21032023-ATR-01.qxd 3/20/2023 11:43 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY REPLACE CAR, PAY COMPENSATION, ORDERS CONSUMER COMMISSION CO-PRODUCER DUPED ME OF ~2.6 CRORE: DEEPAK TIJORI SONY’S BBC EARTH LAUNCHES SECOND SEASON OF DYNASTIES The commission has directed MercedesBenz and its three directors to replace a car bought by a local with a new one. P2 Actor Deepak Tijori has registered a case against co-producer Mohan Gooal Nadar for ~2.6 cr fraud. P3 MAX 28°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 24°C | MIN 16°C Sony BBC Earth announced the second season of wildlife series Dynasties on March 20. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 6.42 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:32 AM » TUESDAY | 21 MARCH 2023 | AMRITSAR INBRIEF WOMAN ROBBED OF GOLD ORNAMENTS Tarn Taran: Two robbers looted gold ornaments from a woman near Harike on Sunday with a sharp-edged weapon. The victim, Arshana Devi, a resident of Kirtowal along with her aunt Geeta Bawa of the same village were on their way back home on Sunday on a moped. When they reached near Pringari village, two moped-borne robbers reached the spot and hit their moped with their vehicle. The two women fell down and the robbers snatched ear-rings and finger rings from Arshana Devi and fled from the spot. ASI Sarwan Singh of Harike police station said a case under Section 379-B (2) of the IPC has been registered against the robbers and further proceedings initiated. OC CASH SNATCHED FROM VENDOR Amritsar: A vegetable vendor was robbed of Rs 4,000 by three armed snatchers when he was going to Vallah vegetable market on his cycle. The victim has been identified as Vijay Singh of Ekta Nagar on Chamrang Road. The police have registered a case under Sections 379-B (2) and 34 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act against unidentified robbers. Vijay told the police that when he was going to the vegetable market and reached near Tahli Wala Chowk in Maqboolpura, three bike-borne armed persons stopped him. They opened fire in the air and snatched Rs 4,000 from him and fled the spot. Assistant Sub-Inspector Rampal Singh, investigating officer, said there was no breakthrough in the case. He said CCTV cameras were being analysed to find some clues about the perpetrators. TNS POLICE FAIL TO TRACE GIRL Tarn Taran: The Sadar police, Patti, had failed to trace a 15-year-old girl, who went missing three weeks ago from Ghariala village under mysterious circumstances. The father of the girl in his complaint to the police said that on the night of February 28, she went to bed to sleep but on next morning she was found missing. The family tried to trace her but did not find any clue. Sub-Inspector Nirmal Singh said on the statement of the victim’s father the police had registered a case against Shamsher Singh Shera of Ghariala village under Sections 363 and 366-A of the IPC. OC EX-PRINCIPAL PAYS 2 STUDENTS’ FEE Tarn Taran: Dr Paramjit Singh Misha, Principal, Sri Guru Anged Dev College, Khadoor Sahib, had expressed his gratitude for Dalbir Singh Deol, retired principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Pandori Gola, who paid the examination fee of two needy girl students of the college. Misha informed here on Monday that Deol who is an alumni of the college, had expressed his desire to help needy students. Deol paid Rs 50,000 as the examination fees of the students. OC Manmeet Singh Gill Road rage: Several booked in attempt to murder, firing case Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 20 Due to fast winds coupled with showers, flattening of wheat crop has been reported in various parts of the district in the past couple of days. Different pockets of the region received mild to heavy rainfall on Monday too, which has worried wheat growers. Farmers said rain is more damaging when the crop has already flattened. “Showers on the flattened crop increase the chances of germination of the grains as they are already touching the ground. Waterlogging in fields due to rain can add to the damage,” said a farmer, Gurnam Singh, from Ajnala. They said early this season, unusually high temperature had resulted in shrinking of the grains and they are anticipating a huge decrease in the yield. “Now, when the crop is getting ready for harvesting and it does not require any irrigation, it has started to rain,” said another farmer Kuljeet Singh. The harvesting of wheat crop in the area normally starts during the sec- Amritsar, March 20 Several persons were booked on the charge of murder bid after they indulged in firing during a road rage instance here on Sunday. Those booked were identified as Atul Gupta of Ghudda, Simar Kabaddi and Sahil Kumar, alias Sunny, of Amritsar rural belt and several unidentified persons. Mohit Kher, a resident of Majitha, told the police that he along with his family and a friend Gurpreet Singh had come to attend a function at a hotel in Ranjit Avenue area here on Sunday. He said on their return, when they reached near Baba Sri Chand Road, the accused came from behind and hit their car with their XUV He . said Atul Gupta was driving the car and Simar Kabaddi was also with him in the vehicle. He said sensing danger, he tried to speed away from the spot. Meanwhile, Sahil also came in his car and chased them. He alleged that Sahil had a weapon and he fired around four gunshots at them. He said they had a nar- Rain flattens wheat crop DISPUTE OVER CAR PARKING Wheat crop damaged due to rain in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR DRAIN OUT EXCESS WATER FROM FIELDS in But as forecasts have ❝The overall rainfall bethe region so far is mild.regarding the damage caused predicted, there could more rain. Assessment to the wheat fields is being made. Farmers are advised to drain out excess water accumulated in their fields. — Dr Jatinder Singh Gill, CHIEF AGRICULTURE OFFICER ❞ ond fortnight of April. While the showers have helped in bringing the temperature down and people have got a respite from the rising mercury, farmers might have to pay a heavy price due to unpredictable weather. The meteorological forecast too has warned of more rain in the coming days. Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Jatinder Singh Gill said: “The overall rainfall in the region so far is mild. But as forecasts have predicted, there could be more rain.” He said assessment regarding the damage caused to the wheat fields is being made. He said farmers had also been advised to drain out excess water accumulated in their fields. ■ Several persons were booked on the charge of murder bid after they indulged in firing during a road rage instance on Sunday ■ Those booked were identified as Atul Gupta of Ghudda, Simar Kabaddi and Sahil Kumar, alias Sunny, of Amritsar rural belt and several unidentified persons ■ Mohit Kher, a resident of Majitha, told the police that he along with his family and a friend Gurpreet Singh had come to attend a function at a hotel in Ranjit Avenue area here on Sunday. He said on their return, when they reached near Baba Sri Chand Road, the accused came from behind and hit their car with their XUV. He said Atul Gupta was driving the car and Simar Kabaddi was also with him in the vehicle ■ He said sensing danger, he tried to speed away from the spot. Meanwhile, Sahil also came in his car and chased them. He alleged that Sahil was having a weapon and he fired around four gunshots at them. He said they had a narrow escape and saved their lives by fleeing the spot ■ ASI Amar Singh, investigating officer, said the dispute started over wrong parking of cars outside a hotel. He said the accused were drunk and indulged in a verbal dispute row escape and saved their lives by fleeing the spot. The police recovered an empty bullet shell from the spot. Following Mohit’s complaint, the police registered a case under Sections 307, 341, 427, 148 and 149 of the IPC and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act against Atul, Simar and Sahil and their unidentified accomplices. ASI Amar Singh, investigating officer, said the dispute started over wrong parking of cars outside a hotel. He said the accused were drunk and indulged in a verbal dispute. When Mohit went away from the spot, the accused chased and opened fire at them. He said further probe was on and accused would be arrested soon. L20 calls for plugging gender gap, portability of social security No fresh arrests in Karanjit assault case GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 20 Two joint statements — one calling for portability of social security among G20 nations as a first step towards universalisation of social security, and another for plugging the gender gap in the global workforce by up-skilling women as per tech-intensive industry in the member-countries — were adopted at the concluding session of the two-day Labour20 (L20) engagement group’s inception meet held in Amritsar, as part of India’s G20 presidency. In a virtual message, Union Minister for Labour and Employment Bhupender Yadav advocated that universal social security and its portability across the world is an important issue to focus on. He was of the view that particularly the informal sec- Hiranmay Pandya, L20 Chair and national president of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR tor must be brought under the ambit of social security. In line with the vision of ‘Nari Shakti’ or ‘women power’, Yadav said women’s participation in labour force has to be enhanced for creation of equitable, inclusive and developed society. Over the years, the G20 and L20 meetings have attempted to address labour market challenges through a variety of policy initiatives that have been widely agreed upon. Hiranmay Pandya, L20 Chair and national president of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), said that the feed collected from the two-day meeting would be tabled during the final summits scheduled in June-July and September. “On the issue of universal social security portability, the delegates impressed that the G20 nations should chalk out a plan to achieve universalisation of social security funds covering the last worker by 2030. Their financial benefits should be transferred to the place where they further migrate to, within the G20 nations,” he said. India has entered into agreement with 19 countries in this regard, yet it still lags behind when it comes to getting portability of social security funds. “Some countries have fixed a minimum of eight years stay bar. We are all fighting to make it viable,” he said. Similarly, on women and future of work, the dele- gates zeroed in on the fact that generally, women are often concentrated in undervalued and low-paid jobs having limited bargaining and decision-making power. “It was observed that over a period of three years, women’s participation has increased from 20 per cent to 33 per cent. The governments and employers would have to shoulder the responsibility for recalibrating how women in the informal sector, and in family-raising roles, contribute to global economy. We asked for valuing that contribution,” he said. Representatives from Russia, India, Australia, Nepal and Bangladeh shared their national experiences on wages and its various dimensions, particularly the impact on livelihoods. The speakers included continued on page 2 Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 20 With the Punjab Police being busy in crackdown on radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh and his aides, the city police are yet to make further arrests in the murderous assault case in which a local resident Karanjit Singh of New Amritsar was attacked and critically injured by several persons dressed up in Nihang attire earlier this month. Following the preliminary probe, the police had arrested Sukhmander Singh of Moga and an associate of Amritpal Singh in the case. The police had booked former terrorist Gurinder Singh Ghali of Moga in the case. A case under Sections 307, 379-B (2), 120-B, 148 and 149 of the IPC was registered against him. He had an old enmity with the accused, who killed his wife in broad daylight in the presence of the police in Moga in March last year. Ghali is currently lodged in a jail. “We have planned to bring Ghali on production warrant for further probe in the case. But for time being, it was postponed due to crackdown on Amritpal and his aides,” said a police official. Since the incident, Karanjit is not traceable. On March 4 evening, Karanjit was returning to his house in his car, when several armed Nihangs intercepted him near Alpha Mall. The accused pulled him out of the car and attacked him with sharpedged weapons. They took away his mobile phone, cash and car. The victim was admitted in a hospital by a passerby. His two sons live abroad. Net ban inconveniences people Need to tap potential of BRTS service Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 20 With the government having extended the suspension of internet services on mobile phones by yet another day, the residents, especially those using the phones to make a living or online payments have found themselves at the receiving end. With online transactions getting popular in recent times, small traders, shopkeepers, vegetable and fruit sellers, cigarette vendors and many others have bar scan codes placed at their shops as most customers prefer to pay with their mobile phones. However, suddenly as the need for cash has increased, the rush at ATMs has also increased. Due to increased demand, most machines are running dry. The residents are also unable to use services such as booking taxis and ordering home delivery of parcels where an OTP is required. Those living alone in PGs or rented accommodations are Small traders, online transactions affected also not able to order food online which has become very popular recently “The internet suspension has affected business badly. People are not able to pay money online. Every night we go to sleep hoping that the service would start in the morning,” said Anush Kumar, a grocery shop owner. The traders stated that as the government had earlier encouraged the people to make online payments, most of them use their mobile phones even to pay a paltry sum. Amid all these problems, a section of the society feels that the orders were uncalled for, especially as people with Wi-fi facilities have open access to social media platforms. “If the idea was to stop the spread of misinformation, the government could have easily checked access to social media platforms. The government had earlier banned Tik-tok. It could have suspended access to these social media platforms,” said Gurjeet Kaur. The residents stated that making certain applications such as those used for booking various services or for making online purchases, paying bills, OTT platforms and video games inaccessible by imposing a blanket ban is unjustified and has not served any purpose except for resulting in harassment to the general public. c m y b Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 20 After MLA Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh raised questions in Punjab Assembly, viability of the Metro bus service being run under the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) has again become a matter of debate. The BRTS authorities claim that an average of 37,000 passengers use this service daily and a major section of the service class now regularly uses the Metro bus to commute. “It proves that the project has been successful. The Metro bus needed the government’s attention for the improvement of service. In case the project is stopped, around 20,000 two-wheelers will be added to the city roads which would increase traffic congestion. Instead of stopping the service, the government should address the issue,” said a Metro bus officer. During the Budget session of Punjab assembly, MLA North Kuwar Vijay Partap claimed that the BRTS is a flop show. The Minister for Local Bodies A view of a BRTS bus in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR responded to the MLA saying that as compared to BRTS Jaipur and Lucknow, BRTS in Amritsar was doing well. Local NGOs and activists have also been regularly demanding that the Metro bus route should include the international airport at Rajasansi. In August 2021, the administration had started the Metro bus service from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport to Gheo Mandi Chowk near the Golden Temple. The bus route was suspended two weeks after the start, due to demonstration by private mini-bus operators. Activists repeatedly wrote to the authorities to resume the route. “The Metro bus service has great potential. It is being ignored by the government. The ridership can be enhanced up to 80,000 by plying it on all routes. The government had spent Rs 550 crore on the project. Now, the buses are not being properly maintained. The route screens and announcement systems are lying defunct. No other traffic should be allowed on the BRTS tracks. The state government should release special funds for the repair and maintenance of existing infrastructure, instead of stopping the service,” said Naveen Kumar, a regular BRTS passenger. “It is the safest mode of available public transport for women. More than 50 per cent women passengers are using this service. The government should not think about the profit but only the service,” said Simaranjeet Kaur, another passenger.