07022025-ATR-01.qxd 2/6/2025 11:15 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MODERATE FOG HOSHIARPUR SECURES ‘BEST GREEN DISTRICT’ AWARD CABINET MINISTER LAUNCHES DRIVE AGAINST ANAEMIA NEXT, PLEASE BLURS THE LINES BETWEEN REALITY & ILLUSION Hoshiarpur has been recognised as the "Best Green District" under the Green School Programme. P2 Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur launched a campaign for an 'AnaemiaFree India' in Tarn Taran. P2 Jim Sarbh-starrer Next, Please offers a unique take on modern relationships through the lens of virtual reality. P4 » » MAX 20°C | MIN 6°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 6°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.10 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7.18 AM » FRIDAY | 7 FEBRUARY 2025 | AMRITSAR Police arrest two cellphone snatchers Amritsar, February 6 The Gate Hakima police have arrested two snatchers and recovered two mobile phones from their possession. The police also impounded their bike which was used in the crime. Those arrested were identified as Rahul Singh of Dashmesh Vihar Colony and Lovepreet Singh alias Rubal of Guru Nanak Nagar Bharariwal here. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh said the duo used to target commuters in late evenings. They had snatched a mobile phone from Digvijay Singh of Baghpat village in Uttar Pradesh, now living in Bhagtanwala railway station quarters. They had earlier snatched a mobile phone from a woman in Division B police station area. The police had recovered both the mobile phones from their possession. He said both the accused were unemployed and were active in the inner walled city and on the outskirts. He said their medical examination would be conducted to ascertain whether the duo were drug addicts. He said during interrogation they confessed to two more snatchings. He said the probe would also be carried out to identify the persons to whom they used to sell the robbed mobile phones. — TNS As foreign dreams turn sour, worries remain over plight of US deportees More countries expected to follow suit, their employability a big question now Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 6 A US military plane carrying 104 deported immigrants landing at the Amritsar airport, handcuffed and heartbroken, has made international headlines but also raised some serious questions. While the mass migrations of Indians, largely Punjabi youth, has remained a matter of debate and grave concern over the past two years, the deportation of illegal migrants from USA might just have larger repercussions, industry experts believe. “The deportees will be under further distress,” says Bikram Chabal, president, Association of Visa and IELTS Centres, Amritsar. “Monetary losses they have borne would now make them desperate and distressed. The expectations of parents and families for whom they took this risk, will further put them under pressure. Also, the fact that extreme media exposure and public scrutiny on them would Lack of quality education and skilling, debts, decreasing farm and rural income, drug abuse have remained major factors for Punjab youth’s enchantment with foreign shores. not help,” he said. The situation, says Rajwinder Pal, another immigration consultant working in Amritsar, would now need government intervention. “Some assurance has to be given to them, as most of them took the ‘Dunki’ route to enter USA. With all their assets now down the drain, they need rehabilitation through counselling and skilling, which can only be done through government agencies,” he says. Woman killed, two children hurt in blast at firecracker factory Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, February 6 A woman worker was killed and two children playing nearby were injured in a blast at a firecracker factory situated on the premises of a house at Chaudhriwala (Naushehra Pannuan) village here on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as Jashan (22), wife of Akash, a resident of Chaudhriwala village. The injured, identified as Gurtaj Singh (12) and Vishaldeep Singh, were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. Keeping in view the serious condition of Gurtaj Singh, he was referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar. Eyewitnesses said they heard a loud sound from the house of their neighbour Gurpreet Singh followed by a fire with high flames. Nearby residents immediately started the rescue operation. A team of the Cops and residents atop the house where firecrackers were being manufactured illegally in Tarn Taran. Sarhali police led by SHO Sub-Inspector Baljinder Singh along with police personnel reached the spot. The Fire Brigade of municipal council, Patti, too reached the spot and brought the fire under control. SHO Baljinder Singh said Gurpreet Singh, owner of the factory, has been booked under Sections 105 and 125 (A), (B) of the BNS and Sections A-10 and 9 (B) of the Explosives Act, 1884. The accused, Gurpreet Singh, fled the spot. The SHO said the accused was illegally using residential area for commercial purpose — for manufacturing firecrackers in the house. Lack of quality education and skilling, debts, decreasing farm and rural income, drug abuse have remained major factors for Punjab youth’s enchantment with foreign shores. While doing so, risking it all seems irrelevant. “Going by the trend, 10 out of 100 would again try to migrate via any means to any other country though the ones deported would have few options left now,” says Chabal. The number of illegal Attariwala’s martyrdom day function on Feb 10 Amritsar, February 6 To remember Sikh general Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala, a state-level function is being organized by the Punjab Government on February 10 at India Gate, Naraiangarh, and Attari to mark his 179th martyrdom day. Giving this information, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said like every year, this time too, the day will be celebrated with great enthusiasm and Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal will pay homage to the martyr. The event will be held at the memorial of the martyr installed at India Gate in Naraiangarh and officials of the district administration will be present. Akhand Path Sahib will be performed at the place of martyr Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala in Attari, where his last rites were performed. — TNS CM’s Technical Adviser takes samples of newly-built Chheharta-Dhand road Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 6 Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Technical Adviser conducted inspection of the 10.5-km-long road stretch from Chheharta Chowk to Dhand village and took samples of the material used in relaying the road here on Wednesday. The inspection was conducted after a complaint by a local resident of substandard material used in the road. The quality inspection of the road was carried out by Chief Minister’s Technical Adviser Vinod Chawla. A sample being taken by CM’s Technical Adviser Vinod Chawla Suresh Kumar Sharma, a complainant in the case, said the technical details about the road was obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, indicating possible irregularities committed while constructing the road. Suresh Kumar Sharma said the Punjab Mandi Board had awarded the road construction contract to a private firm for ~7.89 crore with a 0.85% less. The project was scheduled to be completed within nine months. However, Sharma alleged that discrepancies surfaced regarding the construction specifications. As per the contract, the road was to have a layer of 50 mm to 70 mm dense bituminous macadam (BM), followed by a 30 mm to 45 mm layer of bituminous concrete. “The contractor, in alleged connivance with officials, constructed about half of the road using only bituminous concrete while passed bills for the full layers of dense bituminous macadam,” said Sharma. The quality inspection of the road was carried out by Vinod Chawla, Technical Adviser to the CM at Chheharta on Wednesday. Sharma said the findings of this inspection would soon be made public through an RTI disclosure. He has continued on page 2 c m y b immigrants, who made their way into US through ‘Dunki’ route is massive, says Rajwinderpal. “These deported immigrants are the ones, who made it to US recently. No sources here, loans, family dependence, social media exposure, lure of foreign land are all factors that aid in rampant migration, legal or otherwise, among Punjab’s youth. The recent trend of agents sending youth from poor families to the UK via ‘package deals’ results in a majority of them falling prey to illegal migration,” shares Rajwinderpal. The package system allows youngsters from poor families to get study visa for UK as the agents pay for their visa and other expenses, with a promise to receive the payment back with interest. “Most of those who get study visa to the UK do not even complete two semesters and take ‘dunki’ route to the US or Canada,” says Rajwinder. Now, when the Trump administration has proved its point of taking strict measures against illegal immigrants, other countries might follow suit, says Bikram Chabal. “Canada might follow and start identifying and deporting illegal immigrants from India. They have already capped student visa entries, work permits and put down stricter restrictions on international students. Also, the genuine students seeking study visas to US and Canada, would now go through more scrutiny,” he said. Cong MP protests in Parl over deportation of Indian citizens Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 6 Member of Parliament from Amritsar, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, protested in Parliament today against the treatment meted out to Indian immigrants deported from the United States by wearing handcuffs. He condemned the government’s inaction, stating that Indian citizens were treated like criminals while the government remained silent. He demanded accountability and an explanation. Aujla revealed that the illegal immigrants were deported via an Air Force plane, restrained with handcuffs and chains on their feet, despite not being criminals. He questioned why, if the government was aware of the deportation, it did not arrange for a special flight to ensure their dignified return? The MP expressed deep concern over the degrading treatment given to these individuals. Calling the incident shameful and a direct attack on the country’s dignity, the MP criticised the government for allowing an insult to its own citizens. He emphasised that MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla flayed the US Government for its act in Delhi on Thursday. the matter pertains to India’s sovereignty and the respect of every Indian abroad. Aujla accused the government of prioritising elections over the welfare of its people, claiming that the deportation flight was deliberately not allowed to land in Delhi to avoid media attention and public scrutiny. Instead, it was redirected to Amritsar, where the deportees were secretly sent away. The MP stated that he will not tolerate this mistreatment of Indian citizens and insisted that the government must answer for this betrayal. Aujla was in Delhi to attend the parliament session. Leaders from the Congress and other parties also joined in the protest along with him.
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).