03102026-LT-01.qxd 10/3/2026 12:50 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune INDUSTRY IRKED OVER ‘THOUSANDS’ OF GST NOTICES KHEDAN WATAN PUNJAB DIYAN CONTINUES City industrialists allege many MSMEs have been waiting for tax refunds for more than six months. P2 Players continue to battle it out for top honours on Day 5 of the district-level competitions. P2 » » BIG B SUFFERS KNEE INJURY AT KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI 18 Amitabh Bachchan recently revealed he suffered a knee injury while shooting for Kaun Banega Crorepati 18. P4 » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 35°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 22°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6:06 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:18 AM SATURDAY | 3 OCTOBER 2026 | LUDHIANA Residents, social activists highlight poor condition of Gill Road bridge Urge authorities to carry out immediate safety inspection, repair work Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 2 The deteriorating condition of the Gill Road bridge over the Sidhwan Canal, near Gill Chowk, has raised concern among residents and social activists, who have urged the authorities to carry out an immediate safety inspection and undertake repair work. A social activist, Kuldeep Singh Khaira, said the condition of the bridge had become a matter of concern for daily commuters. He said damaged portions, exposed reinforcement steel and poor condition of the retaining structure needed immediate attention. He urged the authorities not to wait for a mishap before taking corrective measures. Another activist, Arvind Sharma, said the bridge was an important link connecting Ludhiana with Gill and areas towards Malerkotla and Patiala The dilapidated condition of portions of the Gill Road bridge over the Sidhwan Canal. and carries heavy traffic every day. He said the condition of the retaining wall and protective railings along the canal poses a risk to motorists and pedestrians. He said the retaining wall had partially collapsed at many points and the reinforcement steel was exposed. He also pointed out that some portions of the damaged structure were reportedly being supported with clamps as a temporary arrangement. He said the protective railings and grills along the canal had also been damaged or removed, with some lying on the roadside instead of being restored. He demanded that the administration should conduct a joint inspection of the bridge and its retaining structure and carry out strengthening and repair 7,552 MT of paddy arrives in district Manav Mander Tribune News Service IN FIGURES HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Ludhiana, October 2 A total of 7,551.94 MT of paddy has arrived in grain markets of the district. According to Punjab Mandi Board data, the highest arrival of produce has been recorded at Khanna’s grain market. A total of 4,050 MT of paddy has arrived in two days at Khanna while 1,393.94 MT was received at the Machhiwara mandi and 1,385 MT has arrived at the Samrala mandi. Of the total arrival, around 28 per cent has been purchased while lifting is yet to be started. Today, state ministers visited grain markets and reassured farmers of seamless arrangements. Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond visited the Asia’s largest grain market at Khanna while Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian visited Sahnewal and Dhanansu mandis. Sond, who also holds the portfolios of Rural Development, Labour, Power, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, said the state had been assigned a procurement target of 180 lakh metric tonnes for the 2026–27 season. The minimum support price (MSP) has been fixed at Rs 2,461 per quintal. “Every grain of the farmers’ produce will be pur- Total arrival Purchased Unsold Lifted 7,551.94 MT 2,129.24 MT 5,422.70 MT 0 per cent State ministers visited grain markets in the district and assured farmers of seamless arrangements. chased, lifted and paid for on time,” he said. He said adequate arrangements of gunny bags had been made and directed officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Punjab Mandi Board, procurement agencies and district administration to personally monitor operations for transparency and efficiency. Farmers were urged to bring only dry paddy to facilitate immediate purchase. Earlier, Sond chaired a meeting with officials and commission agents at the Khanna Market Committee office to review arrangements. Meanwhile, Mundian, who oversaw procurement at Sahnewal and Dhanansu, said Ludhiana district’s 109 grain markets were expected to receive nearly 17.25 lakh metric tonnes of paddy this season. He instructed agencies to ensure that farmers encounter no hurdles and that the process remains transparent and orderly. “The government has already made foolproof arrangements to purchase every grain of the crop. Timely lifting and direct payment into farmers’ accounts will be ensured,” he said. He also reminded farmers that moisture content must not exceed 17 per cent and advised them to avoid nighttime harvesting. work. He said the damaged protective railings should also be restored to prevent any mishap. Khaira also appealed to the authorities to assess the structural safety of the bridge, particularly in view of further deterioration during heavy rain. Soldier held on charge of raping colleague’s wife Ludhiana, October 2 The Police Division Number 5 have arrested an Army soldier for allegedly sexually assaulting the wife of his colleague and friend, whom he had reportedly visited to help in the absence of the woman’s husband, who is posted in Jammu and Kashmir. The suspect, identified as Charanjit Singh, was arrested on Thursday evening, said investigating officer Paramjit Singh, posted at the Police Division No 5. The police said the suspect and the victim’s husband are serving as soldiers in the Army. According to the complaint, Charanjit used to visit the woman. She was staying with her four-year-old daughter while her husband was posted in Jammu and Kashmir. The woman alleged that the suspect took advantage of his friendship with her husband and sexually assaulted her. “The victim came to the police station along with her husband on September 30. The suspect, who is a friend and colleague of woman’s husband, was arrested on Thursday evening,” the investigating officer said. The police have registered a case under Section 64 of the BNS and further investigation is underway. — TNS Panel moves NGT over use of banned plastic at govt event Ludhiana, October 2 The ‘Jashan-e-Inquilab’ event programme held at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) grounds here on September 28 has landed the state government in trouble, with the Public Action Committee (PAC) approaching the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over the alleged use of prohibited single-use plastic (SUP) during the event. In a press statement issued on Friday, PAC members Er Kapil Arora and Kuldeep Singh Khaira said evidence, including photographs, submitted to the Tribunal by them showed the use of prohibited plastic items during the programme. “We have questioned how the government authorities can expect citizens, traders and institutions to comply with environmental laws when same restrictions were allegedly not followed by them at an event organised by the government itself,” the PAC members said. Other members, including Dr Amandeep Bains and Jaskirat Singh, said the manufacturing, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single-use plastic Trash left at the PAU grounds after the Sept 28 event. FILE items, including specified plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery, straws, trays and certain other articles, had been prohibited under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as amended from time to time. However, all such items were allegedly used during the state-organised function. The PAC members said the issue became more serious as the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had itself issued directions to government departments requiring strict compliance with the SUP ban and had specifically urged government offices to minimise plastic waste and replace prohibited SUP items with sustainable alternatives. Raising concerns over the state government itself Remembering Mahatma allegedly violating the norms, the PAC members questioned the effectiveness and independence of the regulatory mechanism, particularly the role of the PPCB, when prohibited SUP items allegedly continued to be openly available and used across the city and other parts of the state. The committee alleged that despite repeated directions and enforcement powers available with the PPCB, banned SUP items continued to be manufactured, stocked, sold and used openly, defeating the very purpose of the statutory prohibition. The PAC has urged the Tribunal to impose environmental compensation (EC) on the state government as well as the PAU under rules framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The members also requested that the PPCB be directed to submit a comprehensive report, as mandated by directions issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from time to time under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act in relation to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. — TNS HIMANSHU MAHAJAN A resident pays tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary in Ludhiana on Friday. CM Mann attends event in city Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 2 Visitors present at MBD mall here had a surprise when Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, along with other MLAs and officials, reached the place to attend an event. For a few minutes in the presence of the Chief Minister, the mall turned out to be a fortress, heavily guarded by security personnel all over the venue. Huge police force was also deployed around the mall. CM Bhagwant Mann during an event in Ludhiana. “Concerning safety issues, thorough checking of visitors was conducted. We thought that as it was Gandhi Jayanti, due to safety concerns, checking was being done but later got to know about the CM’s visit,” said a visitor. 22-yr-old killed as truck hits motorcycle Man booked for abusing BLO at SIR camp Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 2 A family gathering following the death of a relative turned into a tragedy for two brothers from Jaspal Bangar when their motorcycle was hit by a truck in Lalton Kalan on Thursday. One of the brothers died in the accident while the other sustained minor injuries. The deceased has been identified as Rajwinder Singh (22). His younger brother, Baljinder Singh (20), survived the crash with minor injuries. According to the police, the brothers were going to the house of their maternal uncle to attend a gathering being held after the death of their maternal aunt a few days ago. The accident occurred near a public school in Lalton Kalan. As the motorcycle reached the area, a truck coming from the opposite direction allegedly collid- ed with it. The vehicle threw both brothers onto the road. Rajwinder suffered critical injuries and died at the scene. The truck driver allegedly escaped from the scene along with the vehicle after the collision. On receiving information, investigating officer Gurdeep Singh and a police team reached the scene and began proceedings. Rajwinder’s body was taken for a post- mortem examination and was subsequently handed over to his family. The Sadar police have registered a case against the unidentified truck driver on the complaint of Baljinder Singh under Sections 281 and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The police are examining CCTV footage from the surrounding area to establish the identity of the truck and trace its driver. Further investigation is underway. c m y b Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 2 A man allegedly created a scene at a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) camp being held at the Zone B office of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation after he objected to waiting in the queue and allegedly abused a woman Booth Level Officer (BLO), the police said. The Division No 3 police have registered a case against 32-year-old Harish Kumar, a resident of Harcharan Nagar, following a complaint received through the Ludhiana district election cell. According to the police, the BLO was attending to people visiting the SIR camp as part of the voterlist revision exercise. Harish was among those waiting for his turn. Investigating officer ASI Satnam Singh said the suspect allegedly lost his temper over the delay and began using abusive language against the BLO. His behaviour reportedly led to a commotion at the camp, following which the matter was brought to the notice of the police. The police said a formal complaint was subsequently submitted by the district election authorities. Acting on the complaint, the Division No 3 police registered an FIR against the suspect. Harish has been booked under Sections 132 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to allegedly using criminal force or assault to deter a public servant from performing her duties and an act, word or gesture intended to outrage the modesty of a woman. No arrest has been made so far in the case. The police said further investigation was in progress to establish the sequence of events at the camp.