25052022-LT-01.qxd 5/25/2022 12:41 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana TRIBUNE 1,915 COVID VICTIMS’ KIN GIVEN ~9.58 CR AID IN DIST PAGE 2 District administration has received a total of 1,933 claims so far, of which 1,915 claims have been settled. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY INBRIEF TWO RESIDENTS ELECTROCUTED Ludhiana: Two persons, Kuljit Singh (50) and Harvir Singh Kaka (25), died of electrocution while they were repairing a shed in agricultural fields at Rauni village in Khanna on Tuesday evening. Another four persons, Dalip Singh, Bhupinder Singh and two farm labourers, also suffered burn injuries in the accident. The incident occurred when they were repairing the damaged shed around the motor room in the agricultural fields. The shed came in contact with the low lying high-voltage wires. The two victims had died on the spot while the four others were taken to a hospital where their condition was said to be stable now. Meanwhile, village residents said they had been requesting the PSPCL to remove the high-voltage wires but to no avail. Rauni police post in-charge ASI Pargat Singh said after conducting the autopsy, victim’s bodies were handed over to their families. The police would initiate action in the case after recording the statement of the families of the deceased. TNS SEWER CONNECTIONS OF 9 DYEING UNITS CUT Ludhiana: To avoid misuse of the Municipal Corporation’s sewer system, the civic body on Tuesday snapped the sewer connections of nine more dyeing units in Phase VIII and VI of Focal Point here. MC Executive Engineer Ranbir Singh said the sewer connections of Dhawan Processors, Gian Chand’s unit, Sushil Kumar’s unit, BM Dyeing, VH Dyeing, Moga Line Processor, Smart Dyeing, Davinder Sandhu’s dyeing unit, all located in Phase VIII, and Golden dyeing unit in Phase VI of Focal Point had been disconnected on Tuesday. TNS ~48.5 lakh unaccounted cash seized Ludhiana, May 24 The Khanna police during a routine checking on Tuesday caught four persons in two vehicles and recovered Rs 48.50 lakh unaccounted money from them. Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police Ravi Kumar said a naka was laid in the city to keep a tab over anti-social elements. On suspicion, two vehicles were stopped by the police and during the search, Rs 17.50 lakh and Rs 31 lakh cash, respectively, were recovered from the two vehicles. The car occupants failed to produce any bank receipt or any documentary evidence of the money. The SSP said if somebody was carrying a large amount of cash, he or she had to produce bank receipt or any confirmed legal source of the cash. The SSP said after registering a DDR at the Khanna City 2 police station, the Income Tax Department was informed for further action in the matter. Kumar said videography of counting of notes was also done to ensure transparency in the entire course of action. The cash was safely deposited in the malkhana of the police station concerned. Notably on May 17, the Khanna police had seized Rs 27 lakh unaccounted cash from a UP-based man and then the case was handed over to the I-T Department.— TNS BATMAN EK CHAKRAVYUH PAVES WAY FOR HINDI ADAPTATIONS PAGE 3 It is the Hindi adaptation of the global audio release Batman Unburied, and is a true psychological thriller. MAX 34°C | MIN 20°C | YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7:21 PM ACTOR-PRODUCER NAMITA LAL RECALLS RED CARPET MOMENT PAGE 3 The actor is on cloud nine as two of her films have been recognised at the Cannes Film Festival this year. SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:26 AM WEDNESDAY | 25 MAY 2022 | LUDHIANA Admn gears up for monsoon, Major robbery at house cracked, three nabbed sets up 24x7 control room DC reviews situation, tells department to ensure cleaning of drains Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 24 Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik said today that the district administration had set up a 24x7 flood control room (0161-2433100) in the administrative complex. Chairing a high-level meeting of all departments to review arrangements for flood control at Bachat Bhawan here today, the Deputy Commissioner said the duty roster of staff had also been prepared in the control room to ensure it operates round the clock. She said to effectively monitor the staff, senior officials of the administration had also been appointed to check the control room on a rotational basis. The Deputy Commissioner also underscored the need to put in place a viable mechanism for completing all floodcontrol arrangements. She said the officials must keep vigil to avoid any sort of untoward incident due to rain. She also directed the offi- DC Surabhi Malik interacts with officials during a meeting in Ludhiana. HAVE MADE ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS: MALIK Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik said the administration has already made adequate arrangements to meet any sort of situation in the rainy season. The contingent plan has been prepared by every department and they are fully equipped to tackle any sort of situation. cials to strengthen floodprone sensitive places to minimise damages in the possibility of excess water being released from the water reservoir. She also asked Sub-Divisional magistrates (SDMs) to establish local level flood control rooms in their respective subdivisions for constant monitoring of the situation. The DC instructed officials to constantly coordinate with each other via WhatsApp groups to closely monitor the situation during monsoon. She directed them to keep their mobile phones switched on round the clock. The DC said the administration had already made adequate arrangements to meet any sort of situation in the wake of the rainy season. The contingent plan had been prepared by every department and they were fully equipped to tackle any sort of situation. Surabhi Malik said the evacuation plan, in case of flood, had already been finalised and sensitive places had been identified along with safe places where residents of flood-prone areas would be shifted, if required. She also reviewed the arrangements made by Food and Supply, Irrigation, Power, Drainage, Municipal Corporation and Police departments for tackling the situation, in case of floods. She asked the Drainage Department to immediately start the work of cleaning of all drains in the district. She also told the officials to install a wireless public address system in vehicles to alert people about floods. Cops show the recovery made from the three suspects in Ludhiana on Tuesday. ASHWANI DHIMAN Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 24 The Ludhiana police have succeeded in solving a major house robbery occurred in the wee hours of May 19 on the Daba-Lohara road with the arrest of three persons. The suspects are Paramjit Prabhjot Singh, alias Joti, Davinder Singh Bawu and Mandeep Singh Mana, all residents of Lohara. The fourth suspect is still at large. The suspects had looted Rs 5.50 lakh in cash, 12 tola of gold ornaments, three cameras and a Maruti Swift Dzire car of the house owner. ADCP Balwinder Singh Randhawa, ACP Rajesh Sharma and SHO Davinder Sharma in a statement issued today said the suspects were arrested from their whereabouts after a tip-off. The police recovered the Swift Dzire car, Rs 2.17 lakh in cash, some gold ornaments, three cameras, a toy pistol and a Volkswagen car, which was used in the crime, from them. The ADCP said Davinder and Mandeep had a criminal past. Davinder was facing four cases of snatching and Arms Act registered against him in Ludhiana while Mandeep was facing three cases (attempt to murder, snatching and drug smuggling) registered in Ludhiana. Meanwhile, Paramjit has no criminal record. Randhawa said since all accused were staying near the house of the victim, they were aware of the presence of only elderly persons in the house. “We will seek police remand of the suspects to recover remaining valuables and cash and arrest the fourth suspect,” the ADCP added. AAP leader, two civic body Dowry death: 10-yr RI for husband, in-laws employees booked for fraud Legal Correspondent Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 24 The Police Division 4 on Monday evening registered a case of fraud and criminal conspiracy against a Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and an inspector and a clerk of the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, and another person for committing a property fraud. Corporation officials had connived with the suspects to commit a property fraud by forging and fabricating records. The booked persons are MC inspector Rajbir Jain, block clerk Sukhbir Singh, AAP leader Ajay Walia (Babbu) and Sunil Kumar. Ajay Walia is the AAP leader from Ward 60. Complainant Chandar Kanta (81) of Shastri Nagar told the police that a few years ago she had bought a plot from Nirmala Devi. After Nirmala’s death, her kin had shifted the entire property record in the complainant’s name. “Ajay along with Sunil produced a fake will in the civic body office. With the connivance of the MC inspector and block clerk, Ajay managed to transfer the property record in his name and then sold the same to another client,” the complainant alleged. After the fraud came to the fore, the woman lodged a complaint and a case was registered on Monday. Tribhuvan Thaper, member of the All India Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Trust, demanded that if Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann can sack Health Minister Vijay Singla for corruption, AAP leader Ajay Walia should also be sacked immediately from the party so that an example could be set. Thaper had also posted a photograph of Ajay along with the AAP MLA on his Facebook page and demanded his immediate arrest. Ludhiana, May 24 The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Shiv Mohan Garg has convicted Mandeep Pal (husband), Ramdeen (father-in-law), Rukmani Devi (mother-inlaw) and Kuldeep Kumar (brother-in-law), all residents of Mohalla Ram Vihar, Rahon Road, Basti Jodhewal, in a dowry death case. Radha Devi, wife of prime accused hailing from Fatehpur district, UP, had died within one year of the marriage due to strangulation. All accused were sentenced to undergo 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI) each. A fine of Rs 1 lakh was imposed on the accused. The court made it clear that the fine amount, when recovered, would be paid to the victim’s family as compensation. Delivering the verdict, the court held that the prosecution has successfully brought home the charges levelled against the accused. The court also declined the plea of leniency raised by them. Additional public prosecutor SS Haider said a case against the accused was registered at the Basti Jodhewal police station on July 2, 2017, following the statement of Ram Sharan, father of the victim. The complainant had told the police that his Two test positive Five held for forcibly taking for Covid in district away SUV from policeman Tribune News Service A boy gets vaccinated against Covid in Ludhiana. INDERJEET VERMA Ludhiana, May 24 Two fresh cases of Covid-19 were reported while no person died due to the virus in the district today. A total of 1,09,929 persons have tested positive for the virus since March 2020 while 2,280 persons from the district have succumbed to the virus so far. The recovery rate of Covid patients was 97.91 per cent on Tuesday. There were 13 active cases in the district and they were told to isolate themselves at their homes. COVID-19 FIGURES SAMPLES POSITIVE ACTIVE 35,75,331 1,09,929 13 1 DEATHS 2,280 For any information related to Covid Contact: 0161-2444193 & 4622276 At present, no Covid patient is admitted to any hospital in Ludhiana. Samples of 3,159 suspected patients were sent for testing today, the results of which are expected shortly. — TNS Ludhiana, May 24 The city police today arrested five persons who had forcibly taken away a Ford Endeavour from a police constable at Chet Singh Nagar on Saturday night. The suspects are identified as Sarpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Amaninder Singh, Simranjit Singh Sunny, all residents of Gurpal Nagar, and Vishal Kumar of Kabir Nagar here. ADCP Balwinder Singh Randhawa held a press conference in this regard. The ADCP said on May 21, senior constable Paramjit Singh, along with constable Baldev Singh, both attached with the anti-narcotics cell in the city police, were patrolling in Chet Singh Nagar in a Ford Endeavour, the private vehicle of Baldev. On suspicion, they started questioning Sarpreet and some c m y b The suspects in police custody in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN youths, who were standing near the liquor shop. The youths, led by Sarpreet, initially started heated arguments with the policemen and later, they attacked Baldev. The suspects also took away the SUV from the policeman. As local people started gathering on the spot, the suspects fled the spot. They also snatched a police identity card and Aadhaar card of Baldev along with Rs 1,000 in cash. On May 22, the police had registered a case against the suspects under various sections of the IPC. The ADCP said today acting on a tip-off about whereabouts of the suspects, a raid was conducted and the suspects were nabbed. The police also recovered the SUV, Rs 1,000 in cash, Aadhaar card and police ID card of constable Baldev from the suspects. daughter Radha Devi got married with Mandeep on July 10, 2016, and sufficient dowry was given in her marriage. A sum of Rs 30,000 in cash was given to her father-in-law Ramdeen. After 10 days of the marriage, the complainant sent his son Shankar to the house of Radha Devi to bring her to the former’s house for some ritual. But the accused did not send her. Thereafter, the victim informed him that she was being beaten by her in-laws’ family for dowry. They had been asking her to bring a motorcycle and Rs 40,000. She also told her sister Sunita about the matter. A day before the tragedy, a phone call was received by Sunita from Rukmani Devi, victim’s mother-inlaw, stating that the condition of Radha Devi had deteriorated. Sunita sent her brother Shankar to the victim’s house. When he reached the place, she had already died. Death of the victim was caused by the accused by beating her or by strangulating her due to the nonfulfillment of their demand of dowry. However, during the trial, the accused pleaded false implication. But after appreciating the evidence on record, the court found them guilty and sentenced accordingly. PROPOSED TEXTILE PARK NEAR SUTLEJ PAC members submit memo to Forest Minister Ludhiana, May 24 Demanding protection of the Sutlej and Mattewara forest from the proposed mega industrial (textile) park, a group of environmental activists associated with a public action committee (PAC) submitted a memorandum to Forest Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak. They also conducted a meeting with the minister at Mohali today. Jaskirat Singh, a member of the public action committee to save the Mattewara forest and the Sutlej, said: “We requested the minister to save the Mattewara forest, Jaspal Kadar forest and Haidar Nagar and Salempur forests, which are all protected forests on the flood plain of the Sutlej from imminent disaster due to the mega textile park being planned in between them and touching them from various sides. All of these are flood plain forests and common heritage of Punjab.” “Their survival depends on the survival of the flood plain itself which will get destroyed if the industry is allowed in that area. We requested the state government to move the mega textile park away from the Sutlej flood plain and Mattewara forest to another suitable location. The minister assured us that the matter will be raised before Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann,” he said. They gave another memorandum highlighting that Punjab has little forest cover (only 3.67% against the required 33%). They demanded from the minister to take necessary steps for protecting and increasing the forest cover in the state. Meanwhile, a member of the Buddha Nullah Task Force, Col JS Gill (retd), submitted a memorandum to the minister for instituting awards for achievers in the Forest Department. He raised the demand before the minister for expediting the establishment of the forest along the Buddha Nullah. — TNS