29012024-ATR-01.qxd 1/29/2024 12:46 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune LOCAL GATKA PLAYER BAGS GOLD MEDAL IN KHELO INDIA YOUTH GAMES Gatka player Kushaldeep Singh clinched a gold medal in the Khelo India Youth Games held recently in Madurai. P2 » CRICKETER-TURNED-SINGER HARRDY SANDHU BELIEVES IN SHOWBIZ Former cricketer Harrdy Sandhu with his entry into showbiz has also understood the importance of styling. P3 FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR THE HARRY POTTER SERIES TRULY INSPIRES ACTRESS ARUSHI NISHANK The actress says that there are some movies that always stay special for you, and, for her, these are the Harry Potter series.P4 » » MAX 19°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 8°C SUNSET MONDAY 5.56 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:15 AM MONDAY | 29 JANUARY 2024 | AMRITSAR Man killed, two kids hurt in road mishap Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 28 A man died while his two nephews were seriously injured when a speeding private bus hit their car. The victim was going to drop children at a school near Bal Khurd village. The police booked the bus driver and launched further probe in this connection. The deceased was identified as Hardeep Singh (27). His injured nephews, identified as Nirvair Singh (8) and Jaskaran Singh (10), were rushed to a private hospital in Amritsar for treatment. Malook Singh, a resident of Bal Khurd village, told the police that Hardeep was his youngest son. He said as per daily routine, Hardeep was going to drop his two nephews at a private school in Nangali village on Saturday morning. He said a speeding bus (bearing registration No. PB09-K-9305) came from the Amritsar side and collided with his son’s car. The driver of the bus, identified as Jobanpreet Singh, a resident of Shahpur Jajan village, fled from the spot. He said his son and two grandsons were seriously injured in the accident. He said they were rushed to a hospital where doctors declared Hardeep dead on arrival while Nirvair and Jaskaran were admitted for treatment. The police registered a case in this connection and launched further investigation. Assistant sub-inspector Joginder Singh, investigating officer, said the bus was impounded and its driver arrested by the police. The injured children were admitted to hospital. They were out of danger, he added. Commission agent among two held with 1-kg heroin Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 28 The Amritsar (Rural) police have arrested a commission agent among two persons and seized 1kg of heroin from their possession. Those arrested were identified as Germanjit Singh, alias Brahman, and Akashdeep Singh, alias Khatti, both residents of Dhanoe Khurd village falling under the Gharinda police station here. Besides drug, the police also confiscated their Maruti Swift car (bearing registration No. PB-36-E- 2601) in which they were travelling and a mobile phone from them. Manmeetpal Singh, SHO, Gharinda police station, said the police received a tip-off The two suspects in custody of the Amritsar (Rural) police. that the duo were involved in cross-border drug smuggling through drone and were going from Dhanoe Khurd village to Attari in a car. They were arrested at a naka, the SHO said. On their disclosure, the police raided Germanjit’s residence. He had hidden the contraband after digging a pit which was confiscated, the SHO said. Satinder Singh, SSP Amrit, sar (Rural), said the mobile phone was sent for forensic examination. He said the suspects were produced before a duty magistrate and brought on police remand for further interrogation. “Germanjit has smuggled several consignment of drugs through his links in Pakistan. Investigation is in progress to identify his backward and forward links. More recovery of drug is likely during further probe,” the SSP said. The police said Germanjit was a commission agent at the Attari grain market. He came in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers through cellphone calls. The police are investigating how many drug consignments he had retrieved so far. KMSC to participate in andolan at Delhi 18 cellphones, prohibited material seized, 21 jail inmates booked Amritsar, January 28 The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) has announced its participation in the Delhi andolan scheduled to start from February 13 to protest against the Central Government. Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary, KMSC said, “Preparations are on in all villages as farmers are feeling cheated. We will hold a dharna till the government accepts our demands.” He said demands for the MSP guarantee law, repeal of Electricity Amendment Act, cancellation of FIRs against farmers, justice for Lakhimpur Kheri victims and other issues were still pending. — TNS Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 28 The authorities have confiscated 18 mobile phones, besides 20 bundles of beedies and two tobacco packets, from inmates during a special search operation in the Amritsar Central Jail complex yesterday. This is the second biggest seizure of cellphones from the high security jail complex located at Fatahpur here during this month. Earlier, the jail staff had seized 45 mobile phones on January 11. In October last year, 31 mobile phones were confiscated from the The high-security Amritsar Central Jail at Fatahpur. FILE PHOTO jail premises. Following complaint by Santokh Singh, Assistant Superintendent (Jail), the Islamabad police booked 21 prisoners in this connection. Those booked were identified as Arshdeep Singh of Gawal Mandi, Jatin Arora of Gilwali Gate, Jai Sharma of Guru Nanakpura, Baljit Singh of Nangali Kalan, Chander Mohan of Vikas Nagar, Harpreet Singh of Bal Bawa village, Gurjant Singh of Sangatpura village, Harmanpreet Singh of Tarn Taran, Narinder Singh of Kharar, Shamsher Singh of Malluwal village, Akashdeep Singh of Nisorke village, Sawinder Singh of Bhalla Colony, Manvir Singh of Thatha village, Baljit Singh of Chak Dogra village, Gagandeep Singh of Jandiala Guru, Shamsher Singh of Sabzi Mandi, Gauravdeep Singh of Jahangir village, Anup Singh of Tirath Nagar, Dikshit Verma of Lakshmansar Chowk, Mohammad Sakib of Srinagar and Jaswinder Singh of Bathinda. The police said the suspects would be brought on production warrant for further investigation to ascertain how they managed to sneak the prohibited material and mobile phones on the jail premises. Also, mobile phones recovered from inmates would be sent for forensic examination to find their links, the police said. Two booked as youth dies of drug overdose Amritsar, January 28 The Chatiwind police have booked a youth and his father on the charge of culpable homicide after a youth died of alleged drug overdose at Bhinder Colony in the Guruwali area here on Saturday. The victim had gone to meet his friend identified as Sahib Singh who was a drug addict. Besides Sahib Singh, the police booked his father Harpreet Singh of Bhinder Colony, Guruwali, in the case. The deceased was identified as Pargat Singh, alias Ekam, of Lodhipur village in Anandpur Sahib. Amarjit Singh, an uncle of the deceased, who was a resident of the Sultanwind road, told the police that he used to sell cosmetic items in village fairs. He said his nephew Pargat had come to meet him. He said on January 26, he went to meet his friend Sahib Singh. Amarjit said yesterday, he had set up his cosmetic stall at Gurdwara Tahla Sahib. Amarjit said as Pargat did not return home, he decided to go to Bhinder Colony to find him. Amarjit said he went to Sahib Singh’s house and found people gathered outside. Amarjit said he was shocked to see the body of his nephew lying in front of the house. He said froth was coming out of his mouth. Amarjit said Pargat apparently died of drug overdose. He alleged that Sahib was hooked to drugs while his nephew never took drugs. He alleged that Sahib and Harpreet had forcibly given him drugs which led to his death. Following his statement, the police registered a case. The body was handed over to the family following an autopsy. “The post-mortem report would ascertain the cause of death. Efforts are on to nab the duo,” the police said. — TNS Delay in arrival of luggage riles Malaysia Airlines passengers RTI activist accuses municipal town planners of sitting on building plan files Amritsar, January 28 Passengers of Malaysia Airlines are facing inconvenience as there is a long delay in arrival of their luggage at their final destination. Several passengers have complained that they get their language after 12 days of arrival in the holy city. Dr Jaspreet Singh from Wellington, New Zealand, arrived on January 16 morning. He did not get his luggage until January 27. He said, “I had to find out what was going on. I pressurised the authorities on Tweeter for many days to get my luggage back.” A local NGO Fly Amritsar Initiative and its global convener Sameep Singh contacted Malaysia Airlines executives and managed to get Dr Jaspreet Singh’s luggage delivered today. A number of passengers from various countries have still not got their luggage back. Amarjeet Singh, another passenger got his luggage after seven days. Ravi Thind, who arrived on January 20, got his three missing bags after two days. Another passenger Jappy Singh, who travelled on January 22, is yet to get his luggage. Experts claimed that fog was one of the reasons behind late delivery of luggage as an aircraft had to fill more fuel and leave passengers’ luggage behind. However, no official statement has been received from the Malaysia Airlines in this regard. Yogesh Kamra, convenor of Fly Amritsar Initiative, said, “It is unfortunate that arrival of luggage of passengers boarding Malaysia Airlines flights from Kuala Lumpur is Gold bangles worth ~25L seized at airport ~11.60 cr to be spent on road widening Life returns to normal as cold conditions subside Amritsar, January 28 The Customs Department seized gold bangles worth Rs 25 lakh from a passenger at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport. The suspect had concealed bangles in a shirt sleeve. The suspect was intercepted after arrival of Air India’s AI 192 flight from Dubai on Saturday afternoon. His search led to recovery of four gold bangles weighing 400 grams. — TNS Amritsar, January 28 With a view to provide good connectivity to commuters the government would widen the Guru Arjan Dev Marg, the stretch heading from Jandiala Guru to Tarn Taran, at a cost of Rs 11.60 crore. This was stated by Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO while addressing a gathering here today. He said the road widening work would be completed within 11 months. He said road would Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Passengers wait for their luggage at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar. TRIBUNE PHOTO being delayed. We are regularly taking up this matter with the airlines, the ground handling agency and the airport authorities.” be constructed on the fivefeet area on both sides of Guru Arjan Dev Marg leading from Jandiala Guru to Gehri Mandi to Tarn Taran, which was approximately 18 km. He instructed officials concerned that all work should be done under their supervision and quality should not be compromised. He said the widening of the road on both sides would prevent accidents. He said the government’s initiative ‘Sadak Surakhya He said, “There is restriction on payload capacity of aircraft flying in low visibility on longer routes. These single-aisle aircraft have to carry Force’ (SSF) to streamline the traffic movement and check road accidents in the state would save precious lives. He said new high-tech vehicles had been provided to the force so that in case of a road accident, it could provide timely treatment to the injured. The minister said the government had also started the Farishte Scheme, which envisages Rs 2,000 reward money to those, who helped road accident victims. — TNS c m y b additional fuel as their pilots have to be prepared for any weather or visibility-related diversions to other airports. This could be one of many reasons behind delay in arrival of the luggage.” Kamra said Malaysia Airlines had assured to take immediate corrective actions and deploy proactive systems to avoid any inconvenience in future flights. He said passengers also complained of not being able to reach out to the local ground handling staff for receiving updates as their calls went unanswered. “This issue has been taken up with head of the ground handling agency and the airport management. They have been requested to start a realtime information and communication channel so that passengers are not left in the lurch,” he said. Says delayed approval helps in construction of illegal structures Amritsar, January 28 The delay in approval of building plans leads to illegal construction and financial loss to the government. Officials of the municipal town planning (MTP) wing are under the scanner for causing delay and allowing illegal buildings to come up. Taking up the issue, a local RTI activist Praphmesh Mohan has written to senior officials of the Local Bodies Department about five underconstruction hotels in the South constituency that he says are illegal and has demanded an inquiry. The Local Bodies Department has reportedly marked an inquiry, but no further action has been taken by officials of the MC in this regard. Alleging a high-level scam, Mohan said, “When someone applies to the MC for approval of a building plan, officials of the MTP wing deliberately delay permission. With the connivance of MTP wing officials, the applicant starts construction without approval and even completes the building.” “Instead of paying Rs 5 lakh fee to the government, the applicant pays a bribe and gets the work done. I have clicked pictures of hotels and attached them, but no action has been taken. The NOC for the regularisation of plots is being delayed for bribe,” alleged Mohan. “A large number of illegal hotels have been constructed in the past months. The team of the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) identified 23, but I have given details to the MC Joint Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 28 With the cold conditions subsiding after a month and the sun shining bright for the last two days, the life has returned to normal in the city. Market places brimmed with activity on Sunday. The intense cold conditions had forced people to remain inside their homes. A large number of people were seen in different markets People at Putlighar Bazaar in Amritsar on Sunday. SUNIL KUMAR on Sunday as the highest temperature of the day reached 21° C. “The weather has become comfortable. One can easily stay out for long hours,” said Satinder Singh, a local resident. A farmer Joginder Singh said, “The intense cold has Commissioner about hundreds of illegal hotels with gross violation of building bylaws. Hotels have no NOC from the Fire Department, but are functional. A number of hotels in the residential areas, including Golden Avenue, have been constructed in connivance with MC officials. I have written to the Chief Minister and Secretary, Local Bodies Department, in this regard with documentary proofs. Action should be taken against officials concerned,” demanded Mohan. Activists claimed that issuing a charge-sheet or suspending an official was not appropriate action for causing loss to the government exchequer. The loss should be recovered from guilty officials, they said. —TNS restricted the growth of plants and crops. People are finding it difficult to arrange fodder for cattle as in the absence of sunlight, the growth of crops has stopped.” He said production of various vegetable crops too had gone down. “Earlier, fog lasted for only two weeks. This season has been difficult as fog was witnessed for over a month with only scant sunlight,” another resident Kulrattan Singh said.
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