MC charging illegal fee: BJP

Ludhiana: Opposing the fee being charged from rehri-phari vendors in the city, BJP’s district vice-president Parminder Mehta has urged the MC authorities to pay attention towards recovery of taxes from the defaulters, instead of “harassing” the vendors. Mehta along with another BJP leader Sarbjit Singh Bunty met Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu on Monday. He blamed the MC for charging “illegal fee” from the street vendors, instead of developing street vending zones for them. “As the civic body charges fee from the vendors without any policy, there are high chances that the street vendors may continue their business at the same place in future too. This will create dispute between other traders and street vendors at city markets. The MC should create street vending zones for street vendors as it will help to resolve traffic-related problems also,” he said. TNS

Training for MC officials 

As the Local Bodies Department is going to launch the online building plan approval system in all the Municipal Corporation offices by August 15, a training session for officials from the civic bodies in the district was held at MC's Zone A office, near Mata Rani Chowk, on Monday. A team from the Local Bodies Department interacted with officials from the Ludhiana MC, municipal councils and other departments. MC Joint Commissioner Kulpreet Singh said the online system would make the procedure for approval of building plans very easy. It would be helpful to curb building bylaw violations in the city, he said. He said the property owners would be able to submit their application for online building map approval and they could further check application status too. TNS

Purse containing Rs 30k stolen

Ludhiana: Some unidentified persons allegedly stole the purse of a devotee visiting Gurdwara Alamgir Sahib, near Ludhiana, on Sunday. Victim Pawam Arora of New Heera Nagar on Kakowal Road Ludhiana said he had gone to Gurdwara Alamgir Sahib with his family to pay obeisance. “Some unidentified person stole my purse while I was having a bath. I came to know about the theft when I checked my pocket to pay money to a shopkeeper, but was surprised to find that there was no purse. It contained Rs 30,000, four ATM cards of different banks and some other important documents,” he said. The police have registered a case at Dehlon police station. IO ASI Balbir Singh said the police have obtained CCTV footage from the Gurdwara Sahib and further investigation was on. 

250-gm ganja seized, 1 held

The Sahnewal police have arrested a person and seized 250-gram ganja from him. The accused has been identified as Sanjay Kumar Upadhya of Maha Laxmi Nagar, Ludhiana. The police have registered a case under the NDPS Act and further investigation was on. IO Shavinderjeet Singh said the accused was arrested following a tip-off. “The accused sells tobacco products at a small shop near Eastman Chowk. We received a tip-off that the accused sells ganja to drug addicts as well. We conducted a raid and recovered 250-gram ganja from his shop,” said ASI Shaivinderjeet Singh. The accused confessed that he used to purchase the drug from Bihar and sell it to his clients in Ludhiana. He was produced before a local court on Monday, which sent him on two days’ police remand. 

One held with 5-gram heroin

The police have arrested a person and seized 5-gram heroin from him. The accused has been identified as Sukhchain Singh of Partap Singhwala in Haibowal Kalan, Ludhiana. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against him at Division Number 5 police station. ASI Rachpal Singh said a naka was set up near Midda Chowk on Sunday evening. “The police spotted a man coming from the bus stand side. On seeing the police, he turned back which made us suspicious. The police gave him a chase and nabbed him. When searched, the police recovered 5-gram heroin from him,” the ASI said. The accused is an addict. “He confessed before the police that he had been involved in the trade of drug peddling for past several months. First, he started consuming drugs and then started supplying it to others to earn some quick bucks,” the ASI said. 

One booked on rape charge

The police have booked a person for allegedly raping a woman. The accused has been identified as Kewal Singh of Fatehghar Gujjran village in the district. A case was registered on the complaint of a woman from the same village. She said the accused forcibly raped her when she had come to Ludhiana for some work. “Kewal Singh works and lives in Ludhiana. He met me near Jalandhar bypass. He asked me to take lift on his bike saying he would drop me wherever I want. But he took me to a hotel, where he raped me,” she said. Initially, she did not tell anyone about the incident as the accused had threatened her, but she informed her family after some days. The family approached the police and lodged a complaint. IO ASI Paramjit Singh said the police have registered a case under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC at Division Number 1 police station. “The police conducted the medical examination of the victim, which confirmed that she was raped. The accused has been absconding and the police have been carrying out raids to arrest him,” the ASI said. 

2 held with stolen LPG cylinders

The police have arrested two persons and recovered two stolen LPG cylinders from them. They have been identified as Pankaj Kumar of Old Madhopuri area and Parul of Fatehgarh Mohalla, Ludhiana. The accused were arrested following a tip-off. IO ASI Ravinderpal Singh said they received a tip-off that two suspected thieves have been spotted near Vaishno Devi Chowk. “Following this, we carried out a raid and arrested the accused. The police have also recovered two stolen LPG cylinders from them. The accused have confessed to their involvement in at least three theft incidents in different areas of the city,” the ASI said. The police have registered a case against both the accused at Division Number 3 police station and further investigation was under way. TNS