27042023-ATR-01.qxd 4/26/2023 11:45 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLOUDY DESPITE GOVT CLAIMS, NO DROP IN SAND PRICES HOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR GUNN WANTS TO WORK WITH NTR JR APARSHAKTI’S NEXT SONG AS SINGER IS INSPIRED BY JUBILEE Sand is being sold at Rs 48 in the retail market against the fixed price of Rs 5.50 per cubic foot. P2 Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn has shared that he wants to work with RRR-fame NTR Jr. P3 Currently riding on the success of the period drama Jubilee, we are soon going to see him in a retro avatar. P4 » » » MAX 35°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.07 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:48 AM THURSDAY | 27 APRIL 2023 | AMRITSAR CKD condoles death of former CM Badal 20 hurt as bus Ram Talai Mandir chowk in thebrakeinvestigation on crashes after afternoon; failure The incident took place near the Tribune News Service Members of the Chief Khalsa Diwan in Amritsar on Wednesday. Amritsar, April 26 Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) office-bearers today expressed sorrow over the death of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. CKD president and Punjab minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar and secretary Swinder Singh Kathunangal said Badal had the honour of becoming the youngest and oldest chief minister of the country and was an instrumental figure in the political landscape of not only Punjab but the country. “During his long and distinguished political journey, he carved a distinct identity due to his qualities like administrative INBRIEF WOMAN HARASSED, ONE BOOKED Amritsar: The Majitha police have booked Amarjit Singh of Pandher Kalan village for allegedly harassing daughterin-law of his brother. The victim alleged that her husband and parents had gone out for some work and she along with her children were alone when the accused entered the house and harassed her. She said when she opposed the accused hit her head with a brick leaving her injured. She raised an alarm following which people started gathering and her husband also reached the spot. On seeing this the accused fled the spot. She said the accused told her that her husband had insulted him. She alleged her husband had illicit relations with accused's wife and therefore he wanted to make physical relations with her to avenge it. TNS TWO HELD WITH 50GM HEROIN Amritsar: Maqboolpura police have arrested two persons and recovered 50-gm heroin from them. They were identified as Bachitar Singh of Vallah and Sukhdeep Singh of Akalgarh Dhapian village in Jandiala Guru. The police also seized the motorcycle they were driving. The police said they were held from Bansawala bazaar. TNS ILLICIT LIQUOR SEIZED, 1 HELD Tarn Taran: A team of the Valtoha police, led by ASI Darshan Singh, conducted a raid at a house in Mehmoodpur village and recovered 40,500 ml of illicit liquor on Tuesday. The ASI said the accused was identified as Nishan Singh who managed to flee the spot. OC skill, wisdom and foresight. Such rare politicians who are respected by every party, are a source of inspiration for the young leaders,” said Nijjer. He added that the valuable services rendered by Parkash Singh Badal for the development of the state will always be remembered. CKD office-bearers and members expressed their condolences with the family. CKD members including Jagjit Singh, Sukhjinder Singh Prince, Sarabjit Singh Chhina, Suba Singh, Mandeep Singh and others also expressed grief over his death. — TNS Amritsar, April 26 Over 20 passengers were injured when a private bus hit a pillar on the elevated road after the brakes of the bus failed here on Wednesday. Many commuters had a narrow escape. The incident occurred near the Ram Talai Mandir chowk in the afternoon. It is one of the busiest stretches due to its proximity with the interstate bus terminus. An eyewitness said the bus (PB02BV7889) was coming from the bus stand side. It went out of control allegedly due to brake failure, crashing into a pillar. Around 20 passengers, some of them seriously, were injured in the accident. Residents from nearby areas came to the rescue of the injured passengers and brought them out of the bus. He said ambulances were called to the spot and the injured were rushed to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital The mangled remains of the bus that crashed into a pillar near the Ram Talai chowk; and (right) injured persons being treated at a hospital in Amritsar on Wednesday. VISHAL KUMAR and a private hospital. The injured included children also. Those who received minor injuries were given first aid on the spot. ASI Gurdev Singh, a traffic cop who was deputed near the stop for controlling traffic, said the bus was being driven rashly. The driver was apparently trying to control it, but as the brakes failed, he crashed it into the pillar to stop it. There were around 50 passengers in the bus and nearly 20, including the bus driver, were injured in the mishap. They were rushed to different hospitals while those with minor injuries were discharged after first aid, he added. A motorcycle, reportedly of a cop, was parked near the pillar, which was smashed in the accident. Sub-Inspector Deepak Sharma, posted at the bus stand chowki, said it was an accident though further investigations were in progress by the police sta- tion concerned. Bus driver Rajinder Sharma said while driving down the elevated road near Pingalwara, the brakes of the bus failed and it went out of control. “I tried to control and stop it, but could not. I had to crash the bus into the pillar to bring it to a halt and avoid casualties,” he said. Ritu, a resident of Ajnala, who was travelling in the bus, said as the incident occurred suddenly, she could not understand how it happened. She was also injured in the accident. Another woman passenger said the driver avoided hitting other vehicles before crashing it into a pillar. Call to restore British-era clock atop Hall Gate After video, traffic cop booked for graft Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 26 After the restoration of the 160-year-old clock by the Kapurthala administration at a public place there, local residents have demanded the restoration of the British-era clock atop the Hall Gate here. Many previous attempts to rectify it have failed to bring the desired results. So the residents have suggested that it should be replaced with a new one. The wall clock assumes importance as it stands at the intersection on the way to the Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh. Thousands of tourists heading to pay their obeisance at the Golden Temple pass this stretch. Tourists from all over the world happen to look at the clock, which remains inoperative most of the time. The clock that ceased to work around two and a half years ago at the Hall Gate in Amritsar on Wednesday. SUNIL KUMAR Manjeet Singh, a shopkeeper, says it has been lying inoperative for the past one and a half years. Before that it was repaired. He mentioned that many tourists pointed out that it was out of order. To make the visit of tourists a memorable one, various steps are being taken. An operative clock would keep reminding passersby to accomplish their work on time, said a city resident. He said he recently took his relatives to the Golden Temple and they were surprised to find the clock showing wrong time. He said the government officials concerned were duty bound to keep the city clean and smart. The gate, named after then deputy commissioner CH Hall, constructed in 1786, acquired a kind of heritage value featuring in movies and documentaries made for the city and Harmandar Sahib. However, its wall clock, along with a large alarm bell designed by then executive engineer John Gordon, did not do so. If its repairs have become costly and artisans are not easily available, it could be replaced with a new one with ringing bell and chiming features. This could be an added attraction. MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi said the civic body had restored it once, but it did not work for long. Now, we will talk to officials in Kapurthala and the technicians they had employed. PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 26 Taking serious cognisance of the video of a sub-inspector of traffic police who was accused of demanding bribe, the police have arrested the police official concerned, identified as Paramjit Singh. On the directions of Police Commissioner Naunihal Singh, the police have registered a case under Section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act. Further department inquiry was also initiated against him. The case was registered following a complaint by cement trader Sagar Kehar, a resident of Chheharta. Parminder Singh Bhandal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) confirmed the development and said the incident had brought a bad name to a dis- Sub-Inspector Paramjit Singh ciplined force. Yesterday, a video had gone viral on the social media in which an individual was seen giving money to a man dropping the name of SI Paramjit Singh. Sagar Kehar said the traffic police stopped his truck in the Ranjit Avenue area. He said he went to the spot in his car and had a black sheet on the rear windshield. The cop said he would have to pay Rs 20,000 as challan, he said. He said that he told the cop that he was a trader and usually kept cash in the car and kept a black sheet so that nobody could see inside. Meanwhile, a man came and tried to remove the sheet who he thought was a cop. Later, the man said that he could settle the matter for Rs 3,000 in reply to which he said he had cash in his office located near Court Chowk. He then alleged that the SI gave him his scooter and sent him with Sagar to bring the amount. When the man came, they made a video of the entire incident and uploaded it on social media. The SI later refuted the allegations while adding that he did not know of this. Bhandal appealed to the people to make a video if any traffic or other policeman demanded bribe from them. He said appropriate action would be taken. JAC cancels rallies, Play ‘Samma Wali Daang’ highlights farmers’ problems next protest on May 4 Plays slated for Wednesday & Thursday stand postponed due to former CM Badal’s demise Tribune News Service CENTRALISED ADMISSION Amritsar, April 26 As a mark of respect to former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who passed away on Tuesday, the Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising Aided Colleges Managements, Principals’ Associations of three State Universities, Punjab Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) and managements of un-aided colleges on Wednesday cancelled its three protest rallies, which were to be held tomorrow (on Thursday) in various parts of the state. The rallies, which were proposed to be held in Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala simultaneously against the state government for discriminatory and arbitrary implementation of centralised admission portal in all colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh and other issues confronting higher education, were called off today, said JAC chief Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, in press statement here. Chhina expressed his condolences over the demise of the Akali stalwart. He said they would hold a protest march in Jalandhar on May 4 against the state government. — TNS Amritsar, April 26 The play ‘Samma Wali Daang’ was performed on the second day of the Guru Nanak Dev University Theatre Festival-2023 at Dasmesh Auditorium here on Tuesday. This festival is being organised in collaboration with Awaaz Rangmanch Toli, Rangkarmi Manch, Amritsar and Adakar Manch, Mohali. Dr Jatinder Brar, founder of the Punjab Naatshala, was the chief guest on the occasion. The play was directed and written by eminent playwright Dr Sahib Singh. Dr Sunil Kumar (in-charge), c m y b An artiste enacts a scene from the play in Amritsar. TRIBUNE PHOTO Drama Club, GNDU, welcomed the distinguished personalities, including Jatinder Brar and other eminent theatre persons who came to watch the play. The Adakaari Manch, Mohali, performed the play that was based on the challenges faced by a farmer in his daily life and what society perceived about their life. Dr Sahib Singh tried to put across an emotional message through the hearttouching play about the crisis farmers were going through and how tough it had become to sustain livelihood through farming in the country. The play was a dramatization of societal interferences in the difficult lifestyle of the agrarian community that fed the world. “The play motivates the society towards their behavioural instincts to change and train for situational analysis,” said Dr Singh. Meanwhile, Dr Sunil informed that the plays, Love Junction and Loha Kutt scheduled for the third and fourth day of the festival, were also postponed as the university would remain closed due to state holiday declared by the state government to mourn the loss of former CM Prakash Singh Badal.