18092026-LT-01.qxd 9/18/2026 12:59 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune VET VARSITY TO SHOWCASE ‘MAKHMALI’ AT PASHU PALAN MELA SPECIAL ADGP REVIEWS ANTI-DRUG DRIVE IN CITY If you’re a cheese lover, make your way to Pashu Palan Mela at veterinary university in city today. P2 Special ADGP (Security), Punjab, along with CP and others, holds a high-level meet to review drives. P2 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 22°C SABYASACHI RETURNS TO NEW YORK FASHION WEEK » SUNSET FRIDAY 6:24 PM Bengal Byzantine Broadway collection brings together denim, tailoring & western workwear. P4 SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:09 AM » FRIDAY | 18 SEPTEMBER 2026 | LUDHIANA ~1,408-crore waste mgmt tender 20 found carrying weapons at blood donation camp: Probe not cleared at F&CC meeting again Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti leaves without signing, cites exorbitant rate Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 17 The fate of Rs 1,408.66-crore Solid Waste Management Project tender still hangs in the balance as it was the second Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) meeting held on Thursday to clear a few pending agendas but this agenda item could not be cleared again as Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti left the meeting without signing. Bhatti told The Tribune that he would go as per law. The tender and work order had already been given to a contractor in the past. But now, the MC was trying to get into more trouble by retendering it. “Where is the money to be given to the new contractor? The MC has empty coffers. The MC was already paying Rs 1,000 per metric tonne for lifting solid waste then why would it pay Rs 3,700 per metric tonne? And another concern remains that thousands of safai sewaks and their families are filling their stomachs in the present scenario, where will they go if the new MC officials during an F&CC meeting at the Mayor’s camp office in Ludhiana. FILE contractor comes into the picture?” he asked. In the Thursday’s meeting, a few agenda items were passed but as required strength was not there to clear the solid waste management agenda, it could not be passed. In a representation written to the Municipal Corporation Commissioner, F&CC member Gaurav Bhatti said that he raised objection to the Solid Waste Management tender. “I am firmly opposed to the costly Solid Waste Management tender and my clear position is that the tender should be cancelled,” Bhatti said. As per him, the implementation of the tender may impose an additional financial burden of crores of rupees upon the Municipal Corporation. Keeping in view the present financial position of the corporation, it should also be clearly established from where the funds required for making such a largescale and long-term payment will be arranged. At present, poor and labour families are also engaged in door-to-door collection of waste on their own and earn their livelihood through hard work. Under the existing arrangement, the corporation does not face a long-term financial liability of Rs 1,408.66 crore in this manner. Taking away the livelihood of these families and introducing such a big and exorbitant tender is a matter of serious concern for me. The livelihood of approximately 15,000 poor, Dalit and labour families must also be taken into consideration while taking such a major decision. Further elaborating in the letter written to the MC Commissioner, Bhatti said works relating to transportation and processing/disposal had already been awarded under separate existing contracts. Despite this, the same scope appears to have been included again in the proposed new eightyear tender. Therefore, a complete examination of the existing contracts vis-à-vis the proposed new tender is necessary to determine any possible duplication/overlap as well as financial implications and additional liability upon the corporation. The previous meeting of the F&CC was held on September 14. Bride’s mother loses purse MC employee found carrying gold, cash at wedding dead under bridge Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 17 A woman’s purse containing gold and silver jewellery and cash was stolen during a wedding at Malli Farms in Chandar Nagar, Haibowal, here. According to information, the incident occurred after the jaimala ceremony on the night of September 14. The family was busy posing for photographs around 11.30 pm when two youths were seen loitering near the stage. Seizing the opportunity, one of them picked up a purse that had been placed on the floor and fled the place along with his companion. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed at the marriage palace. Butta Ram, a resident of Ghumar Mandi said his daughter Alka’s wedding was being solemnised at Malli Farms. After the jaimala ceremony, family members were getting their photographs clicked. His wife Neetu placed the purse she was holding on the floor as advised by the cameraman and joined the family for clicking photos. Later, when she looked for the purse, it was missing. The family raised the alarm and informed the marriage palace management. The gates of the palace were closed and the CCTV footage was checked. The footage showed two youths roaming near the stage for a long time. One of them picked up the purse kept on the floor and left the venue with his companion before the gates could be shut. He said the purse contained around Rs 15,000, shagun money given by relatives and others, a gold kitty set worth about Rs 3 lakh, silver jewellery and other valuables. The family has also reported the matter to the police. Officials at the Jagatpuri chowki are examining the CCTV footage to identify the youth who took away the purse. On the basis of the complaint, the Haibowal police on Wednesday registered a case against an unidentified person. The police are checking the footage of CCTV cameras installed in and around the venue and questioning the people present during the wedding to identify the suspect. Ludhiana, September 17 An employee of the Municipal Corporation allegedly died by suicide due to financial distress. The deceased, identified as Ramandeep Singh (38), worked as a sewerman. His body was recovered on Thursday from under the Jagraon Bridge near the Dukh Nivaran Gurdwara. The victim got married in January this year. Baljinder Singh, the deceased’s brother-in-law, said Ramandeep had been facing financial issues as he was not receiving his salary for the past around seven months. It had become difficult to manage household expenses. When his family asked him to bring groceries and other essential items while returning Died by suicide as he was not getting salary for months, claims brother-in-law from work in the evening, his response was that he had no money and would bring them the same the next day after receiving the salary, he said He was in depression due to the the financial crisis, he said. The deceased is survived by his wife and elderly mother. A police officer said Ramandeep’s body was recovered from under the bridge. As per initial investigation, there were no injury on his body. Based on the statements of his family and the medical report, further action would be taken. Ludhiana, September 17 After the Ludhiana police and the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) gunned down two shooters following an exchange of fire near Atam Park here on Sunday, the investigation is now set to focus on those found carrying weapons at a blood donation camp organised in memory of former Congress sarpanch Ravi Khwajke. The police said the two shooters had allegedly planned to open fire at the camp at the behest of overseas-based wanted gangsters Doni Bal and Shaganpreet. Timely police intervention prevented what could have turned into a bloodbath. Officials said Khwajke had connections with some gangsters and was himself killed by gangster Davinder Bambiha at a Ludhiana resort in 2016. Had the shooters reached the camp, it could have turned into a site of mass violence, putting many innocent lives at risk. According to the police, several criminal elements suspected to be associated with different gangster groups attended the camp. They were allegedly carrying Cop suspended for giving VIP treatment to jail inmates Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 17 Putting a dent in pockets of the common man, prices of a few vegetables have shot up sharply. Lemons, which were being sold at Rs 60-70 per kg, are now retailing at Rs 300320 per kg due to a short supply. Not just lemons, onions are selling at Rs 75 per kg in the wholesale market, peas Rs 200 per kg and garlic around Rs 270 per kg. A retailer at Dandi Swami Chowk, Gurmit Singh of Jaggi Vegetables, said there was a shortage of lemons, which had pushed up prices. “Lemons are expensive in the state due to a severe supplydemand gap. There has been a production shortfall in lemonproducing states such as Kar- Being sold at ~300-320 per kg; rates of onion, garlic, pea too increase nataka and Andhra Pradesh, due to which prices have risen in the state. Extreme weather conditions have led to a drop of up to 40 per cent in production,” he said. Not a commercial crop in state Farmer union leader Raghbir Singh Benipal said lemons were not cultivated extensively as a commercial crop in the state. “We get lemons from southern states, so prices depend on weather conditions there. Demand and supply are oth- Cops at the encounter site near Atam Park in Ludhiana. FILE weapons openly and moving around the venue. “Based on CCTV footage and questioning of organisers, we have identified around 20 persons seen carrying weapons. Most were moving in groups and are suspected to have been carrying unlicensed arms. They have been summoned and asked to produce their weapons and arms licences. If anyone is found possessing illegal weapons, a case will be registered and the weapons confiscated,” said a senior police official privy to the investigation. Shooters rented hotel room on day of encounter The investigation has also er factors that determine the rates of the produce,” he said. Trucker nabbed with 150-kg poppy husk Ludhiana, September 17 The Sadar Jagraon police claimed to have arrested a truck driver and recovered 150 kg of poppy husk from his possession. The suspect was on the way to deliver narcotics to his clients. Investigating officer SI Gursewak Singh stated that when he, along with a police team, was present at a hi-tech checkpoint in Gurusar on Wednesday, a tip-off was received that Najam Singh, alias Bhundi, a resident of Dhilwan village in Barnala, was involved in smuggling poppy husk and he brings poppy husk from outside the state and supplies the same in Punjab. The SI said as per information, the suspect had been transporting a huge quantity of poppy husk in Tribune News Service Retailers believe prices of vegetables may ease in coming days. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA c m y b his truck from Madhya Pradesh on the pretext of supplying wheat and pulses. He had concealed narcotics in the tool box of the truck. He was on the way to Sidhwan Bet from Moga. A police team was alerted, after which the truck was intercepted for checking. During search, 150 kg of poppy husk was seized from the vehicle. A case under Sections 15, 25, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act was registered against the truck driver and further investigation was launched to bust the entire drug supply line so that suppliers involved in the smuggling racket can be caught. Deity’s silver jewellery, vehiclestolenfromtemple Eateries using lemon powder Many restaurant owners have started using lemon powder instead of fresh lemons as it is more economical. “We have started using lemon powder, which has a similar taste, while hosting parties and other events as it is available at a much lower price,” said the manager of a restaurant on Ferozepur Road. Though retailers believe prices may ease in coming days, lemon sales have currently declined due to the exorbitant rates. “Common households are not buying lemons due to the high prices,” said a vegetable vendor, Ramya Prasad. revealed that the shooters rented a room at a hotel near the bus stand on the day of the police encounter. They stayed there and ordered food. The police have recovered footage showing the suspects eating biryani. Investigators suspect that another associate met the shooters on the day of the firing and might have supplied them with weapons and cash. The police have asked hotel staff to provide copies of identity documents used by the suspects to book the room. CCTV footage from the hotel and other locations where the shooters were captured has also been seized for probe. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 17 An alleged racket of providing VIP treatment to GST case accused in the Ludhiana Central Jail in exchange for money has come to the fore. An FIR was registered against Additional Superintendent Balvir Singh. The officer was suspended and absconding. The official was allegedly offering special facilities to certain GST accused after taking financial benefits. These inmates were also kept separate from others and given preferential treatment. The matter came to light after a complaint from the jail reached senior officials. Once the complaint reached the senior jail official, an inquiry committee was formed. During the probe, names of around 11 GST accused allegedly involved in the “takeaway” surfaced and action followed. High lemon prices due to short supply leave consumers sour Shivani Bhakoo ENCOUNTER OF TWO SHOOTERS Ludhiana, September 17 A theft occurred at the Vaishno Devi temple in the Kishor Nagar area on Tajpur Road here. Late on Wednesday night, a masked person entered the temple and stole the deity’s silver jewellery. The thief also took away the priest’s Honda Activa scooter. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras. The incident at the religious site irked residents of the area. The CCTV footage showed a masked man wearing a skullcap entering the temple. The suspect wandered around for a while, conducting a recce, and then committed the theft. The temple priest, Jai Bhagwan Sharma, said the masked man entered the temple at night and stole silver jewellery of the deity. He said the thief also took away his Honda Activa which he had purchased last year only. The temple management has provided the police with complete information about stolen silver items and the vehicle. The police are investigating the matter and making efforts to identify the suspects on the basis of the CCTV footage. He would be nabbed soon. The total value of the stolen silver items was also being assessed, the priest said.