23062022-LT-01.qxd 6/23/2022 12:17 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana TRIBUNE TWO PLAYERS, COACH SELECTED FOR BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Two girl players of the LBA and a coach selected to represent the country in the FIBA U-16 Women’s Asia Basketball meet. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY Kanungo caught taking ~15K bribe PAGE 2 SHIREEN MAKES A COMEBACK ON TELEVISION AFTER 2 YEARS PAGE 3 ARUSHI SHARMA ALL SET TO MAKE HER OTT DEBUT Shireen Mirza will be seen making a comeback on TV by portraying an important role in Bohot Pyaar Karte Hai. MAX 36°C | MIN 24°C | YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7:33 PM Arushi Sharma is ready to regale the audiences with her versatility in her upcoming Netflix original film Jaadugar. SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:24 AM Scooterist crushed to death by tipper Tribune News Service Family members, residents keep the body outside police station, hold protest, block road Ludhiana, June 22 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Samrala Jagtar Singh Dyalpura today nabbed a kanungo of the Machhiwara tehsil while accepting a bribe of ~15,000. The MLA also went live on the social media. Complainant Ranvinder Singh said he had applied for Tribune News Service division of land and the kanungo was demanding ~40,000 bribe for it. After negotiation, the bribe amount was fixed at ~25000. He gave him ~10,000 in advance, while the remaining Rs 25000 was to be given today. “I informed MLA Dyalpura about the bribe demanded by the official. He told me not to give any bribe to the official. He agreed to conduct a sting operation to catch the corrupt official. When I gave the bribe money of ~15,000 to the kanungo today, the MLA, along with his team, raided the office and recovered the bribe amount,” the complainant revealed. The MLA had already got the photostat done of the currency notes handed over to the official. These currency notes were also matched with the recovered amount in front of the official. The MLA said the case would be handed over to the department concerned for further action against the official. POWER SHUTDOWN LUDHIANA 10 am to 4 pm: Krishna Nagar, Balaji Nagri, Partap Singh Wala, Basant Nagar, Nirvana Club 10 am to 5.30 pm: Part of Seera Road Industrial Pocket, Dhrmpura Colony, Bajigar Colony, Harkrihan Vihar, Meharban,Village Seera , Seera Road, Mangat, Mangat Road Industry, village Kenja, Sujatwal Ludhiana, June 22 A scooterist was crushed to death under the wheels of a rashly driven tipper on the Rahon road here today. The deceased, who worked in a factory, has been identified as Ram Tirth, a resident of Baldev Nagar. According to information, Ram Tirth was heading towards a woollen mill to join his duty. When he reached the Rahon road, a tipper hit his scooter from the rear. He was crushed under the wheels of the truck and died on the spot. The truck driver fled from the spot after the incident. Angry kin and residents kept the body outside the Meharban police station and blocked the road in protest. The protesters said tipper drivers transporting sand were involved in road accidents everyday and the police were not taking action against them. Instead of taking the injured person to the hospital today, the tipper driver fled from the spot along with his vehicle. The kin were seeking immediate arrest of the tip- Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 22 The Ludhiana police have arrested third suspect, Raja Babu, in the extortion racket. The suspects were allegedly involved in making extortion calls to people by posing as members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. On June 14, the police had arrested two persons, Shakti Singh from Chhattisgarh and Afzal Abdullah from Bihar, with the help of the respective << Clockwise from left: Family members hold a protest, vehicles stuck in a traffic jam due to road blockade by the protesters, and wailing kin of the deceased on the Rahon road in Ludhiana on Wednesday. ASHWANI DHIMAN Ludhiana, June 22 An alleged misappropriation of government funds amounting to ~65 lakh has come to light in Ludhiana. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the main Opposition Congress of committing the “fraud”. Taking cognisance of the matter, Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik has marked a probe into the entire matter. Raising the issue, AAP leader Dr KNS Kang has said the previous Congress government had released a grant of ~65 lakh for streetlights in 26 villages of the Sidhwan Bet block in Dakha under Ludhiana district in January, barely a month before the Vidhan Sabha polls in the state. “Not a single street light has been installed so far, but the user certificate has been issued, showing the utilisation of the entire grant amount for the purpose,” alleged Dr Kang, who unsuccessfully contested the February Assembly ❝ ❞ Dr KNS Kang, AAP LEADER elections from Dakha. Interestingly, the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), who had issued the utilisation certificate (UC) of the grant after releasing the payment, has now sought criminal action in the matter, stating that neither streetlights have been installed nor money has been returned by the firm, which, he alleged, belonged to a relative of a Congress leader of Dakha. He has written a letter in this regard to the Sidhwan Bet SHO on June 16. The BDPO has alleged that he was “pressurised” by the Congress leader and others to issue payment to the said firm. “On inquiry, it has been The ill-fated truck that rammed into the railings on the GT road on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 22 A truck carrying factory waste rammed into the roadside railings on a highway at New Shakti Nagar near the Basti Jodhewal chowk on the GT road here on Wednesday morning. The truck rammed into the wall of a plot after hitting the railings. It stopped a few inches away from the hut con- per driver. The protest, which lasted for over an hour, was lifted after senior police officials assured the state police. The police said the suspects used to call people across the state and extort money from them. Gama, the kingpin of the gang, would be arrested soon. He had been running this racket since January this year. After Moosewala’s killing, the suspects were mainly making extortion calls to people by posing as prime members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. They used to threaten businessmen that if they failed to pay the money, their fate would be like Moosewala. BDPO seeks FIR, cites ‘political pressure’ for releasing payment Not a single street light has been installed so far, but the user certificate has been issued, showing the utilisation of the entire grant amount for the purpose. Truck rams into railings, hits wall, none injured The kin were seeking immediate arrest of the tipper driver. The protest, which lasted for over an hour, was lifted after senior police officials assured the kin that the tipper driver had been identified and he would be arrested soon. The body was later shifted to the Civil Hospital. kin that the tipper driver had been identified and he would be arrested soon. The body was later shifted to the Civil Hospital. SHO Meharban SI Jagdeep Singh said the incident took place in the jurisdiction of the Jodhewal police station and the policemen concerned were conducting raids to nab the tipper driver. Mango mania A roadside vendor sells different varieties of mango in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN found that no street lights have been installed in any of the 26 villages for which the grant was received,” the BDPO has said in a separate communication to the Panchayat Samiti chairman on January 21. Dr Kang said he has brought the entire matter to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner and submitted all relevant documents with her, seeking stern action against the accused involved in the embezzlement of government funds. Acting swiftly, the Deputy Commissioner has marked the inquiry to the ADC (Development) and has sought a fact-finding report to proceed further in the matter. Admitting that he was conducting an inquiry, ADC (Development) Amit Kumar Panchal said: “The record was being examined, statements of all sarpanches concerned have been recorded and a committee has been formed for the purpose.” He said the inquiry report would be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner within the next few days for further action. Ludhiana, June 22 A 62-year-man succumbed to Covid-19 here today. According to an official of the Health Department, COVID-19 FIGURES SAMPLES POSITIVE ACTIVE 36,64,835 1,10,189 136 2 DEATHS 2,286 For any information related to Covid Contact: 0161-2444193 & 4622276 A health worker administers the Covid vaccine to a girl in Ludhiana on Wednesday. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA Ludhiana, the deceased, a resident of the Salem Tabri area of Ludhiana city, was also suffering from chronic kidney disease and diabetes. The district today witnessed 19 fresh Covid cases. The number of active cases rose to 136. As many as 130 patients are in home isolation, while six are admitted to hospitals. — TNS structed inside the plot where employees of a private transport company used to sit. ASI Gurdyal Singh, incharge Subash Nagar police post, said the incident took place at 6.15 am. The steering of the truck got stuck all of a sudden, following which the driver lost control over the vehicle. The ASI said the truck driver and the transporter later struck a compromise. 4 armed persons make off with car Tribune News Service AAP alleges ~65L embezzlement Elderly man dies, 19 test positive by Cong, DC Malik marks probe Tribune News Service THURSDAY | 23 JUNE 2022 | LUDHIANA PROTESTERS SEEK ARREST OF DRIVER Third suspect nailed EXTORTION RACKET PAGE 3 Ludhiana, June 22 Four persons allegedly took away a car and allegedly kidnapped a man sitting in it on the GT road near the office of former MLA Sanjay Talwar here yesterday. The suspects later abandoned the car as well as the man near the Sherpur chowk. The Tibba police have registered kidnapping and carjacking cases against the suspects. Complainant Shahid Ali of Jammu and Kashmir told the police that he, along with his brother, was taking their father Ali Mohammad Malik to Military Hospital, Delhi. “We stopped our car near a tea vend on the GT road. We came out of the car, while our father kept sitting in the vehicle. Four masked men came on two motorcycles. The suspects, who were carrying sharp weapons, took away our car. They were unaware that our father was also sitting in the car. While we were going to the police station to file a complaint, we informed the PCR cops at the Samrala chowk about the incident. Policemen, along with us, started chasing the suspects. We found our car parked near the Sherpur chowk and our father was also inside the vehicle,” said the complainant. Investigating officer ASI Find man sitting in it on the way, abandon him, vehicle too PREVIOUS INCIDENT On Monday, two armed persons also attempted to loot a Mahindra Thar near Baranhara village. However, alertness of the vehicle driver foiled the attempt. People nabbed the suspects from the spot immediately. NO LOOT OF CASH, VALUABLES: COPS The police said the suspects did not loot any cash or valuables. It was suspected that the armed robbers seemed to have abandoned the car after seeing the poor health of the elderly man sitting in the vehicle. Balwinder Singh said CCTV cameras were being scrutinised to get any clue about the robbers. They would be nabbed soon. The police said the suspects did not loot any cash or valuables. It was suspected that the robbers seemed to have abandoned the car after seeing the poor health of the elderly man sitting in the vehicle. It is pertinent to mention here that, two armed persons also attempted to loot a Mahindra Thar near Baranhara village on Monday. However, alertness of the vehicle driver foiled the attempt. People nabbed the suspects from the spot immediately. SKM calls for nationwide peaceful protest tomorrow AGNIPATH SCHEME Kuldip Bhatia Ludhiana, June 22 The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) will hold a peaceful protest across the nation on June 24 against the Agnipath scheme being introduced by the Modi government. The SKM coordination committee had called c m y b upon all constituent organisations of farmers and the youth to oppose the scheme as it was closely associated with the families of the farmers who always remained in the forefront to send their family members to the armed forces. Giving the information here, Bharti Kisan Union Lakhowal (BKU) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said the SKM coordination committee strongly felt that scrapping the prevailing system of recruitment in three wings of the armed forces and offering job for just four years, that too on ‘no rank, no pension, basis, was a clear betrayal of the youth seeking permanent employment and also serving the country. “The Agnipath scheme is not only a cruel joke with the youth aspirants to join the armed forces but also it will pose a grave threat to the national security. It will dash the hopes of farmers and other financially stressed sections, who are nursing hopes of jobs in the Army for their unemployed children,” said Lakhowal quoting the conclusion drawn by the SKM. He said the farmers’ organisations, along with other like-minder bodies and youth, would hold protests at the district and sub-division level and submit memoranda to the authorities demanding immediate withdrawal of the scheme and restoration of the traditional system of recruitment to all three wings of the armed forces.