22012024-ATR-01.qxd 1/22/2024 1:02 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune HOLY CITY DECKED OUT WITH LIGHTS FOR CONSECRATION OF RAM TEMPLE The city is abuzz with religious fervour as it prepares to celebrate the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya tomorrow.P2 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY SUNNY TURNS RESTAURATEUR, NEXT WISH IS ‘TO CONQUER THE WORLD’ KIERAN CULKIN WANTS TO ‘SHUT THE WORLD OFF’ AND FOCUS ON FAMILY From an actress, to an entrepreneur and now a restaurateur, Sunny Leone has added many feathers to her cap. P3 MAX 13°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 10°C | MIN 7°C Actor Kieran Culkin plans to shut himself off from the outside world for one week while he focuses on his family. P4 » SUNSET MONDAY 5.50 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:18 AM » MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2024 | AMRITSAR Back from Hong Kong, man killed in road accident Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, January 21 Major Singh (75), hailing from Mianwind village, who had come from Hong Kong, died in a road accident on the Nagoke-Khadoor Sahib road on Saturday. The postmortem of the body was conducted at the Civil Hospital in Tarn Taran on Sunday. The Major Singh. Verowal police said here today that the deceased was on way to Khadoor Sahib on his motorcycle on Saturday. When he reached near Nagoke village, stray dogs appeared on the road all of a sudden. Major Singh lost control over the bike and hit a roadside tree. He received head injuries and died on the spot. The Verowal police, acting on the statement of Mandeep Kaur, wife of the deceased, has registered a daily diary report (DDR) under Section 174 of the CrPC. Gurmukh Singh, a relative of the deceased, said he along with his wife was to return to Hong Kong shortly, but died in the road accident. City residents wake up to freezing Sunday morning Respite from dense fog makes commuting easier for residents Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 21 The city residents woke up to freezing morning on Sunday. There was some respite from fog which improved visibility. People were able to commute on roads in the city without any difficulty. Today’s weather conditions also improved mobility of trains and buses. However, Amritsar-Nanded Sachkhand Express, which departs from the local railway station at 5:30 am, was delayed by over three hours as it chugged out at 8:50 am. Amritsar- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus train, which usually departs at 8:50 am, was 20 minutes behind its scheduled time. The Amritsar-Bilaspur Chhattisgarh Express, which departs at 4:10 pm, was delayed by only seven minutes. Buses run by the Punjab Roadways, Punjab Road Transportation Company (PRTC) and PEPSU, besides Homeless people sit around a bonfire to keep themselves warm on a chilly Sunday morning in Amritsar. private companies departed and arrived at their respective destinations as per scheduled time. There was no respite from shivering cold as the sun remained elusive today. People preferred to enjoy hot eatables and drinks in their houses and at public places. Many were seen enjoying hot coffee and tea at outlets at the railway station and the bus stand. Hari, who had come with his group from Rajasthan to earn livelihood in the city, said the inclement weather prompted them to install shanties on roadsides and in parks to get some respite from the sweeping cold wave and freezing temperature during the night. Savitri, a homeless woman, said they avoided night shelters inside Gol Bagh and another one at an abandoned hospital building near the Ram Bagh railway crossing. These shelters offered separate facilities for the stay of men and women which split their families, she said. These homeless people can easily be spotted on footpaths around the historic Ram Bagh, popularly known as Company Garden, on dividers of Lawrence Road, in Dharam Singh Market, at Durgiana Temple, outside mazars and other religious places in the city. Albert Road residents allege Over 12 armed persons barge into illegal occupation of street shop owner’s house, thrash family Demand action against hotel mafia Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 21 The residents of Albert Road have alleged inaction on the part of authorities against the hotel mafia for encroaching on a public street. The residents have written to the town planning wing of the municipal corporation, local MLA and police regarding illegal occupation on the street. Harshit Marwaha, Vishal and Raghu, residents of Albert Road, said that they reside in Ahata Maya Ram behind Gopal International. “A hotel owner bought vacant plots near a hotel in the area. There is a 14-feetstreet approaching our residences. Some unidentified persons tried to encroach upon the street and the residents opposed their move. A complaint has been summited at the local police station in this regard.” “Some unidentified persons ❝ A hotel owner bought vacant plots near a hotel in the area. There is a 14-feet-street approaching our residences. Some unidentified persons tried to encroach on the street. The residents opposed their move. ❞ Albert Road residents on behalf of the hotel mafia threatened residents. There is a fear among residents and some want to sell their houses to avoid any inconvenience,” said Harshit Marwaha. He further said, “Despite having submitted applications to the departments concerned, no action has been taken.” “It is our request to the authorities concerned that action be taken against persons encroaching on the public street,” said Marwaha. Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 21 Over 12 persons barged into the house a grocery shop owner in Granthgarh village yesterday. They ransacked the house and assaulted shop owners family members. The police arrested three suspects in this connection. Raids were on to nab the remaining suspects who were at large. A case was registered in this regard at the Ajnala police station here. Navtej Singh, the complainant, stated to the police that he runs a grocery shop at his house. He said his wife Sandeep Kaur was at the shop while he and other members of his family, including his son-in-law Kanwaljit Singh, were in the house. He said around 7 pm, he heard some commotion outside the house. Navtej said he and his father Gurbhej Singh went on the roof top of their house and saw suspects carrying sharp weapons, baseball bats and THREE ARRESTED The police have arrested Nindi Masih and Tejbir Singh of Lakhuwal village and Gagan Masih of Bikraur village. Among others, who have been booked, included Joban Masih, Gagan Masih, Jagatpreet Masih, Mahinder Masih and Akash, all residents of Lakhuwal village. ❝ ❞ Rashpal Singh, INVESTIGATING OFFICER sticks. Over 12 persons were shouting and challenging him. He said the suspects barged into his house and started damaging vehicles parked inside. They also damaged his son-in-law’s car and other belongings in the house. Navtej said he asked his wife to close doors of the house. However, the suspects broke open the door of the shop and looted money from the cashbox. He said when they tried to resist, the suspects snatched gold chain of his wife while threatening them with sharp weapons. The suspects also thrashed Gurbhej Singh. Later, they pelted stones and bricks at the complainant’s house before fleeing. Sub-inspector Rashpal Singh, investigating officer (IO), said the police had arrested Nindi Masih and Tejbir Singh of Lakhuwal village and Gagan Masih of Bikraur village. Among others, who were booked, included Joban Masih, Gagan Masih, Jagatpreet Masih, Mahinder Masih and Akash, all residents of Lakhuwal village. The IO said investigation was under way to identify accomplices of the suspects. He said raids were on to arrest the remaining suspects who were at large. The motive behind the attack was yet to be ascertained, the IO added. Railways to operate special trains between Asr-Ayodhya on Feb 7, 9 Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 21 To facilitate pilgrims journey to Ayodhya, the Railways would operate a pair of trains between Amritsar-Ayodhya next month titled the “Aastha Specials”. An express special train equipped with 22 coach would depart from Amritsar railway station at 5:55 am on February 7. After covering a distance of 1,027 km in 22.25 hours, it would reach Ayodhya at 4:20 am on February 8. The train would undertake return journey from Ayodhya at 10:30 am on February 9 and arrive at the Amritsar railway station at 7:15 on February 10. A passenger waits for boarding a train at the Amritsar railway station. Remove encroachments on Admnrestrictsarrest green belt or get ready to face of two officials in ‘land fraud’ case penalty: AIT to house owners Tribune News Service The office of the Improvement Trust in Amritsar. FILE PHOTO Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 21 The Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) has issued notices to residents of Bhai Gurdas Ji Nagar, a 340 acre scheme commonly known as New Amritsar, who encroached upon the green belt outside their houses. The AIT issued notices to 600 house owners to remove encroachments or get ready to face penalty. The AIT also made public announcements in the area to remove grills installed by residents on the public land and set a deadline, but only a few residents removed them. On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, an AIT team had planned to remove encroachments from the area in the first week of January, but on the appeal of the area residents the AIT Chairman postponed the action for a few days. Officials of the AIT had given a two-day deadline to residents to remove encroachments on their own. Though two weeks passed since the deadline was announced, ❝The area residents have been asked to remove grills on their own. If the people do not remove encroachments, action will be taken against them. Compliance with the court orders will be ensured. ❞ Ashok Talwar, CHAIRMAN, AIT most residents failed to remove encroachments on the green belt. A resident of New Amritsar locality had filed a writ petition in the High Court, in which he stated about the encroachment of the green belt by residents of Bhai Gurdas Ji Nagar. On the orders of the High Court, the AIT had assured to remove encroachments. “The area residents have been asked to remove grills on their own. If the people do not remove encroachments, action will be taken against them. Compliance with the court orders will be ensured,” said Ashok Talwar, Chairman, AIT. Federation protests in front of ETO's residence Dog stuck in foundation of house rescued by NGOafter 2-hr efforts Amritsar, January 21 Seeking regularisation of contractual employees and those hired through third party and reintroduction of old pension scheme, members of the Democratic Mulazam Federation (DMF) held a sit-in in front of the residence of Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO for nearly two hours here on Sunday. Ignoring the freezing cold conditions, protesters held a massive district-level rally from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm in front of the minister’s house. They handed over a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to a tehsildar at the conclusion of the rally. Protesters included a large number of ASHA, mid-day meal, Forest Department, sanitation and canal workers and teachers Tribune News Service Members of the Democratic Mulazam Federation hold a sit-in in Amritsar on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO from across the district. DMF leaders Germanjit Singh Chhajalwadi, Ashwani Awasthi, Paramjit Kaur Mann, Mamata Sharma, Rachpal Singh Jodhangari and Sukhdev Singh Umranangal addressed protesters. In their address, they alleged that CM Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government reneged on promises made with employees and workers of Punjab before assuming the power. They said mid-day meal and ASHA workers and facilitators were working on meagre allowances for a long time. The Aam Aadmi Party’s guarantee of immediately doubling the allowances proved to be an election gimmick, they added. They claimed that in spite of the massive publicity to regularise those employees, who were hired on contract or through outsourced companies, not a single such employee had been confirmed yet. They alleged that promise to restore the old pension scheme of two lakh employees recruited after January 2004 had been put on backburner. They demanded that ASHA and mid-day meal workers should be paid Rs 18,000 per month as per the basic slab of the Sixth Pay Commission. — TNS c m y b Amritsar, January 21 After two hours of strenuous efforts, activists of the Animal Welfare and Care Services, an NGO, rescued a stray dog who was stuck under the foundation of a house on Sultanwind Road here yesterday. The dog remained stuck in the house foundation for almost eight hours when the people noticed the canine. Activists got the information on Saturday morning about the incident. An NGO team responded the distress call immediately and reached the spot. There was a little hope of pulling the dog out from the foundation without an injury. “After two hours of exhausting hit and trial, the team finally managed to pull the dog out of a small hole under the foundation, left for drainage of water, without any injury,” said Navneet, who runs the NGO. It is nothing short of any miracle that the canine survived the biting cold on a damp floor for eight hours, she said. It was difficult and unprecedented situation for members of the NGO to rescue dog from the hole where it was stuck, she said. “It was a sight to watch when the dog finally got relief from misery,” she said. Activists of Animal Welfare and Care Services rescue a stray dog in Amritsar. Amritsar, January 21 The district administration has reportedly restricted the arrest of naib tehsildar Akwinder Kaur and kanungo Lakhwinder Singh, besides two patwaris in connection with an alleged land fraud case. Ironically, they were booked following a probe conducted by a Sub Divisional Magistrate. The case pertained to alleged grabbing of around 22 canal land in Bandala village. Besides Akwinder Kaur and Lakhwinder Singh, the police booked Mandeep Pal Singh and Agyapal Singh, both patwaris, and sarpanch Satinderjit Singh. The case was registered on January 12. Earlier, the Jandiala police had arrested Satinderjit Singh in the case. Confirming the development, Mukhtiar Singh, SHO, Jandiala police station, said further investigation was in progress in the case. He said following a probe by an SDM, a case under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 473 and 120-B of the IPC was registered in this connection. Rajbinder Singh, a resident of Bandala, was complainant in the case, the SHO said. In a complaint submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Rajbinder had alleged that forged documents were used to usurp the land. He had appealed for the cancelation of the registration of the land. The investigation by an SDM pointed out glaring lapses and anomalies in the land deal. Experts tell parents to take care of kids amid winter chill Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 21 As schools are set to open for all classes from Monday in the district, health experts have advised parents to dress their children in proper warm clothing to save them from cold. The health experts said, “Children should wear caps and hand gloves to save themselves from cold.” The health experts further said the India Meteorological Department had also issued warning that severe weather conditions were expected to persist till January 25. They said parents must take extra precautions for their children to save them from severe cold.
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