30032024-LT-01.qxd 3/30/2024 12:31 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune YOUTH FESTIVAL AT AGRI VARSITY SHOWCASES CULTURAL TAPESTRY BJP WELCOMES RINKU, ANGURAL IN HUGE ROADSHOW AT JALANDHAR ALIA HOSTS HOPE GALA FOR SALAAM BOMBAY FOUNDATION IN LONDON Youth fest at PAU continues to mesmerise audiences, with various competitions celebrating India’s cultural diversity. P2 Welcoming Sushil Rinku & Sheetal Angural into the party fold, the BJP on Friday took out a huge roadshow in Jalandhar. P3 To help the Salaam Bombay foundation, actress Alia Bhatt hosted her first charity event, Hope Gala, in London. P4 » » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 31°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 15°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.44 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:16 AM SATURDAY | 30 MARCH 2024 | LUDHIANA Child rights panel summons principal Ludhiana, March 29 Showing off luxury cars, caring two hoots about the traffic laws and inconveniencing the public has certainly cost some city schools dear. Taking strong exception to the show-off culture, the Child Rights Commission here has summoned the principal of a reputed school to Chandigarh on April 2. The action has been taken against the school following videos that came out in which students were seen doing stunts with their vehicles during the farewell party two months ago. The chairman of the commission took strong note of the viral videos and summoned the principal to seek details and take decision on action to be taken against erring students. This is not the lone school in which students took out a car rally. Students from other schools too indulge in the practice when a farewell is organised. — TNS on intervention in Man killed by neighbours Welder killedfight with relative neighbour’s over dispute; four booked Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 29 Two sisters along with their parents brutally murdered their neighbour at Dhillon Nagar yesterday. On Thursday night, around 10 pm, one Balbir Singh had arguments with his neighbour. After heated exchanges both entered into a scuffle. Balbir’s daughters after hearing screams of their father, immediately came out and attacked their neighbour with baseball bats and sticks. The sisters continued to hit their neighbour on his head till he lost consciousness. ❝A case of murder has been registered against suspects identified as Balbir Singh, his wife Charanjit Kaur, their daughters Deepjot and Kiran. Raids are on to nab the suspects. Inspector Sukhjinder Singh, SHO, DABA POLICE STATION ❞ The people of the locality took the victim, identified as Sukhwinder Singh, alias Bablu (38), to Grewal Hospital in a critical condition from where doctors referred him to the Civil Hospital. The victim was rushed to the Civil Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. Sukhwinder was an autorickshaw driver. After the incident, cops from the Daba police station reached the spot and started an investigation. After committing the murder, the entire family fled leaving their house open, which was searched by the police. An area resident Malkit Singh said deceased Sukhwinder was having a dispute with his neighbour Balbir Singh for a long time. Three days ago, a bull was passing through the street when Sukhwinder told Balbir that he should be careful as a stray animal might attack him. On hearing this, Balbir entered into an argument with Sukhwinder. Yesterday night, arguments started between Sukhwinder and Balbir which led to the former’s murder. Inspector Sukhjinder Singh, Station House Officer, Daba police station, said a case of murder was registered against suspects identified as Balbir Singh, his wife Charanjit Kaur, their daughters Deepjot and Kiran. Raids were on to nab the suspects, he said. LS polls: Activists demand promoting of NOTA option INDIA VOTES 2024 Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 29 As elected representatives are switching political affiliations before completing their terms in different parts of the country, activists are advocating for promoting the none of the above (NOTA) option with the inclusion of a Right to Reject provision. Besides, they are calling for the reinforcement of anti-defection laws to deter such occurrences. During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, 3,220 voters choose the NOTA option in the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency. This figure increased to 10,538 in the last General Elections in the same constituency. Col (retd) JS Gill, a citybased environment activist, emphasised that elected representatives who switched parties before completing their terms disregarded value of voters. He termed such actions of elected representatives as dishonest which proved that they were disloyal to the electorate. He stressed that such actions undermined party ideologies, ENACT STRICT ANTI-DEFECTION LAWS At present, NOTA is a toothless tiger. The option should be promoted with provision of Right to Reject. If 20 per cent voters opt for NOTA, all candidates in the list will be rejected in polls. Stricter anti-defection laws must be enacted. ❝ ❞ Col (retd) JS Gill, ENVIRONMENT ACTIVIST democracy, and efforts of dedicated party workers and voters. He said voters should have the Right to Reject such candidates in future. Col Gill claimed, “At present, NOTA is a toothless tiger.” He urged for promoting the NOTA option with provision of Right to Reject. He said if 20 per cent voters opted for NOTA, all candidates in the list would be rejected in polls. He also proposed stricter anti-defection laws and ban on future electoral participation for elected representatives who switched parties before completion of their term. Kuldeep Singh Khaira, an RTI activist, said the present political situation demanded bolstering of the NOTA mechanism. Khaira suggested that pro- vision of the Right to Reject should be provided to promote the NOTA option. “If higher number of voters opt for the NOTA option, all candidates on the list will be rejected,” he said. Another resident said shifting political loyalties was becoming common practice before elections. He emphasised that elected candidates should honour the people’s mandate and refrain from party switching before elections. He said the NOTA should be promoted so that a significant number of votes were cast under the option leading to rejection of all candidates trying their luck in elections. Kashmiri migrants can vote Businessmen suggest through postal ballots: DEO manifestotocandidates Ludhiana, March 29 District Election Officer (DEO) Sakshi Sawhney on Friday said Kashmiri migrant voters could exercise their right to franchise in the Lok Sabha elections through postal ballots or by visiting special polling stations set up in Delhi, Udhampur, and Jammu. Migrant voters are those, who are originally residents of Kashmir division (UT of Jammu and Kashmir) as per the certificate issued by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, but now reside in any part of the country. Electors of Baramulla, Srinagar, and Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituencies are eligible for availing the facility by submitting Form-M (voting personally at special polling stations in Delhi, Jammu and WHO ARE MIGRANT VOTERS? Migrant voters are those, who are originally residents of Kashmir division (UT of Jammu and Kashmir) as per the certificate issued by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, but now reside in any part of the country. Udhampur) and Form-12-C (postal ballot) which could be downloaded from the Election Commission of India (ECI) website. Migrant voters can fill out Form 12-C and Form M and visit the office of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) for verification. The ERO would check details of migrant Kashmir voters enrolled in their respective parliamentary constituencies (Assembly-wise) through ERONET. After verifying details in Form M, the ERO concerned would scan and upload the form to electronically transmit it to respective AROs for further necessary action. The hard copies would be sent to AROs in Delhi, Jammu, and Udhampur as per the case. The ERO would also verify details in Form 12-C and, after signing the certificate and uploading the document, forward the same to ARO (Migrant) at Jammu who would send the postal ballot to the elector concerned through speed post. The elector would send back the postal ballot through the same mode to the returning officer concerned of the parliamentary constituency to which they originally belong. — TNS Ludhiana, March 29 The Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertaking (CICU) held an interaction with the media through which its members suggested election manifesto to candidates and parties. The members said, “Punjab being a landlocked state does not have direct access to seaports. Hence, an exporter should be provided with transport-incentive.” The members said, “There is not even a single SEZ (Special Economic Zone) in Punjab. As we have IT SEZ in Mohali, likewise we should have SEZs in Punjab.” They said, “Transportation from industry to seaport is important. We suggest that the freight corridor from Ludhiana to Kolkata should be extended up to Amritsar and Jammu and further. It should also be given transit time limit, ensuring that container should not take more than 24 hours to reach the seaport because logistic delays costs huge to the MSME industry in terms of inventory cost and delayed deliveries to customers.” “Besides, MSMEs are facing problem in exploring export markets and in showcasing their products in the international market. We have our missions (Embassies/consulates) in every country. All these missions have their respective commercial section. We insist that all such missions should work as catalyst and support MSMEs in increasing their exports,” said members. They said, “PGI or AIMSlevel health and medical facilities should be available in Ludhiana and ESI hospitals be upgraded.” — TNS Ludhiana, March 29 A man lost his life when he intervened in his neighbour’s fight with his relative at Suraj Nagar, Shimlapuri, on Thursday night. Assailants attacked him with a sword critically injuring him on the neck which led to his death. The entire incident was captured in the footage of the CCTV cameras installed in the area. While fleeing from the spot, miscreants waved sharp weapons to intimidate area residents. The deceased was identified as 41-year-old Gurdeep Singh, alias Sonu. He worked as welder. The victim was to go abroad in the coming few days as he had got an appointment letter. The victim’s death has shattered his family. He has left behind his wife and two children. As per information, a locality youth Deepu clashed with his maternal uncle and his daughter. After hearing the noise, Gurdeep came on Cops talk to kin of the deceased at Suraj Nagar in Ludhiana. the spot and tried to calm them. After pacifying both the parties, he was about to leave when Seema, daughter of Deepu’s maternal uncle, called some armed youths on the spot who thrashed Gurdeep. The victim tried to save his life by running away, but youths chased him and killed him. Gurdeep was attacked with a sword on his neck. The attackers left him almost dead in the street. When area residents started gathering, assailants fled from the spot. Among the assailants, two were reportedly Nihangs. People shifted injured Gurdeep to the Civil Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. ACP Brij Mohan said the footage of the CCTV cameras installed in the area was being checked. The miscreants, who committed the murder, would be nabbed soon, he said. A case was registered against the suspects, he said. Met Dept sounds ‘orange alert’ for district, farmers worried Punjab Agricultural University experts have advised farmers to irrigate timely sown crop till March end in order to avoid harmful effects of unusual rise in temperature. TRIBUNE PHOTO Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 29 The warning issued by the Meteorological Department in Chandigarh has left farmers worried. An “orange alert” has been issued by the department. The forecast for Saturday, includes thunderstorm, lightning with hail and gusty winds, at the speed of 40 to 50 kmph. This could pose a threat to crop sown during the winter season. The inclement weather conditions can damage the wheat crop which is almost ready for harvesting. Gusty winds along with hailstorm, which is predicted for tomorrow, can lead to lodging of the wheat crop. According to agriculture experts, cool temperature is good for the wheat crop, but wind and hailstorm can damage it. Farmers have been advised not to irrigate their fields as it could lead to waterlogging and adversely affect the wheat crop. Sarvan Singh, a farmer from Jagraon, said earlier hailstorm had caused huge damage to the crop. Now, another spell of wind and hailstorm would pose a risk to the crop. “Rain and wind can damage ripened wheat, especially the late sown crop. It will cause crop lodging and blacken grains,” he said. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) experts have advised farmers to irrigate timely sown crop till March end in order to avoid harm- ful effects of unusual rise in temperature at the grain filling stage. “Care should be taken not to irrigate the crop on windy days to avoid lodging. In timely sown crop, apply two sprays of 2 per cent potassium nitrate by dissolving 4 kg potassium nitrate in 200 litres of water at boot leaf and at anthesis stage or apply two sprays of salicylic acid by dissolving 15 gram salicylic acid in 450 ml of ethyl alcohol using 200 litres of water per acre at boot leaf and early milk stages to enhance the wheat yield,” said experts. Maximum temperature recorded by PAU today was 30°C while minimum temperature was 18.4°C. Dugri residents demand prompt resolution of lingering issues from MC, GLADA Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 29 Residents in various sections of the Urban Estate, Dugri, have voiced their concern over unresolved issues. They blame both the municipal corporation (MC) and the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) for failing to address their problems in a time-bound manner. The issues that residents face include stray cattle roaming freely, blocked road gullies, piles of organic waste along roadsides, and defunct street lights near the cremation ground in Urban Estate, Dugri. Residents have sought immediate action from the authorities concerned for the redressal of their grievances. Sanjeev Gupta, an area resident, expressed concern over the non-functional street lights outside the cremation ground in Phase II, Dugri. He said despite numerous complaints to a GLADA official, no action was taken to make street lights functional. He said, “Besides, there is a A choked road gully; and (right) defunct street lights outside cremation ground in Dugri. INDERJEET VERMA c m y b lack of maintenance of road gullies which are lying choked and organic waste that has piled up along roadsides. The accumulation of dry leaves further exacerbates the blockage of road gullies. Urgent action is imperative from the authorities concerned to address these issues promptly, without further delay.” Gupta further said there was significant presence of stray cattle in Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and the 200-feet-Road areas, with no proactive measures being taken by either by the MC or GLADA to relocate these animals to appropriate shelters. He said, “The situation poses a continuous risk of accidents due to the presence of stray cattle on roads.” Another resident, Jagjot Singh, said, “When the MC collects cow cess, it should take necessary measures to relocate stray cattle from streets and main roads to animal shelters in order to prevent mishaps. The civic body must handle organic waste in accordance with the established norms.” He said in the past, road gul- lies were only cleaned near or during the rainy season. He emphasised on regular maintenance of road gullies throughout the year. Upkar Singh Sahni, a businessman residing in Phase 1, Dugri, highlighted indiscriminate dumping of waste at various points along roadsides in the area. He emphasised on strictly curbing such unlawful practices and suggested that individuals caught dumping waste in the open areas should be stopped by the MC from doing so.
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