10102024-LT-01.qxd 10/10/2024 12:37 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune TODAR MAL’S HAVELI CRIES FOR ATTENTION BHARATPUR NATIVE CREATES RECORD IN MINIATURE WRITING He has written 2,20,000 English letters on a Indian postcard using word “peace” 44,000 times. P3 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 34°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 21°C ALL-WOMEN RAMLILA STAGE SPREADS MESSAGE OF UNITY The Jahaz Haveli, associated with Diwan Todar Mal, is in a dilapidated condition. P3 FORECAST Celebrates soldiers and sports icons, and narrates stories from Guru Gobind Singh’s life to those of Krishna. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 5.57 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:22 AM » THURSDAY | 10 OCTOBER 2024 | LUDHIANA Paddy glut in grain markets, 7K MT of stock arrives, 3% procured Government agencies buy entire stock, private purchase yet to begin Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 9 A ‘glut-like’ situation is prevailing in almost all 146 grain markets (mandis), including 38 temporary yards, across 13 market committees of Ludhiana district as the paddy procurement is yet to pick up here. Even as the deadlock between private agencies and the state government ended three days ago, farmers were still waiting for their produce to be purchased. However, the district administration has claimed smooth paddy procurement with no hardship to the farmers in the state’s biggest and largest district, in terms of area and population. Of the total over 6,724 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy arriving across the district till Tuesday evening, only 222.5 MT of stock has been procured, which accounts for mere 3.31 per cent of the total arrivals. Of the total procurement, no grain had been lifted from the mandis. Surprisingly, no purchase has been reported from any mandi across 10 market committees with the entire procurement so far done from only the Khanna, Jagraon and Mulanpur Dakha areas. It was despite the fact that the harvesting of the paddy crop had been delayed due to the spoilsport played by the recent heavy rainfall and thundershowers resulting in Gunshot fired at court complex Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 9 Panic gripped the court complex here today when people heard a gunshot on its premises. As per information, the gunshot was fired by Raman Sood, a resident of Dhandra. The suspect had come to the Court Complex in connection with the hearing of a case. Before going to the court room, he deposited his licensed weapon at the chowki. Around 12 pm, he took the revolver and went to the parking lot. Following which, a gunshot was heard. The police reached the scene and found that the gunshot was fired by Raman by mistake as he was checking his weapon. The police rounded up the suspect and further probe is on in the matter. — TNS Farmers wait for procurement of their produce at a grain market in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN EVERY GRAIN TO BE PROCURED ❝ By ensuring smooth and hassle-free procurement, lifting and payment to farmers within the stipulated time frame, we are committed to purchasing every single grain of paddy arriving at mandis. The entire district administration is on the job to facilitate the peasants during the ongoing procurement process. — Jitendra Jorwal, DC ❞ lodging of certain areas under the rice crop. Though the area under paddy cultivation had increased from 2.51 lakh hectares in 2023 to 2.57 lakh hectares this season, it was less than 2.59 lakh hectares in 2022. Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal, who is monitoring the paddy purchase in the district on a daily basis, told The Tribune that the procurement of rice had begun in a smooth and hassle-free manner in Ludhiana. He said all arrangements were in place to facilitate farmers, arriving with their paddy crop at all mandis by ensuring swift procurement, lifting and payment of their food grain. While government agencies lead the charge by procuring 222.5 MT of paddy, which was the total purchase till last evening, pri- vate agencies had not yet bought a single grain. With 2,149 MT more paddy arriving at the district’s mandis on Tuesday, 202.5 MT of stock was procured yesterday, leaving 6,501.5 MT grains unsold so far. Besides the arrival of 6,724 MT of parmal rice, of which 222.5 MT had been purchased by the government agencies at the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 2,320, as many as 23,434 MT of basmati rice had also arrived and purchased by private agencies at the maximum price of Rs 3,125 per quintal and minimum of Rs 2,200 per quintal till Tuesday. With 1,620 MT of basmati rice arriving and the entire stock getting purchased on Tuesday, the basmati arrival and procurement this year so far was 26.6 per cent more than 18,510 MT of basmati rice that had arrived and was procured in Ludhiana during the corresponding period last year. Divulging the procurement figures, officials disclosed that Samrala was at the top with the arrival of a maximum 1,440 MT of paddy while Khanna, which was Asia’s biggest grain market, was at the second spot with the arrival of 1,360 MT of stock so far. The mandi-wise data showed that the maximum of 1,440 MT of paddy had arrived of which no purchase had been made in Samrala, followed by 1,360 MT arrival and 210 MT procurement in Khanna, 1,040 MT arrival and no purchase in Ludhiana, 890 MT arrival and no procurement in Machhiwara, 580 MT arrival and no purchase in Raikot, 462 MT arrival and no procurement in Sahnewal, 306 MT arrival and 5 MT purchase in Mullanpur Dakha, 286 MT arrival and no procurement in Maloud, 110 MT arrival and no procurement in Hathur, 94 MT arrival and no purchase in Kila Raipur, 80 MT arrival and 7.5 MT procurement in Jagraon, 75 MT arrival and no purchase in Sidhwan Bet, while no arrival had been logged in Doraha till yesterday. Continued on page 2 Shortage of DAP worries farmers Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 9 With the paddy harvesting on and rabi season approaching near, farmers are left worried due to shortage of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser. Various farm unions are urging the government to ensure supply of the fertiliser before the Rabi season picks up. The fertiliser completes the requirement of nutrients and ensures maximum production. It is supplied to states by the Centre and recently, the state government has also apprised the Union Government of its shortage and conveyed about state’s requirement of nearly 5.5 lakh tonnes of DAP for two rabi crops of wheat and potato. In Punjab, wheat is cultivated on around 35 lakh hectares and potato on 1 lakh hectares. The fear of shortage has created panic among the farmers. Complaints about the sale of spurious DAP fertiliser has also surfaced in many parts of the state. Shamsher Singh, a farmer from Begowal village said the paddy season passed amid the shortage and now, the wheat season was approaching near andthe government should ensure its smooth supply. Another farmer, Kulwant Singh, from Jodhan village said the government should make sure that the DAP fertiliser reaches farmers and should be made available at cooperative societies. The farmers have also urged the government to continue conducting sampling of DAP fertiliser as 60 per cent of the samples of the same supplied by two companies failed the test in March and April this year. The suspect in Ludhiana police custody. Minor’s rape-murder case cracked in 24 hrs, Bihar native held Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 9 The Moti Nagar police claimed to have solved the rape and murder case of a minor girl with the arrest of Jatinder Kumar Shah, a native of Bihar, at present residing at a migrants’ vehra in Fauji Colony, Sherpur. The police solved the case within 24 hours of the crime. According to information, the complaint was lodged by Bhim Raj, the father of the victim, who was also a resident of the same vehra, on Tuesday. The complainant alleged that his daughter, aged around 7, was raped and murdered and the body was thrown from the third floor of the vehra building on the rear of a factory on Tuesday. During interrogation, Jatinder said he was a neighbour of the victim’s family. The father of the vic- High drama as shopkeepers catch 3 207 gm of heroin miscreants posing as GST officials seized, 3 arrested Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 9 High drama was witnessed at Kesar Ganj Complex here today when three persons posing as GST officials were caught and thrashed by shopkeepers. Later, they were handed over to the police. The suspects had also got their fake IDs made. All suspects are from different cities and their gang includes two women also. Eyewitnesses said three miscreants were nabbed while a few members of the gang were absconding. The suspects were active in the market for the past three days. They got dryfruits packed from shopkeepers and Cops take the trio with them after they were handed over to the police by traders in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN at the time of billing, they told the latter that they were GST officials. On Wednesday, when the suspects approached a Demon king on sale Effigies of Ravana displayed for sale at a Ludhiana market ahead of Dasehra. INDERJEET VERMA shopkeeper, the latter asked a government official about their identity and came to know that they were fraud- sters. Following which, they were caught and beaten up by shopkeepers before being handed over to the police. Ludhiana, October 9 The Police Division Number 7 have arrested two persons, Sahil Kumar and Abhinav, alias Abhi, a resident of Guru Arjan Dev Nagar, and seized 190 gm of heroin from them. According to the police, on Tuesday, when a police team was conducting a search operation, they saw two youths standing near the LIG flats. On suspicion, the police frisked them and found 190 gm of heroin from their possession. The police arrested both suspects. In another incident, the Shimlapuri police have arrested Manveer Singh, alias Mana, under the NDPS Act and seized 17 gm of heroin from him. The police were patrolling near the Arora cut lights. When they reached near Dana Mandi, a suspicious youth was standing there. When he was frisked, 17 gm of heroin was seized. He was arrested by the police. Illicit liquor seized The Police Division Number 5 have registered a case against Tony and Bittu, a resident of Valmiki Gate, Jawahar Nagar Camp, here after getting a tipoff that the duo were involved in smuggling of liquor. The police raided their place at the Jawahar Nagar Camp and seized three cases of Imperial Blue whisky and two cases of 111 whisky. The suspects were absconding. They would be nabbed soon, the police said. — TNS SUSPECT WAS VICTIM’S NEIGHBOUR During interrogation, the suspect said he was a neighbour of the victim’s family. The father of the victim went to work on Tuesday and the girl was alone in their room. Since the suspect was under the influence of liquor, he called her to his room on the pretext of giving sweets to her and committed the crime. tim went to work yesterday and the girl was alone in their room. Since the suspect was under the influence of liquor, he called her to his room on the pretext of giving sweets to her. Afterwards, he raped her. She died during the act. Following which, the accused wrapped the body of the girl in a blanket, and threw it off the third floor. The body fell on the rear of a factory. After committing the crime, he fled the scene. The suspect was arrested and sent to police remand. Man dies in hit-and-run Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 9 The Focal Point police have registered a case under Sections 281, 324 (1), 106 (1) of the BNS on a complaint filed by Shubham Kumar, a resident of Guru Nanak Nagar, Shimlapuri. The complainant said his brother Sunil Kumar, aged about 30 years, was going to the Shimlapuri side from Dhandari on his motorcycle on October 8. He was also going along with him on another motorcycle when a speeding tractor-trailer (bearing registration no PB05R9161) came from the rear and hit his brother’s motorcycle. Following which, the latter died on the spot. The suspect fled the scene in his vehicle, he added. Five vehicle thieves nabbed Woman dies, 2 hurt Ludhiana, October 9 The Police Division Number 6 have busted a gang of thieves that used to steal vehicles from different areas of the city. Five members of the gang were arrested. The police have recovered 14 vehicles from them, which they used to sell through a person and share the proceeds. The suspects were identified as Hardeep Singh, Rahul, Gurpreet Singh, alias Assu, Parminder Singh, alias Palwinder, and Sandeep Singh. The police have recovered eight Splendor Plus c m y b motorcycles, one Splendor Pro motorcycle, one TVS Jupiter scooter, one Bajaj motorcycle, two Bajaj Deluxe motorcycles and another motorcycle. The gang used to hand over stolen vehicles to Sandeep Singh, who further sold the same in the market. The suspects admitted to have committed six more thefts in the city. In another incident, the Police Division Number 4 have arrested Pradeep Kumar, alias Nona, Hira Lal alias Sandeep Kumar, Gurdeep Kumar and recovered one Splendor motorcycle, one Honda Activa, one vehicle RC, one printer, one hard disc, a laptop and 16 stamps of various departments from their possession. The suspects said they used to steal the vehicles and hand them over to Mandeep Singh, who used to prepare their fake RCs and then these were sold at high prices. A case has been registered against the suspects under Sections 303 (2), 111, 317 (2), 318 (4), 336 (2) 338, 336 (3), 336 (4), 341 (1) of the BNS. — TNS as car hits tanker Ludhiana, October 9 In a fatal accident near the Garhi river bridge in the Macchiwara area, a car collided with a tanker. A woman, Pushpa Devi, was killed while her son and daughter sustained serious injuries in the mishap. The injured were referred to a hospital in Sector 32, Chandigarh, by doctors at the Civil Hospital, Samrala. The victims, residents of Ludhiana, were returning from Naina Devi Temple in the car. As per information, the accident occurred when the person driving the car lost control over the vehicle and it hit the tanker. On witnessing the incident, people working in nearby fields rushed to the scene and called the fire brigade as smoke was emanating from the car. The injured were taken to the Civil Hospital and the police were informed by the people. — TNS