03042025-ATR-01.qxd 4/2/2025 11:17 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune GOINDWAL SAHIB’S LASTING IMPACT ON SIKHISM SHAH RUKH KHAN RETURNS TO MUMBAI AFTER LONG TRIP Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan returned to Mumbai in the wee hours on Wednesday. P4 PARTLY CLOUDY SKY MAX 31°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 14°C TOP GUN STAR VAL KILMER PASSES AWAY AT 65 Goindwal Sahib, situated on the banks of the Beas, is referred to as the “axis of Sikhism” (Sikhi Da Dhura). P3 FORECAST Val Kilmer, who played fan-favourite Iceman in Bollywood film Top Gun, has died. He was 65. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 6.40 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.07 AM » THURSDAY | 3 APRIL 2025 | AMRITSAR Civic body collects ~41.70 cr as property tax in 2024-25 fiscal Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Gurmej Singh Booh village resident settled in Italy dies of heart attack Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, April 2 Shock waves gripped the area after the report of death of a resident of Booh village settled in Italy was received by residents today in the morning. Reports revealed that the deceased has been identified as Gurmej Singh (40), son of Jassa Singh, who was settled in Italy along with his wife and a seven-year-old son. He went to Italy 20 years back and was living in Batti Palia village of Salem district. Jugraj Singh Sandhu, a friend of Gurmej Singh, informed that he was sleeping in his house last night when he suffered cardiac problems which proved fatal. The family of the deceased said he was planning to visit his village soon. Amritsar, April 2 With the financial year ending on Monday, the residents of Amritsar hurried to clear their property tax dues to avoid penalty and interest. The last day for depositing the tax witnessed an overwhelming response, with people queuing up till late in the evening to ensure that their payments were processed. By 8.30 pm, approximately Rs 2 crore had been collected, marking a significant surge in tax payments on the last day. By late evening, the Municipal Corporation collected Rs 41.70 crore in the 2024-25 fiscal. Assistant MC Commissioner Daljit Singh said that Rs 2 crore had been collected by way of property tax on Monday for the current financial year till 8.30 pm. He further stated that the collection was going on with taxpayers continuing to deposit their dues. The deadline for property tax payments was set at midnight, and the administration anticipated surpassing the Rs 42 crore mark before the window closed. Jaiveer Tyagi sent to police custody for three days Was arrested by CI wing with a hand grenade on Tuesday Tribune News Service The Amritsar Municipal Corporation collected around ~4 crore more than the previous year but failed to achieve the recovery target set during the last budget. Under the directives of Municipal Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh, officials of the property tax wing took to the field, not only to collect taxes but also to conduct a sealing drive against defaulters. This rigorous campaign was complemented by an awareness initiative aimed at educating citizens about the importance of timely tax payments. However, the MC collected around Rs 4 crore more than the previous year but failed to achieve the recovery target set during the last budget. The MC had proposed to collect Rs 50 crore from property tax but despite the many efforts made, the target remained short by Rs 8 crore. Sushant Bhatia, MC secretary, said, “Superintendents from all five zones of the Municipal Corporation, along with their teams, worked tirelessly to facilitate the process and ensure maximum compliance. Their efforts played a crucial role in the substantial tax revenue collection, demonstrating the effectiveness of a well coordinated drive.” Amritsar, April 2 A local court on Wednesday sent Jaiveer Tyagi, alias Javed, a native of Baroli village in Saharanpur (UP) and currently residing in Ludhiana, to police custody for three days. He was arrested by the Counter Intelligence wing of the Amritsar police with a hand grenade from near Taran Wala Pul here yesterday. With his arrest, the police had claimed to have averted a possible terror attack in the state. According to the police, CI teams received an intelligence input that a foreignbased individual, identified as Sehlam, who is working for Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI, along with his cousin Jaiveer Tyagi was planning to target government installations through terror attacks in various cities to disturb peace and harmony in the state. He had also retrieved the consignment of the hand grenade from Attari area and Youth dies by suicide Miyawaki forest opens to public in Katra Khazana Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 2 Nikhil Sharma (18), a resident of Katra Khazana area, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in the house here on Tuesday. He was alone at home when he allegedly took the extreme step. He was a student of Class XII. His family members alleged that he was perturbed over the alleged threats by his girlfriend and her friends. The police said investigation is still underway. The police handed over the body to the family members after a postmortem. Neha Sharma, mother of the victim, said Nikhil had gone to school after four days. She had gone to market in the afternoon when he returned. Nikhil asked his younger brother Rohan to bring kulcha. She said he returned only to find the doors bolted from inside and there was no response from inside. WAS CLASS XII STUDENT ■ He was a student of Class XII. His family members alleged that he was perturbed over the alleged threats by his girlfriend and her friends. The police said investigation is still underway. She said when he peeped into from the window, he found his brother hanging. Rohan raised an alarm and nearby residents rushed to the house and broke open the door and took him to hospital where he died. Her father used to work in a cafe in Delhi. He had left for Delhi in the morning. She demanded the registration of a case against the girl and her friends who were threatening her son. The police said investigations were in progress and they are taking the statement of the victim’s family. — TNS Amritsar, April 2 Miyawaki forest, established by Vardhman Steel Company Limited (VSSL) in collaboration with the district administration on an area of 2.5 acres at Chaali Khuh Park located near the Jaura Phatak, was opened for the general public here on Wednesday. It was inaugurated by Sachit Jain, vice-chairman, VSSL, Amritsar East MLA Jeevanjot Kaur and Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney. Sachit Jain said Miyawaki forest is a scientific method developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, through which a good quality forest can be created even on less land in urban areas. The technique, made popular lately as it does not require large patches of land, uses dense plantation of native species of trees and shrubs similar to a natural forest Traders concerned over power tariff hike, seek uniform rates Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 2 Voicing concern over the annual hike in power tariff, entrepreneurs have cautioned the government not to go ahead with increase in rates of electricity every year. They are of the view that the hike has almost become a tradition. Kamal Dalmia, patron-inchief of the Focal Point Industrial Welfare Association, said the PSPCL hikes power tariff between seven to 10 per cent annually. He felt that a hike of 10 per cent every year would increase the cost of inputs in manufacturing of goods as the industry was passing through a tough face while competing with industries in neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana where they were getting power at a much ‘INTRODUCE MORE POWER SUPPLY FIRMS’ ■ Kamal Dalmia, patron-in-chief of the Focal Point Industrial Welfare Association, suggested that in order to enhance the productive capacity of the PSPCL, the government must introduce more power supply companies. cheaper rate. He suggested that in order to enhance the productive capacity of the PSPCL, the government must introduce more power supply companies. Citing the instance of Delhi and Maharashtra, he said competition among the power supply firms improved the capability of power utilities in these two states. Sundeep Khosla, president of Focal Point Industrial Welfare Association, Bal Kalan Industrial Area, said when the government was claiming that the PSPCL was now a profit generating utility by reducing power thefts and getting coal at a low price from its coal mines for thermal power plants, then where was the need to hike the power tariff? Piara Lal Seth, president, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, demanded uniform power tariff rates across the country to offer equal opportunities to traders. Through several communiqués, he urged the Union government to act on their demand. Once implemented, the move would accelerate the economic development of the state and improve the living standard of people, he added. The suspect being produced in a court in Amritsar on Wednesday. was waiting for his other accomplices near Taran Wala Pul here to commit a major crime. Following this, the CI team acted swiftly and nabbed Tyagi with the hand grenade. Tyagi has been living in Ludhiana for the last 15 years and was in contact with Sehlam through encrypted messaging apps. Sehlam was in touch with Pakistan-based Doc receives extortion call, 1 booked Tribune News Service MLA Jeevanjot Kaur (C), DC Sakshi Sawhney (left) and Sachit Jain at the inauguration of Miyawaki forest at Chaali Khuh in Amritsar. ecosystem and is now a popularly adopted method of reforestation in urban areas. MLA Jeevanjot Kaur said in the last few years, the area under forests has decreased all over the world, “It is imperative that increase in the green cover in cities is worked upon to ensure a better future for next generation,” she said. While announcing the launch of a special campaign for planting trees during the rainy season, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said this is the first project of its kind in Amritsar city and 20,000 plants of 45 varieties of indigenous and foreign trees have been planted to create a forest area. “This is one of the largest Miyawaki forests in Amritsar,” she added. Amritsar, April 2 A doctor has complained to the police of getting an extortion call from an unidentified person. The Jhander police have registered a case in this connection while further probe was on to identify the caller. The complainant, who runs a private hospital in the area falling under the Jhander police station, told the police that three days ago, he got a call from a foreign number. The caller threatened to kill him and his family members while demanding ~50 lakh extortion. Karampal Singh, SHO, said the police have registered a case under Sections 308 (2), 308 (6) and 351 of the BNS against unidentified persons and further investigations are in progress. anti-national entities and gangsters-turned-terrorists based in Canada and the US. Sources in the CI said the accused were planning to carry out a blast using the hand grenade in Yodha Basti area. He had received the hand grenade from two bike-borne persons in Attari area. He said the police found two mobile numbers of the suspects from his phone which were now switched off. He said investigations are on to identify them. The CI has registered a case under Section 25 of the Arms Act, Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, and sections 61(2) and 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against him at the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) police station here. PSPCL launches helpline for farmers Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 2 In view of fire accidents caused by a short-circuit in electricity wires resulting in damaging of standing wheat crop every year, Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) has set up a control room where farmers can report loose electricity wires. Officials of PSPCL stated that farmers can call on telephone numbers (96461-06835 and 96461-06836) to report such incidents. The farmers can also report their problems on tollfree helpline number 1912. PSPCL officials stated that farmers can report low hanging/loose electricity wires and sparks at transformers on the telephone numbers 9646106835, 96461-06836 and the tollfree helpline number 1912, after which necessary action would REPORT LOOSE WIRES ■ PSPCL officials stated that farmers can report low hanging/loose electricity wires and sparks at transformers on the telephone numbers 9646106835, 96461-06836 and the toll-free helpline number 1912, after which necessary action would be taken. be taken. Farmers can also send pictures along with the location where the technical fault has taken place on the WhatsApp number 96461-06835. PSPCL has also advised farmers to keep the area around the transformers clear of any dry grass so that a spark produced by an electric short-circuit does not cause a fire. The officials advised that the area around the transformers should be kept wet so that even if there is a spark, it does not ignite a fire. Selected as govt school teacher, youth leaves Oz shores to serve his state, people Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 2 Returning from Australia to serve as a government school teacher in the rural border belt of Chogawan in Amritsar district, Sukhmandeep Singh’s journey isn’t just about the several thousand miles he flew. He gave up the lure of earning in dollars and getting a permanent residence permit to return and serve his state and people. His trials and tribulations began in 2020, when he took the exam hoping to crack the entrance test for selection of government teachers. Sukhmandeep found himself in a fix when the recruitment process got delayed even after the results of the exam were declared. In 2022, he migrated to Australia for c m y b Sukhmandeep Singh (centre) being given the appointment letter by district education officials in Amritsar. higher education and if possible to get a permanent residence permit. But destiny had other plans for him. Today, District Education Officer (Elementary) Kanwaljit Singh handed Sukhmandeep his appointment letter as a government school teacher. He is now set to teach at Government Elementary School, Mahale Ke, a border village in Chogawan block. “At a time when the youth of Punjab are rushing to migrate wherever their visa application takes them, Sukhmandeep Singh’s return to his motherland makes for a stand-out story. He left Australia to join a government job and serve his motherland. All efforts are being made to ensure that our youth, our biggest human resource, come back to Punjab to join government workforce and have a life instead of facing uncertainty,” said Kanwaljit Singh, DEO (Elementary). “I always wanted to serve as a government official and my original plans were to pursue my dream here. But fate intervened, and now, despite the delay, I have finally made it here again. I believe my love for Punjab and its language and culture made it happen,” said Sukhman- deep. He said that educated youth from Punjab must try and have a life here itself rather than spend a fortune on pursuing foreign dreams, only to return disappointed. Excited, he immediately said goodbye to Australia upon learning that he had been selected as a government school teacher, reaching the District Education Office directly from the airport in Rajasansi, to collect his appointment letter. DEO Kanwaljit Singh said that the Punjab Education Department is giving appointment letters to teachers on merit basis without any bias. “Many youth are joining the teaching profession, leaving international companies. We are hopeful that this would be serve as a good beginning for others as well.”