14102025-LT-01.qxd 10/14/2025 12:54 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune VET STUDENTS CONTINUE STIR, OPD SERVICES SUSPENDED STUDENTS VOW TO CELEBRATE ECO-FRIENDLY DIWALI RISHAB ON CRAFTING UNIVERSAL APPEAL OF KANTARA: CHAPTER 1 GADVASU students’ protest entered its 19th day, with vet interns continuing their peaceful sit-in at hospital. P2 Students of various institutes, along with their parents, vowed to observe an eco-friendly Diwali. P3 Movie delves into themes of faith and spirituality, drawing deeply from rich folklore of coastal Karnataka. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 30°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 18°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.53 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:24 AM » TUESDAY | 14 OCTOBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Library lost in limbo, senior citizens bear brunt of Rose Garden’s stalled revamp Razed as part of renovation but project halted due to legal battle, says Mayor LEGAL TUSSLE Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 13 Once a quiet refuge for readers nestled inside Ludhiana’s iconic Nehru Rose Garden, the public library built in 1985 now lies in ruins — demolished as part of the garden’s renovation plan but with no clear timeline for reconstruction. Damp walls, broken furniture and nearly 5,000 aging books had long marked its decline, yet for many senior citizens, it remained a cherished space for reading and reflection. “No new book has been added in decades. It had become more of a storehouse than a library,” said a regular visitor, adding “but it was still a treasure trove — a place where we found peace, routine and community.” The library’s condition had deteriorated significantly, with water seeping in during rains and furniture falling apart. Despite its state, it continued to serve a loyal The Rs 8.4-crore renovation under the Smart City Mission is stalled due to a petition filed against the MC authorities. Allegations of corruption and procedural lapses have plagued the project, with the next court hearing expected this month. Officials say retendering will only proceed once legal hurdles are cleared — putting both the garden and its beloved library in prolonged limbo. tle. We are revising estimates and preparing fresh tenders. Once the legal issue is resolved, the library will be the first structure to be rebuilt.” Renovation project The debris of the demolished library lies at Nehru Rose Garden in Ludhiana. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN group of elderly patrons who visited daily to read newspapers and browse old titles. “I used to walk in the garden and sit in the library to read. It was part of my daily routine. Now, that rhythm is broken,” said a senior citizen. Following its demolition, staff and books were temporarily shifted to Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan. But for many, the new location is too far. “Rose Garden is near my house. I can’t go to Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan regularly. It’s dis- Full throttle heartening,” said another regular visitor, Dharamvir. Mayor Inderjeet Kaur acknowledged the disruption, stating: “The library was demolished as part of the Rose Garden renovation but the project was halted due to a legal bat- The Rose Garden facelift includes planting 90 varieties of flowers and fruitbearing trees, complete landscaping and upgrade such as fancy lights, an open gym, toilets and a kids’ play area. A mini zoo and restoration of the iconic fountain are also part of the plan. Drugs worth ~56 lakh seized from two vehicles, 5 nabbed Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 13 Acting on specific intelligence that two vehicles were carrying contraband items in violation of the NDPS Act, 1985, officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Ludhiana zonal unit, intercepted the vehicles near the Shambhu Border toll, GT Road, Patiala. Searching of the vehicles resulted in recovery of 111 packets containing cannabis (ganja) (59 from one vehicle and 52 from the other) wrapped in brown tapes individually. The packets were found concealed in specially made cavities beneath seats of the cars. Five persons carrying the contraband in the seized vehicles were arrested from the spot. The recovered 111 packets contained 187 kg of ganja, having value of around Rs 56 lakh. Further investigation in the matter is in progress. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence is the apex anti-smuggling agency, working under the The drugs seized by the DRI; and (below) the contraband concealed under a seat in a box in one of he vehicles. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Ministry of Finance, Central Government. It excels in detecting and curbing smuggling of contraband, including drug trafficking Armed assailants open fire at Seven-year-old hit by two youths in Sherpur Kalan rashly driven bike, dies Tribune News Service One suffers bullet injury, friend attacked with sharp weapon Tribune News Service Students take part in a bhangra competition during the PU Zonal Youth Festival at SCD Government College in Ludhiana on Monday. ASHWANI DHIMAN P2 Ludhiana, October 13 A youth and his friend were attacked by eight assailants on 100-ft road in Sherpur Kalan here on the night intervening October 11 and 12. They also fired shots at them. Fortunately, the youth had only suffered a bullet injury on his arm and his life was saved. His friend was attacked with a sharp weapon by the suspects, which caused him grievous injuries. The suspects were identified as Vineet and his seven unidentified accomplices. The complainant, Arvind Kumar, a resident of Master Colony, Jamalpur, told the police that late on October 11 night, he was having food with his friend Vicky at Sherpur Kalan, when Vineet, due to some old enmity, arrived with his seven accomplices and attacked him. They took out a pistol and fired at the victim with the intention of killing him. A bullet hit his left arm. Vicky tried to save him but aide of Vineet, Ali, hit Vicky’s head and his left arm with a sickle. Station House Officer (SHO), Moti Nagar police station, inspector Bhupinder Singh said after the incident, the police registered a case against the suspects under various sections of the BNS and the Arms Act. The SHO said so far, no suspect was arrested but raids were being conducted at their whereabouts and soon, they would be nabbed. On Saturday night also a chaos erupted in the Iqbal Nagar area of Tibba when a dispute broke out between youths over making of a video of some of them smoking hookah. Afterwards, a scuffle broke out between the two groups after which, they also opened fire. Two youths had suffered bullet injuries and were hospitalised. Sky-high cilantro prices leave vendors, consumers reeling Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 13 Once a staple in every Indian kitchen, cilantro now has become a rare luxury in state households. Known for its vibrant green hue and unmistakable aroma, the herb that once crowned every dish is now conspicuously absent from plates and palates. Being sold in retail at an astonishing Rs 600 per kg, cilantro’s steep price has left both consumers and vendors reeling. Traditionally offered as a complimentary garnish with vegetable purchases, coriander leaves have now vanished from the freebie list. Reason? Recent floods that ravaged state’s agricultural belt, wiping out coriander crops and disrupting local supply chains. With fields submerged and harvests destroyed, vendors are now sourcing coriander leaves from Shimla and Kullu, and illicit international trade in wildlife and environmentally sensitive items, as well as combating commercial frauds related to international trade and evasion of customs duty. Traditionally offered as complimentary garnish with purchases, it’s being sold in retail at ~600 per kg Known for vibrant green hue and unmistakable aroma, cilantro is now conspicuously absent from plates and palates. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN transported painstakingly by road. The added logistics have only inflated the cost further. Amarvir Singh, a wholesaler, said: “The supply is extremely limited. Whatever little coriander leaves we get is coming from hill states. The road transport adds to the expense and with the state’s crop gone, prices were c m y b Ludhiana, October 13 A fatal road accident late on Sunday evening resulted in the death of a seven-year-old child near the Nanaksar area and also left a motorcyclist seriously injured. The deceased was identified as Ghaniya, son of Indra Mahatov, a resident of a slum area in Agwar Lopon Khurd village, near Dakha. The motorcyclist, who allegedly caused the accident, was identified as Jagdeep Singh from Dhatt village in the Dakha area. As per the police, Jagdeep was going on his motorcycle towards his village from Moga. The incident occurred near the Nanaksar area when the child was reportedly returning from a wedding function. The motorcyclist allegedly hit the boy, causing serious injuries to the child and himself. Ghaniya was rushed to a Motorcyclist too suffered serious injuries local hospital where medical staff declared him brought dead. Jagdeep sustained head injuries and was initially taken to the Ludhiana Civil Hospital before being transferred to a hospital in Faridkot. After the incident, officials from the bus stand police post reached the scene for investigation. Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Sukhvinder Singh, incharge of the police post, said a case of negligent driving was registered against the motorcyclist under Sections 106 (1) (causing death by negligence) and 281 (rash driving on a public way) of the BNS. PRICES BOUND TO RISE DUE TO FLOODS: TRADER Amarvir Singh, a wholesaler, said: “The supply is extremely limited. Whatever little coriander leaves we get is coming from hill states. The road transport adds to the expense and with the state’s crop gone, prices were bound to rise.” bound to rise.” Local shopkeepers are witnessing a shift in consumer behaviour. “People were used to get coriander leaves for free,” said a vendor. “Now, most of the people have stopped buying it altogether. I’ve reduced my stock as it just doesn’t sell,” he said. Residents like Poonam from BRS Nagar are feeling the pinch. “I paid Rs 20 for just five strands of cilantro. I bought it as everyone loves its taste. But the prices are just too high,” she said. The ripple effect has reached restaurants too. A Ludhiana-based eatery owner said: “Cooking costs are soaring. We’ve stopped using fresh coriander leaves and switched to dry kasoori methi. With winter approaching, it adds a nice flavour and is more affordable.” The coriander crunch has not only altered culinary habits but also highlighted the fragility of local agriculture in the face of climate disruptions. As the state grapples with the aftermath of floods, the humble herb’s absence serves as a reminder of how deeply intertwined are food, farming and daily life. For now, kasoori methi may fill the aromatic void but the longing for fresh cilantro lingers and its absence felt in every dish that once sparkled with its green garnish. Convict in drug case dies by suicide in jail Ludhiana, October 13 A convict undergoing imprisonment in drug smuggling case died by suicide inside the barracks at the Central Jail here on Sunday night. Superintendent of Jail Kulwant Singh said the inmate, identified as 27-year-old Lovepreet Singh, was undergoing 22-year imprisonment in a smuggling case. He was also suffering from a disease. on Sunday night, he took the extreme step by using a piece of cloth, which he tied to an exhaust fan in the barracks and then hanged himself. After jail officials got to know about the suicide attempt, they took him to the hospital in the jail and then shifted him to the Civil Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. He said the reason of suicide was not clear so far as no suicide note was recovered. Suspecting no foul play, inquest proceedings were recommended in the case. — TNS