15122024-ATR-01.qxd 12/14/2024 11:43 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST COLD WAVE MAX 19°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 19°C | MIN 3°C FUSION BAND CONCERT, OTHER EVENTS TO MARK VIJAY DIWAS US-INDIA DELEGATION PAYS OBEISANCE AT GOLDEN TEMPLE DIL-LUMINATI INDIA TOUR REACHES CRESCENDO IN CHANDIGARH Celebrating Vijay Diwas, the Army's Vajra Corps hosted a “Weapons and equipment exhibition” at the war memorial. P2 A delegation of the New Jersey-India Commission from the United States paid obeisance at the Golden Temple. P3 On his penultimate city (last one of the leg being Guwahati), Diljit Dosanjh sure was the talk of the City Beautiful. P4 » » » SUNSET SUNDAY 5.28 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 7:23 AM SUNDAY | 15 DECEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR MC polls: 477 candidates left in fray after withdrawal of 179 nominations Nominations of 3 Congress, 1 BJP candidate rejected during scrutiny Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 14 After scrutiny of 709 nominations filed by candidates of political parties, 53 were rejected by the authorities concerned. Now, 656 valid candidates are in the electoral battle. Apart from others, nominations of three Congress and one BJP candidates were rejected during scrutiny. Leaders of the BJP staged a protest against rejection of the nomination of their candidate, while Congress leaders expressed resentment over rejection of papers of their party aspirants for the municipal corporation elections. They alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was using state machinery for achieving its political objective. The nomination of the BJP candidate, Kapil Sharma from Ward No. 8, was rejected on the basis of encroachment of a building. Similarly, the nomination of Congress candidate Arun Joshi from Ward No. 2, Surjit Kaur from Ward No. 74 and Surendra Chaudhry from Ward No. 64 were also cancelled by the scrutiny panel. Congress leaders, including former minister Dr Raj Kumar Verka, accused the Aam Aadmi Party of hooliganism and using state power against its candidates. As per schedule released by the Election Commission, the district administration had to complete scrutiny of papers till 3 pm, but the process concluded around 11 pm. From 17 wards of the North Assembly constituency, 128 candidates filed papers of which three nominations were rejected. At present, 125 candidates are in the fray for the civic body elections. In South Assembly constituency, 153 candidates filed nominations papers from 16 wards. After rejection of eight nominations, 145 candidates are in the electoral battle. Out of 159 candidates, who filed nominations from the East Assembly segment, papers of 11 candidates were rejected leaving 148 candidates from 18 MC wards in the electoral battle. From the West constituency, 157 candidates filed nominations from 20 wards out of which 19 were rejected leaving 138 aspirants to try their luck in the civic body elections. From the Central Assembly constituency, 112 candidates filed nomination papers of which 12 were rejected. Now, 100 candidates are in field from 14 wards for the MC polls. In all, 176 candidates filed nominations for the by-elections in 30 different wards of nagar panchayats of Baba Bakala, Rayya, Raja Sansi, Ajnala and the Majitha Municipal Council. After scrutiny, 25 nominations were cancelled. Now, 151 candidates are contesting by-elections. Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 14 Today, 179 candidates withdrew their nominations filed to contest the municipal corporation (MC) elections. Now, 477 candidates are left in the fray for the 85 MC wards of the holy city. Similarly, 39 candidates withdrew their nominations in nagar panchayats of Ajnala, Raja Sansi, Baba Bakala, Raiya and the Majitha Municipal Council elections after which 112 candidates were left in the poll battle. Out of 128 candidates from 17 wards of the North Assembly constituency three nominations were rejected and 38 candidates withdrew their nominations leaving 87 candidates in the poll contest. In the South Assembly constituency, 153 candidates filed nominations from 16 wards of which eight were rejected and 39 were withdrawn leaving 106 Independent candidate from Ward No. 11 Poonam Sharma campaigns door-to-door for the MC elections in Amritsar on Saturday. aspirants in the electoral battle. Out of 159 nominations from the East Assembly constituency, papers of 11 candidates were rejected and 46 withdrew their names. Now, 102 candidates from 18 MC wards are contesting civic body polls. From the West Assembly constituency, 157 candidates filed nominations from 20 wards of which 19 were rejected and 38 were withdrawn leaving 100 candidates in the field. From the Central Assembly constituency, 112 aspirants filed nominations of which 12 were rejected and 18 were taken back leaving 82 aspirants to contest MC polls from 14 wards of the interior city. In all, 176 candidates filed nominations for by-elections in 30 different wards of nagar panchayats Baba Bakala, Rayya, Raja Sansi, Ajanala and the Majitha Municipal Council. After scrutiny, 25 nominations were cancelled and 39 aspi- Juvenile among two terror module operatives sent to five-day police remand ❝ PK Jaiswar During preliminary interrogation, the duo confessed to have planted an IED attached with RDX outside the Ajnala police station on November 23. However, due to technical snag it failed to explode thereby thwarting a major explosion. The two also admitted to have received various consignments of weapons and explosives. The module lures youth in lieu of money and drugs. Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 14 Two alleged operatives of cross-border terror module identified as Jashandeep Singh, alias Danny, and his 17year-old juvenile brother were sent to five-day police remand by a local court here on Saturday. They were arrested by the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) on Friday in connection with the IED seizure outside the Ajnala police station on November 23. The police had recovered two China made P 86 hand grenades besides a sophisticated Turkey-made 9mm Zigana pistol and ammunition from their possession. According to police the two were party of the ISI-backed terror module operated by Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operative Harwinder Singh Rinda and USA-based-gangster-turned terrorist Harpreet Singh, Two alleged operatives of a cross-border terror module being produced in an Amritsar court. ❞ Gaurav Yadav, DGP, PUNJAB General of Police (DGP), Punjab, said during preliminary interrogation, the duo had confessed to have planted the IED attached with RDX outside the Ajnala police station on November 23. However, due to technical snag it could not explode thereby thwarting a major explosion. There has been spurt in blasts at police establishments in Amritsar, Amritsar (Rural) and Gurdaspur area. Besides Ajnala police station, unscrupulous elements targeted the Gurbaxnagar police post in the city and the Majitha police station in the Amritsar (Rural) area. A blast also rocked the Ghania Ke Bangar police station in Gurdaspur yesterday. Ironically, the police remained on denial mode, despite the BKI claimed responsibility through Rinda, Happy Pashia, Gopi Nawanshehria, Gurdev Jaisal and Germany-based Jeevan Fauji in repeated social media posts after these explosions. The same module was behind the hand grenade attack at Chandigarh in which two operatives of Happy Pashia were arrested by the police. The DGP said the module used to lure youth in lieu of money and drugs. The two also admitted to have received various consignments of weapons and explosives, he added. Sukhminder Singh Mann, AIG, SSOC, said in May this year, Jashandeep Danny was arrested by the Batala police for his involvement in extortion. Later, after getting bail, Jashandeep again got involved in criminal activities. Similarly, the juvenile was also arrested by the Amritsar police in August this year for stealing a scooter. Being a juvenile, he was released after a few days later, he said. rants withdrew their nominations leaving 151 candidates in the battle for the by-elections. In Amritsar district, 589 candidates are contesting elections for 85 wards of the Amritsar city and by-elections of 30 wards in four nagar panchayats and one municipal council. 60-year-old farmer electrocuted Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, December 14 A farmer was electrocuted while working in his fields on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Kulwinder Singh (60). He had gone to switch on the tubewell to water his wheat fields in the morning. When Kulwinder did not return, his wife Devinder Kaur went to the spot and found that he had died on coming in contact with the tubewell switch. Balwinder Singh, elder brother of the deceased, said they had informed the Cholha Sahib police about the incident. The police lodged a report under Section 194 of the BNS on the basis of the joint statement of Balwinder Singh and Devinder Kaur. The deceased is survived by his 17-yearold daughter, 12-year-old son and wife. alias Happy Pashia. Foreign-based gangster Gurdev Singh Jaisel and Gopi Nawanasheria were also part of the module. They targeted police establishments and leaders of the minority community in the recent past. A senior police official Man nabbed with four pistols, 14 live cartridges 2 drones, heroin, bullets recovered in border villages 3 held with 1kg heroin Amritsar, December 14 The Border Security Force (BSF) have confiscated two drones along with a packet of heroin and two live 9mm bullets in the Amritsar border belt during the last 24 hours. The BSF authorities revealed that the troops recovered a DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone from a field in Mullakot border village while another similar flying machine was found in broken condition in agricultural fields at Ballarwal village here. The BSF also found a packet of heroin with gross weight of 550 grams and two rounds of 9mm pistol during search operation in Ballarwal village. The packet containing narcotics was wrapped with yellow adhesive tape and a copper wire ring was found attached to it, said the BSF authorities. With the onset of winters and dense fog engulfing border villages, there has been a spurt in intrusion of drones carrying drugs and weapons pushed in from the Pakistan-based antinational elements to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the Indian territory. — TNS Tarn Taran, December 14 The Valtoha police led by Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Charan Singh during routine patrolling in the area arrested three persons on Friday night from the grain market at Amar Kot village and recovered 1.001 kg of heroin from them. Preetinder Singh, DSP , Bhikhiwind, said the arrested accused were identified as Balveer Singh and his brother Amandeep Singh Kaka, residents of Malka Valtoha, and Gurjant Singh, a resident of Theh Sarhali (Valtoha). Amritsar, December 14 The Government Railway Police (GRP) today arrested an alleged weapon smuggler and recovered four country-made pistols from his possession. He was waiting for someone to deliver the weapon consignment when the GRP arrested him during checking. The accused was identified as Captain Singh, alias Bura, a resident of Nangli Battha village on the Fategarh Churian road. His unknown accomplice, however, man- aged to flee from the spot. Balwinder Singh Ghuman, SHO, GRP said apart from four , pistols the police also recovered 14 live cartridges from his possession. The accused was produced in a court which sent him to one-day police remand for further interrogation. Ghuman said as per preliminary probe his accomplice made him sit near the TT room with a bag containing weapons. He said raids were on to nab his accomplice. His arrest would clear things like source of the weapons and to whom these were to be delivered. The accused in custody of the GRP in Amritsar. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR help of social media and YouTube. They were also getting tips from their foreign-based handlers. Gaurav Yadav, Director Our Correspondent PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Tribune News Service wishing not to be named said the accused were getting “training” for preparing an IED and hurling hand grenades with the A Judges Bench hears grievances of the people at the National Lok Adalat in Amritsar on Saturday. 25,956 cases settled in Lok Adalat Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 14 During the National Lok Adalat held at the local court here today, 35,316 cases came up for hearing of which 25,956 were settled and disposed of with mutual consent of the parties involved. The National Lok Adalat was held on the directions of the National Legal Services Authority and the Punjab State Legal Services Authority under the leadership of District and Sessions Judge Amarinder Singh Grewal. c m y b Besides District Court Complex here, the National Lok Adalat was also held at the Sub-Divisional Courts in Ajnala and Baba Bakala Sahib. Amardeep Singh Bains, Civil Judge (Senior Division)-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, said different cases of various categories, including criminal compoundable, bank recovery, cheque bounce, matrimonial disputes, electricity and water bills, telecom, Motor Accident Claims Tribunalsmatters, labour disputes and traffic challans were taken up in the Lok Adalat. In all, 26 Benches were constituted for the Lok Adalat of which 18 were for the Amritsar district courts, one for Permanent Lok Adalat, one for Industrial Tribunal (Labour Court), Amritsar, four for Ajnala and two for Baba Bakala Sahib for amicable settlement of disputes. Apart from this for taking up matrimonial and families disputes, one Bench was setup by the counselling cell for crime against women, Police Department, at their own level, the Civil Judge said. He said the accused were seen standing near their two motorcycles by the police party led by the SHO. During search of the accused, heroin was recovered from their possession. The DSP said the accused had picked up the drug brought through drone from across the border. The accused were booked under Sections 21-C, 61 and 85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and Sections of the 10, 11 and 12 of the Aircraft Act by the police. The police impounded their two motorcycles and seized two mobile phones from their possession. The three accused in custody of the police. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI