09022024-ATR-01.qxd 2/9/2024 12:52 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR DLSA BEGINS DRIVE TO IDENTIFY MINOR PRISONERS IN JAILS MIKE TYSON TO PLAY HIMSELF IN SUPERHERO FILM BUNNY MAN DILJIT TO ENTHRAL AUDIENCE IN COKE STUDIO BHARAT SEASON 2 DLSA Chairman-cum-District and Sessions Judge Harpreet Kaur Randhawa today visited jail to identify minor prisoners. P2 Legendary boxer Mike Tyson is all set to play himself in an off-beat superhero movie Bunny Man to be shot in Italy. P3 The line-up for the second season of Coke Studio Bharat has been announced & music aficionados are in for a treat. P4 » » » MAX 19°C | MIN 04°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 04°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.05 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7:07 AM FRIDAY | 9 FEBRUARY 2024 | AMRITSAR Two held with illegal weapon Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 8 The Gate Hakima police have arrested a notorious criminal identified as Ajay Singh, alias Kaka Thatha (22), a resident of Fateh Singh Colony along with Krishan, a resident of Chintpurni Colony, here. The police recovered a .32 bore calibre pistol along with two live bullets from Ajay. He has several cases of the Arms Act and snatching registered against him. Two cases of the Arms Act were registered at the Gate Hakima police station and one snatching case at the Division E police station against Ajay. Dr Darpan Ahluwalia, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), City I, said the suspect had four more criminal cases registered at different police stations. She said the suspects were produced in a court and brought on police remand for further interrogation. More recoveries were likely to be made from them during investigation, the ADCP added. MC official conducts surprise check at 5bookedforfraud,forgery in cheque bounce case STPs, finds efficiency below average Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 8 The Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner conducted an inspection at sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Gaunsabad village on Ram Tirath Road and Khaparkheri village on Sun Sahib Road today. During the inspection, MC Commissioner Harpreet Singh expressed dissatisfaction over the functioning of the STPs. After visiting the STPs at Gaunsabad and Khaparkheri villages, the MC Commissioner said he examined the capacity and quality of the plants, but it was found unsatisfactory. MC Commissioner called Maninder Singh, Executive Engineer (EE), Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB), on the spot and asked about the functioning Says 70% machines require immediate repair The sewage treatment plant at Gaunsabad village near Amritsar. TRIBUNE PHOTO of the STPs. The EE apprised the MC Commissioner about the functioning of STPs, but the actual condition of the plants was different from the facts highlighted by the PWSSB official. MC Commissioner said as per the guidelines of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), three STPs were constructed in Amritsar under Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) project. The responsibility of implementation of the project was assigned to Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB). A private firm Shapoorji Pallonji was hired for the construction of the three STPs and for their maintenance for five years. The maintenance contract would end in March, 2024. The MC is responsible to pay for the maintenance of the STPs. “In a surprise inspection of the STPs, it has been found that 70 per cent of machines and equipment require immediate repair. The efficiency of these STPs is below average,” said the MC Commissioner. He instructed Superintending Engineer (SE), operation and maintenance (O&M) wing of the MC, to prepare a report accordingly and fix responsibility of the damage so that the government could be made aware of the facts. SE Sandeep Singh, SE Lata Chauhan, EE Manjeet Singh and JE Narinder Bedi accompanied the MC Commissioner during inspection. Amritsar, February 8 A woman and her son forged documents and produced two impersonators before the Ajnala sub-divisional court for getting bail in a cheque bounce case. The incident came to light when a complaint was lodged with the Ajnala police in this connection. On a complaint by Baljit Singh, reader of Manpreet Kaur, Judicial Magistrate (First Class), the police booked five persons for cheating, impersonation and forgery. The police also carried out a probe in the case. Among those booked were identified as Asha Rani and her son Rajan and his unknown wife, all residents of Amb village in Una district of Himachal Pradesh, besides two unidentified persons who were produced as witnesses in the court. In the probe, the police found that Sukhraj Singh, a resident of Kayampur village in Ajnala, had given Rs 30 lakh loan to Asha Rani for some work. She gave a Cops conduct search op in Gujjarpura 81 criminal elements Staff of firm hired for lifting arrested in past 10 days garbage suspends work Police personnel during the CASO at Gujjarpura in Amritsar on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 8 The city police today carried out cordon and search operation (CASO) in the Gujjarpura area which is infamous for criminal activities. Dr Darpan Ahluwalia, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), City I, said during the operation, the police searched residences of criminal elements who had recently come out on bail. She said special nakas were laid on different roads in the locali- ty and suspicious elements were checked. The police impounded five bikes and detained two miscreants under the preventive action. The police also detained several persons on suspicion for questioning. Amritsar, February 8 In order to nail criminal elements, especially in the areas falling in the Zone III of the City Police Commissionerate, 81 persons have been arrested by the police in the past 10 days. Among those arrested included 44 habitual offenders, who were taken into preventive custody, besides the police nabbed five drug peddlers with 162 gm of heroin in separate cases. Dr Pragya Jain, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), City III, said the police were determined to make the city crime free. Anyone who foment trouble by taking law into his/her hands would be taken to task, the ADCP said. She said efforts were on nail those trying to disturb the Wrong side driving, jumping red light signal go unabated on accident-prone GT road FLOUTING TRAFFIC RULES Neha Walia Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 8 Call it a lacuna in the system or laxity of the authorities concerned, but traffic chaos rules roads in the holy city. Despite claims of streamlining the vehicular movement and installation of traffic signals at various intersections facing bottlenecks and roads witnessing rush of vehicles, violations of traffic rules continues unabated. The city traffic police have time and again come out with a plan to streamline traffic on roads. But they have failed to keep a tab on violators, who break traffic rules by driving on the wrong side, driving without helmet and jumping the red light signal. Such violations continue under the watchful eyes of the traffic police at several crossroads on the GT road. At the traffic signal crossing right in front of the Khalsa College for Women on the GT road, two and four-wheeler drivers can be seen driving in the BRTS lane and jumping the red light. All this happens in front of the police post set up right on the A car plies in a Bus Rapid Transit System lane in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR FATALITIES ON STRETCH HEADING FROM CHHEHARTA TO PUTLIGHAR CHOWK The crossing in front of the Kot Khalsa Gate is one such example where youngsters and students from the GNDU and Khalsa College often take wrong side or drive in the BRTS lane at high speed. Noticeably, the GT road, especially the stretch from Chheharta till Putlighar Chowk, has seen many fatalities in road accidents in the past. crossing to manage traffic on one of the busiest routes in city. Another example is the crossing in front of the Kot Khalsa Gate, where commuters, mostly youngsters and students from the GNDU and Khalsa College, often take wrong side or drive in the BRTS lane at high speed. Noticeably, the GT road, especially the stretch from Chheharta till Putlighar Chowk has seen many fatali- ties in road accidents in the past. Among them were commuters and vehicles driven at high speed on the wrong side or in the BRTS lane that were involved in accidents. The police felt the need to control the speed of vehicles at these vulnerable points. So, traffic signals were installed on the stretch to manage the movement of vehicles. As traffic police personnel are not deployed at many of these signals to check for any violations, commuters continue to throw caution to the wind. An endeavour of the traffic police to check the speed of vehicles through the newly acquired speed radar guns is an appreciable move. But, officials have yet to come up with a mechanism for proper execution of its plan to stop drivers from speeding their vehicles. c m y b peaceful atmosphere in the area. “We have prepared a list of habitual offenders and those who have come out of jail on bail, but continue with their nefarious activities. A close watch is being kept on them,” the ADCP said. She said the concerted drive would continue against drug traffickers and anti-social elements. Meanwhile, the Division A police have arrested two proclaimed offenders wanted in theft cases. They were identified as Nikhil Sharma, alias Naddu, a resident of Sandhu Colony, Majitha Road, and Vikas Sharma, a resident of Ram Bali Colony, 88-feet-road on Majitha Road. They were declared proclaimed offenders in December 2023. — TNS AAP govt neglected border areas: Sukhbir Tarn Taran, February 8 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today called for giving a special package to border districts to ensure their allround development, even as he castigated the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab for failing to provide quality education and health facilities in the border belt. The Punjab Bachao Yatra entered Patti and Khemkaran constituencies on Thursday with long lines of vehicles, including cars, jeeps, tractors and motorcycles joining the cavalcade of the SAD president. Sukhbir Badal met people from all sections of society during the yatra, including youth, who complained that they had been affected badly due to the AAP government’s policy of hiring outsiders and a few government jobs that were on offer. Interacting with farmers during yatra at Patti, former minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, accompanied SAD president Sukhbir Badal, said, “The SAD will strive to secure a special package for the border belt, including incentives to establish industrial units, besides pumping in money to augment infrastructure and providing technical institutions for skill development of youth.” — OC Amritsar, February 8 The lifting of garbage in the city was disrupted due to a dispute between officials and employees of the private solid waste management company hired by the municipal corporation for lifting waste in the city. A dispute has been going on for the past few days between officials and employees of the firm over dues of provident fund (PF). The employees claimed that they had not received the PF and other facilities for the last several months. A few supervisors were also fired by the company during the past few days. The MC garbage lifting vehicle did not leave for the city today. Municipal health officer Dr Kiran Kumar went to the A garbage dump at Ranjit Avenue. company’s office in Ranjit Avenue today afternoon and had a detailed conversation with officials and workers. He said firm employees had been facing some issues. He said a committee of company and corporation officials would be formed. He said main problems of the firm employees had been solved today and they would resume garbage lifting from tomorrow. — TNS cheque of the same amount to him. However, the cheque when presented in a bank bounced following which Sukhraj filed a case in the Ajnala court. The court asked the two suspects to appear before it and apply for bail. Asha Rani, her son Rajan and his wife along with two unidentified persons appeared before the court. The persons identified themselves as Piara Singh and Satnam Singh Numberdar, both residents of Chabba village. They furnished bail documents for Asha Rani and Rajan, respectively. During probe, the police found that there were no men identified as Piara Singh and Satnam Singh in Chabba village who furnished bail documents for the two suspects. They allegedly produced forged documents and impersonated before the court for getting bail for the two suspects. The police registered a case under Sections 416, 419, 420, 465, 467, 468 and 120-B of the IPC in this connection. — TNS No notification for removal of NOC PROPERTY REGISTRATION Amritsar, February 8 Even as the notification for eliminating the condition of NOC while registering properties is yet to be issued, confusion prevails among applicants about its status after an announcement by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The state government has decided to do away with the clause of a no-objection certificate (NOC) for all type of land registrations in the state. However, an official notification has not been issued yet. The residents, who had applied for the NOCs, were seen inquiring about new directions of the government. Architects are also not sure whether the condition of NOC would be removed from Continued on page 2 Chief Khalsa Diwan gears up to elect office-bearers on Feb 18 Dr Nijjar’s group pitted against Surinderjit Pall's faction GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 8 The countdown has begun for general elections of the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD), the 120-year-old Sikh body. The voting is scheduled to take place on February 18. The final list of candidates was announced today after scrutiny of nominations by — Jaspal Singh, Prof Sukhbir Singh and Inderjit Singh Arhi — the three returning officers. Of the two factions, one is led by Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, the incumbent president and Amritsar South AAP MLA, and the other by Surinderjit Singh Pall, a retired revenue official. Dr Nijjar’s group has been allotted ‘Nagara’ as the election symbol whereas Surinderjit’s team has been given ‘Khanda’. Dr Nijjar is fighting for a second term for the post of president and banking on his achievements and the progress made by the CKD under his leadership, especially in the field of education and social welfare. “We are ardent followers of the founder Bhai Vir Singh’s vision. The CKD has achieved remarkable results, be it in the field of academics or social welfare. Our intentions are clear and transparent and devoid of any vested interest,” said Dr Nijjar, while adding that around 400 members were expected to cast their vote during the CKD polls. Challenging him, Surinderjit, under the banner of “CKD Bachao Front”, threw his hat in the ring for the coveted post. He claims to have the backing of older and experienced CKD members. “The corruption, ill-conceived policies and dictatorial attitude of the existing management would prove detrimental for them this time. Several members have been expelled due to their autocratic manner. This has created gross resentment among members,” he said. Surinderjit also pointed out that there was resentmend among members as no returning officer from the opposition group was appointed by the manage- ment of the CKD. Meanwhile, from Dr Nijjar’s group, others in the fray are Santokh Singh Sethi and Jagjit Singh for the two posts of vice-presidents. Similarly, Sukhwinder Singh Kadhunangal and Ajit Singh Basra are contesting for the two posts of honorary secretary and Kuljit Singh Sahni for resident president. From Surinderjit’s side, Sarbjit Singh and Amarjit Singh Banga have been fielded for the two posts of vice-presidents and Dr Jaswinder Singh Dhillon and Ramneek Singh for the two posts of honorary secretary. Sukhdev Singh Mattewal will be the candidate for resident president’s post. The CKD runs over 50 educational institutes, besides other human welfare institutions such as orphanages, old-age homes and health centres. There are around 500 members in the organisation. The election of office-bearers is held after every five years. During the by-election held in 2022, a total of 329 members cast their vote.
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