10072025-LT-01.qxd 7/10/2025 12:41 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MINOR DIES DUE TO DRUG OVERDOSE, TWO ARRESTED ACTOR SALMAN KHAN LEAVES FANS IN SPLITS NEPOTISM NOT CONFINED TO JUST FILM INDUSTRY Ahmedgarh Sadar police have booked around 10 persons, including two women, in the case. P2 Actor Salman Khan showed his lighter side with a birthday post for his brother-in-law, Atul Agnihotri. P4 Audiences will reject what is substandard & appreciate, when an actor star kid or not, delivers, says director Santosh.P4 » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.27 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:30 AM » THURSDAY | 10 JULY 2025 | LUDHIANA Bystanders shocked as 2 dump woman’s body onroad divider in broad daylight near checkpoint When asked, suspects said they were throwing rotten mangoes and fled scene Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 9 Dumping of a woman’s body, which was stuffed in a sack, openly on the road divider near the busy Aarti Chowk intersection in broad daylight by two motorcyleborne miscreants had caused panic among residents. Before the two motorcyclists could dump the body, bystanders noticing some suspicious activity had cornered the suspects. However, the latter dared to lie that they were dumping rotten mangoes and threw the plastic sack on the road. Police sources said it was the first-of-its-kind incident the police ever witnessed in which the suspects came to dump the body on the road divider, which is 100m away from a traffic police checkpoint. Interestingly, the motorcyclists had come from the Aarti Chowk side but from the wrong side. Even traffic police personnel remain stationed throughout the day for catching traffic offenders at the checkpoint at the chowk. The first eyewitness who raised the alarm was Jee- Cops examine the scene where the suspects dumped the body near Aarti Chowk in Ludhiana. 2ND SHOCKING INCIDENT AFTER BODY FOUND IN DRUM Over a week ago, a person was murdered in Ludhiana and his body was stuffed in a blue drum and thrown in an empty plot. In the case, the police identified the deceased and arrested the suspects. Manoj, alias Raju, was murdered by his friend along with his family members. To dispose of the body, the suspects bought a blue drum. Afterwards, it was put in it and dumped in an empty plot with the help of an e-rickshaw. van, a roadside vendor, at the chowk. He was the first to respond to the situation. “As I was busy on my vend, one of my friends told me that two motorcyclists are dumping some sack, which is emitting foul. I CANAL-BASED WATER SUPPLY PROJECT Works worth ~21 cr inaugurated Ludhiana, July 9 Moving forward under the World Bank (WB) and AIIBfunded canal-based water supply project, Ludhiana South MLA Rajinder Pal Kaur Chhina inaugurated works worth around Rs 21 crore to construct three overhead water reservoirs (OHSRs) and lay associated water supply lines here on Wednesday. While the three OHSRs would be constructed in Rose Garden, Giaspura and an adjoining area, the associated water supply lines would be installed in the adjoining 8-km area. Officials of Ludhiana Urban Water and Wastewater Management Limited and staff of the contractor were also present during the inauguration ceremony at Giaspura. The MLA said the state government, led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, was committed for betterment of the state. The first phase of the canal-based water supply project was being taken up at a cost of around Rs 1,300 crore (civil works). Under the project, OHSRs were being constructed in different parts of the city. She said officials had been directed that there should be no compromise with the quality of work and the same should be completed within the stipulated time period. — TNS rushed to the spot and asked the suspects why they wanted to dump rotten mangoes on the road. Before we could corner them, they escaped from the scene while leaving their motorcycle behind. Later when we checked the sack, we were shocked to found a woman’s body inside,” he said. Jeevan said they informed the traffic police personnel at the Aarti Chowk checkpoint. But instead of rushing to the scene, they called PCR officials. After over 30 minutes, officials from the police station concerned reached the scene. Ramesh, another eyewitness, said: “When the body of the woman was found, people got scared. Later, other residents of the area also reached the scene.” Everybody wondered how someone dared to dump the body in broad daylight that too in the presence of people at a busy intersection of the city. Over a week ago, a person was murdered in Ludhiana and his body was stuffed in a blue drum and thrown in an empty plot. In the case, the police identified the deceased and arrested the suspects. Manoj, alias Raju, was murdered by his friend along with his family members. The body was wrapped in a cloth and tied with a rope. To dispose of the body, the suspects bought a blue drum. Afterwards, the body was put in it and dumped in an empty plot with the help of an e-rickshaw. 5 weeks after Army jawan from Uri assaulted, robbed, case filed Mahesh Sharma Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 9 Officials posted at the Dehlon police station under the Ludhiana Commissionerate may face the music if allegations of harassment levelled by an Army jawan from Rajasthan and posted at Uri in Jammu Kashmir are found true. The jawan has accused the Dehlon police of shielding miscreants, including staff of a private public transport bus, who had robbed and assaulted him at a deserted place on the LudhianaMalerkotla highway on June 1, when he was travelling in the bus on a reserved seat on the fateful night. While the police had registered an FIR against unidentified persons on Tuesday, the jawan alleged that the police officials concerned had been pressuring him to arrive at an agreement with owners and staff of the bus. “When they can mediate a compromise between him and bus staff, why did not they name them in the FIR registered after the invention of senior functionaries of my unit,” argued the jawan, identified as Pardeep Rao of Dani Kirpa Rao village of Seekar district in Rajasthan. Perusal of an FIR registered under Section 307, 115 (2) and 3(5) of revealed that Army Jawan Pardeep Rao. Dehlon cops may face music for not informing seniors about repeated visits by victim the staff posted at the private bus going to Seekar had dropped the jawan forcibly at a deserted place after he refused to accommodate another unidentified passenger on his reserved sleeper seat. It was after a few minutes when the jawan was walking on the deserted place on the highway that occupants of an SUV offered to help him board the bus. “When they asked me that they would make me catch the bus, that too without any request from me, I trusted them and got on the SUV after which they assaulted me with weapons and robbed my belongings, including Army ID, two bags, two mobile phones, jewellery and articles worth around Rs 8,000 purchased from canteen and cash worth Rs 20,700,” stated the jawan, adding that the officials at the Dehlon police station had refused to entertain arguing that I should go and get admitted to some hospital for treatment of head injuries the suspects inflicted on me. The complainant regretted that the officials had made mockery of him during every visit made on instructions of senior functionaries in his unit and the Commissionerate Police, led by CP Swapan Sharma. Alleging that the investigating police had been harassing him on the instance of the suspects, the complainant alleged that the police had been shielding them since the fateful day. The victim has also urged the higher authorities to get the matter and undue delay in registration of a case probed from a senior official of any other department. ACP Harjinder Singh Gill said the officials at the Dehlon police station had not brought the issue into the notice of senior functionaries, including him. “Now when the case has been registered, we will get the sequence of events probed on the basis of circumstantial evidence and to the satisfaction of the complainant,” he said. 5 kg of banned plastic carry bags seized, challans issued Ludhiana, July 9 Tightening noose around violators, Municipal Corporation (MC) teams confiscated 5 kg of banned plastic carry bags and seven cartons of single-use plastic items on Wednesday. Further, health branch teams of the civic body also served sealing notices to 13 meat shop owners over illegal slaughtering. The shops are situated on the Dugri road, Pakhowal road and in adjoining areas. Working on the directions of MC Commissioner Aaditya MC officials with the seized plastic items during a special drive in Ludhiana on Wednesday. Dachalwal and Joint Commissioner Ankur Mahindroo, the team comprising sanitary inspectors, including Nathi Ram, Satpal, Yogesh, Satinderjit, Harvinder Singh among others, took action against the violators. After confiscating the banned plastic carry bags and other items from the shops, challans were also issued to the shopkeepers. The health branch officials said sealing notices had been served to owners of 13 meat shops and if they fail to stop illegal slaughtering, their shops would be sealed in coming days. The drive against use of banned plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items would also continue in coming days. — TNS Elderly man dies in road mishap No impact of Bharat Bandh on normal life, rally hinders traffic Tribune News Service Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 9 A 75-year-old ex-serviceman, Mahinder Singh, lost his life in a road accident here. The victim, who was working as a security guard in a plant near Hardy’s World, was returning home in the morning on his Honda Activa after night duty. When he reached the Jalandhar road, around 500m from the Ladhowal police station, a speeding canter hit him. The canter ran over him and he died on the spot. Mahinder was a resident of a village near Phillaur. After the incident, the police registered a case and started investigation. Instead of stopping the vehicle, the canter driver fled the scene. When the suspect reached near the Ladhowal toll plaza with the canter, one of the passers-by called toll staff and informed about the Canter driver. The suspect fled the spot but the police took the canter in their custody. The Ladhowal police took the body of the deceased to the Civil Hospital mortuary. SHO inspector Gurshinder Kaur said the case was being investigated. The suspect would be arrested soon. Ludhiana, July 9 The Bharat Bandh call, given by trade unions and organisations against the move to privatise public sector enterprises and public services, failed to cast any impact in the city where markets, shopping malls, offices, schools and colleges and industrial units remained opened as usual. Except for clerks in banks, who held demonstrations, not much impact of the bandh call was witnessed. Trade unions, bank, LIC employees, anganwadi workers hold protests However, till Tuesday evening, confusion prevailed among residents, if the bandh would affect their travel plans, etc. Ramanjit Kaur, a businesswoman who had to visit Uttar Pradesh for getting some work done, said before leaving on Wednesday, she enquired if highways and roads were not blocked. “I called up many people here and in UP to ensure that there would be no hindrances during travelling. Had there been some issue, I would have postponed my trip,” she added. Members of various trade unions hold a protest rally at the bus stand; and (right) vehicles stuck in a traffic jam during the protest in Ludhiana on Wednesday. ASHWANI DHIMAN Markets, malls, educational institutions remained opened as usual, with normal footfall. Satjot Singh, a shopkeeper near AC Market, Bhadaur House, said there was no impact of the bandh call in the market and buyers were coming to make purchases even from other districts and states as it was a wholesale market of cloth. Functioning of banks hit While trade unions called for a bandh call on Wednesday with over 25 crores workers participating in the protest, working in public sector banks (PSBs) was also hit. Officers at banks were on duty while clerical staff held protest demonstrations against the Central Government’s “anti-employee” policies. Work was affected as staff dealing customers were taking part in the protest. Supplementing the struggle and responding to the joint call of the All India Bank Employees Association (ALBEA), AIBOA and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), a massive rally was organised by the Punjab Bank Employees’ Federation (PBEF), Ludhiana, in front of Canara Bank, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Ludhiana. The rally was addressed by PR Mehta, vicepresident, AIBEA, and general secretary, Punjab Bank Employees’ Federation, DP Maur, gen- c m y b eral secretary, Joint Trade Union Council, Ludhiana, Dr Rajinder Pal Singh Aulakh, senior trade union leader, Naresh Gaur, secretary PBEF Pawan Thakur, , president, Punjab Bank Employees’ Federation, Narkesar Rai, Parveen Aggarwal, Yuvraj Maria, Gurmeet Singh from AIBOA and other top leaders of the federation. While addressing the rally, PR Mehta said: “We are concerned that continued economic policies of the Central Government was resulting in accumulation of huge wealth in the hands of the big corporates and industrialists in the country and at the same time, there is deprivation and mar- ginalisation of the poor pushing more people below the poverty line. Though claims are that the country is growing fast, only rich individuals are progressing and the poor are suffering. More and more concessions are given to corporates and more tax burden is heaped on the common man.” “It is a matter of major concern that in a country like India where a large number of the population is young, unemployment is swelling and educated youngsters were not getting jobs. Instead of creating more jobs, government policies are resulting in lesser workforce. Allocation for job generation has taken a nose-dive,” he said. Naresh Gaur said the public sector in the country was the core of its growth and development. Now, it had become a target for disinvestment, privatisation and monetisation. “Even public sector banks and insurance companies, which deal with huge public savings, were now going to be privatised. PSBs deal with Rs 140 lakh crore deposits of people. Can we afford to hand over public savings to private corporates and capitalists,” he said. Under the banner of the All India Insurance Employees’ Association (AIIEA), LIC employees of the Ludhiana division also observed strike on Wednesday. The LIC Pensioners’ Association and GIC Pensioners’ Association supported the strike. Maan Singh, divisional secretary, NZIEA, said demands of employees include immediate recruitment in Class III & IV categories in the LIC, removal of GST on insurance premium, withdrawal of 100 per cent proposal of FDI in the insurance sector, scrapping of new pension scheme, restoration of old pension scheme and withdrawal of new labour codes. Anganwadi workers in good numbers also took part in demonstrations in various areas of the city following the call for Bharat Bandh by trade unions against “wrong policies” of the Centre. Aanganwari workers, Karkhana Mazdur Union, Moulder and Steel Union and other bodies gathered to protest against the privatisation move of the government. Trade union leaders asked to pay minimum monthly packages of about Rs 26,000 and to provide them other benefits. At the same time, commuters had to face difficult times as the protesters blocked roads in city for some time and held protest marches.