02032023-ATR-01.qxd 3/1/2023 11:54 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune HOLA MOHALLA: PASSENGER SAFETY GOES FOR A TOSS KIARA TO PERFORM AT FIRST WOMEN'S PREMIERE LEAGUE Actress Kiara will be the star performer at Women’s Premiere League, which will begin on March 4 in Mumbai.P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 26°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 15°C FARHAD SAMJI TO BRING HOTSTAR SPECIAL POP KAUN Passenger safety compromised as devotees ride atop buses, trucks and in open tractor-trailers. P2 FORECAST Disney+ Hotstar and ace filmmaker Farhad Samji team up to present comedy series, Pop Kaun. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 6.28 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:56 AM » THURSDAY | 2 MARCH 2023 | AMRITSAR INBRIEF SULTANPUR MAN HURT IN FIRING Amritsar: A man was injured in a firing incident reported in the Sultanwind area on Wednesday evening. An old enmity is stated to be the reason behind the incident. Senior police officials led by ACP Gurpartap Singh Sahota reached the spot and started a probe. According to information, due to an old enmity, two groups started fighting this evening. During the clash, the accused indulged in firing. TNS MAN LOSES CAR TO 2 MISCREANTS Amritsar: Two unidentified persons stole a car in Gate Hakima police station area on Tuesday. The incident was captured in the CCTV camera. Amritpal Singh, a lawyer and owner of the car, told the police that he had parked his car outside his house which was stolen by unknown persons. TNS MAN HELD WITH 18-GM HEROIN Amritsar: The Division C police arrested a man, identified as Manjit Singh Bhau, and recovered 18-gm heroin from his possession on Tuesday. A case under the NDPS Act was registered and further probe was on, the police said. TNS Illegal colonies in satellite towns of cityon radar of PUDA officials Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 1 With the goal of maximising their profits and escaping the attention of the authorities, dubious investors are setting up unauthorised colonies in the satellite towns of Tangra, Rayya, Beas and others, around the holy city. All these areas fall on the AmritsarJalandhar GT road that has been witnessing a lot of construction activity. As the holy city bursts at its seams due to fast paced urbanisation, a similar phenomenon is being witnessed in its satellite towns. Land sharks are investing in properties to make a killing and the rates are rising. The illegal colonies being built in Tangra, Rayya and Beas were demolished recently as part of action against unauthorised colonies and buildings. District Town Planner Gursevak Singh Aulakh said the authorities have been keeping a watch on upcoming unauthorised settlements to ensure that only planned development should come up. He said the owners of these colonies were sometimes asked to regularise the Don’t procure plots in illegal colonies: Town Planner AUTHORITIES KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE ■ Investors are setting up PUDA removes construction from an illegal colony on Wednesday. unauthorised colonies in satellite towns like Tangra, Rayya, Beas and others around the city ■ All these areas fall on the Amritsar-Jalandhar GT road that has been witnessing a lot of construction activity ■ Land sharks are investing in properties to make a killing and the rates are rising ■ Illegal colonies being built in Tangra, Rayya and Beas were demolished recently as part of action against unauthorised colonies and buildings ■ Authorities have been keeping a watch on upcoming unauthorised settlements colonies and follow the rules set by the government. He said the matter was discussed with senior officials and after obtaining due directions from Amritsar PUDA Chief Administrator Deepshikha Sharma and Amritsar Development Authoirty (ADA) Additional Chief Administrator Dr Rajat Oberoi, action was taken against the violators. Aulakh said despite repeatedly serving the notices the owners of these unauthorised colonies nizers, the PUDA will take action over unauthorised colonies. The Town Planner appealed to the general public that they should not procure plots in illegal colonies which are not approved by the PUDA so that in case of action, they would not lose their hard earned money. Earlier, the PUDA had cracked down on illegal colonies located on the Ram Tirth Road last month. did not pay attention and kept flouting the rules of the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act (PAPRA), 1995. Under the PAPRA, strict rules were evoked entailing three to seven years of imprisonment and a fine between Rs 2 to Rs 5 lakh against a person who had developed unauthorised colonies. After the release of orders by the present government to take strict action for such activities and illegal colo- Kidnapping suspect surrenders in court, demands impartial probe Tribune News Service SAYS HIS NAME BEING DRAGGED UNNECESSARILY Amritsar, March 1 A youth, who was a suspect in a kidnapping and extortion case, on Wednesday surrendered before the court. Later, the suspect was handed over to the Sadar police and sent to four-day police custody for questioning in the case. Mayank Mahajan (20) surrendered in the court with his counsel Naveen Mahajan and Shalu Mahajan. He would now be produced in the court on March 4. Mayank told the court that his name was unnecessarily being dragged into the case, though he had no involvement in it. He along with his family demanded an impartial probe into the case. Shivam Sood, a grocery store owner, on February 2 was allegedly kidnapped from outside his house when he had just reached there. Sood had told the police that he came out of his car, a bike-borne youth hit his bike. As they indulged into arguments, a car stopped nearby him and three of the occupants bundled him into a car and fled away. ■ A suspect in a kidnapping and extortion case, on Wednesday surrendered before the court. Later, the suspect was handed over to the Sadar police and sent to four-day police custody for questioning ■ Mayank Mahajan (20) surrendered in the court with his counsel Naveen Mahajan and Shalu Mahajan. He would now be produced in the court on March 4 ■ Mayank told the court that his name was unnecessarily being dragged into the case, though he had no involvement in it. He along with his family demanded an impartial probe into the case ■ Shivam Sood, a grocery store owner, on February 2 was allegedly kidnapped from outside his house when he had just reached there. Sood had told the police as he came out of his car, a bike-borne youth hit his bike He told the police that the accused posed as accomplices of Lawrence Bishnoi and demanded Rs 10 lakh as extortion while pointing pistols at him. He said he got afraid and called his father asking him to hand over the amount to his friend. He said the accused then called his accomplices who took the amount from his father. He said the accused then let him off while threatening to eliminate his entire family in case he revealed the incident to anyone. The police had arrested two persons — Jaskaran Khanna, alias Kaka of Hukum Singh Road, and Ajay Negi of Sharipura area — on February 20. However, their six accomplices — identified as Bhupinder Singh, alias Laddi of Sharifpura, Kunal Mahajan alias Keshan alias Kan of Shivala Road, Mayank Mahajan and Sahil Duggal alias Lalli of Sharifpura locality and two are yet to be identified. The Sadar police station had registered a case under Sections 365, 384, 148 and 149 of the IPC and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act against the accused. Counsel Naveen Mahajan said Mayank was a medical student. He urged the court for holding an impartial probe into the case so that justice could prevail and an innocent person did not push into the world of crime. The GNDU order that wasn’t Teachers object to govt decision on changing Bullet motorcycle ban on campus was only oral, RTIreveals Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 1 A decade after the authorities at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) here stole the bikers’ thunder by banning the entry of the much prized Royal Enfield motorcycle on the campus, an RTI query posed by a local lawyer has revealed that the university had not passed any written instructions in this regard. The university had banned the entry of the Royal Enfield bike which is very close to the heart of Punjabi men and even women in March 2013. News reports later said the university authorities had claimed that the bike was banned for its deafening sound. However, all this time when the students and visitors were not allowed to enter the campus on a ‘Bullet’ motorcycle, the university had not issued an order regarding this in writing. For the last ten decades, Bullet lovers were forced to leave their Royal Enfield motorcycles at the entrance even as all other vehicles, including motorcycles producing highdecibel sound, were Varsity never passed any written order principals under School of Eminence scheme Tribune News Service BONE OF CONTENTION Bullet motorcycles parked near the entrance of GNDU in Amritsar. allowed to roam freely, said Ravinder Singh Mahal who had filed an application under the Right to Information Act, demanding a copy of the said order passed by the university. Talking to The Tribune, Mahal said, “One day, I had to visit the university to meet someone for some work. The security guards did not allow me to enter on my ‘Bullet’ saying that it has been banned.” He added that he had to park the vehicle outside and walk. “It appeared to be a silly order. Why would the authorities ban a motorbike which is not banned by the State or Central govern- ment,” he said. Mahal added that when he got the RTI reply, he was astonished to find that no written orders were passed in this regard. “It was done merely on the verbal instructions of the then vicechancellor and his successors just followed it as a precedence,” said Mahal. Advocate Mahal said that now he plans to move a competent court. “The reason is arbitrary and without any valid reason. It is just an authoritative approach,” he said. Well, advocate Mahal, ‘Bullet’ lovers would surely love you for that! Amritsar, March 1 The Punjab Government’s decision to bring 117 government senior secondary schools of different districts under the “School of Eminence (SOE)” scheme has not gone down well with teachers. First, the issue of cutting down on Classes VI to VIII in schools of eminence was raised by teachers as Schools of Eminence (SOE) will only conduct classes from IX to Class XII. Now, the Democratic Teachers’ Front has objected to the proposal of transfer of currently serving principals of the schools selected to be turned into Schools of Eminence, in the name of change. DTF state president Vikram Dev Singh and district head Ashwani Awasthi on Wednesday lodged their concerns with Education Department officials, demanding its reconsideration. “By issuing a Google Response Sheet for the appointment of principals in the schools under the scheme, all the principals of the state have been asked to respond. They have been ■ First, the issue of cutting down on Classes VI to VIII in schools of eminence was raised by teachers as Schools of Eminence (SOE) will only conduct classes from IX to Class XII ■ Now, the Democratic Teachers’ Union has objected to the proposal of transfer of currently serving principals of the schools selected to be turned into Schools of Eminence << Harbhajan Singh ETO visits the schools selected under School of Eminence scheme. asked to also fill their choice of schools they would like to serve in, choosing among the Schools of Eminence shortlisted in the first phase. Through this exercise, the department is showing its non-confidence in the current serving principals, without even consulting the stakeholders involved. How justified is this exercise when the eight schools of eminence under development in Amritsar were already smart schools and headed by qualified principals,” shared Ashwani Awasthi. The DTF reasoned that the principals, who want to stay in their existing school, should be allowed to stay. Raising serious questions on the SOE scheme, Awasthi said, “Whatever changes are being done are in no way connected to any constructive and scientific education model. The first goal should be to make the base of education, i.e. the education of Class I to VIII, better and improve its quality. But under this scheme, the agenda of giving good education only to Classes IX to XII means pushing the primary and middle classes to the side. Instead of making fundamental reforms in line with popular educational psychology being followed by so many private schools these day, only some schools are being polished.” Meanwhile, Minister for Local Bodies Harbhajan Singh ETO visited several government schools to take stock of ongoing development works under the School of Eminence project. He interacted with the members of school management committees and assured that the Punjab Government schools would offer best school education in the time to come. “We are committed to working for uplift of the standard of classroom as well as experiential education for students as well as teachers. We had sent a delegation of principals and teachers to Singapore for training and the School of Eminence project will develop good infrastructure in schools,” he said. He visited four schools in Chheharta, Mall Road, Saragarh and Jandiala Guru to conduct inspection of works. Gangsters of two groups shifted to different jails New CP, Border Range DIG join office GOINDWAL JAIL CLASH Amritsar, March 1 Two days after the bloody clash in the Goindwal Central Jail in Tarn Taran, the jail authorities have shifted members of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Lawrence Bishnoi gangs to different jails. Confirming the development, SSP Gurmeet Singh Chohan said the step was taken as a precautionary measure. DSP Arun Sharma was investigating the incident to ascertain the reasons behind the clash that led to the killing of Mandeep Singh Toofan and Manmohan Singh, alias Mohna, both members of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang. Their another accomplice Keshav had sustained critical head injuries and was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. Two members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang were also injured in the clash. According to information, members of two gangs were shifted to the Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar and Ferozepur jails and jail authorities were told to ensure that they were kept in different barracks. Earlier, all the suspects of Sidhu Moosewala murder were kept in high-security zone in Goindwal jail. However, following the incident, they were separated and shifted to different barracks in the jail. The police had booked Manpreet Bhau, Sachin Bhiwani, Ankit Lati, Kashish, Rajinder Jokar, Arshad Khan and Malkeet Singh, all accomplices of Lawrence Bishnoi, on charges of murder, attempt to murder and under the Prisons Act following the clash and killing of two gangsters. Later, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang had allegedly owned up the responsibility for the murder while Jaggu Bhagwanpuria had threatened to avenge the killing of his gang members. Though two groups were involved in many criminal c m y b activities, including the broad daylight killing of Punjabi Singer Shubhdeep Singh, alias Sidhu Moosewala, differences cropped up between two groups following the encounter of Jagroop Rupa and Mannu Kosa by the anti-gangster task force at Bhakna in Amritsar. They were on the run since the killing of Moosewala. Bishnoi blamed Bhagwanpuria for leaking information about the whereabouts of the two, but Jaggu had denied it. — TNS Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 1 Newly-appointed Commissioner of Police (CP) Naunihal Singh and Border Range DIG Narinder Bhargav joined office here on Wednesday. This is for the first time that an ADGP rank official has been appointed the CP of Amritsar (City) police. Earlier, only IG and DIG rank officials were appointed CPs of the holy city. The transfers come days after the Ajnala incident in which radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh and his armed supporters had stormed into the Ajnala police station and forced the release of their supporter Lovepreet Singh. Besides Amritpal, Lovepreet was also among the suspects who had been booked by the Ajnala police in the kidnapping and thrashing case of a youth identified as Varinder Singh of Chamkaur Sahib. The then CP Jaskaran Singh and Border Range IG Mohnish Chawla were rushed to the spot for holding negotiations with Amritpal and his supporters who had barged into Ajnala police station. Jaskaran Singh has been shifted as IG Intelligence, while ADGP Mohnish Chawla has been made ADGP State Crime Record , Bureau.