05072024-ATR-01.qxd 7/5/2024 12:54 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY TO FIGHT DRUG ABUSE, POLICE ENGAGE YOUTH IN SPORTS MAKING OF AN ACTOR: STARDOM CAME FOR SUVINDER VICKY AT 50 ARTWORKS BY YOUNG STUDENTS SHOWCASED AT WORKSHOP An elaborate plan has been implemented to sensitise youth about consequences of drug abuse in Malerkotla. P3 For Suvinder Vicky, who shot to fame with Kohrra and Bhaiyya Ji, stardom came at 50, but he is not complaining. P4 On closing day of the annual Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, artworks were displayed at the Open Hand Art Studios. P4 » » » MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.39 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5:30 AM FRIDAY | 5 JULY 2024 | AMRITSAR Cash, jewellery stolen from house Amritsar, July 4 Two miscreants, who entered a house on the pretext of repairing locks of an almirah, decamped with cash and jewellery worth lakhs of rupees here. The incident occurred three days ago while a complaint was lodged with the police on Wednesday. Subhash Chander (73), a resident of Gokul Avenue, Majitha Road, said on Monday he was at home when two persons called for repairing locks of an almirah. They demanded Rs 50 for repairing the locks. He said one of the suspects was wearing a turban while other was clean shaven. He said the duo repeatedly sent his wife outside room where almirah was kept on one pretext or the other. He said while his wife was out of the room, the duo stole cash and jewellery from the almirah locker and fled from the house. “They took away Rs 60,000 in cash, two gold chains, four gold rings, three gold tops and a gold earring set,” the complainant said. The police registered a case under Sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against unknown miscreants in this connection. — TNS GNDU non-teaching staff, security team refute charges levelled by ex-employee Complainant alleges that cops not registering FIR |Writes to CM's office & CP SEXUAL HARASSMENT Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 4 The GNDU Non-teaching Employees Association, Officers Association and security team members today addressed a press conference regarding a case in which a former woman employee, who was a member of the Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) campus security team, had levelled charges of sexual harassment against her three colleagues, including the chief of the security. The former woman employee, who was hired as campus security in the year 2022, has written to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Amritsar Commissioner of Police (CP) alleging that she was sexually harassed by three members of the GNDU security team while requesting filing of formal charges against them. The GNDU non-teaching association, Officers Association and security staff address the media in Amritsar. Refuting these allegations, GNDU Non-Teaching Employee Association president Hardeep Nagra said, “The complaint filed by the former employee with the Amritsar CP was marked to a seven-member internal Committee of the GNDU, which found the allegations baseless. Also, the university security team has previously filed complaint against the woman guard, now terminated, finding her guilty on the disciplinary grounds, including disobeying seniors, not wearing uniform and even harassing students of girls’ hostel where she was posted. So, it seems that these allegations have been levelled in retaliation.” The chief of GNDU campus security, who was named one of the suspects in the complaint filed by a former employee, also refuted the allegations. He said, “These allegations were levelled after her she lost her job. It’s understood that that she wants to get back to us. We received several complaints against her and also conducted an internal inquiry in this connection. When her job was terminated, she started levelling allegations against us.” The university has around 200 security staff, out of which more than 150 are outsourced from a private company on contractual basis and only 11 members are regular. Among them, only 10 security members are women. Meanwhile, the woman complainant, a resident of Kot Khalsa, counter challenged the allegations levelled against her character and conduct by the campus security team. “I was hired as a contractual employee and deployed at working women’s hostel. As I come from a poor family and my parents are dependent on me, I needed this job. Since past three years, I was facing sexual advances and misconduct by three members of the campus security team. I have complained to the Amritsar CP and at the CM’s office. Now, the police are not registering an FIR in this connection,” she said. While taking cognisance of the complaint, CP Ranjit Singh Dhillon said, “The case has been marked to the DCP’s office for an inquiry. Soon all the facts will be reviewed.” Residents of border villages urged to help admn nail drug peddlers a ❝Societytoneedsout revolution root Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 4 The district administration has sought the help and cooperation of the people in border villages to help in eradicating the drug menace and nailing those involved in the rampant sale of narcotics. Ajnala Sub-Divisional Magistrate Arwinder Pal Singh along with Ajnala Deputy Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar and officials of the Border Security Force held a meeting with village defence committees of Saidogazi and Maji Meo border villages on Wednesday to implore them to help the administration check the rampant drug menace. drugs. It's only possible when every section of society comes forward and plays its role for the noble cause. It would be impossible to end the menace only by arresting smugglers and cutting their drug supply line. Residents of border villages at a meeting with officials near Amritsar on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Addressing residents on the occasion, the SDM said, “Society needs a revolution to root out drugs. It’s only possible when every section of society comes forward and plays its role for the noble cause. It would be impossible to end the menace only by arresting smugglers and cutting their drug supply line.” “We have to bring back peo- ple, who have fallen in the deadly trap of drug abuse, to the mainstream through rehabilitation,” he said. He asked villagers to share information with the police or the ❞ Arwinder Pal Singh, SDM, AJNALA BSF whenever they observed movement of drones which smuggled drugs from the Pakistan side. He said, “Information about those who are involved in the illegal trade and are making big bucks through it should also be shared with the authorities concerned.” DSP Raj Kumar said stringent action would be taken against those caught involved in drug peddling. He said public committees were being constituted in the rural areas and the city to strengthen the drive against rampant drug abuse. He said even if any cop was found indulging in the illegal act, he/she would be taken to task. The SDM and the DSP said, “Those, who are addicted to drugs, can get treatment to shun the habit at government run de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in the district.” Residents use hand fans to keep the heat away during a power cut on the Batala road in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Residents irked over poorresponseofPSPCL plaint redressal system Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 4 Residents are upset over regular unscheduled power cuts in the city. The poor response of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) 1912 helpline number has further aggravated their woes. Residents alleged that without redressal of complaints, the PSPCL sends an SMS on their mobile phones that the issue had been resolved. “Moreover, the powercom authorities don’t share the number of officials or junior engineer deployed in the area concerned regarding redressal of complaints,” they said. The PSPCL consumers said earlier the 1912 helpline provided better services, but now they were not responding properly. Jagdeesh Singh, a resident of Bagh Ramanand said, “When the power supply at my home was cut, I filed a complaint on helpline number 1912. Without redressal of complaint, the PSPCL staff marked that the power at my house has been restored. Despite efforts, the staff concerned did not attend phone calls. I have complained to senior officials of the PSPCL in this regard.” Rakesh Bhatia, another resident said, “Unscheduled power cuts have made our lives miserable. The poor response from the PSPCL helpline number has wors- Health Dept steps up efforts to prevent vector-borne diseases 1 held in money laundering case City reports three dengue, four chikungunya cases Tribune News Service One of the suspects in custody of the Amritsar police. TRIBUNE PHOTO Two arrested with 653 grams of heroin Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 4 The Gate Hakima police have recovered 653 grams of heroin from two persons identified as Jodha Singh, alias Jhoney, a resident of Maude Khurd border village, and Pawan Kumar Bhatti, a resident of the Lahori Gate area here. While Jodha was held for possessing 503 grams heroin, Pawan was arrested with 150 grams of heroin. The police said separate cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act were registered against the two suspects and further probe initiated to trace their backward and forward links to ascertain the source of the contraband. The police said more seizures of the drug were likely to be made during further course of the investigations. Amritsar, July 4 With the district reporting a total of three dengue and four chikungunya cases, the Health Department has intensified its drive to detect and destroy mosquito larvae by conducting frequent inspections of the residential areas. District Epidemiologist Dr Harjot Kaur said, “The department has constituted 15 teams which visit door-to-door to conduct inspections. So far, mosquito larvae have been detected at 111 places.” She said the owners of 63 houses were given a warning while 48 others with gross violations at their homes were issued challans. She said the teams visited a place twice where larvae was detected for a follow up inspection. “We destroy larvae wherever these are found. Residents can also help in preventing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases by checking their breeding in ❝The department has constituted 15 teams which visit door-to-door to conduct inspections. So far, mosquito larvae have been detected at 111 places. To prevent mosquito breeding, it’s important that items which can hold water are checked regularly and water drained out. ❞ Dr Harjot Kaur, DISTRICT EPIDEMIOLOGIST their homes and surroundings,” she said. She said, “Mosquitoes can breed at unusual places such as in discard boxes of refrigerators, flower pots, tanks of c m y b air coolers, old junk items thrown outside and other items which can hold water.” “To prevent mosquito breeding, it’s important that items which can hold water are checked regularly and water drained out,” she said, while adding that the people could also use motor oil in ponds and other such places where rainwater accumulates to kill mosquito larvae. Dr Harjot Kaur said in case of a person experiencing dengue or chikungunya like symptoms, he/she should get a diagnostic test conducted from a government hospital. She said the people should not panic, but must take all necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Meanwhile, health experts have said that flower pots, refrigerator trays, tyres and tanks of coolers should be emptied every week. They said residents should use mosquito repellent creams and wear full body clothes to save themselves from mosquito bites. ened the situation. It seems that the powercom staff on 1912 helpline number responds to complaints from posh localities only. Otherwise, they never take any complaint seriously.” Another resident Sukh Kanwar said, “Every time I lodge a complaint about low voltage, power cut or for any other reason, the PSPCL has a one response that the supply will be restored after scheduled shutdown. However, some residents have good experience with the complaint redressal system of the powercom.” Baljinder Singh, a consumer said, “The PSPCL generally remains on the receiving end as it has to face consumers’ ire. I, however, have got a good response from the helpline. Once I was on a morning walk when I saw sparking in a transformer that supplies power to our colony. The sparking was causing electricity fluctuation in our homes. I lodged an online complaint and to my surprise, I received a call in which the caller inquired about the location of the transformer and nature of the fault. The complaint was promptly attended. Later, two PSPCL officials visited my home to inquire if the fault was rectified or not. I feel lodging complaints through the PSPCL app evokes good response than trying on the helpline number 1912.” Dr Bharat Bhushan at the Aam Aadmi Clinic in Fatehbad. Civil Surgeon inspects health centres in district Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, July 4 Civil Surgeon Dr Bharat Bhushan paid a surprise visit at health centres and took stock of health services provided to patients. Dr Bhushan said the Health Department was committed to provide all possible services to residents. During his visit to the Community Health Centre, Sarhali, he checked the emergency services, OPD services, medicines, laboratories and the condition of wards. He also visited the emergency, indoor wards and inquired from patients about services provided to them. Later, Dr Bhushan visited the Aam Aadmi Clinics at Mohanpur and Fatehbad and instructed medical officers and the staff to be punctual and work with dedication. Jalandhar, July 4 The Directorate of Enforcement, Jalandhar, has arrested Skattar Singh, alias Laddi of Tarn Taran, in an alleged laundering of proceeds generated through drug trafficking under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED had taken up the investigation on the basis of FIRs registered by the Punjab Police and Narcotics Control Bureau. Earlier, a search under the provisions of Section 17 of the PMLA was conducted at 10 premises in Sheron, Nausheran Pannuan and Bugha villages of Tarn Taran in February 3 last year. Besides incriminating documents, narcotic substance and arms were recovered during searches. Investigation revealed that entire extended family of Skattar Singh was involved in drug sale since many years. Multiple FIRs had been registered against his family members. Many of his family members were already in custody in NDPS cases. Saktar Singh had amassed huge immovable properties in his name and in the name of family members through proceeds generated from dealing in drugs in Tarn Taran, said ED sources. — TNS
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).