18122025-LT-01.qxd 12/18/2025 1:07 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune CONGRESS LEADERS SIT ON DHARNA OVER ‘MISCOUNTING’ EARLY DETECTION BEST WEAPON AGAINST COLON CANCER: DOC BREAKOUT PERFORMANCES THAT DEFINED 2025 Protesters alleged serious irregularities in Dangon, Johlan, Andloo zones of Raikot BS. P2 Colon cancer is rising rapidly, especially among younger adult, with many cases being preventable. P3 FromVishalJethwa’sHomeboundtoSanya Malhotra’s in Mrs, the year belonged to actors who redefined their craft. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 23°C | MIN 12°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 13°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.26 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:13 AM THURSDAY | 18 DECEMBER 2025 | LUDHIANA ZILA PARISHAD & BLOCK SAMITI ELECTIONS AAP wins 4 seats, Independents three, SAD & Cong bag two each Poll conducted in fair manner unlike in the past, says AAP Of 25 ZP seats, results of 11 declared; ruling party leads in block samiti poll too Ludhiana, December 17 After winning the zila parishad and block samiti elections with thumping margins and a neck-to-neck fight, AAP leaders feel that the ruling party had conducted the poll in a fair and transparent manner, unlike other parties which came to power after ‘one-sided mandates’, in the elections in the past. Taking a dig at rival parties and candidates, AAP (rural) president Ludhiana-1, Tejpal Singh Gill, said the Congress and SAD had won elections in the past with huge margins and the reason for the same was that they wanted to win by “hook or crook” in zila parishad and block samiti elections but the AAP leadership believes in fair elections held in a transparent manner Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, December 17 AAP candidates were able to win four seats followed by three Independent candidates and two each by the Congress and the SAD of the total 25 seats for the Zila Parishad election in the district. Results of 11 seats were declared till the filing of the report. The winning candidates of AAP include Jagroop Singh from Mutton, Barinderdeep Kaur from Khimian, Giandeep Kaur Grewal from Mattewara and Sikandar Singh from Kila Raipur. The Congress candidates who won the two seats include Harjiwan Kaur from Alamgir and Tajparwinder Singh from Mangat. The two winning candidates from the SAD are Harjot Singh Mangat from Neelon Kalan and Harjeet Kaur from Chak Sarwan Nath. The Independent candidates fielded by SAD rebel leader Manpreet Singh Ayali won three seats. Putting a major dent in the SAD camp, its rebel leader Manpreet Singh Ayali’s three Independent candidates fielded for the zila parishad poll managed Tribune News Service across the state. “For example, our candidate lost from the Rauwal area by only five votes as the block samiti member. Had we been unfair, we would have recounted the votes or would have easily managed the five votes, but we believe in ethics and transparency, where democracy is supreme. As far as a neck-toneck fight in few zones is concerned, the party gets an indication and will be more careful and introspective in finding reasons for the weak mandate in particular areas,” he said. Refuting claims made by the AAP leaders, one of the senior SAD leaders, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, alleged that right from filing the nomination papers to declaration of the results, Akali Dal was on the hit list of AAP . “Our papers were torn, candidates were not allowed to file nominations, musclepower was adopted against SAD candidates. Still, we were able to perform well in such a scenario,” he said. Voicing similar views, Maheshinder Singh Grewal said AAP adopted pressure tactics all over, still, people have brought back their trust in SAD in many areas of the state. “It is a clear indication that 2027 will not be a cakewalk for AAP and it will be a comeback for Akalis,” Grewal said. Major Singh Mullanpur, president of the Congress (Rural), said though these elections did not hold great importance, the Congress has given a good fight to AAP and SAD. “The turnout was also less but the body language of AAP leaders tells everything, they are now on the back foot,” he said. Cops outside a counting centre in Ludhiana; and (right) Manpreet Singh Ayali with winning Independent candidates. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN SAD REBEL AYALI’S CANDIDATES TASTE VICTORY In zila parishad elections, Independent candidates fielded by SAD rebel leader Manpreet Singh Ayali won three seats. In Block Samiti poll, all 17 candidates, who won on the Independent ticket, were also fielded by Ayali. to win the elections. Amandeep Kaur Roomi from Hans Kalan won by defeating Congress candidate Sukhpreet Kaur Bath with a margin of over 2,600 votes, Gurmeet Singh from Purain won by defeating Congress candi- date Sukhminder Singh with a margin of over 1,000 votes and Prof Pradeep Kaur Latala from Mohi defeated rival candidate Manjot Kaur Grewal from the Congress with a margin of over 2,000 votes. At the same time, in the Mullanpur Dakha area, 17 Independent candidates fielded by Manpreet Ayali remained ahead from rivals in the block samiti elections. Ayali had fielded total 25 candidates from the area, of which 17 were far ahead from nearest rivals, including of the Congress and AAP. SAD candidates, however, remained at number four positions as per available trends from Mullanpur Dakha. Block samiti trends Till 10:30 pm, 44 candidates from AAP were declared winners while 28 candidates from the Congress, 19 from the SAD and 17 Independent candidates were declared winners in the block samiti poll. All 17 candidates, who won on Independent ticket, were fielded by Manpreet Singh Ayali. The remaining results of the block samiti and zila parishad will be declared on Thursday. Will support ruling party for welfare of villages, says Ayali Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, December 17 Manpreet Singh Ayali, the rebel SAD leader who fielded Independent candidates for three zila parishad seats and 25 block samiti members from Mullanpur Dakha, has claimed that he has no enmity with AAP and will support the party for the welfare of villages and villagers. “We will go with AAP so that development works in villages are carried out at a fast pace as it is the ruling party in the state. The SAD is facing defeat as the masses have outrightly rejected the party leadership. It is high time for the party to realise its flaws,” said Ayali, who looked confident of winning in the area with a majority. Continued on page 2 Bizman sexually assaults Youth brutally attacked near court complex daughter-in-law, nabbed Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Months after her marriage, suspect began harassing her for dowry Ludhiana, December 17 An elderly man allegedly raped his 26-year-old daughter-in-law at their residence on Bindraban Road here. Following a complaint from the woman, the Police Division 8 took immediate action, registered a case against the hosiery businessman, identified as Harkesh Sobti, and arrested him. Investigating officer ASI Paramjit Singh said based on the woman’s complaint, the police Initiated proceedings against Sobti under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). AS per the victim’s complaint, she was married to Harkesh Sobti’s son in 2024. Only a few months after the marriage, the old man allegedly began harassing her for more dowry. The victim further stated in her complaint that her fatherin-law used to watch her with “evil intentions.” When she informed her husband about the same, he scolded her instead of supporting her. The complainant told the police that a few days ago, during daytime, her fatherin-law called her to his room on some pretext. Afterwards, the suspect locked the door and sexually assaulted her. The victim stated that she pleaded to leave her but the man showed no mercy. The woman was left traumatised by the incident. The next day, the suspect allegedly called her to the washroom area and began making obscene gestures. Terrified, the woman left her in-laws’ house and returned to her parents’ place. — TNS Ludhiana, December 17 A youth who came to attend a court hearing was brutally attacked at the rear of the Court Complex here on Wednesday. Assailants also vandalised the car of the victim. Around seven suspects carrying swords, other sharp weapons and heavy sticks attacked the youth. According to reports, when a youth, Kannu, a resident of Haibowal, came out of the court after attending a hearing and was heading towards his car, rival group members, with whom the youth had old enmity, confronted him. Heat- The vandalised car of the victim near the court complex in Ludhiana on Wednesday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN ed arguments escalated into a fight. The youth suffered serious injuries in the attack and rushed to a hospital. Sources said a few days ago, house of the victim was also allegedly attacked by the assailants in Haibowal and a complaint was also lodged at the police station concerned. Eyewitness Asha Rani said her house was located behind the court complex. She was sitting outside when she saw a youth running for shelter as aruond six persons with swords were running behind him. The victim had blood on his clothes with visible injuries. Senior police officials also rushed to the scene. ACP Guriqbal Singh, SHO, Model Town, inspector Jaswinder Singh, refused to comment much on the development, cit- ing ongoing investigation. They said after getting to know about the reason of attack, they would give an official statement,. adding that old enmity suspected to be the possible cause. The police also recovered the CCTV footage of the incident and the same was being examined by the police. Sources said some suspects were also rounded up. Police sources said the police had already identified the suspects and raids were being conducted by them to nab the miscreants. The police believe that the assailants were also having a criminal background. Timely intervention prevented jailbreak attempt: Police Three arrested in Second major clash after 2019, police chief led snatching case from front to tackle unruly inmates receiving treatment at the jail hospital. By these actions, the detainees forcibly obstructed government officials from their duties and inflicted grievous injuries with an intent to kill. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, December 17 A clash between inmates at the Central Jail that led to the attack on jail officials has brought back memories of a violent clash inside the prisons that took place on June 27, 2019, alive. Had the Ludhiana police, led by Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma, not taken command over the situation, the violence could have been escalated to a jailbreak situation. Even in the FIR registered on the complaint of Vijay Kumar, assistant superintendent of Central Jail, he mentioned: “The inmates launched a coordinated attack using bricks, wooden sticks, iron rods and other pre-fashioned sharp weapons in a premeditated attempt to escape the jail. During the assault, Troublemakers taken to task by CP CP Swapan Sharma addresses media in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN several officials sustained serious injuries, including Jail Superintendent Kulwant Singh Sidhu and DSP Jagjit Singh, security, Central Jail. Both of them suffered head injuries. Warder Parminder Singh and SI Bhupinder Singh suffered nose injuries and CRPF constables B Vankteshwar and Bhupinder Singh sustained multiple injuries.” The assistant superintendent said following the arrival of reinforcements from the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate, the situation was brought under control. The inmates were subdued and returned to their barracks. Those injured during the altercation were A senior police official confirmed to The Tribune that after the situation was brought under control, the troublemakers, mainly the 24 inmates, were dealt with strict hands. Even CP Swapan Sharma, who was angry over the violent behaviour of the inmates for creating law and order problem inside the jail and making a jailbreak attempt, himself took charge of the situation. He reportedly interrogated them and warned the inmates that they should never dare to create such a c m y b law-and-order situation. A jail official requesting annonymity said had the CP not led from the front, the situation could have turned worse. Taking to The Tribune on the issue, Sharma said he again reiterated that the Ludhiana police would not tolerate law and order situation neither inside the jail nor outside it. Troublemakers would have to face harsher punishment in any way. 2019 clash killed inmate One inmate had died and around 10 persons, including a few police personnel, had suffered injuries during a clash at the Central Jail on June 27, 2019. The incident occurred when inmates were holding a protest against the death of an inmate, Sunny Sood, at Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, during treatment. Sood, an undertrial in a drug case, was shifted to the hospital due to an illness where he died. After inmates came to know about the death, the protest intensified when jail staff tried to disperse the inmates who were moving towards the main gate of the jail to escape. Following which, a heavy police force was deployed. The police had to open fire in the air to bring the situation under control. Inmates had also pelted cops with stones and bricks. Even furniture and gas cylinders of the jail mess were set on fire. They also torched three vehicles, including the one belonging to the then jail superintendent Shamsher Singh Boparai. During the police firing, inmate Ajit Baba died inside the jail and the Ludhiana police had turned a saviour for the Jail Department and controlled the situation. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, December 17 The Dakha police claimed to have cracked a snatching case and arrested three suspects. They were identified as Sameer, Vansh of Ravidas Nagar and Sunny Kumar, all residents of Mandi Mullanpur. In a statement issued, DSP , Dakha, Varinder Singh Khosa, said on December 15, Gurmeet Kaur of Mandi Mullanpur was going towards her house from the Mullanpur bus stand in a rickshaw and when she reached Dashmesh Nagar, three unidentified persons came from the rear on a motorcycle and snatched her bag containing cash, documents, phone, etc. Two mobiles, motorcycle used in crime seized Khosa said on December 17, acting on a tip-off, a police team arrested the three suspects and recovered two mobile phones and the motorcycle (bearing registration no PB 10 HL 4965) used in the crime. Meanwhile, the DSP assured the people that the police were fully prepared to prevent such incidents.