20092024-ATR-01.qxd 9/19/2024 10:12 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 26°C ABOHAR MAN DIES AS CAR COLLIDES WITH SUV PUMP OPERATORS PROTEST NEAR CM’S RESIDENCE ON NATIONAL CINEMA DAY, TICKETS TO COST ONLY ~99 A resident of Abohar died when the car he was travelling in collided with an SUV near Malout. P3 Gram Panchayat Water Supply Pump Operators Association staged a dharna near CM Mann’s house . P3 On National Cinema Day, tickets in theatres will be available for ~99. Let’s see what’s playing in Chandigarh. P4 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 6.29 PM » SUNRISE SATURDAY 6.18 AM FRIDAY | 20 SEPTEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR Two associates of foreign-based gangster held after encounter VB arrests Assistant Town Planner taking ~50K bribe Tribune News Service SSP Gaurav Toora addresses mediapersons in Tarn Taran on Thursday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, September 19 Two associates of a gangster, Prabh Dasuwal, who were injured during a brief encounter with the police on the intervening night of September 18 and 19, were arrested with arms and ammunition. Both were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Patti, where their condition is stated to be stable. One of them is a juvenile and the other has been identified as Pawandeep Singh, a resident of Bler Road, Bhikhiwind. The police recovered a Glock pistol (made in Austria), a countrymade pistol and two empty and eight cartridges from their possession. SSP Gaurav Toora informed newsmen here on Thursday that both had been working on the instructions of gangster Prabh Dasuwal, a resident of Dasuwal village (Valtoha), who is said to have fled to a foreign country. He has been demanding extortion money from well-established businessmen of the area. He, with the help of his associates, even fired at their houses to terrorise them. The SSP said a team of CIA staff led by Inspector Prabhjit Singh, in charge of the local CIA staff, and Inspector Gurcharan Singh, SHO, Patti (Sadar), on a tipoff, jointly installed a naka on the Bharowal (Muthianwala) bridge. Both associates, riding a motorcycle, were signalled to stop. Instead of stopping the motorcycle, they opened fire on the police party which, in self-defence, also fired at the accused leaving them injured. The accused had stolen the bike they were riding. The SSP said the accused were also involved in firing at some of those people who refused to give extortion money to the gangster. Their involvements were also found in some other crimes like firing gunshots at a kariana shop in Valtoha, at the house of a medico in Chuslewar and at a goldsmith’s shop at Ghariala village. The SSP said the accused had stolen the bike on which they were riding a day before the incident and they were getting ready to commit a major crime. Amritsar, September 19 The Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Thursday arrested Assistant Town Planner (ATP) Harjinder Singh, posted with the Amritsar Municipal Corporation, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ~50,000. Confirming his arrest, SSP (Vigilance) Gursewak Singh Brar said that he has been arrested following a complaint lodged by Sai Kiran, a resident of Sandhu Avenue, Batala Road, here. He said the complainant approached the VB alleging that the accused had earlier taken a bribe of ~5 lakh for issuing a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the colony being constructed by the complainant at Kot Khalsa, Amritsar. He alleged the ATP was again demanding a bribe of ~2 lakh for completing the NOC formalities. He said after a preliminary enquiry, the VB laid a trap and the accused was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of ~50,000 in the presence of two official witnesses. He said a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the ATP at VB police station, Amritsar Range. The accused would be produced in a competent court tomorrow. State govt urged to improve connectivity to city airport by providing bus service Jallianwala Bagh in neglect, cries for official attention Tiles bearing names of martyrs gather dust, some missing Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 19 The Jallianwala Bagh Memorial at Amrit Anand Park, a site developed for honouring the martyrs of the 1919 massacre at Ranjit Avenue, lies in a state of neglect. Tiles engraved with the names of the fallen heroes have been removed and left to gather dust, sparking outrage among activists and locals. The memorial was inaugurated three years ago on August 15, 2021, by the then Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in memory of those who achieved martyrdom in the massacre of April 13, 1919. Built at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore, it is spread over 1.5 acres. It was constructed to make the young generation aware of history. The names of officially known 488 martyrs are inscribed on the black and grey granite stone walls of the memorial. Only four years after construction, the memorial is in a shambles and crying for attention. Crumbling infrastructure, overgrown vegetation and lack of maintenance have reduced the site to a shadow of its former self. Migrant worker killed after a tiff A tile bearing the names of martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh lies damaged near the wall at Amrit Anand park in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Concerns have also been raised about the quality of material used in the memorial’s construction. Locals and activists are demanding immediate restoration of the memorial and also an inquiry into the use of substandard material by the authorities concerned. “This is a shameful disregard of our martyrs,” said local activist Pawan Sharma. “The authorities have failed to maintain the memorial, and now the tiles are broken. We demand an inquiry into the substandard materials used for the memorial,” said Sharma. “Those responsible for this negligence must be held accountable,” he added. “This is not just a memorial, but a symbol of our nation’s struggle for independence. The authorities must take immediate action to restore it to its former glory. Regular maintenance is required to prevent future neglect. We will continue to fight for the memorial’s restoration and dignity,” added Sharma. The Jallianwala Bagh Memorial is a site which deserves respect and care. The authorities must act swiftly to restore its dignity and honour the memories of those who sacrificed their lives. “The nation remembers its martyrs, but it seems the authorities have forgotten,” said SS Sandhu, a resident of E Block, Ranjit Avenue. Alma mater hails its former student and first woman fighter to fly Tejas Tribune News Service PK Jaiswar Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 19 Aviation activists and representatives of the Punjabi diaspora have accused the state government of neglecting Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar and favouring services at the Delhi airport. FlyAmritsar Initiative, an advocacy group working to enhance air connectivity to Amritsar, has voiced serious concern over what it described was discriminatory attitude towards Amritsar airport. The activists highlighted that while the Punjab Government had previously launched a Volvo luxury bus service from various cities in Punjab to Delhi airport, no such service had been provided for Amritsar airport, despite it catering to more than 10,000 passengers daily (30 lakh annually), including a large chunk of the Punjabi diaspora. Recently, the state government even set up a help desk at Delhi airport with three employees and two vehicles deployed to assist travellers, yet no comparable facilities exist at Amritsar airport. “It is disheartening that Amritsar remains the only international airport in India where the state government has not arranged a bus service. This neglect is not only a disservice to Amritsar but to the entire state of Punjab. The government does not need to take permission from anyone to run buses from airport to the city as well as to the different towns of Pun- jab; they can do it at their own level,” said Sameep Singh Gumtala and Anantdeep Singh Dhillon in a joint statement. “The Punjab Government should take immediate action and improve connectivity to Amritsar through bus service and by setting up a help desk at the airport. This would allow passengers to reach their homes in a more affordable manner and encourage more flights to Amritsar. Additionally, tourists would find it easier to visit key sites such as Darbar Sahib, Durgiana Temple, Wagah border and other attractions from the airport,” stated Gumtala. Yogesh Kamra, Convener, Fly Amritsar Initiative, said it has been observed that whenever a new flight is launched, there is rush among politicians and ministers in the state government to gain political mileage. “The government and leaders often blame the Central Government for lack of flight operations from the airport, but the state government does not take any action like providing bus service or other facilities to the airport, though the matter falls under the purview of the Punjab government,” he said. Amritsar airport handles an average of 65 to 70 domestic and international daily flights. These flights connect Amritsar with about 10 Indian and nine foreign airports including London, Birmingham, Milan Malpensa, Rome, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Sharjah and Dubai. Attari trader, residents protest against govt EXTORTION THREAT PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 19 Days after extortion call by alleged gangsters to an Attari trader and AAP leader, the victim along with the residents of the Attari border town held a demonstration against the police for its failure to nab the suspects. Jaswinder Singh, the victim, alleged that he was continuously getting threats from foreign-based numbers. Businessman Kulwant Singh and residents during a protest over extortion call on the main Attari road near Amritsar on Thursday. The caller, identifying himself as Chopra, demanded Rs 50 lakh as extortion money. He along with his supporters had blocked the AmritsarAttari road last night after he got the call again. Though the police have provided security to his family, he alleged that he was getting repeated threat calls from gangsters. “My house has become like a jail as my child cannot go to school. My wife, principal of a private school, is also at home continued on page 2 c m y b Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 19 A migrant worker was killed over some minor issue in the posh Kennedy Avenue locality here last night. The deceased was identified as Minku (40), who originally hailed from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. The accused was also identified as a migrant worker from UP , Sunil Kumar (35). Assistant Commissioner of Police Maninderpal Singh said that the accused has been arrested and further probe was on. According to information received, the duo used to work at a shop. Last night, they were drinking together when a quarrel erupted between the two. Sunil Kumar hit Minku with an iron rod in rage, leaving him critically injured. He died on the spot while the accused fled the scene. The incident came to light in the morning. Following initial probe, the police arrested the suspect and registered a murder case against him. Amritsar, September 19 Celebrating the feat of Squadron Leader Mohana Singh, who made history by becoming the first woman pilot to fly Tejas, India’s indigenously built fighter jet, the Global Group of Colleges sent congratulatory messages to their former student and her family. Mohana Singh became the first woman pilot to fly India’s Tejas fighter jet during the ‘Tarang Shakti’ exercise in Jodhpur. Sharing sentiments with the entire nation, Global Institute’s vice-chairman Akashdeep Chandi said it was a matter of pride that their alumna has rewritten history and shattered the glass ceiling by becoming a shining example of gender equality in the armed forces. “Mohana Singh was a student of B.Tech (Electronics & Communication) during the period 2009-2013. In 2016, she joined the IAF as one of the first woman fighter pilots. She is truly a trailblazer, whether it’s her feat of flying MiG-21 to joining Squadron Leader Mohana Singh, a former student of Global Institutes in Amritsar, during her visit to the alma mater two years ago. FILE PHOTO LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Tejas squadron, an elitist flying squadron of the Indian Air Force,” said Chandi. He also elaborated on her being a prolific student and an allrounder. “She was a good student and also excelled in extracurricular activities, as she was always an active participant. Mohana Singh has set new standards for future generations of women fighter pilots, reaffirming that sky is no more the limit but just the beginning for those who dare to dream.” Mohana Singh, who originally hails from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, stayed in Amritsar for four years as her father, Pratap Singh Jitarwal, now retired, served in the IAF as an officer. CROP RESIDUE BURNING Admn verifies only 3 out of 15 cases reported Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 19 Of the 15 crop residue burning incidents reported by the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC) till yesterday (Wednesday), the district administration has confirmed three as the actual number of crop residue burning cases and imposed a fine of ~2,500 on each farmer. Meanwhile, the PRSC reported only one fire incident on Thursday which is being verified by the district administration. In a press note issued on behalf of Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney, the district administration stated that the 15 farm fire incidents were verified by the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDM) concerned by visiting the fields. The Deputy Commissioner has also instructed the checking staff to visit every field where the fire incident is reported to have taken place by the PRSC. She asked them to remain active on public holidays as stopping such fire cases is most important at this time. The SDMs have also been instructed to ensure that Fire Brigade vehicles reach the fields to douse the flames. Sawhney has asked Nam- berdars of the villages to help in motivating the farmers to shun the practice. She warned government employees against burning crop residue in the agricultural fields owned by them. She said strict action would be taken against them if they are found burning crop residue. The DC said the government has supplied various continued on page 2