06032025-LT-01.qxd 3/6/2025 12:00 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune GUV URGES GRADUATES TO FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL ATHLETICS MEET KICKS OFF AT SCD COLLEGE ISHWAK SINGH SET TO MAKE HIS SILVER SCREEN DEBUT At PAU's annual convocation, 374 students were awarded degrees. Governor Gulab Chand Kataria was the chief guest. P2 The 105th Annual Athletics Meet of SCD Government College, Ludhiana, commenced with fervour. P2 The actor said his character in Tumko Meri Kasam reminds him of his parents’ love story. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 23°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 24°C | MIN 10°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.24 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:40 AM » THURSDAY | 6 MARCH 2025 | LUDHIANA Governor reviews Buddha Dariya Masked gunmen open fire at jeweller’s shop in Jagraon cleanup, calls for collective action Tribune News Service ALLOCATES ~19L FOR TAJPUR SEWER PIPELINE Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 5 Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria today visited Ludhiana to assess the progress of the Buddha Dariya rejuvenation project. He met with representatives from various departments, including the Municipal Corporation of Ludhiana, Rural Development and Panchayats, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), and the Irrigation Sewerage Board, among others. This review follows his visit on January 25, this year. Key attendees at the meeting included Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal and other officials. During the meeting, the Governor emphasised the necessity of collective efforts to clean the Dariya and suggested dividing the 14-kilometer stretch into segments to expedite the cleaning process. He highlighted the importance of engaging the public to ensure the speedy rejuvenation of the Buddha ■ The Governor announced the allocation of Rs 19 lakh for laying a 3.5 km sewerage pipeline in Tajpur. Additionally, Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal pledged Rs 19 lakh for the same project. ■ Municipal Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal updated the Governor on efforts to curb illegal cow dung dumping into Buddha Dariya. He stated that the Municipal Corporation has intensified cow dung collection from dairies. Dariya and to protect the Sutlej from effluents. Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal announced that the administration has planned to involve industries and business establishments in de-silting efforts under a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. He also mentioned the construction of five Seechewal Model ponds to treat sewage and use it for irrigation. Additionally, discussions are ongoing with three villages regarding the establishment of ponds using this technology. Jorwal informed that a team from PPCB, the Municipal Corporation, PSPCL, and the Dairy departments has been assembled to inspect dairies in Tajpur and Haibowal for illegal electricity connections and other violations. Municipal Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal provided the Governor with an update on the efforts to eliminate the illegal dumping of cow dung into the Buddha Dariya. The Municipal Corporation has accelerated efforts to collect cow dung from all dairies, and the capacity of biogas plants is being increased. He also mentioned that authorities are taking action against dairies that continue to dump cow dung into the Dariya. Regular desilting operations and measures against illegal encroachments are also underway. The Governor announced the allocation of Rs 19 lakh for laying a 3.5 km sewerage In full bloom pipeline in Tajpur. Additionally, Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal pledged Rs 19 lakh for the same project. Later, the Governor visited the 2.25 MLD effluent treatment plant at the Tajpur Road dairy complex, which was set up to treat dairy waste. He inspected its operations, instructed officials to ensure its efficiency, and checked the outlet point to prevent untreated waste from entering the Buddha Dariya. Ludhiana, March 5 Panic gripped Jagraon city on Wednesday after masked miscreants opened fire at a jeweller’s shop in broad daylight near Rani Jhansi Chowk. The sound of gunshots created an atmosphere of fear, but fortunately, no casualties were reported. The firing in the middle of the city has raised questions about law and order and poor functioning of police. According to reports, two unidentified bike-riding assailants stopped outside Lakhe Wale Jeweller’s shop and fired three consecutive rounds. The bullets hit the glass in the shop, triggering chaos in the market. After firing, the miscreants fled towards Tehsil Road. The shop’s gunman chased the miscreants but they managed to escape. The police recovered bullet shells from the spot and seized CCTV footage that captured the two bike-borne suspects. Shop owner Pawan Kumar A cop shows empty cartridges recovered from a jewellery shop; and (below) the CCTV grab of the suspects who allegedly fired at the shop in Jagroan on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO NOT THE FIRST CASE ■ Notably, just a few days ago, car- borne miscreants had also fired shots in the parking lot of Raja Dhaba on Ludhiana-Ferozepur Highway, and the police have yet to make arrests in that case. Laddu told the media that the miscreants had covered their faces with cloth. They stopped their bike in front of the shop and started firing. Before the shopkeeper and customers could understand anything, there was chaos and all started running for safety. Notably, just a few days ago, car-borne miscreants had also fired shots in the parking lot of Raja Dhaba on Ludhiana-Ferozepur Highway, and the police have yet to make arrests in that case. Cops halt farmers’ Chandigarh march Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Visitors during the flower show at Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana on Wednesday. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN Ludhiana, March 5 Farmers heading toward Chandigarh with tractor-trolleys to take part in an agitation were stopped on the road opposite to the Hedon police post in Samrala today. The Khanna police had set up barricades, preventing them from moving further. Unable to cross, the farmers began a peaceful sit-in on the side of the road without obstructing traffic. Jagbir Singh Beniwal, a member of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, stated that they were en route to Chandigarh but the Khanna police didn’t allow them to move further. “Since we have been stopped here, we have started a sit-in on the roadside without causing any inconvenience to com- Farmers block a road in Samrala after being stopped by the police. muters. As per our union’s plan, we will reach Chandigarh in the coming days. Until then, our protest will continue here,” he said. Pargat Singh of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, who arrived with fellow members from Ferozepur, also confirmed that the Khanna police did not allow them to pro- ceed toward Chandigarh. “We have started a peaceful dharna on the roadside, and we will continue our protest until we are allowed to move beyond the barricades,” he said. Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nilambari Vijay Jagdale, who arrived in Samrala to monitor the situa- tion, stated that heavy barricading had been put in place to prevent farmers from reaching Chandigarh, where they could cause disruptions. “Police will not allow them to cross these barricades, as their dharna in Chandigarh could create inconvenience for the public,” the DIG said. She said,”A total of 11 strong nakas have been set up across the three police districts of Khanna, Ludhiana Rural, and Nawanshahr. Additionally, heavy deployment has been made at eight major assembly points of farmers to maintain law and order.” Asked if some union leaders were also detained, DIG replied that yesterday some preventive arrests were made as per law and legal action was flame against the members. CNG truck explosion causes Arora releases ~1-cr MPLAD grant chaos on highway, probe on for development of Ludhiana West Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 5 A CNG-powered truck carrying biscuits caught fire while passing over a bridge near Gurdwara Nanaksar on Ferozepur Road in Jagraon late last night. The fire led to a massive explosion in the truck’s CNG tank, completely gutting the vehicle. The blast was so intense that it shook the surrounding villages and caused panic among commuters. According to some eyewitnesses the truck driver jumped out and fled as soon as the vehicle caught fire. The truck was later removed from the highway using a crane. Upon witnessing the explosion, passersby stopped their vehicles in panic and alerted the fire brigade. The incident also led to a traffic jam on the busy road. A fire brigade team from Nagar Council Jagraon reached the spot and battled the flames for over an hour, bringing the fire under control by 11:30 pm. TOOK 1 HOUR TO DOUSE FLAMES ■ A fire brigade team from Nagar Council Jagraon reached the spot and battled the flames for over an hour, bringing the fire under control by 11:30 pm. ■ The truck in which the blast took place was going from Ludhiana to Moga. The driver could not be identified yet. ■ The reason behind the blast was yet to be ascertained. ■ The police said the originated from the front of the truck, where two CNG cylinders were installed. The truck in which the blast took place was going from Ludhiana to Moga. The driver could not be identified yet. The Jagraon police initiated the investigation into the matter. The reason behind the blast was yet to be ascertained. The police said the originated from the front of the truck, where two CNG cylinders were installed. The explosion in these cylinders likely caused the fire to engulf the entire vehicle. ‘Over 1,000 industrialists to benefit from Allocates ~3 lakh for each ward to meet public demands OTS scheme’ Ludhiana, March 5 Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora has released grant of Rs 1 crore from the MPLAD fund for carrying out various development works in Ludhiana West Vidhan Sabha constituency, from he has fielded for upcoming bypoll. He also announced grant of Rs 3 lakh from his MPLAD fund for every municipal ward in the segment. He highlighted various development works undertaken by him during his tenure as Rajya Sabha MP for the last about three years. Addressing party’s municipal councillors, ward incharges and other partymen, he sought first-hand feedback about the demands and problems of the people in their respective areas here on Wednesday. Most of the demands raised were related to parks, sewerage, streetlights, power supply, roads and other infrastructure. He refuted the MP Sanjeev Arora addresses the media. ASHWANI DHIMAN charge of being an ‘outsider”, saying his business was still in Ludhiana. Speaking on the occasion, Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian directed all the municipal councillors, ward in-charges and others to visit street to street in their respective wards to know about the c m y b grievances and problems being faced by the people. Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) chairman Tarsem Singh Bhinder assured that all parks in the city would be beautified. Amandeep Singh Mohie, state secretary of AAP and chairman, Markfed, also spoke on the occasion. — TNS Ludhiana, March 5 Leading industrialists under the banner of Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Punjab) led by the Chamber’s president Rajnish Ahuja and convener Rahul Ahuja on Wednesday thanked MP Sanjeev Arora for getting the state government introduce a onetime settlement (OTS) scheme to resolve pending cases for providing longawaited relief to industrialists. Addressing a press conference here, industrialists said the growth of the industry was badly hampering, adding that they were pursuing to resolve this issue since 2016. Arora added that around 1,145 industrialists across Punjab will benefit from this scheme. “These industries employ thousands of workers and the financial relief provided by the OTS scheme will stabilise businesses, prevent closures and create employment opportunities,” he said. — TNS The accused in police custody in Ludhiana on Wednesday. 2 held with 750-gm opium Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 5 The Ludhiana police have arrested two alleged drug smugglers and seized 750 grams of opium from their possession. The arrested individuals have been identified as Sukhwinder Singh of Dehlon and Ajay Kumar of Model Gram, Ludhiana. According to Additional DCP (Crime) Amandeep Singh Brar, a police team led by CIA in-charge Inspector Rajesh Kumar, acting on a tip-off, conducted a raid and apprehended the duo while they were travelling on a scooter to deliver the contraband to their clients. The police also impounded the scooter used in the crime. ADCP Brar said the police would seek police remand of the accused to bust the drug supply network. The police would attach the properties of the accused. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, was registered against the accused and further investigation was on.