Tents in middle of roads by political, religious outfits inconvenience commuters
Amritsar, June 24
With political and religious outfits continuing to hold functions and events in the middle of roads, commuters are at the receiving end, as they are entangled in traffic jams.

A view of the tent put up in the middle of a road by construction workers in Amritsar; a tent set up for ‘chhabeel’ and langar on road causes inconvenience to commuters (extreme right) in Amritsar on Monday. Photos: Vishal Kumar

1 more accused held in robbery case
Amritsar, June 24
The city police has arrested another accused in the sensational robbery of Rs 67.50 lakh from the parents of the medical students who aspired to take admission in the medical college in Vallah on June 1.

Armed persons attack mobile shop owner at Railway link road
Amritsar, June 24
Tension gripped the Railway link road area last evening when some armed persons barged into a mobile shop in the Liberty Market and attacked its owner.

PSPCL files complaint against ex-councillor for staging dharna 
Amritsar, June 24
The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today filed a written complaint against a former councillor for staging a dharna outside the office of Superintending Engineer and manhandling the staff.


PSPCL Superintending Engineer Balbir Singh (left) in Amritsar. A Tribune photograph

State’s first school for kids with special needs inaugurated 
Amritsar, June 24
Pehal Government Special School, the first school for children with special needs in the state, was inaugurated today at Government Senior Secondary School Saragarhi Town Hall at Mall Mandi.

Spurt in theft cases gives residents sleepless nights
Amritsar, June 24
A spurt in theft cases in rural areas of the district is giving sleepless nights to the residents here of late.





Police personnel investigating with the help of a dog squad press in a house that was burgled in Amritsar this month. A FILE PHOTO

Protagonist of film 16 visits his hometown 
Amritsar, June 24
City-based actor Rohan Mehra, who is all set to make his Bollywood debut with upcoming film 16, was in the city here.

I love warm Punjabi culture, food and people: Ameesha
Amritsar, june 24
With her latest release Shortcut Romeo that was premiered at the Cannes this year, Bollywood actress Ameesha Patel says she has hit a purple patch.




Bollywood actor Ameesha Patel dances along with her fans at a hotel in Amritsar on Monday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Career counselling seminar organised for medical students
Amritsar, June 24
Sri Guru Angad Dev Institute of Competitions in Khadur Sahib today organised a career counselling seminar for medical students. Harpreet Kaur and Rubleen Kaur, who recently passed the MBBS entrance examination, interacted with local students studying in pre-medical classes.

Amritsar, June 24
A minor dispute over the throwing of garbage took an ugly turn when a woman was set on fire by her neighbours here last evening.

The victim, identified as Rita, a resident of Kirpal Singh Colony, Tungbala, Majitha road, reportedly sustained over 90 per cent burn injuries and her condition was stated to be critical.

Rita gave her statement before the Judicial Magistrate (First Class), following which a case under Section 307 (attempt of murder) and 34 IPC has been registered against the accused women, identified as Darshna and Anita.

She stated to the police that the accused called her inside their house and blamed her for disposing of garbage in front of their houses. She alleged that first they brutally thrashed her with a wooden bat and later poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze. They then threw her out of the house, she alleged.

After hearing her cries, the area people called an ambulance and rushed her to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. She was later shifted to a private hospital.

Malook Singh, in charge Majitha road bypass police post and investigating officer in the case, said the accused were at large since the incident. 

Amritsar, June 24
With a view to streamlining the traffic on the 4-km-long stretch leading to Sri Guru Ram Dass International Airport, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has given his nod to the construction of special service lanes from Kitchlew Chowk to Meerankot.

This was stated here today by the public works department executive engineer Jasbir Singh Sodhi.

The earlier proposal was to widen this four-lane stretch to six lanes, as heavy vehicles were generally stationed along the roadside, making it congested.

Sodhi said the widening of this portion of the road would have uprooted the traders and residents settled on the roadside for quite sometime. The Deputy Chief Minister had convened a meeting recently at Chandigarh to find a way out and had visited the site during his visit here on June 14.

“As an alternative measure, a fresh proposal was mooted to solve the traffic snarls on this stretch by designing service lanes on both its sides. This proposal was submitted to the Deputy CM for approval. Now, this service lane would flow parallel to the existing four-lane road. Also, a special drainage system would be introduced here to drain out the storm water,” he said.

This project would cost Rs 34 crore. Sodhi also said that there was a proposal to install interlocking tiles and plant trees on both sides of the road. “Various renowned nurseries of the country have been kept in the loop for the plantation drive. The maintenance of these trees, too, would be the responsibility of the hired nurseries. 

Amritsar, June 24
The Mehta police arrested Sahib Singh, one of the drug peddlers who had escaped from the Mehta police station on June 20, following cross-firing near the Gaggarbhana canal late last evening.

Sahib suffered a gun shot injury on his ankle during the firing. The police has slapped another attempt to murder case against him.

Avtar Singh, SHO, Mehta police station, confirming the incident, said the police teams got a tip-off that Sahib was sitting near a canal near his native village. He was accompanied by three persons.

“Immediately, two police teams were dispatched for the spot,” said the SHO, adding that as soon as the police parties reached near the spot, the accused opened fire at them. In retaliation, the police also fired at them.

During search operation, the police found him near the "katcha" lane going towards his village. Besides, the police also recovered a .12 bore countrymade pistol with two live cartridges. Two empty shells were also recovered from the spot.

He was admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital for treatment.

Two drug peddlers, Sahib Singh and Kehar Singh, both residents of Gaggarbhana village, who were arrested for possessing a huge quantity of habit-forming drugs and narcotic substances on June 20, had slipped from the police lock-up, complaining heart attack. Two policemen have been booked for negligence in this connection. 

Amritsar, June 24
With political and religious outfits continuing to hold functions and events in the middle of roads, commuters are at the receiving end, as they are entangled in traffic jams.

While residents have been demanding that the administration should not allow these organisations to pitch their tents on the roads, a rally by the Construction Labour Union near Putlighar on the GT road here today resulted in traffic chaos throughout the day.

Another religious event, "shabeel and langar" was organised on the road leading from the GT road to Circuit House which narrowed the way for vehicles. Moreover, to fix the tent poles, the organisers do not hesitate to drill holes in the road itself, thus causing damage to it.

A resident of the Pulighar area, Harnam Singh said, "One side of the road remained blocked throughout the day. The traffic on the other side was unmanageable as traffic policemen were not bothered." He said that if at least the administration could not stop these events on roads, it should make effective plans for traffic management.

On the road to Circuit House as vehicles stopped in middle of the road to partake "shabeel and langar" those coming behind them faced the congestion. "The organisers of these events should also take responsibility so that people are not made to suffer, as after all their motive too is the welfare of mankind," said a commuter.

The residents, in general, demanded that the administration should earmark

such places and parks in the city, where these political and religious events could be organised. At least permission should not be given for political functions on major roads as GT road.

The Construction Labour Union held a function near Putlighar here today. Labour Minister Punjab Surjit Kumar Jiani and National Center for Labour General Secretary MP Samy attended the function.

The workers demanded that an unorganised worker welfare Board should be constituted in the state. They demanded that organised workers should be given a pension of Rs 2,000 per month after the age of 60. The union also demanded that MGNREGA scheme should be extended to the cities so as to bring more workers under its ambit.

Amritsar, June 24
The city police has arrested another accused in the sensational robbery of Rs 67.50 lakh from the parents of the medical students who aspired to take admission in the medical college in Vallah on June 1.

Amarinder Singh had been evading arrest since the incident. Meanwhile, the police is yet to recover the money from the accused.

Till now the police has arrested seven persons, including a woman and mother of Amarinder Singh. The accused have been remanded in police custody and investigation is on to recover the amount from them.

The youths had decamped with Rs 67.50 lakh after robbing family members of aspiring medical students who wanted to get admission in the medical college.

The miscreants, who had opened an education consultancy company in Mohali, bargained with them by assuring them seats in management quota at Rs 72 lakh each. They had called four families outside the SGPC-run Sri Guru Ram Dass Institute of Medical Sciences, where the latter were robbed by the accused allegedly at gun-point.

Among those arrested till now include Sukhbir Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Paramjit Kaur, Angrej Singh, Manjit Singh and Bharat Bhushan. One of their accomplices, identified as Harjinder Singh, is at large.

The police had registered a case under Sections 395, 382, 420, 120-B, 467, 468 of the IPC in this connection.

Amritsar, June 24
Tension gripped the Railway link road area last evening when some armed persons barged into a mobile shop in the Liberty Market and attacked its owner.

A number of shopkeepers gathered at the spot and caught hold of the armed persons and damaged their vehicle. A couple of persons, including a policeman, were reportedly injured in the incident.

A case was registered after a complaint was filed by the shop owner, Gaurav Sood, and the police has arrested two assailants but some of their accomplices managed to flee from the scene.

Gaurav Sood told the police that he runs a mobile shop, Select Mobile Gallary. He said a youth came to his shop at about 9 pm and bought a Micromax mobile phone worth about Rs 2,000.

Sood added that when he asked for the money, the accused entered into a verbal duel with him and went away threatening of dire consequences.

He said about an hour later, the accused along with armed persons came in a car. He said they were carrying sharp-edged weapons and a double-barrel rifle.

He said Jagdeep Singh and Kawardeep Singh, both residents of New Garden Colony, along with three unidentified aides attacked and injured him.

Seeing this, the neighbouring shopkeepers gathered outside the shop and caught hold of two accused. The Civil Lines police was immediately called which reached the spot and tried to pacify the angry shopkeepers who handed over the accused to the police.

Saurav Sood, the victim's brother, said the accused would have killed his brother had the shopkeepers not come to his rescue. The police said a case under Section 307, 452, 427, 148, 149 of the IPC and 25/27/54 of the Arms Act has been registered against five persons in this connection. The rest of the accomplices of Jagdeep and Kawardeep were still absconding.

Amritsar, June 24
The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today filed a written complaint against a former councillor for staging a dharna outside the office of Superintending Engineer and manhandling the staff.

The department has also sought action against the Civil Lines police SHO who failed to respond to their repeated calls.

A large number of persons headed by former Municipal Corporation councillor Tarsem Bholla today demonstrated outside the office of Superintending Engineer (City Circle) Balbir Singh from 11.30 am onwards pressing for their demands. They raised slogans against PSPCL officials and allegedly manhandled a woman employee of the department.

In his complaint to Police Commissioner Ram Singh, Balbir Singh said they came to know about the dharna only through newspapers and they had forwarded the same to the Civil Lines police station requesting them to take adequate measures.

He alleged that no security arrangements were made by the police authorities concerned. He said the officials also tried to contact the Civil Lines police SHO on his mobile number but he did not attend the call.

He claimed that staging a protest was in direct violation of Section 144 of the CrPC imposed by the district administration.

He alleged that the agitators created hindrance in the working of the department besides manhandling them. They also tried to damage the government property, he added.

Police Commissioner Ram Singh expressed concern saying the issue was handled in a wrong way.

“Instead of submitting the complaint, the department should have sent its official with the complaint to me as I am in my office till evening. The SHO was not picking up the phone as he was busy at another place,” the Police Commissioner said.

“The official should have contacted to me on my phone or other senior police officials,” he added.

He said he would look into whenever he receives the complaint. 

Amritsar, June 24
Pehal Government Special School, the first school for children with special needs in the state, was inaugurated today at Government Senior Secondary School Saragarhi Town Hall at Mall Mandi.

It is the first-of-its-kind school in the state to cater to the needs of differently-abled children.

The school would cater to the needs of 150 children with physical and mental disabilities. While 90 of these students would be day-boarding students, residential facility would be created for other 60 students.

District Coordinator-cum-Secretary, Pehal School, Dharminder Singh said at present 72 students in the day-boarding category and 35 students in residential category have been enrolled.

An initiative of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, the school would also provide free pick-and-drop facility to all the students.

“A van has already been hired for the purpose,” said Dharminder Singh.

The school has six inclusive education resource teachers (IERT) and eight volunteers. A physiotherapist and a speech therapist are also available for the children.

A committee of the parents and teachers has been constituted to run the school as per the needs of the students.

Dharminder Singh said the main motive of the school is to prepare students for normal schooling. “We will go for a bridging course after which the students will join normal classes as per their capability and age,” he said.

He said 126 resource rooms for children with special needs are being run in various schools. “However, it was not possible and viable to provide high-end facilities that these children need at resource schools. The idea of the special school was conceptualised by Director General, School Education, Kahan Singh Pannu,” said Dharminder Singh.

The institution was inaugurated by Cabinet Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike who promised to give Rs 1 lakh to the school. Retired principal Anoop Singh donated Rs 10,000 to the school.

A cultural programme was presented by children attending the 10-day summer camp organised by the Education Department that concluded today.

Others present on the occasion included former MP Rajmohinder Singh Majithia and District Education Officer (Elementary) Satinderbir Singh and principal Balwinder Singh.

Amritsar, June 24
A spurt in theft cases in rural areas of the district is giving sleepless nights to the residents here of late.

Recently, unidentified thieves barged into a grocery shop and decamped with huge quantity of sugar, ghee and oil besides cash from the shop at the Ramdass bus stand.

A few days back, thieves entered the house of Rajinder Singh of Wadala Bhitewid village, broke open the almirah and took away gold jewellery worth Rs 4 lakh and Rs 80,000 cash.

On the same day, some persons snatched money from a couple of youths who were collecting money for putting up a chhabeel stall in Pandori Waraich.

Though one of the accused, Kuldeep Singh, was arrested, his accomplice managed to flee. Around eight similar cases have been reported in various parts of the rural belt this month so far.

On June 11, unidentified persons stole gold jewellery worth Rs 1.35 lakh from the residence of one Karnail Singh from Jaswal village falling under Gharinda police station. The accused entered through the window of the house.

A police official said thieves take advantage of the fact that the houses are usually located at a distance from each other in villages. Besides, insufficient street lights in rural areas also help the anti-social elements since they can escape away easily. Thieves take away whatever they lay their hands on.

Rupinderjit Kaur, a resident of Saidowal village, filed a complaint with the police that unidentified persons took away a cow and a buffalo.

Unidentified robbers decamped with 148 LPG cylinders, 51 empty LPG cylinders, TV, fridge and double beds from the godown of a gas agency owned by Palwinder Singh of Waraich Bhullar village.

A senior police official with Amritsar rural police said though such instances were being reported on regular basis, the police department had also arrested a number of thieves. The Chatiwind police recently nabbed seven robbers, he said. 

Amritsar, June 24
City-based actor Rohan Mehra, who is all set to make his Bollywood debut with upcoming film 16, was in the city here.

"I am very excited to be part of this industry. I always wanted to be an actor one day. My family supported me to realise this dream. It feels good to finally live the dream," said the Rohan. Interacting with mediapersons here, Rohan said, "It is a youth-oriented film where I play one of the main protagonists. There are six new faces working in the film, including me and I am working opposite Mehak Manwani, who is also making her debut," said Rohan.

Amritsar, june 24
With her latest release Shortcut Romeo that was premiered at the Cannes this year, Bollywood actress Ameesha Patel says she has hit a purple patch.

The petite actor, who had made a quite successful debut in Bollywood, was in the city as part of UTV Star’s latest show “Stars in Your City”, which brings famous stars from Bollywood to various cities to meet and connect with their fans.

She arrived here with lots of bhangra beats and fanfare.

“I purposely chose Amritsar as I have a deep connection with the city. I love the warm Punjabi culture, the food, the people and of course, the Golden Temple. My mother is a Sindhi and she used to take me to gurdwaras when I was young,” said the actor.

Her Gadar experience, she said, had connected her to the city forever.

“When I came here last time, Gadar was being made. We shot at the railway station where my fans braved the lathis of the police to see me. But this time, I am here to experience Amritsar as a tourist, to know more about the city, its culture and heritage, connect with my fans,” she quipped.

Ameesha’s love for everything Punjabi is affirmed by the fact that she is playing a Punjabi character in her home production Desi Magic.

“She (her character) is completely a Punjabi girl, in her attitude. I play double role in the film and it will be shot mostly in Chandigarh, Amritsar, Patiala and various other cities in Punjab,” the actress informs.

Ameesha’s maiden Cannes experience too came with her recent release Shortcut Romeo that was featured in the non-competition category.

“Walking the Red Carpet at the Cannes was amazing with all the attention and appreciation Bollywood films get there. I had been there as a tourist but being there for a purpose or represent the industry among global audience was like opening your mind to a whole new experience,” she said.

Ameesha is a big fan of Punjabi films. “I recently watched Jatt and Juliet and really enjoyed it. Just as Bollywood directors remake South Indian films, I think good Punjabi films should also be remade in Hindi.”

But at the end of the day, it’s her fans who make her day. “It is a big thing to have people admiring your work, appreciate everything you do and follow you. I think for a star, a simple gesture from a fan is very important,” said the actor.

UTV's new show Stars in Your City brings a new concept of stars connecting with their fans on a personal level while visiting them and not vice versa. Ameesha Patel selected Amritsar city to connect with the chosen six fans from the city. The lucky ones — Harshdeep Singh, Yatin Gupta, Siddharth Arora, Mehak and Simran — met the actor.

Walking the Red Carpet at the Cannes was amazing with all the attention and appreciation Bollywood films get there. I had been there as a tourist but being there for a purpose or represent the industry among global audience was like opening your mind to a whole new experience
— ameesha patel, actor

Amritsar, June 24
Sri Guru Angad Dev Institute of Competitions in Khadur Sahib today organised a career counselling seminar for medical students. Harpreet Kaur and Rubleen Kaur, who recently passed the MBBS entrance examination, interacted with local students studying in pre-medical classes.

They shared the secret of their success with students and motivated them to achieve success in the field of medical science. Gursharanjit Singh Mann, director, said, "Such types of seminars in which successful students are invited to interact with the students prove more beneficial and inspirational for aspirants of competitive examinations. Students must be committed and sincere in their study if they want to achieve and do something different." Pankaj Kumar, coordinator, announced that he would sponsor those students of the institute who would rank among the 300 toppers in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) entrance exam will be honoured with a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.

Baba Baldev Singh, senior representative of Kaar Sewa Khadur Sahib, honoured the invitee students and their parents with siropa.