Amritsar

Marara village residents are irked because overloaded mining trucks had damaged link roads

Interact with field officials and direct them to expedite ongoing works

Says garbage collection system in cities has collapsed

Having a strength of 3,700 employees, now barely 60 employees remain | 60 per cent imported machinery has been stolen

With less than two weeks to go, Tarn Taran witnesses a surge in political rallies

Gurdaspur judges visited flood-affected villages, distributing stationery to 450 students across 16 schools. They addressed concerns, including contaminated water, immediately installing a requested RO system. Judges encouraged students to strive for good citizenship.

Have been agitating under the ambit of the Computer Teachers’ Sangharsh Committee

A security guard at Baba Bakala Sahib Civil Hospital was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau for accepting a Rs 15,000 bribe. The bribe was for issuing a false negative dope test certificate needed for an arms license. The arrest followed a complaint and a trap set by the VB.

A bald and thin man, approximately 35-40 years old, died after being struck by a train near Bhagtanwala station on Monday. The Government Railway Police has registered a case and the unidentified body is in the local civil hospital morgue for identification.

Paddy procurement in the district is progressing well, with 2,63,868 MT purchased. Payments to farmers are being made within 48 hours. The government assures purchase of all paddy at Rs 2,389/quintal MSP, provided moisture content is below 17%. Farmers are urged to bring dry paddy.

Repair work on Maharaja Ranjit Singh's statue podium resumes tomorrow. Cracks in the base halted initial repairs under the Smart City project. A structural engineer recommended a new concrete retaining wall. Rs 70 lakh is allocated for repairs and beautification. The statue's spear and tiles were previously damaged.

Following public complaints, the Municipal Corporation closed the temporary Jhabbal Road garbage dump. Waste disposal will resume solely at the Bhagtanwala site. The move addresses residents' concerns about foul odors and unhygienic conditions. The approach road to Bhagtanwala is now repaired, and water sprinkling on roads will be implemented.

Amritsar police arrested four suspects within 24 hours of a robbery near Green Villa Palace. The suspects, including a taxi driver and a mobile shop owner, were apprehended in Maqboolpura. Police recovered a car, pistol, cash, and mobile phone. The case involves prior offenses for some suspects.

Bihar natives in the holy city celebrated Chhath Puja at UBDC and Durgiana Temple. Devotees performed rituals like holy dips and offered prayers to Surya Dev. Celebrations included shopping, temporary markets, and the ‘Kharna’ ritual at Durgiana Temple, leading to traffic congestion.

New credit course, Punjab Entrepreneurship Mindset Programme, integrated across the GNDU ecosystem

Amritsar rural police arrested three individuals in two incidents, seizing five pistols smuggled from Pakistan. The CIA staff apprehended Jaswinder Singh and Jasbir Singh, recovering four pistols. Ramdass police arrested Gurbhej Singh, finding one pistol and two bullets. Investigations are ongoing to determine the weapons' source.

City authorities demolished an illegally built house of a drug-smuggling family in Amritsar. Ranjit Singh and family, facing over 15 drug-related FIRs, had their property demolished as part of a crackdown on narcotics offenders. Family members are currently facing jail time and numerous charges.

Smuggling of firearms from Pakistan into Punjab has increased significantly, including AK-47s and RPGs. Recent seizures indicate attempts to destabilize the region, with attacks on police facilities. Drones and land routes are used to transport weapons, often controlled by handlers in Pakistan. The BSF and Punjab Police have made numerous seizures and arrests.

Following Punjab floods, the Voice of Amritsar (VOA) transitioned from emergency relief to reconstruction and livelihood restoration. VOA provided essential supplies and initiated rebuilding in several villages, including homes and infrastructure. Health camps were organized, and partnerships with various organizations facilitated the efforts.

Rural Pharmacy Officers plan a state-level demonstration in Tarn Taran on November 2nd, demanding service regularization and better salaries after 20 years. If unmet, an indefinite sit-in will follow.

The Kalgidhar Trust provided keys to five new pre-fabricated homes for flood victims in Punjab, along with essential household items. The Trust aims to build 100 homes and is committed to transparency. Akal Sewa teams rescued over 7,500 people, and more homes were handed out in Gurdaspur.

The NCB arrested ex-health official Rakesh Sharma for illegal tramadol supply to private hospitals exceeding quotas. Eight arrests have been made, with assets worth ₹25 crore frozen. The ED will investigate financial networks and potential bribery, focusing on real estate and foreign links.

Punjab universities extended admission deadlines to October 30 due to floods, with online admissions until November 7, following a Supreme Court order. GNDU has a late fee of up to Rs 30,000, drawing criticism. Officials state fee applies generally, but flood-affected students can request waivers.

First Person: Manisha Dhanuka, Principal, Stalwarts World School, emphasises a balance between traditional discipline & contemporary learning tools

Stubble burning incidents in Amritsar district have decreased by 33% this year. The decline is attributed to farmer cooperation and joint departmental efforts, with legal action taken in confirmed cases. Increased use of balers and in-situ machines further aids residue management. Officials hope for a further reduction in incidents.