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Sukhbir reiterates resolve to develop city
Air passengers anticipate fare hike
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No end to fleecing of gullible by tantriks, babas in city
Do not treat rapists sympathetically on grounds of age, say residents
3 hurt as bus operators clash
Pharmacist’s murder: Two of 8 accused held
Students exhorted to join defence services
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Sukhbir reiterates resolve to develop city
Amritsar, September 3 He said the city would be witnessing an expenditure of a whopping Rs 1,500 crore in the next one and a half years so as to turn it into a modern city, with the residents having access to all basic amenities. He said they were keen on providing the best infrastructure, including roads and flyovers, to the city. He said they are also working on the plan to prolong the stay of tourists in the holy city by developing more tourist spots to attract them. He said the SAD-BJP government would change the face of Amritsar over the next couple of years. Later, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar congratulated Sukhbir on his re-election as the party president and felicitated him by presenting a sword and a "siropa". In his message, Makkar said the SAD had scored impressive wins under Sukhbir's leadership in the Assembly polls, SGPC and DSGMC elections. He said the state had also witnessed all-round development under his leadership. Chief Khalsa Diwan president Charanjit Singh Chadha also extended congratulations to the Deputy CM, while stating that he had proved his mettle by pushing his opponents to the corner in the Punjab Assembly elections and later in the DSGMC polls. He expressed hope that the SAD would succeed in the coming Lok Sabha elections under his leadership. Meanwhile, the commuters had a tough time moving around the Golden Temple with the diversions in place to facilitate the VVIP movement in view of the delegates' session of the Akali Dal at the SGPC headquarters. Though those riding the two-wheelers could still find a way out in the narrow streets, the ones driving the four-wheelers bore the brunt of it the most.
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Air passengers anticipate fare hike
A resident of Rani Ka Bagh, Charanjit Singh, said travel would cost more after the steep rise in the ATF. He said since his children were settled in Canada, they travelled abroad at least once a year and in case of a family exigency, they had to travel more than once. He said since it was an all-time single hike in the ATF prices, it was natural to expect a jump in the air fares. He added that any rise in the fare cost of the airlines would prick his budget, as he came from a working family and was a
retired person with both his son and daughter settled overseas. Travel agent Gunbir Singh said the ATF was the single largest component of an airline's operating cost and any increase in its prices had a cascading effect. He expected that the announcement of fare prices of airlines would come out shortly. He anticipated that the fare hike would be much more than the ATF increase. He reasoned that the airlines experiencing below par season in the summer break had reduced the fares to attract passengers. He added that the fare was also reduced for off-season, which falls after post-summer holidays when the demand goes down and it revives in winter. Anticipating jacking up of air fares by around 30 per cent, Gunbir said the next peak season falls between October till mid January, which coincides with the festive season and winter breaks. His piece of advice for air travellers was to book early to escape high fares in that period and stressed that advance domestic fares were very reasonable. He said the airlines these days wished to generate the much-needed cash and to fill planes at the earliest.
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No end to fleecing of gullible by tantriks, babas in city
Amritsar, September 3 Often these advertisements are able to trap innocent people who fall prey to the tactics deployed by these babas. Apart from offering solutions to physical ailments, they also claim to solve psychological and personal issues of the gullible persons. The administration is required to keep a look on such offenders and book them under the provisions of law so that residents can be saved from falling prey to their fraudulent ways. “A lot many people are fleeced by these people. Many offices of these people can be spotted in the vicinity of the local bus stand. The administration needs to crack down on them,” said Harvinder Singh, a local resident. A local resident, who fell prey to one of these babas, said, “When one is in distress, he tries every door that comes his way. Often these tantriks claim to offer immediate from all the problems a man could suffer on this earth. Even educated people fall for them.” He said he had gone to the baba for curing fits of his young daughter. Meanwhile, District Family Welfare Officer Dr Ranjit Singh Buttar said people duped by these quacks should file complaints with the authorities so that action could be taken against them.
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Do not treat rapists sympathetically on grounds of age, say residents
Amritsar, September 3 Even though the city, too, has witnessed an increase in the involvement of teenagers in illegal activities, especially chain snatching, there is a need to impose harsher laws for minor criminals. The residents feel that at least juvenile rapists should not be treated leniently. “We have seen in the two recent gang-rape instances that one of the accused in each case was claimed to be a minor. At least we should not treat rapists sympathetically on the grounds of age,” said Samriti Sharma, a private school teacher. She said apart from the Delhi and Mumbai gang-rapes, juveniles’ involvement in heinous crimes has also been reported in many other cases. Residents said the society had changed so much that there was a need to change laws too. Charanjit Kaur, a health department employee, said, “There is no fault in considering a case sympathetically if a minor indulges in stealing or in a brawl. But for crimes as murder and rape, there should be no sympathy.” She said considering the lawlessness in the country, it was also possible that organised gangs employed minors to commit crimes, as they knew that they would not get a harsh punishment. Balkar Singh, a retired school principal, said, “Children get involved in illegal activities at a young age these days. A number of factors are responsible for this, but still the fear of harsh punishments can keep them on the right track.” He said though harsh punishments are required, the practice to keep them away from mature criminals should continue. The residents expressed that it was high time for the government to amend laws.
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City residents jumping onto green bandwagon
Amritsar, September 3 Especially, some commercial buildings that are utilising natural energy resources for energy consumption. Like a heritage wellness spa haveli and a popular tourist attraction in the city that has been running an efficient water-harvesting plant on its premises. Another such attempt is at a premium hotel in Ranjit Avenue. Not just limiting their bit to planting saplings and banning polythene products, the hotel chain has installed a huge solar energy equipment on its building that takes care of over 30 per cent of their total energy consumption. The hospitality chain has adopted some energy efficient measures to show their solidarity towards the environment. "We have been running on solar power for over a year now and have LED and CFL lights installed all over to keep it halogen-free. Our water disposal system works on a water-saving technique and the washrooms and toilets, too, have specifically designed taps to save water wastage. We are planning to adopt more such energy efficient ideas in future to significantly reduce our dependence on non-renewable sources of energy," said Rahul Rohit, general manager of the hotel. Prabhakar School and DAV Public School, too, have adopted energy efficient methods to save environment. With concepts of vermiposts and water harvesting, these institutions are training a generation of eco-friendly residents. "Water harvesting has been made mandatory by the city authorities and its anyway an efficient method to store natural water and reuse it. These are some very simple yet strong steps towards an ecologically responsible society," said Dipak Babbar, a volunteer from the Mission Aghaaz that works in tandem with these schools for more energy efficient concepts. Individual efforts, too, are being appreciated like the Punjab Natshala which has a water-harvesting plant as well as composting as one of its highlights. Its building, with its mud-hut like design and natural building materials like hay fibre, gives out perfect eco-friendly vibes while maintaining a natural charm. Gaining popularity
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3 hurt as bus operators clash
Amritsar, September 3 The injured were identified as Kanwaljit Singh, Jagjit Singh and Chananpreet Singh. They were rushed to a government hospital in Lopoke, from where they were referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here. As per details, two mini-bus operators first entered in an altercation near Kohali village. Later, they clashed at Chogwan to settle their scores. Sher Singh, member of a group, alleged that their bus was going from Amritsar to Chogwan when another group of a bus operator hurled abuses at them when they objected to their stoppage beyond the stipulated period at the Kohali village bus stand. He alleged that when they reached Chogwan, the opposite group came from behind and attacked them with gunshots and sharp-edged weapons. However, Narinder Singh of the second group alleged that it was Sher Singh and his associates who attacked them. While contending that his men did not have any firearms, he said Sher Singh and others injured Chananpreet with sharp-edged weapons. Surjit Singh, SHO, Lopoke police station, said both groups had been called and appropriate action would be taken in the case after preliminary probe.
— TNS
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Pharmacist’s murder: Two of 8 accused held
Amritsar, September 3 Earlier, the police rounded up several persons in this connection. The deceased, Manpinder Singh, was shot dead when several persons armed with pistols and other weapons attacked him and his relatives at Bhitewad village falling in the jurisdiction of the Rajasansi police station in Amritsar. The police had launched a manhunt for the arrest of the accused who have been on the run since the incident. Sukhdev Singh, officiating SHO, Rajasansi police station, said the police had arrested Jagir Singh and his brother Surjit Singh. The other accused - Jagir’s son Honey, Baljinder Kaur, Major Singh, Kala and Jagdeep Singh, all residents of the same village, were still absconding, he added. He said the police parties had been conducting raids at the suspected hideouts of the accused who were still at large. Manpinder was shot dead while three of his relatives - Taranbir Singh, Swarn Singh and Suba Singh - were injured at Bhitewad after several inhabitants of the area attacked them. The police has registered a case under Sections 302, 307, 324, 323, 148 and 149 of the IPC against the eight persons. The accused used to steal dry fruits from trucks being imported from Pakistan and later sell them in the market. Some unidentified person informed the police about the same. The accused suspected that it was Suba Singh who had informed the police about the same. In the intervening night of August 27-28 when the victims were standing outside their residence, the accused attacked them and fired several shots at them. One of the gunshots pierced the chest of Manpinder who died on the spot while the others sustained serious injuries.
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Students exhorted to join defence services
Amritsar, September 3 As many as 900 students of the university, local colleges and students of Class XII participated in the event. Prof AS Brar, Vice-Chancellor, presided over the seminar while Maj-Gen RS Yadav, VSM, General Officer Commanding, 15 Infantry Division, delivered the special lecture
to motivate the students to join Indian Defence Services. Prof MS Hundal, Dean, Academic Affairs, Prof PK Shejpal, Dean, Students Welfare and Prof Hardeep Singh, in charge, Placements, along with a team of officers of the Panther Division were among those present. Major-General Yadav while speaking on the occasion said the aim of the seminar was to holistically address all facets with regard to various entry schemes of joining the armed forces for Class XII, graduate and postgraduate-level students. He said Punjab was a land of warriors and they wish that more and more young men and women join the army. Yadav added that the defence services give you team spirit, pride in yourself, job satisfaction, social status, job security, global exposure and adventure and above all a healthy lifestyle. The lecture was followed by a display of state-of-the-art sophisticated weapons available with the Indian Army.
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Three-day KVS sports meet begins
Amritsar, September 3 About 450 players and 25 escorts from 25 KVs are taking part in events like judo, boxing, swimming, diving, archery, tae kwon do and cricket (Under-16). Participating students held a march past on the occasion. The students of the host school presented a cultural programme. AS Gill, Assistant Commissioner, KVS, Jammu region, was the chief guest. In his address, he motivated students to value games as they instill the feelings of hard work and discipline, which pave the way to achieve success in life. Principal of the host school Kusam Malhotra welcomed the chief guest and the players. She exhorted the students to develop a sense of spirit for sports. Manish Tuli Principal, KV, Hira Nagar, will remain the observer at the meet.
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FROM SCHOOLS
Amritsar, September 3 Students bring laurels
Six Students of DAV Public School brought laurels in the 10th Yoga National Championship concluded in Orissa on August 29. Mehak Aggarwal of Class VII and Ananaya Kapoor of Class VI of the school won the first position in artistic pair yoga. Isha Choudhary and Ridhima Mehra of Class IX won the third position in artistic pair yoga. Akshay Sharma of Class XI won the third position in artistic yoga in the under 15 age group. Isha Choudhary of Class IX won the first position (team) in the Hulla Hoop competition. All these students have been selected for the International Yoga Championship to be held in Thailand in November. Regional Director DAV Schools, Amritsar Zone, and Principal, BBK DAV College for Women, Amritsar, Neelam Kamra and manager of the school Dr KN Kaul congratulated the winners.
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Amritsar, September 3