Border range: Residents question authorities

Attaching Tarn Taran with the border police range Ferozepur had been questioned by many. Tarn Taran was the part of revenue Amritsar district after Independence. When it got revenue district status in 2006, it was affiliated with police border range, Amritsar, under routine. Capt Amarinder Singh during his tenure as the Chief Minister had attached Tarn Taran with the Ferozepur police range. Residents had been questioning the authorities concerned that the move was against the people’s interests. The residents said that Amritsar is just 25 km away from Tarn Taran while Ferozepur was situated at a distance of over 100 km. Recently, Sikh Students Federation leader Kashmir Singh Sangha and other presented a memorandum to DC Kulwant Singh in this regard and appealed to the Chief Minister to restore the previous status by attaching Tarn Taran with Amritsar district as its border police range. They said the present situation was putting financial burden on the residents and wasting their precious time.

MLA Agnihotri emerges as strongest leader

Having managed to keep his competitors at bay within the party, Tarn Taran MLA Dr Dharambir Agnihotri has emerged to be the strongest leader in the constituency. Born in Sheron village in a well-established family, Dr Agnihotri started his political career as the sarpanch of the village. In 2017, he defeated SAD leader Harmit Singh Sandhu to get an entry to the Assembly. In the election of 2017, he faced challenge from many ticket aspirants within the party. Many leaders who had their solid influences in their pockets could not stand a chance in front of Dr Agnihotri because of his style of working. Cheema brothers with their influence in a number of border area villages had to leave Congress. The same is the fate of Harjinder Singh Alias Vicky Tharu, member, Zila Parishad. His younger brother Parminder Singh is the sarpanch of Tharu village. His father Ranjit Singh Sandhu is an established politician and well-settled businessman. MLA Sukhpal Singh Bhullar is a close relative of the family. Jatinder Sood, three-time president of Tarn Taran, MC, had been supporting Dr Agnihotri since years had been cornered. Many others established leaders of their respective area had been replaced with new leaders. Dr Agnihotri, with his political experience and team of loyalists such as Sandeep Agnihotri (his son), Sonu Dode, Kashmir Bhola etc., had been successful in eliminating the political existence of all those who were considered themselves as the established leaders in their respective sphere.

Politician in service of humanity

Bhupinder Singh Bittu a well-known face in the political circles is whole-heartedly active in social activities since decades in Khadoor Sahib area on a very large scale. Recently, a free eye check-up camp in Khawaspur village was organised by him. As many as 10 persons had been operated upon free of cost. He had extended offer to the Class XII passed girls of the needy families of his all financial help up to MA standard through online education. He was extending help to as many as 160 girls this way. He often organises camps in different villages to help the poor. — Gurbaxpuri