22082025-LT-01.qxd 8/21/2025 10:31 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune AAP’S STOLEN TYRES ‘RETURN EVENT’ TURNS INTO PHOTO-OP CITY BECOMES PICKLEBALL HUB AS SPORT GAINS GROUND IF I MAKE A MISTAKE, PAPA IS HERE: ARYAN KHAN An event to hand over stolen tyres to vehicle owners turned out to be more of a sham than a goodwill gesture . P2 Pickleball has been considerably less popular than tennis, but is now rapidly gaining popularity worldwide. P3 Shah Rukh Khan’s son feels ‘very nervous’ during The Ba***ds of Bollywood event. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY, RAIN MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.01 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5:57 AM » FRIDAY | 22 AUGUST 2025 | LUDHIANA Rights panel seeks report on unsafe schools in district Tribune News Service BJP leaders and workers hold a protest outside the Dugri police station after district BJP president (rural) Gagandeep Sunny Kainth was detained by the police in Ludhiana on Thursday; and (right) Kainth with his supporters after being released by the police. PHOTOS: ASHWANI DHIMAN BJP workers gherao police station after party leader detained; later released Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 21 High drama was witnessed here as the city police detained BJP district president (rural) Gagandeep Sunny Kainth from his office at Flower Enclave on Thursday morning. Kainth was taken to the Dugri police station, where he was kept for around four hours and later released by the police. Party workers in large numbers had gathered outside the police station and held a protest against the police and the Aam Aadmi Party for harassing the BJP leaders organising awareness camps under the Centre’s outreach programme. Kainth said he was sitting in his office and BJP workers were gathering as an aware- ness camp was to be organised in villages. Suddenly, policemen came and forcibly took him to the Dugri police station. Despite repeatedly asking the cops to reveal the reason of detaining him, no police officials could give any satisfactory reply. “I was kept at the police station for around four hours without any reason. I also asked the police station in charge if I am being arrested in any criminal case registered against me of which I am not aware or did I create any law and order situation, but no one could answer and I was forced to sit at the police station,” Kainth added. He claimed that after detaining him, the cops also conducted a search at this office and took away DVRs of the CCTV cameras, along with those of some other houses in the locality. BJP district unit president Rajnish Dhiman said that through these camps the BJP was making people aware about the schemes of the Central Government, so that maximum people could avail of the benefits. During these camps, many people who were not registered under these schemes were also being registered so that they do not miss the benefits. Meanwhile, police officials kept mum about the reason of detaining the BJP leader. A senior police official when asked the reason of detaining Sunny Kainth said that there was some law and order situation and without explaining further, he said the leader had been released. Ludhiana, August 21 The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of a news report published in The Tribune on August 3 under the headline “76 schools declared unsafe in district, threat looms large over students, staff.” Acting on a complaint filed by RTI activist Arvind Sharma, who attached the news report with his representation, the commission has directed the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner to submit a detailed report a week before the next hearing, scheduled for September 26. In his complaint, Sharma highlighted that around 76 government schools in the district had been declared fully or partially unsafe, posing a serious threat to the lives of hundreds of students, teachers and staff. He pointed out that the issue resurfaces every monsoon, yet the danger of collapsing structures persists year after year. The PSHRC, after considering the matter, issued orders on August 14, stressing the need to monitor unsafe school buildings to prevent any possible tragedy. Wants accountability over filthy conditions in mandi The Punjab State Human Rights Commission has also taken suo motu cognisance of a report published in The Tribune on August 20 regarding the appalling conditions at the city largest vegetable market. The news report appeared under the headline “Rotting waste mounds raise a stink at city’s biggest vegetable market.” The commission, comprising Chairperson Justice Sant Parkash and member Justice Gurbir Singh, has directed the Secretary, Punjab Mandi Board, SAS Nagar, and the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Ludhiana, to submit detailed reports on the matter by September 24, ahead of the next hearing scheduled for October 1. The news report highlighted that the recent rains have exacerbated the situation, with stagnant water turning into breeding grounds for mosquitoes, raising fears of dengue and malaria outbreaks. 30-yr-old man dies in hit-&-run Commissioner orders probe after complainant Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 21 A speeding car hit a youth riding an Activa on Dugri road last night. The victim suffered serious head injuries in the accident and died on the spot. However, with the help of people, the blood-soaked youth was still taken to the DMC Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The deceased has been identified as Vikas Sharma (30), a resident of Golden Enclave. According to information, Vikas was returning home from work at night. As soon as he reached near the Flower Chowk, a person travelling in a car came at high speed and hit the scooter. The accident was so terrible that the Activa rider fell 300 m away from the road and the Activa badly damaged. Vikas suffered serious injuries on his head and face. Some passersby took him to hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The driver of the car that caused the accident fled from the spot with a burst tyre. When some people followed his car, the accused was seen going towards GK Vihar Colony. Cops also reached there and impounded the car. In another case a father of two children died when the tyre of a truck burst on Malerkotla road in Khanna on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as 45-year-old Soni, a resident of Baghor. He used to run a puncture shop at Rasulda village. The incident happened when Soni was coming from the village on his bike. Suddenly the tyre of a moving truck burst. The rim of the tyre bounced off and hit Soni, who was riding the bike. The injury was so severe that he died on the spot. Some passersby immediately informed the police, which reached the spot and impounded the truck. Soni was the sole earning member of his family. He is survived by his wife and two children. ‘wrongly identifies’ salesman as gangster Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 21 After the Ludhiana police had recently registered a case of murder conspiracy on a complaint of shoe trader Gurvinder Singh Prinkle, Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma has now ordered investigation, suspecting that the complaint was filed with a motive to get an FIR registered against his opponents. Prinkle had alleged that gangster Lakhu Baba while acting as a client had come to his shop to kill him and CCTV footage had also been submitted to the police. An FIR had been lodged against a man after ‘identifying the accused’ in CCTV footage of a shoe shop in Sector 32 here. In the FIR it had been alleged that Lakhu Baba went to his shop in his absence and threatened his staff with a pistol. Eight persons, including gangster Lakhu Baba of Jalandhar, and his associate Rishav Benipal, had been booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act. The FIR further alleged that Lakhu Baba acted on behalf of gangster Rishav Benipal, who had previously opened fire at his shop in September 2024. He also submitted CCTV footage of the “accused” and shared it online. Upon viewing the video, Sachin of Bhattian Colony, a Ludhiana-based salesman, realised that he was the individual wrongly accused in the footage. In a video, he clarified that he had merely visited the shop to inquire about shoe prices and had no connections with any gangster. “I earn only ~500 a day working at a shop. I went there to check prices, found them costly and left. Later, I was shocked to learn that the police had booked me for murder conspiracy based on the CCTV footage. My children have started doubting me after watching the video. This humiliation is forcing me to think of taking some extreme step,” he stated. Talking to The Tribune, CP Sharma said that since the complainant, who had earlier faced a murderous attack and had alleged in his complaint that some person had come to kill him, the police immediately registered an FIR. However, when the police launched an investigation and identified the person, it was found that Prinkle seemed to have lodged a fake complaint. “Now, DCP Investigation Harpal Singh will investigate the matter and if the complaint is found fake, then the registered FIR will be cancelled and a new case will be registered against Prinkle for misguiding the police,” he added. 51,000 cusecs of water released into Continuous rains expose city’s Sutlej; no need to panic, says DC poor road infra, civic apathy Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 21 Around 51,000 cusecs of water was released at 6 am today from Ropar (Bhakra Dam) into the Sutlej. As per the district administration, it generally takes around eight hours for the water level to show its impact in Ludhiana district. However, officials confirmed that the situation is under control as far as the threat of flood is concerned in this part of the region. At present, the flow into the Sutlej (in Ludhiana district) stands at 34,000 cusecs, which is well below the danger mark. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain told The Tribune that there was no cause for panic. “The released water will enter the district within eight hours, but the flood situation is under control even at vulnerable villages. The situation will not be alarming until the water level touches 1.40 lakh cusecs. The district has already conducted detailed mock drills and is well-pre- A man points to the rising water level of the Sutlej, which is spreading panic among villagers. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN pared to tackle any eventuality,” he said. In Ludhiana, there are 11 main vulnerable points, where any rise in the Sutlej level could threaten nearby villages. These include Sherpur Bet, Tandi, Kamalpur, Nurpur Bet, Khanpur Mand, Khanpur, Shergarh, Dupana, Sikandar, Rejewal Jattan, Dhullewal, Mand Jodhewal, Mand Sherian, Mand Fatehgarh, Mand Gonsgarh, Sukhewal, Burj Sherpur and Hodhwal in Samrala. In Ludhiana (East), vulnerable villages include Garhi Sheru, Garhi Togar, Garhi Fazal, Bhukri Khurd, Bhukri Kalan, Khasi Kalan, Khaira, Burj Mankaur, Burj Kamran and Walipur Kalan. In Jagraon subdivision, Kamian Hussaini, Maniawal, Aliwal, Walipur Khurd, Baniawal, Talwandi Naubad and Bhundri face potential threat, while in Ludhiana (West) Kasabad, Jamalpur Laily, Bholewal Jadid, Manjara Kalan and Allowal are listed as sensitive. Flood-protection works have already begun in these areas, including the construction of studs, cleaning of drains and arrangements for sandbags, JCB machines and tractor-trailers. Avtar Singh, a villager from Issapur, said there was no panic in his village. “Though excessive water had entered the fields during continuous rains in the past 15 days, the situation is not alarming now,” he said. Avtar added that the illegal mining along the Sutlej was a cause of concern as because of this, there were more chances of floods as the sand along the banks of Sutlej had been dug out illegally, posing threat to several villages. c m y b Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 21 Monsoon showers this year have left behind more than just puddles as they have exposed the crumbling backbone of the city’s road infrastructure. From hospital gates to heritage bridges, key stretches across the city lie damaged and forgotten, turning daily commutes into obstacle courses. Twowheeler riders, in particular, are bearing the brunt, navigating uneven surfaces and hidden potholes under stagnant water. Outside the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), one of the city’s busiest hospitals, the road is in such a bad state that ambulances and patient vehicles struggle to navigate. The uneven surface and waterlogged potholes have become a hazard for those already in distress. “My father was in pain and the broken road was only adding to the agony,” said Harpreet Kaur, a resident of Model Town. “It’s Road with potholes filled with water near the Civil Surgeon office in Ludhiana. INDERJEET VERMA shameful that a hospital road is in this condition.” The situation is no better near Satsang Road, adjacent to the Civil Surgeon’s office as rains have left craters that get filled with water whenever it rains. The stretch near the women cell is equally pitiable, with broken patches and stagnant water making it nearly impassable. “We come here for official work, but the road feels like a neglected alley. It’s ironic that the women cell itself is surrounded by such unsafe conditions,” said Neha Sharma. The Lakkar Bridge area, a vital area connector for commuters, is riddled with potholes that worsen with every downpour. Near the Clock Tower, the road surface has eroded so badly that even two-wheelers are at risk of skidding. “This is the heart of the city. If this is how the Clock Tower road looks, what can we expect elsewhere?” said Rajinder Singh, a shopkeeper. The Domoria Bridge road, another key artery, has developed cracks and uneven patches that pose serious risks to vehicles and pedestrians alike. But perhaps the most glaring irony lies outside the Municipal Corporation’s Zone D office, where the road is in a state of utter disrepair. Cracked, flooded and ignored — it stands as a symbol of administrative apathy. “Are the officials blind to the road outside their own office?” asked Ramesh Kumar, a retired teacher. “If they can’t fix what’s right under their nose, what hope do we have for the rest of the city,” he said. Temporary patchwork washes away with the next rain, leaving behind deeper damage and growing frustration. City wants accountability, durable repairs and roads that serve rather than damage, added another city resident.