13082025-LT-01.qxd 8/13/2025 12:41 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune ‘GOVT WILL TRANSFORM JAILS INTO REFORMATION HOMES’ SMART SHOES WITH SENSORS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED HOMECOMING FOR POLLYWOOD’S BELOVED STAR JIMMY SHERGILL Minister Bhullar said: “Our goal is to transform jails into sudhar ghars, where inmates can reform.” P2 Digital content is meant to inform and not diagnose ailments, says Dr Harnoor Singh Pruthi. P3 Actor Jimmy Shergill returns to Pollywood in a turbaned avatar with Maa Jaye— a tale of brotherhood. P4 » » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.06 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:49 AM WEDNESDAY | 13 AUGUST 2025 | LUDHIANA Night domination op intensified, 38 Neighbour attacks advocate, kin with sword in Samrala red alert nakas set up ahead of I-Day Tribune News Service CP oversees security arrangements, police keeping tabs on suspicious persons, vehicles Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 12 Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations in Ludhiana, security has been beefed up in the industrial hub. In addition to routine patrolling, the number of nakas was increased to check suspicious vehicles and persons. On Monday, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav held range-level meetings with officials of the Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana Commissionerates and Border, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Ropar Police Ranges. The DGP gave instructions to all CPs/SSPs to maintain peace and harmony by ensuring police presence at all important places, intensifying domination operations and implementing other preventive and detective measures. Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma launched a checking and oversaw security arrangements at the Verka Milk Plant chowk. CP Swapan Sharma carries out a surprise checking at a red alert naka in Ludhiana on Tuesday. “Security has been increased ahead of the Independence Day. As many as 38 red alert nakas have been set up on Tuesday where police personnel checked every vehicle and suspicious persons. Senior officials remained present at the red alert points. Though the nakas remained active WITHDRAWAL OF LAND POOLING POLICY AAP backed out due to High Court pressure: Ashu Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 12 Senior Congress leader and former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said today that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state withdrew the controversial land pooling policy only due to the pressure from the Punjab and Haryana High Court and not out of any sympathy for farmers. “AAP will meet the same fate as that of the BJP after the three farm laws,” he said. Reacting to the withdrawal of the policy, Ashu said AAP leaders and ministers were now trying to save face by claiming that they listened to the farmers’ demand. “The fact is that the AAP government was not left with any option after the High Court stayed the policy,” he noted while asking, if the AAP was so sincere and supportive of farmers, why did it take so much time and the court orders to withdraw the policy. Ashu also alleged that the AAP government misused the police and Municipal Corporations as the police and civic body officials had started threatening and intimidating landowners to give away their land under the land pooling policy. The senior Congress leader said withdrawing the policy does not mean the farmers will forgive AAP . “It’s intention was quite clear to snatch away 50,000 acres of land worth crores of rupees from Punjabi farmers/landowners without their consent or any compensation,” he observed, adding that it was the High Court which saved the growers. the city had nine parking lots and the police stated that random checking of the parking spaces was also being conducted. Through the Vahan app, parked vehicles are being verified to prevent parking of any unwanted vehicle. Meanwhile, the city police said the police control room had been actively keeping a tab over suspicious persons and vehicles, with live feed from over 1,600 cameras being watched 24x7. DCP (law and order) Parminder Singh Bhandal, who was also accompanying the Commissioner of Police, said sufficient security arrangements were made to keep the law and order situation under control ahead of the Independence Day celebrations. “Besides three-hour strict checking at red alert nakas, checking at public places, bus stand and railway station was also conducted where suspicious persons and their belongings were examined,” he said. Ludhiana, August 12 A lawyer was attacked by a neighbour with a sword at Kapila Colony in Samrala. The incident occurred on Monday morning when the victim was leaving his home for office on a motorcycle. Lawyer’s wife and mother, who came to his rescue, were CCTV captures incident, suspect lands in police dragnet A CCTV grab shows the suspect attacking the lawyer in Samrala. also attacked by the assailant. After receiving information about the incident, the police reached the scene and registered a case on the basis of the complaint and arrested the suspect. According to information, when lawyer Kultar Singh was about to start for his office on his bike, his neighbour Billu attacked him. The suspect also attacked his wife Manpreet Kaur and mother Sharanjit Kaur, who came to save him. Kultar suffered a deep injury on his head in the attack and got two stitches. His mother Sharanjit suffered a deep wound near her ear, which required nine stitches. Manpreet’s hand was broken and he suffered several injuries on his body. All three were getting treatment at the Civil Hospital in Samrala. Doctors said their condition was stable. The victim said the suspect was standing outside the house when he attacked him. The suspect had been abusing him for the past few days. According to residents of the locality, the suspect is a drug addict and has quar- throughout the day and night, strict checking was conducted on Tuesday for specific hours and the only motive was to prevent any anti- social element from entering the city and carrying any objectionable things,” he said. Sharma said two officials, along with 200 policemen, used to lead the routine night domination operation by the city police. However, from now onwards till August 15, the night domination exercise had been tripled. Hence, six officials, along with 600 policemen, would remain active throughout the night as part of security measures. The CP also revealed that 18-month-old girl crushed to death by tempo Relocate martyr Major Bhupinder Singh’s memorialtoBharat Nagar Chowk: Committee Ludhiana, August 12 A one-and-a-half-year-old girl died after being crushed by a tempo at Jangpur village near Dakha. The incident was captured on a CCTV camera. The mishap occurred when a vendor was carrying vegetables in a tempo to sell in the village. Two women were buying vegetables from the man. Meanwhile, the small girl came and stood in front of the tempo. After selling the vegetables, the women left the place and the driver moved the tempo forward, hitting the toddler. The girl fell and the one of the tyres of the tempo ran over her. Before the driver could understand anything, the second tyre also crushed her. Later, the driver stopped the tempo and picked up the child. There was an uproar in the village. The family took the toddler to a hospital but by then she had died. The Dakha police have started investigation in the incident. — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 12 A delegation of the Public Action Committee (PAC) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum demanding the relocation of the memorial of 1965 War Hero Major Bhupinder Singh and the tank captured by him during the first war with Pakistan in 1965. Col Jasjit Singh Gill and Kuldeep Singh Khaira said the statue of shaheed Major Bhupinder Singh, along with the tank, was originally installed at Bharat Nagar Chowk in 1979. At the time of the installation of traffic lights due to heavy traffic in 1995, It was shifted to a site near the Government College for Women and was at present located near Rose Garden where it was not properly visible to the Public. “Now, with the ongoing reconstruction of the Bharat Nagar Chowk, we believe this Located near Rose Garden in the city, the memorial is not properly visible to the public. is a right time to restore the statue to its rightful and historically significant location. Returning the statue to the roundabout will honour Major Bhupinder’s sacrifice and serve as a powerful symbol of valour for residents and future generations of the city,” Colonel Gill said. Brij Bhushan Goyal, Kapil Arora and Mohit Saggar said: “Major Bhupinder Singh was a valiant war hero from Ludhiana who laid down his life on his birthday during the 1965 Indo-Pak War. His bravery earned him the Maha Vir Chakra and his legacy continues to inspire our community.” “Since the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana had gone to Chandigarh, we have submitted the memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar with request to bring back the memorial at the earliest. We have also requested that the announcement regarding the same on upcoming 79th Independence Day would be best time for the state government to pay tributes to war heroes,” said Arora. During discussion, the ADC said there seems be no difficultly in accepting the proposal and he would expedite the matter and ensured best efforts in this regard to discuss with the NHAI and put up the proposal before the higher authorities. relled with him many times in the past. The incident was captured on a CCTV camera and investigation was underway in the case. Samrala police station SHO inspector Pavitra Singh said the entire incident was captured on a CCTV camera. A case was registered against the suspect on the charge of attempt to murder. After the incident, lawyers while expressing anger over the matter had also held a protest and demanded strict action against the assailant. Man’s body found on bridge Ludhiana, August 12 The body of a man was found on a bridge near Kothe Rahla, Jagraon, late on Tuesday evening. The deceased was identified as Ashwani Kumar, a resident of East Moti Bagh. An injection was also reportedly found lying near the body. Getting information from locals, the police reached the spot and sent the body to the mortuary of a government hospital. The police said Aadhaar card was found in the deceased’s pocket on the basis of which his family was informed. The police said according to his family members, Ashwani Kumar was ill for some time and his health was deteriorating day by day. In the initial investigation, it was suspected that he died due to heart attack. The post-mortem examination of the body would be done on Wednesday and further legal proceedings will be initiated on the basis of the autopsy report. — TNS Rain brings relief, waterlogging leads to traffic chaos in city Hotelier gets extortion calls from gangster Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 12 Overnight rainfall continuing into Tuesday morning brought much-needed relief from heat but also unleashed a wave of civic distress across the city. Waterlogging was reported from several key areas, with the Jalandhar bypass emerging as one of the worst-hit zones. The slip road near the bypass, commonly used by vehicles to change lanes, was submerged under stagnant water, forcing commuters to wade through or take risky detours. In some stretches, the road surface has broken apart, exposing potholes and loose gravel, adding to the danger. “This road is a daily route for me but today it felt like driving through a river. Rain is welcome Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service A waterlogged Jalandhar Bypass and roads in a pathetic condition after heavy rainfall in Ludhiana on Tuesday. INDERJEET VERMA & HIMANSHU MAHAJAN but not when it brings such misery,” said Harpreet Singh, a resident of Basti Sheikh, who got stuck near the bypass. Other areas such as Domoria Bridge, Chandigarh Road, Ferozepur Road, Ladowal Road also witnessed heavy water accumulation, leading to traffic snarls. Two-wheeler riders were particularly affected, with many abandoning their vehicles midroute due to rising water levels. Residents expressed frus- tration over the city’s chronic drainage issues, which resurface every monsoon. Despite repeated assurances from the civic body authorities, the lack of a robust storm water management system c m y b continues to leave large parts of the city vulnerable. “Every year it’s the same story. We prepare for rain like it’s a disaster, not a season,” said Balbir Singh, a shopkeeper near Railway Road. MC officials said emergency teams had been deployed to pump out water and assess damage. As the monsoon continues, residents are hoping for not only clearer skies — but clearer roads also. Ludhiana, August 12 A city-based hotelier received multiple calls from a caller posing himself as gangster Ankit Pandit Sharma. The suspect asked the victim to pay Rs 10 lakh as protection money else threatened to kill the complainant and his family members. The complainant, Raghav Tandon, a resident of Sector 32-A, Chandigarh road, told the police that in past few days he had recieved multiple calls from the gangster, who told him that if Rs 10 lakh was not given, he would get him killed. The suspect even threatened that he was also aware about his family members and he could easily send his men to commit murders. ASI Randhir Singh said after receiving a complaint from the victim, a case was registered against the suspect. The gangster, who was said to be a native of Partap Nagar, Tibba road, was at present hiding in the USA. Even calls were made from USA numbers. Earlier also, several such calls were made to city businessmen by other gangsters who are hiding in foreign countries. Recently, a city businessman, Ekjot Singh Chawla had also received extortion calls from gangster Ankit Pehalwan, who demanded extortion and told him that he has close links with gangster Goldy Brar. Even a gangster, Goru Bacha, lodged in the Central Jail had recently made an extortion call to financier Gagandeep Singh.