02112023-ATR-01.qxd 11/2/2023 12:36 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune KARTARPUR TO HAVE FIRST OF ITS KIND COW SHELTER BEN AFFLECK BUMPS HIS CAR AFTER CHATTING WITH EX-WIFE Hollywood star Ben Affleck bumped his luxury Mercedes-Benz into a car on a recent outing. P3 MAINLY CLEAR MAX 30°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 19°C ARSHAD WARSI TO JUDGE JHALAK DIKHHLA JAA Punjab Cabinet Minister Balkar Singh laid the foundation stone of a cattle pound in Kartarpur. P2 FORECAST Jhalak Dikhhla Jaais set to make its ghar vapsi on Sony Entertainment TV after a gap of 12 years. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 5.40 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.47 AM » THURSDAY | 2 NOVEMBER 2023 | AMRITSAR INBRIEF THREE SNATCHERS ARRESTED Amritsar: The Majitha road police arrested three snatchers in two separate incidents. They were identified as Ravi Singh and his brother Raja Singh of Fatahpur, now residing in Nangali village on the Fatehgarh Churian road, and Lalli Singh of Attari. Ravi and Raja were arrested when they were trying to escape after snatching a mobile from a youth who along with his mother was going to market. The two came on a scooter and snatched his mobile phone, but their scooter skidded leading to their fall on the road. Onlookers caught them and handed over to the police. Similarly, the police nabbed Lalli Singh and recovered two mobile phones from his possession. TNS SADAR POLICE ARREST TWO POS Amritsar:The Sadar police arrested a proclaimed offender wanted in a murder happened in April 2021. He was identified as Gaurav, alias Gora, of Sandhu Colony. He was nabbed following a tip-off. Similarly, the police also arrested another PO Rajwinder Singh, alias Raja of Bhutanpura locality on the Majitha road, in an excise case. TNS Health experts advise caution with rise in farm fire incidents Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 1 Despite the registration of FIRs and imposition of environmental compensation on farmers by the district administration for burning crop residue, the number of farm fires is increasing continuously and so is air pollution. The rising pollution levels have already started to show impact on general public health as the number of patients with breathing and chest-related complications has increased in the hospital. Smog-like conditions can be witnessed in the rural areas during the early morning and evening hours. Health experts have also advised the residents, especially senior citizens, against going out for walks. Dr Madan Mohan, Senior Medical Officer at Civil Hospital, said, “The residents, especially those who have underlying health conditions and are allergic or asthmatic, must take proper precautions.” He said that the number of patients with breathing or chest-related issues have nearly doubled during the past few days. Two murder cases solved within 10 days, 8 nabbed A .32 bore pistol, three bullets and bike recovered from them Tribune News Service Smog prevails in the Verka bypass area in Amritsar on Wednesday morning. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR The Punjab Remote Sensing Centre reported 86 live farm fire incidents in the district on Wednesday with which the total count has reached 1253. Ajnala block in the district reported the maximum 25 fire incidents on Wednesday. With the wheat sowing season picking up pace, the farmers are in a hurry to prepare their fields. Agriculture department employees stated that the burning of crop residue might increase in the next few days due to the wheat sowing season. Meanwhile, the district administration has asked the revenue department to collect the amount of money imposed as environmental compensation on farmers who flouted the ban on burning of crop residue. The administration has imposed a penalty of nearly Rs 9 lakh on the farmers for violation of the ban orders. However, sources in the administration said that it would be tough to motivate the farmers to pay the penalty imposed for burning crop residue. Amritsar, November 1 The city police cracked two murder cases that rocked the city in past week. The police arrested a total of eight persons in connection with these two cases. Rakesh Kumar, a bhajan Singer, was shot dead and a trader was shot at by the same gang during robbery bids on October 27. Similarly, a youth identified as Aditya Kumar was stabbed to death on the Fatehgarh Churian road by two youths on October 25. In the first instance, the police have arrested six persons. They were identified as Sahil of Katra Bhai Sant Singh, Beri Gate; Himanshu Luthra of Beri Gate; Suraj of area near Nure Shah Dargah, Islambad; Shivam of Akash Avenue, Kot Khalsa; Harjinder Singh of Mohalla Nure Shah; and Danish Gill of Lohgarh Gate. Addressing mediapersons, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Prabhjot Stray dog menace, illegal parking, Police raid gambling garbage heaps annoy residents den, recover ~1.78L Tribune News Service WARD WATCH Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 1 Though most of the areas falling under municipal corporation Ward No.6 are well developed, residents complain of garbage heaps dotting the roadsides and irregular lifting of waste. Residents say that public parks in the area need special attention. Being public property, these are not cared much by residents and the Local Bodies Department too is indifferent to the issue. A garbage heap outside the park near DAV School in the area is a testimony to the residents’ claims. They say that the administration has also not taken any action against the private companies which have misused street light and electricity poles for tying telephone, cable and internet cables. Armed robbers loot liquor, cash in border village Our Correspondent Garbage lies strewn by the roadside at Krishna Nagar in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR The residents also complain of illegal parking of vehicles on the Maqbool road, especially near the intersection where it connects with the Fatehgarh Churrian road. “A large number of rehris can be seen standing on the road. It causes a hurdle in the smooth of flow of vehicular traffic,” said Harkamal Singh, a resident. The residents demand cleaning of roads and streets in the area. “Animal waste, especially of stray dogs, is a nuisance for area residents. People cannot feel safe and roam freely with a large number of stray dogs in the area,” said Jagtar Singh, another resident. He said the MC should shift all stray dogs to shelter homes and arrange for their sterilisation to check their population. He said people were afraid of letting their children go out on streets or in the park because of the fear of stray dogs. Amritsar, November 1 Three days after busting a gambling racket at a farmhouse, the city police cracked down on another gambling den and arrested as many as 26 gamblers from the spot. The police recovered Rs 1.78 lakh in cash from the scene and a case under the Gambling Act was registered against those arrested. They were later let off on bail. The entire raid was videographed. Those arrested were identified as Nishat Kumar of Bohri Sahib Road, Ashu of Jhabal road, Jagdeep Kumar of Shaheed Udham Singh Colony, Sunny of Islamabad, Rohit of Chanan Shah Colony, Sahil Arora of Katra Khazana, Rahul of Gopal Nagar, Mandeep Singh of Shaheed Udham Singh Colony, Babblu of Fatehgarh Churian road, Manav of Bhagtanwala, Satnal Singh of Khazana Gate, Sanjay Kumar of Gali Kalkattian Wali, Ronihs Gulai of Fatehgarh Churian road, Varun of Karampura, Parminder Singh of Gurbax Nagar, Deepak Kumar of Gali Badrau, Rohit Kanojia, Sunny Chawla of Nava Kot, Varun Kumar of Bhagtanwala, Bikram Kumar and Sachin of Takia Chanan Shah, Akash Gill of Bhagtanwala, Manish Kumar of Ram Nagar Colony, Gurlal Singh of Gali Sheikha Wali and Gurdeep Singh of Indira Colony, Jhabal road. This is the second major gambling racket busted in the past four days. On the night of October 28, the police busted a racket and recovered Rs 41 lakh in cash from a farmhouse in RB Estate on Loharaka road. As many as 21 gamblers were arrested from the farmhouse. Besides local residents, the police also arrested residents of Ludhiana, Tarn Taran and Batala from there. The six accused in custody of the Civil Lines police in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Singh Virk said bhajan singer Rakesh Kumar (39) of Islamabad area along with Avinash Kumar, who used to perform jagrans, were going to perform in a programme at Dayanand Nagar when they were intercepted by a gang of robbers on the Maqbool road. They tried to snatch his bag suspecting that it contained valuables or cash. When Rakesh confronted them, they shot him in the chest killing him on the spot. The same gang shot at Gaurav Kumar, a readymade garment trader of walled city area, who suffered a gunshot injury on his face. He along with his friend Nikhil was returning home from a hotel when they fired at him and snatched his cash. He said the police recovered a .32 bore pistol, three bullets and a bike from their possession. The weapon was MC elections unlikely to be held on schedule Neos Airline begins direct flight to Italy Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 1 Contrary to the State Election Commission’s directive to hold the civic body elections before November 15, the government is unlikely to do so if the latest direction of the Commission is anything to go by. The MC polls are likely to Voters’ list to be out on Nov 21 get pushed beyond November 15 as the Election Commission has extended the date for submitting claims and objections arising due to change of wards after delimitation till November 7. These claims and objections will be disposed of by the authorities before November 17. Earlier, the date was October 31. The final publication of voters’ lists will be done continued on page 2 Neos Airline officials address mediamen in Amritsar. VISHAL KUMAR Amritsar, November 1 The first direct flight from Amritsar to Verona in Italy by Neos Airline has started from Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport here on Wednesday. The once a week flight will take off from Verona city at 3.35 am (IST) on Wednesday and reach Amritsar at 1.55 pm the same day. Similarly, the aircraft will fly for Verona from Amritsar at 3.35 pm on Wednesday. The flight would be once a week initially but its frequency might be increased after looking at the response from fliers, stated Neos Airline officials. In a press conference held here today, representatives of the airline, Kulwant Rai Ghai, said that considering the demand of passengers, there is a plan to increase the number of flights to more than one. Ghai said a 180-seat aircraft has been deployed by the airline on this route. Earlier, passengers had to fly to Milan and then take a bus or train to Verona, he said, adding that Verona has a strong presence of nearly 2 lakh Indians most of whom are from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir. — TNS Age-old bazaars selling festive savouries Debt, drugs, youth migration face competition from branded products ailing Punjab, says Sikh scholar PUNJAB DAY CELEBRATIONS Neha Saini Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, November 1 Four armed robbers looted liquor worth Rs 37,000 and cash to the tune of Rs 2,500 from a wine shop in Sarai Amanat Khan village located in the border area on Monday night. Jarnail Singh Thendhe, salesman at the wine shop, told local police that he was present in the shop when the robbers came posing as customers and looted cash from the counter and then took away liquor bottles before fleeing from the spot. The Station House Officer, Hardeep Singh, said that a case under Sections 379-B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code had been registered in this regard. used in both the crime. He said one of the suspects, Suraj, was wanted in another robbery case registered by the police in September. He was arrested in that case also. The ADCP said during a probe, the police first arrested Sahil of Katra Bhai Sant Singh and his interrogation led to the arrest of other accomplices in the crime. Earlier, the gang had robbed a hotel manager of ~9 lakh. Meanwhile, the Sadar police, headed by SHO Amandeep Singh, cracked the Aditya’s murder case. Aditya was stabbed to death by two persons when he was returning after watching Dasehra-related events on the Fatehgarh Churian road here on October 25. They were identified as Sony of Ranjit Vihar, Loharka Road and Rohin Kumar of Baba Deep Singh Colony, Fatehgarh Churian road. The police had recovered the sharp-edged weapon used in the crime. Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 1 Eminent scholar of the Punjabi language Dr Manmohan Singh addressed the Dr Paramjit Singh Memorial lecture at GNDU here on Wednesday, highlighting the need for a transformation as a society for the future of Punjab. Dr Singh, who was invited by School of Punjabi Studies to deliver the lecture on “Punjab Day: Significance and Relevance”, while explaining the structure of the Punjabi language, literature and culture from a historical perspective, spoke about the six diseases that have hit society like a plague. Pointing out the problems of Punjabi culture, he mentioned ostentation, debt, drugs, water scarcity, increasing infertility of land and the haste of youth to go abroad as the major ailments Punjab suffers from. Prof Sarbjot Singh Bahl, Head, Department of Architecture, said the concept of Punjab Day should be extended to the concept of Punjabiyat. “Punjab has not been divided naturally, but has been artificially divided. The nature of linguistic and religious diversity in Punjab should be celebrated instead of creating tension,” he said. Extending the discussion, Dr Manmohan Singh said geography and history of Punjab were closely related. “It must be understood in the context of the class division theory of the colonial system. The two-nation theory is a prime example of this, but despite this, it is not possible to separate language and culture,” he said. Dr Bikramjit Singh Bajwa, Dean Academic Affairs, said the moral commitment of Guru Nanak Dev University was with the Punjabi language. “The proof of this is the achievements of the School of Punjabi Studies related to the Punjabi language established by the university, is also contributing significantly to the construction of technical dictionary of continued on page 2 c m y b Amritsar, November 1 The centuries-old Mishri Bazaar, known for dishing out sugar-based edible toy candies, is usually abuzz with activity during the festive season. Same goes for several shops making traditional festive savouries at Kila Bhangian Bazaar and in the bylanes of walled city. These markets that have been a part of the city’s cultural and commercial landscape are now reeling under the pressure of competing with ‘branded’ products that seem to have replaced the traditional sweets and giveaways. In Mishri Bazaar, there are now a handful of shops making small bowls of edible sugar. These small bowls are used as a symbol of shagun (good luck) Customers buy eatables from a shop in Badbujya bazaar in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR during festivals or other occasions. “There was a time when we had so many orders to finish that we had to hire people for the festive season. Also, people used to gift traditional sweets and savouries earlier and buy them for their kids. Now, everyone likes to buy fancy stuff, we only get a handful of orders,” shared Madan Mohan, a shopkeeper in Pad- pujian Bazaar, which is a 50year-old establishment selling festive and winter savouries. Another trader, Rajiv, who has been running his small shop at Mishri Bazaar for the last seven years, said that most shopkeepers have now shifted the business of preparing mishri and meethe channe for gurdwaras as well as making foxnuts, pickels and jams. These candied toys sell at a nominal price of Rs 20-50 per piece or two. The absence of a good marketing strategy and change in eating habits of the people are the reasons why the trade is disappearing. Also, the changing lifestyle and ample gifting options on offer today in the festival market have spoiled people for choices. “These traditional savouries continued on page 2