24042024-LT-01.qxd 4/24/2024 1:06 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune ADOPT WATER-EFFICIENT PADDY THIS SEASON: PAU EXPERTS LARA DUTTA'S CANDID TAKE ON RANNEETI: BALAKOT Actress Lara Dutta is all set to redefine the narrative with her upcoming web series Ranneeti: Balakot & beyond.P4 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 36°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 32.8°C | MIN 20°C ACADEMY CHANGES RULES FOR OSCARS’ CEREMONY Receding water table remains major concern as experts recommend short and medium duration varieties. P2 FORECAST In a bid to bolster traditional movie theatres, the Academy has revised the eligibility criteria for films. P4 » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.56 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:45 AM » WEDNESDAY | 24 APRIL 2024 | LUDHIANA 25% of wheat crop sown on 2.45 Kin allege murder, meet SSP, lakh hectares harvested in dist seek thorough investigation DEATH OF MAN IN CANAL CAR MISHAP NEAR DORAHA Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 23 In the absence of favourable weather conditions, the harvesting of wheat still remains at a slow pace even over three weeks after the official procurement of the main Rabi crop had begun on April 1 and 10 days after Baisakhi, the festival of harvest, in Ludhiana. The delay in the wheat harvest could be gauged from the fact that 25 per cent of the total wheat sown over 2,45,200 hectares of area has been harvested in the state’s biggest and largest district till Tuesday. Agricultural experts have attributed the tardy harvesting to the recent rainfall and low temperatures continuing for the past several days, besides the inclement weather conditions still persisting in the region. However, the yield of wheat has gone up by almost 10 per cent this season as compared to the previous year, the official figures have revealed. From 4,591 kg per hectare in 2022-23, the wheat yield this season has touched 5,000 kg per hectare, which will lead to 12.26 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of crop production in the district this year. The harvesting of mustard, another Rabi crop, was, however, in full swing these days with 97 per cent of the crop sown over 2,600 hectares already harvested in the district till this Tuesday. The yield of mustard has also increased from 1,916 kg per hectare last season to 1,950 kg per hectare this year, which is expected to result in the production of 5 LMT of the crop in the district this season. On the procurement front, Two rob man of cash, motorcycle at gunpoint CROP Wheat Mustard Ludhiana, April 23 The Sadar Khanna police registered a case against two unidentified miscreants who looted cash and a motorcycle from a man near Manji Sahib gurdwara in Khanna on Sunday. The complainant, Akshay Kumar, of the Tibba road area told the police that on Sunday night, he was going to Khanna from Ludhiana on his motorcycle. When he reached near the Jain temple on the Barmalipur bridge, two motorcycleborne persons dressed as Nihangs stopped him on the way. Before he could ask them anything, they pointed a gun at him and took away his motorcycle and Rs 2,000 in cash. Later, he informed the Khanna police, following which they reached the scene, Akshay stated. Investigating officer in the case assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Pargat Singh said CCTV cameras were being checked to get any clue about the suspects and they would be arrested soon. AREA SOWN 2,45,200 2,600 AREA HARVESTED 61,077 2,517 %AGE 24.9 97 YIELD UP YEAR 2022-23 2023-24 2022-23 2023-24 CROP Wheat Wheat Mustard Mustard AREA 2,44,710 2,45,200 2,281 2,600 YIELD 4,591 5,000 1,916 1,950 PRODUCTION 1,123.4 1,226 4.4 5 ARRIVAL & PROCUREMENT YEAR 2023-24 2022-23 2023-24 DC Sakshi Sawhney reviews wheat procurement in Ludhiana. 1.89 lakh MT (LMT) of wheat had arrived at mandis (grain markets) across 13 market committees in the district till last evening. Of this as well, 11,666 MT of the stock was lying unsold due to higher moisture content in the mandis. This season’s wheat arrival was still less than 44 per cent of 4.31 LMT of the crop that had arrived at the mandis in the district during the corresponding period last year. Official figures compiled by the Agriculture Department, a copy of which is with The Tribune, showed that 61,077 hectares, which accounted for 24.9 per cent of the total 2,45,200 hectares of wheat crop, has been harvested in the district so far. The block-wise harvest figures revealed that 2,992 of the total 13,600 hectares of wheat has been harvested in Ludhiana block, 7,750 of 31,000 hectares in Mangat, 7,420 of 21,200 hectares in Pakhowal, 5,520 of 27,600 hectares in Jagraon, 6,644 of 30,200 hectares in Sidhwan Bet, 5,540 of 27,700 hectares in Sudhar, 5,550 of 18,500 hectares in Khanna, 5,075 of 20,300 hectares in Dehlon, 3,840 of 19,200 hectares in Doraha, 3,100 of 12,400 hectares in Samrala and 7,050 of the total 23,500 hectares of wheat crop sown in Machhiwara block has been harvested as yet. When it comes to procurement, Asia’s biggest grain market Khanna has received the maximum of 32,576 MT of wheat so far followed by 23,514 MT at Machhiwara and 19,615 MT at Raikot. Among other mandis, 14,265 MT of the crop has arrived at Doraha, 7,847 MT at Hathur, 7,670 MT at Kila Raipur, 19,562 MT at Jagraon, 7,782 MT at Ludhiana, 5,225 MT at Maloud, 18,162 MT at Mullanpur Dakha, 11,190 MT at Sahnewal, 14,776 MT at Samrala, and 7,123 MT of wheat has arrived at the grain markets under Sidhwan Bet market committee as yet. Of the total arrivals so far, government agencies have procured 1.48 LMT while pri- CROP Wheat Wheat Mustard ARRIVAL 1,89,307 4,31,042 5,927 PROCUREMENT 1,77,641 4,11,638 5,927 UNSOLD 11,666 19,405 NIL (Source: Agriculture Dept, area in hectares, yield in kg per hectare, production in LMT, wheat arrival, procurement, unsold in MT, mustard in quintals, figures till April 23) vate ones have purchased 29,195 MT of wheat, which together was 94 per cent of the total 1,89,307 MT arrivals, leaving 11,666 MT, which accounted for 6 per cent of the total stocks, unsold. While 42,105 MT of the procured wheat, which accounted for less than 24 per cent of the total purchased stock, has been lifted from the mandis, the rest 1,35,536 MT of the purchased grains, which accounted for over 76 per cent of the total purchased wheat, were still lying in the markets. However, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney, who has been reviewing the wheat procurement by visiting mandis on a daily basis, told The Tribune, here on Tuesday that the procured grains were supposed to be lifted within 72 hours of the purchase and in that time frame, almost 167 per cent of the wheat has already been lifted from the markets. “Though the lifting process is well in place, we are further expediting it to avert any glut-like situation in the mandis as the progressive arrival will increase exponentially this week,” Sakshi added. The maximum price that the procured wheat has fetched was Rs 2,285 per quintal while Rs 2,275 per quintal has so far remained the minimum sale price in the district. On the mustard front, 2,517 of the total 2,600 hectares of the crop has been harvested in the district so far. The block-wise mustard harvest figures revealed that 172 of 175 hectares crop has already been harvested in Ludhiana block, 266 of 280 hectares in Mangat, 144 of 150 hectares in Pakhowal, 196 of 200 hectares in Jagraon, 361 of 380 hectares in Sidhwan Bet, entire 330 hectares in Sudhar, total 203 hectares in Khanna, all 204 hectares in Dehlon, 160 of 178 hectares in Doraha, 147 of 150 hectares in Samrala, and 333 of the total 350 hectares of mustard crop has been harvested in Machhiwara block so far. continued on page 2 Ludhiana, April 23 After the mysterious death of a wealth management company owner, Namit Sharma, a resident of D-Block Model Town, here, whose car fell into a canal near Doraha on April 5, deceased’s brother Sumit Sharma while questioning the initial police investigation and alleging a murder conspiracy demanded registration of a murder case against unidentified person(s). Since the police had initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC in the incident suspecting it to be a case of suicide or an accident, the victim’s brother recently met Khanna SSP Amneet Kondal and demanded a thorough probe into the mystery behind Namit’s death. The SSP had assured the deceased’s kin that the police would explore every angle in the case to answer all points or queries raised by the family and whatever comes out in probe, action will be taken as per law. Sumit said on April 5, his brother left the house for his company’s office dealing in wealth management in his Honda City car (bearing registration no PB10GJ6577). After attending last call of his client at 1.39 pm, his phone was switched off. “Around 5.36 pm, an eyewitness, Jagroop Singh, called on my number and said Namit’s car was lying in a canal at Rampur village, near the Katana Sahib gurdwara. Namit was drowning in water and crying for help. He, along with others, managed to take him out but he succumbed. Afterwards, we rushed to the place,” he said. Sumit said they had urged the Doraha police then to reg- The deceased's car being pulled out from the canal near Doraha. FILE SSP KONDAL ASSURES ACTION SSP Amneet Kondal had assured deceased’s kin that the police will explore every angle in the case to answer all points or queries raised by the family and whatever comes out in probe, action will be taken as per law. ister a case of murder against unidentified person(s) but the police termed it a suicide case and initiated inquest proceedings accordingly. The deceased’s brother while categorically denying the suicide angle behind the victim’s death said when the car was taken out from the canal, its handbrake was on and it’s gear was also in a neutral position. How a persons committing suicide would keep the car’s gear in a neutral position and would also apply handbrakes and the same logic goes even if it’s an accident, he said. Even rear windshield of the car was also broken and if his brother had smashed the glass to save himself from drowning, his hands might had some injuries but there wasn’t any. Namit’s forehead had injury marks and foam oozed out from his nose and these facts need thorough investigation, he asserted. “I think my brother was kidnapped and then he was killed. Even in the CCTV footage we collected at our level shows that some unidentified person wearing full sleeves was driving the car while my brother was wearing half sleeves on the unfortunate day. Other facts which raise suspicion of kidnapping and murder are that my brother and the vehicle got drowned at an isolated place in the canal which was rarely visited by anybody. I urge the police to find the truth behind his death,” he said. Meanwhile, Payal DSP Nikhil Garg told The Tribune here on Tuesday that though inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPc were initiated, investigation in the case was not closed. Rather, various angles were being explored so that the mystery behind the death can be known. “Now, we have taken the call dump to identify the suspects, if any. Call details are being checked. So far, the probe doesn’t hint at murder, however, investigation is on in the case,” the DSP added. 3 weeks after woman attacked 2 land in STF net with 1.02 kg heroin by neighbour, case registered Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Tribune News Service TELLING NUMBERS Nitin Jain Ludhiana, April 23 Almost three weeks after a man attacked his neighbour and abused her mother, the Dakha police yesterday registered a case against the assailant, identified as Rachpal Singh, alias Billu, of Mandiani village. The suspect also tore clothes of the complainant and hurled abuses at her. The man is absconding and the police are conducting raids to arrest him. Investigating officer ASI Baljeet Singh said the complainant, Prabhdeep Kaur, a resident of Mandiani village, had told the police that she had an old dispute with the suspect. On March 30, he entered the victim’s house and started abusing her. She opposed the move and also made a video in her mobile phone when the man was abusing them. He picked up a wooden stick lying in the house and attacked her. The woman’s mobile phone slipped from her hands and fell on the ground. Following which, he picked up the mobile and broke it. The ASI said afterwards, the suspect hit the victim on her back due to which she fell down. He attacked her again and tore her clothes. When she raised the alarm, local residents gathered at the place and the man fled the scene. On the same day, the victim filed a complaint against the suspect with the police. The police were conducting raids to arrest the man, the ASI added. Ludhiana, April 23 The STF Ludhiana, yester, day arrested two persons and seized 1.02 kg of heroin from their possession. The suspects have been identified as Avtar Singh (35) of Jatana village, Khanna, and Sachin (21) of Amritsar. STF inspector Harbans Singh said a tip-off was received that the duo, who were into the heroin smuggling trade, were coming to Ludhiana from Amritsar in a PRTC bus. The inspector said STF The suspects in STF custody in Ludhiana on Tuesday. personnel were deployed near the Jalandhar bypass. When the suspects were walking on a slip road after getting down from the bus, they were stopped for check- ing. During their frisking, 540 gm of heroin was seized from Avtar and 480 gm of heroin was recovered from Sachin. They were arrested and a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered. Avtar was lodged in a Amritsar jail in a heroin smuggling case and he came out on bail about 18 months ago. Sachin said he started smuggling to become rich in a short span of time. The STF launched further probe to bust the entire drug supply line. Woman injured as Harpreet Randhawa is new Sessions Judge 2nd woman Sessions truck hits scooter Judge after 25 yrs Legal Correspondent Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 23 A truck rammed into a teacher riding a scooter on the Chandigarh road here on Tuesday morning. The woman suffered serious injuries on her hands and legs. She was rushed to a hospital for treatment and was stated to be out of danger. According to eyewitnesses, the truck was going at a high speed and the accident caused due to the truck dri- ver’s fault. The suspect fled the scene after the incident. Bhuvan Arora, the victim’s husband and a resident of Fatehgarh locality, said his wife Kirti Arora left for school this morning on her scooter. When she reached Vardhaman Chowk, a speeding truck rammed hit her. A complaint was lodged at a police station against the truck driver in this regard. Later, the police reached the scene and took the truck in their custody. Ludhiana, April 23 After 25 years, a woman Sessions Judge has been given the responsibility of an important Sessions Division here. The district has the highest number of Judges in the state. Over 80 Judges have been working and above 2,500 lawyers are practising here. Four subdivisions of Khanna, Jagraon, Payal and Samrala falls under the jurisdiction of the Ludhiana Sessions Division. District and Sessions c m y b Harpreet Kaur Randhawa Judge Harpreet Kaur Randhawa took charge here today. Her first posting was in the city when she was appointed as a judicial officer way back in 1993. Earlier, on October 21, 1998, Bakshish Kaur was appointed as the first District and Sessions Judge in Ludhiana, who worked till May 13, 1999. She has replaced Sessions Judge Munish Singal, who has been transferred to Sangrur after completing a tenure of three years. Earlier, she was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival by the Additional District and Sessions Judges (ADJ) Manila Chugh, ADJ Amandeep Kaur, ADJ Shiv Mohan Garg, ADJ Barinder Singh Ramana, Principal Judge Family Court Neelam Arora, ADJ Harbans Singh Lekhi, Sandeep Singh Bajwa, Rajwinder Singh and Amarjit Singh. On the occasion, CJM Radhika Puri and DLSA Secretarycum-CJM Raman Sharma were also present. While Punjab-Haryana Bar Council member Harish Rai Dhanda, District Bar Association secretary Parminder Singh Ladi, joint secretary Rajinder Singh Bhandari, executive members Vanshika Jain, Anchal Kapoor, Divya Mittal, Umesh Garg, Paras Sharma, Nitin Kapila, Rajesh Mehra and others met the new Sessions Judge and assured full co-operation to her. Eight ADJs too take charge Meanwhile, eight Additional Sessions Judges (ADJs) transferred to Ludhiana. ADJ Gurpreet Kaur, ADJ Barinder Singh Ramana, ADJ Jagdeep Sood, ADJ Yukti Goyal, ADJ Rajneesh, ADJ Amarinder Singh Shergill, ADJ Jaspinder Singh and ADJ Saru Mehta Kaushik have also taken charge of their respective courts.
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