23032023-ATR-01.qxd 3/22/2023 11:32 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY THRUST TO EDU BUT TEACHERS’ ISSUES NEED ATTENTION KANGANA: DILJIT WILL BE HELD FOR ‘SUPPORTING’ KHALISTANIS RUTUJA SAWANT SHARES HER HARROWING EXPERIENCE Despite the infrastructure overhaul, the teachers have termed the AAP govt’s one-year term as ‘unsatisfactory’. P2 Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has once again taken on Punjabi actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh. P3 Actress Rutuja Sawant, last seen in show ‘Pishachini’, recalls one of the most dreadful incidents of her life. P4 » » » MAX 27°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 27°C | MIN 14°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.43 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:30 AM THURSDAY | 23 MARCH 2023 | AMRITSAR INBRIEF 1 HELD UNDER SECTION 153-A Amritsar: The Ajnala police have arrested Vinod Soni of Ajnala for allegedly promoting hatred and enmity between different groups. A case under Section 153-A of the IPC was registered against him. The police said Soni had posted objectionable remarks that could disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the state. The police said no one would be spared for trying to disturb the peace and harmony in the state. TNS YOUTH BOOKED ON CHARGE OF RAPE Amritsar: A resident accused a youth for allegedly raping her. The accused was identified Jugraj Singh of New Kot Mit Singh area on Tarn Taran Road here. The victim told the police that the accused had entered in a contract marriage with her. Following her complaint, the police have registered a case under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC against Jugraj and further probe was on. TNS Patwari post aspirants fail to apply Mobile net shutdown hits online due to Internet suspension Ajnala, Tarn Taran residents Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 22 A large number of aspirants for the posts of patwari in the district missed the opportunity to file their applications at the official website of the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) for the job as the Internet services remained suspended for three days. The last date for filling the online application forms was March 20. However, the Internet services in the state were restored at noon on March 21. Manpreet Kaur Sandhu, an aspirant, said, “I was able to upload information and completed the first part of the registration process, but could not complete the second part which required uploading of documents and pictures.” She said she did not have a Wi-Fi connection and visited an Internet cafe to fill the DATE SHOULD’VE BEEN EXTENDED As I do not have a Wi-Fi connection, I visited an Internet cafe to fill the forms. I tried hard for almost four hours till 5 pm but in vain. In view of the problem being faced by the aspirants, the PSSSB must have extended the date for filling applications. — Manpreet Kaur Sandhu, AN ASPIRANT ❝ ❞ forms. “I tried hard for almost four hours till 5 pm but in vain,” she said. In view of the problem being faced by the aspirants, the PSSSB must have extended the date for filling the applications, she said. Manjot Singh, another aspirant, said the government should have extended the last date. Now they had missed the opportunity due to a government decision. “These days government jobs are rarely advertised and it would be a great loss for the youth if they do not get a chance,” he said. Many other aspirants too faced the same problem. Though the applicants were allowed to upload their registration forms from February 23 to March 20, it was obvious many would have thought that they still had enough time. However, as the Internet services were suspended on January 18 afternoon, they had to face the trouble. The owner of an Internet cafe on the Batala road said, “Not many customers come to our shops these days as everyone has a mobile phone or even a computer at home. However, during the days of Internet suspension, many aspirants came to upload their forms.” A large number of aspirants could not fill their application forms on the last day as servers were busy, he added. With city in seismic zone, safety measures need to be in place Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 22 Yesterday’s high-intensity earthquake showed the ground and buildings shaking because of tremors in the city. It naturally threw up a vital question, “Are we prepared to tackle natural calamities?” Officials stated that they are ready to tackle any natural calamity but a lot needs to be done to carry out rescue operations. There is need for proper preparations and the city needs to wake up to the threat as the city falls in seismic zone. Experts say in the event of a calamity of this magnitude, hardly anything can be done to prevent the tragedy. Disaster management is the only way to mitigate the losses. Fast-paced urbanisation has put the holy city on the path of becoming a mega city. Undoubtedly, it is considered a densely populated city which in disaster management’s parlance is held as vulnerable. They opine that a major earthquake in an urban area can be one of the worst natural disasters in the present era that can undo development achieved during centuries. Experts say the residents of each area must prepare a plan to handle the situation emerging out of such crisis, identify the safest space in their areas, keep emergency telephone numbers of hospi- tals, ambulances, police and others at hand, stay away from windows and those objects which could fall down, avoid elevators and lifts, and avoid standing close to high-rise buildings and poles on roads. After an earthquake, avoid using electricity-run gadgets, before using piped gas supply for cooking. Also, check their durability. As per norms, every hospital, hotel, commercial and government establishment must conduct mock drills from time to time to prepare their employees for such situations. With the disaster management wing of the government lying dormant for a long time and earlier too with its activity limited to conducting lectures for the students, the larger populace is mostly unaware about the basic safety techniques. There is a need to train volunteers for managing disasters, identify vulnerable buildings, monuments and introduce earthquake resistant norms. With only four fire stations, the Fire Department is ill-equipped. Ram Krishan, District Revenue Officer, who also heads the district disaster management, said all men and material of the entire government departments were part of it. From time to time, they conduct mock drills and meetings. Quake tremors felt in holy city Amritsar, March 22 Alarmed, people rushed out of their homes and public places like railways, shopping malls and others into the open to escape any mishap as jolts of an earthquake of the magnitude 6.6 on the Richter scale that struck the Hindukush region in Afghanistan was felt in the holy city last night. Panic gripped the city residents who assembled on roads. Mayank, a local, said his family was having its meals together when they observed the impact of the tremors. Arshpreet Singh, another resident, said he was with his cousins when he saw household objects shaking. Dilbagh Singh, Fire Station Officer, said no damage, death or injury because of the earthquake was reported in the district. — TNS Amritsar, March 22 Even as the Internet services had been restored in most of the state since Tuesday afternoon, the residents in Tarn Taran district and Ajnala subdivision of Amritsar district are still without the facility. A resident of Tarn Taran, Mehakdeep Singh said, “We have heard in the news that the government has not restored the Internet services in a few districts of Punjab sensing a threat to the law and order situation. The shutdown of the Internet services has created problems for people as they are not able to access any of the mobile applications.” Residents said they hoped the services would be restored today as it was restored in the rest of the District-level farmers’ training camp on April 8 Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 22 A district-level farmer training camp will be organised here on April 8. This and several other decisions concerning the agriculture sector were taken during a meeting of the District Farmers’ Advisory Committee here on Wednesday. A meeting of the advisory committee was held under the Atma Scheme of the Department of Agriculture. During the meeting, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Jatinder Singh Gill talked about activities carried out under the Atma Scheme during 2022-23 and encouraged maximum farmers to participate in the training camp to be organised at Guru Nanak Bhawan. Intimating farmers about the basmati project, he said the government was recruiting farmer friends at the village-level to promote cultivation of basmati crop and increase its coverage area. He emphasized not to use banned pesticides on basmati crop. Divisional Land Defense Officer Dr Ravinder Singh talked about the ongoing schemes, under which subsidy was being given for pipes to be laid underneath. Horticulture Deputy Director Dr Tajinder Singh informed the farmers about organic vegetable production. Baljinder Singh, a farmer, said he was rearing fishes apart from agriculture which is fetching him good returns. state on Tuesday. Normally, people preferred Internet call services to connect with their family members living abroad as phone calls were otherwise very expensive, they said. They said the Internet suspension had also increased demand for Wi-Fi as it had been the fifth day since the service was suspended (on March 18). In Ajnala subdivision too, the government had not restored the Internet services. Oral Health Day observed Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 22 The district Health Department organised a workshop to create awareness regarding oral health and hygiene to mark World Oral Health Day at Hindu College here. District Dental Officer Dr Jaganjot Kaur said health is important for overall health of the body. She said the Health Department had recently observed dental fortnight during which free dental check-up camps were organised across the district. She said special programmes for checking the dental health of the school children are also being organised. She said it was important for the children to know the importance of dental health and proper way of brushing teeth. Robbers target merchant’s house Tarn Taran, March 22 Ten armed miscreants targeted a karyana merchant in Tarn Taran town on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. They decamped with Rs 2 lakh, diamond, gold and silver ornaments from the residence of the victim, who has been identified as Ravinder Kumar, alias Banti, proprietor of Banti Karyana Shop situated on the road leading to Noodri Adda. After he lodged a complaint with the Tarn Taran (C) police, a police party visited the spot and initiated proceedings. Ravinder Kumar said the robbers came to his shopcum-residence, which was closed. They called Ravinder from outside the shop demanding to buy some eatables from him. As soon as he opened the door of the shop, continued on page 2 Gold ornaments stolen from Ajnala jeweller’s house Sacrilege case solved, granthi held Multi-skill centre helps 20-yr-old youth Amritsar, March 22 While the police were carrying out a flag march to “ensure” law and order and inculcate a sense of security among residents, two armed robbers looted a jeweller’s house in broad daylight in Ajnala yesterday. Aatish Dhawan of Ajnala said he along with other members of the family was present in the house when two bikeborne persons entered the house. He said his wife was working in the kitchen when one of the suspect pointed a “datar” and a pistol at her and entered the room. They took the entire family hostage. He said the accused claimed himself to be a member of the Jugnu gang. He said they broke open the lockers of the wardrobe and took away Rs 2 lakh and gold ornaments worth lakhs. He said the accused knew about him and family members. He owns a jewellery shop in the main bazaar in Ajnala. Ajnala DSP Sanjiv Kumar said a probe was on to identify the suspects. The police teams were analysing the CCTV cameras to find clues about the perpetrators. He said a case has been registered. — TNS Tarn Taran, March 22 The Chabal police claimed to have solved a sacrilege incident that occurred in Mannan village a week ago. The accused, Nishan Singh, a granthi of the village, was arrested on Wednesday and parts of the Guru Granth Sahib were recovered, which were allegedly torn by the accused. These parts were buried under garbage in the village. A case under Section 295-A of the IPC was registered by the Chabal police on March 18. The accused committed the Our Correspondent Accused wanted to falsely implicate gurdwara head granthi, says DSP crime when he himself was performing his duty as a granthi in the house of Harbhej Singh where an Akhand Path was being performed. The accused too was one of the granthis performing the path. On March 14, while performing his duty as granthi, he tore some pages which he had read and took these with him after the path. The matter came to the notice of village elders who brought the matter to the notice of the Chabal police on March 18. DSP Jaspal Singh said the matter was probed thoroughly. He said the accused granthi wanted to falsely implicate Gurmeet Singh, head granthi of Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev of the village, in the case as he was not on good terms with him. Gurmeet Singh was allegedly giving him less honorarium for performing the Akhand Path. The torn parts of the Guru Granth Sahib had been handed over to the village elders on Wednesday. Notorious criminal acquitted in 2016 case Amritsar, March 22 The Court of Additional Sessions Judge today acquitted five persons, including notorious criminal Sunny Yama, in a case of firing at a police party, attempt to murder and under the Arms Act in August 2016. Besides Yama, the police have acquitted Malkiat Nawab, Jaswinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh Meeta and Sanju Sharma. Notorious gangster Supreet Singh, alias Harry Chatha, was declared a pro- claimed offender in the case. Advocate Amandeep Singh said the police failed to prove the charge of firing by not showing the weapons recovered, empty shells and even failed to record the statement of investigating officer Arvinder Singh. The case pertains to alleged incident of firing at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH) complex on August 2, 2016. The police claimed to have foiled an attempt by notorious gangsters to get their accomplices released from the hospital. Harpreet Singh, alias Ganja, Puneet Pal Singh and Sunny Sharma, all members of the Harry Chatha gang were admitted to the hospital after they sustained injuries following a clash between supporters of the Likhari and Boxer gangs. The police said the gangsters opened fire on the police party which raided the GNDH complex following a tip-off. — TNS c m y b overcome odds, become self-reliant GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 22 Twenty-year-old Priyanka always dreamed of being a staff nurse, but had limited resources. Yet, the course of Home Health Aide, which she had successfully completed from the Amritsarbased Multi-Skill Development Centre (MSDC) free of cost, has given wings to her dreams. Today, she is employed with Dr Om Parkash Eye Institute, a renowned eye care hospital. Hailing from a very humble background, she now earns a reasonable amount after getting selected as ground duty assistant. “My father is a labourer doing petty jobs and mother is a domestic help. After completing my Plus Two from the Government Senior Secondary School at Putlighar, there was no one at home who could guide me on what to do next. I always wanted to be a nurse to serve the suffering. Then, I came to know about the MSDC from where I could opt for a course of my choice, that too free of cost. After completing the Priyanka with an elderly patient. course, I was absorbed by a known institute which has given me a direction to achieve my goal in life and also support my younger sister and brother who are studying,” she said. Similarly, Sukhpal Singh and Nishan Singh, both in their 20s, settled after qualifying professional courses through MSDC. Sukhpal, who was partially handicapped in his left arm, did a computer course. Nishan Singh from Pingalwara, who is speech and hearing impaired, learnt the skills of hospitality industry. Luckily, both were absorbed by the five-star Welcomhotel of the ITC at Raja Sansi, Amritsar. Earlier, with no regular source of income except for a meagre pension of Rs 3,000 per month from the welfare department, survival was difficult for Nishan. After completing the course in hospitality, he is now doing a housekeeping job in the hotel and earns enough to take care of his mother, the only one in his family to support. His colleague Sukhpal works in the finance department as a computer operator. “I could learn to operate a computer with one hand which paid dividends in life and today I am self-sufficient,” he said. There were identical success stories of MSDC trainees with the efforts of its placement initiative. MSDC is set up by Sun Foundation, chaired by Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahney, in collaboration with the state government’s Punjab Skill Development Mission, running job-oriented programmes for the youth in the age-group of 18-35 years free of cost. “It’s an initiative to tackle unemployment. The motive was to train at least 1,000 students per year at the Amritsar centre. Recently, we have awarded 1,008 job letters in the private sector,” he said. Various courses in nursing, home health aide, food and beverage, sales executive, customer care, data entry, graphic designing, fashion designing, electrician and other technical skills are offered here. In a new initiative, training for Army recruitment has also been started so that the youth of Punjab gets into the Defence forces. Since the beginning of the batches in the year 2021-22, MSDC Amritsar has trained a total of 1,188 trainees in different trades. He said there is a proposal to further boost multi-skill learning programmes with assistance from the Government of India under a scheme called STRIVE (Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement) in collaboration with the Punjab government too.