09072024-LT-01.qxd 7/8/2024 10:59 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune FATEHGARH MP BATS FOR MSP AS LEGAL RIGHT FOR FARMERS TWIST IN COCKTAIL: INFUSE YOUR LIQUOR WITH A DASH OF LEMON Dr Amar Singh Boparai has urged Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to save the state’s agri-economy. P2 Although LIT, Sex on the Beach and Margarita remain favourites, there are other amazing ones that are unique. P4 » » TAHA SHAH BADUSSHA IS NOT THE MAN-CRUSH FOR NOTHING Taha Shah Badussha’s Instagram followers have risen to a whopping 2.6 million — but his humility is intact. P4 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.32 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:31 AM TUESDAY | 9 JULY 2024 | LUDHIANA Six booked for attacking man, firing into air Tribune News Service arrestscop Finally, IAF begins balance VigilanceBureaulakh bribe for taking ~2.70 work on upcoming airport After missing 11 deadlines, airport to get wings by month end Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 The Ludhiana (Rural) police on Sunday registered a case against six persons who had attacked a man and fired into the air to intimidate him. Those booked were identified as Mandeep Singh and Sandeep Singh of Bhura village in Barnala, and Charna and three unknown persons. Complainant Jaspal Singh of Pona village told the police that on July 6 night, his driver Narinder Singh was on the way to Pona village in his truck after delivering goods at a nearby village. When the driver reached Aligarh village, a combine machine having a front cutter came from the opposite side due to which the truck could not cross the road. A car was also following the combine. The occupants of the car got out and forced the truck driver to reverse so that the combine and their car could cross. However, their discussion soon took an aggressive turn as voices were raised. The complainant said since he was also on the way to Pona village, he after hearing arguments between the truck driver and car occupants tried to calm them down. “As I was trying to pacify them, one of the suspects suddenly brandished a .12 bore gun and fired into the air to intimidate me. The suspect then attacked me with the butt of the weapon. The other suspects pounced on me,” said the complainant. After hearing the clamour, residents gathered and the suspects fled from the spot. The complainant then informed the police. After registering a case at the Jagraon Sadar police station, raids are being carried out by cops to nab the suspects. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 Finally, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has begun the balance work in the area under its jurisdiction to give wings to the upcoming international airport at Halwara in Ludhiana, the government has said. The IAF has fixed July 31 as the deadline to complete the job following which Rs 47crore much-awaited and much-delayed big ticket project would see the light of the day, but not before missing 11 deadlines in the past almost two-and-a-half-years. This was made possible after the Union Government had in January asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the state government to ensure early completion of the new international airport. While the integrated civil enclave and cargo terminal building, sub-station and toilet block at the Air Force Station in Halwara, which is one of the oldest frontline airbases of the IAF close to Ludhiana, have , already come up, allied works of the major civil aviation project have also been completed. After receiving all the pending nods, the work on all other components, stalled since long, has been finished. Sharing details, Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney told The Tribunehere on Monday, “The civil construction work has already been completed but the IAF which owns the airbase , on which the airport has been built, has now started the work to overlay the runway and taxi- construction already The Indian Air Force, ❝The civil the airbase onwork hasthe airportbeen completed.has now started the work which owns which has been built, to overlay the runway and taxiway within its premises following which the airport will become operational. Sakshi Sawhney, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, LUDHIANA ❞ way within the IAF premises following which the airport will become operational.” Sakshi, who visited the project site, said a joint meeting of all the Central and state departments concerned and contractors was held recently, wherein the IAF had assured to complete the pending work under its territory by July 31. The DC said once the IAF completed the work under its jurisdiction, the minor finishing work at the level of the state government and the AAI would be done simultaneously. She said the state government had so far released a sum of Rs 30 crore to complete the ongoing balance work of the upcoming international airport and the demand of balance funds had already been forwarded to the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) and the Civil Aviation Department, which had been mandated to jointly bear the financial burden. Divulging the componentwise status, Sakshi said the construction of the interim terminal building, sub-station, and toilet block had been completed. “All these three components of the new airport are being given the finishing touches before handing them over to the AAI,” she said. “The components of balance works, including apron has been completed 80 per cent, taxiway 80 per cent, and the internal roads, lighting and public health works have touched the 90 per cent mark,” the DC said. “While the upcoming approach road to the airport premises and the work on the bridge at the entry of approach road have been completed 85 per cent each, 30 per cent of the allied works inside the IAF base have also been completed so far,” the DC said. “All the pending jobs are scheduled to be finished by the month end,” the DC said, while clarifying that the IAF’s job would give wings to the new airport. Recently, the AAI and the IAF had granted in-principle approvals to undertake the balance work at the upcoming international airport. Since the new integrated civil enclave and cargo terminal are coming up at Air Force Station in Halwara, the formal nod of the IAF is mandatory to undertake the work inside the Air Force-governed areas. With this, all the pending approvals for the mega civil aviation project have been granted and the work to undertake the balance tasks has started on the ground level. Following delay in these approvals, several components of the project remained suspended for a long time and got much delayed. Patwari held for accepting ~5,000 bribe Dengue threat looms large as admn yet to do fogging in villages Hindu leaders to take up their issues with CP Tribune News Service Manav Mander Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 The Vigilance Bureau (VB) today arrested a revenue patwari identified a Jaspreet Singh, posted at Raikot, Ludhiana district, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000. Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the state VB said the revenue official was arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by Gursewak Singh, a resident of Green City, Raikot, on the Chief Minister’s Anti-corruption Action Line. He said the complainant had alleged in his complaint that the said patwari had taken illegal gratification of Rs 5,000 through his private assistant identified as Laddi for the mutation of the land. The spokesperson said during verification, the allegations of taking bribe levelled in the complaint were found correct as the same were supported by oral as well as video evidence. On the basis of this verification report, a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against patwari at the VB police station, Ludhiana range, he said. The suspect would be produced in a competent court tomorrow, he said. Further investigation in the case was under progress, he added. Ludhiana, July 8 The district has started reporting dengue cases from the urban and rural areas. Till now, 25 cases have been reported out of which 12 are from the urban and 13 from the rural areas. The municipal corporation (MC) is responsible for carrying out fogging in the urban areas, but the responsibility for fogging in the rural areas has not been fixed on any official. Many panchayats do not even have machines to carry out fogging in the area under their jurisdiction. Paramjeet Singh from Bondli village, Samrala, said, “No fogging has been done in our village since the past few years.” “With rainy season, mosquitoes start breeding in and around fields where water stagnates. The government should get the fogging done in villages too,” he said. Amarjeet Singh, sarpanch of Thakarwal village, said, “We do not have fogging machine for our village. No fogging has been done by any department in our village.” “Although villages have more open space and there is less threat of vector-borne diseases, it has been observed that in the recent years many persons have contracted dengue in the rural areas,” he said. “The government should take preventive measures Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water near the office of the Civil Surgeon in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN REMEDIES FOR KEEPING MOSQUITOES AT BAY ■ Grow plants: There are a number of plants that have mosquito repellent properties such as marigold, citronella, catnip, rosemary, lemongrass and lavender. Grow them around your house to keep mosquitoes away. ■ Camphor: It is highly effective natural mosquito repellent. Leaving a few pieces in a container for evaporation creates a protective barrier against mosquitoes. ■ Aromatic oils: Use oils like lavender, tea tree, neem, citronella, eucalyptus, and mint. Mix a few drops of preferred oil with water in a spray bottle and squirt it around home. to prevent mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes breed in village ponds. Last year, fogging was done with the help of the dispensary officials in our village. Otherwise, nobody comes for fogging in villages,” said Jagtar Singh from Jassowal Soodan village. Another farmer, Ranjeet Singh from Neowal village, said, “My house is located in fields. I can see mosquitoes around rice fields. Nobody comes here for fogging.” Amarpal Singh from Lalton Kalan village said, “People in our village have stopped congregating at a common place near pond due to mosquito menace. If fogging is done in cities then why are villages ignored?” Charanjeet Singh from Baddowal village said, “Our village residents have decided to buy own fogging machine. No department comes here for carrying out fogging.” c m y b Ludhiana, July 8 After an attack on Shiv Sena leader Sandeep Thapar, alias Gora, by Nihangs, other party leaders, along with representatives of several other Hindu organisations, today decided to meet Police Commissioner (CP) Kuldeep Singh Chahal. Rajiv Tandon, chairman, Shiv Sena Punjab, said before holding a meeting of all Hindu organisations of the state, a meeting of citybased leaders was held here today. During the meeting, it was decided that they would meet the Ludhiana CP on Tuesday. When asked about the purpose of meeting, Tandon said, “After an attack on our leader Thapar, some Nihangs and hardliners have been uploading videos against him. They say the attack on Thapar is a right decision of Nihangs. Some have even uploaded videos offering full support to the assailants.” Tandon said one of the post shared by a person on the social media states, “We will give them legal support if someone shares the address of Nihangs who attacked the Shiv Sena leader.” Thapar had rammed his scooter into Nihangs after which arguments ensued which were followed by an attack on him. Tandon said, “There are Continued on Page 2 Ludhiana, July 8 The Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Monday arrested Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Charanjit Singh, posted at the Division No. 5 police station, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 2,70,000. The ASI surrendered before the Bureau after registration of a corruption case against him. Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the state VB said a case had been registered against the said police personnel based on a complaint lodged by Kamaljit Ahuja, owner of Hotel Taj, in Jawahar Nagar Camp, near bus stand, at the Chief Minister’s Anti-corruption Action Line. He said the hotel owner had alleged in his online complaint that the said ASI had obtained illegal gratification under threat from him for adding Sections 307, 379B of the IPC against his family members in a case already registered at the Division No. 5 police station against them and was demanding more The suspect in custody of the Vigilance Bureau in Ludhiana. bribe from him. The spokesperson said during verification, the allegations levelled in the complaint were found correct as the same were also supported by oral evidence as well as recording of conversation that had taken place between the complainant and suspect ASI Charanjit Singh. He further said as per inquiry, prima facie, it was proved that bribe money of Rs 2,70,000 was taken by the ASI on behalf of the SHO of the Division No. 5 police station. The ASI had also demanded Rs 2 lakh bribe per month for allowing the complainant to run his hotel. The spokesperson said on the basis of the investigation report, a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against the ASI at the VB police station, Ludhiana range. He said the role of the SHO concerned and other officials would also be examined during the investigation. An illegal building sealed by the municipal corporation at Model Town in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN 5 illegal buildings sealed in Model Town Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 Continuing action against illegal constructions, the municipal corporation (MC) sealed five illegal buildings in the Model Town area on Monday. Action against illegal constructions was taken on the directions of Deputy Com- missioner (DC)-cum-Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney. As per officials of the building branch of the MC Zone D, owners were constructing commercial buildings in the residential areas. The MC staff came to know about the violations during routine inspections, following which three buildings were sealed on the Char Khamba road in Model Town and two near Krishna Mandir. The DC said strict directions had been issued to the staff of the MC building branch to keep a regular check and take stern action against illegal constructions in the city. Sena leader Thapar’s FB page with controversial posts shut Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 After an attack on Punjab Shiv Sena leader Sandeep Thapar, alias Gora, by three Nihangs near the Ludhiana Civil Hospital on Friday morning, his Facebook (FB) page, which had thousands of followers, has been found shut. The FB page ceased to open on Sunday. The Tribune correspondent had scanned the entire page of Thapar before it was deactivated. The page had tonnes of posts against hardliners, militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Khalistan sympathisers, terrorism and some political issues. The page also had posts pertaining to the Operation Blue Star in which Thapar had termed it as the day of celebration. Thapar even posted a message that he would distribute laddus (sweets) on this day. Since Thapar was vocal against Khalistan and Bhindranwale, he used to upload tonnes of posts related to these subjects. After attack on Thapar his FB page had gone viral. When people scanned the posts, the page came under the scanner of the police. Although the police claimed that they had not shut Thapar’s FB page, Shiv Sena leaders claimed that on the directions of the cops, family members of Thapar had to deactivate his page. When contacted in this regard, Ludhiana Police Commissioner (CP) Kuldeep Singh Chahal said, “The police have not got the FB page shut. Thapar’s members have deac- tivated his page.” During the initial probe, the police found that the main reason of attack on Thapar was his vocal stance against Bhindranwale and hardliners. Two arrested Nihangs identified as Sarabjit Singh Sabha and Harjot Singh Jota, who led murderous attack on Thapar, also confessed during their questioning that they were nursing a grudge against Thapar who used to speak against Bhindranwale. Both also confessed that they had not planned any attack. They said on Friday, when they saw Thapar at the Civil Hospital they decided to teach him a lesson. The duo also admitted that they had no regret for what they did and even the presence of gunman with Thapar had not dissuaded them from attacking their target.
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).