18042024-ATR-01.qxd 4/18/2024 12:19 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 16°C WORKSHOP TO CONSERVE ENVIRONMENT ORGANISED GNDU STUDENTS LAUNCH EIGHT PROJECTS DEEPIKA PADUKONE TAKES UP A NEW HOBBY A daylong workshop of environment conservation department’s officials was organised Khadoor Sahib. P2 Students of B.Ed Special Education also played a skit titled ‘PARWAZ’ on the theme of disability. P2 Deepika, expecting her first child with husband Ranveer Singh, is exploring long and short-stitch embroidery. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 7.01 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:57 AM » THURSDAY | 18 APRIL 2024 | AMRITSAR BUSINESSMAN GETS EXTORTION LETTER Amritsar: Ram Niwas Pathak, a resident of Attari, has lodged a complaint with the Gharinda police that he had got an extortion letter from unknown people. The police have registered an FIR in this regard. Pathak told the police that he runs a shop in Attari main bazaar. On Monday, when he opened his shop, he found the threat letter written in Hindi seeking Rs 50,000. Subinspector Manjit Singh said a case under section 387 (extortion), 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC was registered. TNS PROF’S BOOK IN TOP US LIBRARY Amritsar: ‘Splendid Artworks in Historic Sikh Shrines of India and Pakistan: Conservation Perspective”, a book by Balvinder Singh documenting art works in historical Sikh shrines has found place in the Washington DC-based Library of Congress. It is one of the largest library in the world. Singh to The Amritsar Tribune: “All credit goes to Guru Nanak Dev University that gave me a chance to serve as teacher.” TNS Several trains rescheduled, diverted due to farmers’ stir 72 POs arrested ahead of Lok Sabha election: DIG Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 17 Four police districts under the border range have arrested 72 proclaimed offenders (POs) in the past 10 days, in a special drive ahead of the Lok Sabha election. Rakesh Kaushal, the DIG of border range consisting of Amritsar rural police, Batala police, Gurdaspur police and Pathankot police, said in order to conduct a free and fair election, the Punjab Police have initiated different campaigns to nail criminal elements and miscreants who can foment trouble during polls. H said the special drive was underway for nabbing POs who have been evading arrest for long. He said senior superintendents of police of four police districts were asked to arrest POs. “We got overwhelming results and arrested 72 POs in the past 10 days,” he said. Similarly, the police have arrested 34 people involved in drug peddling, and seized Amritsar, April 17 Rail passengers here had to face inconvenience as several trains were either diverted or rescheduled due to a rail roko protest by farmers at Shambu border on Wednesday. As per information released by the railways, Amritsar to New Jalpaiguri and Amritsar to Jaynagar trains were rescheduled. Further, the railways diverted routes of trains running between AmritsarKathiar, Pathankot-Old Delhi, Amritsar-Mumbai, AmritsarTata Nagar, AmritsarSaharsa, Jammu Tawi-Sealdah, Purea Court-Amritsar, Kolkata-Amritsar, NandedAmritsar, Indore-Amritsar and New Delhi-Amritsar. The railways further regulated the timing of trains between Old Delhi-Amritsar, Haridawar-Amritsar and Amritsar-Jaynagar. The farmer leaders stated that they were forced to block the rail routes as they had ample Farmers during the rail roko protest at Shambhu railway station in Patiala. PHOTO: RAJESH SACHAR time appealed to the Haryana Government to release three arrested farmer leaders. “We had earlier announced to block rail routes on April 9, but after assurance from the Haryana Government to release all three farmer leaders, we had postponed it for April 10. Later, as the Haryana Government had assured to release the three leaders till April 16, we had again postponed the agitation on rail tracks. Today is April 17 and so we have started our protest at the train tracks,” a farmer leader said. Along with the BJP, the farmers have also decided to question leaders of the other political parties to BJP, AAP have no faith in their workers, says Aujla after launching poll campaign INDIA VOTES 2024 Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 17 Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Amritsar, Gurjit Singh Aujla, paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana temple today. He started his election campaign by seeking blessings along with his family, wife Undaleeb Roy Aujla and Babur Aujla. He said that the Almighty had willed it as his duty to serve the people of Guru Ki Nagari and had given him one more opportunity Amritsar first in state to provide online services Amritsar, April 17 The district clinched the first position in the state in providing online services to its residents. Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori congratulated employees for providing timely services to 99.94% applicants. Pendency was eliminated to a large extent in the past few months due to strenuous efforts to clear backlog of esewa cases, he said, adding that this enabled the district to maintain its position at the top in the state. As many as 41 service centers have been working here and services of various departments were being provided to about 425 people in these service centers daily. Over 4.22 lakh applicants approached Sewa Kendras from April 15, 2023 to till now. Out of them over 3.92 lakh were provided various services. In addition, 9,558 applications have been rejected, about 10,313 applications are in process and about 10,335 applications are pending. —TNS Congress candidate from Amritsar LS seat Gurjeet Singh Aujla pays obeisance at Golden Temple on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO for this. Aujla justified the allegations made by AAP MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, adding that the law and order situation was very bad in the state and now the AAP MLAs themselves were raising the issue. Targeting the Punjab CM, he said that officers were being posted from Delhi but despite this, the problem of drug addiction had not been eradicated in the district. In such a situation, he asked as to what improvement will there be in Punjab. Aujla targeted the candidates of BJP and AAP saying that both the parties do not have confidence in their workers, “That is why the BJP has hedged its bet on external faces, while the AAP has also ignored those workers who have worked at the ground level here,” he said. Aujla said Amritsar being a holy city, he feels meaningful politics should be done here. “They should also talk about their work and I will also talk about my work. Also, we need to share our vision for future, because people follow the leaders and if they spread falsehood, then it sends a wrong message.” clear their stand on the farmer issues, said Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee. The KMSC said a display board with questions to be asked to leaders of the BJP and other political parties has been put up in every village and town of the district. Judge conducts surprise inspection at Patti sub-jail Tarn Taran, April 17 District and Sessions Judge Priya Sood today conducted a surprise inspection at Patti sub-jail, and listened to the grievances and problems of under trials and convicts. Sood, who is also District Legal Services authority (DLSA) chairperson, was accompanied by Pratima Arora, Chief Judicial Magistrate and DLSA Secretary. The judge also issued instruction to Jail Superintendent Jatinderpal Singh to resolve all the issues being faced by the inmates. Besides, Sood checked sanitation facilities, mess and issued instruction to get medical examination of the inmates regularly. The inmates were apprised of their rights and advised to be a good citizen. — OC PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service FILE INBRIEF The police say 1,189 litres of illicit liquor and 9,180 kg of lahan were seized during a special drive in the distirct. 2.5kg charas, 1.6kg heroin and 36.5 kg poppy husk and Rs 1.28 lakh in cash, two pistols from their possession. In a drive against bootlegging, 82 people were arrested and 1,189 liters of illicit liquor and 9,180 kg of lahan (raw material used in manufacturing illicit liquor) were seized. “Also, the police have arrested nine people in four separate incidents and recovered five pistols (four .32 bore and one 9mm) along with four magazines and 14 bullets from them,” said the DIG. “As far as deposition of ASI in vigilance net for taking ~15K bribe Tarn Taran, April 17 A Vigilance Bureau (VB) team today arrested an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), posted as an investigating officer at Sadar Patti Police Station in Tarn Taran district, while accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000. An official spokesperson of the VB said Karam Singh was arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by a woman, a resident of Sarhali Kalan village in Taran Taran. The complainant has approached the VB, alleging that the ASI has demanded a bribe of Rs 65,000 for favouring his son-in-law in a police case. He further added that the accused had already taken Rs 24,000 as a bribe and demanding the remaining money. The VB team laid a trap during which the accused was The ASI in custody. caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. The bribe money amounting to Rs 24,000 accepted earlier as first instalment was also recovered during the preliminary investigation. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at against the accused at VB police station, Amritsar range. —OC licensed arms is concerned, over 82% arms were deposited in the four police districts. Out of the total 51,711 arms, 42,638 were deposited with respective police stations or gun houses,” said Kaushal. The police have urged the residents of the area to cooperate with them and to give every reliable information regarding drugs or illicit liquor manufacturers or suppliers and other antisocial elements so that immediate legal action can be taken against them and any untoward incident can be avoided. Five held with illegal weapons Amritsar, April 17 The police have arrested five people in three separate incidents for possessing illegal weapons, an officer said today. Manav alias Prem of Gilwali Gate and Dimanshu of Ranjit Vihar of Loharaka road were arrested by Division D police with a .32 bore single barrel pistol with two live rounds, while Civil Lines police nabbed Kanish Kundra of Yaseen Road and Harpreet Singh aka Nihala of Kishal Kot with a .32 bore pistol with two bullets. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said Kundra’s interrogation revealed that he bought the same from Harpreet Singh, who was also arrested in the case. The Beas police have nabbed Harmanpreet Singh from near Gaggarbhana village and seized a .32 bore pistol from him. —TNS INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE DAY INTACH announces project to save city heritage Murder accused threatens victim’s brother from jail Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 17 Beyond the popular tourist spots, the built heritage of Amritsar is gradually fading away. Whether once grand havelis of Misl period or the remnants of the glorious abodes of Marwari merchants, the structural history of the walled city is gradually falling prey to rapid urbanisation. While successive governments have failed to provide a sustainable solution or initiate any plan for restoring these structures, INTACH Punjab chapter has announced a project to identify and list built heritage including monuments and buildings to be brought under restoration cover. “This has been a long standing goal for us to protect the built heritage, intangible heritage of not just Amritsar but its surroundings. This was a seat of political, economic and cultural importance and there are many such unidentified heritage structures that require to be saved. If we do PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Several heritage structures in the walled city along the heritage walk trails have been in a poor condition. TRIBUNE PHOTO not do it now, then the future generations will never know or experience of their heritage,” said Col Balwinder Singh, president, Punjab Chapter of INTACH. INTACH will be initiating a ground level identification, listing and documenting of the heritage structures across Amritsar, Taran Tarn and Ajnala. These will be later published in a gazette for research and restoration purposes. Commercialisation inside the walled city also had paved way for rapid demolition and destruction of many old structures. While concerned authorities have been sitting any plans of restoration and protection of such structures, experts believe that all might not have been lost. “Amritsar still possesses its glorious heritage in the form c m y b of labyrinth street pattern, which is distinct character, traditional mohalla depicting intangible heritage. The walled city is losing its character due to various reasons, but prominently due to neglect and extensive change of land use especially from residential to hotels and commercial activities. “On the World Heritage Day, we and the municipal corporation should take ini- tiative to introduce concept of listed buildings, which will be useful step for initiating restoration. Another important step is to establish heritage cell that will be responsible for the listing of built heritage in the walled city,” said Prof Balvinder Singh, a conservation expert and former head of department, Guru Ramdass School of Architecture and Planning, GNDU. Amritsar, April 17 A murder suspect lodged in Amritsar Central Jail has called the victim’s family and threatened them not to give statements against him and his accomplice in the court. The incident came to light when the victim’s brother lodged a complaint with the Kathunangal police. The police registered a fresh FIR against accused Manjinder Singh alias Gagana alias doctor under Section 195-A (threatening any person to give false evidence) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Manjit Singh, the complainant, alleged that his brother Kanwaljit Singh, an ex-serviceman and a resident of Ramdiwali Hindua village, was shot at by two unknown armed assailants Kathunangal police register a fresh FIR against accused on March 9, leaving him critically injured. He was later succumbed at a private hospital on March 15. During investigations, the police arrested Manjinder and Meharpreet Singh alias Tidda alias Rajat of Ramdiwali Hindu village. Manjit said on April 9, he got a call from Manjinder, who threatened him against giving any statement to the court. He said Manjinder warned that they would face the same consequence faced by Kanwaljit. ASI Ajit Singh, the investigating officer, said the accused would be brought on production warrant to probe the matter.