06022026-LT-01.qxd 2/6/2026 12:41 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune DISPUTE OVER DOG POOP TURNS VIOLENT Woman suffers head injury as neighbour throws bricks. Entire incident captured on nearby CCTV camera. P2 » CITY LAD MAKES WAVES AT NATIONAL SWIMMING MEETS Ojas won four medals, including three gold, in the CBSE National Swimming Championship. P3 » HAPPY WITH THE SUCCESSFUL RUN OF BORDER 2 FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 22°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 9°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6:03 PM Punjabi actors Tejeshwar Singh, Guneet Sandhu and Harwinder Aujla speak about their working experience. P4 SUNRISE SATURDAY 7:10 AM » FRIDAY | 6 FEBRUARY 2026 | LUDHIANA Gang found extorting toll tax from heavy vehicles at Ladhowal plaza Farmers accuse govt of failing to honour its commitments 20 booked | Role of employees at barrier being probed to check connivance Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 5 The Ludhiana police have registered a case against 20 unidentified persons for allegedly extorting money from heavy vehicles passing through the state’s most expensive Ladhowal Toll Plaza here. The gang members, after taking money from the vehicles, allowed them to cross the barrier without paying the toll fee. The gang members also exerted influence on the staff of the toll barrier and by intimidating them, forced them to pass those heavy vehicles from which they had already extorted money without paying toll tax, an official said. The police, after getting a tip-off, registered a case on the charge of extortion at the Ladhowal police station. ASI Mohammad Sadiq said that on February 4, when he, along with a The Ladhowal toll plaza in Ludhiana is Punjab’s most-expensive. police team, was present at the T-Point of Talwandi village, near GT Road, Ludhiana, an informer said during the day and night at the Ladhowal toll barrier, around 15-20 Duped by travel agent couple of ~26L,youth ends life in Moti Nagar Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 5 A youth from the city died by suicide by hanging himself at his home. The victim was allegedly upset as a Nawanshahr-based couple operating an immigration office had taken Rs 26 lakh from him but failed to send him to Canada. The deceased has been identified as Inderpal Singh, a resident of Moti Nagar. The Moti Nagar police on Wednesday registered a case based on the complaint of Jaswinder Kaur (deceased’s mother) against Arjun Sharma and his wife Baljinder Kaur, owners of Grasp Immigration, Banga Road, Nawanshahr. In her complaint, Jaswinder Kaur, a former employee of Oswal company, told the police that her son Inderpal Singh wanted to go to Canada. For the same, he contacted travel agent Arjun Sharma and his wife Baljinder Kaur in Banga. The couple promised to send him abroad easily and took Rs 26 lakh from him in two instalments. As the time passed, the suspects neither sent the boy abroad nor returned the money. Having lost the huge amount, Inderpal was under immense mental stress. He repeatedly asked the agents to return his money, but they failed to provide any satisfactory response. His mother said Inderpal was alone at home on January 31 while she was out for some work. When she tried to call him in the afternoon, his phone was switched off. Later, she sent her brother Kesar Singh and other relatives to her house. They found the door locked from inside. Upon breaking open the door, they were shocked to find Inderpal’s body hanging from a ceiling fan hook. Inderpal took his life due to the harassment and deception by the couple. ACP Industrial Area-B, , Inderjeet Singh, said after the ‘foreign dream’ of the youth was dashed, the youth reportedly died by suicide. Police raids were being conducted to nab the suspects. Sena leader bookedfor promoting gun culture Ludhiana, February 5 The Ludhiana police registered a case against Shiv Sena leader Bhanu Partap for promoting gun culture. In a video, he was asking youths to keep weapons. The police took action after a video showing him holding a weapon surfaced on social media. The case was filed under Section 196 (B) of the IPC. According to the police, the leader in the viral video was attempting to provoke people by brandishing a weapon, which could have posed a threat to public safety. Taking the matter seriously, the police registered a case against the suspect and initiated further action. Police officials said strict action would be taken against those who disrupt law and order Bhanu Partap by posting such videos on social media. Senior police officials were currently conducting a probe into the matter. Therefore, under pressure from the government, the police filed an FIR against him. Meanwhile, Bhanu Partap said the Shiv Sena Punjab and other religious organisations had been demanding from the government to allow the Mahashivratri festival to be celebrated at the state level. unidentified persons stop heavy vehicles and their transporters going from Ludhiana to Jalandhar and from Jalandhar to Ludhiana ahead of the toll barrier and collect the toll amount from them. After threatening toll employees who issue toll slips, they let the vehicles pass without the slips. A gang might be active in extorting money from the commuters for a long time and in further probe, the suspects would be identified and arrested. The police would also question the toll barrier employees to get any clue about the gang members. A senior police official said the role of Ladhowal toll barrier staff was also being examined as there was suspicion that they might be involved in the extortion racket. The police would question the employees and if their role comes to light, they might also face legal action. “If the extortion mafia is allowing heavy vehicles to pass without paying any toll fee by intimidating the toll employees, the practice would have been causing huge revenue losses to the authorities. The police will not spare the miscreants who were behind the racket,” the official said. Farmers hold a protest outside the residence of MLA Sanjeev Arora in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 5 Members of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) on Thursday staged a protest outside MLA Sanjeev Arora’s house to press upon their demands. Farmers have intensified pressure on the state government, warning of a statewide agitation if farmers’ demands are not addressed promptly. The union accused the Civil Hospital undergoes facelift ahead of Kayakalp assessment Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 5 A team comprising Dr Amarjeet Singh and Dr Vikram Sohar from Jalandhar visited the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, to conduct an assessment under the government’s Kayakalp scheme, which recognises and rewards hospitals maintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and infection control. The evaluation is a part of a broader initiative to ensure public hospitals adhere to strict sanitation protocols. Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Akhil Sareen, who previously served at the Civil Hospital, Jagraon, one of the top-ranked hospitals under Kayakalp and National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), has been working tirelessly since his posting in Ludhiana to bring the facility to similar standards. In preparation for the inspection, the Civil Hospital has undergone a significant facelift. Repair works, including sanitation, painting and electrical upgrades, have Evaluation is part of initiative to ensure public hospitals adhere to strict sanitation protocols A team of doctors visit the Civil Hospital to conduct the assessment under the Kayakalp scheme. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN been carried out, alongside a massive clean-up drive. Patient-friendly signages have been installed and new parking regulations were enforced with earmarked zones for staff, ambulances, police vehicles, two-wheelers, patients and attendants. Security guards had been deployed to ensure smooth implementation while obstruction-free pathways for ambulances and multiple flex boards have also been introduced. “The hospital has also created separate passages for pedestrians, wheelchairs and stretchers and revamped critical facilities, including the emergency ward, burns unit, cancer day care, palliative care, dengue and isolation ward complex. Major infrastructure upgrades are underway, including an overhaul of the sewerage system, installation of a new water tank expected next week, expansion of the MCH wing to be handed over next month and construction of a critical care block. Additionally, 1,000 plants have been planted to enhance the hospital’s eco-friendly environment,” said Dr Sareen. The visiting team evaluated the facility across eight key areas — upkeep, sanitation and hygiene, waste management, infection control, support services, hygiene promotion, cleanliness beyond the hospital boundary and ecofriendly practices. The assessment included document reviews and interviews with staff and patients. Hospitals scoring 70 per cent or more in the external evaluation become eligible for awards, including cash prizes and certificates. The inspection not only sets benchmarks for improvement but also provides recognition to exemplary performers in public healthcare. Warn of a statewide agitation if their demands not met government of failing to honour its commitments, particularly regarding pending payments for produce, compensation for crop losses and withdrawal of police cases against farmer leaders. The leaders also submitted a memorandum of their demands addressed to the Chief Minister. The KMM leaders demanded rollback of move to privatise the power sector, cancellation of seed trade agreements with foreign corporations and stricter enforcement of pollution control laws to safeguard state’s environment and agriculture. Highlighting the plight of families who lost members during farmer protests continued on page 2 Newspaper hawker in ICU after attack by masked robbers Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 5 A 67-year-old newspaper hawker was targeted by two masked robbers at New Shimlapuri here on Thursday morning. The suspects not only robbed him of his mobile phone and cash but also inflicted serious injuries on the victim. Leaving him in a pool of blood, they fled on their motorcycle. After suffering serious internal injuries, he has been undergoing treatment at the DMCH. The victim’s son, Akhil, said his father Vinod was going on his Honda Activa to Ghanta Ghar to pick up newspapers in the wee hours as a matter of routine. When he reached Shivpuri Chowk, two masked men on a motorcycle began chasing him. Sensing danger, his father took cover behind a passing tractor-trailer and moved ahead. According to Akhil, the youths blocked his father’s path near the Tutiyan Wala His mobile phone, cash stolen, elderly victim battles for life in hospital Mandir, near Daresi. Before the victim could react, the suspects pushed him off his scooter. The miscreants kicked his father and stabbed him with a sharp weapon. When he fell unconscious, the suspects took away around Rs 4,000 in cash and a mobile phone from his pocket and fled the scene. After the incident, Vinod managed to inform his family with the help of a passer-by. His family rushed him to the DMCH, where he is currently undergoing treatment. “When I went to my father, I was shocked to find him lying in a pool of blood. He had severe head and internal injuries. By arranging a vehicle, he was taken to the DMCH, where a surgery was performed by doctors upon him. I want justice for my father. The suspects should be arrested,” said his son. Potholed city roads make commuting a nightmare Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 5 The crumbling state of roads across Ludhiana has become a glaring civic concern, with several key stretches lying in disrepair and causing inconvenience to daily commuters. From the pothole-ridden stretch at Dugri to broken patches near PAU gate number 4, the situation reflects neglect in vital areas. The road opposite Deepak Hospital and the busy junction at Saggu Chowk are equally marred by uneven surfaces, while ironically, even the stretch outside the Municipal Corporation’s Zone D office itself bears testimony to the poor upkeep. Shrishti, who regularly commutes on the road out- Key stretches lying in disrepair; after every rainfall, road infrastructure crumbles A road near the MC's Zone D office; and (right) a stretch near Deepak Hospital in a pathetic state in Ludhiana. PHOTOS: ASHWANI DHIMAN side the MC’s Zone D office, said the stretch was really in bad shape from quite some c m y b time after it was dug up for laying some cable and it was repaired recently but again it has started crumbling. “If the road outside the MC office is in bad shape then what can we expect about condition of other roads. After every rainfall, the road infra- structure crumbles,” she said. Gaganjot, a student of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), said dignitaries visit university regularly but still one of the roads leading to it was in bad shape. “The road was not broken recently but it is in the same condition for quite some time and should be repaired so that it present a good impression whenever any dignitary visits the varsity,” he said. The problem is present in both new and old city areas. The road leading to Domoria Bridge has also developed potholes and gives a bumpy ride to the people travelling through this road. The road also leads to AC market where cloth traders and continued on page 2