19072022-ATR-01.qxd 7/18/2022 11:48 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE RESIDENTS SHRUG OFF RELIANCE ON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS With ban on single-use plastic items, a change seems to have come as some traders have stopped giving plastic bags. FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY SKY INBRIEF PAGE 2 SUSHMITA HITS BACK AT TROLLS CALLING HER GOLD DIGGER PAGE 3 After her relationship status became a public affair, Sushmita Sen hit back at trolls that were calling her a gold digger. MAX 35°C | MIN 29°C | YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7:35 PM Star Plus will soon launch its new offering Rajjo Rocket. Celesti Bairagey will make her debut with the role of Rajjo. SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:38 AM Youth found dead near cement dump Tribune News Service 48-YR-OLD ASI DIES OF HEART ATTACK Tarn Taran: Assistant SubInspector (ASI) Shamsher Singh (48), who was posted at the local Police Lines, died of cardiac arrest on Sunday night. Kanwarsher Singh, son of the deceased, said his father complained of chest pain around midnight. He said the attack was so severe that he died within a few minutes. The postmortem of the body was conducted at the local Civil Hospital. He was cremated at his native Bagrian village. OC THREE HELD WITH PISTOL, BULLETS Amritsar: Acting on a tip-off, the CIA staff of the local police have arrested three persons identified as Prem Singh, alias Kala Pehalwan, a resident of Sadpura village in Tarn Taran, Dharam Singh of Bhakha Tara Singh village and Sunil of Majitha road here for allegedly possessing a country-made pistol. The police said following specific input, the CIA staff laid checkpoint near the Bharariwal link road and intercepted a car. During search, the police recovered a .32-bore pistol, two magazines and seven bullets from their possession. Pehalwan already had a case under the NDPS Act registered against him, while Dharam Singh had one case each under the NDPS Act and the Arms Act against him. A fresh case under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered against them. They were produced in the court and brought on police remand for further interrogation. TNS ACHIEVEMENT OF GNDU HAILED Amritsar: Office-bearers of the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) were all praises for Guru Nanak Dev University on attaining the 44th rank in the National Institutional Ranking Framework -2022. “The university has improved its ranking by nine positions, which is a remarkable achievement,” Manmohan Singh Brar, patron, AVM. Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi, Patron, AVM, said, “This remarkable achievement is the outcome of sincere and dedicated work of academic and non-academic faculty members.” TNS Amritsar, July 18 A youth, identified as Harnam Singh (25), was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the Mustafabad area on the Batala road here today. The victim, who used to work in a textile factory on the Majitha road, got married a year ago. On Sunday, he went to a friend’s house, but did not return. In the morning, his body was found lying near a cement dump in the area. The police have sent the body for a postmortem. Senior police officials, including Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Harpal Singh, reached the spot and started a probe. He interacted with the victim’s family members and kin. The family members alleged that there were injury marks on his head and body, TUESDAY | 19 JULY 2022 | AMRITSAR President of minibus operator union shot at Tribune News Service HAD INJURY MARKS ON HEAD, BODY: KIN ■ He used to work in a textile Family members of Harnam Singh (top right) mourn his death near Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR besides strangulation marks around his neck. Harpal Singh said the exact cause of the death would be ascertained only after the postmortem report. The police authorities said CCTV cameras in the area were being scrutinised to find some clues in the case. The family members said Harnam Singh got married to a woman of Harsha Chhina village around a year ago. On Sunday evening, he also called up his wife to inform her that he would be late. The police said a case had been registered and further investigations were underway. factory on the Majitha road and got married a year ago ■ The family alleged that there were injury marks on his head and body, besides strangulation marks around his neck ■ Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Harpal Singh said the exact cause of the death would be ascertained only after the postmortem report ■ The police authorities said CCTV cameras in the area were being scrutinised to find some clues in the case Amritsar, July 18 Two unidentified armed assailants shot at the president of a minibus operators’ union, Baldev Singh Babbu, at the Interstate Bus Terminus here on Monday. He narrowly escaped the incident. Babbu was parking his car when miscreants shot a couple of gunshots at him. Assistant Commissioner of Police Gurpartap Singh Sahota said a case had been registered on the victim’s statement and further investigations were underway. Babbu said after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple, he came to the bus stand. He alleged that as he was entering the bus stand, he observed the movement of two suspicious persons near the spot where he used to Kin of ‘drug peddler’ To mark 75 years of Independence, 5-day scuffle with police, event at Amritsar railway station begins Selfie points, photo exhibitions set up help him escape Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 18 The family members of an alleged drug peddler scuffled with the police party when they went to arrest him in the Pawan Nagar locality here late last evening. Due to the scuffle, the accused managed to escape. The police have booked as many as 15 persons for reportedly obstructing a government servant from discharging his duties and helping an alleged drug peddler to escape from the spot. However, the family members of the suspect identified as Mohit, alias Moti, alleged that the police was falsely arresting him and they even manhandled the girls and women of the family, leaving two of them injured. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jagwinder Singh said a police team got specific input regarding an alleged drug peddler involved in drug trafficking in the area. He said a raid was conducted and Mohit was arrested by the police party who was hiding on the first floor of the house. He said the police recovered 6 gm of heroin from his possession. He alleged as the police party was taking him away, the family members started creating ruckus and gathered HEROIN SEIZED FROM ACCUSED’S POSSESSION ❝A police team got specific input regarding an alleged drug peddler in the area. A raid was conducted and Mohit was arrested who was hiding on the first floor of the house. The police recovered 6-gm heroin from his possession ❞ Jagwinder Singh, ASI Cops book 15 persons the people besides scuffling with the police party. In the scuffle, Mohit managed to give police the slip. The police later arrested his relative Baldev Singh in the case. A case under Sections 21-B, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and Sections 353 and 186 of the IPC has been registered in this regard. Besides Mohit and Baldev Singh, the police booked Bhag Singh, his wife Veero, Razi, wife of Mohit, Paramjit Kaur, Jagjit Singh, Marru, Mottu, Varkha, Komal, Manna, Rohit, Amolak Singh and Deepu. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Abhimanyu Rana said raids were on to nab Mohit. Amritsar, July 18 The Northern Railway today organised a special event at the railway station here under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration launched to mark 75 years of Independence. Speaking on the occasion, Divisional Railway Manager Seema Sharma said the role of the Railways in the freedom movement is well known and 75 stations and 27 trains across the country, which are of historical significance in the freedom movement, had been selected as iconic railway stations. She said in Punjab, apart from Amritsar railway station, the Khatkar Kalan railway station due to its association with martyr Bhagat Divisional Railway Manager Seema Sharma flags off a train at the railway station in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR ❝In Punjab, apart from the Amritsar railway station, the Khatkar Kalan railway station due to its association with martyr Bhagat Singh has been selected as an iconic railway station. Seema Sharma, DIVISIONAL RAILWAY MANAGER ❞ Singh had been selected as an iconic railway station. She added that different events such as nukkad nataks would be organised during the five-day event which began on Monday as a part of the Independence Day celebrations. The Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav programme is scheduled at Amritsar railway station. The five-day event was started by Divisional Railway officials. On the occasion, a Frontier Mail which was prominently used by freedom fighters, including Mahatma Gandhi, to travel across the country was also flagged off. The train was named the Golden Temple Mail in 1996. The Railways has also set up selfie points, photo exhibitions and other attractions at the railway station. 3 vehicle thieves held, 10 two-wheelers recovered Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 18 The Division E police have arrested three vehicle thieves and recovered eight scooters and two stolen motorcycles from their possession. Those arrested were identified as Harjit Singh of Umarpura village, Balbir Singh of Tibbi village in Muktsar Sahib and Tushar Kumar of Bhikhiwind in Tarn Taran. PAGE 4 CELESTI BAIRAGEY TO MAKE TV DEBUT WITH RAJJO ROCKET According to the police, initially the cops recovered two scooters from their possession. During police interrogation, the police recovered six more scooters and two motorcycles. They had stolen the vehicles from the areas around the Golden Temple and bus stand here. Meanwhile, the police have also arrested Joban Kumar of Loharka Road and Ajay Kumar of Bihar, now a resi- The accused in police custody in Amritsar. TRIBUNE PHOTO dent of Faizpura locality, for stealing vehicles. The police recovered three stolen bikes from their possession. park his car. He said he reversed the car and came out of the bus stand. After sometime, he again went to the bus stand. The suspects were not there at that time. He said as he parked his car, the duo came there and opened fire on him. He said a bullet that almost passed by him hit his car. He said the incident led to panic in the bus stand, while the accused fled the scene. Ironically, the police chowki bus stand was located just few meters away from the spot. A police official, including Additional Commissioner of Police Sahota, reached the spot. The ACP said initial probe pointed out that only one shot was fired. He said the CCTV cameras in the vicinity were being analysed to find clues about the perpetrators. Send entries for photo contest by August 15 Amritsar, July 18 Residents can send their entries for a photography competition — Cities of Tomorrow — being organised under the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) programme of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) till August 15. In the competition being organised in 12 cities across the country, the winner would be given a cash prize of Rs 50,000 while the second and third position holders would get a prize of Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. PRIZES FOR WINNERS In the competition being organised in 12 cities across the country, the winner will be given a cash prize of ~50,000, while the second and third position holders will get a prize of ~25,000 and ~10,000, respectively. Under the competition, city residents can submit their entries through NIUA’s website by taking three photographs of Amritsar, showcasing the theme of sustainable mobility. The winners would be selected by a three-member jury consisting of renowned photographers — Raghu Rai, Ketki Sheth and Saunak Banerjee. The names of the winners would be announced on September 5. Awarded photographs and selected photographs would be exhibited at the World Habitat Centre in Delhi. — TNS Actor Deepti Naval shares stories of her childhood spent in walled city Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 18 Sharing stories of her childhood spent in the narrow yet bustling lanes of Katra Sher Singh here, actor-author Deepti Naval launched her memoir, “A Country Called Childhood” in the city on Sunday evening. The event was hosted by Kolkata-based Prabha Khaitan and city-based organisation Phulkari at Taj Swarna. The event was attended by actor Richa Chadha as a chief guest and Cabinet Minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar, who launched the book. In an engaging session that left the audience nostalgic about their childhood, the The actor, who was born in 1952 in Amritsar, talks about how she spent early years of her life absorbing the energy and ethos of Amritsar and coming of age under the influence of Hindi films actor, who was born in 1952 in Amritsar, talked about how she spent early years of her life absorbing the energy and ethos of Amritsar and coming of age under the influence of Hindi films. She said she would often ask her parents to tell about their lives — both as individuals and together as a family. Naval describes an unforgettable childhood filled with love, adventure, mystery, tragedy and joy. Sharing anecdotes from her childhood, which included growing up within religious confluence in a strict Arya Samaj family, running away from home as a pre-teen to see mountains in Kashmir or watching the train pass under the Bhandari bridge every night on a post-dinner stroll with her family, Naval said, “I spent my childhood in the walled city that did not have commercial noise of today. It was a time when the city was still nursing the wounds of Partition. My father studied at Government College, Lahore, and later migrated to Amritsar. He used to take us on walks every night to Bhandari bridge, where he would enjoy his conversations with Giani ji (famous Giani Tea Stall), who was a family friend.” “We were an unconventional Punjabi family, where concept of religion was abstract. My mother, who has a big influence in my life, used to enjoy listening to the kirtan at Darbar Sahib. We had a cobblers’ colony just within touching distance of our house and we used to call it Mochistan,” she shared every story as it was still fresh in her memory. She also shared how films and actors from the city played a big role in her life. “I was always fascinated by films. I remember this one c m y b time a rumour on Sadhna’s demise was spread in the city. I ran to the playground near my home and cried a lot. Later, one of my friends told me that it was a rumour. And then when Rajesh Khanna rose to stardom, I went to a printing press near my home to get his poster printed,” she added. Phulkari President Tina Aggarwal said, “The book is both a love letter to her parents and homage to the city she grew up in. Naval describes in the book the innocence with which she saw the historic events taking place around her and even as a young girl sensed the tremors of political dissonance.” MORE ON PAGE 4 Actor Richa Chadha (third from left in the second row) and Cabinet Minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar at the book launch of Bollywood veteran actor Deepti Naval in Amritsar on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO