02022024-ATR-01.qxd 2/2/2024 12:37 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY RESIDENTS SEEK CLOSURE OF STP AT PHOLARIWAL FIRSTLOOK OF WEB SERIES SHOWTIME UNVEILED HEERAMANDI 1ST LOOK BEARS SIGNATURE STYLE OF BHANSALI A delegation met BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill seeking Centre’s intervention. P2 Actors Emraan Hashmi, Mahima Makwana, Naseeruddin Shah & Vijay Raaz will play key roles in the series.P3 The first look of the web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar was unveiled on Thursday. P4 » » MAX 16°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 19°C | MIN 9°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.05 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7.22 AM » FRIDAY | 2 FEBRUARY 2024 | AMRITSAR Vendor shot dead near Gate Hakima police station Pakistan-based smugglers switch to hexacopters to push drugs into Punjab Amritsar, February 1 Around three armed persons shot dead an egg seller near the Gate Hakima police station here on Thursday evening. The deceased was identified as Jaspal Singh, a resident of an area near Bhandarkali temple. On receiving information, senior police officials rushed to the spot and started a probe. As per nearby residents, as per his routine, Jaspal Singh would put up his cart near Government Senior Secondary School, Katra Karam Singh, near Gate Hakima police station. They said in the evening around three persons came to his cart and started indiscriminate firing leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said a probe was on. — TNS Tribune News Service PK Jaiswar Amritsar, February 1 Hexacopters have made a sort of comeback in crossborder smuggling if the recent seizures are anything to go by. The bigger drones fell out of favour among Pakistanbased smugglers for pushing in drugs after a number of them were shot down in early 2023 by alert Border Security Force (BSF) troops along the International Border (IB). In past one month, the Punjab Police and BSF recovered three long-sized drones among a dozen UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) along with contraband. On January 13, the police seized a hexacopter in Makhanpur Pandori village falling under the Lopoke police station. Similarly, on Tuesday, the police recovered a hexacopter with 5 kg load of heroin. A broken hexacopter in Amritsar. FILE PHOTO “The trend was also noticed during the interrogation of smugglers nabbed with a large quantity of narcotics recently,” said a police official wishing not to be named. He was privy to the investigations. It is believed that large drones were assembled in Pakistan which was a costly affair, thereby causing huge losses to Pakistan-based smugglers. It forced them to change their tactics and use smaller drones for drug trafficking. These drones helped them drop precise drug payloads due to the GPS system and high- definition cameras capable of live recording and taking pictures. Last year, Pak-based antinational elements had switched to small drones to drop the drug payloads posing a bigger challenge before security agencies, including the BSF and Punjab Police. According to police, smaller China-made drones were capable of flying long distances without being detected by security forces as compared to bigger drones. They make less noise and therefore it was hard to spot them. These smaller drones can carry drugs up to 1 kg. A majority of the drones seized by BSF and Punjab Police were DJI Matrice. Nevertheless, because of the use of anti-drone technology by BSF the number of , seizures of drones and drugs had increased in the border belt. The village defence committees formed in the border villages were also helping the Punjab Police to seize drones and catch drug peddlers. “The unwavering efforts of BSF and Punjab Police have caused huge losses to Pakistani smugglers. The ISI supported narco-terror modules have become desperate to push larger quantities of drugs but we are giving a tough fight to thwart their nefarious designs,” said Amritsar rural SSP Satinder Singh. 3 booked for beating PWD Minister lays stone of taxi driver to death Asr-Tarn Taran four-lane project Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 1 A taxi driver, identified as Gurjit Singh, was allegedly beaten to death by three other taxi drivers near Saragari Sarai located near the Golden Temple here a few days ago. Though the incident occurred four days ago, the family came to know about the incident when an unidentified caller informed the family members about the incident as the suspects who had beaten him up told them that he died of cardiac arrest. The incident was confirmed when the family investigated and stumbled upon a CCTV footage wherein the accused were shown beating up Gurjit Singh. The Division E (Kotwali) police station have registered a murder case against three accused identified as Harvinder Singh Rana of Ramsar Road, Baljnder Singh Nihang of Baba Darshan Singh Avenue, Ghanupur Kale, and Sahib Singh. No arrest was made by the police in this connection. Charanjit Kaur, wife of the victim, told the police that her husband used to run a taxi outside Saragarhi Sarai near Darbar Sahib. She said on January 27, the accused who also run taxis, called from his mobile phone at around 9pm that Gurjit suffered a heart attack and they were taking him to hospital. She said around 10 minutes later, they again called informing that he had succumbed on way to hospital and they were bringing back the body to his village. They met them at Dadduana village on the Mehta road and handed over the body and the taxi to them. She said they went to the village and after their daughter returned from Australia, they conducted the last rites of the victim. When they were bathing his body before cremation, they noticed injury marks on his head. But they did not suspect any foul play as they thought that he might have suffered injuries due to fall after heart attack. She said two days ago, they got a call who refused to disclose his identity and told that Gurjit was thrashed by Harvinder Singh Rana of Ramsar Road, Baljnder Singh Nihang of Baba Darshan Singh Avenue, Ghanupur Kale, and Sahib Singh. She said that they enquired from the taxi stand about this and later scrutinized the CCTV cameras in the area. They got the evidence from the CCTV footage that the trio had thrashed Gurjit with an iron kara (bangle) on his head following which he fell down and got unconscious. Paramjit Singh, Additional SHO, said a case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC was registered and a further probe was on. Gandhi more relevant today,sayspeakers Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 1 The Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI) organised a seminar on ‘Relevance of Gandhi’ at Fauza Singh Memorial Hall here during which the speakers expressed their concerns regarding the strengthening of fascist forces in the country. Speaking on the occasion, noted historian and former professor Sukhdev Singh Sohal said there was no rule of law in the country as it has changed to ‘law of the ruling government’. He said that the situation has deteriorated to the extent that even court decisions are affected by the opinion of the ruling party. He added that unlike with Mahatma Gandhi, there is no space of dissent in the present dispensation. He said that those raising their voice over public concerns are put behind the bars. Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala of continued on page 2 Amritsar, February 1 PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO laid the foundation stone of the AmritsarTarn Taran four-lane project road here on Thursday. He said the Rs 70 crore project would be completed in a time-bound manner. The Tarn Taran-Amritsar road via Chabba would significantly cut travel time between the two cities. The minister said the width of the road on each side of the median would be 23 feet. Additionally, 10-foot wide slip roads would be constructed outside Gurdwara Tahla Sahib and Gurdwara Sangrana Sahib. The minister said better road infrastructure not only provides ease of travelling to the general public but also helps in Intermittent rain lashes dist, ends long dry spell Cold wave may revive by end of the next week Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 1 Rainfall measuring 20 mm lashed the district during the last 24 hours. The rain provided much-needed respite from polluted air and residents were happy to breathe clean air after a long dry spell. Intermittent showers continued throughout the last night. It also helped wash dust particles from the tree leaves on roadsides, giving them a bright look. The skies cleared up in the morning and residents were able to get plentiful of sunshine. Even the temperature increased, giving a brief respite from cold. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 18 degrees Celsius on Thursday. As per weather forecast, the weather would remain pleasant for the next few days, but the cold wave may revive by the end of the next week. The change in weather conditions coupled with mild showers have also cheered the agrarian A portion of the Mall Road that was caved in opposite Company Bagh in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR community as they stated that showers were good for crops. Rain caused water-logging and formation of sludge at various places. It led to caving in of a portion on the Mall Road opposite Company Bagh. Nearby shopkeepers had to put tree branches as a warning sign for the safety of commuters. As the region did not witness fog for the past few days and visibility improved, many rail servic- Head Constable booked after woman levels rape charge Tribune News Service Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh (right) during the stone-laying function in Amritsar on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO overall economic development. ETO, who also holds the charge of the Power Department, said even after providing 300 units of free power to residential connections, the power corporation has generated a profit of Rs 564 crore. — TNS Amritsar, February 1 Jandiala police have arrested a head constable for allegedly raping a woman while luring her for marriage. However, he later refused to marry the complainant. A case was registered following a probe carried out by an official of the rank of a Superintendent of Police during which both the parties also received counselling. The accused was identified as Sunil Kumar, a resident of Mori Gate in Jandiala Guru. He was posted at Division D police station of the city. He was placed under suspension with immediate effect. The woman lodged a complaint with the police in August last year. She alleged that the accused made physical relations with her while luring her for marriage. He impregnated Union Budget elicits mixed reactions from people Industry welcomes it, focus on Nari Shakti but not much relief given to the man in the street Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 1 The interim Union Budget 2024 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today received mixed reactions from city residents and experts from different fields, some calling it a preview of realising the dream of 5 trillion economy, while others seeing nothing in it for the common man. With Lok Sabha elections around the corner, the Budget majorly sought to build upon the theme of “Modi’s guarantees” in the field of EV food and , agro, MGREGA and boost to MSME sector among its key takeaways. Here’s what residents from different walks of life have to say about it. Abhilash Sethi, Investment Director, Omnivore The government’s plan for a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and the clarion call for Kartavya Kaal lay the foundation of the es were returning to normalcy. As compared to a large number of trains getting delayed during foggy days a few days ago, only three trains were late on Thursday while many others were late just by a few minutes. The Akal Takht Express arrived by one hour and 40 minutes late, the Karambhoomi Express by one hour and 40 minutes again and the Nanded-Amritsar Super Express by two hours. Budget. We are encouraged by the Budget’s focus on agriculture and food processing. The government’s plan to boost post-harvest investments and launch comprehensive programmes for oilseeds, dairy and aquaculture development aligns with our mission to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. The creation of a corpus with focus on R&D with a 50 year interest-free loan is highly commendable and will provide a huge boost to research in the private sector and start-ups, contributing to the overall growth of India. Financial assistance for the procurement and aggregation of biomass was something that we were expecting and is a welcome move to support many newage companies working in the circular economy sector. Dr SS Chhina, Honorary Secretary, Educational Committee, Chief Khalsa Diwan Being an election year, a lot was expected from this interim Budget for the common man. But no change in direct tax slabs, in spite of inflation, provides no relief. c m y b The Budget has no direction to check inflation or promote employment, either in agriculture or in industry. The Budget is only a statement of previous accomplishments and new proposals. A major part of the Budget is just future plans and nothing is clear regarding creation of jobs or putting a check on the rising cost of living. RS Sachdeva, Chair, Punjab State Chapter, PHD Chamber Budget is progressive for the country. The government has tried to take care of all sections of society. To encourage research and innovation in industry, a corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore will be established for a 50 year period, it will help Indian industry to compete in the global market while encouraging the tourism sector. States will be supported to undertake development of iconic tourist centres, it will provide indirect employment to youth. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has proved to be a game-changer in industry and the government has made provisions for another Rs 6,200 crore under the PLI scheme. The extension of PM Awas Yojana for the middle class living in rented houses or slums or unauthorised colonies will give boost to housing and infrastructure sector. Praneet Bubber, Architect and Founder, Phulkari The free vaccination for cervical cancer for girls aged 9 to 14 will undoubtedly make a significant impact on Phulkari’s Conquer Cancer campaign and six years of hard work, with awareness efforts reaching 4.7 lakh people across 95 campaigns. It’s a positive step toward preventive healthcare, and I’m optimistic about the positive outcomes it will bring. Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, Senior BJP leader The Union interim Budget is development oriented that will induce growth, especially in the fields of renewable energy and tourism. All sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, health, edu- cation and defence have been taken care of and adequate allocations have been made. The Modi government has primarily focused on women, ‘Nari Shakti’, and general development as part of its Viksit Bharat aim. The propoor policies, IT sector, digital services and industries in general have been happy with the Budget and so were the farmers. Further, strengthening the rail network, free solar power for one crore families, houses for the poor and subsidies to farmers pursuing animal husbandry, fisheries and green technology in agro industry are the other major steps taken in the Budget. Priyanka Goel, Conquer Cancer programme head and member, Phulkari The government facilitating the cervical cancer vaccination of young girls is a step in the right direction, to eradicate cervical cancer from the country. Till now, the focus was on awareness and now the energy must be directed to get the vaccination done. We have been working at the ground level for the cause for the last seven years now. her and later dumped her while refusing to marry. ASI Rajbir Singh, Investigating Officer, said the woman was separated from her husband and had two children from her first marriage. The accused also claimed to be married. He said he was produced in court and brought on three-day police remand for further investigations. A case under Section 376 of IPC was registered against him. Call to accord prominence to Punjabi in pvt, govt offices Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 1 District Language Officer Dr Paramjit Singh Kalsi has asked all government, semigovernment offices, private institutions, commercial establishments, schools and colleges to ensure that the orders of the government regarding giving prominence to Punjabi language are implemented. Dr Kalsi said that the Punjab Chief Minister had announced on November 19, 2022 that all boards and name plates in the state will be in Punjabi. The step was to be implemented on a priority basis. He said that the Department of Languages was making all efforts to ensure compliance of the orders. According to the official, it was in line with the amendment to the Punjab Shop and Commercial Establishments Act. He said that the failure of all establishments to comply with the orders would warrant a fine of ~1,000. He added that during the second inspection, if an establishment was found not to have complied with the orders, the fine would increase to ~2,000.
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).