21042025-ATR-01.qxd 20-04-2025 22:48 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune SMALL UNITS VOICE CONCERN OVER BIS CERTIFICATION EMRAAN HASHMI ON HOW ACTORS SHOULD STAY RELEVANT Actor Emraan Hashmi believes the key to staying relevant in the world of cinema is to be open-minded. P4 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 36°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 26°C RIZWANN SIKANDER LOVES TO TAKE ON CHALLENGES The inclusion of grey iron casting under compulsory BIS certification could hit small and micro foundry units. P2 FORECAST The actor doesn’t just play characters. He lives them, loves them and lets them breathe through him. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 6.50 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5.48 AM » MONDAY | 21 APRIL 2025 | AMRITSAR Fire at Bhagtanwala garbage dump, residents forced to breathe toxic air Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service The Innova car that got stuck under a trailer truck after colliding with it near Gohalwar village on the Tarn Taran-Amritsar road on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI Two of family killed in road mishap Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, April 20 Two members of a local family were killed on the spot when the Innova car they were travelling in collided with a trailer truck on the Tarn Taran-Amritsar road near Gohalwar village here on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. ASI Baldev Singh of the city police, investigating officer (IO) in the case, said the deceased have been identified as Navdeep Singh Padda (27) and his cousin (son of his father’s sister), residents of Gali Pappu Bhagat, Mohalla Guru Ka Khooh, Tarn Taran. The deceased were going to Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International airport to receive their relative coming from a foreign country. ASI Baldev Singh said the driver of the trailer truck, who was coming from the opposite side, suddenly turned towards a side where a petrol pump was situated unmindful of the oncoming Innova car. As a result, the car hit the end portion of the truck and got stuck under it. Passersby had to face great difficulty in starting the rescue operation. ASI Baldev Singh said a case under Sections 106 (1), 281 and 324 (1) of the BNS was registered against the truck driver, who run away from the spot leaving behind the truck. Amritsar, April 20 With the temperatures rising sharply, fires have started breaking out at the Bhagtanwala garbage dump in Amritsar. As soon as temperatures touch 35°C, the highly flammable waste at the site gets ignited spontaneously, triggering dense smoke that blankets nearby residential areas. Residents living in the vicinity of the dump say they are forced to endure suffocating conditions due to the toxic air. “It becomes extremely difficult for us to breathe. The smoke pervades our homes, especially when the wind is blowing strongly,” said a local resident. A moderate wind on Sunday evening further aggravated the situation by spreading smoke in residential areas,” said Sandeep Sharma, a resident. Some of the farmers, who visit the adjoining grain market, are also raising concern that in case the fire enters the Mandi complex due to winds, who will be responsible for the damage? Dense smoke billowing from the Bhagtanwala garbage dump in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR The farmers and workers in the grain market are also facing inconvenience as the wheat procurement is going on. Currently, approximately 18 metric tonnes of legacy waste lies accumulated at the site. The Amritsar Municipal Corporation (MC) had, way back in 2018, proposed a bioreme- diation plan to clear the site within two years. The plan also included the installation of a waste-to-energy plant to produce green coal. However, despite the directions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the implementation process has been sluggish, and bioremediation has yet to take off properly. According to officials of the MC Health Department, the large mounds of untreated garbage continuously release methane gas, which becomes a major fire hazard during the summer season. The rising temperatures make the dump site increasingly vulnerable to fires. “This problem has persisted for the last 15 years. Every summer, it’s the same story, but no lasting solution is sought,” said Narinder Singh, a resident. In the face of growing criticism, MC officials have now claimed that new contracts are being negotiated with private firms to eliminate the legacy waste and finally kick-start the waste-to-energy initiative. Until real action is taken, thousands of residents living in nearby areas will continue to suffer the hazardous effects of the smoldering dump. 14-year-old Dalit boy thrashed, humiliated BSF troops recover three Pak drones, drugs before panchayat on theft charge from Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur areas PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 20 A 14-year-old Dalit boy was allegedly thrashed by a resident of Nizampura village falling under Jandiala Guru police station here. According to his family, the boy and his kin were also humiliated before the village panchayat. The incident came to light when a video went viral and the matter reached the Commission for Scheduled Castes which recommended the registration of a criminal case in this regard. In the FIR, Jyoti, mother of the victim, alleged that her son was mentally challenged and it was usual for him to enter houses in the village. She said that on April 16, at BOY IS MENTALLY CHALLENGED: MOTHER ■ In the FIR, Jyoti, mother of the victim, alleged that her son was mentally challenged and it was usual for him to enter houses in the village. She said that on April 16, at around 11 pm, he entered the house of Gurinder Singh as he was hungry. He said Gurinder Singh brutally thrashed him. The next day, he was again beaten up with a stick in front of the village panchayat during which he sustained a head injury. around 11 pm, he entered the house of Gurinder Singh as he was hungry. He said Gurinder Singh brutally thrashed him. The next day, he was again beaten up with a stick in front of the village panchayat during which he sustained a head injury. She alleged that though some residents tried to broker a compromise, she wanted to register an FIR against the accused. The police have registered a case under relevant sections of BNS and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Gurinder Singh. Victor Singh, investigating officer in the case, said that the accused was arrested and further probe was on. Karamjit Gill, general secretary, Gian Ashram Paavan Valmiki Tirath, condemned the incident and said that the village panchayat should not have allowed the humiliation of the family. He alleged that the family was even asked to leave the village. Gill said it was due to their intervention that the family returned to the village. On the other hand, members of the village panchayat refuted the allegations and said that the boy was a habitual offender and was involved in theft incidents in the village. The panchayat did not lodge a police complaint earlier as it would have made him a bigger criminal, said Harpreet Singh, a member of the village panchayat. He alleged that in the incident that took place, the boy had entered the house late at night with the intention of committing theft. Seeking a high-level probe into the matter, he urged senior police officials to investigate the matter properly and ensure justice. Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 20 Continuing its campaign against narco-drones, vigilant BSF troops today recovered three Pakistani drones and a consignment of narcotics from the border districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur. A search operation by BSF troops, conducted on the basis of specific information, culminated in the recovery of one DJI Mavic-3 Classic drone in damaged condition at about 11:50 am from a harvested field adjacent to village Rajatal in Amritsar. In another instance, based on the disclosure of a smuggler apprehended last week, a joint search by the BSF in BSF personnel with the seized drone in Amritsar. collaboration with Punjab Police led to the recovery of a packet containing suspected heroin (gross weight 545 gram) today at about 3:05 pm, from a harvested field adjacent to village Dal in Tarn Taran district. Yet another DJI Mavic-3 Classic drone was recovered by the BSF troops at about 3:30 pm today, on the basis of specific inputs, from a field adjacent to village Gatti Rajoke in Ferozepur district. The third DJI Mavic-3 Classic drone was recovered today at about 6 pm from a farming field adjacent to village Daoke in Amritsar district. All these drones are presumed to have crashed due to technical counter-measures deployed on the border. ASI held for extorting ‘Help bring back mortal remains of Ensure farmers get payment for ~25K from sarpanch Khadoor Sahib girl from Canada’ produce within 48 hrs: Minister Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 20 The Amritsar rural police have arrested Assistant SubInspector (ASI) Chaman Lal, posted at the Kathunangal police station here, on charges of corruption. He was arrested following the complaint lodged by Talwandi Dasandha Singh village sarpanch Jatinder Singh. In his complaint, he stated that the ASI had extorted ~25,000 from him. He said on March 30, two unknown persons fired outside the residence of Balkar Singh of the village. He stated in his complaint that he suspect that the firing was done at his (Jatinder’s) behest. He said after a preliminary probe, the police did not find his role and the police filed a case against unknown persons in this connection. However, ASI Chaman Lal, investigating officer in the case, COMPLAINANT SAYS ■ ASI Chaman Lal, investigating officer, started harassing and demanding money from him. On March 26, he gave ~5,000 to him. However, he again pressurised him to give ~20,000 which he gave him at a petrol pump. started harassing and demanding money from him. He said on March 26, he gave ~5,000 to him at the Kathunangal bus stop. However, he again pressurised him to give ~20,000 which he gave him at the Talwandi Dasandha petrol pump. Jatinder handed over the CCTV footage of the incident to senior police officers, who ordered the registration of an FIR against the accused cop. The Kathunangal police have registered an FIR under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against ASI Chaman Lal and arrested him. Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 20 Shiromani Akali Dal vicepresident and in-charge of Khadoor Sahib Assembly constituency, Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, has expressed his deepest condolences to the family of Harsimrat Kaur Randhawa, who lost her life in a distressing incident in Canada. The 21-year-old Harsimrat, a student at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario, was tragically shot and killed by an unidentified assailant while waiting at a bus stop on her way to work. Expressing his deep sorrow over the incident, Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, a former MLA, said, “This shocking and unfortunate incident has plunged the entire region into mourning. The loss of a young bright soul like Harsimrat Kaur Randhawa has caused unimaginable pain to her HOW SHE DIED ■ The 21-year-old Harsimrat, a student at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario, was tragically shot and killed by an unidentified assailant while waiting at a bus stop on her way to work. family, friends and the community she belonged to.” Brahmpura has written to the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, urging immediate intervention to ensure that the mortal remains of Harsimrat Kaur Randhawa are brought back to India. “The bereaved family wishes to perform the last rites of their beloved daughter Harsimrat in their ancestral village of Dhunda, Khadoor Sahib, according to our age-old traditions. It is of utmost importance that the family is able to bid farewell to Harsimrat on their own c m y b soil,” he said. Brahmpura has requested the External Affairs Minister to closely liaise with the relevant Canadian authorities and expedite all necessary formalities for the return of Harsimrat’s mortal remains to India. He has further appealed to the Government of India to take up this grave matter at the highest diplomatic level with the Canadian government to ensure that those responsible for this heinous crime are identified and brought to justice without delay. Extending his heartfelt sympathies to Harsimrat Kaur Randhawa’s family, Ravinder Singh Brahmpura stated, “I urge the Central Government to provide every possible assistance to ensure the immediate return of Harsimrat’s mortal remains and to stand by the family in their moment of profound grief.” Amritsar, April 20 Farmers would get payment for their wheat produce within 48 hours of the procurement and lifting of the procured stocks would be ensured within 72 hours. This was stated by Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal during a visit to various grain markets of the district here on Sunday. To ensure that the farmers do not face any inconvenience, it is important that they get their payment in time and the lifting of crop would ensure ample space in mandis for fresh arrivals from fields, he said. Dhaliwal also inspected the moisture content in wheat, reviewed procurement arrangements, and interacted with farmers, labourers, and arhtiyas. He said the payment should not be delayed beyond the deadline fixed by the government and if such a case comes to notice, action would be taken against officials concerned and agency. The minister said the state Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal during a visit to a grain market in Ajnala on Sunday. government is committed to upgrading infrastructure at the grain markets. “These mandis are not only used for procurement of wheat and paddy but also for various social, religious and sports events,” he said. Speaking to the farmers, Dhaliwal said, “The government is fully committed and prepared to purchasing each and every grain of the farmers’ crop from the mandis, ensuring no trouble for farmers, labourers or arhtiyas.” He said the preliminary reports have suggested that yield of wheat this season is better than many previous years and farmers need to be appreciated for their hard work. — TNS