21122024-LT-01.qxd 12/21/2024 12:56 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune FARMERS FETED FOR SHUNNING STUBBLE BURNING LUDHIANA NRI KILLED IN ACCIDENT AT PHAGWARA DILJIT SURPASSES SHAH RUKH KHAN ON UK CELEBRITY LIST Clean Air Punjab and PAU organised an award ceremony to honour farmers from 30 villages. P2 The taxi in which he’s travelling with his mother rammed into a tractortrailer. His mother is serious. P3 Claims the top spot on the UK’s list of the Top 50 Asian Celebrities in the World. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 20°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 20°C | MIN 6°C SUNSET SUNDAY 5.27 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 7:15 AM SATURDAY | 21 DECEMBER 2024 | LUDHIANA Residents hope civic amenities will improve after formation of MC House ctations BJP leader campaigns for wife after allotted time, case registered During a visit to a few wards in city, people were seen talking about issues, expe The stretch should be regularly cleaned as people in a large numbers pass through the road. I still have hope of getting the stretch cleaned after the formation of the new MC House,” said Baljit Singh, a commuter. Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, December 20 The MC elections are scheduled to be held on Saturday and a day before, The Tribune team took a round of various wards in the city to know the ground reality and actual situation there. It talked to people about their expectations from the new MC House and what hardships they had been facing in context to civic issues in the recent past. The wards visited were divided into good, bad and ugly according to their condition and state-of-affairs. Ward 2 veggie market in state of neglect Good roads in Ward 60 The condition of roads in Gurdev Nagar, which falls in Ward 60 were in a good state. “Gurdev Nagar is one of the posh localities and the condition of parks and roads here is better. We hope the coming new MC House will help in beautifying the city and solving issues such as traffic congestion,” said Pinkie Grewal, a resident of Gurdev Nagar. Cops talk to supporters and candidates of the BJP and AAP after they indulged in a scuffle in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN GOOD A well-maintained park at Atam Nagar in Ward 47 of Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Shivani Bhakoo The vegetable market in Ward 2 is in a state of neglect as garbage, rotten vegetables and plastic waste can be seen littered on the road outside the mandi. It becomes difficult to pass through the stretch due to the foul smell and things get worse during the rainy season. “Though vegetables and fruits are available at wholesale prices in the market, many customers have stopped visiting the place due to the garbage menace. We hope after the elections, the condition of our sabzi mandi gets improved,” said Daya Parsad, a vegetable wholesaler. Parks well-maintained in Ward 47 Ludhiana, December 20 Campaigning for his wife after the allotted time cost dear to Gurdip Singh Neetu, former councillor, whose wife Gurmit Kaur is contesting the MC elections on the BJP ticket from Ward 75. An FIR has been lodged against Neetu and a few of his supporters on the basis of a complaint filed by SI Sukhdev Singh in Division Number 2. According to information, SI Sukhdev Singh was present during patrolling near the Issa Nagri puli on December 19. The police got information that after the time given for campaigning by the Election Commission came to an to end, Neetu, along with his supporters, was campaigning in Ward 75 for his wife. The police claimed that the BJP leader was also distributing liquor to voters in the area to lure voters in his wife’s support. Following this, the Police Division Number 2 got an FIR registered against Neetu and his supporters. No arrest has been made in the case so far. Tension prevailed in the area on Thursday night when BJP workers and leaders, including Ravneet Singh BIttu, and AAP MLA Ashok Pappi Prashar came openly in support of their party workers. Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal had to personally visit the site to ease out the situation. The leaders were seen openly levelling Ward 87: Buddha Nullah remains polluted Parks at Atam Nagar in Ward 47 were well kept. One of the oldest parks in Atam Nagar, which has two iconic crocodile statues, still manages to attract the attention of the people. Maneeta, who was having a stroll in the park, said she often comes here for a walk and the place was good to sit around in the sun during winters. “Parks here are in a good condition and well kept. Nowadays, these are blooming with flowers,” she said. Tribune News Service The Buddha Nullah passes through Ward 87, which continues to be polluted over the past years. In every elections, pollution in the nullah is the main issue for political parties who vow to make it clean but nothing is done at the gound level. Savitri, who stays near the banks of te nullah in the ward, said she has no hope that things would improve in coming times. “I have been seeing the nullah for years and it’s becoming worse with time. During monsoons, it becomes difficult when dirty water from the nullah enters our houses,” she said. Encroachments at the Model Town market in Ward 51 leads to frequent traffic jams. Peo- UGLY Garbage littered along a national highway in Ward 95; and (right) the polluted Buddha Nullah passing through Ward 87. ple coming for shopping have to face traffic jams every time they visit the area. Shallu Aggarwal, a shopper at Model Town, said she often comes here and faces huge difficulty due to lack of parking space. People haphazardly park their vehicles and shopkeepers encroach upon roads leading to traffic snarls. “I hope the issue will be solved by the new MC House. It’s not impossible. It just needs proper planning and strict implementation of law,” she said. Garbage menace plagues Ward 95 Garbage littered along the national highway near the Jalandhar bypass in Ward 95 presents a sorry state of affairs. Stray cattle can be seen grazing on refuse. The Civic body elections: 11.65 lakh voters to decide fate of 447 candidates today 1,296 parties dispatched to polling booths, 420 stations classified very sensitive Tribune News Service Ludhiana, December 20 Ludhiana is all set for the Municipal Corporation elections to be held on Saturday at 1,296 polling booths, from 7 am to 4 pm. A total of 11,65,749 voters will decide the fate of candidates in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections in which 447 candidates are contesting. Additionally, 160 candidates are contesting in various municipal councils and one nagar panchayat. Deputy Commissionercum-District Election Officer Jitendra Jorwal supervised the dispatch of polling parties from different centres, including the Khalsa College for Women and Government College for Girls. He said there were a total of 11,65,749 voters for the MC elections, which include 6,24,708 male, 54,09,38 female and 103 voters belonging to the third gender category. Furthermore, 420 polling stations have been classified as very sensitive, receiving security support from the police to Staff check poll material before going to their polling stations in Ludhiana on Friday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN ensure a fair election process. For the elections to the Machhiwara Municipal Council, Sahnewal Municipal Council, Mullanpur Dakha Municipal Council, Malaud Nagar Panchayat, Khanna Municipal Council, and Municipal Council Samrala, there were 62,438 voters in total, which include 32,429 male, 30,007 female and two third gender voters. Across these councils and the nagar panchayat, 56 wards will have 80 polling booths, including 31 sensitive and 14 very sensitive. The DEO urged election staff to perform their duties diligently to ensure that voters could cast their votes in a smooth manner and without any hassle. He emphasised the responsibility placed on their shoulders to facilitate a peaceful election process and assured polling parties of full support. Elaborate arrangements have been made to assist polling parties and voters at polling booths. Jorwal also called on voters to set a new turnout record by participating in large numbers on the election day. This year, for the first time, CCTV cameras will be installed at every polling station to ensure transparency in polling and counting. Voting will be held from 7 am to 4 pm, with counting starting immediately after the polling. c m y b stretch is heavily littered with garbage, construction debris and other waste materials. It not only creates an unsightly appearance but also poses a health hazard. “It is one of the main highways but the condition of the road is too bad. Six members of snatchers’ gang land in police net Tribune News Service Youth nabbed with heroin Ludhiana, December 20 The Sarabha Nagar police have arrested a 27-year-old youth, Baljit Singh, and seized 170 gm of heroin from his possession. The suspect, a resident of Jagraon, was arrested near the railway lines in Baddowal during a checking on Tuesday. The youth has been sent to police remand. — TNS The BJP leaders along with Ravneet Singh Bittu went to the office of the CP to offer their arrest on Friday. They offered arrest over the alleged highhandedness of the police against BJP candidates. The party leaders said: “Why were party workers are being harassed. We all are ready to offer arrest if the ruling party is happy to contest the elections in such a manner.” Family, supporters celebrate as Ashu gets bail in ED case Rajneesh Lakhanpal Ludhiana, December 20 The PAU police have arrested six persons who were actively involved in snatching and looting incidents in the city. The suspects have been identified as Rishi Hans (19), Sunny Kumar (19), Akshay Kumar (23), Yuvraj Singh (18), Rahul (24) and Adish Kumar (19). The police recovered eight mobiles, two motorcycles without registration number and one iron rod from their custody. Further investigation is on in the case They have been sent to police remand. BJP leaders offer arrest Ludhiana, December 20 The news of getting bail in the ED money laundering case and quashing of an FIR against former food and civil supplies Minister during the Congress regime Bharat Bhushan Ashu put a smile on the faces of his family and supporters. The supporters started gathering outside the Congress leader’s house for extending congratulations to his wife Mamta Ashu and cousin Narinder Sharma Kala. Social media was abuzz with posts such as “Truth cannot be suppressed for long”, “Lion coming back”. Ashu’s supporters shared their old photographs with him on social media, expressing their happiness. Ashu got a clean chit from the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday in the much-hyped food grain transportation and tender allotment scam. The court has quashed the FIR against the former minister and also granted bail to him in the ED case pending at Jalandhar. Despite getting bail in the ED case, Ashu could not come out of the Nabha jail as the INDERJEET VERMA Encroachments lead to traffic jams in Ward 51 BAD allegations against each other. “This is not democracy. When we asked the police to register an FIR against those who had attacked a BJP candidate and his brother, the police refused to listen. On the contrary, the police got an FIR lodged against BJP leader Neetu, who was not even at fault. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during his visit to Ludhiana on Thursday told the police to do whatever they want as the party needs to win the elections by hook or by crook. Hence, such a situation for the BJP was expected,” he alleged. District president of the BJP Rajnish Dhiman said the FIR against the BJP leader was sheer high-handedness of the ruling party and the police. “They were having food at a dhaba. The dhaba does not even serve non-vegetarian food. How can a candidate serve liquor there? Secondly, in the case where the BJP candidate and his brother were brutally thrashed, the police failed to lodge a complaint, despite our requests,” Dhiman said. Supporters of Bharat Bhushan Ashu in a jubilant mood at his house. bail orders were not available, confirmed one of his close relative, Satwinder Sharma, who was present in the court during the proceedings. Talking to The Tribune, Mamta Ashu said it had been proven that it was a case of political vendetta, which they were asserting from Day One of the registration of the FIR. During long police remand, neither any alleged bribe money nor any incriminating document was recovered from him. The entire case was based upon assumptions and presumptions without any evidence. Moreover, the transportation policy was approved by the Council of Ministers, headed by the then Punjab CM. The policy was chal- lenged in the HC by filing writ petitions and the same were dismissed. But surprisingly, the Vigilance Bureau had claimed that the policy was not valid, she said. Besides, no loss to the state exchequer was caused with the change of policy. Instead, 17-18 per cent less amount was paid to transporters in comparison to previous years. An FIR was registered against him in August 2022 by the VB. His bail application was declined in Septemeber 2022. Thereafter, he got bail from the HC after a long time. A chargesheet has already been filed against him in a local court. He was arrested by the ED in money laundering case on August 1, 2024.