06052023-LT-01.qxd 5/6/2023 12:44 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune BURNING OF GARBAGE CONTINUES IN LIT PARKS ACTOR VIJAY VARMA OPENS UP ABOUT ROLE IN DAHAAD Actor Vijay Varma will be seen in an interesting role in Dahaad, a series by Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar. P3 GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 20°C ENGLISH SINGER ED SHEERAN WINS COPYRIGHT CASE Residents write to government, seek implementation of National Green Tribunal’s directions. P2 FORECAST Ed won the copyright trial case, which alleged that he plagiarised Marvin Gaye’s song. P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 7.08 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5.37 AM » SATURDAY | 6 MAY 2023 | LUDHIANA Three booked for abetting man’s suicide Policewoman suspended for wrongly indicting shopkeeper SHAHEED KARTAR SINGH SARABHA MARG Plumes of dust irk commuters Tribune News Service Road recarpeting work must be completed soon, say residents Ludhiana, May 5 A man committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his residence in Lalto Khurd on the intervening night of April 3 and 4. The victim left a suicide note in which he held three persons responsible for his death. The Sadar police yesterday registered a case against the three persons on the charge of abetment to suicide. Two of them were identified as Jagroop Singh of Tharike village and Sunny of Khanna. In the video he made with his smartphone before committing the crime, the deceased, Jagga, alias Samsung (31), had stated that on the pretext of helping him in availing a loan of Rs 1.5 lakh, the suspects had taken several documents from him. On the basis of the documents, they registered three fake firms on the victim’s name. By registering the firms, the accused had resorted to tax evasions. The victim also stated that he had received a phone call from the GST Department regarding tax evasions. The deceased’s wife said her husband went into depression after knowing about tax evasions worth lakhs committed by the suspects on his name. He took the extreme step due to the same. Investigating officer SI Gurmeet Singh said after registering a case against the three suspects, further investigation was launched in the matter. Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 5 The Khanna police today suspended a constable after her role in wrongly indicting a shopkeeper in a criminal case pertains to the sale of banned Chinese plastic strings came to the fore. The policewoman, identified as Ravinder Kaur, alias Ravi, a resident of Dhamot village, had connived with two of her accomplices, Gurdeep Singh, aka Deepi, of Khanna and Chandar Sharma, aka Mannu, of Mandi Gobindgarh. A separate FIR under various sections of the IPC was lodged against the three suspects, including the policewoman, by the Khanna police on Friday. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Khanna, Amneet Kondal, while confirming the development to The Tribune on Friday said on January 18, 2023, the Khanna Sadar police had recovered 25 rolls of banned plastic string from the shop Speeding SUV hits woman, scribe among three nabbed Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 5 The police arrested three persons on Friday whose speeding car had hit a woman, resulting in an injury on her right hand. The suspects were also accused of using casteist slurs against the victim. Those arrested have been identified as Bhawna Kumari, Mrityunjay Kumar and driver Parminder Singh. Bhawna is a journalist with a TV channel and others are its crew members. In her complaint, victim Gagan said she was on her way to attend the inauguration of a Mohalla Clinic when a rashly-driven an Innova SUV hit her, causing an injury on her right hand. During the accident, her mobile phone also fell and broke. She added that later, the passengers of the vehicle came out of it and indulged in a verbal clash with her and allegedly used casteist slurs against her. A case under Sections 279, 337 and 427 of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the SC and ST Act has been registered against the suspects at the Division No. 3 police station, Central Subdivision, Ludhiana. Later, BJP workers led by Gurdev Sharma Debi reached the police station in support of the journalist. Motorists commute on a dilapidated stretch of Pakhowal Road in Ludhiana. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN PWD authorities to take measures to resolve problems and complete the remaining road work as soon as possible. A trader complained that though the old road layers have been removed and gravels laid on the stretch between Phullanwal Chowk and Lalton village around 10 days ago, the stretch is yet to be recarpeted. “As thousands of vehicles pass through the road daily, flying dust particles are causing inconvenience to the public and ‘Illegal’ constructions go unchecked in Zone D areas: PAC to MC chief Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 5 Members of a public action committee (PAC) has lodged a complaint with the MC Commissioner, alleging that illegal constructions are being carried out unchecked in various parts of the Municipal Corporation’s Zone D. The committee has questioned the role of an official from the MC’s building branch for allegedly ignoring the violations. According to the PAC members, numerous buildings are being constructed in violation of the building bylaws on Dugri Road, Ferozepur Road, Hambran Road and Maya Nagar in Ludhiana. They alleged that despite the illegal constructions, the building branch had not taken any legal action against them, resulting in financial losses to the corporation. The PAC members, including Dr Amandeep Singh Bains and Kuldeep Singh Khaira, have appealed to the MC Commissioner to launch an inquiry and take appropriate action against the officials responsible for the illegal constructions. However, an official from the MC’s building branch denied any knowledge of the complaint and asserted that required action was taken whenever any violation comes to light. A large number of illegal constructions have come up in different parts of the city as the MC’s building branch failed to take timely action against the violations. Many commercial buildings lack parking arrangements in the absence of any check. increasing pollution too. It is difficult to ride a two-wheeler in such a dusty condition. Chances of mishaps remain high. The authorities must take steps to resolve the issues,” he said. Sarabjit Singh, a daily commuter, said the people were facing trouble due to the flying dust on the road. To resolve the issue, the Public Works Department (PWD), Punjab, should sprinkle water multiple times in routine on road portions that were yet to be re-carpeted. Additionally, road berms should be levelled to avoid any mishap. A number of accidents occur due to uneven berms, he said. Executive Engineer of the PWD Pardeep Kumar has acknowledged the dust-related problem and said a 15-km stretch had already been recarpeted. The work to recarpet the remaining stretch would commence soon. The estimated cost of the road project is Rs 23.18 crore. COP, AIDE HAD OLD ENMITY WITH TRADER Khanna SSP Amneet Kondal claimed that Gurdeep Singh and policewoman Ravinder Kaur had an old enmity with the shopkeeper due to which they hatched a conspiracy to indict the latter in a fake case. “After the matter came to my knowledge, I have placed the police official, posted at the Khanna city police station, under suspension and have sent her to the Police Lines, Kondal said. of Jasvir Singh of Alaur village, Khanna. Jasvir was also booked under the Wildlife Protection Act and under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). While the police were conducting a probe into the case on April 25, the police party went to Alaur village where sources informed the police that when plastic string rolls were seized from the shop (a cycle puncture outlet) of Jasvir, Chandar Sharma was roaming near the shop and he could have planted stock of the banned string at Jasvir’s shop, SSP Kondal said. After nominating Chander in the case on May 1, he was also arrested and a four-day police remand was sought for him. During interrogation, Chan- Guv remembers Ramgarhia, ex-Prez Ludhiana, May 5 The city police yesterday arrested a youth for allegedly kidnapping and raping a 13year-old girl. A case has been registered against him on the charges of kidnapping and raping the minor victim. He has been identified as 21-year-old youth Krishna Parshad of Janta Nagar. The victim’s father told the police that on April 27, her daughter had gone missing from home under mysterious circumstances. While they were searching for her, they got to know that the suspect had abducted the girl on the pretext of marrying her. Yesterday, the girl was traced from Millerganj. She said the suspect wanted to marry her due to which he kidnapped her. He had taken her to some unknown place where he developed sexual relationship with her several times against her wishes. Inspector Satwant Singh said Krishna was arrested yesterday. — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 5 Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Friday said the life and achievements of historical figures such as Jassa Singh Ramgarhia continue to inspire and motivate the people even in the present times. He was the chief guest at a special function held here to mark the 300th birth anniversary celebrations of Ramgharia and 107th birth anniversary of former President Giani Zail Singh here. “On this day, we not only celebrate the life of a historical figure but also pay tributes to the legacy he left behind,” he said. He said Ramgharia was a historical figure who left an indelible mark on the history of Punjab. “He was a legendary Sikh warrior, who not only fought for his people but also made significant contributions to the development Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit (third from right) unveils a painting of Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia in Ludhiana. of the Sikh community in general,” Purohit recalled. The Governor said: “It is not only his legacy that we are celebrating today but also his unparalleled courage, unwavering determination and indomitable spirit. His contribution to establishing the Ramgarhia Misl was indeed great.” He recalled that Ramgarhia was one of the most prominent Sikh leaders during the 18th Century, who played a significant role in some of the most important battles in Sikh history. “I would like to acknowledge the courage of Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgharia, who bravely dethroned the Mughals and paved the way for a brighter future for the Hindu and Sikh communities,” Purohit said. Ramgarhia had joined the Sikh confederacy led by Banda Singh Bahadur and fought against the Mughal forces in the 1730s. After the death of Banda Singh Bahadur, the Sikhs were Illegal dumping of industrial waste continues to risk lives GIASPURA TRAGEDY Two such cases detected in 2 days lay bare violations ALL EYES ON NGT-ORDERED INVESTIGATION Even as the magisterial inquiry ordered by District Magistrate Surabhi Malik and the police investigation into the FIR registered in the Giaspura gas leak case were yet to find any clue, all eyes were on the fact-finding probe ordered by the National Green Tribunal. Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 5 The illegal and unscientific dumping of industrial effluents continue to risk the public lives with impunity in Ludhiana, if the two illegal industrial units caught dumping their untreated waste into the civic body’s sewer lines during the past two days is any indication. Even after the tragic incident of 11 deaths, including five of a family, due to a toxic gas leakage from a roadside manhole at Giaspura here on Sunday, the illegal operation and unscientific disposal of effluents or chemicals from industrial, domestic and dairy units in the industrial hub of the state has not stopped. Though the authorities concerned claim to tightening the Effluent flows into the sewage water that further merges with the Buddha Nullah. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN noose around the violators, the ground reality and the official action of catching two illegal industrial units again brought to fore the brazen violations that were posing serious threat to the public. Even as multiple departments continue to pass the buck and refuse to own the dar admitted that he in connivance with Deepi and the policewoman, Ravinder Kaur, had secretly planted rolls of the string in the shop of Jasvir and later, they also informed the police that Jasvir was selling the banned string and a raid could help the police in recovering a huge stock, the SSP said. She claimed that Deepi and the policewoman had an old enmity with the shop owner due to which they hatched a conspiracy to indict him in a fake case. “After the matter came to my knowledge, I have placed the police official, posted at the Khanna city police station, under suspension and have sent her to the Police Lines, Kondal said. Youth arrested for abducting, raping minor Special function held to mark birth anniversaries of both personalities HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Ludhiana, May 5 Commuters travelling on a stretch of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Marg (also known as Pakhowal Road), which falls outside the Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction, are currently experiencing inconvenience due to large plumes of dust that arise after the passage of vehicles. The road leads to Sarabha, the ancestral village of freedom fighter Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha. In February, the foundation stone was laid for the special repair of a 22.55-km-long stretch between Phullanwal Chowk and near Pakhowal village. According to the PWD, 15 km of the stretch has already been recarpeted and the remaining work will be completed soon. Commuters have complained about issues due to flying dust particles on the stretch that has not yet been recarpeted as well as uneven berms on the road. Local residents and shopkeepers are urging the Nikhil Bhardwaj responsibility for the Giaspura tragedy, “toxic gullies” continue to dot industrial units in various parts of the city. While separate inquiries commissioned by the civil and police authorities are still in progress to nail the culprits and find out the exact reason for the tragedy, enforcement c m y b staff from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and the Municipal Corporation (MC) were being quizzed by the Police Commissionerate as part of the ongoing investigation in the matter. According to official information, three common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) with a capacity of 105 MLD (millions of litres per day or megalitres per day) were being operated by the Punjab Dyeing Association under the supervision of the PPCB to treat the industrial waste. These included a 40-MLD CETP on Jail Road for Focal Point area industries, another 50-MLD CETP also on Jail Road for Tajpur Road area units, and a 15-MLD CETP on Bahadurke Road meant for industrial units located on Bahadurke Road. Besides, 32-MLD industrial waste was being treated by the industries concerned. It was the treatment capacity for 134MLD industrial effluent gen- erated daily by legal units, as per the official records. However, waste generated by the illegal industries and the unscientific manner in which it was dumped and flown into the civic body’s sewer lines and open nullahs still remain a mystery. Taking a suo motu notice of the gas leak incident, the NGT Principal Bench, headed by Chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel and comprising judicial member Sudhir Agarwal and executive member Dr A Senthil Vel, had on May 2 ordered to constitute an eight-member fact-finding joint committee, headed continued on page 2 divided into various sects and lacked a unified leadership. Ramgharia emerged as a charismatic leader who was respected by all Sikh factions. He continued to lead the Sikh confederacy till his death in 1803. “He left behind a legacy that inspired future Sikh leaders such as Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who went on to establish the Sikh Empire in the early 19th Century,” the Governor remarked. Purohit also praised former President Giani Zail Singh, whose birthday was also commemorated on the occasion. “He is widely regarded as an exceptional leader who made valuable contributions to the nation during his tenure. It is a day of great significance for us as we celebrate the contributions of two great personalities who have left an indelible mark on the history of India,” he added. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was also present. One held with 1 kg of opium Raikot, May 5 The Ludhiana (Rural) police claimed to have nabbed a member of a gang of drug peddlers who had been involved in smuggling and distribution of narcotics among addicts of the area. The police seized 1 kg of opium from the suspect, Ajmer Singh, alias Bholla, of Pherurai village, in Ludhiana. They also seized Rs 7,200 drug money and a Mahindra Scorpio SUV used in the crime. , Ludhiana (rural) SSP Navneet Singh Bains said police personnel, led by Raikot DSP Rachhpal Singh Dhindsa and SI Hathur Kamaldeep Kaur, had arrested Bholla when he was going to supply opium to his client in Hathur on Thursday night. “Having received a tip-off , the police laid a naka on Acharwal Bridge late on Thursday evening and nabbed the man with opium,” he said. — OC