22052025-ATR-01.qxd 5/21/2025 10:30 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR DIOCESE TO LAUNCH INITIATIVE TO TACKLE SOCIAL ISSUES JANHVI WALKS RED CARPET OF THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL KAMAL TO EXTEND GAP BETWEEN THEATRICAL & OTT RELEASE OF FILM The Diocese of Amritsar would launch initiative to combat illiteracy, drug addiction & malnutrition in the rural areas. P2 “Reminding us of Sridevi,” say fans as they hail Janhvi Kapoor’s Cannes debut look in Tarun Tahiliani outfit. P4 Kamal Haasan decided to extend the gap between theatrical & OTT release of film Thug Life, saying it was a pragmatic thing to do. P4 » » » MAX 43°C | MIN 29°C YESTERDAY MAX 42°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.24 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5.29 AM THURSDAY | 22 MAY 2025 | AMRITSAR BSF nabs Pak intruder on int’l border Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 21 A Pakistani intruder was caught by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in the border area of Amritsar. On May 20, during the evening hours, the BSF jawans observed suspicious movement of a person who crossed the international border. He started approaching the border security fence. In a swift response, the BSF personnel challenged the intruder to stop and subsequently apprehended him. The intruder revealed his identity as a Pakistani national. Upon searching, Rs 330 in Pakistani currency were recovered from his possession. The intruder was apprehended in the border area adjacent to Karimpura village of Amritsar district. After initial questioning by the BSF and sister agencies, the Pakistani intruder was handed over to the local police for further investigation and to find his motive behind crossing the international border. Gurdaspur police arrest Shiv Sena leader Soni Had 20 security guards for his protection Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, May 21 The Gurdaspur police, after days of intense speculation, today arrested Harvinder Soni, vice president of the Punjab Shiv Sena (Thackeray), after he misbehaved with on-duty senior police officers. An FIR was registered at the City police station against him for using “criminal force on a public servant in the course of discharging his duty.” Other relevant sections were also clamped on him. SHO Davinder Parkash said on orders of SSP Aditya he and his staff had gone to his residence in the morning to inspect his security. “However, instead of cooperating with the police, he took a sheaf of papers and hurled it at one of my officers. He also started insulting us in a highdecibel voice,” said the SHO. Sources said Soni had also hurled expletives at the onduty policemen. “He also threatened policemen accompanying the SHO of dire consequences,” said an officer. Soni had been under the lens for quite some time due to his antics which included misbehaving with his own 8 peddlers arrested with contraband, drug money Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 21 Under the state wide campaign “Yudh Nashian Virudh” the Amritsar (Rural) police have arrested eight persons in separate cases and recovered 128gm of heroin, Rs 63,350 of drug money, over 500 sedative pills apart from a bike and a car from their possession. In the first incident, the Tarsikka police nabbed Lovepreet Singh, alias Labba, Jobanjit Singh, alias Joban, and Gurpreet Singh, alias Abhay, all residents of Dashmesh Nagar, and recovered 68 grams of heroin, Rs 20,000 drug money and an Innova (bearing registration number PB-10-BU-4577). In another incident, Robin Masih, a resident of Teda Kalan village, Kabal Singh and his son Sorabpreet Singh, residents of Mehlawala village, were arrested by the Jhander police after recovering 50 grams of heroin from them. The Kamboh police arrested Jatinder Singh, a resident of Pandori Waraich village, after recovering 505 intoxicant capsules and Rs 1,100 drug money from his possession. He was riding a bike when the police arrested him. As the accused could not produce bill of capsules, he was arrested and a case was registered against him. The Beas police arrested Rajwinder Kaur, a resident of Suro Padda village, now living in Rayya, and seized 10 grams of heroin and Rs 42,000 earned from selling drug from her. The police said separate cases under NDPS Act were registered against accused and further probe initiated to ascertain their back and forward links and contraband’s source. Harvinder Soni security men and photoshopping his old photographs with senior police officers to impress upon residents that he wielded a lot of influence. Of late, he had been castigating senior police officers on social media platforms, a development which was not being taken lightly. Sources reveal officers were incensed at his behaviour. Earlier, in November, 2022, he was arrested from his residence on the Gurdaspur-Batala road after he had an altercation with Nihangs. On April 13, 2015, a Sikh youth, Kashmir Singh, had fired at him in the Fish Park, barely yards away from the official residence of the Deputy Commissioner (DC). Since he was ranked high in the hit list of radical Sikhs, the then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badala and DGP Sumedh Singh Saini made a dash from Chandigarh to the private hospital in Amritsar where he was admitted for treatment. Following this incident, a threat perception report was prepared on the basis of which he was provided with nearly 20 guards. The guards of duty had recently complained that they were regularly insulted by him. “We are not even given drinking water or are given chairs to sit on. The driver given by the police was misused by him for personal errands,” said a security personnel. Soni would also criticise his own guards on social media accounts. In the recent past, DIG (Border) Satinder Singh and SSPs of Batala and Gurdaspur, Suhail Qasim Mir and Harish Dayama respectively, had visited his residence ostensibly to check his security. On Soni’s request they got a photograph clicked with him. “That particular photo was photo-shopped numerous times by Soni just to tell people that it is normal for senior officers to visit his house,” said a guard posted at his residence. Five booked for murder of 18-yr-old youth Gambling addict kills cousin, held Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, May 21 An 18-year-old youth, a resident of Dial Shahabpur village, was murdered under mysterious circumstances here. The deceased was identified as Robin Singh, son of Sukhdev Singh. His body was found from bushes at Walipur village on Tuesday. Inspector Kashmir Singh, SHO, local Sadar police station, informed today that two of the killers were identified as Lovejit Singh, son of Sahib Singh, and Lovejit Singh, son of Sakattar Singh, both residents of Dial Shahabpur village. Three more accused involved in the murder were yet to be identified, he said. Jasbir Kaur, mother of the deceased, in her statement recorded with the police, stated that the accused took along her son from home on Monday evening, but he did not return. Next day, body of her son was found from bushes at Walipur village, the complainant said. The SHO said further investigation was initiated into the matter and the reason behind murder was yet to be ascertained. The SHO said a case under Sections 103,140 and 61 of the BNS was registered against the five accused. The accused in custody of the Amritsar police on Wednesday. Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 21 A 20-year-old youth, allegedly an online gambling addict, killed his 21-year-old cousin with a sharp weapon at Rajesh Nagar locality in the Mohkapura area here on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. The accused, Sanjeev, alias Sanju, a BCA student, was arrested by the police. The deceased was identified as Nisha Bharti, also a BCA student. The accused and victim were pursuing BCA in different institutes. According to the police, Sanjeev was an online gambling addict. He was stealing some valuables from a room when the victim, who was sleeping there, woke up. Fearing that he would be exposed, the accused stabbed the victim with a sharp knife in the neck resulting her on the spot death, said Jasroop Kaur Bath, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP). Both, the victim and the accused were in the same room in the night when the murder took place. The victim was to appear in her final examination today. Babita Devi, the complainant and victim’s mother, said Sanjeev and his family lived on the ground floor of the house. Babita said yesterday evening, her husband went to factory for work and she along with Nisha was alone at home. She said Sanjeev, who was also pursuing BCA, usually came to study with Nisha in her room. Yesterday also, he came to her daughter’s room around 10 pm for studying. However, he went away after the power went off. She said around 1.30 am, she heard cries of her daughter and immediately rushed to her room. She found her lying in a pool of blood and dead. Jasroop Kaur said Dr Sheetal Singh, ADCP East, and the , SHO reached the spot and started probe. They arrested Sanjeev Kumar whom they learnt was a gambling addict. The accused tried to steal cash from almirah lying in Nisha’s room. When Nisha saw the accused, he killed her. The ADCP said as per preliminary probe, the accused had earlier lost Rs 6 lakh in online gambling. The ADCP said the accused also sold his bike and mobile phone for money which he used in gambling. Man awarded Unscrupulous elements try to illegally grab school land 20-year jail for | Belongs to hold of raping minor Pawan K Jaiswar Canada-based NRI Fourth attempt in past few months to takethe school. property Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 21 The fast track special court of Additional District and Session Judge Triptjot Kaur here has sentenced a tile mason to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for raping a sevenyear-old girl. The incident occurred two years ago. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 40,000 on the convict. The convict, Umesh Yadav, used to work a mason. The convict was working at the victim’s house when he committed the crime. According to information, the victim’s father had died. The victim along with her mother lived alone in their house. At the time of incident, the convict found victim playing alone in a room where he allegedly raped her. Amritsar, May 21 Despite two FIRs and the local court’s order to maintain status quo, several persons damaged boundary wall of the playground of a private school — Lake Head Public School — belonging to a Canada-based NRI Amandeep Singh Sandhu and his wife Uravashi located on Ram Tirath Road here in an attempt to illegally grab it. What is alarming is that the local police did not take any action even though a complaint was filed in this regard, alleged Shivalika Dhillon, principal and the co-owner of the school. “Not once but twice, the accused demolished the boundary wall in two days. Overall it was fourth attempt by the accused. Though a complaint was filed at the police station, no cop Broken boundary wall of the Lake Head Public School in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR visited the site or registered an FIR against the perpetrators of the crime,” she alleged. “The accused, who have several criminal cases of similar nature registered against them, cared two hoots to the court’s order,” she said. First FIR was registered by the NRI police on September 14, 2024, Among those booked included Hardayal Singh Pandori, Lalli Kabal Singh of Kohali village here, Manjit Singh Hansowala of Hansowala village in Khadoor Sahib and their unknown accomplices. The second FIR was registered against Sukhjit Singh of Kohala village on November 4, 2024, apart from his unidentified companions. Dhillon said the court had asked both the parties to maintain status quo regarding their possession over the suit property in December last year. She urged the Police Commissioner (CP) and senior officials to help as the case pertains to the life and security of teachers and students of Earlier, Amandeep Singh had sought intervention of Chief Minister and the Punjab Police DGP after several persons who attempted to grab his ancestral property by manipulating and fabricating the land records. The school has been functioning for past nearly four decades there. He said his father, Dr Avtar Singh, a former professor at historic Khalsa College started the school in 1980’s after his return from Canada with a mission to provide quality education to poor kids in the rural belt. He said two years ago he passed away. He said they were shocked to learn that a land grabbing mafia tried to manipulate the school’s land records in-order to grab the school property. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said a case would be registered in this connection. Hospitality sector looks forward to increase in tourist footfall as retreat ceremony resumes Three held for murder Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 21 A day after resumption of the Beating Retreat ceremony for spectators, hospitality, tour and travel, taxi and auto operators, and eating joints once again look forward to recover from the crisis with increase in footfall of customers. They are anticipating positive change in the upcoming summer holidays. Hawkers Mandeep Singh, 25, and Prince Singh, 28, who sell tricolour flags, caps, pens, key chains and T-shirts to visitors at the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post heaved a sigh of relief after resumption of the retreat ceremony. Residents of Attari village, they were unemployed for the last 12 days. They had been earning a living by selling various items to visitors for the past Visitors at the Heritage Street in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR several years. They thanked the Indian Government for once again allowing visitors at Attari. They said porters were financially hurt after India closed the Integrated Check post (ICP). The ICP was only importing cargo from Afghanistan. At present, porters get employment in different daily wage professions to earn their living. Escalation in tension between India and Pakistan had reduced the flow of tourists which ultimately affected the income of people who had dhabas and tea stalls and those who sold national flags, tricolour caps and other items to visitors at the Attari border. At least 150 hawkers sell different items to visitors in front of the Joint Check Post (JCP) and ICP which also serves as a land route to enter Pakistan. There are several shops and kiosks which sell tea, snacks, biscuits and soft drinks to visitors. Some dhabas located before the JCP which serve , c m y b freshly cooked meals, solely depend upon tourists for their earning. These eateries have found a new lease of life with the arrival of tourists from across the country. On way from Amritsar to Attari, a stretch of around 30 km, there are several restaurants, eating joints and stores which depend upon tourists for their earnings. Their sales crashed with the decline in the number of tourists. An auto driver Arshdeep Singh said after a long time, he was getting passengers whom he ferried to Attari and back to the city. He said scores of autorickshaw operators ferried tourists to Attari and back to the city. All of them had returned to main points, including Heritage Street and railway link road, where they met passengers. A hotelier Jaswinder Singh said tourists had returned to the holy city. He said their footfall was still low. He said opening of border for visitors meant that they could stay at least one night in the city after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple. With peace returning to the region, he hoped that footfall of tourists might return to normal during the summer vacation. Pathankot, May 21 The Pathankot police have arrested three persons involved in the murder of Mayank Mahajan who was engaged in a dispute with one of the assailants. SSP Daljinder Singh Dhillon said on May 17, Mayank Mahajan and his friend Rakesh Kumar Bedi were returning to Pathankot from Sujanpur in a car when they were followed by two people on a motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle fired a gunshot at Mayanak seriously injuring him. The bullet hit the right side of victim’s head, leading to profuse bleeding. The victim was admitted to a private hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. An FIR was registered at the Division No 2 police station against unknown per- sons in this connection. The incident shook locals. The SSP formed 10 police parties to crack the case. Finally, the police today arrested three persons for Mayank Mahajan’s murder. Those arrested were identified as Sanjeev Singh, Varun Thakur and Bhanu Partap Singh. A police officer said Bhanu Partap Singh was in the mining business and had a long enmity with Mayank Mahajan. In fact, Mahajan had lodged two complaints against Bhanu Partap and both were being investigated by the police, he said. SSP Dhillon said Bhanu Partap Singh, who was the mastermind of the murder, fled to Rajasthan and later to Karnataka. A team of the Pathankot police arrested him from Bengaluru, the SSP said. — TNS