07082025-LT-01.qxd 8/7/2025 12:39 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune 4 CONVICTED FOR RUNNING MAJOR DRUG RACKET CONSTRUCTION OF MEDICAL COLLEGE TO BEGIN SOON Admn is all set to start construction of proposed governmentmedical college and hospital at Malerkotla. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 25°C NAT’L HANDLOOM DAY: CELEBS’ SUSTAINABLE FASHION Special Court of Judge Barinder Singh Ramana has sentenced four persons involved in a drug racket. P2 FORECAST Several Bollywood actresses have been making conscious choices to support weavers. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 7.12 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:45 AM » THURSDAY | 7 AUGUST 2025 | LUDHIANA Special DGP, CP search 26 houses US man suspecting wife’s affair with of drug smugglers at Talwandi Kalan victim’s brother had hired gangster SHOOTING AT CHAK LOHAT VILLAGE IN MACHHIWARA Three suspects land in police dragnet, recovery of drugs made during CASO Tribune Reporters Ludhiana, August 6 Special DGP Gurpreet Deo along with Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma, accompanied by a huge force, conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) at Talwandi Kalan village in Ladhowal in the wee hours of Wednesday. The search operation was conducted in 26 houses of smugglers who had been facing multiple drug cases. Three smugglers were arrested and recovery of drugs was also made. The action was taken under the state government’s ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign. Special DGP Gurpreet Deo said since the start of the campaign against drugs, the Ludhiana police had demolished illegal properties of 14 drug smugglers in Ludhiana, including two at this village. Over 570 cases of drug trafficking were also registered since March 1 and 700 drug traffickers were also sent to jail. Even property of smugglers Special DGP Gurpreet Deo, CP Swapan Sharma and other cops during CASO at Talwandi Kalan village. worth Rs 3.5 crore was also freezed by the police, which they garnered through proceeds of drug money. CP Swapan Sharma said besides taking action against the smugglers, the police were also admitting drug addicts to the deaddiction centre for treatment so that they could start a new life. With the help of the government, after providing treatment, the addicts would also be given employment. He claimed that after nabbing the smugglers, the Ludhiana police also actively pursue cases in court so that they get maximum punishment. In fact, the police had achieved 92 per cent conviction rate in drug cases and in coming months, the conviction rate would be hundred per cent in Ludhiana. “After a smuggler comes out on bail, the police get information and the police station concerned head and other crime wing head of the Ludhiana police keep a tab over the activity of the smuggler and nab him if he was found indulging in peddling again,” the CP said. Many flee hideouts as police tighten noose Over 50 officials posted at various police stations of the region falling under the Ludhiana (rural) police district carried out a massive cordon and search operation (CASO) at localities already identified as hotspots for drugs at Pakhowal village and surrounding localities. Special DGP Anita Punj, SSP Ludhiana (Rural) and DSP (D) Inderjit Singh Boparai supervised the operation. Though exact quantities of drugs and narcotics were seized during the operation and many suspects were rounded up, several drug peddlers seemed to be on the run as many had fled after locking their homes and hideouts. The number of rounded miscreants was yet to be revealed officially. Special teams of police officials, supervised by a gazetted officer, were assigned predefined localities for the operation against drug peddlers and their sympathisers by Ludhiana (rural) SSP Ankur Gupta on Wednesday morning. Elderly bizman alleges police inaction in plaint, writes to DGP The Panchayat Department has been entrusted with construction of buildings of the HWCs. ASHWANI DHIMAN 13 villages in district to get new health, wellness centres Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 6 In a significant step towards strengthening the rural healthcare, health and wellness centres (HWCs) will be established in 13 villages across the district. The initiative, funded by the Union Government, will be executed jointly by the Panchayat and Health departments. The Panchayat Department has been entrusted with the construction of the buildings, with an estimated Rs 34 lakh allocated per centre. Once completed, the buildings will be handed over to the Health Department, which will be responsible for setting up the medical infrastruc- MC seals seven illegal buildings Ludhiana, August 6 Taking action against illegal constructions, the building branch of the Municipal Corporation (MC) sealed seven illegal buildings in Haibowal and on Bindraban road on Wednesday. Further, the civic body has also demolished an illegal portion of a building adjoining Bunti Dhaba near Suffiyan Chowk, which falls under Zone B. Civic body officials said the action had been taken on the orders issued by High Court in two different petitions filed in the past. — TNS Initiative, funded by Centre, will be executed jointly by Panchayat and Health depts ture and appointing staff. “The tender process is expected to conclude by August 13,” a senior official confirmed. “Post-allotment, the construction must be completed within three months. The contract mandates proper sewerage and electrical systems, along with painting, before the handover to the Health Department,” the official added. Health Minister Balbir Singh said: “It will give a major boost to the rural healthcare system and ensure access to basic health services in remote parts of the district.” Residents have also expressed optimism. “We often travel long distances even for minor checkups. Having a health and wellness centre here will make life much easier,” said Surjeet Kaur of Maachiwara. Villages where HWCs will be set up Rajewal, Kohara, Seeda, Chorian Bet, Gobindgarh, Bhattian Bet, Payal, Bhairo Munna, Issapur, Mangli Tanda, Kamalpura, Thakkarwal and Lehar villages will get health and wellness centres. Ludhiana, August 6 An elderly industrialist alleged police inaction in a complaint of fraud lodged with the city police against another city-based businessman. The complainant has now written to the Punjab DGP to seek registration of a case against the suspect. The complainant, Harish Khanna, owner of Sourabh Steel Industries, Focal Point, told the police that the owner of a powder coating firm located in Industrial Area C forced him to invest money in his business and assured huge profits. “Believing his claims, I gave Rs 4 lakh to him in May 2024 and a written signed agreement was also given to me stating that about Rs 40,000 profit every month would be given to me. I was even given advance cheques by him. Even after months, I didn’t get even a single instalment of profits,” he said. The complainant alleged when the suspect failed to fulfill his promise, he asked him to at least return his principle amount of Rs 4 lakh but he refused. Instead, he threatened the victim of dire Harish Khanna shows his plaint. consequences if he lodges a complaint. Even cheques given by him were bounced. Khanna said he lodged a police complaint against the industrialist in May this year and after conducting a probe, the ACP concerned had recommended registration of a case of fraud against the suspect but when the file reached the CP office, the police refused to register a case on the pretext that cheques were bounced by bank due to lack of funds and the police could not take legal action. “Now I have sent a complaint to the DGP to seek registration of a case” he said. — TNS Two groups scuffle, open fire in Haibowal Ludhiana, August 6 Two groups indulged in a scuffle during which they fired gunshots at each other near Sangam Chowk of the Haibowal area on Wednesday evening. During the incident, one person suffered a bullet injury on his hand. The police said a cross FIR was lodged against the suspects, following which the police detained one of them. As per information, one of the suspects, identified as Rupesh Vig (30) of Chander Nagar, possessed a licensed gun, which he used to fire gunshots at Divyanshu, a res- Cops conduct a probe at the crime scene in Ludhiana. ident of Haibowal. The police were yet to verify if the second weapon used in the crime was licensed or not. As per information, on Wednesday, Divyanshu called Rupesh, asking to meet him citing some work. When Rupesh reached near Divyanshu’s house, the latter attacked him with an electric cutter. Rupesh’s hand got injured, following which he rushed to the Civil Hospital. c m y b “After getting treatment at the hospital, Rupesh went to the Jagatpuri chowki and filed a complaint against Divyanshu. As he was returning, Divyanshu and his aides intercepted him near Sangam Chowk and again indulged in a spat. Divyanshu and Rupesh fired at each other and the former suffered a bullet injury on his hand,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police-III Kanwalpreet Singh. The police apprehended one of the suspects and raids are being conducted for the arrest of the other miscreants. — TNS Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 6 The arrest of 10 suspects, including sharpshooters, in a targeted shooting case led to the startling disclosures how a person sitting in the US, Sarabjit Sabi, and his associate Kamal Ghago hired a gangster wanted by the Punjab Police, Sonu Khatri, hiding abroad for executing the contract killing of a 20-yearold youth, Jaspreet Singh, at Chak Lohat village in Machhiwara on July 29. Fortunately, Jaspreet despite facing five bullets survived the attack. SSP Khanna, Jyoti Yadav, SP , (Investigation) Pawanjit, Samrala DSP Tarlochan Singh and DSP (Investigation) Mohit Kumar Singla addressed a press meet regarding the matter on Wednesday. The SSP told The Tribune that Jaspreet’s brother Sunny and relative Ginda were staying in the US and the key conspirator, Sarabjit Sabi, who also stays in the US, suspected that his wife was having an affair with Sunny and Ginda. To take ‘revenge’ from the duo, Sabi hired notorious gangster Sonu Khatri and gave him a handsome amount to kill brothers of both of them, staying in Machhiwara and Chamkaur Sahib, respectively. “Khatri further contacted another gangster Kamal Ghago, who also stays in the US. Afterwards, the latter contacted his accomplices staying in Punjab, who hired sharpshooters Sanju, Kalu, Gautam and Salim in Punjab and also transferred some amount in their bank accounts. Even weapons were also provided to them,” she said. The SSP claimed that the questioning of the suspects led Police officials address mediapersons in Ludhiana on Wednesday. ARRESTS CRACK PAST CASES Arrest of Vicky and Katia also led to solving of the May 9 firing case at Ginda’s brother Lovepreet at Chamkaur Sahib. Gautam, Katia and Chilli were also involved in a recent firing incident outside a house in Nawanshahr. Gautam, Katia and Saleem had also opened firing outside a residence in Rurka village in Jalandhar. to the disclosures that the shooters had also shot at Ginda’s brother Lovepreet Singh in Chamkaur Sahib in May and a case was reportedly lying unsolved. With the arrest of the suspects, it was also cracked. The Khanna police would intimidate the Chamkaur Sahib police about the development. After attacking Ginda’s brother, shooters shot at Sunny’s brother Jaspreet at Chak Lohat village. However, both survived the attacks. Meanwhile, Jyoti Yadav clarified that initially the victim’s family got registered a case against Jaspreet’s cousins Jaswant, Diwan and Lakhbir and another person, Bhupinder, suspecting their role in the contract killing due to the long-pending land dispute but during the probe, they were found innocent. They would be absolved from the charge. DSP Tarlochan Singh said Katia and Vicky of Ludhiana, conducted a recce at Chak Lohat village. The attack was executed at Jaspreet’s residence by Sanju, Kalu, Gautam, Saleem Mohammad and one unidentified per- son. The weapons used were supplied by Inderpreet Singh and Hardeep Singh. About nabbed suspects Saleem was arrested from the residence of Jatinder Singh, alias Sunny, in Giddarpindi, Jalandhar. The latter was also arrested for harbouring him. Tarun Kanojia, alias Katia, was arrested from Delhi. He is also wanted in a murder case of 2020 in Hoshiarpur. Gautam Kumar was arrested from Delhi and Vicky, alias Saman, was arrested from Ludhiana. Vicky is wanted in a drug case. Nazia, wife of Saleem, was arrested from Rurki village, Jalandhar, after recovery of a .32 bore pistol and two cartridges. Irfan Mohammad, Saleem’s younger brother, was found in the possession of four rounds. Anwar Mohammad, another brother of Saleem, was arrested after the recovery of the Maruti Alto car used in the crime. Inderpreet from Langroia village and Hardeep from Mehtpur village, who supplied the weapons and handled the ransom money, were arrested from Nawanshahr.