01102024-LT-01.qxd 10/1/2024 12:18 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune GOVT SELECTS 35 PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO UPGRADE INFRA COFFEE IS MORE THAN JUST A BEVERAGE - IT'S RITUAL, COMFORT MITHUN'S NAME ANNOUNCED FOR DADASAHEB PHALKE AWARD Education Department aims to spend around ~40L on each primary school to upgrade infra and facilities. P2 On Int’l Coffee Day, TV stars talk about their love for the brew and whom they would love to share a cup with.... P4 Padma Bhushan recipient and ex-RS member has been chosen for the highest cinematic honour. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 35°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.08 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:16 AM » TUESDAY | 1 OCTOBER 2024 | LUDHIANA Deadline for MCH upgrade work extended yet again Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 30 The work for the upgrade of the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) is underway since April 2022 and again its deadline has been extended. The project was supposed to be completed by July 2023 but seeing a large amount of work left for completion, the deadline was extended several times and now, it has been again extended to March 31, 2025. The 100-bed hospital is being upgraded to a 200-bed facility. Nearly 60 per cent of the work is still pending. Though the contractor concerned has been asked to speed up the work, only time will tell if he is able to complete it on time or another deadline will be given. The project included construction of the new block on the ground and first floors, three new labour rooms, a predelivery room and an operation theatre. Six general wards and 16 private wards are being constructed on the second floor. Private wards are ready. Gurpinder Singh, sub-divisional officer from the Pun- The 100-bed Mother and Child Hospital is being upgraded to a 200-bed facility. INDERJEET VERMA NEARLY 60% OF WORK PENDING The project was supposed to be completed by July 2023 but seeing a large amount of work left for completion, the deadline was extended several times and now, it has been again extended to March 31, 2025. Nearly 60 per cent of the work is still pending. jab Health System Corporation, said they had expedited the work and it was expected that they would meet the deadline this time. “Instead of handing over the entire building, we are now handing it in parts. It will be handed over block-wise to Nothing swachh about it ! the hospital authorities so that patients start using the facilities. Besides, the flooring is being developed in such a way that there will be no problem of rats,” he said. A doctor from the hospital said the Mother and Child Hospital caters to the entire HIMANSHU MAHAJAN district and daily 100-150 women come for treatment. As many as 800-1,000 deliveries are conducted every month and there is a dire need for the expansion of the institution. “Many times there is a shortage of beds and two patients have to lie on a single bed and it the issue can be solved only when the hospital is expanded and the work should be completed at the earliest,” said the doctor on condition of anonymity. Bizmen worried over GST Dept employees ‘giving’ their sales-purchase data to rivals Shivani Bhakoo WILL CHECK ISSUE AT DIST LEVEL: OFFICIAL Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 30 Many industrialists in the city are worried over easy availability of their sales and purchase data. There are allegations by some businessmen against staff in the GST Department that for a few bucks, the data is shared with their rivals. Talking to The Tribune, Badish Jindal, president, FOPSIA and All Industries Trade Forum, said businessmen were struggling due to recessionary trends. Besides, they were now haunted by a new fear that their sales-purchase data was no longer safe. Some employees of the GST Department have started ‘selling’ the data, Jindal alleged, adding that earlier, Ludhiana businessmen used to get calls from agencies in Varun Rujam, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab, said such incidents did not come to his notice but if businessmen are facing any such issues, the department will get the same checked at the district level. He said if there are specific cases, they should be brought to his notice. Delhi that they could get complete sales-purchase data of their competitors by paying around Rs 20,000. Now, many agents in Ludhiana are offering to give the data at cheaper rates, even for Rs 1,000. “The recession is already a big challenge but this new scam has added to woes of the businessmen. Nowadays, many agents are roaming in the market, who will procure you the complete sales-purchase data of your competitors for Rs 1,000 or so for a month. Most of such data is available on the GST Department’s website and it is quite easy to steal the same from there. Employees of the department, who have access to the website, can easily furnish the information,” Jindal alleged. Lalit Shorey, vice-president, Oil Mill Manufacturers Association, here, said he himself was a victim. “Lower rates are quoted by competitors after going through our sales and purchase records. Even the auto parts industry is crying as their customers were being taken by parties in Delhi. The government should come to the rescue of the businessmen, else, we will be in big trouble,” he said. Recently, businessmen in the Industrial Area C held a meeting and opposed the scam. They said the industrialists provided their data to the government with a belief that it was in safe hands but due to the lackadaisical approach of the GST Department, log-in details are being shared with accountants and clerks. Afterwards, these are leaked,” Jindal added. Varun Rujam, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab, said such incidents had not come to his notice but if businessmen were facing any such issue, the department would get the same checked at the district level. He said if there were specific cases, they should be brought to his notice. 39-yr-old man dies as tractor hits motorcycle Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 30 The Sadar police have registered a case against Sukhchain Singh, a resident of Ahmedgarh, on the com- plaint filed by Iqbal Singh under Sections 281, 324 (4), 125 B, 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The complainant, said on September 27, when two persons with an identical name, Gurdeep Singh, were going on a motorcycle near the DMart, a tractor laden with bricks hit their motorcycle. Gurdeep Singh, aged around 39, was declared brought dead at the CMCH here while the other person, Gurdeep Singh, was admitted to the hospital. The suspect, Sukhchain Singh, has been arrested by the police. Seven get life term for abducting bizman’s son A fashion designer, one of the masterminds, wanted to take revenge from victim’s family Rajneesh Lakhanpal Ahead of Gandhi Jayanti, garbage lies unattended near a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Ludhiana. School owner shot at by miscreants Ludhiana, September 30 Unidentified persons in a Hyundai i20 car opened fire at Baldev Singh, owner of a private school, on the Samrala-Machhiwara road today. The victim has been identified as Baldev Singh, who was travelling in a Toyota Fortuner vehicle with the driver. The police got to know about the incident in the afternoon. Following which, police officials from Samrala and Machhiwara rushed to the scene. The man was taken to the Civil Hospital, Samrala, from where he was referred to a Chandigarh hospital. A bullet hit the victim’s neck but his condition is stated to be stable, according to the police. Investigation is on in the matter and a case has been registered against unidentified suspects. — TNS Ludhiana, September 30 In a significant verdict, the Court of Additional Sessions Judge Harbans Singh Lekhi has sentenced seven individuals to rigorous life imprisonment in connection with the kidnapping of Munish Brara, son of a local industrialist residing at Sarabha Nagar, here. Gurarpan Chauhan, a resident of Gill Road, Deepali Bassi of New Lajpat Nagar, Pakhowal Road, Sonu Chaurasia, Sahil Chandel, Tony, Himmat Singh and Amit Kumar, residents of Ambedkar Nagar, Ludhiana, got the life sentence. The convicts were ordered GPS DEVICE HELPED TRACE ACCUSED A breakthrough in the case came when the police, in a covert operation, installed a GPS device in one of the ransom bags. Despite kidnappers’ attempts to outsmart the police, the latter traced their location to HP and recovered ~4.61 crore from a Maruti Alto car. to pay a fine of Rs 30,000 each. The court has ordered that Rs 2 lakh would be paid to the victim as compensation. The case dates back to July 13, when Munish and his driver Hem Raj were kidnapped from the Doraha highway by six individuals, posing as police officers. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of Rs 5 crore. On the next day, the father of Munish, Harminder Pal, paid the ransom in a Dugri area. The kidnappers, led by Gurarpan and his associate Deepali, had meticulously planned the crime in over two months. Deepali, a fashion designer by profession, who was stated to have looking for a matrimonial alliance with Munish’s elder brother, played a key role in hatching the conspiracy. She reportedly wanted to take revenge for the failure of her engagement with the victim’s elder brother due to his family reservations. After intercepting Munish’s car, the accused planted a package of opium in the vehicle, handcuffed him and his driver and took them to a farmhouse in Khanna, where they were held hostage. A breakthrough in the case came when the police, in a covert operation, installed a GPS device in one of the ransom bags. Despite kidnappers’ attempts to outsmart the police, the latter traced their location to Himachal and recovered Rs 4.61 crore from a Maruti Alto car. The court found the accused guilty of abduction, extortion, and illegal possession of arms and narcotics. MC to hold cyclothon Property tax: MC achieves six-month on October 2 to mark recovery target, collects ~113 crore Swachh Bharat Diwas Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 30 For spreading awareness among residents about cleanliness, the Municipal Corporation (MC), Ludhiana, will be organising a cyclothon to mark Swachh Bharat Diwas on October 2. Working under the ‘Swachhta Hi Sewa’ campaign, the cyclothon is being organised by the civic body in association with The Pedallers, Fit Club, Ludhiana Cyclists, Ludhiana Bicycle Club, etc. The cyclothon will be flagged off at 6:30 am on October 2 from the Zone D office of the MC in Sarabha Nagar. Moving through different parts of the city, including Guru Nanak Pub- lic School road, Malhar Road, Aarti Chowk, Ghumar Mandi, Rose Garden, Fountain chowk, Durga Mata mandir, Bharat Nagar Chowk and Bhai Bala Chowk, it will culminate at the Zone D office. E-certificates and refreshments would be provided to participants after the event. MC Joint Commissioner Ankur Mahindroo said the cyclothon was being organised on the directions of MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal and residents were appealed to participate in it in large numbers. They could also scan the QR code launched by the civic body for participating in the event. The participants would be honoured with e-certificates. Ludhiana, September 30 Against the six-month property tax recovery target of Rs 111 crore, the Municipal Corporation (MC) collected around Rs 113 crore property tax till late this evening. Working under the guidance of MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal, the civic body has collected around Rs 73 crore in the past 15 days (from Sep 16 till Sep 30). Nets around ~73 cr in 15 days, over ~10 crore on Sept 30 alone Over Rs 10 crore was collected on September 30 alone as a large number of residents thronged MC suvidha kendras to submit the tax and avail 10 per cent rebate. No rebate would be provided on payment of property tax after September 30. c m y b A huge rush of residents to pay property tax at a suvidha kendra in Ludhiana. The MC chief appreciated zonal commissioners and their staff for achieving their zone-wise recovery targets. The recovery target (till September 30) for Zone A was Rs 16.40 crore, Rs 29.10 crore for Zone B, Rs 17 crore for Zone C and Rs 48.50 crore for Zone D. All zones have recovered more than the targets given to them. Officials stated that Rs 113 crore was recovered till 8 pm on September 30 and the recovery amount is expected to rise as a number of residents were still submitting tax online. Meanwhile, the MC chief also appreciated the residents for paying the tax on time, adding that the amount collected from residents was used for providing basic amenities to them and for taking up development works in the city. — TNS Along with the ransom, the police seized firearms, opium, police uniform and other materials used in the crime. Two accused, Dharma and Sarabjit, had expired during the trial. Whereas, the court has acquitted four persons, Amandeep Singh, Balaji, Parminder Singh and Gopal Krishan, finding no convincing evidence against them. They were accused of selling police uniform and toy guns, which were also used by the accused along with original arms. The conviction brings closure to the high-profile case, which had shocked the city due to the involvement of a family acquaintance of the victim in the kidnapping plot. Man dies by suicide; wife, in-laws booked Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 30 The Dehlon police have registered a case under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against three persons, Sandeep Kaur, Gurtej Singh and Amarjit Singh, on the basis of a complaint filed by Baljit Kaur. The complainant, the sister of 41-year-old Daljit Singh, said her brother Daljit was married to Sandeep Kaur. She alleged that Sandeep Kaur, along with her brothers Gurtej and Amarjit, started putting pressure on her husband to sell his land and provide them the proceeds. The victim was under tremendous stress. Having no other option, Daljit died by suicide by consuming some poisonous substance on September 27. The suspects are yet to be arrested in the case.