07052025-ATR-01.qxd 5/6/2025 11:29 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY SKY MAX 33°C | MIN 22°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 21°C ASHA WORKERS TO PROTEST WAGE STAGNATION FRIED FOOD, SUGAR INTAKE LEAD TO LIVER DAMAGE DILJIT DOSANJH MAKES A REGAL DEBUT AT MET GALA ASHA workers have announced to hold a district-level rally on May 10 at the Canal Office in Amritsar. P2 Gastroenterologists are sounding the alarm on diabetes as a major reason for liver-related problems. P3 Diljit made a regal debut at Met Gala 2025, winning the Kerala-woven blue carpet hands down and how!. P4 » » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.00 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5.34 AM WEDNESDAY | 7 MAY 2025 | AMRITSAR Police book six for posing with illegal arms on social media Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, May 6 Taking a serious note of displaying illegal arms and ammunition on social media on Monday, the Chohla Sahib police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Arms Act against six persons. ASI Balwinder Singh said here on Tuesday that the six persons were involved in this illegal act. He said two out of the six have been identified as Baljinder Singh and Nis- han Singh, both residents of Ruriwala village. The other four are yet to be recognised. The ASI said the accused, who were attending a social function with illegal weapons in their hands, displayed these on social media. The ASI said the accused were creating terror among the public. The accused have been booked under Sections 25 (9), 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. The accused are yet to be arrested, said ASI Balwinder Singh. BSF troops recover 512 gms of heroin Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, May 6 Border Security Force (BSF) troops posted at border outpost (BOP) Rajatal recovered a packet of heroin from the area on Monday night. The Border Security Force handed over the packet to the Sarai Amanat Khan police. ASI Satpal Sharma said the packet handed over by the Contraband handed over to Sarai Amanat Khan police BSF weighed 518 gram with heroin accounting for 512 gram. The police have registered a case under Sections of 21-C, 61 and 85, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. City prepares for 30-minute security exercise withblackout, siren from today Drill being undertaken in view of escalating India-Pakistan tension after Pahalgam terror attack Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 6 The district administration has asked the residents of this border district to prepare for a blackout exercise to be conducted from 10.30 pm to 11 pm tomorrow. The exercise is being undertaken in view of the escalating tension between and India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack besides preparing people for disasters arising out of a possible conflict. Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney informed that preceding this event will be the sound of a siren, indicating an air strike tomorrow at 4 pm. She said whenever such a siren is heard tomorrow or thereafter, the general public is expected to get out of highrise buildings as soon as possible and reach underground or ground-level place. If nothing is available, then they should sit under a tree. People who live in buildings should stay away from windows, especially from glass. Senior Civil Defence members hold a regular training programme about the dos and don’ts during war, proxy war, open war, law and order problem and other emergencies in Amritsar. She said that during this time, pedestrians or vehicles moving on the road should immediately give way to emergency vehicles, which may include fire engines or ambulances. She said sirens are being played by the Civil Defence for practice, so that their functionality and sound can be checked. There is no need to panic in any way during this time, the DC said. During the 30-minute long blackout exercise from 10.30 pm tomorrow, all lights in the city will be switched off and people have been requested to keep the inverters or gen- erators in their homes switched off during this time. If for some reason they have to keep them on, they should operate their lights in such a way that their lights do not go out of the window or door. Apart from this, CCTV cameras or solar lights which automatically get switched on when it gets dark should also be switched off during this time, so that the city appears completely dark. During this time, if any vehicle is moving on the road, then they should switch off its lights and take it off the road and stop it on a dirt place. Chief wardens of Civil Defence, Manpreet Singh and Surjit Sharma, said the public needs to be made aware about several dos and don’ts during war and peace, proxy war, open war, law and order problem and other emergency situations. The exercise is necessary to remain safe and mentally prepared. The administration suggested to people not to panic in case of an emergency and make their children aware. First, save the air raid prevention checklist in your mobile, alert and be vigilant, recognise the sound of the air raid siren, listen to government alerts on mobile or radio, do not believe in rumours, pay attention only to official information, take shelter at a safe place, know the location of the nearest shelter, keep a windowless room ready in your house, decide in advance the route to reach the shelter quickly, keep the essentials ready, keep drinking water supply for at least three days, keep dry food, biscuits, dry fruits etc ready, first aid kit, torch and extra cell phone, portable radio, important documents (ID, medical report, bank details), mobile charger, power bank, darkness and safety, keep all lights off at night (blackout), put thick curtains, black paper or blinds on the windows, stay away from glass, lie down on the ground, practice and prepare, do air raid drills with family, teach children safe places and procedures, ensure mutual cooperation with neighbours. Finding a suspicious object or bomb, do not touch it, instead inform the police, intimate the police about outsiders and unfamiliar faces in the neighbourhood. Jailed MP Amritpal’s party workers Womanallegessexual Tarn Taran MLA Sohal’s wife take out protest march in city assault in city hotel inaugurates development works Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 6 Members of the party Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), led by jailed Member of Parliament, Amritpal Singh, submitted a memorandum at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in protest against the invoking of the National Security Act (NSA) against him for a third time, on Tuesday. Earlier, they held a protest march from Ranjit Avenue’s Dasehra ground to the District Administrative Complex. Led by Amritpal’s father Tarsem Singh and Member of Parliament Sarbjit Singh Khalsa, they set out on a march against the Union government Removal of Sikh students’ bracelets in exam protested Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 6 The Chief Khalsa Diwan, a Sikh organisation, has objected to the reported incidents of Sikh students being forced to remove their religious headscarves during the NEET examination held here on Sunday. The exam was conducted across several centres in the city yesterday. Chief Khalsa Diwan president Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar and other members said religious headscarves and other symbols of Sikhi are an integral part of Sikhism, and the compulsion to remove it by any means is a direct attack on the religious and constitutional freedom of Sikhs. He said students should not be deprived of their Sikh identity and religious symbols continued on page 2 Slamming the government for repeatedly imposing NSA on Amritpal, they said it was a blatant attempt to muffle the voice of a democratically elected leader. They warned the government that ignoring their demand would compel them to stage a state-wide protest by mobilising common people. On the way, they raised slogans against the government and in favour of Amritpal. Holding placards, they demanded the release of Amritpal, slamming the government for once again invoking the NSA against him. Addressed to Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, they handed over a memorandum at the DC office. They hoped that the Governor would sincerely ponder over their appeal as a constitutional duty. The memorandum sought the release of all Sikh youths who were locked up along with Amritpal and also of Bandi Sikhs whose sentences have already been completed. Leaders of the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), while expressing their views on the prospects of an Indo-Pak war, said it would not elicit any result. Ultimately, it would only lead to disaster for impoverished people on both sides of the border. They anticipated that Punjab being a border state, would have to pay dearly in the war. Amritsar, May 6 In a shocking case, a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted inside a hotel by several men, including her own friend and members of the hotel staff. The victim had reportedly come to visit the holy shrine of Darbar Sahib with a male friend. After completing the visit, the two stopped at a hotel. It was there that the friend called in several acquaintances, who then allegedly committed the crime. The matter surfaced when a local rickshaw puller found the woman crying. The rickshaw puller informed a group of Nihang Singh. Upon receiving the information, the group’s leader Paramjit Singh Akali reached the spot. He stated that the woman, in a deeply distressed state, told them that she had gone to the hotel of her own will but was betrayed by her friend, who lured her into a trap and handed her over to others. Paramjit Singh Akali further said that the woman is currently undergoing medical examination. According to her statement, three of the accused were hotel staff members, while the rest were outsiders. Acting on the complaint, the police have launched an investigation and are expected to take further action once the medical report and evidence are reviewed. The police have also rounded up four suspects. — TNS Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, May 6 Despite facing many challenges, the state government is achieving new heights in the fields of education and health. This was stated by Navjot Kaur Hundal, wife of Tarn Taran MLA Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal, while inaugurating development works (worth crores of rupees) completed in the last three years in government schools of the area. Addressing a public gathering on the occasion, Navjot Kaur Hundal said students of the government schools were being taught by the job-oriented syllabus. She said students are being taught under worldclass study atmosphere by the Navjot Kaur Hundal, wife of MLA Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal, inaugurates development works at a school in a Tarn Taran village. teachers trained with the worldlevel coaching technique. She inaugurated the development works at Government Elementary School (GES), Government High School, GES, and Government Middle School, all at Bhuchar Kalan here. Officials of the department and elders of respective villages were present at the functions. Sanitation drive by local MLAs fails to make little impact VB nabs BDPO office superintendent in ~60K bribery case Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 6 Over the past few weeks, local MLAs and office-bearers of the ruling party, including the Chairman of Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT), have made headlines for launching sanitation drives across the city. Posing with brooms, and flanked by sanitation workers, these leaders have conducted multiple cleanliness campaigns in high-visibility areas like city markets and intersections. However, a ground-level reality check tells a different story, one of non-lifting of garbage and foul stench. During a visit to several areas in the city, it becomes evident that the sanitation drives have made little impact beyond few stretches cleaned just for photo opportunities. Heaps of garbage were found lying just a few metres from prominent locations like the Golden Temple and Jalebi Wala Chowk that attract thou- Garbage dumped by the roadside outside Police Line School in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR sands of tourists daily. The sight outside the historic Ahluwalia Fort in Katra Ahluwalia was equally disheartening with plastic waste littering the place. Similar scenes were witnessed in Shastri Colony, the DAV Police Public School lane, the Lawrence Road, the Mall Road, and Batala Road, where unattended trash has become an eyesore for residents and commuters. Residents have expressed disappointment at the state c m y b of sanitation. Harjit, a resident from Shastri Colony, said, “Garbage near our house is lifted only once every few days. Ramesh Mehta, another resident, who owns a shop near the Lawrence Road, added, “The situation is worsening. Garbage bins are overflowing and the foul stench pervades the air. We’ve stopped expecting any real change from these symbolic drives.” Despite the poor outcomes on the ground, MLAs have been actively participating in cleanliness campaigns, seemingly to showcase their commitment to urban hygiene. On July 26, MLA Ajay Gupta kicked off a cleanliness drive from the historic Jallianwala Bagh. A day later on July 27, MLA Jeevan Jot Kaur held a drive at Hussainpura Chowk, while Ajay Gupta continued similar activities at the Telephone Exchange and other interior markets. On July 28, AIT Chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu led a drive at SSSS Chowk and Dr Ajay Gupta conducted another campaign in Damganj. Earlier on April 30, Chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu had flagged off a sanitation drive at Khande Wala Chowk on Majitha Road. Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 5 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested a government official in Amritsar following a complaint lodged through the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line. Disclosing this an official spokesperson of VB informed that the arrested accused has been identified as Satnam Singh, superintendent at the Block Development and Panchayats Office (BDPO), Verka Block, Rani-Ka-Bagh, Amritsar, who had demanded a bribe of Rs 60,000 from a resident of village Nabipur, district Amritsar in exchange for official action on an encroachment complaint. The complainant had informed that he had submit- ted a complaint to the BDPO Verka, Lakhwinder Kaur, concerned the illegal occupation of the approach road to his residence by his neighbour Gurwinder Singh. The BDPO had marked the matter to the said superintendent, who in turn instructed the junior engineer Mohit Kumar and panchayat secretary Ashok Kumar to verify the facts. The verification confirmed the encroachment on government land. Despite repeated notices, the encroacher failed to comply, prompting the BDPO office to request police assistance to remove the illegal structures. However, instead of proceeding with due legal action, Superintendent Satnam Singh had demanded continued on page 2