02012021-LT-01.qxd 1/2/2021 12:30 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana TRIBUNE OVERFLOWING SEWERS IRK VISITORS ON SHERPUR ROAD PAGE 2 Shopkeepers demanded from MC to take steps to address issues being faced by them due to choked sewers. FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY Beheaded body of toddler found in vacant plot Our Correspondent Mandi Ahmedgarh, january 1 In a suspected case of human sacrifice or infanticide, a decapitated body of a oneyear-old child was found in a vacant plot near a marriage palace situated on the outskirts of Shehjad village in Ludhiana district on the Ahmedgarh-Jodhan road near here on Thursday. While the beheaded body was spotted by passers-by when it was mauled by stray dogs, the head of the victim was found later at a distance of about 200 m from the body. The Jodhan police have initiated a probe into the sequence of events leading to the recovery of the body after registering an FIR under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC on the statement of Inderjit Singh of Shehjad, who first noticed the body. The Jodhan police have asked residents to contact the investigating police team on mobile phone numbers 9815800135, 8556019207 and 8556019267 if they get any information about the incident. Management committees of religious places of the region have been asked to spread awareness about the incident through the public announcement system and social media. Dakha DSP Gurbans Singh Bains said some unknown accused had killed the child and thrown his body near a marriage palace situated on the outskirts of Shehjad village under the jurisdiction of the Jodhan police station on Thursday. Continued on page 2 Overcharging: FIR against multi-level parking lot worker Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 1 The Kotwali police station registered a case against an employee of a parking contractor for alleged overcharging of parking fees at the MC multi-level parking in Mata Rani Chowk here. The accused is Rahul Kumar (Rishu), a resident of Rishi Nagar. The complainant Budh Raj of Jain Nagar, Rahon Road, in a complaint, told the police that on December 31, he had come to the Akalgarh market and had parked his car at the parking lot and took a slip. When he came to pick his car, the employee of the contractor asked for Rs 60 against the permitted fee of Rs 20, the complainant said. When he refused to pay Rs 60, the accused started threatening him and forced him to pay the fee. The police registered a case under Sections 420 (cheating) and 384 (extortion) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the employee. POWER SHUTDOWN LUDHIANA 10 am to 4 pm: Bhai Wala Chowk, Ferozepur road, Krishna Nagar, Nagpal Regency, Circuit House, Madhok Complex and Telephone Exchange, Industrial Area A Textile Colony and its adjoining areas. PAGE 3 SHAILENDRA SINGH TO FUND BIZ DREAMS OF YOUNGSTERS The entrepreneur and producer spent 2020 thinking about new business ideas and how he can mentor youth. MAX 18°C | MIN 5°C | YESTERDAY MAX 17°C | MIN 5°C SUNSET SATURDAY 5:37 PM Ludhiana, January 1 The Ludhiana police yesterday launched a major crackdown against illegal travel agents and immigration firms here. The police registered 83 FIRs in a day in which 184 travel agents were booked. The police had also formed 45 special teams which conducted raids at the offices of travel agents in the industrial hub. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Rakesh Agrawal said this year, no illegal travel agent or immigration firm would be allowed to loot the gullible people aspiring to go abroad. Snatcher held with 18 mobile phones Ludhiana, January 1 The Police Division 6 nabbed a snatcher and recovered 18 mobile phones from his possession. The accused has been identified as Gyan Kumar, a resident of Mahadev Nagar, Sahnewal. SHO Amandeep Singh Brar said a tip-off was received that the accused was on his way to deliver looted mobile phones to some of his clients. Accordingly, a naka was set up on the Daba road from where he was arrested by the police. During the search of his belongings, 18 mobile phones were recovered. The SHO said police remand of the accused would be sought from court for further interrogation. — TNS 45 SPECIAL TEAMS CONDUCT RAIDS The police had also formed 45 special teams which conducted raids at offices of travel agents in the industrial hub. The police registered 83 FIRs in a day in which 184 travel agents were booked. “We have launched a drive against the travel agents duping foreign aspirants. Immediate justice is being delivered to the victims by registering FIRs,” said CP Agrawal. As per the list of the FIRs obtained from the city police, it was noticed that most of the police stations in the Ludhiana Commissionerate registered the FIRs. The Salem Tabri, PAU, Sahnewal, Sarabha and Jodhewal police registered one FIR each against 13 persons of travel fraud, the police division 4 registered four cases of travel fraud against 13 travel agents, police division 2 booked eight persons for travel fraud, police division 3 registered one case against three agents, Dugri police registered three cases of travel fraud against five, Dehlon police registered eight cases against 16 travel agents, Sadar, Shimlapuri police registered three cases each against 12 persons, the police division 6 registered six FIRs against 10 persons, the police SUNRISE SUNDAY 7:25 AM Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 1 As various projects are going on in different parts of the city, guidelines of traffic management in work zones are seemingly not being implemented in the right manner. City-based activists have demanded from the authorities concerned to display work zone regulatory signs, warning signs, information signs and proper diversion plans for the convenience of the commuters and pedestrians. They said the safety of ‘COMMUTER SAFETY VITAL’ and information ❝The diversion planmanner so that theboards must be displayed in the right commuters don’t face any problem. The authorities and contractors should take necessary steps for the implementation of the guidelines on traffic management in the work zones. Sanjay Goel, CHAIRMAN, INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, PUNJAB CHAPTER commuters and pedestrians must be ensured by following the guidelines issued by the Indian Roads Congress. At present, a number of projects, including smart street road work on Malhar Road, Containing Covid spread priority, says Dr Kakkar Dr Sukhjeevan Kakkar joins as new Ludhiana Civil Surgeon Civil Surgeon Dr Sukhjeevan Kakkar being welcomed by his colleagues. TRIBUNE PHOTO Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 1 Dr Sukhjeevan Kakkar is the new Civil Surgeon of Ludhiana district. Earlier in 2016, Dr Kakkar served as the Senior Medical Officer of the Civil Hospital. Meanwhile, on December 23, Dr Harinderjit Singh was appointed as the Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, by the Health and Family Welfare Department but yesterday his appointment was reverted back and Dr Kakkar, who was serving as the Civil Surgeon, Barnala, was transferred here while Dr Harinderjit will serve in Barnala. Before Barnala, Dr Kakkar has served as the Senior Medical Officer in Jagraon and won four state and two national awards. This correspondent talked to Dr Sukhjeevan Kakkar on the first division 5 registered 14 cases against 35 travel agents, the police division 8 registered 11 travel fraud cases against 31 persons, the Model Town police registered 11 cases against 19 persons, the Koom Kalan police registered three cases against seven persons, Moti Nagar, Meharban, Tibba police stations registered two each cases against 12 persons. The CP advised the residents not to fall prey to unscrupulous agents and apply for visa at travel offices which have valid licence. He said many complaints were under investigation and soon cases would be registered in this regard after completing the investigation. Signboards sought for traffic management in work zones Harshraj Singh day of his joining. Excerpts from the conversation: ■ What will be your priority after joining as the Civil Surgeon? World is going through a pandemic and my first priority after joining Ludhiana district will be to control the spread of Covid-19 and plan for its vaccination in a smooth manner. Frontline workers will be vaccinated first, followed by high-risk categories. ■ Cases have come down considerably. Will the department continue with awareness activities against Covid? Awareness by mass media teams of the department will continue as earlier through print and electronic media. Stress will be laid on wearing masks, social distancing and hand washing. Though cases have come down considerably, people need to avoid going to crowded places. ■ You have also served at Civil Hospital, Ludhiana. Where do you think it needs improvement? Cleanliness is a major issue at the Civil Hospital and stress will be laid on it. The Civil Hospital, Jagraon, during my service period won positions in the State Kayakalp award for cleanliness for three consecutive years. In 2016, it won the fourth position, in 2017 it got the first place, in 2018 it clinched the second position. In 2019, it got the National Quality Assurance Standard Standards Certification. I won the state award on Republic Day for beat services at the Jagraon hospital. I want to make improvement at the district hospital on the same lines. Continued on page 2 c m y b PAGE 4 The actress, who had deleted all her posts on social media, has made a comeback with an audio diary. Major crackdown on travel agents; 83 FIRs registered Tribune News Service DEEPIKA RETURNS TO SOCIAL MEDIA WITH ‘AUDIO DIARY’ ❞ Canal bridge reconstruction work at BRS Nagar, ROB and RUBs project on Pakhowal Road and others, are under way in the city. However, the required signboards for the Continued on page 2 SATURDAY | 2 JANUARY 2021 | LUDHIANA 3 fall prey; 27 +ve in dist Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 1 Twentyseven persons tested positive, while three lost their lives to Covid in Ludhiana district today. The total positive cases in the district reached 24,800, while 967 persons have lost their lives in the district so far. Presently, there are 329 active patients and today 63 people were home quarantined. Three patients were on ventilator support, out of whom two belonged to Ludhiana district and one was from another district. Three people who lost their lives were males in the 60-70 age group. A 61-year-old from New Shivaji Nagar was admitted to the CMCH and succumbed to the virus today. A 66-year-old from Karnail Singh Nagar was admitted to Global Heart and was a patient of hypertension and diabetes. A 72-yearold also had co-morbidity of diabetes and hypertension and was admitted to Raghunath Hospital and died today. A health care worker also tested positive, while the tracing of six was in progress. Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said sincere efforts were being made to keep people safe from Covid-19. He said a total of 36 patients (27 new patients from Ludhiana district and nine from other states/districts) had tested positive in the last 24 hours. Sharma added that till date, a total of 5,39,792 samples had been taken, out of which the reports of 5,37,692 samples had A man gives his sample for the Covid test in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO COVID-19 CONTROL ROOM ■ For Home Isolation: 78147-64759 COVID-19 FIGURES SAMPLES POSITIVE ACTIVE DEATHS 5,39,792 24,800 329 967 ■ For Ambulance Problem: 78143-63850 ■ For Hospital Problem: 62849-12553 ■ For General Problem: 62845-31852 WEBLINK WHERE RESIDENTS CAN CHECK REAL TIME STATUS OF VACANT AND FILLED BEDS IN ALL HOSPITALS: https://ludhiana.nic.in/notice/covid-19-bed-status-in-ludhiana-district been received, of which 5,09,185 samples were found negative, while the reports of 2,100 samples were pending. He said now, the total number of patients related to Ludhiana was 24,800, while 3,707 patients belonged to other districts/states. According to the Health Department, till date, 54,991 persons had been kept under home quarantine in the district and at present, the number of such persons was 1,215. Today, 63 persons were sent for home quarantine. Today 1,800 samples of suspected patients were sent for testing and their results were expected shortly. Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma appealed to the residents to adhere to all safety protocols issued so far by the administration and the Health Department regarding coronavirus.