03112026-LT-01.qxd 11/3/2026 12:48 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune DIST SKATERS DOMINATE STATE TOURNEY Players excel in artistic skating, figure skating and show group competitions during meet. P2 » EX-CRICKETER MADAN LAL SHARMA REVISITS ALMA MATER ACTOR ANUJ THAKUR PASSES AWAY AT 33 Former India cricketer Madan Lal Sharma visits his alma mater Hindu College in Amritsar. P3 TV actor Anuj Thakur’s death was confirmed by his friend and casting director Rupesh Sonar through an Instagram post. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 30°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 15°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5:34 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:38 AM TUESDAY | 3 NOVEMBER 2026 | LUDHIANA Main shooter in Gurdwara Manji MLA’s surprise visit exposes absenteeism in govt offices Sahib firing case lands in police net Directs DFSC to investigate matter, issue notices Two shooters were sent by a person who had been blackmailing head sewadar Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 The Ludhiana (rural) police and counter intelligence wing in a joint operation claimed to have arrested the main shooter in the recent firing incident at Gurdwara Manji Sahib in Rajoana Kalan village. Dr Ankur Gupta, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ludhiana (Rural), and Assistant General of Police, Counter Intelligence, Dr Pragya Jain, addressed a press conference regarding the matter on Monday. The police officials said rural police and CI wing teams conducted a thorough investigation and successfully arrested the main shooter involved in the incident after sustained efforts. He has been identified as Raj Singh, alias Raju, a resident of Nurpur Machhiwara, Ferozepur district. On the intervening night of October 27 and 28, two masked men on a motorcy- Cops address the media regarding the arrest of the shooter in the firing case on Monday. cle entered Gurdwara Manji Sahib and opened fire before fleeing the scene. An FIR dated October 28, under Sections 109 of the BNS, 2554-59 of the Arms Act, 1959, was registered at the Sudhar police station. The gravity of the incident was reviewed by district Ludhiana (Rural) and Counter Funds yet to reach 50 govt schools for Sikhya Kranti events Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 Funds sanctioned for organising infrastructure inauguration ceremonies at 50 government schools in the district are yet to reach the institutions, even as the Education Department has already fixed a schedule for the second phase of the Sikhya Kranti programme. The department had directed officials to hold the ceremonies between October 27 and November 7. However, with the programme already underway, schools are reportedly waiting for the sanctioned amount to make arrangements for the events. Under the plan, infrastructure works completed at 50 government schools across constituencies such as Payal, Raikot, Khanna, Gill, Jagraon, Dakha and Samrala are to be Intelligence Police teams, who conducted a detailed probe based on technical and human intelligence. To identify the suspects, police teams scrutinised CCTV footage from nearly 200 km of backward and forward routes. Through the tireless efforts of police teams and intelligence-based opera- tions, the main suspect has been arrested. During sustained interrogation of the suspect, it has emerged that threats were being issued with the motive of blackmailing the head sewadar of the Gurdwara Sahib and the firing incident was carried out with this intent. Officials said police would make efforts to arrest the other suspects involved in the case at the earliest. They said police teams of Ludhiana (rural) district and Counter Intelligence had successfully traced and arrested the suspects in firing incidents carried out by masked men at Gurdwara Gopalsar Sahib in Gagra village and Gurdwara Manji Sahib in Rajoana Kalan village, near Sudhar, within a short span of time. Preliminary investigation and interrogation revealed that threats had been issued to blackmail Kulwant Singh, the main sevadar of the gurdwara. The firing was carried out in connection with the threats. Now, the questioning of the shooter would led the police to the person who hired the shooters for the firing. Police officials said Raju had a prior criminal history, with cases registered against him under extortion, stolen property, the Arms Act and the NDPS Act in Faridkot, Jalandhar and Ferozepur districts. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 A surprise inspection by Payal MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura on Monday exposed alleged absenteeism and poor record-keeping in government offices in Payal, with entire staff of the Food and Supplies Department found absent till 11 am. Talking to The Tribune, Giaspura said he was shocked to see the entire staff missing during working hours and had directed the District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC) to investigate the matter, issue notices and seek explanations from the employees concerned. “I was shocked to see the entire staff missing. I have asked the DFSC to examine the matter, issue notices and obtain replies from the officials concerned. I had also visited the office of the Registrar, Cooperative Societies. A few persons were there but the shocking part was that they have not maintained any attendance record of staff. We are taking it seriously and action will be taken against those found at fault,” he said. Golden route Edu Dept had told officials to hold opening ceremonies between Oct 27, Nov 7 formally inaugurated. The total value of the completed works in the district has been pegged at Rs 7.58 crore. The department has sanctioned Rs 20,000 for each senior secondary school, Rs 10,000 for secondary schools and Rs 5,000 for elementary schools for organising the ceremonies. Another Rs 5,000 has been earmarked for preparing the inauguration plaque at each school. Teachers, however, said the money should have been released before the events. Schools are expected to make arrangements for tents, sound systems, refreshments and continued on page 3 Women return home through a paddy field after completing their day’s work near Lalton village in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Influencer booked for blackmailing man Ludhiana, November 2 The Model Town police on Sunday registered a case against a social media influencer, known as ‘Baba Burger Wala’, for allegedly creating AI-generated photos and videos and demanding mon- Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service The F&CC meeting in progress at Mayor’s camp office in Ludhiana. nearly Rs 30 lakh for laying water supply pipelines. He questioned changes in the proposed location and specifications and raised concerns over the use of GI pipes instead of DI-K7 pipes in some narrow lanes. He referred to observations of the Superintending Engineer regarding the comparatively shorter life, corrosion and maintenance concerns associated with GI pipes and demanded a site inspection before the MLA Manwinder Giaspura during an inspection at a government office. The MLA first visited the District Food and Supplies department office, where no official was present. Adding to the concern, the attendance register was not available on the premises. An employee informed him that the Food Supply Inspector had taken the register along. The paddy procurement season is currently underway and farmers require support from government departments. The MLA contacted the DFSC to apprise him of the situation and directed that immediate action be taken after the visit. Giaspura said negligence in matters concerning the public would not be tolerated. Subsequently, he visited the office of the Cooperative Services department. There, the official was unable to produce the daily attendance record. When the MLA inquired about the attendance of the Assistant Registrar (AR) concerned, he was informed that the officer’s attendance was marked via video calls. Giaspura said he would raise the matter with the higher authorities of the department. He said he had received several complaints regarding the functioning of these offices and that the inspection had confirmed many of the concerns raised. 15-yr-old dies by suicide ey from the complainant. As per the FIR filed on November 1 on the complaint of Navpreet Singh of Baba Deep Singh gurdwara management, the suspect has been identified as Ravinderpal Singh of Tajpur Road, who runs a burger vend. Police probe revealed that the suspect had been creating AImanipulated photos and videos of the complainant and uploading them on his Instagram account. He then demanded money in return for removing the content. — TNS Civic projects face scrutiny over cost at F&CC meeting Ludhiana, November 2 Questions over the cost, technical specifications and execution of several civic projects came to the fore during a meeting of the Municipal Corporation’s Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) on Monday. The meeting, held at the Mayor’s camp office, was convened to discuss a supplementary agenda covering various development works. While Congress councillor and committee member Gaurav Bhatti raised objections to a number of proposals, resolutions were eventually approved by the committee with the support of the four ruling-party members. Bhatti sought greater clarity on a proposal involving Shivani Bhakoo work was taken up. The proposed expenditure of Rs 14.82 lakh on sewer manhole covers also came under scrutiny. The proposal involves the supply of around 700-800 covers in a sub-zone covering four to five wards. Bhatti sought ward-wise records of earlier supplies and details of the actual requirement, pointing out that fewer than 20 new covers had reportedly been installed in Ward 26 during the past two years. A Rs 38-lakh estimate for cement concrete roads was another point of discussion. Bhatti questioned how the contractor had quoted nearly 43 per cent below the estimated cost and sought stricter quality checks on works where bids were substantially below the depart- c m y b ment’s estimate. He also sought an explanation for the sharp increase in the estimated cost of a proposed bridge near Urban Estate, Dugri, along the Sidhwan Canal. The project, earlier estimated at about Rs 79 lakh under the Smart City scheme, has now been pegged at Rs 3.54 crore. He said development was necessary but public money should be spent with proper scrutiny and accountability. Mayor Inderjit Kaur said essential projects were being taken up for the city and decisions were being made after discussion. She said the MC was also against wastage of public money and that works were stopped whenever officials found issues, irrespective of objections from any quarter. Ludhiana, November 2 A 15-year-old girl, a student of Class X, died by suicide here. Her family has alleged that a 25-year-old woman from Gopal Nagar had been pressuring her for a same-sex marriage. The two had become friends on Instagram about six months ago. The police on Sunday registered a case against the woman and launched a search for her. The incident occurred in Vishnu Nagar (Rahon Road) under the Jodhewal police station. The girl’s father, who works at a factory, told the police that the victim died in the evening on October 31. As per her father, his daughter befriended the woman on Instagram around six months ago. The woman had been pressuring her for a same-sex marriage, which left the girl under severe mental stress. On the father’s complaint, the Jodhewal police registered an FIR against the woman on November 1. SI Sukhwinder Singh said the police would also probe if the suspect had earlier trapped other girls in a similar manner. The police are conducting a detailed investigation and the search for the suspect was on. — TNS Mining to remain suspended across dist till further orders Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 2 The Executive Engineer, Ludhiana, Drainage-cumMining and Geology Division, Water Resources Department (WRD), Punjab, has ordered the immediate suspension of all mining operations and transportation of mined material in the district. In compliance with the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, all mining activities and transportation of mined material across the district will remain suspended till further orders. Operations will remain halted till the mandatory safeguards are fully implemented and verified by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), following which a formal compliance certificate will be issued. Mandatory compliance measures Every tipper, truck, trolley or other vehicle engaged in transporting mined material must be fitted with a properly installed and functional GPSbased tracking device. A complete list of such vehicles, DC Jain had issued directions after receiving complaints from various quarters along with their registration numbers, must be submitted to the SDM concerned and the jurisdictional police station for verification and record. A legible copy of the valid site approval/allotment letter issued by the competent authority must be prominently displayed on the windscreen of every vehicle transporting mined material. Transportation of material must be carried out strictly through routes approved by the Department of Water Resources. No unauthorised approach road, temporary ramp, pathway, cut or access through river embankments may be created, used or altered for transportation purposes. All mining, loading and transportation activities must be conducted strictly within the working hours specified in the approved contract, letter of intent and other applicable permissions. No activity will be allowed beyond the authorised timings. Mining and excavation must remain confined to the approved mining area, prescribed depth and permitted machinery. A prominent and clearly visible signboard must be installed at the main entrance of each mining site. Intimation to the gram panchayat concerned must also be furnished, while verification of all statutory approvals and clearances is mandatory. The order has been issued to firms which include Baba Technoplast, Solan, Himachal Pradesh; Navyug Company, Ludhiana; Satwinder Singh, Bagha Khurd, Ludhiana; Rudra Stone Crusher, HP; and Narang Motors, Punjab. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain had issued strict directions after receiving complaints from various quarters regarding non-compliance with mining regulations in the district. Following the instructions, all mining activities were suspended with immediate effect from October 31.