25082023-ATR-01.qxd 8/25/2023 12:34 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune BHINDER VILLAGE RESIDENTS PROTEST AFTER RAIN DAMAGES THEIR HOUSES Villagers protest in front of the ADC’s office for compensation for damage to their houses due to rain. P2 » HALLE BERRY TO PAY TO FORMER HUSBAND FOR CHILD SUPPORT Halle Berry & her husband Oliver Martinez have finalised their divorce after a bunch of hiccups. P3 » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY ISHAAN TALKS ABOUT HIS CHARACTER IN DHRUV TARA - SAMAY SADI SE PARE Actor Ishaan Dhawan essays the titular character of Dhruv in the show Dhruv Tara - Samay Sadi Se Pare. P4 » MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.03 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:01 AM FRIDAY | 25 AUGUST 2023 | AMRITSAR SI held taking ~7,000 bribe Tarn Taran, August 24 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Thursday nabbed Sub-Inspector (SI) Dilbagh Singh, posted at the Sarai Amanat Khan police station in Tarn Taran district, while accepting a bribe of Rs 7,000 from Nirmal Singh, a resident of Kasel village. A VB spokesperson said Nirmal had complained that the SI was investigating a case registered against his brother Daljit Singh under Section 21 (C) of the NDPS Act at the Sarai Amanat Khan police station. The complainant alleged that the SI had demanded Rs 7,000 as bribe to get a challan vetted from a government advocate and submit it in a court. After preliminary investigation of the complaint, a VB team laid a trap and arrested the SI while accepting the bribe from the complainant in the presence of official witnesses. A case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against the SI at the VB police station, Amritsar Range. — OC Flooded border villages pose challenge to BSF Outposts inundated | Smugglers sneaking in drugs Amritsar, August 24 As the rivers along the IndoPak border raging with floodwaters have left the Border Security Force (BSF) outposts inundated and damaged the barbed wire fencing, keeping a close watch on the nefarious activities of Pakistan-based anti-national entities has become a major challenge not only for the border force but also for the Punjab Police. The smugglers are using flooded rivers for sneaking in huge quantity of narcotics if in the recent seizures by the BSF and the Punjab Police are anything to go by. During recent past, the police have seized 147 kg of heroin this month in Ferozepur and Amritsar districts. The Beas, Sutlej and Ravi rivers are in spate because of heavy rains in the hills. A BSF official wishing not to be named said, “Our jawans have unwavering courage and The three smugglers in custody of the Special Task Force. sense of duty. Despite huge challenge by recent flooding in the border belt, our personnel are maintaining roundthe-clock vigil.” The Special Task Force (STF) had yesterday confiscated 41 kg of heroin from three smugglers identified as Agyapal Singh of Ghumrai village, Ranjodh Singh of Mehmed Mandara Wala village and Sandeep Singh of Panj Garaya village. The trio was currently in six-day police cus- tody for further interrogation. The contraband was smuggled from Dariya Musa border village in the Ramdass area of the Ajnala subdivision, the investigations revealed. The contraband was smuggled by a Pakistani smuggler identified as Tarique Mohammad, said a senior official of the STF preferring anonymity. He was privy to the investigations. The STF had continued the search in the border continued on page 2 Fake travel agent booked for duping three residents Amritsar, August 24 The police have booked an alleged fake travel agent for allegedly duping local residents of Rs 36 lakh on the pretext of sending them abroad. The Civil Lines police have booked Jaspal Singh, a resi- dent of Rajasansi, under Sections 420 of the IPC and Section continued on page 2 c m y b Dengue count reaches 205, Chikungunya 150 in district Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 24 The district Health Department has notified 25 hotspots for Chikungunya with three or more cases. The district has reported a total of 150 chikungunya cases till date. The Health Department has also identified 26 hotspots for dengue. The department has reported a total of 205 dengue cases so far. The health officials said prevalence of mosquitoborne diseases was more in the city areas with high population density. The identified hotspots for chikungunya, include Mohini Park, Officer Colony, Guru Ki Wadali, Railway Colony, Fatehgarh Churrian Road, Shakti Nagar, Chhehharta, Muradpura, Verka, Dapai, Greenfield Majitha Road, Guru Amardas Avenue, Sewa Nagar, Ram Tirath Road, Hargobind Avenue, Majitha Road, Shri Ram Avenue, Gopal Nagar, Guru Nanak Pura, Bhalla Colony and Kot Khalsa. As the high prevalence of the diseases has created panic among residents, the health officials have warned private hospitals and clinics against misguiding patients. The health experts said as there was no specific antiviral medicine for both the diseases, these were treated symptomatically when no hospitalisation was required. Civil Surgeon Dr Vijay Kumar said the diseases could easily be managed at home with the advice of a qualified doctor. He said private hospitals continued on page 2 One arrested with country-made pistol Amritsar, August 24 The Sadar police have arrested a man identified as Pargat Singh, a resident of Officers Colony, located on the Fatehgarh Churian road and recovered a country-made pistol from his possession. According to the police, he had two criminal cases registered against him. A fresh case of the Arms Act was registered against him following seizure of the weapon. Varinder Singh Khosa, Assistant Commissioner of Police (North), said he was arrested following the interrogation of Lovepreet Singh, alias Kaku, a resident of the continued on page 2 Commutersgetrespitefrom toll tax as farmers protest Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 24 The protest by the farmers at toll plazas for the release of their leaders arrested by the police entered the fourth day on Thursday. The farmers are not ready to end their stir till all protesters are released. Back to back meetings with the civil and police administration during the last 24 hours have failed to find a solution to the prevailing logjam. Satnam Singh Manochalal, a leader of the Kisan Farmers during a protest at the Usma toll plaza in Tarn Taran. Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), which is leading the protest in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts, said the number of men and women farmers joining the protest was increasing with each passing day. The KMSC leaders said a some of their leaders, who were arrested on August 21, had been released from the Patti sub-jail today. However, the unions had not yet taken the decision to withdraw the protest till all farmers were released, they said. The farmer leaders said the people had suffered huge losses due to floods in the state and they had the right to demand compensation for the loss and protest peaceful continued on page 2