26042024-LT-01.qxd 4/26/2024 12:58 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune PPCB SUBMITS STATUS REPORT ON BUDDHA NULLAH SAMPLES AYUSHMANN, DUA LIPA TO ATTEND TIME100 GALA IN NY MEGASTAR BIG B EXPRESSES GRATITUDE FOR HONOUR Environmentalists express doubts, claiming pollution levels could be much higher. P2 Actor Ayushmann Khurrana is all set to attend the prestigious TIME100 Gala event in New York. P4 Amitabh took to X and shared a picture of himself receiving the award from Usha Mangeshkar. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 37°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.57 PM » SUNRISE SATURDAY 5:43 AM 137 held with drugs, liquor, arms, cash since poll code imposition HIMANSHU MAHAJAN FRIDAY | 26 APRIL 2024 | LUDHIANA 75 per cent of the licensed arms deposited, 106 FIRs lodged in CP limits INDIA VOTES 2024 Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 25 Continuing with its drive against violators of the model code of conduct (MCC), which was in force since March 16 when the General Election to the 18th Lok Sabha was announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Ludhiana Commissionerate of Police (CP) have arrested 137 criminals and smugglers with a huge cache of drugs, liquor, arms, ammunition and cash during the past over a month. Under the special campaign to ensure implementation of the MCC in letter and in spirit and maintain the law and order situation across the Ludhiana CP which was , spread across eight Assembly segments, including seven under Ludhiana and one under the Fatehgarh Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, the police have so far registered 106 FIRs under various offences punishable under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Excise Act, Arms Act and the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1985, and other relevant law provisions against the arrested suspects. Besides, almost 75 per cent of the total over 19,447 licensed arms had so far been deposited with the local police and registered gun houses, as mandated by the prohibitory order issued by Lab technician suspended for accepting bribe Ludhiana, April 25 A medical laboratory technician of the Civil Hospital, Parminder Singh, who was caught red-handed accepting a bribe has been suspended by the authorities. Dr Hitinder Kaur, Director, Health and Family Welfare, has suspended Parminder with immediate effect as per the Punjab Civil Services Rules. He has been sent to the headquarters at the Civil Hospital, Moga. The Civil Surgeon, Moga, has also been informed and asked to send his attendance record in coming days. The lab technician was caught taking a bribe of Rs 3,000 from an applicant for changing a positive dope test report into negative during a sting operation carried out today by Civil Surgeon Jasbir Singh Aulakh on Saturday. An applicant had complained to the Civil Surgeon that he went to the hospital to get his dope test done and a lab technician asked him to pay bribe. He assured him that his dope test would come negative if he get the test done even after drinking alcohol and, in turn, asked for a bribe of Rs 3,000 from him. “Such acts are shameful and will not be accepted. I warn that strict action will be taken against any employee, if found indulging in such activities,” Dr Aulakh said. — TNS Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal leads a flag march in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO CP PROFILE ■ Assembly segments: 8 8 ■ Police stations: 28 ■ Polling locations 666 ■ Vulnerable polling locations: 164 ■ Special city nakas: 17 ■ CCTV monitored nakas: 8 ■ CAPF: 1 company ■ Police sub-divisions: District Magistrate (DM) Sakshi Sawhney last month. Commissioner of Police (CP) Kuldeep Singh Chahal told The Tribune here on Thursday that a strict vigil was being maintained across the limits of eight police sub-divisions and 28 police stations falling under the CP jurisdiction to ensure proper enforcement of the poll code and check activities of anti-social elements and criminals. He disclosed that 17 special nakas (checkpoints) have been set up across the city, of which eight were being monitored through CCTV cameras. “Regular coordination meetings are being held with counterparts at the district, subdivision and police station level,” Chahal said while revealing that special control rooms and a separate WhatsApp group have been created for sharing the real time information on poll code violations. The Ludhiana top cop said a company of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) had arrived here so far, which was being used for monitoring inter-district nakas. Issuing stern warning to the arms licence holders, who have not yet deposited their licensed weapons even after the lapse of the March 31 deadline, the CP said 14,089 of the total 19,447 licensed arms had so far been deposited in compliance with the DM’s prohibitory order while 503 have so far been exempted as per law provisions, which together accounted for 75.03 per cent of the total licensed arms registered in the CP limits. There were a total of 16,239 arms licence holders in Ludhiana. “A special screening committee has been formed and is fully functional to scrutinise the arms licences and gun houses,” he said, adding that there were 16 gun houses in Ludhiana, which had already been inspected by DSP-rank officers and their security-related audit had also been conducted. Chahal said 66 drug peddlers had been arrested in 49 cases registered under the NDPS Act since March 16 while 61 liquor smugglers have been caught in 48 cases lodged under the Excise Act since the poll code implementation. Besides, 10 criminals have been arrested in seven cases registered under the Arms Act so far. The recovery from the arrested persons included 64.5 kg of poppy husk, 55.6 kg of ganja, 2.132 kg of heroin, 3.5 kg of opium, 55 gm of party drug, 13 gm of intoxicating powder, 6,843.4 litres of licit liquor, 3.75 litres of illicit liquor, 1,412.4 litres of beer, 82,279 litres of lahan and Rs 30,59,150 unaccounted cash. Acting tough against the criminals, especially troublemakers and history-sheeters, the police have so far arrested 78 POs/ absconders and have deleted 567 such elements from the records following the legal process. Besides, 82 of the total 102 identified troublemakers and historysheeters have so far been bound as per legal provisions while the hunt was on for the remaining 20 such troublemakers and history-sheeters. Of the total 4,060 POs and absconders, including 3,134 wanted under the CrPC and 926 evading arrests under the CrPC, as many as 78 have so far been arrested while the names of 567 have been deleted from the records following the legal process. With the addition of 76 more such elements, the police were still on the lookout for 3,491 POs and absconders in Ludhiana. However, all four non-bailable warrants (NBWs) issued since January 1 have been executed here. Strict poll code enforcement: CP “Besides routine checking drives, we have been maintaining a strict vigil through special nakas and search operations to ensure enforcement of the poll code and maintain the law and order situation in the run up to the poll. We have 666 polling locations across eight Assembly segments spread under eight police sub-divisions and 28 police stations, of which 164 have been identified as vulnerable, where special security arrangements will be put in place,” said Kuldeep Singh Chahal, CP . Agrim Bhanot (wearing a garland) and other students celebrate their success in the JEE (Main). JEE (Main): Agrim bags AIR 81, Tanush 629, Anshita 650 Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 25 As the National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared the JEE (Main) Results 2024 (Session 2), several candidates from Ludhiana have achieved remarkable feats by attaining percentiles above 99. Agrim Bhanot of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, here, secured All India Rank (AIR) 81 in JEE (Mains). During the second session, he achieved 99.96 percentiles. He completed his Class XII at Gujranwala Guru Nanak Public School and intends to pursue computer science. Expressing joy over Agrim’s accomplishment, his father Ashish Bhanot, who works with a multinational IT company, said his son aspires to study computer science at either IIT, Bombay, or Delhi. Agrim refrained from using social media, focusing on his studies to Several other aspirants from city have attained percentiles of 99 and above achieve his goals. He enjoys reading books and swimming during his free time. His mother Archana Bhanot is a homemaker. Tanush Bansal achieved AIR 629 with 99.96 percentile and Anshita Batra secured a rank of 650 (99.96 percentile). Tanush completed his Class XII at Baba Isher Singh Public School. He now aims to study computer science at the IIT, Delhi. His father Rajan Bansal is a businessman involved in iron trading while his mother Isha Bansal is a homemaker. Anshita, who attained AIR 650, also completed her Class XII at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School. Her father Gagandeep Batra is working with an IT company and mother Tamanna Batra is a homemaker. Tamanna said her daughter was keen on studying computer science at IIT, Bombay, or Delhi. Meanwhile, Divyansh Bansal achieved AIR 768 (99.96 percentile); Aditya Kalra obtained AIR 1,115 (99.93 percentile) and Brahmasees Singh got AIR 1,320 (99.92 percentile). Hardik Mohindroo secured AIR 2,056 and Akemjot Singh achieved AIR 2,656. Moreover, according to information, 20 other students have achieved percentiles of 99 and above. The National Testing Agency unveiled the results of the second session on Wednesday night. On the announcement of the results for session 2 of the JEE (Main), students checked their results online. Successful candidates also expressed happiness after visiting their institutes in the city on Thursday. Murdercasecracked, twonabbed Duo held for threatening to kill trader Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 25 The Jagraon City police today claimed to have cracked the murder case of a man in three days with the arrest of two suspects, including a minor. The suspects have been identified as Balram Mishra and the minor boy. The police also recovered a knife which was used to commit the crime. In a statement issued by the Ludhiana rural police, they stated that on April 22, on the complaint of Manjinder Kaur, mother of the deceased, Shamsher Singh, a murder case was registered by the police against Balram and a minor boy. Today, acting on a tip-off, the police conducted a raid at suspected whereabouts of the suspects and nabbed them. The police further stated that Balram was produced in court that remanded them in two-day police custody while the juvenile was sent to the Borstal Jail, here. On April 21, Shamsher Singh, who was working as a daily wager at the grain market, was attacked by the duo but due to the intervention of people, the victim was saved and assailants were made to flee. On April 22, when Shamsher went to work at the grain market, he was again cornered by the suspects and attacked with a knife. The injured victim was taken to a hospital but he died on the way. Ludhiana, April 25 The Ludhiana police arrested Sherry Jolly, who pointed a pistol at a cloth merchant of Akalgarh Market in the city on Wednesday, along with his companion Karwal. A case was registered against the duo yesterday. Sources said on April 16, an argument broke out between the complainant, Shivam Malhotra, owner of Malhotra Garments at Akalgarh Market and the suspect, Sherry Jolly, another businessman, over less number of delivery of clothes. The complainant told the A CCTV grab of the main suspect at the victim's shop in Ludhiana. police that he had been buying stock of garments from Jolly for the past three years. On April 16, he ordered garments and when the same arrived, the number of garments was found less than the ordered quantity. “I called Jolly and told him about the matter. After which, he created a ruckus over the phone. Yesterday, when I was in my shop, Jolly and his companion entered the shop and started abusing me. He pointed a pistol and threatened to kill me. Other shopkeepers intervened and saved my life,” he alleged. On the basis of CCTV footage, the police registered a case and arrested the suspects. Kotwali SHO Si Maninder Kaur said the suspects would be produced in court and their remand would be sought to probe whether the pistol the man was carrying was licensed or not. — TNS VB arrests Senior Assistant for taking ~20K bribe Ambulance catches fire Ludhiana, April 25 The Ludhiana Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Thursday apprehended a Senior Assistant, Amandeep Singh, posted in the office of the District Social Justice and Empowerment Officer, Ludhiana district, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000. Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson for the state VB said the suspect was arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by Satish Kumar, a resident of Kishanpura village in Dera Bassi tehsil of SAS Nagar. He said the complainant approached the economic offences wing (EOW) of the Vigilance Bureau Ludhiana unit and alleged that the employee had demanded Rs 1 lakh to favour his daughter in verification of her caste certificate. He said the suspect had previously taken Rs 20,000 from him into his bank account through SBI Yono app and demanding the remaining amount of the bribe. The spokesperson said after a preliminary inquiry about the complaint, the VB team of the EOW laid a trap during which the suspect was caught red-handed while accepting the second instalment of bribe of Rs 20,000 in the presence of two official witnesses. He said in this regard, a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against him at the VB police station of the EOW Ludhiana unit. He would be produced in a competent court tomorrow and further investigation in the case was under progress. SHO’s reader nabbed on corruption charge The Vigilance Bureau (VB), Ludhiana, on Thursday arrested constable Balraj Singh, posted as reader of the SHO, NRI police station, here, red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000. Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson for the state VB said the c m y b policeman was arrested on the complaint of advocate Arun Kumar Khurmi, a resident of Upkaar Nagar, Civil Lines Ludhiana. He said the complainant had approached the VB and alleged that his wife owns a land of 20 kanal at Udhowal village in Ludhiana district where two persons had tried to take possession of the land forcibly and also stolen trees on the land. The complainant had lodged a police complaint which is pending before the SHO, NRI Cell, here. He said the police did not initiate any action so far on his complaint and reader Balraj attached with the SHO, NRI cell, had been demanding Rs 1 lakh to get the case registered. The suspect had asked him to pay Rs 20,000 as bribe in advance and balance of Rs 80,000 by next week. The spokesperson said after verification of his statement, a case was registered. Subsequently, a VB team laid a trap in which constable Balraj was arrested red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses outside the NRI police station and role of the SHO would also be examined during further probe into the case. The suspect would be produced in the competent court tomorrow. — TNS Ludhiana, April 25 A private ambulance (Toyota Innova) parked outside the emergency ward of the Civil hospital caught fire on Wednesday night. The fire also created a panic in the hospital. Hospital staff, along with the ambulance driver, controlled the fire by pouring mud and water on the ambulance. Kin of patients present outside the emergency ward told mediapersons that the driver was smoking beedi inside the ambulance which might be the reason behind the fire incident. There were no fire safety devices in the ambulance. The ambulance driver, Vishal, while denying allegations that smoking caused the fire, said he had kept a mosquito coil inside the ambulance due to which the vehicle caught fire. On receiving information, officials from the Civil Hospital police post had reached the spot but by then the ambulance driver drove away. It is learnt that private ambulances remain parked inside the Civil Hospital and police officials deployed at the hospital had asked them many times to park their vehicles outside but they had not been paying heed to the instructions. Even an oxygen cylinder was also lying inside the ambulance and it was taken out for precautionary purpose. Had it caught fire, there would be have been a major tragedy. — TNS
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).