19022024-ATR-01.qxd 2/19/2024 12:32 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune KAPURTHALA DC INSPECTS DOORSTEP RATION DELIVERY OVER 4,600 STRAY DOGS STERILISED IN 6 MONTHS MC Commissioner claimed that over 4,600 dogs have been sterilised during the last six months in Amritsar. P3 MAINLY CLOUDY SKY MAX 22°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 20°C | MIN 12°C VARUN, NATASHA EXPECTING THEIR FIRST CHILD DC Amit Kumar Panchal inspected the process of distribution and spoke to the beneficiaries. P2 FORECAST After three years of marriage, Varun Dhawan and Natasha Dalal are all set to embrace parenthood. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 6.19 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7.08 AM » MONDAY | 19 FEBRUARY 2024 | AMRITSAR Road-widening project takes toll on trees on Verka-Mudhal stretch Human rights bodies seek SC intervention USE OF PELLET GUNS Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 18 Hundreds of trees on both sides of the Verka-Mudhal road have been cut for widening the road. Over the years, a majority of the fully grown trees on roads in the city as well as on the outskirts have been axed to pave way for wider roads. Joginder Singh, a local resident, said, “When a road has to be widened, why the trees on the both sides are. At least trees on one side could be saved if the widening is done only on one side.” He suggested that the line of trees could also be used as the median, thus saving trees from being axed. The government recently started the widening of the road from Verka town to Mudhal. The road finally connects Verka with the Amritsar-Gurdaspur National Highway. No doubt, a wider road would help commuters, but residents suggested that cutting trees should be the last priority as it takes decades for a tree to attain its full growth. “On the one side, we are complaining about the rising Bangladesh resident held from border Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, February 18 The Khalra police led by ASI Hari Singh while on patrol in border area arrested a Bangladeshi citizen moving in a prohibited area under suspicious circumstances on Saturday. The police said the suspected has been identified as Muhammad Mustafa, a resident of Gazi village in Jisor district of Bangladesh. The accused was found roaming near the defense drain at Dal village. The accused was having no Indian passport. One mobile phone and ~700 of the Indian currency were recovered from his possession. A case under Sections 3, 34 and 20 of the IP (Indian Passport) Act and Section 14-F of the Foreigners Act. The police have initiated further interrogation of the accused. Tribune News Service The chopped trees on the Verka-Mudhal road stretch in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR air pollution and the government itself is asking people to grow more trees but on the other, trees on roadsides are being cut without giving a second thought. Now-a-days, it is possible to relocate large trees,” stated Ravi Mahajan, another resident. Earlier hundreds of trees, including those on the Mall Road, were chopped off mercilessly to construct the BRTS corridor. Even as the city residents lost the green cover, the BRTS bus service too is lying defunct for the past seven months. Similarly hundreds of trees on the Amritsar-Jhabal road were axed in the past two years as the road is being widened. Residents stated that the government agencies must design the road widening projects in such a way that the majority of the trees are saved from being axed. Amritsar, February 18 Human Rights Bodies have sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to stop the Haryana Police and Central forces from using pellet guns against the protesting farmers on their way to Delhi. The human rights bodies included the Khalra Mission Organisation (KMO), the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) and the Human Rights Justice Forum. In a letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), the human rights bodies from Punjab demanded its intervention as policemen were using pellet guns against farmers holding a peaceful agitation. Leaders of these bodies alleged that three farmers lost their eyes and several of them were undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Punjab and Chandigarh. They said the BJP-led Haryana Government through police and Central forces have been introducing neo-liberal capitalist model. Toll-free movement of vehicles witnessed on Day 2 of protest 22 toll plazas across 13 districts were made free for commuters Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 18 Continuing with their protest against the government for using force on agitating farmers, farmers associated with the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugraha) kept the toll plazas in the district free for the commuters for the second consecutive day here on Sunday. The farmers ensured the passage of commuters’ vehicles without paying toll fees at the Kathunangal toll plaza on the Amritsar-Gurdaspur National Highway, the Chiddan toll plaza on AmritsarAttari National Highway and the Mananwala toll plaza on Amritsar-Jalandhar National Highway. Lakhwinder Singh Manjiawali, president of the Gurdaspur BKU (U), said, “The farmers have made 22 toll plazas across 13 districts of the state free for commuters as part of the protest.” He Farmers during a sit-in at the Kathunangal toll plaza in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR said the protest would continue till the times the government accepts the farmers’ demands.” The farmers’ leaders stated that the union would wait for the outcome of the meeting of the leaders with the representatives of the Central Government before announcing the next action plan. They stated that the protest at toll plazas would continue till the announcement of the next programme by the senior leadership. Kashmir Singh Dhangai, district president (Amritsar), said, “Use of teargas shells and rubber bullets on the farmers holding protest peacefully is unlawful. We condemn the violence and demand from the government to fulfill the demands which it has accepted at the time of previous Delhi agitation.” He said the government has kept Ajay Mishra Tenny, Minister of State for Home Affairs, in the Union Cabinet even as his role in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence was allegedly clear. The farmers’ leaders stated that the absence of MSP on various crops has pushed the farmers into a debt trap as the input costs have exceeded the output price. They stated that farmers and farm workers are greatly affected by the institutional and non-institutional debt which is also forcing them to commit suicide. 46 inmates booked for possessing cellphones ‘Drug addict’ assaults sister-in-law, PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 18 Despite the state government’s many efforts to prevent sneaking of mobile phones in the Amritsar Central Jail, the practice continues unabated. In a span of just one and half month, the Central Jail authorities seized a total of 108 mobile phones this year. The Amritsar Central Jail authorities confiscated 45 mobile phones — 25 touch and 20 keypad — along with 31 SIM cards from the high security complex here. Besides, they also seized 200 bundles of bidis, 16 packets of tobacco, four heater springs and a charger during the search operation. Earlier on January 12, the jail authorities had confiscated 45 mobiles phones and similarly on January 28, 18 cell phones had been recovered from the prisoners. On Saturday, following a complaint filed by Naresh Pal, Assistant Superinten- The Amritsar Central Jail. FILE PHOTO dent, Amritsar Central Jail, the police have filed a case under Section 42, 52-A of the Prison Act against 46 inmates in this connection. Throwing has been a major challenge for the Central Jail authorities as a majority of the prohibited items are dropped into the jail premises by accomplices of the inmates. Recently, the city police have also banned flying of drones near the Central Jail. Among those booked — were Ajay Pehalwan of Green Avenue; Sagar of Naraingarh; Arwinder Singh of Algon Kalan; Sunny of Rajasansi; Manpreet Singh of Gurdaspur; Gursewak Singh of Lopoke; Ajay Singh of Gujjarpura; Prabhdeep Singh of Sultanwind road; Kuldeep Singh of Gujjarpura; Manpreet Singh of Golden City; Symon Peter of Mohkampura; Kuldeep Singh of Himmatpura; Sahil Kumar of Indira Colony, Jhabal road; Charanjit Singh of Tarsikka; Sanjay of Sultanwind gate; Baldev Singh of Naushehra Pannuan; Major Singh of Maqboolpura; Gurpreet Singh of Muhawa; Sukhbir Singh of Bhuse village; Angrej Singh of Punia village; Sahil of Chamrang Road; Jobanjit Singh of Butala village; Paramjit Singh of Bhure Gill village; Ranjit Singh of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar; Rajpinder Singh of Sohal village; Harminder Singh of Rajatal village; Amandeep Singh of Dasaundha village, Haryana; Harpreet Singh of Mudeke village, Moga; Ajaypal Singh of Singhewala, Moga; Ranjodh Singh of Jalal village; Gurdev Singh of Kakkar Kalan village; Sonu Singh of Nepal village; Sonu Goswami from near Durgiana Temple; Harmandeep Singh of Wadala Khurd village; Parshotam Singh of Yodhe village; Baljinder Singh of Jangiana village; Ajaypal Singh of Singawala, Moga; Harmel Singh of Yodhe village; Guryodh Singh of Awan village; Navjot Singh of Diamond Colony; Jaikaran Bir Singh of Attari; Sukhpreet Singh of Pal Avenue; Amritpal Singh of Tarsikka; Rajan Singh of Nangal Guru village; Danish Gill of Lohgarh; and Nishan Singh of Sultanwind village. nephew with sharp weapon; held Amritsar, February 18 An alleged drug addict brutally assaulted his nephew and sister-in-law with a sharpedged weapon leaving them seriously injured at Galib village falling under the Ramdas police station here on Friday. The victims are currently recuperating at a private hospital while the accused, identified as Sukhbir Singh, has been arrested by the police. Amandeep Kaur of Galib village in her complaint lodged with the police stated that her son Ismit Singh was a student of Class VI at a private school. She said on Friday morning she along with her son was going on the scooter to drop Ismit on the road for taking school bus. She hanged his school bag and her purse containing ~2,000 and a mobile phone at the handle of the school. She said she was going to Gaggomahal village from Kutcha pavement and just crossed her ACCUSED NURSED A GRUDGE AGAINST VICTIMS ASI Sukhjit Singh, investigating officer in the case, said preliminary investigations revealed that Sukhbir was a drug addict and used to steal money and other household goods from the house. She had complained to her in-laws about this. He nursed a grudge and therefore assaulted them. accused brother-in-law Sukhbir Singh who was standing near the canal distributary. She said suddenly Sukhbir hit her son Ismit with a sharpedged weapon following which he cried. She said she got frightened and tried to speed away from there. Owing to fear and losing balance, they fell in nearby fields. She said the accused also came there and repeatedly hit her and her son with a sharp-edged weapon. He then took away her scooter, purse and Ismit’s school bag. She said Ismit was severely injured in the assault and got unconscious. She said she shook her son who regained consciousness. They returned home while bleeding profusely. She said her in-laws got them admitted to hospital for treatment. ASI Sukhjit Singh, investigating officer in the case, said preliminary investigations revealed that Sukhbir was a drug addict and used to steal money and other household goods from the house. She had complained to her in-laws about this. He nursed a grudge and therefore assaulted them. He said the police had registered a case under Sections 307 and 379-B (2) of the IPC against the accused, who was arrested. Further probe was on. — TNS Drug peddler’s quizzing leads Cloudy skies bring Poor families denied free ration, to recovery of 2-kg contraband down temperature hold protest in Tarn Taran village PK Jaiswar Gurbaxpuri Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 18 Following the disclosure of Namdev, who was arrested with 1-kg heroin on Saturday, the police have recovered 2-kg contraband from near defense drain at Hardo Rattan border village here on Sunday. During investigations, he took the police team of the location and coordinates which he received on his mobile phone from Pakistanbased smugglers. Sukhjinder Singh Thapar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Attari), said the contraband was hidden under the ground near the defense drain by cross-border smugglers on the directions of their Pakistan-based accomplices. “After hiding the contraband, the Pakistani smugglers sent the location and coordinates to Namdev who was yet to retrieve it from Amritsar, February 18 After a long spell of sunny days, overcast skies on Sunday brought down the day temperature. Those who had started wearing T-shirts or avoided use of woollens in the past few days were seen in woollens and others made arrangements to save themselves from cold. Sneha Kapoor, a resident, said most of the people were not wearing woollens and jackets as there had been several hot sunny afternoons. So most of them thought that cold weather was ebbing away. However today’s change in weather reminded them of shivering cold which had gripped the region a couple of weeks back. Simranjit Singh, another resident, said cold weather reminded them of the long The seized 2-kg heroin seized from drug peddler in Amritsar. there,” said Thapar. The probe carried out so far revealed that he was in touch with a Pakistani smuggler, identified as Tanvir aka Rana. His name had figured in many drug peddling cases in the past. Acting on a tip- off, the Amritsar rural police had seized 1 kg of high quality heroin and arrested Namdev of Kot Khalsa among two persons. The other was Bobby of Kot Atma Singh in Ram Bagh area. The police had also confiscated ~60,000 of drug money and the scooter on which they were travelling at the time of seizure. Following a specific input, the police had laid a naka on the Hardo Rattan-Dhanoe village road. Two scooter-borne persons were stopped and during their search, the police confiscated two packets containing 500-gm heroin each from them. Following the seizure, the police have registered a case. c m y b A haze due to cold weather was seen in Amritsar on Sunday. spell of shivering cold so people immediately put on jackets over their pullovers. “We were expecting rain, but it did not and overcast skies remained throughout the day.” It made the weather cold but it could not be categorised as shivering cold. After a long spell of sunny days in winter, overcast skies brought back some cold. Tarn Taran, February 18 Poor families of Kot Dharam Chand Kalan village lodged a strong protest here on Sunday. They said they were denied free ration under the government policy today. It was pertinent to mention here that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann recently announced that all poor families whose names have been removed from the list of the beneficiaries have been reinstated and they would be given free ration as usual. Sukhdev Singh, Balwinder Singh and other leaders of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha, said poor families were being given free ration in the village and believing the statement of the Chief Minister, members of those families whose names were removed from the list of beneficiaries too stood in the queue to take ration. The lead- Members of poor families of Kot Dharam Chand Kalan village during a protest in Tarn Taran on Sunday. PHOTO BY WRITER ers said that there were 176 families whose names were removed and they were informed by officials that their ration had not been given by the department. The families took it as their humiliation and started a protest against the state government and the officials of the Food and Civil Supply Department. Jasjit Kaur, District Food and Supply Department, could not be contacted in spite of repeated attempts. Devi Kumari, state leader of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha, urged the government to extend the facility to all the families otherwise the organization would have to go on the agitation path.
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.
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