03072025-LT-01.qxd 7/3/2025 12:13 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MUGHAL-ERA SARAI GETS NEW LIFE IN DORAHA RAO UNLEASHES HIS DARK SIDE IN MAALIK TRAILER Mughal Sarai of Doraha remained in a state of ruin till the current regime undertook its restoration. P3 In Maalik, Rajkummar Rao plays a ruthless gangster who appears to stop at nothing to fulfil his ambition. P4 » » SHANAYA ON TAKING 3 YRS TO MAKE HER ACTING DEBUT FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.28 PM Newcomer Shanaya Kapoor is excited to make her acting debut with Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan. P4 » SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:26 AM THURSDAY | 3 JULY 2025 | LUDHIANA Following inmate’s death, probe beginsinto functioning of illegal de-addiction centre City SAD leaders reach Mohali to show solidarity to Majithia Owner was arrested for allegedly causing youth’s death by negligence Mahesh Sharma Raikot, July 2 The Ludhiana (rural) police have initiated a probe into the functioning of an illegal deaddiction centre at Mini Chhapar village in Ludhiana district where a youth had died under suspicious circumstances on Monday. The deceased, identified as Pratham Chopra, of Janakpuri, Ludhiana, was admitted there for a deaddiction course recently. Though no signboard has been displayed outside its premises, it’s guarded with high walls and barbed gates. Owner and organiser of the centre Harwinder Singh of Chaminda was held after being booked under Section 106 of the BNS for allegedly causing death by negligence. Jodhan SHO Saheb Meet Singh said Rajiv Chopra of The building of the illegal de-addiction centre at Mini Chhapar village and the deceased, Pratham Chopra (inset). Ludhiana had alleged that the owner of the centre, running under the banner of Baba Deep Singh School at Mini Chhapar, had allegedly caused the death of his son Pratham, who had been admitted there on June 22 for a de-addiction course. “On Monday morning the authorities at the centre informed us that Pratham’s health deteriorated and we were shocked to learn that our son had breathed his last before being shifted to a hospital,” Chopra told the police. He said the owner of the centre had claimed that it was not a de-addiction centre but a school, being run under the name of Baba Deep Singh School by them. The SHO said the suspect had been arrested after an FIR was registered on the statement of the youth’s father and further investigation about the functioning of the institute would be conducted under the supervision of senior functionaries of the Health and Police departments. “Though the suspect has claimed that no medical treatment was given to inmates at the centre and only day-to-day care was provided, we have informed the officials concerned for necessary action in the case,” said Saheb Meet. The police are yet to ascertain the exact sequence of events, leading to the death of the victim. Residents of the locality are unaware about the nature of activities taking place inside the centre as nobody is allowed to enter it. Though people have been coming to the centre to entrust the future of their wards in the hands of organisers, residents denied having seen any government official or child carrying a school bag visiting the premises. Two nabbed with Probe team finds major record 257 gm of heroin MISSING MID-DAY MEAL RATION missing from Giaspura school Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 2 A three-member team under the supervision of Varinder Singh Brar, General Manager, Mid-Day Meal, Punjab, along with two other accountants have found major record “missing” from Government Primary School, Giaspura, here. The team that reached the school early around 8:30 am is probing into the matter in which 85 quintals of wheat and over 95 quintals of rice reached the school in papers while practically there was no information of the mid-day meal ration. One of the team members said the records were missing due to which there was no clarity about the matter. “Statements of teachers and the present in-charge are being recorded and we are matching with attendance registers,” the probing committee member said. “It will take a few days to reach any conclusion in the matter. The previous incharge, under whose tenure the incident occurred in October 2024, was also summoned by the team and her statement was also recorded. Besides, the mid-day meal contractor was also called for his statement. When we asked about the records, we were told that the DEO, Elementary, had taken the record, when she was conducting the preliminary inquiry. We are cross-checking everything and the report will be submitted to higherups,” said the team member, on the condition of anonymity. The probe was ordered by the Director, Elementary School Education. The school remained in controversy in the past also for showing more students than the actual number of pupils present in the school. One of the teachers at the school said the then in- charge in alleged connivance with a handful of staff had shown in attendance registers that 4,500-5,000 students were studying in school whereas actually the number was much less but mid-day meal ration was given as per the registers. It came to the notice of district level officials and an inquiry was conducted, the report of which was sent to Chandigarh. In a letter written to District Education Officer, Elementary, the mid-day meal society had referred to the missing grain incident as a “shameful act” and the particular complaint had also reached the Chief Minister’s office, following which the department swung into action and it was asked from local officials to cooperate and provide all necessary records. In her initial inquiry, even the DEO, Elementary, had recommended strict action against erring staff, who are responsible for the unethical act. Raikot, July 2 The Ludhiana (rural) police claimed to have arrested two drug peddlers and seized 257 gm of heroin from their possession. They have been identified as Paramjit Singh Dharma and Jaskaran Singh Rahul, residents of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, here. A case was registered against them on Tuesday. Police officials, led by DSP (D) Inderjit Singh Boparai and CIA in-charge Amarjit Singh, had nabbed the suspects when they were going to deliver a consignment of the contraband to their regular clients on Wednesday. The police had received a tip-off regarding activities of the duo, who were visiting the area for delivering contrabands on their motorcycle (bearing registration number PB 56 E 5422). The suspects tried to flee the scene on seeing the police but the police personnel succeeded in nabbing them. SSP Dr Ankur Gupta said preliminary investigation had revealed that the suspects were already booked in several cases under the NDPS Act at Raikot in the past. Dharma was also booked under the Prisons Act at the Sadar police station in Mansa in March 2021. — OC The suspects in custody of the Ludhiana (rural) police. Cops with SAD leader Maheshinder Grewal’s son Hitesh Grewal at their house. INDERJEET VERMA Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 2 To express solidarity towards their leader Bikram Singh Majithia, whose court hearing was at Mohali on Wednesday, several SAD leaders, supporters and workers from Ludhiana reached the place. Though the Police Commissionerate had ordered the ‘house arrest’ of five prominent leaders to maintain “law and order,” a few were able to skip the arrest, while the police kept on ‘guarding’ their houses. Talking to The Tribune, senior SAD leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal said at 8 am, the Model Town SHO, along with two other police officials, came to their house in the area for his ‘house arrest’. “I told them that I was not going anywhere and will be at home only. Still, they sat with my son Hitesh in the porch area. Grewal, who was among 5 Akali leaders placed under ‘house arrest’, joins them But I was able to escape to be with our leaders at Mohali. I did not use my vehicle, got a taxi booked and skipped while they were still sitting at my place,” said Grewal, adding that such orders by the AAP government showed the suppression of democratic rights of an individual. He said with him, many other leaders, including Surinder Singh, Sarabjit Singh Chapa, Inderjit Singh Ruby, Parveen Bharti, Dr Kamaljit Singh, had also reached Mohali. Former SAD councillor Jagbir Singh Sokhi said he, along with several supporters and leaders, were going to Mohali in five vehicles. On being asked, what would they do, Sokhi said it depends on the ruling government what they want? “Our action depends on theirs. If they wish to arrest us, we are ready for that too, but at this hour, we will stand by our leaders,” he said. The leaders from Ludhiana said they were not allowed to go where the court hearing of Majithia was scheduled. “They have cordoned off the entire area, which shows that the AAP government is too scared of SAD leaders. Now, we are going to be with party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had been detained by the police,” said Grewal. Later, the SAD leaders were detained in Mohali and were released after some time. Those who went to be with the party leaders in Mohali, included Maheshinder Grewal, Hira Singh Gabria, SR Kler, Principal Ranjit Singh, Sarabjit Singh Chapa and others. Posing with toy pistol years ago proves costly for youth Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 2 A 20-year-old youth had landed in trouble for posing with a toy pistol during a wedding ceremony. Interestingly, he got a picture with the toy pistol clicked five years ago, when he was 15-year-old. Recently, he uploaded the same on social media. Following which, he was arrested by the police on the charges that by posing the picture with a toy pistol, he promoted gun culture. He was sent to jail. The Dehlon police have arrested Mandeep Singh, a resident of Rangian village, here, and seized the toy pistol Police nab him for promoting gun culture after photo goes viral on social media from his possession. When the police got information about the incident, the Dehlon police registered a case against him. Sources said the CIA team took the youth into custody and recovered the toy pistol from him. The police registered a case against the suspect under sections of the Arms Act and presented him in a court, which sent him to judicial custody. They said boy faced action after his picture came in the notice of senior police officials, who ordered immediate action and registration of an FIR in the matter. About the criminal background of the youth, the sources said so far, the police had not found any criminal history of the suspect. Investigation was on in the case. Earlier also, the police had arrested people who posed with toy weapons on social media. The police said a layman who would see such posts on social media might get panicked and it also amounts to glorifying of gun culture. ‘Tipsy’ couple scuffles with youths Land pooling policy: Residents of three villages to protest on July 7 Ludhiana, July 2 A couple in an allegedly inebriated state scuffled with occupants of a car outside Preet Palace in the juridiction of the Model Town police station on Tuesday night. The ‘heavily drunk’ couple also lied that the car-borne persons had opened fire at them. The entire drama occurred in the middle of the road. The Model Town police, led by SHO inspector Balwinder Singh, reached the scene and got the man and his wife medically examined at the Civil Hospital around 11 pm. Doctors confirmed that both were drunk. The couple has been identified as Poonam and her husband Jaswinder, who are residents of Dashmesh Nagar. Model Town SHO Balwinder Singh said two vehicles, Innova and Innova Crys- Tribune News Service Cops at the scene where the couple had a scuffle with youths in Model Town. ASHWANI DHIMAN ta, came from the Dholewal side. A woman and her husband were travelling in Crysta. The woman was heavily drunk. Some young men were present in Innova. They parked their vehicle outside Preet Palace. Meanwhile, Poonam and her husband Jaswinder came from the rear and parked their car behind their vehicle and started arguments with the youths, saying that they parked the vehicle wrongly on the road. The woman and her husband started fighting with the youths. The woman and her husband also abused the youths. After the clash, the couple said the opposite party also fired at them and fled the scene. SHO Balwinder said the woman was heavily drunk and even abused police personnel. So far, no action was taken against the couple, which fled the hospital later. A probe was on in the matter. — TNS c m y b Ludhiana, July 2 The protest against the government’s new land pool policy has intensified in the district. A meeting in this regard was held by residents of three villages at Malak village, near Jagraon, on Wednesday. The residents of Malak, Aligarh and Pona villages have announced to stage a dharna at the main square of Jagraon on July 7 and the motive of holding the protest would be to remind the state government that they would not give even a inch of their land to the government for developing urban estates. During the meeting, they also raised slogans against the state Villagers during a meeting against land pooling policy at Malak. government and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for adopting strict measures for taking possession of their precious land. The government is planning to develop thousands of acres of land across the state into urban estates. The land of the three villages is also included in the plan. Accord- ing to the villagers, the government wants to take over 500 acres of land of their villages. They have formed a committee in this regard and would chalk out plans to stand against the decision of the government. Head of the committee and former sarpanch Gurvinder Singh Pona told mediapersons that the land was everything for a farmer. He alleged that without the same, a farmer would die in agony. It would be better if the government lines up land owners and get them killed. The farmers would prefer to die instead of giving land to the government. The villagers say that they would not give away their land at any cost and would fight till their last breath. Meanwhile, villagers informed that the demonstration would be held on Monday, July 7 from 10 am to 2 pm at Tehsil Chowk, Jagraon. The villagers have warned that if the government does not wake up, the farmers and labourers would react in a strong way.