20032023-ATR-01.qxd 3/19/2023 11:26 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY OPEN HOUSE: ‘FOCUS ON REVENUE GENERATION’ SONALI APOLOGISES FOR ‘GIRLS ARE LAZY’ SPEECH GURDAS MAAN AND DILJIT DOSANJH REIMAGINE CHALLA Lessen burden on debt-stressed economy, curtail undue expenses, say Amritsar residents. P2 Looking at the response to growing controversy, the actor has offered a clarification and an apology. P3 Spotify’s release of three singles by Punjabi artistes puts spotlight on the folk traditions of the state. P4 » » » MAX 26°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 27°C | MIN 15°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.41 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:33 AM MONDAY | 20 MARCH 2023 | AMRITSAR 400 issued challan for violating norms Police, paramilitary forces take out flag march | Maintain peace, say cops Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 19 A day after the Punjab Police launched a crackdown on the self-styled radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, the city police along with paramilitary forces today took out a flag march in different parts of the city. Deputy Commissioner of Police Parminder Singh Bhandal said over 400 challans were issued to traffic norm violators in the city on Sunday and during checking, the police took preventive action against 10 persons. A total of 150 vehicles were challaned for black film on their windowpanes, 135 bikers were challaned for driving vehicles without a number plate and 110 were challaned for triple riding. He said 32 Bullet motorcycle riders were challaned for producing bursting sound by modifying silencers. The flag marches were car- The police and paramilitary forces take out a flag march near the Heritage Street on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO ried out in all districts in Punjab in order to ensure law and order and inculcate a sense of security among common people. During the flag marches, the police also urged people to maintain peace and not to believe in any rumours. The holy city, which hosted the G20 Summit recently, is already on alert. The police teams headed by three Additional Deputy Commissioners of Police — Dr Mehtab Singh, Prabhjot Singh Virk and Harjit Singh Dhaliwal — along with Assistant Commissioners of Police and Station House Officers organised flag marches in Gate Hakima, Islamabad, areas under Division C, D and E police stations, Heritage Street, Hall Gate, Katra Jaimal Singh and Rambagh areas. The police urged people to stay away from rumour mongers, while adding the situa- tion in entire Punjab was peaceful. They said people could call the control room for confirmation in case there were rumours. The police also put up nakas at entry and exit points of the city. The police have identified around 100 such sensitive points where checkpoints were installed and checked vehicles. Rajesh Kumar, a local resident, said he got a number of calls from his relatives outside Punjab asking whether they should come to Punjab or not. “People outside the state are in a state of tension and calling us for ascertaining the actual position in Punjab,” he said. Internet services remained shut for the second consecutive day due to which online banking service has also suffered. Nowadays, people prefer making online payments using mobile applications, but as internet services are shut, business activities also remained affected. Artistes showcase cultural heritage at the L-20 event organised in Amritsar. TRIBUNE PHOTO Amritsar, March 19 Though the Punjab Police claimed to be on “high alert” and carrying out flag marches, people continued to be looted by armed snatchers in the city. In a fresh instance reported here, a local resident was robbed by unidentified armed persons in Jhander police station area here on Friday night. Manpreet Singh (24) of Lashkari Nangal village was returning to his village when the accused attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon leaving him grievously hurt. Manpreet told the police that on Friday night around 10 pm, he was returning to Lashkari Nangal village on his bike (PB-02-VJ-0436) and when he reached near his village, several persons stopped him. He said before he could understand, the accused attacked on his head with “dattars” due to which he started bleeding profusely. He said he fell down from his bike in an unconscious condition. He said after 15 minutes, when he regained his conscious, he found that the accused had escaped with his bike and his mobile phone. The police have registered a case under Sections 379-B (2) and 34 of the IPC and launched further probe. — TNS Jandiala Guru will be made a model constituency, says Power Minister Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 19 Despite the announcement by the government of sparing another Rs 7 crore (approximately) to provide basic facilities besides a clean and pollution-free environment in the holy city, there has been no visible change in environmental conditions and the traffic situation. Almost every year, residents face the problem of pollution during the early winter as smog engulfs the city and people complain of breathing problems and other ailments. To deal with it, the Municipal Corporation (MC) had even planned to procure anti-smog SSP Gurmeet Singh Chauhan (4th from left) in the flag march organised in Tarn Taran on Sunday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI door Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, staged a dharna in front of the Doburji police post near Tarn Taran on Sunday against the detaining of Gurmeet Singh Jauhal, a resident of Jauhal Raju Singh, on the ground of being a follower of Amritpal Singh. Manjinder Singh Gohalwar, zonal president of the KMSC who led the protesters, said Gurmeet Singh is the leader of the kisan organisation and had nothing to do with Amritpal Singh. The police had to release Gurmeet Singh Jauhal and he was handed over to the leaders of the KMSC. The dharna was subsequently lifted. The supporters of Amritpal Singh led by Jugraj Singh, a resident of Wan Tara Singh, marched to the border town of Bhikhiwind in solidarity with Amritpal Singh. Jugraj Singh had unfurled the Kesri Nishan flag atop the Lal Quila on January 26, 2021, when the farmers had organised a march. The SSP said that at some other places, activists who appeared to be the sympathisers of Amritpal Singh tried to protest at Fatehbad, Goindwal Sahib and other places but they were persuaded to hold a peaceful march, to which they agreed. SSP Chauhan claimed that the situation in the district was peaceful and under control. — OC of these 93 lights would increase the electricity load by only four kilowatts. Harbhajan Singh ETO said 86 LED lights have been installed at a cost of 19.55 lakh on a 2.2-km road from Gehri Mandi to the GT Road Gehri at Jandiala Guru. Only 5.9 KW electrical load will increase. He said with the installation of these lights, the passers-by will get rid of the darkness and will save electricity. The Public Works Minister said all work has been done by the Public Works Department. The Power Minister said Jandiala Guru will be provided with all facilities like a city and the constituency will be made a model constituency. He said the development work in Jandiala is moving at a fast pace, and no stagnation will be allowed in the development work. — TNS No visible change in environmental conditions, traffic situation mist cannons. A few years ago, the city was ranked among the 20 most polluted cities in the country by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Experts warned that the city required continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) and stricter implementation of the Rejuvenation of auto-rickshaws project through holistic interventions in consultation with Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, March 19 Jion Singh (62), a resident of Dial Rajputan village, was allegedly tortured to death on Saturday. Inspector Gurcharan Singh, SHO, Sadar, Tarn Taran, said that on the basis of the statement of Amarjit Kaur, wife of the deceased, Sukhdev Singh Sukha of the same village had been nominated as an accused in the murder case. Amarjit Kaur said the accused Sukhdev Singh was suspicious that Jion Singh had stolen a ‘patila’ (utensil) from his house. The accused took Jion Singh to his home on Saturday on the pretext of some urgent work. Jion Singh did not return till quite late. His wife Amarjit Kaur went to the house of the accused where she saw Sukhdev Singh Sukha torturing Jion Singh with an iron rod, hitting him on his head and legs. Jion Singh was lying in a pool of blood when his wife visited the house of the accused. She took her husband to the Community Health Centre, Kairon, where he succumbed to his wounds soon after he was admitted. Amritsar: The Chheharta police have booked three persons for allegedly opening fire in the air, thereby creating panic in the Chheharta area. Those booked include Dolu and Mannu of Kale Ghanupur and an unidentified person. The police have registered a case. TNS MOBILE PHONE SNATCHED Amritsar: Kirandeep Kaur, a resident of Sultanwind area, told the police that three unidentified persons snatched a mobile phone from her near Kot Mit Singh Bridge area here on Saturday. The police have registered a case. TNS Modified vehicles have free run on roads as police look other way PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO (2R) inaugurates the project. Despite money spent, city still finds its lungs choked Neeraj Bagga Tarn Taran, March 19 After Saturday’s incidents related to the hide-and-seek game between the Punjab Police and Amritpal Singh, chief of ‘Waris Punjab De’, a deceptive calm appeared to prevail in the district. The police had to face a tough time on Sunday at several places where the people tried to expressed their solidarity with Amritpal Singh on Sunday. The connectivity of Tarn Taran with Ferozepur district was disrupted as the followers of Amritpal Singh sat on Bengali Bridge on the Sutlej river near Sabhra village. However, the flow of traffic from Harike bridge was routine. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said a flag march was jointly organised by the Punjab Police and BSF in Tarn Taran town and other rural and urban areas of the district on Sunday. The SSP said that raids were conducted to nab some persons who were ‘wanted’ by the police. The raids would continue, he said. Activists of the Kisan Maz- Biker attacked, robbed Man beaten to death INBRIEF THREE BOOKED of cash, mobile phone over ‘stolen’ utensil FOR FIRING ‘Rangla’ Punjab Amritsar, March 19 Punjab Power and Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO inaugurated the streetlights project worth Rs 32 lakh at Jandiala Guru here today. The Power Minister stated that 93 LED lights have been installed on the Khajala-Dehriwal road, which is about 2 km in length. Around Rs 12.5 lakh have been shelled out for the same. He said the installation Situation under control: Police the auto-rickshaw driver unions to replace diesel rickshaws with the ones running on cleaner fuels or even introducing e-rickshaws for public health and environmental protection. Amritsar where population per square kilometre is higher within narrow streets, the effect of high level of suspended particles aggravates the situation further with more number of people getting exposed to toxic air. Minister for Local Government Inderbir Singh Nijjar said the government decided to spend about Rs 7 crore on development works for the beautification of the city. About Rs 3.91 crore is being c m y b spent on providing and setting up a CNG-based crematorium. Rs 49 lakh was to be spent on the re-conditioning and development of various streets of Guru Amardas Avenue, which falls in ward number 3 under Phase-2. About Rs 1.51 crore will be spent on the redevelopment and beautification of 15 parks in Ward 6 of Pandura Sultanwind, which falls in South assembly constituency. The minister said the department has already floated tenders online for these works and assured that corruption-free execution of work would bring in perceptible changes in surface infrastructure and environment. Amritsar, March 19 Despite the fact that the police have strengthened its traffic wing by deploying around 400 more cops to regulate traffic and check various violations, they have failed to check the movement of modified vehicles plying on the roads. These vehicles, made up of worn-out bikes, are being used as goods carrier, ferrying vegetables, construction material and even passengers. Such vehicles are having a free run on city roads in violation of norms while the authorities, including the traffic wing and the Transport Department, are looking the other way. A traffic cop said not a single modified vehicle was challaned by the police. These two-wheelers turned carriage have seen manifold increase in the last few years. On the other hand, workshop owners and mechanics, involved in the illegal manufacturing of such vehicles, have been doing a brisk business. Such vehicles are being run on roads and on highways and in the rural belt in gross violation of the Motor Vehicles act. These vehicles are also a threat to commuters. Two A modified vehicle parked in Amritsar. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR days ago, a local resident got hurt when a modified vehicle hit him on the elevated road. The victim was travelling on a bike and suffered injuries on the face and legs. A manufacturer wishing not to be named said a twowheeler could be converted into an illegal carriage in just Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000. Raminderbir Singh, a local resident, said such illegal vehicles did not have indicators or reflectors installed, thereby becoming a threat to commuters during the foggy season. These vehicles can be seen plying on roads right under the nose of policemen. A police official preferring anonymity said people were using abandoned bikes at cheaper rates from scrap dealers and modified them into ‘bike rehris’ and used as a carriage. There is also a possibility that stolen or snatched motorcycles could be used for manufacturing them. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Amandeep Kaur said she would take up the matter with the district and transport authorities in this connection. She said necessary directions would be issued for taking action against such vehicles soon.