26062024-ATR-01.qxd 6/26/2024 12:33 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 44°C | MIN 31°C YESTERDAY MAX 43°C | MIN 30°C VET PHARMACISTS PROTEST DELAY IN JOB REGULARISATION PATWARIS THREATEN TO OPPOSE AAP IN POLL K-POP SENSATION AOORA NOW EYES BOLLYWOOD Even as CM is yet to shift to his new house, protests by government staff have already begun in the area. P2 Punjab Revenue Patwar Union threatens to oppose Aam Aadmi Party candidates in the ensuing bypoll. P3 Singer, who had a successful stint in Bigg Boss, says India acted as catalyst in his journey of self-growth. P4 » » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.39 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5.27 AM WEDNESDAY | 26 JUNE 2024 | AMRITSAR Family seeks help to bring man’s body from Malaysia Breach in canal floods 500 acres in Tarn Taran village Gurbaxpuri Over 1,000 workers doing odd jobs after suspension of BRTS Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 25 After the death of a 31-yearold man in Malaysia, his family living at Mudhal village here has appealed to the government to help them bring back his body. The family suspects a foul play behind the death of Prabhjit Singh, who died after a fall from a multistorey building. The family suspects that Prabhjit might have been pushed from the building. Jobandeep Singh, a family member, said, “We urge the Indian Government to intervene, though investigation into his death case is underway.” Father to a four-year-old child, Prabhjit had gone to Malaysia to earn a livelihood for his family. His late father used to run a small flour mill in the village. Residents of the village said the family cannot afford to bring back the body to the country, so they need help. Tarn Taran, June 25 Over 500 acres of land was flooded after a breach developed in Kasur Branch Lower (KBL) canal near Lauhuka village here on Tuesday. It was the second breach in the canal with the earlier one reported three weeks ago at Jandoke Sarhali village near Lauhuka village. Perturbed over frequent losses due to canal breach incidents, farmers of the area blocked the Tarn Taran-Patti road in the scorching heat by staging a dharna on the road. The breach started with a minor hole which expanded to more than 200m wide in the evening. Dilbag Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Charanjit Singh, Bhagwant Singh, Surjit Singh and other farmers said the breach could have been easily plugged in case work on filling the gap had been started immediately. The farmers said the structure of the canal has gone outdated and it requires to be renovated urgently. But officials said it was not possible as the department was reeling under a financial crunch. Neha Saini Tribune News Service Water flows towards an agricultural field through a breach occurred in KBL canal in Tarn Taran on Tuesday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI The farmers said in the breach that occurred three weeks ago, paddy seeds (paneeri) were destroyed and they had to sow them again. Likewise, they would have to sow paddy seeds again after today’s loss. Besides, they also suffered a loss of fodder and vegetable crops. The department had not started repair work on time and even no higher official visited the spot. Kulwinder Singh, Superintendent Engineer of the Irrigation Department, while admitting their failure to start the repair work said the headworks from where the water is released is about 100 km away from the breach point and even if the water is stopped, it would take quite a long time for water level to subside in the canal. The official said the repair work would be started when the water level will recede in the canal. He said the department would finish the repair work at night. Meanwhile, the farmers said till the repair work is finished, they would stay at the dharna site and block traffic. Amritsar, June 25 Over 1,000 people, once employed by the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in the city, are now running from pillar to post in an attempt to get their jobs back that were lost because of the suspension of service since July 2023. Working as ticket collectors, guards, drivers and conductors under the ambitious multi-crore project, these men and women have now been desperately hunting for new jobs, some sitting idle, worried about where their next meal or paycheck will come from. “Despite the suspension of bus service in July last year, we were on duty till February 2024. Though our salaries were not being paid on time, at least we were getting some money. In March, all of us received a message on WhatsApp that we were being relieved, without any prior notice, due wages and clue as to what happens next. Since The suspension of the BRTS has rendered many employees jobless in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR then, we have been visiting every MLA, MP and officials of the administration in the hope that BRTS would be revived and our jobs reinstated. It’s a desperate situation for all of us,” said Sarbjeet Singh, who worked as a ticket collector. Currently, he works in his brother’s electronics repair shop at Majitha road, earning half of what his salary was. “I was paid Rs 10,800 after PF deductions. There were about 100 ticket collectors, 350-400 guards and 250 drivers and other employees including cleaning staff and mechanics. All of them are looking for other jobs now,” says Sarbjeet. Several women, who were employed with BRTS, are also facing financial hardships. “We kept coming for duty till March 8, but were relieved suddenly on the same day. I have been hunt- ing for jobs since then but without success. We had an eight-hour shift, working as ticket collector, and it was a safe job for women. But now the other jobs that we get require us to stay out of home for more than 10 hours. The Metro bus project wasted so much public money, and now so many of us who got jobs, are sitting idle,” says Aman Devi, 28, who worked as a ticket collector and is a resident of Taran Tarn road. Rajbir Kaur, who is the sole earning member of her family, also shared her helplessness, “There are not many jobs deemed safe for women, but BRTS offered good timings and free travel. Now, I am not able to find a stable job as people have many reservations because I am unmarried. It is very difficult for women, as some of them are widows and this job was the only source of income for them,” she shared. Rajbir’s father died long back and her younger brother suffers from continued on page 2 Aujla takes oath as Remove encroachments from LS MP for third time Putlighar,Chheharta,sayresidents DC Ghanshyam Thori poses for a photograph along with street vendors in Amritsar on Tuesday. Street vendors whose kiosks ruined in fire get compensation Amritsar, June 25 Gurjeet Singh Aujla took today oath as a member of the Lok Sabha in the new parliament building. He took his oath in Punjabi. Aujla became an MP from Amritsar for the first time in 2017, then again in 2019 and for the third time this year, registering victory in the highstakes Amritsar Lok Sabha polls. Aujla raised the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Samvidhaan’, while holding a copy of the Constitution in his hands as he thanked the people of Amritsar for reposing faith in him for a third time. “I will not betray the trust of the people of Amritsar and will serve in the same way that I have been doing earlier,” he said, adding that he will complete pending projects and soon work on new schemes. Aujla has been raising issues including drug trafficking and opening of Attari-Wagah joint check-post Amritsar, June 25 Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori, who is also the president of the District Red Cross Society, on Tuesday handed over compensation of ~10-15,000 to the families of the street vendors whose shops/pits were destroyed in fire allegedly ignited by some miscreants at Mirankot Chowk. Inviting the heads of the affected families, Sunita Devi, Sajan Roy, Munna Devi, Kishan Viswash, Nanne Lal and Rashida Khatun, DC Thori said these vendors will be provided help to set up their small businesses once again. Expressing his regret for the SGPC staffers tilling gurdwara land attacked 4 accused of firing after brawl near restaurant held from Dalhousie Tribune News Service incident, he said the Red Cross has always supported needy persons. “With the support of the philanthropists of Amritsar, I have got immense relief by helping these suffering families. The vendors were raising their family by setting up different types of pits at Mirankot Chowk, but on the night of June 13, six pits continued on page 2 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Gurjeet Singh Aujla took oath as Lok Sabha MP for the third time on Monday. for trade during his previous terms in the Lok Sabha. He was accompanied by his wife Undleeb Aujla, son Babar Aujla, brother Sukhjinder Aujla and other family members. — TNS Amritsar, June 25 Even as the Municipal Corporation carried out an antiencroachment drive in markets surrounding the Golden Temple last evening, city residents feel that all areas need attention as most roads are heavily encroached upon. The residents demanded that in areas like Putlighar and Chheharta which are visited by thousands of people daily, the encroachments by shopkeepers leave little passage for the flow of vehicular traffic and are a prime cause of traffic jams. In Putlighar area, a large number of illegal rehris selling fruits, vegetables, food items and even clothes can be seen. The residents stated that slip roads on both side of the GT road are completely under the control of illegal encroachers who use the Tribune News Service The accused in custody of the police in Amritsar on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Amritsar, June 25 The city police have arrested four persons, accused of firing at a local resident outside a restaurant here on the night of June 23, from Dalhousie. The police have also arrested one Vikram Khajooria for helping them escape to Himachal after the incident. Robin Hans, SHO, Ranjit Avenue said that the police control room (PCR) had received a call on the night of June 23 that some persons had fired with their pistols outside a food joint. Later, the CCTV footage revealed the identities of the accused whose location was traced to Himachal. The police later sent a team to Dalhousie from where all five persons were arrested and brought to the city. Hans said that a case on the basis of a complaint lodged by a local resident Navchetan was registered in this regard. He said both parties were having dinner at the restaurant when they had a heated argument. He said when Navchetan and his friends walked out of the place, Mohit, Vivek, Sumit Sharma and Sahil confronted them again in the parking area and fired at them. — TNS c m y b space to sell their goods. A visit from Putlighar chowk to Pipli Sahib Gurdwara revealed that a large number of stalls are being run from the road. Even as shopkeepers use the front of their shops to display goods which leaves no passage for pedestrians, the remaining portion is used for stalls. The rest of the space is left for parking of two-wheelers and cars. In Chhehharta area too, where a large number of residents visit shops to buy necessary items, encroachments are rampant. “It is good that continued on page 2 Amritsar lad Abhishek Sharma gets BCCI call for Zimbabwe T20 tour Neeraj Bagga Amritsar, June 25 The Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has condemned the attack on its employees who had gone to Ludhiana to till the agricultural land belonging to a gurdwara at Dharamshala, Bilaspur. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said that a total of 17 employees were injured in the attack. He alleged that some persons wanted to take control of the gurdwara land which is legally and rightfully owned by it. He claimed that courts too had earlier granted the control to SGPC as it is a body for the care and upkeep of religious places and associated properties. Dhami alleged that over 30 goons who also used petrol continued on page 2 Encroachments galore at Putlighar bazar in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Amritsar, June 25 After the announcement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about the selection of local lad Abhishek Sharma for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour, a wave of joy has set in among cricket fans of the holy city. Of late, he had been hogging the limelight with his power-packed batting skills. He will make his Team India debut under the captaincy of Mohali’s Shubhman Gill, who will lead the team for the first time in his career, in the five T20 international tour of Zimbabwe. Abhishek’s father Rajkumar Sharma, a cricket coach and bank employee, said his entire family was extremely happy and they have been receiving congratulatory Abhishek Sharma calls from friends and relatives since the BCCI made the announcement. Others in the family of the young allrounder are also elated as his constant efforts have delivered the cherished results. Himself a cricket coach, he said Abhishek had studied at Delhi Public School and attended DAV College. He recalled that his son was equally brilliant at studies. He thanked the teachers and coaches for guiding his son and shaping his life. Considered a hard-hitting lower-order batsman who also chips in as a left-arm spinner, he guided India to victory in the U-19 Asia Cup in 2016 and has a World Cup to his name as an U-19 cricketer. As a young cricket star, he was part of the Indian squad for the ICC World Cup. He came to limelight with a century while making his U19 debut for Punjab in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. He had already shared his dream with the media — to make it to the senior squad — for which he has been taking giant strides. He was trained by his childhood idol Yuvraj Singh whom he saw batting on screen while growing up and adored his style. Earlier in 2022, he was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad at a record price of Rs 6.50 crore. Amritsar Games Association president and Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori congratulated Abhishek for the achievement. He said it was a matter of pride that a local youngster and a player of the Amritsar Games Association (AGA), got a place in world cricket. He expressed the hope that Abhishek would bring fame to the district and Punjab with his performance. Inderjit Singh Bajwa, Secretary, Amritsar Games Association, said Abhishek has been a talented player and like other players, “we never let him lack in good environment, playground and other facilities”.
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