Amritsar, October 30
A local BJP leader entered into a brawl with an Assistant Sub-Inspector of the traffic wing after the latter stopped his supporter to check the documents of his vehicle. The ASI alleged that the BJP leader tore his uniform. On the other hand, the BJP leader accused the ASI of “misbehaviour”. Both have lodged a complaint with the Ram Bagh police in this regard. A senior police official said the matter was under investigation.

Narinder Singh, ASI, said he was deputed at the busy Mahan Singh Gate near the bus stand. While on duty, he signalled Parkash Chand to stop and checked his documents. He said Parkash Chand did not have insurance documents. He said Parkash Chand pleaded that he had the insurance papers at his home. He said he asked him to keep the registration certificate (RC) with the police and bring the insurance documents.

“A few minutes later he returned and said that he did not have any insurance and accordingly I issued a challan,” said Narinder, adding that after half an hour Money Bhatia, who claimed that he was a BJP leader and a close aide of Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi, came at the spot and started using abusive language.

Sukhminder Singh Pintoo, a BJP councillor, however, refuted the allegations of the ASI and said that Parkash Chand had all documents, including insurance papers with him. Parkash Chand was not even a party worker, he added. He said the police official issued the challan unnecessarily and harassed him. He said Money Bhatia was passing through the spot when he spotted the police official unnecessarily challaning Parkash Chand. He said Bhatia introduced himself and urged the ASI to leave Parkash Chand as he had all documents with him.

However, instead of feeling any remorse, the ASI misbehaved with Bhatia and took him to the police station, where he was beaten up, Pintoo, alleged. He demanded immediate suspension of the accused cop.

Gaurav Garg, ACP (East), who had reached the spot, said the police had received complaints of both the parties and investigations would be carried out into the matter. Appropriate action would be taken against whoever was at fault, he added. 

Amritsar, October 30
The annual Punjabi Film and Music Awards were held at Amritsar Engineering College (ACE), Manawala, late Thursday evening. The seventh edition of the popular film awards, presented by Sur Sanjh in association with the ACE, had the who’s who of Punjabi entertainment industry marking their attendance. Celebrating the glamour and talent of Punjabi entertainment industry, various popular artistes were honoured under different categories.

Popular honours for the evening included a Lifetime Achievement Award for Nirmal Rishi and Living Legend of Music award for singer Nirmal Sidhu. The prestigious Balraj Sahni honour went to actors Gavie Chahal and Sameeksha Singh, two of the young faces of Punjabi cinema. The best comedy actor and actor in a negative role went to Karamjit Anmol and Harpal Singh, respectively.

The evening was made entertaining by electric performances by singers Sherry Mann, who also received the Mann Punjab Da award, Pammi Bai, Ranjit Bawa, Karamjit Anmol and Rana Ranbir. Mahreen Kaleke and Dakksh Ajit Singh received the best debutante awards for the evening. Popular awards in the music industry went to Pammi Bai, Ravinder Grewal (Kuldip Manak Award), Rupinder Handa (Surinder Kaur award) and lyricist Raj Kakra. Dilkush Thind got the best music director award and Pammi Bai received the special Goonj Punjab Di award.

Special honours for the evening went to comedy actor Rana Ranbir and Japtej Singh and Ranjit Bawa and Jaspinder Cheema were presented with the Youth Icon award. The evening also saw special screening of acclaimed Punjabi short film “Kambdi Deori” by Navtej Sandhu, who was also the organiser of the event. The short film is the second from the film-maker after his successful debut short film, “Nooran”. 

Amritsar, October 30
A Jalandhar-based resident, Rajinder Kumar, a resident of Master Tara Singh Nagar, duped the owner of a local hotel and his manager of several thousands of rupees by impersonating as the Income Tax Commissioner.

Ravi Kumar, the manager of the hotel, lodged a complaint with the Civil Lines police in this connection where a case under Sections 419, 420, IPC, has been registered against Rajinder.

In his complaint, Ravi Kumar stated that on October 24, the owner of the hotel received a call from a person, who identified himself as Sanjiv Chawla, Income Tax Commissioner, and asked him to deposit fee of his daughter in his account in the State Bank of India branch, Ranjit Avenue. He said then he himself received the same demand from him and he deposit Rs 8,400 in his account. He said he again received a call demanding Rs 8,400, 8,700 and Rs 9,300. Repeated demands raised suspicion in his mind and he enquired about the account number in which the money was being deposited. The account number was in the name of the accused.

Nishan Singh, in charge Ranjit Avenue police post and investigating officer in the case, said they were probing into the allegations and police teams had been dispatched to arrest the culprit.

Amritsar, October 30
Even after 24 hours, the police is yet to make any breakthrough in the robbery case in which unidentified youths had snatched Rs 15.50 lakh from cashier of an authorised car dealer agency in broad daylight yesterday.

The incident occurred when he was going to deposit the cash in Karnatka Bank Limited on the busy Mall road here. The police, however, is scrutinising the CCTV footage from a camera in the shopping complex where the snatching took place.

Jatinder Singh Aulakh, Police Commissioner, said there was no significant breakthrough in the case so far. Police teams are on the job and hopefully they would find some clues.

Amritsar, October 30
Hundreds of families residing in New Amritsar locality, a residential scheme of the Amritsar Improvement Trust’s (AIT) established on 340-acre plot, are forced to lead an unhygienic life as it does not have a proper sewage disposal mechanism. Despite the fact that the scheme was established more 10 years ago, the Local Body Department is yet to give its nod to install a sewerage treatment plant (STP) in the locality.

A power generator pumps out sewage on an open patch of land at New Amritsar locality in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO:RK SONI

In the absence of proper disposal system, the sewage water is being pumped out in the open in the locality, posing a serious health hazard to its residents.

The AIT passed a resolution to set up the STP on January 19 last year, but it still awaits final approval from the government.

A resident of the locality, Vikram Goyal, said he had shifted here to escape the congested lanes, besides din and noise of the city in 2003. He said, “I got all the facilities of an approved locality in New Amritsar like open roads, green parks, but the absence of basic amenity like disposal of sewage is causing hardship and poses a threat to the health of all resident families.”

The disposal of sewage is possible only when officials of the trust operate generator-run engines to suck out waste from pipes. Normally, the sewage blocks pipes, which leads to dampness on walls of houses.

The occupants of many houses complained that moisture was deteriorating colour and quality of their walls. It prompted many of them to use tiles on walls to avoid recurrent expenditure on white washing and house repairs.

Another resident of the locality, Balwinder Singh, says foul odour emanating from the locality has become a daily feature. “Ailments caused by unhygienic condition are a source of trouble. Many residents complain of diseases caused by stagnant water.” He said he had constructed the house here to provide quality and a healthy surrounding to his family. However, the absence of sewage disposal system was causing a lot of inconvenience to them.

The trust handed over the 340-acre locality to the people at the fag-end of the 1990s. There are about 1,800 plots starting from 50 to 250 square yards in the locality. As many as 200 flats in high and low income categories have also come up in the area.

AIT chairman Sandeep Rishi said according to the blueprint of the New Amritsar scheme, the sewage disposal was routed to a chappar (pond) of Sultanwind village, situated across the GT road.

However, following objections from the residents of the village, the work was abandoned mid-way.

The chairman said the resolution to construct a sewage treatment plant (STP) at the locality was passed in January last year.

He said the response was awaited and the work would be entrusted to the Punjab Water and Sewerage Supply Board. One acre had been reserved for establishing the STP in the locality and the treated water would be utilised to water parks and the green belt of the locality, he added.

Rishi said he would direct the staff concerned to regularly fumigate and sprinkle pesticides in the area. 

Amritsar, October 30
A seminar regarding the role of a teacher in Swachh Bharat mission, started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was organised at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Mall Road, here today.

In his address, chief guest Dr Jaswinder Singh Dhillon, Principal of Khalsa College of Education, said, “Man cannot progress without good health. A human being needs to have good physical as well as mental health. He needs to protect himself from misdemeanours such as anger, lust, egotism and allurement. A teacher’s role in this regard is crucial and noble.”

He said, “We need to take care our natural resources like water and air, which are available to us in abundance till now, otherwise we will be obligated in future to use bottled water and wear masks in order to save ourselves.”

Before his address, Principal of host school Mandeep Kaur greeted the guests. She said good health was a priceless asset. “A person, who can keep himself physically and mentally healthy, can enjoy life in true sense. And the role of a teacher is highly imperative in this regard,” she added. She wished for the good health of all children.

She said teachers possessing wisdom for social welfare could contribute towards the development of better a community. She also applauded and honored teachers of the school for their dedication in the fields of academics and co-curricular activities.

Stage was managed by Ravinder Kaur Atwal and Jatinder Kaur during the function. Event organiser, Rashmi Bindra, thanked the guests for participating in the function. 

Amritsar, October 30
The Border Security Force (BSF) along with residents of the border township of Khalra, falling in Tarn Taran, launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, here today.

The campaign was launched by 163rd battalion of the BSF under the guidance of DIG (Amritsar sector) MF Farooqui. The programme was organised at Government Senior Secondary School for Boys, Khalra.

Speaking on the occasion, Farooqui said the drive was a part of the ongoing nationwide Swachh Bharat campaign launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Farooqui said, “Youth and children are future of our country. Therefore it is our primary duty to make them aware about the cleanliness and also motivate them to eradicate the scourge of rampant drug abuse in the region especially in the border areas.”

“Only clean environment can create a healthy country and it should be our endeavour to not only keep our houses clean, but also the nearby areas free from garbage,” he added. He said drug abuse was another curse in society. “While removing filth we should also try to end the menace of drug addiction, which has plagued our society,” said the DIG.

Earlier, doctors from Amandeep Hospital shared information about cleft lips surgery with the residents. They said the BSF and Amandeep Hospital would make arrangements for free transportation, food, treatment for the children suffering from cleft lips and their attendants. It was the duty of the people to keep their environment clean and green for a safe and healthy atmosphere, they added.

Later, a play “Shikhar dopahre raat” was staged to make the people aware about the ramifications of drug abuse. Sarpanches of various villages along with residents, teachers of schools and students pledged for eradicating drug addiction and contribute towards clean and green environment on the occasion. 

Amritsar, October 30
A local NGO has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apprise him about Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which has virtually been reduced to a symbolic exercise limited to advertisements and news headlines.

Activist of the NGO suggested some groundwork that was needed to be done at the government level.

Gurbhej Singh, general secretary of Mission Aagaaz, said infact the mission had the capability of changing the mindsets of tourists, who otherwise carried a negative impression about India regarding hygiene and cleanliness during their visit here.

“The PM’s directions to all government offices throughout the country for maintaining clean environment in their respective surroundings came as a ray of hope for the people. On his appeal, heads of various government departments and leaders came out in the streets to make news headlines whereas the ground realities are quite different and need immediate attention to make the campaign a success,” he said.

The Municipal Corporation of Amritsar was ill-equipped to keep the city clean. The MC should be provided with adequate infrastructure, equipment and manpower to execute the waste collection and disposal job round-the-clock, he added.

He said another proposal was to penalise the residents not adhering to the waste disposal rules without any discrimination. Gurbhej said NGOs had a vital role to play in the accomplishment of the drive. “We assure our full cooperation in this noble task by putting in all our efforts for inculcating a sense of responsibility among the residents and making them aware about their duty to keep the surroundings clean and green,” he added.

“We are always there to ensure proper execution of PM’s vision of Swachh Bharat in Amritsar. We also suggest that sweepers in proper uniform should be deployed in the city. Sensitisation workshops for workers should also be conducted at regular intervals,” the secretary said.

Amritsar, October 30
Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, lifted the overall championship trophy while APJ College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, and BBK DAV College for Women, Amritsar, remained runners-up during the Inter-Zonal Youth Festival, which concluded on Guru Nanak Dev University campus, here today.

The third place went to DAV College, Jalandhar. As many as 77 teams participated in 34 items of music, theater, dance, literary and fine arts during the festival. The winners of this festival will participate in North Zone Inter-University Youth Festival, which is scheduled to be held in Jammu.

Higher Education Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra was the chief guest at the valedictory function. Prof AS Brar, Vice-Chancellor of the GNDU, presided over the function. Dr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Registrar, Dr AS Sidhu, Dean, student’s welfare, were also present on the occasion.

While addressing the participants, Rakhra said students should imbibe the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev in their conduct. He also congratulated Prof Brar and his team for the all round achievements of the university. He also announced a grant of Rs 20 crore for the development of the university infrastructure.

He said in the era of science and technology, students were enjoying all modern facilities as compared to old timers. He exhorted them to focus on enhancing capabilities and confidence to achieve excellence through commitment, vision, determination and hard work.

Rakhra said parents and teachers should mould the minds of youth and create desire in their mind to also know about spiritual values and inner knowledge, along with education and cultural activities. He said students could achieve anything in their lives with strong determination and will.

Welcoming the chief guest, Prof Brar gave details of achievements of the university. He also thanked Rakhra for the grant and assured him that it would be spent judiciously.

Rakhra, Prof Brar, Dr Dhillon, Dr Sidhu and Dr Jagjit Kaur honoured winners with trophies. The chief guest was also presented with a memento. 

Amritsar, October 30
To promote and encourage young artists in the city and open competitive avenues for them, the Kausa Trust Amritsar gave away Kala Shree awards at KT Kala Art Gallery.

Artists who were honoured by KT Kala Art Gallery in Amritsar on Thursday. A Tribune Photograph

The awards, which are designed to support artists with recommendation and monetary help, are a part of Protsahan, a special art programme run by the gallery.

These awards were presented to those budding artists, who had achieved the first position in fine arts in their schools and colleges, respectively. A cash prize of Rs 1,000, a bag and Kala Shree certificate were given to 14 students. Chief guest, Dr Tarundeep, Deputy Commissioner (income tax), presented these awards. She assured her full support for the cause and emphasised on the need to encourage more creative activities for grooming future artists.

Those who received awards include Divya Verma, Manjot Kaur and Harpreet Kaur, all students of bachelor of fine arts; Avneet Kaur, Kirandeep Kaur, Manoj Kaumar, Mriga, Jashanpreet Kaur, all school students. They received awards for their exceptional talent shown in various art workshops and exhibitions.

Senior artists Baldev Gambhir, Neeta Mohindra, Bhupinder S Nanda, Gulshan Sadana were also present on the occasion. Various upcoming art programmes and workshops were also announced to provide more creative outlets for amateur artists.