06062022-ATR-01.qxd 6/5/2022 11:59 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE CHECK WASTAGE, SAVE WATER BODIES FROM POLLUTION Residents feel by using water judiciously, Punjab — the land of five rivers — can be prevented from turning into a desert. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY INBRIEF ASI SHOOTS SELF, SERIOUSLY HURT Amritsar: An ASI attempted suicide by shooting himself with his service weapon here on Sunday. ASI Jaswant Singh was rushed to a private hospital, where his condition is stated to be critical. According to the police, he was upset for the last three months due to the sudden demise of his wife. His children live in Canada and he was alone in the house. The police took his weapon into custody. Police said on Sunday, he went to his house for lunch and on his way he paid obeisance at a local gurdwara. Later, he went to his house and shot himself. He suffered critical head injury and is currently under treatment at a hospital. Senior police officials reached the spot for investigation. A police official said he was living alone after his wife’s death around three months ago. His children were in Canada. He was suffering from depression and used to talk with his colleagues about his wife. TNS BANNED ITEMS SEIZED FROM JAIL Tarn Taran: Eleven cell phones, seven SIMs, two headphones and 15 packs of bidis were seized from the complex of Central Jail, Goindwal Sahib, on Saturday. Sushil Kumar, Assistant Superintendent of Central Jail, Goindwal Sahib, in a complaint to the police said the mobile phones and other items were seized during a routine checking of the jail. Ten inmates — Amandeep Singh, Mehakpreet Singh, Arjun Singh, Manjit Singh, Sandeep Singh, Hazara Singh, Veerpal Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Gurjant Singh and Jobanjit Singh — and one unidentified person had been booked in this regard. The police said a case under Section 52-A of the Prisons Act had been registered in this regard. The recovery of mobile phones from the Goindwal Sahib jail had become a routine. OC PAGE 2 SHILPA TO SPONSOR EDU OF DANCE DEEWANE CONTESTANT Rasika Dugal’s Fairy Folk will premiere at the Sydney Film Festival, which will take place from June 8 to 19. MAX 43°C | MIN 26°C | YESTERDAY MAX 45°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET MONDAY 7:33 PM PAGE 4 Shilpa won hearts as she announced that she would be sponsoring the education of a 10-year-old contestant. SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:25 AM MONDAY | 6 JUNE 2022 | AMRITSAR OP BLUESTAR ANNIV: HOLY CITY TURNS FORTRESS HAWK-EYED VIGIL 6,000 cops to be on guard | CrPC Sec 144 imposed | Carrying of any weapon banned PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 5 On the eve of Operation Bluestar anniversary, the holy city turned into a fortress with heavy police and paramilitary force deployment in and around the city. The area around the Golden Temple has been heavily barricaded to check miscreants and thwart any untoward incident on Monday. The Punjab Police have been on high alert and cops are leaving no stone unturned in letting the event pass off peacefully. On Sunday, when the activists of a separatist organisation held a march, hundreds of policemen, including women cops, were deputed en route to the march. After commencing from Lawrence Road, it was to end at Akal Takht. The organisation also gave a Bandh call on June 6 to mark the occasion. The police have imposed Section 144 of the CrPC as precautionary measure in view of the Ghallughara Diwas. It also banned carrying any weapon during the day. Besides paramilitary companies, over 6,000 cops from all over Punjab have been summoned here. They were deputed to seal every entry and exit point. “Nobody will be allowed to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in Punjab and we appeal to all people to cooperate with the police in this endeavour,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and order), Parminder Singh Bhandal. Stern action would be taken against those who would create law and order problem in the city. A police official said around 90 checkpoints were set up by putting up barri- Cops deployed at various locations in the city; barricades put up on the road leading to the Golden Temple; and policemen stand guard outside the Golden Temple on the eve of Operation Bluestar anniversary in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR Massive police bandobast holds back tourist flow to city Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service SNATCHERS TARGET ANOTHER TOURIST, COURIER BOY Amritsar: Despite the holy city turning into a police cantonment, snatchings continue to be reported in the city. Another tourist was robbed in the city here on Saturday. The incident occurred in the Shastri Nagar area on Lawrence Road. Complainant Shankar Gharge, a resident of Wadala in Mumbai, told the police that he was going to a hotel with his wife Ranjna Shankar Gharge, when two persons snatched her purse containing ~35,000 cash, mobile phone and other documents and fled away. ASI Narider Kumar, Investigating Officer, said CCTV cameras in the area were being scanned to get some clues. He said a case under Section 379-B of the IPC was registered in this regard. In another incident, a courier man was looted by armed persons in Sapariwind village falling under Majitha police here. Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of Aajampur village in Fatehgarh Churian, said he works in Express Peace cades. Vehicles entering the city were being examined. Over 100 PCR teams were patrolling in different parts, Courier Company as a delivery boy. He said he delivers parcels in different villages and takes cash in return. He said on Friday, around 4pm, he delivered parcels in Majitha and was returning to his village. He said when he reached near Sapariwind village, two bike-borne persons signalled him to stop. He said as he stopped his bike, they tried to snatch his bag containing ~15,000-~16,000 cash beside a mobile after pointing a pistol at him. He said he resisted and snatched their pistol. They entered into a scuffle and in the meanwhile, two more accomplices reached the spot. They overpowered him, snatched the pistol and the bag. They also injured him with some sharp weapon and fled from the spot. The police have registered a case under Section 379-B (2) of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act against unidentified persons and launched further probe. TNS including at vulnerable points, of the city. Thousands of cops in civvies have been deployed, while the CID wing and intelligence agencies are also keeping a close eye on hardliners. Amritsar, June 5 Ahead of the Operation Bluestar anniversary, massive police bandobast in and around the holy city impacted the flow of tourists during the summer holiday season. Barricades have been installed not only on roads leading to the Golden Temple, but on all major roads of the city. Inderjit Singh, who works in the hospitality industry, says: “Summer holidays bring in tourists from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. They have not arrived here this time. Perhaps, continuous occurrence of violent incidents such as the RPG attack on the intelligence headquarters of the Punjab Police, murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and other incidents have sent a negative message of unsafe environment prevailing in the state.” He said he interacted with some tourist groups, who were cancelling their advance trips citing some crime incidents happening around. He, however, tried convincing them not to draw their opinion from stray crime incidents being reported. Satnam Singh Kanda, chairman of Hotel Association, Walled City, said it seemed a deliberate attempt is being made to create a fearful environment. “Around 6 am, I proceeded to the Sultanwind Gate to move out of the walled city. But the cops did not allow me to go ahead. It was only after I convinced them that they budged from their stand.” He recalled that, they did not even permit ice slabs inside the city a day before meant for chhabeel (langar of sweetened water) at Lakad Mandi Chowk. He asked that in such a panic-stricken environment, how could tourists land here to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple? He said this weekend, 12 rooms were vacant in his 38-room hotel. Otherwise, the room occupancy remains 100 per cent each weekend. Similar was the scene in other hotels, lodges and stay houses of the walled city. Rakesh Arora, a tour and travel operator, said: “The government, its different agencies and the opposition parties need to understand that tourism is a sensitive trade, in which repercussions are seen instantly. People from a wide spectrum of trades like hoteliers, shopkeepers, rickshaw pullers, vendors and others earn their bread and butter from it.” Organisation takes out ‘freedom parade’ Tribune News Service FIRE AT TARN TARAN BIZMAN’S HOUSE Tarn Taran: A fire broke out at the house of a businessman located on Sarhali Road late on Saturday night. Furniture and important business documents were destroyed in the incident. Short circuit is said to be the cause behind the incident. Harwinder Singh Chawla, owner of the building, said he has a shop at the ground floor and used to reside in the first floor. He said they were completely unaware of the fire as they were on the other portion and it were the passersby who informed them about the incident. But by then, the area residents had already called the fire tender, which had doused the flames. However, goods worth lakhs including furniture, AC and important records related to his business had already burnt to ashes. He said the fire broke out as there was a power shutdown and when it resumed, it caused a short circuit. The incident could have taken a serious turn had the fire tenders not arrived on time. OC PAGE 3 RASIKA DUGAL’S FAIRY FOLK TO BE SCREENED AT SYDNEY FEST Dal Khalsa holds a march to mark Operation Bluestar anniversary paying tributes to those who lost their lives in the Army operation in June 1984, in Amritsar, on Sunday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Solid waste mgmt companypenalised Amritsar, June 5 Taking strict action against the inadequacies found during the inspection by Joint Commissioner at the Bhagtanwala dump, the Municipal Corporation has imposed a penalty of ~9.43 lakh on the solid waste management company. On Wednesday, Joint Commissioner Hardeep Singh had found out that the company was not functioning as per the directions of the MC. The officials found that the entire dumping ground was put on fire instead of carrying out bioremediation process. Only one machine was functional and other machines were lying defunct. The solid waste management firm Averda was also found violating guidelines for waste segregation. The private firm was not segregating garbage at source level. Even the MC found that the company was not equipped for segregation. Taking action again all these irregularities, MC Joint Commissioner imposed a penalty of ~9.43 lakh on the solid waste management company. Sandip Kural, general secretary, Sanji Sangharsh Committee said: “We are thankful that the MC officials visited the dumping ground and witnesses the ground situation. The transfer of chief sanitary inspector and penalty on the private firm was much appreciated.” — TNS Amritsar, June 5 On the anniversary of Operation Bluestar, separatist organisation Dal Khalsa held an ‘Azadi March’ in Amritsar on Sunday to reiterate its commitment for the struggle of independence and pay homage to people who were killed in the Army operation. The protesters led by Paramjit Singh Mand carrying Khalistan flags and placards raised slogans in support of independence and Sikh leader Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh, General Subheg Singh and others. The protesters were also carrying pictures of exiled leader Gajinder Singh and raised slogans in his support. A truck with placards having pictures of senior political leaders, police officers and bureaucrats who were in scene in the state during the troubled times and a slogan of ‘butchers’ also accompanied the march. The leaders slammed the government for pressuring to suspend the social media accounts of Dal Khalsa. It is a sheer human rights violation and assault on our right to hold independent beliefs and thoughts, said Kanwar Pal Singh, whose account on Twitter was suspended. “We are undertaking a ‘freedom parade’ in Amritsar to pay homage to Sikh heroes who fought till the last breath and to convey to the government of India that we have neither forgotten nor forgiven the perpetrators of the attack,” said party president Harpal Singh Cheema. Apart from planting saplings, need felt to save 44 cell phones seized water, check plastic use & cause less pollution from jail in four days Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 5 Even as increased environment awareness in recent years due to the efforts being made by environmentalists, religious and government organisations, residents, especially those living in the city and who do not have much space for planting trees, feel that the government should step up its efforts and use every public space available for increasing the green cover. While most of the central verges, footpaths and public parks are still available for tree plantation drives, the residents complain that the government is not doing enough. However it is being c m y b WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY Most of the plants along the BRTS lane in Amritsar have dried up. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR felt that a few local NGOs were conducting tree plantation drives before the Covid19 outbreak. “The NGOs and religious organisations should again play an active role. The local administration and NGOs should work in tandem so that the survival rate of plant saplings is increased,” suggested local resident Kashmir Singh. He said with no space in homes, especially in the walled city, the residents are unable to contribute much towards the cause. Continued on page 2 Amritsar, June 5 As many as 44 mobile phones were seized from Amritsar Central Jail in the last four days. Eighteen mobiles phones, a modified charger and two headphones were seized during surprise checking at the high-security jail complex on Saturday. Following this, the police booked seven prisoners for possessing the prohibited material. Among those booked included Balwinder Singh of Kartar nagar, George Masih of Naag Kalan, Jobanjit Singh, alias Joban, of Yodhe village, Kanwaljit Singh of Jaspal Nagar, Amandeep Singh of Ranike, Bikramjit Singh of Kakkar Kalan and Suresh Kumar of Jagdev Khurd village in Ajnala. Assistant Superintendent of Central Jail Ravel Singh told the police that during search three keypad and four touch screen phones were found from seven prisoners and 11 phones, a modified charger, two headphones were found unclaimed in the jail premises. Earlier on Thursday, a heavy police force headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (investigations) had raided the jail complex in the wee hours. However, the police teams managed to seize only seven mobile phones, intoxicating tablets Continued on page 2