14032025-LT-01.qxd 3/14/2025 12:49 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MC, PPCB HOLD WORKSHOP TO CHECK INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION RUSSELL CROWE HAS JOINED TEAM OF BILLON DOLLAR SPY KARTAR GOES DOWN MEMORY LANE TO RECOLLECT FOND TIMES The workshop on 'Industrial Pollution Control -A Step Towards Clean Air Goals' was organised at GNDEC. P2 Russell Crowe has joined the team of Billon Dollar Spy, which stars Harry Lawtey in the lead role. P4 Pollywood actor Kartar Cheema goes down memory lane to recollect fond times, as he bats for a safe Holi. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 28°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 17°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.30 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:32 AM FRIDAY | 14 MARCH 2025 | LUDHIANA Finance Minister Cheema, police officials hand over victim to his family Mahesh Sharma Mandi Ahmedgarh/ Payal, March 13 Residents of villages in Ludhiana and Amargarh subdivision of Malerkotla district supported the massive operation of the police to rescue a sevenyear-old child who was abducted late on Wednesday evening from Seehan Daud village. Cutting across party lines, a large number of residents from both subdivisions reached the residence of Gurjant Singh, the victim’s grandfather, when Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, accompanied by Amargarh legislator Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra, Payal legislator Manwinder Singh Giaspura and Khanna SSP Jyoti Yadav, handed over the child, Bhawkirat Singh, to his family. The main suspect was killed in an encounter and his two accomplices were nabbed by the police. Residence of the main suspect in the kidnapping case, Jaspreet Singh, who was allegedly killed in an encounter with the Patiala police during the day, Minister Harpal Cheema and cops with the child and his kin at their residence in Seehan Daud village. wore a deserted look. Jaspreet’s father Lakhwinder Singh Bittu, who had remained associated with the rescue operation till Thursday afternoon, was busy contacting police personnel for knowing updates in the case. As Jaspreet, who is unmarried, had been staying in Canada, villagers were shocked to know about his involvement in the crime. As per sources, he came to the village recently. The families of the victim and the suspect were close to each other and probably their intimacy turned out to be the reason behind Jaspreet’s intention to seek a handsome ransom from the boy’s kin. Cheema appreciates efforts by residents, cops While handing over Bhawkirat to the family, Cheema appreciated residents of Seehan Daud and surrounding villages for extending support to the police in tracking the motorcycle-borne kidnappers, besides lauding police personnel, led by Khanna SSP Jyoti Yadav, Malerkotla SSP Gagan Ajit Singh and Patiala SSP Nanak Singh. Gurjant Singh, grandfather of Bhawkirat, Ranvir Singh (father) and Jaspreet Kaur (mother), thanked all for facilitating the safe return of their child within 24 hours of the incident. Holi revelry grips city Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 13 For allegedly assaulting his wife, Rishi Banda, a former Youth Akali Dal leader, has been booked by the Police Division Number 7 under Sections 115 (2), 351 (2) and 110 of the BNS. He was arrested and produced before the court on Wednesday, which remanded him in police custody for two days. The victim, Geetanjali Banda, wife of Rishi Banda, said it was not the first time that her husband had thrashed her. “In the past too, he has beaten me on many occasions but this time, it was a brutal thrashing as he hit me with slippers and banged my head against an almirah,” she said. She said when the incident occurred, her daughters and mother-in-law had gone out of station to attend a marriage. “It was due to a domestic help that I was saved, otherwise I would have been in great trouble”, the woman said while controlling her tears. The incident occurred over a trivial issue at their house in Tagore Nagar here. On Thursday, she met MP Sanjeev Arora and demanded justice as she feared that her in-laws’ were influential. Arora assured her support in the matter. In 2012, the suspect was arrested along with a few other YAD leaders for allegedly assaulting an AIG-rank official. When the incident drew attention of people, the SAD had claimed that it had already expelled Rishi and other suspects from the party and had nothing to do with the attack on the police official. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 13 Over a trivial issue of parking, clashes and arguments have become the norm of the day. People are losing patience and ugly scenes are witnessed as they indulge in brawls over petty reasons. Such incidents bound to happen due to lack of parking space in city, says expert A video of a similar incident is doing rounds on the internet. It shows an ugly clash among several youths over parking dispute at Hundal Chowk, Bhamian Road, here. The incident occurred over parking a vehicle in which five persons were injured. The injured were taken to the Civil Hospital while one of them was referred to the CMCH due to his serious condition. The injured persons have been identified as five brothers — Mohammad Khalid, Raza Khalid, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Farukh and Mohammad Zulfekar. Raza Khalid said they had a shop near Bharat Box factory on Tajpur Road. He said over a petty issue, they were attacked Parking space is not enough in most of the markets in Ludhiana. by a group of around 10 persons with bamboo sticks. As per information, the driver of a Tata 407 vehicle, who belonged to the other group, had gone to a factory, located near the shop of the five brothers, to load some goods where he did not find space to park his vehicle. The driver asked them to provide space for parking his vehicle, following which an argument started and the driver was allegedly thrashed by the other group. The son of the driver called his friends to save his father, following which things turned ugly. Police Division Number 7 are investigating the matter. The member of the National Road Safety Council, Kamaljit Soi, said: “Such incidents were bound to happen as we have no parking space left for vehicles. At present, three million vehicles are registered with the RTA, Ludhiana. In such a situation, why new vehicles are being registered? “Why buildings or roads are being commercialised when we have no parking space? The government needs to formulate a policy for parking of twowheelers and four-wheelers as it should be implemented in a proper manner,” he said. Meanwhile, Nita Khanna, a psychologist, said the people remain under tremendous pressure all the time in their busy lives. In such circumstances, they feel desperate, which many times leads to arguments and brawls over trivial issues. Complete Civil Hospital upgrade works by Sunday: DC to officials Schoolchildren celebrate Holi on the eve of the festival in Ludhiana on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Ex-YAD leader nabbed for assaulting spouse “The coordinated efforts made by the Khanna, Malerkotla and Patiala police to rescue our son have changed our perception about functioning of the police,” said Ranvir, adding that words of consolation by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann meant a lot for the family. Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra said constituents of Tara Convent School, Malerkotla, where Bhawkirat was studying in Class I, had also heaved a sigh of relief on hearing his safe return to home in the afternoon. Patiala DIG Mandeep Sidhu said prompt and coordinated action by the Khanna, Malerkotla and Patiala police had helped in rescuing the child safely and nabbing the two suspects. Had the Amargarh police, led by SSP Gagan Ajit Singh, DSP Davinder Singh Sandhu and DSP Satish Kumar, not chased and nabbed the duo abducting the child, the Patiala police could not have known about the whereabouts of Jaspreet, from whose captivity Bhawkirat was rescued. Shivani Bhakoo INDERJEET VERMA Seven-yr-old abducted child rescued Youths clash over parking in 24 hours; key suspect killed, 2 held dispute, five suffer injuries Ludhiana, March 13 Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jitendra Jorwal held a meeting on Thursday with officials from various departments and agencies, instructing them to complete pending upgrade works of Civil Hospital by Sunday. During the meeting, he said works such as relaying internal roads, horticulture, beautification of the entrance gate, paving the new parking area, updating signage and others were at the last stage of completion. He also asked the officials for the installation of a new reverse osmosis (RO) system and benches outside pharmacy for patients. Additionally, he also Amit Talwar, MD, Health System Corporation, during a vist to the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana on Thursday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN asked for the installation of way-finding signage within the hospital to assist patients, visitors and staff in navigating through entrances, exits, wards, labs, waiting areas, and other key locations. Clearly marked arrows and labels that are easy Sanitation drive starts at vegetable market after Mayor’s inspection Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 13 To ensure hygienic conditions at the main vegetable market of the city on the Bahadurke road, Mayor Inderjit Kaur inspected the place and directed the officials concerned to ensure cleanliness in the market. The Mayor directed the officials to take up a massive cleanliness drive in the area and clean the site. Working on the directions of the Mayor, the cleanliness drive was started at the place. MC Joint Commissioner Ankur Mahindroo was present along with other officials of the civic body during the inspection. Mayor Inderjit Kaur said that cleanliness drives are being taken up across the city and it is their goal to make Ludhiana num- Mayor Inderjit Kaur inspects the vegetable market in Ludhiana. ber 1 city in Punjab. She said that the public should support the civic body as this goal cannot be achieved without the support of the residents. The Mayor further stated that all steps are being taken to improve solid waste management in the city and that she will be conducting surprise inspections to check the situation on c m y b the ground in the coming days. Meanwhile, to facilitate the residents visiting different old markets in the city, Mayor Inderjit Kaur conducted a surprise inspection at the multi-storey parking lot adjoining Zone A office of the Municipal Corporation (MC) near Mata Rani chowk and issued necessary directions to ensure cleanliness. The civic body officials and contractor have also been directed to ensure proper maintenance of the parking. The Mayor stated that it is the biggest parking site in the old city area and a large number of residents, who visit the old city markets or the civic body office, park their vehicles at the site on a daily basis. She added that the authorities have been directed to maintain the parking area properly. The Mayor said that the civic body is also working on the project for overall renovation of the parking site. Till that time, temporary steps should be taken to improve the situation at the ground level. She also inspected the parking site outside the civic body’s office and issued necessary directions for improvement. to read will enhance the overall experience for everyone in the hospital. The DC stressed the need for strict timeline while maintaining high-quality standards for all works. Meanwhile, Amit Talwar, MD, Health System Corporation, also visited the Civil Hospital on Thursday. He also instructed staff to finish the pending works as soon as possible as the same had already missed the deadline. The renovation works, including modern module operating theatres, a new ophthalmology department, male and female wards, OPD buildings, an upgraded sewage system, waterproofing, internal and external painting, swings for children in parks, a waiting shed for patients outside the pharmacy, boundary walls, tiling of all internal walls and ensuring access to potable drinking water, garbage removal and the operation of two elevators, have been completed. — TNS Heroin, banned tablets seized, 5 in police net Ludhiana, March 13 Cracking the whip against drugs and banned tablets, the police continued search operations and many suspects are being arrested on a daily basis. In the past 24 hours, the police have arrested five persons and seized drugs from their possession. The Salem Tabri police have registered a case against Satnam Singh, a resident of Bhattiyan, under the NDPS Act. The police said the man was arrested from near Blessing Medical Hall, Bhora Road. The police seized 45 tramadol hydrochloride and USP Clovidol 100 SR tablets from his custody. In another incident, the Haibowal police have arrested Rohit, a resident of Walia Colony, and Rahul Kumar of New Maya Nagar and seized 85 gm of heroin from the suspects. On March 12, the suspects were nabbed near a temple in Joshi Nagar. They were holding a plastic bag. The police got suspicious and during checking, heroin was seized. Both were sent to police custody. The Jamalpur police have arrested two persons, Yogesh Kumar, a resident of Sarpanch Colony Jamalpur, and Buta Singh, a resident of Singha di Salaudi, and seized 56 gm of drug powder and 35 plastic bags, one spoon and a Honda Activa scooter from them. The suspects were arrested by the police from Mundiyan Kalan Chowk. They were going to sell the drug to their customers. Another incident was reported with Koom Kalan police under the NDPS Act. The police got a tip-off that Amit Kumar of Koom Kalan, was into selling and purchasing of drugs. The police raided his house and found 310 tablets of Clovidol 100 SR and 86 Pregabalin capsules. The suspect is absconding. — TNS