18092024-ATR-01.qxd 9/17/2024 10:35 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MOGA YOUTHS TAKE PLEDGE TO SHUN STUBBLE BURNING OVER 2 KG OF HEROIN SEIZED NEAR IB, ONE ARRESTED DIRECTOR ANMOL SIDHU’S DEBUT FILM WINNING LAURELS 20 youngsters villages in Moga district have vowed to refrain from burning paddy stubble in their fields. P3 A youth of Sriganganagar district was arrested by the police for illegally possessing over 2 kg heroin. P3 MAX 34°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 25°C Director Anmol Sidhu’s debut film Jaggi has been picking up laurels ever since it premiered in 2022 in the US. P4 » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.32 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 6.17 AM » WEDNESDAY | 18 SEPTEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR Fly from city to Bangkok soon Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 17 Thai Lion Air has decided to launch direct flights between Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International airport in Amritsar and Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). Starting from October 28 this year, the eagerly anticipated route will connect the holy city of Amritsar with Thailand. Sameep Singh Gumtala, Global Convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative, shared that according to the schedule released by the airline on its website, the new route will operate four times a week. The flight will depart from Bangkok’s DMK airport at 20:10, arriving in Amritsar 23:25 local time on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with a total travel time of 4 hours 45 minutes. The return flight from Amritsar will depart at 00:25 after midnight, arriving in DMK at 6:15 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with a travel time of 4 hours and 20 minutes. Expressing his excitement, Gumtala stated, “We are thrilled to see Thai Lion Air’s commitment to enhancing connectivity between Thailand and Amritsar. This new route will make it more convenient for travellers from Southeast As per the schedule, the new route will operate four times a week. Asia to visit the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) and other historical sites, while providing a boost to tourism, trade and commerce in Punjab and North India.” Yogesh Kamra, Convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative in India, added, “The introduction of flights between Bangkok and Amritsar marks a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to expand international air connectivity for the region. The convenient link will benefit not only the people of Punjab but also residents of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, who frequently travel to Thailand.” Punjabi travellers, known for their love of exploring new destinations, will have easier access to Thailand’s popular beach destinations like Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui and Hua Hin, as well as cultural hotspots such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Surat Thani and Ayutthaya, said Kamra. Amritsar is already connected to Southeast Asia with direct flights from Kuala Lumpur by Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia X, Batik Air and to Singapore by Scoot, all offering one-stop connections to Bangkok through their hubs. However, the new direct flight will reduce travel time and create a more efficient route for tourists and the Sikh and Punjabi diaspora in Thailand. Trans-border smuggling network busted, 1 held with 4.5-kg heroin Our Correspondent Charanjit Singh Teja First case of stubble burning comes to light, farmer booked Woman, her son-in-law directly in touch with drug smugglers Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, September 17 A farmer, identified as Navdeep Singh, a resident of Chack–Kre Khan village, has been booked under Section 223 of the BNS on Monday for burning paddy stubble in his fields. This is the first case of burning stubble in the district registered under the relevant section of law. Harpal Singh Pannu, Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO), informed here on Tuesday that the burning of the stubble was noticed by the Agriculture University at Ludhiana through satellite on September 15 and the location sent to the district administration on September 16. The Chief Agriculture Officer said that Nodal Officer Gurjit Singh, Surveyor, Land and Water Resource, visited the spot on the basis of the location and clicked pictures of the burning paddy stubble. Pannu said that the Verowal police registered a case in this regard which was the first registered under the BNS section. The CAO said that farmers are frequently being appealed not to burn paddy stubble and the District Magistrate in his orders has imposed a ban on paddy stubble burning. Amritsar, September 17 The Amritsar police claimed to have busted a trans-border narcotic smuggling network with the arrest of a woman drug smuggler, identified as Kanwaljit Kaur, alias Massi of Golden Avenue, Hargobindpura, Chheharta, after recovering 4.580 kg of heroin from her possession. Commissioner of Police (CP) Ranjit Singh Dhillon said accused Kanwaljit Kaur and her son-in-law Jugraj Singh, a resident of Golden Avenue, were directly in touch with various Pakistan-based drug smugglers and had been engaged in drug trafficking. Drones were being used to transport drug consignments from Pakistan, he added. Investigation is underway to establish backward and forward linkages in this case, said the Commissioner of Police. Sharing details, the Commissioner of Police said police teams had received reliable inputs that drug smuggler Kanwaljit Kaur had retrieved a drug con- The accused woman in custody of the Amritsar police on Tuesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR THREE YOUTHS ARRESTED WITH ILLEGAL WEAPONS The city police nabbed three persons and recovered two pistols, cartridges and a car from their possessions here on Tuesday. Those arrested have been identified as Vishal Kumar, Naresh Kumar, alias Mani, and Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, all residents of Dande village in Gharinda area. Police Commissioner Ranjit Singh Dhillon stated that on a secret tip-off, cops signment, which was at present in her possession. He said acting swiftly on the inputs, police teams from the Chherhata police sation, under the overall supervision of DCP (Investigation) posted at the Cantonment police station took swift action and arrested three persons. The police recovered a pistol (.30 Bore) along with seven live cartridges, a locally made pistol (.315 bore/Desi Katta) along with one empty shell and a car. A case has been registered under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at the Cantonment police station in this regard. Harpreet Singh Mander, ADCP City-2 Abhimanyu Rana and ACP (West) Swaranjit Singh laid a trap and successfully arrested the accused from her rented residence in Golden Avenue in Chheharta area. A case has been registered under Section 21 (C) of the NDPS Act at the Chheharta police station in Amritsar. Further investigations are underway, added the CP . Cong flays state govt for failing to check rising crime rate Similarly, a dharna was organised at Majitha by Congress workers. Speaking on the occasion, Congress leader Bhagwant Pal Singh Sachar stated that demanding ransom had become common and the fear of law had gone out of the minds of criminals. Tribune News Service Heaps of garbage trigger disease fear among Gurdaspur residents Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, September 17 Make-shift garbage sites have become a nuisance for residents in Gurdaspur with the local municipal committee (MC) failing to find a proper dumping site nearly two months after the original site was rendered inoperable. The original site was located at Maan Chopra village located on the town’s outskirts. However, two months ago, environmentalist Baba Seechewal had visited the village at the invitation of the sarpanch. The village headman pointed out the glaring inconsistencies and also the gaffes being committed by the MC. No scientific method was being adopted to get rid of the garbage, the sarpanch told Seechewal. Allegations of corruption were also levelled against MC officials. Seechewal acted swiftly and ordered the MC to find an alternative site. He told officials that Maan Chopra village would no longer play host to the town’s litter. Till date, the MC has been unable to find an alternative dumping ground. MC trucks, laden with garbage, take to the roads at dead of night and throw the trash in public places unmindful of the health hazards it can cause. Residents say it is impossible for them to walk on the streets because of the stench that emanates from the piles of refuse. Health experts have warned that under these circumstances even a light rainfall has the potential to trigger an epidemic. The MC president, Baljit Singh Pahra, claims almost every day that a solution has been found. “Two months have elapsed yet a proper dumping site has not been found,” averred Hardeep Singh, a local resident, who says he seldom moves out of his house without a piece of cloth covering his face. The garbage problem has brought to the surface the city’s skewed political dynamics which are only adding to the complications. Pahra is the president of the MC, which has a total of 29 wards. Out of the 29 councillors, 28 belong to the Congress with there being one vacancy caused following a member’s demise. He also belonged to the Congress. On the other hand, the city has AAP leader, Raman Bahl, as its Halqa in-charge. He is also the Chairman of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation. Though both deny it, it is the Pahra versus Bahl rivalry that is adding up to the plethora of problems the town is already facing. Pahra has been blaming their political adversary for not letting things return to normal. Bahl, however, vehemently denies these allegations. “Let people say whatever they want to. I am a man who works for the uplift of my city and its residents. Just see the numerous projects I have ushered in the town. I am actually working hard to find a solution to the garbage problem,” he said. People who know Bahl say he can never act as an impediment when it comes to overcoming the crisis that often plague the town. Pahra has even requested the district administration to find a dumping site. He says the MC is ready to pay the rent. However, there are not many takers because there is no land available on the city’s outskirts. Extraordinary problems require extraordinary solutions. “If we cannot find a solution now, we never will. It is time to think for yourself, or others will think for you without thinking of you. The best way to get rid of a problem is to solve it,” said Raman Bahl. Congmen also protest in Bhikhiwind VISHAL KUMAR A truck of the Gurdaspur municipal committee throws garbage in public place at night. Amritsar, September 17 Congress leaders and workers held protests against the deteriorating law and order situation at different places in the city and Majitha. The call for the protest was given by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC). Former Chairman of Improvement Trust and Congress leader Dinesh Bassi also staged a sitin today outside the office of ADCP City Harpal Singh in Mal Mandi. Bassi lashed out at the state government saying that people were not safe even in their homes. Dinesh Bassi, who sat on a dharna with Congress workers in East constituency, alleged that the law and order situation had deteriorated badly. Every village Cong leader Dinesh Bassi (centre) and party workers during a protest outside the office of the ADCP (City) in Amritsar on Tuesday. and city in Punjab was facing problems due to the laxity of law and order enforcing authorities, he said. Block president and former councillor Navdeep Singh Hundal, who was present on the occasion, said that in the name of change, the state government had created a situation where there was no peace. If people are not safe, then the state will not be able to progress, he said. Tarn Taran: Former MLA and Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Bhullar has decried the deteriorating law and order situation in the district. Addressing party workers who were staging a dharna against the state government in front of the DSP office in Bhikhiwind on Tuesday, Bhullar said the residents of this border district have been left to the mercy of gangsters who were entering houses and terrorising people with the police remaining a mute spectator. He said that a number of families of well established businessmen, qualified doctors and others have migrated to safer places from the area. Banks and filling stations were being looted during the daytime at gunpoint. Gurmukh Singh Sandhpur, Devinder Singh, Bakhshish Singh Daliri and Surinderpal Dipty were among those who addressed the gathering. A memorandum in the name of the state government was presented to the DSP concerned. The party workers also staged dharnas in front of the office of the DSP’s in Tarn Taran, Patti , Sri Goindwal Sahib and presented memorandum to the police officers. Admn appoints nodal Master cadre teachers move court officers to help farmers over being ignored for promotions CROP RESIDUE MGMT Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 17 The district administration has appealed to the farmers that as per the orders of the National Green Tribunal, burning of crop residue in fields is banned. For the purpose of ensuring that no farmer burns crop residue, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney appointed nodal officers and made their telephone numbers public so that they can be contacted in case of requirement for machines for alternate management of crop residue. The DC said farmers can contact these nodal officers for requirement of any machinery for the purpose. She said farmers should make maximum use of agricultural machinery avail- c m y b able in custom hiring centres. Chief Agriculture Officer Tajinder Singh Hundal stated that Jograjbir Singh (8872007540) has been appointed nodal officer for Amritsar, Harmandeep Singh (9646566262) for Tarsikka, Jagbir Singh (9592689897) for Chogawan, Rajinder Singh (9855819697) for Majitha, Upkar Singh (8872220005) for Jandiala Guru, Mohit Kumar (9888711976) for Verka, Manik Devgan (8437962059) for Attari, Sudeep Singh (9888848525) for Rayya, Sukhmeet Singh (9914559300) Ajnala and Manjit Singh (8872366257) for Harsha Chinna. He said the farmers can contact the nodal officer of their area for any information or help required for crop residue management. Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 17 The master cadre teachers from Punjab who raised objections over cases not being considered for promotions by the Education Department have now moved the High Court against the department’s order of promoting teachers, but excluding several master cadre teachers again. The issue had prevailed since the Education Department cancelled promotions of 688 government school teachers, among whom were several left out cases of promotions from master cadre. Twenty five teachers (master cadre) from across Punjab, who were eligible for promotions but were ignored, have moved the court, demanding promotion. Issue arose when promotions of 688 teachers not given “There are several teachers from master cadre, who despite clearing the eligibility for seniority and other requirement, have been waiting for promotions for three to six years. My promotion was due since 2022, but this opportunity was for us to ensure that we get our due. Now, once again we have been left out and our juniors, who have been promoted, will gain seniority over us. This is injustice to teachers who have been serving in the department for the last 18-20 years and are about to retire,” said Iqbal Singh, a master cadre teacher of Punjabi, from Government High School, Sultanwind. The ‘left-out cases’ of promotions have blamed the three-member committee formed by the Education Department to recommend promotions for the earlier fiasco. “Several ineligible candidates made it to the first list of 688 cases of promotions, but now genuine cases have to suffer. Despite several appeals to the government, we were forced to move court to get our due,” said Iqbal Singh. The Democratic Teachers’ Front too had demanded that long-pending promotions of other cadres (ETT to Master Cadre, C and V to Master Cadre, Master Cadre to Headmaster, Headmaster Cadre to Principal Cadre) also be completed.