31102023-ATR-01.qxd 10/31/2023 12:50 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLOUDY EMPLOYEES FOUND 'ABSENT' DURING SURPRISE CHECK ROHIT CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF GOLMAAL RETURNS MONIKA DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CHARACTER SKETCHES Employees in office complex of ADC (Dev) were found absent during a surprise checking by MLA Sohal. P2 Filmmaker Rohit Shetty celebrated 15 years of the film by sharing the poster of the film on Instagram. P2 Actress Monika said she never had any formal training in acting and learnt everything on the sets. P4 » » MAX 31°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 18°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.42 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.46 AM » TUESDAY | 31 OCTOBER 2023 | AMRITSAR Farm fires: 43 more Family members hold protest over incidents reported, police failure to provide security count touches 1,103 JANDIALA GURU DOUBLE MURDER Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 30 The family members of Amritpal Singh, alias Sajan, and his uncle Kulwant Singh, a former Junior Engineer, who were shot dead by unidentified armed assailants in Jandiala Guru area on Sunday, held a demonstration after keeping the bodies on the GT Road here on Monday. They were demanding the suspension of SHO Lovepreet Singh for his alleged inaction. The family members alleged that they had earlier held a meeting with the police and sought security, but the SHO failed to provide the same which ultimately led to Amritpal’s death. Senior police officials, including Superintendent of Police Gurpartap Singh Sahota, reached the spot and pacified the protesters. The protesters demanded immediate arrest of miscreants who shot dead the duo near Patwarkhana in Sheikhupu- Amritsar, October 30 With the Punjab Remote Sensing Center (PRSC) detecting 43 live farm fire events in the district on Monday, the total count of incidents has increased to 1,103. Of all the blocks, Rayya reported a maximum of 10 fire incidents, followed by Attari with eight incidents, Ajnala with seven incidents. Verka block reported only one farm fire incident. Though the district administration has been imposing environmental compensation on the farmers burning crop residue after harvesting since the beginning of the harvesting field and has so far imposed a fine of over Rs 9 lakh, it has failed to deter farmers. However, from the previous week, the administration has started registering FIRs against the farmers. As the number of farm fires continues to decrease with each passing day, it is still to be seen if the registration of FIRs would check the burning of crop residue. A total of four farmers Residents and family members of the two victims during a protest at Jandiala Guru area in Amritsar on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO ra Mohalla in Jandiala Guru on Sunday evening. They were on foot when four armed persons on two motorcycles intercepted and sprayed them with bullets. Both were rushed to hospital where they were declared dead on arrival. Sahota said the police had identified the shooters and a hunt was launched to nab them. A gang rivalry is stated to be the reason behind the murder. According to the police, Sajan faced seven criminal cases, including of the Arms Act and the NDPS Act against him. The police have booked notorious gangster Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Jatt, of Jandiala Guru, besides four armed assailants in the case. Happy Jatt faced around 14 criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder, under the Arms Act and the NDPS Act. He was allegedly involved in crossborder smuggling at present. have so far been booked for violating the ban on burning of crop residue imposed by the district administration under Section 144 of the CrPC. It is also to be seen how the farming community, especially unions, react to registration of FIRs against the farmers. Some of them have been advocating that viable alternatives should be found to solve the problem of crop residue management. Officials of the District Agriculture Department said the rising number of farm fire incidents in the district were due to early start of harvesting. “It is not that farmers are more into burning crop residue in Amritsar. The number of daily farm fires has already gone down as many other districts, especially in the Malwa region, are reporting more cases. The overall number of cases from the district would be less as compared to other districts when the season concludes,” said an official. The official said a slow change was coming and gradually farmers were becoming sensitive. Drone, 5-kg heroin seized from dist, Tarn Taran areas Drone got damaged after hitting a cutter Amritsar, October 30 The Amritsar Rural Police have recovered 2-kg heroin and a badly damaged drone from the border village of Bhaini Rajputa falling under the Gharinda police station here. The drone was damaged as it came in between the blades of a cutter being used for cutting paddy straw by a farmer, Hardev Singh, at Bhaini Rajputa village. The incident came to light when a member of the village defence committee informed the police about this. Immediately, information in this regard was shared with the Border Security Force and a search operation was launched in the village leading to the recovery of a broken drone along with two packets of heroin wrapped in a blue-coloured plastic sheet. When the packets were opened, the police found 2-kg heroin from it. The Gharinda police have registered a case under relevant sections of the NDPS Act and the Aircraft Act against unidentified smugglers for now. The mangled remains of the drone in Tarn Taran on Monday. Meanwhile, the BSF and Punjab Police, in a joint search operation at Kalash Havelian village in Tarn Taran, recovered a packet containing three small packets of the contraband. It was smuggled through a drone, an initial probe revealed. The packets contained 2.992 kg of heroin along with four rounds of .30 mm bullets. 150-gm seized from village The Lopoke police have confiscated 150-gm heroin from Harbhej Singh, alias Kala, of Boparai Baaj Singh village in Amritsar. MC took over from PUDA but issues 1,225 ltrs of illicit alcohol seized not addressed, say peeved residents Tribune News Service WARD WATCH Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 30 The residents of ward number 35 are grappling with a host of civic challenges. The ward comprises Dashmesh Avenue, National Enclave, Veer Enclave, New Amritsar, Daleep Avenue, Garden Avenue, Focal Point, Khankot and Daburji villages. While New Amritsar stands out as a well developed locality with all essential amenities, Daburji and Khankot villages endure the stark absence of even the most basic services such as potable water supply and sewerage. Daburji village witnesses the distressing sight of sewer water overflowing from open drains, whereas Khankot suffers from the A road in a poor condition at the Focal Point in Amritsar. VISHAL KUMAR lack of a sewer line. Furthermore, the main road leading to Khankot, dug for sewer line installation, is in bad shape without being recarpeted after the completion of work. Ironically, there are segments within ward num- ber 35 where access to water supply is almost non-existent, compelling residents to rely on hand-pumps and tube-wells. Numerous localities, informally developed by private land developers, face the grim reality of lacking sewer systems and other essential services. The road infrastructure is also poor in most localities. The roads in Focal Point area are in a deplorable condition, prone to flooding during the rainy season, with water accumulating in potholes for days. “The roads in the Focal Point area have been damaged due to frequent waterlogging. The MC didn’t make any effort to address waterlogging in the past,” said a resident Kashmir Singh. Surprisingly, localities like Garden Enclave and Veer Enclave, which are approved by Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA), are being taken over by the Municipal Corporation and are facing issues like road recarpeting and sewer choking. Birth anniv of Guru Ramdas celebrated with fervour, gaiety Children’s storywriter Basarke dead Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 30 A sea of devotees paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and took a holy dip in the Amrit Sarovar on the occasion of Parkash Purab of the fourth Sikh master Guru Ramdas here on Monday. The Golden Temple, Akal Takht and Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai were beautifully decorated with colourful lights and flowers. Jalau (show of splendour) was a centre of attraction for the devotees. Bhog of Akhand Path was offered at Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib Diwan Hall following which the famous Ragi, Dhadi and Kwishar jathas connected the congregation with Gurmat history, philosophy and Gurbani. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami addressed the congregation and extended his greetings to the devotees on the birth anniversary of Amritsar, October 30 Punjabi writer Manmohan Singh Basarke, 65, who earned his name as a storywriter for children, passed away last night. A pall of gloom descended over literary circles. A quality writer who was expected to enrich the language in his post-retirement days had passed away after remaining unwell for months. His last rites were performed today in Ghanupur Kale by relatives and friends. The pyre was lit by his sons, Karamjit Singh and Bikramjit Singh, besides his brother Inderjit Singh Basarke. Despite his left leg getting damaged during a road accident in 1987, he did not budge from his passion of serving his mother tongue. He was 28 years old and a father of three minor kids when the accident took place. Devotees take a dip in the Amrit Sarovar at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Guru Ramdas. The SGPC also released a poster of ‘Raag Naad Sambad’ programme based on 31 ragas. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami released the poster. He said the verses recorded in Guru Granth Sahib are in 31 ragas. Gurbani will be sung in these 31 ragas by the famous ragi groups, so that the devotees get knowledge of these. He said that in the next phase, other singing styles mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib will also be made a part of it. Dhami said that the works and teachings of the fourth Sikh Guru give guidance and direction to humanity. continued on page 2 c m y b Amritsar, October 30 CIA staff seized 1,225 litres of extra neutral alcohol from an abandoned truck in a sheller near the Bhagtanwala grain market here on Monday. The police booked unidentified persons in this connection while further investigation was underway. Amolakdeep Singh, in-charge, CIA staff – I, said the police got a tip-off that a suspicious truck (HP-69-A1135) was parked inside a sheller near the Bhagtanwala grain market. Following this, a team immediately raided the spot and recovered the truck. During the search, the police found 35 plastic cans containing around 1,225 litres of alcohol. He said the police were investigating the antecedents of the truck while a case under the The alcohol seized by CIA staff in Amritsar on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Excise Act was registered by the Gate Hakima police station here. He said the police were trying to identify the suspects who were involved in the sneaking the alcohol which was to be used in the manufacturing of illicit liquor. He said the accused would be arrested soon. Meanwhile, CIA staff seized 200 bottles of illicit liquor and arrested Heera Singh of Anngarh area. A case under the Excise Act was registered against him. The police also confiscated ~1.70 lakh of drug money from his possession. He was travelling on a scooter when the police intercepted him at a naka following a tip-off. The police said a probe was on to establish his backward and forward linkages. 705 sedative pills The Beas police have arrested Gursharapreet Singh of Baba Bakala for allegedly possessing 705 sedative pills. He was arrested from Padiana Road area. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against him. — TNS 593-gm gold seized at city airport Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 30 The Customs Department seized 593 grams of gold from a passenger landing from Dubai at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport today. According to information, a passenger who arrived from the Spicejet flight was intercepted in the morning. On personal search, he was found to be carrying gold weighing 593 grams of 24 carat purity in paste form that was concealed between the layers of his vest and underwear worn by him. Officials told that this gold commands a market value of Rs 36.5 lakh approximately. The gold was seized under Section 110 of the Custom Act, 1962. Further investigation is under process. 100-yr journey of Darbar Sahib in images Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 30 In an attempt to open the doors to the glorious past and history of Amritsar, Itihaas, a city-based organisation in association with Timeless Amritsar and Rang Punjab has put up an exhibition, ‘Reflections of the Past’, a collection of paintings and photographs documenting the transition of Darbar Saheb (Golden Temple) and its periphery over the decades between 1856-1956. These paintings and photographs are mostly by English and French artists, while works by prominent Sikh artists including Bhai Gian Singh Naqash too have been displayed in the open courtyard outside the Partition Museum. It is dedicated to the Parkash Purb of Guru Ramdass. “The exhibition mostly comprises archives between 1856-1956 of Darbar Saheb and the variations it went through over a period of time. Parampal Singh from Itihaas has curated the exhibition documenting archives of the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Monday. SUNIL KUMAR We have collected the reproductions of the original paintings done by French and English artists during the time, originals of which are housed at various museums in the Netherlands, UK, Pakistan and Canada. These photographs and paintings are now part of this curated exhibition, which aims to create awareness among the youth and connect them to the history of Sikhs and the city,” shared Parampal Singh Ahluwalia, curator of the exhibition and founder of Itihaas. The exhibition displays digital reproduction of one of the earliest photographs taken of Darbar Saheb in 1858 by Italian-English artist Felice Beato. “He was the first artist to devote himself to capturing Golden Temple and a lot of his work includes documenting Golden Temple and its surrounding areas, which can be used to study the variations that several historical structures like Baba Atal Sahib Gurudwara, clock tower and the periphery went through over a century,” said Parampal Singh Ahluwalia. He added that the works are a study on the perspective of foreign artists who travelled to Amritsar during Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign and later the British rule. The other artworks include paintings and photographs depicting Bungas during the regime of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the clock tower in the periphery of Golden Temple that was later razed and key figures of Lahore court. A painting depicting Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Maharaja Sher Singh and infant prince Duleep Singh listening to the recital of Guru Granth Saheb at Lahore court too captured the attention of visitors. The painting, shared Ahluwalia, is part of the Princess Bamba collection and has been continued on page 2