06032023-ATR-01.qxd 3/5/2023 11:23 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY OPEN HOUSE: TAKE ACTION AGAINST ANTI-STATE FORCES COSMIC COMPANION: THERE IS SOMETHING OUT THERE DAISY TO BE SEEN SWORDFIGHTING IN NEW WEB SERIES Residents say Central agencies and state should work in tandem to maintain peace in state. P2 Director Steven Spielberg says it is just impossible that we are the only intelligent species in the cosmos. P3 MAX 28°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 13°C Actor Daisy Shah will be seen in some intense action sequences in web series Lahora, The Kingdom. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 6.31 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6.51 AM » MONDAY | 6 MARCH 2023 | AMRITSAR INBRIEF UP NATIVE HELD WITH OPIUM 2 snatching cases rock holy city Man robbed of bike, phone | Miscreants snatch woman’s gold chain Tribune News Service Amritsar: The CIA staff of the City police have arrested Sandeep Singh — a native of Uttar Pradesh and presently staying in the Meerakot area — and recovered 1 kg of opium from his possession here on Sunday. The anti-gangster staff wing also nabbed an alleged drug peddler Amarjit Singh, alias Rinku, of Chogawan with 100 gram of opium. Two separate cases were registered by the police in this regard. Further probe was on to identify their links. The police had also held Kuldeep Singh of Friends Avenue and confiscated 600 gram of opium from him on Saturday. TNS Amritsar, March 5 Three motorcycle-borne armed persons robbed a man of his bike and mobile phone near Shamnagar village here. Gurtajbir Singh of Majitha told the police that around 2.30 pm on Saturday, he was stopped by three bike-borne persons, who forcibly took his bike and mobile phone. “I was near a petrol pump in Shamnagar village and sensing trouble, I tried to speed away, but they took out a pis- ANALYSING CCTV CAMERAS ❝ We are analysing CCTV cameras in the area to identify and nab the suspects. ❞ Kulwant Singh, ASI, INVESTIGATING OFFICER tol and threatened to shoot me,” he told the police. Following his complaint, the police have registered a case under Sections 379-B (2) and 34 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Amritsar: Bhai Ghaniya Ji Mission society, an NGO, held a free eye checkup camp at Bhai Ghaniya Ji Hospital at New Pawan Nagar area on Sunday. Manjit Singh, the chairman of the society, said the camp was organised in collaboration with the Kartar Chand Memorial Eye Care Centre. As many as 472 people were examined and free medicines were distributed to them. He said free eye operations of 205 patients would also be organised by the camp at the Nirmaljot Eye Hospital located on the Mall road here. TNS 13-acre MC land freed from illegal occupation Tribune News Service Amritsar March 5 Today, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation freed a 13.5acre piece of land in Fatahpur village, which had been illegally occupied. A resident of the village had informed MLA (Central Constituency) Ajay Gupta about the illegal occupation on the MC land. Officials from the Estate Wing of the MC visited the Estate Wing of MC installs board of ownership site and took the possession of the land. Gupta stated that the land had been illegally occupied for the past 15 years. The Estate Wing of the MC also installed a board of ownership on the land. Amritsar March 5 During a visit to Nehru Shopping Complex, Deputy Commissioner Harpreet Singh Sudan questioned the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) officials for non-compliance of his orders to remove an illegal Verka booth and also took a notice of other encroachments in the area. The DC inspected the arrangements being made by the AIT on Mall Road and Lawrence Road in the wake of the G20 summit. On February 14, the DCcum-Chairman of AIT cancelled the allotment of a Verka booth near the Nehru Shopping Complex during the tenure of Dinesh Bassi, former chairman of the Trust. The staff of the AIT had displayed a notice to vacate the place immediately. Even after 20 days of the notice, the AIT didn’t get the illegal kiosk removed. The booth was allotted in July 2020. Buildings norms Outsourced staff stage protest Tarn Taran, March 5 The outsourced employees working in the Civil Hospital, Tarn Taran, who had not been paid their remuneration for the last seven months have joined hands with the Punjab Subordinate Services Federa- tion (PSSF) to fight for their demands. There are as many as 60 outsource employees in the Civil Hospital who have been demanding the release of remuneration. A meeting of the PSSF was held at the Gandhi Municipal Park here on Sunday, led by PSSF leader Sarabjit Singh. The leaders slammed the state government for not providing outsource employees the kind of facilities provided to the state government employees. — OC Tarn Taran: After injuring a motorcyclist with a sharpedged weapon, two unidentified persons decamped with his vehicle on Friday night. The victim, Jagdish Singh of Padhri Kalan, was returning to his home on Friday night when two motorcycle-borne persons appeared from his rear side. They signalled him to stop but Jagdish, in a bid to escape, tried to run away from the spot and geared up his vehicle. One of the suspects hit him with a sharp-edged weapon at his head from the back. The victim fell down on the ground after the attack. The robbers escaped with the motorcycle from the spot. Jagdish was treated at a private hospital and later, he reported the incident to the Bhikhiwind police on Saturday. A case under sections 379-B (2) and 34 of the IPC has been registered in this regard. OC ■ Harshul, an eyewitness, said Karanbir was on his way back home in his car when several “Nihangs” waylaid him and started thrashing him. They attacked him with sharp-edged weapons on the head ■ He added that Karanbir was referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital by a private hospital and that his condition has been serious. He said the police were informed and further investigation is under way ■ Abhimanyu Rana, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, said the police are waiting for the victim to regain consciousness. Police teams are also scrutinising CCTV footage He added that Karanbir was referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital by a private hospital and that his condition has been serious. He said the police were informed about the incident and further investigation is under way. Abhimanyu Rana, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, said the police are waiting for the victim to regain consciousness. Police teams are also scrutinising CCTV footage. NOTICE TO VACATE IT DISPLAYED ON FEB 14 ■ On February 14, the DC-cum- A Verka booth at Nehru Shopping Complex on Lawrence Road in Amritsar. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR mitted a report on it on January 5 and said the booth was located in the corridor, in violation of rules. The AIT law officer also gave his opinion that the booth was not installed at the allotted place. Man dies of drug ‘overdose’ In sensitive border dist, new SSP in Gurdaspur has his hands full Tarn Taran, March 5 A man allegedly died of drug overdose in Poolha village. The deceased had been identified as Ravel Singh (45). Deceased’s mother Amarjit Kaur said her son was a drug addict. A case has been registered. — OC Want special package, R&D support to inject life back into once flourishing biz Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 5 With the Budget session of the Punjab assembly in progress, industrialists associated with vanishing industries like electric fans, nut bolts, carpets and textiles have demanded a special package and R&D support to revive them in the holy city. Satnam Singh, who once used to operate a fan manufacturing unit, said from over 2,500 some years ago, their number has come down to a few hundred. He said the government must make a budgetary proposal to look into the ways to revive it. The local units used to produce a vast range of ceiling, table, exhaust and pedestal fans. Brands like Unison Fans, Universal Fans, Atlas, Grindlay, Neelam and ABC had become household names across the country when the industry was at its peak here. Those associated with the industry cite a slew of reasons for the present crisis. Satnam Singh said the Cen- FALL IN NO. OF FAN MANUFACTURING UNITS ■ From over 2,500 some years ago, number of fan manufacturing units has come down to a few hundred ■ Central Govt’s decision to withdraw nationwide uniform prices of raw material came as a major blow ■ Processing, dyeing industry for textiles recorded a fall from over 100 units to nearly 30 now ■ Failure of owners to modernise, lack of technical and monetary support by govt aided in decline tral government’s decision in the early 1990s to withdraw nationwide uniform prices of raw material came as a major blow. As a result, the cost of raw material like iron, steel, coal and copper shot up in this part of the country, which is entirely dependent for raw material on other parts of the country. Consequently, locally manufactured fans became much costlier and the over a decade-long mili- tancy dealt a final blow. The flourishing processing and dyeing industry for textiles also recorded a fall from over 100 units to the nearly 30 now surviving in this border city. Piara Lal Seth, a local business leader, said the industry fell on bad times due to the failure of owners to modernise and lack of technical and monetary support by the government. Though the units began to be installed c m y b Chairman of AIT cancelled the allotment of a Verka booth near the Nehru Shopping Complex during the tenure of Dinesh Bassi, former chairman of the Trust. The staff of the AIT had displayed a notice to vacate the place immediately ■ Even after 20 days of the notice, the AIT didn’t get the illegal kiosk removed. The booth was allotted in July 2020. Buildings norms were violated for installing the booth. After the allotment, shopkeepers in the Trust building opposed it. The Engineering Branch of the AIT submitted a report on it on January 5 and said the booth was located in the corridor, in violation of rules were violated for installing the booth. After the allotment, shopkeepers in the Trust building opposed it as the booth blocked the path toward stairs. The Engineering Branch of the AIT sub- Revive vanishing industries, say city traders Neeraj Bagga MAN ATTACKED, BIKE STOLEN WAYLAID BY ‘NIHANGS’ Amritsar, March 5 A man was attacked by several persons dressed as Nihangs near the Alpha Mall located on the main GT Road here late last evening. The victim was rushed to the hospital by the bystanders. The armed persons also took away a purse and a mobile from Karanbir Singh, the victim. Harshul, an eyewitness, said Karanbir was on his way back home in his car when several “Nihangs” waylaid him and started thrashing him. They attacked him with sharpedged weapons on the head. Tribune News Service A team of the MC takes possession of the land in Amritsar. NGO ORGANISES EYE CHECKUP CAMP Tribune News Service Illegal booth not removed, DC takes AIT staff to task TWO CELLPHONES SEIZED FROM JAIL Amritsar: The Amritsar Central Jail authorities confiscated two mobile phones from three prisoners when an inmate was booked after he clashed with the jail employees inside the complex on Saturday. Those booked include Rajat Kumar, alias Dana, Mani Singh and Vishal Malhotra. The staff recovered a mobile phone from Rajat and Mani Singh while Vishal clashed with the jail staff. Another mobile was recovered from prisoner Karan Singh. Two separate cases were registered by the police in this regards on Saturday. TNS Arms Act against unidentified robbers. Investigating officer ASI Kulwant Singh said CCTV cameras in the area were being analysed to identify and nab the suspects. Meanwhile, in another instance, two unidentified persons snatched a gold chain from a woman at gunpoint. Rajbir Kaur, the victim, told the police that she had gone to a market from Fatehgarh Churian bypass on her scooter. She said two persons came on a bike and pointed a pistol at her. They snatched her gold chain and fled the spot. The police have registered a case under Section 379-B and 34 of the IPC. The police are analysing CCTV cameras to find clues about the accused. Man attacked, robbed of purse, phone after the 1950s, the golden period of textile processing industry was between 1970 and 1990. Majority of these units used to be located on the Batala and Majitha roads giving employment to thousands of people. He stressed that the government must look into the reasons to revive it. Once famous for hand-made Persian-style carpets, also called Bukhara style (a place in Iran where the art is quite popular), the art is on the verge of extinction. Rajasansi, an area in the city, was the hub of its manufacturing. European countries and Russia used to be its major customers. Deepak Malhotra, a trader, said from employing hundreds of skilled weavers, the industry has now become a cottage industry. Some families have kept the art alive but prefer weaving carpets at their houses itself. He said handmade products hold immense export potential, so its revival could bring more employment. The government made a focused approach in the Budget on its revival. There was no space for the booth in the layout plan of the building. Based on this, the temporary allotment of the booth was cancelled. The shopkeepers and residents had complained to the AIT, Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, March 5 The new SSP of Gurdaspur, Harish Dayama, commences his innings amidst a series of challenges, some serious enough to warrant immediate attention. The officer will have to tackle head-on the dilemma of Pakistan-controlled drones flying in with drugs and weapons. Dealing with traffic chaos in a city whose markets have absolutely no parking space, particularly in front of banks and other commercial establishments, too will rank high on his agenda. The police chief will do well to remember that this is a city which does not have traffic lights or footpaths. Even seven decades after the country attained independence, not even a single traffic light has been installed. Last but not the least, the SSP will have to figure out how to put an end to the blatant interference in his force by the AAP appointed Halqa In-charges. PPS officers appointed as district heads quickly succumb to impetuous behaviour and vagaries of the Halqa Incharge culture. This leads to a miscarriage of justice because these politicians use these officers to strengthen their vote banks. In direct contrast, IPS officers rarely listen to these leaders. These politicians invariably have a hand in appointing SHOs and lower HAVE EYE ON GOALS ❝ If you have your eyes firmly set on your goals, obstacles automatically vanish. It is only when you take your eyes off your goal that the obstacles start appearing. ❞ — Harish Dayama, GURDASPUR SSP level constabulary. This actually dilutes the power and authority of an SSP The offi. cer is left in the lurch when subordinates instead of directly reporting to him approach these leaders for orders. Senior officers admit that the police chief this time should be given a long tenure, he should not be replaced after spending just a couple of months in office like Dayama’s immediate predecessors. “It is high time politicians stop shifting IPS officers in sensitive border districts. Pakistani state and non-state actors may resort to sending in more and more drones to but no action was taken. The DC also took a note of other encroachments in the area. Earlier, before the DC’s visit, AIT employees removed encroachments from Lawrence Road. create terror in India’s border areas just to deflect attention from the rot they have landed themselves in their own country,” said a senior officer. BSF officers admit that drone flights are infiltrating deeper and deeper into the Indian territory than ever before. If these flying machines are neutralised in time, narcotics will automatically stop coming. This, in effect, will substantially reduce the incidence of heroin use in border cities. Dayama will have his hands full as India’s security agencies have yet to develop an antidote to the flying contraptions. The police chief will also have to take cognisance of the fact that every third household in the border villages has at least one drug addict. For this, the officer must strengthen the village defence committees by involving retired defence personnel in their work. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Himanshu Aggarwal has directed shopkeepers and banks to use their basements for parking. It is now up to the police to implement the order in letter and spirit so that the city opens up to new spaces and in the process also gets a facelift. On his part, SSP Dayama said, “If you have your eyes firmly set on your goals, obstacles automatically vanish. It is only when you take your eyes off your goal do obstacles start appearing.”