29082024-ATR-01.qxd 8/28/2024 10:52 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C MC CARRIES OUT SPL CLEANING DRIVE AROUND DARBAR SAHIB FARMERS’ UNION PROTESTS 'CORRUPTION' IN COOP DEPTS INDIA’S PARALYMPICS TEAM INSPIRING: AYUSHMANN Apart from collecting and disposing of waste, the drive would undertake cleaning of choked sewers. P2 It was held at the sub-division level in front of the offices of the Assistant Registrar, Cooperatives Societies. P2 The actor took to Instagram and shared a video cheering for the Indian contingent for the Games. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 6.57 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:04 AM » THURSDAY | 29 AUGUST 2024 | AMRITSAR Cops unearth more financial transactions between US-based suspects, shooters 8 IN POLICE CUSTODY NRI SH0OTING CASE ■ Till now, eight persons have been arrested. Earlier, the police had PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 28 In the case of the shooting of US-based NRI Sukhchain Singh, the police have found more financial transactions. These were used for payment to the shooters by USbased suspects through their friend here in order to kill Sukhchain. The shooters — Gurkirat Singh of Butran village (Jalandhar) and Sukhwinder Singh of Dhilwan (Kapurthala) — had received a sum amounting to several lakhs before the incident as more financial transactions have come to light and were being examined by the city police. Earlier, the police had revealed that the duo had received Rs 85,000 before the crime. According to police, they were hired by the accused for Rs 15 lakh to kill Sukhchain Singh in order to Police officials at the spot where the encounter with shooters took place at Vallah in Amritsar. FILE PHOTO avenge the death of their sister, who had died by suicide in 2022. Sukhchain and his brother, who were among the accused in the case, were acquitted by the court. Talking to The Tribune, Vishaljit Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, who was among the officers supervising the probe in the sensational incident, said: “We have strong evidence against the suspects, including Sukhchain Singh’s ex- wife’s brother Sukhwinder Singh, sisters Kuljinder Kaur and Jasvir Singh, all residents of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. We have found more financial transactions, which are being verified.” Through his friend Manpreet Singh, US-based Sukhwinder Singh contacted Gurkirat Singh five months ago. Around two months ago, an unknown person had showed Sukhchain’s house to Gurkirat Singh. He also 1 arrested with 507 gm heroin Tribune News Service Another held with ICE, drug money Amritsar, August 28 The Amritsar rural police have arrested a person for having alleged links with Pakistan-based smugglers and seized 507 gm heroin from his possession. The accused was identified as Angrej Singh of Bhindi Saida village. Amritsar (Rural) SSP Charanjit Singh said police teams headed by Ajnala police station SHO Sub-Inspector Avtar Singh was patrolling in the area when he received specific inputs regarding the involvement of Anjrej in the cross-border drug peddling. He said Angrej was having links with Pakistan-based smugglers and was involved in the sneaking of contraband through different modes, including drones. Following this, a trap was laid and he was arrested with heroin. A preliminary investigation revealed that he was earlier arrested in 2015 in connection with seizure of 3 kg heroin and a pistol. He was convicted for The police with the arrested drug peddler in Amritsar. 10 years in the case in 2018, and was currently granted bail following an appeal in the court, he said. “He has also been involved in another drug case, which was registered earlier this year. However, this information is still being verified,” said SI Singh. He was produced in court and taken in police remand for further interrogation, he said. In the meantime, the Gharinda police have seized 155 gm ICE (methampheta- mine) from another man, identified as Manpreet Singh of Kiralgarh village. Officials also recovered Rs 29,000 drug money from him. During the interrogation, it was revealed that he had bought the drugs from Sonu, a resident of Naraingarh area in Chheharta. Both of them were booked under the NDPS Act. Efforts were on to arrest Sonu while their backward and forward links were being established, a police official said. arrested Sarvan Singh, father of the victim's first wife; Jagjit Singh and Chamkaur Singh, both residents of Thath village in Tarn Taran who assisted the shooters; hotel owner Digambar Atri and his manager Abhilaksh Bhaskar. They were sent to judicial custody. Sukhwinder Sabi was in police remand for interrogation while two shooters who were injured in the encounter were currently admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital for treatment ■ Over 70 cops from city police commissionerate and counter intelligence led by Police Commissioner Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Deputy Commissioner of Police Harpreet Singh Mand and two Additional Deputy Commissioners of Police Vishaljit Singh and Abhimanyu Rana, worked 24X7 for three days to chase down the shooters Tarn Taran, August 28 Dr Bhavya Gupta, daughter of Dr Dinesh Gupta and Dr Monika Gupta, a resident of Tarn Taran, has secured 161 rank in NEET-PG among 2.5 lakh candidates. She did her MBBS from Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhaman Medical College, Delhi. She was a topper and gold medallist in MBBS final year in GGSIP University, Delhi. She wishes to pursue radiodiagnosis. — OC security measures as per the protocol. An airport security meeting was also held for strengthening the security at the international airport. ❞ hovering near the control tower and we took all the security measures as per the protocol. A meeting was also held for strengthening the security at the international airport,” said Airport Director Sandeep Agarwal. Among others who were present at the meeting were senior commandant CISF , chief security officer of AAI and officials of Punjab Police, besides Indian Air Force and various airline authorities, etc. The airport authorities also asked the Punjab Police officials to direct marriage palaces not to use high intensity or laser lights, which could cause inconvenience to the pilots during landing. He also requested the police officials to enhance surveillance — Sandeep Agarwal, AIRPORT DIRECTOR in the village adjoining the perimeter wall of the airport in order to check use of laser lights and drones in the vicinity of Amritsar airport. Assistant Commissioner of Police (North) Maninderpal Singh said as per the probe carried out so far, no drone was found in the environs of the airport. “Even radars at the airport did not notice any flying object,” he added. Meanwhile, airport security officers pointed out several non-operational CCTV cameras and urged the authorities to take action to make them functional soon. Airport authorities also asked airlines to ensure CCTV surveillance in baggage makeup area for preventing thefts and pilferage. Lack of seating at Guru Nanak hospital leaves attendants and visitors floored Amritsar, August 28 The Gharinda police have booked two members of management of Gurdwara Baba Jiwan Singh Dharamsala at Attari for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The complainant, Sukhwinder Singh — a resident of Bachiwind village, and member of Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee — in the FIR alleged that the Guru Granth Sahib was kept in a very dismal state. He alleged that ‘first Ang’ of the scripture was also torn. “The holy books, including Pothia, Gutka Sahib and others were gathering dust in an almirah over there,” he said, alleging that it amounts to blasphemy. Those booked were identified as Kabal Singh and Arwinder Singh of Attari. Both have been booked under Section 298 and 3 (5) of the BNS. No arrest has been made till now. Police authorities said that efforts were on to arrest the accused. — TNS A view of Rialto Chowk spruced up during the G20 Summit in March, 2023, in Amritsar. FILE PHOTO Golden Gate to Jandiala village. Officials of the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) said it had received only Rs 1 crore from the state government and two tenders valued at Rs 50 lakh each were floated and works carried out accordingly. observed some objects ❝Air traffic control roomtower and we took all the hovering near the control Two booked for hurting religious sentiments Tribune News Service Tarn Taran girl ranks 161st in NEET-PG Amritsar, August 28 After sighting of alleged ‘drones’ near the vicinity of Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International airport here on Monday, the Airport Authority of India (AAI), officials of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Amritsar Rural police and other head of the departments held a security meeting at the airport. Expressing concern over the incident, the airport authority sought better coordination and real-time information sharing on sighting of drones among various agencies, including CISF Air , Traffic Control and Punjab Police to avoid repetition of such an incident. For the first time in Punjab, drones were seen near the airport complex, leading to suspension of flights for around three hours. The CISF and the Punjab Police held a search operation in and around the vicinity of the airport but no drone was recovered. “The Air Traffic Control Room observed some objects SAFETY MEASURES TAKEN to hide their weapons and then to Hoshiarpur for hiding. They had shorn their beard and hair to dodge police teams, which were on a hunt to nail the shooters. “When the shooters returned to the hotel after the incident, they had shorn hair,” said an official privy to the investigations. The incident had led to widespread condemnation from all quarters as questions were being raised over the law and order situation in the border state. Neeraj Bagga Dr Bhavya Gupta Tribune News Service arranged three pistols for Gurkirat for committing the crime. The two shooters and their third accomplice Sukhwinder Sabi of Butran village stayed at various hotels and did the recce of Sukhchain’s movement. On August 24, they gained entry into the house posing as car agency agents while Sabi stayed outside. After shooting, they went to Khadoor Sahib and parked their bike at a gurdwara parking. They went to Vallah Manmeet Singh Gill Surinder Kumari, Executive Officer, Amritsar Improvement Trust, said shrubs and flowers were planted on the central verge on the Mall Road, up to Income Tax Chowk, at the Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra InterState Bus Terminal, both sides c m y b URGENT REFORMS NEEDED Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 28 In absence of proper and sufficient seating arrangements at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here, visitors are forced to squat on the floor itself. The floors are not only unhygienic but also reflect the government hospital’s attitude towards patients, who often complain of poor services. Attendants of the patients can be seen sitting or squatting on the floor, with no other option available. This situation is particularly dire in the gynaecology operation theatres at Bebe Nanaki Mother and Child Care Centre where relatives are left to wait for hours without any seating arrangement. “It’s disheartening to see people squatting on the floor, especially in a hospital where patients are already vulnerable,” said a staff member, requesting anonymity. He added that the administra- 17 months on, no trace of flowers worth ~3.5 cr planted for Amritsar G20 summit Amritsar, August 28 Even as Member of Parliament (MP) Gurjeet Singh Aujla claimed that government departments collectively planted ornamental flowers, shrubs, flower pots, trees worth Rs 3.5 crore ahead of the G20 summit to beautify the holy city last year, these have now become rare on the roads. The beauty of city roads visible during the G20 summit, held for five days in March last year, has not been restored till date by the authorities. Residents still yearn for those clean and beautiful roads teeming with ornamental flowers. Citing an instance, he said a government department planted greenery valued at over Rs 50 lakh on the AmritsarJalandhar highway, from the After drones sighted over Amritsar airport, officials discuss security of Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport road up to Ajnala road. Azad Sharma, Executive Engineer (Civil) of the PWD, who also holds additional charge of Horticulture, said his department had been given only Rs 60 lakh. The sum was invested in re-planting missing plants besides cutting, watering and undertaking complete maintenance of the nearly 8km stretch from Court chowk up to airport. This included taking care of the central verge and green areas on both sides of the stretch. He said the annual maintenance contract had commenced in February 2023 and lasted till March. Municipal Commissioner Harpreet Singh said the corporation did not receive any funds for planting greenery before the G20 summit here. This incident highlights the need for urgent reforms in the hospital's infrastructure and patient care services. Until then, patients and their attendants will continue to face such challenges, raising questions about the hospital's commitment to providing quality healthcare. Attendants of patients lie on the floor at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar on Wednesday. VISHAL KUMAR tion needs to take immediate action to address the issue. Patients and their families have been complaining about the services at the hospital for a long time, citing inadequate infrastructure, long wait time, and a lack of empathy from the staff. The absence of basic amenities such as seating arrangements has wors- ened the situation. “We come here seeking treatment and care but the hospital seems to be neglecting our basic needs,” said a patient’s attendant. It’s unacceptable that we have to sit on the floor, surrounded by dirt and germs, he added. The hospital administra- tion stated that seating arrangements have been made at various areas. They stated that sometimes problems arise as most patients are accompanied by more than one attendant. This incident highlights the need for urgent reforms in the hospital’s infrastructure and patient care services. Until then, patients and their attendants will continue to face such challenges, raising questions about the hospital’s commitment to providing quality healthcare. No monsoon travails! Boys playing in flowing rainwater in the streets of Indra Colony on Majitha Road in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR