21072025-LT-01.qxd 7/21/2025 12:45 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune DIRECTORS IMTIAZ ALI, MUKESH CHHABRA SHARE RAW ADVICE VIR DAS HIGHLIGHTS INDIA’S ‘AMAZING’ GLOBAL SOFT POWER MOTHERHOOD IS NOT DEFINED BY BLOOD, SAYS MANDIRA What do you get when two of Bollywood's most unconventional voices walk into a room full of young performers. P4 India is on precipice of an "amazing, undeniable" global soft power, comedian-actor Vir Das said. P4 Bedi, mother of a biological and an adoptive child, said: “For us, adoption was never the last resort.” P4 » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.23 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:36 AM » MONDAY | 21 JULY 2025 | LUDHIANA Contaminated water triggers alarm Admn rescues 18 children from begging during raids in Omaxe society on Pakhowal Road DNA tests to be carried out at Civil Hospital from today Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 20 A serious public health concern has again surfaced in Omaxe society, Pakhowal Road, here, as water samples from the residential complex reveal coliform contamination in the drinking supply. According to the report (the copy of which is with The Tribune), water registered a most probable number (MPN) of 43 for coliform bacteria — sug- Samples have been failing test since 2018, MPN level points to risk; residents seek swift action Despite repeated complaints, society officials rarely act proactively, say residents. ASHWANI DHIMAN gesting possible faecal contamination and exposure to harmful pathogens. Samples have been failing the test since 2018 and all reports are in possession with The Tribune. Health experts warn that such water poses significant risks, especially to children, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems. “MPN levels above permissible limits aren’t just numbers, they’re markers of waterborne illnesses waiting to happen,” said one expert. Residents, many of whom are doctors, entrepreneurs and professionals, have expressed frustration. “We stay in a premium society but our basic right to clean drinking water is constantly compromised,” said a long-time resident. “What’s more infuriating is the lack of urgency from the management even after alarming reports, no emergency response, no alternative water supply and no clear communication,” he said. This isn’t a new issue. Residents said water contamination had been recurring during monsoon season for almost seven years. A resident, who is staying here since 2018, said: “Water smells foul sometimes. I boil it before drinking but not everyone is following that option. We’ve seen entire towers suffer from gastrointestinal issues simultaneously. Why do we have to beg for clean water?” Despite repeated complaints, the residents alleged that the management rarely acts proactively. “We literally have to ask umpteen times to get tanks cleaned,” another resident said. “Despite all this, proper sanitation protocols are often ignored. We want the management to treat water safety not only as a seasonal chore but also as a year-round priority,” the residents demanded. Though the society belongs to real estate developer, Omaxe, daily operations fall under the Resi- MC taking extensive steps to improve waste mgmt: Mayor Says Swachh Survekshan ranking to improve significantly next year Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 20 Highlighting major steps being taken to improve solid waste management in the city, including bio-remediation of legacy waste and installation of static compactors, Mayor Inderjit Kaur said the Swachh Survekshan ranking would improve significantly next year. Addressing a press conference in this regard along with the MC Additional Commissioner Paramdeep Singh and other officials of the civic body, the Mayor said the city secured 39th rank (among cities with population above 10 lakh) in the Swachh Survekshan conducted for 2024-25. But after the inspection held under the survekshan, many things had already changed and residents would witness a major positive change in coming days. Under the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25, the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, scored 97 per cent in terms of cleanli- ness of residential areas, 89 per cent in door-to-door collection of waste and 93 per cent for cleanliness of market areas. The city has scored 53 per cent in cleanliness of public toilets and 50 per cent for cleanliness of water bodies as various steps have been taken to clean the Buddha Dariya too. She said door-to-door collection of waste, source segregation of garbage and cleanliness across the city would further improve in coming days as many projects were being implemented at the ground level. The project for bio-remediation of legacy waste was already going on at a fast pace and heaps of garbage at the main dump site of the MC on the Tajpur road would soon be a thing of the past. Under the first phase of the project, over 4.5 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste, out of the total 5 lakh MT, has already been disposed of through bioremediation. The contract for the second phase of the project, wherein around 20 lakh MT of waste has to be disposed of, has also been awarded. Around 9 acres of land has been freed from waste at the main dump site of the civic body. Officials said the bioremediation of 2.19 lakh MT of legacy waste at the Jainpur dump site of the civic body was also going on at a fast pace. Further, the project for processing of 1,100 MT of fresh waste generated in the city has already been launched and the fresh waste is being processed on a daily basis. The project to process fresh waste aims to ensure that garbage does not accumulate at the dump site again. Officials said a number of other initiatives had also been taken to improve solid waste management in the city, including installation of static compactors, to stop open dumping of garbage in the city. The responsibilities of sanitary inspectors (SI) among other officials of the health branch had been fixed to ensure clean- liness on main roads and internal parts of the city. Further orders had also been issued to stop street vendors from littering. Orders had been issued for placing wet and dry dustbins near vends. They had been directed to ensure that no garbage/waste was dumped around their vends, otherwise challans of up to Rs 2,000 would be issued against them and FIRs would also be registered over repeated violations. The construction and demolition (C&D) waste processing plant has also been commissioned in the city to recycle the C&D waste and a sealing drive has been launched against illegal slaughtering. The Mayor appealed to the public that they should also support the civic body in its efforts to improve solid waste management. The residents should hand over segregated dry and wet waste to garbage collectors. Further the residents should stop dumping waste in open spaces/plots to keep the city clean. dent Welfare Association (RWA) and outsourced facility management. With this year’s crisis unfolding yet again, the residents are demanding fresh water testing, identification of contamination sources and immediate supply of potable water via tankers or packaged sources. Harsh Chaudhary, AGM at Facility Plus (Facility Plus provides maintenance and upkeep services at Omaxe), said: “A few residents raised concerns and we’ve sent samples to the Health Department for checking. We’re awaiting the reports and will act accordingly once the same arrives.” When asked about failed samples in the past, Chaudhary said: “If a report fails, we take corrective measures. We also have reports that have passed the test.” However, the residents argue that reactive responses are no longer enough. Experts suggest thorough disinfection methods such as shock chlorination and a complete audit of the water supply infrastructure— including overhead tanks, distribution pipelines and filtration systems. Gangster brought on production warrant in extortion case Ludhiana July 20 The Ludhiana police brought gangster Gaurav Sharma, alias Goru Bacha, on production warrant from a Bathinda jail in connection with the extortion demand of Rs 50 lakh made to city-based businessman Gagandeep Singh. The police obtained a twoday remand of the gangster. The Dugri police had registered a case on the charges of extortion and criminal intimidation against the gangster. The complainant had also submitted multiple call recordings to the police. Inspector Beant Juneja said Goru Bacha was brought on production warrant on Saturday. “He is facing 57 criminal cases, including that of robbery, snatching, attempt to murder and murder,” he said. Goru had allegedly called Gagandeep from the landline number of the Bathinda jail and demanded Rs 50 lakh. — TNS Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 20 A committee formed by Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain conducted raids at key locations in Ludhiana on Sunday rescuing 18 children found begging with adults. The initiative, part of Project Jeevanjot 2.0, aims to verify familial relationships through DNA testing to curb child trafficking and exploitation for begging. The raids targeted high-traffic areas, including the railway station, bus stand and Chaura Bazaar. District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Rashmi Saini, who led a joint operation with the Ludhiana city police, Railway Protection Force, representatives from Childline and Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), said adults found forcing unrelated children to beg would face strict legal consequences. DNA tests would be conducted and during the 1520 days period for results, rescued children would be safeguarded in government child care home, Doraha. Saini said the DNA tests would be carried out from Monday at the Civil Hospital. She emphasised that if DNA reports confirm adults were not biological parents, stringent action would be taken under anti-trafficking and child protection laws. She highlighted that Punjab was pioneering the initiative and becoming the first state to implement such a drive to eliminate child trafficking and exploitation through begging. Sandeep Singh from BBA, Manpreet Singh, Prabhjot Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, Varinder Singh, Kirandeep Kaur, Gagandeep Singh, Rajinder Singh from Childline, Manoj Kumar from RPF and Tarsem Singh were among those others present. The Deputy Commissioner had formed a committee, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development) Rupinder Pal Singh. The committee included the District Child Protection Officer, District Education Officers (Secondary and Primary), the Civil Surgeon and representatives from the Commissioner of Police office and the MC, Ludhiana. On Friday, the Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Vice-Chairperson Gunjeet Ruchi Bawa announced the launch of Project JeevanJyot 2.0, a transformative initiative aimed at safeguarding the rights and Officials detain kids and adults to conduct verification during a drive against begging in Ludhiana on Sunday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN welfare of children across the state and directed the formation of district-level task forces in every district to realise initiative’s objectives. Each task force will be chaired by the Deputy Commissioner and comprise key officials, including the Commissioner/Superintendent of Police, Civil Surgeon, DEO and District Labour Officer. Operating under the PSCPCR’s guidance, the task forces would receive comprehensive support and coordination to ensure effective implementation of the project. Some show Aadhaar cards, still identity questionable During raid, some adults shown their Aadhaar cards which seemed to be fake and officials of the district Child Welfare Department seized the documents for verification purpose. Some people caught near the railway station said they came from Ajmer Sharif but why they stopped in Ludhiana raised suspicion over their identity and purpose. “We came to Ludhiana for doing some labour work from Bihar but were caught by the police near the railway station. We have Aadhaar cards and identity proof, still we are Kapurthala cop amassed properties worthcrores in travel business sans licence Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 20 Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sarabjit Singh (56) posted in the Kapurthala Police Lines, who was arrested by the Crime Branch, Ludhiana, from Nadala, Kapurthala, on Saturday in connection with the Rs 1.40-crore travel fraud case, has amassed property worth several crores in the past several years. Besides policing, the policeman, along with his brother Daljit Singh, had been running a travel business to commit fraud with foreign aspirants. Now, the police have started making a list of properties amassed by the ASI, along with his brother, in the past years. Jagat Joshi, a resident of the city, is also a partner in the crime. The police may attach the properties amassed from proceeds of the illegal money. A video, which is with The Tribune, clearly shows the ASI, with other accomplices, taking money from the complainant. The video was also given to the police as evidence by the complainant. Crime Branch in-charge inspector Beant Juneja told The Tribune here on Sunday that after the Crime Branch got a lead about whereabouts of the ASI, a raid was conducted at his farmhouse in Nadala from where he was arrested. Raids were also on to nab his brother and another suspect, who were at large in the case. Juneja said the policeman, along with his brother, had been running the travel business without possessing any licence. His brother was the one who used to remain in the forefront to strike visa deals while the ASI used to play his role while staying behind closed doors. In the probe, they found that the policeman’s brother had a criminal background as several cases were already filed against him. “The police investigation has found that the two brothers have amassed benami properties worth several crores. Even the ASI was arrested from his farmhouse in Nadala, which is one of the prime assets made from the illegal money. They had amassed huge wealth and properties, including five luxu- ry cars, including a Range Rover, Mercedes and BMW, and around 40 acres of land and a luxurious house from the illegal business in the past few years. Their bank accounts are also being checked, “the Crime Branch in-charge said. Now, the Ludhiana police will write to the Kapurthala police about the arrest of the ASI in the fraud case. The case The matter pertains to 2023 but a case has been lodged now, following which the ASI was arrested on Saturday. The video of the ASI counting cash with his accomplices has gone viral. The video was shared by RTI activist Manik Goyal. The suspects in the case are Daljit Singh c m y b of Nadala, his brother ASI Sarabjit Singh and Jai Jagat Joshi of Ludhiana. Devinderpal Singh Kang of Moga had paid them Rs 90 lakh to take his son Akashbir Kang and his family of four to the US. The suspects had initially asked Kang to pay them Rs 90 lakh but sent him to Dubai and El Salvador instead. They extorted an amount of Rs 50 lakh more by threatening the family. Bholath Congress MLA Khaira has demanded that the ASI’s brother should be arrested so that justice could be served and the youth of the state can be protected from such frauds. There are reports that the ASI’s brother, who is on the run, has nearly nine more FIRs filed against him. A video grab of the Kapurthala ASI (left), along with his accomplices, taking money from a complainant. detained by the authorities,” said some migrants caught by the police. “We will verify Aadhaar card of every individual. If the same is found fake, the department will take action accordingly. Possibility is there that detained children could have been kidnapped from somewhere and they are forced into begging. Let the department conclude the investigation and no one will be spared,” the DCPO said. Child beggars get active during evening hours It is learnt that child beggars usually turn active during evening hours at busy markets, traffic lights and outside temples. The department needs to conduct raids during late evening hours, if they seriously want to unearth the begging racket. It is also observed that women who used to carry children outside temples or at traffic light points disappeared from the day the government announced to conduct DNA testing. Children in laps of women could be seen always sleeping as they are seemingly drugged by the women who beg money to feed the children. Three suffer serious injuries in road mishap Ludhiana, July 20 A speeding bike collided with a stationary tractor-trailer on Sunday night. Three youths riding the motorcycle were seriously injured in the accident. The collision was so severe that the youths suffered severe injuries on their faces and heads. Mayor Inderjit Kaur, who was passing by, also stopped at the scene and provided first aid to the injured and arranging vehicles to send them to a hospital. The condition of the victims was said to be critical. Police impounded the trailer and launched further probe. — TNS