03112023-LT-01.qxd 11/3/2023 1:02 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MIGRANT WOMAN’S MURDER CASE SOLVED, SUSPECT HELD ALMA HUSSEIN JOINS THE CAST OF NEERJA… B-TOWN WISHES KING KHAN ON HIS 58TH BIRTHDAY Ahmedgarh Sadar police have solved the case of murder of a woman whose body was recovered from a drain. P2 Alma Hussein says, “I’m excited as Neerja…Ek Nayi Pehchaan is my first collaboration with Colors.” P3 Celebrities shared heartwarming wishes for Shah Rukh Khan on his birthday on social media. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 30°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 16°C SUNSET FRIDAY 5.37 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:43 AM » FRIDAY | 3 NOVEMBER 2023 | LUDHIANA 11 mobiles seized from Central Jail Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 A surprise checking in the Central Jail, Ludhiana, led to the recovery of 11 cell phones. Of these, nine were found abandoned on the jail premises while two were seized from inmates. In the first incident, Sukhdev Singh, assistant jail superintendent, said on November 1, he along with the team conducted a search operation in the jail and a cell phone was seized from an inmate, Paramvir Singh, of Samrala. A case under the Prisons Act was registered against him. Harbans Singh, assistant superintendent of police, said on October 29, he along with jail staff conducted checking in jail which led to the seizure of one mobile phone from an inmate identified as Jagtar Singh. Now, a probe would be conducted to inquire how the suspect managed access to the banned item inside the jail. A case under the Prisons Act was registered against the prisoner. On the same day, two seperate search operations were conducted in the jail that led to the seizure of nine mobile phones that were found abandoned on the jail premises, jail officials said, adding that some inmates might have abandoned the cell phones to prevent their arrest during the search operation. A separate case under the Prisons Act was registered against the unidentified inmates and once they are identified, their names would be added to the already registered cases. October, Saturdays, evenings most fatal, snuffed max lives Feb, Tuesdays, mornings most safe, claimed minimum deaths Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 October, Saturdays and evening hours between 6 and 9 pm were most fatal for travellers as they had snuffed the maximum lives in road accidents in the state during the past year, a recent report has revealed. However, February, Tuesdays and wee hours between 3 and 6 am had turned out to be the most safe for commuters as minimum deaths in mishaps were recorded during the month, day and timings in 2022. The report was compiled by the Director, Punjab Road Safety and Traffic Research Centre (PRSTRC), Dr Navdeep Asija, who is also the Traffic Adviser for Punjab. It had claimed that the state had registered a dip in road accident deaths, which was contrary to the rising trend recorded at the national level as well as neighbouring states of Haryana and Rajasthan in 2022. However, Ludhiana continued to be the “accident capital” of the state with the highest number of 630 deaths in a maximum of 786 road accidents reported in the district last year. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Traffic, Amardeep Singh Rai, told The Tribune, here, on Wednesday that Punjab had recorded 4,578 deaths in 5,968 road accidents in 2022, which were less than 4,589 road mishap casualties reported in the state during 2021 and even 2018 when 4,740 persons had DEADLY FIGURES Year 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Road mishaps 5,968 5,871 5,203 6,348 6,426 Deaths 4,578 4,589 3,898 4,525 4,740 Seriously hurt 2,617 2,032 1,737 2,655 3,380 (Source: PRSTRC) lost their lives in fatal road accidents in the border state. “With 1.68-lakh road accident fatalities, the country has recorded a jump of 9 per cent in 2022 while Punjab has reversed the trend with a fewer casualties,” he said. He said neighbouring states such as Haryana and Rajasthan, which share similar attributes, have reported an increase of 6.7 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively, in road accident fatalities last year as compared to 2021. Rai, who has been spearheading the sustained road safety campaign for the past few years and has recently constituted the special road safety force, which was firstof-its-kind in the country, revealed that a significant 26 per cent of the total road accident fatalities in the state last year had occurred during the evening hours between 6 pm and 9 pm, which highlights the critical need for attention. Divulging the month, day and time-wise distribution of road accidents, fatalities and injuries, Dr Asija said a maximum of 446 persons had died and 357 had sustained injuries, including 248 seriously, in the highest number of 579 road accidents reported in October last year. Similarly, Saturdays had claimed a maximum of 702 lives and had left 548 injured, including 395 seriously, in the highest of 904 road mishaps during those days alone in 2022. In the time zone, the evening hours between 6 pm and 9 pm had snuffed out a maximum of 1,204 lives and had left 915 injured, including 663 seriously, in the highest of 1,555 crashes during those timings alone last year. When it comes to the safest month, day and timings, February had claimed the minimum of 311 lives and had left 313 injured, including 218 seriously, in the least 433 road accidents during that month in 2022. Tuesdays had recorded the minimum of 593 fatalities and 509 injuries, including 342 seriously, in the minimum of 803 crashes during those days last year. The time slot between 3 am and 6 am had remained the safest with the minimum of 208 casualties and 138 injuries, including 89 seriously, in the least 247 road accidents during that period in 2022. Among other months, January had reported 357 deaths and 241 injuries, including 167 seriously, in 440 road mishaps, March 417 casualties and 326 injuries, 232 seriously in 542 accidents, April 381 fatalities and 348 injuries, 235 seriously, in 512 crashes, May 370 deaths and 331 injuries, 243 seriously, in 496 accidents, June 359 casualties and 341 injuries, 234 seriously, in 461 mishaps, July 352 deaths and 267 injuries, 178 seriously, in 457 crashes, August 410 casualties and 380 injuries, 247 seriously, in 548 accidents, September 350 fatalities and 276 injuries, 189 seriously, in 463 mishaps, continued on page 2 Hoarding of a ticket aspirant for the upcoming MC elections installed in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN MC elections: Oppn parties await court verdict on ward delimitation Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 After raising objections to the new ward delimitation, leaders from prominent opposition parties such as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Congress and BJP are currently waiting for the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the matter. While the official notification for the new delimitation of 95 city wards was released last month, the opposition parties are looking forward to November 6, as it is the date when the court may deliver its verdict concerning the delimitation of the wards. Previously, some persons had moved the court challenging the new ward delimitation process carried out in 2023. Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, president of the SAD, Ludhiana, expressed that they were awaiting the court’s decision regarding the new ward delimitation. Bhinda said there were various NEW PROCESS WAS CHALLENGED BY SOME Previously, some persons had moved the court challenging the new ward delimitation process carried out in 2023. flaws in the delimitation procedure. He said, however, they were prepared for the Municipal Corporation (MC) elections. Once the court issues its decision, it would become clear whether the elections would be held on the basis of the new ward delimitation or the old one. Subsequently, the party would make a decision on finalising candidates for the poll. Leaders from the Congress are also in anticipation of the court’s judgment. Sanjay Talwar, president of the Congress, Ludhiana, said some individuals had moved court against the ward delimitation. “Once the court renders its verdict on whether the elections would adhere to the new ward delimita- tion or the previous one, they would compile the list of candidates for the MC elections accordingly. We have readied ourselves for the upcoming elections, with over 150 candidates having applied to contest in the 95 wards,” he said. Yashpal Chaudhary, a former councillor and a BJP leader, said they had also moved court against the insufficient allocation of Scheduled Caste (SC) wards in the new ward delimitation for the city. They seek a more appropriate allocation of the SC category wards in the city. The court hearing for the case is scheduled for November 9, he said. Meanwhile, Ahbaab Singh Grewal, spokesperson for AAP in Punjab, said an average of five to seven individuals from every ward had expressed their desire to contest the elections on behalf of the party. He said candidate selection committees had been constituted, indicating their readiness for the upcoming elections. 20 test positive for dengue Army man killed at wedding, woman, 2 sons nabbed Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 On Thursday, 20 persons have tested positive for dengue in Ludhiana district, of which 13 belong to urban and seven to rural areas. A total of 15 persons belonging to Ludhiana district have lost their lives to the disease so far. Now, the total count of dengue cases has reached 786. On Thursday, there were 137 active cases, of which 105 belong to urban 15 persons from district have lost their lives to disease so far and 32 to rural areas. The patients are admitted to various hospitals across the district. “City residents should observe Friday as ‘dry day’ and empty their coolers, change water in flowerpots, etc, and should not let water get stagnant around their houses,” said Dr Ramesh, District Epidemologist. Symptoms of dengue include high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, vomiting, skin rash, and mild bleeding. People should also adopt hygienic practices to save themselves from the vector-borne disease. Ludhiana, November 2 The Ludhiana police arrested a woman and her two sons on the charges of killing an Army man at Phullanwal village during a marriage function on Wednesday night. The deceased has been identified as Malkit Singh (31), a resident of Hargobind Nagar, Akalgarh village. The suspects have been identified as Balveer Singh, alias Rinku (31), Abhi Sandhu, alias Amit Kumar (23), and their mother Harjinder Kaur (53 ), residents of Phullanwal. ACP Guriqbal Singh and The suspects in Ludhiana police custody on Thursday. Sadar SHO Inspector Gurpreet Singh addressed a press conference in this regard on Thursday. Amandeep Kaur, wife of the deceased, told the police that her husband Malkit was work- ing with the Army at 10 Training Regiment, Fatehgarh, UP . He was on leave from October 31 to November 1. Yesterday, she along with her husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law and daughter went to the wed- ding of Arshdeep Singh, her uncle’s son, at Phullanwal village. “Around 10 pm on Wednesday after having dinner, everyone was dancing when her uncle’s neighbours Balveer Singh, Abhi Sandhu and their mother Harjinder Kaur came and started dancing with our family members. Balveer and Abhi, who were in an inebriated state, were causing trouble to women,” she said. “When my husband and our family members told the duo to stop dancing with us, they started arguments. The suspects left the place and threatened to teach a lesson to my husband,” the victim’s wife said. Amandeep Kaur alleged that about 30 minutes later Harjinder Kaur and her two sons came. They were carrying daggers in their hands. She told her sons to kill Malkit. The duo repeatedly attacked him with the dagger on the chest killing him on the spot. ACP Iqbal Singh said under the directions of CP Mandeep Singh Sidhu, JCP Jaskiranjit Singh Teja, ADCP Suhail Qassim Mir, the police arrested the suspects within six hours of the incident. — TNS 70,250 landholders; 421 farm fires till Nov 1, AQI remains poor Three proclaimed Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 Residents continue to grasp for fresh air as today also, the air quality index (AQI) was in the poor category. Stubble burning cases have started picking up and are expected to rise further around Diwali. Ludhiana district has 70,250 landholders. According to the data of the Agriculture Department, the total area under the district is 3,68,312 hectares, of which cultivable land is 2,85,017 hectares. Of the total cultivable land, 2,57,000 hectares is under cultivation of the two main cropping seasons of rabi and kharif while the remaining land has orchards, etc. In comparison to this, 421 farm fires have been reported from Total area under district Total cultivable land Cultivable land under two cropping seasons Orchards, etc Landholders COMPARISON OF FARM FIRES TILL NOV 1 LUDHIANA DISTRICT 3,68,312 hectares 2,85,017 hectares 2,57,000 hectares 28,017 hectares 70,250 TEHSIL STUBBLE BURNING 2022 Jagraon 298 Samrala 240 Raikot 91 Ludhiana East 67 Payal 59 Ludhiana West 49 Khanna 23 Total 827 2023 203 90 57 19 24 24 4 421 << A thick layer of smog engulfs Ludhiana on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN the district till November 1 while 827 cases were reported on the same day in 2022. The number of the farm fires has seen almost a decrease by 50 per cent but contrary to this, the air quality index continues to deteriorate. As per the data of the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI at 2 am was 283, at 7 am it was recorded at 270, at 2 pm 234 and at 4 pm it was 219. A total of 421 cases have been reported till November 1 and the highest number of stubble burning cases in the district has been witnessed at Jagraon at 203 followed by Samrala at c m y b 90. From Raikot, 57 cases have been reported so far, 24 each from Ludhiana West and Payal and 19 from Ludhiana East, and four in Khanna. Meanwhile, in the light of ris- ing farm fires at farmers’ fields, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Satbir Singh Gosal called upon its functionaries to work roundthe-clock to bring decline in straw burning cases, which were a serious concern for the state as well as the country. Efforts to stop paddy straw burning should be expedited, he stressed while urging to promote PAU- recommended wheat varieties for cultivation. Dr Gosal asked scientists to advise farmers to sow wheat crop during the first fortnight of November as delayed sowing results in reduction in the wheat grain yield. Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, made a call for popularising new long-duration wheat variety PBW 869 that could be sowed with happy seeder or smart seeder. offenders nabbed Ludhiana, November 2 The Sadar Jagraon police today claimed to have arrested three proclaimed offenders (POs), who were wanted by the Ludhiana rural police and Rajasthan Police in separate cases. Station House Officer (SHO), Sadar Jagraon, SI Amarjit Singh, said Jagroop Singh, a resident of Abbupura, Sidhwan Bet, was wanted by the police in a drug case registered against him in 2017. After getting a tip-off about the whereabouts of the suspect, the police conducted a raid and nabbed him. While accused Darshan Singh, a resident of Dangian village, here, was declared a PO in a cheating and criminal conspiracy Two of them were wanted by R’sthan police for many years case registered against him in 1995 at the Transport Nagar police station, Jaipur, Rajashthan. He was also arrested from his whereabouts in the Jagraon area. The SHO said the third PO, identified as Nachatar Singh, a resident of Akhara village, was wanted by the police in a drug smuggling case registered against him at the Rajgarh police station, Rajashthan, in 2013. Both absconders were handed over to the Rajashthan Police after their arrests. — TNS