06102024-ATR-01.qxd 10/5/2024 11:11 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY LABOURERS BEGIN WORK FOR CROPS OTHER THAN PADDY ARBAAZ KHAN INAUGURATES VENUE FOR STAND-UP COMEDY NIMRIT KAUR SET FOR DEBUT WITH SHAUNKI SARDAR A BKU delegation urged the state government to begin the paddy procurement immediately. P2 Arbaaz Khan inaugurated Cineport Club on the 4th floor of PPR Mall, Mithapur Road on Saturday. P2 The movie features Punjabi heavyweight Babbu Maan alongside singer-actor Guru Randhawa. P4 » » » MAX 34°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6.08 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6.28 AM SUNDAY | 6 OCTOBER 2024 | AMRITSAR 3,770 file papers for sarpanch in 860 panchayats of district 506-gm heroin seized from border village Tarn Taran, October 5 A joint operation by the BSF and the Punjab Police seized 506 gms of heroin lying in the fields of Ajit Singh of Dall village here on Saturday. Preetinder Singh, DSP , Bhikhiwind, said the police received a secret information that some suspects were searching for some objectionable item in the fields of Ajit Singh. The DSP said the police party on receiving information rushed to the spot along with personnel of the 103 Battalion of BSF from Amarkot, BOP at Dall. After opening a yellow taped packet which was seized by the police, they found the contraband in it. The Khalra police have registered a case under Sections 10, 11 and 12 of the Aircraft Act and Section 21-C of the NDPS Act. The BSF and Punjab Police conducted a joint search operation for more recovery, but nothing suspicious was found. The police are conducting intelligence and scientific investigation to find and arrest the accused involved in the illegal activity. — OC Candidates can be disqualified on various grounds, fears Oppn Tribune News Service The accused in custody of the Amritsar police on Saturday. Robbers’ gang busted, 5 nabbed Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 5 With the arrest of five persons, including a minor, the city police have busted a gang of robbers. They were involved in incidents of snatching and robbery that took place in Mohkampura, Maqboolpura and Sultanwind areas on a single day. Those arrested were identified as Sagardeep Singh, alias Sagar, of Kot Mit Singh, Gurjit Singh, alias, Manu of Bhai Manjh Singh road, Asees Amrit of Kot Mit Sigh and Dilpreet Singh of Ramsar road. The police also recovered a scooter, two bikes and two snatched mobile phones from their possession. Deputy Commissioner of Police Alam Vijay Singh said Sanju Kumar of Dashmesh Nagar near Jora Phatak (twin railway crossing) told the police that on September 29, when he reached near a railway crossing underpass while returning home, six persons came on a bike and a scooter. They stopped his e-rickshaw and snatched his mobile phone and ~3,000 cash. He said during technical investigations, the police identified the suspects, including a 16-year-old boy, who was part of the gang. During a preliminary interrogation, they revealed that on the same day, they looted Sonu Singh of Vallah who was on night duty at the Vallah vegetable market. He was returning home in the wee hours when the accused pushed him and snatched his motorcycle. In Sultanwind area, they had robbed Ankush Sharma of Panthankot. He along with his friend had come to take part in a recruitment drive conducted by the ITBP He . was standing outside a hotel when the accused snatched his mobile and ~10,000 cash from him. The DCP said three separate FIRs were registered against them in this connection. They were produced in a court and brought on two-day police remand for further investigations. Reprieve for DSP Vavinder Mahajan as High Court transfers probe to CBI PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 5 Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Vavinder Mahajan got a major reprieve after the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday shifted the probe into the seizure of a huge quantity of pharma drugs in an inter-state operation in February this year to the Central Bureau of investigation (CBI). Mahajan was booked by the Anti-Narcotic Task Force (earlier STF) on charges of corruption in addition to the provisions of NDPS Act in the case. The court has also restrained the STF from conducting any further investigations in the matter against the petitioner (Mahajan) till the conclusion of a prelimi- DSP Vavinder Mahajan nary inquiry by the CBI. It also directed the agency to submit an inquiry report within four months. On September 19, the STF booked Mahajan for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 45 lakh from Akhil Jai Singh of Gokhale Marg in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh for giving him a clean chit in the seizure of huge quantity of pharmaceutical drugs from Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. The name of Akhil’s firm, Aster Pharma, situated in Palghar, Maharashtra, had cropped up during investigations. Mahajan along with Akhil were booked following the disclosure statements of two drug inspectors, Shishan Mittal and Sukhdeep Singh. “An issue of this propensity needs to be investigated thoroughly as the racket involves an inter-state operation while possibility of people with clout at different levels cannot be ruled out. Given the volume of trade, the manner in which it operates and the nature of allegations levelled, the court deems it appropriate to direct the CBI to carry out a preliminary inquiry into the matter,” said Justice Vinod Sharma in the order. On the request for additional manpower for investigations by the CBI, he also directed the Punjab government to ensure requisite manpower asked for by the Central agency. Mahajan’s lawyer Ajay Vermani filed the petition in the High Court while contending that the petitioner was being framed and maligned in a false case to protect the pharma manufacturers and alleged kingpins in the illegal drug trade. He said the petitioner was arraigned as a suspect to safeguard the real violators and the drug syndicate while requesting for thorough investigations by an independent agency. He said he was ready and willing to join probe and face the interrogation to establish his innocence. Amritsar, October 5 Even as it was the day for scrutiny of nominations filed by candidates for panchayat elections, the election offices did not put up the lists till late in evening. As per the election schedule announced earlier, the administration had allowed candidates to file their nominations till October 4. The schedule further stated that the scrutiny of papers would be done on October 5 and candidates who want to withdraw from the election process can do so on October 6 and October 7. The election is to be held on October 15. Sources in the district administration stated that with a large number of applicants filing their nominations, the scrutiny of papers requires more time. The lists, if ready, would be available by morning, they said. For 860 panchayats in the dis- IRB cop held for sneaking narcotics into Central Jail Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 5 The Islamabad police have arrested a senior constable of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) who was deputed at the Amritsar Central Jail here for allegedly trying to sneak in 120gm of narcotic powder inside the high-security jail premises here on Saturday. Besides him, the police also booked Jadish Singh, alias Jagga, an inmate and resident of Shero Bagga village, for allegedly possessing a keypad phone with a SIM. Jail staff said they got a tipoff that senior constable Kulbir Singh IRB was allegedly involved in supplying narcotic substances inside the jail. continued on page 2 Woman strangled; police book in-laws for dowry death Tribune News Service A nagar kirtan procession being taken out in Tarn Taran on Saturday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI ‘Salana Jor Mela’: Devotees take out Nagar Kirtan in Tarn Taran Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, October 5 On the first day of the threeday ‘Salana Jor Mela’, a colourful Nagar Kirtan procession was taken out from Gurdwara Bir Baba Budha Sahib, Thatha on Saturday. Under the patronage of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Panj Piaras led the Nagar Kirtan procession. A large number of devotees from different parts of the country and even abroad attended the procession. Baba Budha Sahib was the first Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib. When the Nagar Kirtan started, Head Granthi Giani Nishan Singh performed Ardas and a contingent of the police led by DSP Sarabjit Singh saluted it. The horses and elephants of Dal Panth Baba Bidhi Chand (Sursing), gatka, band parties and the school students added glory to the Nagar Kirtan. Members of the SGPC and representatives of different Sikh sects also participated in the Nagar Kirtan procession. The Nagar Kirtan passed through Baghiari, Swaragapuri, Chabal and other villages of the area and concluded at its starting point, the Gurdwara Sahib, Thatha. Sarabdial Singh, manager of the gurdwara, honoured the personalities who helped organise the Nagar Kirtan with success. Amritsar, October 5 A 21-year-old married woman was allegedly strangled to death by her husband and inlaws for dowry here on Friday. The incident occurred at Mehadipur village falling under the Majitha police station here. The victim, identified as Preet (21), was married to Vishal Masih in March last year. On the complaint of Saba Masih, victim’s father and resident of Dhariwal in Gurdaspur, the Majitha police have registered a case against three persons, though no arrest has been made till now. Besides Vishal Masih, the police booked his father Labha Masih and mother Deesho under Sections 80 (dowry death) and 61 (2) of the BNS. Saba told the police that Preet was married to Vishal c m y b in March last year as per the religious rituals and he had given dowry as per his capacity. He said after three months of marriage, the accused started harassing his daughter and sent her home after a quarrel. She was again sent back to her in-law’s house following the intervention of relatives and elderly people of the community. He said yesterday, he got a call from her in-laws that Preet was vomiting blood and she was taken to hospital. He said he along with his family reached their house and found Preet dead. He said they found strangulation marks around her neck. They suspected that the accused had strangled her to death for dowry. The police have recovered the rope while further investigations were on. A day after filing nominations, candidates wait for the lists to be put up after the scrutiny of papers filed by candidates outside the election offices till late evening in Amritsar on Saturday. trict, a total of 3,770 aspirants for the post of sarpanch and 14,860 aspirants for the post of panchayat members have submitted their nominations with the district administration. With candidates alleging irregularities during the nomination process — Opposition parties alleged harassment of their candidates who were not being issued no objection certificates (NOCs) — there are now apprehensions that the candidature of Opposition candidates might be rejected on one pretext or the other. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has appointed Harpreet Singh, IAS, as special observer for panchayat elections in the district. Addi- tional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Paramjit Kaur said that special election observer Harpreet Singh Sudan would remain in the district till October 7. She said that in case of any complaints, the residents can contact him at the PWD Resthouse near Rialto Chowk from 1 pm to 3 pm. MC cracks whip on encroachments Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 5 In a bid to reclaim public spaces, the estate wing of the municipal corporation has launched an anti-encroachment drive, removing illegal structures and confiscating goods from various areas in the city. A team, led by Estate Officer Dharminderjit Singh, visited Ratan Singh Chowk, Circular Road and Majitha Road clearing footpaths and roads of encroachments here Friday. Some of illegally installed vends were also removed, ensuring a trouble-free movement of traffic and pedestrians. “The confiscated goods will not be returned,” warned Dharminderjit Singh, Estate Officer. “The drive is part of the municipal corporation’s efforts to maintain public spaces and prevent unau- Addict youth, woman taken to de-addiction centre in city Tribune News Service MC staff remove a vend on the Fatehgarh Churian road in Amritsar. thorized occupation. The municipal corporation has been working to make Amritsar a clean and beautiful city. By removing Social activists for enforcing MC bylaws for cleanliness in cities Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 5 A video of a woman and youth allegedly in an intoxicated state near Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra Interstate Bus Terminus went viral on social media here yesterday. The local police swung into action and got them admitted to the Swami Vivekanand De-addiction Centre at Government Medical College here for treatment. The girl and youth later confessed that they suffered from addiction and used to consume pharmaceutical drugs. They said after the intervention of the police, they wanted to get treated and detoxified at the deaddiction centre. Assistant Commissioner of Police (East) Gurinderbir continued on page 2 encroachments, the civic body aims to promote a cleaner, more organized urban environment,” added Dharminderjit. Amritsar, October 5 Social activists have demanded the strict implementation of Punjab Municipal (Sanitation and Public Health) Bylaws 2003 to make all villages and cities of Punjab, including Amritsar, free of pollution. In a letter written to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, office-bearers of the NGO Amritsar Vikas Manch, including Manmohan Singh Brar, Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi, Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, president Harjap Singh Aujla and general secretary Surinderjit Singh Bittu stated that the Punjab Municipal (Sanitation and Public Health) Bylaws 2003 was enacted by the state government in 2003 on the lines of Singapore to ensure the cleanliness of cities. Apart from this, garbage cannot be dumped, nor can anyone dump debris and other dirt on roads, parks and streets. It is prohibited to wash cars on the roads and axe trees. Even during the cleaning of houses, water can’t be used to wash floors as it is prohibited under this law. Several other instructions and guidelines under the Act have not been implemented by the Punjab government even after 21 years. Office-bearers of Amritsar Vikas Manch stated that this law applies to all types of municipal bodies, including villages. Just as challans are issued for traffic rule violations, challans should be issued to those who violate these municipal bylaws, only then will there be continued on page 2