16022026-LT-01.qxd 2/15/2026 11:43 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SUFI FEST CULMINATES, LEAVES BEHIND LESSONS FROM SAINTS SHOBHA YATRAS SHOULD BALANCE FAITH, CIVIC SENSE Proper planning, public cooperation must, organisers should intimate public about route: Residents P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 26°C | MIN 12°C YESTERDAY MAX 27°C | MIN 13°C RAHUL BHAT ON WHY KENNEDY STILL HAUNTS HIM Sufi singers highlighted teachings of renowned saints and socio-religious leaders during the 3-day festival. P2 FORECAST As the film is ready to stream on Zee 5, the memory of playing Kennedy is still fresh on the gifted actor's mind. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 6.13 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:07 AM » MONDAY | 16 FEBRUARY 2026 | LUDHIANA Tender for controversy-plagued Rose Garden upgrade project opens today Manav Mander Ludhiana, February 15 The much-anticipated upgrade of Ludhiana’s Nehru Rose Garden has faced a delay, with the tender opening date, originally set for February 9, rescheduled to February 16. Fingers crossed, the process will finally move forward tomorrow. Even as residents await the promised facelift of the city’s iconic “green lung”, questions over cost, accountability and transparency continue to cloud the project. The estimated cost of the project has been slashed three times, from an initial Rs 8.8 crore to Rs 8.4 crore and recently to Rs 7.8 crore. Senior Deputy Mayor Rakesh Prashar has raised objections to the Rs 7.81 crore estimate, calling it “excessive” and urging that the garden’s maintenance be entrusted to local firms PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN Tribune News Service DISPROPORTIONATE SPENDING, BRIBERY SCANDAL CLOUD INITIATIVE The Rose Garden revamp, funded under the Smart City Mission, began as an Rs 8.8 crore plan but has since been scaled down twice to Rs 8.4 crore and now Rs 7.8 crore. Yet progress remains elusive. The first tender, amounting to Rs 8.8 crore for the project, was under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). “Several companies are Suspicious car spotted near AAP MLA’s house Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 15 A suspicious vehicle was caught roaming outside the house of AAP MLA Kulwant Sidhu. The Atam Nagar MLA suspects that, since he has already been receiving threats from international numbers suspected to be linked with Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun, suspicious persons could be roaming near his house to target him. On Saturday night, a recce was also conducted outside Sidhu’s house. During this, a car with tinted glass was captured on the CCTV cameras. The MLA was holding a meeting at the time. When the people in the car noticed the presence of people there, they waited. When the gunman tried to stop them, they fled. The MLA said, “A meeting was going on at around 9 pm on Saturday night. Then a car with blacked- out windows stopped outside the house. The car remained there for about two minutes, appearing to be assessing the house. By the time my gunman tried to stop them and came inside to inform me, they had driven away.” Speaking candidly about threats and suspicious activities, MLA Sidhu said, “I am not afraid of any threats. I have the blessings of Baba Deep Singh. As long as he is there, no one can harm me. We were elected to serve the people and we will not back down.” Sources said that calls from international numbers have been coming for the past week. In the past, SFJ’s Pannun had also issued a life threat to the MLA. As the matter reached the police, they are now scanning the footage of CCTV cameras installed in Kulwant Sidhu’s locality to trace the number of the suspicious car and the accused. opened in 2024 but scrapped following a clash with the Model Code of Conduct for the elections. The second attempt at a tender was marred by yet another controversy after a bribery scandal surfaced and a petition was filed in the High Court. already maintaining parks and roundabouts under CSR. Engaging them here would save municipal funds and allow resources to be redi- rected to ward-level development,” he said. “Earlier Rs 3.29 crore was earmarked in the tender for horticulture, which has now been reduced to Rs 2.5 crore, but the amount is still too large and needs stronger accountability mechanisms,” said Prashar. With the March 31 deadline for Smart City funds looming, civic activists warn that further delays could jeopardise the project altogether. “I have been hearing for a long time about the beautification of the Rose Garden, but it has not started this year. For now, the Rose Garden stands as a symbol of how red tape and mistrust can choke even the most beautiful of dreams. The city waits, hopeful yet weary, for the day when the fragrance of roses replaces the scent of delay,” adds city resident Arjun Mishra. Devotees perform rituals at Dandi Swami Temple during the Mahashivratri celebrations. High on drugs, 25-year-old son stabs man Ludhiana, February 15 A youth stabbed his father to death in Deep Colony, Dhandari Khurd, on Sunday using a sharp weapon. The accused, under the influence of cannabis, argued with his father before stabbing him in the neck. The deceased was identi- fied as Sikandar Chauhan (44). His son, Umesh Chauhan (25), fled but was quickly detained by police. Umesh claimed his father used to harass his wife, who lives in Uttar Pradesh with his mother. Around 4 pm, he returned home intoxicated, sparking an argument. Neigh- bours calmed them initially, but soon found Sikandar bleeding from multiple neck wounds. Inspector Kulbir Singh, SHO of Focal Point police station, said the accused was still high on cannabis during interrogation. The police probe was on to find out the exact cause of murder. — TNS Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 15 Panic spread at Bharat Nagar Chowk, Ludhiana’s busiest area, today when heavy sacks of wheat suddenly began falling from an elevated bridge as a moving truck tilted towards the bridge wall. The accident struck two passing cars and caused injuries to the drivers. According to local shopkeepers, a truck passing over the bridge was overloaded. Suddenly, sacks of wheat began falling from the truck. Due to the heavy weight of the sacks, they crushed the roofs of the cars below and even broke the doors. The drivers sitting in the cars suffered injuries. A shopkeeper present at the spot said, “I was sitting in my shop when suddenly I heard something falling from above. When I looked up, I saw sacks falling from the elevated bridge. Our shop’s signboard, kept outside, was Multiple cars got damaged after wheat sacks fell from the elevated bridge on the vehicles in Bharat Nagar Chowk in Ludhiana on Sunday. PHOTOS: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN completely destroyed. If a pedestrian had been there, there could have been serious loss of life.” The drivers were in both cars at the time of the accident. Heavy sacks fell directly on top of the cars, crushing them. Passersby immediately helped and pulled the drivers out. They were admitted to a nearby hospital and are reported to be out of danger. The police are now investigating how the overloaded truck was allowed onto the bridge Manav Mander Tribune News Service Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Water leaks from a pipe on Pakhowal Road in Ludhiana. shopkeeper added, “The road’s condition is worsening, and it’s affecting our business and pedestrian safety.” Civic activist Arvind Sharma criticised the Municipal Corporation (MC) for the poor workmanship. “This highlights the shoddy execution of the project. Despite repeated assurances, taxpayers’ money is being wasted, and citizens are suffering,” he said. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Truck tilts on bridge, wheat sacks flatten 2 cars below Fresh leak in canal project hits traffic Man posing as gangster targets school director Ludhiana, February 15 Ludhiana’s 24x7 canal-based water supply project is under fresh scrutiny after a new leak was reported on Pakhowal Road, opposite Deep Clinic. The leak has disrupted traffic on one of the city’s busiest routes and raised concerns about the quality of work. The incident, which follows similar issues at Ishmeet Chowk, has left a large section of the road dug up and weakened. Pakhowal Road, a key route connecting commuters to schools, hospitals and the indoor stadium, is experiencing severe congestion, causing inconvenience to residents, shopkeepers and travellers. “Vehicles are getting stuck in loose soil, and traffic jams are now a daily occurrence,” said one commuter, frustrated by the ongoing issues. A local Pious offerings On January 30, Mayor Inderjit Kaur had ordered officials to fast-track repairs and address the leaks across the city. However, nearly two weeks later, little progress has been made, leaving residents like Bikram Singh frustrated. “Ludhiana is already dealing with traffic jams and bad roads. These repeated failures have shattered public trust,” he said. Ludhiana, February 15 A caller posing as the notorious and wanted gangster Donny Bal made an extortion call to the director of Amrit Indo American Senior Secondary School, Ladian Khurd, Ludhiana, and raised a demand for a huge sum in the form of extortion. According to victim Navjot Singh, on January 14, 2026, his father Harimander Singh received a call from +1 (317) 365-8671. The caller identified himself as “Donny Bal gangster” and made threats. After the initial call was disconnected, the accused sent repeated messages and calls, threatening to cause serious harm to the family. The accused threatened to harm the victim or a family member if the money was not paid. It is alleged that he then c m y b made several calls and threatened to demand extortion. After receiving a complaint, the police yesterday registered a case against an unknown suspect and launched an investigation. They say they are investigating the technical aspects of the calls and messages to identify the suspect. The police have appealed to people not to panic on receiving threatening calls from abroad or unknown numbers and to inform the police immediately. Gangster Donny Bal is linked to an organised crime network operating in Punjab and abroad. He is said to be associated with the Bambiha-Rana Kandowalia gang. Donny Bal’s name has also surfaced in the conspiracy to murder Kunwar Digvijay Singh, alias Rana Balachauria. and whether the truck’s tarpaulin or ropes were loose. After receiving information, the police also reached the spot for investigation. Cops suspect that the truck was overloaded and, the moment it was rising on the elevated bridge, it suddenly tilted towards the bridge wall, causing the sacks to fall. Before the truck driver could stop the vehicle, dozens of sacks had fallen on the cars and road. Cops said that, had the sacks fall- en on two-wheelers or pedestrians, there would have been casualties. Now, legal action will be taken against the driver and the transporter for putting people’s lives at risk, added the cops. Khanna cops bust heroin racket, father-son duo held Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 15 In a breakthrough, Khanna Police have dismantled a heroin supply chain and arrested a father-son duo involved in narcotics consumption and peddling. Jagpal Singh, alias Jogi, resident of Daheru village, has been arrested in an FIR dated February 16, 2026, registered at police station Sadar Khanna. He has been identified as the crucial backward linkage of previously arrested accused Randeep Singh and Ashveer of Daheru village, who were apprehended with six grams of heroin, stated the Khanna police spokesperson. Investigation revealed that the accused Randeep Singh was residing and operating from Jogi’s residence, effec- ACCUSED HAD DISPUTE WITH CONG LEADER Jagpal Singh Jogi had a dispute with a Doraha-based Congress leader and, in this regard, in June 2019, Inspector Baljinder, SHO Sadar Khanna, had arrested him, his son Gurvir Singh and friend Jaswant Singh. The SHO allegedly stripped the trio and made a video, which went viral. Following this, the SHO was booked and arrested in the case. tively turning it into a centre for illegal drug activities. During the raid, police recovered Rs 47,500 in drug money from Jogi’s possession, added the spokesperson. Notably, Jagpal Singh, alias Jogi, is a habitual offender, with around 22 FIRs registered against him. The police also arrested his son Ekamdeep Singh in a recent FIR under Section 27 of the NDPS Act, exposing the active involvement of the father-son duo. In further backward linkage development, Gurjit Singh has been nabbed for allegedly supplying heroin to the fatherson duo, thereby exposing the supply chain operating behind the scenes. The probe indicates that Jagpal Singh had no legitimate source of income and criminal elements frequently visited his residence, which had effectively become a safe haven for antisocial activities. Further investigation is underway to trace additional linkages, financial transactions, and associates connected to this module. The arms licence of Jagpal stands withdrawn, states Khanna SSP Dr Darpan Ahluwalia.