18012026-LT-01.qxd 1/18/2026 12:48 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune GARBAGE NEAR DIG OFFICE ADDS TO CITY’S UGLY FACADE YOUNG WEIGHTLIFTERS GET NEW TRAINING CENTRE Filth has been piling up under the bridge near the office. Pollution body slaps ~1.54 crore fine on MC. P2 Developed to provide dedicated space where aspirants can train in safe, structured environment. P3 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 15°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 15°C | MIN 6°C JASHAN GEARS UP FOR HIS NEXT RELEASE NAINA MILE SUNSET SUNDAY 5.45 PM “I’m a soft-hearted man, more inclined toward romance,” says the Mohali-based singer-actor. P4 SUNRISE MONDAY 7:19 AM » SUNDAY | 18 JANUARY 2026 | LUDHIANA 35 nabbed during cordon & search op at drug hotspots Initiative aimed to clamp down on drug sales, dismantle supply chain, arrest suspects Nikhil Bhardwaj ACTION TAKEN Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 17 Under the ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign launched by the state government, a large-scale cordon and search operation (CASO) was conducted across the entire Ludhiana Commissionerate area on Saturday. The initiative aimed to clamp down on drug sales, dismantle the supply chain and arrest criminals involved in drug trafficking. The operation was executed with meticulous planning and professionalism, focusing on 16 professionally identified drug hotspots within the commissionerate. Around 500 police personnel were deployed to carry out the same. It was led by Special DGP (GRP Punjab) , Shashi Prabha Dwivedi, along with Commissioner of Police (CP), Ludhiana, Swapan Sharma, who visited three locations to review the effectiveness of the drive. Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma said the operation involved two DCPs, FIRs registered 34 Arrests made 35 Heroin recovered 392 gm Intoxicating tablets 775 Ganja (cannabis) 600 gm Liquor recovered 6 cases Detained for verification 40 Cops during the cordon and search operation in Ludhiana on Saturday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN eight ADCPs, 16 ACPs, and all SHOs of the commissionerate. It was carried out from 11 am to 2 pm. During the operation, the police successfully apprehended 35 suspects and recovered a signifi- cant quantity of contraband. The CP further stated that such operations were part of a continuous and determined campaign against drugs, following instructions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav. He reiterated that these efforts would continue with full vigour till the menace of drugs was eradicated from the state. Meanwhile, DIG, AGTF Gurmeet Singh , Chauhan, along with SSP , Khanna, Darpan Ahluwalia, also led CASO in the Khanna police district. Chauhan said the Khanna police recovered 8 kg of heroin and 2 kg of ice drug in 2025. This year, the police recovered 4 kg of heroin. The campaign against drugs would continue to break the backbone of smugglers. Ahluwalia said the police detained many drug traffickers during CASO and recoveries of drugs were also made. The Khanna police would continue to take on the smugglers and the police also sought support of people in eradicating the menace of drugs from society. Passengers stranded as dense fog hits railway operations Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 17 Rail passengers have been facing huge inconvenience as trains were running behind schedule due to fog. The cold weather posed significant challenges for them as they had to wait for trains for hours at the railway station. During a visit to the railway station, it was noticed that passengers were sitting in the open. Even children accompanying them too faced significant challenges in the nail biting cold. Since the railway station is also undergoing reconstruction and revamp, there is no proper cozy space for passengers. Though most of the trains were on time, many were running late due to the prevailing Many trains were running late due to prevailing weather weather conditions. The railway authorities have also been updating the passengers about the schedule of trains. As per details, PNBE FZR Humsafar was running over 10 hours late, Saryu Yamuna Express by 5.50 hours, Jallianwala Bagh Express by 6.50 hours, Begampur Express by 2 hours, IND Amritsar Express by 1 hour, Sachkhand Express by 1.30 hours, NED JAT Humsafar by 4.57 hours and Jansadharan Express was late by 3.15 hours. “We have to catch Jallian- wala Bagh Express but the train was running over six hours late. We are coming from Jagraon and it is not possible for us to return home and come again at the time of train’s arrival. We have no option than to sit at the railway station and wait for the train,” said Amrit Khanna, a passenger. Another passenger, Phulwati, who, along with her husband and children, was waiting for the train, said the city railway station lacks proper waiting room. They have to wait in the open and face the cold weather. “We can understand that fog disturbs rail traffic every winter and inconvenience is obvious. Hence, we are also prepared for train delays,” she added. Passengers wait for their trains amid biting cold at the railway station in Ludhiana. INDERJEET VERMA Village youngster goes missing, Fed up with ‘harassment’ Gangster Kaushal ‘threatened suicide over ~100’ by ex-wife, man ends life FIRING AT CAR RENTAL SHOWROOM Mahesh Sharma Tribune News Service Raikot, January 17 A youth of Talwandi Kalan village in the Jagraon subdivision has been reported to have gone missing under mysterious circumstances on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. The youth, identified as Sarabjit Singh (28), had last allegedly met a caretaker of a dera, situated along the Abohar branch of the Sirhind Canal near Sudhar village late on Friday night. His motorcycle was found lying in front of a shop near the Sudhar bridge on the Mullanpur-Raikot highway on Saturday morning when parents of the youth started searching for him. Though nobody had seen him jumping into the canal, dera caretaker Kaka Singh informed youth’s father Ludhiana, January 17 A man, fed up with his exwife, died by suicide. He hung himself from a window on the roof overlooking the street on Friday. When people saw the hanging body, they informed the police. The police took possession of the body and searched the victim’s room, finding two suicide notes. In one of the notes, he stated that his ex-wife, along with two other men, threatened and forced him to sign divorce papers. He held the three suspects responsible for his death. In the second one, he addressed his children, telling his daughter that her mother had loved him but had now become his enemy. After recovering the suicide notes, the police registered a Efforts on to search the youth at Sirhind Canal near Sudhar village. Karamjit Singh that he (the victim) had threatened to end his life following refusal by his parents to pay him a meagre amount of Rs 100. The Ludhiana (rural) police have initiated a probe into the sequence of events leading to disappearance of the youth. His mobile location was found to be near Sudhar about 8 pm on Friday, hours after he argued with his parents at his native Talwandi Kalan village. Divers have been searching in the canal water to get any clue. Preliminary investigations by the Sidhwan Bet police station revealed that Sarabjit had been working as a security guard with a private firm in Ludhiana. DSP Dakha Varinder Khosa said parents of the youth had lodged a missing report at the Sidhwan Bet police station and further investigation in the case would be undertaken by the Sidhwan Bet police. Suicide notes blame woman, her two associates for death case of abetment to suicide against the deceased’s ex-wife and her associates Krishan Kanda of Kot Mangal Singh and Lucky, alias Yuvraj, of Lohara. The deceased was identified as Junaid Ahmed. He owned a bangle shop. He was the father of two children, daughter Ruhal (9) and son Keyan (4). “I am Junaid Ahmed. My wife Lakshmi, along with two youths, forced me to sign blank divorce papers without any witnesses. They threatened to kill me and my children. The suspects have saddled me with a huge debt of around Rs 4 lakh. They threatened me and made me write another document, stating that they weren’t respon- sible for my death or anything else that might happen to me. But the truth is, the three persons will be responsible for my death,” the deceased stated in the suicide notes. The deceased also wrote about his last three wishes. “My children should be handed over to my father who stays in Lucknow, all my debts should be paid by the three suspects, my body should be handed over to the mosque in Guru Angad Colony or Shahi Imam of Field Ganj Jama Masjid and my shop should also be handed over to Jama Masjid,” the notes read. ASI Harbhajan Singh said the deceased was upset over the relationship of his ex-wife with Yuvraj and they reportedly also solemnised marriage after forcing him (the deceased) to sign the divorce papers. Further probe in the matter was on. Social media impacting teenagers’ mental health, say experts Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 17 The growing influence of social media is adversely affecting the mental health of teenagers and adolescents, a matter of serious concern as it is leading to mental health disorders such as anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and unhealthy competition, say medical experts. Mental health professionals stress that social media platforms were designed by experts worldwide to make applications addictive. In the process, teenagers tend to lose control and unrealistic expectations often push them towards mental distress. Talking to The Tribune, Dr Kunal Kala of MindPlus Hospital said teenagers Medicos stress that such platforms are designed to make apps addictive WHAT PARENTS SHOULD DO ■ Parents need to be role models for their children ■ They should say “no” to unnecessary freedom ■ Children’s activities on social media must be monitored by them and teachers ■ They should be aware of their children’s company ■ Quality time must be spent with adolescents today spend several hours daily scrolling through platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Hinge and YouTube. “In today’s world, exposure to social media is important but it is taking a toll on the mental health of adolescents. They start comparing their lives with curated online images and models. This constant exposure creates unre- alistic expectations related to appearance, lifestyle and popularity, pushing many youngsters towards emotional distress,” he said. He said short-form content disrupts attention span, making it difficult for children to regulate their emotions. “Being mindful becomes harder, which is not a healthy sign. Parents can- not blame children alone as they are either too busy or are themselves deeply engaged with social media. They need to make their wards understand that constant and unwanted comparison leads to insecurity, anxiety and, in some cases, depression,” he said. Educationists also maintain that excessive screen time disrupts sleep pat- c m y b terns, further affecting emotional well-being and academic performance. Principal of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, sister Veena said parents often approach the school with complaints that their wards were glued to social media for 12 to 14 hours a day, which was alarming. “Parents feel helpless, but they themselves provide unlimited access and freedom. Once children get used to it, parents become worried about their health and studies. There is a saying — ‘the family that prays together, eats together, stays together’. Parents must become role models for their children,” said sister Veena while condemning parents who themselves spend hours on social media. Meanwhile, Rashmi (name changed), a parent of a 15year-old girl addicted to Instagram, said she had noticed behavioural changes in her daughter. “My daughter becomes anxious if she posts something and does not get enough likes. She often doubts herself and feels left out,” she said. School counsellors point out that social media exposure has also led to increased incidents of online bullying and trolling. Many teenagers hesitate to share negative online experiences, fearing judgement or restrictions from parents. “We are witnessing more cases where children feel isolated and withdrawn,” said a school counsellor. produced in local court on stretcher Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 17 Kaushal Chaudhary, a notorious Haryana gangster who was remanded in police custody from the Bhondsi jail for his questioning in connection with the firing at luxury car rental showroom in Baddowal, was produced on Saturday in Ludhiana courts on a stretcher due to fractures in his legs. He suffered injuries while attempting to escape from the police custody at Dakha police station. He pushed past police officers from the custody spot and attempted to scale the wall. However, he fell onto the road, fracturing both his legs. The police apprehended him at the scene. SSP, Ludhiana rural, Ankur Gupta, said the gangster was brought on production warrant and a five-day remand was sought for him. On Saturday, his five days’ remand ended and the gangster was again produced in a court, which further extended his remand by two days, he said. “During initial remand days, he tried to escape from police custody and suffered fractures in his legs. He was rushed to a hospital for treatment. He was produced in the court on a stretcher due to the fractures,” Dr Gupta said. When asked how the gangster managed to give the police the slip, the SSP said it was a matter of investigation and internal inquiry was being conducted under what cir- He tried to escape from custody, suffered fractures after fall: SSP cumstances the gangster tried to escape. The police could not disclose the entire details about the attempt of the gangster as it might hamper the probe. Police sources, however, said the gangster asked to be taken to the toilet at night. During which, he pushed police personnel on duty and tried to escape by climbing over the police station wall. The suspect lost balance as he leaped from the wall and fell onto the road. The fall resulted in severe fractures to both of his legs. The police chased him and quickly overpowered him, they said. Police officials said the matter was being investigated and any security lapse would be reviewed. The reason Kaushal Chaudhary was brought on production warrant by the Ludhaina rural police was that slips left by two bike-borne assailants had names of gangsters Pawan Shokeen and Mohabbat Randhawa. Since both gangsters are close associates of Chaudhary, the police are suspecting that Chaudhary could have hatched the conspiracy. Even a Rs 2-crore extortion was also demanded from the owner of the car rental showroom after the firing incident. The police had also arrested Naveen Deswal and Vijay Kumari, both relatives of gangster Pawan.