13092024-ATR-01.qxd 9/12/2024 11:06 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 25°C DC URGES FARMERS TO NOT BURN PADDY STUBBLE GURMAT CEREMONY IN MEMORY OF SARAGARHI MARTYRS PARALYMPICS MEDALLIST ARMED WITH PASSION Thori held discussion with farmers of villages where incidents of stubbleburning were reported last year. P2 The 127th anniversary of the epic Battle of Saragarhi was observed by paying tributes in a Gurmat ceremony. P2 Sheetal Devi, who left social media swooning over her grace, says life is all about wanting something enough. P4 » » » SUNSET FRIDAY 6.38 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6.13 AM FRIDAY | 13 SEPTEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR More pain for patients as OPD services stay suspended all day Docs seek assured career progression, security at workplace Manmeet Singh Gill Gurbaxpuri Tarn Taran, September 12 Medical officers across the district observed a day-long strike and abstained from duty in Tarn Taran district following the call given by PCMSA. As a result, OPD services collapsed in the district. Dr Surinder Kumar, district president of the association, while addressing the medical officers sitting on dharna, flayed the state government for not accepting their genuine demands. Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 12 Even as doctors at government hospitals have been on protest for the last four days, Thursday was a particularly tough day for the patients as the Outpatient Department (OPD) services remained suspended for the entire day. Earlier, doctors had been boycotting OPD for three hours daily which meant that patients were able to avail medical consultations during the second half. However, on Thursday, OPD services remained unavailable for the entire day and patients had to return without getting medical treatment. Joginder Kaur, a visitor, said that she came to the hospital along with her pregnant daughter-in-law only to find that the doctors were on strike. She said that most people like her cannot avail costly medical services offered by private clinics and hospitals. Another patient, Sunita Rani, said, “I do not know what the doctors are demanding but all I know is that I have been coming for the last three days. On the first day, after the In Tarn Taran, docs abstain from work for the entire day He termed the demands on security and ACPs as nonnegotiable. He said that the cabinet sub-committee, while agreeing that the demands were legitimate in principle, unanimously approved the restoration of the stalled ACPs to the PCMS cadre and unconditionally agreed for its implementation in a timebound manner. Hundreds of patients had to face inconvenience as OPD services remained shut the entire day. Members of the PCMS Association during a protest against the state government at the Civil Hospital in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR doctor prescribed some tests, I went to a lab but by the time I reached there, it was closed. The next day, I managed to get the test reports and now I have come to show these reports to the doctor.” She said that as the OPD was closed, she did not know whom to show these reports. Dr Sumitpal Singh, president of the Amritsar chapter of Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), said, “The government is dilly-dallying and is not serious about the problems being faced by doctors as well as patients.” He said that the PCMSA regrets the inconvenience being caused to the general public. “But we had no other option. We have been forced to hold this protest. If the government was concerned, it should have followed all rules and regulations regarding promotion of employees,” he said. Dr Madhur Poddar, general secretary, said, “We are running all emergency services even now. Even emergencies surgeries are being conducted.” Dr Poddar said that the association would also boycott medico-legal examinations if the government failed to consider their demands. He said that demands regarding assured career progression (ACP) and security at workplace are non-negotiable. “We have made it clear to the government that the protest would continue till these demands are accepted,” he said. SAD (A) concerned over soil, air pollution Tribune News Service Medical officers raise slogans against the government in Tarn Taran on Thursday. PHOTO BY WRITER Amritsar, September 12 Simranjit Singh Mann, president, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and former Member of Parliament from Sangrur, voiced concern over air and soil pollution in the city during his visit to Bhagtanwala dump. The party is planning to start a Morcha over the issue. He targeted elected representative of various parties, who promised to provide a solution to the dump. “This dump is a black spot on our forehead. Politicians visit here before every election and assure to remove the garbage from here. They claim to provide a scientific continued on page 2 Gunshots fired after Travel agents dupe two of foreign currency 10-yr-old killed, two tiff over minor issue on pretext of sending abroad, arrested others hurt in mishap in Fattubhila village Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 12 A quarrel over a trivial issue led to firing in Fattubhila village falling under Kathunangal police station here yesterday. The police have arrested the suspect with the weapon and lodged an FIR against him. The police have written to the district administration for cancelling the arms licence of the accused, identified as Amritpal Singh of Fattubhila village. Gurinder Singh, a resident of the same village, told the police that he was going to his tube-well for watering the crop when the accused came and fired gunshots in the air and threatened him. He lodged a complaint with the police in this regard. Khushbu Sharma, SHO, Kathunangal police station, said that there have been minor quarrels between the two parties over minor Batala student dies in crossfire between two groups of youth Batala, September 12 Daman, a student of Plus 2 at a local school, succumbed to his injuries after being hit by a bullet in cross-firing between two groups of youths today. SSP Suhail Qasim Mir said that Daman was referred to an Amritsar hospital by doctors of the Batala Civil Hospital after he sustained bullet injuries. However, he died on way to Amritsar. The incident took place in Radha Krishna colony in the heart of the city. Notably, Raj continued on page 2 issues. A day before yesterday, the accused had entered into a scuffle with the victim. But at that time, he did not tell anyone or lodge a complaint with police. However, this encouraged the accused who intercepted him when he was going to his field yesterday in the morning and fired two gunshots in the air with his licensed weapon in order to intimidate him. “Fearing threat to his life after yesterday’s incident, he lodged an FIR with the police for appropriate action against him,” she said while alleging that a case under Section 125 (act of endangering life or personal safety of others), 126 (B) (wrongful confinement) of BNS, added with Section 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered against him. He was arrested and the police seized his licensed weapon besides two empty shells from the spot, she said. Amritsar, September 12 Airport police have arrested two alleged fake travel agents who had duped two persons of their foreign currency after bringing them to Amritsar on the pretext of sending them to Canada via a flight. The incident came to light when the two victims — Jaspreet Singh of Ambala (Haryana) and Hardeep Singh of Garhshankar — were caught by Airport authorities with fake visa and tickets at the city airport here on Tuesday. They then narrated the entire incident how they were duped by the fake travel agents. The accused were identified as Dharminder Singh of Baba Bakala (Amritsar) and Roshan Singh of Sohia village in Batala (Gurdaspur). Their third accomplice, Gopal Sharma of Garhshankar (Hoshiarpur), who introduced the duo to the victims was still at large and efforts were on to nab them. The police have recovered 10000 US dollars, 855 Australian dollars, 550 Canadian VISHAL KUMAR Tribune News Service The accused in custody of the Amritsar police on Thursday. dollars, 200 Euros, ~6,200 and a Kia Seltos SUV from their possession. “Following their arrest, we have received a number of complaints against them. They had cheated many persons on the pretext of sending them abroad and took away foreign currency from them,” said Maninderpal Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police. Giving details, the ACP said Jaspreet told the police that he along with Hardeep Singh was brought to Amritsar by travel agent Gopal Sharma. They were to go to Canada and he introduced them to Dharminder and Roshan. They reached Ekam dhaba on Airport Road at around 3.30am on Tuesday where the duo was waiting for them. He said after reaching the airport, they asked them to put the cash in his bag. They asked them to enter the airport through the VIP gates with their belongings. The ACP said the police got information and registered a case on charges of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy against the suspects and launched a hunt to nab them. The police later arrested Dharminder and Roshan from Haer village on Airport Road and recovered the currency. Meanwhile, the Civil Lines police have arrested Jagroop Singh, aka Lucky, of Dhariwal village in Rajasansi area for stealing a vehicle. They seized two bikes, including Bullet, from his possession. According to the police, Jagroop had returned from Malaysia around four months ago and fell prey to drug addiction. He started stealing vehicles for his daily dose of drugs. Besides the Bullet bike which he stole from Hall Gate area, the police recovered a motorcycle on his disclosure. In another incident, the Sadar police arrested three vehicle lifters, identified as Ranbir Singh, alias Bhullar of Sadhpur village, Shashi and Navdeep Singh of Vallah. The police seized a stolen scooter from them. PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 12 A 10-year-old boy was killed while two others were seriously injured in a road mishap in Ajnala when they were returning home on a bike here. The victim Ekamnoor Singh succumbed to critical head injuries yesterday evening following which an FIR was registered in the case against the unknown vehicle driver. The other two victims were Davinder Singh (12) and Dilpreet Singh (13) of the same village. Ekamnoor was a student of Class 7 while the remaining two victims were Class 10 students. They were returning to their native village from Government High School in Ugar Aulakh village on a bike when an unknown vehicle hit their motorcycle leaving them seriously injured. Baldev Singh, a resident of Raipur Khurd village and father of the victim, told the police that he was a truck driver and had three chil- dren. He said for the past three months, Ekamnoor used to go to the school in an auto-rickshaw while earlier he used to go on his bicycle. He said that on Tuesday, his son went to his school and he went to his work at Attari. He said that at around 2.15 pm, he got a call from his cousin Akashdeep who said that Ekamnoor had met with an accident and was rushed to a private hospital. He said he also reached there. Baldev Singh said he learnt that instead of taking the auto-rickshaw, he along with Davinder and Dilpreet was returning on a bike from Ugar Aulakh village to Ajnala when an unknown speeding vehicle hit their bike. They sustained serious injuries. All the three were admitted to different private hospitals. He said Ekamnoor succumbed to his injuries last evening. The police have registered a case against the occupants of an unknown vehicle under Section 106 (1) and 125 (a) (b) and other relevant sections of BNS. City police nab four snatchers Muslims oppose Waqf Amendment Bill Amritsar, September 12 The city police today claimed to have busted a gang of snatchers and recovered two bikes used in the crime and a sharp weapon from their possession. Four persons were arrested in this connection. Those arrested were identified as Taranjot Singh alias Jhony of Ram Nagar Colony, Harjinder Singh alias Harry of Patti, Tarn Taran, Gurjinder Singh aka Dalbir alias Giani of Kotli Mian Khan and Harpreet Singh of Varyam Singh Colony, Gate Hakima. Vishaljit Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), said that on the intervening night of August 21-22, Tribune News Service Four accused in custody of the police in Amritsar on Thursday. Sunny Singh of Mullechak village was returning home from work on Batala road when five unknown persons on two bikes snatched his motorcycle by pointing a sharp weapon at him. He said following investigations, the police zeroed in on the four suspects who were arrested following raids. He said they were produced in court and brought on police remand for further investigations. “During their interrogation, the police was likely to crack snatching cases. Raids were on to nab their fifth accomplice,” the ADCP said. — TNS c m y b Amritsar, September 12 Interference in religious matters of Muslims will not be tolerated at any cost. This was stated by Maulana Mufti Muhammad Khalil Qasmi, state president of the Jamiate-Ulma Hind, during a press conference at Khairuddin Masjid here on Thursday. He said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is being presented in Parliament with the aim of interfering in the Waqf Board. He accused the Central Government of harassing Muslims and other minorities in the country and interfering in their reli- Muslim activists stage a protest in Amritsar on Thursday. SUNIL KUMAR gious issues. Members of the community protested against the government. On the occasion, Mufti Yusuf Qasmi said just as there is no Muslim member in the religious committees of Sikhs or Hindus, nor does any Muslim has such a desire, then how can it be that people of other religions should be given representation in religious committees of Waqf. “The properties are gifts from the ancestors and the income of the Waqf is spent on cemeteries, madrassas, mosques, education and economic progress of Muslims,” he said. The community leaders stated that the Bill should not be passed as it would be against the rights of a minority community. They stated that they are also sending memorandums to the President through deputy commissioners.