14012021-ATR-01.qxd 1/13/2021 11:10 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE PAGE 2 COLD WAVE FAILS TO CAST SHADOW OVER FESTIVITIES Severe weather conditions proved no deterrent to youth, who took to flying kites to celebrate Lohri on Wednesday. FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY INBRIEF COPS DONATE 550 UNITS OF BLOOD Tarn Taran: Police personnel of the district donated 550 units of blood at a camp organised in association with the Red Cross Society here on Wednesday. Women personnel also donated blood. It was Deputy Commissioner Kulwant Singh and SSP Dhruman H Nimbale who were among the first donors after the inauguration of the camp. The donors also included SPs, DSPs, SHOs, in-charges of police posts and other police staff working in offices. SSP Dhruman H Nimbale said the district police had offered to donate 1,000 units of blood but keeping in view the maximum monthly requirement of the Red Cross Society, only 550 units could be collected in the camp. Addressing on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner and the SSP said blood donation was the highest form humanitarian service which could save the life of a human being in the hour of need. The donors were given certificates by the SSP. OC 2 DEATHS, 24 NEW CASES IN DIST Amritsar: The district on Wednesday reported two deaths due to the Covid-19 contagion, pushing the toll to 567. The deceased have been identified as 82-year-old Prem Dass (82) of Azad Nagar (Chheharta) and 62-year-old Madhu Bala (62) of Chabal Road. The district health authorities reported 24 new cases, taking the total count to 14,765. The new cases include 12 influenza-like illness cases and 12 contacts of positive patients. Meanwhile, with the recovery of 35 patients, the recovery rate has risen to 14,051. At present, the district has a total of 147 active cases. TNS PAGE 3 I HAD THE GAME WRONG, READS SUSHANT'S NOTE THERE IS NO TURNING BACK FOR SIDHARRTH SIPANI Shweta shared a note by her late brother, where he admitted he got the game wrong after spending 30 yrs of his life. MAX 15°C | MIN 7°C | YESTERDAY MAX 16°C | MIN 3°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5:48 PM PAGE 4 Sidharrth Sipani, who is currently a part of the web series Fariha, talks about his future endeavours and more. SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:30 AM THURSDAY | 14 JANUARY 2021 | AMRITSAR Helpless, father of 4-yr-old girl is full of rage for stray dogs Gangsters fire at police party in Attari, escape His daughter Chanda was mauled to death by canines on Jan 6 outside her house Tribune News Service Manmeet Singh Gill ❝I see the same dogs roaming Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 13 When Murli Kumar, a migrant worker from Bihar, sees the same pack of stray dogs that killed Chanda, his four-and-a-half-year-old daughter on January 6 every day, he feels helpless and is full of anguish and rage. The January 6 incident went unreported as the poor farm worker felt it was better to resign to his fate. “I see the same dogs roaming around daily now. I am so helpless that I cannot even kill those dogs that killed my daughter,” said Murli, with a lump in his throat. He said he surely wants to kill those dogs, but knows it was against law and he could be sent to jail for doing so. “I want to kill those dogs, around daily now. I am so helpless that I cannot even kill those dogs that killed my daughter. I want to kill those dogs, but would not do so as I have a family to feed. Who will take care of them if I go to jail? Murli Kumar, ❞ The Municipal Corporation has tried initiating its dog sterilisation programme four times in the last four years, but has failed every time due to lack of proper infrastructure. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR but would not do so as I have a family to feed. Who will take care of them if I go to jail?” Murli asked. When questioned as to why he had not reported the incident to the police, he said: “What can I do? Everybody here knows about the incident. I thought it was better to take care of other members of the family instead of running for such things.” Little Chanda was playing outside her accommodation A MIGRANT WORKER FROM BIHAR at a rice mill in Malawali village, when a stray canine came running and went straight for her neck. continued on page 2 Amritsar, January 13 An exchange of fire took place between a police team and two unidentified gangsters in Attari near the IndoPak border on Wednesday. Eyewitnesses said a total of 15 rounds were fired from both sides. The police team chased them for 5 km, but gangsters escaped in a car. It has been learnt that the gangsters were going to hide the consignment of heroin and weapons somewhere near the Indo-Pak border. Cops from Gharinda police station had received information that two suspicious car-borne persons were going towards the Indo-Pak border. A police team led by SHO Maninder Singh and Paramjit Singh, in-charge of Kahangarh police post, set up a check point in this regard. WERE ABOUT TO HIDE DRUGS NEAR BORDER It has been learnt that the the accused were members of the notorious gangster Jaggu's gang. The car-borne gangsters were going to hide the consignment of heroin and weapons somewhere near the Indo-Pak border. When cops gave them signal to intercept the car, the occupants stopped the car. Seeing police personnel around, one of the gangsters opened fire. The policemen tried to defend themselves by taking positions. The accused reversed the car and fled. The policy party fired at the car. The police sources claimed that the accused were members of the notorious gangster Jaggu’s gang. Senior police officials also reached the spot and claimed that the gangsters would be arrested soon. Private firm to set up complaint centre at Ranjit Avenue Four held with 32-gm heroin Tribune News Service Man robbed of cash at gunpoint Our Correspondent Complaints regarding LED street lights to be addressed in 48 hrs Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 13 In a broad daylight incident of robbery, four unidentified car-borne youths robbed a person at gunpoint on the bypass road here on Tuesday. The victim, Avtar Singh (60) of Satkartar Nagar, told the police that he was going to Escort Hospital at around 7am. When he reached near the Mahal flyover, a car stopped near him. After stopping him, two of the occupants alighted from the car. They asked him to give cash and other valuables. On refusal, Avtar was manhandled by them. Two other accomplices, who were inside the car, asked them to shoot Avtar and snatch his valuables. Then one of the accused took out a pistol and pointed it at Avtar Singh who gave Rs 1,000 to them. The accused fled from the spot. On the complaint of Avtar Singh, the Kambo police have registered a case under Section 370 of the IPC. Amritsar, January 13 After the installation of 66,000 light emitting diodes (LED) under the Smart City project, a private firm (Smudra) is all set to establish a complaint centre for redressal of grievances. The Amritsar Smart City Limited (ASCL) had hired the firm under a condition to repair and maintain the lights for five years. The company has to repair the light within 48 hours after receiving the complaint. There’s a provision of penalising the firm in case it fails to address the issues. ❝ The work related to installation of LED lights has been completed in the city. The private firm will address the complaints within 48 hours. We assure that every street of the city will be properly lit. Karmajit Singh Rintu, MAYOR ❞ The Municipal Corporation will provide ~400 annually for maintenance of one point to the private firm. The company officials claimed that the complaint center was almost ready at Ranjit Avenue. Mayor Karmajit Singh Rin- tu said the work related to installation of LED lights has been completed in the city. “The private firm will address the complaints within 48 hours. We assure that every street of the city will be properly lit,” said Mayor. Tarn Taran, January 13 A team of CIA staff, Patti, arrested two persons of Sarhali Kalan village and recovered 5 gm of heroin from their possession while a police party of Sarai Amanat Khan arrested two persons with 27 gm of heroin on Tuesday evening. The police said the accused, arrested by the CIA staff, were identified as Guramrit Singh and Kashmir Singh Gora. The accused were in a car when they were nabbed by the police. The accused arrested by the Sarai Amanat Khan police were identified as Varinderpal Singh and Armanpreet Singh of Chheena Bidhi Chand. They were in a car when they were nabbed by the police party. The accused had been booked under Sections 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act. Sale of Chinese string On Lohri, farmers burn copies of farm laws People make a goes on unabated bonfire of farm Our Correspondent Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 13 Despite a ban, the sale and use of Chinese string during Lohri went unchecked in the city. Shopkeepers sold plastic string through their networks. Contrary to the claims of the district administration and the police, residents openly flouted rules. Social organisations had sought a ban on plastic string and had even demonstrated last week to pressurise the authorities and create awareness. Rohan Kumar, a social activist, said, “Several birds are killed or injured due to Chinese string. Birds, which fly at low height, suffer a lot. Sparrows, pigeons and doves cannot get free from the trap of plastic string.” Jantinderpal Singh, a resident, said, “Chinese string is fatal for human beings and birds. Despite being banned, it is easily available. The government should ban its manufacturing or take action against users and sellers.” ❝Several birds areto ❝Chinese string is fatal for killed or injured due human beings and birds. Chinese string. Birds, which fly at low height, suffer a lot. Sparrows, pigeons and doves cannot get free from the trap of plastic string. Despite being banned, it is easily available. The government should ban its manufacturing or take action against users and sellers. Rohan Kumar, A SOCIAL ACTIVIST Jantinderpal Singh, A CITY RESIDENT ❞ Shera a construction worker from Valla village said, “I met with an accident a few days ago as plastic string wrapped around my neck. The government should implement ban and violators should be dealth with sternly.” ❞ Nodal Officer Sushant Bahtia said, “It is true that the practice is still going on. We have registered criminal cases against people, who stored the banned string. We need more staff to keep vigil on sale and use of killer string.” Tarn Taran, January 13 On the occasion of Lohri, farmers, mazdoors, employees and other sections of society on Wednesday staged a protest against the Union Government by burning copies of the farm laws in over 500 villages of the district and in urban, semi urban areas too. Some protesters staged a dharna at the toll plaza, Usman, and burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and corporate honchos Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani. Activists of the Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Kisan Sangharsh Committee, (Pannu), Kisan Sangharsh Committee (fivemember), Kisan Sangharsh Committee (Kot Budha), Azad Kisan Sangharsh Committee and volunteers of the Aam Aadmi Party led protests. The AAP volunteers, led by Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal, took out a protest march in Tarn Taran and burnt copies of the farm acts. Harpreet Singh Sidhwan, state leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Sang- c m y b laws’ copies Protesters burn the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and corporate honchos Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani at Usman Toll Palaza. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI harsh Committee, said the workers organised gatherings in the Chabal, Rasulpur, Pandori Sidhwan, Gohalwar, Mianwind, Fatehbad, Goindwal Sahib, Khadoor Sahib, Chohla Sahib, Talwandi, Ghariala, Patti, Bhikhiwind areas and burnt copies of the controversial farm laws. Farmers and other organisations under the leadership of the Press Club, Chohla Sahib, organised a conference and warned the Union Government against its dillydallying tactics just to harass the farmers. Balbir Singh Parwana, president of the Press Club, said the agitating farmers and other sections of society had decided to jointly protest against the indifferent attitude of the Union Government. Amritsar, January 13 On the occasion of Lohri, farmers and people from different walks of life burnt copies of the three farm laws in protest here on Wednesday. Activists of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) gathered outside the Khalsa College building and burnt copies of three agriculture laws in the bonfire. They raised slogans against Rajinder Mohan Singh Chinna, honorary secretary, Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC), who is also a BJP leader. Baldev Singh, a farmers’ leader, demanded his resignation from one of the two positions. He said the college was raised with the contribution of farmers and the KMSC would not allow any BJP leader to lead an organisation of the Sikh community. Activists of different farmer organisations burnt copies of the farm laws in various villages of the district. Similarly, such an event was also held at continued on page 2