24022023-LT-01.qxd 2/24/2023 12:38 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SKM CONDEMNS INCOME TAX RAIDS ON FARM LEADERS TULSI & JUBIN COLLABORATE FOR MAST AANKHEIN Celebrated singers Tulsi Kumar and Jubin Nautiyal have again collaborated for love song titled Mast Aankhein. P3 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 28°C | MIN 11°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 13°C SIKH ARTS & FILM FESTIVAL 2023 GETS ROLLING Farmers say Centre’s move aimed at intimidating leaders ahead of Delhi morchascheduled for March 20. P2 FORECAST About 20 short films from eight countries will be screened in the fourth edition of Sikhlens. P4 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 6.20 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6.58 AM » FRIDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2023 | LUDHIANA Man gets life term for raping 14-yr-old stepdaughter Staffer held for stealing ~9.39-croreprojecttocoverdrain near cremation ground kicks off jewellery worth ~75 lakh Will solve sewerage woes in various areas, says MLA After keeping stolen ornaments at friend’s house, he went to Nepal Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 23 The Ludhiana police claimed to have solved a major theft case and arrested an accountant of a jewellery showroom, ‘PC Jewellers’, located on Rani Jhansi Road in the city. The police recovered gold, silver and diamond ornaments worth Rs 75 lakh from the suspect. He has been identified as Deepak Bansal of Rajesh Nagar, Haibowal. Commissioner of Police (CP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu, DCP Harmeet Hundal, ADCP Rupinder Kaur Sran and other police officials addressed a press conference in this regard. Sidhu said on February 15, an accountant working with the jewellers, Deepak, had stolen ornaments worth Rs 75 lakh from the showroom. After committing the crime, he kept a bag containing the ornaments in the house of his friend on the Dhandra road and left the city for Nepal. “The suspect wanted to settle in Nepal. He reached The suspect in police custody in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN FRIENDS REFUSED TO BE PART OF CRIME “Deepak Bansal, the suspect, wanted to settle in Nepal. He reached that country via UP. Later, he called his friend in Ludhiana, to whom he had given the jewellery, and told him to sell the same and sent the money to him in Nepal. He had also offered his friend to keep a few lakhs of rupees from the amount which he would get after selling the ornaments. But he refused to be a part of the crime. The suspect also tried to convince other friends but everyone refused his offer flatly,” CP Mandeep Singh Sidhu said. that country via UP. Later, Deepak called his friend, to whom he had given the jewellery, and told him to sell the same and sent the money to him in Nepal. He had also offered his friend to keep a few lakhs of rupees from the amount which he would get after selling the ornaments but he refused to be a part of the crime,” Sidhu said. He said the suspect had also tried to convince some of his other friends but every- one refused his offer flatly. Later, Deepak returned to India from Nepal to collect the ornaments. On Wednesday, he collected the bag and was on the way to sell the ornaments. However, the police had already laid a trap and nabbed the suspect, the CP said. He said the police would honour the friends of the suspect who had refused to become the part of the crime. CP refuses cash rewards offered by jeweller The manager of the jewellery showroom met CP Mandeep Singh Sidhu and thanked the police for solving the major theft of ornaments within eight days of the crime. He expressed desire to give a cash reward to the police team which had solved the case and recovered all stolen ornaments. But the top cop refused the reward by saying that it was the duty of the police to solve the crime and catch criminals, hence, the police need no such rewards, only appreciation matters to them. Ludhiana, February 23 Ludhiana Central constituency MLA Ashok Parashar Pappi on Thursday launched the Rs 9.39-crore project to cover a portion of the drain between the Gaushala road and the cremation ground. Kick-starting the work, the MLA said the project would solve sewerage-related issues faced by residents of Dharampura, Dhoka Mohalla and surrounding areas falling in the Ludhiana Central constituency. He said dumping of garbage near the drain and Undertrial tests +ve for Covid Ludhiana, February 23 One person tested positive for Covid while no loss of life was reported due to the virus in the district on Thursday. The person who tested positive is a 31-year-old man, an undertrial from Dhoka Mohalla. A total of 1,13,640 persons have tested positive for Covid and a total of 3,018 patients have lost their lives so far. — TNS The drain between the Gaushala road and cremation ground. the rainy season were adding to the woes of the residents. The MLA said he had promised residents that the drain portion would be covered and now, the work had been initiated. He said it would take a year to complete the project under which a concrete road would continued on page 2 PROPOSAL TO RECRUIT MLA’S SON AS LEGAL ADVISOR Oppn leaders question move Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 23 As the process was allegedly underway to recruit an AAP MLA’s son as a legal advisor of the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, on an outsourcing basis, questions are being raised over the move by leaders of different opposition parties. A proposal to recruit Gaurav Khurana as a legal advisor of the MC, Ludhiana, through a private company on an outsourcing basis at a salary of Rs 54,000 per month for the period of one year was presented before the MC’s Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) a short time ago. An MC official and the Mayor said the proposal was continued on page 2 *T&C Apply Offer valid on selected items & till stocks last Ludhiana, FebrUary 23 The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Amarjeet Singh has convicted Ramesh Sahni of Street No 13, Jeewan Nagar, Focal Point, on the charge of raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter and making her pregnant. He was sentenced to undergo rigorous life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The court held that the prosecution had successfully proved the guilt of the accused. The court also declined the plea of leniency raised by him. Additional public prosecutor BD Gupta said a case was registered against him on April 29, 2019, following a statement of the victim’s mother. The prosecution examined 12 witnesses to prove the guilt of the accused. Victim's mother said he used to rape the girl on a regular basis. The matter came to light when she became pregnant. During the trial, however, the accused had pleaded innocence. But after appreciating the evidence on record, the court found him guilty. — OC INDERJEET VERMA Tribune News Service App SHOP & WIN SHOP FOR `10,000 & GET VOUCHERS WORTH `1,500* SHOP FOR `25,000 & GET VOUCHERS WORTH `5,000* NEXUS ELANTE MALL, INDUSTRIAL & BUSINESS PARK PHASE - 1, CHANDIGARH - 160002 c m y b MEDIA PARTNER 0172 - 5005000 NEXUS_ELANTE