08062024-ATR-01.qxd 6/8/2024 1:01 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE VISITS CENTRAL JAIL SARGUN MEHTA IS HAPPY WITH RISE OF THE PUNJABI INDUSTRY VISHAL PRESENTS HIS OWN BRAND OF HUMOUR FROM HIMACHAL District and Sessions Judge-cum-Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, inspected Central Jail. P2 In a press conference at the shoot location of Udaariyaan, actress-producer Sargun Mehta introduced cast members. P4 Vishal Sharma aka Insane Comic, a selfproclaimed trailblazer of ‘pahadi’ comedy, rose to fame through social media. P4 » » » MAX 41°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 41°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET SATURDAY 7.34 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5:24 AM SATURDAY | 8 JUNE 2024 | AMRITSAR Man gets life sentence for son’s murder Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 7 District and Sessions Judge Amarinder Singh Grewal today sentenced Rajwant Singh, resident of Ajnala, to life time imprisonment for allegedly killing his son Gurwinder Singh around 15 years ago. Rajwant was also fined Rs 1 lakh and in case he was unable to pay, he would have to further undergo one year imprisonment. As per information, on December 2009, Rajwant was booked by the Ajnala police for allegedly killing his son Gurwinder. He was booked following the statement of Amarjit Kaur, wife of the deceased. She told the police that Rajwant had allegedly developed illicit relations with his sister-inlaw. The complainant alleged that he threw her out of the house. Amarjit said that she was living with her parents and Gurwinder was living with his father. She said Gurwinder used to call her and asked her to return home. She said this led to frequent arguments between father and son. Amarjit said in December 2009, Rajwant killed Gurwinder with a sharp weapon and fled from the house. Later, he was arrested by the police. Five booked for cross-border arms smuggling Students, parents raise concerns over ‘anomalies’ in NEET UG results Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 7 Raising concerns over anomalies in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, Undergraduate, (NEET UG) results declared on June 4, several parents and students held the National Testing Agency (NTA) responsible for “gross misconduct” and jeopardising future of thousands of aspirants with “unrealistic cut-off” this year. The NEET UG results were announced on evening of June 4, coinciding with the results of the Lok Sabha elections. This year, 67 students managed to get 720/720, a perfect score. The NTA had also announced at a press conference that it had awarded grace marks to 1,536 students. Dr Kamal Jeet Singh, a neurosurgeon in Amritsar, has written to the NTA questioning the process of declaring results for the NEET UG this year. His son Ajitesh Singh scored 700 out of 720 in NEET UG 2024, yet his AIR was 1,779. Ajitesh was hoping to get admission in AIIMS, Jodhpur or Rishikesh, but with his current rank, he would only have to settle for second grade medical college. “Last year, a student, who scored 701 had AIR between 100 and 150. This score is usually expected to secure an AIR of below 300. But with the current scenario, I will have to settle for any other medical college other than where I wanted to go,” shared Ajitesh with disappointment. Dr Kamal said several Sixty-seven students got 720/720, a perfect score in NEET UG this year. including paper leak a few days ❝Several anomalies,awarding grace marks randomly ahead of the NEET and to a few students, has raised suspicion on the credibility of results. Certain students received peculiar scores of 718 and 719, which is not possible without the allocation of grace marks. Dr Kamal Jeet Singh, NEUROSURGEON ❞ anomalies, including paper leak a few days ahead of the NEET and awarding grace marks randomly to few students, had raised suspicion on the credibility of the results. “Certain students received peculiar scores of 718 and 719, which is not possible without the allocation of grace marks. The NTA’s decision to award grace marks to selective students raises concerns about fairness and transparency in exams. Several students, including my son, will suffer because of this,” he said. He also raised the issue of 67 students getting perfect score this year. “The number of perfect scores is unprecedented. The final results revealed that 67 students achieved a perfect score of 720, an unprecedented occurrence in the NEET history. Given the difficulty of the paper, it is highly unlikely,” he said Ajitesh said grace marks awarded by the NTA to a few students messed up with the ranking system. “It is unfair for those students, who have put in hard work for two years and highlights the “unrealistic approach” towards such competitive exams,” he said. Shruti Chaudhary, who scored 707/720 in NEET UG with an AIR of 720, emerging a Amritsar topper too, shared her disappointment with the ranking system this year. “I am hoping that I get admission in the AIIMS, Rishikesh, but with the kind of ranks awarded to several students and despite getting good scores, it’s quite discouraging,” she said. Surbhi Mehra, another NEET UG aspirant and merit holder scored 700/720, but her AIR was 2,045. Similarly, Pushkar Parasher also scored 700/720 in the NEET UG, but his AIR was 2,144. “This huge gap in ranks despite scoring equal marks shows the disappointment we feel. Last year, students who scored between 650 and 700 were able to clear counselling and get seats in good medical colleges. This year, many of us will have to settle for less,” said Surbhi. Even Pushkar agreed. He said, “We can’t do anything about it, now.” Another parent, Dr Anuj Kaushal, who is an ENT doctor, shared that his daughter had scored 650, but with the current ranking, she would not able to make the cut-off of any medical college. He said, “This is grossly unfair for many students, who have dedicatedly given two years of their lives to the NEET preparations.” He said, “Last year, students with scores between 640 and 670 had AIR between 10,000 and 12,000 while this year their rank has been pushed beyond 20,000.” Uttam Jeet Singh, an educator at Wisdom Classes Centre here also questioned the scorecard of aspirants with 718 and 719 marks. “It is highly unlikely as in the NEET every question carries four marks and for every wrong answer one mark is deducted. Every single mark carries a lot of importance in the NEET,” he said. The site earmarked by the AIT for plot holders at Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar. TRIBUNE PHOTO Over a decade after AIT auctioned plots, dream house eludes allottees Besides lack of amenities, Trust levied penalty for non-construction Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 7 Thirteen years after the auction of residential plots, the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) has failed to provide basic amenities to beneficiaries in the Ranjit Avenue area of the city. The residents who had spent their hard-earned money to buy plots, accused the AIT of harassment and for not responding to their grievances. Some of the residents came forward and wrote to the Chief Minister, Local Government Department, Deputy Commissioner and the AIT Chairman about the attitude of officials toward their problems. Interestingly, beneficiaries of the allotment wanted to construct their house, but in the absence of basic amenities, they were not able to fulfil their dreams as the area was under-developed. To top it all, the AIT is charging a penalty for non-construction of houses from allottees. In December 2019, the AIT had re-allotted residential plots to beneficiaries of the 97Acre Scheme at an alternative space on Ajnala Road. The beneficiaries of the scheme have been struggling for the construction of plots since 2011 due to objections raised by the Air Force authorities. These 48 beneficiaries had bought residential plots in the 97-Acre Scheme on Ajnala Road and Ranjit Avenue through a draw of lots on February 14, 2011. On July 26, 2016, the Air Force issued a notice to stop the construction of buildings alongside the boundary of Air Force Complex. These 48 beneficiaries failed to construct their houses and had been running from pillar to post since 2016. The then AIT Chairman Dinesh Bassi re-allocated the space and assured of developing the area soon. The AIT made a commitment to the beneficiaries that they could construct houses within two years without paying any penalty. Jagjeet Singh Randhawa, one of the plot owners, said, “Our dream to construct a home is still unfulfilled even after a long struggle for reallotment. I have written a letter to the AIT to provide basic amenities and they assured me that within six months, they will provide road, sewer, water and electricity. But even after four years, the AIT has failed to remove garbage dump from the site. There is no electricity, no streetlight and no boundary wall. I have conveyed my grievances to the AIT 12 times, but I am only getting false promises. The AIT has not been able to adhere to these guidelines.” “In the last correspondence, they assured that tenders would be floated after the elections. Now elections are over and the Trust should work to provide basic amenities. I paid a non-construction penalty last year and they will ask to pay it again. So, they should remove garbage, fill the pond, construct boundary walls toward unauthorised colonies for safety, install streetlights and provide electricity connections,” said Randhawa. Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 7 The Gharinda police have booked five persons for alleged cross-border weapon smuggling. The suspects used to sell smuggled arms in different parts of the border belt. According to the police they were yet to be arrested. Raids were on to nab them. Those booked were identified as Akashdeep Singh, a resident of Mode border village, Manak Verma, a resident of Tarn Taran, Samandeep, a resident of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, Bahadar Singh, a resident of Gujjarpura locality and Sikander Singh. A case under the Arms Act was registered against them at the Gharinda police station in this connection. Undertrial injured in clash at Patti sub-jail Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, June 7 An undertrial was injured in a clash with inmates at sub-jail in Patti on Thursday. The victim was identified as Dilbag Singh of Sabhra village. Sub-inspector Sukhdev Singh of the Patti police station said Dilbag Singh was attacked by Sukhbir Singh of Barwala village, Arashdeep Singh of Kalsian Kalan village, Kamal Singh of Jhugian Kalu village and Ajay of Kirtowal village. He said the suspects were booked under Sections 323 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 42 of the Prisons Act. The subinspector said the suspects tried to create disturbance in the jail. Three held for firing at Cong leader Jail inmate injured in Victim planned shootout to get security cover back: Cops Tribune News Service The police destroy narcotics at Khanna Paper Mills in Amritsar. Drugs seized in 62 cases destroyed at paper mill Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 7 The police on Friday destroyed heroin, narcotic powder, charas and other intoxicants through incineration at Khanna Paper Mills here. Harpreet Singh Mander, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Investigations, led the police team that destroyed drugs. The drugs were destroyed after clearance from the drug disposal committee members led by Mander. He was accompanied by ADCP Navjot Singh and ACP Kuldeep Singh. The DCP said the contraband was confiscated by the police in 62 cases in the past. The police destroyed 22.436 kg of heroin, 2.265 kg of narcotic powder, 1.345 kg of Charas, 10,760 intoxicant tablets, 27,606 of intoxicant capsules and 70 sedative injections. Amritsar, June 7 Days after firing at Congress leader and lawyer Vaneet Mahajan, the police have arrested three persons, including shooters, involved in the incident. Startling facts tumbled out of the closet during preliminary investigation revealing that firing was planned by Mahajan himself to get his security cover back. His security cover was pruned by the police several days before the incident. Sources in the Police Department said as the issue pertains to the lawyer community, the police was leaving no stone unturned to get all clinching evidences in the case before sharing details of the investigation. A police official on condition of anonymity confirmed the development and said investigation was still under progress. He said, “The police have arrested three persons in this connection, but their names have been withheld as sharing any details regarding them would hamper the investigation. Everything would be shared after completion of the probe.” Mahajan along with his wife Sonia was returning home from a hotel after performing his daily puja around 7 am on May 28 when the incident happened. Two scooter-borne persons intercepted their car and fired several gunshots at the vehicle before fleeing from the spot. This was fourth attack on Vaneet Mahajan. Earlier, he faced a murderous attack several years ago when he had filed a case against former Punjab Minister Anil Joshi in an alleged dual vote case. The matter is pending in the Supreme Court. Mahajan had claimed that he was getting threatening calls and had informed the police about it. On April 27, he had demanded registration of an FIR against some policemen on the basis of a speech of an MLA, who had alleged that drug abuse was rampant in the Civil Lines area, which was under the jurisdiction of these cops, who were being sheltered by a political leader. Mahajan said on April 30 his security was pruned. Senior Congress leadership had condemned the attack demanding immediate arrest of the suspects. The police official said Vaneet Mahajan was nominated in the case. He had hired two shooters from Madhya Pradesh for firing at him with a weapon. Role of a couple of other lawyers was also under scanner, the police official added. clash with prisoners Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 7 An inmate was seriously injured by fellow prisoners at the Central Jail over a dispute here yesterday. Jail guards immediately separated the inmate from other prisoners. He was rushed to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital for treatment. The victim was identified as Rajesh Kumar. Rakesh Kumar, a relative of the victim, said Rajesh lived in the Khandwala area and used to work as delivery man with Zomato. Rakesh said Rajesh was booked by the police for allegedly stealing a mobile phone and sent to judicial custody around eight months ago. Rakesh said on Thursday, they got information from the police that Rajesh was brutally thrashed by fellow inmates and admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hos- pital. Investigating officer ASI Manwinder Singh said a case would be registered on the complaint of jail authorities and further probe initiated. In another incident, the Islamabad police have booked nine jail inmates, who clashed with each other, leaving some of them injured. Those booked were identified as Gagandeep Singh, alias Gora, of Mohalla Sheikhupura in Jandiala Guru, Manpreet Singh, alias Laadi, of Gurdaspur, Jujhar Singh of Chheharta, Narinder Singh of Kale village, Lovepreet Singh of Dhingra Colony on Ram Tirath Road, Kishanjit Singh of Maqboolpura, Jagmit Singh of Johal Dhahiwala village, Tarn Taran, Jobanpreet Singh of Kazikot village on Tarn Taran Road and Gurpreet Continued on page 2 Two peddlers arrested with 500 grams of heroin Threatened with posting obscene video on social media, man defrauded of ~4L Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 7 The Beas police have arrested two drug peddlers and recovered 500 grams of heroin from their possession. They were identified as Bhupinder Singh, a resident of Bala Chak village, and Amrik Singh, a resident of Rasulpur village. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was registered against the two drug peddlers. They were produced in a court and brought on police remand for further investigation. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Satinder Singh said a patrolling party of the Beas police station had laid a naka near Rayya canal. During checking, two bikeborne persons coming from Two drug peddlers in custody of the Beas police in Amritsar on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO c m y b Nagoke village side were signalled to stop. However, they took a U-turn and tried to flee, but were arrested by the police personnel manning the naka. During their search, the police recovered the contraband from their possession, the SSP The SSP further . said a probe had been launched to find the source of the narcotics and the backward and forward links of the two drug peddlers. Tarn Taran, June 7 A resident of the area was defrauded of Rs 4 lakh by a group of swindlers who threatened to post his recorded vulgar video on the social media. The suspect was identified as Binder Singh, a resident of Sidhana Gurharsahai (Ferozepur). The victim, Balbir Singh, in his complaint to the police, said that he received a video call around four months ago. The call was transferred to a woman who spoke to him in vulgar language. He said later on, Binder Singh started threatening him about posting his recorded video call on the social media. He was forced to transfer money in the account of Binder Singh. The victim said he had to transfer an amount of Rs 4 lakh in his account. The victim lodged a complaint with the district police and an inquiry was conducted by Ravisher Singh, DSP , Goindwal Sahib. On the basis of facts noticed in the inquiry report, the Chohla Sahib police registered a case under Section 420 and 120-B of the IPC in this regard on Thursday. The police is trying to locate the woman who talked to the victim, Balbir Singh. — OC