09072026-LT-01.qxd 7/9/2026 1:04 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune FIVE CARCASSES FOUND AT EFFLUENT TREATMENT PLANT A LOOK AT SUPERSTAR AAMIR KHAN’S WIFE’S LIFE, CAREER LAUGH OUT LOUD AT COMEDY PLAY IN GAIETY THEATRE The ETP at the Haibowal Dairy Complex has already been facing operational problems. P2 After marrying Aamir in July 2026, Gauri Spratt has become one of the most searched personalities online.P4 Shimla’s The Beginners will present its comedy play, titled Salgirah Sayapa, at Gaiety Theatre on July 11. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7:27 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:29 AM » THURSDAY | 9 JULY 2026 | LUDHIANA Over 8K dog bite cases in six months leave locals panicky Residents seek speedy action, special drive to capture aggressive canines Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 The stray dog menace continues to haunt the city, with over 8,900 dog bite cases reported in the first six months of this year. Though monthly figures show a gradual decline, the number of people being bitten remains alarmingly high, leaving residents in several localities, especially Gandhi Colony in Model Gram, Model Town, Dugri and other areas worried about their safety. According to the data from the Civil Hospital, a total of 8,962 dog bite cases were reported through the OPD and Emergency departments between January and June this year. On an average, nearly 50 persons are reporting dog bites every day, highlighting the seriousness of the issue. Among the worst-hit localities is Gandhi Colony in Model Gram, where residents say stray dogs have made it difficult for them to move around IN FIGURES On an average, nearly 50 cases are reported every day in city. ASHWANI DHIMAN freely. Children walking to school, elderly people out for morning walks and twowheeler riders are among the most vulnerable. Residents alleged that stray dogs roam in packs and often chase pedestrians and vehicles, leading to frequent bite incidents. Many claimed that despite repeated complaints to the authorities, the problem has remained unresolved. A resident said children were no longer allowed to play outside without an adult accompanying them. Parents fear that the dogs may attack children while they are walking to school or playing in streets. Senior citizens also expressed concern, saying they avoid stepping out alone in the early morning or late evening due to the increasing number of stray dogs. Some residents said MONTH January February March April May June Total CASES 1,668 1,516 1,593 1,447 1,389 1,349 8,962 they now carry sticks while walking as a precaution. Residents demanded that the Municipal Corporation should launch a special drive to capture aggressive stray dogs and speed up the sterilisation programme. They also urged the civic body to identify areas where dog attacks were frequently reported and deploy dedicated teams to address the issue. Health experts said anyone bitten by a dog should immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes before seeking medical treatment. They stressed that anti-rabies vaccination should not be delayed as timely treatment is essential to prevent rabies. Residents said the issue was no longer limited to one colony and had become a city-wide concern. They urged the corporation and Animal Birth Control teams to take speedy and sustained action before more people become victims. With thousands of dog bite cases already reported in six months, residents believe stronger enforcement, regular sterilisation drives and prompt removal of aggressive stray dogs are essential to make neighbourhoods safe again. Without concrete action, they fear the number of dog bite victims will continue to remain high despite repeated complaints. Cong councillor moves HC against F&CC nominations, seeks election Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 A fresh controversy has erupted in the Municipal Corporation after Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging the nomination of two councillors to the powerful Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC). In his petition, Bhatti has alleged that the nominations were made in violation of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, which mandates that two councillors must be elected by the House and not nominated. The writ petition seeks quashing of the table agenda dated March 24 and the appointment order issued on June 24, through which councillors Aman Kumar (Ward 94) and Yuvraj Singh Sidhu (Ward 50) were inducted into the F&CC. The petition further seeks a stay on their nominations during the pendency of the case. Bhatti has also requested the High Court to direct the Municipal Corporation authorities to conduct elections for the two councillor posts in the F&CC within 15 days, strictly in accordance Councillor Gaurav Bhatti PETITION ALLEGES VIOLATION In his petition, Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti has alleged that the nominations were made in violation of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, which mandates that two councillors must be elected by the House and not nominated. with Section 42(4) of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act. According to the petition, Section 42(4) clearly states that the committee should comprise the Mayor, two Deputy Mayors, the Commissioner and two councillors elected by the councillors from among themselves. It argues that the Act does not empower the Mayor to appoint or nominate members to these two posts. The petition alleges that no election process was followed before the appoint- ments. It claims that no meeting was convened for conducting elections, no election notice or schedule was issued, no nominations were invited, no polling took place and no votes were counted. As a result, eligible councillors, including the petitioner, were allegedly deprived of their statutory right to contest for the committee. Bhatti has further contended that the General House meeting held on March 24 was convened only for the presentation of the Municipal Corporation Budget for 2026-27 and that the notice specifically stated no other agenda would be discussed. However, a table agenda was later introduced authorising the Mayor to appoint two councillors to the committee, a move the petition terms as legally unsustainable. The petition also points out that both appointed councillors are sons of sitting AAP MLAs. Aman Kumar is the son of Ludhiana North MLA Madan Lal Bagga while Yuvraj Singh Sidhu is the son of Atam Nagar MLA Kulwant Singh Sidhu. It alleges that the statutory election process was bypassed to facilitate their nominations. Miscreants open fire to threaten Patiala professor Two nabbed in Jain temple theft case Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service AAP leader, kin among 10 booked in firing case Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 The Ludhiana police have solved the high-profile theft at a Jain temple here, arresting two persons and recovering a major portion of the stolen silver items. Acting on the directions of Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma, a team led by inspector Amritpal Singh, Station House Officer, PAU police station, nabbed the suspects after a probe. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-3) Dev Singh while addressing a press conference in this regard said the theft occurred during the intervening night of June 13 and 14 at Jain Mandir, located in New Suria Vihar on Panj Peer Road. A case was registered on June 17 at the PAU police station. The suspects have been identified as Roshan Kumar and Sunil Mandal, alias Ludhiana, July 8 The police have finally taken action in the firing incident that occurred over a parking dispute in Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Model Town, here. Eighteen days after the incident and following the emergence of a video of the firing, the Model Town police have registered a case against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader RK Bonny, his brother and other associates under serious charges. According to police records, the incident occurred on June 19, while the FIR was filed on July 7. Questions are being raised about the delay in filing the case. Based on the victim’s complaint, the police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Arms Act against the suspects. The booked persons include the key suspect, RK Bonny, his brother Nonny, their father Ravi Kumar, Ludhiana, July 8 Two bike-borne assailants opened fire in front of a Patiala-based professor’s moving car on the Khanna national highway late on Tuesday evening. A video of the incident has also surfaced, which the police have seized and included in the investigation. Prof Suminder alias, Sumair Seeda, was returning to Patiala from Rara Sahib Hospital with his driver late on Tuesday evening. Two bike-borne assailants chased his car on the national highway in Khanna. They fired two shots in the air after coming in front of his vehicle. After the incident, the victim called 112 to inform the police. A police team came to the scene and collected evidence. The professor suspected that the miscreants seemed to have used a countrymade weapon. The probe took a new turn when Professor Suminder told the police that he received a video call in the night after the shooting incident. In the call, an extortion was demanded. The police are now conducting a investigation to determine whether the caller is connected to the shooters. The caller’s name was mentioned as Dalender Soni. No criminal or gangster was found in this name. A police official said all angles were being explored. Either the suspects were following the professor, who came to Rara Sahib from Patiala, or they were sent by some other key conspirator to intimidate the victim. Khanna SSP Dr Darpan Ahluwalia said investigation was on and the case would be cracked soon. Nikhil Bhardwaj The suspects in police custody in Ludhiana on Wednesday. Marindi. Both hail near gurdwara Buddha Sahib, Panj Peer Road, Dairy Complex, Hambran Road, Ludhiana. During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to committing the theft. They allegedly stole a silver idol, a silver Man- gal Kalash (chowki), a silver Siddh Chakra, 20 silver plates, 20 silver bowls, four large silver bowls, around Rs 10,000 to 15,000 from the golak and a DVR. On the basis of their disclosure, the police recovered the silver idol of Lord Shantinath Bhagwan, the silver Mangal Kalash and the silver Siddh Chakra. A preliminary probe has revealed that Roshan Kumar has a criminal background, with previous theft cases registered against him. Further investigation is underway. Incident occurred over parking dispute, case filed after 18 days mother Jyoti, Bablu and five unidentified persons. On Facebook page, Bonny mentioned himself as district in-charge of the Nasha Mukti Morcha. The complainant, Mamta, told the police in her statement that on June 19, her husband Lakhbir Singh had parked his truck outside their house on the road in front of Ramlila Park. The suspects, due to a grudge, began a dispute with him. She alleged that the suspects brutally assaulted her and later opened fire at her. She managed to escape from the scene and save her life. ASI Avtar Singh said after registering a case, further probe was launched by the police. — TNS Rights panel issues notice to DGP over illegal Railway employee from operation of heavy vehicles on city roads Bihar found dead at home Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 The Punjab State Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the DGP (Traffic), Punjab, and State Transport Commissioner, Punjab, regarding the illegal operation of tippers in the industrial town. A notice was issued on a complaint filed by a citybased RTI activist, Rohit Sabharwal. The activist had filed a complaint regarding the unsafe and illegal operation of tippers in Ludhiana, which are being used for carrying sand, soil and other materials used for construction purposes. Most of these A truck parked on a national highway in violation of the norms in Ludhiana. INDERJEET VERMA vehicles are being run in violation of traffic rules and regulations, due to which accidents have been occurring. He alleged in his complaint that most of the tippers are carrying more weight than prescribed limits, which leads to accidents. Further, these vehicles also violate the speed limit norms. The situation becomes even more dangerous as construction materials such as sand fall upon road portions during the transit, thereby endangering the lives of the commuters. Moreover, a large number of the tippers are operating without proper high security registration plates. The absence of the c m y b same makes it difficult to identify vehicles in case of accidents, violations or criminal activities. Further, many of the tippers are mechanically unfit and are being operated without proper maintenance. “Prima facie, allegations regarding the unsafe and illegal operation of tippers in the city appear to be a clearcut violation of human rights of the complainant. Hence, the commission takes cognisance of the matter. Accordingly, let the matter be put up before the State Transport Commissioner, Punjab, and the DGP Traffic, Punjab, , to submit their reports a week before the next date of hearing,”reads the order of the commission. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 8 A railway employee was found dead in his quarters in the railway colony under mysterious circumstances. On learning about the incident, the police and railway union officials were informed. The deceased, identified as Awadhesh Kumar Yadav, was a technician. Sources said the deceased was not seen outside his room for the past few days. On Tuesday evening, when neighbours noticed a strong stench emanating from his quarters, they turned suspicious and alerted railway officials. After receiving information, members of the railway union reached the place. They found the quarter’s door open and Awadhesh’s body lying inside. The body was badly decomposed. NRMU branch head Gaurav Sharma told mediapersons that when he, along with other union members, came to enquire, they were shocked to see Awadhesh dead. It seemed that the victim might have died a few days ago. The body was swollen due to the extreme heat. The eyes and tongue had protruded. He said Awadhesh was last seen a few days ago around 11 pm in the office. He said the victim was an alcoholic. Preliminary suspicions are that excessive alcohol consumption and expo- sure to the extreme heat might have resulted in his death. However, the actual cause of the death would only be known after the arrival of the post-mortem report. Investigating officer Sunil Kumar, Police Division 8, said the police received information about the incident on Tuesday evening. The deceased was a native of Bhagalpur, Bihar. His wife had been in her native village for the past over eight days. The police had taken the body into custody and placed it in the mortuary of the Ludhiana Civil Hospital. The deceased’s family, who stay in Bihar, was informed about the incident. A post-mortem examination will be conducted after the family’s arrival in Ludhiana.