19052024-ATR-01.qxd 5/19/2024 12:55 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune MAJHA HOUSE HOSTS SESSION WITH PAK AUTHOR ON HIS LATEST BOOK Majha House organised an exclusive online meeting with renowned author & Pak-based journalist Haroon Khalid. P2 » GOLD KING LAUNCHES HIS SONG HAR HAR MODI GHAR GHAR MODI Singer Gold King Baljeet Singh recently released his song Har Har Modi Ghar Ghar Modi on social media. P4 » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR CHURNING OUT NOSTALGIA: MANTHAN BREATHES ANEW AT THE 77TH CANNES A significant slice of New Indian Cinema history was under the spotlight at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on Friday night. P4 » MAX 44°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 45°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET SUNDAY 7.23 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5:30 AM SUNDAY | 19 MAY 2024 | AMRITSAR Firing near Aujla’s rally venue City to witness contest mainly between aspirants of four recognised parties Cong candidate accuses AAP of trying to intimidate residents Tribune News Service INDIA VOTES 2024 Amritsar, May 18 Apart from five candidates of the recognised national and state parties and seven from the registered parties, a total of 18 Independent candidates are in the fray for the Lok Sabha election from the holy city. Most of these Independents are political greenhorns and are not much known in the public sphere. In all, the contest is mainly between the candidates of four parties including the Congress, SAD, BJP and AAP Even the Bahu. jan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Vishal Sandhu and SAD (Amritsar) candidate Iman Singh Mann are lagging far behind in the poll battle. A spilt in the vote of the SAD and the BJP as they are fighting it alone this time after end of their alliance would certainly affect their candidates. As the district election office has already allotted symbols to the contesting candidates, the Independent candidates complained that it would take them a few more days to get their publicity material printed after which they would distribute it among voters. “The candidates of big parties are at an advantage as they are able to use their party election symbol from the very beginning. With printing houses busy due to elections, it is difficult for us to get our publicity material printed on time,” said Prithivi Pal, an Independent candidate, who is contesting elections from the holy city. –— TNS Amritsar, May 18 After a firing incident outside his rally venue in Ajnala near here on Saturday, in which one person was injured, Congress candidate Gurjeet Singh Aujla has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of creating an atmosphere of terror to win the elections. Aujla alleged that while weapons of common people had been deposited with the police, armed persons, who came in two vehicles at his rally venue, fired shots at Lovely Kumar, a resident of Ugar Aulkah village. Aujla was addressing a gathering when the incident happened outside the marriage palace where the rally was being held. The Congress candidate alleged that the assailants were close to Subheg Singh, who was a right hand man of AAP candi- Congress candidate Gurjeet Singh Aujla shows a bullet to the media after a firing incident at his rally in Ajnala on Saturday. date and Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal. Aujla said, “Such an incident cannot take place, especially during elections when the model code of conduct is in force and all registered weapons are deposited with the police unless assailants have backing of someone powerful.” He said, “The government should explain how these persons had weapons on them even during the ongoing election code of conduct. While goons have weapons common residents are forced to deposit their arms with the police before the election. How would people defend themselves against goons?” Meanwhile, the police said five persons had been booked for attacking Lovely Kumar, who sustained a gunshot injury on his hand. A case under Sections 307,148 and 149 of the IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act had been registered against five suspects identified as Varinder Singh, Bunty, Amandeep Singh, Sartaj Singh and Sukhdev Singh. The suspects came to the rally venue in a black Audi car bearing registration number CH 4781. The police said in a CCTV camera footage of the incident Amandeep Singh was seen firing from a pistol. Though the police had not arrested anyone in this connection, officials claimed that raids were on at possible hideouts of the suspects to nab them. CPI’s Daswinder faces sweltering heat, challenge of eroding party base CAMPAIGN TRAIL PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 18 These days candidate of Communist Party of India (CPI) Daswinder Kaur is busy in chalking out strategies, meetings and activities along with senior leader Amarjit Asal at the party’s office located near historic Pipli Sahib Gurdwara in the Putlighar area. Over 60-year-old office, which remained centre of many political activities during the tenure of communist stalwarts’ Dang couple Satya Pal Dang and Vimla Dang, Parduman Singh and Sohan Singh Verka, has witnessed a steep decline in the party base during the past couple of decades. The fact she also admitted, but said that it was surely a challenge for her. Daswinder Kaur is hopeful about the revival of the party in the near future. A national council member of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and national president of the All India Domestic Workers Federation, Daswinder Kaur is contesting from the CPI ticket for the third consecutive time from the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency. In past two General Elections, the party got less than two per cent votes and remained fourth. In 2019 General Elections, Daswinder Kaur got 16,335 votes (1.90 per cent) while in 2017 by-election she received 17,886 votes (1.76 per cent). In 2014, 12,902 votes (1.28 per cent) were cast in favour of the CPI candidate Amarjit Singh Asal. Converting support into votes is major test CPI candidate Daswinder Kaur in Amritsar. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR “Even today, oppressed and aggrieved people approach Left parties for resolving their problems rather than going to big politicians. Recently, the CPI held a rally against microfinance companies that have been duping poor women, especially in the rural areas. Around 15,000 people, majority of them women, attended the rally,” Daswinder Kaur said while adding, “Unfortunately, we failed to convert our support into votes due to lack of adequate resources.” Daswinder Kaur starts her day at 7 am at the party office by meeting individuals and party workers along with Amarjit Asal. In the afternoon, she meets people in different areas, including the rural belt, dominated by the labour class and the marginalised community. During meetings, she stresses on the issues of unemployment, uncontrolled inflation burning hole in the pocket of common man and rampant drug abuse. She emphasises on opening of the Attari-Wagah land route for trade and setting up rural-based industries, including MSMEs, for generating employment opportunities. She says, “Unemployment is another major cause of drug abuse. Employment opportunities would help in dealing with the drug problem.” Besides unemployment she Lawyer, typing assistant robbed SAD chief questions Amritpal’s sudden entry into politics Tarn Taran, May 18 A lawyer identified as Navan Kumar and his typing assistant were looted by five robbers on Friday near Kallha village when they were back home from the Khadoor Sahib courts. Navan said he and his assistant typist Gurjit were coming back to Tarn Taran via Kallha village on his Activa scooter. When they reached near an abandoned brick kiln in Kallha village, five robbers on two motorcycles suddenly appeared on the spot. They looted Rs 6,500 from the lawyer and his assistant on gunpoint. The robbers also took away keys of lawyer’s scooter. The Goindwal Sahib police have registered a case under Sections 379-B (2) and 341 of the IPC along with Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act, said ASI Jasbir Singh. — OC Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, May 18 SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday visited Naurangabad village to campaign for Prof Virsa Singh Valtoha, the party candidate for the upcoming Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency. Sukhbir Badal criticised the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP during his address. He condemned the Congress for the 1984 Sikh massacre, highlighting the atrocities on the Sikh community. Criticising the AAP he pointed out , the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab under its governance. He accused the BJP of interfering with affairs of the Sikh SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal addresses a gathering at Naurangabad village on Saturday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI panth while alleging collusion with certain individuals for personal gains. He also raised questions over sudden entry of Amritpal Singh into politics. He urged the people of Punjab to remain vigilant against divi- sive elements and external influences that could disrupt peace in the state. He emphasised on the legacy of leaders like late Parkash Singh Badal and Jathedar Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, who prioritised the state’s interests over per- sonal agendas. Labelling Amritpal as a Khalistani ideologue, Sukhbir attributed disruptive intentions to his political endeavours. He credited the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for historic welfare initiatives that benefited the people of Punjab, contrasting it with the lack of achievements of the Opposition parties. Asserting his support for Prof Virsa Singh Valtoha, Sukhbir urged voters to give priority to the welfare of the Sikh community. He blamed outside influences for disrupting Punjab’s peace. He said, “The upcoming elections are crucial for safeguarding Punjab’s future. I appeal to voters to choose right candidate for the betterment of the state.” also rakes up the issue of poor health and sanitation conditions and the education system. She says, “Whitewashing old structures in the name of development and constructing new ones without recruiting adequate staff in the health and education sector would improve nothing. Major political parties are making false promises to the people.” As the CPIs support base is labour class, marginalised people, the party candidate and workers meet them in the evening. Due to financial constraints, they are not holding major rallies and rather meet people face to face for garnering support. After returning to office in the late evening, Daswinder Kaur meets party leaders and chalks out programme for the next day. 20-year-old youth found murdered Tarn Taran, May 18 A youth identified as Lakhwinder Singh (20), a resident of Mehmudpur village, was found murdered near Tapa Bath village here on Friday. Sub-inspector Gurjit Singh, SHO, Kacha Pakka police, said the victim was on way back to his village from Tapa Bath village after finishing his labour work in the evening. His family found his body lying in a pool of blood near Tapa Bath village. The body bore many injury marks of a sharp weapon. The SHO said Gurpreet Singh, elder brother of Lakhwinder Singh, took him to a Bhikhiwind private hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The SHO said a case under Section 302 of the IPC had been registered. — OC Municipalcorporationseals Cops intensify vehicle checking, hold flag march in city building on Batala road Amritsar, May 18 The municipal town planning (MTP) wing of the municipal corporation has sealed an under construction commercial building for violating the approved building plan here on the Batala road. The building plan of commercial building in the north zone has been approved by the MTP wing. The building was being constructed in violation of the plan approved by the MC. On receiving a complaint, Assistant Town Planner (ATP) Wazir Raj, building inspector Angad Singh and field staff stopped the construction and sealed the building. The ATP said no violation of building bylaws would be tolerated. — TNS Amritsar, May 18 In order to thwart any untoward incident during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the city police today set up special nakas and held a flag march in different chowks and areas here today. According to the police, the flag march was conducted in various areas of the Sultanwind police station while special nakas for vehicular checking were set up at Hall Police personnel search a vehicle at a naka in Amritsar on Saturday. c m y b Gate and in the Anngarh area which is infamous for the drug abuse and peddling. The police also carried out search operation at the interstate bus terminus. The police questioned suspects during the search operation. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Police Commissioner (CP), said flag marches and search operations were held under the supervision of the ADCP and ACP rank officials. — TNS The suspect in custody of the Kotwali police in Amritsar. Murder suspect held from Golden Temple complex Killed youth in Hoshiarpur 6 days ago Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 18 The Kotwali police have arrested a murder suspect who was hiding in Amritsar. The suspect, identified as Tarnveer Singh, alias Tarna, alias Mota was arrested by the police from the Golden Temple complex in a theft case. During investigation, it was found that he was among those suspects, who killed a Hoshiarpur resident Rahul Gill, six days ago. Dr Darpan Ahluwalia, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, City-I, said the Galliara police post got information regarding catching a thief from the Darbar Sahib premises. The suspect was caught near Dukh Bhanjani Beri where he was “performing sewa”. During investigation, it was found that he was wanted by the Hoshiarpur police in a murder case in which a youth identified as Rahul Gill was killed with sharp weapons outside a garment showroom on May 12. He was critically injured in the attack and rushed to a hospital from where he was referred to the DMCH, Ludhiana, and later to the PGI, Chandigarh. However, Rahul succumbed to his injuries on May 14 following which a case was registered at the Model Town police station in Hoshiarpur. Among those booked, included Harry, Lavish, Elis, Honey and Ghulli, all residents of Hoshiarpur. The victim’s mother had alleged that Harry’s sister was in relationship with his son Rahul who was married. Harry along with his accomplices had attacked Rahul when he had gone to meet Harry’s sister. 3 booked for gangrape of 17-year-old school student Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 18 A 17-year-old school student was allegedly gangraped in the Ajnala area here four days ago. However, a complaint was lodged with the police yesterday following which three persons were booked in this connection. Among those booked included Gopi of Ajnala, who is neighbour of the victim, besides his two unknown accomplices. A case under Section 376-D (gangrape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act was registered against them. The police said no arrest had been made till now as the main suspect were absconding from his house. The victim told the police that on May 13, when she reached near her school, the suspect called her. The victim said as she knew him, she stopped. She said as he came near, he asked her to sit in a car. He threatened her against raising an alarm. The victim alleged that Gopi also threatened to kill his family. The victim said she got frightened and sat on the back seat of the car. She said two unknown youth were already sitting in the car. The victim alleged that the suspects took her to their friend’s house near the Ajnala bypass where Gopi raped her while his accomplices stood outside. Later, they dropped the victim behind her school. The victim said as she was afraid, she did not tell anyone about what had happened with her. Later, she told her family about the incident. The police said raids were on to arrest Gopi and his unknown accomplices.
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