11012024-ATR-01.qxd 1/10/2024 11:50 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST FOG/MIST IN MORNING STRAY ANIMALS ADD TO ROAD RISK AMID FOGGY WEATHER TOM STRIKES STRATEGIC MOVIE DEAL WITH WARNER BROS ANUPAMAA REFLECTS REALITY, SAYS ACTOR SUKIRTI KANDPAL Stray animals roaming on city roads, especially in bypass lanes, are a threat to safety of commuters. P2 Tom Cruise and his production co will have offices on Warner Bros Discovery lot in Burbank, California. P3 MAX 12°C | MIN 6°C YESTERDAY MAX 12°C | MIN 7°C Talking about her character’s relatability, Kandpal said, “Shruti is today’s girl and has cool lingo. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 5.45 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:31 AM » THURSDAY | 11 JANUARY 2024 | AMRITSAR Implement Old Pension Scheme, say rly unions Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 10 Members of the Northern Railway Men’s Union (NRMU) and the Uttar Railway Mazdoor Union (URMU) held protests here on Wednesday. They were demanding the revival of the old pension scheme and filling vacant positions in various departments of the Railways. Raising slogans against the Union Government, they held protests at the railway station and outside the railway workshop. Ish Devgan, chairman of the NRMU coordination committee, said as per the directions of the central committee of the NRMU, they were holding a protest against the New Pension Scheme (NPS). He said those appointed after January 1, 2004, would get a measly pension at superannuation. The NPS amount is invested in the share market and its authenticity would remain in doubt. He said around two lakh posts were lying vacant in the Railways, which concerns the safety of trains. Day after assault on cops, police raid Kot Sidhu village Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, January 10 Gurmeet Singh (50), a resident of Gharka village falling under Chohla Sahib police station, was found murdered on Tuesday night under mysterious circumstances. The body was found from the Kot Muhammad Khan area falling under Sri Goindwal Sahib police station by the family. Gurmeet Singh was an employee of Punjab Roadways and was working in the Tarn Taran depot. Jagjit Singh, brother of the deceased, said that when his brother failed to Man held for robbing Delhi resident 1.5 KG HEROIN SEIZURE Our Correspondent PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service ILLEGAL MINING Several persons booked; five more tippers seized PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 10 A day after the assault on a police team by illegal sand miners, the Amritsar Rural Police launched a major crackdown on illegal sand miners in Kot Sidhu village here on Wednesday. The crackdown led to the recovery of five more tippers from the village and arrest of around six more persons nominated in the FIR for illegal sand excavation. The police had already arrested two suspects who had assaulted the cops at a checkpoint on Ram Tirath Road falling under the jurisdiction of the Kamboh police. They were identified as Kuldeep Singh of Shahpur and Harjit Singh of Kot Sidhu village. The police had confiscated a tipper along with a Bolero vehicle carrying 800 cubic feet of illegal sand. They were booked on Cops with the seized tippers in Amritsar on Wednesday. VISHAL KUMAR charges of murder bid (Section 307, IPC), assaulting and disrupting a government servant from discharging his duty (353 and 186 of the IPC) and criminal conspiracy (120-B, IPC). Superintendent of Police Gurpartap Singh Sahota and DSP (Attari) Gurinderpal Singh Nagra informed that the police got a tip-off that several tippers laden with Mystery shrouds murder of 50-year-old Gharka resident His nambardar father was killed 4 yrs back Harpreet lured by US drug peddler: Probe return home till late in the night on Tuesday, the members of the family Gurmeet Singh searched for him in the area. The family recovered the body from the fields of Kot Muhammad Khan. Jagjit Singh, in his statement to Goindwal Sahib police, said that Gurmeet Singh, after performing his duties, was on his way back home on a motorcycle when he was attacked by unidentified miscreants with a sharpedged weapon. He said that the weapon used in the crime was so sharp that it pierced all the layers of heavy winter clothes. The family informed the police about the incident. SHO Paramjit Singh said that a case under Section 302 and 34 of IPC has been registered in this regard on the basis of the statement of Jagjit Singh, brother of the deceased. Kashmir Singh, Nambardar, father of the deceased, was also murdered about four years back and the case regarding his murder is still in court. The deceased Gurmeet Singh was an eyewitness in the case. The family is trying to co-relate the incident with that case process. illegally excavated sand were coming going from the Ram Tirath side to Amritsar. A Bolero (PB-02-EE-3577) driven by Kuldeep and Harjit were guiding these tippers. They said police teams immediately laid a naka on Ram Tirath Road. When the police team signalled the tippers to stop, they tried to run over the cops after breaking the barricades. The duo later STF nabs two with 700 gm of contraband Amritsar, January 10 The Special Task Force on Wednesday arrested two drug peddlers and confiscated 700gm heroin from them here. One of their accomplices managed to flee the spot. Those held were identified as Sahil Gill and Gabrial Masih of Gumtala and the absconder as Gopi of Mahal village. The STF said the police got a tip- off that three drug traffickers were waiting for clients near Kanwar Farms near the Golden Gate. Police teams raided the spot and found a car stationed near the spot. On seeing the police party, the car driver sped away from the scene and two of his accomplices who were standing outside the car were overpowered and nabbed by the police team. — TNS started abusing the police team and assaulted them. They torn the uniforms of the cops and helped the tippers to flee the spot. On Wednesday, police teams from the Lopoke, Bhindi Saida and Kamboh police stations surrounded the village and conducted raids in the village. During the raids, the police recovered five more tippers and nominated several other illegal sand miners whose names were withheld by police officials till their arrest. The operation continued till late evening. Illegal sand mining in the Ravi belt and several other parts of rural areas has been going on unchecked. Teams of the Mining Department in the past found huge pits in the village hinting at largescale illegal sand excavation. Whenever complaints were lodged by the Mining Department, police teams accompanied them to the spot and cases were registered against accused. Amritsar, January 10 Harpreet Singh (36), the driver of a combine harvester at Bhadhani in Moga, was lured by US-based drug peddler Mandeep Singh to earn ‘easy and handsome monetary returns’. He promised him good amount of money while enticing him to join the illegal trade and work for his cartel. This came to light during his interrogation by the city police. Harpreet Singh was arrested by the police for allegedly possessing 1.5 kg of heroin and Rs 3 lakh of drug money. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (City–I) Dr Mehtab Singh said that during preliminary probe, it was found that Harpreet Singh did not have any previous criminal record. He was arrested for the first time in connection with narcotics trade and his credentials were being verified with the Moga police, he said. The police was also looking into the antecedents of US- Probe on to check links with drug smuggler who hails from same village based drug smuggler Mandeep Singh who originally hailed from the same (Rama) village as Harpreet Singh. Mandeep Singh had left for US around six years ago. He said the police were also identifying his properties in Moga which would be attached during further course of investigations. Harpreet Singh was arrested while he was returning after getting the delivery of contraband from an unknown person in the Mochi Bazar area yesterday. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that investigations were in progress to identify the backward and forward linkages to smash the entire drug nexus. Their links with Pakistan-based drug smugglers were also being looked into. Besides, ascertaining the total quantity of narcotics procured by the arrested suspects till date was also on, he added. Tarn Taran, January 10 The Kacha Pakka police on Tuesday arrested Heera Singh, a resident of Chuslewar village, for robbing Angrej Singh of Delhi who was here in connection with some business. Victim Angrej Singh was waiting for a bus to go to Dialpur at the Patti crossing on Tuesday. Meanwhile, accused Heera Singh, who was driving a Swift car, appeared on the spot and offered Angrej Singh a lift up to Dialpur as he said he was going in that direction. Angrej Singh immediately got into his car. Hardly had they gone a few kilometres way when Heera Singh threatened him with a knife and demanded to hand over all his belongings. Angrej Singh gave him all articles he had with him and Heera Singh pushed him out of the car and drove away. Angrej Singh lodged a complaint with the Kacha Pakka police. Inspector Parwinder Singh, SHO, said the accused was arrested soon after registering a case in this regard on Tuesday. Warm welcome of MAKA Trophy at GNDU Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 10 Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) celebrated a silver jubilee moment as it welcomed the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy to its campus for the 25th time. The university emerged as the winner, beating over 1,000 universities across the country. The university’s sportspersons, students, officials and members of faculty turned out in huge numbers as Vice-Chancellor Prof Jaspal Singh Sandhu dedicated the trophy to all those behind the university’s sporting success. Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Punjab, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer presided over the celebratory event as university officials and sportspersons for their Sports students and officials celebrate the winning of the MAKA Trophy by GNDU in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR contribution in winning the trophy. He also congratulated two Arujna Awardee from GNDU, shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar of the Physical Education Department of GNDU and para- canoe player Prachi Yadav of HMV College, Jalandhar, who were honoured by the President of India. Gurmeet Singh said Punjab has a legacy of sports culture, which needs to be pre- served. ‘For this, the Punjab Government has proposed to set up village-to-village sports nurseries,” he shared. He invited all those colleges, schools and other institutions to prepare sports nurseries at their level, the government will provide them one coach and other facilities. He also announced R25 lakh for GNDU sports equipment on behalf of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. The trophy, adorned with flowers, was paraded on an open jeep alongside accomplished players from national and international sports events. Led by Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, ViceChancellor Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Prof KS Kahlon, university’s sports department, the procession toured continued on page 2 Ramps at traffic lights has no rationale: MLA Pratap Chinese dor has taken away traditional Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 10 Amritsar North MLA Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh has raised objections over the construction of pedestrian paths on the busy Mall road. The Amritsar Smart City Limited is constructing these paths under the Smart Junctions project, claiming ease in the movement of traffic and safety of pedestrians. The construction work is going on at several intersections of the city. The commuters have been regularly complaining about the long traffic jams due to the construction of these pedestrian paths, he said. Today, the Amritsar North MLA went live on social media claiming that he had lodged his protest with the Smart City panel but the work was still continuing. “We will not tolerate the wrongdoings of bureaucrats. Why are these ramps being constructed on Mall road, these are not path- Questions efficacy of their construction to ease traffic jams A view of under-construction pedestrian pathways at Mall Road in Amritsar on Tuesday. VISHAL KUMAR ways, they are more like a speed-breaker, of no use? We want to know who allowed the MC to construct these ramps at traffic lights? It would lead to regular traffic jams and accidents. The officials are creating inconvenience and the people will face prob- lems. Is there any other country where such ramps have been constructed on roads,” asked Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh. He also questioned the functioning of Amritsar Smart City Limited (ASCL) and its coordination with people’s representatives. “The ASCL conducts coordination meetings with the local MP and MLAs. The District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committees (DISHAs) also conduct meetings. Why was the matter not discussed in the Smart City project advisory meeting. c m y b The bureaucrats are doing what they want to do. The sewerage system has collapsed, stinking water is overflowing in streets, people are getting contaminated water but the administration is spending public money on creating inconvenience. We will not tolerate it,” said the MLA. These Smart Junctions were already constructed on 22 chowks including Makhan Fish Chowk, GhalaMala Chowk, Bhagat Kabir Marg Chowk, Gurdwara Sandhu Wala Chowk, Ratan Singh Chowk, Hussainpura Chowk, Sangam Cinema Chowk, Ram Talai Mandir Chowk, Maqbulpura Chowk (GT Road), Islamabad Chowk, Raghunath Mandir Chowk, Naiyan Wala Chowk, Amritsar Cantt Chowk (Manekshaw Avenue), Albert Road Crossing (GT Road), Ramatirth Road Chowk (GT Road), Gurdwara Pipli Sahib Chowk (GT Road), Khalsa College Chowk, Bhandari Bridge Chowk and Batala Road Chowk. charm of kite-flying, say city residents Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 10 With time, the fervour associated with flying kites has also been affected. The loud sounds of ‘Bo-Kata’, frequently expressing hurray over the sniping away of a kite of another flyer, has ceased to rent the air after the synthetic string started replacing the traditional ‘dor’. Aerial duels between two rivals trying to bring down the kites of others has become a thing of the past. Jaswinder Singh, a local resident, said it was a matter of concern that a healthy sport has been turned into a game of death and people getting injured. “Intense charm of kite flying has disappeared. No longer does kite-flying hold the thrill that it used to before the advent of synthetic string.” The aficionados of kiteflying say the age-old People purchase kites ahead of Lohri in Amritsar. VISHAL KUMAR charm of tradition has been diminished by synthetic string. Already, screen time has taken away the joy of kiteflying, encroaching upon the leisure time of children. There was a time when it was not unusual to see colourful kites dotting the city skyline. Children knocking at the doors of their neighbours saying their kites had landed on their rooftop were common. But with synthetic string and awareness campaigns against that harm that it can cause has somewhat eroded the plain simple joy of flying kites.