09022025-LT-01.qxd 2/9/2025 1:13 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune 540 CONFERRED DEGREES DURING PAU CONVOCATION 220 NEW ACCIDENT BLACK SPOTS IDENTIFIED IN STATE AGONY & ECSTASY AT CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS PAU held its annual convocation on Saturday, celebrating academic excellence and innovation. P2 State has been able to eliminate 125 black spots, while 220 new accidentprone areas have been identified. P3 Anora, Emilia Perez win big, while All We Imagine As Light, Citadel: Honey Bunny lose out. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 23°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 9°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6.06 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 7:07 AM » SUNDAY | 9 FEBRUARY 2025 | LUDHIANA Wrong-side driving: Commuters continue Warrantofficerraidspolicestation over alleged illegal detention to take risky route on Lakkar Bridge ATTEMPT-TO-MURDER CASE Allegations found to be false Violations rampant since closure of Domoria RUB in December last year Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 8 Despite awareness and challaning drives launched by the city traffic police, the people don’t care two hoots about traffic rules. Risking their lives, commuters are driving on wrong side on Lakkar Bridge. Notably, the city’s busiest Domoria Railway Under Bridge (RUB) has been closed in December due to the ongoing project of widening of railway tracks. The underpass will remain closed for 90 days. Following the closure of Domoria Bridge, Lakkar Bridge has experienced a significant surge in traffic volume, particularly on stretches between Pavillion Chowk and Mata Rani Chowk and Railway Road and Pavillion Chowk. However, the situation has been exacerbated by rampant wrong-side driving on the Pavillion Chowk-Mata Rani Chowk stretch, resulting in an alarming increase in vehicular traffic on the bridge. It poses a substantial risk of accidents, underscoring the need for immediate attention and effective traffic management measures. Interestingly, during initial days of closure of Domoria RUB, only two-wheeler riders used to drive on the wrong side on Lakkar Bridge. But NAKAS, CHALLANS FAIL TO BEAR FRUIT On many occasions, the traffic police install nakas on Lakkar Bridge to catch offenders and issue challans against wrongside driving. However, people remain adamant and show a careless approach. Commuters drive vehicles on the wrong side on Lakkar Bridge in Ludhiana. INDERJEET VERMA nowadays, four-wheelers and auto-rickshaws are also taking the wrong route on the bridge. This practice may invite unwanted mishaps anytime and strict measures Provide clarity on buying of rice varieties: Farmers Ludhiana, February 8 A meeting of the Bharti Kisan Union (Kadian) was held here on Saturday. The meeting was presided over by state president of the union Harmeet Singh Kadian. Addressing the meeting, Kadian demanded that the government should made it clear about rice varieties that it would be buying, before the Kisan Mela, which will be organised at Punjab Agricultural University here in March. “Last year, the Chief Min- Farmers during a meeting in Ludhiana. INDERJEET VERMA ister urged farmers to grow PR126 variety of rice but later, sheller owners refused to buy it. As a result, it was only farmers who had to face a difficult time and bear financial losses as well,” Kadian said. — TNS need to be taken to discourage the same. A car-borne commuter, Three fire incidents reported from city when asked why he chose to drive on the wrong side on the bridge putting his life at risk, the driver said he had to reach Pavillion Chowk urgently to meet his client. Hence, he decided to take the wrong route as it was a shortcut. He said he would drive slow and take enough precautions to prevent any collision with vehicles coming from the opposite side. A bike-borne rider, who was also driving on the wrong side, said: “I know going on the wrong side on the bridge is against law but I daily take this route as it saves time and fuel. I request the traffic police to put barricading on the bridge for two-way traffic till the time the Domoria RUB is opened for vehicular traffic.” On many occasions, the traffic police install nakas on Lakkar Bridge to catch offenders and issue challans against wrong-side driving. However, people remain adamant and show a careless approach. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 8 Warrant officer of Punjab and Haryana High Court conducted a raid at the Dugri police station over the illegal detention of kin of suspects. A petition regarding detaining the kin of the suspects wanted in an attempt-to-murder case was filed in the court, which sent a warrant officer for checking. However, as per the police, the court official did not found anyone detained inside the police station and allegations were found to be false. Notably on February 3, a friend of a youth, who was kidnapped by three bikeborne persons and repeatedly hit on his head with bricks, was shot at by assailants when he went to meet them over the issue. The incident occurred on Monday when the three miscreants kidnapped a 22year-old youth, Ankush, who was walking towards Beri Colony from Guru Teg Bahadur Chowk, and severely injured him by hitting him on the head with bricks. After getting to know about the fight, when Abhijit Singh Mand, the friend of Ankush, reached the scene, the miscreants opened fire at him. The injured youth, Abhijit, is a college student. The Dugri police on February 3 registered a case against the assailants, identified as Munish Tonny, Sumit, Rahul Kang, Mandeep Dicky, Vikramjit Singh Shinda and three unidentified persons. Station House Officer (SHO), Dugri police station, inspector Narpinder Singh, said the warrant officer from the High Court had conducted a surprise raid at the police station to check the illegal detention of family members of the suspect but nothing was found. “In the attempt-to-murder case, the Dugri police had registered a case against several suspects and as a part of the probe, family members of some of the suspects were called for questioning to inquire about whereabouts of the wanted miscreants but no one was illegally detained at the police station. The petitioner lied in the petition,” the SHO said. He added that the police were continuing investigation as per law only and kin of the suspects gave a fake petition in the court. Cong councillor booked in fraud case Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 8 A case of fraud was registered against Ward 9 Congress councillor Amandeep Singh, who recently left the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Congress. According to the FIR lodged at the Dakha police station, the councillor took Rs 11 lakh from a person in the name of sending him abroad but neither he sent the victim abroad nor returned the money. Two weeks ago, during a press conference held in the city in the presence of Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Mullanpur incharge Capt Sandeep Sandhu and former MLA Sanjay Talwar, Amandeep left the AAP and joined the Congress. The very next day, a complaint of fraud was filed against him with the police. The Dakha police had also called Amandeep for investigation two days ago, where he claimed that he was innocent. Congress leaders said they would approach court and seek justice in the matter. Boy ends life, minor girlfriend booked Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 8 Three fire incidents reported from the city on Saturday. The first incident occurred at Pal Tent Industry factory in the Industrial Area near Dhandhari on Saturday. The fire, suspected to be caused by a short-circuit, destroyed goods on the first floor of the factory, which manufactures chairs, benches and tents for eateries. Workers escaped safely and fire officials prevented the blaze from spreading further. In another incident, a truck laden with cotton caught fire near Kailash Nagar. In the third incident, a fire broke out in the bushes in the rear of a school in Dhanansu. — TNS Nikhil Bhardwaj Ludhiana, February 8 A 17-year-old boy died by suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his residence on the Kakowal road on Thursday. The deceased ended his life when he was talking to her on a video call with his girlfriend. Both had planned to die by suicide together but the girl backtracked after which he took the extreme step. The boy locked himself in the room and died by suicide. When family members went to his room to give him tea, they saw the door locked from inside Couple planned to end life together, girl backtracked: Victim’s kin and raised the alarm. When the youth’s family broke the door, they were shocked to see the boy hanging from a noose. His mobile was lying on the ground. Afterwards, they informed the police. The deceased was identified as Arpan Sharma. He had studied till Class X. Later, he left his studies. Arpan’s aunt Monika said the boy was having an affair with a girl from the area. She told Arpan that both of them would commit suicide together on February 6. The girl went to the roof after telling him on Instagram chat that she was going to jump whereas Arpan, who was also preparing a noose, told her that let him first commit suicide and after seeing him dying, she could jump. Arpan hanged himself. As Arpan ended his life but the girl did not jump. Both were reportedly on a video call and if the police would verify, everything could be confirmed. His grandmother Ramrakhi Sharma said on the day of the incident, Arpan came to the room while talking over the phone and arguing with the girl. He locked the door from inside. When his father came and opened the door, Arpan was hanging from the noose. The boy was brought down but by then he had died. Jodhewal SHO inspector Jasvir Singh said the police had registered a case against the girl, who was a also minor. It would be probed whether the girl incited the boy for dying by suicide or not. Phones of both girl and boy were sent for forensic examination and the police would verify under what circumstances he took the extreme step. Leaders celebrate BJP’s victory in Delhi Bizman gets ~30L Narrow escape for extortion threat driver as pick-up Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 8 Dhol, distribution of laddoos, slogans, high spirits — the mood of local BJP leadership was upbeat after the party’s victory in the Delhi Assembly elections. Since the BJP performed exceptionally well in the poll, the results of which were declared on Saturday, the party leaders in Ludhiana termed the results as “verdict of Delhi residents” and a “lesson to AAP”. Thanking the voters of Delhi, senior leader of the state BJP Anil Sarin said the people had outrightly rejected Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi. He said corrupt AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Saurabh Bharadwaj and others have faced the defeat in the poll. “You cannot run the government on lies. Arvind Kejriwal was Tribune News Service BJP leaders and workers celebrate party's victory in Delhi poll, in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN the only politician who was getting Z plus security from two states, Delhi and Punjab. His tall claims of coming to his office in his Maruti Wagon R and staying in a two-bedroom flat fall flat when the people of Delhi witnessed his lavish lifestyle,” Sarin said. Sarin said now, AAP was finished. In Punjab also, they would meet the same fate. Another BJP leader Parminder Mehta said the verdict of the Delhi residents was excellent. All so called models of AAP on which the party was playing with the sentiments of the public were rejected by the people. All leaders of the Ludhiana BJP gathered at the party office in Model Town Extension here. On the beats of dhol, party supporters performed bhangra and the leaders distributed laddoos among all present to celebrate the occasion. c m y b Ludhiana, February 8 A Ludhiana-based businessman received a WhatsApp call from an unknown foreign number, demanding Rs 30 lakh as extortion money. The caller threatened to harm the victim if the money was not paid. Initially, the man ignored the threat but when calls continued, he filed a complaint with the police. The victim was identified as Ravish Gupta, a resident of Mall Enclave. The suspect continued to harass the man, demanding the money and threatening his life. Gupta’s complaint led to the registration of a case against the unidentified suspect. The police are investigating the matter and efforts are being made to trace the culprit. According to the police, Gupta received multiple calls from the same foreign number, with the caller repeating his demand for extortion. His family was also threatened, leading to a sense of fear and insecurity. The police have assured him of safety and stated that they were working to resolve the case as soon as possible. Police sources said such callers could be petty criminals or fraudsters who call by posing as gangsters or their aides. Earlier, the police had arrested some petty criminals who used to demand extortion from businessmen by posing as dreaded criminals. truck catches fire Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 8 A moving pick-up truck (chota haathi) caught fire under the Atam Park bridge in Ludhiana on Friday night. The driver jumped out of the vehicle after seeing flames coming out of its engine. The truck was badly damaged due to the fire. Passers-by gathered at the scene after noticing the flames and hearing screams of the driver and informed the police. People also tried hard to extinguish the fire but it had spread a lot. The driv- er was returning to his home located at Dhuri Line near here after unloading goods from the bus stand. ASI Karamjit Singh said the pick-up vehicle had been badly burnt in the fire. Fortunately, the driver was safe. The fire brigade was informed but it arrived after half an hour, the ASI said. To extinguish the blaze, police personnel brought water pipes from houses of residents and controlled the fire. Later, the fire personnel arrived at the place and the flames were completely doused.