01032023-LT-01.qxd 3/1/2023 12:09 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune HAIBOWAL TRADERS PROTEST AGAINST RISING THEFT CASES GAUAHAR KHAN WILL NOT BE FASTING THIS RAMZAN JORDAN GETS HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME STAR Haibowal traders blocked a road in protest against authorities for their failure in stopping theft incidents. P2 Gauahar has disclosed her Ramzan plans. She is pregnant with her first child with husband Zaid Darbar. P3 Actor Michael B Jordan will be felicitated with Hollywood Walk of Fame Star on March 1. P4 » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 27°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 24°C | MIN 15°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.24 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 6:52 AM » WEDNESDAY | 1 MARCH 2023 | LUDHIANA Deed writer caught taking ~20K bribe Suspect in double murder case nabbed from Haridwar in 48 hrs After refusal to pay ~50K by dairy owner, suspect slit throat of former, worker Tribune News Service Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 28 The Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday nabbed Nitin Dutt, a deed writer, at Tehsil Central, Ludhiana, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000. Stating this here today, a spokesperson for the VB said the deed writer was arrested on the complaint of Bhupesh Joshi, a resident of Chander Nagar, Ludhiana city. The official said the complainant had approached the Vigilance Bureau and alleged that the deed writer had demanded Rs 70,000 as bribe to help him execute registry of his 50yard house. The spokesperson said a VB team from the economic offences wing of the Ludhiana range laid a trap and the deed writer was arrested on the spot while taking a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant as a first instalment in the presence of two official witnesses. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against the suspect at the VB police station here. Further investigation in the case was under progress. Violations: MC seals 2 buildings Ludhiana, February 28 The Ludhiana police have successfully traced and apprehended the suspect in a gruesome double murder that occurred on the intervening night of February 25 and 26 at Jyoti Dairy in Bulara village here. The police said the suspect, a worker at the dairy, demanded Rs 50,000 from the dairy owner and when he refused, the former slit his throat. Later, when another worker intervened, he was also hacked to death. Within 48 hours of the incident, police teams were able to trace Girdhari Lal, a worker at the dairy where the incident occurred, who had fled with all his belongings after slitting the throats of Jot Ram (77), the owner, and Bhagwant Singh (65), a worker, at the dairy. The police also seized a blood-soaked long knife, which was used in committing the crime. Commissioner of Police (CP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu, JCP RS Brar, ADCP Suhail Qassim Mir and ACP Vaibhav Sehgal addressed a press conference in this regard. Sidhu said despite facing several challenges in tracing the suspect, including his past criminal credentials and absence of a mobile phone, the Ludhiana police deployed various teams for the purpose. They made use of CCTV The suspect in police custody in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN DGP’S COMMENDATION DISC GIVEN TO 12 COPS On the recommendation of CP Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav granted DGP Commendation Disc to 12 officers involved in apprehending the suspect. Further, a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh each has been granted to both teams — CIA and police station, Sahnewal. footage from the dairy and other cameras along the route to track Girdhari’s movements. The CP added that it was found that the suspect had took an auto-rickshaw near the Gill railway station and then boarded a bus at Sherpur Chowk, which was heading towards Ambala. The police teams worked with Haryana Roadways to track the bus and found that Girdhari had deboarded at the Ambala bus stand. Further probe revealed that he had boarded another bus going towards Jamna Nagar and had deboarded at Jagadhri. He revealed that despite non-functional CCTV cameras at the bus stand, the police teams continued their efforts and inquired with local residents, eventually finding a shopkeeper who had seen Girdhari roaming around the railway station. With the help of the stationmaster and local passengers, the police were able to track Girdhari to Haridwar, Uttarakhand, where he was finally apprehended while sitting on a Ganga ghat. The suspect also have a criminal past as he is already facing two cases — the recovery of 46 kg of opium in 1996 by the Dehlon police and 35 kg of opium by the Sangrur railway police in 2014. “He will face justice for the barbaric heinous crime, the investigation agency would make sure that the investigation was done in an expedited manner and our condolences go out to the families of the victims,” the top cop said. “The Ludhiana police have shown dedication and perseverance in tracking down the suspect within 48 hours, despite facing multiple challenges. The team, including Inspector Sukhdev Brar, SHO Sahnewal; ASI Balwinder Singh; and senior constable Amandeep Singh, which followed and finally apprehended the suspect, will be suitably rewarded,” Sidhu said. On the recommendation of CP Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav granted DGP’s Commendation Disc to 12 officers involved in apprehending the suspect. Further, a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh each has been granted to both teams — CIA and police station, Sahnewal. The DGP Disc has been granted to JCP RS Brar, DCP (Investigation) Harmeet Singh Hundal, ADCP 2 Suhail Qasim Mir, ACP (South) Vaibhav Sehgal, CIA in-charge Inspector Kulwant Singh, ASI Nirbhai Singh, ASI Jasbir Singh, HC Kulwinder Singh, constable Vansnoor, Inspector Sukhdev Singh Brar, ASI Balwinder Singh and SC Amandeep Singh. A public toilet in a dilapidated condition on Gill Road in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO Public toilet built under Smart City Mission in pathetic state NGO raises questions over missing solar panels, other items Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 28 A public toilet that was constructed by spending lakhs of rupees under the Smart City Mission is in a dilapidated condition now. Some of the doors, solar panels, taps, and other equipment were allegedly missing from the toilet. Residents complained of filthy conditions and dirty toilet seats and urinals that were being ignored by the corporation and Ludhiana Smart City Limited. They said the public toilet site was not even cleaned for a long time. They further complained no water supply was made available at the facility. Raising questions about the bad condition of the toilet, president of Vigilant Citizens’ Forum, an NGO, Kuldeep Singh Khaira has sought a probe into the matter. He said: “The public toilet outside Merado Colony is in a poor condition. Water tanks, solar panels, and taps have been stolen as the civic body failed to pay any attention in this regard. There is no maintenance of the toilet complex. It is a sheer waste of public funds. Who is responsible for the same?” A city resident said the government must look into the matter and take necessary action in this regard. He said: “When the toilet was constructed by spending huge money, it was also the responsibility of the department concerned to ensure its maintenance. Earlier, a toilet near the canal bridge on Gill Road was found in a poor condition. There is already a shortage of public toilets in the city.” MC’s Executive Engineer, Balwinder Singh said he would look into the matter. He said the public toilet was constructed under the Smart City Mission around one-and-ahalf years ago. He said the MC’s O&M branch was asked to provide a water supply connection for the public toilet. Meanwhile, MC’s O&M Branch Superintending Engineer could not be contacted for comments. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 28 The Municipal Corporation (MC) sealed two buildings on the Bhamian road and Guru Arjun Dev Nagar falling under Zone B of the corporation on Tuesday. As per MC officials, both these buildings fall under the commercial category and owners had failed to deposit property tax, which amounts to around Rs 3 lakh. The civic body team also went to seal another commercial building on the Chandigarh road over the default in payment of property tax but the owner paid the pending tax on the spot. MC Superintendent Rajeev Bhardwaj said the drive against defaulters would continue in coming days. Man climbs atop MC office Drugs worth lakhs incinerated by cops building, threatens suicide Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 28 Accusing Municipal Corporation (MC) officials of not issuing a no objection certificate (NOC), a man climbed onto the rooftop of the MC’s Zone D office and allegedly threatened to die by suicide. With the support of the police, the man was persuaded to come down, as per information. The man alleged that MC’s building branch officials had been forcing him to make repeated rounds of MC offices for the past one year but the required NOC for his Accuses officials of not issuing NOC for plot plot was not issued to date. He said the matter was raised before the higher authorities and the Chief Minister’s Office but to no avail. MC’s ATP at Zone D, MS Bedi, said the man had a plot of nearly 3,000 sq yrds at Barewal but he had got a registry of 400 sq yrds out of the 3,000 sq yards. “Now, the man wanted NOC for the 400-sq yrd plot as he wants to construct a house there. As per the policy, the NOC can be issued if the registry was done prior to March 19, 2018. But, he does not fulfill the conditions to obtain the NOC from the MC. Thus, we can’t issue the same to him. We had asked him to get the required approval under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act by fulfilling the rules,” he said. MLA Gurpreet Gogi was also present at the spot. He said he had asked MC officials and the man to come to his residence tomorrow. “We will look into the matter,” he said. — TNS Ludhiana, February 28 Drugs seized in various cases have been destroyed by the city police on Tuesday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation) Harmeet Singh Hundal and ADCP (Investigation) Rupinder Kaur Sran, who are members of the drug disposal committee, supervised the disposal work at an incinerator. Sran said the drug disposal committee of the Ludhiana Commissionerate destroyed 1.3 quintals of poppy husk, 2 kg of hero- in and 38 kg of ganja. This much quantity of drugs was pertained to the 69 First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the city police in action against drug peddlers in the past. The ADCP said the practice was being followed according to the directions of the Supreme Court. After a specific period, drugs seized by the police in various cases were destroyed. Police officials destroy drugs >> seized in various cases, in Ludhiana on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Finally, Sherpur Chowk ROB opens for traffic, commuters relieved MC, PotHole Raja Man tests positive for Covid in dist may collaborate to improve road infra Four bridges over Sidhwan Canal on Laddowal Bypass also under consideration, RS MP’s demand met by NHAI Chairman Ludhiana, February 28 To improve road infrastructure, the Municipal Corporation (MC) is contemplating collaboration with PotHole Raja, a social venture working to improve road infrastructure in various cities of the country, officials said. Recently, a delegation from Pothole Raja, led by its director Sourabh Kumar, met MC Commissioner Shena Aggarwal and discussed projects that could be taken up in the city to improve road infrastructure and to make roads safe. The MC officials said the MC was also contemplating signing an MoU with PotHole Raja, wherein experts would conduct studies to upgrade the road infrastructure and enhance road safety in the city. — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 28 Finally, the Sherpur Chowk railway over bridge (RoB) was opened for traffic on Tuesday after its construction was completed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The development assumes significance as the work on the project was moving at a slow pace since long and it was only recently that it was put on a fast track after Rajya Sabha MP from Ludhiana Sanjeev Arora had met NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav to impress upon its early completion. Acceding to the MP’s request, the NHAI Chairman had Motorists commute through the Sherpur Chowk ROB after it opened for vehicular traffic on Tuesday. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN assured to get the work completed and open it for vehicular traffic by February end. With this, commuters heaved a sigh of relief as they were facing inconvenience due to obstructions caused by the ongoing construction work. Lauding the efforts of the NHAI, especially its Chairman in keeping his word, Arora told The Tribune here this evening that he had on January 5 taken up the issue of pending works related to Sherpur Bypass and con- c m y b struction of bridges across the Sidhwan Canal in Ludhiana with the NHAI Chairman. Responding to Arora’s demand, the NHAI Chairman, in an official communication sent to him, had stated that “the matter has been examined by the NHAI and it is to inform that the construction of ROB at Km 311 of the NH-44 (Sherpur Chowk) is nearing completion and likely to be opened for traffic by February 28, 2023. Further, the proposal for construction of the four bridges across the Sidhwan Canal on Laddowal Bypass is also under consideration.” Arora had met the NHAI Chairman last month and had submitted a charter of demands related to pending works in Ludhiana city. He had apprised the NHAI Chairman that inconvenience was being faced by the public and commuters at large due to pending projects of the NHAI in and around Ludhiana. He had sought speedy completion of the Sherpur Bypass pending work, stating that the pending project was creating trouble for commuters daily as it was taking almost 30 minutes to cross the 500-m stretch. He had also apprised the NHAI Chairman that the construction of four bridges across the Sidhwan Canal towards South City in Ludhiana were yet to see the day of light for which application was pending with the NHAI since long. He had requested the NHAI Chairman to personally look into the matter and do the needful. “I am thankful to the NHAI Chairman for meeting my request in the larger public interest,” Arora said, adding that people would get a sigh of relief with the completion of the ROB construction and opening this one of the busiest routes in the city for vehicular traffic. He also thanked the NHAI Chairman for considering the proposal of constructing four bridges across the Sidhwan Canal on Laddowal Bypass. He said Ludhiana residents have been raising a demand for construction of the four bridges over the period of time. Ludhiana, February 28 According to the office of the Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, one person tested positive for Covid while no loss of life was reported due to the virus in the district on Tuesday. The person who tested positive is a 42-year-old man from Payal. Civil Surgeon Hitinder Kaur said a total of 1,13,643 persons have tested positive and 3,018 patients have lost their lives to the deadly virus since March 2020 in the district. On Tuesday, 397 samples were sent for testing which include 314 RTPCR and 83 antigen samples. — TNS