19122024-LT-01.qxd 12/19/2024 12:37 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune FOG LEADS TO 2 MISHAPS, THREE VEHICLES DAMAGED KULJINDER’S FILM IS ABOUT FIGHT OF A COMMON MAN FILM LAAPATAA LADIES OUT OF OSCARS’ RACE In the two road accidents occurred in Abohar, two cars and a truck were badly damaged. P3 Kuljinder Sidhu’s film Gurmukh - The Eyewitness explores relentless fight of a humble yet resolute man. P4 Film Laapataa Ladies, India’s official entry at the 97th Academy Awards, is out of the Oscars’ race. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 21°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 5°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.26 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:14 AM THURSDAY | 19 DECEMBER 2024 | LUDHIANA BJP candidate, workers attacked Tribune News Service Ludhiana, December 18 BJP candidate Vicky Sahota, his brother and other workers were allegedly attacked by some assailants at Ambedkar Colony late on Wednesday evening. The candidate was campaigning in the area for the upcoming MC elections when some assailants came and attacked them. He is contesting from Ward 30. He suffered minor injuries in the incident. While going live on his Facebook page after the incident, Sahota said the attack was carried out at the behest of his opponent who wanted to win the elections by hook or by crook. “When I along with around 50 supporters were campaigning door to door in Ambedkar Colony, around 100 persons attacked him. My supporters and brother were attacked with sticks and afterwards, they tried to attack me. I called the Ludhiana Commissioner of Police on his mobile phone who assured action in the matter,” Sahota said, adding that now his life was in danger and till the police provide him a guarantee for his safety, he would not go for campaigning. Meanwhile, police officials had reached the scene and started investigation. They said action would be taken against the assailants as per law. Farmers’ 3-hour protest hits passengers hard Several trains affected, routes of many diverted causing delays Tribune News Service Ludhiana, December 18 After the farmers’ organisations announced to block railway tracks for three hours in the state on Wednesday from 12 noon to 3 pm, several trains were stationed at the Ludhiana railway station, which left the place after the protest. Routes of many trains were also changed. People had to face inconvenience due to the delayed trains. After the farmers’ organisations staged a sit-in on the railway tracks, some trains were also stopped at the railway station prior to 12 noon. Passengers sitting in the train, including children, faced trouble due to the same. Several trains, including Jammu Tawi-Amritsar, Shan-e-Punjab, ChennaiAmritsar and FerozepurDelhi, were stationed at the railway station and started journey only after 3 pm. Ramakant, who was going to Katra to visit Vaishno Devi with his family, said they had to go to Katra. After reaching the station, I-T raids at doc’s houses, clinics Tribune News Service Ludhiana, December 18 Dr Sofat’s Hospital and Clinic was raided by income tax sleuths here today. The raids started early in the morning with over 70 sleuths from the department raiding all residences and hospitals/clinics of Dr Sofat. Sources in the department said the raids were conducted under the direc- tions of the Directorate of Investigation, Ludhiana (Income Tax). These are likely to continue for another day or two as the sleuths are also probing some real estate investments. Sources said the IT teams were scrutinising all tax records. “Big money is charged from patients for IVF procedures, but it is not shown in records/papers or minimal amount is shown to Factory worker held with illegal weapon Tribune News Service Passengers wait for their trains at the railway station in Ludhiana on Wednesday. ASHWANI DHIMAN they came to know that the train was running four hours late. Amit Kumar, who was going to Chandigarh, said he had an important meeting in Chandigarh in the evening but due to the delayed train, he have to cancel the meeting. Passengers Rishab Kumar and Suresh Arora, who were sitting at the station, said sometimes national highways were jammed and rail- way tracks blocked in protest by farmers but they hardly think about the inconvenience their protest will cause to people.” If farmers want their demands fulfilled, they should hold dharna outside residences of the Chief Minister and Prime Minister or other ministers, why common people are made to suffer, they questioned. As per information, Dur- giana Express was running 2.41 hours late, Saryu Yamuna Express by 3.36 hours, Ferozepur-Ludhiana Express by 3.21 hours, Malwa Express by 2.55 hours and Durg UHP Express by 3.59 hours. Many passengers were already aware about the rail roko protest but they already booked their trains so they had no option than to wait at the railway station. Ludhiana, December 18 The CIA-2 wing of the Ludhiana police arrested a factory worker and seized a .315 bore pistol, along with one cartridge. The suspect was identified as Sunil Sharma, alias Monu, a native of Uttar Pradesh, at present staying at EWS colony here. Bikramjit Singh Ghumman, in-charge, CIA, in a statement issued stated that the police had received a tip-off that the suspect was carrying an illegal weapon and he was not having any arms licence. The police also got information that he was present near a petrol pump on the Tajpur road to commit some crime. He said the police team conducted a raid and Police officials address mediapersons in Ludhiana. nabbed the man. The weapon was also recovered from his possession. Now, the suspect would be produced before a court and his police remand would be sought for further investigation so that the illegal weapon supplier from Civic body employee gets Close shave for driver as vehicle catches fire 3.5-yr jail in corruption case Tribune News Service Legal Correspondent Ludhiana, December 18 The Court of Amrinder Singh Shergill has sentenced Amneet Pal Singh, alias Vicky, a resident of New Punjab Mata Nagar, Jawaddi, here, to three-and-a-half years of imprisonment in a bribery case. The FIR was lodged on the complaint of Nishan Singh, who alleged that he had purchased a 162 sq yard plot in Shaheed Karnail Singh Nagar, Phase 3, Shekh Colony, here, on December 6, 2018. After the purchase, he constructed two rooms and connected a sewerage line to the main system. According to the complainant, on May 6, 2019, the accused introducing himself as a sewer man with the Municipal Corporation Zone-D-2, Ludhiana, visited the plot and demanded documents for sewer and water connections. He claimed to be working under Suresh Kumar, JE, and warned that illegal connections would result in heavy penalties. Over subsequent calls and visits, Amneet demanded a bribe of Rs 15,000 to avoid disclosing the matter to the higher authorities and issuing a challan. The complainant eventually negotiated the amount to ?10,000 but chose to approach the Vigilance Bureau (VB), instead of paying the bribe. On May 10, 2019, a trap was laid by the Vigilance Bureau, and Amneet was caught redhanded while accepting the money. The recovery of Rs 10,000 was made on the spot. However during the trial, the accused pleaded innocence and claimed false implication. But the court, after considering the evidence and the nature of the offence, found the accused guilty. In its judgment, the court emphasised the importance of curbing corruption at all levels and sentenced him to three-and-a-half years of rigorous imprisonment. Ludhiana, December 18 A moving tempo caught fire on Wednesday morning near Gill Chowk. The driver had a fortunate escape as he jumped out of the vehicle to save his life. As per information, the battery of the tempo exploded, due to which the vehicle caught fire. The tempo was destroyed due to the fire. Seeing the vehicle on fire, the driver jumped out and saved his life. The incident occurred on the Gill Chowk overbridge. The blaze was controlled by fire brigade personnel. There was a long traffic jam on the overbridge due RS MP Sanjeev Arora with Union Minister Amit Shah. cerned. The neighbouring Haryana falls at the 11th place. Maharashtra has 2,15,316 functional cooperative societies, Gujarat 76,061, Telangana 48,380, Karnataka 38,828, MP 26,502, Rajasthan 23,446, West Bengal 22,798, Tamil Nadu 20,409, UP 19,587, Bihar 16,475, Haryana 14,321, AP 12,464, Punjab 11,288, Chattisgarh 9,350, J&K 8,225, Jharkhand 7,386, Kerala 7,076, Odisha 7,007, Assam 6,186, Manipur 5,111, HP 4,333, Uttarakhand 3,753, Goa 2,748, Meghalaya 2,615, Nagaland 2,194, Delhi 1,936, Tripura 1,893, Sikkim 1,617, Andaman and Nicobar 1,210, Mizoram 1,062 and Arunachal Pradesh 761. However, Punjab falls among first 17 states/UTs as far as the number of members of cooperative societies were concerned. c m y b Files related to building of former Market Committee chief go missing MC got FIR registered against unidentified miscreants A video grab of the vehicle on fire near Gill Chowk in Ludhiana on Wednesday. to the incident. Passers-by tried to extinguish the fire by putting water on the vehicle but the fire was so fierce that the entire tempo was reduced to ashes. Tribune News Service Haryana falls at the 15th place. Maharashtra has 7,96,65,337 members, Kerala 2,94,72,329, Karnataka 2,36,76,736, TN 2,09,10,509, UP 1,86,72,654, Gujarat 1,79,93,157, Bihar 1,53,81,807, Telangana 1,26,00,316, Odisha 94,57,901, MP 90,89,058, WB 87,67,584, Rajasthan 81,93,080, AP 71,77,162, Chattisgarh 52,20,978, Haryana 42,44,007, Assam 31,57,415, Punjab 28,00,520, Jharkhand 20,03,947, HP 16,79,309, Uttarakhand 16,33,172, Goa 13,96,468, Delhi 12,66,480, Tripura 5,13,711, Manipur 4,36,510, J&K 4,15,488, Puducherry 4,14,316, Meghalaya 2,35,249, Nagaland 94,752, Lakshadweep 79,091, Sikkim 75,146, Mizoram 45,052, Arunachal Pradesh 38,928, Chandigarh 24,067 and Ladakh 22,464. — TNS whom the man had bought the pistol could be identified and more illegal arms be seized. The police would also probe whether the suspect had used the weapon in any crime or not. A case under the Arms Act was registered against him. Ludhiana, December 18 After files related to the building of former Market Committee chairman and Congress leader Darshan Lal Baweja went missing from the office of the Municipal Corporation, Zone A, the civic body got registered a case against unidentified suspect(s). Functional cooperative societies: Two nabbed, heroin seized Punjab figures in top 13 states/UTs Ludhiana, December 18 The total number of functional cooperative societies in the country is 6,21,514 having 28,69,74,425 members. It was answered by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in response to a question on ‘Contribution of cooperatives to national economy’ asked by RS MP from Ludhiana Sanjeev Arora in the ongoing winter session of the Rajya Sabha. Arora had asked about the number of functional cooperative societies in the country, their membership and state-wise/UT-wise details. In a statement issued here today, Arora said the data provided by the minister in his answer revealed that Punjab falls in top 13 states/UTs as far as the number of functional cooperative societies were con- evade taxes. Up to 50 per cent transactions are done in cash. The doctor has been on the department’s radar for long as large amounts have been invested in the real estate sector. The department is trying to verify everything,” sources said. The main hospital premises of Dr Sofat is on the college road while there is a farm house in Garden Enclave too. Ludhiana, December 18 The Ludhiana rural police on Tuesday arrested two drug peddlers and seized 304 gm of heroin from their possession. The suspects were identified as Baljit Singh, alias Manni, a resident of Aliwal village, and Sukhwinder Singh, alias Sukha, of Baniyewal village in Dakha. Investigating officer subinspector (SI) Gursewak Singh said he, along with a police team, was present at thw Sidhwan Kalan T-point where he received a tip-off that the suspects, who were into the heroin smuggling trade, had come to supply heroin to their clients in a stadium near Sidhwan Khurd. They were waiting for their clients at the place to deliver heroin. The SI said the police conducted a raid and nabbed The suspects in custody of the Ludhiana rural police. the two suspects and seized heroin from their possession. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was registered against the duo. He said now, police remand of the suspects would be sought from court for further investigation in the case. The case was registered on the complaint of Paramdeep Singh, Additional Commissioner, MC Zone A. The official had submitted a complaint to the Ludhiana Commissioner of Police (CP). Paramdeep Singh in a complaint to the Ludhiana police said Baweja had constructed a building in Fatehgarh Mohalla and the files pertaining to the building were stolen from the MC office. He said on October 10, six files were handed over to Hardev Singh, an employee of the MC Commissioner, in the presence of ATP Zone A, , Madanjit Singh Bedi. Later, the files had gone missing. MC staff tried to find the same but to no avail. SI Balvir Singh said after registering a case, further investigation was launched. Notably, a controversy has been going on over the multi-storey building and other commercial shops constructed by the Congress leader. In the past, the civic body also issued several notices to the leader and tried to dismantle the illegal portion of the building as well. Now, the incident of missing records has put the role of civic body officials under scanner. — TNS