30082024-ATR-01.qxd 8/29/2024 11:05 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY PROTESTS OVER ‘FORCEFUL’ LAND ACQUISITION FOR EXPRESSWAY SIDHARTH SHARES PICTURES OF HIMSELF PLAYING CRICKET GUNEET CHERISHES TIME HE HAD ON THE BAD NEWZ SETS The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, burnt effigies of the state govt at several places in the district on Thursday.P2 Actor Sidharth took to Instagram & shared pictures & a video of himself playing cricket on the National Sports Day. P4 MAX 32°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C From bonding with Vicky Kaushal to jamming to Ammy’s songs, Ludhiana lad Guneet Singh Sodhi cherishes time on Bad Newz sets.P4 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 6.56 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:05 AM » FRIDAY | 30 AUGUST 2024 | AMRITSAR Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 29 The Islamabad police have arrested two vehicle lifters and recovered three stolen bikes and one scooter from their possession. The arrested suspects were identified as Tajinder Singh, alias Sonu, of Gumanpura village falling in the Gharinda police station area and Mohitpal Singh of the Maqboolpura area. The police said they received a a tip-off about Tajinder Singh’s involvement in vehicle lifting. Following the information, a naka was laid near the railway crossing and Tajinder was arrested. His interrogation led to the recovery of two stolen motorcycles. In the second incident, the police nabbed Mohitpal Singh of the Maqboolpura area from the Islamabad area. His questioning led to the recovery of a stolen scooter and a bike. The duo were produced in a court and brought on police remand for further investigations. Nihang beats youth to Continuous rain brings city to halt Massive traffic jams witnessed on the flooded GT & Vallah bypass roads death at Jahangir village Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 29 A youth identified as Malkeet Singh was allegedly beaten to death by a Nihang Sikh over an old dispute at Jahangir village falling under the Kamboh police station here last night. The victim was alone at home when the suspect, identified as Sukhdev Singh living in the neighbourhood, entered the former’s house by jumping over the wall and brutally thrashed him. The victim was the only son of the family. A police team led by DSP Lakhwinder Singh reached the spot and started investigation after taking body into possession. The body was sent for an autopsy by the police. Rajpal Singh, a relative of Malkeet, said earlier too, the suspect had entered into quarrel with the vic- Malkeet Singh ❝ Earlier too, villagers had intervened between victim's family and Sukhdev to reach a compromise a couple of times. But Sukhdev Singh did not mend his ways. Yesterday, Sukhdev allegedly killed Malkeet when he was alone at home. ❞ Amrik Singh, SARPANCH, JAHANGIR VILLAGE tim’s family over one issue or other. He said Sukhdev was carrying a pistol and a sword when he attacked Malkeet. He said the suspect threatened villagers to kill them in case they intervened. Rajpal said Malkeet’s parents had gone somewhere. When they returned on Wednesday night, they found Malkeet dead. Village sarpanch Amrik Singh said earlier too villagers had intervened between victim’s family and Sukhdev to reach a compromise a couple of times. But Sukhdev Singh did not mend his ways, the sarpanch said. Yesterday, Sukhdev allegedly killed Malkeet when he was alone at home, the sarpanch said. Charanjit Singh, SSP , Amritsar (Rural), said raids were on to arrest the suspect who was on the run after the incident. A case had been registered against him following a complaint by the victim’s family, the SSP said. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR Two vehicle lifters held, three bikes, one scooter seized Commuters drive through a waterlogged Lawrence Road; and (right) MC staff with super sucker machines on GT Road in Amritsar. Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 29 The continuous downpour turned outer city roads into virtual rivers leaving commuters stranded and frustrated today. The main GT road at Daburji and bypass road at Vallah were particularly affected by heavy rain. Waterfilled potholes created hazardous driving conditions and led to massive traffic jams on the two roads in the city. Motorists faced a night- Villagersattackconstable Copsfreezepropertiesworth~6.28cr over suspicion of false of notorious gangster Happy Jatt implication in theft case Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, August 29 A constable of the Punjab Police, Simarpreet Singh, deputed at Verowal police station in Tarn Taran district, was brutally injured in an attack by residents of Dhota village near his own native Dinewal village on Wednesday. The incident was recorded in a video and posted on the social media by the suspects. Taking serious note of the incident, the Verowal police booked six persons, including three members of a family and three others, who were yet to be unidentified in the case. Investigation officer ASI Baljinder Singh said the three suspects had been identified as Om Parkash, his brother Dharminder Singh and sister Kirandeep Kaur, all residents of Dhota village. He said three other suspects named in the FIR were yet to be identified. The ASI said the victim constable Simarpreet Singh was on way to his duty when the suspects waylaid and attacked him. The suspects removed victim’s turban, tore his uniform and inflicted injuries on different parts of his body. The ASI said Dharminder Singh was allegedly involved in theft of cash from a gurdwara in Mallhja village. The ASI said although an FIR had been lodged in this connection, Dharminder’s name was not mentioned in it. The ASI said Dharminder suspected that constable Simarpreet Singh was trying to falsely implicate him in the case. The ASI said Dharminder was absconding and raids were on at his possible hideouts to nab him. The suspects were booked under Sections 298, 351 (3), 132, 221, 115 (2) and 3(5) of the BNS by the Verowal police on Wednesday. Amritsar, August 29 The Punjab Police have frozen properties and agricultural land worth over Rs 6.28 crore belonging to notorious gangster and cross-border drug smuggler Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Jatt, a resident of Jotisar Mohalla in Jandiala Guru. The said property is located in the Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, which Happy Jatt had allegedly bought in the name of his family members. “Jatt purchased 30-acre land located in Pilibhit. The market value of the land purchased with the money earned from the illegal drug trade is pegged at Rs 6.28 crore. The property has been seized under Section 68F (2) of the NDPS Act,” said Charanjit Singh, SSP Amrit, sar (Rural) police. The SSP said last year, the rural police arrested Harpeet Singh, alias Lovely of Ranjitpura locality with 15 kg of heroin smuggled from Pakistan via drone. Following his interroga- The Amritsar (Rural) police freeze a property of Happy Jatt at Pilibhit. tion, the police had named Happy Jatt, Rahul of Manawala and Gagandep Singh, alias Gaggu Haddi of Shekhupura Mohalla in Jandiala, in the FIR. Rahul was later nabbed with 256 gm of heroin. The SSP said properties belonging to Rahul and Gagandeep worth Rs 1.89 crore had already been frozen by the police in March this year. Notably, Jatt has 18 criminal cases, including three of mur- der, two of attempt to murder, and the NDPS and Arms Act, registered against him. Happy Jatt escaped from the police custody three years ago. Since then he had been evading arrest. After escaping from the police custody, Happy Jatt came in contact with Pakistanbased cross-border smugglers and entered into the drug trade. As per police records, Happy Jatt entered the world of crime in 2017. — TNS mare as the time to reach their respective destinations tripled and quadrupled as rainwater flooded roads. “I remained stuck in traffic jam on the GT road for over two hours. The National Highways Authority of India has failed to construct bridge on the road for the past two years. Service road along the bridge teeming with major potholes has turned into a river. Commuters are facing inconvenience due to negligence of the authorities con- cerned,” said Amritpal, who was commuting in his vehicle on the GT road heading from Jalandhar to Amritsar. Several vehicles broke down in water on roads. The municipal corporation deployed super sucker machines to drain rainwater from roads. These machines were working till filing of the report, but the task was daunting. “The traffic on the Daburji road heading towards the main GT road was blocked in the afternoon as continuous rain inundated the stretch. Though it is the duty of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to keep the road motorable, MC Commissioner Harpreet Singh took the initiative and deployed the civic body staff and corporation’s machinery to drain rainwater on the road with super sucker machines and resolve traffic snarls,” said Ashish Kumar, an MC spokesperson. Commissioner Harpreet Singh said roads were cleared with MC’s machinery. Drug peddler held with 255gm heroin Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, August 29 A drug peddler with crossborder contacts was arrested with 255 grams of heroin by the Khalra police on Wednesday. The police said the peddler was identified as Kuljit Singh, a resident of Kalsian Khurd village. ASI Nirmal Singh said the suspect, who was arrested from the grain market in Khalra, was seen moving on a motorcycle in the area under suspicious circumstances. He was stopped by a police team on patrol duty. The consignment was recovered from the suspect during checking. The ASI said the suspect had brought the consignment from across the border fencing through drug peddlers by establishing contacts with them through his mobile phone. A case under Sections 21-C, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act was registered by the Khalra police against the suspect in this connection. The suspects in custody of the police. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI 3 held with pistols, ammo Tarn Taran, August 29 The district police have arrested three suspects having links with foreign-based criminals involved in target killing and extortion incidents. SSP Gaurav Toora said, “The arrested suspects have been identified as Baljinder Singh Abhi, Princepal Singh and Manpreet Singh Sajan. Two countrymade pistols, three magazines and seven live cartridges have been recovered from their possession.” The SSP said the suspects were nabbed near Piddi village on Wednesday. He said the suspects had brought pistols from Madhya Pradesh. He said the suspects were given the task of target killing by their foreign-based bosses. The SSP said the suspects were also involved in extortion and firing incidents. The Sadar police had registered a case under Sections 303 (2) and 317 (2) of the BNS and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act against the three suspects, the SSP added. — OC MC to demolish 17 overhead water tanks for residents’ safety Civic body acts tough against illegal constructions, razes shops, buildings Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 29 The municipal corporation (MC) would demolish 17 overhead water tanks, lying defunct for long time, for the safety of residents in the city. During meeting yesterday, MC Commissioner Harpreet Singh reviewed the progress of the Amritsar Bulk Water Supply Project here. Officials of the project contractor Larsen and Toubro, civic body and an independent verification agency appointed for the project were present at the meeting. The MC is implementing the Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project in cooperation with the World Bank under which water from the Upper Bari Doab Canal would be treated and supplied to every household in the city. At present, the construction of a water treatment plant with a capacity of 44 crore litre per day at Vallah, construction of 51 new water tanks and laying A water tank on the rooftop of a house in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR of a 112 km-long transmission line under the project is underway in the city. As per information, 51 new tanks are being constructed which include 10 tanks with a capacity of 10 lakh litre, nine tanks with a capacity of 15 lakh litre and 30 tanks with a capacity of 20 lakh litre. Twenty-four old tanks are being renovated as part of the project. In all, 17 existing old tanks would be demolished while ensuring the safety of nearby residents. The project would provide a continuous supply of clean water to the city which is currently supplied intermittently for 10 to 12 hours. The project aims to enhance water quality and prevent the depletion of groundwater table. The city’s water supply system would be monitored online from a control room using the modern SCADA system allowing for timely detection and rectification of faults. During the review meeting, the MC Commissioner instructed the contractor to expedite work and increase the workforce so that the canal water supply could commence by March 2025. He also directed civic body officials to accelerate work c m y b and coordinate with other departments to obtain necessary NOCs promptly. Project Manager Kuldeep Singh Saini said 70-km pipeline had been laid so far and the remaining work would be completed soon. He said, “Construction of water tanks is going on at 28 locations with soil testing being conducted at eight additional sites where work would commence shortly. The process of obtaining the NOCs from other departments for the remaining sites is in the final stage. The renovation of 15 old tanks has been completed.” Saini said the pace of work had slowed due to the rainy season, but would pick up by the next month. Deputy Project Manager Narendrapal Singh, Executive Engineer Jeetin Vasudeva, L&T project director Sanjay Singh, Shiv Kumar Soni, Ashwani Kumar, Krishna Lokesh, SDO Ranjit Singh, Dr Monika and Smriti Sharma were also present at the meeting. Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 29 The estate wing of the municipal corporation (MC) razed shops built on the government land in the Bhagtanwala area here today. On directions of Municipal Commissioner Harpreet Singh, the estate wing team led by Dharminderjit Singh today demolished three shops built on the MC land with the help of machines and other equipment. The MC had received a complaint that someone had encroached upon its land at Noori Mohalla in the Bhagtanwala area and built three shops. One of the shops was partially demolished by the MC team as a car was parked inside and some other goods were lying there. The encroachers assured civic body officials that they would raze the shop themselves after which the MC team returned. The MC Commissioner has A JCB machine razes an illegal structure in Bhagtanwala on Thursday. warned that encroachment on the civic body land would not be allowed at any cost. Earlier on Wednesday, the Municipal Town Planning (MTP) wing of the civic body demolished three illegal constructions in the Central zone. Central zone ATP Paramjeet Dutta said notices had been sent to illegal builders. As there was no response to notices, buildings were razed. He said one building near the office of the old Improvement Trust and two buildings in Bagh Ramanand were demolished while three structures had been sealed.