29052023-LT-01.qxd 29-05-2023 00:48 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SCUFFLE BREAKS OUT BETWEEN RESIDENT, MIGRANT VENDORS ROHIT SUCHANTI WANTS TO WORK WITH KIARA ADVANI HALLE BAILEY EXCITED ABOUT MEETING HER BOYFRIEND Seeing a turbaned man being beaten up, local youths overpoweredmigrants and wrecked their belongings. P2 Rohit Suchanti is a big fan of Kiara Advani, and he hopes to romance her on the big screen one day. P3 The Little Mermaid fame Halle Bailey is showing her boyfriend some love post the release of new film. P4 » » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 21°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.23 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5.24 AM MONDAY | 29 MAY 2023 | LUDHIANA 5 mobile phones, tobacco seized from Central Jail VB initiates probe of corruption charges against 4 MC officials Kuldip Bhatia Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 28 A surprise checking in the Central Jail, Ludhiana, led to the seizure of five mobile phones and seven tobacco sachets. Assistant Superintendent (Jail) Kuldeep Singh said on May 26, he along with jail staff, conducted a surprise checking in the jail and seized two mobile phones from the possession of two inmates. They have been identified as Jatinder Kumar, alias Rohit, and Sahil Jindal. Further, probe into the matter was launched to inquire about sources which facilitated the entry of the cell phones inside the jail. A case under the Prisons Act was registered against the suspects. Assistant Superintendent (Jail) Satnam Singh said on May 26, he along with his team, also conducted a checking and scanned the nook and corner of the jail. Even belonging of the inmates were also checked. During the checking, three mobiles phones and seven tobacco sachets were found lying abandoned on the jail premises. It could be possible that some inmates might have dumped the banned items on the jail premises due to the fear of being caught, he said. A case under the Prisons Act was registered against the unidentified inmates. After their identification, their names will be added to the FIR. DIRECTIONS WERE ISSUED TO LOCAL GOVT DEPT Taking note of the complaint, Vigilance branch of the state government had issued directions on April 19, to the Local Government Department through the Additional Chief Secretary to initiate a probe and take action as per rules against the officials, if found guilty. Ludhiana, May 28 After gathering dust in corridors of powers for more than three years, a complaint lodged by city-based RTI activist Rohit Sabharwal against four senior officials of the Municipal Corporation has now been taken up by the Vigilance Bureau (VB) of the Punjab Police to probe allegations of possessing assets disproportionate to known sources of income, approval to sub-standard works executed by contractors for financial gains as well as taking “cutback” from contractors/agencies and thereby squandering public money. Sabharwal was called by a DSP of the economic offences wing (EOW), Vigilance Bureau, to the Ludhiana Range office here on May 25, for verification of his complaint and provided him an opportunity to substantiate the allegations through written or photographic evidence, if any. In the complaint filed with the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Additional Chief Secretary (ACS)/Director, Local Government, Punjab and Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the Local Government, Sabharwal had charged four senior MC officials in MC’s building and roads (B&R) branch – Rahul Gagneja, Parveen Singla, both Superintending Engineers, Surinder Singh, Outsourced staff to go on indefinite strike at hospital Man, kin booked for sexually harassing daughter-in-law Ludhiana, May 28 The contractual employees of Civil Hospital working under the user charges policy of the government have decided to go on an indefinite strike from May 31 as they have not received salaries for the months of March and April. Outsourced employees such as staff nurses, Class IV employees, lab technicians and operation theatre assistants are working under the user charges policy of the government. They were hired in 2014 under the policy. — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 28 The Payal police yesterday registered a case against a man and his brother for the alleged sexual harassment of the former’s daughter-in-law. The suspects have been identified as Randhir Singh and his brother Bakshish Singh. They are yet to be arrested. The complainant told the police that on May 25 she went to serve food to her father-in-law and his brother in their room. As they finished the food, she went to Raman Kaushal, both Executive Engineers with serious financial and other irregularities. Taking a note of the complaint, the Vigilance branch of the state government had issued directions on April 19, 2023, to the Local Government Department through the ACS to initiate a probe and take action as per rules against the officials, if found guilty. Earlier, the CVO of the Local Government Department had written to the MC Commissioner on December 2, 2021, for holding inquiry the room to bring the dishes, carrying her two-year-old son in her lap. Her father-in-law took the child from her. When she was about to leave the room, her father-in-law caught her and hugged her. As she looked at his brother for help, he also caught her and the duo sexually harassed her. After the woman lodged a complaint, the Payal police registered a case against the suspects under various sections of the IPC. The police said raids were being conducted to nab the suspects. 2,960 candidates appear for UPSC prelims Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 28 The preliminary exam of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) was held at 17 centres of Ludhiana district for which over 5,000 candidates got themselves registered in the district. In the morning shift, 1,484 male candidates and 1,476 female candidates appeared for the test while 2,333 remained absent while in the evening shift, 1,466 were male while 1,459 were female candidates who took the test and 2,400 candidates were absent. The exam was conducted in two shifts — from 9.30 am to 11.30 am and from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm. For the smooth conduct of the exam, about 200 officials were deployed. It was held under tight security with the police keeping an eye outside each centre. Of the total 17 centres, four are at the SCD Government College for Boys and two each at the Khalsa College for Women and Government College for Girls. Of the two centres at the GCG, one was for candidates with disablities. Besides, there is one centre each at the SDP College for Women, Arya College for Boys, Ramgarhia Girls College, Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Malwa Central College for Education for Women, Kundan Vidya Mandir School, Model Town, Police DAV School, Sacred Heart Senior into the complaint and its disposal as per the protocol for such matters. As no action was taken by the MC in this regard, the office of the CVO sent three reminders (on December 31, 2021, January 27, 2022, February 20, 2023) without evoking any response from the MC. Commenting on the matter, MC Commissioner Shena Aggarwal told The Tribune: “Inquiry should be conducted in the matter. If any discrepancies are found, necessary action should be taken as per rules.” Copies of the complaint, along with relevant documents, were sent to all the MC officials concerned through WhatsApp on their official mobile numbers for their version on allegations but none chose to respond. Three miscreants attack biker, take away vehicle Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 28 A city resident suffered a serious injury on his arm when he was attacked with a sharp weapon by three snatchers near Veer palace on Chandigarh Road on Sunday. Complainant Sumit told the police that the incident took place around 4 am today. As he had to go out of the city, his father dropped him at the bus stop. When his father was returning home on motorcycle, three motorcycle-borne persons cornered his father. Before he could understand anything, the snatchers hit him on his arm with a sharp weapon and he suffered a serious injury. The miscreants then fled with the motorcycle. The entire incident was captured by CCTV cameras and the police have launched a probe to identify the snatchers. A case has been registered against the three unidentified suspects. The suspects in custody of STF officials in Ludhiana on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Three arrested with 1.6 kg of heroin worth ~8 crore Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 28 The Special Task Force (STF) wing of Ludhiana today claimed to have apprehended three persons and seized 1.6 kg of heroin from their possession. The value of the seized contraband is said to be Rs 8 crore in the international market. The suspects have been identified as Shubham Sidhu, alias Ganju (26), Sonu (28), both residents of Ghora Colony, and Dimple Kumar, alias Babbu (40), of Hargobind Nagar. A case under the NDPS Act was yesterday registered against them. STF inspector Harbans Singh in a statement issued said on May 27, a tip-off was received that the suspects were into heroin smuggling for a long time and they were on the way to Ludhiana from Ferozepur to deliver a huge quantity of heroin to their clients in a Maruti Ertiga vehicle (bearing registration no. PB10EV1567). He said the STF team laid a naka on the GT road in Jhande village where the vehicle was signalled to stop for checking. Initially, the driver of the vehicle tried to flee the place but the STF personnel nabbed the three occupants. As the police officials started checking the vehicle, 1.6 kg of heroin was found hidden beneath the driver’s seat. During preliminary questioning, Shubham said he was into the trade for a long time and he had already been facing cases of drug smuggling and under the Arms Act. In 2020, he came out from jail on bail and continued the trade. Dimple said he was a taxi driver and he was also facing an attempt-to-murder case registered against him in the past, the Inspector said. Dimple and Shubham were also drug addicts and they were residents of notorious Ghora Colony, which is known as ‘den of drugs’. Sonu is also a taxi driver. Notably, Tarun Sidhu, brother of Shubham Sidhu, was also a notorious smuggler and the STF had nabbed him a few months ago. At present, he is lodged in the Central Jail, Ludhiana. Picturesque Amaltas trees in full bloom on a sunny Sunday in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN POLLUTION IN BUDDHA NULLAH Aspirants outside an exam centre at a college in Ludhiana on Sunday. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN Secondary School, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, and Guru Nanak Public School. According to sources, over 25 Duty Magistrates have been deployed to check arrangements at all centres. Former ADC Amit Panchal was the observer and 17 superintendent rank inspectors were deputed to ensure that the exam was conducted in a smooth manner. A police official on duty said jammers were installed at all centres on Saturday and five police officials were deployed at each centre for frisking. Madhu, kin of a candidate outside a college, said since the exam was considered to be toughest, the candidates looked nervous. To give moral support to them, many parents and well-wishers accompanied them. It was mandatory for candidates to carry admit cards issued by the UPSC along with valid photo identity cards. Meanwhile, many candidates found the exam difficult. However, they said it was a nice experience to appear for the prestigious exam and gain experience. Aspirants take CUET Meanwhile, candidates also appeared for Common University Entrance Test (CUET) exam that was held here in three shifts. The exam was held at Guru Nanak Computer Centre, New Janta Nagar, in three shifts. In shift I, 40 candidates registered themselves while 21 appeared for the test and 19 remained absent. In Shift II, 38 candidates were registered of which 23 appeared and 15 were absent and in Shift III, 40 candidates got themselves registered and 27 appeared for the test and 13 remained absent. The CUET exam started on May 23 and different slots were given to the candidates as per their choice of subjects to get admission in colleges under the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). A candidate who appeared for the sixth and the last time said the pattern of the exam was completely changed. He said: “Options given have been changed as the elimination method was not given”. A few candidates complained that Covid-19 guidelines were not followed at the centre and there no water. c m y b PAC activists continue drive, submit memo Ludhiana, May 28 Led by activists of the public action committee (PAC) for rejuvenation of the Buddha Dariya, environmentalists today carried out an awareness march and submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann through AAP Ludhiana West MLA Gurpreet Gogi Bassi, demanding formulation of a comprehensive plan of action for saving the drain from alarming level of pollution and turning it into a body of clean water again. PAC activists CM Lakahanpal, Kapil Arora and other members said they had urged the government to set up a biodiversity park at the site, earlier identified for a textile park, in Mattewara, which had already been acquired by the government and after the PAC members submit a memo to MLA Gurpreet Gogi in Ludhiana. project having been scrapped, most part of the land had been encroached upon. The government must honour its commitment to safeguard the reserve forest land and take steps for returning part of the acquired land to the Sekhowal Panchayat as per assurances given by the Chief Minister in July 2022 in a meeting with the PAC, they added. The PAC asked the government to shut down the liquor factory at Zira in Ferozepur district without any further delay and the closure orders, in writing, be issued forthwith. “Villages that had their water polluted by the factory should be urgently provided clean drinking water from alternate source on a priority basis and criminal cases lodged against protesters raising the issue of pollution by the factory be cancelled.” The PAC cautioned the government against any further concretisation of canals and urged to cancel concretisation plan of the twin canals leading to Rajasthan. Any project likely to threaten the Sutlej with any kind of pollution should be dropped. The government must constitute a committee of independent experts for an immediate and time-bound audit of all STPs, CETPs, along with monitoring the progress of the ‘Buddha Dariya rejuvenation project,’ suggested the PAC, adding that necessary measures should be taken by all departments concerned in close co-ordination with each other to avert recurrence of incidents such as Giaspura gas tragedy. — OC