Ludhiana news: PAU entomologist suspended over sexual harassment case; laborer stabbed to death & 2 held for stealing Rs 28 lakh from Range Rover

The order came hours after the students led by PAU Students’ Association (PAUSA) had started protest on Twitter and other social media platforms with the hashtag #EndSexualAbusePAU, demanding suspension of the teacher and registration of FIR against him. The students said that a mere transfer was not enough punishment for the teacher who had allegedly harassed a woman student for a long time.

An undergraduate student had filed a complaint with the V-C alleging that Dr Pandha was constantly harassing her.

Earlier, speaking to The Indian Express, Dr T S Riar, additional director communications, PAU, had said that an internal probe conducted by the high power committee – headed by dean (college of agriculture) Ravinder Kaur Dhaliwal – has found the teacher guilty and he was immediately transferred to PAU Research Station, Kapurthala. “He has been found guilty of sending vulgar and inappropriate messages to the student among other things. After being found guilty in the preliminary enquiry, the matter has been further handed over to Punjab government’s committee on sexual harassment which will further recommend legal action,” Dr Riar had said. “He has also been barred from teaching work in future.”

Nearly a week ago, the students of PAU had written an open letter to Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit claiming that sexual harassment of woman students was rampant on the campus.

Ludhiana: Labourer stabbed to death

A group of unidentified assailants allegedly stabbed a labourer to death with a sharp-edged weapon following an argument, Monday late in Phase 8 of Focal Point, Ludhiana. The victim was identified as Sidharth Yadav, 24, a native of Raebareli of Uttar Pradesh. He was a factory worker and used to live in the labour quarters inside the factory premises.

Inspector Amandeep Singh Brar, SHO Focal Point police station, said that the locals informed the police that some miscreants stabbed him to death. He was found lying on the roadside in a pool of blood. The police rushed him to the hospital, but he died on the way.

Prima facie, the police found that the labourer had come out of the factory Monday night and indulged in a spat with a group of 3 to 4 people. Things turned ugly after the accused flashed a sharp edged weapon and stabbed him multiple times.

After the locals gathered there the accused escaped from the spot. A murder case has been lodged against unidentified accused.

Ludhiana: Rs 28 lakh stolen from Range Rover vehicle: two Delhi men held, Rs 15.21 lakh recovered

Five days after a bag containing Rs 28 lakh was stolen from SUV Range Rover in Ludhiana on August 3, the Ludhiana police in a joint operation with Delhi Police and counter intelligence wing of Punjab Police arrested two Delhi-based persons for the robbery. Police also recovered Rs 15.21 lakh from their possession.

Ludhiana police commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu said that two more accused are yet to be arrested. The arrested accused were identified as Sanju, 20, and Sumit, 21, – both of Delhi.

Police said that Sumit was already an undertrial in three cases of thefts. He was lodged in Amritsar Jail and came out on bail a week ago.

CP Sidhu said police teams conducted raids in Jagraon, Raikot and Bathinda were accused were suspected to be hiding. However, after cops reached Bathinda, both had already fled to Delhi by then. On Monday late, police arrested the duo from Delhi. He added that all four accused had come to Ludhiana on August 3 with intention to execute a theft.

“They used to target high-end luxury vehicles with bags in them. They would then chase the vehicle and when the vehicle would stop somewhere, they would execute the crime. Sometimes, they used to lie to vehicle occupants that tyre of their vehicle is punctured and mislead them to divert their attention. As the occupants would alight from the vehicle, they would steal the bag from the car,” he added

On August 3, they had stolen a bag containing Rs 28 lakh from the Range Rover of a realtor Karan Arora in South City area. An FIR in the case was registered at PAU police station.