12112023-LT-01.qxd 12-11-2023 00:46 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune COPS CONTROL TRAFFIC AMID FESTIVE RUSH AT SAHNEWAL FALGUNI SHAH’S SONG BAGS A GRAMMY NOMINATION SINGER MARY MILLBEN TALKS ABOUT HER LOVE FOR DIWALI Police officials have managed to maintain traffic with their presence of mind at Sahnewal Chowk. INSIDE Track, Abundance of Millets, talks about health benefits and Centre’s efforts to promote cereal. INSIDE Actress and singer Mary Millben has extended warm greetings to people of the country on Diwali. INSIDE » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 26°C | MIN 13°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 13°C SUNSET SUNDAY 5.30 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6:51 AM » SUNDAY | 12 NOVEMBER 2023 | LUDHIANA Woman among 2 held with 1,062 intoxicating tablets Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 11 The Dakha police yesterday arrested a man and a woman with 1,062 intoxicating tablets. The suspects have been identified as Parminder Singh, alias Happy, a resident of Changna village, and Gurpreet Kaur of Waraich village. ASI Hamir Singh said a police party was conducting a routine patrolling near the Mullanpur grain market to keep a tab over anti-social elements where they received a tip-off that the suspects, who were into the trade of smuggling intoxicating tablets, were openly selling the tablets to their clients at Waraich village. The police team conducted a raid at the spot and nabbed the suspects with the tablets. The ASI said both of the suspects had a notorious past as they were facing 11 cases registered against them in the past and most of the cases are related to drug smuggling. After coming out on bail, they continued the illegal trade. Both smugglers were also drug addicts. Now, their police remand would be sought from court so that some big suppliers of intoxicating tablets could also be nabbed and more recovery of drugs be made, he said. Security up for festival of lights, special nakas put up in district Anti-sabotage squads keeping vigil at bus stands, rly stations Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 11 Keeping in view the festival of lights on Sunday, the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police have beefed up security to prevent any untoward incident and a special anti-sabotage drive has been launched to check activities of anti-social elements in the entire district. Besides putting up special nakas (checkpoints), especially at all entry and exit points, special vigil was being kept at all bus stands, railway stations, dhabas, hotels and restaurants across the district. Police patrolling has been stepped up on all state and national highways passing through the state’s biggest and largest district, in terms of area and population, and a special watch was being kept on possible hideouts of antisocial elements. All border checkpoints in the district have been strengthened and outgoing and incoming vehicles are being screened. Further, coordination was being maintained with the neighbouring dis- Police personnel stand guard on a road on Diwali eve in Ludhiana on Saturday. ASHWANI DHIMAN SPECIAL PCR VEHICLES DEPUTED Special motorcycle and four-wheeler-borne police control room (PCR) vehicles, equipped with CCTV cameras, wireless sets and sophisticated weapons have been deputed on round-the-clock duty, said a district police official. tricts as well as the state and central intelligence agencies. The Commissionerate Police have called upon residents to follow guidelines and precautions against fire for prevention of any untoward incident during the bursting and display of fireworks dur- ing the Diwali celebrations. Hoping for a safer and happier Diwali, Commissioner of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu suggested: “Light your home with joy, not with flames of sorrow.” Meanwhile, a tour of the district this afternoon revealed that Samrala, Khanna, Raikot, Jagraon, Mullanpur Dakha and Sahnewal townships as well as other parts of the district are all decked up for the festival of lights. Markets have been tastefully decorated with stalls set up in front of shops. People were seen in large numbers, purchasing beautiful idols of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi and earthen huts used for Diwali pooja. A festive mood and spirit were evident in almost every part of the district on the eve of Diwali. Duty comes first for these cops, fire personnel, docs Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 11 Being a part of the Diwali celebrations for every single family and yet not taking active part in the festival is the biggest irony for them. While everyone else will be in a holiday mood on Sunday, duties for them will multiply, putting a squeeze on the little time they have for their families. Prepared for the duty, which she said was a 24-hour job for them as they were responsible for any mishap at any time in their respective beats, a newlyrecruit policewoman, Sheetal, expressed: “There is no Diwali for us as such…of course we can burst crackers at our place of posting in the open but the festival is more of a family affair than anything else.” “As everybody knows that on a day like Diwali there has to be extra vigilance in all areas, it’s our duty and we swore to do it when joining work. Hence, there are no two ways about it,” another policewoman, Poonam, said. Having a similar story to tell, a fireman, Mohan Lal, said: “Fire is almost a synonym with Diwali and to have a festival of lights with no fire mishap is almost an impossible thing.” “Celebration or a holiday on Diwali is simply out of ques- A policewoman on duty in Ludhiana on Saturday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN tion as they are supposed to take extra measures to combat fire incidents,” shared another fireman Subhash Kumar while recalling his early years when his children were small and they used to crib and throw a tantrum to make him come home. However, paramilitary force personnel follow a different strain of thought. Most of them do not have families to snatch a few moments with even on festival day because the majority come from places away from their posting places. “I can still enjoy a few festive moments with the family I’m working for,” Sushil Kumar, a guard deployed on security of a local official, adds. Believing in the dutybefore-self adage, doctors too have to remain away from their families on festivals. A leading paediatrician, AP Singh, while saying “Duty is duty” feels that serving patients is in itself the true celebration of Diwali. “The family is always there but somebody has to come forward to help society in such situations,” felt a leading orthopaedician, SK Agrawal. On Diwali, single people often bear the brunt of duty, perhaps unfairly. On the excuse that there’s no one waiting for them, most of the outsider BPO employees serving here are busy making plans with friends in similar situations. For cracker sellers, Diwali City residents go on spending spree on Diwali eve may become a damp squib Nitin Jain ALCOHOL SALES UP BY 60 PER CENT Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 11 With only 24 hours left for the festival of lights, neither the excited children hunting for crackers nor the heavily stocked cracker shops are anywhere in sight in Ludhiana this season unlike previous years when cracker stalls with heavy stocks of even dangerous fireworks used to attract a heavy rush of enthusiastic children. Lack of interest among the public, mainly children, and strict guidelines issued by the district administration are cited as the main reasons behind the present situation. Earlier, only a few shopkeepers would sell crackers from permanent shops after permission from the administration but for the past few years, small vendors used to sell fireworks at each and every corner of the state’s industrial hub, that also without any requisite permission. However, to regulate the sale of permitted varieties of crackers, the administration has earmarked six locations and has allowed 37 of the total over 300 applicants to sell the crackers as per the laid down guidelines at six locations in Ludhiana. The earmarked places for sale GO FOR GREEN FIRECRACKERS: DC “Residents should shun crackers that cause loud noise and massive pollution and instead, go for green crackers, if they want to burst at all during the festival season. We have earmarked places for sale and even community bursting of crackers. Any violation will be dealt with sternly,” DC Surabhi Malik said. of crackers include 13 at the grain market near Jalandhar bypass, 5 at Model Town Extension, 4 at Dugri Phase 2 near Dugri police station, 9 at GLADA ground on Chandigarh Road, 3 at Chaara Mandi in Haibowal on Hambran Road and 3 in a ground near Lodhi Club road. A local grocery shopkeeper, Amit Kumar, said: “With the continuous decrease in sale and profit of fireworks during the last some years, this time we decided against selling crackers at our shop.” Another trader Surinder Singla, who deals in wholesale and retail candles and dry fruits, besides other grocery items, at his outlet here, cites strict specifications framed by the authorities behind his decision against selling fireworks this year. While the number of retailers has gone down by over half this time, times are also tough for wholesalers as well. “Besides decrease in the commission given by manufacturing companies, the less sales have severely affected our business,” a local wholesale firework dealer, Rajesh Sharma, reasoned, adding that for the first time, they were offering discounts on their cash sales. However, despite downfall in sales and stern orders by the administration, the illegal sale and storage of firecrackers at unspecified places was still there, which was posing threat to densely populated areas, where this business was going on unchecked. Though the administration had already specified the sites for selling permitted crackers, the sale and stock of crackers in other parts of the city were also witnessed. “Residents should shun crackers that cause loud noise and massive pollution and instead, go for green crackers, if they want to burst at all during the festival season. We have earmarked places for sale and even community bursting of crackers. Any violation will be dealt with sternly,” said DC Surabhi Malik. Cracker stalls failed to attract rush of buyers in Ludhiana on Saturday. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN Ludhiana, November 11 On Saturday, shoppers thronged Ludhiana markets to such an extent that it appeared that not a single soul had remained at home. Luring the customers with bulk buying discounts and freebies, businessmen were, naturally, all smiles on the eve of festival of lights, Diwali. From clothes to crackers to sweets and every conceivable gift item, the shoppers were seen lugging everything across the city, which is popularly known as ‘Manchester of India’. As it always happens, this year saw further elaboration and refinement in gift packs, whether of dry fruits, sweets, chocolates, biscuits and namkeens or Alcohol sales went up by more than 60 per cent with premium brands leading the chart. Shoppers throng a market to purchase items in Ludhiana on Saturday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN even elegant little six/twelve packs of condiments. Exotic jelly candles were another item that caught the buyers’ fancy this time. GRP detain two with 2 kg of gold Ludhiana, November 11 The Government Railway Police (GRP) today detained two Amritsar-based persons and seized 2 kg gold from their possession. Officials said the gold was supposed to be supplied by the suspects to their clients in Ludhiana and Amritsar. Station House Officer, GRP police station, SI Jatinder Singh, said in view of the ongoing festival season, police personnel in civvies were keeping a tab over antisocial elements at the city railway station and a special checking drive was going on. During a routine patrolling, the police noticed two persons exiting from the rear side of the railway station. On suspicion, they were asked to stop for checking. When the police officials asked them to open the bag they were carrying, the duo c m y b initially refused to handover the same. When the police personnel checked the bag, 2 kg of gold was seized. On being asked about bills or any other document supporting the possession of gold worth lakhs, they failed to produce anything, said the SHO, adding that the duo were coming from Allahabad and going to deliver gold in Ludhiana and Amritsar. SHO said Excise Department officials were informed about the seizure as the case was related to tax evasion, following which the latter reached the railway police station for investigation. The excise officials took custody of gold and the suspects. Now, further probe would be conducted by the department. The suspects were identified as Amarjot Singh and Amrik Singh, both residents of Amritsar. — TNS electronic lights were still going up on Saturday evening. This year, shopkeepers outdid themselves when it came to decoration. Several leading stores could be seen illuminated and festooned with garlands of marigolds from end to end. The maximum rush was witnessed at shops selling electronics, gift items, sweets, utensils and toys. However, cracker sales failed to register a seasonal boom. Besides, alcohol sales went up by more than 60 per cent with premium brands leading the chart. Ladoos, kaju barfis and mixed mithai boxes seemed to be the chosen ones. Nevertheless, mithai (sweets) trays did not wait on the counter even for half-an- hour at leading shops. It was like selling sweets even when they are hot. Though most temples, gurdwaras and institutions have been lit up since last night, 14 test +ve for dengue in dist 5 miscreants booked for looting youngster, abducting minor girl Tribune News Service 18 suspected dengue deaths have been reported so far. FILE Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 11 The Civil Surgeon’s office on Saturday confirmed 14 new positive cases of dengue in the district. Of them, seven cases have been reported from urban areas and the rest from rural areas. A total of 983 positive cases of dengue have been reported from the district to date. At present, there are 118 active cases of dengue and patients are under treatment at different hospitals. Eighteen suspected dengue deaths have been reported from the district so far. Ludhiana, November 11 The Tibba police yesterday registered a case against five snatchers who looted a youth and then kidnapped his 16year-old cousin. Next day, the suspects dropped the girl at Machhiwara Sahib here. The suspects have been identified as Ravi, Sunny and Abhishek, all residents of Bihari colony, and two unidentified persons. The complainant, Parvej Moria, of Gopal Nagar told the police that on November 5, after picking up his cousin Roshni from her school, they were going to their place on a Honda Activa scooter. When they reached the New Karamsar Colony, five persons came on a motorcycle and a scoot- er and cornered them. “The suspects snatched my mobile phone, Rs 5,000 in cash and even key of my scooter. Afterwards, they kidnapped my cousin and took her along. They also threatened me if I reveal about the loot and kidnapping to anyone else, they will kill me,” the complainant alleged. The next morning his cousin called him by borrowing mobile phone of some stranger and said the suspects dropped her at some isolated place in Machhiwara Sahib. He along with his cousin’s father went to Machhiwara and took her home. Investigating officer ASI Baljit Singh said after registering a case, further probe was launched and efforts were on to nab the suspects.