07102025-LT-01.qxd 07-10-2025 00:42 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune FEAR OF ‘HARASSMENT’ KEEPS MIGRANT LABOURERS AWAY STUDENTS FEEL VOICELESS DUE TO LACK OF DIST-LEVEL UNION I WON’T DO ANYTHING THAT I DON’T LOVE: SHEFALI SHAH Labourers’ union cautions administration against adverse effects of labour shortage on procurement. P2 Many students feel that a district-level union needs to be formed so that their issues may be redressed. P3 Powerhouse performer Shefali Shah, in Chandigarh to attend a film fest, reflects on her cinematic journey. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 28°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.01 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:20 AM TUESDAY | 7 OCTOBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Commissionerate all set to launch revamped Commission demands urgent emergency response system to better policing explanation from Civil Surgeon IRREGULARITIES AT CIVIL HOSPITAL BLOOD BANK Scattered units are being brought under one roof to reduce response time Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 6 Taking a leap forward in technological advancement in the policing system and to improve the real-time response to any emergency call or law and order situation, the Police Commissionerate, Ludhiana, is set to launch a revamped Emergency Response System (ERS). Under this one-of-its kind initiative, which is the brainchild of Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma, scattered units are being brought under one roof for better and immediate coordination while dealing with any emergency call or law and order situation. The process to launch the system is already on and an ACP-rank officer has been entrusted the task to complete the process in days to come. The scattered units that are being brought under one roof are Safe City/Smart City Control Room, District Control Room, Women Helpline (1073), Wireless Control and 112 (police toll free) control room. Though the units were situated in the Police Lines, the same were lying fragmented. Earlier, it used to consume time in case of any urgent inter-departmental communication required to Caretaker booked for raping ailing man’s daughter The emergency response vehicle of the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate; and (right) cops operate an advance iPad installed in a vehicle. deal with any situation. Now by putting them under one roof, all departments will sit shoulder to shoulder and they will have better coordination and response time will definitely improve. The Commissioner of Police while confirming to The Tribune about the development said it was one of his dream projects and the same will be launched soon. “The Commissionerate is already having the best reaction time to any emergency call and with this new emergency response system, our real-time response will improve drastically as all departments sitting under one roof can coordinate in seconds and information can be passed immediately for required action. Otherwise, the scat- tered departments are already working in their respective places in the Police Lines and communicating through calls only. In the coming week, the commissionerate will launch the system for the benefit of residents,” Sharma said. He said once the system was made active under one roof, 50 to 60 police officials would remain on job for day and night and it would contribute in making policing more result-oriented. ADCP (Traffic) Gurpreet Purewal, who is superivising the ongoing work of transition of scattered units into one unit, said the ERS would help ensure timely resolution of all emergency calls. “In the old set up, if any law and order situation call received at the district control room and they need to check cameras, control room staff will telephonically ask staff of Safe City Cameras to check CCTVs to gauge the sensitivity of the situation but under the new system, all units will sit together and in such a situation, the staff can also see cameras immediately and quick decision can be taken,” he said. It is learnt that ACP (Traffic) Jatin Bansal has been playing active role in bringing the units together under one roof. Now, 34 vehicles carry iPads for quick communication The Ludhiana police have also installed technologically advanced iPads in 34 vehicles, including four electric vehicles. These are deployed at strategic places and also keep patrolling. After receiving any emergency call at the control room, whichever vehicle is near the crime scene, message will be delivered on its iPad, which will also sound alert. Police officials after receiving the alert first accept the task and then rush to spots. “The iPads have made police personnel more accountable and responsible as it records their real-time response to the emergency situation and if on-the-spot resolution is ensured, they have to update the same on the iPads. If parties are referred to police station, the update needs to be made accordingly. In future, all police vehicles will have these iPads. A similar system is also active in mobile phones of 13 two-wheeler PCR teams through a mobile app. Buyers’ delight HEALTH & WELLNESS The Tribune is starting a Q and A column to address your health-related queries. Please mail your questions (not exceeding 40 words) at healthandwellness@tribunemail.com. The Tribune’s panel of doctors will answer all your healthrelated concerns. Ludhiana, October 6 Days after serious irregularities at the Civil Hospital’s blood bank was highlighted in these columns, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has taken cognisance of the matter and sought an urgent explanation from the Civil Surgeon. The commission acted on a formal complaint based on the news report filed by local social activist Arvind Sharma alleging that the blood bank had been operating for nearly three years without a valid licence or a designated blood transfusion officer (BTO) — both mandatory under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Sharma termed the lapse a Rights panel acted on formal complaint based on news report filed by local social activist “violation of human rights and a threat to public safety. In its order, the PSHRC directed the Civil Surgeon, Ramandeep Kaur, to submit a comprehensive report one week before the next hearing, scheduled for December 17. Copies of the complaint and the commission’s directive have also been sent to the Director of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, and the complainant for compliance. Sharma in his complaint emphasised the critical role of a BTO in ensuring blood safety protocols, including supervision of collection, testing, storage and distribution. BTO’s signature is mandatory on all blood grouping and cross-matching reports. He alleged that only two pathologists were currently managing the entire blood bank and the hospital’s two mobile vans for blood donation camps were non-functional. He added that the absence of a formally appointed BTO was not a minor administrative lapse but a serious breach of protocol. He said he had also raised the issue with the state Health Minister and the Chief Minister’s office. At present, only two pathologists are managing the entire Civil Hospital blood bank. INDERJEET VERMA Jilted lover pushes girl off rooftop, victim critical Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 6 A caretaker hired to look after a bedridden man has been accused of raping his employer’s daughter, the authorities concerned confirmed on Monday. The Dehlon police registered a case on Sunday against the caretaker, Manish Kumar, following a complaint from the girl residing in a village under the Dehlon police jurisdiction. Investigating officer Jarnail Singh said the police were conducting raids to apprehend the suspect and expect to arrest him soon. As per the girl’s complaint, her father had been bedridden for an extended period due to illness, prompting family members to hire Manish as his caretaker. The victim reported that shortly after his arrival, the suspect began intimidating family members and engaging in improper acts with her. A few days ago, when the girl’s mother fell ill, her brother took her to a hospital. Taking advantage of the situation, Manish sexually assaulted her. After the act, the suspect fled the scene after threatening to kill the girl. ASI Jarnail Singh reiterated that the police have registered a case against the suspect based on the girl’s complaint and assured that he would be arrested soon. Tribune News Service Attempt-to-murder case registered against youngster Tribune News Service People have a look at traditional wooden handicrafts during the Saras Mela at the PAU in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Ludhiana, October 6 The Haibowal police registered a case against a youth who had thrown a girl from the rooftop as she refused to accept the proposal of friendship of the suspect. The suspect was identified as Yuvraj, alias Ish, a resident of the Tibba Road area. The complainant, Kulwinder Singh, father of the victim, told the police that on October 4, he was present in his office at Aare Wali Gali, Haibowal, when he received a call from his wife Kamaljit Kaur that their daughter Karmanpreet Kaur had been injured and they were taking her to the DMCH. “When I reached the hospital, my daughter informed us that Yuvraj, who was her friend but later she parted from him, was harassing her. The suspect took my daughter to the rooftop of the house and asked her to be his friend again but she plainly refused the proposal. After- wards, the suspect turned furious and pushed my daughter from the rooftop with the intention of killing her and fled the scene. My daughter suffered severe injuries and was still undergoing treatment,” he said. ASI Om Parkash said the girl was still unfit for giving statement to the police and so far an attempt-to-murder case was registered against the suspect and further investigation was launched in the matter. He said a raid was being conducted to nab the youth. Fire breaks out at 50-kg fake ghee, cream, milk powder seized in raid hosiery factory on Tajpur Road Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 6 There was a commotion early on Monday morning on Tajpur Road in Geeta Nagar when a major fire broke out at a hosiery factory, ‘Shri Ram Hosiery’. The fire spread so rapidly that the entire factory was engulfed in flames within minutes. The factory owner, Shri Ram, said he got information at 4 am that a fire broke out at his factory. He rushed to the spot and saw that the entire building was in flames. He informed the Fire Department, after which around Machines, raw material, finished goods, furniture reduced to ashes eight fire tenders reached the scene. Fire brigade personnel managed to control the fire after a struggle of five hours. Machines, raw material, finished goods and furniture inside the factory were reduced to ashes during the incident. Walls of the building developed cracks and parts of its roof collapsed due to the blaze. Ludhiana, October 6 The Food Safety Department, Ludhiana, conducted a major raid on Monday in the Sham Nagar area based on a tip-off. During the raid, fake desi ghee preparation was found inside a house. From the Samples sent to laboratory for testing; woman nabbed scene, the team seized nearly 50 kg of fake desi ghee, cream and milk powder, which were being used to prepare adulterated ghee. All material were confiscated and a detailed investigation in the matter has been initiated. Preliminary inquiry revealed that individuals involved had previously been engaged in similar illegal c m y b Officials during a raid at a house in Sham Nagar on Monday. activities of preparing adulterated food products. Action had already been taken against them under the Food Safety and Standards Act in 2017 and 2020. Furthermore, in 2023, the court had declared them absconders. It clearly shows that the suspects had been repeatedly endangering public health. During the raid, with the support of the Bus Stand police post team, one woman connected to the case was taken into custody. The Food Safety team collected samples of ghee, cream, and milk powder from the spot, which have been sent to the laboratory for further testing. Once reports are received, strict legal action will be taken against individuals under the Food Safety and Standards Act. The operation was successfully conducted by Food Safety Officers Yogesh Goyal, Divyajot Kaur and Harsimran Kaur in coordination with the police team. Civil Surgeon Ramandeep Kaur said during the festive season, consump- tion of food items prepared by using fake ghee, cream and other low-quality materials poses a serious threat to people’s health. She emphasised that such illegal activities not only endanger public life but also put a huge burden on the healthcare system. She said the Food Safety Department and the police had adopted a zero-tolerance policy against such illegal activities. Dr Ramandeep Kaur appealed to the public to always purchase sweets, ghee and other food items only from licensed shops during the festival season. She advised people to carefully check quality, standards, and packaging before purchasing. If anyone comes across any suspicious food item, immediately report the matter to the Food Safety Department.