30102023-ATR-01.qxd 10/30/2023 12:32 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 31°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 19°C SMOG VISIBLE AS STUBBLE BURNING INTENSIFIES IN AMRITSAR DISTRICT FRIENDS STAR MATTHEW PERRY DIES OF POSSIBLE DROWNING SONIYA EVICTED FROM BB 17, BUT WISHES TO COME BACK With cases of stubble burning intensifying, a smog cover became visible on roads and fields beyond the bypass. P2 “And I should be dead.” Alas, those words which Matthew Perry wrote in his memoir have come true. P3 Actress Soniya Bansal has become the first contestant to be evicted from the house of Bigg Boss’ Season 17. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 5.43 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6.45 AM » MONDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2023 | AMRITSAR Amritsar, Tarn Taran register most number of farm fire cases 4 farmers booked; stubble-burning cases higher on holidays Manmeet Singh Gill THE FIGURES Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 29 Acting tough against the violation of ban on burning crop residue in paddy fields after harvesting, the district administration has booked two more farmers under Section 188 of the IPC on Sunday. The accused, both residents of Harsha Chinna village, had burnt stubble on four acres of land in the vicinity of Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport here on Saturday. With this, the administration has got FIRs registered against a total of four farmers for violation of ban orders imposed by the Deputy Commissioner under Section 144 of CrPC. The district administration has warned farmers against the burning of crop residue. With the district reporting 57 live farm fire incidents as reported by the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre on Sunday, the total count of incidents during the season has reached 1060. The district has reported the highest number of farm fire inci- Police register case after drone sorties in Ramdass area Amritsar, October 29 Ramdass police have booked unknown persons after a drone made sorties in border villages near Panjgraian border outpost here on October 27. A case was registered following a complaint by BSF officials yesterday. The BSF authorities said that on Friday at around 3.30 am, BSF troops at Panjgraian border outpost heard the buzzing sound of drones from Pakistan side entering the Indian side. He said BSF jawans fired several rounds at the drones. A few minutes later, it returned to the Pakistan side. Thereafter, BSF jawans carried out search operations at night and in the morning also but did not find anything suspicious. The police have registered a case under Section 10, 11 and 12 of the Aircraft Act in this regard. — TNS ■ Amritsar dist reported 57 live farm fire incidents as per Punjab Remote Sensing Centre on Sunday. Total count has reached 1,060. ■ Tarn Taran reported second highest number of 646 farm fire incidents. Amritsar & Tarn Taran account for nearly 32% of the total 5,254 farm fire cases in state. ■ A fine of Rs 9 lakh imposed on farmers as environmental compensation as per the NGT guidelines. dents till date during the current season. The neighbouring border district of Tarn Taran has reported the second highest number of 646 farm fire incidents during the current season. The two border districts, Amritsar and Tarn Taran, cumulatively account for nearly 32 per cent of the total 5254 farm fire cases in the state. Officials of the district administration stated that action has been taken against the violators and till date a fine of Rs 9 lakh has been imposed on the farmers as environmental compensation as per National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines. The officials stated that after getting a report from the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, an agriculture department team visits the place for physical verification of fire. The team then submits a report with the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) concerned for further action after which a recommendation is made for taking action. A look at the data of farm fire incidents reported daily from the district since September 16 would reveal that the number of farm fire cases is higher on public holidays, including weekends. “The farmers might be presuming that no government employee would visit the fields on holidays and Sundays for physical verification,” said an agriculture department official, adding that the teams are working day and night to stop the practice. Man injured in quarrel dies in hospital Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, October 29 Manbir Singh (33), a resident of Bhojian village, who was seriously injured in a quarrel in his native village here on Friday succumbed to injuries on Saturday night. Resham Singh, Harman Singh, Gurpreet Singh and three brothers Gajjan Singh, Kundan Singh and Balwant Singh, who had a dispute with Manbir Singh, attacked him on Friday night with sharp-edged weapons when he was on his way back home. Manbir Singh, who was seriously injured in the quarrel, was rushed to a private hospital in Amritsar. ASI Manpreet Singh of the Chabal police station said on the statement of Manbir Singh, the police added Sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code to the case, which was earlier registered under Sections 324, 506, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code, on Sunday against the accused mentioned in the previous case. The accused were absconding, added the Assistant Sub-Inspector. Gambling den busted, 21 arrested; ~41 lakh seized Police also recovered cash counting machine from farmhouse Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 29 The city police busted a gambling racket and recovered ~41 lakh during a raid at a farmhouse in RB estate on the Loharka road here on Friday night. The police made a video of the entire raid in which 21 gamblers were arrested from the farmhouse. They were, however, released on bail following a preliminary probe. Besides some local residents, other accused belonged to Ludhiana, Tarn Taran and Batala areas. The raid was led by Additional Deputy Commissioners of Police Dr Mehtab Singh and Prabhjot Singh Virk. Virk said gambling was going on at the farmhouse when the police teams raided the complex. He said besides playing cards and cash, the police also recovered a cash counting machine from the spot. He ADCP Prabhjot Singh Virk along with other officials shows the cash recovered from the in Amritsar on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO said it was a record seizure of cash in any such raid. The police would also write to the Income Tax Department, besides investigating other aspects during the probe. Those arrested were identified as Vijay Handa, a resident of Rose Resort, Majitha Road, Shivam Arora of Jujhar Singh Avenue, Ajnala Road, Sohail of Mabool Road, Sahil of Jawahar Nagar, Ludhiana, Lovish of Guru Bazaar, Tarn Taran, Amit Kumar of Kartar Shah Colony, Batala, Sunil Kumar of Prem Nagar, Batala, Amit Bajaj of Holy City here, Ajay Kumar of RB Estate, Loharaka Road, Harjot Singh of Model Town, Rani Ka Bagh here, Gaurav Agarwal and Rishi Kumar of Thathiari Gate of Batala, Sunny of Lawrence Road, Amit Agarwal of Gopala Nagar, Batala, Jagga Singh of Chowki village in Ludhiana, Gagandeep Lawrence Road area residents plagued Gangster booked for with traffic congestions, illegal parking seeking extortion from WARD WATCH Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 29 Most of the areas adjoining the Lawrence Road such as Joshi Colony, White Enclave, Doctors Lane and Circular road in Ward No.5 are well developed and have better roads, streets, water supply and sanitation facilities. But the residents complain of the problem of traffic congestions and illegal parking on roadsides. These areas, developed during British rule, have beautiful houses which are being eaten up by fast commercialization and turning into shops, restaurants, hospitals and other establishments. “The fast commercialization of the area has brought many problems such as heavy vehicular traffic and large-scale construction activity. The area is A heap of garbage outside a park at Garden Colony in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR fast losing its tranquillity and the peace atmosphere,” said a resident, adding that people often dump construction debris on roadsides which stay there for days. Residents say that due to large-scale commercializa- tion, sound pollution too has increased in the area due to vehicles. The condition of public parks in the area too demands attention as tree trunks, pruned branches and dry leaves can be seen piled up in heaps outside the parks. “Ideally, tree waste should be used for making compost. Now and then someone lights up the heap of dry leave to get rid of it and it would cause breathing problems,” said Sukhwant, another resident. Residents also demand from the municipal corporation to start the dog sterilization project to check the rising population of stray dogs. “Dogs perhaps are the biggest nuisance in the area as they excrete everywhere. These are also a threat to people walking in the streets,” said Suman, another resident. She added that all dogs except for those kept as pets should be sterilised. The residents demand that garbage heaps, mostly created by commercial establishments, should be removed. The MC should keep a watch on these establishments and should not allow anybody to throw waste on roadsides. IELTS centre owner Amritsar, October 29 A local IELTS centre owner and immigration consultant got an extortion call from a caller as Canada-based notorious gangster turned alleged Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa. The caller demanded an extortion amount of ~20 lakh from him. The complainant, Sahil Sharma, said he runs an IELTS centre at Ranjit Avenue A block here. He said on Saturday at around 3.34 pm and 3.41 pm, when he was sitting in his office he got two WhatsApp calls from unknown international numbers. He said the caller said he was Lakhbir Singh Landa and threatened to kill him. He said he knew that Sahil works as an immigration consultant GOT 2 WHATSAPP CALLS The complainant, Sahil Sharma, said he runs an IELTS centre at Ranjit Avenue A block here. He said on Saturday he got two WhatsApp calls from unknown international numbers. and asked him to give ~20 lakh as extortion. He said he was left stunned when the caller told him about the colours of his clothes and his car number. Following this, the police have registered a case under Sections 387 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code against Landa. Landa was wanted by the Punjab Police in two RPG blasts occurred in Mohali and Tarn Taran while National Investigating Agency (NIA) had announced an award of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to his arrest. — TNS Singh of Noordin Adda, Tarn Taran, Varinder Singh of Lalwandi Chogla, Batala, Sher Singh of Kot Mit Singh, Sanjiv Kumar of Khuh Bambay Wala, Rahul Kanda of Jandiala Road, Tarn Taran and Nitish Chopra of RB Estate. It is pertinent to mention here that many residents indulge in gambling ahead of Diwali in the city as many such gambling dens have mushroomed in different areas. People from upper strata of society are engaged in playing it at high-end hotels, resorts and individual houses. If police sources are to be believed, unscrupulous elements in the hospitality sector, low-rung politicians and people with criminal background organize such parties with heavy entry fee and even turning houses in residential areas into a gambling den to escape the attention of the authorities concerned. 905-gm gold seized at city airport Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 29 The Customs Department, Amritsar, has recovered around 905 grams of gold worth around ~55 lakh from a passenger who landed from Dubai at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport. According to information received on Sunday, the passenger had reached here from Dubai by a SpiceJet flight. He had hidden two packets of gold in his turban. These packets were wrapped with grey-coloured tape to dodge customs officials. The officials said when the person was thoroughly checked, the gold was recovered from his possession. The total weight of the concealed item was 1,205 grams, but contained 905 grams of 24 carat pure gold, the market value of which is ~55.45 lakh. Road accident snuffs out couple’s lives; one injured 2 shot dead in Jandiala BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF GURU RAM DAS Guru; hunt on to nab 4 Golden Temple bedecked with Our Correspondent Amritsar, October 29 Two persons including a youth, Amritpal Singh alias Sajan and his uncle Kulwant Singh, were shot dead by four armed assailants in Jandiala Guru area here today. The incident occurred near Patwarkhana at Shaheed Udham Singh Chowk in Sheikhupura Mohalla in Jandiala Guru area here. A gang rivalry is stated to be the reason behind the incident. Sajan had around seven criminal cases including those under the Arms Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act against him, police sources said. Gurpartap Singh Sahota, Superintendent of Police, said the police have booked notorious gangster Happy Tarn Taran, October 29 A couple was killed on the spot and their eight years old daughter was seriously injured in a road accident that took place near Mohanpur village near Sarhali here on Saturday night. Their son and a relative had a narrow escape in the accident. The victim have been identified as Amandeep Singh (34) and his wife Kiranbir Kaur (33) of Jand (near Patti town) village. Their daughter, Amansirat Kaur, was under treatment at a private hospital. The couple along with their wards and a relative, all travelling in an Alto car (PB-14-C-0492), were on way to Rahal Chahal village Deceased couple Amandeep Singh and Kiranbir Kaur. GURBAXPURI when their car collided with a speeding tractor-trolley near the petrol pump at Mohanpur village. Their four-year-old son, who was also travelling with them, escaped unhurt while relative Sandeep Kaur received minor injuries. After the postmortem at the local Civil Hospital, the bodies were handed over to the family members. A police party from Chohla Sahib reached the spot immediately and collected details of the accident. A case under Sections 304-A, 279, 427, 337 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code had been registered against the driver of the tractor-trolley who fled the spot. PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service c m y b Jatt by name while the four assailants have been identified and raids were on to nab them. According to information, Sajan along with Kulwant Singh was on foot when four armed persons on two motorcycles intercepted and sprayed bullets at them. Both were rushed to a hospital where they were declared dead on arrival. Police officials immediately rushed to the spot and started a probe. Sahota said the incident was an outcome of gang rivalry. Further investigations were in progress. Happy Jatt had around 14 criminal cases involving murder, attempt to murder, Arms Act and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act against him. He was also allegedly involved in crossborder smuggling. flowers to mark Parkash Purb Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 29 The Golden Temple complex has been decorated with aromatic flowers from across the country and abroad to mark the ‘Parkash Purb’ (birth anniversary) of Sri Guru Ram Das, the founder of holy city. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami have extended their greetings on the occasion that falls on Monday (October 30). Owing to the Nanakshahi calendar row leading to discrepancies in the dates of various Gurpurbs, the occasion was commemorated twice in October. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), which follows the An illuminated Golden Temple on the eve of Guru Ram Das’s Parkash Purb in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR ‘mool’ (original) Nanakshahi calendar, had already observed the occasion on October 9. Nonetheless, the SGPC commemorates Gurpurbs on the basis of ‘revised’ version of the Nanakshahi calendar. continued on page 2