05062025-ATR-01.qxd 6/4/2025 11:40 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune ENVIRONMENTALISTS CONCERNED OVER RISING POLLUTION CILLION MURPHY CONFIRMED FOR SEQUEL OF 28 DAYS Director Danny Boyle confirmed that Cillian Murphy will reprise his role in the 28 Days Later franchise. P4 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 23°C IPL 2025: FINALLY, JERSEY NO. 18 — AFTER 18 YEARS Environmentalists have expressed their concern over continuous depletion of the green cover. P2 FORECAST The IPL witnessed a momentous achievement as Royal Challengers clinched their maiden title. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 5.23 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5.23 AM » THURSDAY | 5 JUNE 2025 | AMRITSAR Tourism police, a saga of failed attempts in two decades The project was first launched in 2002-03 during the Capt-led govt’s tenure Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Ahead of the Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6, the police conduct a flag march in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Flag march taken out in city sioner of Police Vishaljit Singh and Assistant Commissioner of Police Jaspal Singh conducted the flag march in the zone 1 areas falling under the Division E and Division D police stations here. They were accompanied by local police and police commandoes. Vishaljit Singh said the purpose of the flag march was to inculcate a sense of Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 4 Ahead of the 41st Operation Bluestar anniversary, police teams today took out the flag march in different parts of the city. Apart from this, a search operation was also carried out at the inter-state bus terminus here today. The police teams led by Additional Deputy Commis- security among the local residents. He said all the entry and exit points have been sealed with nakas while checkpoints were also installed in other parts of the city 24X7. The police were keeping a close watch on the unscrupulous elements who could create trouble during the 41st Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6. Amritsar, June 4 Launched for at least four times in the past two decades, the ambitious project of tourism police in the holy city that witnesses thousands of tourists from India and across the globe on a daily basis is a victim of utter neglect, thanks to the apathy of the Punjab Government and the authorities concerned. Last time, the tourism police project was launched in 2019 wherein around 70 cops were given special training of soft skills to deal with tourists in need of help. Nevertheless, it soon vanished after several months of its launch reportedly due to the absence of requisite funds from the government. While launching the project, it had established tourism police booths at various points, including reli- A damaged tourism police booth, which was set up near the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR gious places, such as near the Golden Temple, Dr Kitchlew Chowk, popularly known as Kechahari Chowk, where these cops were supposed to be stationed. However, these booths are lying closed now. The cost of the project was around Rs 8-10 crore. Apart from creating booths, the tourism police would have separate uniform with an insignia of tourism police. A cop, who was part of the project at that time, pointed out that in absence funds from the government, the project was soon shelved several months after its launch in 2019. It is evident to mention here that tourists are the ones who are the prime targets of snatchers on city roads. After losing their belongings, they did not know which authorities to approach. With Amritsar being one of the most visited places by the tourists in the country, the need of tourism police was felt from time to time. Initially, it was launched with much fanfare during the tenure of then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in MC takes action against illegal construction Nine held with drugs, weapons Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 4 The Amritsar Municipal Corporation today took action against an illegal construction on prime government land near Gurdwara Shaheeda Sahib here. Officials of the MC reached the place and asked members of a religious organiszation, which had encroached upon the land, to stop the construction work immediately. The officials asked members of Baba Bhoori Wale organisation to demolish a portion of the construction which has been done on government land. They said MC Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh had received a complaint regarding an illegal encroachment on government land in front of Gurdwara Shaheedan Sahib on MC officials demolish an illegal encroachment on prime government land near a gurdwara in Amritsar on Wednesday. Wednesday after which a team was sent for inspection. Joint Commissioner Dr Jai Inder Singh promptly visited the site, accompanied by Assistant Commissioner Vishal Vadhawan and Estate Officer Dharminderjeet. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the organiza- tion, identified as Baba Bhuri Wale, had constructed staircases on government land adjacent to the gurdwara, violating the law. Dr Singh sternly warned the offenders and halted the construction work. The Joint Commissioner emphasised that no illegal construction would be tolerated in the city and encroachments on government land would not be allowed. Orders have been issued for the immediate removal of the staircases constructed on government land. Dr Singh assured that strict action would be taken against any further encroachments, ensuring the city’s development and rule of law are upheld. The municipal corporation remains committed to protecting government land and maintaining public spaces, he said. Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 4 The Amritsar Rural Police arrested nine persons in three separate instances for allegedly smuggling drugs and weapons in the last 24 hours. The police recovered 722 gm heroin, over Rs 2 lakh of Indian currency and two pistols and eight live rounds from their possession. Those arrested were identified as Gurmeet Singh of Achintkot village, Hardev Singh and Tajinder Singh of Neshta border village, Lovepreet Singh of Lakhna village, Baljit Singh, Prabhdeep Singh, Sukhwant Singh, all residents of Manana village in Tarn Taran, Sahildeep Singh of Chananake village and Sukhsagar Singh of Dairywal village in Tarsikka. Depicting the Greatest Showman of Indian cinema Neha Saini Tribune News Service Senior artists Kulwant Singh, Brajesh Jolly, Manpreet Kaur and Bela Aggarwal at the exhibition at KT Kala in Amritsar on Wednesday. my first introductions to Raj Kapoor’s craft. The film left an impact and I started collection books, newspaper articles and other written material I could gather on Kapoor. Based on my knowledge of his work and his films, I started painting and soon he became my muse,” said Bela. Thirteen paintings that capture various moments and moods from the life and career of Raj Kapoor form the core of the exhibition titled “100 Years of the Showman”, at KT Kala, a heartfelt tribute to the legendary actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor. From a painted poster of Awara, with Nargis and Raj Kapoor in their iconic pose holding the umbrella to a colour portrait of Kapoor in his Mera Naam Joker character, the paintings, most of them in black and white, are a dedication to the vision of Raj Kapoor, “He was ahead of his time, in his craft and his philosophy on life. The way he lived his life is an inspiration for me. I had to take a break as an artist and whenever, I found myself looking for motivation, I came back to c m y b painting Raj Kapoor. Since, this was his birth centenary year, I wanted to be a part of the commemoration of a great artist and stalwart of Hindi cinema,” said Bela. The exhibition also displays artworks of Manpreet Kaur , who specializes in abstract and figurative painting. KT Kala will host the exhibition till June 5. They were travelling on a motorcycle with erased number. The police got a tip-off that the accused used to smuggle the weapons from across the international border and sell it to notorious criminals for carrying out their nefarious activities. The recovered a .30 bore pistol along with five live bullets and Rs 1.3 lakh of Indian currency from them. A case under relevant sections of the Arms Act was registered against them and investigations were in progress to bust the entire nexus. Similarly, the Mehta police had nabbed Sahildeep and Sukhsagar Singh from Rajdhan village. The police seized a .32 bore pistol with three live cartridges from them. They were allegedly waiting to commit a crime. A case under relevant section of the Arms Act was registered again them. Man arrested for sneaking in sedative pills for his son in jail Tribune News Service PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Amritsar, June 4 Her muse is one of the biggest showmen of the Indian cinema, the man, who not just loved his art but also owned it. From Awara to Mera NaamJoker, Raj Kapoor gave Hindi cinemas some of its most loved and cathartic films. And capturing the man, the genius behind these classics is artist Bela Aggarwal. Painting Kapoor’s portraits from posters of his famous films including Awara, Mera Naam Joker and Jis Desh Mein GangaBehti HAi, Bela has captured the confident charm and the deep, blue eyes through 13 oil paintings. “Raj Kapoor was handsome and quite charming on screen. I was so taken by him while I was just a kid that he has remained the object of my fascination and creative imagination for long now,” said Bela. Sirsa born Bela, who is now living in Amritsar, said that she first began painting Kapoor when she was around 16 years of age. “The film I saw with father was Awara, which became one of Amritsar (Rural) SSP Maninder Singh said while on patrol, a police team spotted a white-coloured Baleno car (JK-08-L-6281) parked on a roadside at Bagria village. Three youths were standing beside it. When the police team questioned them, they were found to be suspicious. During their search, the police recovered 722 gm of heroin along with Rs 1 lakh of drug money from them. They were immediately arrested and a case under the NDPS Act was registered against them at the Gharinda police station. A probe was on to find out the source of the contraband. Meanwhile, the Chatiwind police have arrested Lovepreet Singh, Baljit Singh, Prabhdeep Singh and Sukhwant Singh from Bohru village when they were going from Mannan village in Tarn Tarn to Amritsar. Amritsar, June 4 Blackmailed by his son lodged in the Amritsar Central Jail, a man landed in the police net after he tried to sneak in sedative pills to him here on Tuesday. The accused, identified as Sarabjit Singh, a resident of Verowal in Tarn Taran district, was arrested by Amritsar Central Jail staff during checking when he came to meet his son Harpreet Singh who has been lodged in the jail for the past two years. Assistant Superintendent of Jail Naresh Pal lodged a complaint with the Islamabad police station in this connection. He said during the meeting while Sarabjit came to meet Harpreet, jail staff searched and confiscated the intoxicants from him. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Ashwani Kumar, investigating officer, said during an initial probe, it was found that Sarabjit had not come to meet him for a year now. Recently, he sent a message to Sarabjit Singh and threatened to commit suicide in the jail complex. He also pressurised him to bring the sedative pills. “If he would not have brought the pills, Harpreet told him that he would end his life in jail before he (Sarabjit) reaches home,” the Assistant Sub-Inspector said. His second son was also hooked to drugs while his wife was bed-ridden as her both legs were broken. Now, a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act was registered against Sarabjit also. 2002-2003. During the tenure of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, it was relaunched in 2008-2009. It was again launched by the Amritsar city police commissionerate in 2014 following the international norms. At that time, selected cops also underwent training to communicate with tourists in English as well as in Hindi. The tourism wing of the police was once again inaugurated by then Police Commissioner Sukhchain Singh on October 31, 2019. In 2023 also, the municipal corporation (MC) had announced to float a tender for the tourism police, but it has yet to see the light of day. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said a new proposal has been sent to the Punjab Government through the DGP’s office and hope to get a response soon from the government in this regard. GNDU ranked 12th in varsity survey Amritsar, June 4 Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has secured the 12th position in the “Week-Hansa Research Survey 2025” under the category of India’s Best Government Multidisciplinary Universities (All India Level). Vice-chancellor Prof Karamjeet Singh lauded the entire faculty, staff and students for their unwavering commitment and consistent efforts towards academic excellence, research innovation and institutional development. Prof Karamjeet Singh called upon the GNDU community to further raise the bar and strive to bring the university into the top 10 universities in India in the next edition of the survey. — TNS Lawyer run over by train Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, June 4 A resident of Tarn Taran was run over by a speeding train on Wednesday near the local Sarhali road. The deceased has been identified as Om Parkash (59), son of Duni Chand, residing in the local Baba Basta Singh Nagar, Sarhali road. The deceased was walking near his locality and was crossing the rail track when he was run over by the train going from Amritsar to Khemkaran. The deceased was a practising lawyer at the local district courts. A team of the local Government Railway Police (GRP) led by ASI Manjit Singh, in-charge of the post, arrived on the spot. ASI Manjit Singh said that a report under section 194 of BNS has been lodged with the GRP Tarn Taran. , The post-mortem of the body was done at the local Civil Hospital and the body was later cremated at the crematorium on Sachkhand Road.