13092024-LT-01.qxd 13-09-2024 00:23 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune AHMEDGARH GETS CIVIC BODY CHIEF AFTER 18 MONTHS LUDHIANA EVES LIFT STATE BASEBALL TITLE ARMED WITH PASSION, SHE DREAMT BIG AND WON Vikas Krishan Sharma of AAP was unanimously elected president of Ahmedgarh Municipal Council. P2 Ludhiana trounced Sangrur to lift the winners’ trophy in girls’ section of the junior state basketball c’ship. P2 The 17-year-old from Jammu district fought rare congenital medical condition to come out a winner. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.35 PM » SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:04 AM FRIDAY | 13 SEPTEMBER 2024 | LUDHIANA INBRIEF MAN NABBED FOR MOLESTING GIRL Ludhiana: Crime against women and girls refused to die down. In one such incident, a seven-year-old girl was molested by a man. Her mother has registered a complaint with the Salem Tabri police in this regard. According to the victim’s mother, when her daughter, a resident a colony in the Salem Tabri area, was playing around 4 pm, a man, Samarnath Yadav, a resident of New Ashok Nagar C mohalla, Salem Tabri, called the girl and took her to his room. She complained about bad touch by the suspect. The complainant went to the police station to lodge an FIR against the man. The police got a case registered under Sections 74 and 76 of the BNS and POCSO Act against Yadav and later nabbed him. TNS MASKED ROBBERS LOOT PHONES Ludhiana: The Shimlapuri police have registered a case under Section 310 (2) of the BNS against four unidentified persons who came to a mobile phone shop and looted phones by brandishing pistols and a sharp weapon. The complainant, Sanjay Chaoudhry, a resident of New Janta Nagar, said on September 9, he was present at his shop in the Gill Market when four masked men entered the shop and looted 20 mobiles, which included 12 phones kept for repairing, with the help of pistols and a sharp weapon. No arrest has been made in the case. TNS Man loses ~90L to investment scam Ludhiana, September 12 A city-based man lost Rs 90 lakh to an online investment scam. He was lured by some online platform, stating that he would get multiple returns on the invested amount. The complainant, Bhagwan Singh of BRS Nagar told the police that he saw an advertisement of some investment group on Facebook. Thinking it as a legitimate platform, he clicked on the website link and joined the group. As he was lured by the group that he would get multiple returns on investment of money, he invested Rs 90.99 lakh through the same on different dates. Later, he realised that it was not a legitimate investment platform. Later, a police complaint was lodged which led to the registration of a case at the Cybercrime police station. — TNS Suspension of OPDs crippleshealth services, patients bear the brunt Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 12 With the second phase of doctors’ strike starting today, the Punjab Civil Medical Services doctors have completely suspended the outpatient department (OPD) services. The strike started on September 9 and the OPDs were run for three hours from 11 am to 2 pm till Wednesday. But from today onwards, doctors have announced complete suspension of OPDs and elective surgeries, except for caesarean sections. Patients were a harried lot at the Civil Hospital after they were unable to meet doctors for consultation. Some kept waiting till 11 am, hoping the OPDs to open but had to return empty handed. The OPDs at the district hospital, sub-divisional hospitals and community health centres remained completely suspended today. Ramesh Kumar, who had come to the Civil Hospital for a medical check-up for his recruitment, said: “Doctors are on strike and not conducting medical examination. I need to submit medical certificate for my job and only a government doctor can do that. The Life-saving surgeries, Only caesarean sections (both elective and emergency), emergency trauma, emergency services, post-mortems, medicolegal examinations, court evidences, judicial medical examinations, OOAT centres to dispense daily dose (stop dispensing take-home doses). strike will cost me dear as I need to submit the certificate within a week,” he said. Kokila, another patient from Sunet village who was feeling 3 snatchers held; gold earrings, mobiles seized Ludhiana, September 12 The Sahnewal police have arrested three snatchers, Rahul Kumar, a resident of Ambedkar Nagar, Lohara, Shailender Kumar, a resident of Mahinder Nagar, Ludhiana, and Karan Kumar, a resident of Lachman Colony, who used to snatch valuables from passers-by. According to the police, after getting a tip-off, ASI Amarjit Singh saw the suspects coming from Malli Chowk, Jaspal Bangar Road, here. They were trying to snatch a mobile phone from a person. Following which, the suspects were rounded up and two gold earrings, six mobile phones and a Splendor motorcycle were seized from them. The suspects were sent to judicial custody. — TNS The suspects in custody of the Sahnewal police. helpless due to extreme pain, said: “I have a stone in my gallbladder and doctor has advised me to get it removed. Today, I came for consultation Moga resident held with arms Ludhiana, September 12 The Focal Point police have arrested Vikas Kumar, a resident of Buttar village in Moga district, and seized two unlicensed countrymade .32 bore pistols, two cartridges and four empty magazines from his custody. ASI Bhupinder Singh said when police personnel were present near Rockman Chowk, they saw a person coming from the Yard Chowk side carrying a bag. The police got suspicious and stopped him. While checking, illegal weapons and related items were recovered from the suspect. In another recovery of illegal arms, the police on Thursday recovered more weapons from the possession of gangster Sagar Newton, who is already on a police remand. These include two pistols with cartridges. About 18 cases are already registered against the gangster. — TNS Ludhiana, September 12 Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is all decked up for holding a two-day Kisan Mela on September 13-14 under the theme “Kudarati Somey Bachao, Sab Laiye Khushali Liyao.” Various departments of the PAU will highlight new crop varieties and agricultural technologies through field demonstrations, seed plots, display of charts and models as well as exhibitions and interactions. A total of 350 stalls will be put up at the mela. With the Met Department predicting cloudy weather over Ludhiana, the university started its preparations and installed tiles at the mela ground where water usually accumulates and turns into puddles of mud and water. Many a time in the past, rain has spoiled the event. Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Punjab, will be the chief guest while Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, ViceChancellor, PAU, will preside over the mela. A major highlight at the mela will be the newly recommended varieties PBW Biscuit 1 of wheat, OL 17 of fodder, PHR 127 of raya, and PGSH 2155 of canola gobhi sarson. Besides, live demon- PAU is all set for the Kisan Mela, beginning Friday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN strations of straw management machinery including Surface Seeder, Smart Seeder, Drone, Super Seeder, Happy Seeder and Choppercum-Shredder, will be organised for the farmers. The mela will also see competitions in crop produce, embroidery, preparation of nutritious food using oilseeds, decoration of shagun envelopes and a drawing competition on “How to save natural resources” for 812 years old children. Meanwhile, the Pashu Palan Mela will also be held at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) from September 13 to 14. Dr Jatinder Paul Singh Gill, VC, said they were promoting value addition of livestock products. The mela slogan is also based on this objective: “Uttpadan ton Uttpad Banaiye, Aao Vadh Munafa Paiye.” The VC said the mela would be a centre of attraction for not only the livestock, fisheries, poultry, goat and pig farmers but for children, youth, senior citizens as well as women also as different items will be on display for different agegroups, sections and nature. He said the mela would be more useful for students of vocational courses studying animal husbandry and rural culture as they will get more valuable information about the latest interventions in the field of animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries etc. — TNS Ex-SDM gets six-yr RI in graft case Aditya Dachalwal is civic body chief An elderly woman who faced inconvenience at the Civil Hospital due to docs’ strike. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN SERVICES CONTINUED Agri, vet varsities gear up for Kisan Mela, Pashu Palan Mela but nobody was available here and there was total chaos. Even, they are not giving appointment for surgery.” Some patients have come to the hospital after covering long distances. Rajan from the Industrial Area was disappointed and had to return after he found the OPDs closed. “I will now visit a private doctor continued on page 2 Rajneesh Lakhanpal Ludhiana, September 12 The Court of Special Judge Amrinder Singh Shergill (Additional Sessions Judge) has convicted former SDM Parshotam Singh Sodhi (67), a resident of Sector 63, Mohali, on the accusations of criminal breach of trust and corruption. He was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment of six years with a fine of Rs 70,000. The former SDM was already dismissed by the state government from the services. Whereas co-accused Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, a resident of Julwheri Gehlan village, Fatehgarh Sahib, has been sentenced to undergo five years’ jail along with a fine of Rs 45,000. Another accused Gurdev, Singh, a resident of Adampur village in Fatehgarh Sahib, has been sentenced to undergo fouryear jail term with a fine of Rs 31,000 and accused Naresh Kumar of Mehas Gate, Nabha, Patiala, has been sentenced to four years’ jail with a fine of Rs 25,000. Pronouncing the verdict, the court held that the prosecution has successfully proved the charges levelled against the accused. The Judge turned down the plea of leniency raised by the convicts. Additional Public Prosecutor Balwinder Singh apprised that a case against the accused was registered on an inquiry conducted by the Vigilance Bureau, following a writ petition filed in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana. According to prosecution, Sodhi was posted as tehsildar, Nabha. It was pleaded that a land was allotted to Amar Kaur and Gurmeet Kaur at Bhadson village, Hakimpura, on July 28, 1987, by the Rehabilitation Department. On the complaint of Sant Jarnail Singh, disciple of Sant Hari Singh, a resident of Hakimpura, the accused cancelled the land allotted to Amar Kaur and Gurmeet Kaur at Bhadson and Hakimpura on frivolous grounds. Later without the approval of the competent authority, the land was allotted to coaccused Naresh Kumar on January 3, 1991. During Vigilance inquiry it transpired that all this was done in connivance with each other. Documents showed that Naresh Kumar has already entered into an agreement to sell on November 30,1991, which established malafide intentions of the accused, which also caused loss to the state exchequer. However, during the trial, the accused pleaded innocence. But after appreciating the evidence on record, the court found them guilty and sentenced accordingly. A first: Work awarded to build cycle tracks along highways in city Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 12 In a first, cycle tracks will come up along highways in Ludhiana. For this, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has awarded the work. The contract has been allotted to a local construction company at the cost Rs 10.45 crore for construction of 17.041-km cycle tracks on both sides of the Laddowal Bypass in the first phase of the ambitious project. It was done following a formal nod to this effect given by NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav on the request of Rajya Sabha MP from Ludhiana Sanjeev Arora. According to the work order issued by the NHAI on September 9, a copy of which is NHAI allots contract at ~10.45 cr for 17.04-km project to cover both sides of Laddowal Bypass on RS MP’s proposal with The Tribune, the work of construction of the cycle tracks along four-lane partial access controlled Laddowal Bypass linking the NH-95 with the NH-1 via Laddowal seed farm in Ludhiana has been awarded to Kabir Infra Private Limited. “It is hereby notified that your bid for a contract price of Rs 10,44,85,914 (exclusive of GST), which is at a discount of 33.7 per cent on the estimated cost of Rs 15,75,95,648 has been accepted by the competent authority for and on behalf of the NHAI,” the order issued by DGM (Technical) Aashish Garg read. The awarded firm has been asked to furnish two performance securities in the amount of Rs 31,34,578 each within 10 days as per the laid down provisions and sign the contract agreement, failing which the actions as stipulated in the bid document shall be taken. Arora, who met the NHAI Chairman in New Delhi recently, told The Tribune on Wednesday that the first phase of the environment-friendly project will cover both sides of Laddowal Bypass at the cost of Rs 10.45 crore. The development assumes significance as Ludhiana is the largest manufacturer of bicycles in the world. With this, the industrial hub can become the most bicycle- friendly city in the country. He said the NHAI Chairman has intimated him that the formal work order to construct the cycle tracks along the highways in Ludhiana had been accorded and the construction work on the project would begin shortly. The ruling AAP member in the Upper House of Parliament from Punjab has been apprised by the NHAI that a 2meter-wide bicycle track will be built on the service road or extended main carriageway from 0 to 4.5-km (both sides) by providing a dedicated lane for cyclists divided by rumble strips, spring posts and road studs with synthetic enamel paint on existing concrete pavement. “In the light of public demand/ MP’s reference, an estimate for construction of c m y b bicycle track along Laddowal Bypass amounting to Rs 18,59,62,865 (including 18 per cent GST) has been approved by the competent authority of NHAI,” Arora has been informed. In his subsequent meetings and communications, the Rajya Sabha MP had urged the NHAI Chairman to establish cycle tracks along national highways in Ludhiana. He had apprised the NHAI Chairman that on World Bicycle Day last year, he had attended functions organised by the cycle industry in Ludhiana, wherein the demand was raised to build cycle tracks and promote cycling and the industry as well. Rajya Sabha MP had apprised the NHAI chairman that the bicycle is a mode of transportation being used more in western countries. “The use of bicycles is environmentally friendly, good for people’s health and is also an affordable means of transportation for common man,” he had mentioned while requesting the NHAI Chairman to make cycle tracks along the NHAI highways wherever possible and feasible. Arora had suggested that cycle tracks could be made along Laddowal Bypass, Ferozepur Road, and Elevated Road in Ludhiana. He had further mentioned that according to his information, some proposals were already lying with the head office, which could be examined and approved. “Let us set an example with Ludhiana, how bicycles can be used for transportation as in countries like the Netherlands,” he had urged the NHAI chairman. Arora has thanked the NHAI Chairman for accepting his request and giving nod for construction of cycle tracks on both sides of the highways, as per the availability of land and feasibility, in Ludhiana. To mitigate pollution, congestion: Arora “It would mitigate pollution and congestion, besides enhancing safety on streets and providing safe neighbourhoods. Vehicle-free zones, cycle highways, shared streets planned in a phased manner would ensure citizens adopt and adapt for a positive outcome in the long run. Being one of the most polluted cities in the world, Ludhiana can be made clean and green by promoting cycling, which would reduce the rising pollution levels, ” Arora said. Ludhiana, September 12 Aditya Dachalwal will be the new Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation. He was posted as the MC Commissioner, Patiala, and has been posted here in place of Sandeep Rishi. Rishi has been posted as the DC, Sangrur. Dachalwal had held the position of ADC of the Ludhiana civic body last year. It will be a tough road ahead of Dachalwal as the industrial city has been facing many issues such as garbage disposal and broken roads. Since Dachalwal has been the Additional Commissioner, MC, in the past, he must be well versed with the issues of the city. — TNS Drug peddlers open fire at cops, one hurt Ludhiana, September 12 During a face-off between CIA staff and drug peddlers near Dhandran here today, the latter opened fire at police personnel in which a policeman got injured. He had been admitted to Deep Hospital in Model Town where his condition is said to be serious. As per sources, another person also got injured in the incident. The police got a tipoff about smuggling of drugs in Mehmoodpur near the Dhandran road, following which a raid was conducted. During the raid, the peddlers opened fire at the police officials during which a policeman got injured. — TNS