31082023-LT-01.qxd 8/31/2023 1:02 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune KIN TIE RAKHI TO 400 INMATES AT LUDHIANA CENTRAL JAIL BIG B HAILS GAME OF THRONES, SAYSIT’SCREATED‘MARVELLOUSLY’ JAVED HABIB UNVEILS HIS BOOK BEAUTIFUL HAIR, BEAUTIFUL YOU A large number of women visited the Central Jail to tie rakhi on the wrist of their brothers on Wednesday. P2 Megastar Amitabh Bachchan heaped praise on the fantasy drama series Game of Thrones. P3 The book reveals secret tips that can transform not just your hair, but also your confidence and self-esteem. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.51 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:02 AM » THURSDAY | 31 AUGUST 2023 | LUDHIANA Illegal colony developer booked Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 30 For allegedly violating the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (PAPR) Act, developer of an unauthorised colony has been booked by the police. The suspect has been identified as Krishan Lal of Kundanpuri area, Civil Lines, here. Junior Engineer of GLADA Sangharshveer Singh has submitted a complaint to the Meharban police against Krishan for developing an unauthorised colony, Dabur Colony, at Kaneja village. He alleged that the suspect had not taken any permission from GLADA for the colony. Hence, he violated the PAPR Act. A case has been registered. Woman gets serious injuries in mishap Ludhiana, August 30 A woman received serious injuries after she met with an accident near Samrala Chowk, here, on Wednesday. When the victim, Veena, was going to take an autorickshaw to visit her brother’s house to tie him rakhi, she was run over by a truck. The woman got serious injuries on her legs. When the mishap occurred, the driver of the truck asked for help from passers-by for taking the woman to hospital but no one came forward to assist. Following which, he took her to the Civil Hospital for treatment in an e-rickshaw. Surprisingly, just a short distance away from the accident scene, police personnel are available. But nobody extended a helping hand to them, as per information. Later, she was reportedly referred to another hospital. — TNS No let-up in dengue spread as 2ex-Armymenamong3nabbed for impersonating as VB officials confirmed cases cross 100 mark Took cheques for ~25 lakh from Bhaini Salu village resident Ludhiana eighth worst-hit district in state, no death so far Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 30 With the number of confirmed cases crossing the 100 mark, there is no let-up in the spread of dreaded dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease occurring in tropical and subtropical areas, in Ludhiana district. The confirmed cases of the virus that spreads to people through the bite of an infected aedes species (aegypti or albopictus) mosquito have touched 117, of which the active cases of dengue virus (DENV), which has four serotypes and it’s possible to be infected four times, has reached 29 in the district this season so far. With this, Ludhiana has ranked the eighth worst-hit district in the state. The rise in the incidence of dengue, which ranges from subclinical disease (people may not know they are even infected) to severe flu-like symptoms in those infected, could be gauged from the fact that fresh confirmed and suspected cases have been added daily in the past one week. However, no death due to dengue has been reported in the district this year so far. Civil Surgeon Hitinder Kaur Sohal told The Tribune here on Wednesday that the situation in Ludhiana was still better than majority of the other districts as it was among those 10 districts where dengue had not yet claimed any life. “Effective vector-control measures were being taken for prevention and control of dengue, which requires sustained community involve- WORST THREE DENGUE District Cases Bathinda 282 Kapurthala 273 Amritsar 224 CHIKUNGUNYA Amritsar 183 Tarn Tarn 28 Ropar 6 Civil Surgeon Hitinder Kaur Sohal leads a team of health officials in checking breeding of mosquitoes in Ludhiana on Wednesday. ment to improve the efforts substantially,” she said. She said a sustained campaign was underway to visit houses and places, especially of those infected and in their vicinity, to detect and check the breeding of mosquitoes that eventually spread the DENV . The joint campaign by the Health Department and the MC has been issuing challans for letting mosquito breeding and virus spread. While 11 dengue patients had been admitted to various private hospitals, the remaining 18 active cases had been recuperating at home. While Bathinda was the worst-hit district in the state with the maximum of 282 confirmed dengue cases and 17 deaths, Mansa remained the safest district with the minimum of six positive patients and no casualty so far. Among other districts, Amritsar had reported 224 confirmed dengue cases and no death, Barnala 20 cases and no death, Faridkot 65 cases and six deaths, Fatehgarh Sahib 39 cases and no death, Fazilka 148 cases and no death, Ferozepur 57 cases and no death, Gurdaspur 49 cases and no death, Hoshiarpur 117 cases and 20 deaths, Jalandhar 43 cases and four deaths, Kapurthala 273 cases and 16 deaths, Malerkotla 62 cases and seven deaths, Moga 23 cases and no death, Pathankot 98 cases and three deaths, Patiala 176 cases and six deaths, Ropar 35 cases and three deaths, Mohali 167 cases and 15 deaths, Nawanshahr 78 cases and no death, Sangrur 101 cases and two deaths, Muktsar 64 cases and seven deaths and Tarn Taran had so far registered 56 positive patients and five deaths due to dengue. In this way, a total of 2,285 confirmed cases and 111 deaths due to dengue had been reported across the state so far. Chikunguniya nil While not even a single case of chikungunya, which is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes, has been reported in Ludhiana so far, as many as Deaths 17 16 0 0 0 0 (SOURCE: HEALTH DEPT, FIGURES TILL AUGUST 29) 232 patients had tested positive for the disease in the state so far. While Amritsar was the worst-hit district with a maximum of 183 chikungunya cases so far, Tarn Taran has registered 28 positive patients. Among others, Faridkot has reported two, Gurdaspur three, Hoshiarpur five, Pathankot two, Ropar six, and Mohali three cases while no case had been registered in the remaining districts so far. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 30 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) arrested three persons, including two exArmy personnel, who impersonated as VB officials and took cheques for Rs 25 lakh from a resident of Bhaini Salu village in the district. The suspects have been identified as Manjeet Singh, a resident of Bhaini Salu village, Paramjeet Singh of Mehlon village (Ludhiana) and Parminder Singh of Akash Colony, Hoshiarpur. Manjeet and Parminder are ex-army personnel. The latter is the in-charge of the World Human Rights Corporation of Punjab, according to the Vigilance Bureau. An official spokesperson for the VB said Palwinder Singh, a resident of Bhaini Salu, lodged a complaint that he had sold 18 acres of his ancestral land a few months ago. Thereafter, he received a government notice regarding selling of a panchayat land, following which, three unidentified persons came to his house on August 12 and introduced TWO OF SUSPECTS DID RECCE OF HOUSE Suspects Manjeet Singh and Paramjeet Singh had did a recce of the house of the complainant and Parminder was one of the three suspects who went to the house of the complainant on August 12, according to the VB spokesperson. themselves as officials from the Vigilance Department at Sector 17 in Chandigarh. The complainant alleged that they demanded Rs 50 lakh from him to sort out the matter of selling the panchayat land as they cited that an inquiry was pending at the Chandigarh office and a case would be registered against him in this regard. In fear, the complainant agreed to pay Rs 25 lakh and the suspects convinced him to sign two cheques — Rs 15 lakh and 10 lakh — with a guarantee to return them when they receive Rs 25 lakh in cash. One of the suspects also took Rs 27,000 from his pocket and went away after getting his phone number. Thereafter, the com- plainant has been receiving threat calls on WhatsApp for registration of a criminal case against him in case he fails to give the promised Rs 25 lakh in cash. The VB spokesperson said following the complaint, an FIR under Sections 7, 7-A of Prevention of Corruption Act and 384,120-B of the IPC had been registered against Manjeet Singh of Bhaini Salu village and three unidentified persons at the VB police station, Ludhiana Range. Manjeet and Paramjeet of Mehlon village were arrested on Monday, and now, they both were on police remand till August 31. Parminder, a resident of Akash Colony, Hoshiarpur, was also arrested on Tuesday. The VB has also nominated four more persons in the case and a search had been launched to arrest the others suspects. Notably, Manjeet and Paramjeet had made a recce of the house of the complainant and Parminder was one of the three suspects who went to the house of the complainant on August 12, according to the VB spokesperson. Coordinated efforts on “We are making coordinated efforts by roping in all departments concerned and official machinery to control the further spread of dengue in the state. Special wards for patients, adequate availability of drugs and clinical examination facilities have been put in place, besides undertaking concerted testing and challaning drives. I am personally spearheading a campaign to check the breeding of mosquitoes,” said Dr Balbir Singh, Health Minister. The suspects in custody of Vigilance Bureau sleuths in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO Man alleges torture by paramour’s kin One of 2 brothers who set themselves afire dies Ludhiana, August 30 Alleging that he was tortured and humiliated by family members of his “paramour”, a man has complained to the Machhiwara police on Wednesday. The victim, Ravi, of Dhuri alleged that the sus- pects shaved his head, blackened the face and garlanded with shoes. He reached the police station in such condition today. Ravi alleged that he had been forcibly confined at an undisclosed site in Machhiwara for nine days, subjected to torture and humiliation. He claimed that he had been in a relationship with the woman for over two years. The complainant demanded from the police to take action in this regard. However, police officials are investigating the matter. — TNS Ludhiana, August 30 One of the two men who had sustained injuries after setting themselves on fire while protesting against action of the MC passed away today. The person has been identified as Beeru. This evening, he breathed his last at the PGI, Chandigarh. Opposing demolition, duo took extreme step a day before When an MC’s team accompanied by the police reached Onkar Vihar near Sector 32 to demolish an alleged encroachment on about 71 sq yards of government land on Tuesday, Beeru and Anmol had set themselves on fire. They had received severe burn injuries and were taken to the Civil Hospital. Later, they were referred to the CMCH and then PGI, Chandigarh. At present, the condition of Anmol is stated to be serious. His kin blamed MC officials for the tragedy. Yesterday, they alleged that the MC team had come to demolish their hut and tea stall without issuing any notice to them. Lingering sewage-related issues plague Dhandari Khurd, nearby colonies Many areas lack development as even streets have not been constructed, street lights remain non-functional WARD WATCH WHAT RESIDENTS SAY Persistent overflowing of sewers remains prevalent in numerous areas. Near the entrance to Dhandari Khurd, a piece of land has been turned into a garbage dumping ground, emitting an unbearable stench. Furthermore, the government must take measures to combat the drug menace and snatching incidents. Harbaksh Singh Kala, A RESIDENT OF DHANDARI KHURD ❝ WARD NO 28 LUDHIANA ❞ Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 30 Despite the establishment of a sewerage disposal unit, blockages persisted in numerous locations in Ward Number 28. It led to overflowing and accumulation of foulsmelling water on several streets in Dhandari Khurd, Durga Colony, Jagdish Colony, Deep Colony, Prem Nagar and surrounding areas. Furthermore, many streets remain unconstruct- Garbage dumped in the open at Dhandari Khurd in Ludhiana. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA ed, streetlights are non-functional and vacant plots are turning into open garbage dumps in various parts of the ward. The residents blamed the municipal authorities for ignoring the deteriorating living conditions in these areas. It’s noteworthy that a large number of ‘unauthorised vehras’, inhabited by migrant workers, have come up in these localities. Municipal Corporation officials attribute the obstruction of sewer lines to residents of many ‘vehras’, accusing them of dumping solid waste c m y b are ❝Sewer blockages and overflowsdays, major problems here. During rainy the situation deteriorates significantly. Many residents in our colony are ill due to poor living conditions. To date, streets remain unconstructed and many streetlights are nonfunctional. We are demanding proper amenities to improve our living conditions. Amit Sharma, A RESIDENT OF PREM NAGAR. ❞ into the sewer system. But some of them blamed the MC’s poor sewerage system for the mess. Around a year ago, a new sewerage line was laid on Jagdish Colony Road. Nonetheless, a section of the sewerage line continues to overflow. The residents said they were forced to live under poor sanitary conditions due to the apathy of the civic body. Residents of Jagdish Colony also complained about unconstructed streets and many dysfunctional street lights. Sukhwinder Singh, a Dhandari Khurd resident, has drawn the authorities’ attention to the recurrent sewer overflows occurring in various parts of their area and neighbouring colonies. He alleged that the sewage disposal unit was not functioning properly. Another resident Ranbir Singh emphasised the need for enhancing the sewerage and drew attention to a critical issue — absence of filters in sewer pipes of vehras — to prevent solid waste from entering the MC sewerage system. He said: “The Municipal Corporation must take the issue seriously. Every ‘vehra’ owner should be instructed not to discharge continued on page 2 On the other hand, MC officials had levelled allegations against the brothers for making an attempt to assault and set on fire officials. Following a complaint filed by the MC’s ATP, the police filed an FIR against Beeru, Anmol, and some of their relatives. — TNS Bizmen raise issues with MC Commissioner Ludhiana, August 30 In a meeting with Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sandeep Rishi, industrialists raised different issues related to roads, dumping of garbage, etc, in Focal Point, Dhandari, and other industrial areas. The meeting was organised by the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) at CICU complex in the Focal point area. Industrialists from different sectors of the industry, led by president, CICU, Upkar Singh Ahuja, participated in the meeting. After the meeting, MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi also conducted field visits in different areas of Focal point along with the industrialists. He issued directions to the officials for resolving the issues at the earliest. He said the MC was already in process to reconstruct roads in different phases of Focal Point at a cost of around Rs 11 crore. — TNS