28092023-LT-01.qxd 9/28/2023 12:10 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune WATERLOGGING REMAINS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM HINA BACK IN KHATRON KE KHILADI 13 AS A CHALLENGER AMMY VIRK, SONAM BAJWA TO SHARE SCREEN SPACE Persistent problem of waterlogging during rainy days has become a cause of concern for Ward 47 residents. P2 Hina Khan is poised to challenge the contestants of this season in Khatron Ke Khiladi 13. P3 Singer and actor Ammy Virk is collaborating with Sonam Bajwa for his upcoming film Kudi Haryane Val Di.P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 35°C | MIN 22°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6:12 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:14 AM » THURSDAY | 28 SEPTEMBER 2023 | LUDHIANA Man nabbed on charge of raping minor Real estate market touches new high Woman found dead at house in Khanna Tribune News Service Nitin Jain Five-acre land sold to real estate developer for whopping ~220 crore in city Tribune News Service RLDA MANDATE Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 27 The Division No. 3 police yesterday arrested a man on the charge of allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl at Khud Mohalla here. The suspect has been identified as Baba Krishan Kumar. In her complaint to the police, the victim’s mother said she, along with her family, lived in Khud Mohalla. The suspect, who was their neighbour, used to give sweets and other eatables to her daughter. On September 25, Krishan Kumar called the complainant to his room and promised to arrange a good job for her. He also offered ~500 to the woman, but she refused to accept. On the same day, the suspect took her daughter to his room and raped her. When the victim informed her mother about the incident, she immediately went to the police station and lodged a complaint. The police registered a rape case against the suspect and arrested him yesterday. Investigating officer Inspector Usha Rani said further investigations were on into the case. They were interrogating the suspect to inquire about if he was involved in similar cases in the past. Ludhiana, September 27 In what appears to be the revival of the real estate market, a five-acre land parcel has been sold for a whopping sum of ~220 crore in Ludhiana. With this, the real estate market has touched a new high after passing through a long phase of slump in the industrial and business capital of the state. The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) has auctioned a chunk of 5-acre multi-functional complex (MFC) site to a leading real estate developer for a sum of ~220 crore. The site is located close to the railway station here, which was undergoing major redevelopment and upgrade at a cost of ~529 crore. Sharing details, a senior functionary of the RLDA told The Tribune here today that the land, which was meant for mixed use, was auctioned through a competitive bidding process conducted by the authority. Located near the Ghumar Mandi Fountain Chowk in the heart of the city, the land can be used for both residential and commercial purposes. “This is probably the highest price that the land has fetched in the city so far,” Ludhiana, September 27 The body of a woman was found in a locked room at her house in Jatana village at Khanna. The deceased was identified as Ramandeep Kaur. The incident came to light when the woman didn’t attend the phone calls of her husband Gurpreet Singh. Their two-and-ahalf-year-old daughter was repeatedly picking up the phone of her father and telling him that her mother was sleeping and not waking up. Suspecting something fishy, he sent his acquaintance to his house. After breaking open the door of a room, he found Ramandeep lying dead. He immediately informed Gurpreet The mandate of the RLDA is to generate non-fare revenue from vacant railway land through its development and monetisation. SALIENT FEATURES Work in progress to upgrade the Ludhiana railway station. This will be the first major revamp of the station established way back in 1860. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN The site has an opportunity for a residential and commercial real estate development with following salient features. ■ Located near the railway station in the heart of the city ■ Easy accessibility to railway station, bus stand and other city areas ■ Good visibility from the station approach road ■ Opportunity to create a landmark in the city ■ Land form and topography suitable for the construction ■ Vibrant commercial catchment area WORK TO REVAMP RAILWAY STATION UNDERWAY ■ The work to redevelop and upgrade the Ludhiana railway station at a cost of ~528.95 crore has been expedited after the geotechnical investigation, survey and relocation of existing structures has been completed. ■ The project, which was awarded in the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode to a local firm on December 19 last, has been targeted to be completed by August 2, 2025. ■ Being undertaken through the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode, the redevelopment work entails a host of new facilities and upgrade of the existing services to give a new and modern look to the British era’s biggest junction in the Ferozepur division. ■ The total project cost of ~528.95 crore included the contract value of ~472.94 crore, project management consultant cost of ~4.56 crore and other allied expenditures. ■ The development assumes significance as this will be the first major revamp of the railway station established way back in 1860. the buyer real estate firm would develop a residential and commercial complex on the site, which would coincide with the ongoing work to give a new and modern look to the British era’s biggest junction in the Ferozepur division. What are MFCs Multi-functional complexes (MFCs) are meant for both residential and commercial complexes. The RLDA that is a statutory authority under the Ministry of Railways and is responsible for railway land development that Khanna DSP Rajesh Sharma said the reason behind her death was not clear yet. There were no visible injuries on the body. The viscera report would reveal the exact cause of the death. Further action would be taken accordingly. and the police about the incident. Suspecting no foul play, the police initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC. Khanna DSP Rajesh Sharma said the reason behind her death was not clear yet. There were no visible injuries on the body. The viscera report would reveal the exact cause of the death. Further action would be taken accordingly. Fire breaks out at tyre shop Tribune News Service Anupriya Singh, a leading realtor, said. She said this deal would set a benchmark for the future sale/purchase of the land and would further strengthen Ludhiana’s real estate market. According to information, VISCERA REPORT AWAITED: COP includes leasing of commercial sites and multifunctional complexes, colony redevelopment and station redevelopment had identified such sites across the country as part of the initiative to generate revenue for the development of railway stations. Ludhiana, September 27 A fire broke out at a tyre shop on the Samrala chowk here. The incident took place around 6.45 am today. A short-circuit seemed to be the reason behind the fire. The shop deals in sale and purchase of old tyres. It took fire-fighters almost two hours to completely douse the flames. A passerby noticed the flames emanating from the shop and informed the fire station. A huge stock of used tyres was damaged in the fire. Couple jailed for smuggling heroin NIA raids money changer’s office, home in Jagraon Fined ~2 lakh each; over 10-kg drug was seized from them Legal Correspondent Ludhiana, September 27 The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Shiv Mohan Garg convicted Mohd Arbi and his wife Jamila Begum, a resident of Bhatindi, Jammu district, in a narcotics smuggling case. They were ordered to undergo 20-year rigorous imprisonment (RI) each. A fine of ~2 lakh each was also imposed on them. Delivering the verdict, the court held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charges levelled against the accused beyond any shadow of doubt. The court also declined the plea of leniency raised by the duo. According to prosecution, a police party, headed by Inspector Harbans Singh of the STF Ludhiana, was , patrolling in search of drug smugglers on November 26, 2018. They got a tip-off that the suspects get heroin from smugglers of Pakistan and distribute it in Punjab. The police party intercepted them and recovered 10.25kg heroin from their possession. The accused were arrested and put on trial. The prosecution examined seven witnesses to prove their case. The suspects pleaded innocence during the trial. After appreciating the evidence on record and convinced with the submissions of Additional Public Prosecutor Hardip Singh, the court found them guilty. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 27 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a raid at the office and home of a money changer located near the Rani Jhansi chowk in Jagraon. NIA sleuths reached the place at 6.30 am and left at 4 pm. Sources said the NIA was probing some illegal money transactions and the role of gangsters or antinational elements behind these alleged transactions. It was not yet clear if there was any role of this money changer behind the illegal SLEUTHS TAKE AWAY 2 LAPTOPS, DOCUMENTS Sources said the NIA sleuths took away two laptops and some documents along with them. They also quizzed the money exchanger and his employees. The money exchanger and his employees were asked to appear at the NIA office in Chandigarh in two days. transactions or not. Sources said the NIA sleuths took away two laptops and some documents along with them. They also quizzed the money Cops outside the house of a money changer during the NIA raid in Jagraon on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO exchanger and his employees. The sources said the money exchanger and his employees were asked to appear at the NIA office in Chandigarh in two days. It is pertinent to mention here that the money changer’s office was raided several times by other central agencies such as Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department in the past. NIA officials didn’t talk to mediapersons regarding the raid. They also did not round up anyone from Jagraon. Civil Hospital gets PPCB notice for Payal man held with Two smugglers land in STF net poor handling of biomedical waste 20-gm drug powder 1.4 kg of heroin recovered from their possession THE CHARGE Ludhiana, September 27 The Civil Hospital in Ludhiana has been issued a show-cause notice by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) following allegations of violation of the Biomedical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules. Subsequently, a hearing has been scheduled to address the matter, following which the PPCB is expected to take further action. As per an official from the PPCB, a complaint was lodged against the hospital for improperly disposing of untreated biomedical waste alongside other types of waste. Subsequently, an inspection was conducted at the hospital premises. Pardeep Gupta, Chief Engineer of PPCB, Ludhiana, said that biomedical During an inspection by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), biomedical waste, including blood-soaked materials, was found improperly disposed of alongside general solid waste within the hospital premises. A hearing has been scheduled before the PPCB Chairman on October 9 in this regard. FILE PHOTO Tribune News Service waste was found mixed with general waste at the hospital, leading to the issuing of a notice to the hospital for violating the established regulations. The hospital authorities will be given an opportunity to present their case during the hearing, he said. Kanwaldeep Kaur, Executive Engineer, said that during an inspection by a PPCB official earlier this month, bio-medical waste, including blood-soaked materials, was found improperly disposed of alongside general solid waste within the hospital premises. As a consequence, a show-cause notice has been served to the hospital. A hearing has now been scheduled before the Punjab Pollution Control Board Chairman on October 9 in this regard. In the past also, the Civil Hospital was found violating norms pertaining to the biomedical waste management. The suspect in custody of the Payal police on Wednesday. Ludhiana, September 27 The Payal police arrested a smuggler and recovered 20 grams of drug powder from his possession today. The suspect has been identified as Pritpal Singh, alias Pirthi, a resident of Ghangas, Payal. Payal DSP Nikhil Garg said the police got a tip-off that the suspect, who was into drug smuggling, was on his way to deliver drug powder to his clients in the Bija area on a motorcycle bearing registration number PB10EJ3520. After getting information, the police laid a naka at a c m y b strategic point. They intercepted a motorcycle-borne person and stopped him for checking. During frisking, the police recovered drug powder from his possession. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against the suspect. DSP Nikhil said Pritpal also had a criminal past as four cases, including murder, were already registered against him in the past. He was out on bail in the murder case. The police would seek his remand for further investigation. — TNS Ludhiana, September 27 The Special Task Force (STF) wing of Ludhiana arrested two smugglers and recovered 1.4 kg of heroin from their possession. The value of the recovered contraband is said to be around ~7.5 crore in the international market. The suspects have been identified as Kuldeep Singh, alias Babbu (28), a resident of Moga, and Beant Singh of Hans Kalan, Jagraon. STF DSP Davinder Chaudhary and STF Inspector Harbans Singh issued a joint statement in this regard. STF officials said they got a tip-off yesterday that the suspects, who were into heroin smuggling trade, were going to deliver heroin to their clients in Dashmesh Nagar. After getting information, the STF team laid a trap. They intercepted a car and signalled it TRIBUNE PHOTO Tribune News Service Inspection conducted on premises after complaint The suspects in custody of the STF in Ludhiana on Wednesday. to stop for checking. During search, they recovered heroin concealed beneath the car driver’s seat. During questioning, Kuldeep admitted that he was into drug smuggling trade since long. He used to bring heroin from a supplier in Moga and further deliver it to his clients in the city. Beant Singh also has a criminal past as two cases of heroin smuggling were already registered against him at the SAS Nagar and Fatehgarh Sahib police stations. After coming out on bail, he again continued the illegal trade. The officials said a case had been registered against the suspects under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Further questioning was on to inquire about the supplier involved in the drug supply chain so that he could also be arrested.