13052025-LT-01.qxd 5/12/2025 11:53 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune COPS CAUTION AGAINST MISUSE OF ARMY FATIGUES, STICKERS Police have issued orders cautioning people selling Army fatigues and use of Army and police logos on vehicles. P2 » ACTOR AMIT SADH SAYS HE THRIVES ON CHALLENGES The actor will be seen in cinematic adaptation of Rahul DaCunha’s famous play Pune Highway. P4 » TOM CRUISE SURPRISES FANS IN LONDON’S ICONIC BUILDING The Hollywood star was photographed on the roof of one of the city’s most iconic buildings, BFI IMAX. P4 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 38°C | MIN 22°C YESTERDAY MAX 39°C | MIN 21°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.07 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:30 AM TUESDAY | 13 MAY 2025 | LUDHIANA Central Jail overcrowded, courtesy ongoing campaign against drugs Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 12 The Central Jail, Ludhiana, located on Tajpur Road, has been facing a crisis in accomodating inmates. The reason for the same is the ongoing campaign against drugs of the Punjab Police, ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’. The jail is now overcrowded, exceeding the capacity of housing of inmates. As per information, the Central Jail on an average receives about 50 to 60 inmates everyday and surprisingly, most of the inmates being nabbed nowadays are apprehended in drug peddling cases. Most of the inmates being caught in the campaign are with small drug quantities, adding to the numbers of occupants indiscreetly. About-one-and-a-half month ago, the Central Jail had also stopped accepting inmates as a number of occupants inside the jail had reached over 4,700. The inmates had then been sent to the Goindwal jail by the Police Managing a huge number of inmates in the Central Jail is a serious challenge for the authorities. FILE Jail houses 4,300 inmates against capacity of 3,200 Department and even police officials faced huge inconvenience in transporting criminals by covering over 100 km distance. Sometimes, the police could not complete formalities on time and fail to take criminals to the Goindwal jail. As per jail officials, the Central Jail has a capacity RECEIVING 50-60 INMATES DAILY As per information, the Central Jail on an average receives about 50 to 60 inmates everyday and surprisingly, most of the criminals being nabbed nowadays are apprehended in drug peddling cases. of housing about 3,200 inmates but at present, it has about 4,300 persons, hence making it difficult for the jail authorities to manage the situation. Even from the security point of view, managing such a huge number of inmates in the jail is a serious challenge for the authorities. “Since the state’s campaign against drugs is going on at large scale, the average number of inmates being received at the jail daily is about 50 to 60. However, prior to the campaign, the Central Jail used to receive about 20 to 30 inmates only. Since a few criminals also get bail everyday, the count used to remain balanced but the campaign has literally led to overcrowding of the jail,” the officials said. The Central Jail accomodates persons arrested by the Ludhiana police, Ludhiana rural police, Khanna police and Nawanshahr police. Shivraj Singh Nandgarh, Superitendent of the Central Jail, told The Tribune here on Monday that the jail was overcrowded and the department had been managing the rush of inmates in a challenging way. The summer season further adds to the woes as the inmates have to settle themselves in the available space in the barracks. “We had stopped accepting inmates in the first week of April and they were then being sent to the Goindwal jail,” the official said. However from May 1, we have again started accepting inmates as the Goindwal jail has also been overcrowded,” he said. Notably, a similar situation was witnessed in 2024 when the Central Jail had refused to accept inmates. PAC rebukes CM, Seechewal over remarks against activists, deaths of two children Ludhiana, May 12 In a sharp rebuttal to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s recent comments against Buddha Dariya activists, and following the drowning of two boys during a “ghat snan” event near industrial effluent discharge points, allegedly organised by Seechewal and his team, the Public Action Committee (PAC), Mattewara, has issued a statement, condemning the government’s hypocrisy and negligence. It came in the backdrop of Bhagwant Mann needling activists of the Buddha Dariya over “doing nothing” on the issue of water theft by the BBMB and Haryana and the unfortunate incident of two young boys drowning during a ‘ghat snan’ event of Seechewal near outlets of dyeing industry CETPs. The statement of the PAC states: “The CM has questioned our absence at the dharna he is holding at Nangal against the BBMB Chairman and also about not giving any statement over the issue. Firstly, he is lying as we have already given statements in support of rights of Punjab on its waters many times. Secondly, it is curious as to why the CM expects activists and farmers to help him at his dharna when we are busy resolving problems created by him only. Our team is fighting multiple serious NGT cases against the state government, including those of illegal CETPs of the Ludhiana dyeing industry and illegal reverse boring by Malbros at Zira. “The CM and his government are not following even the NGT orders to shut the illegal CETPs of the dyeing industry. He has not ordered permanent closure of Malbros despite their clear indictment by the Central Pollution Control Board for reverse boring polluted effluents into the groundwater. On April 30, his government has held a public hearing at Sri Chamkaur Sahib in an attempt to establish Ruchira paper mill on 200 acres, which is a red category highly polluting industry, right on the bank of the Buddha Dariya and 200 m from Neelon Canal for which we are battling hard with his administration to stop the project. Where is the time to go to his dharna? We are fixing the mess the government has created.” Dr Amandeep Bains and Col JS Gill of the PAC said: “In his statement, the CM claimed that he has allowed 500 cusecs through the Indira Gandhi canal for drinking water needs of our armed forces in Rajasthan for the war with Pakistan. What he did not mention was that it goes via Satluj mixed with effluents of the Buddha Dariya. He is giving polluted water to our armed forces for their drinking water needs, which contains chemicals of dyeing and electroplating industries of Ludhiana. This amounts to treason.” Kuldeep Singh Khaira of the PAC said, “The most unfortunate incident involving drowning of two young boys of Ludhiana during the ‘ghat snan’ event of Seechewal needs a quick and high-level investigation after registration of a FIR under various sections of the BNS. The PAC has raised questions such as how were such ghats allowed in the first place next to outlets of CETPs by the government and who gave permission for the same, what was the need for such ghats when primary demand was stoppage of industrial effluents, which officer did safety audits of such ghats and why no FIR has been registered when two innocent lives were lost. Kapil Dev and Jaskirat Singh said these ghats should be named ‘akal di ghat” and ‘sharam di ghat’ as they were not for any productive purpose or cleaning of the river but simply due to the hurry of the government and Baba Seechewal to take credit before even the task of pollution-free Buddha Dariya was achieved. — TNS Properties of three peddlers razed 3 of snatchers’ gang land in police net Mahesh Sharma Tribune News Service Malerkotla/Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 12 The police claimed to have initiated a process to take coercive steps against notorious drug peddlers of 20 hotspots situated at localities falling under Ahmedgarh, Amargarh and Malerkotla subdivisions. Properties belonging to three notorious peddlers of Mohalla Berian, Dhobghat and Bhoomsi were razed after following guidelines of the Supreme Court. Police officials, led by SSP Gagan Ajit Singh and SP (D) Sat Pal, provided security to employees of the Municipal Council, led by Executive Magistrate Apar Apaar Singh, during the demolition drive. SSP Gagan Ajit Singh said Mohammad Shamshad of Mohalla Berian (nine cases) , Ludhiana, May 12 The Ludhiana police claimed to have busted a gang of snatchers and nabbed three of its members. The suspects were identified as Lakhan Kumar Lucky of the Tajpur Road area and Jaideep Sharma and Gagan Kumar Arora, alias Kaku, from Guru Arjan Dev Nagar. The police also recovered five mobile phones, a scooter and a dagger from the suspects. ADCP Mandeep Singh, ACP Industrial Area-A, Jas, binder Singh, and SHO, Focal Point, inspector Amandeep Singh Brar addressed a joint statement in this regard. The officials said on May 9, Brijesh Kumar a factory worker, lodged a police complaint that when he was going to home from the factory, three Honda Activa scoot- A structure being demolished during a demolition drive in Malerkotla. PHOTO BY WRITER Mohammad Sehzad Sajja of Dhobghat (four cases) and Mohammad Zahid of Bhoomsi (one case) had constructed buildings in violation of guidelines of the government and were also involved in illegal trade of drug peddling for a long time. Though the district police had launched a campaign to spread awareness against causes and consequences of drug abuse under the Yudh Nashian Virudh, several drug peddlers and their sympathisers had cared two hoots for appeals being made by the administration to shun illicit trade of drug peddling. “Now when we have completed process to take coer- cive steps against the peddlers, including Shamshad, Sajja and Zahid, we have acted against them according to guidelines of the apex court,” said SSP Gajjan Ajit Singh while appreciating cooperation and encouragement received from residents and the Municipal Council. The suspects in police custody in Ludhiana on Monday. er-borne persons cornered him. They threatened to kill him by pointing a dagger at him and then snatched his mobile phone. On May 10, a case was registered against the unidentified miscreants. They added that as the police started a probe into the matter, three snatchers were identified. Today after getting INT’L NURSES DAY Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 12 The nursing profession is predominantly dominated by females but now perceptions are changing. The healthcare sector has seen growing presence and acceptance of male nurses in recent years. Historically, nursing was considered a natural role for women, perceived as caregivers by the instinct rather than profession and were referred as ‘sisters’ but now ‘brothers’ have also entered the domain. All leading hospitals have male nursing staff and the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) leads in the arena with 25 per cent of the total nursing staff being men. The Dayanand INDERJEET VERMA Breaking stereotypes: Rise of male nurses in healthcare Staff nurse Abhishek Bhatti looks after a patient at the CMCH. Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) has 48 male nurses of the total strength of 1,182. The Civil Hospital remains the only one where there is no male nursing staff. Anil Edward (54) is working as a male nurse with the CMCH for the past 33 years. Edward has his entire family into the noble profession, including his wife, son, daughter and son-in-law. Edward is now ward incharge. He says: “People generally confuse us for doctors.” Not only specialised duties, he also performs routine duties such as direct patient care, including administering medications, monitoring vital signs and educating patients and their families. “We explain procedures to patients and relatives, offering assistance from female colleagues, if needed, ensuring compliance with ethical standards during all medical procedures. It’s not limited to any gender. I would say that the role of nurses is increasing and becoming demanding each passing day. Male or female is not the issue, everything depends on how politely and patiently you listen to your patients and give them respect. Once you are able to strike a chord with your patients, gender doesn’t matter,” says Edward. Abhishek Bhatti, a staff nurse at the CMCH is into the c m y b profession for the past one decade. “My mother was an employee at the hospital and that ignited my interest in healthcare, seeing the respect for staff there motivated me to become a healthcare worker,” he said. Abhishek’s duties revolve around OPD, OT, rounds and vascular unit. “Despite nursing being female-dominated, I’ve experienced acceptance and support from patients. The increasing presence of male nurses has positively influenced acceptance by patients over time. It’s only elderly women patients who do not feel comfortable with male nursing staff sometimes,” he says. Patients sometimes refer to Abhishek as ‘brother’ and sometimes as ‘staff’. Male nursing staff at the DMCH is assigned to critical care sections to perform special duties, including CPR and other emergency procedures. Akshay Sanan, who is a nursing shift supervisor, said he had not faced any issue related to gender. In fact, male nursing staff also work in labour room OTs to perform deliveries. Bibin Devasya, another male nurse from the DMCH, said though nurse is a gender-neutral term and applies to both male and female nurses but people generally perceive nurse as a female. “Patients refer to us as “nurse” or “sir,” while many do call us “brother,” he added. Vrsot said job security, high level of professional responsibility and the opportunity for career growth attracted him towards the profession. a tip-off about whereabouts of the suspects, a raid was conducted by the police and they were nabbed. The scooter used in the crime and looted mobile phone of Brijesh were also recovered by the police. During preliminary questioning, the suspects admitted that they had committed several mobile snatchings in city areas and the snatched phones were sold by them. In further probe, the police would probe the role of the suspects in past unsolved robberies. More recoveries can also be made in the further questioning of the suspects. Some mobile shop owners who had been buying looted mobile phones might also face trouble. Miscreants booked for trespass on private land Ludhiana, May 12 Some unidentified persons tried to take possession of a prime land of Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Charitable Hospital (Society) by barging into the land. However, their attempt was thwarted by the police. The complainant, Col Randhir Singh, stated in his police complaint that he was the chief administrator of Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Charitable Hospital (Society), Shastri Nagar, Model Town. The hospital owns a property of 2,500 sq yards behind the water treatment plant near the Tibba police station. On April 29, some officials of the hospital management went to the property and were shocked to see that some unidentified persons had broken the lock of the boundary wall and occupied the same illegally. Following which, he lodged a police complaint. Police officials reached the place and removed the miscreants from the property. The complainant said on May 5, again some unidentified persons broke the lock of the property and occupied it again, after which they reported the same to the police. Later, the police came and vacated the property. The complainant said to prevent any such attempt in the future, the hospital deployed two security guards on the property. However, on Sunday, again some unidentified miscreants tried to break the lock and took possession of the property. On his complainant, the Tibba police registered a case. — TNS