10022021-ATR-01.qxd 2/9/2021 11:18 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE OFFLINE EXAMS: 10-MEMBER PANEL TO LOOK INTO MATTER GNDU management met protesting students and announced to form a core committee to take up the matter. FORECAST HAZE INBRIEF 13 FRESH CASES REPORTED IN DIST PAGE 2 PRIYANKA CHOPRA OUT WITH HER MEMOIR UNFINISHED PAGE 3 In her book, Priyanka Chopra shares an incident when the first film director she met suggested her to undergo the knife. MAX 23°C | MIN 8°C | YESTERDAY MAX 23°C | MIN 7°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6:12 PM WEDNESDAY | 10 FEBRUARY 2021 | AMRITSAR Farmers stop BJP nominee from campaigning 2 kg of heroin, weapon seized 15 BOOKED FOR NOT DEPOSITING ARMS Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 9 Some residents of Tej Nagar on Sultanwind Road opposed the candidate of the BJP and party activists when they were going to conduct a doorto-door campaign in Ward No. 37 on Monday. A video of the incident went viral last night, in which the residents, who claimed to be farmers’ supporters, raised slogans against the BJP and the central government. According to information, Manohar Singh, BJP candidate from Ward No. 37, and around 50 activists assembled in the house of a BJP activist in the Tej Nagar area. Around 7.30 am, when they were going to conduct a doorto-door campaign, a local youth stopped them near the New Tej Nagar chowk. Sarwan Singh, one of PAGE 4 Actor Farnaz Shetty believes in focussing on self rather than becoming part of the rat race. SUNRISE THURSDAY 7:16 AM CIVIC BYPOLL Amritsar: With 13 fresh Covid-19 cases reported in the district, the count has increased to 15,159 on Tuesday. New cases include nine influenza like illness cases and four contacts of positive cases. The district health authorities have not reported any death in the last 24 hours and the toll stands at 585. Meanwhile, with recovery of 12 patients, the recovery count has increased to 14,420. At present, the district has a total of 154 active cases. TNS ACTOR FARNAZ SHETTY CHARTING HER OWN PATH Members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee who stopped BJP candidate Manohar Singh from campaigning in Tej Nagar area of Ward Number 37 in Amritsar, on Tuesday. SUNIL KUMAR farmer activists associated with the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee in Ward No. 37, said, “We questioned them about the recently enacted farm Acts. Then we asked them to stop campaigning till the government repeals the agricultural laws. We will not allow the BJP to hold any public meeting till the government meets our demand.” Residents claimed that all BJP activists were from the other localities. “No one was from Ward No.37. Even the candidate is not from this area. We have no personal enmity with anyone or any party. But our farmers are sacrificing their lives. They are being abducted by the police. The government Tarn Taran: Though most residents in Patti and Bhikhiwind deposited their weapons ahead of the civic body polls scheduled for February 14, some persons who failed to do the same had to face the music. The Patti police have booked more than 15 persons, including a woman, for not depositing their weapons to date. The accused have been identified as Balwinder Kaur, Gurdev Singh, Joginder Singh, Harbir Singh, Mandeep Singh, Piara Singh, Shamsher Singh, Balwinder Singh, son of Arjun Singh, Balwinder Singh, son of Amreek Singh, Rajinderpal Singh, Balbir Singh and Surjit Singh, among others. Lakhbir Singh, SHO, Patti city, said there were a total of 874 licensed weapons and 95 per cent persons have deposited their weapons with the police. He said the violators would be dealt with sternly. The SHO said the accused have been booked under Section 188 of the IPC. “In Bhikhiwind, there are 249 licensed weapons and 222 persons have deposited their arms,” said Head Constable Jarnail Singh. He said a case has been registered against the violators under Section 188 of the IPC. Earlier, the Bhikhiwind police had booked more than 200 persons after firing was reported between SAD and Congress workers at the time of filing nomination papers on February 2. OC wants to ruin our fields and dairy business,” said Gurpreet Singh, another farmer union activist in Ward No. 37. Manohar Singh said, “It might be the act of Opposition parties. No farmer was among those persons who opposed us in Tej Nagar. They were carrying flags of some farmer unions but were not associated with any. We are campaigning in the ward and meeting our cadre and everything is going on peacefully.” Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 9 The Border Security Force in a joint operation conducted with the Punjab Police confiscated 2 kg of heroin along with a pistol and 11 live bullets from across the barbed fence near Rajatal border outpost on Tuesday. The contraband was hidden under the ground around 200 metres ahead of the barbed fence. An official of the Amritsar rural police said they got a tip-off about the smuggling of heroin from across the International Border, which was shared with the BSF authorities. Later, a joint operation led to the seizure of the contraband. Further investigation was under progress. Woman mugged in city while Properties worth ~2.23 cr Attack on dairy owner: Over withdrawing money from ATM of drug peddler freezed 12 booked for murder bid Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 9 An unidentified person snatched cash from a woman withdrawing money from an ATM in the Chheharta area here on Monday. The incident was captured on the CCTV camera installed at the ATM cabin and outside on the main GT Road. The victim has been identified as Neha Verma, a resident of Kot Khalsa area. She works at a diagnostic centre. She told the police that she was withdrawing cash when a person came inside and snatched it from her. The CCTV footage revealed that there were two miscreants. One of them was outside on a bike. She told the police that first she withdrew ~2,000 from the ATM, which she kept in her pocket and then she withdrew ~8,000 from SETTING TRENDS A CCTV grab of a man snatching cash from a woman at an ATM in the Chheharta area of Amritsar on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO the machine. She said as she was collecting the cash, the accused entered and tried to snatch it. When she tried to resist, he scuffled with her and later fled with the cash. The police officials reached the spot and started investigation after registering an FIR. As the victim was collecting the money, the accused entered and tried to snatch it from her. When she tried to resist, he scuffled with her and later fled the spot. Amritsar, February 9 The Amritsar rural police have frozen two properties worth Rs 2.23 crore of a drug peddler, identified as Judgebir Singh, alias Chairman, a resident of Daoke village near the Indo-Pak border here. He had procured over 100 kanals of agricultural land in the name of his mother from ill-gotten wealth by way of drug peddling. According to the police, the Lopoke police had arrested three persons, identified as Gurdev Singh, Major Singh and Prabhjit Singh, all residents of Kakkar Kalan village, with 7.5 kg of heroin on October 21 last year. Following their interrogation, the police had nabbed Judgebir Singh in July 2020. With the Punjab Government taking stern action against drug peddlers to Let’s get down to business He had procured over 100 kanals of agricultural land in the name of his mother from ill-gotten wealth by way of drug peddling stem rampant drug abuse and ordering to seize their properties, the Lopoke police found his two properties — one in Bharobhal village and the other in Tajuchak village. The police said Bharobhal village, he had amassed over 70 kanals of agricultural land, while in Tajuchak village he had over 32 kanals of land. Both the properties were in the name of his mother. After verifying the details, the police sent the cases of two properties for evaluation to the competent authority in Delhi. The value of both properties was stated to be around Rs 2.23 crore. Following the orders, the police froze both properties. Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 9 Panic gripped Guru Nanak Pura falling under the jurisdiction of Kot Khalsa police station on Monday evening after several armed persons led by a notorious criminal attacked a dairy owner. The victim, Avtar Singh, saved himself by pulling down the shutters of his shop. The armed assailants even tried to break open the shutters with sharp-edged weapons. The suspects even fired shots in the air. The suspects have been identified as Raju and Danish, both residents of Lohgarh, besides 12 unidentified persons. Raju had recently come out on parole. Manjit Singh, Station House Officer, Kot Khalsa police station, said raids were on to nab the suspects while further investigation was Dairy owner Avtar Singh informs police personnel about the firing incident in Guru Nanak Pura, Amritsar. TRIBUNE PHOTO under progress. He said they were scrutinising CCTV footage for more clues. Avtar told the police that his friend (Deepu) had a minor quarrel with Raju a few days ago and he managed to strike a compromise between them. The victim said Raju kept a grudge and he along with his accomplices attacked him with an intention to murder him. The Station House Officer said a case has been registered on charges of murder bid and under the Arms Act. ‘Unity among farmers need of the hour’ Tribune News service Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service AMRITSAR, FEBRUARY 9 Headquartered in the holy city, a pre-Partition chartered accountant firm, BD Bansal and Company, is engaged in hiring more professionals to consolidate its position in major cities of north India. A leading tax consulting firm, it has been providing professional services like direct taxes, execution of joint ventures, acquisition and mergers, besides conducting audits at New Delhi, Ludhiana and Amritsar. Satish Bansal, director of the company, says, “We neither retrenched staff nor delayed the payment of salaries to employees during the lockdown period. Now, we are looking towards expansion by hiring more professionals, especially CAs”. The staff strength at Delhi office is being increased from presently 35 to 44, in Ludhiana from 10 to 14 and at the local office two more CAs were being added to already 20 employees. His company has been providing services to big Satish Bansal, director of BD Bansal and Company, has already laid out plans to consolidate firm’s foothold nor delayed ❝We neither retrenched staffthe lockdownthe payment of salaries to employees during period. Now, we are looking forward to expansion by hiring more professionals, especially CAs. The staff strength at Delhi office is being increased from presently 35 to 44, in Ludhiana from 10 to 14 and at the local office two more CAs are being added to already 20 employees. We plan to expand by opening a fourth office in Gurgaon and hiring more staff. This may be implemented later this year. Satish Bansal, DIRECTOR, BD BANSAL AND COMPANY ❞ industrial units and companies, but it will definitely require the changes due to the effects produced by the Covid-19 pandemic to normalise trade. Clients of the company include big shots like Munjal Group, Mittal Group, International Tractors Ltd, Khanna Paper Mill and many others. According to Bansal, things post-lockdown are not the same as before but people are trying their best to innovate, which is mainly on account of having sur- plus time by holding meetings on Zoom. For example, people dealing in auto parts are moving on to manufacturing or trade of other parts. Those who have time and surplus cash could expand further. “We plan to expand by opening a fourth office in Gurgaon and hiring more staff. This may be implemented later this year,” he states. He anticipates that it will take some more time for the business to normalise. “The demand which was there before the lockdown will return, once things are settled down. Entrepreneurs are valuing time management and prefer electronic platforms.” A fellow CA of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), New Delhi, Bansal joined family company after completing his CA in 1976 where his forefathers Bishan Das Bansal and RK Bansal had already nursed. His son Sumit Kumar Bansal also did CA and followed suit in 2001. c m y b Amritsar, February 9 A group of youngsters have constituted ‘Sanyukt Kisan Morcha Committee’ (Attari) to support the protesting farmers. The panel would spearhead the movement without being associated with any particular farmer union. Harjodhbir Singh Jodha, a youngster, said, “We have constituted a committee. It will spread a message of unity.” He said most farmers and non-farmers who regularly visit the protest sites at Delhi borders were neither associated with any farmer union nor with any group. “The devastating laws will affect everyone. We want to convey a message that one can support the cause without joining any particular union.” Another youngster, Jasneet Singh, said, “We believe that unity among farmers is the need of the hour.” The team had earlier hogged the limelight at Singhu border when they took up to cleaning the Youngsters from Attari who have constituted a committee to support the protest without joining any particular kisan union. TRIBUNE PHOTO NGO SEEKS RELEASE OF NODEEP KAUR Amritsar: Khalra Mission Organisation, an NGO, issued a statement against the arrest and alleged custodial torture on Nodeep Kaur (in pic), a labour activist in Delhi. Parveen Kumar, an office-bearer of the organisation, said on the one hand the government was chanting slogans such as ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padao’ but on the other it was brutalising a 23-year-old labour activist. Moreover, instead of supporting innocent Nodeep Kaur, they supported the factory owner, he said, adding that people were being labelled as Khalistani, Pakistani and Maoist. The organisation demanded that Nodeep Kaur be released immediately and all three FIRs registered against her be cancelled. Another activist Virsa Singh Behla said what could be more embarrassing than the fact that Navreet Singh, a farm law protester, was shot dead by the police and another youth was injured, adding that instead of taking action against the police, action was being taken against journalists, who revealed the secret. All false cases registered on January 26 should be cancelled and youth and farmers should be released, he demanded. TNS entire area every morning. “We had taken a huge stock of brooms with us while going to Delhi. We per- formed seva every morning, which was appreciated by all,” said Sarabdeep Singh. Another team member Sunny Maan said, “A senior leader from the district, Rattan Singh Randhawa, has appreciated our efforts.”