21012024-LT-01.qxd 21-01-2024 01:09 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MP ARORA REVIEWS CIVIL HOSPITAL UPGRADE PLAN SHAHID, KRITI TO SHARE UNFILTERED MOMENTS SHOAIB MALIK GETS MARRIED TO PAK ACTRESS SANA JAVED MP Sanjeev Arora discussed need to upgrade dist hospital, one of busiest healthcare facilities in Punjab. P2 Shahid Kapoor & Kriti Sanon to join Neha Dhupia on two different episodes of talk show No-Filter With Neha. P3 Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik announced that he tied knot with Pakistani actress Sana Javed. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 13°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 14.6°C | MIN 8.6°C SUNSET SUNDAY 5.51 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 7:23 AM SUNDAY | 21 JANUARY 2024 | LUDHIANA Gunman of MP Bittu dies as weapon goes off Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 20 A gunman of Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu died under mysterious circumstances on Friday night after his weapon went off accidentally at the official residence of the parliamentarian near Rose Garden here. Two bullets hit the jawan which led to his death. Two bullets hit 32-yr-old CISF jawan, which led to his death Bittu was not at home at the time of the incident as he had gone to some party event. However, he reached the spot after getting information about the incident. Police Division Number 8 launched a probe after the incident. The deceased CISF jawan has been identified as Sandeep Kumar (32), a resident of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred around 11 pm when after listening to the sound of bullets, other security personnel posted there reached his room and found that Sandeep was lying on the ground in a pool of blood. They shifted him to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. CISF and Punjab Police officials reached the spot for investigation.They also checked CCTV cameras to get any clue and some security personnel present at the house were also questioned by the officials. SHO Inspector Vijay Kumar said a preliminary probe suggested that the jawan might had been cleaning his automatic weapon when it went off. One bullet hit his throat and pierced through the head and the second hit the chest of the jawan. Suspecting no foul play, inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) were initiated by the police and further probe was on in the case. Over 700 D-Pharmacy certificates Qaumi Insaaf Morcha holds protest at Ladhowal toll plaza issued by suspects, says Vigilance Seeks release of Sikh prisoners, justice for ex-Akal Takht jathedar Beneficiaries to face the music, cancellation of degrees Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 20 In the ongoing probe into the issuing of D-Pharmacy certificates to ineligible candidates, the Vigilance Bureau (VB) found that over 700 fake certificates were issued by suspects. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Vigilance Bureau, Ravinder Pal Singh Sandhu, said 17 suspects were arrested so far in the DPharmacy degree scam and several others were also on the radar of the Vigilance. “Our probe has found that the accused had issued over 700 D-Pharmacy certificates, of which maximum were issued before 2016. The VB has also traced about 65 such beneficiaries, of which nine have already been arrested. Our special team will now trace all 700 persons who obtained 700 fake D-Pharmacy certificates and they may face legal action,” Sandhu said. The SSP said students had obtained admission to the DPharmacy course by possessing fake Class XII educational qualifications in medical or Some of the suspects nabbed in D-Pharmacy degree scam. FILE 17 SUSPECTS ARRESTED SO FAR: SSP Vigilance Bureau SSP Ravinder Pal Singh Sandhu, said 17 suspects were nabbed so far in the D-Pharmacy degree scam and others were also on the radar of the Vigilance. The VB has also traced about 65 such beneficiaries, of which nine have already been arrested. Our special team will now trace all 700 persons who obtained fake DPharmacy certificates and they may face legal action. non-medical streams whereas Class XII had to be passed in regular mode and by attending science practicals. “We have written to the higher education authorities for the cancellation of pharmacy degrees of students who had obtained the same by submitting fake certificates. Even several officials of various colleges might also face action who were hand in glove with the ineligible candidates,” he said. Notably on January 15, the Vigilance Bureau (VB) had arrested four more suspects for admitting ineligible candidates and issuing D-Pharmacy degrees in a fraudulent manner in connivance with registrars and officials of the Punjab State Pharmacy Council (PSPC). The arrested persons included Gurpreet Singh Gill, owner, and Sarabjit Singh Brar, principal of the Adesh Institute of Medical Science and Research Bhatinda; RS Ramakodi, who was a principal at Lala Lajpat Rai College, Sehna, Barnala district, in 2013, and Baljinder Singh Bajwa, who was principal at the Lala Lajpat College of Pharmacy, Moga, in 2011. In the case, the VB has earlier arrested Parveen Kumar Bharadwaj and Dr Tejvir Singh, both former registrars of the PSPC, along with superintendent Ashok Kumar, had already been arrested. Besides, nine pharmacists had also been nominated and arrested in the case. So far, 17 suspects had been arrested. In this regard the VB has already registered a criminal case on December 8, 2023, against the former registrars and officials of the PSPC for committing irregularities in facilitating admissions, registration and issuing licences of D-Pharmacy to the ineligible students studying in private colleges. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 20 Demanding the release of Bandhi Singhs (Sikh prisoners) who are languishing in jails even after completing their sentences, members of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha, along with different farmers and other organisations, staged a protest at the Ladhowal toll plaza on the Delhi-Amritsar road here on Saturday. The protesters also sought justice for former Akal Takht acting jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke, who was allegedly murdered by police officials around three decades ago. They made the toll plaza, on the National Highway-44, toll-free for commuters during the protest, which was also supported by members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar Fateh). Harinder Singh of the SAD (Amritsar Fateh) said they, along with farmers’ unions, staged a protest at the toll plaza for the immediate release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their jail terms. He mentioned that despite years of repeated demands, the government had not released Sikh prisoners who had already served their sen- Protesters at the Ladhowal toll plaza in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN tences. In contrast, controversial Sirsa dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who was serving a sentence on charges of murder and rape, was being given repeated paroles, he said. The protesters started gathering at the toll plaza around 10 am and continued the protest till 2 pm. Industrialist Tarun Jain Bawa said the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha staged protests at 20 sites in the state, demanding the release of Sikh prisoners. Highways were made toll-free during the protests. He emphasised that Sikh prisoners who had completed their sentences Miscreants attack Jewellery shop robbery cracked in week, 5 held bus at toll barrier Ludhiana, January 20 Some youths attacked a bus ferrying people to a marriage function on Friday night at the Ladhowal toll barrier. The bus driver alleged that the assailants, posing as toll staff, wanted to extort illegal money. When he refused, they damaged the vehicle by hitting its windowpanes with rods and sticks. The bus driver, Manjeet, said he was going from Ludhiana to Batala. He gave Rs 300 to a person at the toll plaza on Friday morning and the per- son allowed the bus to pass without giving any slip and also promised that he would also allow the vehicle to pass without paying anything during its return journey. However, it was not allowed to pass on Friday night by miscreants who demanded money. When he refused, they attacked the bus. He said he had lodged a police complaint against them. The toll management firm also started a probe to inquire about the miscreants who were extorting money from people. — TNS Ludhiana, January 20 The Ludhiana police claimed to have solved the jewellery shop robbery case after a week. The police arrested five suspects in this regard and recovered looted valuables, illegal weapons from them. The suspects have been identified as Aniket (21) of Satguru Nagar, Rahul Kumar (22) of the Lohara Daba road, Navdeep Dubey (22), alias Sonu, of Ajit Nagar, Ankit Kumar (20) of GTB Nagar and Karan (20) of Delhi. JCP JS Teja, ADCP Suhail Qasim Mir, ACP Cops address the media in Ludhiana on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Guriqbal Singh and other officials addressed a press conference in this regard. The JCP said on January 14, Jagdish Kumar was present at his shop on the Gill road where five armed robbers had barged into it and looted valuables from him. The incident was also captured by CCTV cameras. Teja said when the police started a probe in the case, a car used in the crime was traced, which further led to the identification of the suspects. On January 19, after getting information about the whereabouts of the suspects, raids were conducted and five persons were arrested by the Ludhiana police. The JCP said during the Success story: No to VIP duties made Mullanpur Dakha cleanest city Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Mullanpur Dakha (Ludhiana), January 20 It may sound strange but it made the difference! This sleepy town in Ludhiana district said no to VIP duties by safai karamcharis, which helped it emerge as the cleanest city in the North zone of the country with population between 15,000 and 25,000 and below 1 lakh population category in the state under the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023 conferred by President Droupadi Murmu on January 11. Secret behind small town bagging award under Swachh Survekshan 2023 When we investigated to know the secret behind the great success, which made Mullanpur Dakha the cleanest city among tens of hundreds in the category, it came to fore that the entire fleet of the safai karamcharis with the civic body were pulled off from VIP duties, which they should be released at the earliest. Additionally, they were seeking justice for former Akal Takht acting jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke, with a demand for punishment for police officials involved in his murder, he added. It is essential to mention that various organisations have been staging protests and raising demands before the Centre and state governments for the early release of the Sikh prisoners for a long time. They question why, when the Sikh prisoners had already completed their sentences, they were still lodged in jails. A clean locality of Mullanpur Dakha in Ludhiana on Saturday; and (right) a file photo of Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik receiving the cleanest city award for Mullanpur Dakha in New Delhi on January 11. were doing earlier at the cost of public money, and were deployed on the cleanliness work in the town. The majority of the total 53 safai karamcharis, who were earlier used to work at houses and offices of political leaders, bureaucrats, police officers and other mighty people in the area, were asked to report back on their basic job and were put on the cleanliness duty of the town. To ensure optimum utilisation of the available resources, 49 of the total 53 safai karamcharis, who were working temporarily on a contract basis with the Municipal Council (MC), were regularised and given permanent jobs. Sharing the success story, Dr KNS Kang, the area incharge of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), told The Tribune, here on Saturday that they took small initiatives to achieve the big goal. Dr Kang, who is an eminent educationist and spearheaded the cleanliness drive in the area, said the decision to recall the safai karamcharis illegally working with the bigwigs was hard to take but without budging under pulls and pressures that it involved, the public support coupled with the govern- ment’s patronage succeeded in putting back all safai karamcharis on the cleanliness duty of the town. “We have worked hard in the past two years towards cleaning the city and have taken several steps to bag the coveted cleanest city award,” he claimed. Divulging the steps taken to achieve the goal, Dr Kang said to address the challenge of inefficient garbage lifting, leading industrialists were roped in to support the cleanliness drive through corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, which provided two garbage-lifting trucks and helped improve waste c m y b management capabilities. “Earlier, lots of garbage used to be lying scattered here and there in the city and we got 100 dustbins donated for segregating dry and wet waste in separate bins, promoting a cleaner and more sustainable environment,” he said. The local leader revealed that to ensure accountability and efficiency of the available resources, the duties of the safai karamcharis in 13 wards of Mullanpur Dakha were divided and the names of the karamcharis were printed and pasted at various places in each ward so that they could be contacted by area residents in case of any deficiency in service. To tackle sewage system challenges, the city borrowed jetting machines for thorough cleaning and clearing of underground sewage pipes. “This concerted effort resulted in the successful clearing of almost all sewage lines over the past few months, significantly enhancing the overall sanitation infrastructure,” he said. Dr Kang said the employees of the civic body, especially on cleanliness duty, were treated with respect and an environment for the work was created, besides massive participation of local residents and volunteers was initiated to keep the city clean. “To further boost the ongoing cleanliness drive and keep the cleanest city tag in the future as well, the MC will soon get a new jetting machine, a tractor, four e-rickshaws, 10 hand-driven garbage pickers and a water tanker, besides other requisite men and material for ensuring that each nook and corner of Mullanpur Dakha remains clean and green,” he added. DC conferred award DC Surabhi Malik was con- ferred the award on behalf of the Mullanpur Dakha Municipal Council by Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, in the presence of the President Droupadi Murmu. The award was presented at a special ceremony under the Swachh Bharat Mission of the Union Government to honour the best performing cities and towns held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on January 11. Under the Swachh Survekshan 2023, cities/towns were given star rating under the garbage-free city and rankings were also given under the open defecation-free (ODF) status, which included the water plus category as the highest ranking. Mullanpur Dakha has secured 1-star ranking in garbage-free city certification and water plus certificate in the ODF category, which made it secure the first place among the north zone of the country in cities between 15,000 and 25,000 population and less than 1 lakh population in the state under the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023. questioning of the suspects, 2.12 kg of silver ornaments, three empty boxes of ornaments, two countrymade pistols, an air pistol, five cartridges, a car used in the crime and a motorcycle was recovered from the suspects. The police official said among the nabbed suspects, Ankit, Aniket and Karan had a criminal past as many cases were registered against them. Now, further police remand of the suspects would be sought to probe their involvement in other crimes. — TNS Migrant from UP crushed to death Our Correspondent Doraha, January 20 A migrant was reportedly crushed to death by an unknown vehicle on Friday night near a dhaba here. The Doraha police have registered a case under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC against the unidentified driver of the vehicle. The body of the victim has been handed over to his kin after a postmortem examination. The deceased has been identified as Golu Chauhan of Badhki village in Uttar Pradesh. He was reportedly crossing the National Highway-1 near a dhaba here on Friday night when a speeding vehicle coming from the Ludhiana side and going towards Khanna crushed him. He succumbed to his injuries on the spot. Asharfi Chauhan, uncle of the victim, rushed to the spot and found the man lying in a pool of blood. Hardam Singh said: “A case has been registered against an unidentified driver of the vehicle for rash driving which resulted in the death of the man.”
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