16042026-LT-01.qxd 4/16/2026 1:10 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune BIZ BOOM ON RAIKOT ROAD AHEAD OF FLIGHTS To reach Halwara airport, nearly 35 km from city, commuters have to take Raikot Road from Mullanpur. P2 » 17 RESCUED AFTER LIFT HITS SNAG AT COURT COMPLEX DHURANDHAR INDIAN FILM SERIES IN ~3,000-CR CLUB As per eyewitnesses, lift came to a halt between floors, causing panic among people inside. P2 The worldwide gross of the two instalments of Dhurandhar has now surpassed ~3,000-crore mark. P4 » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 37°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 18°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6:50 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:54 AM » THURSDAY | 16 APRIL 2026 | LUDHIANA City’s Saksham, Divyansh come out with flying colours in CBSE Class X Several students bag near-perfect scores, bringing laurels to their schools Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 15 The city celebrated outstanding academic success as the CBSE Class X results were declared on Wednesday afternoon, with students securing near-perfect scores and bringing laurels to their schools. Saksham Mittal of DAV Public School, BRS Nagar, emerged as one of the top scorers in the city by clinching 99.8 per cent. He scored 499 out of 500 marks, securing full marks in English, Punjabi, artificial intelligence and social science, while getting 99 marks each in science and mathematics. Saksham said he focused on understanding concepts rather than spending long hours on studies. His family members said he remained confident before the exams and relied on clarity of subjects. Matching the top score, Divyansh Jaju of Police DAV Public School, Ludhiana, also secured 99.8 per cent, placing him among the city’s highest achievers. He scored 499 out of 500 marks. Deepan Garg of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, followed closely with 99.6 per cent. He scored 496 out of 500 marks and was among the top achievers of his school. DIVYANSH JAJU 99.8% Students in a jubilant mood after the declaration of the CBSE Class X results at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School in Ludhiana. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, recorded 100 per cent results, with all 384 students clearing the exams. Along with Deepan, Hitansh Sharma and Saanjh Kaur also secured 99.6 per cent to share the top position in the school. Akshom Shukla, Gaurvi, Piya Pathria, Himaksh Arora and Paavni Gambhir bagged the second spot with 99.4 per cent while Anhad Kaur, Gursimrat Singh, Ridhima and Diya Goyal secured the third position in the school with 99.2 per cent. At DAV Public School, BRS Nagar, several students featured among top scorers. Samiya Arora secured the second position with 99.4 per cent, followed by Sanah Aggarwal and Dhriti Singla with 99 per cent. Sourish Goel scored 98.8 per cent, while Dhruvansh Dhand and Rehatreet Kaur secured 98.4 per cent. Police DAV Public School, Ludhiana, also recorded an excellent performance. Along with Divyansh Jaju, Akashi Sharma secured 99.6 per cent while Agrima Sharma scored 99.4 per cent. Sampurna Saha and Agam Kumar secured 99 per cent each. Farazia Shahin scored 98.8 per cent and Gurmehtab Singh secured 98.6 per cent, reflecting consistent academic excellence at the school. BCM School, Basant Avenue, Dugri Road, also recorded excellent performance, with Shubhman Kaur emerging as the school topper by scoring 99 per cent. Students of DCM Young Entrepreneur School also performed well. Ekansh Mahant secured the first position with 97 per cent, while Ashish Gupta and Adve Gupta stood second with 95.6 per cent. Anahita Nijhawan secured the third position with 94.2 per cent. The announcement of results in the late afternoon led to celebrations across SAKSHAM MITTAL 99.8% schools. Many teachers, who had already returned home after school hours, returned to their campuses to compile the results and share the happiness with their students. Smiles and excitement were visible as students checked their results and congratulated each other. School authorities credited the success to the hard work of students, guidance of teachers and support of parents. With many students scoring above 99 per cent, Ludhiana again recorded a good performance in the CBSE Class 10 examinations, highlighting the city’s academic excellence. Khanna police to raze ‘blind spots’ harbouring criminals Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 15 Taking a unique initiative and moving beyond traditional policing, the Khanna police district has shifted focus to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED ) — a strategic approach that uses urban planning to deter illicit activity. By enhancing natural surveillance and eliminating the physical blind spots that harbour peddlers, drug addicts, the authorities aim to design a landscape where such suspects find no place to hide. The initiative was taken under the ongoing ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (war against drugs) drive. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Khanna, Darpan Ahluwalia, the brainchild behind the idea, while talking to The Tribune here on Wednesday said the Khanna police had identified dilapidated and abandoned struc- Authorities aim to design landscape where criminals find no place to hide tures, with unchecked wild vegetation, which are being used as hubs for drug abuse and related illegal activities. “Such locations attract addicts and peddlers, leading to public nuisance, safety hazards and rise in petty crimes in surrounding areas, adversely affecting law and order. Under CPTED, the Khanna police will eliminate all such blind spots. The initiative will serve as a deterrent to the drug peddlers and addicts,” the SSP said. Ahluwalia revealed that necessary liaisoning had been ensured with the revenue authorities/private owners concerned for demolishing such blind spots and structures. The Khanna police would target multiple places over the next few days. They have commenced with today’s mass demolition as well as clearing of wild foliage at eight such places to reduce environmental factors contributing to crime, she said, adding that places targeted today include ruins behind KFC, Malipur village, Doraha, ruins opposite gurdwara Rara Sahib, Katani, ruins near brick-kiln, Maloud, two hotspots near the water tank and stadium, Machhiwara, ruins at Tandon Factory, near the hi-tech naka, Khanna, plot near the PWD rest house Khanna and abandoned room at Kartar Nagar, Khanna. There are usually places which are lying abandoned or places having wild vegetation, which help drug peddlers to carry out their deliveries and also provide safe shelters to addicts to consume drugs. Sometimes anti-social elements also use such places to hide after committing crimes. Khanna police personnel clear a blind spot during a drive in Ludhiana on Wednesday. Congress councillor’s husband Eight of drug smugglers’ gang land in police net booked for assaulting labourers Tribune News Service Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 15 The Ludhiana police again filed a case against Congress leader Inderjit Singh Indi, husband of party councillor Parminder Kaur. He was accused of assaulting workers engaged in a road construction work near Saggu Chowk. The video of assault had also went viral on social media. Congress leaders termed it an act of political vendetta. Meanwhile, Indi has filed an application for anticipatory bail through his lawyer. A complaint stated that some unidentified individuals were threatening and obstructing road construction workers near Saggu Chowk. Mamta Ashu, wife of former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, questioned the action. She posted a video, claiming that the action was taken under political pressure. According to the FIR, investigating officer ASI Subhash Chand said during the investigation on the spot, information was received from sources that Indi was involved in obstructing road construction and assaulting labourers. Mamta Ashu said there was neither a complainant nor a victim in the case. The police were taking action only to appease their political masters. District Congress president Sanjay Talwar also went live on social media and alleged that under pressure from the ruling party, the police were deliberately harassing Congress workers. Indi’s lawyer, Vijay Mahendru, told the media that same sections were imposed in the case as were imposed in the FIR filed on December 20, 2025. Surprisingly, the investigating officer was also the same in both cases. In the viral video, Indi can also be heard allegedly abusing Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora. Ludhiana, April 15 Ths Khanna police busted a major gang of drug smugglers and arrested eight of its members. The police also seized 44 kg of poppy husk, 4 kg of opium, a Mahindra Scorpio vehicle (bearing registration no PB10JD5965) and two tractor-trailers from the suspects. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Khanna, Mohit Kumar Singla, while addressing a press conference regarding the matter stated that on April 13, a police team, led by ASI Pramod Kumar, CIA, Khanna, was present at the T-point near Sai Mandir, Khanna, for The suspects in Khanna police custody. checking suspicious persons. The team intercepted a tractor which was pulling another tractor and a reaper. When the suspects were stopped without any suspicion, the driver of the tractor tried to run away but was chased down by the police. The driver was identified as Arshpreet Singh, a resident of Punia village in Samrala while three other occupants, who were also nabbed, were identified as Manpreet Singh, also of Punia, Gurdeep Singh of Ranwa village in Machhiwara Sahib and Gurwinder Singh of Rajgarh village in Doraha in Ludhiana district. Singla said during the search of the tractor, 44 kg of poppy husk powder and 4 kg of opium were recovered from the attached trailer. The suspects were arrested and a case was registered under the NDPS Act. During the interrogation of the suspects, it was revealed that the smuggled opium and poppy husk were brought by Rohit, alias RP a resident of , Chakki Mian Mohalla, Machhiwara Sahib, and Balwant Singh, alias Sunny, of Garhi Tarkhana village in Machhi- wara Sahib, Ludhiana district, in their Scorpio from Madhya Pradesh and later hidden in a tractor-trailer, the DSP said, adding that Rohit and Balwant were also named as suspects in the case and also arrested. Singla revealed that indepth interrogation of Arshpreet Singh revealed that the seized opium and poppy husk were to be delivered to Karnail Singh and Amarjit Singh, both residents of Machhiwara, who used to work as suppliers in Samrala, Machhiwara and other areas of the region. They were also named as suspects and arrested later. More important revelations are expected in further investigation. Ladhowal Toll Plaza thrown open for three hours Woman ends life by jumping into canal, youngster booked Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 15 The Ludhiana Toll Plaza Workers Union, Punjab, has sounded the bugle for a major agitation across the state. In support of its demands, the union held protest demonstrations at all toll plazas across Punjab on Wednesday. As part of the initiative, the Ladhowal Toll Plaza, located near Ludhiana, was made tollfree on Wednesday from 12 pm to 3 pm. Union leaders have clarified that they were opposing the cashless policy and the ongoing digitisation process. The employees assert that the government’s “boothless Toll Plaza Workers’ Union members protest digitisation process in Ladhowal. ASHWANI DHIMAN policy” poses a looming threat to their jobs. In protest against the same, toll barriers were opened to the public for three hours on Wednesday and no tax or fee was collect- ed from any vehicle. The union alleges that employees were being laid off c m y b under the guise of adopting the digital system. They were demanding immediate withdrawal of the plan to eliminate toll booths. The union has appealed to all farmers’ unions, labour organisations and other bodies in the state to join the struggle. Robust security arrangements have also been put in place in view of the protest. Bachitter Singh, secretary, State Toll Plaza Worker Union, Punjab, said if cashless schemes were implemented, hundreds of workers would lose their jobs. The protests were held across the state against the anti-worker policies of the government, he said. Mahesh Sharma Ludhiana, April 15 A Ludhiana youth has been booked for allegedly abetting a 24-year-old woman of Gahaur village to die by suicide. He emotionally harassed the victim after exploiting her physically on the pretext of marriage. The body of the victim was found from the Abohar branch of the Sirhind Canal near Ghawaddi village on Tuesday, two days after she left her home on the pretext of paying obeisance at a historic reli- gious place in Ludhiana. The suspect, booked under Section 64 and 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Dehlon police station, has been identified as Manjit Singh, alias Jit. Perusal of the FIR, registered on the statement of Avtar Singh of Gahaur village revealed that, the complainant’s 24-year-old daughter left home on April 12 on the pretext of paying obeisance at a Ludhiana gurdwara but her body was recovered from the Abohar branch of the Sirhind Canal on Tuesday. Avtar alleged that as per his wife, the suspect had been exploiting the victim physically and harassing emotionally, abetting her to take the step on the fateful day. Police personnel, led by SHO Avneet Kaur, have initiated a probe to verify allegations levelled by the complainant.