20032023-LT-01.qxd 20-03-2023 00:29 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune EMPOWER WOMEN, PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AT HOME GURDAS MAAN AND DILJIT DOSANJH REIMAGINE CHALLA BIGG BOSS 16 WINNER MC STAN’S INDORE SHOW STOPPED Persistence of old practices, gender stereotypes, patriarchal mindset serious concerns: Residents. P2 Spotify’s release of three singles by Punjabi artistes puts spotlight on the folk traditions of the state. P3 Taking over the stage, activists made it an unpleasant experience for the fans and the live audience. P4 » » » FORECAST CLOUDY SKY MAX 24°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 14°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.37 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:29 AM MONDAY | 20 MARCH 2023 | LUDHIANA (From left) Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu along with police personnnel at Samrala Chowk; paramilitary jawans stand guard in Ludhiana and Khanna SSP Amneet Kondal lead cops during a flag march in Khanna. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Police, paramilitary forces conduct flag marches Senior officials monitoring situation, urge public to maintain harmony |Nakas installed at key areas|5 companies deployed in city Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 19 To ensure that the law and order situation remains peaceful in the industrial hub, Police Commissioner Mandeep Sidhu led a flag march along with a large posse of police force and paramilitary jawans at Samrala Chowk. The development came after the Punjab Police cracked down on the activists of ‘Waris Punjab De’ and arrested 78 aides of pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh. “We have deployed force at every nook and corner of the city. Apart from static nakas, mobile nakas have also been installed. The police teams are also conducting patrolling to keep tab on anti-social elements who may create law and order problem,” said CP Sidhu. 21 HELD FOR VIOLATING SECTION 144 ■ The Ludhiana rural police on Sunday arrested 21 persons protesting in favour of pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh at Boparai Kalan village near Jagraon. ■ Inspector General of Police (Ludhiana Range) Kaustubh Sharma told The Tribune on Sunday that they were arrested for violating the Section 144 of the CrPC imposed by the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana. ■ “After nabbing them they were produced in the court of SDM which sent them in judicial custody. The arrested person include the granthi of the gurdwara. No one will be allowed to take law into his hands, the police will take immediate action if anyone tries to create law and order problem,” added IG Sharma. CP Sidhu revealed that apart from the strength of city police, state police also provided the additional force for deployment in city. Even Ludhiana police also got five companies of paramilitary force, along with the city police cops, were deployed at various nakas in city’s internal and outer areas. Sidhu also warned the rumour mongers who have been spreading fake news and messages on social media with a motive to create law and order problem. “Our cyber team is also keeping tab on social media as some notorious persons are spreading rumours on social media about the law and order situation. We will not tolerate any such development and strict action as per law will be taken against the rumour mongers,” CP Sidhu said. Meanwhile, ADCP-3 Shub- ham Aggarwal also carried out flag march from the Sadar police station to Ghumar Mandi. During the exercise, the police were also seen interacting with residents to build confidence of security and safety in them. Residents were also urged by the police to maintain peace and inform them if they find anyone making efforts to disturb harmony in the district. Two Amritpal supporters arrested in Khanna The Khanna police arrested two sympathisers of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh. SSP Khanna Amneet Kondal said Ishwar Singh of Manupur near Samrala and Gurpreet Singh of Uttala village near Samrala were arrested. Both were sent to Central Jail, Ludhiana. SSP Kondal, along with SP (Investigation) Pragya Jain, entire police force and paramilitary jawans conducted a flag march in Khanna. Talking to The Tribune, SSP Kondal said, “There is no law and order problem in Khanna. Even no dharna or any blockade was seen anywhere in the city. Our force is on alert mode and no one will be allowed to disturb peace.” SSP Kondal added that Khanna police also got one company of ITBP and additional force from state police. High-tech nakas were installed at city's strategic place and cops were checking suspicious vehicles. Kondal urged residents that they should not believe on fake news being spread on social media. Even if they get any fake news messages regarding law and order problem in state, they should not share on social media as action can also be taken against them for spreading rumours. Solid waste being dumped in Vehicle lifters’ gang ‘Barsaati Nullah’ people fume busted, 2 arrested , Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 19 An old drain also known as a ‘Barsaati Nullah’ that passes through several areas in the old city is crying for attention as a huge quantity of waste is still being dumped in it. The banned plastic carry bags, thermocol items, clothes, sacks and other waste materials are accumulating and choking the drain near Bhadaur House, Ludhiana. The violators seem to have no fear of the law. The matter of dumping waste in the drain was raised in the past too but no concrete steps have been taken to curb the violations. Parminder Mehta, a former councillor, said he had been raising the matter for a long time but nothing has been done to stop the violators from dumping waste in the drain which is over 60 years old. “The rainwater is drained out through the nullah which passes through areas like Talab Bazar, Books Market, Bhadaur House, Nali Mohalla etc. To avoid waterlogging in such areas during the rainy season, there is a need to stop the violators from dumping any kind of waste in the drain,” he said. Moreover, the sewer pipes of nearby buildings were also linked with the nullah in the absence of any check, he added. A shopkeeper said that the Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 19 The Ludhiana police claimed to have busted a gang of vehicle lifters and arrested two members with 10 stolen motorcycles. The accused have been identified as Priyanshu of Basti Jodhewal and Ram Raj of Rahon road. Joint Commissioner of Police (City) Saumya Mishra said on March 15, one Amit Kumar lodged a complaint that his motorcycle was stolen from Rose Garden parking. After the police started a probe, abovesaid two were identified and arrested. A stolen motorcycle was recovered from them. During questioning of the accused, they told police that they had stolen several motorcycles in the past and same were parked at some isolated places. On the disclosures of the accused, nine more stolen motorcycles were recovered, which the accused had recently stolen from the various places in the market, added JCP Mishra. Mishra said real owners of these recovered motorcycles would be identified and vehicles would be returned to them. Kisan Mela on Mar 24, 25 Tribune News Service Huge quantity of waste accumulated in a nullah passing near the Bhadaur House market. PHOTO INDERJEET VERMA waste is being dumped in the drain for a long period. Besides, open urination along the drain has increased the woes of passers-by. The civic body must pay attention to it. A city-based resident, Satinderpal Singh, said, “Despite awareness campaigns, dumping of different kinds of waste in the water bodies and drains is a major issue here. There is a need to take serious steps to curb such violations. The water bodies and drains are not meant for dumping solid waste.” Superintending Engineer, Operation & Maintenance (O&M) branch, Ravinder Garg was not available for his comments. MC Zonal Commissioner Neeraj Jain said he will instruct the staff to take the required steps. Ludhiana, March 19 Preparations are in full swing for the forthcoming two-day Kisan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on March 24-25. Attempting to make farmers economically wise by being sustainability conscious through prudent use of water and fertilisers, the mela will convey this strong message through its theme “Aao kheti karch khataiye, vaadu, paani khaad na paiye.” Inviting farmers and their families for the massive participation in the mela, Dr Sat- c m y b bir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, recalled PAUfarmers’ evergreen connect which has come a long way since 1967, riding the waves and the winds as well as filling the food kitty of the country through ushering in of Green Revolution and thus, leading to mushrooming success of the agri-development of Punjab. Pointing out the present-day agrarian concerns of natural resource depletion, weather vagaries and dwindling farm income, Dr Gosal stressed upon keeping aligned with fast-changing continued on page 2 Maintain peace, residents urged Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 19 Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik and Commissioner of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu on Sunday solicited the support of people in maintaining peace, brotherhood and harmony in Ludhiana district. Chairing a meeting of peace committee members, the Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of Police said that everyone should make concerted efforts to uphold peace and harmony at every cost. Seeking active support from members of the peace committee for strengthening social fabric in the district, they said there must not be any difference among the people and added that there DC Surabhi Malik and CP Mandeep Singh Sidhu hold peace committee meeting in Ludhiana on Sunday. ASHWANI DHIMAN was complete normalcy, still participation of people was the need of the hour. The officials said that people must refrain from getting swayed by rumours or false propaganda on social media and said strict action would be taken against those spreading fake news. The DC and the CP said the administration had been keeping strict vigil to prevent any untoward incident and it was well aware of its duty to maintain peace and harmony in the district.