Usmeet Kaur is a staff correspondent in Amritsar. She covers district administration, education and civic issues, besides writing for HT City.
Articles by Usmeet Kaur
Recalling the Jallianwala Bagh massacre: Hundreds pay tribute in Amritsar
Recalling the blooded that took place in Amritsar on the Baisakhi of April 13, 1919 — when thousands of unarmed men , women and children were killed by the British army on the orders of General Dyer — thousands from across the country turned up at the site of the massacre, Jallianwala Bagh, on Thursday to pay their respects.
Updated on Apr 13, 2017 03:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Tallest Tricolour at Attari near Pak border to be off pole for now
The 360-foot Tricolour will not be hoisted till Punjab home department provides a solution to the repeated hitch of the flag tearing off due to wind.
Updated on Apr 09, 2017 01:25 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Amid Khalsa University row, V-C resigns
Although Chahal, who was the first V-C of the newly established university, cited “family reasons” for taking this decision, sources said he was also disturbed due to the ongoing row between the new Congress government and the varsity management.
Updated on Apr 08, 2017 08:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur
Unfazed Khalsa varsity says it will go ahead with admissions
Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh had on Monday said his government will scrap the private varsity status to the Khalsa university by repealing the 2016 Act passed by the assembly when the SAD-BJP government was in power.
Updated on Apr 05, 2017 09:10 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Will scrap Khalsa varsity legislation, says Punjab CM Amarinder
In February last year when Captain Amarinder Singh had stormed the campus of the Khalsa College in Amritsar, he had promised to scrap any law that tinkered with the heritage status of the 125-year-old institution. On returning to power in Punjab, Amarinder as chief minister has decided to do what he promised. The September-2016 legislation — making the Khalsa College a private university —passed by the Punjab assembly when the SAD-BJP government was in power will be scrapped.
Updated on Apr 04, 2017 08:34 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Cost of patriotism: After wind, scam charges hit tallest Tricolour in country at Attari border
Alleging a scam into the high cost of the highest Tricolour (360 ft) in the country installed at the Attari border, outgoing chairman of Amritsar improvement trust (AIT) Suresh Mahajan has sent a communiqué to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought a CBI inquiry into the matter.
Updated on Mar 30, 2017 11:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Jallianwala Bagh’s poor upkeep a blot on historical sacrifices it beholds
Jallianwala Bagh, the historical place that played a pivotal role in giving a fillip to India’s freedom struggle after the British forces fired indiscriminately on Indians on April 13, 1919, is today a perfect example of history being neglected.
Updated on Apr 13, 2017 03:43 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
India’s tallest tricolour at Wagah border to be replaced for fourth time
The Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT), which is responsible for the upkeep of the tricolour has replaced both the flags numerous times bearing huge expenses.
Published on Mar 29, 2017 12:14 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur
31 new BRTS buses biting the dust in Amritsar, only 20 plying on roads
A fleet of 31 new buses are biting the dust in the city bus stand as former deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal’s ambitious Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) continues to run with just 20 buses on the road.
Updated on Mar 18, 2017 03:11 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Stark reality: Number of abandoned girl infants goes up in Amritsar
As the world celebrates womanhood and female existence on March 8 on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the dark reality of the Pangoora (government’s cradle) in Amritsar comes to fore where the number of abandoned girl children keeps soaring.
Updated on Mar 08, 2017 04:05 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
International Women’s Day: Status of women where girls are still abandoned
As the world celebrates womanhood and female existence on March 8 on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the dark reality of the Pangoora (government’s cradle) in Amritsar comes to fore where the number of abandoned girl children keeps soaring.
Updated on Mar 07, 2017 07:04 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Usmeet Kaur
Safety concern: Pakistan sends back Hindu pilgrims early
Around 237 pilgrims had gone to Pakistan on February 22 to visit various Hindu shrines, including the historical Katasraj temple in Chakwal district, and were scheduled to return on February 28.
Updated on Feb 27, 2017 11:25 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur
Amritsar-based students’ group to step up efforts for release of Nanak from Pak jail
As per information, Nanak is now close to 40, and is lodged in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail, where he is known as Kakar Singh.
Updated on Feb 27, 2017 10:48 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
IAS or not, there is success in other exams, says GNDU centre head
The All India Services Pre-Examination Centre, also the Centre of Preparation for Competitive Exams, at Amritsar’s Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) receives around 200 applications, of which 75 are admitted. usually, only around 60 remain, from Amritsar and other cities.
Updated on Feb 27, 2017 02:07 PM IST
Amritsar, Hindustan Times | Usmeet Kaur
Checking the checkers: Cameras on Amritsar cops’ uniform soon
To make the traffic police more accountable on duty, the Amritsar Police have decided to introduce body cameras that would be worn by every cop in their uniforms.
Updated on Feb 24, 2017 04:03 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Revisiting projects: Bricks of Gobindgarh Fort start pouring out history
Gobindgarh Fort, which was inaugurated on December 12 by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, has finally started to be on the path of being converted into the region’s first virtual reality theme park. This fort, which was an abandoned site for years, has now witnessed life with tourists pouring in, and history and culture coming alive with the help of new technology.
Updated on Feb 19, 2017 02:49 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Four months on, only six out of nine galleries open at war memorial in Amritsar
Some ray of hope has emerged for the partially completed Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum (PSWHMM) as tourists now have access to six out of nine galleries here. However, out of these six, only five are fully operational while others are in process.
Updated on Feb 17, 2017 07:00 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Rising above odds: Pingalwara’s special children dash into Special Olympics
Making the city proud, three special children from Pingalwara (Amritsar) qualified for the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017, to be held in Austria.
Updated on Feb 16, 2017 03:07 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Badals’ much-hyped BRTS project in Amritsar still waiting for buses
Bus Rapid Transit System, inaugurated among many other incomplete projects by chief minister (CM) Parkash Singh Badal and deputy chief minister (CM) Sukhbir Singh Badal as they were on an inauguration spree prior to assembly polls in state, still awaits its number of promised buses to ply on city roads.
Updated on Feb 08, 2017 04:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Navjot Singh Sidhu gives rest to his vocal cords after election campaigning
Congress candidate from Amritsar East Navjot Singh Sidhu was in a flurry of meetings and rallies as part of the election campaigns since past two weeks for the party. However, as the deal was sealed with the polling on Saturday, the cricketer-turned-politician chose to stay indoors throughout the day on Sunday.
Updated on Feb 06, 2017 05:09 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Writer-poet Gulzar unfolds heartrending chapters of Partition
The writer, while mapping memories of Partition, unfolded a few of his literary creations along with poet Sukrita Paul Kumar at‘Guftagu with Gulzar’ on Sunday.
Updated on Feb 05, 2017 06:23 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Usmeet Kaur
Candidate with a difference: Daily wage earner jumps into poll arena for fifth time in Amritsar
“Mere paas haarne ko kuch nahi hai, tabhi darr bhi nahi hai” (I have nothing to lose hence I am not scared), says an independent candidate contesting the polls from Amritsar constituency. What separates him from other candidates is the fact that he is a daily wager who has sacrificed his job to stand independently for the fifth time in separate elections.
Updated on Jan 19, 2017 03:53 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Amritsar | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Hi-Tech Illumination to replace traditional lighting at the Golden Temple
In the year 2016 where there has been major facelift on the approach to Golden temple and the plaza now in 2017 there would be installed Hi-tech lighting systems at the shrine which will replace the traditional lights for illuminating the Golden Temple complex during night hours.
Updated on Jan 02, 2017 05:53 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
50th day of DeMo: People mock ‘Achhe din’; PM still in firing line of public, Opposition
On the 50th day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the scrapping of the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, he continues to be in the firing line of the public and also the Opposition on Friday.
Updated on Dec 31, 2016 02:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Amritsar emerges as a hotspot destination for tourists in 2016
As the year 2016 goes into the sunset, the city of Amritsar is savouring the new major heritage and tourism projects and overall infrastructure boom which has made the holy city a hotspot for tourists.
Updated on Dec 29, 2016 05:18 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
BRTS faces public craze, traffic hiccups on first day in Amritsar
The Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), inaugurated by Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday, faced traffic hiccups on Friday. The metro bus drivers and the project team had a hard time organising a smooth flow of the project.
Updated on Dec 17, 2016 04:24 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Right-wing protesters harass Pak exhibitors at Amritsar trade expo, and police watch
Sapna Kavita Oberoi, a Hindu exhibitor from Pakistan, said that being a Saarc visa-holder she visits India “20 times a year” and she feels at home here. “I once read somewhere that you cannot change your neighbours. We should learn to live with harmony and peace.”
Updated on Dec 11, 2016 09:30 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Amritsar proud to host 2-day ‘Heart of Asia’ event but city choked due to traffic restrictions
It is a matter of pride for the city to host the two-day Heart of Asia ministerial conference which commenced on Saturday, but the barricading of roads and traffic restrictions caused great inconvenience to the residents.
Updated on Dec 04, 2016 04:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Hope floats as parents of jailed Indian seek audience with Sartaj Aziz
An elderly couple, whose son is lodged in a Pakistani prison despite completing his jail term, is seeking “justice” from Pakistan’s visiting foreign policy adviser to get him released.
Updated on Dec 03, 2016 07:45 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar
Political banners, posters continue to deface Amritsar
In the race of Political campaigning where political parties are busy defacing the city by putting political advertisements’, banners and posters on private and public buildings there Municipal corporation has failed to crack down illegal hoardings and a few unaccounted uniploes in the city .
Updated on Nov 27, 2016 08:42 PM IST
Usmeet Kaur, Amritsar