24092024-LT-01.qxd 9/24/2024 12:31 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune GURLEEN, ANMOLDEEP, HARLEEN EMERGE FASTEST RUNNERS LAAPATAA LADIES NAMED INDIA’S OFFICIAL ENTRY TO OSCARS LEGENDARY SINGER GURDAS MAAN SHARES ANECDOTES District-level games of third edition of Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan are being organised at different venues. P2 As her film Laapataa Ladieshas been chosen as India’s official entry to Oscars, filmmaker Kiran Rao expressed gratitude. P4 While maintaining his gravitas Gurdas Maan talks about creative process behind his latest album, Sound of Soil. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 37°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.16 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:12 AM TUESDAY | 24 SEPTEMBER 2024 | LUDHIANA Stolen vehicle, 60 yarn bags seized, 1 held Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 23 The Daresi police station on Monday arrested a thief and recovered a stolen Mahindra Bolero Pik-up vehicle (bearing registration no PB05Y7196) and 60 yarn bags from his possession. The accused has been identified as Mohd Mahroof, a resident of Mayapuri. Assistant Commissioner of Police (North) Davinder Chaudhary in a statement issued stated that the suspect had first stolen the vehicle from the Deresi area on the intervening night of September 15 and 16 and later, stole 60 bags of yarn from the Basti Jodhewal area. In both incidents, separate cases were already registered at the police stations concerned. The ACP said after the Daresi police stated investigation, the thief was identified and arrested. The stolen vehicle and yarn bags were recovered from the man. Now, a three-day police remand of the suspect was taken from the court and in the further questioning, the police would inquire about other members of his gang and their role in past theft cases would also be verified. Finally, Ludhiana gets 2 berths in expanded Mann Cabinet Cadres feel high in state’s biggest district with 13 AAP MLAs Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 23 Better late than never! The district on Monday finally got representation in the fourth expansion of the 30month-old Punjab Council of Ministers. The state’s biggest and largest district, in terms of area and population, sends 14 MLAs, constituting almost 12 per cent of the total 117 Vidhan Sabha seats in the state, to the Punjab Assembly. Ludhiana had given an unprecedented 13 of the total 14 Assembly seats to the ruling party with Dakha remaining the lone exception, which was retained by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), in the February 20 high-stakes Punjab Assembly poll. Tarunpreet Singh Sond (40) and Hardeep Singh Mundian (48), both firsttime MLAs from Khanna and Sahnewal, have made it to the Council of Ministers. While Mundian has been made Minister of Revenue, Rehabilitation, Disaster Management, Water Supply, Sanitation, Hous- Tarunpreet Singh Sond Hardeep Singh Mundian BOTH FIRST-TIME MLAS Tarunpreet Singh Sond (40) and Hardeep Singh Mundian (48), both first-time MLAs from Khanna and Sahnewal, have made it to the Council of Ministers. While Mundian has been made Minister of Revenue, Rehabilitation, Disaster Management, Water Supply, Sanitation, Housing and Urban Development, Sond has got the portfolios of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Investment Promotion, Labour, Hospitality, Industries and Commerce, Rural Development and Panchayats. ing and Urban Development, Sond has got the portfolios of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Investment Promotion, Labour, Hospitality, Industries and Commerce, Rural Development and Panchayats. While Sond had defeated then sitting Congress Minister Gurkirat Singh Kotli, grandson of former Chief Minister Beant Singh and cousin of Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu in Khanna, former Akali Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon had lost to Mundian in Sahnewal. However, the two-time AAP MLA Sarvjit Kaur Manuke, who was deputy leader of the Opposition in the previous Vidhan Sabha, and had retained her Jagraon seat, was again left out. “It hardly matters to me whether I am made the min- ister or not. What all matters is the staunch support of my people, who had elected me twice consecutively with a thumping majority,” the firebrand AAP legislator from Jagraon told The Tribune. Maintaining that party workers and cadres felt disappointed, Manuke said it was the prerogative of the party and its high command to select MLAs for the Cabinet berth. “I have consoled my supporters and party cadres to remain calm while assuring them that I will continue to work selflessly for the welfare of my area and its people, besides striving hard for the betterment of the party as well. She asserted that the party and the people, who have reposed faith in her twice, were supreme. “I will never let my party and people down till my last breath,” Manuke said. Meanwhile, a ray of hope and joy descended on AAP workers, leaders, and cadres across the district after Sond and Mundian were inducted into the Punjab Cabinet in Chandigarh this evening. Vigilance arrests suspended PUNSUP official in paddy scam Ludhiana, September 23 The Vigilance Bureau (VB), Ludhiana, arrested Jagandeep Singh Dhillon, a suspended district manager (DM) of PUNSUP here, who had , been absconding in connection with a multi-crore paddy scam involving grain markets of the district. Dhillon surrendered before a court today and was subsequently arrested by the bureau. A spokesperson for the state Vigilance Bureau disclosed that Dhillon was wanted in connection with a scam related to paddy transportation tenders within the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Punjab. In this regard, a case was registered on August 16, 2022, at the VB police station, Ludhiana range, against former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and other suspects. He said Dhillon had previously obtained anticipatory bail from the High Court on September 18, 2023. Howev- er, the Supreme Court set aside the bail order. Since then, he had been absent from duty and was placed under suspension by his department. The VB had been making continuous efforts to apprehend him. The spokesperson further revealed that Dhillon, as a member of the District Tender Committee, during 2020-21, failed to verify tenders of certain contractors involved in the scam. He allegedly colluded with the contractors, facilitating the allotment of tenders in exchange for bribes. Additionally, Dhillon violated clause 12(j) of the State Custom Milling Policy by transferring food grains from shops of commission agents Krishan Lal and Anil Jain to rice shellers of their relatives, in contravention of established procedures. It was further revealed that Krishan Lal, one of the suspects, had brought over 2,000 jute bags from other states, which were used to transport paddy. Dhillon, in criminal conspiracy with co-accused Surinder Berry, the then district manager of PUNGRAIN, allegedly used the influence of former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, to divert paddy from grain markets of Lalton and Dhandran villages in the district to the Ludhiana Central markets, instead of the Killa Raipur centre. This manipulation was reportedly done to extract large bribes from rice millers. As part of the investigation, it was found that Dhillon collected bribes ranging from Rs 3 to Rs 10 per paddy bag from rice millers in exchange for favorable allotments. Furthermore, he overlooked discrepancies in gate pass registrations, which listed scooter and motorcycle numbers, instead of truck numbers, allowing for misappropriation of paddy stored in godowns in collusion with contractors. — TNS Woman held with 30-kg poppy husk Ludhiana, September 23 The anti-narcotics cell of Ludhiana arrested a woman, Janki Kanojia (23), of EWS Colony and seized 30 kg of poppy husk from her. SI Narpinder Singh said on September 21 after getting a tip-off, a police team conducted a raid and nabbed her with poppy husk. A case was also registered against the sus- pect. Now, further investigation was being done to inquire about her links with other big smugglers so that the entire drug supply line could be busted. — TNS 3 members of robbers’ gang arrested Motorcycle-borne snatcher caught by people, thrashed, handed over to cops Ludhiana, September 23 The CIA-2 wing of the Police Commissionarate, Ludhiana, today claimed to have busted a gang of robbers and nabbed three of its members. The police recovered 20 mobile phones, four motorcycles, a .315 countrymade gun, along with a cartridge, and a sharp weapon from the suspects. The suspects have been identified as Ravinder Kumar, a native of Bihar, at present staying in Shimlapuri, Sandeep Paswan of the Daba road area and Munna Kumar of Samrat Colony, Giaspura. One of their accomplices, Gautam of Daba, is yet to be arrested. The suspects in police custody in Ludhiana on Monday. In-charge, CIA, Inspector Rajesh Sharma, said a tip-off was received that the suspects had formed a gang of robbers who loot people by pointing weapons at them. They had looted mobiles, cash and other valuables in the past from city areas. The suspects had even stolen motorcycles from the city. Today, Ravinder and Sandeep were on the way to Sahnewal from the Jugiana side to commit a robbery. The CIA team laid a naka and after intercepting their motorcycle, they were arrested. Munna, who had been taking looted mobile phones from the suspects for selling further to his clients, was also arrested, the CIA in-charge said. Among the suspects, Ravi had a criminal past as three cases, including of attempt to murder, drug smuggling, were registered against him at police stations in Ludhiana, — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 23 People caught a youth riding a Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle and thrashed him when he was trying to escape after snatching a mobile phone in a market in Santokh Nagar on Sunday. The complainant, Vicky Kunj, a resident of Jalandhar, said he was into garment business. On Sunday, he was going to the area to place orders of garments for his shop. He was going towards Clock Tower and when he reached Santokh Nagar, a motorcycle-borne youth pounced on him and snatched his mobile phone. “As my mobile was snatched, I raised the alarm and asked passers-by for help. He, along with some Good Samaritans, chased the snatcher and caught him. Meanwhile, the police were also informed and they took the suspect to the police station,” he said. After catching the youth, the people thrashed him badly. Investigating officer ASI Harpal Singh said the suspect was identified as Munish Kumar, resident of Kali Sadak, here. A case under sections of the BNS was registered against him. Police remand of the youth would be sought from court to inquire about his involvement in other snatching incidents. The police would also inquire about other accomplice of the suspect, if any. Youth beaten up by trio, phone snatched Three snatchers beaten up a youth, identified as Karan Kumar, of Ekta Colony, and snatched his mobile phone from him. The complainant said on September 21, when he and his cousin were going towards Bajra village, they were cornered by three miscreants. They thrashed him and looted his mobile phone. Later, the trio was identified as Nirmal, alias Bachu, Gulshan, alias Mota, and Kali. They are yet to be arrested. A case was registered against them on Sunday. DUMPING OF COW DUNG INTO BUDDHA NULLAH Multiple pleas for identical relief Building branch officials told to expedite recovery Joint teams formed to tighten amounts to ‘forum shopping’: HC of unassessed challans noose around dairy units Bench imposes ~30K Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 23 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that filing multiple petitions through different lawyers and parties for identical relief apparently amounted to “forum shopping”. The assertion came as Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj of the High Court dismissed a petition with Rs 30,000 costs after taking a note of this “misplaced adventure” and “misconduct”. Taking up a petition filed against the state and other respondents by a woman, Justice Bhardwaj asserted the petitioner approached the court seeking directions to Additional Director-General of Police (Jails) and Superintendent of Bathinda Central Jail to take appropriate steps for protecting the life of her convict son as “necessary food, medicine and other facilities were not being extended to him”. This, the petitioner alleged, was viola- costs for ‘misplaced adventure, misconduct’ tive of the convict’s fundamental rights. Justice Bhardwaj asserted the state counsel, during the course of hearing, stated that the convict had filed another petition, which was disposed of by a coordinate Bench on Friday, August 23. It was noticed that the court was closed for the next two days and that the instant petition was prepared immediately on “the first opening date after the dismissal of the earlier writ petition”. Going into the background of the matter, Justice Bhardwaj observed the convict, it seemed, was earlier lodged in a Ropar jail. He was shifted to the Bathinda Central Jail during the pendency of the proceedings. Another petition was then filed, seeking directions to take appropriate steps against imminent danger and threats to his life and liberty. Both petitions were disposed of by the detailed order, dated August 23. The relief asked for was declined after noticing the objections by the state. The instant writ petition for identical relief was been filed through the mother on August 27 in quick succession, but the institution of the earlier writ petitions and their status was not disclosed by the petitioner in the present case. “It is thus apparently a case of forum shopping, for identical reliefs, by filing multiple petitions for the same relief and cause through different persons and lawyers so as to fish out a relief for themselves. Such a conduct on the part of the litigant deserves deprecation and the petitioner needs to be burdened with costs as well. 5. Accordingly for the misplaced adventure and misconduct on the part of the petitioner, the present writ petition is dismissed with a cost of Rs 30,000 to be recovered from the petitioner,” Justice Bhardwaj concluded. Ludhiana, September 23 Issuing strict directions for recovery of dues, Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal ordered building branch officials to expedite the recovery of unassessed challans in their respective zones and meet weekly recovery targets. The directions were issued during a review meeting held at the MC’s Zone D office on Monday evening. MC Additional Commissioner Paramdeep Singh, Joint Commissioners Chetan Bunger and Inderpal, Assistant Commissioners Neeraj Jain and Jasdev Singh Sekhon, SEcum-MTPs Sanjay Kanwar and Parveen Singla, Zonal ATPs and superintendents were among those others present in the meeting. The MC chief directed the officials to take strict action against illegal constructions and no building con- c m y b struction work should be allowed without a sanctioned building plan. He also directed the property tax wing to achieve recovery targets given to them and tighten noose around the defaulters, who had failed to pay the tax in the past. Cases of wrong assessment should also be finalised at the earliest. Stating that he will review the recovery of dues on a weekly basis, Dachalwal further directed zonal commissioners to monitor recovery drives in their respective zones. Meanwhile, the residents have been appealed to pay property tax and watersewer bills for the current financial year (2024-25) by September 30 to avail 10 per cent rebate. For avoiding long queues at zonal suvidha kendras, residents can also pay these online by visiting www.mcludhiana.gov.in. — TNS Ludhiana, September 23 Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal has formed joint teams of the MC, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for tightening the noose around dairy owners dumping cow dung into the Buddha Nullah. The decision was taken during a meeting that was held under the chairmanship of the MC Commissioner at the MC’s Zone D office here on Monday. It was decided that a two days’ time period should be given to the dairy owners to make alternative arrangements as notices have already been issued to them in the past. If the dairy owners fail to make arrangements, the joint teams will initiate action against them as per the norms. MC Additional Commissioner Paramdeep Singh, Chief Engineer Ravinder Garg, Offficials during a meeting in Ludhiana on Monday. Superintending Engineer (SE) Parveen Singla, Executive Engineer Ranbir Singh, DDF Naman Bhatia other officials of the PPCB, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) and PSPCL were among those others present in the meeting. Dachalwal said no one would be allowed to pollute the Buddha Nullah and the joint teams had been directed to take strict action against the violators. The officials had been directed to keep a check on the dyeing industry too and if someone was caught dumping untreated waste into the MC sewer lines, the authorities should take action against them. He said the officials had also been directed to make public announcements in dairy complexes in Haibowal and the Tajpur road area. Fresh notices were also being served and strict action would be taken against those found dumping cow dung into the nullah. — TNS