05012025-ATR-01.qxd 04-01-2025 23:37 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY SKY MAX 17°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 17°C | MIN 7°C FOG CAUSES DISPARITY IN AQI READINGS IN JALANDHAR NO NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS SET IN STONE FOR ACTRESS DIVYA EMILIA PEREZ, CONCLAVE IN BAFTA LONGLIST These disparities coincide with severely foggy weather and a spike in air pollution levels felt by citizens. P2 The National Award winner is challenging herself to get out of her comfort zone by taking up multiple projects. P4 Both films have secured prominent places, with Emilia Perezclaiming a recordequalling 15 longlist nominations. P4 » » » SUNSET SUNDAY 5.40 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 7.31 AM SUNDAY | 5 JANUARY 2025 | AMRITSAR Civic body to operate 60 buses on BRTS route from tomorrow Train, flight services hit as fog covers city for third day in row Manmeet Singh Gill Swaran Singh Nagoke Veteran CPI leader Swaran Singh Nagoke passes away Tarn Taran, January 4 Veteran CPI leader Swaran Singh Nagoke, who was over 90 years old, breathed his last on Saturday in his native Nagoke village. He was suffering from age-related ailments for the last five years and lost consciousness five days ago. The communist leader was an eyewitness to the India-Pakistan Partition in which his father was orphaned and remained in an orphanage (Yatim Khana) in Amritsar. He was a victim of terror bids on his life during the days of militancy. He was one of the founder leaders of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha in which he remained active till his last days. He was a full-time leader of the CPI. His wife had died the previous year and he was looking after the children of his brother as well. His cremation was attended by a large number of people today. — OC The BRTS station in Amritsar on Saturday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 4 In a major development for commuters in the city, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has announced plans to operate 60 buses on the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) route. The service would be resumed from January 6. This comes after a month-long trial run of the BRTS service. The trial run had started on December 6, which saw only six buses operating on route number 201, from Golden Gate to India Gate. Municipal Commissioner and CEO of BRTS, Gulpreet Singh Aulakh stated that after the repair of BRTS fleet, around 60 buses would be put into operations from January 6. A high-level meeting convened in Chandigarh on Friday has led to positive news for commuters. Aulakh stated that as of now, 93 buses are available at the BRTS depot. Of this, 60 buses will begin operating on the BRTS route from January 6 onward. The state government has granted the necessary approval for this expanded fleet. In addition to the 60 ready buses, Aulakh revealed that 33 more buses are currently undergoing extensive repairs at the BRTS depot. These buses, which had more severe defects, are expected to be ready in the coming days. Initially, the BRTS service would be free for the commuters for a few weeks and then the bus fare would be charged from the commuters. “The significant move is expected to alleviate the troubles faced by residents who depend on the BRTS service, ensuring smoother and more reliable travel across the city’s transit network. There is no alternative public transport for residents, which provide comfortable commuting in this shivering cold. Aimed at addressing ongoing issues faced by residents, the MC made this great decision to resume the service,” said Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Partap Nagar. Amritsar, January 4 For the third day in a row, dense fog brought the city to a standstill, causing widespread disruptions to road, rail and air traffic here on Saturday. Commuters were left frustrated as they struggled to reach their destinations due to low visibility. With at least three domestic flights cancelled and several others delayed, the arrival of at least eight trains was also delayed. As per railway officials, the Jallianwala Bagh Express was delayed by eight hours, the Mumbai CSMT-Amritsar Express by six hours and 36 minutes, the Saryu Jamna Express by three hours and 50 minutes, the Paschim SF Express by two hours and 20 minutes, the New Delhi Amritsar Intercity Express by one hour and 15 minutes, the Jan Shatabdi Express by 30 minutes, the Akal Takht Express by one hour and 40 minutes, the New Jalpaiguri-Amritsar Karambhoomi Express by one hour and 10 minutes. With fog disrupting train PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Tribune News Service Commuters navigate through a road amid foggy and cold conditions in Amritsar on Saturday. services, most of the passengers were left stranded at the station, waiting for hours for their trains to arrive. “I was supposed to catch a flight to Delhi, but it was cancelled due to fog,” said Rohan, a passenger at the airport. “I’ve been waiting for hours and I’m still not sure when I’ll be able to fly out.” “I was supposed to arrive in Amritsar early, but my train was delayed by six hours,” said Priya, a passenger on the Mumbai CSMTAmritsar Express. “I’m exhausted and frustrated. I just want to get to my destination,” she added. Residents of the city were also affected by fog, with many finding it difficult to navigate through roads. “Fog was so thick that visibility dropped to just a few Nagar Kirtan taken out to mark birth anniv BSF, cops nab two drug peddlers of tenth Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh with 2.6 kg of heroin, 40 bullets Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 4 To mark the Parkash Purab of 10th Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh, a Nagar Kirtan was organised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) from Sri Akal Takht Sahib today. Led by the Panj Pyaras, the chief granthi of Golden Temple, and the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Raghbir Singh adorned the holy form of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the Palki Sahib. The Akal Takht Jathedar congratulated the Sangat on Gurpurab of the 10th Guru and described the life of Guru Gobind Singh as unparalleled and inspiring in the religious history of the world. The Nagar Kirtan passed through Bazar Mai Sewan, Bazar Kathian, Bazar Paparan, Bazar Bansan, Chowk Chhati Khuhi, Chawal Mandi and the old walled city and was joined by the masses. The Chief Khalsa Diwan too organised a Nagar Kirtan from its head office to Darbar Sahib, performing an ‘Ardas’. CKD Amritsar, January 4 The Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Punjab Police confiscated 2.6 kg of heroin along with 40 live cartridges in two separate instances in the last 24 hours. During the operation, the BSF and Punjab Police arrested two drug peddlers who had come to retrieve the contraband. BSF officials said in a joint operation with the Gharinda police, they had arrested two drug traffickers with 540 gm of heroin in Attari border village. They were later identified as residents Kotla Nasir Khan border village. Following intelligence inputs, the BSF and Rural police cops were present near Government High School, Attari, when they observed suspicious movements of two suspects. They were apprehended and during search they found a packet wrapped in yellow adhesive tape and attached with a copper hook. The contraband was smuggled from Pakistan by a drone. “The duo was handed over to A Nagar Kirtan procession being taken out ahead of the birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Saturday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR DECLARE NATIONAL HOLIDAY ON GURPURB: BJP LEADER CHHINA ■ Chhina, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stated, “As a mark of respect and befitting dedication, the celebration of Gurpurab on January 6 must be declared as a national holiday,” adding that the Punjab government and neighbouring state governments, including Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, have already declared a holiday on Gurpurab. president Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar urged the Sangat to improve their conduct in accordance with the teachings of the Guru for the betterment of society and humanity. Afterwards, the Nagar Kirtan was led by the ‘Panj Pyaras’, followed by tableaux of Guru Granth Sahib bedecked with flowers, including Kirtan, band and Gatka teams, besides the teaching and nonteaching staff of CKD schools, colleges, hospitals, orphanage and other institutes. The procession was marked by rendering of the holy ‘Shabad Kirtan’ by the music teams of various CKD schools and colleges. Two drug peddlers in custody of BSF jawans and Punjab Police personnel in Amritsar. the police and is currently being quizzed to investigate their links with Pakistan-based smugglers,” said the BSF officials. Meanwhile, the BSF confiscated another consignment of 2.12 kg of heroin along with a box containing 40 live cartridges from Balharwalbordervillage.On Saturday at around 8.50am, the BSF intelligence wing received a tip-off regarding the presence of a big kit bag in a field in Balaharwal border village. Immediately, BSF teams responded and reached the spot and took the bag into possession. Upon opening, the BSF found four packets of heroin with gross weight of 2.120 kg and a small cardboard box containing 40 live 9mm bullets. Manawala Kalan village sets an example, to boycott drug traffickers socially PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 4 Setting an example, the Gram Panchayat of Manawala Kalan has decided to socially boycott those who are involved in illegal drug trade and push the youth into the deadly trap of drug abuse. The newly elected Gram Panchayat led by Sarpanch Satnam Singh Lala and former Sarpanch and prominent leader Sukhraj Singh Randhawa passed several resolutions, including the one on socially boycotting the drug peddlers and taking action against them with the help of police. “We have passed these resolutions after discussions with the village residents who were peeved at rampant drug abuse while the government agencies and the police department failed to rein them in,” said the Sarpanch. “Apart from this, we have also decided to name the sports stadium here in the name of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh,” said Lala. Speaking to The Tribune, Sukhraj Singh Randhawa said that the situation had turned grim. “Even children are being pushed into drugs Residents of Manawala Kalan village have passed a resolution regarding social boycot of drug peddlers in Amritsar. SUNIL KUMAR by the traffickers. We are left with no option but to wage a war against those who are destroying our youth and c m y b future. We will do whatever we can, even sit on hunger strike in case the government, police and district administration fail to take note of the drug scourge in our village, he pointed out. He said that recently, a villager whose land was fraudulently usurped by drug traffickers in lieu of drugs approached him for help. Kulwinder Singh, a member of the panchayat, said that all the residents of the village are on the same page as far as the fight against drugs is concerned. “We name and shame the traffickers in the village by pasting their posters outside their residences,” he added. There are dozens of those involved in drug trafficking, he added. Narrating his tale of woes, Hardev Singh, another village resident, said his elder son has been in drugs for the past four years. He was 12 years old when he fell into the deadly trap of drug addiction. He said all efforts to wean him away from drugs have failed and drug dealers are luring young children into this trap in their own interests. A woman Lakhwinder Kaur said not only men, several women were also involved in selling narcotics. Among other resolutions passed by the Gram Panchayat is renaming sports stadium in the village in the name of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Apart from this, the panchayat would make FDs of Rs 3,100 for the newborn girl child so that it would help them in future education. The panchayat would also arrange coaching for UPSC and PCS examinations for the children of poor families. The villagers would also have to take permission for hosting DJs in the village. feet,” said Sarita, a resident of the city. “I’m afraid of driving, and I’m worried about the safety of others on the road.” The authorities have advised commuters to exercise caution and plan their journeys accordingly. Fog is expected to continue for the next few days and residents must brace for further disruptions. Rights bodies demand CJI’s intervention in UP encounter Amritsar, January 4 Various human rights organisations today sought immediate intervention of the Supreme Court in the alleged fake encounter in which three Sikh youths were killed in a joint operation by the UP and Punjab Police in Pilibhit area of Uttar Pradesh on December 23. Khalra Mission Organisation, Punjab Human Rights Organisation and the Manukhi Insaf Sangharsh Committee, Punjab (MISCP), in a communiqué to the Chief Justice of India, alleged that the victims, Varinder Singh of Agwan, Gurwinder Singh of Kalanaur and Jashanpreet Singh of Nikka Shaoura village (all in Gurdaspur district), were killed in a fake encounter by the police. They urged the CJI to take suo motu action in the encounter. Representatives of these organisations said that initially, the police attributed the attacks at the police stations as cases of tyre burst or LPG cylinder blasts. But after the killing of three youths, the police alleged that Khalistanis were involved in the grenade attacks on police stations. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) had demanded a judicial probe into the matter. It has raised serious questions over the police encounter. They said the sitting MLA of ruling AAP from Payal (Punjab) assembly constituency, Manwinder Singh Giaspura, had also written a letter to the Speaker of Punjab Assembly for an independent investigation. Nevertheless, the Punjab and the UP government were justifying this unlawful act of police forces. On December 23, a joint team of the Punjab and Uttar Pradesh police killed three suspected terrorists, who were allegedly involved in a grenade attack on a police post in Gurdaspur, in an encounter in Pilibhit’s Puranpur. — TNS