23052025-LT-01.qxd 5/23/2025 12:23 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune INDOOR BASKETBALL COURT HANGING FIRE SINCE 2023 12-YR-OLD SHUTTLER MAKES IT TO INDIA BOOK OF RECORDS The basketball court, to come up at a cost of ~11.36 crore, is part of the Ludhiana Smart City Mission. P3 Ekam has made it to India Book of Records by hitting a shuttlecock for 962 times in 19 min, 24 seconds. P3 » ICONIC VETERAN ACTOR MOHANLAL TURNS 65 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 43°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 42°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.14 PM On his birthday, the superstar surprised his fans by sharing his first look from Vrusshabha. P4 » FORECAST SUNRISE SATURDAY 5:25 AM » FRIDAY | 23 MAY 2025 | LUDHIANA Waiting for arrival of viscera report to know exact cause of deaths, says CP Three persons lost their lives after consuming liquor; shop owner booked Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service A drain clogged with filth and dirt near Bhadaur House in Ludhiana. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA Monsoon approaching, clogged drains, sewers yet tobe cleaned Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 22 Monsoon is around the corner but nullahs and drains in different parts of the city are clogged with garbage and filth. Huge quantities of trash, including plastic, have been dumped at many places which had led to blocking of the drains. Residents have called for timely cleaning of the drains and sewers to prevent monsoon woes as even light showers turn the city into pools of water due to blocked drains and sewers. Drains near Bhadaur House, Damoria Bridge, Haibowal and other areas are filled to the brim Drains near Bhadaur House, Damoria Bridge and in other areas are filled to brim with garbage with garbage. BJP leader and former councillor Parminder Mehta has urged the Municipal Corporation to ensure the timely cleaning of drains and sewers, especially in old city areas, to avoid waterlogging after rainfall. “Even light rain results in waterlogging which takes hours for water to recede. The MC should get storm drains, sewerage chambers and road nets cleaned on an urgent Warring seeks special incentives for MSMEs Ludhiana, May 22 Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring has sought special incentives for the promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to make them more competitive. Making a strong case for the MSMEs in the meeting of the consultative committee for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in New Delhi on Wednesday, Warring suggested collaboration with stakeholders and creating of targeted awareness. He referred to various limitations of the MSMEs in terms of costs, which make them less competitive, particularly when it comes to exporting products. The Congress leader called for developing a nation- al helpdesk for export-oriented MSMEs on regulatory requirements in target countries. He observed that the MSMEs were the backbone of the nation’s economy. “With the right support mechanisms, they can transition from basic compliance to becoming champions of Indian quality and innovation in both domestic and global markets,” he said. The Ludhiana MP referred to the limited technical capacity to interpret and implement quality protocols effectively as there was a high cost of compliance. He said testing, certification and factory audits impose a financial burden on small businesses and smaller firms struggle to afford capital upgrades required to meet quality norms. — TNS basis as monsoon was expected to arrive early this year,” he said. A resident of Dhoka Mohalla, Sudarshan Ram, said generally it was observed that MC workers clean drains and keep garbage near them, which ultimately get dumped in the drains, causing disruptions in the flow of water. Garbage should be lifted from such places and dumped at a distant place so that it does not enter the drains again, he said. A shopkeeper near Domoria Bridge said the whole area near the bridge turns into a pool of water even after a light rainfall. The drain flows along the bridge which is full of filth and needs cleaning before the arriva of the monsoon season. Sudha Kumari, a resident of the Shivpuri area, said rainwater enters their houses. “We have even constructed a small wall with bricks outside our house but still water enters it,” she said. Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of Dhandari Khurd, said: “Streets of Dhandari Khurd and nearby areas often remain flooded due to overflowing sewers throughout the year and things become worse during rainy days.” Ludhiana, May 22 Three persons namely Debi, Manga and Rinku lost their lives after consuming liquor. The police have registered an FIR against the wine shop owner, from where the victims aged between 40-45 years purchased the liquor. Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma said 17 boxes of raspberry brand were seized and the same would be sent for testing. “The police are getting every detail and we are waiting for the arrival of the viscera report. The exact cause of the deaths could be established once the report is out,” he said. The deceased were residents of Sanyas Nagar, near Noorwala Road, and the liquor was purchased from ‘ Kaddu ahata’. After purchasing the liquor, they sat in a vacant plot and consumed the same, following which they lost consciousness and began frothing at the mouth. They were rushed to the Civil Hospital where doctors declared them brought dead. When asked if the liquor was poisonous, one of the police officials said it could be spurious but certainly not poisonous. Highly placed sources revealed that doctors were ‘tight-lipped’ over the incident. “There was no smell of alcohol coming from them when they were brought to the hospital,” said a source from Kin of the deceased wait for receiving the bodies outside the mortuary at Civil Hospital. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN the district administration. Three persons lost their lives and the authorities were yet to ascertain the exact cause of death. The AAP government is already under criticism for its campaign “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh” as many videos were going viral in which youth were openly seen under the influence of drugs. Following the hooch tragedy at Amritsar where over 26 persons had lost their lives, this is the second such incident in the state. However, the authorities claimed it was not poisonous liquor. Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased had gathered out- Three nabbed with 290-gm heroin, ~1L Ludhiana, May 22 The Ludhiana police claimed to have arrested three drug peddlers. They were booked in two cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The police seized 290 gm of heroin, Rs 1.05 lakh drug money and a motorcycle from the possession of the suspects, identified as Mohammad Gufran of Chapayeeth in Hajipur district of Bihar, at present residing in Bhamian Kalan, Mohammad Shah Niwaj Ansari, alias Danish, of Khoda village in Motihari, Bihar, now staying in Bhamian Kalan, and Mohammad Kaamil of Mimla village of Shamli in UP at , present a resident of Jagirpur village in Ludhiana district. Commissioner Police (CP), Ludhiana, Swapan Sharma, said police officials, super- side the Civil Hospital mortuary. They refused to talk to the media. Raj Kumar, brother of deceased Rinku, said his brother used to consume liquor daily. When asked if he consumed anything other than liquor, he said: “He used to put something in paper, fold it and consumed the same at times.” The relatives of the victims faced inconvenience in the extreme weather conditions while waiting to receive the bodies at the hospital. Another person who was accompanying a relative of one of the victims said they were not even made to sit Ashu seeks resignation of CM, Excise Minister Tribune News Service The suspects arrested with drugs in police custody in Ludhiana. vised by DCP (I) Harpal Singh, ADCP (I) Amandeep Singh Brar, ACP (I) Rajesh Sharma and crime branch incharge Beant Juneja, had nabbed Gufran and Danish when they were waiting for their clients near Sadhu Ground here on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, the Jamalpur police had registered an FIR under the NDPS Act against the suspects on the basis of a tip-off. A motorcycle, 270 gm of heroin and Rs 1.05 lakh drug money were seized from the suspects. Kaamil, who was booked under a similar case at the Tibba police station, was nabbed when he was waiting for his customers behind a factory near a drain here on Wednesday. On search, the police seized 20 gm of heroin from him. Preliminary investigations revealed that Gufran and Danish were already facing two cases each. — TNS and the police and doctors were busy with their tasks. “No one is giving us the exact cause of victims’ death and we are confused and upset with such an approach of the authorities,” said a man who came from Gurgaon to get the body of his relative from the Civil Hospital. The police have lodged an FIR under Sections 105 and 3 (5) of the BNS and Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act. Meanwhile, Gurdev Sharma Debi, treasurer, city BJP , has announced compensation of Rs 1 lakh each for the kin of the deceased. Ludhiana, May 22 Punjab Congress working president and former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Thursday held Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Excise Minister Harpal Singh Cheema responsible for the death of three persons, who lost their lives after consuming liquor they had purchased from an authorised vend. Ashu expressed grief and shock over the deaths. He expressed condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families. The Congress leader said since the victims had purchased the liquor from an authorised vend, the responsibility of their death lies entirely on the Chief Minister Says victims purchased liquor from vend authorised by govt and the Excise Minister. Hence, they must resign. He said on the one hand, the government was claiming to have finished drugs from the state and on the other, people were dying after consuming spurious liquor. Ashu pointed out that it was the second hooch tragedy within a span of two weeks only as 30 persons had died after consuming spurious liquor in Majithia in Amritsar district only two weeks ago. He alleged that the AAP government was protecting and patronising spurious liquor manufacturers. Six travel agents booked for duping 2 residents Case filed against 22 Admn disburses ~1 lakh Notorious agents running offices in names of other persons under scanner Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 22 The Moti Nagar police on Wednesday registered separate cases against six travel agents, including a couple, for duping two residents of Rs 19.25 lakh. The suspects had been committing frauds with foreign aspirants on the pretext of sending them abroad. After investigation, cases were registered against them under various sections of the BNS and the Immigration Act. In the first case, the police registered a case on the complaint of Bhalraj Singh of the Samrala Chowk area against three persons — including a couple, Deepak Sharma and Rajni Sharma, residents of Sector 18, Chandigarh, and Rajwinder Singh, manager, Shree Ram Overseas, Sector 17, Chandigarh. The complainant alleged that the suspects had taken Rs 15 lakh to provide work visa for a country but the agents failed to fulfil their promise. He had lodged a complaint a few months ago and on Wednesday, the police registered a case. The other case was registered on the complaint of Sukhdev Singh of Amritsar against Davinder Singh, owner of Nova Enterprises, Industrial Area-A RK road, here, Neha Sharma and Mahi Sharma. The complainant said the suspects had taken Rs 4.25 lakh to send her daughter to Australia but they failed to arrange a visa for her. Now, the agents also refused to return the money. A case was registered and further probe was launched in the case. The role of old notorious travel agents, who have been facing many cases of travel fraud and start duping foreign aspirants again after coming out on bail, is under scanner. Such agents, who are already facing travel fraud cases and cannot start travel offices in their names, have reportedly started travel and immigration offices in the names of other persons. Soon, they may face police action. c m y b of deceased forassaulting woman ex-gratia to kinDYEING UNIT COLLAPSE Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 22 A case has been registered against around 22 persons, including Mohit and Happy, residents of the city, and 20 unidentified persons, for allegedly assaulting a woman at Karim Oola village in Dakha here. According to the complainant, Gurjeet Kaur, the suspects claimed ownership of her house and forced her to vacate the same. When she resisted, they allegedly pushed her and tied her up with a piece of cloth. Later, the suspects took away Rs 1 lakh kept in a cupboard and damaged a CCTV camera installed in the house before fleeing the scene, she said. The victim filed a police complaint, leading to the registration of a case against the miscreants under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The Dakha police launched a probe to identify the remaining suspects. Ludhiana, May 22 Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Rohit Kumar Gupta and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (East) Jasleen Kaur Bhullar handed over ex-gratia cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to the families of four workers who lost their lives in the dyeing factory collapse incident occurred at Focal Point, Phase VIII, here, on March 8. The financial assistance has been provided by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, who after the inci- dent had announced to support the bereaved families. The tragic incident had claimed the lives of Jatinder, Gurnarinder Singh, Lallan Yadav and Hakam Yadav, who were working at the dyeing factory at that time. Gupta expressed condolences on behalf of the district administration and assured the families of continued support. The families of the victims also expressed gratitude for the financial aid.