of Electricity Amendment Bill-2025, G Ram G Act, Seed Bill in Amritsar. number of farmers, labourers, employees, women, students, urban residents and small traders participated in the protests. The organisation said the massive participation reflected public anger against the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The Morcha alleged that the Central Government was bringing laws against public interest and weakening the federal structure by making laws on subjects like electricity, seeds, agriculture, education and water, which fall under the states’ domain. It also accused the Punjab government of supporting these corporate-friendly policies instead of opposing them. The organisation further claimed that ongoing movements in Punjab were being defamed and suppressed. It warned that new policies were slowly destroying small businesses, shopkeepers and street vendors by promoting online trade and large shopping malls. During the protests, resolutions were also passed against rising drug abuse, unemployment among youth and the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. The Morcha said both the Centre and the Punjab gov- ernment had failed to address these serious issues. The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced a series of upcoming programmes, including questioning the Punjab Chief Minister at Majitha rally on January 18, submitting smart meters to electricity offices on January 21 and 22, and staging protests outside the houses of MLAs and ministers on February 5. Several other farmer unions and transport organisations, including BKU Krantikari, BKU Doaba, BKU Azad, BKU Bahramke, Punjab Roadways, PRTC and other allied bodies, also extended support to the protests. two cases related to car snatching and is also involved in a case of pistol snatching. Acting on information received by the Special Cell of the Amritsar Rural Police that Mani Prince had arrived in the Lopoke area to commit another crime, a naka was laid to intercept him. When the accused attempted to evade arrest by firing at the police, the police responded in self-defence, leading to his injury. A looted vehicle and a pistol, earlier snatched from Tarn Taran, were recovered from his possession. — TNS INBRIEF HEROIN, DRUG MONEY SEIZED Tarn Taran: A police party, led by ASI Lakhwinder Singh, arrested three persons, travelling in a Swift car, with 44 grams of heroin and drug money worth Rs 3.70 lakh. The ASI said here on Tuesday that the accused include Ajay Singh, alias Ajay, Manpreet Singh and Daler Singh, residents of Mallia village. He said the police party led by him was patrolling in the area when they saw a car coming and signalled it stop. When they searched the car, they found 44 grams of heroin and drug money from the accused. OC POLICE, BSF RECOVER DRONE Tarn Taran: A joint team of the Khalra police and the BSF recovered a drone from a wheat field of farmer Angrej Singh of Wan Tara Singh village. SHO, Khalra, Sahib Singh said here on Tuesday that a joint team of the police and the BSF led by ASI Balwinder Singh of the Khalra police station searched the fields of farmer Angrej Singh of Wan Tara Singh village on Monday and recovered a drone which had come from the Pakistan side. OC Golden Temple langar serves warmth during celebrations Keeping alive age-old tradition Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 13 Devotees came forward in large numbers to perform sewa and contribute their bit in the kitchen of Guru Ram Das Langar Hall at the Golden Temple. Joined by hundreds of volunteers, including many from remote border villages of the district, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) staff distributed roh di kheer (sugarcane juice pudding) among devotees ahead of the Lohri and Maghi festivals at Guru Ram Das Langar Hall. The delicacies were served with devotion as the incessant flow of Gurbani continued from the sanctum sanctorum of the holiest Sikh shrine in the world. Hitesh, a tourist from Gwalior, said the delicacy was Kheer being served to devotees at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. superb and reflected the dedication and devotion of the volunteers. He lauded the organised manner in which volunteers performed sewa. A majority of the volunteers were engaged in cleaning utensils. Among them were a large number of women who had come specially to perform sewa, leaving behind their household and professional responsibilities. Elderly men were seen doing sewa that did not require much physical movement, while youngsters were engaged in lifting heavy sacks and utensils, besides mopping the floor. Serving tea with rusk proved to be an effective way to keep the visitors warm in the prevailing cold wave conditions. Its distribution begins at midnight and continues till breakfast, and is resumed again in the evening. Nishan Singh, one of the three managers overseeing the affairs of the langar hall, said that keeping in view the demand of the Sangat, gur (jaggery) da karah had been added to the langar. He said the two delicacies — roh di kheer and karah — were incorporated into the menu after devotees expressed a desire for winter-specific offerings. He added that the Sangat often meets SGPC officials or functionaries to suggest c m y b changes or additions to the langar menu. “Apart from volunteers, about 500 employees are engaged in performing sewa here,” he said. A machine to extract juice from sugarcane has been installed near the langar hall, while sugarcane supplies arrive during the night to avoid daytime traffic congestion. Among tourists, visitors from the National Capital Region (NCR) formed the largest group on weekends, making Amritsar a major tourist attraction after Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Many visitors prefer to spend at least two nights in the city and explore additional attractions such as the Beating Retreat ceremony at Attari, Gobindgarh Fort, the War Museum, Sadda Pind and the Valmiki Temple at Ram Tirath. of serving roh di kheer on Lohri Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 13 Keeping alive the age-old tradition of preparing roh di kheer, a signature Lohri delicacy, city residents thronged sugarcane juice stalls across the city on the festival day on Monday. Despite unusually high prices, with the cost of juice ranging between Rs 40 and Rs 50 per litre, festive enthusiasm remained undimmed. From early morning, long queues were seen outside almost every sugarcane juice stall. Sensing a surge in demand, local entrepreneurs set up additional stalls to cater to the rush and make the most of the festive occasion. “We arranged two trolleys of sugarcane specially for today. Last year, we had only one trolley and ran out of stock by afternoon,” said Gurbaaj Singh, a local farmer who had set up a temporary stall on Majitha Road. For many residents, Lohri celebrations remain incomplete without the traditional kheer. Ravinder Kumar Sharma, retired Additional Superintendent of Central Jail here, recalled the cultural significance attached to the dish. “There is a popular saying, ‘Poh ridhi, Magh khadi’, which means the kheer is cooked in the month of Poh and eaten in Magh. Lohri falls on the last day of Poh, while Maghi, the first day of Magh, marks the beginning of the new year as per the Punjabi calendar,” he explained. While children and youngsters celebrated the festival by flying kites and playing loud music atop rooftops, elders felt that the true essence of Lohri lies in preserving its traditional practices. The preparation of roh di kheer also symbolises the transition of seasons. Cooked on Lohri night and served cold the following morning, it is considered a welcome to the approaching summer. Traditionally, the chilled kheer is served with curd and red chillies to balance its sweetness. “For elders, eating roh di kheer marks the onset of summer. It is served cold as the temperature begins to rise, and Maghi signifies the arrival of warmer days,” said Harwant Singh, a former college teacher.