22012024-LT-01.qxd 22-01-2024 01:11 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SECURITY UP AHEAD OF RAM TEMPLE CONSECRATION SUDHAA CHANDRAN WILL BE SEEN IN A DOUBLE ROLE ACTRESS SUNNY LEONE TURNS RESTAURATEUR Authorities have beefed up security ahead of the Ram Temple consecration and R-Day celebrations. P2 Veteran actor Sudhaa Chandran is doing a double role in Colors’ thought-provoking drama Doree. P3 From an actress to an entrepreneur and now a restaurateur, Sunny Leone added many feathers to her cap. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 15°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 11.4°C | MIN 6°C SUNSET MONDAY 5.52 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:23 AM MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2024 | LUDHIANA Man booked for sexually harassing, blackmailing NRI Ludhiana, January 21 The Jagraon city police registered a case against a man on the charges of blackmail and sexual harassment on the complaint of a USAbased non-resident Indian (NRI) yesterday. The suspect has been identified as Tarun Kumar, a resident of Rampur Daraha. A case under Sections 304 A (sexual harassment), 354 D (stalking), 294 (obscene acts and songs), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and Section 67 of the IT Act was registered against him. The complainant, a resident of the USA, told the police that she had developed a friendship with Tarun through Facebook. The suspect had obtained her phone number and started talking to her. Later, their friendship turned into a love affair. The complainant said she was not aware that the suspect had developed a friendship with her with a clear motive of blackmailing, cheating and extorting money from her. “By taking my photographs, he created morphed pictures and videos to defame me. He even shared the morphed pictures in various social media groups and sent to my near and dear ones. He again threatened to leak my morphed pictures and videos on social media and to kill my family members if I did not pay him,” alleged the complainant. Inspector Sanjeev Kumar said after an inquiry, a case was registered against the suspect and further probe was launched. — TNS Supporters protest blogger’s arrest Ludhiana, January 21 A protest was held outside the Police Division 7 by supporters of blogger Kaka Sidhu, alias Bhana Sidhu, who was arrested in an extortion case on Saturday. Blogger Bhana Sidhu was accused of demanding Rs 10,000 extortion by a female travel agent. The woman had also produced a mobile recording, which served as proof in which the suspect could be heard of demanding money from the agent. Today his supporters held a protest outside the police station seeking his immediate release. The protesters alleged that Bhana had launched a campaign against fraudulent travel agents due to which false cases were being filed against him. The protest lasted for a few minutes only as the police dispersed the supporters of the blogger. — TNS Homeless forced to sleep in open No respite from cold in sight for next few days in region outside shuttered night shelter Tribune News Service No alternative arrangement made in place of closed Clock Tower shelter Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 21 In the absence of any nearby operational night shelter, a number of homeless persons often visit an unsafe and closed night shelter near Clock Tower in Zone A, here. Hence, they are forced to sleep in the open at nearby sites in bone-chilling nights, as the Municipal Corporation has failed to establish a new night shelter in place of the closed one. At present, two elderly homeless persons, including a woman, are residing in the open outside the corporation’s closed night shelter, situated at a walking distance from Clock Tower and the railway station. Without a place to call home or any form of assistance, the elderly persons endure the extremely cold nights outside the shuttered shelter. Rather than opting to reconstruct or repair the closed night shelter or make alternative arrangements, the civic body chose to establish a garbage dump next to it. During the past years, many homeless people predominantly used to spent their nights at the shelter declared unsafe by the MC, which has been closed for over a year now. It’s important to mention that an office continues to operate in the same building where the closed night shelter is situated. A shopkeeper near the closed shelter said two elderly persons always stay in the open area while no steps had Ludhiana, January 21 The city continued to experience biting cold days. The maximum temperature recorded today was 11.4°C while minimum was 6°C. According to the Meteorological Centre, Chandigarh, weather is likely to remain dry and there will be no big change in minimum temperatures during the next four-five days in the state. A fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayan region from January 25. According to the centre’s observatory, dense to very dense fog will likely to be continued at a few places during the next few days in the state. Cold day to severe cold day conditions will likely to continue at a few places on January 21, 22 and 23 in the state. While cold wave conditions will likely to persist at isolated places during this period in the state. “The bone-chilling cold conditions are becoming Elderly persons staying outside the MC’s closed night shelter near Clock Tower. INDERJEET VERMA MANY REFUSE TO GO TO OTHER ZONES IN BUSES Joint Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation Chetan Bunger said the MC plans to renovate the closed shelter near Clock Tower. Additionally, he stated that the MC operates buses to transport approximately 100 homeless persons to three other night shelters in Zones B, C, and D every night. Moreover, he said several homeless persons usually refuse to go to the shelters. been taken to construct a new shelter for the homeless in the vicinity. Even on these chilling nights, a number of homeless persons often come to seek shelter at the night shelter but they are denied entry into the building. Consequently, they frequently spend their nights in verandas of nearby markets or beneath Elevated Road. There is an urgent need to establish a new shelter in the vicinity of Clock Tower and the railway station. Sarabjit Singh Bunty, a businessman, said many home- less people were forced to sleep on footpaths near Chand Cinema, Elevated Road, railway station and other areas in the absence of the required number of night shelters at nearby localities amid the extreme weather conditions. “After the construction of sheds for waste compactors, the MC has not yet installed the compactors there. Given that the sheds are currently vacant and unused, they could serve as temporary night shelters for the time being,” he said. Former councillor Gurpreet Faith beckons Singh Gopi said the night shelter near Clock Tower was used by many homeless people in the past. Since it was closed, no measures had been taken by the MC to construct a new shelter for the poor and homeless, leaving them to suffer. Many people are forced to spend nights in the open. The civic body must take the matter seriously, he added. Joint Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation Chetan Bunger said the MC plans to renovate the closed shelter near Clock Tower. Additionally, he stated that the MC operates buses to transport approximately 100 homeless persons to three other night shelters in Zones B, C, and D every night. Moreover, he said several homeless persons usually refuse to go to the shelters. Motorists commute as a thick blanket of fog engulfs Ludhiana on Sunday morning. INDERJEET VERMA 3 booked in property fraud case Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 21 The city police yesterday registered a case against three persons for committing a property fraud of Rs 3.34 crore. The suspects have been identified as Jatinder Kumar of Guru Nanak Dev Nagar, Raju Taneja of Ludhiana and Mani Kumar of Uppal village. The complainant, Jagjit Singh, of Kailash Nagar said the trio had struck a deal to sell a property to him and took Rs 3.34 crore in advance. Later, he came to know that A man sells saffron flags on the eve of the Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya, in Ludhiana on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN P2 Ludhiana, January 21 The Police Division 3 yesterday arrested two persons who tried to send drugs through a courier to Canada. The suspects have been identified as Neeraj Chahal of Nurmahal and Mani Kumar of Uppal village. The police seized 16.35 kg poppy husk, 750 gm of opium and 4,600 intoxicating tablets from the consignment. Complainant Jatinderjit Singh, who runs a courier service on the Shingar Cinema road, lodged a police complaint on January 20 that the duo had booked a courier for Ontario, Canada, and when on suspicion, the content of the same was checked, drugs was found. Neeraj, who was the key suspect, was supposed to receive the parcel after reaching Canada. Investigating officer SI Desraj said after registering a case against the duo, both suspects were arrested by the police. Further investigation was launched to bust the entire supply line and to nab big suppliers. The suspects in police custody in Ludhiana on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Three get life term in murder case Fraudster dupes woman of ~1.07L Ludhiana, January 21 The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Shiv Mohan Garg has sentenced Lovepreet Singh, alias Kala, Amarnath, alias Mani, and Krishna, all residents of Jargarhi Payal village, to rigorous life imprisonment for murdering Satpal due to some old enmity. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each of them. According to prosecution, on July 27, 2017, the police registered a case against the accused on the statement of Anuradha, wife of the deceased. She stated that she got married with Satpal about 19 years ago. The couple had two children. Her husband had an illicit relationship with a woman in the neighbourhood. About four months ago, Satpal eloped with the woman. They were brought back by the panchayat. Following which, the man was staying with his wife and the other woman with her husband. When Satpal returned with his lover, Ram Singh beaten him at a public place in the village. In this regard, the latter got registered an FIR against Ram Singh and his accomplice. On July 25, 2017, Ram came to Satpal’s house and threatened him that if he had not reached a compromise in the matter, he had to suffer. On the next day, when he was present near the house of Lovepreet Singh, alias Kala, and Amarnath, alias Mani, both of them wrongfully restrained the victim and assaulted him brutally. They were accompanied by Kul- the property did not belong to them and they committed a fraud with him. The victim lodged a complaint in this regard in November last year. A case has been registered against the suspects by the police on Saturday. Two arrested for making attempt to send drugs through courier to Canada Tribune News Service Legal Correspondent unbearable, especially for elderly people and infants. There seems to be no respite and hands and feet turn extremely cold during early mornings and late evenings,” said Subash Kumar, a city resident. Ranjeet, a vegetable vendor, said extreme weather conditions affect small businesses. “I am unable to go out in the wee hours to sell vegetables due to the chilling weather due to which my daily earnings have decreased,” he said. winder Kaur, Krishna, Sarabjit Singh, alias Raju. Afterwards, all accused took him towards the phirni of the village and assaulted him. Later, the victim’s wife and her nephew Rohit took Satpal to the Civil Hospital, Payal. However, he could not survive due to his deteriorating condition. Later, the accused were arrested. During the trial, they pleaded innocence and said they were being falsely implicated in the case by the police. But after going through evidence and hearing arguments of both sides, the court found them guilty. c m y b after swapping victim’s ATM card Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 21 The Samrala police yesterday arrested a fraudster who swapped the ATM card of a physically challenged woman and withdrew cash and made transaction amounting to Rs 1.07 lakh. The suspect has been identified as Sumit Kumar, native of Kot Mangal mohalla and resident of New Guru Angad Dev Colony, here. The complainant, Baljinder Kaur, a resident of Sihala village, Ludhiana, said on November 27, 2023, she, along with her husband Bhupinder Singh, had gone to withdraw cash from an ATM kiosk. Her husband kept standing outside the kiosk while she went inside to withdraw money. A turbaned man, who was already there offered to help her in withdrawing money. “After taking my ATM card, the suspect made a fake attempt to withdraw cash as he had already taken the ATM PIN from me but he returned the card, saying that he could not be able to with- draw cash due to some technical problem,” she said. The complainant said when she returned home along with her husband, she got text messages of four transactions of Rs 10,000 each and then a message of Rs 67,000 paid at a jewellery shop in Samrala. The suspect used Rs 1.07 lakh in total from her bank account after swapping her ATM card. The police said further investigation was launched by the police to inquire about the role of the suspect in past incidents involving same modus operandi. 24-yr-old youth dies by suicide Ludhiana, January 21 A youth staying near GRD Academy in the Bhamian Kalan area on the Chandigarh road here died by suicide by hanging himself late on Saturday night. The incident came to light when his family members returned after attending a wedding ceremony. They knocked the door of the house but got no response. Following which, they entered the house by climbing the wall from a nearby house and found him hanging from the ceiling fan. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead. He was identified as 24-year-old Gaurav Kumar. — TNS
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