27112024-LT-01.qxd 11/27/2024 12:15 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SALE OF WOOLLENS PICKS UP, MANUFACTURERS ELATED After a gap of three years, happiness is writ large on faces of manufacturers as sale of woollens has picked up. P2 » EXHIBITING METAMORPHOSIS AT ART GALLERY THE NIGHT MANAGER LOSES IN BEST DRAMA SERIES CATEGORY His bid to find answers about human existence is the inspiration behind Sanjay Dhawan’s works. P4 The movie, starring Aditya Roy Kapur, Anil Kapoor and Sobhita, was India’s entry at Emmy Awards 2024. P4 » FORECAST SHALLOW FOG MAX 25°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 10°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.24 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 7:04 AM » WEDNESDAY | 27 NOVEMBER 2024 | LUDHIANA Legal Correspondent Ludhiana, November 26 The Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Shiv Mohan Garg, has sentenced two individuals to five years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) each for their involvement in a mobile phone snatching case. Delivering the verdict, the court held that the prosecution successfully proved charges levelled against the accused beyond any doubt. The court also declined the plea of leniency raised by the accused. The convicts include Puneet Singh of Sundar Nagar and Rishabh Kumar of Shivpuri, Ludhiana. They were also directed to pay a fine ofRs 7,000 each. The case was registered on October 22, 2019, at the Division No. 8 police station following a complaint by one Sumit Kumar. According to the complainant, on October 21, 2019, around 2.40 pm, two bikeborne youths snatched his mobile phone near Bansal Clinic in Tagore Nagar and fled from the spot. Initially, the police had registered a case against unknown snatchers. During investigation, the police arrested Puneet Singh and Rishabh Kumar. Rishabh reportedly confessed to the crime and facilitated the recovery of the stolen mobile phone. However, in the court, the accused pleaded not guilty, claiming they were falsely implicated. They failed to present any substantial evidence in their defence. After considering the evidence presented by the prosecution, the court found them guilty and pronounced the sentence. Trenches dug up along highway put daily commuters’ lives at risk Lovleen Bains Sahnewal, November 26 Going by deep ditches, dug up for reconstructing drains, it appears that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is not prepared for the foggy days which the region would witness in the severe winter season. The NHAI has to take precautionary measures to prevent mishaps on the highway heading from Sahnewal to Ludhiana “Last week commuters were caught unawares by the fog in the morning. On service lanes along national highway heading from Sahnewal to Ludhiana, driving is like going towards an unknown destination. As the blanket of fog is going to become denser in the days to come, special arrangements should be made by the NHAI at the very onset of the winter season to warn commuters of dangers ahead on the road,” said PPS Pangli, a resident of Panglian village, and commutes daily from his village to Ludhiana. “In the absence of proper signboards, barricades and speed breakers, driving is next to impossible on the highway. Moreover, a driver misjudge at any cost,” he said. “As the NHAI has dug deep trenches for constructing drains along service lanes, a number of major or minor accidents, especially during Unfinished work of the NHAI may cost commuters dear in the coming days. approaching foggy days, may occur. It is generally observed that lessons are learnt after fatal happenings. The authorities in this case too, seem to be waiting for some major mishap before taking action,” said Gurcharan Singh Bhullar, a resident of Sahnewal. Dr Gagandeep Kaushal, who travels on the national highway as a matter of routine rued, “The work to widen road has narrowed service lanes. It has cost many lives and hurt many others. It seems that the authorities concerned have failed to learn any lessons from accidents that happened last year due to incomplete arrangements for reflectors and other road safety signals that should have been installed on the highway, especially when the construction work is going on.” “Many fatal accidents have been averted at the diversion made by the NHAI for four laning near Doraha last year. One is caught almost unawares about diversion. Such road diversions should be clearly marked at the very onset of winter season or for that matter otherwise too so that these may be visible to drivers from quite a distance,” said Barjinder Singh Jandu, a social worker of the area. “Electronic reflectors are missing from the highway. These reflectors should have the capacity to reflect from a distance so that commuters are prepared accordingly,” he said. “So horrifying is the scene sometimes that it literally seems to be a hit and trial method. Sacks placed along ditches are in no way sufficient to check any tragedy which may befall upon commuters, especially during foggy mornings. At many spots, diversions have been made by the NHAI without considering fatal risk these pose to countless number of precious lives commuting on the National Highway No. 1 and that too in this hazy weather,” said Jandeep Kaushal. When contacted, NHAI maintenance in-charge Vijay Kumar said he would visit the spot where ditches had been dug up for laying drains. He said necessary repairs would be carried out at the spot at the earliest. Supporters greet AAP state president Aman Arora during the thanksgiving rally; and (right) long queue of vehicles near Jagraon bridge in Ludhiana on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN AAP’s Shukrana Yatra leads to traffic chaos in city Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 26 The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Shukrana Yatra, which was led by party state president Aman Arora, created a traffic snarls in the city. Since the police had created diversions and closed some roads, commuters got stuck in long traffic jams. Major traffic jam was witnessed on the Jagraon bridge, where workers of the AAP had gathered in large numbers over an hour before the arrival of Arora. The police had closed a stretch leading towards the Jalandhar bypass from Jagraon bridge, for vehicular traffic. Vehicles were diverted towards the railway road and other adjoining roads due to which commuters got stuck in the traffic jams. The moment Arora arrived, the police even stopped vehicular traffic coming on the main road (from where rally was to pass) from inner roads. At the Jalandhar bypass too, AAP workers had gathered in large numbers and vehicular traffic was moving at snail’s pace. Even buses, which used to stop at the bypass, were not allowed to do so. The bus stoppage was shifted a bit further on the road. Party workers had parked vehicles wrongly on the Jagraon bridge and on the Jalandhar bypass which was also created hurdles in the movement of the traffic. Commuters stuck in traffic jam near Jagraon bridge said political rallies should not be held on city roads as it caused lot of inconvenience to them. During these rallies, the police create diversions and diverts vehicular traffic towards other roads which hassle commuters a lot. Sources said the police had taken extra security measures for this thanksgiving rally of the AAP due to the detention of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. Besides, the police did not allow farmer unions to hold protest against the AAP’s thanksgiving rally on roads from where it was to pass. Cheema, Bains, Sondh, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sandhwan join yatra Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 26 The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, who today started the thanksgiving rally — Shukrana Yatra — from Patiala received a grand welcome on arrival in Ludhiana. The yatra began at Shri Kali Mata Mandir in Patiala and passed through several Sam- rala, Doraha, Sahnewal, Jalandhar bypass and Ladowal Chowk in Ludhiana. The rally was joined by prominent party leaders, including AAP Punjab working president Amansher Singh Sharry Kalsi, Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema, Harjot Singh Bains and Tarunpreet Singh Sondh, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, party MLAs, chairpersons and hundreds of enthusiastic supporters from across the state. On this significant day, the Shukrana Yatra also coincided with the foundation day of the Aam Aadmi Party. While expressing his gratitude to the people, AAP Punjab president Aman Arora said, “AAP has grown from strength to strength, driven by the dedication and hard work of its leaders, volunteers and workers. This journey, led by Arvind Kejriwal and supported by every AAP worker, has been one of integrity, transparency and commitment to the people.” Arora further extended heartfelt congratulations to all AAP leaders and volunteers for their relentless efforts in bringing about change and empowering the c m y b common man. “Their dedication to the party’s principles and their tireless work for the betterment of Punjab and the nation have been pivotal in making AAP the people’s party. Together, AAP will continue to take strides toward a brighter future for all,” he added. Throughout the journey, Aman Arora and other leaders were warmly welcomed with flowers, chants of “Inquilab Zindabad” and overwhelming support from party workers and locals. Party workers in large numbers had gathered at the Jagraon bridge where Arora offered tributes to the statues of martyrs. He received a grand welcome on the Jalandhar bypass where workers offered garlands to the state president. Narrow escape for father, kids in Eastman Chowk sewer mishap Ludhiana, November 26 A harrowing incident occurred on Tuesday at Eastman Chowk, Giaspura, when a bike rider lost his balance and fell into an open sewer manhole along with his two children. The family’s timely rescue by nearby residents prevented a potential tragedy. The incident happened around 1.30 pm when the bike rider was returning home with his children after picking them up from school. As the biker navigated through the construction area, he lost his balance and fell into the 12-foot-deep manhole. The family’s cries for help alerted passersby, who quickly came to their rescue. With the aid of a ladder, the father and children were pulled to safety. They sustained internal injuries and were taken to a nearby doctor for first aid. The incident, cap- tured on CCTV went viral on , social media, sparking outrage among city residents. Many questioned why the municipal corporation (MC) had not taken adequate safety measures, such as barricading the area, to prevent such incidents. Officials of the MC shifted the blame to the contractor handling the road construction project. Executive Engineer Parshotam Lal said the contractor had claimed to have done barricading, but the bike rider had still entered the road. The MC has announced that it would issue a notice to the contractor and warn others to avoid similar negligence in the future. The incident has raised concerns about the MC’s responsibility in ensuring public safety, particularly in construction areas. Residents are demanding more accountability and better safety measures to prevent such incidents. —TNS PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN 2 mobile phone snatchers get five-year RI Members of unions protest outside the DC office in Ludhiana. Scrap labour codes, demand farmer unions Ludhiana, November 26 The President of India has been urged to fulfil promises made to farmers. This demand was made during a massive protest dharna held by Central Trade Unions and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha in Ludhiana today. The protest was held to mark the fourth anniversary of the historic farmers’ movement. The movement, which began on November 26, 2020, saw thousands of farmers from across the country gather on the Delhi borders to protest against the three farm laws. The movement, which lasted for over a year, resulted in the repeal of the laws. The protesters demanded that the government should provide a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, scrap four labour codes and stop the privatisation of public sector undertakings. They also demanded that the government should provide a pension of Rs 10,000 per month to all farmers above the age of 60 years. The protesters demanded that the government should provide a bonus of Rs 500 per quintal to farmers who had sold their paddy at the MSP They . also demanded that the government should take action against owners of rice shellers who had “looted” farmers. Members of the All India Kisan Sabha 1936, All India Trade Union Congress, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha Punjab, Centre of Indian Trade Unions Punjab and the All India Kisan Federation participated in the protest. Protesters also submitted a memorandum to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, through the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner. — TNS NRI duped of ~28 lakh Ludhiana, November 26 The cyber police station has nabbed a person, who had duped an with NRI of Rs 28 lakh. The suspect learnt how to commit cyber frauds from some YouTube videos. DCP Jaskiranjit Singh Teja, ADCP (Headquarters) Gurmeet Kaur, ACO (Cyber Crime) Ashok Kumar and cyber police station Inspector Jatinder Singh issued a joint statement in this regard. They said the suspect accused had replaced NRI Iqbal Singh SIM card. He used a ZIM card for obtaining a debit card through NRIs SIM and accessed e-mail ID linked with his cellphone number. After gaining access to mobile number and e-mail ID, the suspect gained further access to bank accounts of the NRI. The sus- pect installed payment apps like GPay and PhonePe through which he managed to steal Rs 28 lakh from NRI’s accounts. Police officials said after registering an FIR, the case was cracked within 11 days and the suspect was arrested. So far, Rs 13.58 lakh were frozen into bank accounts of the suspect and further probe was initiated to recover the remaining amount, they said. The suspect, identified as Palwinder Singh, a resident of a village near Jagraon had once gone to drop NRI Iqbal Singh at the airport during which he replaced the latter’s mobile phone SIM card with a dummy SIM card. The suspect managed to withdraw cash from ATMs installed at different petrol pumps through the UPI apps.— TNS