17032024-LT-01.qxd 3/17/2024 12:59 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SECOND FIR FILED AGAINST MP BITTU IN 20 DAYS BIG B IS ALL PRAISE FOR MASTER BLASTER IT’S OUR DUTY TO PROMOTE CULTURE: SARA ALI KHAN Second FIR against MP Ravneet Bittu filed in 20 days for locking carcass plant at Noorpur Bet village. P2 Amitabh Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar attended the Indian Street Premier League final on Friday. P4 Sara Ali Khan said as a public figure, it’s an added responsibility to promote the culture at a fashion level. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 29°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 13°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6.36 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6:32 AM SUNDAY | 17 MARCH 2024 | LUDHIANA Poll code enforced in district; LS elections on June 1 in state Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 16 Following the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, the model code of conduct has been enforced in the district. The elections are scheduled to take place in the state on June 1. At present, the total number of electors in the Ludhiana district, which comprises a total of 14 state Legislative Assembly constituencies, is 26,54,344, including 14,15,456 males, 12,38,744 females and 144 third gender individuals. The elector count could potentially rise due to the registration of new voters. In the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency, which consists of nine Legislative Assembly constituencies — Ludhiana East, Ludhiana South, Ludhiana Central, Ludhiana West, Ludhiana North, Atam Nagar, Gill, Dakha and Jagraon — there are a total of 17,28,619 electors, including 9,22,005 males, 8,06,484 females, and 130 third gender individuals, at present. Additionally, five Assembly constituencies of Ludhiana district — Khanna, Samrala, Sahnewal, Payal and Raikot — fall in the Fatehgarh Sahib parliamentary constituency. District Election Officer-cumDeputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said they would ensure strict enforcement of the model code of conduct during the elections. She emphasised the administration’s dedication to conduct free, fair, Two nabbed with illegal weapons Ludhiana, March 16 The Ludhiana police claimed to have nabbed Mohit Jagota of Tarsem Colony, Haibowal, and Ravinder Ghai of UP and seized two illegal weapons. ASI Dilbagh Singh said they were patrolling in Jamalpur. On suspicion, they stopped the duo for checking. Two countrymade illegal pistols were seized from them. They were nabbed and a case was registered. — TNS 24x7 grievances cell established; 42 flying squad teamsto remain operational in dist; 39 checkpoints setup; additional forces deployed With the poll code coming into force, security personnel check a vehicle at a naka in Ludhiana on Saturday. ASHWANI DHIMAN transparent and peaceful Lok Sabha polls in Ludhiana. Sawhney said with the enforcement of the poll code starting today, the district administration has formed various teams to facilitate smooth and hassle-free election preparations. Specifically, a model code of conduct enforcement team, under the chairmanship of the ADC (Rural Development), has been established to oversee its strict enforcement. Additionally, teams for expenditure monitoring and electoral ballot paper management had been constituted. She mentioned the establishment of a complaint committee/grievances cell, headed by the ADC (Jagraon), to address concerns related to the poll process. A dedicated complaint cell, reachable at 0161-2310430, has been set up to operate 24x7, ensuring the proper implementation of the poll code. Citizens can report any violations or issues they may encounter during the poll period. They can contact or lodge complaints through the helpline number 1950, email (electioncomplaints.ldh2024@gm ail. com). Besides, public can lodge their complaints via the C-VIGIL App of the Election Commission. Sawhney further talked about permissions committee, led by the ADC (Jagraon), responsible for handling requests for permission regarding rallies, proceedings, use of public places and vehicles. Regarding flying squads, she said a total of 27 teams would be operational in the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency and 42 teams in the district. Each flying squad, comprising four personnel from different departments, will be deployed round-the-clock to ensure vigil and security at polling booths. Officials shared information about booth arrangements, indicating that a total of 2,919 polling booths would be set up across the district, with 1,842 catering to the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency, to facilitate hassle-free voting for all eligible citizens. To prevent any violations of the poll code, 39 checkpoints or nakas have been established across the district through joint efforts involving the Ludhiana CP (21 nakas), Khanna SSP (10 nakas) and Rural/Jagraon SSP (8 nakas). Additionally, 1 coy CRPF has been deployed in the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate while two battalions of the BSF have been deployed in each of the Khanna police district and Ludhiana-rural police district. Extensive Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) activities are being undertaken throughout the district to encourage people to vote and enrol those who have not yet joined the voter list. A nodal officer has been appointed in each Assembly constituency to oversee the SVEEP activities. On Saturday, the DC directed bank officials to provide details of suspicious transactions during the elections. She asked them to report unusual and suspicious cash withdrawals or deposits exceeding Rs 1 lakh in an account during the poll, without any such instance of deposit or withdrawal during the past two months. FORGING PASSPORTS FOR CRIMINALS Staffer of Civil Surgeon’s office, cop among three detained from Patiala Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 16 Striking a major lead in the ongoing probe into the case pertaining to the preparation of fake documents of criminals for further facilitating them in making fake passports, the Ludhiana police, as per sources, have taken into custody three persons from Patiala today. The suspects include a police constable, an employee of the Civil Surgeon’s Office, Patiala, and another person. On March 13, the crime wing of the Ludhiana police had arrested two persons, Deepak Dhankar of Sonipat, Haryana, and Yadwinder Singh of MIG flats, Phase 2, Urban Estate, Patiala, for preparing fake documents, including passports, arm licences and driving licences, of criminals by changing their names. During investigation, continued on page 2 Admn to take care of leprosy patients, kin A FIRST DC launches ‘Mission Umeed – Ek Zaria’ to raise living standards, provide employment, skill development, make underprivileged sections of society self-reliant Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 16 In a first-of-its-kind initiative that may go a long way to help underprivileged sections of society, the administration has launched a unique programme to take care of leprosy patients and their children and dependents staying in the district. For this purpose, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney has launched the special scheme, ‘Mission Umeed — Ek Zaria’, to raise the living standards, provide employment opportunities, impart skill development training, make leprosy patients and their family members self-reliant by way of extending them all possible help and support through hand-holding approach. The District Bureau of Employment and Enterprises (DBEE) has been roped in to provide job and entrepreneurship opportunities to the needy, as per their interest and requirements. The brainchild of the DC, the Officials meet leprosy patients and their kin in Ludhiana on Saturday. HUMANE APPROACH duties ❝Besides discharging officialpolicies, it and implementing government is our endeavour to provide much-needed help and relief to underprivileged sections. The initiative, ‘Mission Umeed — Ek Zaria’, is the first in series of adopting a humane approach towards our brothers and sisters. ❞ Sakshi Sawhney, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER initiative has taken up the cause of 140-odd leprosy patients and their kin staying in a colony here under the pilot project. The DC told The Tribune, here on Saturday, that 140 leprosy patients residing in a colony (some along with their families), accommodated in 84 rooms, have been identified for coverage under the mission in the first phase. “We will address livelihood concerns of wards and dependents of leprosy patients by providing them basic amenities and other daily needs, which they require to lead a dignified living,” Sakshi disclosed. She said the president of the ashram, where the leprosy patients and their families reside, had been asked to collate a list of all aspirant/ needful candidates by talking to all residents, capturing their details in a format which would be provided by the DBEE. “An official of the DBEE will be deputed to ensure that accurate data and expectations of the wards and children are captured in the continued on page 2 c m y b Civic body starts removing illegalpolitical ads from city Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 16 Following the implementation of the model code of conduct for upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for June 1 in the state, the Municipal Corporation has started removing illegal political advertisement materials such as posters, banners, flexes and hoardings from the city. According to information, many such unlawful political advertisements that had been defacing the city were promptly removed today. The illegal political hoardings, banners and other material were removed from public properties, electricity poles, bridges and various other structures. However, it has been noted that a number of illegal political advertisements still remain in different areas of the city, awaiting removal. Moreover, government advertisements displayed on unipoles or other advertising devices are also being taken down. An official from the MC said seven teams had been working to remove political or other advertisements that contravene the poll code. District Election Officercum-Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney emphasised that following the enforcement of the poll code for the Illegal hoardings being removed from a unipole in Ludhiana. Lok Sabha elections, political advertisements were being removed from government premises and public spaces. Reports regarding these actions would be forwarded to the election commission. Furthermore, she emphasised that departments had been directed to provide a certified list in 72 hours, detailing the status of ongoing development projects and those not yet initiated. She specified that no project inaugurations or new work tenders could proceed. In cases of urgency, the respective department must obtain necessary permission from the Election Commission. Now, file complaints/ suggestions via social media platforms District Election Officer (DEO) Sakshi Sawhney on Saturday said Ludhiana voters could now give their complaints and suggestions to the election office on her official social media accounts, including @DeoLDH (twitter), @deoludhiana (Instagram) and District Election Office, Ludhiana (Facebook). A dedicated team operating the accounts will report important complaints/suggestions to her office. Important complaints will be forwarded to the authorities concerned and a proper mechanism would be evolved to address these issues promptly. She also urged the voters to ensure maximum participation in the biggest festival of democracy by voting in large numbers on June 1, the voting day for the Lok Sabha elections. 14-year-old girl ends her life Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 16 A 14-year-old girl died by suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan at her residence in Krishna Colony on the Rahon road here on Friday night. The victim had locked the room from inside before taking the extreme step. The cause behind the act was yet to be known. After the incident, her family called the police and the latter brought down the body from the noose. The body was shifted to the Civil Hospital for a postmortem examination. Investigating officer ASI Karamjit Singh said earlier, the girl was staying in Bihar and she had come to the city about a month ago to stay with her parents, who had been residing here. The ASI said the girl’s parents had yesterday gone to work and she was alone at home. The victim locked her room and then took the extreme step. When her brother reached home, he saw the hanging body and raised the alarm. Since the door was locked, he entered the room through the ventilator but unfortunately the girl was already dead by then. Suspecting no foul play, the police initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPc. The body was handed over to the family after autopsy.
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