Ludhiana, February 7
Cracking a whip against buses with tinted glasses, the city police has challaned 250 vehicles in the past 24 hours. The police said despite repeated requests and warnings, the bus operators failed to remove black films from their vehicles and were not following the Supreme Court’s directions issued after the Delhi gang-rape case.

However, the bus operators said they were not aware of the fresh guidelines on the removal of black films from buses. They said they were ready to do the needful provided the police showed them a copy of the Supreme Court’s guidelines.

Buland Singh, in charge, traffic, said hundreds of buses were challaned and 15 were impounded by the traffic police. "We are taking action against the bus operators following the SC directions,” said Singh.

The president of the Ludhiana Mini-Bus Operators’ Association, JS Grewal, said they were being harassed by the police. “The black film that blocks light by not more than 30 per cent is allowed. We are not aware about the latest directions of the Supreme Court. We have urged the officials concerned to show us a copy of the order, but to no avail,” said Grewal. 

Ludhiana, Feburary 7
The fast-track court of Additional Sessions Judge Mandeep Pannu has convicted Tilak Singh, alias Tilka, a resident of Bajigar Da Dera, Bharti Colony, Salem Tabri, in a rape case.

He was sentenced to 10-year imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on him. Besides, Kishan Kumar of Chitti Colony, Bhattian Bet, was sentenced to five-year imprisonment on the charges of abduction (Section 366 of the IPC).

The court acquitted Master Harbans Lal, his wife Charanjit Kaur of Hazuri Bagh, Chitti Colony, Bhattian, Dalip Kaur of Maya Nagri Colony, Kasabad and Komal Rani of Bhattian. They were earlier declared innocent in an inquiry conducted by the SP-III on the request of Master Harbans Lal.

A case under Sections 376 and 120-B of the IPC was registered against the accused at the Salem Tabri police station on August 9, 2007, following the statement of the victim’s mother.

The complainant had alleged that the accused forcibly took her in an auto-rickshaw and Tilka and Master Harbans Lal raped her.

However, the accused pleaded innocence. But after appreciating the evidence on record, the court found two accused guilty in the case. 

Ludhiana, February 7
Thieves struck at seven shops of auto parts dealers at Hari Singh Grewal Market near Tajpur Road and decamped with cash and valuables worth lakhs.

The theft took place 100 meters away from a police naka. Thieves decamped with Rs 60,000 from Singla Finance by breaking the cash counter. They took away an LCD television from Simran Auto Deal. The thieves also struck at Billa Auto Deal, Harnoor Auto Deal, Amrit Auto Deal, Bhikhi Auto Deal and Durga Seat Cover. Shopkeepers said the thieves decamped with Rs 40,000, blank cheques and other important items.

The police has registered a case against unidentified persons and started investigations.

Man dies under mysterious circumstances

Celebrations turned sour after a 25-year-old man died under mysterious circumstances while attending a wedding function at a marriage palace on Pakhowal Road.

The deceased has been identified as Pawan Panday, a resident of Khud Muhalla in the old city. The incident took place at midnight when Panday collapsed while attending a wedding of his friend.

Prima facie it is suspected that the man might have died due to alcohol overdose, but the police has not ruled out other theories. Amandeep Brar, SHO, Sadar, said the body was taken to the Civil Hospital and the cause of the death would be clear after the post-mortem. 

Ludhiana, February 7
Residents staged a dharna outside the Jamalpur police station following the death of a 24-year-old woman. They sought action against a ‘tantrik’ who thrashed the woman leading to her death.

Seeta Devi, a native of Bihar, was living in the Jamalpur area along with her husband Koshal Kumar. Seeta fell ill on January 31 following which she was taken to a doctor, but her condition did not improve, said Koshal Kumar.

A ‘tantrik’ residing in the locality claimed that Seeta was under the influence of an evil spirit. He claimed the evil spirit would leave her body if she was thrashed with shoes. The ‘tantrik’ also advised to burn Seeta’s skin. The ‘tantrik’ started the ‘treatment’ following which Seeta’s condition deteriorated. She was rushed to a hospital three days ago where she died on Wednesday evening.

The post-mortem was conducted today and the viscera were sent to a laboratory at Kharar for chemical examination. The ‘tantrik’ is on the run. 

Sahnewal, February 7
After the issue was raised in these columns a number of times, the Public Works Department has finally initiated repair work on the Old Tibba Bridge. The eroded edges of the bridge were posing danger to lives of commuters for past many months.

In charge of the project XEN Jagdeep Singh Tung said safety of commuters has to be ensured. He said safety of villagers using the old bridge could not be overlooked after the construction of the new one, as both the bridges were meant to complement each other.

“A proper brick railing is now being erected on both sides of the old bridge. This will cover all the eroded edges and make it safe for both light and heavy vehicles to ply on the bridge,” Tung said. The new bridge, which has been opened for commuters, would further ease the traffic, he said.

Jandeep Kaushal of Doraha, a daily commuter, said he was relieved that the PWD had finally given heed to their requests. “We had been asking PWD officials to do the needful. It is good to have a duty officer who at last has thought about the safety of commuters,” he said. 

Ludhiana, February 7
The apathy of the authorities of Punjab Agricultural University can be gauged from the fact that a tree that fell on an electricity pole three days ago has not been removed so far.

High-velocity winds uprooted the tree which fell on the pole, disrupting the power supply to the campus.

The electricity wires are a threat to the lives of students. The students have demanded that the tree should be removed at the earliest. 

Ludhiana, February 7
Barely three days after launching a drive against illegal autos, the city police today impounded 150 illegal autos and challaned 450 auto drivers for not carrying documents.

One-way route

The road leading from Domoria Bridge to Sabzi Mandi has been declared one way. Rahul Verma, traffic expert, said vehicles moving from New City to Sabzi Mandi would have to take a turn from BL Kapur Memorial Hospital for entering Chaura Bazar. Vehicles moving from Chaura Bazar would have to take the Clock Tower road and Bhadaur House road to enter the Civil Lines area.

Ban imposed

The Commissioner of Police, Ishwar Singh, imposed a ban on carrying fire arms at functions. As per a communiqué issued from the office of Commissioner of Police, action will be taken against persons using fire arms.

Rs 13 lakh taken away

Navneesh Khullar, who was working as a manager at a biscuit manufacturing company, claimed that the owner of the company trained a gun at him and took away Rs 13 lakh and made him sign some documents. He said the owner had taken his mother and his business partner’s family hostage.

Dismissed policeman booked

A former police officer, who was dismissed following the registration of a criminal case, has been booked for misplacing two magazines of SLR. Sarabjit Singh was posted as assistant MHC (munshi) at the Division No 2 police station in 2005. During his term as the MHC, he was holding the charge of ammunition. When he handed over the charge to some other officer, two magazines of an SLR gun were found missing. The then SSP, Ludhiana, had ordered an inquiry into the matter and it took eight years to complete an the inquiry. He was found guilty and a case was registered against him under Section 409 of the IPC. The accused is yet to be arrested.

Car stolen

In his complaint, Gaurav Grover, a resident of Tagore Nagar, Civil Lines, said someone had stolen his Maruti zen from outside his house. A case under Section 379 IPC (vehicle theft) has been registered in this connection.

One killed in accident

One person was killed in a road accident. The deceased, identified as Ram Parvesh, a resident of Ajit Villa, Barewal, was on foot. His wife Pinku Devi said a Hyundai Varna car hit her husband. Ram Parvesh suffered serious injuries. He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. A case under Sections 279-304A IPC has been registered against the accused, Anil Kumar, a resident of Pink Park, Barewal.

Patwaris go on strike

To protest against the arrest of a patwari by the vigilance department yesterday, patwatris in the district today went on a strike till February 18. The patwaris staged a dharna and raised slogans against the officials outside the Mini Secretariat today. They demanded that Satpal be released at the earliest. They said they would suspend work for four to five hours daily. The patwaris alleged that during the raid, no amount was recovered by the department. The Revenue Patwar Union, Ludhiana, will suspend work till February 17 and on February 18 they will stage a dharna at the Mini Secretariat. The patwari was produced in a court which sent him to a one-day remand.

Theft at house

Thieves struck at a house in Aman Park. The owner of the house, Ashok Kumar, was away to Delhi. On return, he found the house ransacked. He said the miscreants had decamped with cash and gold ornaments. The exact loss is yet to be ascertained. A case under Sections 457-380 IPC has been registered.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 7
The Sudhar police has arrested a drug peddler who had been allegedly harbouring absconding undertrials and radical leaders. The accused, Jaswinder Singh alias Mota of Pakhowal, was recently booked for harbouring notorious gangster Harpreet Singh Toosa.

Jaswindwer was nabbed on the Pakhowal-Gujjarwal road when he was trying to leave the area today.

At least two cases under NDPS Act had already been registered against the accused at Sudhar police station.

The accused had also helped Harpreet in a carjacking incident on the outskirts of Hargobind Pur village on January 22, the police said.

Harpreet is wanted in at least nine criminal cases, including two murder and two kidnapping cases, registered against him at various police stations of the state.

SSP HS Pannu said search operation would be carried out at places suspected to be hideouts of criminals. 

Ludhiana, February 7
Inspector Dilpreet Singh, who was attacked by his cousin over a property dispute a few months ago, has now fallen victim to an alleged murderous assault by his brother.

His brother Harpreet Singh, a resident of Mint Gumri Chowk in Model Town, was today booked in an attempt to murder case.

Dilpreet Singh alleged the incident took place last evening when he was standing outside his house with a friend.

Harpreet attacked both of them with a sword, he alleged.

Dilpreet sustained serious head injuries and was rushed to a private hospital. He is stated to be out of danger. His friend escaped with minor injuries.

Dilpreet and controversies have almost become synonymous.

The Inspector, who had a troubled married life after his wife filed a dowry harassment case against him, landed in soup recently after a Sahnewal-based woman leveled rape allegation against him.

Ludhiana, February 7
Harinder, alias Honey Dhingra, who allegedly broke arms of his one-year-old daughter following a quarrel with his wife, claimed innocence today. Honey reportedly told the police that his daughter Tanvi accidentally fell on the floor and received injuries. He claimed he rushed her to hospital after the incident.

Presently, Honey is in police custody after being booked in an attempt to murder case.

One of his relatives claimed it was Honey’s wife Natasha who inflicted injuries upon Tanvi. She was falsely implicating Honey and his family members in a dowry-related assault case, the relative alleged.

Natasha’s uncle Vikas questioned claims made by Honey. “How can a child suffer fracture on both arms after accidentally falling on the floor?” he said.