13072022-ATR-01.qxd 7/13/2022 12:31 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE TOURISTS UNAWARE OF SGPC’S FREE BUS YATRA SERVICE PAGE 2 SYLVESTER STALLONE ARRIVES ON OTT WITH THRILLER SAMARITAN Tourists visiting the city are unaware that the SGPC runs free bus service to take devotees to historic gurdwaras. FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY INBRIEF MAN ARRESTED FOR RAPE BID ON MINOR Amritsar: The police have arrested a man identified as Sonu, a resident of Indira Colony on the Majitha road, for allegedly attempting to rape a minor orphaned girl. The victim told the police that her parents died and for the past one month she was living with her uncle, the accused. She alleged that on Monday her uncle tried to sexually harass her. As she raised the alarm, she was rescued by Arun Kumar of Nehru Colony. He was passing through the street when he heard the cries of the girl. Later, a complaint was lodged with the police. A case under Sections 376 and 511 of the IPC and Section 18 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act has been regsitered in this regard. TNS UNDERTRIAL TRIES TO END LIFE IN JAIL Tarn Taran: An undertrial lodged in the Patti sub-jail allegedly made an attempt to end his life by trying to hang himself from a fan in a jail ward on Tuesday. He was immediately admitted to the Patti Civil Hospital, from where he was referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar, keeping in view his serious condition. The inmate identified as Gurpreet Singh (40) of Pringri has been lodged in the jail in an abduction case. A case under Section 309 of the IPC has been registered against Gurpreet Singh. OC AAP MLA VISITS CIVIL HOSPITAL Tarn Taran: Tarn Taran AAP MLA Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal made a surprise visit to the district Civil Hospital. He noticed non-availability of important medicines and shortage of medical and paramedical staff. He instructed the hospital staff to provide all facilities to the patients. Later, he told mediapersons that he had received complaints against the hospital. The hospital staff apprised the MLA about the staff shortage and non-supply of medicines. He assured that the medicines would be properly supplied. He denied to comment on staff shortage. OC FOUR BOOKED FOR SODOMY ATTEMPT Amritsar: The police have booked four persons for allegedly attempting to sodomise a minor boy at Chhajalwadi village. The incident occurred three days ago. The case was registered on the complaint of the victim’s mother. She alleged that the accused took her son to a tubewell room in the fields where one of them tried to commit the crime, while others kept an eye on the movements near the tubewell room. TNS PAGE 3 Sylvester Stallone is set to hit screens once more, this time on OTT. His latest action thriller is titled Samaritan. MAX 34°C | MIN 28°C | YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 29°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7:37 PM Amritsar, July 12 The owners of restaurants and hotels serving liquor and beer are up in arms against the government over sharp rise in the annual licence fee from the next month. From August 1, the annual licence fee of bars and Value Added Tax (VAT) on liquor are set to rise. This licence fee is paid to the Excise Department. There are over 20 categories of licence fee, which are levied on pubs, beer bars, resorts, ahaata, marriage palaces, hotels, lounges and other different places that serve liquor. Those who love to enjoy a peg or two in the swanky environment of high-end locales will be forced to shell out more. The Excise Department increased the VAT on serving loose liquor and beer in bars from 5 per cent to 20 per cent and 10 per cent surcharge over it, increasing it roughly to 22 per cent. Previously, only 5 per cent was charged. Anuj Kakkar, manager of a bar, said this quantum of tax was very high for customers. “High tax will deter customers from enjoying liquor in a good environment,” he remarked, SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:35 AM SHARP INCREASE ■ The Excise Department increased Workers clean liquor bottles and glasses at a bar. FILE PHOTO HIGH TAX WILL DETER CUSTOMERS of tax is very high for customers. ❝This quantum customers from enjoying liquor in High tax will deter hotels. It will bring down the number of customers. Consequently, liquor and beer bar operators will record a fall in their sale. Anuj Kakkar, BAR MANAGER ❞ adding that it would bring down the number of customers. Consequently, liquor and beer bar operators will record a fall in their sale, which will translate into less tax collection. Annual licence fee for bar was raised from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Equally sharp spike was seen in fee for different categories of luxury hotels. For example, a category of licence fee rose from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. The L4A and L5A licences that give authorisation to serve beer and ready to drink beverages will see a hike of ~15,000. It has been hiked from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 1.65 lakh. Happy Narula, a resort owner, said resorts have to pay the annual licence fee in four categories — between Rs 25,000 and Rs 1 lakh. He added that many of these categories had been PAGE 4 Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa showed the face of their son Laksh. They lovingly address their munchkin as ‘Gola’. Hotels, restaurants resent increase in bar licence fee Tribune News Service BHARTI SINGH & HAARSH SHOW THEIR SON’S FACE FOR FIRST TIME the VAT on serving loose liquor and beer in bars from 5 per cent to 20 per cent with a 10 per cent surcharge, increasing it roughly to 22 per cent. Earlier, only 5 per cent was charged ■ The annual licence fee for a bar has been raised from ~3 lakh to ~5 lakh. Equally sharp spike was seen in different kinds of categories of luxury hotels ■ L4A and L5A licences that give authorisation to serve beer and ready to drink beverages will see a hike of ~15,000. It has been hiked from ~1.5 lakh to ~1.65 lakh ■ There are over 20 categories of licence fee that is levied on pubs, beer bars, resorts, ahaata, marriage palaces, hotels, lounges and other different places that serve liquor increased. The party organisers in resorts were given a relief as they would be required to pay only Rs 1,000 for serving booze for a night, which used to be Rs 10,000. The owners demanded relaxation in the licence fee and VAT for hotels and bars, saying the hospitality sector suffered huge losses during the pandemic and the hike in fee would take a further toll on the business. WEDNESDAY | 13 JULY 2022 | AMRITSAR Man kills mentally challenged brother Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 12 A man has allegedly killed his brother by hitting his head with a wooden log. He later dumped his body into a canal in the in Ferozepur area. The victim, identified as Palwinder Singh alias Babbu (24), was reportedly differently abled. The incident occurred on May 29, but a case under Sections 302, 201 and 506 of the IPC was registered yesterday in this regard. The accused, Kulwant Singh aka Kanta, of Kuttiwal village is absconding. The police registered the case following a tip-off. Balkar Singh, SHO of the Bhindi Saida police station, said he got specific input that Kanta killed his brother by hitting with a wooden log on May 29. The police said Kulwant killed Palwinder as he was upset with him. He said their elder brother Baljinder Singh alias Sema had met with an accident around 14 months ago and slipped into coma. An oxygen pipe was fitted in his throat. He said Palwinder had pulled his oxygen pipe. Angered over this, Kulwant had a quarrel with Palwinder and later hit him with a log. He died on the spot. Next day, he dumped his body in the Jhoke Harihar Bala headworks. He said he also threatened his family, including parents, of dire consequences if they told anyone about the incident. Balkar Singh said efforts were on to nab Kulwant, who was at large after the registration of case. Farm unions to hold convention on July 20 Amritsar, July 12 The farmers’ unions united under the banner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) have announced to organise a convention at Company Bagh here on July 20. The convention is being organised to mobilise farmers for the July 31 “Bharat Bandh”. The farm leaders said the road traffic would be blocked for four hours on July 31 to protest against the anti-agriculture policies of the Centre and state governments. The leaders said many issues concerning agriculture were still unresolved. They said, “Agriculture has become a loss-making venture due to the pro-capitalist policies of the governments and there is a need to bring the focus back on the sector, which still is a source of livelihood of the masses.” — TNS Gangster held in 3-month-old drugs case Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 12 The Division B police have arrested alleged gangster Sajan Kalyan in a threemonth-old case in which it had confiscated 310 gm heroin from his mother, wife and a relative in March. Earlier, he was also booked in the case. Kalyan along with his two accomplices were held by the city police around a week ago. It had seized three weapons from their possession. As his police remand expired in this case, he was brought on production warrant and arrested in a three-month-old case. The police authorities said Kalyan’s wife Priya and his mother Sawinder Kaur were nabbed with 310 gm of heroin from their house in the Blue City area on the Loharka road on March 28. Kalyan originally hailed from Chamrang Road from where he along with his family shifted to Sandhu Colony. During raid, they were living in the Blue City area. Besides the duo, the police had also booked Kalyan and another relative Jasbir Singh aka Lalli of Mahindra Colony in the case. According to the police, Kalyan was a member of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang also had links with Lawrence Bishnoi, Sampat Nehra and other alleged gangsters. Punjab Chief Secy Events to mark first centenaries of Guru pays obeisance at Ka Bagh Morcha, Saka Panja Sahib begin Golden Temple Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 12 Newly appointed Chief Secretary VK Janjua said the state was facing multiple challenges which could be tackled with teamwork, grit and patience. He along with his wife and a daughter paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana temple and visited the Partition museum. He said they prayed for “Sarbat Da Bhala” (welfare of all). He said Punjab was the land of Gurus, saints and martyrs. They came here to pay their respects to seek blessings of the Almighty for the responsibility entrusted to him by the government. He said although there were many challenges being faced by Punjab, but with the grace of Gurus they would overcome all these challenges and make Punjab a green state again. At the Golden Temple, they were felicitated with a model VK Janjua of the temple and a siropa by Information Officer Jaswinder Singh Jassi. The Durgiana temple management also gifted the Janjua family a picture of Durgiana Mandir. The Chief Secretary also visited the Punjab Partition Museum and took a keen interest in the pictures, letters and other documents related to the Partition being preserved there. Deputy Commissioner Hardeep Singh Sudan and SDM Hardeep Singh accompanied him. Amritsar, July 12 The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today commenced the events dedicated to centenaries of Guru Ka Bagh Morcha and Saka (massacre) Panja Sahib with the inauguration of a painting workshop here today. A peaceful non-violent morcha (agitation) of Guru Ka Bagh was launched for emancipation of Gurdwara Sahib from the stronghold of Mahant Sunder Dass in August 1922, which ended on November 17, 1922, after the demands were conceded. Saka Panja Sahib, the heroic event took place at the Hasan Abdal railway station in Pakistan close to the sacred shrine of Panja Sahib on October 30, 1922. Around 200 Sikhs stopped a train carrying Sikh prisoners to offer them food. Some of them attained martyrdom in the incident as they laid on the track to stop the train. Around 30 artists from dif- Kumar Sourabh Raj (R) joins as MC Commissioner. TRIBUNE PHOTO Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Harjinder Singh Dhami along with others release the logo dedicated to the centenary of Saka Panja Sahib in Amritsar on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO SGPC RELEASES LOGO DEDICATED TO CENTENARIES The SGPC President on Tuesday released the logo dedicated to Shaheedi Saka Panja Sahib and Guru Ka Bagh Morcha prepared by the Dharam Prachar Committee of the SGPC. The logo depicts the Sikh history chapter that took place 100 years ago. It also depicts a 100-year symbol, besides Khalsa’s Nishan Sahib. Dhami said booklets on both centenaries would also be released soon. ferent places will depict these incidents on canvas during the workshop that has been organised at the administrative block of the SGPC office till July 17 under the supervision of historian Harwinder Singh Khalsa. President, SGPC, Harjinder Singh Dhami said during both these centenaries different samagams would be organised. “With this workshop, the history related to both these events will be highlighted through paintings and these will be brought before the sangat through exhibitions at different places,” he added. The SGPC President announced that video documentaries of the paintings would also be produced so that the new generation could be connected to the history of both these centenaries. Meanwhile, the families of the martyrs of these sakas are also being approached as the SGPC wants to honour them during the centenary programmes. He added that events dedicated to the Guru Ka Bagh Morcha centenary would be organised from August 6 to 8. Similarly, preparations are underway for the events related to the centenary of Saka Panja Sahib, which is to be observed on October 30. Kumar Sourabh joins as MC Commissioner Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 12 Newly appointed Commissioner Kumar Sourabh Raj took the charge of the Municipal Corporation here today. Municipal Corporation officials and employees welcomed the new Commissioner. He joined at the main headquarters of the MC at Ranjit Avenue and later went to the Corporation House on Mall Road. Later, he paid obeisance at the Golden Temple, where he was honoured by SGPC officials. The newly appointed Joint Commissioner, Deepjot Kaur, will take charge tomorrow. Irregular door-to-door garbage collection irks city residents Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 12 Residents are irked over irregular door-to-door garbage collection in the city. In most of the city area, the garbage is collected twice a week. The residents alleged that whenever they ask the workers of the private solid waste management firm about the irregular service, they claim that the vehicle is lying defunct. The company workers admitted that the garbage col- lection vehicle visits the areas of Verka, Vallah, Sultanwind, Fatahpur, Mahal, Ghanupur, Khankot, Guru Ki Wadali and Daburji twice a week. In other city areas, the garbage is collected on either alternate days or after a gap of two days. There are only a few posh areas of the city from where the MC collects garbage regularly. Averda, firm hired by the MC, has around 330 door-todoor garbage collection vehicles. Out of these, around 95 vehicles are lying defunct Call 1800-1221-4662 to regster complaints and 235 are functional. On 106 routes of the Bhgtanwala area, only 83 vehicles are functional. Similarly, in the Chheharta area, 27 vehicles are working on 35 routes. “The Municipal Corporation has been asking the residents to segregate garbage at source, but when all bins will be filled in the house how the residents will manage the segregation of garbage at home. Segregated garbage should be collected regularly otherwise it is not possible to manage two separate bins for three or four days,” said Navjit Kaur, a resident of the Verka-Vallah bypass road. “The firm workers make new excuses every day. Many a time they say they didn’t come as the hooter of the vehicle was not functional. In outer areas of the city, they visit once a week only,” said Amit Kumar, another resident. c m y b Municipal Health officials claimed that in order to streamline the door-to-door garbage collection, the health wing of the MC would divide the city into 85 sectors. Each sector will be inspected by sanitary inspectors. Currently, the residents may register their complaints on toll-free number of the solid waste management company 1800-1221-4662. A worker collects garbage from a house in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR ❝ The MC has been asking the residents to segregate garbage at source, but when all bins will be filled in the house how the residents will manage the segregation of garbage at home. Segregated garbage should be collected regularly otherwise it is not possible to manage two separate bins for three or four days ❞ Navjit Kaur, VERKA-VALLAH BYPASS ROAD RESIDENT