25082025-LT-01.qxd 8/24/2025 10:44 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune WOMEN STAND TALL AT SAMRALA’S ‘JITT RALLY’ VILLAGERS BRAVE RAIN TO SERVE LANGAR TO FARMERS IN RALLY Clad in yellow dupattas, thousands of women farmers stood shoulder to shoulder at Samrala’s grain market in ‘Jitt Rally’ . P2 » Residents of nearly 40 villages came together to prepare and serve langar to over 1 lakh farmers in Samrala rally. P2 » GEETA MAKES HER COMEBACK WITH PUNJABI FILM Geeta Basra is set to return to big screens after nearly 10 years with Punjabi film Mehar, which stars producer Raj Kundra. P4 » FORECAST RAIN/THUNDERSHOWERS MAX 31°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.58 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:59 AM MONDAY | 25 AUGUST 2025 | LUDHIANA Alleged 25-year-old gangster shot dead, friend injured near Sundar Nagar Chowk Five Taran Tarn youth planned to throw grenade at Nakodar bakery Father of the deceased suspects gangster Shubham Mota behind murder Nikhil Bhardwaj said to be associated with Puneet Bains gang. Shubham Mota was a rival of Bains, the police said. Shubham, a notorious gangster, was facing multiple criminal cases, including that of murder, attempt to murder, scuffle and Arms Act, among others. In 2020, Shubham and his aides had brutally assaulted Puneet Bains outside a restaurant on the RK road, the police said. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 24 In a suspected gangster war in the city, a 25-year-old youth Kartik Baggan was shot dead, while his friend Sarvan suffered bullet injuries as unknown assailants cornered the duo near Sundar Nagar Chowk on Saturday night. Baggan, who was facing four criminal cases, including that of attempt to murder and Arms Act, was out on bail. Reportedly a member of Puneet Bains gang, Baggan had enmity with other gangs. He also used to indulge in challenging his opponents on social media. This was not the first attack he faced. In fact on June 25, 2023, Baggan was shot at by his rivals on the Benjamin road after which he was admitted to the CMC Hospital. Though he was wanted in an attempt to murder case then and was supposed to be arrested, he escaped from the hospital while dodging the police security. He was arrested later in the case and came out on bail. Davinder Chaudhary, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), North, said a resident of The police at the CMC Hospital in Ludhiana where a friend of the deceased is admitted for treatment. Ghanshyampuria group takes responsibility Ghati Mohalla, Baggan along with his friend Sarvan, was heading home on a scooter when on the way near Sundar Nagar Chowk the duo was cornered by bike-borne armed assailants who fired at them. Baggan suffered four bullet injuries, including two on his chest and two near the shoulder, while his friend suffered one bullet injury on his back. Passersby immediately shifted them to the CMC Hospital where doctors declared Baggan brought dead, while condition of Sarvan remained critical, while he was undergoing treatment in the Intensive A few hours after the murder, Gopi Ghanshampuria group shared a post on social media taking responsibility of murdering Kartik Baggan. In the post, the group stated, “I Donny Bal, Mohabat Randhawa, Amar Khabe, Prabh Dasuwal and Kaushal Chaudhary committed the murder. Baggan used to abuse our brothers. Hence, he was finished by us. In future also, if anyone even if sitting abroad will abuse us or our brothers will be eliminated.” ACP Chaudhary said this social media post was being verified and nothing could be stated at this moment. Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. Asked if murder was a fallout of rivalry among gangs, ACP Chaudhary said gang war could not be established yet, but it could be possible that Baggan’s enmity with assailants became the cause of his murder. Baggan’s father in a statement to the police had alleged that notorious gangster Shubham Mota, Gagan Gill and Tony Chauhan either got his son killed or they themselves committed murder. Deceased’s father also told the police that his son had fight with Gagan Gill in the past and even a case was registered against Baggan then at the Tibba police station. Acting on the statement of the deceased’s father, Mota, Gill and Chauhan were booked on the murder charge, the ACP said. The police were conducting raids at the suspected hideouts of the three accused to nab them, he said. Once any accused was arrested, the entire conspiracy behind murder could be exposed, the ACP said. Baggan close associate of Puneet Bains gang The police said Baggan was Accused got task on Snapchat ID for ~50,000 only alias Taj (18), Manpreet Singh (20), both residents of Mugal Chak Gill village, Tarn Taran; Amjid Masih, alias Benny (22), Sajan (18), both residents of Kakka Kandiala village, Tarn Taran; and Balraj Singh (22), a resident of Pandori Gola village, Tarn Taran. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 24 A day after the arrest of five youths along with live grenades and an illegal weapon from the Sidhwan Bet area by the Ludhiana rural police after exchange of fire, their questioning led to the startling disclosures about nefarious plans. As per police claims, they aimed to hurl a grenade at prominent bakery in Nakodar. The police suspect that the accused planned to target some place in Mehatpur and Sidhwan Bet. Assistant Sub-Inspector Balwinder Singh, CIA, Jagraon, had fortunate escape as bullet grazed through his turban while one accused Amjid Masih had suffered bullet injury on his leg. Dr Ankur Gupta, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ludhiana rural, told The Tribune on Sunday that surprisingly the accused agreed to commit the task of throwing explosive at a designated place in Nakodar for just Rs 50,000. They were supposed to get the amount after executing the task. A man operating a Snapchat ID had reportedly given the task to the accused. Before sending them to the place for executing the task, Snapchat ID operator had reportedly also sent a man belonging to Mughal Chak village in Tarn Taran, who delivered live grenades to the accused. Asked if the owner at whose bakery grenade was to be thrown was alerted, the SSP said the Nakodar police was alerted about the development. He said a person on target would also be called for investigation to inquire about his dispute if any with any person or any threat he received in the past. About the involvement of any gangster or terrorist hiding abroad, the SSP said the identification of Snapchat ID operator would make it clear if the task was given from foreign land or from the country itself. The arrested suspects were identified as Arjun Singh, Accused did recce in Nakodar three days ago Inderjit Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Detective, Ludhiana rural, who is supervising the investigation, said accused Arjun was to throw grenade as per their plans. Three days ago, the accused had done a recce in Nakodar and yesterday they had to throw the grenade, but timely action by the Ludhiana rural police averted a major attack on the bakery. “Nabbed accused, who are of young age, are also drug addicts. They are suspected to be involved in drug peddling in the border areas. Balraj, who owns the Scorpio N, had been buying drugs from Arjun. Balraj’s father is a sarpanch of a village in Tarn Taran,” the DSP said. The accused were today produced in a court which sent them to eight-day police custody, the DSP said. MC chief goes strict over cleanliness, Minor girl kidnapped No end to rain misery sanitary supervisor suspended in Jagraon, one booked Show-cause notice issued to CSI, Lambardar in another case Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 24 With the Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal taking strict stance over cleanliness, a sanitary supervisor has been suspended, while show-cause notices have been issued to a Chief Sanitary Inspector (CSI) and Lambardar over lack of maintaining cleanliness in the allotted to them. Action has been taken against staffers/officials concerned after lack of cleanliness was witnessed in their respective areas during inspection. Sanitary Supervisor Vijay Chauhan was suspended over lack of cleanliness in the area allocated to him on the Chandigarh road (Veer Palace to Fortis hospital). Further, show-cause notice was issued to CSI Surinder Dogra and Lambardar Pramod Kumar over lack of cleanliness on the road leading to the Civil Surgeon office from Dandi Swami Chowk (Old Dayanand Medical College Hospital road). The inspections in these areas were conducted on Friday. Dachalwal said, “Strict directions have been issued to officials/employees of the health branch to ensure cleanliness in their respective areas. As these employees failed to perform their duties, action has been taken against them.” Dachalwal further said, “Inspections are being conducted across the city on a regular basis and if any employee/official fails to perform duties to ensure cleanliness, they will face the music.” Earlier too, in the month of July, a Safai Karamchari was suspended over his failure to stop open dumping of garbage and ensure cleanliness on the 100-feet road that falls under the Zone B of the Municipal Corporation. MC Commissioner Dachalwal appealed to residents to stop dumping waste in the open and support the authorities concerned in keeping the industrial town clean. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 24 The Jagraon police have registered a case against a youth on the charge of kidnapping of a 17-year-old girl. After registering a case, the police initiated a probe to trace the girl. The booked accused was identified as Jashandeep Singh, alias Jass, a resident of Lopo Dala Agwar, Jagraon. The girl’s mother told the police that her daughter studies in Class 11. She was in depression for the last four months and was scared. When asked the reason, the girl told her mother that while going to and coming back from school, a youth named Jashndeep used to block her way and threatened to take her away. The girl ignored the accused many times, but he kept threatening to take her away from the house. The girl also tried to convince the accused many times, but he did not listen to her repeated pleas. The complainant said on Saturday evening, her daughter left home on her Activa scooter. She also took Rs 90,000 with her, which was lying in the house. Later, when she didn’t return home, the girl’s family lodged a police complaint. Investigating officer ASI Kuldeep Singh said the family searched for their daughter, but failed to find her. When no clue was found about the girl, her family filed a complaint with the police, the ASI said. After investigation, the police registered a case against the accused, the ASI added. Commuters pass through a waterlogged Hambran Road in Ludhiana. Poor drainage of rainwater proves that the city in not prepared to face the monsoon onslaught. ASHWANI DHIMAN Youth, cops participate in Fit India cycle rally Kidnapped factory worker yet Pledge to adopt healthy lifestyle through walking, cycling & shun drugs Our Correspondent to be traced, police probe on Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 24 Youths, including students of various educational institutes, cops posted at various police stations and members of sports and youth clubs vowed to adopt a healthy lifestyle through walking and cycling and shunning drug abuse. An oath was administered in response to a call given by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gagan Ajit Singh during the concluding session of a bicycle rally held in the region under the FIT India Movement launched five years ago with a view to make fitness an integral part of our daily lives. The aim of the movement is to bring about behavioural Ludhiana, August 24 A factory worker from the Basaimi area of Ludhiana has gone missing after reportedly being kidnapped and attacked with sharp weapons by a group of men. The victim, identified as Sarwan Chauhan, had not been seen for more than a day, according to his employer. The incident came to light after Chauhan’s wife, Meena Devi, filed a complaint, prompting the PAU police to register a case on Saturday. The main accused have been named as Arun and his son Ajay, along with six unidentified individuals. Meena Devi shared that their family originally hails from Uttar Pradesh, but had been living in Ludhiana for the past several years. SSP Gagan Ajit Singh and others flag off Fit India cycle rally at Mandi Ahmedgarh on Sunday. changes and move towards a more physically active lifestyle. “We will adopt Sunday on cycle slogan in our life,” vowed participants who cycled through various localities of Mandi Ahmedgarh, Amargarh and Malerkotla segments. Appreciating enthusiasm and gesture shown by various organisations towards Fit India campaign SSP Gagan Ajit Singh, who earlier flagged off the rally, said the Prime Minister of India had launched the campaign on August 29, 2019, in mem- ory of Major Dhiyan Chand. The SSP called upon the youth of the region to support the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign already launched by the Punjab Government and contribute towards making the border state drug free. c m y b Her husband had worked at Anoor Professor Factory in Basaimi for the past 35 years. Although the factory had mostly shutdown, its owner had kept two machines running just to ensure that Chauhan could continue earning livelihood for his family. She believes that the attack stems from an earlier dispute. Two weeks ago, her teenage son had eloped with a local girl. Although the couple later returned and both families agreed to settle the matter peacefully, the girl recently went missing again. Her family allegedly suspected Meena Devi’s son of helping her escape once more. Fearing for his safety, the family had sent him to Delhi for work. According to Meena, this grudge led Arun (girl’s brother), his father Ajay, and six others to storm the factory. She claims they assaulted her husband with weapons, dragged him outside, and forced him sit on a motorcycle before fleeing. In the chaos, she too suffered a serious leg injury. Investigating Officer ASI Sukhbeg Singh, who is leading the investigation, confirmed that there’s still no trace of Sarwan Chauhan. He said a search was in progress and the police were working to crack the case. A formal FIR was registered against the named accused under multiple legal sections, and the police were trying to locate them, the ASI said. The factory owner also alleged that a local political figure may be involved in the incident. —TNS Youth booked on charge of sodomy Ludhiana, August 24 A 16-year-old mentally unsound boy was sodomised by a youth. The Dugri police station registered a case against the accused. The case was registered by the police after over one week of receiving a complaint in this connection. The accused was identified as Prince, a resident of LIG flats, Dugri. The victim’s father told the police that his son was mentally unsound. Accused Prince lived on the upper floor of his house, he said. When the complainant returned home from work on the evening of August 13, his wife told him that Prince had made their son smoke cigarettes and later he had unnatural sex with him after giving him some drugs. Investigating officer ASI Amolak Singh said a case on the charges of sodomy and under POCSO Act was registered against the accused. — TNS
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