16092024-ATR-01.qxd 9/15/2024 10:36 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY DEVOTEES TAKE PART IN TARN TARAN NAGAR KIRTAN MC OFFICES STAY OPEN ON WEEKEND FOR TAX COLLECTION KUMAR SANU, HIS DAUGHTER COLLABORATE FOR A SONG A nagar kirtan procession was taken out by devotees from Sarhali Sahib to Sri Goindwal Sahib. P2 The CFC at the MC head office in Ranjit Avenue and zonal office were open for tax collection on weekend. P2 Singer Kumar Sanu, his daughter Shannon K has now collaborated with him for a song titled 9 to 5. P4 » » » MAX 35°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.35 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6.15 AM MONDAY | 16 SEPTEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR Chemist gets ~50L extortion call from gangster Landa Armed groups exchange fire at grain market in Tarn Taran village ~1 cr gold robbery case cracked Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, September 15 Gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa in a voice message sent to chemist Sarabjit Singh, a resident of Naushehra Pannuan, has demanded an extortion amount of ~50 lakh and issued him a warning that if he fails to oblige him, he would be killed. Bachitter Singh, alias Bikkar, a resident of the same village, was shot dead by two assailants on Thursday. Landa wanted to contact with Sarabjit Singh on his mobile, but he did not respond being a threat call. Later he received a voice message in which Landa asked him to give him ~50 lakh otherwise he would meet the same fate as that of Bikkar who was killed four days ago. The Sarhali police have registered a case under Sections 308 (4) and 351 (3) of the BNS here on Saturday. — OC Tarn Taran, September 15 The Khalra police registered a case on Saturday against 13 persons belonging to two armed groups, who fired at each other on the intervening night of September 11-12. One group of six persons was led by Gurlal Singh of Bhikhiwind town and the second group of seven persons was headed by Gurbhej Singh Bheja of Marimegha village. ASI Gurnam Singh, Investigating Officer, said that on September 11, both the parties exchanged filthy messages on their mobiles through WhatsApp and warned of coming to the grain market in Marimegha village the same night. Police said that Gurlal Singh along with Robinpreet Singh, Simranjit Singh and three unknown armed persons and the second group led by Gurbhej Singh Bheja along with Balraj Singh Bobby, Jagrup Singh, Muhabbat Cheema and POLICE DID NOT EVEN VISIT SPOT SAME NIGHT ASI Gurnam Singh, investigating officer in the case, said that on September 11, both the parties exchanged filthy messages on their mobiles through WhatsApp and warned of coming to the grain market in Marimegha village the same night. They fired at each other for hours which terrorised the local residents with the police failing to come to the site. The residents alleged that the police did not visit the site even the next day. three other unknown armed persons, appeared in the grain market of Marimegha at about 10 pm. They fired at each other for hours which terrorised the local residents with the police failing to come to the site. The residents alleged that the police did not visit the site even the next day. ASI Gurnam Singh said that both the parties fired indiscriminately at each other and used countless shells. Some empty cartridges were recovered from the spot. Residents of the area said they were under the terror of gangsters who were seeking extortion money and in case of refusal, fired at their houses. Taking the seriousness of the matter into consideration, the police registered a case only on Saturday. SHO Inspector Satpal Singh refused to give the reason for the delay in registering the case and asked to direct the query at DSP Paramjit Singh who refused to respond to mobile calls. Even SSP Gaurav Toora did not respond to mobile calls made to inquire into the reason about registering the case after delay. The police have registered a case under Section 109, 191 (3) and 190 of BNS and Section 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act on Saturday. 4 nabbed; cops seized pistol and motorcycle used in the crime Amritsar, September 15 A day after the robbery of gold jewellery weighing over 1.710 kg worth over ~1 crore from a courier in Tahliwala bazaar area on Friday night, the police on Sunday claimed to have cracked the case and recovered the snatched gold by arresting four persons, including two goldsmiths. The police also seized a pistol and a bike used in the crime. Those arrested have been identified as Karanjit Singh (23) and Jaskaran Singh (46) of Drumma Wala bazaar and Shivamdeep Singh (22) and Bikramjit Singh (25) of Chhajalwandi village in Khalchian here. Police Commissioner Ranjit Singh Dhillon said Mukesh Saini, who originally hails from Rajasthan and is now residing near Kesar Da Dhaba, informed the police on Friday evening that he along with his brother runs a courier to parcel gold jewellery in Two of the four accused in custody of the police in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR different states after collecting it from various jewellery houses and goldsmiths. He said he was going to his office after collecting jewellery on a scooter. He said two of the four accused were armed with a pistol each and snatched the bag containing the jewellery boxes. The incident occurred near Gurdwara Manawala Kaulan in Galliara. The police got information at around 7pm, he said. Immediately, police teams from Sultanwind and Kotwali led by ACP Parvesh Chopra reached the spot and carried out the probe. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh said Karanjit Singh and Jaskaran Singh, who usedto work as goldsmiths, did a recce of the victim while the remaining two accused executed the robbery. The accused were arrested within 24 hours of the incident, he said, while adding that the accused were brought on police remand for further investigations. Notorious criminal among three Admn imposes ban on arrested by police, arms seized burning of crop residue Amritsar, September 15 The city police have arrested three persons including a notorious criminal and recovered three pistols from their possession in separate incidents on Saturday. According to police, CIA staff-2 headed by inspector Binderjit Singh arrested Ravinder Singh alias Kaka of Ghanupur Kale and Ashish aka Bholu of Dayanand Nagar area on Lawrence road for allegedly possessing, a .32 bore pistol with four bullets and .9mm Glock pistols with two rounds, respectively. Police Commissioner Ranjit Singh Dhillon said that the cops got a tip-off that Ravinder Singh was involved in illegal smuggling of countrymade weapons from other states. He was selling them to criminal elements in the city and its adjoining areas. Following this, a police patrolling party arrested Ravinder and his accomplice Ashish from near Gayatri Mandir in Kale Ghanupur. A case under VISHAL KUMAR Tribune News Service Two accused in custody of the Amritsar police on Sunday. the Arms Act was registered against them at Chheharta police station. He said investigations were on to ascertain the source of weapons. Similarly, Gate Hakima police have arrested notorious criminal Sandeep Singh alias Bhadkila of Bharariwal area and seized a .32 bore pistol with two live cartridges. He had several criminal cases including of attempt to murder regis- tered against him. A separate case under the Arms Act was registered against him. Meanwhile, Verka police have arrested Gurpinder Singh alias Joshan, a resident of Thatha village falling under Lopoke police station and seized 499 grams of heroin from him. He was caught from near Verka milk plant after receiving a tip-off. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against him. Farmers hopeful of better basmati prices Youth dies by suicide over ‘harassment’ Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 15 With the Central Government removing the cap on export of basmati, the farmers are hopeful that prices in the local markets would witness a surge on Monday, when the mandis will open. The Centre had earlier fixed the minimum export price of basmati at 950 dollars per tonne. However, with the lower prices in international markets, the exporters were reluctant to buy basmati at decreased prices. Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala of Jamhoori Kisan Sabha said, “The government had taken the decision after farmer unions had raised concerns on the issue.” He said with the prices of basmati hovering around 700 dollars per tonne, the traders were not continued on page 2 Amritsar, September 15 Perturbed over his alleged harassment by a chemist, a man ended his life by hanging himself in his house here on Friday. The police have registered a case against the shopkeeper on the complaint of Kalpana, sister of the victim, identified as Nandu Das (21) of New Dashmesh Nagar in Kot Khalsa area. Those booked have been identified as Sunil Gupta and Vinay Parmar. The police took the body into their custody and handed it over to the family after an autopsy. A case under Sections 108 and 3 (5) of the BNS has been registered against them. The police said no arrest has been made till now. Balbir Singh, investigating officer in the case, said on the statement of Kalpana, the police booked chemist shop owner Sunil Gupta and Vinay Kumar on charges of abetment to suicide. The police have got a video which the victim had made before taking the extreme step. The police also took the mobile phone into their custody. He said raids were on to nab the suspects. The complainant told the police that her brother was upset for the past several days as his owners were accusing him of theft in the shop. They were allegedly threatening to register a false FIR against him. They had allegedly beaten him up following which he was not talking to anyone which left him disturbed. Amritsar, September 15 The district administration has imposed a ban on the burning of crop residue in the fields this season after the harvesting of paddy crop under Section 163 of the BNSS. The orders were passed by Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sahni here. The Deputy Commissioner stated that the harvesting of paddy has started and as the burning of crop residue takes place after harvesting, the district administration has imposed the ban to curb such incidents. The district administration stated that smoke from such fires causes pollution, road accidents and various health hazards among residents. Besides, a large number of friendly insects, microorganisms and nutrients are also killed in such fires. The administration has advised farmers to use machines made available by the government on subsidy for management of crop residue. It had earlier issued a list of baler machines operating in the district which can be used to make bales of crop residue which then is used by different kinds of industry. Sahni said cops and officials from the administration would keep an eye on the burning of crop residue in their respective areas and take action against the erring farmers. She said farmers are being exhorted to shun the harmful practice. — TNS Two youths die in car accident Vending zone project remains stalled in city Amritsar, September 15 Two persons, one from Amritsar and the other from Fatehgarh Churrian in Gurdaspur, were killed in a road accident near Jalandhar on Sunday evening. They were going to Hemkunt Sahib. The deceased have been identified as 23-year-old Narinder Singh Bhatia of Fatehgarh Churrian and 33year-old Harman Singh, alias Daman Bhatia, from Amritsar. The accident occurred near Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, when they were hit by a car. The victims along with six more persons were travelling in two cars. One of the cars owned by Daman Bhatia got punctured near Jalandhar. After replacing the tyre, the duo were about to enter in the car when another car coming from the rear hit them, killing them on the spot. Passersby rushed them to a nearby hospital where they were declared dead by the doctors. — TNS Tribune News Service c m y b GURBAXPURI PK Jaiswar Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO lays the stone of road repair work in Tarn Taran on Sunday. Special repair work on Narli to Chhina Bidhi Chand road soon Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, September 15 Punjab Power and Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO laid the foundation stone of a special repair work on the Narli-Chhina Bidhi Chand road here on Sunday. Khemkaran MLA Sarwan Singh Dhun was also present on the occasion. The 6.64-km-long and 18 feet wide road will be repaired by the Public Works Department (Building & Roads) at a cost of ~3.46 crore. The project is expected to be completed within six months. “The repaired road will greatly benefit residents and farmers of the area, helping easier transportation of crops to the market,” said Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO. The road connects the historic town of Chhina Bidhi Chand and Narli with the Khalra-Bhikhiwand road and nearby villages with Khalra Dana Mandi. The road last was repaired in 2012. The minister assured that the contractor will also provide maintenance services for five years after its re-construction. “The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to facilitating people from all walks of life,” said Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO. MLA Sarwan Singh Dhun emphasised that the road plays a crucial role for local residents and villagers and after being renovated, it will provide essential road transport facilities. Charanjit Singh Teja Amritsar, September 15 Despite the Supreme Court guidelines and recommendations of Street Vendors Act, the Municipal Corporation (MC) of Amritsar has failed to establish vending zones, perpetuating traffic bottlenecks and congestion in the city. In 2020, MC officials identified 20 locations for vending zones, but the project remains stalled. The attempt by estate wing of the MC to shift vendors to a designated area near the bus stand failed due to resistance from vendors and intervention by local politicians two years back. Till now, the MC has never made any effort to implement the street vending zone project in other areas of the city. The MC had hired a company to survey vendors and issue smart cards, but all efforts went in vain as officials were reluctant to remove the vendors from roads and shift them to vending zones. As per Vendors sell fruit by the roadside in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Supreme Court guidelines, vendors cannot be removed from roadsides without providing alternative space. The MC had identified the space but was not able to implement the project. The absence of vending zones forces vendors to occupy roadsides, markets and narrow streets, exacerbating traffic chaos. MC officials acknowledge vending zones as a solution to traffic woes, but inaction prevails. The failure to establish vending zones has not only led to traffic congestion but also encouraged encroachment leading to frustration among residents and activists. Charanjit Singh Gumtala of Amritsar Vikas Manch criticised the MC inaction, stating, “We’ve heard about vending zones for years, but the MC hasn’t made a concrete effort. Local politicians back encroachment by vendors. The government must set a timeline to implement its plans.” The city awaits effective implementation of the vending-zone plan to alleviate traffic chaos and ensure a more organised and livable urban environment.