28032024-LT-01.qxd 3/28/2024 12:56 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune PROTEST AGAINST LOCAL INDUSTRIAL UNIT EMISSIONS TWO WOMEN ARRESTED FOR MAKING PETROL BOMBS ADITI RAO HYDARI, SIDDHARTH MARRIED? Villagers alleged unit is releasing poisonous gas by burning tyres, creating a health hazard for residents. P2 Two women were caught red-handed allegedly making petrol bombs in their house in Sikligar locality. P3 Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth have reportedly tied the knot secretly at a temple in Wanaparthy, Telangana. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 17°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.43 PM » SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:18 AM THURSDAY | 28 MARCH 2024 | LUDHIANA SUV-borne youths create ruckus in Shimlapuri locality Ludhiana, March 27 Youths travelling in a Mahindra Thar vehicle created a ruckus in the Nanaksar locality of Shimlapuri yesterday night. The miscreants hit a Mahindra Pik Up vehicle parked in a street and when the people of the locality protested against the move, the suspects pelted bricks and stones at the residents. They also damaged the pick-up vehicle. Hit parked vehicle, scuffle with owner Vinod Kumar, a local resident, said some youths come to the area in a rashly driven Thar and several times, they were told by the people to drive in a responsible manner but they did not budge. on Tuesday night, they rammed their vehicle into the Pik Up vehicle parked outside his house. When he objected, they abused him. Instead of realising their mistake, the youths asked him not to park vehicle in the street. He alleged that the youths even tried to hit him with their speedy vehicle but he had a miraculous escape. Later, they reached the place again. They had a scuffle with him and also twisted his mother’s arm. When he informed the police, the PCR squad reached the scene after about 90 minutes. Later, he lodged a police complaint so that action could be taken against them. — TNS Ahead of elections, people raise inflation, corruption, other issues Say key concerns affecting common man still await resolution INDIA VOTES 2024 Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 27 Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, myriad pressing issues continue to plague the community, leaving citizens grappling for solutions. Amid unresolved various civic and environmental issues, key concerns such as inflation, unemployment, corruption and other further exacerbate challenges faced by the populace. As the elections draw near, discussions are underway to speculate on potential winners. Some leaders have begun to switch parties. However, issues affecting the common man still await resolution. Sanjeev Gupta, a resident associated with Green Force India, an NGO, from Dugri, said at present, many people were suffering due to inflation as prices of food items, LPG, petrol, diesel and other essentials had increased a lot in past years but there was no serious discussions and resolutions to the same. Sharing his personal experience of facing the heat of inflation, POLITICIANS CONCERNED ABOUT THEMSELVES: LAWYER A city-based advocate, Prabhjot Singh Sachdeva, said it seems politicians were more concerned about themselves and making efforts to get the ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections instead of raising voices for actual issues faced by the people. Candidates must reveal how they would address such issues if they were elected. BODIES RALLY FOR DEMANDS Farmers’ organisations continue to rally for their demands, advocating for a guaranteed MSP on crops to safeguard their livelihoods. Besides, a demand is being raised for the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their terms. Baldev Singh from Sarabha village said culprits behind sacrilege incidents should be punished. Gupta said he had taken a home loan a few years ago but its interest rate had increased. “Amid the high prices of grocery items and fuel, there is no major relief from inflation. During the past years, prices of wheat flour, pulses, cooking oil, petrol, diesel and other essential items have seen increase but there are no discussions to control the situation. Just ahead of elections, a minor reduction in fuel prices was made. For me, uncontrolled inflation is one of the major poll issues. Political parties should disclose their agenda on the issue,” he added. A youth activist, Professor Komal Gurnoor Singh, emphasised the urgent need for a corruption-free system that prioritises the security and value of life. He alleged that the people were treated as servants at many govern- All set for big event ment offices as they were forced to wait outside these establishments to get their works done. He stressed the importance of accountability and transparency in the working of the government and its departments. He said unemployment was a major concern, noting that many youngsters were leaving the country in search of opportunities due to systemic issues. Accusing many lawmakers of ignoring crucial issues, he said there was a lack of visionary leadership. Unemployment should be addressed seriously. A city-based advocate, Prabhjot Singh Sachdeva, said it seems politicians were more concerned about themselves and making efforts to get the ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections instead of raising voices for actual issues faced by Gang-rape suspect held after over 2 yrs the people. Besides suffering from inflation, unemployment and other problems, poor people were also struggling to get required treatment due to lack of facilities at government hospitals. Seriously ill or injured patients were generally referred to government hospitals in Chandigarh or Patiala as treatment in private hospitals was expensive. Candidates contesting elections must reveal how they would address such issues if they were elected. Concurrently, farmers’ organisations continue to rally for their demands, advocating for a guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) on crops to safeguard their livelihoods. While discussing the current scenario of politics, Jaswant Singh, who runs a tea stall, said political parties should clear their stand on inflation and demands raised by the farmers. Besides, a demand is being raised for the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their terms. Baldev Singh from Sarabha village said one of their key demands was the release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners) who were still lodged in jails even after the completion of their sentences. He said culprits behind sacrilege incidents should be punished. A building all decked up for the Inter-University National Youth Festival, which will begin on Thursday, at the PAU in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN P2 Take strict measures to ensure safety of residents: CP to cops Says no person should dare to disturb law and order situation Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 27 Commissioner of Police (CP), Ludhiana, Kuldeep Singh Chahal, on Wednesday issued strict instructions to the entire team, comprising all senior police officials and heads of police stations and units, asking them to ensure that no person should dare to disturb the law and order situation in the city. The CP chaired a meeting attended by JCPs, DCPs, ADCPs, SHOs and heads of all units of the Police Commissionerate. Talking to The Tribune here on Wednesday, Chahal said he passed clear instructions to the police force to ensure the implementation of model code of conduct in letter and in spirit. The police officials were told that they must ensure security and safety of residents and no criminals, or anti-social elements should dare to take law into their hands. “Officials were told to catch proclaimed offenders and absconders wanted in different crimes. Additional efforts should be put in to catch criminals wanted in heinous cases. Even the police would also keep tabs on activities of criminals who are out on bail. There will be zero tolerance against any crime which may affect law and order in the city ahead of the Lok Sabha elections,” the CP said. The top cop said besides, the police would also keep a check over jailed criminals who run their activities from prisons by illegally using mobile phones. “I have also told police sta- tion heads and heads of the departments concerned to ensure that all arms licence holders must deposit their weapons as only 40 per cent of the same have been deposited so far. Regarding the possession of illegal weapons, there will be zero tolerance. Anybody possessing or found using illegal weapons will face strict action and put behind the bars,” Chahal said. He said further instructions include strengthening the crime detection system and accelerating the speed of service delivery, timely disposal of all pending cases and ensure complete protection of peace and safety of residents. Besides the CP the meet, ing was chaired by JCP (Rural) Jaskiranjit Singh Teja and ADCP (Crime) Amandeep Singh Brar. Man held on sexual harassment, abetment charges Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 27 After almost two years and nine months, the Khanna police on Tuesday arrested a suspect in a gang-rape case. The man is the second suspect in the gangrape case of a minor girl. On June 2, 2021, the Khanna police had registered a gangrape case against two suspects. One of them, Gurpreet Singh of Khanna, was arrested then but the second suspect, Shiv Thakur of Khanna, was at large. Today acting on a tip-off, the police arrested him by conducting raids at his whereabouts. The suspects had gangraped the girl in a car. — TNS CP Kuldeep Singh Chahal and other cops during a meeting in Ludhiana on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Ludhiana, March 27 After a 13-year-old girl died by suicide by hanging herself at her residence in Samrala afew days ago, the Samrala police yesterday registered a case against the suspect, a resident of the same area, who sexually harassed the girl. The suspect was also arrested by the police. The suspect has been identified as Balvir Singh. A case under Section 305 (abetment of suicide of a child or insane person), 54A (sexual harrasment), IPC, Section 12 of the POCSO Act and Section 3 of Victim, her mother used to work at suspect's house as helps the SC and ST Act was registered against him. The complainant, the girl’s mother, told the police that she along with her minor daughter had been working at the house of the suspect as domestic helps. Then, Balvir had been keeping a bad eye on her daughter and he wanted to exploit her daughter sexually. Hence, they left the job. “Despite leaving the job, Balbir continued interaction with my daughter. Recently, he started sending obscene messages to my daughter. He had also reportedly sent an obscene video to my daughter, following which she decided to end her life. On March 23, my daughter went inside her room and died by suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan,” her mother alleged. The girl’s mother alleged that after the death of her daughter, the suspect threatened her that if she informed the police about the obscene chats and sexual harassment, he would make the victim’s body disappear. He even lured that he would give big amount of money to her if she would not lodge a police complaint against him. Facing life threat, she cremated her daughter without informing the police. Sources said when the suspect did not give the money he assured, the woman lodged a police complaint, which led to the registration of a case and arrest of the man. DSP Tarlochan Singh said the suspect was arrested by the police on Tuesday and the recovered mobile phone was also sent to a forensic lab to recover the objectionable video or chats, if any, from the mobile of the suspect. LS elections: Auxiliary polling stations Man found dead on Civil Surgeon for FIR to be set up for facilitating electorate road near hospital against hospital owner ‘FAKE’ MEDICAL CERTIFICATE Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 27 Following a probe into issuance of a ‘fake’ medical certificate allegedly by the owner of a private hospital in Model Town Extension, here, Civil Surgeon Jasbir Singh has written to the police, recommending registration of an FIR in this regard. The hospital owner, who allegedly had no medical degree, is accused of preparing the fake certificate. In August 2023, a resident of Hawas village, submitted a complaint alleging that a doctor from the hospital had issued a fake medical certificate to him after charging a fee of Rs 10,000. He claimed to have conducted a sting operation to expose the irregularity. Subsequently, on the directions of the Director of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, a com- mittee was formed to investigate the matter. However, the committee found that the doctor, who was a suspect in the complaint, had not signed the medical certificate and was not even employed by the hospital. In February, it issued instructions to the medical superintendent of the hospital but no representatives from the hospital appeared before the panel on scheduled dates. Dr Jasbir said on March 19, it inspected the hospital and recorded the statement of the hospital owner, who admitted to being the individual depicted in the video clip submitted to the CS’s office by the complainant. It found the hospital owner lacked a medical degree but had prepared the fake certificate. Consequently, he recommended that legal action be taken against the owner. — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 27 For facilitating voters on the polling day (June 1) of the Lok Sabha 2024 elections, auxiliary polling stations would be established at stations where the count of voters exceeds 1,500. It was stated by District Election Officer (DEO)cum-Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney while holding a meeting with representatives of various political parties in her office on Wednesday. The DEO was accompanied by ADC Major Amit Sareen, among other officials. Sawhney said auxiliary stations would be set up at the polling stations with over 1,500 voters. The auxiliary stations would be in addition to the polling stations Ludhiana, March 27 The body of a man was found lying on a road this morning near a hospital on the Chandigarh road on Wednesday morning. Police Division 7 is also located near the spot. After passers-by noticed the body, panic spread in the area. The police reached the place after getting information. A bag containing clothes of the deceased was also lying near the body. Residents of the area said they did not see anybody lying on the road till yesterday night. But the man’s body was found lying this morning. Initially, people suspected that the victim was sleeping on the road but DEO Sakshi Sawhney interacts with officials during a meeting in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO already established at the respective locations. The auxiliary stations are established in the same building, so that the voters do not have to stand in long queues and the voting process is completed without any delay. The representatives of political parties were apprised that auxiliary stations would be established at two polling stations in the Ludhiana Lok c m y b Sabha constituency. One at Government Senior Secondary School, Dhandari Khurd (Sahnewal) and the other at Government High School (elementary section) in Lohara (Ludhiana South). The auxiliary station at Dhandari Khurd school would be established for voters residing in New Durga Colony and Dhandrai Khurd while the auxiliary station at Lohara government school will be set up for voters residing in Karamjit Nagar, Mukhtiar Nagar, Suman HERO Nagar and Astha colony. The DEO said an additional polling party would be deployed for looking after operations of the auxiliary station. A voter assistance desk would also be established to guide the voters on the polling day. when they did not notice any movement for a long time, they checked and found that the man was lying dead, they said. Police officials said the man seemed to have suffered a heart attack or died due to some disease but the post-mortem examination would clear the exact cause of death and further action would be taken as per law. So far, no identity proof was found from belongings of the man. The body would be kept at the Civil Hospital’s mortuary for 72 hours for identification. The residents were also being questioned to get any clue about the deceased. Details of missing persons were also being procured from police stations in the city.