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P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 33°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 19°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.49 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:26 AM » THURSDAY | 17 OCTOBER 2024 | LUDHIANA 725 sarpanches, 3,254 panches elected PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS Bharowal Khurd residents boycott poll; three posts of sarpanch, 82 of panch remain vacant; 69.02 % polling recorded across 13 blocks, Samrala tops with 77.53% voter turnout, Ludhiana-1 logs lowest 59.1% VOTER TURNOUT Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 16 The high-stakes panchayat poll process culminated on Wednesday with the formal declaration of results for the posts of 725 sarpanch and 3,254 panch, who were elected in the district on Tuesday. Besides the election of 725 sarpanches and 3,254 panches, as many as 213 sarpanches and 3,055 panches had earlier been elected unopposed in the state’s biggest and largest district, in terms of area and population. Also, 157 of the total 941 village panchayats had been elected unanimously by the respective villagers without going for the poll. With this, three posts of sarpanch and 82 posts of panch were left vacant, for which the bypoll will be held at a later stage, the district administration has said. While voters of Bharowal Khurd village in the Sidhwan Bet block boycotted the Tuesday poll, alleging discrepancies in electoral rolls, the elections to the posts of sarpanch at Dalla and Pona villages in the Jagraon block had been Newly elected sarpanch Prabhdeep Kaur (C), along with her supporters, from Jasdev Singh Nagar gram panchayat pays obeisance at a gurdwara in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN TELLING NUMBERS CATEGORY TOTAL ■ PANCHAYATS 941 941 6,391 ■ SARPANCHES ■ PANCHES ELECTED UNOPPOSED 157 213 3,055 ELECTED BY POLLS 781 725 3,254 VACANT 3 3 82 (SOURCE: DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION) stayed by District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal following objections raised to the nomination papers and no objection certification (NOC) filed by contestants to the posts. The poll to elect the panch from Ward 4 at Bhangla village in the Samrala block was countermanded following the death of a contestant, Harbans Singh. The bypoll to elect the remaining three sarpanches and 82 panches would be conducted as per the schedule to be notified by the State Election Commission, Jorwal said. Sharing the final voter turnout figures, the DEO said 69.02 per cent polling was recorded in the panchayat poll with 7,43,680 of the total 10,77,485 voters exercising their franchise to elect 725 sarpanches and 3,254 panches across 13 blocks in the district. While the highest of 77.53 BLOCK Dehlon Doraha Jagraon Khanna Ludhiana-1 Ludhiana-2 Machhiwara Malaud Pakhowal Raikot Samrala Sidhwan Bet Sudhar District PER CENT 71.67 74.38 64.8 75.39 59.1 66.02 4.87 77.24 71.01 72.54 77.53 72.7 68.39 69.02 per cent polling was registered in the Samrala block, the lowest of 59.1 per cent turnout was logged in Ludhiana-1 block. Among other blocks, Dehlon recorded 71.67 per cent polling, Doraha 74.38 per cent, Jagraon 64.88 per cent, Khanna 75.39 per cent, Ludhiana-2 66.02 per cent, Machhiwara 74.87 per cent, Malaud 77.24 per cent, Pakhowal 71.01 per cent, Raikot 72.54 per cent, Sidhwan Bet 72.7 per cent and Sudhar block registered 68.39 per cent voter turnout. MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS AMOUNTING TO OVER ~3 CRORE Former civic body chief, ex-joint commissioner may face heat Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 16 After the Vigilance Bureau (VB), Ludhiana, registered a corruption case against Rajinder Singh, retired superintending engineer, Ranbir Singh, Executive Engineer (XEN), and Pankaj Garg, Deputy Controller Finance and Accounts (DCFA), posted at the Municipal Corporation (MC), Ludhiana, for misappropriation of funds amounting to Rs 3,16,58,42 and arrested the XEN, the then MC commissioner and joint commissioner posted here are likely to face the heat in the case. The Vigilance Bureau may question the two former officials in the case and the duo may be summoned anytime. Confirming this development, Senior Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Bureau, Ludhiana, Ravinderpal Singh Sandhu, told The Tribune though a case was registered against three MC officials after their role was confirmed in the scam, siphoning off this much money was not possible without the connivance of senior officials. “To carry the investigation further and to inquire the role of senior officials of the MC, the Vigilance will question the then Commissioner Municipal Corporation and Joint Commissioner to whom the XEN, DCFA and SE were reported. The VB will verify their role and if their involvement comes to the fore, the Vigilance would proceed as per law,” Sandhu said. The SSP said besides the two former MC officials, if role of any other former officials was found, the VB would take immediate action. Sandhu said a probe had revealed that said the XEN had himself shown a fake demand by the PSPCL in a file and forwarded the same to Rajinder Singh, then Superintending Engineer (SE) for approval of senior MC officials. The SE, did not verified the documents put up before him in file with regard to withdrawal of advance payments but for- warded the same for approval of the Joint Commissioner, Additional Commissioner and MC Commissioner. The XEN and SE despite having knowledge of rules of their department, had misused their official positions and forwarded the case to higher officials for approval. Moreover, the Joint Commissioner, Additional Commissioner and Commissioner, posted at that time, had approved these cases without checking/verifying the documents or facts in file. “As many as 42 advance bills for tube well works were approved and money was withdrawn by the XEN. We have asked for more records from the MC for the investigation,” claimed Sandhu. Meanwhile, XEN was produced in a court on Tuesday which sent him to two-day police remand. On Thursday, he will again be produced in the court and the Vigilance will seek extension of his police remand for further investigation. City girl Abhidha Gupta LPG leakage leads to major fire at migrants’ vehra tops HCS (Judicial) Exam Child among seven hurt; critically injured woman referred to PGI, Chandigarh CYLINDERS BEING REFILLED ILLEGALLY Tribune News Service Rajneesh Lakhanpal Ludhiana, October 16 Ludhiana’s Abhidha Gupta has made the city proud by securing the top position in the Haryana Civil Services (Judicial) Examination. She has secured 638 marks out of 1,100 in the written exam and interview. Born and brought up in Ludhiana, Abhidha has continued the legal legacy of her family. Her paternal grandfather, CD Gupta, served as an Additional Sessions Judge in Ludhiana. His maternal uncle Devinder Gupta is at present serving as an Additional Sessions Judge in the state. Abhidha credits her success to the unwavering support of her family. Her mother Monika Gupta, who serves as an Additional District Attorney, and her father Rinkesh Gupta have been pillars of strength throughout her journey. “This achievement is not just mine, it belongs to my family. The values and disci- Abhidha Gupta pline instilled in me by my grandfather and the unwavering support of my parents have been my guiding light. I dedicate this success to them and to the legal community that has always been a part of my life”, she said. In another achievement, practising city lawyer Eklavya Vikram Gaur, another successful candidate, followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, BK Gaur, who retired as Additional Sessions Judge in Ludhiana. He bagged fifth position in the exam. Known for his stellar reputation within the legal fraternity, Gaur’s legacy lives Police team taking drug case suspects to hospital attacked Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 16 A police team taking four suspects in a drug case to the Civil Hospital for a medical examination was allegedly attacked by two miscreants, identified as Ajay Kumar and Bikramjit Singh. The incident occurred on Monday when assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Boota Singh, deputed at CIA Staff 1, along with other police officials, was taking the suspects for a medical examination. The assailants, who had old enmity with the suspects, started abusing and attempting to assault them. When the police intervened, they were manhandled by them. Afterwards, the assailants escaped from the scene. A first information report (FIR) was registered at the Division Number 2 police station under Sections 115(2), 132, 221, and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The ASI said the suspects were arrested on October 11. He said the assailants had lodged complaints against the four suspects in the past. The police are investigating the matter and searching for the miscreants. on through Eklavya. Eklavya’s father, Vikram Gaur, currently holds the prestigious position of Principal Chief Commissioner of the Income Tax in Ludhiana. “Carrying forward the legacy of my grandfather is an honor and a responsibility I cherish deeply. His integrity and dedication to law have always inspired me and I hope to live up to the reputation he built. My family’s support has been my foundation and I am grateful for their belief in me,” he said. The legal community has congratulated both newly selected judicial officers. District Bar Association president and vice-chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana Chetan Verma, along with Bar Council member Harish Rai Dhanda and former DBA presidents KR Sikri, Naval Kishore Chhibber, Parupkar Singh Ghumman and Jagmohan Warraich extended best wishes to them. Ludhiana, October 16 A massive fire broke out at Samrat Colony in Giaspura on Tuesday night, injuring seven persons, including a minor girl, due to a leakage in an LPG cylinder. The condition of one woman, Phoolmati, is critical with around 80 per cent burn injuries. She was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. As per eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 8:20 pm at a migrants’ vehra where multiple families reside. The fire allegedly started during an illegal refilling of LPG cylinders in a room. Laxmi Devi, the mother of injured seven-year-old girl, Shivani, said: “Illegal LPG refilling was underway and its leakage led to the fire. The flames spread rapidly and people screamed for help. Neighbours rushed to the scene to save victims.” Phoolmati’s husband stated that his wife was preparing dinner when the incident As per eyewitnesses, the incident occurred at a migrants’ vehra where multiple families reside. Illegal practice of LPG refilling was underway in a room and its leakage led to the fire. The practice is going on and the police need to take strict action against offenders. lighting the need for stricter safety measures. Fire breaks out at shop The injured seven-year-old girl with her kin at Giaspura in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN occurred while he was away for work. Shivani was present near the room where the incident occurred due to which she was also injured. “The illegal practice of refilling LPG cylinder is going on for a long time and no action is being taken against vehra residents involved in the act. Sever- al times, other migrants objected to the practice but the wrongdoers did not pay heed. Now, the police should register a case against the guilty to ensure safety of residents in the future,” the injured girl’s mother said. Earlier also, several cylinder blast incidents occurred Road mishaps claim three lives in dist Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 16 Three persons died in road accidents in the district. In the first incident occurred on October 11, a woman was killed while her husband suffered injuries after a rashly driven car rammed into their scooter near Libra village in Khanna. On the complaint of Bhinder Singh, a resident of Chapran village and husband of the deceased, Baljinder Kaur, a case was registered on Tuesday against the car driver, identified as Lavrinder of Gurdaspur. The complainant said after the mishap, he took his wife to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries on the next day. The police are conducting raids to nab the errant driver. In another accident reported on the Alamgir road on October 14, two motorcyclists (father-son duo) were killed after being hit by a speeding car. The complainant, Aswinder Singh, of Model House told the police that Jaswinder Singh (35) and son Gurpartap Singh (10) were going to a gurdwara in Dehlon and when they reached Ranjit c m y b Avenue, Phase 2, a car rammed into the motorcycle of Jaswinder from the wrong side. The injured Jaswinder and his son were taken to a hospital where they both succumbed to their injuries on October 15. The Sadar police yesterday registered a case against the car driver, Satwinder Singh, alias Moni, a resident of Basrao village in Raikot. A hunt is on to nab the suspect. Two injured as SUV, car collide An intense collision between a Mercedes and a Brezza vehicle occurred near Cheema Chowk. The drivers of both vehicles were seriously injured in the accident. They were admitted to a hospital. Jaspreet Singh, a friend of the person driving the Mercedes car, said when his friend and brother had gone outside at night, a speeding Brezza hit their vehicle. The front glass and bonnet of their car were badly damaged and the driver suffered a head injury. The Brezza car rolled over and fell on the road after the collision. Meanwhile, the person driving Brezza, Amandeep, said the Mercedes was also moving at a high speed. The police has started a probe into the matter. in the city, causing injuries to the people. The illegal practice is going on and the police need to take strict action against offenders. Meanwhile, the police have initiated a probe and are taking further action in the matter. The incident has sparked concern among residents, high- Another fire broke out at a confectionery shop on Tibba Road on Tuesday. Passers-by raised the alarm on witnessing smoke and firefighters were informed. The shop owner and their family, who were sleeping on the first floor of the building, were safely rescued using stairs. SHO Bhagatvir Singh said the fire was caused by a short-circuit. Firefighters controlled the blaze in over one hour. The extent of the damages was yet to be determined. Elderly man killed over parking dispute Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 16 A 71-year-old retired Punjab Roadways clerk, Bhagwan Singh, was fatally assaulted during a fight with his neighbours at GK Vihar on Dhandhra Road. The dispute stemmed from a parking-related issue. The incident occurred on October 14. Bhagwan Singh’s son, Gurmeet, claimed that Amandeep Singh Dhillon (30) and his mother Harpreet Kaur frequently parked their car near their house despite requests against the same. On the day of the incident, Gurmeet asked Amandeep to move his vehicle from the place, leading to an argument. Gurmeet alleged that Amandeep slapped him. His mother also assaulted him. When Bhagwan Singh intervened in the matter, Amandeep allegedly strangled him due to which he collapsed. The Sadar police registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Amandeep and Harpreet. ASI Pritpal Singh said the autopsy report of the victim was awaited and additional charges might be added to the case.