05082025-LT-01.qxd 8/4/2025 10:36 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune ANOTHER ROAD CAVE-IN ADDS TO CITY’S CIVIC WOES GROUP SERVES HUMANITY BY EDUCATING UNDERPRIVILIGED DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANOTHER SHOLAY, SAYS HEMA MALINI Just days after a massive road cave-in near Model Town, another collapse takes place at Fountain Chowk. P2 What began as a small initiative has today evolved into a vibrant youth-led movement spread across eight branches. P3 The iconic film has completed 50 yearsof its release, marking a significant milestone in its cinematic journey. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY, RAIN MAX 33°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.18 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:46 AM TUESDAY | 5 AUGUST 2025 | LUDHIANA Bar assn members on strike, court work suffers Shivani Bhakoo & Rajneesh Lakhanpal Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 4 Protesting against the alleged high-handedness of AAP leaders and their supporters, the District Bar Association (DBA), Ludhiana, went on a two-day strike starting today, severely affecting work in the district courts. Lawyers have demanded immediate registration of an FIR against those who allegedly threatened a local advocate by brandishing a pistol and issuing death threats. The call for abstaining from court work was given by DBA president Vipan Saggar, while citing police failure to take timely action despite serious allegations involving intimidation of a practicing advocate. According to advocate Harjas Singh Gill, the incident occurred on the night of July 27 near Bansal Market, Sarabha Nagar. In a written complaint addressed to the Director General of Police, Chandigarh, Gill stated that Darsh Toor, along with Sunny Protest against alleged high-handedness of AAP leaders, supporters Advocates brief mediapersons on the stir at their office on Monday. Gill and four unidentified persons, stopped his car. Toor was reportedly in a black Scorpio and the others in a white Fortuner. Gill alleged that one of them loaded a pistol and pointed it at his head, while others tried to break the windowpanes of his car. Despite submitting an online report and identifying the accused, Gill claimed that no FIR had been lodged so far, allegedly due to the political connections of the accused with the ruling party. “They openly declared that they are not afraid of any police action due to their political backing,” Gill said in his complaint. Responding to the allegations, Amarinderpal Singh, district youth wing president of AAP and brother of accused Adarsh Singh Toor, claimed that the charges were politically motivated. “Gill belongs to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and is trying to defame us. Why did he take three days to lodge a complaint if the incident was that serious? We are ready to cooperate in any investigation,” he said. Gill, however, maintains that the police are pressuring him for a compromise. “If these goons are not booked under the law, they will continue to terrorise common people,” he added. The strike also received support from Bar Associations of Malerkotla, who are also protesting against the recent death of a young advocate, who succumbed to bullet injuries 13 days after being shot. The legal fraternity has expressed deep concern over the increasing threats to lawyers and the lack of police protection. President of the DBA Vipan Saggar warned that the protest might be intensified if immediate action was not taken. “Lawyers cannot work under constant threat. The police must uphold the rule of law,” he said, urging the police authorities to register an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Arms Act, and to arrest the accused without delay. Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma said, “We are in the process of registering an FIR against all involved. Law is equal for everyone.” At the time of filing this report, the police had initiated the process of lodging the FIR. Meanwhile, court work remained paralysed today as most litigants were unaware of the strike and had to return without getting their work done. The District Bar Association, Malerkotla, led by its president Arvind Singh Maavi, also abstained from work to express solidarity. Members mourned the death of the young advocate and condemned the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Warring seeks FIR, arrest Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring today demanded registration of an FIR and immediate arrest of Darsh Toor for threatening and pointing a pistol at advocate Harjas Singh. Reacting to the incident, Warring said this was unacceptable as AAP workers and leaders were taking law into their hands. Referring to the incident, the PCC president noted that the AAP leaders had the audacity to intimidate people, assuming that they enjoy immunity against the law. Demanding immediate registration of an FIR followed by arrest, he said the Congress would stage a dharna in case action was not taken against the guilty. “What message are you trying to convey that the AAP leaders and their kin are immune to any action no matter what crime they commit?” he asked, while asserting that the Congress will not let that happen. Expressing solidarity with advocate Harjas, Warring said the Congress stood by him and would ensure that the guilty was brought to book. “Just because you belong to the ruling party, you cannot be allowed to go scot-free like that”, he told AAP leaders. Video of truck driver breaking boom barrier at Ladhowal goes viral Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 4 A video of a truck driver creating ruckus at Ladhowal, Punjab’s most expensive toll plaza, has gone viral on Monday. As per the video, the truck driver broke the boom barrier of the plaza in anger after reportedly having arguments with the plaza employees over the toll. This entire incident has been recorded in the CCTV cameras installed at the toll. Sources said incident occurred on the night of July 29. According to information, initially there was a heated argument between the truck driver and the toll plaza workers, after which the truck driver made serious allegations like assault against the toll plaza employees. Seeing the incident escalate, other truck drivers also stopped at the spot and accused the toll employees of throwing stones and sticks at the truck. On receiving information about the ruckus, the Ladhowal toll management immediately informed the local police station. Giving information, ASI Jeevan Singh, who is investigating the case, said that the truck driver is a resident of Ferozepur. His nephew Taranjit came to the police station to lodge a complaint. Taranjit alleged that his uncle was beaten up by the toll workers and claimed that he also had the video of the same. The entire case was being investigated and the toll workers were being questioned. It is not the first time that employees of Ladhowal toll barrier and drivers have entered a scuffle. Earlier also, many such instances have been reported at the toll plaza. In some past cases, some car drivers had also levelled allegations of misbehaviour against the toll plaza employees and sometimes this had even led to scuffles. State BJP chief joins councillors’ protest, Stir against Mayor enters pitches for audit of Smart City Project fourth day at Zone D office Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 4 Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar today launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as he joined the protest against the MC Mayor, Inderjit Kaur, at the MC Zone D office here. Jakhar condemned the attitude of the Mayor for getting a case registered against BJP councillors who raised issues of people’s welfare. He described the AAP government’s attitude as arrogant, stating that the Central Government would now take appropri- Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar addresses a press conference at the MC Zone D office. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN ate action. A case was filed simply because the councillors had gone to meet the Mayor to discuss some development work. He called it injustice to the councillors and an example of the government’s arrogance and corruption. Jakhar vowed that the BJP would fight for its self-respect and that this issue would resonate across Punjab. He criticised the Mayor, accusing her of forgetting about development and engaging only in political bias. He also raised questions about the use of ~900 crore provided by the Centre for the Ludhiana Smart City Project. He announced that he would write a letter to the Central Government to request an audit of the funds to show the people how and where the money had been spent. Taking a shot at CM Bhagwant Mann, Jakhar said that Mann was busy telling jokes while the people of Punjab were suffering from drug abuse and corruption. He also targeted recently appointed minister Sanjeev Arora, saying that he would have to come clean on the issue of conflict of interest and he could not escape simply by resigning from his board of companies. He also urged the Chief Minister to become the voice of the people, warning that otherwise the people were ready to send him back home. Jakhar also criticised the government on the issue of land pooling, stating that this decision would eventually turn the people against the government. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 4 The protest by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors against Mayor Inderjit Kaur continued for the fourth consecutive day today at the Zone-D office. The agitation drew support from senior party leadership, with Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar joining the protest this afternoon. Earlier, BJP’s working president Ashwani Sharma had also visited Ludhiana on the second day of the protest, expressing solidarity with the councillors. An FIR has been registered against 25 BJP leaders for participating in the sit-in. The confrontation began on August 1, when BJP councillors visited Mayor Inderjit Kaur’s office to discuss development issues. A heated exchange escalated, prompting the Mayor’s security staff to intervene and escort the councillors out. Following the incident, the councillors launched a protest in Zone-D, demanding a public apology from the Mayor. The BJP leaders have alleged that the Mayor was involved in the lodging of the FIR against them through a police official at Division No. 5 police station — an act they claim will not deter them. Several BJP leaders named in the FIR continue to sit in protest. In public statements, they have offered to surrender voluntarily at the police station or the Commissioner’s office, reinforcing their stance of non-retreat. The political stand-off has intensified tensions within the city’s civic administration, with the local governance and public discourse hanging in balance. Cash looted from elderly man outside gaushala Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 4 A case of looting has come to light outside Shri Krishna Gaushala located in the old grain market of Jagraon late on Sunday night. An elderly man standing outside it was robbed of cash, following which the victim fell off the scooter and suffered minor injuries. The entire incident was captured on a CCTV camera. According to information, Prem Sehgal, owner of Sehgal Medical Store, reached the gaushala to pay obeisance at 8 pm on Sunday night. During this, a youth targeted him. Prem fell down on the ground during a scuffle with the youth due to which he also suffered an injury in his eye. The incident took place when Prem was sitting on his Activa outside the gaushala waiting for a family member. During this time, two youths passed by him to pay obeisance. The youth who returned first bowed his head outside the gaushala and then one of them attacked the victim. After the accused looted cash from him, he immediately raised an alarm and some nearby people gathered. Even a priest from the gaushala rushed outside after hearing the noise. Jagraon police was informed about the incident and investigation was launched by the police to identify the suspect. A CCTV grab shows the youth attacking the elderly person. Upcoming vending zone in a green belt area; and (right) the five trees which have been allegedly poisoned on the 200-Foot Road, Dugri, in Ludhiana. Encroachments in 25 parks, green belts: National Green Tribunal forms panel to take action Public Action Committee alleges poisoning of five trees on 200-Foot Road, files complaint Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 4 After a petition was filed by Public Action Committee (PAC) against encroachments in over more than 25 parks and green belts in Ludhiana, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formulated an independent joint committee comprising a member of the MoEF&CC, PPCB and a district magistrate to verify the allegations and take remedial as well as punitive action against the encroachers. Kapil Arora of the PAC said that despite issuing notices against commercial activities like opening of Verka booths in parks, an ongoing construction of a vending zone at green belt on Old GT Road, a library building in Vishwakarma Park, departments concerned continue to violate the rule of law. Further, the MC has constructed office buildings, an Aam Aadmi Clinic and residences in a park at Kidwai Nagar illegally and was now going to construct an overhead water tank in green c m y b areas of the same park. Members of PAC added that all such issues had been raised before the Bench. Arora further said that in this case they had taken up the issue of encroachments allegedly done by the MC, LIT and GLADA. However, there are large number of green belts and parks in which encroachments had been done by private persons and that matter would be taken up separately, the committee members said. “Since departments them- selves have encroached upon green areas, we hope that besides ordering demolition of encroachments, strict action will be recommended and taken by the joint committee,” he said. Meanwhile, today members of Public Action Committee also filed a complaint against alleged poisoning of five fullgrown trees at 200-Foot Road, Dugri. Amandeep Bains and Kuldeep Singh Khaira said that yesterday while going for some work, they noticed five full-grown trees located along the service lane of 200-Foot Road had completely dried up even in the monsoon season. However, similar native trees standing before and after these trees were green and in very good condition. From their condition, it is clear that these trees had been allegedly poisoned to remove them. PAC members added further that in the complaint filed with Principal Secretary, PUDA, Ludhiana DC, GLADA CA and Ludhiana DFO, they had requested to take the samples of soil as well as outer shell of these trees in their presence and get the same tested at an accredited laboratory. In case, the reports are positive, i.e. allegations are found to be true, then an FIR must be registered as per The Tree Preservation Policy of Punjab 2024. “As the matter is very serious and as held by Supreme Court, damage to trees is equivalent to murder. We have asked the authorities to act within two days, failing which we will move the NGT as per law,” said Khaira.