09072025-LT-01.qxd 7/9/2025 1:02 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune 8 MORE ROADS TO BE DECLARED AS ‘NO-TOLERANCE ZONES’ SHAHID KAPOOR, MIRA MARK A DECADE OF LOVE WITH $15B, SCARLETT IS HIGHEST-GROSSING ACTOR "We are going to act tough against the violators as these are extremely busy roads," says CP. P2 Bollywood couple Shahid Kapoor and Mira Kapoor are celebrating 10 years of marriage. P4 Scarlett has claimed the title of the world’s highest-grossing actor, with her films earning over $15 billion. P4 » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 30°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.27 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:29 AM » WEDNESDAY | 9 JULY 2025 | LUDHIANA Civil Hospital struggles sans forensic expert; Khanna-based specialist fills gap Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 Ludhiana, one of the state’s largest cities with a consistently high crime rate, is facing a serious infrastructure deficit — its Civil Hospital has no permanent forensic expert to handle postmortem examinations and medico-legal cases. Despite receiving 30 to 40 medico legal cases daily and conducting 7–10 autopsies on an average, the hospital has been operating without a dedicated expert for nearly a year. Though the district’s only forensic specialist is posted at Khanna and travels 40 km to Ludhiana three days a week and also steps in when urgently needed, hospital specialists from other departments are also juggling their core duties with forensic responsibilities. In Punjab, post-mortem and MLC (medico-legal case) examinations are primarily conducted by government doctors and doctors from medical colleges while private doctors are not eligible to conduct legal autopsies so the entire burden of the district is on the lone forensic expert while not so complicated cases are being handled by the specialists from various departments of the Civil Hospital. The Health Department must appoint a forensic expert at the Civi Hospital in Ludhiana, say police. FILE SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS Despite receiving 30 to 40 medico legal cases daily and conducting 7–10 autopsies on an average, the Civil Hospital has been operating without a dedicated forensic expert for nearly a year. MLRs and autopsies are now being delayed due to the absence of an in-house forensic expert. Final post-mortem reports are taking up to 24 hours to be prepared, affecting police investigations and hospital workflow. Previously Dr. Charankamal had served as Ludhiana’s sole forensic expert since 2021. His transfer to Kharar in August last year left a glaring vacancy that has yet to be filled. In the meantime, the specialists from other departments, including Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT, Skin, Ophthalmology and Microbiology, have been forced to step in for postmortem duties, often sacrificing their outpatient and departmental works. The forensic crisis at the Civil Hospital is rippling beyond city borders. Dr Gurvinder Kakkar, the only forensic expert posted in the district, travels from Khanna to Ludhiana up to three days a week — and sometimes even more — to perform autopsies. As a result, a backlog of medico-legal cases has begun to pile up in Khanna, where his own hospital duties are suffering. “We receive four-five post-mortems at Khanna and when I am in Ludhiana these go to backlog,” he said. Highlighting a possible solution, Dr Kakkar noted that doctors from Ludhiana’s two medical colleges — each with a forensic department — could assist with autopsies and medico-legal reporting (MLR) but they haven’t sought necessary government permissions or shown willingness to participate. “If permissions were granted or interest shown, the workload could be shared. Otherwise, the government should consider converting the Civil Hospital into a medical college,” he said. The shortage continues to affect both healthcare delivery and law enforcement investigations, prompting growing calls for systemic reform and staffing intervention. A hospital specialist shared frustration, saying: “We regularly have to leave our OPD and surgeries to perform autopsies. The hospital urgently needs a dedicated forensic expert.” Police officials have also raised concerns, noting that post-mortem reports were vital to the progress of criminal investigations. “Ludhiana is a large city with a high crime rate. Delays in autopsy reports can severely affect legal proceedings. The Health Department must appoint a forensic expert here,” said an official. Civil Surgeon Ramandeep Kaur acknowledged the issue and stated that a forensic specialist comes to Ludhiana three times a week and, when needed, he was called on request on other days as well. MBBS doctors are authorised to conduct postmortems. Hence, services are continuing on a daily basis as well. “Nonetheless, we’ve written to the authorities concerned and are hopeful of getting an expert in coming months,” she said. Challenge mounts for Industry Minister as bizmen plan to expand ops to MP Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 A major challenge has arisen for newly inducted Punjab Industry and Commerce Minister Sanjeev Arora, as several prominent Ludhianabased industrialists have announced plans to expand operations in Madhya Pradesh (MP) with investments totalling Rs15,000 crore over the next five years. The development follows a recent visit by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav to Ludhiana, where he held discussions with business leaders that appear to have borne fruit. Expressing concern over the exodus of investments, Member of Parliament Vikram Sawhney commented that Punjab must now build a robust ecosystem within the state itself, featuring worldclass infrastructure, focal points and industrial zones. “Let’s make additional investments and create jobs for our youth right here in Punjab,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). This large-scale investment in MP is being seen as a potential threat to Punjab’s economic stability. Gurmeet Singh Kular, president of the Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisations (FICO), alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has failed to provide sufficient support to local industry. “In 2022, when the AAP government came to The development follows a recent visit by MP CM Mohan Yadav to Ludhiana when he held discussions with industrialists. FILE Industrialists to invest ~15,000 cr in Madhya Pradesh over 5 years power, it announced a fiscal incentive of 2.5 per cent on new industrial investments,” he said. Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal also voiced concern. “In 2022, Punjab industrialists invested Rs 2,950 crore in Uttar Pradesh. Now, in 2025, over Rs 15,000 crore is being invested in Madhya Pradesh due to lawlessness and gang wars in Punjab,” he said in a tweet. “Besides, Arvind Kejriwal is threatening the industry in Punjab to fill the government’s empty coffers. This has destabilised the state’s economy.” Kular added, “Many industrialists invested based on the expectation of receiving refunds. But to their shock, major industries like hosiery, agriculture, bicycle and sewing machine manufacturing were excluded from the refund scheme. Why would anyone invest in Punjab when the government itself is not supportive? We are preparing to move court on this issue.” Following interactions with the industrialists, major business groups committed to investments in MP include Trident (Rs 5,000 crore), Ralson (Rs 2,000 crore), Vardhman (Rs 2,500 crore), Nahar (Rs 1,200 crore), PV Cottspin (Rs 1,300 crore), Cremica (Rs 700 crore), and Deepak Fasteners (Rs 1,300 crore). These ventures are expected to generate employment for nearly 20,000 youths in Madhya Pradesh. Another industrialist, requesting anonymity, said: “If someone invests Rs 100 crore in MP they receive Rs , 40 crore back as capital subsidy. Apart from that, there is a calm and peaceful environment—unlike Punjab, where law and order is at its worst. We do not feel secure here.” Man, son nabbed for dowry death 2 land in police dragnet R’sthan man held with 1-kg opium Mahesh Sharma Khanna, July 8 A man and his son of Singh Avenue, Anand Nagar, Khanna, had been arrested for allegedly causing the dowry death of a newly married woman on Monday. The suspects were identified as Amritpal Singh and his father Bhag Singh, at present staying at Anand Nagar and hailing from Meerpur village in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The body of the deceased, Raman Kaur, was found hanging in her room at her in-laws’ house in Khanna when her parents visited her house to enquire about her health after they were informed that she had caught some infection. Darshan Singh of Salana Raman Kaur, the deceased. Dulla Singh Wala village in the Amloh region alleged that the suspects had caused death of Raman Kaur as she had not succumbed to their pressure to bring a new motorcycle as an article of dowry. Raman Kaur was married to Amritpal Singh only five months ago on February 9 and according to the complainant, Darshan Singh, Amritpal and his father Bhag Singh had started harassing her for bringing meagre amount of dowry shortly after marriage. “My sister Raman Kaur talked to our mother on Monday too and alleged that Amritpal and his father had misbehaved with her and beaten for not bringing motorcycle as dowry,” Darshan told the Khanna police on Monday. It was after receiving information from Amritpal about an ‘infection’ caused to Raman Kaur that her parents found her body hanging from a ceiling fan in her room. DSP Amritpal Singh Bhatti said the suspects were nabbed when they were trying to escape after coming to know about the registration of an FIR under Section 80 of the BNS for alleged dowry death of the woman. with countrymade pistol Our Correspondent Doraha, July 8 The Doraha police claimed to have nabbed two persons and seized one countrymade pistol and two cartridges from their custody. A case under the Arms Act has been registered against the suspects and they have been taken on a police remand for further probe. As part of the ongoing crackdown against antisocial elements, the Doraha police had succeeded in arresting the suspects with arms. They have been identified as Simranjeet Singh of Doraha and Arvinder Singh of Ajnaud village. They were arrested on a tipoff when they were going from Delhi to Ludhiana in a car. The police got information that they were are about to use the arms for some purpose. Payal DSP Hemant Malhotra, along with SHO Doraha Akash Dutt, said the culprits were arrested on the spot and one countrymade pistol and two cartridges were seized. They were presented in court. The police remand had been obtained and there are chances of further recoveries. Simarjeet Singh has four cases registered against him while Arvinder has 13,” the DSP said. The suspect in police custody in Doraha. Our Correspondent Doraha, July 8 The Doraha police claimed to have recovered 1 kg of opium from a suspect at a naka on the Rampur road here. The suspect involved in the case has been taken into custody by the police and further investigation has been initiated by obtaining his remand. As per Payal DSP Hemant Malhotra, the suspect, who was coming on the Rampur road, sensing police naka ahead, tried to evade the same. But the police nabbed him. On search, 1 kg of opium was seized from him and a case under Sections 18, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act was registered against the man. He has been identified as Bhairo Ram of Sikar in Rajasthan. The suspect is being interrogated after obtaining his police remand. ‘Project Jeevanjot’: 18 children rescued from begging Youngster ends life by Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 To curb child begging and promote rehabilitation, the Social Security and Child Development Department has launched an intensive awareness and rescue drive under the ‘Project Jeevanjot’ initiative. Awareness drive under project launched to curb child begging, promote rehab The campaign, which began last week and will continue through the next week, has already led to the rescue of 18 children from begging hotspots across the city. District Child Protection Officer Rashmi Saini said children willing to pursue Officials of the Social Security and Child Development Department interacts with the homeless in Ludhiana. education had been admitted to schools and those meeting the eligibility criteria were being supported with schol- arships. “Our aim is not only to remove children from streets but also to reintegrate them into mainstream socie- ty with dignity and opportunity,” she said. The drive is being carried out in collaboration with the c m y b Education Department, police, Child Helpline teams and other stakeholders. The teams are conducting field visits, counselling sessions and awareness campaigns to discourage the public from giving alms and to encourage reporting of child begging cases. ‘Project Jeevanjot’ is part of a larger state-wide initiative aimed at eradicating child begging, providing rescued children with shelter, education, healthcare and emotional support. Officials urged citizens to support the campaign by refraining from giving money to children and instead contacting the helpline services for intervention. Lovepreet Singh from the District Child Protection Unit, Manjot Singh and Shilpa Prabhakar from child helpline, Ludihana. Satwinder Singh and Harkamal Singh from the Education Department participated in Tuesday’s drive. jumping into canal Lovleen Bains Machiwara, July 8 The body of a youth was recovered near Katana Sahib here on Tuesday. The youth went missing on Saturday. The body has been kept at the mortuary of a local hospital. A probe under Section 174 of the CrPC has been initiated by the Machiwara police in this regard. Prince Kumar, a resident of Machhiwara town, had gone missing since Saturday. Being an orphan since childhood, he was staying with his maternal grandparents. They kept on waiting for their grandson’s since he went missing. After returning from the confectionery shop where he was working, he parked his bike and told his grandmother that he would soon return. However, he took the extreme step of dying by suicide by jumping into the Sirhind canal. The grandparents informed the police about his disappearance. Divers spotted the body and pulled it out from near the Katan Sahib pull. It was handed over to the Machhiwara police, which kept it in the mortuary. Machiwara SHO Harinder Singh said the reason for taking such an extreme step by the 21-year-old youth could not be ascertained. “According to his grandparents, Prince used to get emotional often and took everything to heart. It is not known why he decided to end his life,” he said.