06092024-LT-01.qxd 9/5/2024 11:46 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune WOMAN LODGES FIR AGAINST HUSBAND FOR ‘KILLING’ PET ASI DIES IN HIT-&-RUN, CREMATED WITH STATE HONOURS FOR SAPNA, IT HAS BEEN A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE As per the complainant, the case was registered after intervention of animal rights activist Menaka Gandhi. P2 A complaint was registered against a truck driver at the Ahmedgarh Sadar police station. P3 With a biopic titled Madam Sapna on her life in the making, Sapna Choudhary says it is the perfect title for a film on her. P4 » » » FRIDAY | 6 SEPTEMBER 2024 | LUDHIANA Hike in fuel prices wrong move, say petrol dealers Tribune News Service UP man found dead near railway tracks Ludhiana, September 5 The body of a man was found lying in the bushes near Industrial Area A along the railway tracks here. Passers-by saw the body in the morning and informed the Government Railway Police (GRP). The GRP reached the scene and recovered a phone from the deceased’s pocket. His family members had been continuously calling on the phone number. He was identified as Raju after police officials called his family members from his phone. ASI Tajinder Singh said Raju was a resident of Muzaffarnagar, UP As the victim’s . head and shoulders had injuries, the police suspect that he might have died due to falling off the moving train. “The cause of death will be known after autopsy,” the ASI added. — TNS INDERJEET VERMA Ludhiana, September 5 Giving another jolt to the common man in Punjab, the state government today decided to hike prices of fuel. During the Cabinet meeting, the AAP government has decided to increase valueadded tax (VAT) on petrol by 61 paisa and diesel by 92 paisa per litre, respectively. At the same time, petrol dealers feel that it was a wrong decision taken by the government as neighbouring states such as Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory of Chandigarh would get benefits due to the same while border areas of the state will face losses. Talking to The Tribune, Ashok Sachdeva, chairman, Petrol Pump Dealers Association, Punjab, said it was a wrong decision taken in the Cabinet meeting. “The state government feels that it will They feel it will benefit neighbouring states, UT; another jolt to common man: Residents The industry has also flayed the decision to increase fuel rates. get more revenue but it would face losses and neighbouring states will benefit from the decision. Suppose, I have to go to Himachal Pradesh, I will get my vehicle tank filled from there only as the fuel is cheaper there. Our border areas will suffer badly and the government will lose the volume. If the government feels that there will be gain by increasing fuel rates, it is mistaken,” said Sachdeva, adding that it would, in fact, put a burden on the common man only. Bike-borne goons threatened to kill me: Slain pastor’s son Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 5 The pastor of Temple of God church at Salem Tabri, Alisha Sultan, alleged that three bike-borne persons had threatened to kill him if he deposes against the murder suspects who had shot dead his father in 2017. On July 15, 2017, the then pastor of the church was shot dead by two assailants. The bike-borne miscreants had fired multiple shots at the victim, killing him at the scene. The deceased, Sultan Masih, had sustained two bullet injuries in the chest and one in the head. The police had arrested the suspects, Jagtar Singh Johal and his accomplices, in the case. The deceased’s son in a complaint to the police alleged that on July 7, 2024, when he was standing outside the church, three turbaned bike-borne persons came there and raised pro-Khalistan slogans. They told him that if he deposes against Jagtar and other suspects in the murder case of his father in court, they would kill him. Following this, he lodged a police complaint and acting on the same, the police registered a case against the unidentified suspects on Wednesday. After the murder of pastor Sultan Masih, the Ludhiana police had made a permanent police post outside the church for the security of family members of the deceased. Amit, who is working with a leading hosiery brand as a manager, said his was a touring job and he comes around four times a week to Ludhiana. “But I never buy fuel from Punjab. I come from Panchkula, either I get my tank filled from Panchkula or Chandigarh but not from Punjab, unless and until it’s an emergency as fuel is cheaper in the two cities and for a person, who is travelling so often, fuel prices matter. It will affect the common man,” he said. Saloni, a salesgirl at Ghumar Mandi, said the move would certainly put a dent in common man’s pocket. The CICU has also condemned the state government for hiking the fuel prices. It said the decision was not in favour of the industry. Transportation costs would increase due to the same. “We will write to the government to withdraw the move,” it added. ED nabs ex-min Ashu’s aide Ludhiana, September 5 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Rajdeep Singh, a close associate of former Congress minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu from his native village, near Khanna. The ED officials had raided all premises of Rajdeep on the wee hours of Wednesday morning. He has been taken to Jalandhar where his medical examination will be conducted and later, he will be produced before court. During the raids, which were on till late Wednesday night, Rajdeep was interrogated, following which he was nabbed. He is also close to Congress leader Gurkirat Singh Kotli. The suspect was also booked for his alleged involvement in the foodgrain scam, in which Ashu is lodged in jail. — TNS Hry resident held for smuggling 43K intoxicating tablets Ludhiana, September 5 The Ludhiana police claimed to have nabbed a Haryana-based man on the charge of smuggling intoxicating tablets. The police seized 43,000 tablets from his possession. The Maruti Baleno car (bearing registration no. HR05BF3261) of the suspect, which was being used to smuggle banned drugs, was also seized. The suspect has been identified as Krishan Kumar (28) of Karnal, Haryana. ADCP (Crime) Amandeep Singh Brar said the crime branch had received a tipoff that the suspect was into the illegal trade of smuggling intoxicating tablets and he was on the way to deliver a huge consignment to his clients in Ludhiana. The crime branch team laid a naka at a strategic point on September 3 where the car was stopped for checking. During search, 43,000 intoxicating tablets were seized from the vehicle. The The suspect in police custody. suspect failed to produce any document pertaining to the banned medicines. Hence, was arrested and a case under the NDPS Act was registered against him. Brar said now, a police remand of the man was obtained from court and his further questioning would be done so that the entire drug supply line could be busted and other suppliers involved in the network be also nabbed. He said the police would also probe about properties and vehicles, if any, purchased by the suspect with the proceeds of drug money and the same would be recommended for attachment to the competent authority. — TNS c m y b 6th Sep - 15th Sep, 2024 FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.39 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:03 AM