30072024-LT-01.qxd 29-07-2024 23:01 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune PAU EXPERTS SHARE TIPS FOR MANAGING COTTON CROP AISHWARYA SUSHMITA SAYS SHE LIKES TO DO HER OWN STUNTS Actress Aishwarya Sushmita, who plays Kiki in Bad Cop, says she likes to do her own stunts, even if that means getting hurt.P4 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 28°C IFFM 2024 TO SHOWCASE DEAR JASSI, TROLLEY TIMES The numerous varieties and hybrids of cotton enter the process of flowering & fruiting from early July till late Sept. P2 FORECAST The IFFM 2024 promises to highlight depth & diversity of Punjabi cinema, offering an exploration of human experiences. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 7.23 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:43 AM » TUESDAY | 30 JULY 2024 | LUDHIANA Two killed, one hurt as bike rams into railing of bridge near Samrala Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 29 In a tragic road accident that occurred due to bursting of tyre of a speeding motorcycle on Ludhiana-Chandigarh National Highway near Samrala late on Sunday evening, two girls riding on the bike died while a man who was driving the twowheeler suffered serious injuries. He was admitted to a hospital where he was undergoing treatment. As per information the moment the bike’s tyre burst, the man, who was driving the two-wheeler, lost control over the vehicle and it rammed into a roadside railing on the bridge. The two girls riding pillion on the bike fell down from the bridge while the man kept hanging from the railing. Passersby saved him from falling from the bridge. One girl died on the spot while another died on way to a hospital. The bike driver was referred to a hospital in Ludhiana in critical a condition for further treatment. The accident happened on the bridge near Dayalpura village near Samrala. ❝Two girls and a man riding on a bike were going towards Ludhiana. When the bike was on the bridge near Dayalpura village on the Samrala bypass, its tyre burst. The driver lost control over the two-wheeler and it rammed into a railing of the bridge. ❞ Jassa Singh, A PASSERBY The deceased girls were identified as Sapna and Shakuntala, both residents of Dhandari in Ludhiana district. The injured man was identified as Ankit. Sources said the trio were returning home after paying obeisance at Naina Devi Temple in Himachal Pradesh when they met with an accident. A passerby Jassa Singh said the two girls and a man riding on the bike were going towards Ludhiana. When the bike was on a bridge near Dayalpura village on the Samrala bypass, its tyre burst, he said. The driver lost control over the two-wheeler and it rammed into a railing of the bridge, he said. Sand mining goes unabated at Akuwal village, plaint sent to CM Villager sends Google location and video footage of the mining site to Mann Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 29 Illegal sand mining is reportedly rampant at Akuwal village in Sidhwan Bet. Apart from lodging a complaint with the Ludhiana (Rural) police, a villager has reportedly sent a complaint to the Chief Minister along with the video footage of the ongoing illegal mining activity on the banks of the Sutlej river. On the basis of the complaint lodged by Jora Singh, a resident of Gorsian Khan Mohammad village, the Sidhwan Bet police yesterday registered a case against unknown suspects who are involved in the illegal act. As per the complainant, on the intervening night of July 27 and 28, illegal mining was going on at Akuwal village. Trucks, tractortrailers and other vehicles passed near the police station, bus cops failed to check the illegal activity. Same suspects had been Gang of snatchers busted, 3 held Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 29 The police today claimed to have busted a gang of snatchers with the arrest three of its members. The arrested suspects have been identified as Ankush Kumar (21), a resident of Sunet village, Himanshu Rawat (22), a resident of Sunet village, and Chotu (19), a resident of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. The police also recovered five mobile phones, an Activa scooter, a motorcycle, and two sharp weapons from the possession of the suspects. The scooter was recently snatched by the suspects from a city resident. In a statement today, ADCP Shubham Aggarwal, ACP Jatin Bansal and Inspector Vijay Kumar, SHO, Police Division No. 5, said a secret information was received about three persons who were running a gang of snatchers and had committed several snatchings in the city area. A police party was immediately formed and after conducting a raid, the and Haryana ❝The Punjabbanned entry High Court has Nikhil Bhardwaj An illegal sand mining site at Akuwal village in Sidhwan Bet in Ludhiana district. illegally mining sand at the site for a long time, but the Ludhiana (Rural) police seems to have kept their eyes shut. Jora Singh in his complaint to the Punjab CM alleged that sand mafia even carried weapons to intimidate villagers so that the latter did not lodge police complaint about illegal sand mining. Complainant held that he had lodged several complaints against illegal mining with the police and even the Mining Department, but cops didn’t take any action in this connection. Even calls were made on the police control room number 112, but no one paid attention to the illegal activity. Jora Singh alleged in the complaint that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had banned entry of heavy vehicles on a stretch heading from Akuwal to Gagkalan village. He said mafia men continued to challenge the suspects were arrested. During preliminary questioning, the suspects confessed that they looted residents only at night. The suspects disclosed that after finding their targets, they threatened victims with sharp weapons and looted them, ADCP Aggarwal said. The police remand of the suspects would be sought from court so that unsolved looting and snatching cases could be solved and valuables recovered from them. A case under various sections of the BNS was registered against the suspects and further probe initiated into the matter, ADCP Aggarwal said. ❞ court orders. He said cops too had failed to implement the court orders. “I have given names of sand mafia men, but the police registered a case against unknown persons. I will lodge a petition in the high court for further action,” Jora Singh told Ludhiana Tribune. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 29 On Saturday early morning, cops had gone to investigate the complaint of illegal sand mining in the Baghian Khurd area in Sidhwan Bet. They were attacked by sand mafia men. The police registered a case against 38 assailants in this connection. Those booked were identified as Darshan Singh, Raju, Baggi, Kalu and Binder Singh of Baghian Khurd village and Jaspal Singh, Bal and Robin of Banginwal village of Mehatpur, Jalandhar, and the rest were unknown suspects. ASI Rajvrinderpal Singh, who was with the police party from Gidderwindi police post, was present in the mining area on the banks of the Satluj river near Baghian Khurd village at 2 am on Saturday when they noticed some persons mining sand. The suspects were immediately detained. As they were being questioned, suspects Darshan Singh and his accomplice signalled their aides, who were standing near tractor-trailers and in in no time, around 30 persons arrived on the spot to free the detained persons. They attacked the police party and escaped. One Jaspal was arrested while others managed to flee. The suspects also threw beer bottles at the police party. After losing two kids in Canada, family seeks government help to bring bodies back to India ❝ Mahesh Sharma The snatchers in custody of the Ludhiana police on Monday. of heavy vehicles on a stretch heading from Akuwal to Gagkalan village. The sand mafia men continue to challenge the court orders. Besides, cops too have failed to implement the court orders. I have given names of sand mafia men, but the police registered a case against unknown persons. I would lodge a petition in the high court for further action. Jora Singh, COMPLAINANT Sand mafia attacks cops in Sidhwan Bet Payal, July 29 A peasant family of Malaudh village in Ludhiana district faces double whammy as one young boy and a girl (first cousins), who had gone to Canada as students in search of greener pastures, were killed in a car accident on Saturday. Now, the family is worried about bringing their bodies back to India. As nature would have done it, the duo lost lives while facilitating another friend in her examination, a girl from Samana town in Patiala who also died in the accident. Following bursting of a tyre, the cab carrying the trio overturned. Probably, the victims had tried to save their lives by jumping out from the vehicle when it went out of control of the driver who survived the accident. Residents of the village have urged the Union Government and the Punjab Having learnt about the tragic incident and double whammy suffered by the Somal family, I talked to the Foreign Affairs Minister who assured me that he would coordinate with the authorities in Canada to get the process for bringing back bodies expedited. Navjot Singh Somal and Harman Kaur Somal. FILE PHOTO Government to come to the rescue of the family and facilitate transportation of the bodies to India. The victims were travelling from Moncton City in New Brunswick Prince when the accident happened. Ranjit Singh Somal and his brother Mandeep Singh are cursing the time when they allowed their kids Navjot Singh Somal (19) and Harman Kaur Somal (23) to go to Canada in search of greener pastures by starting their professional career as part time employees on study visa. Mandeep Singh’s son Rajpreet Singh Somal is also settled in Canada. While Harman Kaur had gone to Canada around five years ago, Navjot went there recently on April 17. Somal brothers are upset that their children were not happy while staying away ❞ Dr Amar Singh Boparai, FATEHGARH SAHIB MP from Punjab, but chose to continue their struggle in Canada for better future. According to them, agriculture was no more a remunerative profession in Punjab. “We used to talk to Navjot and Harman almost every day. They used to complain about issues regarding changed lifestyle in Canada. Though I had asked my son to come back if did not feel at home there, we could nev- er predict what the destiny had in store for us,” said Ranjit Singh, while urging the Punjab and Union Governments to help the family bring back bodies of their kids from Canada. Both the deceased are survived by a sibling each. Meanwhile, Rajpreet Singh Somal, Harman’s brother settled in Canada, has roped in the Punjabi community in Canada to raise funds for sending three bodies to India. Meanwhile, Fatehgarh Sahib MP Dr Amar Singh Boparai has claimed to have taken up the issue with Foreign Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. “Having learnt about the tragic incident and double whammy suffered by the Somal family I talked to the minister who assured me that he would coordinate with the authorities in Canada to get the process for bringing back bodies expedited,” said Boparai. Four robbers attack Deficient rain worries farmers in dist, adds to paddy cultivation costs man, snatch scooter Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 29 A scooter-borne man was cornered by four robbers. They assaulted the victim and snatched his Activa scooter and fled from the spot. The Khanna Sadar police yesterday registered a case against unknown suspects and launched an investigation. Complainant Gurvinder Singh, a resident of Mohanpur village, told the police that on July 27 he was heading to his village from Samrala on his scooter. When he reached near his village around 8.30 pm, two unknown persons cornered him on the way. In the meantime two more motorcycleborne persons arrived on the spot. Before he could ask anything, they attacked him with sharp weapons. He suffered injuries on his head, arms and other body parts. The victim tried to raise an alarm for seeking help, but as it was dark, no one could listen to him. Later, the suspects snatched his scooter and fled from the spot. The suspects also threatened to kill the victim if revealed anything about the incident to anyone. ASI Shamsher Singh said after registering a case against four unknown suspects, efforts were on to identify them. He said footage of the CCTV cameras installed on roads was being scanned to find clues about suspects. — TNS Ludhiana, July 29 It’s July and Ludhiana district has received very less rainfall this year. High temperature is giving tough time to paddy growers of the state. July is going to end in two days. Till now, Ludhiana district has received only 119 mm rain against the normal of 220 mm this month. As compared to this, the district received 358.4 mm and 403.4 mm rainfall during the corresponding period in 2023 and 2022, respectively. Paramjeet Singh, a farmer from Samrala, said, “Paddy needs a lot of water. As the rainfall is deficient this year, it has slowed growth of the crop. Due to high tempera- High temperature is giving tough time to paddy growers. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN c m y b ture, the crop is prone to diseases and has a deficiency of magnesium.” Inadequate power supply had added to farmers’ woes, he said. “As promised against the eight hours power supply, we are getting only four to five hour power supply due to which we are not able irrigate our fields properly,” he said. Parkash Singh Grewal, a farmer from Lopon village, said, “Paddy is not growing properly due to extreme heat conditions. The crop yield this year might not be good. Last year, rain washed away the crop. This year, the rain is deficient. God seems to be going the other way.” Another farmer, Gurbaksh Singh from a village near Machhiwara said they were not getting eight hours power supply as promised by the government. He said this had increased input costs as farmers used generators run on diesel for running tubewells to irrigate their fields. Dr KK Gill, Principal, Agrometeorologist, Punjab Agricultural University, said this year rain had been deficient. “The monsoon is active in North at present. Rain is expected in one or two days,” she said. Dr Gill said, “Paddy needs a lot of water which causes stress on the groundwater table. Rain is helpful in maintaining the groundwater table. Paddy needs stagnant water to grow.”