27052022-ATR-01.qxd 5/26/2022 11:34 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE SHER-e-PUNJAB’S SUMMER RETREAT OPENS FOR PUBLIC PAGE 2 Turned into a museum and recently opened to the public, The Tribune gives you a glimpse into the past. MAINLY CLEAR SKY INBRIEF 3 ARRESTED WITH ILLICIT LIQUOR Tarn Taran: In a joint raid by the police and the Excise Department in Jhabal area villages, 1,050 litres of alcohol and 870 litres of lahan was seized on Wednesday. SHO Prabhjit Singh said three persons were arrested and three others were absconding. The SHO said in Jagatpur village, Major Singh was arrested with 550-l alcohol and his son Sajanpreet Singh fled. Ravel Singh of the same village was arrested with 500-l alcohol and his son Jaspal Singh is at large. The police said Lovpreet Singh of Aima Kalan was held with 360-l lahan, while 570-l lahan was seized from the house of Balwinder Singh of Lalu Ghuman. He fled from the spot. Cases under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act had been registered. oc SEVEN ARRESTED WITH ARMS Tarn Taran: The district police have arrested seven persons with arms and ammunition in connection with criminal incidents that occurred during the past one week. Three of their associates are at large. SSP Ranjit Singh Dhillon on Thursday said the accused had committed crimes in Patti, Bhullar village and Valtoha area. He said those arrested have been identified as Bobby, Rajan, Gurmukh Singh of Patti, Charanjit Singh of Jhugiana Kalu, Akashdeep Singh Akash of Sursing, Harpal Singh of Sangatpura and Satpal Singh of Thathi Jaimal Singh. The SSP said six pistols and 34 cartridges were seized from them. Cases have been registered. OC SURPRISE CHECK AT TEHSIL OFFICE Tarn Taran: Local MLA Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal conducted a surprise checking at the office of local Tehsildar and revenue patwaris. SDM Rajnish Arora, along with other officials, was also present there. At the spot, some people raised their voice against a patwari for allegedly taking bribe from them and one employee of the Tehsil was found to be absent from his duties. SDM Ranjish Arora had been ordered to conduct a probe into the complaint against the patwari and the absent employee. The MLA redressed the grievances of people on the occasion. He said certain complaints regarding the functioning of the Tehsil office had come to his notice. He inquired the record regarding registry work since January. OC TWO HELD WITH 290-GM HEROIN Amritsar: The city police nabbed two persons with 290gram heroin here on Wednesday. The accused have been identified as Lovepreet Singh, alias Love, of Kot Gobindpura, Kapurthala district and Harwinder Singh, alias Raju, of Ahmedpur village in Kapurthala district. A team led by ASI Harjinder Singh was conducting checking at Putlighar Chowk by putting a special naka. Lovepreet Singh and Harvinder Singh were apprehended and 290-gram heroin was recovered from them. The police are investigating the forward and backward links of the accused persons. A case under relevant sections of the NDPS Act has been registered in this regard. TNS PAGE 3 MAX 40°C | MIN 26°C | YESTERDAY MAX 39°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7:27 PM Drone movements continue unabated Daoke border village under Gharinda police station late on Wednesday night. Search operation in Gharinda yielded recovery of over 2.2-kg heroin, which is worth ~10 crore in the international drug market, the police said ■ A drone was also spotted in Kassowal border outpost in the Ramdass area late on Wednesday evening. The BSF jawans fired at the UAV after hearing the humming sound, but it returned to Pakistan ■ A drone movement was also observed near Bhindi Aulakh border village late on Wednesday evening. The alert BSF jawans fired at the drone and it returned to Pakistan ■ On April 29, the BSF had shot down a black quadcopter model which had a long black rope attached to it in Dhonoe Kalan located near the Indo-Pak border He said the drone movements were also observed near Bhindi Aulakh border village late on Wednesday evening. However, alert BSF jawans fired at the drone and it returned to Pakistan, he said. Similarly, drone movement was noticed in Kassowal border outpost in Ramdass area late on Wednesday evening. As BSF jawans opened fire to shoot it down, it went back to Pakistan. Though a search was carried out in nearby village, nothing was found, said DSP Onkar Singh who had gone to the spot. Meanwhile, days after the BSF shot down a drone in Dhonoe Kalan located near the Indo-Pak border, the FRIDAY | 27 MAY 2022 | AMRITSAR Tribune News Service ■ Drone movement was reported in Amritsar, May 26 The movement of drones continues unabated at the Indo-Pak border even as the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police have been put on alert. In the recent past, the BSF and the Punjab Police had recovered improvised explosive devices besides contraband and arms allegedly smuggled with the help of drones. According to information, drone movements were reported in Gharinda here late on Wednesday night, while it was also noticed in the Ramdass area the same day. BSF jawans fired at the UAVs after hearing the humming sound, but these returned to Pakistan. Search operation in Gharinda area yielded recovery of over 2.2-kg heroin, the police officials said. “Drone movement was noticed around 9.30 pm on Wednesday in Daoke border outpost area. The Border Security Force conducted a joint search operation with the Punjab Police in the area and recovered 2.2-kg heroin worth ~10 crore in the international drug market,” DSP Balbir Singh said. SUNRISE SATURDAY 5:27 AM DIGGING CASE Grand Hotel owner claims further damage ACTIVE IN BORDER VILLAGES Tribune News Service Aaditi Pohankar had her breakthrough role alongside Ritesh Deshmukh in the Marathi action film Lai Bhaari. MTP wing starts removing debris from basement 2.2-kg heroin worth ~10 cr seized near Int’l Border PK Jaiswar Punjab Police suspected that an IED could have been smuggled through the drone at that time. The police have started a probe on this theory. The black quadcopter model shot down on April 29 had a long black rope attached to it. “It is being suspected that only explosive material could have been attached to the dangling rope as there was also a fear of its explosion if it is dropped from a height. Rope is attached to land it in fields, where a man comes to pick it up, cuts the rope and flees,” said a senior police official. On the contrary, he said a packet of contraband could also be dropped. Amritsar, May 26 Ditch machines and several workers were deployed by the Municipal Town Planning wing to remove the debris from the basement of the upcoming hotel. After removing the debris, the owner of Grand Hotel, Sanjay Kumar, claimed that a landslide occurred, which damaged one of the hotel rooms. “New cracks developed in room number 206 of our hotel, when the MTP wing removed the debris. The landslide occurred around 5.20 pm. The adjoining houses may also suffer due to the removal of the debris from the basement of the adjoining hotel,” said Sanjay Kumar, owner of Grand Hotel. RESIDENTS GET WRITTEN ASSURANCE ■ The affected residents got The affected families hold a meeting with the MC’s Town Planning wing officials at Railway Road , Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR He also raised questions over delay in the report and action of authorities. “Fifteen days have passed and no action has been taken against the builder and officials, who gave NOCs to illegal digging. would be demolished, as it poses a risk of collapse. After removing the debris from the basement, the retaining walls would be constructed to support the base of the houses affected due to digging. Ultrasound centre sealed SMS service to pay property tax evincing good response Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, May 26 In a joint raid of a team of the Health and Family Welfare Department and the department’s hired agency officials, an ultrasound centre here was sealed and the owner, Dr Jagjit Singh, and his team were booked. The centre has been involved in sex determination since years. The team was led by Dr Nisha Sahi, Deputy Director, ❝ Nobody will be allowed to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the border state and a close watch is being kept on anti-national elements. Patrolling has been increased and security has been tightened around vulnerable points, including religious and tourist places. Arun Pal Singh, CP Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 26 Ahead of the Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6, the city police have got four companies of the paramilitary forces, besides 1,500 cops from the Punjab Armed Police for security. Special DGP Intelligence Prabodh Kumar on Thursday held a meeting with senior police officials of the city and border range. He discussed about the details of security arrangements being taken in view of the Ghallughara Diwas. The holy city has been on Two held with illegal weapons Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 26 The police have arrested two persons for allegedly carrying illegal weapons. Those arrested were identified as Amarjit Singh of Khabbe Rajputa village and Harpeet Singh of Jhander Mahapurkhan village in Tarn Taran. According to the police, Amarjit was held with a .32 calibre pistol and Harpreet possessed a .32 bore pistol with three live bullets. They could not produce any documents regarding the weapons. Separate cases under the Arms Act were registered against them. Further investigations are under progress to ascertain their source, said the police. ❞ high alert following seizure of IEDs smuggled from Pakistan-based ISI supported separatist groups. These groups were using cross-border smugglers and gang- sters for carrying out their nefarious activities in order to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of Punjab. Police Commissioner Arun Pal Singh said nobody would Tribune News Service Health and Family Welfare. Dr Sahi said the centre did not have even a single qualified doctor and the required apparatus and staff was also lacking. The centre’s owner used to charge ~40,000 for the scan. He is absconding and while Shranpal Kaur, a staff nurse, was taken into custody by the team. A case was registered under the PNDT Act. be allowed to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the border state and close eye was being kept at anti-national elements. He said patrolling had been increased and security had been tightened around the vulnerable points, including religious and tourist places. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Parminder Singh Bhandal, besides extra police force and the city police, also got additional strength of the DSP and ASP-rank officials for maintaining peace, law and order because of the upcoming event. All 20 entry and exit points were sealed by setting up checkpoints, where police teams would remain present round the clock. He said police patrol during late nights was also increased and search operations would be carried out in various parts of the city in the coming days. “In addition to this, around 70 checkpoints were installed at different points in the city to check the movement of nefarious elements,” Bhandal said. The police would also get an additional force from the border range on June 1 for strengthening the security cover. The police in civvies would also remain present at the Golden Temple, while police teams were also deputed around the holy shrine. Meanwhile, the police also nabbed a youth during checking of vehicles. He was carrying sharp-edged weapons in his car. Sans state-of-the-art facilities, Gurdaspur producing international-level players A judo centre here is preparing top-drawer judokas who have even participated in Olympics Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, May 26 When a single facility in a small place like Gurdaspur produces an Olympian, a near Olympian and 50-odd international judokas, the myth that only big cities having state-of-the-art training facilities can produce international sportsmen is comprehensively shattered. The Shaheed Bhagat Singh Singh Judo Centre has become a conveyor belt of sorts for the Punjab Police, BSF, CISF, ITBP and CRPF to recruit topdrawer judokas. The latest news from the centre is that Jobandeep Singh, Jasleen and Avtar have been included in the squad that will represent TOP-10 INTERNATIONAL JUDOKAS FROM HERE PLAYER ACHIEVEMENT/S Gold medal in Asian Championship and participant of 2016 Rio Olympics ■ Jasleen Saini Gold in Asian Championship ■ Jobandeep Singh Gold in South Asian Championship and a participant in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham ■ Jitendar Pal Singh Gold in World Police Games ■ Sahil Pathania Gold in Junior Asian Championship and a participant in the forthcoming Commonwealth games to be held in Birmingham ■ Kuljinder Singh Participant in Asian Games ■ Maheshinder S Saini Gold in Asia-Pacific Games ■ Aman Kumar Gold in Asian Championship ■ Kuldeep Raj Participant in the World Judo Championship ■ Rakesh K Chintu Gold in Asian Judo Championships ■ Avtar Singh the country in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games this coming July. The Olympian here is c m y b written agreements from the owner of the upcoming underconstruction hotel owner on Thursday evening ■ Simran Singh, a resident from one of the affected houses, said: “We are not satisfied with some of the conditions of the agreement. We will thoroughly read it and hold a discussion and then respond.” The authorities should submit the investigation report and take action against the offenders,” said Sanjay. However, the MTP wing of the MC claimed that some portion of the Grand Hotel 4 companies of paramilitary forces, 1,500 PAP cops in city OP BLUESTAR ANNIV PAGE 4 AADITI SHARES BTS MOMENTS FROM SHOOT OF AASHRAM 3 The actress made her yet another red carpet appearance at Cannes as she attended the premiere of the film Elvis. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR FORECAST DEEPIKA PADUKONE LOOKS LIKE A QUEEN IN ELABORATE GOWN Avtar Singh, who donned the Indian blazer in the 2016 Rio Olympiad. The near Olympian is Jasleen Saini, whose hopes of making it to Tokyo, hinged on India’s participation in the AsiaOceania championship in Kyrgyzstan in April last year. Two members of the Indian contingent tested positive for Covid-19, following which the entire team was withdrawn hours before the tournament commenced. Consequently, Saini’s Tokyo dream vanished into oblivion. Winning medals or participating in the World Championships, Asian Games and championships, Commonwealth Games and championships, World Police Games and World University Games is common. The centre runs more on luck and pluck and less on funds. Most ex-players are officers and seldom do they think twice about doling out funds to their judo brethren. Interestingly, Amarjit Shastri, the coach who has mentored scores of international judokas, does not hold a diploma in sports coaching from NIS Patiala, which is mandatory for getting a job of a coach in India. Still, he manages to produce international judokas. He is a hard task master whose motto is — “If you think you are good enough, you have started your decline.” He says he trains his boys only on days ending with a Y. “There are two types of sportsmen in my hall. Those who find excuses and those who find a way. I identify the former and weed them out,” says Shastri. Amritsar, May 26 The Municipal Corporation officials claimed that the SMS alert service for the property tax payers initiated by the civic body was getting a good response. Employees at the Citizen Facilitation Centre (CFC) were sending short messages on the mobile phones of tax payers to pay property tax. MC Joint Commissioner Hardeep Singh said: “Nearly 48,000 SMS have been sent by the department so far. The MC is getting a good respond from this effort. In the short message, tax payers are being asked to deposit tax online at mseva.lgpunjab.gov.in.” MC officials claimed that a large section of tax payers have started depositing their property tax online. During the current fiscal from April 1 to 24, the MC has collected more than ~3 crore property tax, whereas in the last fiscal only ~1.20 crore was collected as property tax. Hardeep Singh said property tax recovery would be expedited. He said tax would be collected from defaulters and sealing drive would also be conducted. State govt’s effigy burnt Tarn Taran, May 26 Contractual employees of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department under the banner of Jal Supply and Sanitation Contractual Workers’ Union, Punjab, organised a protest march in the town and burnt the effigy of the state government on Thursday. The organisation had given the protest call to express resentment as they were not called for the meeting with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on May 24 as promised. Gurwinder Singh Bath, state leader of the organisation, said they had been working for the last 15 years in the department on meagre salaries but the state government was in no mood to regularise them. He said the organisation was stressing on releasing their blocked salaries, family pension, regularisation of services and giving back control of water supply to the department. — OC