27112022-ATR-01.qxd 26-11-2022 23:51 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE KABADDI PLAYER DIES UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES National level Kabaddi player Veerpal Kaur (25) died on Saturday. She reportedly consumed an insecticide. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY PAGE 2 ACTOR VIKRAM GOKHALE LEAVES BEHIND A RICH LEGACY PAGE 3 SHWETA TRIPATHI SHARMA VOUCHES FOR ECO-FASHION Actor Vikram Gokhale, who worked in Hindi and Marathi cinema as well as numerous plays, has passed away. MAX 26°C | MIN 7°C | YESTERDAY MAX 25°C | MIN 7°C SUNSET SUNDAY 5:27 PM PAGE 4 Stressing sustainability, actress Shweta Tripathi Sharma has said eco-fashion is the need of the hour. SUNRISE MONDAY 7:09 AM SUNDAY | 27 NOVEMBER 2022| AMRITSAR Pak drone shot down near IB Tribune News Service Members of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee hold a protest in Amritsar; and (right) farmers and labourers during a protest in Tarn Taran. PHOTOS: SUNIL KUMAR & GURBAXPURI Farmers’ indefinite protest begins Tribune News Service MAJOR DEMANDS Amritsar, November 26 While the farmer unions comprising the Samyukt Kisan Morcha held a protest in Chandigarh on Saturday, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) initiated an indefinite protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office here. A KMSC leader said the protest would continue until their demands were accepted by the government. KMSC president Satnam Singh Pannu said the protests had been initiated in 10 districts of the state. The farmer leader stated that the state government had amended the Punjab Common Land Act that would displace thousands of farmers in the state. Pannu said they demanded from the government to revoke the amendments made to the Act. “The Centre had promised to give legal guarantee to the MSP which it has failed to provide till date,” said Pannu. The farmer leader also demanded immediate release ■ They demand from the ■ Immediate release of the arrears government to revoke the amendments made to the Punjab Common Land Act ■ Legal guarantee to the MSP, which the Centre had promised of the farmers tilling their land across the border fence ■ Displacing of the barbed fence towards the Zero Line so that the farmers do not have to cross ■ Implementation of the Land of the arrears of the farmers, tilling their land across the border fence. He also demanded the displacing of the barbed fence towards the Zero Line so that the farmers do not have to cross the fence to access their fields. KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said the BSF should also give relaxation in time to the farmers with land across the fence so that they can work in their fields for longer durations. Pandher also demanded the MSP for vegetable crops, implementation of the Land Ceiling Act, and jobs for the family members of those who had died during the farming agitation at Delhi borders. “We demand from the government to implement the Land Ceiling Act and confiscate all surplus land, which is 17.5 acres and distribute it amongst landless,” he said. The KMSC has also demanded from the state government to fulfill all promises made by it before the elections. “We demand from the government to give a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 to women and increase the old age and widow pension to Rs 2,500 per month,” said Pandher, demanding that institutional loans of the farming community should be waived off. Tarn Taran: Farmers and workers in large numbers sat on Pakka Morcha in front of the District Administrative Complex (DAC) from Saturday to stress on the demands relat- ed to the Union and the state government under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab. Womenfolk and youngsters in large numbers too were present at the Pakka Morcha which was being presided over by Satnam Singh Manochahal, district president of the KMSC. Besides Satnam Singh Manochahal, Dial Singh Mianwind, Harbinder Singh Kang and Dhanna Singh Lalughuman were among those who addressed the gathering on the occasion. The farmers who lost their lives in the Delhi Morcha were paid rich tributes at the beginning of the Pakka Morcha. The leaders in their respective address con- the fence to access their fields Ceiling Act and jobs for the family members of those who had died during the farming agitation at Delhi borders demned the police that these were framed to favour the corporate sector at the cost of farmers and the working class. As a result, people in the country had to face hardships and struggle to overcome poverty. The leaders condemned the state machinery and government for failing to check drugs and said the Punjab Police had expressed its inability to check the drug menace as the DGP had said that the threat was widespread in the state. The leaders said corruption, unemployment and lawlessness were the other problems which the government had failed to resolve. Privatisation, pro-corporate and other alleged anti-people policies had led to the sale of the public institutions like railways, education, health, and water supply to the corporate sector. The farmers and workers had made arrangements to stay at the morcha site at night and were even arranging for their meals there. Amritsar, November 26 Alert BSF jawan foiled a drone intrusion bid and shot down a drone which entered into the Indian air space in Dauke village located near the International Border (IB) in Attari sub-division here last night. The China-made quadcopter was found in the fields after a search operation was carried out in the area by the jawans along with the police. Senior BSF officials reached the spot and initiated a probe. Though nothing was found from near the spot, BSF authorities suspect that some contraband or arms could have been smuggled via drone. The search operation continued till evening. According to information, the BSF jawans, during patrolling heard a buzzing sound of a drone coming from the Pakistan side. They 3 booked for illegal mining Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 26 The Beas police have booked three persons in separate cases on the charge of illegal mining in Kot Mehtab and Wazir bhullar villages here. Those booked include Gurdev Singh of Kot Mehtab village and remaining two persons were yet to be identified. The cases were registered following complaints by a Mining Officer, who said during a visit to Kot Mehtab and Wazir Bhullar villages, they found that illegal mining was being carried out near Beas river belt. The police have registered a case under Section 21 (1) of the Mining and Minerals Act and investigation is on in the case. BSF jawans with the drone confiscated on Saturday. SUNIL KUMAR fired illumination bombs, besides firing in the direction from where the buzzing sound was coming. The drone was hit by a bullet and it fell on the ground. The entire area was cordoned off and a search operation was launched in presence of senior BSF officers in the morning. During the search, the police found the damaged drone and no contraband or arms were located from the spot. Pakistan-based anti-national forces, including cross border smugglers, were involved in smuggling of contraband and arms with the help of drones. The BSF had shot a number of drones since January this year near the IB. 1 booked for ‘rape’ Amritsar, November 26 The Amritsar rural police have booked a youth for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl. Though the incident occurred in April, a complaint was lodged with the police after the suspect uploaded an objectionable picture of the victim on social media. The accused was identified as Ajaypal Singh of Marar village in Batala. A case under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC, Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Section 67B of the IT Act was registered against him. No arrest has been made so far. The complainant told the police that she came in contact with the accused at her school where he used to come for sports events. She said in Uploads objectionable picture of victim online April, he called her to Amritsar on the pretext of paying obeisance at the Golden Temple. He met her at the bus stand and took her to a hotel where he forcibly made a physical relation with her and also captured her objectionable pictures and videos on his phone. She said the accused also threatened her with dire consequences and said on refusing to meet him again, he threatened to post her video on social media. As she did not respond to his message, he uploaded the same on a social media platform. The police said efforts were on to nab the accused and investigation was on. — TNS Support grows to prevent axing of century-old Bohar tree Encroachments on a road from Gawal Mandi Chowk to Islamabad in Amritsar. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Traffic on Islamabad-Gawal Mandi Chowk road needs streamlining STRETCH OF PROBLEMS Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 26 With illegal encroachments mushrooming, the road from Gawal Mandi Chowk to Islamabad witnesses frequent traffic jams resulting in routine inconvenience to commuters. The construction of a bridge on 22 number railway crossing adds to the woes of the residents as commuters face long traffic jams at Putlighar Chowk and on the road from Gawal Mandi Chowk to Islamabad. Almost all the shopkeepers on the road display their goods on the footpath. In the evening, shopkeepers encroach upon some portion of the road by putting up their display stands, hangers and other goods. The haphazardly parked vehicles also encroach upon a major portion of the road. Vendors install their kiosks right on the road. The residents who visit the market to buy items of daily need, fruits and vegetables often stop their vehicles in the middle of the road to do their shopping. All these lead to heavy traffic jams around Putlighar chowk. Sometimes, the commuters have to spend almost half an hour to cross a stretch of less than one kilometer. “There is no designated parking space in the area. So, the visitors to the market park their vehicles on road. We don’t allow them to block the thoroughfare. We Amritsar, November 26 A number of environmentalists have raised concern over the century-old “Bohar” ficus tree near Daduana village on Mehta Road, which might be uprooted for the AmritsarUna four-lane project. Residents said they had asked the government to change the route of the proposed project so that the tree is not uprooted. Recently, Waris Punjab De will start towing away the vehicles creating an obstacle in the flow of traffic,” said a traffic police officer. Dharminderjit Singh, Estate Officer of MC said, “We often seize the goods of shopkeepers and remove the vends on the road from Gawal Mandi Chowk to Islamabad. When our teams leave the area, the shopkeepers and vendors again encroach upon the road. With the construction of a bridge on the railway crossing, the stretch witnesses regular traffic jams.” The Municipal Corporation and the police have been planning to initiate a joint drive to make the area free of encroachments. However, local politicians in the area often put pressure on the MC staff not to take any action against the violators. c m y b The century-old Bohar tree near Mehta Road in Amritsar. FILE PHOTO leader Amritpal Singh had visited the site and extend- ed support to the residents. He said a diversion could be constructed to save the tree. Earlier, environmentalists, local residents and even social media influencers had came out in support of the tree and demanded that the tree should not be axed. Residents said a large number of trees had been uprooted for the road project from Hothian to Khajala village on Mehta Road recently. Construction on the AmritsarGhoman-Tanda-Una stretch of NH-503A was initiated few months ago. Residents said they welcomed support for the cause from all sections of society. Dr Harkrishan Singh, a resident of Khajala village, said: “The tree is home to hundreds of birds, who have made their nests on it. It will be better if the government saves the tree. In other countries, there are many examples when governments diverted or even halted road projects to save ancient trees.” — TNS