28122024-ATR-01.qxd 12/27/2024 11:57 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 18°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 18°C | MIN 7°C UNDERAGE DRIVING STILL A CHALLENGE FOR AUTHORITIES POTATO FARMERS IN DOABA ENJOY A PROFITABLE SEASON DEEP SEHGAL CAPTURES HEARTS WITH HER CHARM Enforcing the traffic rules prohibiting underage driving has remained a challenge for the police. P3 Early varieties of the crop, including Kufri Pukhraj, are fetching a remunerative price for Doaba farmers. P3 Deep Sehgal’s debut movie, Je Jatt Vigad Gaya, has generated a buzz, and her excitement is palpable. P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 5.35 PM » SUNRISE SUNDAY 7.29 AM SATURDAY | 28 DECEMBER 2024 | AMRITSAR Man robbed after giving girl lift in his car Tributes pour in as Amritsar bids farewell to Dr Manmohan Singh Amritsar, December 27 Ranjit Avenue police have arrested a couple on charges of robbing a local resident after taking a lift from him. The incident had occurred on December 15. Police said that during a probe, the two suspects were identified as Manpreet Singh of Mandar Wala Bazaar on Sultanwind road and his wife Prabhjot Kaur. They were arrested yesterday. On Friday, they were produced in court which sent them to two days of police remand for further interrogation. Jaspal Singh, a resident of Ranjit Avenue, said that on December 15, he was returning home from Sukh Sagar Hospital when a girl wearing a mask signalled him to stop the car. He said she requested for a lift to Hartej Hospital. He said he gave her lift and dropped her near Hartej Hospital. Jaspal Singh said the girl asked him to stop the car near a secluded place just before the hospital. He said as he stopped, a man came out of the bushes and pointed a knife at him. He snatched his gold chain along with the locket and fled. Following the incident, he lodged a complaint with the police which registered a case in this regard. — TNS Tribune News Service Martyrdom of ‘Sahibzaade’, Mata Gujri Kaur remembered Amritsar, December 27 Tributes poured in as the news of demise of Dr Manmohan Singh, former PM and architecture of India’s economic reforms in 21st century, sent a wave of mutual loss across the city. Dr Manmohan Singh had always shared his fondness for Amritsar. Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla expressed deep condolences on the demise of former Prime Minister of the country. “Dr Singh was an encyclopaedia, whose guidance was always necessary for individuals, who knew him,” he shared. MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla today reached Dr. Manmohan Singh’s residence in Delhi to pau his respects. “Dr. Manmohan Singh was such a personality who handled the faltering economy of the country with his visionary thinking and gave it fame at the international level. His departure has left an irreparable void. He will always be remembered in our hearts and it will be a matter of good fortune for us to continue walking on the path shown by him.” Guru Nanak Dev University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Karamjit Singh too expressed his grief on the demise of former Prime Min- Amritsar, December 27 The ‘Moolmantar’ and ‘Gurmantar’ was chanted as part of the programme held at the Akal Takht today to commemorate the martyrdom of ‘Chhote Sahibzaade’ (younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh) – Baba Zoravar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh — along with their grandmother Mata Gujri Kaur, that falls on December 27. The month of Poh that starts mid-December marks the martyrdom of Chaar Sahibzaade and their grandmother Mata Gujri Kaur. In reference to the ‘Shaheedi Pandarwada’ (Mourning Fortnight) in the memory of martyrdom of ‘Sahibzaade’ , and their grandmother, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh has delivered a message to the Sikh community to pay tributes by chanting the ‘Moolmantar’, ‘Gurmantar’ and refrain from loud celebrations or distribution of sweets. A tradition of ‘not observing any sort of celebrations during martyrdom days’ prevailed among the Sikhs. The martyrdom day of ‘Vadde Sahibzaade’ (elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh) — Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh — three pyare from the ‘Panj Pyare’ and other Singhs, fell on December 22. — TNS Congress party workers pay tributes to former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh in Amritsar on Friday. VISHAL KUMAR ister of India. In his condolence message shared on social media, he said that Dr. Manmohan Singh, the proud son of Punjab and the Sikh community, was the architect of India’s economic liberalization, who His tenure as the Prime Minister of India (2004-2014) was a testament to his visionary leadership. Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji’s humble personality, sharp intellect and integrity are capable of inspiring the entire world. His entire life and work are a clear example of how a person’s dedication, intellect and service can transform a nation. They have power. The university will always remember him for the research center on Guru Granth Sahib that was established during his tenure,” he said. Hindu College’s principal Sanjay Khanna, too shared that how Dr Singh had always shared his love for his college and his teachers. “Despite his achievements, he had always carried a special love and respect for his teachers and the years he spent at the college as a student,” he said. College Director Dr Joshi said that when the college invited him for the college’s alumni meet event in 2018, he had specifically made time to come and attend. Party high command will take call on Mayor’s seat, says state Cong chief Warring rules out factionalism; Lucky, Vikas Soni among top post contenders GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 27 Following strong performance by the Congress in the Municipal Corporation elections, where the party secured 40 out of 85 wards, intense lobbying has ensued for the Mayor’s seat in Amritsar. Despite claims of unity, internal factionalism has surfaced, particularly over the selection of candidates for the post of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor. In an effort to resolve the situation, senior Congress leaders including Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, former Deputy CM OP Soni, and former MLAs held a closed door meeting with the newly elected Congress councillors at the Congress (Rural) office in Amritsar yesterday. Warring emphasised that there was a misunderstanding regarding divisions within the party. “It was a wrong notion that the Congress was divided PPCC chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Partap Singh Bajwa address mediapersons in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR on the issue. In today’s meeting, all the senior leaders, including Congress councillors, have given consent to accept the decision of the Congress high command.” Warring further stated that once the official notification is issued, the party will consider the ‘reservation’ draft, which will determine whether the Mayor’s seat would be for a General, reserved, male or female category. “The final call for all the top civic seats would be taken by the high command only, keeping in view the sentiments of all stakeholders,” he added. Currently, the Congress is short of five councillors to achieve a clear majority. The eight Independents, many with ties to Congress, hold the balance of power, with Neetu Tangri already rejoining the Congress. While the chances of AAP securing the Mayor’s seat seem slim, given their tally of 24 councillors, the Congress remains confident of crossing the 50-vote mark. Among the leading contenders for the post of Mayor are Raj Kanwal Preet Pal Singh Lucky and Vikas Soni, nephew of OP Soni. Lucky has been elected for the fourth term. In 2018 too, he was a strong contender for the post of Mayor but former CM Capt Amarinder Singh preferred Karamjit Singh Rintu over him. Rintu, just prior to the 2022 Assembly polls, had switched over his loyalty towards CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party. Lucky drew the attention of the high command prominently when he sat on an indefinite dharna at Jantar Mantar staged by the then Congress MPs, including Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Jasbir Singh Dimpa and Ravneet Singh Bittu, in support of the farm agitation at Delhi borders in 2020. On the other hand, Vikas Soni has been elected as councillor for the second time, yet it was being claimed that more than 15 elected councillors were from his group. Two drug peddlers held with 2-kg heroin Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 27 The Amritsar rural police have confiscated over 2 kg of heroin from a drug peddler and his accomplice managed to escape from the spot. The drug peddler was identified as Harman Singh, a resident of Patti Baba Bur Singh in Baba Bakala. Raids were on to nab his accomplice Shamsher Singh, alias Shera, said Amritsar Rural Police SSP Charanjit Singh. A preliminary probe by the police revealed that both the suspects were robbers and came in contact with cross-border smugglers in the jail. A fresh case under the NDPS Act was registered against them. Sharing details, the SSP said the Ajnala police have put up a naka at the Mehal Bukhari village bus stand. He said during the checking of vehicles, the police team observed two motorcycleborne youths, coming from the Ajnala side, taking a U- turn and escaped. The police got suspicious and chased them. The police managed to arrest Harman Singh with 2 kg of heroin and ~1.4 lakh drug money and Shera succeeded in fleeing the spot. Harman had a snatching case registered against him at the Beas police station in August last year. Charanjit Singh said the accused was produced in a court and brought on police remand for further investigations. His backward and forward links were being established. Meanwhile, the Mehta police have arrested Harpreet Singh, alias Rinku, of Mirpur, Fatehgarh Sahib, for allegedly possessing 1.650 kg of opium. He was travelling in a car when he was intercepted by the police. Initial investigation revealed that he was a habitual offender and had three cases registered against him under the NDPS Act in the Malwa region. A fresh case was registered against him. c m y b Farmers hold march in favour of Dec 30 bandh Farmers during a march at the Manawal toll plaza in Amritsar on Friday. Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 27 With a view to seeking support of all sections of society for the upcoming bandh slated for December 30, farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee took out a march here on Friday. Under the leadership of state leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher, Germanjit Singh Bandala and Gurbachan Singh Chaba, thousands of farmers and labourers took out a march across Amritsar, including nearby markets, to mobilize support of shopkeepers, street vendors, small traders and auto rickshaw drivers in favour of their proposed agitation. They explained how the ongoing Delhi movement relates to every section of society and how the government was selling their rights to corporate houses. They came to the inter-state bus stand and along with representatives of the bus employees’ unions put up information posters on long-distance buses about the proposed strike so that information about it could reach people who do not have to face much inconvenience due to march. Pandher said medical and health services, vehicles carrying wedding-related parties, people going to attend important interviews or going to the airport to go abroad have been given relief from the shutdown. He said the bandh will be from 7 am to 4 pm. He said along with markets, roads and railway tracks will also be blocked. He asked all the Punjabis to support the bandh keeping in mind the larger interests of the state by refraining from their business for many hours so as to prove the unity of all state people in the ongoing movement against the Central Government.