22072026-LT-01.qxd 7/22/2026 12:10 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune THREE ARRESTED WITH HEROIN, DRUG MONEY K’THALA, HOSHIARPUR SCHOOL HEADS IN PAY DELAY CROSSHAIRS ‘MERE TE ANTI-NATIONALIST TAG BAUT VAAR LAGG CHUKA...’ The police have nabbed three persons and seized 150 gm of heroin and drug money at a naka. P2 Notices served on 68; teacher bodies allege principals being made a scapegoat for administrative failures. P3 Diljit Dosanjh has urged authorities on social media to listen to the demands of protesting students. P4 » » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 27°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7:23 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:35 AM WEDNESDAY | 22 JULY 2026 | LUDHIANA Outsourced data entry operators sans salaries for three months Say it has become difficult to meet household expenses, seek MC help Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 21 Over 100 outsourced data entry operators working with the Municipal Corporation have been waiting for their salaries for the past three months, with dues from April to June still unpaid, and July also nearing its end. The employees alleged that despite not receiving their salaries, they have been performing various government assignments, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, drug survey, Census-related work and the Rs 10-lakh insurance scheme. The data entry operators, who are engaged through a private contractor, said they receive a monthly salary of around Rs 13,000. According to them, the delay has made it difficult to meet even basic household expenses while many are struggling to meet the daily cost of commuting to work. The employees claimed that under the agreement, salaries were supposed to be credited before 10th of every month. However, they alleged that payments Employees say despite pending salaries, they had been discharging official duties without any interruption. FILE SALARIES LIKELY TO BE CREDITED IN A DAY OR TWO ❝ Bills have already been submitted to the MC and the payment process is underway. Cheques have been signed. The salaries are likely to be credited into accounts of the data entry operators by July 22 or 23. — Contractor had been regularly delayed over the past few years and, in many cases, salaries were released only after two or three months. The operators said the problem started after the contractor, India Security, was awarded the contract in 2023. Since then, instead of floating a fresh tender, the Municipal Corporation has continued to extend the con- ❞ tract while employees have repeatedly faced delays in receiving their salaries. Despite the pending salaries, the employees said they had continued to discharge official duties without any interruption. “We are carrying out important government works but many of us do not even have enough money for buying fuel or other daily expenses. It has become difficult to manage our households,” one of the employees said. Sources in the civic body said proposals to invite fresh tenders had already been placed before the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) but the contract was continued by giving extensions. Responding to the issue, Jograj Singh Sandhu of India Security said bills had already been submitted to the Municipal Corporation and the payment process was underway. “Cheques have been signed. The salaries are likely to be credited into accounts of the data entry operators by July 22 or 23. The delay occurred due to transfers of officials and their engagement in other official duties, which slowed the release of the payments,” he said. The employees have urged the corporation to ensure timely release of salaries every month, saying repeated delays were affecting their financial stability and morale despite their continued contribution to government work. c m y b Man booked for threatening Cong councillor Ludhiana, July 21 The Focal Point police have registered an FIR against a man, identified as Vinay Kumar, whose address is yet to be verified, for allegedly issuing death threats, using casteist remarks and sending abusive voice messages to a Congress councillor through WhatsApp. According to the complaint, the councillor received a WhatsApp call from an international number, with the Kazakhstan country code, on June 22. The caller allegedly introduced himself as Vinay Kumar and threatened to kill the complainant. The victim further alleged that the caller abused him, used caste-based slurs and made objectionable remarks against women members of his family. The complaint stated that after the initial call was disconnected, the suspect allegedly continued making repeated WhatsApp calls and later sent several voice messages. The complainant claimed that before the messages disappeared, he managed to record the audio and video, capturing the caller’s voice, mobile number and other details. He also submitted the recordings and other digital evidence to the police. He alleged that threats had caused fear and mental harassment. He urged the police to take strict action to prevent such incidents in the future. — TNS Interlocking tiles causing damage to trees: Residents The roots of a tree damaged due to the laying of interlocking tiles on Barewal Road. Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 21 On Barewal Road towards Magnet Resort, the work of laying interlocking tiles is being done along both sides of the road. At the same time, a few residents have raised concern over the way trees are being damaged to lay the interlocking tiles. The residents maintained that the NGT guidelines were too strict on damaging trees and for the growth and protection of trees, leave empty space around them. One of the residents, Major Amarjit Singh (retd), said it was good that interlocking tiles were being laid along the road but at the same time, trees which were there for almost 10 to 15 years should not be damaged or uprooted for laying the same. He alleged that workers were damaging roots of the trees and no space was being left for watering them. By stressing on guidelines of the NGT, he said requirement of space was must to protect trees from suffocation and root damage. “The NGT strictly prohibits covering paver-block construction within 1 m of radius of tree trunks. It mandates the removal of existing concrete within the zone to allow proper variation and water,” he said. Kirpal Singh from the Horticulture Department, however, said he would get the matter checked and instruct the contractor concerned not to damage any tree while laying the tiles.