28112024-ATR-01.qxd 11/27/2024 11:46 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune DEMANDING MSP GUARANTEE, FARMERS SEEK PREZ HELP A TRIBUTE TO LEGENDARY SINGER MOHAMMED RAFI Sharmila Tagore joined singer Sonu Nigam to croon the 1967 number Aasmaan Se Aaya Farishta. P4 MODERATE FOG MAX 25°C | MIN 09°C YESTERDAY MAX 25°C | MIN 09°C NO PLACE FOR CHANDIGARH IN ‘TOP 50 RESTAURANTS’ LIST A team led by BKU (U) chief Kulwinder Billa, hands over a memorandum addressed to the President. P3 FORECAST Cricketer Virat Kohli’s signature restaurant One8 Commune is still awaiting former skipper’s visit. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 5.27 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 7.11 AM » THURSDAY | 28 NOVEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR Aujla demands opening of trade with Pak, meets Union Minister Dist gears up for polio drive on Dec 8 Amritsar, November 27 Lok Sabha MP from the city Gurjeet Singh Aujla met Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasad in Delhi on Wednesday and discussed the issue of opening trade with Pakistan. During the interaction, Aujla thanked the union minister for allowing jewellery export from Amritsar. Giving information in this regard, Aujla said that import-export from Amritsar was discussed with Jitin Prasad. Detailed talks were held with him on import and export through both road and air routes, he said. He said that during this talks were held especially on opening the trade which was closed with Pakistan via Wagah. He said that being a border area, there is a great need to open trade with Pakistan, the whole of Amritsar Amritsar, November 27 A meeting of the district task force for control of polio was held here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner Harsimran Singh Dhillon during which he took stock of the preparations being made for the upcoming pulse polio drive from December 8. MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla calls on Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasad in New Delhi. will benefit from this. He said that foreign trade from Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport was also discussed. He said the government should help them for its development and expansion so that more and more goods can come from here. Aujla said that during meeting Jitin Prasad was thanked for allowing the export of jew- ellery from Amritsar. He said that this was very much needed and the demand for this was going on for a long time. MP Aujla said that Jitin Prasad assured him that in the coming time, more good decisions will be taken for Amritsar and whatever problems are there, would be worked upon so that people do not face any kind of problems. — TNS Drug peddler arrested with 1 kg of heroin Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 27 The Amritsar Rural Police have arrested a drug peddler, identified as Mangal Singh, alias Baba Manga, a resident of the border village of Daoke, and recovered 1 kg of heroin from his possession. He was travelling on a bike when a team of the Gharinda police intercepted him following a tip-off. The police also seized his mobile phone and registered a case under the NDPS Act against him. The police said he already had a drug smuggling case registered against him in September last year. They said investigations were in progress to ascertain his backward and forward links. He was produced in a court and brought on police remand for interrogation. Officials of the district health department stated that in the three-day immunisation drive, the department would strive to immunise 2.97 lakh children below the age of five years in the district. The officials stated that health teams would cover nearly 5.49 lakh houses in the district to administer polio drops to all children. The meeting was attended by senior medical officers, urban medical officers, PSPCL officials, education department, nursing college representatives, Indian Medical Association, panchayat department, roadways and police departments. — TNS Ahead of foggy days, Rlys takes measures for safe ops of trains Provides reliable fog safety devices to loco pilots for use in trains Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 27 Ahead of foggy days when visibility plummets sharply in the night and morning hours, the Railways has taken several steps to increase the level of safety for smooth operation of trains during fog. Reliable fog safety devices have been provided to be used in the train engines by loco pilots. Sanjay Sahu, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), said the division took several steps to maintain punctuality of trains. Through the fog safety device, a loco pilot gets to know the status of the signals ahead, which helps control the speed of the trains. In addition, signal location booklets have been provided to all loco pilots for information about signals. Despite this device, loco pilots follow all precautions. When visibility is restricted due to fog, the loco pilot carefully drives the train at a speed according to his discretion so that he can control the train. The whistle is blown repeatedly by the loco pilot to warn the Loco pilots drive a train with the help of devices on a foggy morning at the Amritsar railway station. gateman and road users at the level crossing. Crackers have been provided to all railway employees related to security. Measures like LED based flasher tail behind Train Manager (Guard)’s coach, lime marking on tracks before signal, flashing sigma board on electric poles, flashing yellow signal strips on busy level crossings have been adopted, which are important steps from the security point of view. Reliable and uninterrupted power supply is being ensured for signalling equip- ment, flashing jackets, protective clothing, torch lights are being ensured for the safety of track maintenance staff. There is always a possibility of railway tracks cracking in the winter. So keeping this in mind, night track patrolling has been started in and around the Amritsar railway station. Night patrolling is being done on various railway sections. During patrolling, two railway personnel go from both sides between two stations. While checking the railway track, the patrolling person- nel are equipped with GPSbased equipment and exchange the register by getting each other to sign on the patrolling register on the way and if any irregularity is noticed, they immediately report to the official concerned for immediate action. For greater awareness and vigilance among operating and maintenance staff, night inspections are being carried out daily at the officer level and supervisor level. Ferozepur Division is committed to ensuring safe and secure train operations during fog. Awareness drive on compulsory wearing of helmets 56-kg seized heroin destroyed Tribune News Service On why helmets were distributed to schoolchildren when underage driving is illegal and violates norms, the CP pointed out that the lives of those riding pillion were as precious as of those driving the vehicles. Traffic education wing incharge sub-inspector Daljit Singh said that over 1.50 lakh people died in road mishaps in the country and a majority of them suffered critical head injuries during the accidents. He said wearing helmets can save many precious lives. “It is not only the man who loses his life alone in accidents, it leaves a family devastated due to carelessness in not wearing a safety head gear,” he pointed out. He also added that the helmets should meet the standards prescribed under the Motor Vehicles Act. Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 27 To make commuters aware, especially those riding twowheelers, about the need to make wearing of helmets mandatory, the city police have launched an awareness drive. The traffic education wing led by Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar distributed safety headgear to school children and their parents who come to drop their wards at school. The drive was launched at the School of Eminence for Girls, Mall Road, here. “We want that the people wear helmets on a mandatory basis for their safety and not out of fear that the police would take punitive measures against them,” said the Police Commissioner. The main objective of launching the campaign in the school was that children are made part of it so that they are aware and encourage their parents and other family members to wear helmets. Two more held in 5-day-old murder case Cop-turned-coach Baljinder nurturing nursery City theatre actor wins Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar of budding boxers with selfless service for 20 yrs Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 27 Five days after a youth was stabbed to death over minor altercation, the city police have arrested two more suspects in the case. Those arrested were identified as Ashish Kumar of Mahan Singh Gate and Sunny Kumar of Fateh Singh Colony here. Earlier, the police had arrested Darpan Singh of Mahan Singh gate in the case. Gaurav Kumar (28) of Prem Nagar, Kot Khalsa, was stabbed to death following a dispute on November 22. Rani, mother of the victim, told the police that Gaurav was standing outside a grocery store in Prem Nagar locality when around six persons indulged in verbal arguments with him. She said that both the parties were pacified. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar hands over helmets to a school girl and her father in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Amritsar, November 27 Vipin Kumar, a city based actor and theatre person, has been conferred the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the year 2023 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, for his contribution to Indian theatre. Vipin holds a Master’s degree in Acting from the National School of Drama, New Delhi and has been active in national theatre circuit since last seven years. He has worked with renowned directors from India and abroad, including M.K. Raina, Bhanu Bharti, Tripurari Sharma, Waman Kendre, Chitaranjan Tripathi and French director Christophe. Vipin received the award on November 22, at the Ambedkar Bhavan in Delhi, in presence of Arunish Chawla, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Uma Nanduri, Around 150 helmets were distributed today. These helmets meet the standards underlined in the Motor Vehicles Act. These were sponsored by a prominent insurance firm. City-based actor Vipin Kumar Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Joravarsinh Jadav, Vice-Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi; Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi; and Shri Raju Das, Secretary, Sangeet Natak Akademi. Mentored by renowned theatre persons of Amritsar, Rajinder Singh and Neeta Mohindra , Vipin has acted in Hindi, Punjabi, English, and “Obeying traffic rules in letter and spirit is not a choice, but the duty of every citizen. If we start following the norms, this would reduce road mishaps by more than 50 per cent,” said Bhullar. French plays. He has also translated two plays by Punjabi theatre thespian Kewal Dhaliwal into Hindi. A believer of quality over quantity in terms of acting on stage, Vipin Kumar has been part of over 50 plays, including highly acclaimed productions “Hatyaa Ek Aakaar Ki”, “Aatal Yaatra”, Girish Karnad’s classic “Bali”, “Nirjan Karaavas”, “Ramanujan”, and “Ek Aur Dronacharya”, which have established him as a versatile actor. Working for promotion of theatre and its various forms, Vipin is also an educator, working with various universities and theatre groups across India. Dedicating his win to the cause of theatre as a medium of masses and freedom of expression, Vipin shared that such national recognitions push artistes to push the boundaries and innovate. c m y b Amritsar, November 27 The city police on Wednesday destroyed narcotics substances, including heroin, confiscated in 182 cases of the NDPS Act registered in the past. Around 56.61 kg of heroin, over 2 lakh of intoxicant capsules and tablets, 4.97 kg of narcotic powder, 1 kg of ICE, 23 kg of Charas, 1.54 kg of smack, over 10 kg of poppy husk and 2.9 kg of ganja were among the total drugs destroyed. The drug disposal team led by Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Deputy Commissioner of Police Alam Vijay Singh and others officials destroyed the drugs via the incineration method here. Bhullar said the drugs were Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar along with other officials destroys the seized contraband in Amritsar on Wednesday. case property of as many as 182 cases registered with the city police in the past. These Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 27 In an age where everybody complains of shortage of time to pursue one’s passion, an assistant sub- inspector (ASI) with Punjab Police, boxing coach Baljinder Singh, is a true example of selfless service and time management. The success of this lone warrior can be gauged from the fact that in the last 20 years of his coaching career, his trainees have won over 300 national and six international medals. Baljinder Singh who trains budding boxers at Khalsa College during his free time, said, “I started training students in 2004. At that time, boxing was considered a game for those who are more interested in brawls and fights than studies.” Presently, two of his students are MTech students, two MBBS students while many others are Boxing coach Baljinder Singh hones the skills of two young pugilists in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR pursuing a Master’s degree. “My objective is to make students disciplined. Boxing comes next and if someone is disciplined, he is bound to excel in life,” said Singh. Baljinder had played till national level in boxing before he joined the police. Presently, he is also credited with helping at least 130 boxers secure jobs in various state and Cen- tral government departments. “Admit it or not but every middle-class boxer’s family aspires that he or she gets a permanent job,” he said, adding that five of his former students are Class 1 officers in government departments. Talking about his target as a boxing coach, Singh said, “Till date, only three boxers from Punjab have represented India cases were cleared by the drug disposal committee for destroying the contraband. in Olympics. I am hopeful that one of our players would be ready to represent Punjab in boxing by the year 2028.” Singh also takes keen interest in the problems faced by his players. “There was a time when girls could not even think of joining boxing. Presently, 20 per cent of the players I coach are girls,” he said, adding that more and more parents should train their girls in boxing as it would teach them self-defence and instill in them a sense of confidence. When asked if it is not difficult for him to divide time between his job, family and boxing, Baljinder said, “Usually, I am free in the morning and evenings, so time is not a problem. Moreover, my seniors in the department are also passionate about sports and whenever there is a tournament, I get all required help from them in terms of adjustment of duty hours.”