23112025-LT-01.qxd 11/22/2025 11:07 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune EARLY CHILL BOOSTS SALES OF WINTER WEAR IN CITY MARATHI PLAYWRIGHT’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY STAGED BIRMINGHAM’S RISING VOICE, LEO, DROPS HIS NEW SINGLE Large apparel manufacturers have described the season as ‘exceptional,’ while smaller ones remain wary. P2 The main cast included Denzil Smith, Lillete Dubey, Suchitra Pillai and Sarah Hashmi. P3 Leo's newest single, Gehriyaa, is already turning heads for its blend of cultures and genres. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 24°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 25°C | MIN 8°C SUNSET SUNDAY 5.23 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6:55 AM » SUNDAY | 23 NOVEMBER 2025 | LUDHIANA INBRIEF UNIDENTIFIED MAN FOUND DEAD Ludhiana: An unidentified man was found dead in a field near the railway tracks at Mullanpur Dakha this morning, leading to confusion over jurisdiction between the Punjab Police and the Government Railway Police (GRP). A local farmer noticed the body and alerted the police. Suspecting the location fell under railway jurisdiction, they informed the GRP. However, when the GRP team arrived, they refused to take up the matter, claiming it fell under the Punjab Police. Jagraon GRP in-charge Satnam Singh confirmed, “This case is not within our jurisdiction. We have informed Ludhiana rural police.” TNS MAN BOOKED FOR EXTORTION Ludhiana: The Samrala police have booked a man accused of extorting ~70,000 from a woman on the pretext of helping remove her son’s name from an FIR. The accused was identified as Khushpreet Singh, a resident of Sahnewal. Complainant Paramjit Kaur of Himmat Nagar, Samrala, told the police that her son Rohit Singh was booked in an attempt to murder case in April this year. Khushpreet was paid ~70,000 for clearing Rohit’s name from FIR. However, he failed to deliver. Paramjit filed a complaint leading to the registration of a case. TNS Food street plan on Sidhwan Canal runs into fresh trouble Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 22 The proposed food vending zone beneath the Sidhwan Canal flyover has once again stirred controversy, with the Municipal Corporation Ludhiana (MCL) pushing for the Rs 5-crore project even as the Irrigation Department has refused its no-objection certificate (NOC). Activists have warned of ecological harm, while food vendors have expressed mixed opinions over the plan. Officials from the Irrigation Department have categorically stated that no construction or commercial activity can be allowed along the protected canal stretch, citing safety concerns and zoning violations. They maintained that the proposal breaches canal safety norms, obstructs routine maintenance, and contravenes state rules mandating a 30-metre green buffer on either side of major canals. The MCL, however, has requested the department to reconsider its decision. The project, floated through tenders earlier this month, envisages 42 smart shops, parking facilities, pub- Activists have warned of ecological harm, while food vendors have expressed mixed opinions over the plan. lic conveniences, and other amenities. But activists from the Public Action Committee (PAC) have demanded its immediate cancellation, warning of serious environmental consequences. PAC member Kapil Arora said, “The site lies barely five metres from the canal’s water flow. In 2018, a similar project was abandoned because authorities failed to secure NOCs and ignored parking requirements. The same mistakes are being repeated.” Environmentalist Kuldeep Khaira added that the plan violates National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines as well as the city’s Master Plan. “Instead of developing greenbelts, the municipal corporation has concretised the entire stretch beneath the flyover. Allowing commercial permits here would be a Police bust snatchers’ Investors duped of ~3 cr gang, 4 vehicles seized on pretext of investment Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 22 The Ludhiana police have claimed to have busted a gang of snatchers and recovered four stolen vehicles along with sharp weapons from their possession. Addressing a press conference, ACP (North) Kikkar Singh said that on November 19, a police team led by Inspector Harshvir Sandhu, SHO, Salem Tabri police station, was stationed near the Jalandhar Bypass searching for robbers and snatchers when ASI Prem Chand received a tip-off from an informant. The informer revealed that two habitual offenders, Ankush and Rahul Kumar, both residents of Ludhiana, were heading towards Kabari Market on Tibba Road to sell a snatched motorcycle. A police naka was set up, and after some time two youths were spotted arriving on a motorcycle. Seeing the police, they panicked and attempted to flee, but their motorcycle came to a halt. The police managed to apprehend both accused. During questioning, the duo failed to provide ownership documents for the numberless Hero Splendour motorcycle they were riding, which was subsequently seized. A sharp weapon was also recovered from Ankush. An FIR was registered against both. ACP Singh added that during further interrogation on November 21, the accused led the police to the recovery of one Yamaha motorcycle (No. HR05AJ8238) and two numberless Activa scooters, which they had allegedly snatched in recent incidents. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 22 At least 75 residents of Ludhiana have alleged that they were duped of nearly Rs 3 crore by Shasa Medictech Private Limited, a Mohali-based firm, on the pretext of offering fixed returns on investments in a Data Centre project. Acting on their complaints, the Ludhiana police have registered a case against five directors of the company — Ramesh Paul of New Kartar Nagar, Khanna; Anil Pandey and his wife Shivani Pandey of Rajpura; Sunil Kumar Badal of Rajpura; and Sourav Yadav. Complainant Rajinder Kumar Sharma and others stated that the accused had approached them in late 2022 with an investment proposal for establishing Data Centres at RajpuraChandigarh Road and Ghaziabad (UP). They allegedly collected huge sums — between ~100 and ~150 crore — from investors nationwide, promising fixed monthly returns for 10 years through written agreements. For around two years, investors received regular payouts, but payments later stopped. The complainants added that several victims had slipped into financial distress and a few reportedly died under stress following the loss. They have demanded that police seize the accused’s assets, bank accounts, and passports to prevent further misuse and ensure recovery of investors’ funds. Driver burnt alive after fire engulfs truck ing items including blankets and medicines. Witnesses suspected that the vehicle was overloaded, particularly with blankets, which may have fuelled the rapid spread of the blaze. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 22 A fatal accident on Friday night claimed the life of a truck driver after his Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)powered vehicle caught fire. The truck, which had started from Transport Nagar carrying goods for delivery on Ferozepur Road, was plying along the elevated road. The driver lost control over the vehicle, which then rammed into the divider. The impact is believed to have triggered an explosion in the CNG cylinder, causing the vehicle to burst into flames. Witnesses said they heard a loud blast and then saw the truck fully engulfed in fire. The blaze was so intense that rescuers could not reach the driver, who was seen struggling to escape from the cab- Garbage fire sparks panic at Civil Hospital Firefighters try to douse the flames after a truck caught fire near a flyover in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO in. Tragically, he was burnt alive inside the vehicle. Fire brigade personnel were alerted around 10.30 pm. Leading fireman Rajinder Singh said the driver got trapped in the wreckage and succumbed to the fire by the time the fire brigade team doused the flames. The truck, belonging to Malwa Transport, was carry- Panic spread at the Civil Hospital on Saturday morning when a fire broke out in a heap of garbage located behind the blood bank within the hospital premises. Senior Medical Officer Dr Akhil Sarin said while the hospital staff took initial steps to control the blaze, help from the fire brigade was eventually required. The fire was situated away from the main hospital buildings but still took nearly 45 minutes to extinguish completely. The cause of the incident remains under investigation. c m y b direct violation of zoning rules,” he observed. Food vendors, however, have voiced a slightly different view. “We welcome the idea of a designated vending zone, as it could provide proper facilities and reduce harassment from officials,” said Ramesh Kumar, a street vendor operating near the canal. “But if the location is unsafe or illegal, the government should identify an alternative site instead of scrapping the project entirely.” Dr Amandeep Singh Bains further cautioned that pollution from food stalls could damage vertical gardens on the flyover piers and disturb residents using the adjoining greenbelt. Activists also pointed out that the canal, already stressed by garbage dumping and untreated waste, risked further contamination, threatening aquatic life and public health. The PAC has threatened to approach the NGT if the project moves forward. For Ludhiana, the row reflects a wider conflict between urban development aspirations, ecological safeguards, and the livelihoods of vendors seeking secure working spaces. In Guru’s remembrance Devotees take part in a nagar kirtan to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur on Saturday. The kirtan started from Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib. Rendition of Gurbani was held throughout and prasad was offered to the sangat. Clash at hospital sparks panic among patients ludhiana, November 22 Panic gripped the Ludhiana Civil Hospital on Saturday afternoon after two rival groups clashed during a medical examination, reportedly over a long-standing family dispute. The confrontation led to heated arguments, threats, and physical scuffles, creating chaos in the hospital premises for several minutes. Complainant Manish Nayyar alleged that tensions had been simmering in his family for some time. He claimed that his father had earlier assaulted his father-in-law, Balwinder Kumar, near Shivpuri Chowk. Both sides later reached the Civil Hospital for medical examination, where the dispute reignited into a brawl. CCTV footage of the incident shows members of both families exchanging blows while hospital staff and bystanders attempted to separate them. Anoop Sachdeva, representing the other group, stated that he was attacked at his shop on Kakowal Road. According to him, the conflict escalated after his father-in-law announced his intention to disown his son-in-law, Manish Nayyar. Meanwhile, Manish’s father, Ramesh Nayyar, said that his son had been living with his in-laws for the past 20–25 days and had neglected his parents. Despite repeated attempts to settle the issue, he added, the dispute remained unresolved. — TNS