14082024-LT-01.qxd 8/14/2024 12:19 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune NGOS TO PROTEST POLLUTION OF CANAL WATER IN LUDHIANA WORK ON INTER-CITY BUS SERVICE BEGINS IN LUDHIANA SIX-YARD SENSATION OR STITCHED STUNNER? NGOs gave ‘Ludhiana Chalo’ call for protest on August 24 against supply of polluted water through canals. P3 Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala are also part of the Rs 20,000-crore PMeBus Sewa Scheme. P3 As debate around the traditional vs improvised sarees goes on, we talk to designers to know their take. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.05 PM » SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:50 AM WEDNESDAY | 14 AUGUST 2024 | LUDHIANA Man booked for raping, impregnating city resident Ludhiana, August 13 The Ludhiana police yesterday registered a case against a man on the charges of raping and impregnating a woman. Besides, the role of three more persons in the case is under scanner. He was identified as Chetan Baweja of Sector 32, Chandigarh road. The complainant, a city resident, told the police that she got married in 2019, due to a dispute with her husband, she approached social worker Chetan Baweja for reaching a compromise. In 2020, she got divorce from her husband. Later, Baweja called her to his office where he raped her after offering her cold drink laced with sedatives. Initially, he had claimed that he was unmarried and on the pretext of marrying her, he continued to develop physical relations with her. After she got pregnant, when the victim asked Baweja for marriage, he said he was already married and rejected her proposal. She alleged that later, she got married with another person, Ashish, in 2022 and she had told him that she was pregnant. However, Ashish also left her after four months of marriage. Chetan and his friends had also got her admitted to a hospital for abortion but she managed to escape. In February 2023, she gave birth to a baby boy and the treatment expenses were borne by Baweja. “Baweja had been giving me money for upbringing our son but in March 2024, he stopped giving me money and started threatening me. In August this year, I lodged a complaint, following which a case was registered against him and three others on Monday,” the victim said. Meanwhile, Baweja stated that rape allegations levelled against him were false. The complainant, along with some other persons, got registered a fake case against him. — TNS COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES IN BASEMENTS Civic body puts owners of 416 buildings on notice Submit reply within a week or face action, violators told Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 13 Initiating a survey in the city on the directions of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney and MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has put 416 building owners on notice as of Tuesday for taking up commercial activities in basements of their respective buildings. Of the 416 buildings, 35 are situated in areas OF 416, 176 STRUCTURES LOCATED IN ZONE B Of the 416 buildings, 35 are situated in areas falling under the Zone A, 176 in Zone B, 40 in Zone C and 165 in Zone D of the corporation. Civic body officials stated that the survey was going on and 416 buildings had been identified till Tuesday. falling under the Zone A, 176 in Zone B, 40 in Zone C and 165 are located in Zone D of the corporation. The survey was initiated following the tragic incident wherein three students died due to flooding in the basement of a coaching institute in Delhi. Civic body officials stated that the survey was going on and 416 buildings had been identified till Tuesday. The survey is being done in remaining areas/markets also. Through notices that have been served by the civic body, the building owners have been directed to submit the sanctioned plan/compounding fee receipt within seven days or the civic body will initiate action against the buildings as per the norms. The officials said a report regarding the same would also be submitted with senior officials, including the Deputy Commissioner and the MC chief. Spirit of freedom The sewerage treatment plant being set up at Leisure Valley in Ludhiana. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN MC flayed for setting up sewage treatment plant at Leisure Valley Ludhiana, August 13 The Municipal Corporation has been setting up a sewerage treatment plant (STP) at Leisure Valley, which has received sharp criticism from residents of the area as well as walkers. The walkers, who visit the Leisure Valley, said it would defeat the very purpose of coming to the valley for a walk. The nearby residents are also disturbed by the decision of the MC and have shot a letter to the MC Commissioner and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. “Sarabha Nagar is one of the posh localities of the city. Our houses are located opposite the Leisure Valley. The STP will emit foul smell and it will become difficult to live in the area,” said a resident of J block in Sarabha Nagar. Another area resident said the plant should be shifted to some other place as it would make the life of local residents and people visiting the Leisure Valley difficult. The MC has spent crores of rupees on Smart City project but setting up the STP here would only add to the woes of the people. The letter mentioned that the authorities had started the process of construction by putting up of a board related to the project. As the MC knew that the people 8 hurt in clash at Observation Home Punjab Police jawans take part in a march-past during the full-dress rehearsal for the Independence Day celebrations at the PAU in Ludhiana on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN MORE PICS ON P2 Ludhiana, August 13 Two groups clashed at the Shimlapuri Observation Home here on Tuesday in which about five inmates suffered injuries. The inmates also vandalised the property. Three employees of the home also suffered injuries when they intervened in the clash. As per information, about 12 persons indulged in the clash and the reason of clash was old enmity between the inmates. Mother of one of the inmates, who reached the Civil Hospital, said there should be proper security inside the jail so that such clashes should not occur These city monuments have witnessed tough times of freedom struggle I-DAY SPECIAL Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 13 The country will be celebrating 78th Independence Day and there are many monuments and structures in the city which have been standing tall against all odds and seen the tough times of the freedom movement and the Partition. Let’s take a look at a few such structures. Christ Church Christ Church, located at Fountain Chowk, is said to be the oldest Anglican church in the state. Built in the city by the British, it is affiliated to the Church of England and none other than Daniel Wilson DD, the Bishop of Calcutta, laid down its foundation stone in 1836. In its early days, elite British army and civil officers worshipped in the church and has witnessed lavish weddings, baptisms as well as funerals. Original stained glass paintings of Jesus Christ, Mother Mary and St John at the altar were brought from England in 1830’s. It’s ceiling and benches point towards the wooden marvel and the old bell is still there atop the roof of the church. Jama Masjid Standing tall amid the busy streets of Field Ganj, Jama Masjid has seen the struggle of would oppose it, so they have started the process in a concealed manner. Santok Singh, a walker who daily visits the place in the morning and evening, said he comes from BRS Nagar to the Leisure Valley twice every day for a walk. “The STP will emit foul smell and it will defeat the very purpose of coming here for walk and fresh air,” he said. However, a senior MC official said the STP being set up here is a small plant. It will not emit foul smell as only 200 kilolitres of water will be treated in it. “The treated water will be used to irrigate the Leisure Valley and other parks,” he said. Clockwise: Jama Masjid in Field Ganj; Arya Senior Secondary School near Damoria Bridge; Christ Church at Fountian Chowk; and Clock Tower in Chaura Bazaar. PHOTOS: ASHWANI DHIMAN the independence. Built in 1891, the Jama Masjid of Ludhiana was founded by Maulana Shah Mohammad Ludhianvi, a freedom fighter who participated in the First War of Independence in 1857. A woman, Shamim Akhtar, daughter of Haji Hamid, an influential member of ‘Choon Gharan’ contributed over 50 per cent of the money for the construction of the mosque. The first fatwa for the independence of the country was released from here in 1857 by the first Shahi Imam, Maulana Shah Abdul Kadir Ludhianvi, as a result, the Britishers had to fled Lodhi Qila. The elegant minarets and net-styled walls, a glimpse it was the tallest building in the city. It has 10 floors and is 30 m long. It was inaugurated on October 18, 1906, by the then Lt Governor of Punjab, Sir Charles Montgomery, along with Deewan Tek Chand, the then deputy commissioner of Ludhiana. It used to tick after every hour and a person was employed to do so. Still standing tall in the busiest Chaura Bazaar, Clock Tower has seen changing phases of the city. Arya Senior Secondary School of the Islamic architecture, has been preserved by the family of Maulana Habib-UrRehman Ludhianvi, the custodians of this shrine since the pre-Independence era. Clock Tower Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, now known as ‘Ghanta Ghar’, is a landmark of the city. It was constructed to commemorate the Diamond c m y b Jubliee celebrationsof Queen Victoria in 1987 and was used as a clock to keep time for the city. Its construction started in 1862 and it took 44 years to build the clock tower and once, Built during the British Rule, Arya Senior Secondary School is still burning the flame of education among children. Mahatma Munshi Ram, an exponent of Arya Samaj and a disciple of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, laid the foundation stone of the school on March 29,1913, marking it as an epoch in the history of the city. Started as a Hindu school in a small building close to the old Head Post Office, the institution was taken over by Arya Samaj in 1889. The red brick building with beautiful arched wooden doors having glass panels are still intact and speak of the architectural grandeur. The double-storey building has 50 rooms and the height of the ceiling is above 20 feet. The garder used in the ceilings were brought from Germany through ship. Since it’s inception, the school is painted red in colour. in the future. Shimlapuri SHO Amritpal Singh said in the clash, five inmates had suffered injuries and were also rushed to the Civil Hospital. Some of the inmates were juvenile. The inmates had also ransacked the jail. A case was being registered against them. — TNS Youth booked for forcing girl into marriage Ludhiana, August 13 The cyber police station of Ludhiana yesterday registered a case against a youth who forced a 21-year-girl for marriage and when she rejecting his proposal, he threatened her to make viral her objectionable video clip on social media. He has been identified as Japish Sharma of Swatantar Nagar. The complainant, a resident of Ludhiana, in a complaint alleged that she was a beautician by profession. After receiving bookings, she used to visit houses of her clients for work. The youth was her schoolmate. Recently he got her mobile number and started calling her. “Since I developed a friendship with the suspect, one day he asked me to send my nude video clip which I refused. Afterwards, he kept on forcing me for the same and I agreed to his demand and sent him a clip,” she alleged. The victim alleged that after sometime, he started forcing her for marriage and when she rejected the proposal, the suspect threatened her to make viral her objectionable clip on social media. He also threatened to kill her. SI Mamta Minhas said after receiving a complaint, the police started a probe into the matter and a case was registered against the youth. — TNS