Written by Kamaldeep Singh BrarAmritsar | January 1, 2026 12:16 AM IST 2 min readRegarding previous tender cancellations, Rintu said, back then, the government changed. “When the other political official came here, the charge was with the DC, and he came and cancelled all the tenders that had been placed. And this…tender was one of them”.Punjab government has suspended seven engineers from the Amritsar Improvement Trust over alleged irregularities in a Rs 52.80-crore tender for the Ranjit Avenue development project, it has been learnt.A December 30 order issued by by Local Government Secretary Manjeet Singh Brar lists Satbhushan Sachdeva (Executive Engineer), Raminderpal Singh and Bikram Singh (Trust Engineers), Sukhrippal Singh, Shubham Pipesh, and Manpreet Singh (Assistant Trust Engineers), and Mandeep Singh (Junior Engineer). The order issued under Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeals) Rules 1970, fixes their headquarters at the Local Government Department’s Chandigarh office during suspension.Improvement Trust chairman Kiranjeet Singh Rintu confirmed that the suspensions were related to the same matter involving the SSP, explaining that “primarily, the contractors had complaints against each other following which the Chief Secretary had marked an inquiry”. Rintu said, “This inquiry was constituted under the purview of the DC (Deputy Commissioner). The DC further formed a sub-committee”. He added that “action has been taken based on the committee’s report”.Asked about development priorities between the affluent Ranjit Avenue and underserved areas like Jahajgarh, Rintu defended the allocation, saying, “You cannot compare the property value…here the land is worth Rs four to five lakh per yard”. He assured that “work is going on in other areas too”.Regarding previous tender cancellations, Rintu said, back then, the government changed. “When the other political official came here, the charge was with the DC, and he came and cancelled all the tenders that had been placed. And this…tender was one of them”.The action followed complaints by Seegal India Limited about tender process flaws, leading Amritsar DC to form a four-member probe committee whose findings prompted the suspensions. Earlier, Vigilance SSP Lakhbir Singh was also suspended in a related matter. Copies of the order have been sent to the Local Government Director, Deputy Commissioner Amritsar, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development), and Trust officials for necessary action, with the probe ongoing and potential for further measures. This move underscores the Mann government’s firm stance against corruption on the year’s last day. Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Amritsar