03122024-ATR-01.qxd 02-12-2024 22:22 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR PUNJAB INTERNATIONAL TRADE EXHIBITION TO KICK OFF ON DEC 5 JAI RANDHHAWA IS UPBEAT ABOUT HIS NEW FILM BADNAM SHABBIR KUMAR REGALED AUDIENCE WITH GOLDEN HITS Exhibits at about 600 stalls will be showcased during the five-day 18th edition of Punjab International Trade Expo. P2 Actor Jai Randhhawa, angry Jattfrom Je Jatt Vigarh Gya, is upbeat about his film Badnam, which is set for 2025 release. P4 MAX 24°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 24°C | MIN 10°C The audience were not only treated to songs from the 80s and 90s, but also got a chance to listen to Shabbir Kumar. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 5.26 PM » SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:14 AM TUESDAY | 3 DECEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR Three nabbed for firing in Sultanwind Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 2 The police have arrested three youth for allegedly firing outside a house at Ran Avenue in Sultanwind village here a week ago. Though the motive behind firing was yet to be ascertained, the police said three accused were hired by another man who was on the run. Those arrested were identified as Paramjit Singh, alias Sonu, of Behla village, Gurpreet Singh Gopi of Rataul village and Gurpreet Singh Gopi of Daburji village in Tarn Taran district. The police seized a .32 bore pistol along with six rounds and a bike from their possession. The police have ruled out any extortion bid behind the firing incident. An investigation was in progress to ascertain the cause behind firing. “The reason behind the firing incident will be ascertained once their fourth accomplice Sajan is arrested. He had taken the three accused to the spot for firing,” said Parvesh Chopra, Assistant Commissioner of Police, South. Sonia, a resident of Ram Avenue, told the police that she runs a beauty parlour in Drumma Wala Bazaar on the Sultanwind road. She said on November 24, she along with her daughter returned home around 10 pm. Sonia said she suddenly heard gunshots outside her house. Some unscrupulous elements fired at the gate of her house and fled from the spot, she said. The incident led to panic in the area. The police reached the spot and started investigation by analysing footage of the CCTV cameras installed the area. Paramjit Singh was arrested on November 26 and a pistol was seized from him while his two accomplices were nabbed yesterday, said Mohit Kumar, SHO, Sultanwind village. He said besides Sajan, two more names had cropped up in the case and raids were on to arrest them. While Paramjit had two cases of the NDPS Act and the Arms Act registered against him, Gurpreet was booked in a theft case earlier. Two juveniles among three held for teenager’s murder Rural police arrest three with 4 kg heroin from border village Drug peddler arrested with 500gm contraband in city and Sukhdev Singh of Chak Dogra village. Acting on a tip-off about four persons collecting drugs dropped from the Pakistan side by a drone in Hardo Rattan border village along the defence drain, a police patrolling party immediately rushed to the spot. The team was going along the defence drain towards Hardo Rattan village when officials saw a youth sitting on a bike on the road while his three accomplices were approaching him. On seeing the police party, they tried to flee from the spot, but cops chased and arrested three of them, said officials. During search, the police recovered four packets of heroin from their possession. Charanjit Singh, SSP Amrit, sar (Rural), said raids were on to nab the fourth accomplice of the accused. He said interrogation of three drug peddlers was on. “We are expecting more seizure of drug from their possession during interrogation,” he said. Meanwhile, the city police also recovered 500gm of heroin and arrested a man identified as Akashdeep Singh, alias Akash, of Harike, Tarn Taran, in this connection. The police impounded his bike bearing registration number PB-46-AK-3889. Vishaljit Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), said further probe was on to establish his backward and forward links and ascertain the source of contraband. Rodents threaten centuries-old trees in Company Bagh Two held with 115 grams of heroin Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 2 Within 24-hours, the Islamabad police have cracked the case in which a youth was found murdered at a locked house in the Fatahpur area on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The police have arrested three persons including two juveniles in the case. A petty dispute over an expensive mobile phone belonging to the victim identified as Aniket, alias Buggi (15), a resident of Eshwar Avenue on the Fatehgarh Churian road was reason behind the murder. The victim’s throat was slit by the accused after tying his hands and legs. accused were consuming ❝AllKaran asked Aniket to showliquor when his expensive cellphone. This led to a verbal duel which soon took an ugly turn and the accused killed Aniket. Aniket. FILE PHOTO Jasbir Singh, investigating officer, said victim’s father Heera Lal informed the police on Saturday that his son had gone to his aunt’s house in the Lahori Gate area from where he went missing. The family tried to find him till Saturday morning, but failed to do so. Thereafter, the victim’s family lodged a complaint with the police. While analysing footage of the ❞ Jasbir Singh, INVESTIGATION OFFICER CCTV cameras installed in the area, the police identified his friends who had taken away the victim. Initially, they tried to mislead the family and the police, but when questioned strictly, they narrated the entire incident. The victim’s body was found from the house of the prime accused Karan Khosla who was arrested by the police. When the police reached the house it was found locked. The police gained entry into the house from rooftop and found victim’s body lying in a pool of blood. The police broke open the gate and doors of the house and recovered the body. The police found a plier, a pillow and a cloth from the crime spot. Aniket’s hands and legs were tied and his throat was slit, said Jasbir Singh. He said all the accused and the victim were friends. Karan had given a party to others and Aniket was also present there. They were consuming liquor when Karan asked Aniket to show his expensive mobile phone. This led to a verbal dual which soon took an ugly turn and the accused killed the victim. Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 2 The Amritsar (Rural) police have confiscated 4 kg of heroin and arrested three persons in this connection. They were arrested from Hardo Rattan border village here yesterday. Further probe is in progress in this connection. More seizures of contraband are likely during further course of investigation. It is believed that the contraband was dropped by a drone from across the border. The Gharinda police have registered a case under the NDPS Act against the three accused in this regard. Those arrested were identified as Lovepreet Singh of Bachiwind village, and Sabba (From left) A century-old tree; a burrow dug up near tree; and a rodent at Company Bagh in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTOS: SUNIL KUMAR Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 2 The historic Company Bagh, a beloved green oasis in the heart of Amritsar, is facing a severe crisis. Rodents have dug burrows under centuries-old trees, posing a significant threat to their survival. The bagh has already lost several trees to termite infestations, rodents and high-velocity winds. The situation has been exacerbated due to lack of effective pest management measures. The rare trees, which normally thrive in the Himalayas and Nilgiri Hills, are struggling to survive due to human actions and the Amritsar Municipal Corporation’s apathy. To make the matters worse, several individuals can be seen feeding rodents by dropping food into burrows. This practice has not only led to the growth of the rodent population, but also hindered efforts to control their infestation. The proliferation of rats in the park is also attributed to the practice of feeding grains and pulses to birds and insects near trees. Due to this, rats are making holes near trees and damaging their roots in the process. “Feeding rodents is a misguided act of kindness. It disrupts the ecosystem and creates an environment conducive to pest infestation,” said Joginder Singh, a local farmer. He said the authorities concerned must take immediate action to protect historic trees in the bagh. Environmentalists say rodents weaken the under- ground support of trees which could more likely get uprooted in high velocity winds. A visit to the bagh revealed that numerous burrows have been dug up under each big tree. Residents demanded that the local authorities concerned must warn people against dropping food into burrows and start a pest management exercise to save his- toric and rare trees in the bagh. During rain, water enters burrows. Trees tilt even in when light wind blows. Over 500 trees have already fallen due to negligence of the civic body. Sandeep Singh, Superintending Engineer, Municipal Corporation, said, “Efforts are being made to get rid of rats in the bagh. Pest management drives have been conducted at the bagh in the past too.” Tarn Taran, December 2 The Khalra police while patrolling in the area under its jurisdiction arrested two bike-borne persons with 115 grams of heroin on Sunday. SSP Abhimanyu said today that the accused arrested with heroin were identified as Jaspal Singh and Nirvail Singh, both residents of Van Tara Singh village. The SSP said the accused had received the consignment from the Pakistan side through a drone. Both had a criminal background, the SSP added. A case under Sections of 10, 11 and 12 of the Aircraft Act and Section 21-B of the NDPS Act was registered against the two accused in this regard. The SSP said a woman identified as Rekha, a resident of the local Nanaksar locality, who was declared as proclaimed offender (PO) by the court, was arrested on Monday. Rekha was booked in a fraud case eight years ago. She absented herself from the court proceedings, he said. So, she was declared a PO by the court and arrested today by the police, the SSP added. — OC Public places must not turn into garbage dumps: Dhaliwal Pathankot cops crack the whip on illegal mining, book 8 persons Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and other officials; and (right) a temporary garbage dump at the Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar. Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 2 Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal today visited a spot adjacent to GT Road in Ranjit Avenue E Block, where a temporary garbage dump is being set up by the Amritsar Municipal Corporation. He asked officials concerned to remove the temporary dump from the spot. He instructed Municipal Corporation (MC) officials to prevent public places from turning into garbage dumps. The minister also held a meeting with MLAs of Amritsar district to discuss problems and needs of residents in the city. Speaking on the occasion, Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said 11 acres land adjacent to the city’s posh colony was the key loca- tion on the entrance to the city from GT Road. Dhaliwal said garbage dump on this spot left a very bad impression on thousands of people coming to the city when they passed through GT Road every day. The dump also exposed mismanagement of waste by the authorities concerned, he said. “Residents of colonies adjacent to 11 acres land have been complaining about the garbage dump. The dump should be removed immediately,” said Dhaliwal. He said strict action should be taken against people who were throwing waste at public places. During the meeting, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh assured that garbage was being lifted from major streets in the city. He said Safai Karamcharis were c m y b going to streets with small vehicles to collect household waste. Door-to-door waste collection was being streamlined, he said, while adding that the problem of disposing of garbage at public places would not arise in the future. Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney, Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and other senior officials were also present at the meeting. Pathankot, December 2 The Pathankot police have cracked the whip against illegal mining and registered a case against eight persons engaged in unauthorised excavation of sand and mining material in the Chakki river. Pathankot, with several rivers and rivulets criss-crossing each other, is considered to be a mining-rich district. SSP Daljinder Singh Dhillon said the police acted on specific inputs which were gathered over a period of time. “Acting on these inputs, our team raided a site on the far side of the Chakki river where illegal mining was being done,” he said. The police have also confiscated two tipper trucks and a poclain machine from the spot. These machines were used for heavy duty work like digging, excavation and demolition. The two tippers trucks did not bear any registration numbers. Once the police were sure that illegal mining was being done One of the two tipper trucks seized by the Pathankot police. on the far side of the Chakki river near Abadgarh village, the SSP constituted a team under Anita Thakur, SHO, Nangal Bhoor police station, to conduct a raid at the site. The SHO and her team members crossed the river to seize the tipper trucks and other equipment. “SHO Thakur has done a commendable job. Undeterred by the fast flow of water, she managed to cross the river to seize the mining equipment. One person has been arrested from the spot while a hunt has been launched to arrest other seven accused. Bunty of Guru Nanak Stone Crushers is the kingpin of the entire illegal mining operation. This will serve as a warning to others to refrain from this unlawful exercise,” the SSP said. Officials of the Police Department have praised SHO Thakur for the dare she showed by crossing the river with her team. A case was registered under various sections of the Mining Act at the Nangal Bhoor police station in this connection.