26012024-ATR-01.qxd 1/26/2024 12:56 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY CRICKETER PARTH KALIA DOES GURDASPUR PROUD SARAH'S ICONIC SEX AND THE CITY TUTU AUCTIONED CELEBRITIES SHARE HOW THEY CHERISH BEING AN INDIAN Kalia was called upon by BCCI to be a net-bowler against the Australian team which played a match in Mohali. P2 The tutu that Sarah Jessica’s character Carrie Bradshaw’ wears in the opening credits of ‘Sex and the City’ sold. P3 MAX 12°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 11°C | MIN 5°C Being an Indian is more than just a tag. It’s a profound feeling rooted in the warmth of people, says Parul Gulati. P3 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 5.58 PM » SUNRISE SATURDAY 7.26 AM FRIDAY | 26 JANUARY 2024 | AMRITSAR Murder suspect found dead in Mohkampura Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 25 A murder suspect, identified as Sharanpreet Singh (19), a resident of Rangar Nangal village in Batala, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Mohkampura area here six days ago. However, now the police have booked several persons on charges of culpable homicide and snatching. Among those booked were identified as Lakhwinder Singh and Maninder Singh, both residents of Rangar Nangal, Batala, besides their unidentified accomplices. Rajinder Singh, SHO, Mohkampura police station, said the case was registered on the complaint of the victim’s family. He said there was no injury marks on his body. He said further investigation was on and the victim’s body was handed over to the family members after an autopsy. “We had found the body of the victim on January 19, which was identified by the family later,” he said. Homeless have needs other than night shelter Staying near chowks brings more options in terms of food, alms Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 25 Irrespective of the severe cold wave conditions, the homeless continue to stay by the roadside. There are ample arrangements — provision for proper bedding and warm clothes at the shelter home and raen baseras run by the district administration at Gol Bagh. Though there are several homeless at every intersection in the city, only 8 to10 get shelter in the raen baseras. Most of them are individuals who don’t have a family or group. On the directions of the Deputy Commissioner, the staff posted at night shelters and raen baseras make all the arrangements for the homeless to stay there. There are more than 50 beds and a Homeless people alongside a road near Gobindgarh Fort in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR number of mattresses to accommodate the visitors. Before the start of winter season, the Municipal Commissioner had visited the night shelters and inspected the existing arrangements. The building has been whitewashed and new beddings provided. Though the Aad- haar card is mandatory for accommodation at such night shelters in winter, the administration is lenient about the condition of having an Aadhaar card at the time of admission. According to the staff at night shelters, the homeless do not prefer raen baseras to stay the night due to needs other than shelter. There is no provision for food and tea at night shelters. The ones who stay near any chowk get ample food, money and warm clothes by donors. There are several religious organisations that regularly provide food to the beggars and homeless. Kamal Kumar, in-charge, shelter home, said, “The beggars have a different attitude and they prefer to stay by the roadside. We often get them inside the shelter to protect them from harsh weather conditions. But they don’t stay for long. Apart from the food and tea, they expect money and liquor from the staff. They are able to get Rs 400-Rs 500 in alms each day and a good meal. We don’t allow anyone to consume liquor inside the night shelter.” Employees’ union holds protest in Fog disrupts rail traffic, solidarity with anganwadi workers delays several trains Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 25 Joining several organistions and unions, who are showing solidarity with the protesting anganwadi workers in Andhra Pradesh, the Democratic Employees’ Federation (DEF) along with anganwadi workers from the district on Thursday brunt an effigy of Andhra CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy against his government for implementing the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and arresting several workers instead of negotiating with them. The anganwadi workers in Andhra Pradesh initiated a strike in December last year, demanding the Jagan Mohan Reddy government to hike their salary, gratuity benefits and increase the retirement age to 62 like any other government department after the SC made anganwadi Amritsar, January 25 The instensification of foggy conditions in the region continues to disrupt rail traffic with several trains running behind their schedule on Thursday causing great inconvenience to passengers. Even the New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi, which is known for its punctuality, was delayed by 40 minutes. As per information collected from railway officials, at least nine trains arrived late. On the other hand, the delay in departure from the local railway station was minimum as most trains left for their destinations on time. The other trains arrived late were: the Ravi Express running between Pathankot and Amritsar by half an hour, the Karambhoomi Express by 2 hours and seven minutes, the Akal Takht Express delayed by four hours, the Kiratpur-Amritsar Express Government teachers and ASHA workers during a protest in Amritsar on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO workers eligible for the same. Addressing a rally, Democratic Employees’ Federation state president Germanjit Singh Chhajalwadi said about one lakh anganwadi workers in Andhra Pradesh should get increased salaries as promised by the ruling government. “For the last one and a half months, the government employees have been on a strike to get their status, but instead of meeting their demands, hundreds of anganwadi workers were arrested,” he said. Earlier this month, the Andhra Pradesh Government had invoked provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) banning agitations and asking the protesting workers to return to duties. But protests continued and two days ago, the government issued instructions to authorities concerned to dismiss the anganwadi workers from service if they did not join their duties. Later, the protesters were detained by the police after they tried to hold a march in support of their demands. Passengers wait for their trains at the Amritsar railway station. by eight hours and 20 minutes, the Nanded Amritsar Express by two hours and 20 minutes, the Darbhanga-Amritsar Express by two hours, the Jammu Tawi-Sambalpur Express by 42 minutes and the Pathankot-Amritsar Express Special by 40 minutes. The region has been witnessing severe cold day conditions for the last 27 days. Residents have not received any respite from the bone-chilling cold. The weatherman has forecast cold wave conditions to continue for at least two more days. BSF seizes narcotics, Deed writer, nambardar among drone at Int’l Border six booked in land fraud case PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Personnel of the BSF and the Punjab Police with the broken drone found in Tarn Taran on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Amritsar, January 25 The Border Security Force confiscated drone-dropped contraband from agricultural fields at Thatharke village in Gurdaspur district here on late Wednesday night. A BSF spokesman said on the intervening night of January 24 and 25, the BSF intercepted the movement of a drone in Gurdaspur area following which it fired at the drone to intercept it. A search operation was launched and BSF troops recovered a packet of heroin weighing around 531gm along with a greencoloured torch. In another incident, acting on a tip-off, personnel of the BSF and the Punjab Police carried out a joint search operation at Dal village in Tarn Taran and recovered a small drone in broken condition. It was a quadcopter (Model - DJI Mavic 3 Classic, made in China). The BSF spokesman said reliable intelligence network had foiled yet another attempt of anti-national elements across the border. — TNS Amritsar, January 25 Following the recommendations of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ghansham Thori for the registration of an FIR in a land fraud case, the police have booked six persons, including a deed writer and a nambardar, on charges of fraud, forgery and criminal conspiracy. In the case, an unidentified woman, Rachita Bhandari, posed as an Indian Foreign Service officer and got her land sold and registered on forged documents. The Deputy Commissioner asked the Police Commissioner for registering an First Information Report (FIR) after a probe was conducted by him and the SubDivisional Magistrate into the case. Those booked were identified as Sher Singh, unidentified seller, deed writer Ashwani Kumar Ashu, nambardar Rupinder Kaur and witnesses James Hans and Naraian Singh, alias Shera. A case under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC added with Section 82 of the Registration Act 1908 was registered against them. The district administration has also marked an inquiry into the role of the Sub-Registrar Amritsar-3 to the Finance Commissioner (Revenue), besides suspending a sewadar, Gurdhir Singh and issuing a chargesheet against him. The Deputy Commissioner had written to Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar for registering an FIR against several suspects, including the woman who posed as an Indian Foreign Service officer for registry of the said property located at Haer village on the Airport road on forged documents. The registry was made in August last year. The complainant, Sudha c m y b Bhandari, mother of the IFS officer, had lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner in December 2023. He had marked a probe to Sub-Divisional Magistrate -2 in this connection. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate submitted his report to the DC on January 4, recommending the registration of an FIR under the Registration Act 1908 and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code. Following this, the Deputy Commissioner summoned all parties, including private persons, who purchased the plot and the original claimant of the plot, government officials and employees for personal hearing in the case. The Police Commissioner said further investigations were underway in the case after registering an FIR following the recommendations of the Deputy Commissioner. The accused would be arrested soon. Man, parents booked for seeking dowry Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, January 25 Three persons, including an Army personnel, have been booked by the Chohla Sahib police for allegedly demanding and torturing a woman for an XUV. They were booked by the police. The accused were booked on a complaint lodged with the police by 26-year-old woman Devinder Kaur, daughter of Jasbir Singh of Dubli. The victim, Devinder Kaur, was married to Sukhraj Singh, an Army personnel of Gharka village, a year ago. The victim alleged that continued on page 2 Punbus, PRTC’s retrenched staff start indefinite dharna Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, January 25 The employees of Punbus and PRTC who have been removed from service, started an indefinite dharna in front of the residence of Punjab Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, in Patti from Thursday. They were protesting against the alleged failure of the government in not reinstating their services. The protest was staged under the banner of Punjab Roadways Punbus/PRTC Contract Workers Union, Punjab, The agitating employees have declared that they would observe Republic Day as ‘Day of Slavery’ and stage a protest in Patti town with black flags. The Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab (Kot Budha) and the Kirti Kisan Union besides other employee and farmer unions have extended Punbus, PRTC employees during a dharna outside Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar’s residence in Patti on Thursday. GURBAXPURI their support to the agitating employees. Bikramjit Singh, Satnam Singh, Ravinder Singh, Manjit Singh Batala and other employee leaders, while addressing the dharna, said that the leaders of the ruling AAP had assured of their reinstatement in case the party forms its government in the state, a promise on which they reneged. The employee leaders said that Laljit Singh Bhullar, Cabinet Minister, had held a meeting with the officials to reinstate them but nothing has been done so far. The agitating employees have warned that they would fight till they get justice.