13122024-ATR-01.qxd 12/12/2024 11:34 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST COLD WAVE MAX 20°C | MIN 4°C YESTERDAY MAX 20°C | MIN 4°C 45 CHALLANED FOR DRUNKEN DRIVING IN JALANDHAR PUSHPA 2 REFLECTION OF PEOPLE'S LOVE: ALLU ARJUN THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY DESPATCH... The police have intensified its campaign against drunken driving and liquor consumption in vehicles. P3 It has broken many records at the box-office by breaking into the ~1,000 cr club in just six days. P4 Acclaimed director Kanu Behl sums up his OTT film Despatch as ‘journey of modern cowardice’ P4 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 5.28 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7.22 AM » FRIDAY | 13 DECEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR Youth shoots himself dead in police custody Was held for ‘possessing illegal arms’ after intelligence inputs Congress candidates Rajkawal Preet Singh Lucky and his daughter Dr Shobit who filed their nominations from Ward Nos. 14 and 9, respectively; (right) ex-deputy CM OP Soni (2nd from right) accompanies his nephew Vikas Soni who filed the papers in Amritsar on Thursday. VISHAL KUMAR PK Jaiswar Civic body elections: Around 700 nominations filed on last day Amritsar, December 12 Mystery shrouds the death of Manjit Singh, a resident of Khasa, who along with another person, was allegedly detained by the Amritsar Rural Police over intelligence inputs regarding the possession of illegal weapons. He suffered a bullet injury in the police vehicle outside the Gharinda police station here on last midnight and died on the spot. While the family members alleged that the police have encountered him in a fabricated case and demanded the registration of an FIR against the accused police officials, the police refuted the allegations claiming that he committed suicide by shooting himself with his licensed weapon. Deputy Inspector General (Border Range) Satinder Singh said, “Manjit had committed suicide while he was being taken to the police vehicle outside the Gharinda police station following his detention after Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 12 A total of 709 aspirants from various political parties and Independents filed their nominations at the returning offices set by the district administration, on the last day for filing of papers. The returning offices have collected all the nomination papers filed by prospective candidates till 3 pm but a final data was yet to emerge till late in the night. Yesterday, only 22 nominations were filed. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress issued the final list of candidates today at around 11 am. The candidates took the NOCs and filed nominations. It was A BJP candidate on his way to file the papers in Amritsar on Thursday. a long process to check the papers attached along with the applications. Several senior leaders visited the District Administrative Complex to support the candidates filing their nominations. Former Deputy CM Om Parkash Soni came along with his nephew Vikas Soni to file nomination. Member of Parliament Gurjit Singh Aujla congratulated Congress candidate from Ward No. 1 Satinder Kaur Aujla on getting the ticket. Satinder Kaur Aujla said that the Aujla family was already representing the city and she will serve the people of Ward No. 1. Congress leader Raj Kanwal Preet Pal Singh Lucky and his daughter Shobit Kaur both got party tickets and will contest from Ward number 14 and 9, respectively. Around 176 nominations were filed for the 30 seats of Baba Bakala, Rayya, Raja Sansi, Majitha and Ajnala. A total of 885 nominations were filed today. Tribune News Service The police vehicle in which the victim, Manjit Singh (inset), allegedly shot himself in Amritsar. intelligence inputs. A judicial probe is being carried out in the case to investigate the case threadbare.” Bhura Singh, a relative of the victim, said the sarpanch of the village informed him that Manjit had shot himself. He said when they arrived here, they found that the police had shot him dead in a false case. He said Manjit could not shoot himself. He used to run a gym in Khasa area. As per information, he was arrested by the Khasa police on Wednesday morning. However, the family members could neither locate him till late evening nor allowed to meet him. Later, the police claimed that he ended his life by shooting himself in the night in a police vehicle. DSP Lakhwinder Singh said Manjit Singh and Parnam Singh of Khasa were detained by the Khasa police on a specific information regarding possession of illegal weapon. He was taken into custody for a preliminary probe. However, when he was being taken to the police vehicle, he shot himself with his licensed revolver. When asked why the police did not take his weapon into their custody following detention, he said the probe was on. Following the incident, senior police officials reached the spot for investigations. Forensic teams also scanned the area and the police vehicle where he allegedly shot himself. Candidates allege ticket-for-cash scam in MC polls Present lot of Akalis rejected by Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 12 After being denied election ticket by their party, several aspirants switch their loyalty towards other parties at the last minute. Many of them also decide to contest independently. Almost every party is being accused of distributing tickets by taking money. BJP district president Harinder Singh Sandhu has been accused of demanding money for giving the party ticket. OBC Morcha Lok Sabha constituency incharge of BJP Harjinder Singh Raja and candidate from ward number 33 Jaswinder Kaur and some other supporters joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today. Harjinder Singh Raja alleged that that BJP’s district head Harvinder Singh Sandhu was demanding Rs 10 lakh from him, after which he returned the ticket. Jeevan Jyot Kaur, MLA (East), welcomed them in the party. Jagmohan Singh Raju, BJP in-charge in East constituency said, “The state election committee of BJP gave approval to the names of After being denied election ticket, many aspirants have decided to contest the elections independently. Almost every party is being accused of distributing tickets by taking money. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR candidates. Some of the candidates were changed at the level of the party’s district president at the last minute and there is resentment among the party activists”. Raju claimed that Raja demanded party symbol from the district party president but was refused after which he joined the AAP . Another BJP activist Vijay Singh Heera from ward number 34 went live and alleged that the party gave ticket to another person while he has been serv- MC officials inspect night shelter homes Amritsar, December 12 On the directions of the Commissioner, Gulpreet Singh Aulakh, the in-charge, night shelter homes, conducted a thorough inspection of the Rain Basera and night shelter for urban poor and homeless here on Thursday. The inspection team, led by Secretary Sushant Bhatia, along with City Mission Managers Jaspreet Singh, Harinder Singh, and Taranpreet Kaur reviewed the facilities provided in the shelter homes. The inspection included a detailed evaluation of essential arrangements, such as beds, kitchen facilities, bathing areas, and overall living conditions to ensure the well-being and comfort of poor persons. To further prioritise the health and safety of the homeless, a health check-up camp was also organized during the visit. The initiative reflects the municipal corporation’s commitment to providing safe and hygienic facilities to urban poor and homeless. Regular inspections and health camps will continue to be a part of the civic body’s efforts to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable sections of society. — TNS ing the party for the last many years. He also claimed that the party sold ticket for Rs 2 lakh. After the announcement of names of candidates by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), some volunteers from South constituency demonstrated against the party leadership alleging that they took money to give party tickets. Rohit Kumar, state secretary of SC wing of the Aam Aadmi Party, said that he has been associated with the party since 2019. He spent a huge sum and worked for the party in many states. The party used to claim that they are against drugs but party tickets have been given to those who sell alcohol and heroin. He said that he has been working in ward number 85 for many years but the party awarded ticket to a former Congress activist, ignoring his claims. Rohit Kumar alleged that the AAP sold party tickets for Rs 25 lakh. Dimple Arora, another AAP volunteer from ward number 65, left the party when it gave ticket to some other person. He decided to contest the elections independently. As ward number 65 is reserved for women, Arora’s wife Veena will contest the elections. The Congress party also faced opposition in several wards by its own workers after denial of ticket. After denial of party ticket, Congress worker Mehak Rajput decided to field her pet dog in the elections. Today, she reached the SDM-1 office in Amritsar to file her nomination with her pet dog ‘Jimmy’. Mehak Rajput said that she has been associated with the Congress party for the last 20 years. She was seeking party ticket from Ward-38, but the Congress refused and she decided to field her dog in elections. Mehak said that she knows that animals are not allowed to file nominations in the election process, but she wants the administration to accept her dog’s nomination. If this does not happen, she herself will contest the elections as an independent candidate. community, says Mand Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 12 The ‘parallel’ acting jathedar of Akal Takht Dhyan Singh Mand today said that the existing lot of Akalis could never form the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to work in the interest of the Sikh Panth. Mand, after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple today, said that being a representative of the Sikh community after being appointed Akal Takht’s acting Jathedar, he will take into confidence the ‘Panth Dardi’ global Sikh community and form an ‘Akali Dal’. “These existing Akalis are the bunch of ‘daagi’ and ‘baagi’ leaders who could never spare a thought for the welfare of the Panth. Both these groups have been rejected by the quom (community). They have committed ‘sins’ during their erstwhile term. When a series of sacrilege incidents occurred which claimed innocent lives, neither the Takht jathedars nor VISHAL KUMAR Charanjit Singh Teja ‘Parallel’ acting jathedar of Akal Takht Dhyan Singh Mand (centre) after his visit to the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar on Thursday. the SGPC revolted,” he said. On the foiled assassination bid on Sukhbir Singh Badal, he said that Narain Singh Chaura, who tried to open fire, was basically the outcome of emotions and resentment among the Sikh community which was hurt with the atrocities by the SAD. “The SGPC executive had recommended expelling Chaura from the community, but he had expressed the anger of the Sikh community. If the Almighty permits, we will rather award Chaura. I also warn the Youth Akali Dal leader who had tossed his turban during the melee to submit a public apology,” he said. SAD to contest in 55 out of 85 wards ASI run over by Party contesting MC polls independently for first time after its split with BJP Amritsar, December 12 Though the presence of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is feeble in the civic body elections, the party has announced party tickets from 55 wards on the last day for filing of nominations. Out of 85 wards, SAD is not contesting on 30 wards. The party failed to find candidates in Amritsar West assembly constituency where only five SAD candidates are contesting. The situation is almost similar in the Central constituency, where the party is contesting on eight seats. In the North constituency, the party is contesting on 10 seats. The party is contesting SAD candidate Kiran Verma after filing the nominations in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR on 16 seats each in the South and East assembly constituencies. The Shiromani Akali Dal has fielded a few migrant workers also. Kiran Verma, daughter of c m y b Mahesh Verma, leader of Parwasi wing of SAD, is contesting from ward number 13. Said Surjit Singh Pehlwan, district president of SAD, “We are contesting from most wards but have not filed nominations in some of the wards. The party is in a strong position and our candidates will win the elections. We have fielded a few migrant workers to give them representation.” It is worth mentioning here that in 2012 when Amritsar had a total of 65 wards, the Akali Dal won 27 seats. In 2017, 35 candidates were fielded by the Akali Dal and seven succeeded. However, it is the first time when the SAD is contesting MC elections independently after its split with the BJP . There are some areas where no leader is representing the party in the city. — TNS train in Tarn Taran Tarn Taran, December 12 An ASI of the Punjab Police was run over by a train near the railway crossing at Kakka Kandiala village here on Thursday. The deceased, identified as 54-year-old Lakhwinder Singh, was a resident of the local Green Avenue. ASI Amrik Singh, posted with the local police post of the Government Railway Police (GRP), said the victim was crossing the rail track and failed to see an upcoming Amritsar-bound train and was run over by it. He was on his way to place Lakhwinder Singh of duty in Tarn Taran when the mishap occurred. The Government Railway Police (GRP) have lodged a report under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). He is survived by his wife and two sons. — OC