13042024-LT-01.qxd 4/13/2024 12:53 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune DC TELLS HEALTH DEPT TO FRAME SOPS ON SANITATION CROSS-BORDER DRUG RACKET BUSTED, 1 HELD WITH HEROIN Jalandhar police have busted a cross-border drug network associated with the Jaipal Bhullar gang. P3 GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 18°C KARTIK AARYAN ON HIS ROLE IN CHANDU CHAMPION DC Sakshi Sawhney visited Ludhiana Civil Hospital and reprimanded staff for lack of cleanliness on premises. P2 FORECAST Actor Kartik Aaryan transformed himself to get into the shape of his character in Chandu Champion. P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 6.45 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:03 AM » SATURDAY | 13 APRIL 2024 | LUDHIANA Only 11 owe MC ~60L property tax Almost 10% of total ~6.12 crore arrears not paid by 11 of 25K defaulters Nitin Jain MAJOR DEFAULTERS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 12 In what appears to be the height of default, only 11 property owners, both private and public, owe the Municipal Corporation (MC) a sum of almost Rs 60 lakh as property tax in Ludhiana. It constitutes almost 10 per cent of the total Rs 6.12 crore arrears that the civic body has not received on account of property tax from just 11 of the over 25,000 defaulters during the financial year 2023-24, officials have said. Despite this, the MC had created a record of sorts by collecting a sum of Rs 138 crore as property tax in the previous fiscal, which was the highest-ever collection so far. However, over 25,000 property owners have not yet paid their dues of more than Rs 6.12 crore for the last financial year, the MC has revealed. With this, the total number of property tax defaulters in Ludhiana has grown to over 92,000 and the arrears have swelled to more than Rs 14.71 crore. Following the failure of the defaulters to clear their dues till March 31, the civic body has launched a special drive to recover the arrears from those who had not cleared their dues despite repeated notices and reminders. Besides levying penalty and interest, the MC will also resort to attach properties of major defaulters in case they fail to pay the arrears without any further delay. MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi told The Tribune here on Friday that the list of defaulters had been prepared and fresh notices were being issued to them, asking them to clear their (SOURCE: MC, AMOUNT IN RUPEES, FIGURES TILL MARCH 31) >> NAME Samra International Upper India Steel GS Auto International Gurdit Singh Jagmohan Singh Superintendent, Central Jail DAC Complex AB Mehta Private Limited SEL Manufacturing Harnek Singh Jasmel Singh Jagir Singh/ Inder Singh REVENUE TO BOOST DEVELOPMENT and ❝Record revenue collections under property taxdue other heads in 2023-24 were made possible only to voluntary deposits by tax payers and hard work by MC officials to ensure maximum recoveries. The more revenue collections will help in more development of the city. Those who have not yet cleared their dues are again issued notices, failing which stern penal action will be initiated against them. — Sandeep Rishi, MC CHIEF dues at the earliest, otherwise the MC would be forced to initiate stringent penal action to recover the arrears. “The property owners, who have not yet deposited the property tax or other levies, should do it forthwith as they had failed to avail the waiver of penalty and interest offered till March 31,” he said while warning that habitual and major defaulters would be dealt with sternly. He said besides imposing the penalty and interest, proceedings to attach the properties as per the law provisions would also be initiated. The list of major defaulters under the property tax as on March 31, prepared by the MC, included Samra International, with the highest arrears of Rs 10.55 lakh, District Administrative Complex (DAC), which houses the ❞ offices of the Deputy Commissioner and other district department heads, Rs 5.26 lakh, Jagir Singh/ Inder Singh Rs 2.67 lakh, Upper India Steel Private Limited Rs 7.41 lakh, AB Mehta Private Limited Rs 4.64 lakh, SEL Manufacturing Company Rs 3.85 lakh, GS Auto International Rs 6.38 lakh, Central Jail Rs 5.46 lakh, Gurdit Singh Jagmohan Singh Rs 5.96 lakh, Harnek Singh Rs 3.14 lakh and Jasmel Singh owed the civic body a sum of Rs 2.76 lakh till the end of the last fiscal. The MC chief said the civic body had recorded the highest-ever receipts during the previous financial year since the imposition of the levy in 2013, with over 3.98 lakh property tax owners paying the levy while over 25,000 assesses still owing the MC Miscreants snatch woman’s purse Ludhiana, April 12 Though the police claim to arrest suspects involved in snatching or robbery incidents, there is still no respite from such incidents in the city. One such incident occurred at Amarpura, near Kidwai Nagar, here this morning. Two motorcycleborne miscreants snatched the purse of a 52-year-old woman who had come from Bathinda to attend a family function at her nephew’s home in Amarpura. There were Rs 3,500 in cash, a mobile phone and documents in the purse that the AMOUNT 10,55,376 7,40,906 6,38,456 5,96,069 5,46,246 5,26,488 4,64,473 Co 3,85,348 3,14,103 2,75,637 2,66,678 No respite from loot, snatching incidents miscreants snatched by brandishing a sharp weapon. The victim’s nephew, Ashwani Kumar, has filed a complaint with Division Number 2 police station. He stated that the suspects were caught on CCTV cameras riding a motorcycle without a number plate. He said his aunt Krishna Devi had reached their house on Thursday to attend a family function. She had to return home in Bathinda today. Before the woman could return, she was targeted by the duo. The incident occurred around 8:15 am. Ashwani said one of the miscreants was riding the motorcycle and when the other person attempted to snatch the purse, his aunt initially resisted. However, the pillion rider threatened her with a sharp weapon and managed to snatch the same. Afterwards, they escaped on the motorcycle. Though his aunt returned to Bathinda after the incident, the incident has left her and family shaken. He urged the police to promptly trace the suspects. — TNS ed from the property tax receipts, which had touched the highest-ever amount of Rs 138 crore, a jump of over 12 per cent than Rs 122 crore collected during 2022-23, the maximum shortfall of Rs 44 crore in the income was attributed to non-refund of VAT/ GST by the government for the last fiscal as yet. However, the overall revenue receipts of 2023-24 fell a whopping 24 per cent short of the revised estimates of Rs 927 crore fixed in the Budget for the previous financial year. It was due to a shortfall in collections from five of the total 13 revenue heads in Ludhiana, spread over 169 sq km area with a population of 16.18 lakh as per the Census 2011. Dilroz murder case: Prosecutor seeks death penalty for convict Legal Correspondent Ludhiana, April 12 The Court of Sessions Judge Munish Singal has held a woman, Neelam of Kwality Road, Shimlapuri, here, guilty on the charges of kidnapping and brutal murder of a girl child, Dilroz, aged two years and nine months on November 28, 2021. The accused had buried the child alive and she died due to suffocation. The quantum of sentence would be pronounced on April 15. During the course of arguments, victim’s lawyer Parupkar Ghumman has stressed that the murder had shocked the city. The victim was the immediate neighbour of the woman. The suffering Dilroz, the deceased Quantum of sentence will be pronounced on April 15 caused to the child on account of being buried alive is abnormal. In fact, the accused knew that on being buried alive, the deceased would die of suffocation and the sand/mud was likely to enter into her nostrils, windpipe, lungs and then to the blood and also in the mouth, eyes and ears, which happened in the case. The death in such cases is painful as the deceased could not breathe. In fact, being buried alive, ranks pretty high on the list of terrible ways to kill. When the court held her guilty, the prosecution raised the demand for death penalty. Whereas, the convict’s lawyer raised the plea of leniency. As many as 26 witnesses were examined by prosecution during the hearing. A case against the accused was registered at the Shimlapuri police Station on November 28, 2021, following the statement of Shaminder Singh, grandfather of victim. 4.24L properties over Rs 6.12 crore for 2023-24. Divulging the year-wise property tax receipts, Rishi said property tax amounting to Rs 137.7 crore was collected in 2023-24, Rs 122.45 in 2022-23, Rs 92.84 crore in 2021-22, Rs 96.68 crore in 2020-21, Rs 84.25 crore in 2019-20, Rs 78.24 crore in 2018-19, Rs 70.4 crore in 201718, Rs 66.05 crore in 2016-17, Rs 69.44 crore in 2015-16, Rs 52.94 crore in 2014-15 and Rs 74.79 crore had been collected from property tax head during the financial year 2013-14. Pertinently, the MC has collected a revenue of Rs 708 crore from different heads during the recently ended financial year, which was, however, almost 6 per cent less than Rs 752 crore revenue receipts recorded in 2022-23. While the major hike in revenue collections was record- A total of 4,23,906 properties falling in the municipal limits are assessed to pay property tax. The MC had been sending reminders to owners of the left-out 25,075odd property owners through public notices and personal messages on their registered mobile numbers to pay the levy before March 31 but they had not yet cleared their dues. What helped A sustained campaign to collect taxes, motivating residents to pay levies, facilitating the collections through online platforms, keeping collection centres open even during public holidays and last but not the least, issuing stern warning to attach properties and initiate legal proceedings against defaulters had helped the civic body in achieving record collections under property tax and other seven heads in the financial year 2023-24. Elderly man found charred to death on jail premises Ludhiana, April 12 An elderly man staying in the residential quarters on the Ludhiana Central Jail premises died under suspicious circumstances. He was allegedly charred to death on Thursday night. The police are exploring various angles to probe the case. It was also alleged that some cash and valuables were missing from his house, indicating a robbery angle. However, the police said they could only comment on how the incident occurred after completing the investigation. The deceased has been identified as 85-year-old Jamaluddin, who was alone in the house while other family members CASH, VALUABLES MISSING The 85-year-old victim, who was staying in the residential quarters on the Ludhiana Central Jail premises, was alone in the house on Thursday night while family members had gone to Malerkotla to celebrate Eid. It was also alleged that some cash and valuables were missing from his house, indicating a robbery angle. had gone to Malerkotla to celebrate Eid. According to information, the victim was the father of a jail employee. The family members came to know about the incident on returning home last night when smoke was emanating from the house. By the time the fire was extinguished, the elderly man had already breathed his last. It’s still unclear how the fire broke out. After receiving informa- tion, police officials from the Division Number 7 reached the scene. His body was engulfed in flames and due to the fire, it had turned black. According to ACP Ashok Kumar, the police received information last night about the incident. The police are investigating the case and exploring various angles to solve it. Once the investigation is completed, further information will be shared.— TNS Three nabbed with opium BDPO arrested for taking ~30K bribe Ludhiana, April 12 Three persons have been nabbed with 500 gm of opium. SI Sohan Lal alleged that when three men were stopped and checked on suspicion on Tibba Road, the police recovered 500 gm of opium from their possession. They have been identified as Rashpal Singh, alias Pala, of Simranjit Nagar mohalla, Naresh Kumar of Nandpura mohalla, Subash Nagar, and Ram Lal, alias Rama, of Dharampura near Shingar Cinema. A case has been registered at the Tibba police station. `— TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 12 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Gurmukh Singh, Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Pakhowal, here, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000. An official spokesperson for the state Vigilance Bureau said the panchayat official had been arrested on a complaint lodged by Paramjit Singh, panchayat secretary, posted at Pakhowal block. He said the complainant had approached the VB and alleged that the official had been demanding a bribe of Rs 35,000 for issuing his salary along with three other panchayat sec- retaries working at the said office. They had collected Rs 30,000 by making a contribution but did not want to pay the bribe. The spokesperson alleged that after conducting a preliminary probe in the matter, a VB team laid a trap following which the BDPO had been arrested red-handed while accepting bribe of Rs 30,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. The suspect would be produced in a competent court tomorrow. Further investigation in the case was under progress, he said. Congress leaders’ wait for Ludhiana candidate gets longer Fire breaks out in yarn godown LS ELECTIONS Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 12 With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) declaring Ravneet Singh Bittu as candidate from Ludhiana, now district Congress leaders and workers are eagerly awaiting for the party high command to declare its candidate from here. Everyone in the party is anxious to see, who will be fielded against Bittu, against the person with they use to walk hand-inhand a few days ago. The race for the party ticket MANY NAMES DOING ROUNDS Everyone in the Congress is anxious to see, who will be fielded from Ludhiana. The names of many senior Congress leaders are making rounds which include Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Sanjay Talwar, Rakesh Pandey, Surinder Dawar and Gurdev Singh Lapran. After Ravneet Singh Bittu joining the BJP, the name of his cousin Gurkirat Kotli has also started making rounds. is also heating up and many senior leaders have claimed the ticket. The names of many senior Congress leaders are making rounds which include Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Sanjay Talwar, Rakesh Pandey, Surinder Dawar and Gurdev Singh Lapran. After Bittu joining the BJP the name of , his cousin Gurkirat Kotli has also started making rounds. Sanjay Talwar, president of the District Congress Committee (Urban), who is considered as one of the strongest candidate from Ludhiana, said after Bittu left the party, the district unit had requested the high command to choose the candidate from Ludhiana itself. “We have nine party leaders from Ludhiana and everyone will extend full support to whoever is chosen to contest for the seat,” he said. He added that switching political parties just before the elections is a sad state of affairs. “Only voters can teach such leaders a lesson by not voting in their favour,” he said. Senior leader and six-time MLA from the Ludhiana North constituency Rakesh Pandey has also claimed the ticket. “I am one of the seniormost leaders from Ludhiana, rest let’s see whom the party chooses. Whatever the choice is, we will accept the high command’s decision,” he said. c m y b Gurdev Singh Lapran, who has been the president of the District Congress Committee (Rural) four times, said he had not claimed the ticket earlier but after Bittu left the party, he has put forward his name. “Everyone was supporting Bittu but he left the party abruptly and now, even I want to fight against him. I was member of the zila parishad and also sarpanch of my village and has support from the rural segment. Even if I am not chosen, I will give full support to the candidate whoever is given the opportunity by the party. Everyone in the party is united and want to defeat turncoats,” he said. A source from the party said they had heard that Kotli was also in the race after Bittu switched the party. Though Kotli was denying the same, would accept whatever the party decides. A senior local Congress leader said the party leadership should declare the candidate soon and everyone was getting anxious to know the new name after Bittu’s departure. “The workers are geared up to plan the strategy for which they want to know the name of the leader who will be contesting from Ludhiana,” he said. Ludhiana, April 12 A yarn godown in Puneet Nagar on Tibba Road was engulfed in flames on Friday evening. Valuables worth lakhs were said to have been gutted in the incident. The exact cause behind the fire was yet to be ascertained. However, no casualties were reported in the incident. The Fire Brigade authorities had received a call about the incident around 4:30 pm on Friday. Thereafter, fire tenders were rushed to the spot. Firefighters took a few hours to bring the sit- uation under control. A fire official said a shortcircuit was suspected behind the fire. The fire caused significant damages to the godown. Officials from the Tibba police station had also reached the spot. Workers were present in the building but they safely came out. The incident incited panic among residents from neighbouring area. Fire officer Aatish Rai said the situation had been controlled and no casualties were reported. — TNS