28052025-ATR-01.qxd 27-05-2025 22:59 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY ARTIFICIAL AIDS DISTRIBUTED AMONG BENEFICIARIES STATE LAUNCHES HELPLINE TO SUPPORT NASHA MUKTI MORCHA SANDEEP REDDY VANGA STIRS SPECULATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA Around 200 persons with disability were distributed free artificial aids at a block-level special camp. P2 The state government has launched a dedicated helpline number to boost the Nasha Mukti Morcha. P2 The filmmaker alleges ‘dirty’ PR games, breach of trust amid reports of Deepika Padukone's exit from Spirit. P4 » » » MAX 37°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 38°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.12 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5.24 AM WEDNESDAY | 28 MAY 2025 | AMRITSAR Govt school teachers tasked with teaching Telugu at week-long summer camp Project part of Centre’s week-long ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp 2025’ N eha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 27 More than the students, it’s a summer class for teachers. Learning Telugu together are teachers and students of government schools in Punjab. As the project, part of the week-long ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp 2025’, organised following a directive issued by the Union Ministry of Education, commenced, teachers across all government schools are teaching Telugu to students from Class VI to Class X, making the process amusing as well as challenging for both the students and their teachers. But then, when have Punjabis backed off from a challenge? “We started with numbers and basic words of greetings in Telugu as they were easier for us to learn. Without any heads up or training ourselves, we have to rely on YouTube videos as we try to make things work in class,” said Mandeep Singh, a teacher at the Government Middle School, near Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. Just like Mandeep, several teachers across government schools in Murder accused arrested after police encounter Pistol along with three live cartridges also recovered from him Our Correspondent Teachers at Government Middle School, Jallianwala Bagh, take Telugu class at the special summer camp in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Amritsar have taken up the task of teaching Telugu, a language most are clueless about. Punjab and Andhra Pradesh have been paired under the programme as per directives from the Union Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education and Literacy. As part of the exchange, students from classes VI to X in Punjab government schools will learn the basics of Telugu, while Andhra Pradesh government schools will reciprocate by teaching Punjabi to their students. The pan-India initiative aims to encourage students to learn an additional Indian language to promote multilingualism and appreciation for regional cultures. But what seems like a lesson for students has in turn become a test for teachers. “We can make them learn numbers and basic words of courtesy but how can we teach songs, folk dance forms and other aspects when we do not know much about them. Also, what’s the use of this exercise when the students will not grow any wiser in Telugu even after seven days,” asked an English language teacher from a government school inside the walled city. Some teachers also created their own learning material for easy understanding. “We converted the numbering in Telugu into Punjabi to make students learn faster. Also, we have asked them to practice by watching YouTube videos at home as well,” said a teacher from Majitha road school. Tarn Taran, May 27 The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Punjab, in a joint operation with the Tarn Taran police, arrested Rahul Singh, prime accused in the sensational broad daylight murder of Jagdeep Mola, here on Monday. The police also recovered a .30 calibre pistol along with three live cartridges from his possession. Jagdeep Mola, a resident of Tarn Taran, was shot dead by two bike-borne youths, when he was heading to a place on his motorcycle at around 2pm on March 5. SSP Tarn Taran, Abhi, manyu Rana said accused Rahul Singh was the main shooter. Sharing operation details, the SSP said the arrest followed a brief exchange of fire when the police team under the supervision of AIG, AGTF, Sandeep Goel and led by AGTF in-charge SI Chander Mohan and SSP Abhimanyu Rana along with other police officials visit the encounter spot at Bath village in Tarn Taran. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI SHO (Tarn Taran) Ranjit Singh, attempted to detain the accused at Bath village in Tarn Taran. Rahul Singh opened fire on the police party in an attempt to escape, but was injured in retaliatory firing by the police and subsequently overpowered and arrested, he added. SSP Abhimanyu Rana said the accused has been involved in multiple cases and more revelations are expected in the coming days. He has a criminal background. A case under Sections 103 and 11 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 25(6) and 25(7) of the Arms Act has been registered at the Tarn Taran police station, said the SSP . MC officials told to Bomb blast: Cong, BJP lambast AAP govt PSPCL lineman held fix people’s online for poor law & order; Malik seeks NIA probe for taking ~15K bribe plaints on priority Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 27 Opposition parties today flayed the AAP-led state government for what they described as the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab in general and Amritsar in particular. Holding the state government responsible for the deterioration in law and order, Member of Parliament from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla said Punjab officials were busy hosting the people of Delhi and were unable to ensure the safety of their own folks. He elaborated that Amritsar has been in a state of shock for three days. First, the murder of a councillor, then the murder of a money exchanger and today the grenade blast! He wondered why the police are not able to catch the culprits earlier. Where are the counterintelligence and intelligence agencies of Punjab, the MP asked and said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should suspend the officials responsible, Amritsar, May 27 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested a PSPCL lineman, Hardeep Singh, posted at Jastarwal sub-division, Amritsar, for accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000. An official said the accused has been arrested based on a complaint filed by a resident of Muhara village in Lopoke tehsil, Amritsar, the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line. The complainant had alleged that the electricity transformer installed in his fields had fell down recently and the accused lineman had demanded Rs 15,000 for installing back the transformer. A verification of the complaint revealed that the accused had demanded bribe and accepted the first instalment of Rs 5,000. Later, he compelled the complainant to pay Rs 1,000 to another person for assisting him in installing back the transformer. Moreover, the accused persistently demanded the remaining Rs 10,000 through voice messages and calls. Afterwards, the complainant transferred Rs 10,000 via Google Pay on his mobile. Corroborating the evidence, including call recordings, screenshots of the UPI transactions, bank statement and voice messages of the accused, it has come to light that the accused had indeed demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 15,000 from the complaint. Based on the probe, a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused at the VB police station, Amritsar Range. The accused would be produced before the competent court tomorrow. Any involvement of other officials or employees would be investigated during further investigation, he said. Amritsar, May 27 Taking a serious note of pending citizen grievances on digital platforms, MC Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh has directed officials concerned to address all online complaints without delay. A high-level meeting was held with officials from the Operation and Maintenance cell and the Civil Wing, where the Commissioner emphasized swift addressing of cases registered on the Punjab Government’s M-Sewa and PGRS (Public Grievance Redressal System) portals. These online platforms allow residents to lodge complaints related to MC services from the comfort of their homes. However, with several grievances still unresolved, the MC Com- missioner convened the meeting to ensure all departments act promptly and transparently. Additional Commissioner Surinder Singh, Executive Engineers Manjeet Singh and Gurjinder Singh as well as SDOs and JEs were present during the review. The MC Commissioner reiterated that all MC departments had already been instructed to take immediate action on citizens’ complaints and keep complainants informed. However, a backlog, especially in the O&M Cell and the Civil Wing, required the urgent meeting. He issued a stern warning that negligence in addressing complaints would lead to disciplinary action. Stressing the importance of uninterrupted supply of clean drinking water during the continued on page 2 3-year-old shot while on her way to tuition Firing between two groups, 1 dies Tourist sites without websites of their own OLD ENMITY CITED AS REASON BEHIND CRIME deprive visitors of correct information Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 27 In a shocking incident near Hakima Gate in Amritsar, a three-year-old girl was injured by a gunshot while she was on her way to tuition with her father. The incident took place in Fateh Singh Colony, where the child suddenly complained pain. Initially, it was believed that a stone had hit her, and treatment began on that basis. However, during further treatment at a private hospital, it was revealed that a bullet had lodged in her leg. The girl’s condition is currently stable. The family reported the matter to the police. — TNS A police team searches the house of an accused at Chheharta in Amritsar on Tuesday. otherwise he should take responsibility for the deteriorating situation himself. Aujla said the Punjab government was focusing only on elections instead of paying attention to the safety of the people. Amritsar being a tourist area, law and order has a direct impact on the arrival of tourists, he said and appealed to Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to pay attention to Punjab because the situation was continuously deteriorating. VISHAL KUMAR Former president of state BJP Shwait Malik, also a for, mer Rajya Sabha member, said the BJP strongly condemned the breakdown of law and order across Punjab, especially in the Majha region. A powerful continued on page 2 Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, May 27 One person died while his accomplice was injured in a clash between two groups at a petrol pump in Ghuman township of Sri Hargobindpur police station here on Monday night. Batala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Suhail Qasim Mir said Gurpreet Singh, alias Gora, died when a group of people fired at him when he was sitting in a car. His accomplice, Baljinder Singh, alias Billa Mandiala, sustained serious injuries. Police sources said Baljinder, who was driving, had parked their car outside a petrol pump when some people arrived in another car and ■ Police sources said Baljinder, who was driving, had parked their car outside a petrol pump when some people arrived in another car and started shooting. Gurpreet was sitting next to Baljinder in the car.Nearly 20 rounds of fire were exchanged. An old enmity between the groups is said to be the motive behind the crime. started shooting. Gurpreet was sitting next to Baljinder in the car. Nearly 20 rounds of fire were exchanged. An old enmity between the groups is said to be the motive behind the crime. The Batala SSP said an injured Baljinder Singh drove his car to home in his native village Mandiala along with a profusely bleeding Gurpreet Singh. Some of his relatives tried to resuscitate Gurpreet but seeing that the injuries were serious in nature, they admitted him to a nearby private hospital where he died. Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kakkar and SHO Bikram Singh immediately reached the scene of the incident. Senior Superintendent of Police Qasim Mir said he had formed teams to identify and nab the assailants. “We have stumbled upon some clues and hope to arrest the accused soon,” he said. c m y b Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 27 A majority of tourist sites in the holy city do not have websites of their own and social media accounts, causing planning paralysis for visitors coming from far off places. A large number of tourists arrive here after planning their itinerary based on online information. Considered as one of the most visited places on earth, the Golden Temple does not have its own website. Though information about it is amply available on the website of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), most tourists coming from different parts of the world do not know about the SGPC and prefer to search about the holiest Sikh shrine through key words like ‘Golden Temple’. Details about the summer palace of the legendary Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh which houses a museum can be accessed through a website being run by the district administration. A panorama on him, situated in the Ram Bagh, known as Company Garden, can be accessed through a website of the civic body. Gurinder Singh Johal, Chairman, Punjab Chapter of Indian Association of Tour Operators, said most tourist attractions in Amritsar, including Gobindgarh Fort, War Museum, Valmiki temple in the Ramtirath area, Durgiana temple and others do not have websites of their own. On the other hand, the Punjab Tourism website is not updated, said Johal, causing great inconvenience to those who search for tourist attractions in Amritsar through websites. They get links of privately run websites. Visitors are dejected to find that there is no information about the retreat ceremony timings which keeps changing with weather conditions. Since the BSF is a border guarding force, it cannot be expected to disseminate such information. The Punjab Tourism Department should provide all information pertaining to the retreat ceremony, Johal said. Rameshinder Singh Sandhu, a freelance travel writer, said other than websites, more professional staff are also needed to help visitors. Most of the time, they don’t have the information or they take a long time to get back. A website, on the other hand, is the most essential and basic need. Without it, many online portals can offer wrong information. The Punjab Tourism Board should ensure that websites are there for all tourist attractions in the holy city, he said.