22112024-ATR-01.qxd 11/21/2024 11:11 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST DENSE FOG GNDU VC RETIRES, NO FRESH APPOINTMENT YET: AUJLA STAND FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS, MALERKOTLA RESIDENTS TOLD THE 55TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA BEGINS Cong MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said it was for the first time in the history of GNDU that it was being run without a VC. P2 The administration has launched a campaign to transform theme of World Children's Day into reality. P3 The 55th International Film Festival of India began with a thought-provoking session at Kala Academy, Panaji. P4 » » » MAX 26°C | MIN 11°C YESTERDAY MAX 27°C | MIN 11°C SUNSET FRIDAY 5.28 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7.05 AM FRIDAY | 22 NOVEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR Underage driving rampant as admn goes soft on violators CIA staff nab drug peddler with ~8.30 lakh of drug money Amritsar, November 21 Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff arrested a drug peddler, identified as Amritpal Singh of Gumanpura village falling under Gharinda police station, and confiscated ~8.30 lakh of drug money from his possession. His name had cropped up during a probe in the seizure of 1kg ice drug and1 kg heroin earlier this month. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said a preliminary probe revealed that Amritpal was in touch with Pakistan-based smugglers and used to sneak in drugs and weapons through drones and supply them to his clients. He was produced in court and brought on police remand for further investigations. On November 5, the police had arrested Navdeep Singh alias Karan of Bhakna Kalan, Jeevan Singh of Chohla Sahib and Manjinder Singh aka Akash of Tarn Taran. The police had recovered 1 kg methamphetamine (ICE), 1 kg heroin and a car from them. Amritpal was earlier booked by the Sultanwind police under the NDPS Act. — TNS Only 17 challans issued since enforcement of amended Act PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Farmer leaders address a gathering during a Sankalp Rally in Tarn Taran on Thursday. GURBAXPURI Farmers, labourers take part in ‘Sankalp Rally’ to march to Delhi , Tarn Taran, November 21 A large number of farmers and labourers (mazdoors), under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), participated in ‘Sankalp Rally’ organised at Gurdwara Baba Sidhana, Sheron, here on Thursday. They vowed to participate in the march to Delhi being taken out on December 6. Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra, state president of the KMSC, said farmers and mazdoors across the country were participating in the Delhi march on December 6 to express their resentment against the Union Government for not accepting the genuine demands of the agitating farmers and the working class. Satnam Singh Pannun, Sawinder Singh Chutala, and Ranjit Kaur Kallha were among others who addressed the gathering on the occasion. They said they would take part in the Shambhu morcha on December 4 from where they would move to Delhi on December 6 to stress on their demands. The leaders demanded waiver of loan of farmers and labourers on the pattern of the corporate sector, ~10,000 old-age pension for farmers and labourers, cancellation of the amendment in the 2013 Land Act, nullification of the 2023 Electricity Act, provision of 14 daily need articles through the public distribution system, etc. They asked the government to book commission agents, rice millers, officials, MLAs and ministers involved in the forceful deduction of ~300 in the MSP for paddy. — OC c m y b Amritsar, November 21 The recent tragic death of two teenage boys in a road mishap on the Srinagar-Baramula highway is the grim reminder of how the authorities concerned have adopted a lenient attitude towards underage driving and its fatal consequences. Despite the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways amending the Central Motor Vehicles Act 2019 by imposing stricter penalties in order to deter the guardians from allowing the minors riding vehicles beyond the permissible limits, young teenagers can be seen driving two wheelers without any check. Owing to non-implementation of the existing traffic norms coupled with the indifferent attitude of society, underage driving is still the menace posing a threat to other commuters. Though the amended norms came into force in August this year along with a 20-day grace period given by the traffic police to the parents for adopting other ways for picking and dropping their wards to schools, no per- Despite a ban, underage school children continue to drive two wheelers in Amritsar. FILE PHOTO ceptible change has been seen in this regard. As per the records of traffic police, only 17 challans has been issued since the enforcement of the Amended Act in August this year. Of them, seven were referred to court and the remaining 10 were forwarded to the Regional Transport Office for issuing fines. Under the Act, the parents of a juvenile or the owner of the vehicle is deemed guilty and therefore liable for punishment. The guardian or the owner had to face a penalty to the tune of ~25,000 or face imprisonment of up to three years while the registration of the vehicle would be cancelled for a year. Besides, the offender would not be given a driving licence or learner’s licence till he has attained the age of 25. Ravi Mahajan, a prominent lawyer, said until the lawenforcing agency implements the law strictly, underage drivers will continue to pose a threat to other commuters. “Teenagers are not matured enough to take decisions while driving. They tend to indulge in overspeeding as they feel thrilled while driving at high speed. However it is fraught with risks. Speed thrills but kills,” said Lakhbir Singh, a local resident. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the department has taken measures to educate children and educational institutes on the risks involved in driving by minors. He said it is the duty and responsibility of the parents as well as of the teacher also in instilling a good civic and traffic sense in children.