17072022-LT-01.qxd 17-07-2022 00:38 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana TRIBUNE BA.5 STRAIN: HEALTH DEPT STARTS TELEMONITORING OF PATIENTS The BA.5 strain spreads faster than other variants. However, residents continue to flout the Covid norms. FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY Truck driver held, 100-kg poppy husk seized Ludhiana, July 16 The Khanna police on Friday arrested a truck driver and seized 100 kg of poppy husk from him. The accused has been identified as Hapreet Singh, a native of Fatehgarh Sahib, at present staying in Bant Colony, Khanna. The police said a routine naka was laid on the Malerkotla road where on suspicion, a truck (bearing registration no. PB65A V 0595) was stopped for checking. Some goods were loaded in the truck. “Suspecting the presence of some drugs or narcotics in the vehicle, senior police officials were called to the spot. In their presence, two big bags were checked in which 100 kg of poppy husk was recovered. The bags were camouflaged with other loaded goods in the truck. The police said after registering a case under the NDPS Act against the truck driver, further probe was launched. The police said past record of the truck driver was also being checked. — TNS Minor girl, youth missing Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 16 A 16-year-old girl and a 23year-old boy went missing under mysterious circumstances in separate incidents. In the first incident, Shiv Rani of Mayapuri said on July 13, her daughter Shivani (16) had left home, saying that she was going to attend a birthday party of her friend. However, she did not return home. The girl’s mother suspects continued on page 2 PAGE 2 ACTOR AVIKA GOR IS GRATEFUL TO SOUTH FILM FRATERNITY MAX 36°C | MIN 29°C | YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET SUNDAY 7:30 PM PAGE 4 Aamir will next be seen in Laal Singh Chaddha, which is the Hindi remake of Tom Hanks-starrer Forest Gump. SUNRISE MONDAY 5:35 AM SUNDAY | 17 JULY 2022 | LUDHIANA Police, Mining Dept conduct Police remand of ex-MLA Bains extended by two more days raid along Sutlej, 4 nabbed RAPE CASE Legal Correspondent Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 16 The Ludhiana police along with Mining Department officials conducted a big raid at Rajapur alongside the Sutlej where illegal mining of sand was going on. The raid was conducted early this morning. Açcused after seeing the police party, tried to flee but four of them were caught by the police. The police also impounded four tippers and four poclain machines from the mining site. The SHO, Ladhowal, PROBE OFFICIALS’ ROLE, SAY CONTRACTORS The impounded poclain machines at Rajapur on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Some contractors said illegal mining was going on at the behest of corrupt officials of the mining and police departments. If the police seriously probed the matter, big names from both departments would crop up. inspector Jasvir Singh, said six accused involved in the mining racket were identified as Davinder, Ramandeep, Jatinder, Lal Singh, Laddi and Lovepreet, all residents of Jalandhar, Ludhi- Sources said illegal mining at the site was going on for a long time but the police and the Mining Department had failed to pay heed to the menace. Commissioner of Police continued on page 2 ana and Garhshankar. Of them, four were arrested. Reportedly, some fake mining slips were also recovered from the spot which were used by drivers of tippers or tractortrailers to befool the police. Jagraon couple dupes daughter of~27L, booked Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 16 The Jagraon police registered a fraud case against a couple on the complaint of their daughter on Friday. The accused had committed a fraud of Rs 27 lakh with their daughter. They have been identified as Rajinder Singh and his wife Kuldeep Kaur, residents of Punjabi Bagh, Jagraon. Prabhjot Kaur, who is also a resident of Punjabi Bagh, in her complaint had alleged that her parents had taken Rs 27 lakh along with 40 tola of gold from her and promised that with the money and gold, they would buy a house in her name. Later, instead of buying a house in her name, the accused bought a house in their name. Now, they had thrown her out of the house, the complainant alleged. The woman had filed a complaint with the SSP Lud, hiana (rural), who had further marked a probe to the DSP (special crime). The DSP in his probe had found the allegations levelled against the couple true and recommended registration of an FIR. Investigating officer ASI Gursewak Singh said further probe in the case had been launched. COVID-19 FIGURES SAMPLES POSITIVE ACTIVE DEATHS 37,58,246 1,10,969 246 23 2,297 The recovery rate of Covid patients has gone down to 97.71 per cent. Till date, a total of 37,58,246 samples have been taken, of which 36,32,360 were found negative. Samples of 3,860 suspected patients were sent for testing today. — TNS Payal resident held with 1-kg opium The accused in police custody in Payal on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Ludhiana, July 16 The Payal police today claimed to have arrested a man and seized 1 kg of opium from his possession. The accused has been identified as Pritpal Singh of Dhamot Kalan, Payal. The DSP Payal, Harsimrat , Singh Chetra, said a police AAMIR KHAN HOSTS SCREENING OF LAAL SINGH CHADDHA After a flourishing career on television, Balika Vadhu-fame Avika Gor made a swift shift to the South Indian industry. 49 more test +ve, 1 dies Ludhiana, July 16 One more person from Ludhiana district lost his life to Covid-19 while 49 more tested positive for the virus on Saturday. A total of 1,10,969 persons have tested positive and 2,297 have lost their lives to the deadly virus since March 2020 in the district. Today, there were 246 active cases, of which 238 have been asked to isolate themselves in their homes while six patients are admitted to private hospitals. PAGE 3 team was conducting a patrolling in the area where on suspicion a pedestrian was asked to stop for checking. He was carrying a polythene bag from which 1 kg of opium was seized. He was going to deliver the drugs to his clients. A case has been registered. — TNS c m y b Ludhiana, July 16 The Court of Judicial Magistrate Harsimranjit Kaur today extended the police remand of Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) chief and former MLA Simarjit Singh Bains by two more days in the rape case of a 44-year-old woman. He is in police remand since July 11. The police remand of the four other accused — Paramjit Singh Pamma, Baljinder Kaur, Jasbir Kaur, alias Bhabhi, and Pardeep Kumar, aka Gogi Sharma, — was also extended by two days. All the accused were produced before the court amid tight security. Additional public prosecutor Rajbir Chahal sought the further police remand of the accused with the plea that more time was required for probe. It was pleaded that during interrogation it was revealed that the prime accused former MLA used to change his phone and give it to his employees. To recover the same, a raid was conducted at his factory but none of the employees was available. However, the defence lawyer opposed the contentions and submitted that more than sufficient remand had already been given. Hence, there was no necessity to extend the remand. The FIR was registered against him with the orders of a local court in July 2021. The charge sheet was filed again before the court in December 2021. At that time, none of the accused was arrested. On November 16, 2020, the woman had moved an handwritten application to the Commissioner of Police (CP), Ludhiana, for the registration of an FIR. She continuously sat on a dharna outside the office of the CP seeking , arrest of the accused.