14062025-LT-01.qxd 6/14/2025 12:35 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune JUST TALKING WON’T END DRUG ABUSE, NEED TO ACT: JAKHAR BACK PROVEN LEADERSHIP FOR PROGRESS: SUKHBIR TO YOUTH SAD chief urged youth to select a leader with a proven track record who could take them and state forward. P2 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 44°C | MIN 31°C YESTERDAY MAX 43°C | MIN 31°C CELEBS EXPRESS SORROW OVER AIR INDIA PLANE CRASH State BJP president says Punjab is facing drug, corruption issues, urges people to vote wisely. P2 FORECAST In a post on X, Shah Rukh Khan said: “Absolutely heartbroken with news about crash in Ahmedabad.” P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 7.25 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5:21 AM » SATURDAY | 14 JUNE 2025 | LUDHIANA 240 senior citizens cast vote from home Polling teams visit residences of elderly above 85 years Poll officials with 100-year-old Pritam Singh, the oldest voter in the Ludhiana West constituency. Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 13 Though the bypoll for about 1.75 lakh voters in the Ludhiana West constituency will be held on June 19, on Friday and Thursday over 240 senior citizens, above the age of 85 years, have already cast their vote from their residences. Reliable sources in the district administration told The Tribune that as per the Election Commission’s guidelines, elderly persons above the age of 85 years had to be visited by polling teams at their respective houses to get the voting procedure done. On both days, till the filing of the report, over 240 persons had cast their vote. There were 264 persons on the voters’ list and the polling was on. The oldest person in the constituency is Pritam Singh, who is 100 years old. He cast his vote in the presence of his family and polling staff. A separate enclosure was made for the elderly man and his daughter Parvinder Kaur helped him to cast his vote. She said her father forgets things but asked her why so many persons had come. He was made to understand the voting procedure and then he polled his vote by ticking candidate of his choice. “I had to help him due to his weak eyesight. But we are satisfied that such facility is provided by the government to the elderly. Otherwise, taking out senior citizens for polling in the scorching heat is almost impossible,” his daughter said. Stay with us for one day, get all our votes, say SBS Nagar residents Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 13 Fed up with the erratic power supply in the Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar for the past over many days, residents of the area have given an open challenge to all candidates - Sanjeev Arora from AAP Bharat Bhushan Ashu , from the Congress, Jiwan Gupta from the BJP and Parupkar Singh Ghuman from the SAD to come to the area and stay here for only one day along with families and get all votes in return. The residents are so perturbed that they rue it had become difficult for them to stay in the scorching heat without power for 8-10 hours every day. Sandeep Dua, a resident, complained that the parties and candidates should be ashamed of such governance and manifestos based on lies. “Not even a single candidate is talking about real issues in the constituency and getting them resolved. The power supply comes only for about 10-12 hours and then residents are at the mercy of inverters, which last for couple of hours only,” he said. The residents said all candidates and parties were deep into mud-slinging on each other and real issues had taken a back seat. Another resident Avneet complained that after over 70 years of Independence, residents were only asking for basic necessities. “We are not demanding a luxurious life but at least provide us with basic amenities. It is our right to get power and water but even these basic things are also not being provided by governments,” she said. Sore over the apathetic approach of political parties and candidates, the residents said for them getting fresh water was nothing but a luxury. “People, especially youngsters, switch on AC in vehicles to sleep or many people, whose relatives stay in other parts of the city, go to their places to get respite from sleepless nights,” said another resident. The residents also complained about the stray dog menace due to which children had stopped going out. “We are given a reply that all issues will be sorted out. But once the election was over on June 19, we will be in more trouble,” said Sandeep. Two more test AAP councillor +ve for Covid receives ransom call Mahesh Sharma Ludhiana, June 13 Two more cases of Covid have been reported from Ludhiana on Friday. The infected persons are two men of 39 and 40 years, respectively, both residents of urban areas. Now, the total number of Covid positive cases reported from Ludhiana district have reached 31. There are 10 active cases and all of the patients are home isolated. Civil Surgeon Ramandeep Kaur has advised the public to wear masks in crowded or poorly ventilated areas and if experiencing fever, cough, sore throat or breathing difficulty, they should isolate themselves and wear mask and consult the nearest health centre. — TNS Steno nabbed for taking bribe, ~24L seized Raikot, June 13 The Vigilance Bureau (VB), Ludhiana, has booked a steno posted at the SDM office here under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly accepting a bribe for doing a favour in some official work. The case was registered on the statement of Karamjit Singh of Sukhana village, personal assistant to Raikot MLA Hakam Singh Thekedar, who had received reports about corrupt practices at the Administrative Complex. The suspect has been identified as Jatinder Singh. Perusal of an FIR registered at the Vigilance Bureau police station revealed that Gurse- wak Singh of Warraich village had informed the complainant that the steno had allegedly received a huge amount from someone, who visited his office on Thursday. Karamjit updated the MLA about the situation at the administrative office, who further asked the Raikot DSP to cordon off the area till a team from the Vigilance Department reaches the office. Later, Vigilance sleuths, led by DSP Shiv Chand, detained the steno at his office and searched cupboards and almirahs. Meanwhile, a press release of the VB has confirmed recovery of Rs 24,06,000 from his almirah, about which he could not give a plausible explanation. — OC Ludhiana, June 13 Over a week after a local councillor and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader campaigning for his party candidate for the upcoming Ludhiana West byelection received a threat call from an unidentified caller, the Sarabha Nagar police initiated a probe into the case. In his complaint lodged with the Sarabha Nagar police, Gurpreet Singh Bedi, councillor, Ward 57, had alleged that some unidentified caller had threatened him to kill him and his family if a ransom of Rs 1 crore was not paid as per the suspect’s instructions. “I am a businessman and AAP councillor from Ward 57. I have been campaigning for our party candidate these days. I received the WhatsApp call on my phone number on June 5 from an unknown caller (from +160551855185540), who threatened to kill me and my family members if I did not pay the ransom,” Bedi informed the police, following which an FIR under the BNS was filed against the suspect. Purshotam Lal, investigating officer, acknowledged the registration of the case and affirmed that a probe had been initiated into the matter. Exclusive Food Court Deals* Step into The Lost World UP TO % 50 OFF Asli Happyness Nexus WAL A SALE Ke Saath Full On Happyness Come for the sale, stay for so much more! 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