03112025-LT-01.qxd 11/2/2025 10:54 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune POWER STAFF PROTEST OUTSIDE MINISTER’S RESIDENCE NSS WING OF VET VARSITY CELEBRATES EKTA DIWAS GADVAU commemorated Rashtriya Ekta Diwas to pay respect to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s legacy. P2 A massive protest was held outside the residence of Power Minister Sanjeev Arora in Ludhiana on Sunday. P2 » KING-SIZE BIRTHDAY TREAT FROM SHAH RUKH KHAN On the occasion of SRK’s 60th birthday, the makers of his film King unveiled its official title & teaser. P4 » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 30°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 17°C SUNSET MONDAY 5.36 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:44 AM » MONDAY | 3 NOVEMBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 After the brutal incident of rape, a 16-year-old girl swallowed medicine kept at her home and went into deep depression. The girl was admitted to the Civil Hospital for treatment in an unconscious state. In this case, the Koom Kalan police arrested the accused, identified as Mohammad Gulab Rasool, a resident of the Panjeta village, yesterday. The minor girl, a resident of an area under the Koom Kalan police station, stated in her police statement that she had developed a friendship with the accused. On October 18, around 7 pm, the accused took the girl to a motor room in the village where he threatened her. The accused then sexually assaulted her in the room. The girl further stated that the accused had been continuously threatening her for entering into physical relations with him. Since the victim was already distressed by the rape incident and furthermore due to the accused’s threats, she swallowed some old medicine kept at her home. She was admitted to the Civil Hospital and the police was informed about the incident. Investigating officer Gurmeet Singh said the police registered a case against Rasool under the POCSO Act and various other sections of the BNS, and arrested him. No newspaper, no peace, city’s Sunday morning disrupted Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 For thousands of Ludhiana residents, Sunday morning began not with headlines and hot chai, but with confusion and quiet. The familiar thud of the newspaper landing on the doorstep was missing, and with it, the rhythm of a ritual that defines the city’s weekend mood. The delay was caused by the police teams stopping vehicles carrying newspapers for thorough searches, citing suspicion of their use in supply of drugs, arms and ammunition and hawala money. Although nothing was found during checking, but the ripple effect was felt across the city’s households. “I kept pacing around the gate from 7 am,” said 72-yearold Harinder Singh from the Civil Lines. “Sunday papers are special — the magazine sections, the editorials and the long reads. Without them, it felt like something was stolen from the day,” he said. Senior citizens, especially, felt the void. Many rely on the early morning paper — usually delivered between 7 and 7.30 am — as a companion to their tea, a window to the world, and a reason to linger in their verandahs. “My morning coffee was TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Minor girl swallows medicine after rape, goes into depression Vendors gather at the Clock Tower on Sunday morning as the cops took vehicles carrying newspapers to police stations in Ludhiana. boring today,” said Kamlesh Batra, a retired banker. “I tried reading something online, but the joy of turning pages is something else,” he said. The delay wasn’t just a logistical hiccup — it was a disruption of habit, comfort and connection. “My grandson said, Nana, read it on your phone, but how do I explain that it’s not the same?” said 78-year-old Rajinder Mehra. “The rustle of paper, the smell of fresh print, the crossword puzzle — it’s all part of the experience,” he said. By the time newspapers finally arrived — around 10.30 am for many — the damage was done. “Breakfast was over, the mood had shifted,” said Nikhil, a cricket enthusiast who missed his usual dose of match analysis and Sunday sports columns. “It’s not just news — it’s how we start the day,” he said. Local vendors, too, bore the brunt. “People kept calling, asking if I had forgotten to deliver newspaper at their residences,” said Harvinder, a newspaper distributor in the BRS Nagar, “I had no answers. We were stuck waiting for the police clearance,” he said. “Despite the inconvenience, the incident served as a reminder of how deeply embedded print media remains in Ludhiana’s cultural fabric. In an age of digital headlines and instant updates, the city’s love for its morning paper — especially on Sundays — remains unshaken,” said another senior citizen, retired from the Journalism Department of an educational institute. As Harinder Singh put it, “You can scroll all you want, but you can’t rest in peace until you’ve turned the last page.” In search of explosives, more than 100 policemen check newspaper supply vehicles Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 On the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, the Ludhiana police conducted a search operation and stopped vehicles carrying newspapers in different areas and checked them. Apart from laying nakas at various strategic places, the police teams specifically remained present at main city points where supply vehicles usually drop newspapers. Bomb squad and dog squad teams were also present during the checking which thoroughly scanned vehicles. Until the bomb squad team didn’t gave a clean chit, no vehicle was allowed to move. As per the police, more than 100 cops comprising nine specially formed teams carried out checking of vehicles at various places. Some vehicles were also taken to the Kotwali police station where the same were thoroughly scanned with devices that can detect explosives. The police even forced vehicle drivers to unload stock of newspapers for through checking. Police officials said the drive was carried out in the entire state. Additional DCP Sameer Verma said this checking started late around 11 pm and continued till 6 am in the morn- ❝Checking started around 11 pm and continued till 6 am in the morning. Separate teams were formed to check newspaper supply vehicles. Nothing illegal was found during this checking. Senior police officials supervised the entire operation. I was present during the drive conducted after getting inputs that some vehicles might be used to supply arms, drugs or hawala money. ❞ Sameer Verma, ADDITIONAL DCP, LUDHIANA ing. Separate teams were formed to conduct checking. Nothing illegal was found during this checking, he said. “Senior police officials also supervised the entire operation. I also remained present during the drive conducted after getting inputs that some vehicles might be used to supply arms, drugs or hawala money” said Verma. Sources said the police teams were also present outside printing press of some vernacular newspapers to keep a tab over vehicle movement. The teams gave further inputs to other police officials about vehicles coming out of printing presses so that these could be stopped for checking at specific points in the city. Admn takes tough stand against farmers burning stubble Panic spreads in Shivpuri after body of man found floating in Buddha Nullah Tribune News Service Police personnel douse fire in a field near Mandi Ahmedgarh; and (right) a farmer sets crop residue on fire in his fields situated along the Ahmedgarh-Raikot road on Sunday. Our Correspondent Mandi Ahmedgarh, November 2 The administration has taken a tough stand against farmers indulging in stubble burning under the guise of accidental fires, which cause environmental pollution, accidents and spread diseases. Besides registering cases against violators, the administration has also started making red entries in their revenue records so that they cannot avail facilities available under various government schemes. Viraj S Tidke, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Malerkotla, said officials in various subdivisions had been advised to take a tough stand against farmers indulging in stubble burning under the guise of accidental fires that compound- ed problems related with pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, besides causing environmental pollution. Tidke said the police were asked to register cases against violators and revenue officials advised to make red entries in their revenue records. “As the crop-residue burning tendency escalates the threat of spreading many diseases and loss of property due to acci- dents, we have taken serious note of the violation and registered many cases against violators,” Tidke said. Investigation further revealed that at least 10 cases under Section 223 of the BNS were registered against violators for fire incidents in the areas falling under the Ahmedgarh Sadar, Amargarh, Sandaur and Malerkotla police stations on Saturday. Sub-Division Magistrates (SDMs) were asked to make red entries in revenue records of farmers burning agricultural wastes. Earlier, the SDMs at Ahmedgarh, Raikot, Payal and Amargarh had directed officials in various departments to take preventive and punitive action against those farmers who burnt stubble under the guise of accidental fire. Ludhiana, November 2 Panic spread in the Shivpuri area of the city when people spotted a body of a middle age individual floating in the Buddha Nullah on Sunday. After noticing the body, passersby immediately raised an alarm and informed the police. On getting information, the cops from the Police Division No. 4 and a PCR unit reached the spot and started investigation. The police said the body appeared to be old, but it’s unclear how long it had been in the water. The police took the body into custody and sent to mortuary. “It seems that the body of the man was in the nullah water from the last several days as it has decayed. The post-mortem report will establish the facts whether the deceased has been murdered or drowned acciden- The police inspect the spot in Buddha Nullah where a body was found floating on Sunday. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN tally into the nullah.” To gather more information, the police are examining footage of the CCTV cameras nearby nullah where the body was found. The cops have also appealed to persons, whose family or acquaintance has been missing for the last few days, to contact the Police Division No. 4. 9-yr-old injured in celebratory firing Vigilance Awareness Week concludes with walkathon Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 A nine-year-old child was injured in celebratory firing by a youth during a nagar kirtan organised ahead of the celebrations of Guru Nanak Jyanti at Daba. After bullet hit the boy’s thigh he was immediately rushed to a private hospital for treatment. The condition of the child is stated to be critical. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Satwinder Singh said the incident occurred on Sunday evening when a nagar kirtan was organised. The peo- Parth who was injured in celebratory firing. ple in large numbers were present on the occasion. During the celebrations, a youth brought a weapon and resorted to celebratory firing. While firing shots into the air, the weapon accidentally tilted and a bullet fired from it hit the child stand- ing in the gathering. The DSP said after getting information a police team rushed to the spot and started investigation. During preliminary probe it was found that a licensed weapon was used in the celebratory firing. The accused, who fired shots, was identified and a case was being registered against him, he said. The weapon’s licence would also be cancelled after verification, the DSP said. The police said after the child suffered a bullet injury, the accused got him admitted to a hospital for treatment and fled from there. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 The Vigilance Bureau successfully concluded — sevenday Vigilance Awareness Week — with a walkathon organised in collaboration with CityNeeds, Small Ideas Great Ideas, Philanthropy Club and Marshall Aid Foundation. The initiative aimed to promote public awareness on transparency, integrity and a corruption-free society. The walkathon witnessed participation of members of numerous NGOs, youth c m y b Participants during the concluding ceremony of the Vigilance Awareness Week in Ludhiana on Sunday. groups and social organisations, who marched from different parts of the city and converged at Rose Garden for the closing ceremony. The event was presided over by Rupinder Kaur Sra, SSP Vigilance, Ludhiana. , Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the SSP empha- sised on the shared responsibility of citizens and institutions in fighting corruption. “Corruption is a barrier to progress. Let all of us fight against it and weed out the same from the public life. Let us make sincere efforts to realise the dream of corruption-free Punjab,” said by Praveen Kumar Sinha, Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau. Divyang participate in competitions On the eve of Vigilance Awareness Week, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Regional Office had a unique opportunity to organise a series of competitions and cultural activities in collaboration with the Vocational Rehabilitation Training Centre for the ‘Divyang’ (Person with disability) students of Ludhiana. Six competitions were held as part of the celebrations during the vigilance awareness week. These included Hindi Braille writing and Hindi Braille reading, braille chess competition, and a singing competition.