12022025-ATR-01.qxd 2/11/2025 11:00 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 22°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 23°C | MIN 9°C ADMN LAUNCHES FUTURE TYCOONS PROJECT IN CITY CITY HOSPITAL OBSERVES NATIONAL CLEFT DAY ARATI KADAV'S MRS STRIKES A CHORD WITH AUDIENCE Future Tycoons, launched to encourage entrepreneurship, is being promoted through awareness activities. P2 Amandeep hospital observed National Cleft Day to celebrate 8,000 plus cleft patients in the holy city. P2 With her latest movie, the engineerturned-filmmaker has exposed deeply rooted patriarchal value system. P4 » » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.14 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 7.14 AM WEDNESDAY | 12 FEBRUARY 2025 | AMRITSAR Admn cancels licences of IELTS centres in city Tribune News Service Amritsar February 11 The district administration has cancelled the licences of various institutes imparting coaching for IELTS and consultancies under the Prevention of Human Smuggling Act and the Punjab Travel Professions Regulation Act. Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Jyoti Bala has informed that these agencies requested to renew their licences, stating that they have closed their immigration offices. Some agencies requested that they are not willing to renew their licences, because of which their licences have been cancelled. Additional District Magistrate Jyoti Bala, in exercise of powers vested in her under Section 6(1) (e) of the Punjab Travel Professions Act Regulation Act, 2012, has issued notices to Unique Education and Immigration, B Block Ranjit Avenue; M/s HIT Education and Consultancy Centre, GT Road, Daburji; M/s AJR Golbal, 35 Circular Road, Opposite Medical College; M/s Experts Immigration and Education, near HDFC Bank, GT Road, Beas; M/s Golden Studies, Gali Punjab and Sindh Bank, Rayya; Perth PTE and IELTS Training Centre, SCF 23, Kabir Park, Opposite University. The licences of M/s Archway Consultancy, C-Block, Ranjit Avenue and Expert Education Consultancy, Opposite Khalsa College, have been cancelled with immediate effect. The Additional District Magistrate said that besides, if any complaint is received against the said licensee or his firm, then the owner/proprietor will be held responsible in every respect. They will also be compensated by the said licensee, said the Additional District Magistrate. Travel agent booked for aiding Tarn Taran man cross over to US Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, February 11 The district police have started scrutinising the criminal background of travel agent Gurkirat Singh who played a key role in helping Mandeep Singh of Chohla Sahib cross over to the USA on January 22 this year. Gurkirat Singh belonged to a marginal family but has now opened his travel agency in the posh Ranjit Avenue area. He holds huge property in Amritsar and other parts of Punjab and has reportedly developed links with politically influential people. The Chohla Sahib police have booked Gurkirat Singh on the complaint of Mandeep Singh (29), a resident of the same township, who was among the 30 Indians deported from the USA recently. Investigating officer ASI Rajbir Singh said that Gurkirat Singh cheated Mandeep Singh’s family of Rs 35 lakh. GURKIRAT CHEATED MANDEEP OF ~35 LAKH ■ Investigating officer ASI Rajbir Singh said that Gurkirat Singh cheated Mandeep Singh’s family of ~35 lakh. ■ Mandeep Singh went to Spain in 2022 where he was leading a peaceful life, earning a good income, but was desirous of settling in the USA. He told his father Naunihal Singh about his desire. His father contacted Gurkirat Singh who was working as a travel agent in the same Chohla Sahib township. He demanded ~22 lakh for sending Mandeep Singh through the ‘dunki’ (fraudulent) route. Mandeep Singh was taken in custody by the men of the agent at the beginning of the year 2025 and was handed over to the ‘donkers’ in México. Mandeep Singh went to Spain in 2022 where he was leading a peaceful life, earning a good income, but was desirous of settling in the USA. He told his father Naunihal Singh about his desire. His father contacted Gurkirat Singh who was working as a travel agent in the same Chohla Sahib township. He demanded Rs 22 lakh for sending Mandeep Singh through the ‘dunki’ (fraudulent) route. Mandeep Singh was taken in custody by the men of the agent at the beginning of the year 2025 and was handed over to the ‘donkers’ in México. Mandeep Singh along with others was kept with thousands of others who were to cross over to the USA. He said that the ‘donkers’ tortured him and others who refused to arrange money from their parents. ASI Rajbir Singh said that a case under section 318 (4) of the BNS and section 13 of Punjab Travel Professions Regulation Act , 2014 has been registered against travel agent Gurkirat Singh who is absconding. Woman claiming UPSC selection as an IPS held Gurbaxpuri Tarn Taran, February 11 The Bhikhiwind police have arrested a fraudster who was wearing the uniform of an IPS officer from Bhikhiwind village in the border area on Monday. ASI Partap Singh said here today that the fraudster has been identified as Simranjit Kaur, a resident of Plasaur village. Simranjit Kaur had been claiming for more than a year back that she was selected as an IPS through the UPSC exam held in 2023. In September 2023, she convened a press conference at her house in Plasaur village and said that she was going to attend her training at the Police Academy in Hyderabad soon. She said that after doing Party should introspect after Delhi polls, says AAP MLA from Amritsar North GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 11 After the debacle of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi Assembly polls, which has given an opportunity to the Opposition parties to raise fingers at the AAP government in Punjab, the party’s MLA from Amritsar North Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh has said that there was dire need for introspection. On his social media page, Kunwar Vijay Pratap stated that the way Opposition leaders, especially the Congress, were rubbing salt into the wounds, was a clear reflection of poor governance in Punjab. Expressing his displeasure at the defeat of AAP in Delhi, he posted: “Though the time has elapsed, still introspection could be done at the earliest.” Citing various examples, AAP MLA from Amritsar North Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh (right). FILE he alleged that gangsters had made their way into the party. “This was for the first time that a gangster and IG, STF, were in the same party and the gangster was openly telling the IG that he had joined the party. What dam- age could you do to him? Why shouldn’t he say that he was sitting in the minister’s car as his right arm,” he wrote. Kunwar Vijay Pratap further wrote that the indifference and insensitivity towards the common man in the prevailing government system, infested with corruption and bullying of public in offices, spoke loud and clear about the poor governance prevailing. He said he was not active in politics because of his domestic circumstances, especially after the untimely demise of his wife, yet he is committed to strengthening the party and the principles of Swaraj. He also pointed out the 2015 sacrilege incidents at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan when the innocent protestors were fired upon by the police, claiming two lives. Kunwar Vijay Pratap, who conducted the inquiry, said that the culprits who had confessed before the Akal Takht, enjoyed immunity due to the leniency of the government machinery. The accused in custody of the Bhikhiwind police. PHOTO BY WRITER her BCA from the local Mata Ganga Girls College, she was doing her MCA from the same college when she was selected as an IPS officer. The authorities of Mata Ganga Girls College clarified that Simranjit Kaur was admitted to the college in BCA course and had failed to clear her second semester and then left the college midway. They also informed that the college has not got the recognition for MCA classes. The news regarding her suspicious activities was published in the Punjabi Tribune on September 15, 2023 in detail but the administration took no notice. ASI Partap Singh said that the accused fraudster was moving around in the area in uniform with two stars and the IPS batch on her shoulder. She had been visiting different government offices to get her personal work done. The ASI said that a case under section 204, 205, 319 (2) and 318(4) of the BNS has been registered in this regard. She was produced in court today which sent her to police remand till February 13. March of faith Devotees take part in a shobha yatra taken out on the eve of Guru Ravidas Jayanti in Amritsar on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR HC to rehear petition challenging Skilled artisans from other states add colour to city’s city Mayor’s election on April 21 rich cultural tapestry, give city a cosmopolitan look Cong can prove majority in MC House, says petitioner Neeraj Bagga Amritsar, February 11 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has decided to conduct a rehearing of the petition filed by Congress councillor Vikas Soni, challenging the election of Mayor in Amritsar. The court has issued notices to all parties concerned, seeking their response before the scheduled rehearing on April 21, informed the petitioner. Vikas Soni had filed the petition on January 27, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is in power in Punjab, used undue influence to ensure the appointment of its councillors as Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor. He contended that the Congress party had a clear majority in the Municipal Corporation House and demanded fresh elections for the Mayor’s post. The case was initially heard on January 29 by a double bench. However, no notice of motion or next date of hearing was issued at that time. The Amritsar, February 11 People from different parts of the country, including West Bengal, Maharashtra, UP Kashmir, Himachal , Pradesh, Bihar and even Nepal are contributing their bit for the development of the holy city. They have brought with them skills in their fields for its robust development, imparting it a cosmopolitan look. Their work has resulted in dynamic changes in the designs of gold, output in factories, sanitary work, designs of ceiling, and in preparation of a variety of dishes. Vijay Mehta, president of Civil Lines Jewellers Association, said: “Trained artisans from West Bengal arrived here. They are much sought after for their skills in making gold jewellery, a genre with which Punjabi artisans are not very familiar”. Their gold ornament designs stand out for high workmanship and fine look in comparison to High Court reserved its decision until February 9 and subsequently announced on February 10 that the final verdict would be uploaded on February 11. In its latest ruling, the court determined that the petition requires a fresh hearing and directed all involved parties to present their arguments on April 21. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, the elected Mayor, Jitendra Singh Moti Bhatia, assumed office on January 28. However, the elected Senior Deputy Mayor, councillor Priyanka Sharma, and the elected Deputy Mayor, councillor Anita Rani, are yet to take charge. The MC elections were held on December 21 with results declared the same day. The Congress party had won 40 seats, AAP secured 24, BJP got 9, Shiromani Akali Dal won 4, and Independent candidates got 8 seats. Subsequently, seven Independent councillors and two BJP councillors joined the AAP while one Independent , councillor joined Congress. Now, the Congress claims that it can prove its majority in the MC House. — TNS Tribune News Service c m y b A temple set up by the Odia community on Majitha Road in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR indigenous artisans. They dispose of orders in minimum time as they work for 14 to 15 hours as compared to 7-8 hours by locals.” Sheikh Abdullah, a skilled artisan whose family hails from Hugli, a town in West Bengal, had migrated here in 1997. He said local gold market supplies finished jewellery products to Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. Bengali artisans are well versed in designing patterns popular in different parts of the country. Daya Lolge, a skilled artisan from Solapur, said a minuscule community of artisans from Maharashtra had settled here and was making gold ornaments. He said they were skilled in making silver ornaments but these are not popular in this part of the country. Ashwani Kumar, a jeweller in Guru Bazar area of the walled city, said artisans from Maharashtra were known for their skills in refining old gold ornaments. A small Odiya community has also made Amritsar their home. They are known for their skills in efficiently laying sanitary pipes in newly constructed houses. Shankar, who has been residing here for the past two decades, said his family was residing in Odisha while he lives here in a rented accommodation. Some people with an enterprising spirit have set up shops, selling sanitary equipment and refreshments, for community members. They have also established two separate temples. Ishwar from Lamahi in Nepal’s Dang district, a municipality, is known among locals for serving mouth- watering snacks. He had joined as a cook at a hotel way back in Amritsar in 2004. Soon, he opened a shop on a street opposite the Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT). “To minimise the cost, I initially took the help of my wife to roll out snacks,” he said. Ishwar was among the pioneers to introduce veg crispy, Talumein soup and other snacks in the city. Now, he employs three young cooks from Nepal who assist him in producing the flavour of the Himalayan nation. Artisans from UP have earned a name in producing fine down ceilings in commercial and residential sites to enhance the look of interiors. Manjot Singh, a residential contractor, said the skilled artisans from these states were involved in construction activity which requires the attention of a creative artist.