21082023-ATR-01.qxd 8/21/2023 12:30 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C BHULLAR TAKES STOCK OF WORK ON PLUGGING BREACH IN BUNDH ADELE REVEALS QUITTING COFFEE WAS TOUGH, IT GAVE HER MIGRAINE NIHARIKA CHOUKSEY GETS CANDID ABOUT HER JOURNEY Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar took stock of work to plug dhussi bundh breach near Gharrum village. P2 Adele opens up on her caffeine addiction, saying that calling quits on coffee is tougher than giving up weed. P3 Niharika Chouksey, seen playing titular role in the show Faltu, shared her journey & equation with co-star Aakash. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 7.08 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:59 AM » MONDAY | 21 AUGUST 2023 | AMRITSAR Holidays in nine schools till August 23 Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, August 20 In the orders issued here on Sunday, District Magistrate (DM) Baldeep Kaur has declared holidays in nine schools of the district till August 23. Have been turned into relief camps for floodaffected victims In the orders, the District Magistrate stated that as the buildings of the Government Senior Secondary School, Kot Budha, Government Senior Secondary School, Dubli, Government Senior Secondary School (Boys), Khemkaran, Government Senior Secondary School, Sabhra, Government Senior Secondary School (Boys), Valtoha, Government Middle School, Talwandi Sobha Singh, Government Senior Secondary School, Harike, and Government Senior Secondary School, Marhana, had been turned into relief camps for the flood- affected people so these would remain closed for three days. The Government Elementary School, Kutiwala, had been closed as its complex was filled with floodwater. Motivewascarjacking,not kidnapping, say police ~62L robbery turns out to be fake Four arrested for attempt to abduct Punjabi publisher’s son was no robbery at the spot near Mahal village bypass as claimed by the duo. The suspects enacted the drama to embezzle ~62 lakh. Both the suspects have been booked and arrested while further probe is on. PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 20 With the arrest of four persons, the city police today claimed to have cracked a kidnapping and robbery bid case in which the son of a prominent Punjabi publisher was targeted in the posh Ranjit Avenue area on July 6. Those arrested were identified as Ramandeep Singh of Khalirpur in Batala, Vicky of Khusalpura village in Gurdaspur, Chander Kumar Sandhu, alias Shubham, of Dera Baba Nanak and Parambir Singh of Chandumajra village in Gurdaspur. Abhimanyu Rana, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), said that the main motive behind the incident was to steal the car. However, they were unable to drive away the car as it was an automatic vehile, and it stopped abruptly, with the 12year-old boy in it, near Ranjit Avenue bypass road. Fearing that they would be caught, the suspects fled, leaving the boy and the car behind. It was not a kidnapping bid, as was The four kidnapping and robbery suspects in custody of the Amritsar police on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO alleged initially by the family, the ADCP said. Prabhjot Singh, owner of a famous publishing house — Chatar Singh Jeevan Singh — had told the police that the family had gone out for dinner and his two sons, who did not wish to dine outside, remained in the car. He said four armed persons managed to get into the car and pointed a gun at his sons. He said his elder son managed to slip out of the car while the ‘kidnappers’ drove away with his younger son. His elder son called the family and they immediately rushed to the spot. As the vehicle was automatic, it stopped near a bakery located near the Ranjit Avenue bypass road. The vehicle had a tracker and the family located it near the bypass road and reached the spot. The police had registered a case under Sections 363, 379-B (2), 506, 34 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act against unknown persons at that time. Rana said following an analysis of the footage from the CCTV cameras installed in the area and technical inputs, the police zeroed in on Ramandeep Singh and Vicky. Their arrest led the police to the two other suspects. He said after stealing cars, the supects used to sell them to one Nanak, who used these vehicles in his criminal activities. Nanak had around four criminal cases registered against him while Ramandeep, Vicky and Chander had one case each against them. Investigations revealed that after the unsuccessful carjacking bid on July 6, the suspects had snatched a car on July 17 in Gurdaspur district. Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 20 The Rs 62 lakh robbery case has turned out to be a drama which was staged to grab money by the ‘victims’, the police said today. The police have booked both — the complainant and his father — on the charges of criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy, besides misleading officials. The suspects were identified as Vikasbir Singh Shergill and his son Bakhtawar Singh, both residents of Gharinda. They were arrested and further investigation was under progress. Sarabjit Singh Bajwa, Assistant Commissioner of police (ACP), said Bakhtawar had informed the police on Friday about the alleged robbery in which unknown armed persons’ looted Rs 62 lakh from them. The suspects told the police that they had withdrawn the amount from the locker of their bank on Mall Road. Bakhtawar said he and his son were travelling in an SUV (Toyota For- Complainant & his son arrested During investigation, ❝police found that there the ❞ Sarabjit Singh Bajwa, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE tuner bearing registration number PB-02-BK-0021) when a few persons in an Innova and Verna cars stopped them and looted money on gunpoint. The ACP said when the police teams scanned the footage of the CCTV cameras they did not find any Innova or Verna cars following the suspects. As the matter was suspicious, the Sikh bodies seek withdrawal of passport for travel to Pak through Kartarpur corridor Tribune News Service Command Control Centre project misses another deadline Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 20 The authorities of the Smart City have failed to complete the Integrated Command Control Centre (ICCC) project. After jumping several deadlines, the private firm installing the CCTV cameras in the city had claimed to complete the ICCC project by August 15. The company has installed over 900 CCTV cameras on several intersections. Around 200 CCTV cameras are yet to be installed in the city. Some CCTV cameras are functional but recording devices are yet to be installed. Earlier, the company had assured to complete the project in June. Later, the completion deadline was extended to August 15. Now, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Rahul has again extended the project deadline till September 31. With the delay in the comple- e-challaning drive to be further delayed The Integrated Command Control Centre at the municipal corporation office in Amritsar. TRIBUNE PHOTO tion of the project, the drive of the traffic police to issue echallans to violators of rules with the help of CCTV cameras would also be affected. Senior police officials claimed that they were working on the e-challan project and it would be started soon with the existing infrastructure. Officials of the municipal corporation (MC) said the CCTV cameras had been installed at Kacheri Chowk, Hal Gate Chowk, Lohgarh Chowk, Putlighar Chowk, Batala Road, Hal Bazaar, Heritage Street, several intersections of Ranjit Avenue, railway station, bus stand, Mall Road, Company Bagh , Narayangarh, Chheharta Chowk, Bhandari Bridge, Gol Bagh, Ratna Singh Chowk, Green Avenue, Elevated Road, Sultanwind Road, Rani Ka Bagh, Ranjit Vihar , Majitha Road bypass, Majitha Road, Gate Hakiman, Khajana Gate, Verka Chowk, Vallah Chowk, Galhamala Chowk, SSSS Chowk, Albert Road, Novelty Chowk and Golden Gate. The MC is installing CCTV cameras under the Integrated Command Control Centre (ICCC) project of the Smart City. Under the project, 1,168 CCTV cameras are to be installed at 409 places in the holy city. With the installa- tion of these cameras, the authorities concerned would be able to keep a vigil on the entire city. The project was started in October 2022 by Amritsar Smart City Limited. The Smart City authorities would spend Rs 91 crore on the project. Out of 1,168 CCTV cameras, 241 would provide live coverage. Besides, 50 body detection cameras would be installed at various locations. The authorities would install 10 LED screens to flash messages. A public alert system would be installed at 50 chowks. Intelligent traffic management systems would be installed to manage movement of vehicles. The red light violation detection system would curb traffic rules violations. Emergency call buttons would be installed to help residents connect with the ICCC. A face detection system to identify the movement of criminals would also be installed. Gurdaspur, August 20 Various Sikh organisations held a prayer meeting at the zero line near the Kartarpur corridor today. They urged the government to waive the condition of passport for travel to Pakistan through the Kartarpur corridor. Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, SGPC secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal and former Nakodar MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala were among those who attended the meeting. Alliance of Sikh Organisations, the United Sikh Students Federation and the Aalmi Punjabi Sangat took part in the meeting. Gangveer Singh Rathour, a spokesman of the Aalmi Punjabi Sangat, said it was decided at the meeting to urge the Union Government to ensure that pilgrims do not need passports for travelling to Pakistan. “Instead, the government should issue special passes for devotees who want to go to Pakistan through the corridor. A majority of people living in the rural areas do Members of Sikh organisations during meeting. TRIBUNE PHOTO not have passports and are not allowed to travel. More and more devotees will be able to go to Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan provided the passport condition is waived off,” he said. He added that the security agencies should make efforts to curb the smuggling of drugs from across the border. “Drugs are being freely smuggled from Pakistan by unscrupulous elements using drones and other means which include pushing in heroin through the wire-meshing. Both the Pakistan and the Indian governments should make sincere efforts to prevent drug smuggling,” he said. Free trade should be allowed between Indian and Pakistani Punjabs, he said. police filed a daily diary report and launched further probe, he said. He said during interrogation, Vikasbir told the police that the amount belonged to his brother-in-law Arminderpal Singh Randhawa’s NRI relative Sarabjit Singh who lives in Canada. He said Sarabjit had sold his six acres in Bhakna Kalan village to Gursewak Singh, also of the same village. He had given the power of attorney of the land to him. He said Gursewak transferred Rs 58 lakh to his bank account through cheque and gave the remaining Rs 62 lakh in cash to him. Vikasbir said he transferred Rs 58 lakh to Sarabjit’s bank account while the remaining amount of Rs 62 lakh was with him. The ACP said during investigation, the police found that no robbery had occurred at the spot near Mahal village bypass as claimed by the duo. He said the suspects enacted the drama to embezzle Rs 62 lakh. He said both suspects had been booked and arrested while further probe was on. No breakthrough in Jandiala murder case Amritsar, August 20 The police have launched a manhunt to nab the suspects, who had shot dead Ram Sharan Singh on Friday night in the Jandiala Guru area, when he and his daughter returned after meeting former’s brother Satpal Singh, a resident of Ward No. 7. Four unidentified bikeborne youth with covered faces had showered bullets at victim’s car when he reached outside his house. Sharan laid his daughter on the car floor to save her from bullets. He suffered around five bullet injuries and died on way to the hospital. The girl had a narrow escape in the incident. Gurpartap Singh Sahota, SP , Amritsar (Rural) police, said during preliminary probe, the police had zeroed in on several persons who could have killed Sharan. Raids were on the arrest them, he said. “Till now, we are still clueless about the perpetrators of the crime. The police is working on different theories to crack the case,” said Sahota. Deceased’s wife Maani had alleged that family of a woman with whom Sharan had illicit relations murdered him. The police is also exploring the drug peddling angle that could be the reason behind the incident. — TNS Body of Fazilka youth brought backfromCanada 64-year-old turban traveller sets Debris in corridor points to lack of maintenance out on journey of 200 countries Suspension of Metro bus service affecting quality of infrastructure Amritsar, August 20 Body of a Fazilka youth Dilpreet Singh Grewal, who recently lost his life in an accident in Canada, was brought back with the help of Punjab Government at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International airport here on Sunday. NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal was present with officials at the airport to receive the body. Sharing grief with the family, Dhaliwal said unexpected accidents were a tragedy for families whose near and dear ones had migrated overseas in search for bright future. Dhaliwal said when family members of the deceased approached him, he immediately brought the matter into the notice of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. — TNS Pays obeisance at the Golden Temple before embarking on trip Amritsar, August 20 Turban traveller Amarjit Singh Chawla has set out on a journey of 200 countries after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple. A 64-year-old Delhi resident Chawla said the journey would end after covering a distance of 5,00,000 km and take 1,000 days. He embarked on the journey with his wife Gursharan Kaur and two colleagues. He said the journey was spread across seven continents. They would explore and experience diverse cultures, cuisines, music and spirituality of each continent, said Chawla. He said, “We will also visit historic gurdwaras and document them through videos showcasing the Sikh heritage and teach- BRTS CRISIS Tribune News Service Amarjit Singh Chawla (left) in Amritsar. TRIBUNE PHOTO ings of Sikh gurus.” During the journey, they would be sharing their experiences and adventures on various social media platforms. Daily vlogs would be posted on social media. First, they would visit Thailand after shipping their car from Mumbai. From Thailand, they would drive through Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia before going to Melbourne in Australia to complete the iconic big lap covering a distance of 26,000 km. From Australia, they would leave for New Zealand. — TNS c m y b Amritsar, August 20 The maintenance of the BRTS corridor, especially after the suspension of Metro bus service, has taken a beating. Wild grass and plants have grown inside the corridor. The municipal corporation dug up the track at several locations for providing water and sewer connections to washrooms at the Metro station. The debris is still lying in the corridor because of which commuters, who use the track when there is a traffic jam on the main road, face inconvenience. Not only the corridor, the infrastructure at the Metro bus stand is also not in good shape. Wild grass at the Metro bus corridor in Amritsar. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR The fibre sheets on rooftops are broken and the grills of the corridor are missing. The advertisement frames have also been damaged. “When the bus is not operational, the quality of infrastructure would naturally deteriorate. If the government is not paying for the basic requirements of the BRTS, then who will take care of the corridor? The MC had repaired the BRTS corridor in March in view of the G20 summit. The Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PIDMC) should take the initiative to maintain the corri- dor,” said Mohan Singh, a local resident. A large number of peepal trees have grown on the elevated bridge leading from the Celebration Mall to Verka. These trees are growing rapidly and would widen the cracks on the bridge. The government should not compromise the strength of the structure. The authorities should remove the wild grass and trees. The cracks in the building of Metro stations should also be repaired,” said Ajit Kumar, another resident. The Metro bus service being run under the BRTS has been suspended since July 4. The buses are gathering dust at the Metro bus stand on the VerkaVallah bypass while the condition of the corridor is deteriorating due to poor upkeep.