28022025-LT-01.qxd 2/27/2025 11:26 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune 360-DEGREE APPROACH FOR TACKLING DRUG MENACE: DC IMTIAZ ALI SET TO CREATE THE SERIES O SAATHI RE PANKAJ UDHAS’ TRACK DEBUTS ON HIS FIRST DEATH ANNIV To tackle drug abuse, DC Jitendra Jorwal emphasises the importance of a multi-faceted approach. P2 Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali is set to reunite with Netflix for O Saathi Re, a romantic drama series starring Aditi Rao. P4 On singer Pankaj Udhas’ first death anniversary, his final track, Baithi Ho Kyun Gumsum, has been released. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 25°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 24°C | MIN 14°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.24 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:53 AM FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2025 | LUDHIANA Relief for commuters as MC extends 137 immigration agents likely tofaceactionforviolatingnorms bus service contractor’s agreement Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service 15 buses still plying on two routes, will have to cover 70,000 km as per pact Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 27 In a what could be termed as big relief to commuters here, buses will continue to ply on the roads after the municipal corporation (MC) extended the contract of the bus service contractor today. The civic body will also float a fresh tender for hiring a new contractor for the same purpose. Although the agreement with the firm running these buses came to an end on February 25, a clause in the contract says that the bus service cannot be stopped if there is any arbitration going on in the court and this has led to the continuation of the bus service. Presently, 15 buses are running on two routes, from the bus stand to Kohara and from the Clock Tower to Sahnewal, and these will continue running. The next date of hearing is scheduled for March 10. Municipal Corporation Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said that since the litigation regarding the city bus service was going on in the court, so the bus service could not be discontinued. Dachalwal said that until this tender process is completed and a contractor is hired for running city bus services, the A commuter tries to board a bus, the service contract of which has been extended by the MC in a bid to provide relief to commuters in Ludhiana. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA civic body has decided to extend the contract of the existing contractor (Horizon Connect Transways Pvt Ltd), so that the public should not face any trouble. “We will wait for the court to take a decision and meanwhile, we are also planning to float fresh tenders for running the city bus service. Earlier, discussions were held with the PRTC to operate their buses on city routes, but it could not materialise. Now, fresh tenders will be floated,” said Dachalwal. Jaskirat Singh, operation manager of the city bus service, said that 15 buses continue to ply on two routes as earlier. “The bus service cannot be stopped as a court case is going on,” he maintained. He added that the MC had directed them to either purchase 83 buses for Rs 5.42 crore or return them in the same condition they received these in. After this, the firm knocked the doors of the court and the case was still pending. “According to one of the conditions, the buses had to cover 5 lakh km, but still 70,000 km were pending due to which the present fleet of 15 buses would continue to ply on the roads. We have received no letter from the MC to surrender the buses as yet,” he said. Om Kumar, who works in a factory at Kohara, was relieved to see city buses on the roads. “Yesterday was Mahashivratri holiday and today I was worried about reaching the workplace as I had learnt that the city bus service will discontinue. Much to my surprise, I found them parked at the same place as usual and the contractor told me that the bus service would continue for a few more days,” he said. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funded the purchase of 120 city buses in 2011. Initially, these buses were run by the MC and were later handed over to a private firm for its operation. The firm was given 83 buses for operations in 2015 while the remaining 37 had got defunct by that time and were still lying at the depot located on Tajpur Road. The city bus contract started on January 25, 2015 and came to an end on January 25, 2024. After this, the private firm started returning the buses and 15 were still operational because according to one of the conditions of the agreement it was required that the buses would have to cover 5 lakh km before being returned, which led to delay in the returning of this last batch. The deadline for returning this last batch was fixed for February 25, 2025. DBA poll: 3,021 voters to decide fate of 35 contestants Rajneesh Lakhapal Legal Correspondent Ludhiana, Feburary 27 The District Bar Association (DBA) is all set for the annual election to different posts on Feburary 28. A total of 3,021 voters will decide the fate of 35 candidates and choose the new executive for this year under strict police vigil. On the last day of canvassing, candidates left no stone unturned to woo the voters. They were seen canvassing in groups in chambers of lawyers. Tea parties, lunch diplomacy, late night parties were in full swing One arrested for firing at shop in Jagraon Tribune News Service before the elections. Young lawyers were seen full of enthusiasm during the elections campaign, particularly for the six posts of executive members. Divulging details, returning officer Lokesh Batta said that the polling would start at 9 am and continue till 4.20 pm without any lunch break. He said that for conducting fair elections 20 CCTV cameras had been installed. A team of 50 lawyers, including the present executive and 12 DBA employees, would assist in conducting the elections. If any bogus voter was found, he would be handed over to police and sent behind bars. The Bar council of Punjab and Haryana has appointed senior lawyers Gian Singh Mangoo, Gurjinder Singh Dhaliwal and Rajinder Singh Jassar as observers. For the president’s post, Vipin Saggar, Gurpreet Singh Arora, TPS Dhaliwal, Harvinder Singh, Harinder Singh Narang and Sanjeev Malhotra are among the six candidates contesting the election. For the vice-president’s post, there are six contenders: Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Sukhwinder Singh Bhatia, Anil Saggar, Charanjit Singh Channa, Gursimar Singh Alag and Rakesh Kumar Gupta. For the secretary’s post, Himanshu Walia, Harsh Sharma, Rajinder Singh Bhandari and Hariom Jindal are in the race. The joint secretary’s post will witness a three-way contest between Rachna Soni, Rahul Sharma and Rimaljeet Singh Rampal. The finance secretary’s post will also see a triangular competition between Mayank Chopra, Amit Gupta, and Ved Bhushan Sharma. For the six-member execu- 7 held, 1,925 intoxicating tablets seized in search operations in Sahnewal Our Correspondent Ludhiana, Feburary 27 The Jagraon police have arrested Robin Kumar and seized two country-made pistols, one magazine, 10 cartridges, a car bearing number PB 10EP 6723 and two mobile phones from him. The accused was produced in the court, which sent him to police remand. The police maintained that a case had been registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Avtar Singh of Chajjawal village. The complainant had said that when he was away on January 31, someone fired shots at his shop, following which the shutter and shop glass were broken. He said that he was suspecting his son-in-law to be involved in the act from whom her daughter had taken divorce. The police have arrested the accused and investigation was going on. tive committee, Harjeet Singh Bhatti, Harjeet Kaur, Jasbir Singh, Karan Tiwari, Lalita Pakhral, Munish Kumar, Nisha Bhatti, Piyush Chawla, Ramandeep Singh, Samar Sharma, Sandeep Singh, Sukhjeet Singh Bajwa, and Sunita have filed their nominations, making it a 13-candidate contest. The result for all posts, except executive, will be declared the same evening after counting of votes. The counting of votes for the six executive posts will be conducted on March 1. Sahnewal, February 27 In order to check drug trafficking and anti-social elements, the Sahnewal police, as per the directions of the Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, today launched search and cordon operations in the area under the command of ACP (South) Harjinder Singh Gill. The team comprising SHO (Sahnewal) Jagdev Singh, SHO (Sadar) Avtar Singh, SHO (Dehlon) Sukhjinder Singh, chowki in charge (Giaspura) Chand Singh and chowki in charge (Kanganwal) Mewa Singh launched search operations after identifying 10 to 15 spots at Bilga village, Giaspura, Nandpur, Kanganwal and Sahnewal town. ACP South said that a total of 1,925 intoxicating tablets had been seized from seven persons identified as Ravi A cop checks a box during a search and cordon operation being conducted at Sahnewal on Thursday. Kumar of New Ram Nagar, Lohara road, Satinder Dubey of Giaspura, Himmat Singh of Dugri village, Dalwinder Singh of Bilga village, Jaidev Singh of Balmik Mohalla, Sahnewal, Sandeep Singh of Sahnewal and Sukhdeep Singh of Sahnewal. A case has been registered under the NDPS Act and the accused have been arrested. Speaking to the mediapersons, ACP Gill said that the c m y b search operation was basically carried out to warn offenders and restore confidence of the people. “Having identified the sensitive areas, we reached the spot with the entire team, conducted the search operations and identified the anti-social elements against whom the proceedings are being initiated as per law,” he added. ACP Gill further shared that, “A total of 125 police employees, including constables and home guards, and additional police force had been deployed for the purpose. The search operations started at 5 am continued till 8 pm and produced the desired results and sent a message to miscreants that they shall not be spared at any cost and the strict action shall be taken if they break law. This exercise shall definitely have a constructive impact in the area.” Ludhiana, February 27 Following the deportation of Indians from the USA, Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal has initiated a drive against illegal immigration centres in the district through SDMs concerned to check the documents/details of these centres. Under the drive 137 immigration agents have been identified for failing to comply with the mandatory provisions of the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act and the Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act of 2012. The DC has written to the Commissioner of Police as well as the Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of Khanna and Ludhiana Rural to take action against these 137 immigration agents as per law. Giving details about this exercise, Jorwal said that the drive had been initiated about a fortnight back and the report was submitted by the officials yesterday, following which action was recommended today. “This action follows reports submitted by SDMs, who inspected the offices of travel agents and immigration consultants, along with their police counter parts, within their jurisdictions. The documents of travel agents and immigration firms were thoroughly examined, resulting in the current enforcement measures,” maintained the DC, adding that these centres were in the city and periphery areas. He further emphasised that these checks were intended to prevent unauthorised agents from defrauding individuals who wish to travel abroad. Additionally, he urged travel agents in the district to maintain proper office records and refrain from operating with incomplete documentation. Jorwal also appealed to individuals aspiring to travel abroad to always choose legal immigration routes and advised them to only consult registered immigration consultants, whose details were available on the official website of the district administration, ludhiana.nic.in. A walk in the rain Two girls are all smiles as they enjoy rain in Ludhiana on Thursday. PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Edu Board’s gaffe delays Class VIII examination Ludhiana, February 27 In what can be termed sheer negligence on the part of the Punjab School Education Board, students of Class VIII had to suffer unnecessarily as they were made to wait for at least two hours to take a exam. It was Hindi exam at VDM High School, Gurmel Park, Tibba Road, and 327 students had to take the exam. The question paper parcel mentioned the total number of question papers as 327, but when it was opened by the superintendent concerned, the question papers totaled 227 and not 327. The superintendent got the papers photocopied and the Education Department was informed. The exam which had to start at 11 am, started two hours late at 1 pm. Vishawkirat Kaur, in charge, flying squad (East) said that when she visited the school the question papers had been photocopied.— TNS Non-compoundable portions of six hotels in city sealed Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 27 Taking stern action against illegal constructions, the municipal corporation (MC) sealed non-compoundable portions of six hotels situated in different parts of the city on Thursday. Action has been taken on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the drive will continue in the coming days. On Thursday, the building branch teams of MC zone D sealed non-compoundable portions of Hotel Friends Regency, Hotel Nagpal Regency, Hotel Onn, Hotel Silver Stone, Hotel Diamond and Hotel Surya Regency. Civic body officials stated that a case regarding viola- tions done by hotel owners is sub judice in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court had directed the civic body to act against the violations, following which action had been taken against these six hotels and the noncompoundable portions were sealed on Thursday. Meanwhile, the civic body officials stated that working on the directions of MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal, regular drives were being conducted against illegal constructions. They appealed to the residents to start the construction work only after getting the building plan approved from the civic body, otherwise strict action would be taken against illegal constructions. One hurt in firing Ludhiana, February 27 A group of persons fired shots at three persons in Moti Nagar late last night. Amit, who was injured in the firing, told the police that he, along with his two other friends Bittu and Pradeep, were standing in the area. Suddenly, a group of boys came and started firing in air and one shot hit at Amit. The boys fled the scene. A case has been registered against six, including Raju, Rehan, Tallu and Lucky.— TNS A sealing notice put up on a door in a city hotel on Thursday.