14012023-ATR-01.qxd 1/13/2023 11:54 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MISSION LIFE: DAV ALUMNUS AMONG TOP 75 INNOVATORS RANDEEP HOODA FAINTS WHILE RIDING A HORSE AKANKSHA PURI STARS IN AMRIT MAAN’S MUSIC VIDEO The PM had announced Mission LiFE, in which citizens could contribute ideas for sustainability goals. P2 Randeep Hooda was hospitalised at a hospital in Mumbai after he fainted while riding a horse. P3 MAX 12°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 14°C | MIN 7°C Akanksha recently collaborated with Amrit Maan for a music video. The video is a Punjabi party number. P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 5.48 PM » SUNRISE SUNDAY 7:30 AM SATURDAY | 14 JANUARY 2023 | AMRITSAR Now lodge PSPCL plaints on WhastApp Tribune News Service Members of the Kisan Majdoor Sangharsh Committee burn copies of government policies in Tarn Taran on Friday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI Farmers burn copies of govt policies Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 13 Farmers burnt copies of government’s alleged corporatefriendly policies which were against their interest in the Lohri bonfire on Friday. Members of the Kisan Majdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), led by general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher, held a protest at Deputy Commissioner’s Office and toll plazas here. On the 49th day of the agitation today, the agitators celebrated “Sangharshi” Lohri by lighting a flame against the “pro-corporate” policies of the governments. Union’s district leaders Baldev Singh Bagga, Savin- der Singh and others said the legendary character in Punjab history Dullah Bhatti had fought against the oppression of the government of those times and the agitation was relevant today too. There is no difference in the behaviour of the governments, they said. Farmer leader Gurlal Singh Mann said their agitation was being supported by a large number of groups. He said both the state and Centre shrugged away from their responsibility to improve income of farmers and farm labourers. He said all debts of farmers and labourers should be waived off, fair price to farmers’ crops and 365-day employment should be ensured, surplus lands should be distributed equally among farmers and labourers. An amendment made regarding Mustarka owner lands should be withdrawn and all other demands of the movement should be accepted immediately, they demanded. Meanwhile, members of the KMSC burnt copies of alleged anti-farmers and lobourers policies of the Centre and the state government in Tarn Taran too. They have been holding a “Pakka Morcha” outside the District Administrative Complex (DAC) in Tarn Taran for the past 49 days and staging dharas at Usman toll plaza and Mannan villages for the past 29 days. District president Satnam Singh Manochahal, Harjin- der Singh Shakri, Jarnail Singh Noordi and other leaders of the KMSC, in their address, said the wrong policies of the Center and the state had badly ruined the economy of the country which had made people jobless and forced farmers to end their lives. The leaders took a note of giving the control of public sector institutions such as Railways, LIC, air services, banking, electricity, education, health, besides others, to the corporate sector. They said due to this, youth was facing problems such as unemployment, inflation and corruption. The leaders demanded that debt on farmers should be also be waived off. Amritsar, January 13 Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO today launched a WhatsApp number for providing better services to about 96 lakh consumers of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) here on Friday. He said due to increase in demand for electricity during summer season, the complaints regarding disruptions in its supply also shot up. To redress the complaints of consumers in time, PSPCL has set up a 24x7 helpline with dedicated staff. Consumers can register complaints of no power sup- Amritsar, January 13 The festival of Lohri is synonymous with kite-flying. Much to the dismay of kite flyers, the overcast sky, fog and cold hit their plans to fly kites. Jashanpreet Singh, a youth, said he had purchased kites and string to fly kites on the auspicious occasion of Lohri. However, his plans failed to materialise due to inclement weather. Still, he did not lose hope and prayed for a change in the weather during the weekend. Most of the kite lovers met the same fate in the city. Meanwhile, people from all sections of society enjoyed Lohri here on Friday. Gurjeet Singh Aujla, the Amritsar Lok Sabha MP held a pro, gramme to mark the occasion at his office. Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO celebrated Lohri with employees of PSPCL at INBRIEF Owing to fog in the morning, vehicles with headlights on were seen on the national highway in Tarn Taran. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI the local electricity office and prayed for the burning of evils in the sacred fire of Lohri. He wished the people of the state and said the festival encouraged all to tread the path of goodness. Bal Kishan, Chief Engineer, PSPCL Border Zone, said the department was committed to providing an uninterrupted power supply. On the occasion, they assured the people of improving power supply in the entire state. The Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development commenced Dhiyan di Lohri week from today, which would last up to January 20. MLA Jeevanjot Kaur was the chief guest. On the occasion, Lohri was celebrated with children and parents and gifts, peanuts and reoris were distributed. Everybody prayed for the good health and progress of the children. Manjinder Singh, District Programme Officer, said girls were no less than boys in any field provided they were given a chance. Parents should not consider girls as a burden. Instead, they should give equal opportunities to girls. He appreciated the Social Security and Women and Child Development Department and the Health Department for their contribution in improving the ratio of girls. He said people should eliminate evils like dowry from society and encourage boys to give respect to girls to create a good society. Kite flyers a disappointed lot in Tarn Taran Tarn Taran: As usual people woke up to dense fog and Amritsar, January 13 Office-bearers and other members of the Kabir Park Residents’ Welfare Association on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to MC officials to remove the illegal encroachments from the market of the locality. The residents led by Sukhraj Singh, president of the association, said they had continued on page 2 chilled weather on the day of Lohri here on Friday. People did not get a glimpse of the sun as the sky was overcast with clouds. As the sky was clear on Thursday, people enjoyed the sunshine and were expecting the same weather today. Inclement weather also disappointed kite flyers as no wind was blowing which usually helps in kite flying. Danishveer Singh, a kite flyer, said most of the kite flyers had to go to the rooftop of their houses to enjoy kite flying with the support of light wind blowing. He said most of the kite flyers used the banned synthetic string. The visibility on the road was low and vehicles were running at low speed with the headlights on. A resident of Lalu Ghuman, Dilbag Singh, a farmer, said the foggy weather was not harmful for crops at this time, but the sunlight was beneficial. Police crack whip on Chinese string sellers MAN HELD WITH 10-GM HEROIN Add the Wildlife, Environment Acts to FIRs against offenders to check its use Amritsar: The Gate Hakima police have nabbed Lakhan, a resident of Variyam Singh Colony, Jhabal road, for allegedly possessing 10-gm heroin. A case was registered against him. A court has sent him to police custody. TNS PK Jaiswar MAID BOOKED FOR STEALING CASH Amritsar: Dr Pankaj Gupta of Majitha Road has lodged a complaint against Nikita of Bheelowal and others for allegedly stealing valuables and cash from his house. The incident occurred last month. The suspect was working at his house for the past two years. He said Nikita suddenly went on leave on December 4 and did not return. Later, he found the valuables missing and got a case filed against her. TNS Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 13 Amidst the rising demand for taking stringent possible action against those selling Chinese kite string, the police have started adding rigorous section like the Wildlife Protection and Environment Acts to the FIR. In two cases registered in the past two days, the Amritsar Rural police and the Tarn Taran police added Sections 39 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act and Section 15 of the Environment Act against the accused. Following the death of a child after synthetic kite string entangled around his neck resulting in slitting his throat in Ropar, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had directed all the Deputy Commissioners to take strict action against the MOVE COMES AFTER CM MANN’S ORDER ■ Following the death of a child after synthetic kite string entangled around his neck resulting in slitting his throat in Ropar, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had directed all the Deputy Commissioners to take strict action against the violators dealing in illegal sale of acrylic kite string. violators dealing in illegal sale of acrylic kite string. In the majority of cases of seizure of Chinese string, the police have registered cases under Section 188 of the IPC (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), which is bailable. “The offender can go scot free after filing bail in the police station itself. The government should orders stringent measures and action against the perpetrators,” said Dr Rohan Mehra, national president of the AntiCrime and Animal Protection Association. He pointed out that despite the ban order by the government and district administrations, the sale of synthetic string continued unchecked albeit secretly. The rampant use of Chinese string could be witnessed when youth and children could be seen using the synthetic string during the Lohri festival. On Wednesday, the Jhander police had booked Ranjiv Kumar and his father Ramesh Kumar along with Akash, all residents of Fatehgarh Churian, for allegedly selling Chinese string. They used to sell the same in an c m y b ply by sending the keyword “no supply” to WhatsApp number 96461-01912. The complaint will be registered only from the last registered mobile number of the complainant. If a consumer’s mobile number is not registered with PSPCL, he/she will be sent a message to get it reg- Residents seek removal of encroachments Overcast sky, cold fail to dampen Lohri spirit in city Tribune News Service Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO during the Lohri celebrations with PSPCL employees in Amritsar on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO istered using another option. Already, PSPCL has a dedicated toll free number 1912, which is recorded at a 120member call centre in Ludhiana. Consumers used to send SMS “no supply” at 1912, give a missed call at 1800-180-1512 and use mobile app from Android and iOS mobile phones to lodge complaints. Now, a new facility has been made available for customers to lodge complaints through WhatsApp. The minister asked consumers to share honest feedback and if they are not satisfied with the redress of their grievances, they could write their comments on 1912 and send SMS. abandoned Rusk factory on the Ajnala-Fatehgarh Churian road. Similarly on Thursday, the Tarn Taran (city) police arrested Rahul Kumar, alias Kaka, of Bohri Wali Gali seizing 30 Gattu (rolls) of acrylic string and Rs 2.95 lakh of Indian currency. In both cases, the police added sections of the WildLife Protection and Environment Protection Acts. In four other similar cases registered by the Tarn Taran police regarding the seizure of Chinese string, the police booked the offenders under Section 188 of the IPC. Swapan Sharma, SSP , Amritsar rural police, said adding sections of the Wildlife Protection and Environment Acts had made these offences non-bailable. He said those found selling illegal thread would be dealt with an iron hand. The Amritsar police with the arrested snatchers on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Four nabbed with stolen items Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 13 The police have arrested four snatchers and recovered a bike, two scooters and five stolen mobile phones from their possession. Those arrested were identified as Sajan Singh of Fatehgarh Churian Road, Gurpartap Singh of Nangali village, Mani Kumar and Akashdeep Singh of Baba Deep Singh Colony here. Assistant Commissioner of Police (North) Varinder Singh Khosa said three days ago, the police intercepted Sajan, Gurpartap and Mani Kumar at a naka near Janta Colony, when they were coming from Rattan Singh Chowk to Kitchlew Chowk on a scooter. He said the accused tried to flee the spot after taking a U-turn when the cops signaled them to stop. Nevertheless, they were over- powered and arrested. During interrogation, the accused could not produce documents of ownership of the scooter. He said later, the scooter was found to be stolen from Loharka Road. The ACP said on their disclosure, the police arrested their fourth accomplice Akashdeep Singh. The police confiscated a motorcycle, two Activa scooters and five stolen mobile phones from their possession.