Amritsar, June 1
The power tussle between the ruling alliance partners in the state --- the SAD and the BJP --- has come to fore with both fielding party candidates from two wards for the MC elections.

While both the parties have strictly adhered to seat sharing arrangements in all other wards, separate candidates, who have also been allotted party symbols --- scales and lotus flower --- for contesting the elections, have been fielded from Wards 14 and 53.

The BJP has fielded Neelam Bala from Ward number 14 against Kashmir Kaur of the SAD. In Ward number 53, Som Dev Sharma has been nominated by the BJP and Avinash Chander Jolly has been fielded by the SAD.

As per the seat sharing arrangement, Ward number 14 was with the SAD and Ward number 53 was with the BJP.

District SAD President Upkar Singh Sandhu said, "Initially there were talks of exchange of seats. As per the decision of senior leaders, Avinash Jolly filed his nomination from Ward 53. In the evening there was some confusion and BJP's Som Dutt Sharma too filed his nomination."

He said similarly both the parties happened to have allotted tickets from Ward number 14. He said there is no rift between the two parties and alliance is as strong and united as ever. 

Amritsar, June 1
With less than two weeks remaining for the MC polls, the police is yet to take strict measures regarding deposit of firearms by licence holders.

A number of incidents have occurred in the recent past in which firearms were used by warring groups to settle their scores. There are approximately 8,500 arms holders in the city.

Police Commissioner RP Mittal has passed instructions to lower rank officials, including SHOs, and the arms licencing branch to ask people to deposit their arms with respective police stations. But the orders were yet to be implemented in letter and spirit.

The police authorities said so far about 700 holders have deposited their arms with the police. Sources said over 3,500 firearms were still to be deposited with the police.

Deputy Commissioner of Police SP Joshi said as some time is left, people would be pursued to deposit their arms with the police. He pointed out that huge number of arms, which were deposited with the department in view of the Assembly elections were already in the possession of the police. He said more efforts would be made in this direction.

It is pertinent to mention here that a number of arms holders had failed to deposit their arms with the police before the Assembly elections even as the police had issued timely instructions.

Amritsar, June 1
The Civil Lines police has nabbed five persons involved in snatching incidents in the city.

Those arrested are Vineet Kumar and Mohit Kumar of Gilwali Gate, Jaswinder Singh of Kot Mit Singh, Ranjit Singh of East Mohan Nagar and Taranbir Singh of Gurnam Nagar, Sultanwind road.

The police recovered three stolen motorcycles, 200 grams of narcotic powder besides eight mobile phones and a purse from their possession.

The police authorities revealed that during interrogation the accused confessed to have committed 15 snatchings in Rani Ka Bagh, Gilwali Gate, Sultanwind Roa, Lawrence Road, Ranjit Avenue and railway station.

The accused have been booked under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC and Section 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act.

Meanwhile, the CIA staff nabbed Lakhbir Singh of Sunder Nagar with 350 grams of charas.

The police also recovered five mobile phones besides a stolen motorcycle (without registration number) from him.

A case under Sections 382, 379 and 411 of the IPC and Sections 20, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against him at B-division police station here.

Lakhbir Singh was caught during a naka near the Chamrang road. During investigations, the accused admitted to snatching mobile phones from near the bus stand, Durgiana Temple and Gopal temple areas. Cases have been registered at respective police stations in this regard.

Amritsar, June 1
Even as the authorities as well as politicians are trying to acquire heritage status for the holy city, yet they seem least bothered about the cleanliness around the periphery of the Golden Temple in Ward number 25.

Except the main roads, the internal roads are not well maintained thus causing great inconvenience to the residents. The roads leading to the Sikh shrine from Mahan Singh Gate, Ghee Mandi Gate, and Sherawala Gate which fall in this ward need immediate attention.

There is negligible green belt thanks to the apathy of the authorities concerned which give two hoots to the well publicised go green campaign. On both sides of Sherawala Gate there is massive encroachment on the green belt, which serves as a haphazard parking place for the vehicles.

Rumours that city Mayor Shwait Malik may contest elections from this ward few weeks ago cheered many. Some development projects were also announced, including the revamping of sewerage system and concrete flooring of lanes, but it all got stalled midway when Malik's candidature was announced from an adjoining ward.

The project of concrete lanes at Mirza Gali was stalled midway. Another astonishing factor which came to light was that the authorities have turned a blind eye to the vintage buildings, which have already been declared unsafe.

The traffic chaos and roadside encroachments is common while the authorities have done nothing to remove the encroachments from the footpaths.

Our area which is adjacent to Golden Temple is generally littered with garbage scattered on the roads. I seldom see MC men cleaning it up. What impression will it have on the visitors?
— Jagdish Singh

I have been living in this area for the past many decades, but I never saw any works being done in the name of development, while the condition of roads and sewerage system has gone from bad to worse during the period.
— Chander Mohan

Political discrimination is the major cause for under-development in the ward. The laying of sewerage in Bhushanpura, Trust Chowk and Tarekwali Gali has not been completed. No development work was ever done in my ward which houses the holiest Sikh Shrine. A look at the roads leading to the Golden Temple from three gates, would tell all
— Surjit Kaur, congress

Amritsar, June 1
Unmetalled roads, absence of sewerage system and clean drinking water are major problems being faced by residents of Ward 18.

Areas of of Dashmesh Nagar, Mohkampura, Rusulpur Kallar, Hari Singh Nagar, New Judge Nagar, Chowdhury Hari Singh Nagar and others fall in this ward.

A visit to the area is enough to gauge the plight of the people living here. Residents have dug up deep pits to dispose of sewage and when these pits are filled to capacity, filthy water is drained out in the open grounds, making it a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

A majority of residents are from the low-income group. Some of the amenities make it slightly better than the slum. In the name of roads, brick lanes have been provided. The quality of underground water is also not up to the mark, say residents.

Historic Chalis Khuh, also known as Rose Garden and Leisure Valley, is also located in this ward. Considered as one of the major green lungs of the city, it is in a shambles. Spread over 44 acres, the garden derived its name Chalis Khuh from 40 wells situated in the garden, which used to supply water to the walled city during the British era. However, its topography is being changed by raising dwellings for the economically weaker families. 

Scarcity of potable water is the biggest problem. The problem needs to be addressed immediately. Residents of the area fall sick frequently after drinking contaminated water
— Yash Pal Bhatia

When I was elected from this ward, a majority of its areas were without basic amenities. Many projects, including laying of brick streets in Rasulpur Kallar and Rose Nagar and construction of concrete streets in other areas of the ward, were initiated during my tenure. Projects worth Rs 20 lakh in Rasulpur Kallar and Rs 39 lakh in Judge Nagar were also initiated. Tenders for installing a tubewell at Hari Singh Nagar, water supply to Mahindra Colony at and sewerage system at Mohkampura are under process
— Dr Jatinder Pal Singh Ghuman

As many as 63 MBA students of Guru Nanak Dev University have been recruited by different companies during campus placements.

Dr Hardeep Singh, Director, Placements, said Axis Bank selected 32 students, HDFC Bank selected 16 students, SBI Life Insurance selected 6 students, Oriental Bank of Commerce selected six students, Reliance Retail selected two students and Khanna Paper Mills selected two students. He said these students will join their duties immediately after their final exams.