05072025-LT-01.qxd 7/5/2025 12:31 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune COPS INSPECT PARKING LOTS UNDER ‘SECUREPARK OPS’ APARSHAKTI IS EXCITED ABOUT HIS TAMIL FILM » PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 29°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 28°C DILJIT RETURNS TO BORDER 2, BUT CONDITIONS APPLY Actor Aparshakti Khurana has announced his first Tamil film ROOT Running Out of Time. P4 The drive focused on surveillance, security of open parking spaces across city. P2 FORECAST Scrap the film now and it’s not just Diljit who loses — it's crew, co-stars & honestly, crores of investment. P4 » SUNSET SATURDAY 7.28 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5:27 AM » SATURDAY | 5 JULY 2025 | LUDHIANA Huge quantity of drugs, ~6.98 lakh drug money recovered from suspects Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 4 The Ludhiana police cracked the whip on drug smugglers under the campaign Yudh Nashian Virudh and became successful in nabbing as many as 623 smugglers in the past four months. Not only the smugglers are arrested but properties made by them with the proceeds of drug money was also freezed by the police. Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma told The Tribune here on Friday that from March 1, 2025, to July 3, 2025, the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate registered 467 cases of drug peddling and in the cases, as many as 623 smugglers were arrested by the police. The suspects also include big smugglers, who had been continuing the illegal trade even after coming out on bail. The CP revealed that with the arrests made in four months, the police also recovered a huge quantity of drugs, including 20.63 kg of heroin, 12.26 gm of opium, 272.60 Minor girl dies in roof collapse Ludhiana, July 4 A 13-year-old girl died after the roof of a house collapsed in Ambedkar Nagar, Model Town. Three members of a family were injured in the accident. The girl, who was also injured, was taken to a hospital, but she breathed her last. The deceased was identified as Komalpreet. A local resident, Sohan Singh, said the roof of a house collapsed. The lintel fell after midnight. The condition of the lintel was bad and iron rods were visible. Three persons were sleeping on a bed in a room of the house and the girl’s brother was sleeping on a cot. Komalpreet was lying on the bed with her father Hardial Singh Kala and mother Baljinder Kaur. She died due to severe head injury. Her mother also suffered a severe head injury. The deceased was studying in Class VII. As the victims belong to a poor family, residents of the area have demanded from the administration that the government should help them financially. — TNS Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma addresses mediapersons in Ludhiana on Friday. ASHWANI DHIMAN PROPERTY WORTH ~2.98 CR FREEZED CP Swapan Sharma claimed that in the past four months’ campaign, property worth ~2.98 crore of smugglers has also been freezed and the process to attach property of several cases is already on. Furthermore, 10 properties of smugglers made from the proceeds of drug money was also demolished by the police with the help of the local authorities. gm of poppy husk, 1.67 gm of charas, 37.55 gm of ganja, 27.10 gm poppy plants; 54 gm ice; 14,876 pills/capsule and also Rs 6,98,680 drug money. The CP claimed that as many as 105 drug addicts were admitted to the drug de-addiction centres and 627 were also sent to OOAT clinics from where the police were helping them in obtaining necessary medicines. Even if police find out that a drug peddler was also an addict, they ensure treatment of the suspect by admitting him to a deaddiction centre. He said among the arrested smugglers, a large number of suspects are habitual offenders who continue the trade even after coming out on bail. “We daily get report of smugglers who are bailed out, accordingly, our team keep a tab over their activities and if they are found to be involved in drug peddling, The police again nab them and put behind the bar. Sharma claimed that the ENCROACHMENTS ALONG BUDDHA DARIYA PAC moves Tribunal against civic body, Water Resources Dept Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 4 The Public Action Committee (PAC) has filed a petition before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the Department of Water Resources and Municipal Corporation (MC), Ludhiana, over illegal encroachments along the Buddha Dariya. The violation involves the construction of a reinforced cement concrete (RCC) retaining wall on the river bed and a road in the buffer zone between Haibowal Bridge and Old GT Road Bridge. PAC members Er Kapil Arora and Kuldeep Singh Khaira said after observing the construction activity, the committee issued legal notices to the Department of Water Resources and the Municipal Corporation, demanding immediate restitution of the Buddha Dariya and its buffer zone. “Despite citing clear directives from the Supreme Court and the NGT, the MC has continued with the construction, causing serious environmental harm,” said Arora. He pointed out that the MC had earlier identified illegal structures along the Buddha Dariya, marking them with red cross. However, instead of removing them, the corporation had narrowed the river’s width to protect the encroachments. “It’s a gross misuse of power. Law enforcers have turned into lawbreakers — a recurring pattern under the current Municipal Commissioner,” added Khaira. Dr Amandeep Singh Bains and Gurpreet Singh Plaha criticised the Drainage Department for inaction, stating that while it had issued letters to the MC, no meaningful steps have been taken even after two months of ongoing construction. “This tokenism shows clear connivance between the two departments. If the Drainage Department was serious, the work would have been halted the moment it began,” they said. According to Jaskirat Singh and Col Jasjit Singh Gill, the illegal construction has reduced the width of dariya by nearly 40 per cent, putting nearby localities at serious flood risk. They also recalled that, as per the action plan for the Sutlej, the NGT Monitoring Committee had specifically instructed the MC to carry out plantation along both banks of the dariya within the municipal limits to control foul odours and improve the area’s appearance. These directions have been completely ignored. police had not only been apprehending drug peddlers but cases of the NDPS Act were also being taken to a logical conclusion by presenting the same in courts. The city police managed to achieve 92 per cent conviction rate of drug cases taken to the court. The police along with the legal team is already on the task to achieve 100 per cent conviction rate. Interestingly, bail of six smugglers, who obtained the same from court got cancelled by informing the court about their involvement in drug peddling. CP Swapan Sharma claimed that in the past four months’ campaign, property worth Rs 2.98 crore of smugglers has also been freezed and the process to attach property of several cases is already on. Furthermore, 10 properties of smugglers made from the proceeds of drug money was also demolished by the police with the help of the local authorities. Miscreants damage over 50 vehicles Ludhiana, July 4 Bike-borne miscreants damaged over 50 cars in the Shimlapuri and Daba areas on Thursday night. Suspects were captured in CCTV cameras installed in the area. Two suspects were also rounded up by the Basant Park police post. Windowpanes of the cars were damaged by hitting bricks or some heavy objects. The SHO, Shimlapuri, inspector Gagandeep Singh, said about 25 cars were damaged in the Shimlapuri area and about 25 cars were reportedly damaged in the Daba area. The car owners had submitted complaints to the police. Two suspects were rounded up by the Shimlapuri police, but they were yet to be arrested. Footage of CCTV cameras were seized. Sources said two persons had arguments with Guru Gobind Nagar residents and due to the same, the other person along with his companions damaged cars of area residents. Meanwhile, residents also held a protest against the police, alleging delay in arrest of the suspects. — TNS Multi-storey building gutted in major fire at Field Ganj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 4 A major fire broke out in a multi-storey building in Field Ganj on Thursday night. Stocks of garment and other stuff related to upcoming festivals reduced to ashes. Since the shop was located in a densely populated market, firemen faced a tough time in dousing the flames. Only a small fire tender could enter the market. Big fire tenders were stationed on the road and a long water pipe was used to control the blaze. Goldy Chawla, owner of the shop, said on Thursday night, he had closed the shop. Around 12.30 am, he got a call from his sister staying in Jalandhar who informed him that a fire has broken out in the shop. As he had left his mobile inside the shop on Thursday night, he could not get immediate information as shopkeepers in the area had been calling him to inform about the fire. Later, one of the shopkeepers informed his sister. “I have kept a huge stock of garments in all three floors. Recently, I bought a stock of rakhis worth Rs 7 lakhs. Even a big amount of cash was also lying in the shop. Everything gutted in the fire. Even walls HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Cops nab 623 drug smugglers in four months, achieve 92% conviction rate The building where a fire broke out in Field Ganj on Thursday night. of the shop developed cracks, causing major damage to the building. We have lost everything we gathered in decades of struggle,” he said. A shopkeeper said over 15 fire tenders were used to douse the flames in more than four hours. A fire official said the main shutter was locked when firemen reached the scene. They 5 land in police net at village during CASO Cops conduct a surprise checking at a house in Ludhiana on Friday. Ludhiana, July 4 The Commissionerate Police arrested five persons with heroin during a CASO operation under the state government’s Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign. Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma said the CASO operation was carried out at Talwandi village under Ladhowal police station, resulting in arrest of the five suspects. He said in different seizures, 150 gm and 170 gm of heroin were seized. He said the suspects were facing 18 NDPS cases while at present they were on bail. He said the police were keeping a close eye on eight per- sons, of which five had been nabbed. After receiving a tipoff and complaints from people, the police have initiated the action in Talwandi village. The CP said the CIA, Crime Branch and special cell in Ludhiana was jointly working to contain drugs, yielding satisfactory results. These branches had been given the responsibility of breaking the drug supply chain. He said police patrolling was also being intensified in the city so that crime could be contained. DCP (Investigation) Harpal Singh, ACP Harshpreet Singh, ADCP Kanwalpreet Singh were among others present.— TNS had to uproot the shutter to make a way into into the shop. Stock was kept everywhere in the shop, even on stairs. A short-circuit was said to be the reason of the fire that started from the ground floor and later engulfed the entire building. Electricity supply in the area got snapped due to the blaze, which was restored in the morning. Man, son dupe resident of ~1.38 crore Ludhiana, July 4 The Ludhiana police registered a case against a man and his son for committing a property fraud to the tune of Rs 1.38 crore. Despite taking the money, the suspects refused to execute the property registration. They were identified as Ved Parkash Singla and his son Diwakar Singla, residents of Krishna Nagar, Civil Lines. The victim had lodged a police complaint against the suspects in November 2024 and after a long investigation, the police registered a case against them. The complainant, Khushhal Kumar of the Civil Lines, told the police that Ved Prakash and Diwakar fraudulently obtained Rs 1.38 crore from him for purchasing a property. They neither got the property registered nor returned the amount. During the investigation, Ved Prakash was arrested by the police while the search for his son was launched by the police. — TNS HC questions Ludhiana police for registering FIR Woman held with 255-gm heroin despite earlier probe finding allegations baseless Our Correspondent Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 4 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Ludhiana Commissioner of Police (CP) to furnish an explanation on how the local police initiated fresh proceedings on allegations that had already been found baseless in an earlier inquiry concluded long back and approved by the CP He has . also been asked to explain whether such actions violate Punjab DGP’s circular dated April 1, 2008, as well as the court’s ruling, which bars multiple inquiries on the same allegations, except under the orders of courts or statutory bodies. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar passed the directions while hearing a petition seeking the quashing of an FIR registered on December 16, 2024, under Sections 419 (cheating by personation), 384 (extortion), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and Section 66-C of the Information Technology Act at the Focal Point police station under the Ludhiana Commissionerate. Directions were also sought for quashing all consequential proceedings. Advocates for the petitioner, Ishan Gupta, Muskan Gupta and Sahil Matharoo, argued that the FIR was an act of overreach by the local police since the same allegations had earlier been thoroughly examined by the jurisdictional police authorities. It was added that a detailed inquiry, culminating in a report dated October 3, 2023, did not find substance in the allegations. The CP duly approved the report, after which the petitioner’s earlier writ petition was disposed of as infructuous by the high court on December 13, 2023, relying on the said inquiry report. Despite the closure, the petitioner contended that the local police proceeded to register a fresh FIR on the same set of facts. Gupta argued on the petitioner’s behalf that it was contrary to the law laid down by the high court in the case of Jaswinder Singh versus Punjab decided on January 12, 2009. c m y b The court, in the judgment, categorically held that once an inquiry was conducted and concluded, no further inquiry ought to be held by the police except on the orders of courts, the Human Rights Commission, other statutory bodies of the state, or as specifically permitted under the instructions issued by the DirectorGeneral of Police. Taking note of the legal provisions, Justice Brar directed the Ludhiana Commissioner continued on page 2 Raikot, July 4 A woman, a member of a gang of drug peddlers, has been nabbed by officials posted at the Sudhar police station, falling under the Ludhiana (rural) police district. The police seized 255 gm of heroin from the suspect, identified as Amandeep Kaur of Thatha Bhaie village in Moga district. She was arrested by a police team, led by ASI Manohar Lal, from the drain bridge near a toll plaza on the Raikot-Ludhiana highway on Thursday evening when she was waiting for a client. SSP Ankur Gupta said The suspect in police custody at Raikot. police officials, supervised by Dakha DSP Varinder Singh Khosa and Sudhar SHO Jaswinder Singh, had nabbed the woman when she was on her way to deliver a consignment of heroin on Thursday. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was a member of a notorious gang of drug peddlers, which had been running the illicit trade through women who usually fail to draw attention of the police or people while travelling in public transport.