Amritsar, February 10
A jewellery shop in Nawan Pind village, falling under Jandiala Guru, was looted by three armed robbers late last evening. They entered the shop by posing as customers.

The robbers decamped with jewellery worth Rs 6 lakh and Rs 40,000 cash after locking owner of the shop Dilbir Singh in a room. The incident came to light when the neighbouring shopkeepers opened the room and got him free after hearing his shouts.

The Tarsikka police in the Amritsar (Rural) police district have launched a hunt to nab the robbers and registered a case under Section 371 of the IPC.

Dalbir Singh, owner of Arsh Jewellers, revealed that he was sitting in the neighbouring shop when the three robbers arrived and called him. They said they wanted to purchase jewellery and asked him to show the same. Meanwhile, one of the robbers took out a pistol and threatened to kill him if he raised any alarm. The robbers locked him in a cabin in the shop.

He told the police that the robbers decamped with jewellery worth over Rs 6 lakh and Rs 40,000 cash lying in the shop.

SPS Parmar, SSP, Amritsar (Rural) police, said the police was suspecting the allegations of the jeweller as a number of questions remained unanswered during the preliminary investigations. “Although we have registered a case, but further investigations are under progress,” he said.

Amritsar, February 10
While the Golden Temple is visited by thousands of pilgrims every day, there is hardly any footpath for the pedestrians on the way to the shrine as it is non-existent on a stretch, while in the remaining part it has been encroached upon by shopkeepers.

The visitors have to fend for space to rest their feet on the ground to reach the temple amidst goods displayed on the footpaths. On way to the Golden Temple from the Hall Gate, shopkeepers display their goods up to the middle of the footpaths, which causes a hindrance for the pedestrians. At some places the entire footpath is blocked by these goods.

Some have even placed tables and small folding beds on the path to keep their products, which range from clothes to electronic appliances. The commotion on foot is made more cumbersome by the vehicles parked on the roadsides.

The visitors are seen finding their way amidst the rush of vehicles on the roads.

Nirankar Singh, a visitor from Uttar Pradesh, said, “When you are walking on the road, you always have a fear that some vehicle would hit you from behind. I had to remain extra alert to save myself from these vehicles.” He said the footpaths on the way to the temple should be clear so that visitors did not find any trouble in walking on them.

After one crosses the Saragarhi parking, the encroachments on the footpaths increase. As shopkeepers have acquired control on the footpaths, people have to walk on the road, which causes a hindrance in the smooth flow of vehicular traffic.

Sanjeev Khanna, a visitor from New Delhi, said, “The vehicles have to move at a snail’s pace as the people walk in the middle of road.” He said footpaths should be cleared for the walkers so as to reduce traffic jams in the area.

Even quacks and small-time vendors have set up their shops on the footpaths. The illegal businesses as quackery are being operated just a few meters away from the police check post near Dharam Singh Market. The rhehris and food vendors are also sharing the space with the others, thus increasing inconvenience for the walkers.

Sanveer Singh, local resident, said, “The encroachments on footpaths are a bad thing. We would have to become more conscious about the needs of the tourists.” He said thousands of people visit the Golden Temple and other holy shrines everyday and all might be going back with the same impression that people here are not law-abiding citizens, who encroach upon public properties.

Amritsar, February 10
The 166th martyrdom day of Sikh General Sham Singh Attariwala, a contemporary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was observed at the India Gate here today. The veteran leader, Attariwala, had sacrificed his life on February 10, 1846, at the age of 61 in the Battle of Sabraon during the first Anglo-Sikh war.

The dhadis sang vaars (songs of heroism) regarding Attariwala’s unmatched valour and respect among the Sikh soldiers. Schoolchildren presented songs and choreographies in the memory of the great martyr.

Later a sports tournament was held at his native village Attari.

Colonel Harinder Singh Attariwala, general secretary, Sham Singh Attariwala Trust, said General Attariwala would be always remembered in the Sikh and national history for his courage and selfless sacrifice.

Harinder Singh said though the government had announced to hold a state-level function every year in the memory of Attariwala on February 10, but no notification in this regard had been issued yet.

He said even the cleanliness and upkeep of the edifice erected in the memory of the martyr had been neglected. The trust demanded that the name of the railway station at Attari should be restored to its original name, “Attari Sham Singh”. The trust also demanded that the road from Amritsar to Attari be named after the martyr’s name.

Colonel Harinder said, “The need is to make the younger generation aware of the courage and selfless sacrifices of our martyrs.” He said the Chief Minister had also been sent a memorandum regarding these demands.

Jawans of the Punjab Police paid tributes to the martyr by reversing their arms. Amritsar (West) ACP Kuldeep Singh Chahal was the chief guest at the function. Colonel Harinder Singh thanked the district administration for extending help in organising the function.

Amritsar, February 10
After almost 21 years, the general house of the Amritsar Bar Association unanimously resolved to scrap a clause in its constitution which debarred advocates from seeking re-election to the executive body for a third consecutive term.

The decision has cleared the way for the third-time election of existing Bar association president Pradeep Kumar Saini to the executive body. He has been the association’s president for the past two consecutive terms and is aspiring to seek re-election for the third consecutive term.

In the general house meeting of the association held today, the Sub Clause 10 of Rule 7 of the Election Rules, which debarred the re-election for third consecutive term, was deleted from the constitution of Amritsar Bar Association.

Saini said the clause was added in the constitution during 1991. While unanimously taking the decision, the general body observed that members should be allowed to seek re-election till the time they enjoyed the support of the legal fraternity.

Earlier, however, a member could seek re-election after a gap of one term following two consecutive terms in the office. The election to the Bar association would be help on April 4.

Amritsar, February 10
A nine-year-old girl, Diya, had a miraculous escape when a pillar of a building being demolished by the owner in the Vijay Nagar area on the Batala road fell on her.

She was injured in the incident and rushed to a private hospital. The doctors attending on her said she sustained two fractures in her right leg.

The mother of the victim said the incident took place when Diya was returning home from school. The building was located just about 200 yards from her residence. Family members said the owner or the contractor who was getting the structure demolished should have warned the people passing from the area.

Amritsar, February 10
The BBK DAV College of Women organised sports day today, during which competitions in various sports were held. Dr Kanwaljit Kaur, Director, Sports, GNDH, was the chief guest.