25072025-ATR-01.qxd 7/24/2025 11:14 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 30°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 25°C FARMERS PROTEST AGAINST LAND POOLING SCHEME CRPF VETERAN USES FOOTBALL TO STEER KIDS OFF DRUGS TAMIL MOVIE BAD GIRL JOINS THE ‘BAD FILM’ CATEGORY The (BKU), Sidhupur, protested against the proposed land pooling scheme of the state government. P2 Led by ex-CRPF Inspector, the initiative has brought together kids from economically weaker families. P3 The Madurai Bench of the Madras HC ordered the Centre to remove its teaser from all social media platforms. P4 » » » SUNSET FRIDAY 7.31 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5.42 AM FRIDAY | 25 JULY 2025 | AMRITSAR Man jumps off fifth floor of hospital, dies Amritsar, July 24 In a shocking incident, a man committed suicide by jumping from the fifth floor of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here on Thursday. Baljinder Singh (45), a resident of Verka, used to work at a factory and had recently met with an accident. According to the police, he had suffered injuries on the head and other parts of the body. He was under treatment. The hospital authorities had earlier discharged him and called him on Thursday for a surgery. He along with his family members had come to the hospital for treatment. However, he dodged the family and went on the fifth floor of the hospital and jumped from it. He died on the spot leaving the family shocked. He is survived by his wife and two children. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Harpal Singh said on the statement of his family members, the police have registered a case while the body was sent for a postmortem. The family members said Baljinder was under depression. — TNS Police bust extortion module Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 24 The city police busted an extortion module with the arrest of four persons, including one of them was held following a brief encounter, near the Company Bagh area here on Thursday. Those arrested were identified as Simaratpal Singh and Amandeep Singh, both residents of Saidoke village in Mehta, Harpreet Singh, alias Happy, of Bhaini Miyan Khan village in Gurdaspur and Simarat Pal Singh of Rampura village. Harpreet was injured in the encounter. Besides, the police have also nominated their Spain-based accomplice Sukhdev Singh, who originally hails from Rampura village and is brother of Simratpal Singh. He was making the extortion calls to a local businessman. They used to identify their potential targets. They were using the name of notorious gangster Bony Bal for extortion, said Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar. Sharing details, Bhullar said two of the accused, Simaratpal and Amandeep Singh, had fired several gunshots outside an under-construction banquet hall on the outskirts of Drug licences of two hospitals cancelled Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 24 The drugs wing of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled the retail sale drug licences of corporate medicos inside the Corporate Hospital on Batala Road and Life Kare Medicare inside Life Kare Hospital on Fatehgarh Churrian Road here. The licences were revoked due to the firms’ illegal stocking and sale of psychotropic substance, Tramadol, without valid authorisation. A joint inspection by the drugs wing of FDA and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials on May 2 this year had revealed that both firms were stocking Tramadol without permission. Tramadol, a Schedule H-1 drug under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, is also a psychotropic substance covered under the NDPS Act, 1985. STOCKING TRAMADOL WITHOUT NOD Tribune News Service Police officials at the encounter spot near the Company Bagh in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Given its potential for misuse, the Joint Commissioner (Drugs) had imposed specific restrictions on its stocking and sale in 2019. The cancellation of licences is a significant step in curbing the misuse of Tramadol in the region. The authorities have emphasised the importance of adhering to regulations and obtaining necessary authorisations for handling psychotropic substances. the details of their targeted victims to Sukhdev Singh who was then making threatening calls to them using the name of notorious gangsters. Harpreet and Simratpal were held from the Company Bagh area when they were roaming in their car. The Police Commissioner said after the police recovered an illegal pistol from their possession, Harpreet snatched the carbine of a cop. Alerted by this, ASI Balwinder Singh shot at his legs from his service weapon in self-defence. He was later admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital for treatment. The police registered a fresh case under the Arms Act against them. Parts of pistol made in China seized from border village Powercom employee Civic body to take action against dies in road mishap shopkeepers littering city roads Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, July 24 An employee of the Powercom died in a road accident on the Tarn Taran road near Chabal on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as Kuljit Singh (35), a resident of Malia (Tarn Taran). Rattan Singh who worked with the deceased in the department, said that Kuljit Singh, who was posted at the sub-station in Chabal in the morning shift, was on his way to duty on a motorcycle when he met with the accident as a speeding Scorpio bearing the registration number PB-11, CM-3013 collided head-on with the motorcycle. The Scorpio was at such a high speed that it dragged Kuljit Singh to a distance of some meters. People in the area Tarn Taran, July 24 A joint team of the Khalra police and BSF, in a joint search operation launched in the field of a farmer Karaj Singh of Daliri village on Wednesday night, recovered parts of a China-made pistol and a magazine. Sub-Inspector Lakhbir Singh informed here today that the recovered parts were wrapped in a yellow tape which included parts of a China-made pistol and magazine which were dispatched from Pakistan through a drone. A case under Section 25 of the Arms Act and Sections 10, 11 and 12 of the Aircraft Act has been registered, added Sub-Inspector Lakhbir Singh. Our Correspondent GNDU to create digital archive on Fauja Singh Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 24 Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) paid a heartfelt tribute to the legendary marathon runner Fauja Singh, who passed away recently at the age of 114, in a memorial event held on campus. At the event, Vice-Chancellor Prof Karamjeet Singh announced that the university will organise an annual commemorative event to honour Fauja Singh’s legacy, inspiring future generations with his remarkable life and achievements. Also, GNDU will initiate a documentary project, creating digital archives on Fauja Singh with support from the family of the marathoner. “Fauja Singh was not just an athlete, he was a symbol of Punjabi spirit, resilience and self-belief. He brought global recognition to Punjabis and lived his life as a message, embodying the teachings of the Sikh Gurus. His journey proved that age is no barrier to The GNDU Vice-Chancellor and members of Fauja Singh’s family plant a sapling in his memory at the campus in Amritsar on Thursday. achieving greatness,” said VC Prof Karamjeet Singh. He emphasised that the annual event would serve as a platform to motivate youth to draw inspiration from Fauja Singh’s disciplined and purposeful life. The archive and documentary project will be an attempt to preserve the life, motivational journey and teachings of Fauja Singh for future generations. The uni- Amritsar, July 24 The continued failure of the Municipal Corporation to complete the long-pending Gaushala project on Jhabbal Road has sparked public outrage, with stray cattle increasingly seen roaming on city roads, causing accidents and severe traffic congestion in various parts of Amritsar. Despite multiple deadlines being missed, the Gaushala, planned at a cost of Rs 2.40 crore to shelter up to 1,000 stray cattle, remains incomplete even two years after land was allotted for the purpose. In protest, the Rashtriya Gau Raksha Mahasangh has announced a demonstration outside the Municipal Corporation office on July 30, expressing deep resentment against the inaction. The decision to hold the protest was taken at a special meeting held by president Rohan Mehra, which was the city after which the owner had received an extortion call from a foreign number. They fired at the display board and shot the video and sent to the victim while intimidating him for extortion. The victim lodged a complaint with the police and a case was registered at the Sadar police station on July 21. Investigations led the police to Simaratpal and Amandeep Singh who were arrested in the case. Following their interrogation the police identified the remaining two accused Simratpal and Harpreet Singh who had masterminded the extortion along with NRI Sukhdev Singh. Both of them worked as bouncers. They were sharing ■ A joint inspection by the drugs wing of FDA and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials on May 2 this year had revealed that both firms were stocking Tramadol without permission. Tramadol, a Schedule H-1 drug under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, is also a psychotropic substance covered under the NDPS Act, 1985. 2 yrs on, work on gaushala project remains incomplete versity’s athletes, said the VC, will benefit from learning about Fauja Singh’s life. The event, attended by prominent figures, featured a treeplanting ceremony in Fauja Singh’s memory and the screening of a special documentary highlighting his extraordinary journey. The university also felicitated members of Fauja Singh’s family, presenting them with a portrait of the iconic runner as a token of honour. Sukhi Batth, a noted writer and social worker, shared a personal anecdote on Fauja Singh. “Seeing Fauja Singh was my father’s last wish. When he met him, his words were, ‘Son, I have seen the embodiment of God.’ In an era where youth chase material wealth, Fauja Singh’s life teaches us that true legacy lies in love, integrity and self-contentment, achieved through simplicity and discipline.” Saurabh Duggal, another speaker, remarked, “Fauja Singh will remain a source of inspiration for centuries to come.” The event underscored Fauja Singh’s enduring legacy as a global icon who defied age to run nine marathons, including the London Marathon at the age of 89, earning him the title of “Turbaned Tornado” and a place in the hearts of millions worldwide. c m y b rushed to the rescue and took him to the local civil hospital where doctors declared him dead. The Chabal police reached the spot and the driver of the Scorpio was taken in custody by the police along with the vehicle. It was an irony of sorts as the deceased Kuljit Singh was given a job in the Powercom on compassionate grounds about 10 years back as his father had died while on duty in the department. The deceased is survived by his wife and two sons, one aged seven years and the other just seven months old. The Powercom employees held a condolence meeting and prayed for the peace of the departed soul. The post-mortem was conducted at the local civil hospital. Stray cattle roam a road in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR attended by senior officebearers and social activists. Mehra stated that despite crores of rupees being collected by the MC in the name of cow cess, the Gaushala project remains stalled due to alleged administrative negligence and corruption. “Stray cattle roam around freely in areas like Lohgarh Chowk, Putligarh, Rambagh and other parts of the city, Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 24 To address ongoing concerns over cleanliness and waste management in the city’s prominent IDH Market, a meeting was held between the IDH Market Shopkeepers’ Association and MC Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh here on Thursday. The meeting, held at the MC office, was attended by the market association led by its president Kuldeep Singh, along with key officials, including Dr Kiran from the Health Department, Chief Sanitary Inspector Vijay Gill and Estate Officer Dharminderjit Singh. Officials of the Health Department informed the MC Commissioner that though daily cleaning and waste lifting through trolleys posing a serious threat to commuters and pedestrians alike. Accidents are being reported frequently,” Mehra said adding, “It’s shameful that both the administration and government have turned a blind eye to the crisis, forcing both the public and cattle to suffer.” He added that the proposed Gaushala would have provided a secure space for nearly is being carried out regularly in the IDH Market, shopkeepers continue to dump waste again on the streets after opening their shops around 11 am. Additionally, street vendors (rehriwalas) operating in the area were also blamed for littering and creating multiple garbage spots on roads. Taking note of the issue, Aulakh issued strict directions that all garbage must be lifted by 11 am daily after morning cleaning. He further warned that any shopkeeper found throwing garbage before or after this time would first be issued two challans along with warnings. If the offence is repeated for a third time, sealing action against shops would be initiated. The market association also raised the problem of the unregulated presence of 1,000 bovines, significantly reducing their presence on city streets. The proposed protest on July 30 aims to compel the authorities to expedite the construction. The Rashtriya Gau Raksha Mahasangh has warned that if the project continues to face delays, the movement will be intensified with larger public mobilisation in the coming weeks. rehris, whose operators often dispose of waste irresponsibly. They appealed to Aulakh to ensure that these rehris are permanently removed. Acting on the request, the MC Commissioner instructed Estate Officer Dharminderjit Singh to launch a joint drive with the Traffic Police to remove these street vendors from the IDH Market area and ensure they do not return. In addition, Aulakh directed officials to strictly enforce the ban on single-use plastic and penalise violators with challans and heavy fines. The shopkeepers’ association assured him of full cooperation and committed to maintaining cleanliness, avoiding the use of singleuse plastic, disposing of waste only in dustbins and refraining from placing goods outside their shops. Farmers seek drainage linked with Kasur nullah to flush out excess rainwater Tarn Taran, July 24 Crops spread in over 250 acres of land in Soorwind and Bhaini Gurmukh Singh villages has been affected badly in the last one week. The affected farmers said here on Thursday that as their villages are located in a low-lying area, rainwater started entering their fields. Water has entered their fields that are located in a low-lying area from as many as 10 villages. It has affected the crop, specially paddy which was heading towards maturity. Nambardar Surjit Singh, Pritpal Singh, Sikandar Singh, Gurbaksh Singh, Pargat Singh of Soorwind, former Sarpanch Satnam Singh, Inderjit Singh Granthi of Bhaini and other farmers were among the worst affected. The affected farmers said that villages nearby like Ghurkwind, Khoja Fatta, Bainka, Lakhna, Bath, Begepur, Bagradi, Ahmedpur and others have also been facing the prob- The affected farmers in their fields in Tarn Taran on Thursday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI lem since 1947 and have been approaching representatives of the state government and the local administration repeatedly but failed to get any relief. The farmers said that they have launched an agitation under the banner of Kirti Kisan Union and submitted memorandums to the administration a number of times but it has done nothing positive. The farmers said that in 2017, they submitted a proposal to dig a drain to be linked with the Kasur drain passing near Kale village to drain out water from these 10 villages as it was affecting their fields. But the plan was not implemented. The affected farmers said that though their crops have been getting damaged for decades, in fact since the partition in 1947, they have not been given any compensation. The affected farmers have sought a meeting with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. — OC