09092024-ATR-01.qxd 9/8/2024 10:48 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune BLOCK-LEVEL SPORTS COMPETITIONS ORGANISED FARIDKOT POLICE HOLD ANTI-DRUG MARATHON A cycling marathon was organised by the Faridkot police under ‘Mission Nischai’. P2 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE, SAYS KAMIYA JANI Under ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’, sports contests were held at Attari, Rayya, Verka, Tarsikka and Majitha. P2 FORECAST Was awarded the Best Travel Creator title for her digital channel ‘Curly Tales’. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 6.43 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:11 AM » MONDAY | 9 SEPTEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR 7 families duped of ~40L, travel agent booked Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, September 8 Seven families have been duped of Rs 40 lakh by a travel agent on the pretext of sending their relatives abroad. The victims were given fake visas and forged offer letters. The accused has been identified as Sukhjinder Singh, a resident of Sanghar Kalan under Goindwal Sahib police station and has been booked. Balwinder Singh, a resident of the nearby Reshiana village, brought the matter to the notice of the police. The victims include Harpreet Singh, son of the complainant, Gursewak Singh and Jodhbir Singh, both residents of Reishiana village, Amritpal Singh, resident of Mallan Wala of Ferozpur district, Lovepreet Singh, a resident of Kajikot village in Tarn Taran, Gurdev Singh, a resident of Kandhowali in Amritsar district and Jaspal Lal, a resident of Salempur Masanda (Jalandhar). The police said the victims came in touch with the accused more than two-anda-half years back and he gave them false assurances of getting their kids settled abroad. The victims said the accused gave them fake visas and bogus offer letters of various firms. He took the amount in advance from them, but he neither sent their kids abroad, nor returned their money. On the instructions of the SSP DSP Satnam Singh of , the Special Crime Branch investigated the facts of the case and on the findings of the inquiry report the local Sadar police registered a case under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the BNS on Saturday. 4 booked on charge of rape in Tarn Taran Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, September 8 Four persons were booked on Saturday for the ‘rape’ of a woman whose husband has been behind the bars for the last nine years. The statement of the victim has been recorded by Inspector Narinder Kaur, incharge of the women cell, Tarn Taran. The accused have been identified as Arjun Singh, Satnam Singh, Rohit and Vishal, all residents of the local Gali Khadian Wali of Mohalla Guru ka Khooh. The victim in her statement said as her husband was in jail, a far-off relative of hers Arjun Singh started visiting her house frequently for the last four years and she developed physical relations with the accused. He managed to make video films of her in compromising posi- tion. Later, he started threatening the victim and asked her to video call him, where he managed to click some screenshots of her. Arjun shared these with the other three accused Satnam Singh, Rohit and Vishal. They threatened the woman that they would put her vulgar photos on social media and raped her too. Meanwhile, Rohit put these photos on social media and even sent these to her brother-in-law. The local city police have registered a case under Sections of the BNS and 67 of the IT- 2000 Act. The police are on the look out for the accused as they are on the run. Gaurav Toora, SSP said this was , not a case of gangrape as the four accused commit the crime separately. He said police parties had been sent to arrest the accused. Will not conduct any elective surgery, medical exam for licences Two arrested for taking money in name of SHO Manmeet Singh Gill PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 8 From its earlier decision of complete shutdown of medical services from Monday, the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association has softened its stand and now announced that it would boycott OPD services during the first half of the day only. The association has, however, stated that doctors would not conduct any elective surgeries. The services like post-mortems, medico legal examinations, judicial medical examinations and court evidences would remain unaffected throughout the protest. The association functionaries stated that the decision to dilute the protest had been taken on the insistence of government functionaries who had asked for some more time. Amritsar PCMSA president Sumitpal Singh said, “The association has announced to boycott OPD for first half of the day instead of the entire day to show that we are ready for talks.” He said the association had made it clear that Amritsar, September 8 Chatiwind police have arrested two persons for allegedly ‘extorting’ money from a local resident in the name of the Station House Officer (SHO) of the local police station. The victim Bikranjit Singh of Bhagtupura village had approached the accused as they were perturbed over the alleged police harassment by way of frequent raids on their house. Police teams had been conducting raids at the complainant’s house as his brother was wanted by the police in an NDPS Act case. The accused assured him that they knew the SHO and will persuade him not to harass the family. Later, they demanded Rs 1.5 lakh for giving it to the SHO to settle the case so that police teams won’t raid his house again. Those arrested included Sukhjinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh of the same village. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against them. Bikramjit Singh in his complaint to the police alleged that a week ago, a team from Chatiwind police station raided his Doctors’ assn softens stand, to boycott OPD for first half only The PCMS Association has stated that services like post-mortems, medico legal examinations, judicial medical examinations and court evidences would remain unaffected. FILE assurances would not help in ending the protest as they want issuance of notification on the issue of assured career progression. The association would also boycott services like medical examinations for driving and arms licences, medical fitness examination for recruitments, dope tests, VIP duties and other administrative assignments from Monday. “As a last resort if the government failed to accept the demands, the association would have to boycott medico legal examinations after September 16. The association hopes that the government would resolve the issue much earlier,” said Dr Madhur Poddar, general secretary, PCMSA, Amritsar. He said the government had sought time for discus- sions with the finance department and a subsequent call up for a one-to-one meeting between the PCMSA and the Cabinet sub-committee headed by Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on September 11. He further said the association would announce complete shutdown of OPD from September 12 if the government failed to take a decision by then. Murder convict, relative hurt in attack Council wants prompt amendment to Sikh over monetary dispute, 15 booked ed Budhu, Sajan, Jashan, Jaspreet Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Lovepreet Singh and Babbu Mann, all residents of Taragarh Talawan village and Monu of Mallia village. Rajbir Singh, a resident of Sakiawali village in Tarn Taran, told the police that he was a murder convict and undergoing imprisonment at Goindwal Sahib jail. He said he came out on two-month parole four days back. He said he, along with his wife Rajbir Kaur and cousin Vanshpreet Singh, had come to meet his aunt at Taragarh Talawan village. The victim further said he had lent Rs 60,000 to Budhu. He said yesterday when he came to the village, he called Budhu, asking him to return the money. Around 2 pm the accused called him and said he was standing outside his aunt’s house. Rajbir said when he, along with his cousin went outside, the accused shouted to his accomplices to attack and teach him a lesson for demanding money. He said all accused were equipped with sharp-edged weapons, pistols and sticks and attacked him and his cousin, leaving them injured. He said his aunt and other Hike in bus fares leave commuters fuming Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 8 After the recent fuel price hike, the state Transport Department has also increased the bus fares by 23 paise per kilometre for ordinary buses and 28 paise for AC buses. This sudden escalation has left passengers complaining as this will make their daily commute even more expensive. However, it may not affect the woman passengers as Punjab Roadways and PEPSU Road Transport Corporation offer them free travel, but male passengers would be affected largely with the move of the government. The male passengers alleged that the government was fleecing them to pay for the free travel of women passengers. The bus fare escalation has undoubtedly added to the financial strain on the common man, leaving many to wonder that the Aam Adami Party government is making such decisions to burden the Amritsar, September 8 The farmers have announced that they would burn effigies of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in villages of the district tomorrow (September 9) to protest against the recent hike in VAT on diesel and petrol. The farmers led by Rattan Singh Randhawa of the Border Area Sangharsh Committee said that an increase in the price of diesel would directly affect them as they are its biggest consumers in Punjab. “From tractors to combine harvesters, every machine in the agriculture sector requires diesel. An increase in diesel prices would cause increase in the cost of inputs which is against the interests of farming sector,” said Randhawa. He said that on Monday, protests would be held in all towns of the district to express resentment over the move. The government has failed to ensure MSP on crops, he added. Gurdwaras Act Farmers to protest fuel price hike today Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 8 A murder convict along with his relative was attacked by some armed persons, leaving them seriously injured over a monetary dispute at Taragarh Talawan village, falling under Jandiala Guru police station here on Saturday. They were admitted to the hospital while the police have registered an attempt-tomurder and Arms Act case against 15 persons in this connection. No arrest has been made so far. Among those booked includ- Labourers, daily wagers living in periphery towns, villages worst hit Residents get their two-wheeler tanks filled in Amritsar on Sunday. SUNIL KUMAR common man. The passengers, who often travel to Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Delhi and Bathinda from the city claimed that 28 paise hike in AC bus fare would increase the same by Rs 70 for Chandigarh and Rs 40 for Ludhiana. However, it will not affect the passengers on local routes, but the labourers and daily wagers from periphery towns and villages would also be affected. “I am already struggling to make both ends meet, and house to arrest his brother Jaspal Singh who escaped after jumping over the wall. After the raid, the family learnt that he was wanted in an NDPS Act case by the police. A similar raid was conducted at the house of Jugraj Singh who also slipped away. He along with his uncle Didar Singh and Gurnam Singh met the accused Sukhjinder and Gurpreet, who said that besides Jaspal and Jugraj, Mangal Singh of the village was wanted by police in NDPS Act related cases. The duo said that the SHO was known to them and they could talk to his to settle the case so that police teams don’t raid his house again. They demanded Rs 1.5 lakh to be paid to SHO for the same. He said they arranged the money and handed it over to the accused. However, the police teams again raided the houses of Jaspal, Jugraj and Mangal Singh. The SHO said that he neither demanded nor accepted any money. It took no time for them to understand that they had been duped. They lodged a complaint with the police which registered a case and arrested the duo and recovered the amount. now this increase in bus fares has added to my woes. The government should consider the common man’s plight before taking such decisions,” said Baljeet Singh, a regular commuter from Manawala village, who works in Ludhiana with a private firm. The fare increase has also sparked concerns among passengers about the impact on their monthly budgets. Naveen Kumar, another passenger, echoed similar sentiments. “This hike will affect not just office-goers like me, but also students and senior citizens who rely on public transport. It’s unfair to burden us like this.” Daily wagers and labourers from nearby towns will also get affected as they have to pay more for small distances. Darshan Singh, a carpenter from Fathegarh Churian, said, “Like me, it will disturb the budget of daily commuters. My bus fare will increase almost by Rs 7.” c m y b family members came out hearing their shouts and tried to stop the accused. He said they rushed inside his aunt’s house to save themselves. However, the accused fired several gun shots at them. On seeing the people gathering, the accused fled the scene. He alleged the accused also took away their mobile phones in the attack. Sub-inspector Balwinder Singh said raids were being conducted at the houses of the suspects, who had fled from their houses. A case has been registered in this regard. Amritsar, September 8 The Global Sikh Council (GSC) has urged for prompt amendment to the Sikh Gurdwaras Act of 1925, citing numerous loopholes that enable government intervention in the administration of gurdwaras and delay in holding general elections of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Kanwaljit Kaur, president of GSC, observed that the original intent of the Act was commendable, aiming to return control of gurdwaras to practicing Sikhs from nonSikh control, but the legislation lacks provisions requiring the Union government to consult the SGPC before making any amendments. The GSC asserts that the Act should be revised to mandate government consultations with the SGPC prior to making any amendments. The GSC has called on the SGPC to take decisive steps towards implementing the reforms by presenting the requisite proposals to the state and central governments. — TNS 1 hurt in firing at eating joint The arrested snatchers in the police custody. GURBAXPURI Four snatchers held with two stolen bikes Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, September 8 The local police arrested four snatchers on Saturday and recovered two bikes and some other articles. Kamalmeet Singh, DSP said here on Sun, day that the accused had been identified as Gurpreet Singh and Husanpreet Singh, both residents of Bundala, and Jugni and Dara of Tarn Taran. The DSP said besides two bikes the police team also recovered two mobile phones and one air pistol when the accused were stopped at a naka set up in the local Muradpur locality. The police officer said the accused had committed several snatching incidents in the area. The accused were produced in the court on Sunday, which sent them to two-day police remand. More revelations are expected regarding the thefts and looting committed in the area. Some other members of the gang are absconding, the DSP said. Amritsar, September 8 Arguments over delay in delivery of a burger at a popular eating joint near Kathunangal toll plaza turned ugly when father of an employee of the joint shot at a youth, seriously injuring him. The victim identified as Surjit Singh was rushed to a private hospital. He is son of a sarpanch, Jagdish Singh. The latter said his son had gone to the eating joint near Kathunangal toll plaza last night. However, despite timely placing of the order with the boy at the counter, identified as Gursharan Singh, there was a delay in getting the food. When Surjit threatened to complain this to the outlet manager, Gursharan called his father Kawaljit Singh, an ex-serviceman. The latter entered into a heated argument, following which he shot at him with his licensed pistol. Gursharan’s father was later arrested. SSP Amritsar rural Charanjit Singh said the police have also seized the pistol. The victim is stated to be out of danger, he added. — TNS