16112023-LT-01.qxd 11/16/2023 1:00 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune PROCUREMENT OF PADDY ENTERS LAST LEG IN DIST RACHEL OPENS UP ABOUT HER CHARACTER LUCY GRAY BAIRD RADHIKA MADAN'S SANAA TO BE SCREENED AT IFFI Of 17.02 LMT of paddy arriving across district till Wednesday evening, 16.88 LMT of stock has been procured. P2 Rachel Zegler is known for her soulful singing voice and stupendous acting prowess. P3 Radhika Madan and Pooja Bhatt-starrer Sanaais all set to be screened at 54th International Film Festival of India.P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 27°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 27°C | MIN 14°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.28 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:54 AM THURSDAY | 16 NOVEMBER 2023 | LUDHIANA Ornaments, cash stolen from jewellery shop at Gol Market Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 15 Thieves targeted a jeweller’s shop in Jamalpur’s Gol Market and took away ornaments and cash worth lakhs from the shop. The incident came to light at 6 am on Wednesday morning when a sweeper saw the broken shutter of the store and informed the police. CCTV cameras installed at the shop captured the thieves. The police launched a probe to identify the suspects. Officials from the Focal Point police station reached the spot. After recording the statement of the shopkeeper, a case was registered. As per information, two thieves uprooted the shutter of the jewellery shop, one of the thieves entered the shop while another kept standing outside to keep a watch. As per the CCTV camera footage, thieves committed the theft around 3.45 am and stayed in the shop for around 25 minutes. The shop owner, Captain, said thieves took away five kg of silver, gold worth Rs 5 lakh and Rs 70,000 cash kept in the locker. The SHO, Focal Point police station, Amandeep Singh Brar, said a case against the unidentified thieves was registered by the police and further probe was launched to crack the case. Dist records season’s highest CM to flag off mega cycle rally against drug menace today daily count of 114 farm fires Tribune News Service Tally touches 1,524, air quality index improves to moderate Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 15 With 114 fresh cases of farm fires, highest daily count so far, reported on Wednesday, the current Kharif season’s tally has gone up to 1,524 in the district. While Wednesday’s stubble burning cases were ninth highest daily count in the state, the total figure was tenth highest in the state. However, it was still almost 43 per cent less than 2,682 incidents of crop residue recorded in the district during the previous paddy harvesting season. However, the air quality index (AQI) improved considerably from the “poor” category till Tuesday to “moderate” as it dipped from 285 on Monday and 240 on Tuesday to 166 on Wednesday. This made Ludhiana the fifth most polluted city on Wednesday, which was an improvement of two spots from the third position in the state on Tuesday. Still, a thick blanket of smog, especially in the morning and evening hours, continued to cause hardships to commuters, besides leading to health issues, mainly related to respiratory and pulmonary complications. While Bathinda continued to remain the most polluted city The remains of paddy straw after it was put afire in a field in Ludhiana on Wednesday. ASHWANI DHIMAN ALARMING FIGURES Farm fires tenth highest City CASES ■ Sangrur 5,223 ■ Ferozepur 2,807 ■ Bathinda 2,417 ■ Mansa 2,146 ■ Tarn Taran 1,942 ■ Barnala 1,850 ■ Patiala 1,767 ■ Moga 1,708 ■ Faridkot 1,554 ■ Ludhiana 1,524 PUNJAB 30,661 (SOURCE: PRSC, FIGURES AS ON NOVEMBER 15) with AQI of 358, which was considered “very poor”, Ropar district recorded the cleanest air in the state with AQI of 161, which comes under the “mod- POLLUTION LEVELS CITY ■ Bathinda ■ Mandi Gobindgarh ■ Jalandhar ■ Patiala ■ Ludhiana ■ Amritsar ■ Ropar AQI 358 289 235 230 166 162 161 (SOURCE: CPCB, FIGURES AT 8 PM ON NOVEMBER 15) AIR QUALITY INDEX 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD erate” category. Among other five cities monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Mandi Gobindgarh was the second most polluted city of Punjab with AQI of 289, followed by Jalandhar AQI 235, Patiala 230, Khanna 164 and Amritsar recorded the AQI of 162 at 8 pm this evening. On the farm fires front, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s home district Sangrur remained the worst affected with the highest count of 5,223, followed by Ferozepur 2,807, Bathinda 2,417, Mansa 2,146, Tarn Taran 1,942, Barnala 1,850, Patiala 1,767, Moga 1,708, Faridkot 1,554, Amritsar 1,517, Muktsar 1,215, Jalandhar 1,039, Kapurthala 928, Fazilka 914, Fatehgarh Sahib 861, Gurdaspur 374, Malerkotla 367, Nawanshahr 220, Mohali 132, Hoshiarpur 108, Ropar 45, and Pathankot recorded the minimum of three crop residue burning cases till date. Ludhiana, November 15 Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will flag off the country’s biggest cycle rally against the drug menace on the PAU campus on November 16, on the martyrdom day of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha. Finalising arrangements for the mega event, Commissioner of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu said Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann would flag off the cycle rally while DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav would also participate in the event. He said over 25,000 participants had already registered their names for the mega event against drug abuse. The CP said the cycle rally would script new success in the country against the drug menace with such a massive population participating in the event. He said the mega event would be a befitting tribute to Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha on his martyrdom day. The CP said anybody could participate in the cycle rally, which would start at 7 am from the PAU campus and culminate at the same place after covering around 13 km. He said people from all walks of life would participate in the event; thereby making the anti-drug campaign into a mass movement. He said after the event, a lucky draw would be held and 151 selected participants would be given new bicycles. Cops, cyclists pedal 44 km to collect soil from martyr’s village Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 15 Police officials and 12 cyclists pedalled 44 km from Ludhiana to the ancestral house of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha at Sarabha village to collect the soil from the house of the martyr. It was the part of the country’s mega cycle rally ‘Youth Against Drugs’ scheduled to be held on November 16. ADCP (Crime) Rupinder Kaur Sran, ACP Sumit Sood along with the group of 12 city -based cyclists started cycling from the Pakhowal road to reach the martyr’s house at Sarabha. ADCP Sran said, “The point from where we started ped- dling was the Pakhowal road and the distance from that point to Sarabha village was 22 km for one side “. The ADCP said when they were collecting soil from the house of the martyr, they all were feeling proud of the contribution made by Kartar Singh Sarabha for the nation. Meanwhile, the police officials along with the group of cyclists also visited the house of martyr Sukhdev Thaper at Naughara Mohalla where soil was handed over to the cyclists by the nephew of Sukhdev Thaper, Ashok Thaper. Soil is to be collected from the houses of different martyrs across the state and the same will be used to plant five plants namely ‘tree of harmony, tree of promise, tree of wisdom, tree of unity and tree of hope. Meanwhile, students of Khalsa College today enacted a play to spread awareness against drug abuse and more than 2,000 students through online and offline mode pledged to make Punjab drug-free. Avoid this route today The route from Verka Milk Plant to South City Road, Malakpur cut to South City road, Ladhowal Toll Plaza to South City Road will remain closed from 6 am to 12 noon on Thursday due to the cycle rally. The police urged people to avoid the route while commuting. Woman, paramour nabbed Notorious smuggler nabbed with 2.6-kg heroin Couple arrested, heroin seized on charge of killing husband Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 15 The Tibba police yesterday arrested a woman along with her paramour on the charges of killing her husband. The suspects have been identified as Ranjita Devi, a resident of the Jagirpur road area, and her paramour Gopal Kumar of Meharban. The accused were yesterday arrested by the police. Complainant Manoj Ram of Himachal Pradesh told the police that his brother Vinod Kumar (38) had got married with Ranjita Devi in 2003. For VICTIM WAS ELECTROCUTED TO DEATH The woman in connivance with her paramour decided to eliminate her husband so that the duo can continue their illicit relationship without any hindrance. On November 13, the duo electrocuted the victim, Vinod, to death, the complainant, brother of the deceased, said, the past six months, his brother was under depression. Recently he also called him and informed that his wife had developed illicit relationship with Gopal Kumar, due to which a dispute had erupted with his wife. The woman in connivance with her paramour decided to eliminate her husband so that the duo can continue their illicit relationship without any hindrance. On November 13, the duo electrocuted Vinod to death, the complainant said, adding that after he came to know about the demise of his brother, he lodged a complaint with the police which led to the registration of an FIR and arrest of both suspects. Ludhiana, November 15 The Special Task Force (STF) wing of Ludhiana yesterday arrested a notorious smuggler and seized 2.6 kg of heroin worth over Rs 15 crore in the international market. He has been identified as Gurjant Singh, alias Janta (30), of Bhikhiwind, Tarn Taran. STF DSP Davinder Chaudhary and inspector Harbans Singh issued a joint statement in this regard. Chaudhary said a tip-off was received that the man, who was a notorious heroin smuggler, was already facing a case of drug smuggling. He was supposed to deliver heroin to his clients in Sarabha Nagar in his Maruti Swift car. The suspect in police custody in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO The STF team laid a naka at a strategic place where the Swift car, was stopped by the police for checking. During search, 2.6 kg of heroin was found concealed beneath the driver’s seat. The DSP said in 2019, the STF had also nabbed the accused along with 2.3 kg heroin and in this case, he had spent over two years in various jails. About a year ago, he came out on bail and again started the notorious trade. His brother Dharamvir Singh was also declared a proclaimed offender in a drug case. Inspector Harbans said the accused confessed that he was into the smuggling trade for the past over five years and he had been bringing heroin from a big heroin smuggler of Tarn Taran. Atal Apartments project set to begin next week, if all goes well Harshraj Singh STONE LAID IN 2011 Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 15 If all goes smoothly this time, the long-awaited project — Atal Apartments — by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust is set to commence on the ground next week. The project’s foundation stone was initially laid in 2011 during the SAD-BJP government regime and another stone was laid in 2021 with a revised plan during the Congress government’s tenure. But construction of flats on 8.80 acres of land is yet to be started at the ground level. A total of 576 flats, comprising 336 HIG and 240 MIG, are to be constructed at the site. Vikram Kumar, LIT’s executive engineer, said the work order for the project had already been issued to the successful contractor and the The project’s foundation stone was initially laid in 2011 during the SADBJP government regime and another stone was laid in 2021 with a revised plan during the Congress government’s tenure. Nevertheless, the construction work at the ground level is yet to commence. The Atal Apartments project site at Shaheed Karnail Singh Nagar in Ludhiana. INDERJEET VERMA work was set to commence next week. The estimated cost of the entire project was around Rs 300 crore. In April this year, the then Local Bodies Minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar handed over allotment letters to 487 successful applicants for the flats under the Atal Apartment scheme of the LIT while the draw for the 576 flats took place in June 2022. According to information, 12storey residential earthquake- c m y b resistant towers would be erected under the scheme. The apartments will have amenities such as a swimming pool, gymnasium, green parks, clubhouse, CCTVs, 24-hour water supply, table-tennis rooms, a multipurpose hall, double lifts with round-theclock power backup, videodoor phones in each flat, spacious balconies, a fire hydrant system, rainwater harvesting system, a small commercial centre, and a separate fivestorey parking facility. The LIT initially finalised the construction plan for the flats in 2011. The first foundation stone of the project was laid by the then Local Bodies Minister Tikshan Sud in December 2011. However, the project faced delays. In 2016, the project was launched with much fanfare but in 2017, the Trust decided to cancel the allotments and initiated the process of refunding the allottees’ money. Subsequently, the project plan underwent revisions and in December 2021, the then Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi laid the foundation stone for the project, according to the revised plan. Nevertheless, the actual construction work at the ground level is yet to commence. The Sidhwan Bet police on Tuesday arrested a couple and seized 70 gm of heroin and a motorcycle from their possession. The suspects have been identified as Jeet Kaur and her husband Jasmel Singh, alias Jass, a resident of Abbupura, Sidhwan Bet. Investigating officer SI Gulab Singh said a tip-off was received that the couple was involved in drug smuggling and they were going to deliver heroin to their clients near Malsihan Bajan. After verifying information, a police team was formed and a naka was laid at a strategic place where the motorcycle of the suspects was stopped. During the frisking of the suspects, heroin was seized from their possession. The SI said the suspects also had a notorious past as seven cases, including six of drug smuggling and one of liquor smuggling, was registered against them in the past at the Sidhwan Bet and Jagraon police stations. After coming out on bail, they continued the illegal trade. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against the suspects and further probe was launched to bust the the smuggling network. — TNS Two youngsters die as truck hits motorcycle Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 15 Two youths died in a accident that occurred on the Malerkotla road in Khanna late last night. Their motorcycle collided head-on with a truck coming from the Malerkotla side. As per information, the duo had suffered serious injuries in the accident. People rushed them to the Civil Hospital, Khanna, where after first aid, both of them were referred to a private hospital due to their critical condition. However, they succumbed to their injuries on the way to the private hospital. The deceased have been identified as Preet and Kala, residents of Barnala. Both of the victims were working in Khanna. They were staying in a rented house in Khanna. Both were returning home after work when they met with the tragedy. Dr Navdeep Jassal at the Civil Hospital said when the duo were brought to the hospital, their condition was serious. While trying to stabilise them, they were referred to a private hospital. But both of them died on the way. On the other hand, the police started a probe in the incident.