06022025-LT-01.qxd 2/6/2025 12:54 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune CYCLIST HARSHVEER WINS 2 MEDALS AT NATIONAL GAMES VICKY KAUSHAL OPENS UP ON HIS ROLE IN CHHAAVA Harshveer Sekhon won two medals in cycling during ongoing National Games held in Uttarakhand. P2 Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal opens up on how he prepared for his role in film Chhaava. P4 » YO YO HONEY SINGH TO JOIN FORCES WITH SHAEL OSWAL MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 20°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 8°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.04 PM Music lovers are in for a treat as Shael Oswal will be joining hands with rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh. P4 » FORECAST SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:09 AM » THURSDAY | 6 FEBRUARY 2025 | LUDHIANA Rectify all black spots to make roads safe in dist, DC tells depts Orders one-way traffic system, no parking, no stoppage near schools trict stands out with one of the highest numbers of accident black spots in the region. The newly identified 18 black spots included seven on national highways, one on state highway, two on major district roads and eight on MC/urban roads within the Ludhiana CP limits. The old black spots that existed included 54 on national highways, eight on state highways, one on major district roads, two on other district roads and six were located on MC/urban roads. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 5 The district administration has asked the departments concerned to immediately begin work to rectify all black spots identified in the district to make roads safe and save previous lives being lost at these killer spots. Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal has issued directions to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Municipal Corporation (MC), traffic police and all others concerned to promptly eliminate all black spots marked on the roads in the district. This came close on the heels of 18 new black spots having been identified within the limits of the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police, which were reported in these columns on January 23. With 71 old accident-prone spots, the tally of black spots has gone up to 89, which was the highest count in any commissionerate or district in the state. However, six old black spots have been eliminated in the Commissionerate Police limits during the past two years. With this, Ludhiana continues to carry the dubious distinction of being the “most accident-prone” city in the state. Chairing a meeting with heads of various departments, including SDMs, RTO and officers from the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate as well as Khanna and Ludhiana rural police districts, the Deputy Commissioner instructed the officials to begin work in their respective jurisdictions to eliminate permanently all black spots to ensure safe passage for commuters and save previous lives being lost at the killer stretches. What is black spot Traffic chaos at Samrala Chowk, which is a black spot, in Ludhiana is a common sight. ASHWANI DHIMAN Besides, Jorwal also directed the traffic police to introduce one-way traffic system, prohibit parking and restrict vehicle stoppages during the opening and closing hours of major schools in the city near their vicinities. He urged the schools to make adequate parking arrangements to prevent traffic jams outside their premises. He instructed the police to enforce the directions and act sternly against violators with challans and fines, as per law. He mandated all schools to submit a self-declaration, confirming compliance with the ‘Safe School Vahan’ policy, regardless of whether they have outsourced transport services. “The schools are required to provide details of vehicle owners and necessary documentation to the administration,” the DC instructed while emphasising that the safety of students was a priority and any negligence or excuse will not be tolerated. “Schools must strictly implement the policy to avoid administrative action,” he asserted. The Deputy Commissioner urged the school managements to educate parents about ensuring safety of their children and to report any use of unsafe transportation methods. “Appropriate action will be taken by the authorities when necessary,” he warned. Jorwal also addressed the issue of traffic congestion at Cheema Chowk, Gill Chowk, Samrala Chowk, Sahnewal Chowk, Kohara Chowk and Vishwakarma Chowk, directing the traffic police to implement necessary measures to ease commuting at these busy junctions in the city. He called for collaboration among the Transport, Police, Education, Municipal Corporation and other departments to conduct maximum awareness activities. He also instructed the SDMs to organise road safety awareness initiatives within their jurisdictions. Jorwal also urged the public to fulfil their responsibilities by following traffic rules and cooperating with the road safety efforts. Pertinently, a study on the identification and rectification of accident black spots in the state conducted by the Punjab Road Safety and Traffic Research Centre (PRSTRC) with the help of the Punjab Police had revealed that a total of 678 accident black spots have been identified across 28 police districts/ commissionerate areas of Punjab. During the previous study between 2019 and 2021, the road safety evaluation within the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police limits had identified a total of 77 road accident black spots, of which only six were eliminated before the latest study. The old black spots encompassed 52 recurring or existing black spots with a documented history of accidents resulting in fatalities or severe injuries, along with 25 newly identified black spots, where a sudden surge in accidents occurred during the previous study. Notably, the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate dis- According to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the road accident black spot on National Highway is a road stretch of about 500 meter in length in which either five road accidents, involving fatalities or grievous injuries, have taken place or 10 fatalities have been reported during the past three calendar years. Punjab had adopted this definition for the entire state, covering all highways, and had undertaken the task of identification and rectification of accidental black spots in the state on the directions of the then Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan in April 2021 with an aim to making state roads safer and smoother for driving. Gangster Newton’s kin, supporters block highway Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 5 After Category A gangster Sagar Newton died at the PGI, Chandigarh, on Tuesday, his kin and supporters in a large number blocked the Aarti chowk on the Ferozepur road on Wednesday. The protesters demanded that the role of Sangrur jail officials in his death should be probed as he was lodged at the Sangrur jail. Deceased ‘s kin claimed that Newton was fit when he appeared for a court hearing in Ludhiana in January. They alleged the police claimed that the he suffered a severe diabetes attack and then kidney failure but these were pure lies. Newton, who was 27-yearold, had no health issues at all and he died under mysterious circumstances. His body was kept on the road and the stretch was blocked from all sides, which led to a long traffic jam on the highway. After 30 minutes when senior police officials reached and calmed down Claim he died under mysterious circumstances, seek probe into role of Sangrur jail officials the protesters and assured to take up the matter before the authorities concerned, they lifted the protest. Following which, the traffic was resumed. The protesters alleged that Newton’s wife was also arrested by the Ludhiana police in some criminal case in the past and they had been demanding her release so that she could take part in the last rites of her husband. The gangster had also recently posted a video in which he had demanded that if the police release his wife, he would shun the crime world and surrender. In August last year, the Ludhiana police in a joint operation with the Counter Intelligence, Ludhiana, finally arrested the suspect by conducting a raid at Bijnor in UP He was facing . 18 cases, including of murder, dacoity, theft and drug smuggling, registered against him in the past. Though Newton was playing hide and seek with the police, used to show his presence on social media. He had several accounts on Instagram where he used to frequently upload videos and photographs. Last year before being arrested, he posted a video on his social media accounts in which he asked the police to release his wife after which that he would surrender. He also challenged the Ludhiana police. Taking action, the then Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal had already alerted the cyber cell to take action against his social media accounts, following which several social media accounts of the suspect were blocked. The gangster had also posted a video on social media a few months ago in which he had stated that he would be killed in a fake encounter anytime. Recommendation The report stressed the need that the Commissionerate Police and the departments concerned require taking up special engineering improvement and enforcement emphasis in nearly all police stations that have the majority of black spots coming under their belt. Kin and supporters of gangster Newton block the Aarti chowk in Ludhiana on Wednesday. ASHWANI DHIMAN Illegal migrants’ deportation:Immigration agencies welcome move by US Prez Zero visibility Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Vehicles move with their headlights on amid dense fog in Ludhiana on Wednesday morning. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA Ludhiana, February 5 The US have started deporting illegal Indian immigrants and the first batch of the migrants landed in Amritsar on Wednesday. Though the move has come as a major jerk, immigration consultants have termed the move as a blessing in disguise as they feel that innocent people will not be duped anymore and they will think twice before leaving the country in an illegal manner. Most of the immigration consultants here have welcomed the move of the US, deporting the illegal Indians, who were residing in that country without proper documentation. The agents said what the Indian Government could not do, the US had done it and it was for the betterment of Indians only. Talking to The Tribune, Mitesh Malhotra from Saviour Education Abroad said it was a much-awaited step, which will promote the legal way of going abroad. “Thousands of people will be saved from the clutches of those, who send students/aspirants in an illegal manner to the US without documents. If 250 persons are coming tonight, it will save at least 2,500 persons, who want to go through illegal routes. Instead of cribbing, we should welcome the move as the hard-earned money of several people would not go down the drain,” he said. Another consultant, Rishabh Verma, from P Global Corporation said majority of the masses, both from rural and urban areas, were much aware about the entire process of going on a study visa or for investment purposes. “Earlier, the people just wanted us to send them abroad from here and they used to manage everything once they reach another country. But now, people are aware and want to get every detail till they reach their destinations. The move of the Donald Trump-led US Government has saved many lives,” he said. At the same time, sources said most of those returning to the country, belong to the Majha belt such as Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar and Nawanshahr and a few were from Patiala, Mohali and Sangrur. Many of them were from the neighbouring Haryana also, they added. Four nabbed in two snatching cases Man gets 20-yr jail for violating minor girl Legal Correspondent Mandi Ahmedgarh, Feb 5 The police claimed to have solved two snatching incidents by arresting four members of two gangs of miscreants. Two mobiles, two motorcycles and sharp weapons used in the crime were recovered from the suspects, who were arrested from dif- ferent places on Tuesday. The suspects were identified as Munish Kumar of the Gandhi Chowk area, Ahmedgarh, Harshdeep Singh of Chhapar Road, Ahmedgarh, Riaz Mohammad of Dialpur Chhanna, Amargarh and Amit Kochhar of Diwana Colony, Amargarh. Malerkotla SSP Gagan Ajit Singh said police officials, supervised by DSP Ranjit Singh Bains, DSP Davinder Singh Sandhu, Ahmedgarh City SHO Aditya Sharma and Amargarh SHO Gurpreet Kaur had solved two snatching cases by arresting the motorcycle-borne miscreants after receiving a tipoff about the crime incidents at respective places. “In both cases, the suspects were arrested after the crimes were reported to police personnel deployed at nakas at strategic points,” said Gagan Ajit Singh, adding that investigating teams were yet to ascertain past criminal history of the suspects, if any. — OC c m y b Ludhiana, February 5 The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Raavi Inder Kaur Sandhu has sentenced Dinesh Kumar, a resident of Sherpur, here, to 20 years’ imprisonment on the charge of physically abusing a minor girl. It has also ordered the man to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh. In this regard, a case was registered against the accused on April 26, 2023, at Police Division 6 on the complaint of the victim’s mother. According to the complainant, the accused was staying on rent in a room near them. According to her, on the day of the incident, her husband had gone to work and she and her son were at the railway station for booking a ticket. Her six-year-old minor daughter was at home. When she returned home, her daughter was not present in the house. When she searched for her, she found her in the accused’s room where he was trying to violate the victim. After seeing the woman, the accused fled the scene. Later, he was arrested by the police In the court, the accused claimed himself to be innocent and said he had been falsely implicated in the case. But convinced with the testimony of the victim and her mother and after hearing the arguments of both sides, the court found the accused guilty.