05012021-ATR-01.qxd 1/4/2021 11:30 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE RADIOGRAPHERS THREATEN TO STRIKE WORK FROM TOMORROW PAGE 2 They have threatened to strike work from January 6 in protest against the chargesheet issued to two radiographers. FORECAST THUNDERSTORM INBRIEF ONE DIES, 14 NEW CASES IN DISTRICT Amritsar: The health authorities reported one Covid-19 related death in Amritsar district on Monday. With this, the toll has reached 559 in the district. The deceased has been identified as Harbhajan Kaur (70), a resident of Indira colony (Kot Khalsa). The health authorities reported 14 fresh positive cases. As a result, the count has increased to 14,579. The new cases include six influenza-like illness cases and eight contacts of positive patients. With recovery of 55 patients, the recovery count has touched 13,681. At present, the district has a total of 284 active cases. TNS COUPLE KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENT Tarn Taran: Paramjit Singh (54) and his wife Kulwinder Kaur (50) of Dinewal village died on the spot in a road accident which took place 15 km away from their village. ASI Sarabjit Singh said deceased Paramjit Singh, along with his wife, was coming back to his village from the nearby Bath village on their motorcycle when a car coming from the opposite side hit their motorcycle. The car was in such a speed that their motorcycle went a few kilometers away from the road. The couple died on the spot. The ASI said the car driver has been identified as Joginder Singh Gabbar of the Dinewal village who had been booked under Sections 304-A, 279, 427 of the IPC. The accused fled from the spot. The police have taken the car into their custody. OC 1 ARRESTED WITH 135 GM OF HEROIN Tarn Taran: A team of policemen arrested Gurpartap Singh of Kauonke (Amritsar) village with 135 grams of heroin from Bhuse village under the Sarai Amanat Khan police station here on Sunday. ASI Narinderpal Singh, who led the police party, said a case under Sections 21-B 61, and 85 of the NDPS Act had been registered against the accused. OC DILJIT DOSANJH GIVES PROOF OF HIS INDIAN CITIZENSHIP PAGE 3 RUSLAAN MUMTAAZ TO STAR IN SHOW NIKKI AUR JADUI BUBBLE Diljit Dosanjh has been standing strong with farmers ever since they started their protest against the farm laws. MAX 16°C | MIN 13°C | YESTERDAY MAX 18°C | MIN 13°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5:41 PM PAGE 4 Famed actor Ruslaan Mumtaaz will soon be seen in a magician’s avatar in Dangal TV’s Nikki Aur Jadui Bubble. SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:31 AM TUESDAY | 5 JANUARY 2021 | AMRITSAR Class VIII student comes up with a ‘blowing’ away innovation Daily wager’s son builds an inexpensive air purifier, gets selected for Inspire Award for thinking out of the box Neha Saini THAT’S MY FAVOURITE CLUB! Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 4 Arshdeep Singh, 16, a student of Government Middle School Bhoewali, has been selected for the Inspire Award, which is given by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to encourage and develop innovations in the field of science. Arshdeep, who is a Class VIII student, along with his younger brother Amandeep, had developed a prototype of a low-cost air purifying system with help of his mentor Pankaj Sharma, who is also a science teacher at his school. His father Harpreet Singh is a Arshdeep credits the Village Science Club, established by his mentor, for building his scientific temperament. Pankaj has been running the club under the school’s patronship for the past 10 years. “The award aims to motivate students to think out-of-box and pursue careers in science. The club that was set up in 2010 also drives home a similar purpose and continues to mentor and nurture new ideas from the students of the school who are its members.” Apart from this, 80 educators are also members of the club. It had set up two science workshops in the village, one in Arshdeep’s home and another in a fellow student’s home during the lockdown to continue with practical training of students who had developed several prototypes in previous projects. combine driver, who earns his daily wages and supports his son’s dreams of becoming an engineer. “I had conceived the idea of building an air purifier as air pol- lution has become an immediate concern for urban as well rural India. We had built the prototype using a cardboard box, PVC pipes and a fan attached with a motor. It ❝ YOUNG, CREATIVE & SENSITIVE We built the prototype using a cardboard box, PVC pipes and a fan attached with a motor. It took us one day to build the entire system, but the preparations took a few days. Arshdeep will now be developing his prototype further for improvement and participating in the top-60 slot from the country, who will finally be assisted by the government for their projects. Arshdeep Singh ❞ took us one day to build the entire system, but the preparations took a few days,” said Arshdeep. He has received a cash prize of ~10,000 for this under the Manak Scheme to develop his idea further. Arshdeep has many more brilliant ideas that he wants to work on. “I think that science is the most fun and important field of study. I want to build things that are low-cost and help our community grow without harming the environment.” As for his prototype, the air purifying system works on the same principle that most air purifiers work on, only it is built with minimal cost. “He had used a cardboard box as an outer body, with fan motor used as for suction. He used PVC pipes for inlet and outlet used for air and a filter fitted in between the body. His project was among the 21 projects selected from Amritsar district for the Inspire Award. This year a total of 1 lakh ideas sent across the country were selected for the award,” said Pankaj. Dhab drain raises Minor girl raped, 5 booked Tungposes health hazard stink, Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 4 A minor girl was allegedly kept in detention and raped in Chheharta. The incident came to light after the victim lodged a complaint with the Chheharta police in this regard. The police have nabbed a couple, Gurmeet Kaur and her husband Narinder Singh, both residents of Jalandhar. The police have also booked Sandeep Bal, a resident of Ramuwal village, falling under the jurisdiction of Gharinda police station, Amrita, a resident of Jalandhar, and an unknown person. The victim’s mother stated to the police that Gurmeet and Narinder reside in front of her house in Jalandhar. She said around two months ago, the accused took her 13year-old daughter with them to Chheharta area due to marriage of their daughter. She alleged that on December 9, her daughter called her and informed that Amrita forced her to watch obscene clips and locked her in a room with Sandeep, who raped her. The victim’s mother alleged that Gurmeet threatened her daughter of dire consequences if she told anybody about the incident. She informed that Narinder and an unknown person also sexually exploited her minor daughter. Investigating Officer Gurwinder Kaur said Gurmeet and her husband were arrested and they were conducting raids to the remaining suspects. She said medical examination of the victim had been conducted and her statement has been recorded before a Magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC. A case under Sections 376, 120-B, 342 and 506 of the IPC and Section 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act has been registered. Four inmates booked for attacking fellow prisoner A jail inmate, identified as Harjinder Singh alias Jindu, was brutally assaulted by four fellow prisoners inside the Central Jail here on Sunday evening. The police have booked the accused for violating jail manual. They were identified as Amandeep Singh, alias Aman, Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, Shashipal Singh, alias Manu and Shekhar Singh. Drug peddler sent to judicial custody, accomplices on run SMUGGLING BID AT IB Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 4 Even after three-day police remand of an alleged drug peddler Jobanpreet Singh, a resident of Ladeh village, ended on Monday, the police have failed to nab his accomplices to date. Jobanpreet was presented before the court today, which sent him to the judicial custody. He was held in connection with smuggling bids in which two Pakistani smugglers were shot down by the BSF on December 17. The BSF had foiled two smuggling bids near Rajatal border outpost. The BSF seized AK-56 rifle, two magazines, 61 live rounds, a magnum rifle, magazine with 29 rounds, a pistol with two magazines, two PVC pipes, and Rs 30 in Pakistani currency were recovered from slain intruders. The BSF had recovered 3-kg heroin from around 1 km ahead of the spot. He was held in connection with smuggling bids in which two Pakistani smugglers were shot down by the BSF on December 17. The BSF had foiled two smuggling bids near Rajatal border outpost Jobanpreet was nabbed following technical input and human intelligence, which pointed that the accused were in the area for allegedly retrieving drugs and weapons. His accomplices included Jaskaran Singh alias, Billa, and Gopi of Dauke, Sukhbir Singh alias, Sukha, and Chamkaur Singh, both residents of Bhuse village, located near Indo-Pak border. Maninder Singh, SHO, Attari police station, said, “They have gone underground following the arrest of Jobanpreet. No recovery could be made from him as he along with his accomplices fled from the spot after hearing gunshots on December 17.” Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 4 Residents of Holy City Colony, close to the Tung Dhab drain, have been running from pillar to post to find a solution to the foul smell and poisonous gases emanating out of it, affecting several residents in the vicinity. In a communique to the Punjab Drainage and Irrigation Department, residents of Holy City Colony, Gumtala Bypass, stated that: the Tung Dhab storm water drain is being used to dump unchecked and untreated lethal industrial effluents for the past several years. There are many residential colonies and other establishments around this drain which are being directly affected due by the harmful fumes. With the passage of time, foul smell emanating from the choked water drain has assumed alarming proportions, causing considerable damage to the household appliances, resulting in leakage in copper pipes of refrigerators and air conditioners and causing corrosion and Residents of Holy City Colony, close to the Tung Dhab drain, seek a solution to noxious gas emanating from the drain. SUNIL KUMAR deterioration of metal substances and paint surfaces. The effect of these fumes on hard surfaces indicates that how harmful these may be to the human beings if it can corrode a copper pipe in a matter of few months. There has been a regular deterioration of groundwater via seepage of lethal chemicals continued on page 2 Feathered denizens take Watching the changes as they come refuge in architect’s garden NEW Private security biz takes on a new face amid the pandemic N RMAL GREEN FINGERS ❝After the pandemic hit, we started a sensitisation programme for our staff. They were made aware of social distancing, sanitisation and the need for wearing masks. It was not only about business in the changed scenario, but also about the health of our workers. Harmanjot Singh Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 4 Birds and squirrels are permanent guests at the house of the architect couple Dalbir Singh and Parminder Golden. They like to savour pomegranate, peach, guava and flowers in their garden. An architect by profession, Parminder Golden (57) has been tending to her garden for the past many decades. Following in her footsteps are her two daughters Pearl and Sparkle. An architect herself, she designed three types of garden in her house spread over 750-square yard of land on the GT Road. All five bedrooms in the house offer a garden view, which is possible even from the two lobbies and kitchen of the two storey building. Spread over a 200 square yard, the front lawn has differ- An architect by profession, Parminder Golden (57) has been tending to her garden for the past many decades. SUNIL KUMAR ent varieties of cactus, narangi, bougainvillea, custard apple, blue climbers, madhumalti, kari pata, colourful seasonal plants and others. Before one enters the house, the outside boundary wall greets the visitors with phy- cus, kaner and other climbers. If the front yard is replete with ornamental plants, the backyard has more fruit trees. The 250 square yard area has 10 plants of banana, five trees of papaya, four continued on page 2 Amritsar, January 4 When the pandemic hit in March last year and subsequently the nationwide lockdown was imposed, all sectors of the economy, including service industry were devastated. Those affected due to the lockdown included army veterans who were working as security personnel for private security agencies to supplement their income. With businesses closed, the private security guards and agencies found themselves in a spot. However, the sun shined for them in the following weeks as government declared security as essential services. But, the trouble was not over as private security businesses had to adapt to the new protocols and requirements. Talking to The Tribune about the change, Harmanjot Singh Chahal, director, Sara- c m y b ❞ With businesses closed, the private security guards and agencies found themselves in a spot. Chahal, DIRECTOR, SARAGARHI SECURITY SOLUTIONS garhi Security Solutions, a private company providing security personnel on demand across the state said, “After the Covid pandemic hit, we started a sensitisation programme for our staff. They were made aware of the social distancing, correct methodology of sanitisation and need for wearing masks. It was not only about the business in the changed scenario ly growing in big cities. Apart from providing services at offices, factories, shopping malls, they are not being engaged to ensure order and safety of guests at private functions and marriage parties. Even the demand for ‘stay-athome’ security guards is on the rise, stated insiders. Even private security guards were seen managing the affairs at Covid care centres. but also about the health of our workers. Now these programmes are a routine.” In the changed circumstances, a private security guard’s job is about ensuring order but also has someone who has been entrusted with the task of checking body temperature and ensuring that the visitor sanitises his or her hands before entering the premises. “Checking body temperature with thermal scanners and asking people to use sanitisers are the new additions to our list of chores which earlier included ensuring that no one carries a weapon and to register the visitors name in the record register,” said Kewal Singh, a private security guard outside a bank. Considering the situation of law and order, the demand for private security is continuous-