21092024-ATR-01.qxd 9/20/2024 11:20 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune PUNJAB KISAN MAZDOOR SANGHARSH COMMITTEE GETS OFFICE-BEARERS Satnam Singh Pannu, leader of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, has called upon women to lead farmers’ agitation.P2 » ALL SET FOR INTERNATIONAL INDIAN FILM ACADEMY AWARDS Nora Fatehi will be seen setting the stage on fire with her performance at the 24th edition of the IIFA. P4 » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MYSTICISM, EMOTION COMBINE IN WORKS OF ARADHANA TANDON An audio-visual presentation, Shades of Life, at Alliance Francaise, showcased paintings by renowned artist Aradhana Tandon.P4 » MAX 35°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.28 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:18 AM SATURDAY | 21 SEPTEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR Promise to repair roads turns hollow as many stretches in city cry for attention Two suspects of Chandigarh hand grenadeattacksenttojudicialremand Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 20 The two suspects of Chandigarh hand grenade attack identified as Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih were produced in a local court by the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on Friday after expiry of their police remand. The court sent them to judicial custody. The Chandigarh Police would likely arrest them after seeking their production warrant from a court in the hand grenade attack case. Rohan Masih, a resident of Pashia village, located near the International Border in the Ramdass area, and Vishal Masih allegedly hurled a hand grenade at a house in Sector 10, Chandigarh, at the behest of US-based gangsterturned-terrorist Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Pashia, and a Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda. The Punjab Police had declared the incident as a terror attack targeted at a former cop who used to reside at that residence a couple of months ago. Following the blast, a CCTV camera footage of the two suspects had surfaced. They were later identified as Rohan Masih of Pashia village in Amritsar district and Vishal Masih of Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district located near the International Border with Pakistan. A manhunt was launched for their arrest. While Rohan was arrested from Amritsar, Vishal was apprehended by the police with the help of the central agencies from Delhi. The duo were arrested by the SSOC in connection with a case of the cross-border smuggling registered on September 8. (From left) Broken Chamrang Road, commuters pass by damaged stretch at Sultanwind Chowk and a potholed Ajit Nagar Chowk Road in Amritsar. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR Amritsar, September 20 Residents of the holy city are fed up with deplorable condition of roads, despite repeated promises by local MLAs to recarpet these stretches. Roads in the walled city and interior areas are riddled with potholes, making commuting a nightmare for residents. Even outer roads, including those in the posh areas, need urgent repairs. Commuters have reported bumpy rides and accidents due to poor condition of roads. Big potholes can be seen on Ajit Nagar Road, Sultanwind Chowk and Chamrag Road. Roads connecting with periphery towns are treacherous with major potholes creating hazards in driving. Sultanwind Road, Mehta Road, GT Road and Majitha Road are teeming Rajoke village resident loses bike to robbers Manhunt launched to arrest DSP booked on charge of corruption Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 20 A manhunt has been launched by the Punjab Police to arrest Vavinder Mahajan, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), after he was booked on the charge of corruption and under the NDPS Act. More heads are likely to roll during further investigation in the case. Officials of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) today questioned a BJP leader who was considered close to the DSP The police . were also investigating the role of some other cops who were associated with the DSP while he was deployed in the Special Task Force (now Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, September 20 A gang of six robbers snatched a motorcycle from a resident of Rajoke village. The victim was on his way to school for duty on Wednesday when the incident happened. Gurjinder Singh in his complaint to the police stated that his brother Pawandeep Singh was on way to school in Mari Gaur Singh village. When he reached near Maddar Mathra Bhagi village, six miscreants on two motorcycles intercepted him, he said. The robbers severely thrashed Pawandeep, took his bike and fled towards Basarke village, he added. ASI Bakhshish Singh of the Khalra police station said a case under Section 304 of the BNS had been registered against robbers on Thursday. with potholes. Batala Road has been dug up to lay pipeline for 24x7 canal water supply. The outer bypass road is also in pathetic state with some stretches washed away by recent rains. Residents are frustrated as the authorities concerned have failed to address the issue. “Political leaders made announcements that funds have been released for road repair, but there has been no rechristened as ANTF). Officials of the ANTF were still tight-lipped over any development in the case. They refrained from commenting on the issue on the pretext that it would hamper the probe. “We cannot share anything on the issue as the matter is still under investigation. If there is any development it would be shared accordingly,” an official said on condition of anonymity. According to the police Mahajan allegedly accepted Rs 45 lakh bribe from Akhil Jai Singh, a resident of Gokhal Marg in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, for giving him a clean chit in a case wherein change on the ground level,” said Mohan Singh, a resident of Partap Nagar. He said residents were demanding immediate road repairs to ensure safe and smooth commuting. Roads leading to the Golden Temple in the walled city and other interior stretches have not been recarpeted even after tall claims of the municipal corporation (MC). “Potholes and uneven surfaces on roads in the city huge quantity of pharmaceutical drugs were seized from a firm situated in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. Kuldeep Singh, DGP , ANTF, had alleged that the DSP had been supporting drug suppliers by indulging in corrupt practices. Mahajan and Akhil were booked following statements of two drug inspectors. “After the two vital witnesses gave voluntary statements before a judicial officer and further corroborated it by financial and technical evidence exposing Mahajan’s misconduct, the ANTF decided to take legal action against him,” the DGP said. — TNS cause accidents. The recent rain has aggravated the situation,” said Saurav Sharma, a resident of Batala Road. “The city residents are losing patience. They have urged the authorities to take swift action to address the broken road crisis. Political leaders have made announcements that funds have been released for repairs, but nothing has changed,” said Sukh Ram, another city resident. Two nabbed with pistol, cartridges Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, September 20 The police arrested two persons from a naka laid on the Jarmastpur village bridge on the Tarn Taran-Chabal road on Thursday with illegal weapon and cartridges. ASI Jaspal Singh, who was heading a police team at the naka, said the two suspects were identified as Sanni and Kuldeep Singh Keepa, both residents of Kajikot Kalan village. The ASI said an illegal pistol and four cartridges were recovered from the possession of the duo. The city police registered a case under Sections 25 (6), 54 and 59 of the Arms Act against the suspects on Thursday. Four suspects in custody of the police in Amritsar on Friday. Four arrested with 10 mobile phones, motorcycle from Gate Hakima area Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 20 The Gate Hakima police have arrested a gang of snatchers involved in snatching mobile phones and other valuables from devotees and tourists coming to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple here. The four arrested suspects were identified as Harpreet Singh, alias Happy, Arshdeep Singh and Harpal Singh, all residents of Chela Colony located on the Khemkaran road in the Bhikhiwind area They were produced in a court and brought on police remand for further investigation, the ADCP said. More recoveries could likely be made from them during interrogation, he added. The police had received a tip-off that the suspects were involved in snatching incidents near Darbar Sahib and the adjoining areas. Immediately, the police and PCR teams were alerted and the suspects were arrested. A case was registered against the suspects in this connection. Flesh trade flourishing in garb of spa centres Man bludgeons brother to death Amritsar, September 20 In a shocking incident, a man bludgeoned his brother to death at Sainsara Kalan village falling under the Jhander police station here last night. The deceased was identified as Nirmal Singh (40). The police have arrested the suspect identified as Balbir Singh from Sainsara Kalan village. Victim’s brother Jagroop Singh told the police that they were three brothers and also had a sister. The complainant said he lived separately from his family while his sister was married. He said his two brothers, Balbir Singh and Nirmal Singh, were unmarried and lived together in the same house at Sainsara Kalan village. He said the two often had a tiff. Jagroop said when Nirmal was asleep yesterday night, he heard Balbir shouting. He woke up and saw Balbir hitting Nirmal with a wooden club leading to his death on the spot. Kamalpreet Kaur, SHO, Jhander police station, said suspect was arrested and murder weapon recovered from him. She said a case was registered against suspect. — TNS in Tarn Taran district and Jashanpreet Singh Dal, a resident of Khalra village in Tarn Taran district. The police recovered at least 10 mobile phones, besides a motorcycle without registration number plate from the possession of the suspects. Vishaljit Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), said two of the suspects had criminal cases registered against them. He said the credentials of the remaining suspects were being verified. PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Farmers protest against administration; and (right) vehicles stuck in a traffic jam on Bhandari Bridge in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR Farmers block bridge over attachment of house-cum-shop of trader Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 20 Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) staged a protest against the district administration at Bhandari Bridge and blocked traffic from 12pm to 3pm here today. They were protesting against attachment orders of a house-cum-shop at Nagali village. Commuters on the GT road, who got stuck in a traffic jam for long hours, flayed farmers for holding protest on the bridge. However, farmer leaders claimed that they had blocked only one side of the road, but the police barricaded the area and completely blocked the traffic. Karamjeet Singh Nangali, district president, BKU, said, “The police and the district administration tried to vacate a house-cum-shop in Nagali village yesterday. The police tried to evacuate its occupants forcefully. Poor shopkeeper was helpless in front of the heavy police force and officials.” He further said, “We intervened and asked officials to listen to the shopkeeper’s family. Everyone is aware of how Covid-19 pandemic has affected small businesses due to which many traders have not been able to pay their loans. Instead of listening to the family, officials instructed the police to c m y b remove farmer union workers from the spot. The police manhandled farmer leaders.” Leaders of the BKU said yesterday officials had claimed that a handful of farmers were creating nuisance. They said, “Today, we are here to show our strength. We will not allow officials to attach Sethi’s house-cum-shop at Nagali village. He is a poor trader. Sethi has claimed that he took a loan from a finance company and started a water and cold drinks refilling unit.” Sethi said, “Due to outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic I failed to repay loan. I want to settle the matter with the finance company, but the latter wants to take over my property. Leaders of the BKU have given a call to intensify the struggle if the administration tries to evacuate me from my house-cum-shop.” Amritsar, September 20 The flesh trade racket has allegedly been flourishing in the holy city in the garb of spa and massage centres if recent police raids are anything to go by. As many as eight spa centres and hotels were raided by the police in the last three months during which several persons were arrested and women, including foreign nationals, especially girls from Thailand, were rescued from spots. In one such instance, two Thailand girls jumped from a spa centre located on the fifth floor of a hotel situated near the interstate bus terminus here. They jumped to the third floor of a nearby building. Both were seriously injured and received multiple fractures. The police had got specific information that the owner and manager of the spa centre were allegedly running a prostitution racket. A case under Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act was registered against them. The incident had occurred in the mid-July this year. In another incident, the Civil Lines police recently raided two hotels and arrested girls involved in prostitution. Managers of both the hotels were also arrested by the police.The police investigations had revealed that in some cases girls were lured, duped and pushed into the flesh trade by traffickers under the garb of spa centres and massage parlours while for some girls it was matter of livelihood. Last year too, the police had rescued at least seven Thailand girls from such centres while five of them were deported to their native country. According to finding of the probe, these girls were lured for work and later pushed into flesh trade after taking their passports. Past several years have witnessed mushrooming of illegal spa centres not only in the posh localities, but also in other parts of the city including Chheharta and on the Sultanwind road. However, in the absence of any checks by the authorities concerned, these centres have allegedly turned into prostitution dens.