14092025-LT-01.qxd 9/14/2025 12:24 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune PSPCL STARTS PROJECT TO UPGRADE POWER LINES MALERKOTLA POLICE LAUNCH FIRST-AID DRIVE FOR COPS WHEN THE NAMAK SHAMAK GUY FORGOT TO PUT SALT! Minister Sanjeev Arora has announced a comprehensive ‘makeover’ to upgrade power lines across state. P2 Campaign was formally kicked off by Malerkotla SSP Gagan Ajit Singh on occasion of World First-Aid Day. P3 Chef Harpal Sokhi admits that he has turned many a kitchen disaster into favourable outcome. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6.29 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6:07 AM » SUNDAY | 14 SEPTEMBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Two groups clash, exchange gunshots Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 13 Chaos erupted in Sherpur Kalan on Friday night when two groups got into a violent fight and exchange gunshots. The firing caused panic, sending people scrambling for safety. Minor girl hit by stray pellet, rushed to hospital In the midst of the mayhem, a young girl was caught in the crossfire. As she was walking home with her mother, a stray pellet hit her, leaving her injured. She was rushed to the Civil Hospital. Officials from the Moti Nagar station reached the scene and checked the CCTV footage. A resident, Sarabjit Singh, said the two groups had a dispute, which led to the fight. When the firing started, people ran for cover and shops were shut down. continued on page 2 HEALTH & WELLNESS The Tribune is starting a Q and A column to address your health-related queries. Please mail your questions (not exceeding 40 words) at healthandwellness@tribunemail.com. The Tribune’s panel of doctors will answer all your healthrelated concerns. Online betting racket busted, five arrested Transactions worth crores made daily in fake bank accounts Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 13 The Ludhiana police busted an online betting racket. Suspects had been duping people under the guise of betting on illegal gambling sites. Five suspects were arrested by the police and the mastermind of the racket is said to be in Dubai. SSP Ludhiana (rural) Ankur Gupta said the police busted a gang of illegal online gambling sites and arrested five persons, Abhinav Garg (24) of the college road area in Barnala, Om Prakash, alias Om (29), of Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida, Amritraj, alias Amrit (28), of Nalanda, Bihar, Vishwajit Singh (36) of Jalesar, Uttar Pradesh, and Rihan Khan (25) of Kushinagar, who were collecting money under the guise of betting on illegal sites. Gupta said the suspects were involved in online illegal betting through illegals sites — parimatch.com and mostbet.net.in — where they convince the people AVOID ONLINE ILLEGAL SITES: SSP TO PEOPLE SSP Ludhiana (rural) Ankur Gupta appealed to people to avoid online illegal sites offering easy money and said strict action will be continued against those who commit cyber and financial frauds. to deposit huge amount of money with the lure of winning and fake bank accounts were opened to transfer the money. Daily transactions of crores of rupees were being made in these accounts, which were further forwarded to owners of the sites in the form of cryptocurrency. The SSP said key persons behind the racket used to distribute commission in the form of cryptocurrency to the suspects arrested by the police. After arresting all suspects, eight mobile phones, eight SIM cards to operate bank accounts, two cheque books, a laptop and a Tata Altroz car (bearing registration number UP IGFC 6317) were recovered from them. The suspects during interrogation said Om Prakash was the main leader of the gang, who used to provide different accounts for transactions worth crores for many sites every day. He also used to come to small cities to open the accounts and mostly operated in big cities such as Delhi and Mumbai and the money earned through fraud was sent to Dubai and Philippines, etc. through cryptocurrency, he claimed. “The case is being investigated to find out how many other members are associated with the gang and involvement of any bank official, etc. The suspects have been produced in a court on Saturday, which remanded in police custody for six days,” Gupta said. SSP Ludhiana (rural) Ankur Gupta appealed to people to avoid such online illegal sites offering easy money and said strict action will be continued against those who commit cyber and financial frauds. c m y b ‘Firing’ at ex-MLA’s car, no plaint given Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 13 A firing incident allegedly occurred on Friday night at the farmhouse of former MLA Simarjit Singh Bains in Alamgir. Shots were fired at his car. Bains was not inside the vehicle during the incident. According to sources, Bains was having a property dispute with one of his brothers and due to the same, arguments took place between them. These took a ghastly turn and shots were fired. Notably, Bains had three brothers, of which Balwinder Bains is also a former MLA while the other brothers are into business. The dispute occured with one of the brothers who is doing business. A police team, led by ACP Harjinder Singh and Dehlon SHO Sukhjinder Singh, reached the farm on Saturday. Police officials spent around three hours at the farmhouse for probe. Balwinder told mediapersons that firing had taken place and no one suffered any injuries. It was a family matter and they would solve it internally. ADCP Karanvir said the police team had visited the farmhouse but no scars of bullets were found on the car or anywhere else. Even Simarjit had not filed any complaint and also denied any firing. Hence, no complaint was registered. Passers-by gather at the place where the mishap occurred in Ludhiana on Saturday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Man crushed by train while crossing railway tracks Police deny suicide angle, victim yet to be identified Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 13 A man was crushed by train near the bus stand while he was crossing the railway tracks. After the incident, officials of the Government Railway Police and Railway Police reached the scene and took the body to the Civil Hospital. The train was halt- ed for sometime after the accident as policemen conducted a probe at the scene. SHO, GRP Ludhiana, Pal, winder Singh, said the man was crossing the tracks and he failed to notice the approaching train and met with the tragedy. While denying any suicide angle, he said the accident occurred as the man was crossing the tracks irresponsibly. Suspecting no foul play, inquest proceedings would be initiated. The SHO said so far the deceased was not identified and the body was kept at the mortuary of the Civil Hospital. Sources said the police also recorded the statement of passers-by who witnessed the incident and confirmed that it was an accident. See also page 2