15112024-ATR-01.qxd 11/14/2024 11:34 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST FOG IN MORNING CM ATTENDS PU INTER-ZONAL YOUTH FEST AT HOSHIARPUR DOOR-TO-DOOR SURVEY UNDER ANTI-DENGUE CAMPAIGN NDRF HOLDS MOCK DRILL FOR GAS LEAKAGE AT MILL Bhagwant Mann distributes prizes to the winners and encouraged all participants. P2 Ten anti-larvae teams in collaboration with nursing college students carried out activities in the city. P2 Conducts a mock drill at Vardhman Yarns and Threads Ltd in collaboration with the district administration. P2 » » » MAX 24°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 24°C | MIN 15°C SUNSET FRIDAY 5.31 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6.59 AM FRIDAY | 15 NOVEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR ~8 lakh stolen Minor sexually harassed by her from bank account with uncles, FIR registered; probe on stolen ATM card School teacher informs about this to the victim’s mother Our Correspondent PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, November 14 Jagtar Singh (55), a resident of Rattoke village under Chohla Sahib police station, was duped by his five close friends who withdrew Rs 8 lakh from his bank account with a stolen ATM card. The five swindlers have been identified as Akash, Chanan Singh, Gurlal Singh, Preet Singh and his brother Sonu Singh of the same Rattoke village. The persons, being his close friends, came to see him months back and asked him to serve liquor. In the meantime, they somehow stole his ATM card. Of the five, one Sonu knew the password of the ATM card and withdrew Rs 8 lakh from his account in the Punjab National Bank, Chohla Sahib. Jagtar Singh came to know about it from his bank statement. Sub-Inspector Vipin Kumar said that after investigating the complaint lodged by Jagtar Singh, the said persons have been booked under Section 318 (4), 305 and 61(2) of the BNS by Chohla Sahib police. They were absconding, said the Sub-Inspector. Amritsar, November 14 In a shocking incident, a three-and-a-half-year-old girl was allegedly sexually harassed by her two uncles. The incident came to light when the teacher of the victim informed her mother, who has been living separately from her husband for the last three months about this. “I got a call from a teacher who asked me to immediately reach the school. When I arrived at the school located on Maqbool road, the teacher showed the video of my daughter wherein she looked frightened and narrated her woes, how she was being molested by her two uncles,” the victim’s mother said. When she asked her husband about this, he did not give a satisfactory answer. The girl was also complaining about pain in her private parts. Ironically, the girl told the teacher about this yesterday but the school authorities informed the mother later. Before her mother arrived, they had already allowed the victim to leave with her grandfather even though the suspects live with them. When the matter reached the police, the school authorities did not hand over the video of her daughter to them, alleged advocate Ravi Mahajan while accusing the school management of negligence in a highly sensitive case. The victim’s mother has lodged a complaint with the police which have registered an FIR in this regard. She said that she had a dispute with her husband and has been living with her parents for the past three months. She alleged that her husband and in-laws did not allow her the custody of the girl. She had already lodged a complaint with the women’s cell of Punjab Police. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that the matter was under investigation and assured that appropriate action would be taken. Two teenage girls abducted, 3 booked Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, November 14 Two teenage girls were abducted from two different places on Wednesday. The police have booked three persons in this regard in two different cases. The Patti Sadar police informed that Roshanpreet Singh and his brother Lovepreet Singh, residents of Kullha village, abducted a teenage girl from a nearby village a week back at night on the pretext of marrying her. ASI Kulwinder Singh of Patti Sadar police said that the accused have been booked under Section 137(2), 87 and 60 of the BNS on Wednesday. In the other case, Amrit Singh, a resident of Gujarpura village of Amrit- sar district, abducted a teenage girl from the Chabal area on October 27. The victim’s father said that the family members were away at work and when they returned home in the evening, they found that the accused had abducted the girl by luring her to marry him. The accused has been booked under Section 137 (2) and 96 of the BNS. ADA acts tough against illegal colonies on GT Road Writes to police seeking registration of FIR against 13 colonisers Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 14 The Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) took action against unauthorised colonies here on Thursday. A team of the regulatory wing of the ADA, led by District Town Planner (Regulatory) Gursevak Singh Aulakh, demolished colonies at Tangra and Wajir Bhullar villages on the Jalandhar GT Road, following orders from Chief Administrator Ankurjit Singh. According to District Town Planner Gursevak Singh Aulakh, the government issued notices under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 1995 (Papara Act-1995), to control future development and stop unauthorised colonies. The owners of the unauthorised colony at Wazir Bhullar village flouted government rules. Similarly, the unauthorised colony at Tangra was demolished earlier, but redevelopment works were Officials and workers of the Amritsar Development Authority demolish road and other infrastructure in an illegal colony at a village in Amritsar on Thursday. restarted. The ASA team demolished roads and other infrastructure developed in these colonies. Aulakh warned that developing unauthorised colonies can result in 3-7 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to ~2-5 lakh under the Papara Act. Aulakh said they have written to the police to register an FIR against 13 colonisers. The regulatory wing of PUDA occasionally checks unauthorized colonies in Amritsar, issuing notices and stopping work. They have also erected boards warning the public against buying plots in these colonies. The District Town Planner (Regulatory) urged the public to verify PUDA approval before purchasing plots in colonies to avoid financial losses and trouble. Nagar Kirtan taken out on eve of 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Waste mgmt firm staff resume door-to-door garbage collection Man killed in Tarn Taran road mishap Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 14 The Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC) today took out a massive Nagar Kirtan (religious procession) to commemorate the 555th birth anniversary of the first Sikh master, Guru Nanak Dev. Thousands of students from KCGC institutions took out a march from the historic Khalsa College campus that culminated at the Golden Temple. During the procession, students from all 21 institutions including Khalsa University, colleges and schools chanted holy hymns from Gurbani and paraded through various parts of the city to reach Darbar Sahib. The procession was led by Sri Guru Granth Sahib, placed in a well-decorated palanquin, accompanied by ‘Panj Pyaras’ (five beloved ones) and participants clad in colourful dresses, reciting hymns and slogans of ‘Bole So Nihal’, ‘Nanak Aya, Jagat Jagaya’. On the way, the display of Amritsar, November 14 Employees of the solid waste management company, AVERDA, resumed work here on Thursday. They had suspended work in some areas in the city over their demands. Residents were a disturbed lot as garbage was not being lifted from households in several areas. Officials of the municipal corporation claimed that work has been resumed after the disbursement of dues. According to information, workers of the company on Tuesday suspended door-todoor collection in several areas over the non-payment of the dues and lack of facilities. The matter was resolved on Wednesday evening and now work has been resumed. MC Health officials claimed that they had made alternative arrangements for lifting the garbage from the transfer points. “The MC owns 27 tractor-trollies. As a large number of door-to-door collection vehicles of Averda are lying defunct, we had arranged Tarn Taran, November 14 One person died while two others were injured in a road accident on Wednesday night. The mishap took place near Sarhali village on NH-54. The deceased has been identified as Sukhwinder Singh (45) of Goindwal Sahib road, Tarn Taran. The injured are Harmanpreet Singh, son of the deceased, and Ramandeep Singh of the local Bath Road. All three were into the wallpaper business and were on way back from Zira on a motorcycle. When they reached near Sarhali, their motorcycle was hit from the rear by a Mahindra pick-up four-wheeler. The three fell down on the road and bystanders took them to the Community Health Centre, Sarhali, where doctors declared Sukhwinder Singh dead. Harmanpreet Singh and Ramandeep Singh were referred to the local Civil Hospital. The Sarhali police has registered a case against Mahindra pick-up van driver Manjit Singh of Chack Swamian Wara. — OC A Sikh youth perfoms Gatka during a Nagar Kirtan organised in Amritsar on Thursday. VISHAL KUMAR Gatkas (Sikh martial art), music of the bands, PT shows and beating of the drums was witnessed as the students passed through GT Road, Putlighar, Sadar, railway station, Bhandari Bridge, Hall Gate and Town Hall. Khalsa University Pro-Chancellor and KCGC honorary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, vice- chanceller Dr Mehal Singh, deans, office-bearers, members, principals, teaching and non-teaching staff took part in the parade enthusiastically. Congratulating the people, Chhina said Guru Nanak Dev’s message of peace, universal brotherhood and welfare of one and all was very relevant in a strife-torn world today. Meanwhile, massive traffic jam was witnessed on GT road in the absence of any plan to regulate the flow of vehicles during the Nagar Kirtan. Schoolchildren were seen stuck in the jam for over an hour in the morning. Traffic was diverted from BRTS lane from Putlighar area which remained stranded there for at least half an hour. Vans carrying children missed the morning timings in reaching the school. Man held for smuggling arms, Fire breaks out at weapon from across the border medicine factory Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 14 Following intelligence-led operations, the Amritsar rural police have arrested a cross-border weapon smuggler and recovered two Glock pistols trafficked from Pakistan through drone. The accused was identified as Abhinoor Singh of Dhodiwind village, falling under Gharinda police station here. Charanjit Singh, SSP (Amritsar rural), said that the accused was in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers and used to sneak in contra- An Abhimoor nabbed by the Amritsar rural police. band and weapons. He used to supply weapons and drugs smuggled from Pakistan in Amritsar and its adjoining areas, the SSP said. “We got a tip-off that Abhinoor was involved in trans-border trafficking and that he had recently retrieved a consignment of weapons. He was currently roaming around in the Bhakhna area to hand over the weapons,” he said, adding that the police patrolling teams intercepted the suspect and recovered two 9mm Glock pistols from his possession. A case under the Arms Act has been registered against him and further probe was on to establish his backward and forward linkages. Amritsar, November 14 A massive fire broke out at a medicine factory in the New Golden Avenue area, sending shock waves among the residents and causing widespread chaos. The blaze, which began in an adjacent plastic goods factory, quickly spread to the medicine factory due to the highly inflammable material lying in the medicine factory. Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrifying as flames and thick smoke billowed from the factory, sparking panic among local residents who attempted to extinguish the fire but the presence of c m y b chemicals in the laboratory fuelled the blaze, causing it to spread rapidly. Fire-fighters rushed to the scene to combat the blaze, but the damage had already been done. The factory and goods lying there were reduced to ashes, with only charred remains being left. Fire officials claimed that they used 10 fire tenders to control the flames. “All workers inside the factory were rescued on priority. No human loss has been reported. The cause of fire and worth of damaged goods is yet to be ascertained,” said the Fire Officer. — TNS Garbage dumped on a street in Bhram Nagar in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR 40 tractor trollies to collect garbage from the transfer points. We have a JCB and other infrastructure to tackle the situation. But now the matter between the company and the employees have been sorted out, the service has been resumed,” said a senior MC official. It is worth mentioning here that the city has been facing the major issue of garbage lifting as the private firm hired by the MC for door-to-door collection and processing of garbage has not been working efficiently. Most of the vehicles of the firm are not in working condition and without the required infrastructure, workers are unable to lift garbage. MC Commissioner Gulpreet Singh asked the company to improve infrastructure otherwise the contract would be annulled. “The solid waste firm assured them of arranging more vehicles till December,” said a senior MC official. Former SHO dies by suicide Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 14 A retired Punjab Police inspector, Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa, allegedly died by suicide as he shot himself at his residence at Ekroop Avenue on Majitha Road here on Thursday. Nevertheless, the police said investigations are on to ascertain the cause behind the incident. Assistant Commissioner of Police (West) Shivdarshan Singh said a probe was underway to ascertain the cause behind the injury and subsequent death. “Police and forensic teams have been carrying out examinations whether it was an accidental fire or a suicide. Following initial reports and the statements of the family members, appropriate action would be taken,” he said. He said the family members were in shock and they were yet to record their statements. The incident occurred at around 11.30 am when the police got information that he died of gunshot injuries, he added Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa retired (from city police) around four years ago. He remained deputed as the SHO and with the Special Task Force formed by former Punjab Chief Min- ister Capt Amarinder Singh to combat drug smuggling. According to police sources, he had been suffering from depression for the past couple of years. He had been facing a number of inquiries, including a CBI probe, in connection with an NDPS Act case. Vinod Kumar, SHO, Sadar police station, said the police have started inquest proceedings under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in this connection. He said further appropriate action would be taken as per the statements of the victim’s family and the investigations report.