21082023-LT-01.qxd 8/21/2023 1:01 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MP DISTRIBUTES ASSISTIVE AIDS TO DIFFERENTLY ABLED RAGHAV THAKUR ASKS ASPIRING ACTORS NOT TO GIVE UP EASILY NIHARIKA CHOUKSEY GETS CANDID ABOUT HER JOURNEY Electric tricycles, wheelchairs, hearing aids, artificial limbs and other items distributed among needy at camp.P2 One needs to have patience. Too often I see people giving up too easily, says actor Raghav Thakur. P3 Niharika Chouksey shared her journey with co-star Aakash Ahuja as fictional drama Faltu all set to go off-air. P3 » » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.03 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:56 AM MONDAY | 21 AUGUST 2023 | LUDHIANA Posh Sec 39 areas in state of neglect 3 robbers barge into house, thrash Man dies by suicide, car dealer booked Sewage accumulation on road, streets, poor maintenance of parks major concern Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 20 The Tibba police station yesterday registered a case against the owner of Jiwan Car Bazaar, Sector 32, here, for abetting the suicide of a man. The deceased has been identified as Dimple Ahuja (32), alias Shanky. Complainant Kanchan Ahuja, a resident of GK Estate, told the police that her son Shanky was under depression for the past few weeks. On August 18, his health deteriorated due to which the victim was admitted to the local Civil Hospital where he breathed his last, she said. A day after the death of her son, on August 19, her younger son Gopal Ahuja, who lives in Canada, said before dying by suicide Shanky had sent a video to him in which he mentioned that he had consumed poison and he would not be able to survive. About the reason of consuming poison, Shanky had said the ownwer of Jiwan Car Bazaar had forced him to consume some drugs and under the influence of the same, the latter had forced him to sign some papers for selling his car. The complainant said the video sent by the deceased to his brother Gopal Ahuja in Canada was given to the police as an evidence so that the same could ensure strict punishment for the suspect car dealer. Investigating officer Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jiwan Kumar said after registering a case, further investigation was launched and action would be taken against the suspect. WARD WATCH WHAT RESIDENTS SAY We continue to grapple with accumulation of stinking water on the main Chandigarh Road and internal streets due to overflowing sewers at Police Colony Chowk and near Moti Nagar during rainy days. Additionally, condition of most of the parks is distressing. Foul stench from the sewage disposal unit compounds our troubles. These problems must be addressed soon. ❝ WARD NO 18 LUDHIANA Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 20 One of the posh areas of the city — Sector 39 — in Ward number 18 is lying in a state of neglect. Residents of certain parts of the sector complained of enduring hardships primarily due to the persistent issue of overflowing sewage for a long time. Parks in the area are also in a dilapidated condition. The residents have expressed anger over the consistent accumulation of sewage on Vardhman Chowk to Moti Nagar Road in Sector 39, even in the absence of any rainfall. Commuters have been facing a difficult time due to the accumulated sewage water on the road. Sukhdev Singh, a resident, highlighted the deteriorating state of parks and the sewage accumulation on road connecting Vardhman Chowk and Moti Nagar in Sector 39. The situation turns worse during rainy days. “Whenever it rains, sewers near Moti Nagar and Police Colony Chowk start overflowing. The sewage flows into certain streets, parks in Sector 39 and main Chandigarh Road, leaving the people to face inconvenience. The authorities concerned must take effective measures to fix issues related to sewage overflow and waterlogging,” said another resident. Also, the residents lamented lack of efforts by the civic ❞ Premjeet Singh, RESIDENT OF SECTOR 39 A sewer overflows in Sector 39 near a private school during recent rainfall; and (below) stray cattle roam freely in Mini Rose Garden of Ward 18. PHOTOS: INDERJEET VERMA ❝Even in the absence of rain, sewage accumulates on Vardhman Chowk to Moti Nagar Road in Sector 39, causing trouble for commuters. Stench emanating from the accumulated water is unbearable. During rainy days, the situation worsens. I am witnessing the insanitary conditions for the past one year. We appeal to the authorities to resolve the issue promptly. ❞ Ashish Dogra, PRIVATE EMPLOYEE body in maintaining various parks in the sector, with ‘missing or stolen’ park grills compounding the issue. The condition of a prominent park known as the ‘Mini Rose Garden’ has also fallen into disrepair. The park has become a habitat for stray cattle with wild grasses overgrowing in various sections. Some residents near Vardhman Chowk voiced concerns about the foul smell emanating from a sewerage disposal unit constructed a few years ago. They demanded that the Municipal Corporation should find a solution to the problem as the stench has become unbearable. Ankur Verma of New Moti Nagar highlighted the issue of sporadic instances of contaminated water supply and sewage overflow in the area. Neglected road gullies exacerbate the situation. Besides, incidents of snatching have been on the rise in New Moti Nagar, he alleged. Main market road, Sec 32 parking lot in poor condition Furthermore, the main market road and parking area in Sector 32 are also in a poor condition. Residents are demanding swift efforts by the MC to improve the situa- tion, along with redressal of traffic-related concerns. Traffic congestion on the main Chandigarh Road, especially during rainy days, was also a major issue, another resident said. Former Congress councillor Vanit Bhatia, who won the 2018 elections from Ward 18, claimed that significant development projects, including road construction and expansion, were undertaken during his tenure, from March 2018 to March 2023. A stormwater drainage system was also installed on Chandigarh Road to combat waterlogging issues during his term. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 20 The investigation of the Khanna police after busting an interstate weapon supply gang in which four persons, including a supplier of illegal arms from Madhya Pradesh, Vapinder Singh (19), were arrested, led the police to check the role of a notorious gangster, Sampat Nehra, in the case. Bring latter on production warrant from Bathinda jail OTHER CONTACTS OF ARMS SUPPLIER UNDER LENS “During the questioning of arms supplier Vapinder Singh, we found his connection with gangster Sampat Nehra. If the latter was in touch with the supplier through internet calls or any other medium, they could have struck weapon deals. We are questioning both of them together. Some other persons on Vapinder’s contact list are also on our radar,” said a senior police official. Sampat is facing several cases, including heinous crimes. The Khanna police brought him on production warrant from the Bathinda jail on Saturday and procured his three- day police remand. Sources said the MP-based weapon supplier, a student, was reportedly in contact with Sampat and it was being suspected that both had been in touch via internet calls. The police were suspecting that Vapinder and Sampat might be engaged in illegal weapon deals and the supplier would have sold or supplied weapons to close aides of Sampat across the country. “During the questioning of Vapinder, we found his connection with Sampat. If the latter was in touch with the supplier through internet calls or any other medium, they could have struck weapon deals. We are questioning both of them together to find if weapon supply deals took place between them. Some other persons on Vapinder’s contact list are also on our radar,” said a sen- The elderly woman undergoes treatment at the Civil Hospital in Khanna on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 20 Three motorcycle-borne masked robbers barged into a house on the Malerkotla road in Khanna on Sunday. After thrashing a 70-year-old woman, the miscreants committed a loot. They tied the woman’s hand and put a piece of cloth in her mouth to stop her from shouting. Ujagar Singh, the husband of the victim, Surjit Kaur, said his wife was retired from the Health Department. Around 4.30 pm, three robbers barged into the house and entered the room of his wife. Before she raise the alarm, they Loot 8 tola of gold, cash from victim before fleeing scene tied her hands and put a piece of cloth in her mouth. Afterwards, the miscreants ransacked the house and took away 8 tola of gold ornaments and some cash with them. When the robbers fled, his wife managed to untie her hands and inform neighbours about the incident. She was rushed to the Civil Hospital for treatment. The suspects were captured in CCTV cameras and the police launched a probe to trace them. Students too bear the brunt Students and faculty at Government College (East) and nearby educational institutions on Chandigarh Road are also facing inconvenience due to the continuous overflowing of sewers and accumulation of dirty water on Vardhman Chowk to Moti Nagar Road in Sector 39. But the civic body has not yet undertaken any essential action to address the issues. “Especially during rainy days, the situation becomes worse, making it difficult to commute on the road inundated by sewage. The MC must wake up to resolve the issue.” Khanna police probe links of MP weapon supplier with gangster Sampat Nikhil Bhardwaj 70-yr-old woman ior police official. Meanwhile, Khanna SSP Amneet Kondal told The Tribune that the police probe highlighted the name of Sampat in the interstate weapon supply gang case. So far, the investigation was at an initial stage. As and when some facts would crop up, the police would share details accordingly. Sampat is a son of retired ASI of the Chandigarh Police. Youth arrested for attempt to murder Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 20 The police on Saturday arrested a youth who had attempted to mow down his acquaintance under his Toyota Innova outside the house of the latter at Ayali Kalan. The video of the incident had also gone viral on social media. The suspect has been identified as Karan Bhalla, a resident of Mahavir Enclave, Badewal road. Complainant Kamalpreet Singh told the police that the youth was his friend. On August 18, he came outside his house and asked him to come out. When he met him, the suspect urged him to intervene in reaching a compromise with Des Raj. “The suspect had some issues with Des Raj which he wanted to sort out with the help of my intervention but I flatly refused, following Tried to mow down acquaintance for not intervening in dispute which he turned angry and started abusing me. Afterwards, he speedily drove his vehicle and rammed into me. I suffered serious injuries,” the victim alleged. The suspect had clear intentions to kill him but fortunately, when the vehicle hit him he fell on the side of the road. Had he got crushed under the SUV, he would have died, the complainant alleged. Investigating officer ASI Balvir Singh said after registering a case, the suspect was arrested on Saturday evening outside his house. Fire breaks out at footwear shop 4 running fake lucky draw schemes held Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 20 A fire broke out in a footwear shop in a multi-storey market near Clock Tower here on Sunday. After the incident, panic spread among shopkeepers in the market. The shop was situated on the second floor of the market. Firemen reached within minutes after getting information and doused the flames in one hour. The fire officials said the fire was controlled and most of the stock was saved. They said shopkeepers present in the market had some fire extinguishers and they also tried to control the fire. Ludhiana, August 20 The CIA wing of the Ludhiana police claimed to have busted a gang running fake lucky draw schemes and arrested four of its members on Saturday. The suspects have been identified as Mansimran Singh, alias Paras (28), of Vishkarma Colony, Jaswinder Singh, alias Kamal (54), of Dugri, Satnam Singh, alias Sukhi (45), of Sangrur and Gurbachan Singh (28) of Maloud. Paras and Jaswinder are property dealers while Satnam is a farmer. Gurbachan is unemployed. Assistant Commissioner of Traders shift goods from the footwear shop to a safe place in Ludhiana on Sunday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN “After getting information, we took two fire tenders along for precautionary purpose but only one was used to completely douse the flames,” a fire official said. Sources said when the fire broke out, shopkeepers helped the owner of the footwear shop in shifting the stock to a safe place. The shop owner was yet to ascertain the exact loss of goods destroyed in fire. c m y b Three of the suspects in police custody in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO Police (Crime) Gurpreet Singh, CIA in-charge Inspector Beant Juneja issued a joint statement in this regard. Police officials said a tip-off was received that the suspects were running a fake lucky draw lottery scheme and they had been duping innocent people by luring them with big prizes. They were selling lottery tickets to the people and promised them that they might win big prizes such as tractor, car, scooters, electronic appli- ances, etc. Officials said the suspects were not having any licence to run the lottery system and they had duped many innocent people in the past by selling tickets. After registering a case under the IPC and Section 5 of the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (banning) Act, the four suspects were arrested on Saturday. The police seized a tractor, a Brezza vehicle, an electric scooter, a smart TV two induc, tion cookers and other items from the gang members. Police officials said now, further questioning of the suspects would be done to inquire about the number of persons they targeted.