18062024-ATR-01.qxd 6/18/2024 12:32 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY NO SIGN OF RESPITE FROM BLISTERING HEATWAVE SHARMAJEE KI BETI SET FOR DIGITAL RELEASE ON JUNE 28 CELEBRITIES EXTEND WISHES ON OCCASION OF EID UL-ADHA There has been no sign of respite from the scorching heat and power demand has gone up. P2 The film explores relevant themes of women’s empowerment and challenges they face.P4 Several celebrities took to social media to extend greetings to fans and followers celebrating the festival. P4 » » » MAX 44°C | MIN 31°C YESTERDAY MAX 46°C | MIN 31°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.38 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5.25 AM TUESDAY | 18 JUNE 2024 | AMRITSAR Two arrested for theft in gurdwara Tarn Taran, June 17 The Patti Sadar police have arrested two persons allegedly responsible for theft in Gurdwara Baba Alla Singh, Jotishah. ASI Jagjit Singh from Patti Sadar police said on Monday that the accused have been identified as Balwinder Singh, a resident of Navan Qilha Sabhra village and Lovpreet Singh of Sabhra village. Bhai Lakhwinder Singh, granthi of the gurdwara, noticed the theft on Sunday morning when he was to go to start the Parkash (reciting) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. He witnessed that the locks of the gurdwara were broken and a 25 kg bag of sugar too was missing. He said that the matter was brought to the notice of Patti Sadar police through the village elders. The police immediately swung into action and with the help of CCTV footage, managed to locate the thieves and arrest them shortly. ASI Jagjit Singh said with the arrest of the accused, the stolen bag of sugar too has been recovered from their possession. — OC Eid-ul-Adha celebrated with religious enthusiasm in city MP, MLA greet members of the Muslim community INTACH to help preserve historic fort, memorial Gurbaxpuri On the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, members of the Muslim community offer prayers at the Jama Masjid Khairuddin in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 17 Eid ul Azha, popularly known as Bakrid, was celebrated with religious fervour here on Monday. A tremendous rush of devotees was seen in mosques during the early morning namaz. Prayers were offered in different mosques and Eidgahs of Amritsar, in which mutual harmony and progress were wished for. Member of Parliament from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla went to Madrassa Mohammadiya, Jama Masjid, Eidgah Masood Shah on the Sultanwind road and took part in the celebrations along with followers. MLA from Amritsar Central constituency Dr Ajay Gupta visited the Jama Masjid located in Hall Bazar, another mosque located in Bazar Sirkibanda and congratulated the Muslim community on Bakrid. Dr Gupta said Bakrid is the biggest festival of Muslims. He said in Islam, the day of Bakrid is considered a symbol of sacrifice. At Hall Bazar’s Jama Masjid, Yusuf Khan greeted Dr Gupta and thanked him for his gesture. Khurshid Ahmed honoured him on his arrival at the mosque. Tarn Taran, June 17 With the aim of preserving the state’s rich history, INTACH state convener Maj Gen Balwinder Singh visited the Gen Gulab Singh Fort at Pahuwind and Nayak Lal Singh Memorial of Saragarhi fame in Dhun Dhai Wala village on Sunday. The fort is historic and over 200 years old, dating from Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s time and built by his much revered statesman and Governor of Peshawar, Sardar Bahadur, General Gulab Singh Pahuvindia. The marvel is located in the vicinity of Tarn Taran-Wagah border. More importantly, Pahuwind is the birth place of the great saint soldier, Shaheed Baba Deep Singh, who was baptised by the tenth Guru Gobind Singh. Maj Gen Balwinder Singh also visited Saragarhi hero A haveli of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s time, which was built by his much revered statesman and Governor of Peshawar, Sardar Bahadur, General Gulab Singh Pahuvindia near the Tarn Taran-Wagah border. Naik Lal Singh at Dhun Dhai Wala village memorial and paid homage to the fallen soldier. He also gave ~11,000 to the Saragarhi foundation from INTACH. Preserving the well at the memorial will be the passion project of INTACH. Tarn Taran chapter convener of INTACH, Dr Baljit Kaur said that she is aiming to bring Tarn Taran into the limelight as the place is historically among the richest in Punjab. The Tarn Taran chapter of INTACH held its first meet- ing at Nayak Lal Singh Memorial (Saragarhi Martyr) in village Dhun Dhai Wala, Tarn Taran. They narrated the history of Saragarhi, Nayak Lal Singh and the journey of the memorial with support of Gurinder Pal Singh Josan. Kashmir Singh from Karmuwala, who volunteered for the inauguration of INTACH Tarn Taran chapter in May, was felicitated along with the Saragarhi Memorial presentation heroes. Subedar Charan Singh, decorated with Kirti Chakra from Dunh village, Tarn Taran, shared his story of bravery during the war. Varinder Pal Singh, co-convenor of INTACH Tarn Taran chapter, Amandeep Singh, Jarnail Singh Aulakh, Harjit Singh Panesar, Dr Raman Dua, Dr Sukhbir Kaur, Dr Harsimran Kaur, Dr Jaspal Kaur, Dr Daljit Kaur, Prabhjeet Kaur and Dr Gurinder Bir Singh also addressed the gathering. Dhaliwal to meet Himachal CM 450 Tarn Taran police Gang of motorcycle thieves soon in NRI couple assault case officials transferred busted, 3 held with vehicles GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 17 The Himachal CM’s office has acknowledged and assured to fix an appointment shortly in response to the letter written by the NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal pertaining to the Punjabi-Spanish couple assault in Khajjiar (Dalhousie) recently. Dhaliwal has written a letter to Himachal CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu demanding thorough investigation and stern action against the culprits. It was on Dhaliwal’s intervention that a zero FIR was lodged with the Amritsar rural police. Dhaliwal said that the copy of the FIR has been sent to the Sultanpur police station in Chamba. “We have been communicated that a meeting would be fixed with the Himachal CM soon. The zero FIR will be followed up till its logical conclusion,” he said. On the other hand, the family members of a PunjabiSpanish couple who faced physical assault while on their trip to Khajjiar denied the statement of Himachal police that the altercation took place on another occasion, not with the parking lot staff members. SP Chamba Abhishek Yadav’s statement on the social media went viral in which he stated that as per the information available, the three tourists, including the NRI couple from Amritsar, visited Khajjiar where they were engaged in some handreading activity when they had arguments with the locals leading to a physical clash. The SP also maintained that no formal complaint has been received about the incident yet. He said that the police had intervened after receiving information about the quarrel following which the tourists were brought to the Sultanpur police station, but they refused to file any complaint or get the medical examination done. He said that their statement too was recorded about their refusal to proceed for any police case. The victim Kanwaljeet Singh, along with his Spanish wife Yolanala Garcia Gozzales and brother Jobanjeet Singh, were on a vacation trip to Dalhousie and Khajjiar when they were allegedly assaulted by the parking contractor and his men on June 11. continuned on page 2 Move aimed at weeding out corruption Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, June 17 Effecting a large-scale shakeup, the police department transferred 450 employees from here on Monday. A senior district police official said that those transferred range in the rank of constable to sub-inspector. There are reports that the state government after its severe defeat in the recently held Lok Sabha elections was taking large-scale corruption in the police department seriously. It is believed to be one of the most serious reasons for the defeat of the ruling party, leading to the revamp. The senior police official said that the transferred cops had stayed at a station for long. More transfers are under The Tarn Taran (City) police station. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI consideration, he added. From the rank of inspector to others in the gazetted rank, cops were under the scanner of the state government, said the official. Inspector Sunil Kumar, SHO, city police station, Tarn Taran, said more than a dozen employees have been transferred from there to other police stations on Monday. Amritsar, June 17 The city police claimed to have busted a gang of motorcycle thieves with the arrest of three thieves and seizure of six stolen motorcycles in two separate cases here on Monday. ADCP (City-1) Darpan Ahluwalia stated that a team of personnel led by Harsandeep Singh, SHO, EDivision police station, Amritsar, succeeded in busting the gang of motorcycle thieves by seizing six stolen motorcycles and arresting three persons in two different cases. In the first case, the police arrested accused Vikramjit Singh, alias Vicky, a resident of Uboke near Patti in Taran Taran district, and seized four stolen motorcycles. On the basis of reliable infor- Two suspects in custody of the Amritsar police. TRIBUNE PHOTO mation from sources, a police team led by ASI Sukhwinder Singh of the E-Division police station set up a naka near the Hall Gate chowk on June 14. During the checking of vehicles in the area, Vikramjit Singh, alias Vicky, was nabbed with a stolen bike, which he had stolen from Guru Bazar a few days ago. The accused was presented in a court, which sent him to police custody. During interrogation, he confessed more thefts and the police recovered three more stolen continued on page 2 , Majithia seeks high-level probe Farmers offer ‘desi daru’ food, Facing murder charge in missing SAD worker’s case fodder for cattle to labourers in Dubai, Sukhveer Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 17 Senior leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Bikram Singh Majithia today joined the family of party worker Lakhwinder Singh Lakha who has been missing since June 10 in appealing to the people to help find him. Though the family had approached the police and given details of threats received from an AAP functionary, the police have failed to make any headway, he alleged. Majithia said though the family had approached the police and even given details of threats received by Lakhwinder Lakha from the AAP functionary, the police had failed to get any clue in the case. The SAD leader said that Lakha, who was a devout Sikh and social activist, was known for fighting against injustice at all levels. He said Lakha had made a video of Amritsar, June 17 The shortage of labourers for paddy transplantation during the scorching heat has not only pushed up labour charges but is also forcing farmers to offer various incentives, be it free fodder for their animals, food or even ‘desi daru’. Farmers in villages on the outskirts of the city say that per acre labour charges have reached to nearly ~5,000. Harman Singh Chauhan of Jandiala said, “Every farmer is in a hurry to complete the work as early as possible. Meanwhile, there is no adequate number of local labourers who want to work in paddy fields. What has been observed is that the availability of migrant workers for paddy transplantation has decreased over the last few years.” At Tabowali village near the airport, farmers are paying from ~4,500 to ~5,000 per acre SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia (second from right) during a press conference in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR AAP functionaries trying to distribute flour among the weaker sections in Harsha Chhina village and had also stood up to prevent the casting of bogus votes in parliamentary elections. Majithia demanded a highlevel probe into the entire case besides appealing to the people to assist the family in finding Lakha. He also said it was unfortunate that minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal, who was the AAP candidate from Amritsar, had not made any effort to find Lakha till now. He said the state government was yet to take up the case forcefully. c m y b Farm labourers plant paddy saplings in a field at Naushera Khurad village in Amritsar. along with fodder and other incentives. “If men are treated to ‘desi daru’ (countrymade liquor) in the evening, women workers are provided with their favourite food,” said Sahib Singh. Some farmers said workers prefer working for those who pay them most and as such those with large landholdings are trying every method to make them accept their offer so that they can complete work on time. Jaspreet Singh from Sainian village in Gurdaspur said, “Migrant workers are being given free ration along with a place to stay.” He said usually it is the set norm followed in all villages where along with labour charges, the workers are being given other facilities. Easy availability of migrant workers has become a thing of the past due to MGNREGA and several large road projects in different states. Besides, a majority of the local labourers too prefer to work in shops, hotels and other establishments instead of working out in the blistering heat. Considering the fact that usually four healthy persons manage to transplant an acre a day, a minimum of ~4,000 per acre charges mean that they end up getting ~1,000 each. As compared to daily wage charges of ~400-~500, those who do not mind a little discomfort are ready to work in the fields. returns home after 9 yrs Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 17 It was nothing short of a rebirth for Sukhveer Singh who faced death sentence in Dubai when he hugged his mother Kuldeep Kaur on reaching Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport here on Monday. With tears streaming down her face, Kuldeep Kaur said, “I had been waiting for this hug for the last many years.” An equally emotional Sukhveer said that after he was given death sentence in Dubai, he had no hopes of seeing his family members again. “As I have found my home today, I pray to Waheguru that many others languishing in jails in Dubai may get to be with their families,” said Sukhveer. Many members of his family welcomed him on his arrival today which was made possible with the efforts of Sarbat Da Bhala patron Dr SPS Oberoi. He profusely thanked the Dubai-based businessman and philanthropist. Dr SPS Oberoi has saved at least 145 persons from death sentence or life imprisonment in UAE jails. Sukhveer along with two other youth from Punjab, Gurpreet Singh and Jatinder Kumar, was facing death sentence in UAE for the murder of a person from Sudan. Gurpreet Singh from here and Jatinder from Banga have already reached their homes. Dr SPS Oberoi said, “This case is very different from many others where we had to pay blood money to the families of victims to get our continued on page 2
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