23052023-LT-01.qxd 5/23/2023 12:48 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune VERKA EMPLOYEES DEMAND REGULARISATION OF JOBS MINISTER INAUGURATES 66 KV SUBSTATION AT BARMI Built at ~3.86 crore, project will benefit 20,000 consumers of 15 villages, says Harbhajan Singh ETO. P2 GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 41°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 44°C | MIN 25°C ALI FAZAL’S NEXT PROJECT TO RELEASE IN UNITED STATES State government’s alleged failure to address their demands led to protests in Ludhiana and Bathinda. P2 FORECAST Ali Fazal’s next Hollywood project, Kandahar, is set to release on over 2,000 screens in the US. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 7.19 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5.26 AM » TUESDAY | 23 MAY 2023 | LUDHIANA 875 farm fires recorded so far, third highest in state after Moga, Gurdaspur Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 22 As the current wheat harvesting, popularly known as Rabi season, was drawing to a close, farmers were busy in clearing the crop residue by putting it on fire before paddy sowing in their fields in the district, a visit has revealed. While the stubble burning was continuing unabatedly in the industrial and business capital of the state, the incidence was still less than last year, the official information has confirmed. Since the start of the wheat harvesting season from April 1, as many as 875 farm fires had so far been reported in the state’s biggest and largest district, in terms of area and population, which were third highest district tally in the state, the data compiled by the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC) in Ludhiana has revealed. The impunity with which the stubble burning was going on in the district was evident from the fact that daily crop residue burning cases have touched as high as 109, which was the day’s highest figure recorded in any district in the state on May 11. The daily graph of the stubble burning cases reported in the district during the past two weeks showed that 648 farm fires were added to the Ludhiana’s tally, including Remains of burnt stubble in a field in Ludhiana on Monday. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN COMMITTED TO CHECKING MENACE We are running awareness, education and enforcement campaigns to sensitise farmers and take action against stubble burning. The district administration is committed to checking the menace. Surabhi Malik, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER ❝ ❞ DISTRICT-WISE FARM FIRES WORST THREE Moga 1,010 Gurdaspur 946 Ludhiana 875 OTHER DISTRICTS Amritsar 864 Barnala 540 Bathinda Faridkot Fatehgarh Sahib Fazilka Ferozepur Hoshiarpur Jalandhar 12 on May 9, 84 on May 10, 109 on May 11, 53 on May 12, 83 on May 13, 7 on May 14, 49 on May 15, 79 on May 16, 87 on May 17, 10 on May 18, 16 on May 19, 17 on May 20, 24 and 18 on May 21 and 22, which was the state’s second highest tally on the respective days. With this, the total count of farm fires recorded in Ludhi- 584 464 138 437 846 407 595 Kapurthala Malerkotla Mansa Muktsar Pathankot Patiala Ropar ana till May 22 has touched 875, which was the third highest tally in the state after the maximum of 1,010 in Moga and 946 in Gurdaspur. Though this season’s incidence of stubble burning was still less than 2022 when 950 farm fires were captured during the entire Rabi season between April 1 and May 31, the closure of the current sea- Safety gear 499 177 332 587 91 418 38 Sangrur 637 Mohali 20 Nawanshahr 173 Tarn Taran 584 Total 11,262 (SOURCE: PRSC, LUDHIANA) son was still 10 days away. However, this year’s count of fire events had already surpassed the season’s total count recorded in 2021 when 517 stubble burning cases were registered, 2018 when 730 farm fires were recorded, while 875 fire events were captured in 2017. The higher count of farm continued on page 2 MC begins trial of electric vehicle charging station Ludhiana, May 22 After the death of a 37-yearold man allegedly due to drug overdose, three persons have been booked in connection with the case. It is alleged that the victim, identified as Major Singh, took drug from the suspects. The trio, identified as Raju, his wife Jagjit Kaur, and Kaalia, are residents of Divya Colony, Bhamian Road, Ludhiana. They have been booked under Sections 304 (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Balwinder Kaur, mother of the victim, residing in Bhola Colony, Jhabewal, here, has given a statement regarding her son. According to her, on the morning of May 20, Major had gone to deliver food to her brother Baldev Singh, who was admitted to a hospital in the Jamalpur area. However, when he did not return, she became worried. In the evening on the same day, she received the news that her son had passed away. His body was found on street number 1 of Divya Colony. As per information, a syringe was found near his body. Balwinder Kaur has alleged that Major was battling drug addiction and it has come to light that he had obtained drug (chitta) from the suspects. Consequently, an FIR has been registered against the suspects at the Jamalpur police station in Ludhiana. SI Manpreet Kaur is currently probing the case while the suspects are still at large. — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 22 With focus on improving air quality and promoting green technology, the Municipal Corporation (MC) initiated a trial of an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at the Municipal Corporation’s Zone D office here on Monday. The installation of the charging station has been carried out by Tata Projects and the trial was officially commenced today in the presence of Ludhiana West MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi and MC Commissioner Shena Aggarwal. An official said the trial period would continue for one month, during which the charging station would be FACILITY FREE OF COST FOR ONE MONTH An official said the trial period would continue for one month, during which the charging station would be available free of cost for public use. Visitors were advised to read guidelines displayed there for utilising the station. available free of cost for public use. Visitors were advised to read guidelines displayed there for utilising the station. During the trial, representatives from the company concerned provided a detailed explanation of the installation and operation process for the EV charging stations, which are available in various categories to cater to different needs. Manoj Kapoor and Kapil Sethi from the company said the project could be replicated at other locations such as parking lots. The MLA and the MC Commissioner highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to promote green technology and electric vehicles as a means to improve air quality. The trial of the charging station has been initiated to assess its performance and viability for implementation in the city. Results of the trial will be thoroughly evaluated by the civic body, enabling informed discussions and considerations for future projects in this domain. TRIBUNE PHOTO Stubble burning continues in dist but less than last year Three booked as man dies of ‘drug overdose’ MLA Gurpreet Gogi, MC Commissioner Shena Aggarwal and others at the MC’s Zone D office. Gurugram man found dead in SUV Haryana man arrested for Our Correspondent Girls cover their faces to brave scorching heat in Ludhiana on Monday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Sahnewal, May 22 The body of a Gurugram resident was recovered from the driving seat of a Maruti Brezza car near Red Mango hotel at Sahnewal yesterday. The man breathed his last on Saturday morning when he was returning to Gurgaon. The body was recovered by the police after a complaint was lodged by the brother of the deceased yesterday. A case has been registered under Sections 323, 302 and 341 of the IPC at the Sahnewal police station. The deceased has been identified as Dhanwant Singh, alias Bablu (44), a resident of Gurugram. He was a taxi driver and had come to Ludhiana on Thursday. Dhanwant died under mysterious circumstances when he was returning to Gurgaon in the wee hours of Saturday. Rajinder Singh, the owner of the taxi (bearing registration number HR 26CZ 3644), which the victim was driving, called up Parth Singh Yadav, the brother of the deceased and a resident of Partap Singhpura, Alwar, in Rajasthan, yesterday to inform that the body of his brother was lying on the driving seat of the Brezza car near a hotel in Sahnewal. As the complainant reached the scene, he found his brother lying dead on the driving seat of the vehicle. He complained to the police that there was blood in his mouth and injury marks on his body. Investigating Officer Sahnewal SHO Inderjit Singh Boparai said a case had been registered on the statement of the brother of the deceased. “The circumstances, however, are not supporting the statement of the complainant. Initial investigation and general observation by doctors indicate death by heart attack. However, the autopsy report is awaited. Things would be clear after the arrival of the report. A thorough investigation is on as CCTV camera footage is being procured to know the cause behind the death,” the SHO said. Two friends die, one gets critically injured FIR registered, police after speeding car hits them at Khanna yet to identify killers Tribune News Service ONE OF DECEASED CAME FROM BAHRAIN 15 DAYS AGO Ludhiana, May 22 Tragedy struck three friends on Sunday night when a speeding car hit them on the Samrala road in Khanna, resulting in the death of the two and leaving the third person seriously injured. The driver of the car also sustained injuries. The incident occurred around 10 pm on Sunday when the three friends, Gurpreet Singh (25), Balwinder Singh, and Taranvir Singh, aka Tanu, were sitting near the entrance of shops on the Samrala road in Khanna. Gurpreet and Taranvir lost their lives in the Gurdeep Singh, elder brother of Gurpreet, who killed in the mishap, filed a complaint against the car driver, after which the police lodged an FIR. He said Gurpreet had returned from Bahrain only 15 days ago. mishap. Meanwhile, critically injured Balwinder has been shifted to a hospital in Chandigarh from a city hospital where he is under treatment. Gurdeep Singh (28), the brother of Gurpreet, filed a complaint against the car driver, after which the police registered an FIR. Gurdeep said his younger brother Gurpreet had returned from Bahrain only 15 days ago. He alleged that the driver of the speeding white Hyundai Verna car hit his vehicle with his brother and his friends who were sitting outside shops. The accident occurred due to the driver’s negligence. After the accident, Gurdeep, along with his friend, arranged a private vehicle to transfer the body of his brother Gurpreet and Balwinder to the Civil Hospital, Khanna, while Taranvir was taken to a nursing home. Gurpreet was declared dead during the treatment at the hospital and Taranvir, who was referred to SPS Hospital, Ludhiana, also lost his life. Seriously injured Balwinder was referred to a hospital in Chandigarh for treatment. The driver of the speeding vehicle, Achhardeep Singh, is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Ludhiana. A case has been registered against the car driver at the Khanna City-1 police station under Sections 279, 337, 338, 427, and 304-A of the IPC. The police said a probe was underway. An empty liquor bottle was allegedly lying in the car that suffered significant damages on its front side. c m y b TRIPLE MURDER Ludhiana, May 22 The police are still in the process to identify the culprits in the case of the brutal murders of the former ASI of the Punjab Police, his wife and their son at their residence in Nurpur Bet village. Following a complaint lodged by the daughter of the former ASI, the Ladhowal police have registered an FIR under Sections 397 (robbery or dacoity, with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) and 302 (murder) of the IPC against unidentified persons. The victims, former ASI Kuldeep Singh, his wife Paramjit Kaur, and son Pali Grewal, were found murdered in their house. Pali was married and he had left his wife at her parental house about two days ago, as per information. A police official had said yesterday that the murders seemed to have been committed on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. Notably, the former ASI’s entire house was found ransacked, indicating a disturbance. It has come to light that the suspects also stole three licensed weapons and valuables, including some jewellery from the house. The police found a ladder from the rear side of the house and it is suspected that continued on page 2 stealing 350 quintals of rice Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 22 The Khanna police have apprehended a truck driver in connection with the alleged theft of 350 quintals of basmati rice. The suspect is identified as Sharafat Ali, alias Bachi (24), of Thariya in Sonipat district, Haryana. Khanna SSP Amneet Kondal said the police have recovered a truck and retrieved 700 bags of rice, each weighing 50 kg, from the suspect. Other persons involved in the case are still at large. According to the police, the suspect had tampered with the truck’s registration number plate. As per police estimate, the value of the 700 bags of rice is around Rs 32 lakh. Based on the statement provided by Nitin Luthra, a rice mill owner from Machhiwara Sahib, an FIR was registered on May 8 at the Macchiwara police station under Sections 420, 120-B, 473, and 411 of the IPC regarding the missing stock of the rice. The complainant alleged that he had dispatched 700 bags of basmati rice to Karnal, Haryana, on May 1 using a transport service. During the loading of the goods, the suspect, Sharafat Ali, had introduced himself as Parveen Kumar. However, the driver of the vehicle and his accomplices reportedly stole the rice bags. Officials of the Macchiwara police station, led by SHO Inspector Davinderpal Singh, conducted an investigation in the matter, apprehended Sharafat Ali on Sunday and successfully recovered the rice and the vehicle. His associate, Naveen Kumar, is still evading arrest, and the identity of another accomplice is yet to be established. The police said the other suspects in the case will be arrested soon. The police claimed that Sharafat was already facing two other FIRs that were previously registered against him. The truck driver in police custody on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO