10092025-LT-01.qxd 9/10/2025 12:54 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune HEALTH DEPT ON ALERT TO TACKLE OUTBREAK OF DISEASES With rains inundating low-lying areas, the city has begun reporting cases of waterborne illnesses. P2 » GURDWARA THADA SAHIB CONTINUES TO INSPIRE DEVOTEES Though modest in appearance, the gurdwara at Ayali Kalan village holds profound significance for Sikhs. P3 » WAMIQA GABBI IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST IN INDUSTRY FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.35 PM In an industry where visibility is everything, Wamiqa is doing more than just making appearances. P4 » SUNRISE THURSDAY 6:04 AM WEDNESDAY | 10 SEPTEMBER 2025 | LUDHIANA ~47.5-lakh major robbery Woman clings on to auto for 500m as 3 miscreants try to rob her, two nabbed cracked, 3 land in police net Tribune News Service Ex-employee, girlfriend among arrested; ~28.59L recovered Key suspect spent Rs 4L on buying drugs: ADCP Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 9 Achieving a major success, the Ludhiana police claimed to have cracked a major robbery case involving Rs 47.50 lakh. The police arrested three persons, the key suspect, who is also a former employee of the complainant’s firm, and his girlfriend and maternal uncle. The police also recovered Rs 28.59 lakh in cash from the suspects. Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) and (Rural) Rupinder Singh, DCP (Crime) Harpal Singh, ADCP 2 Karanvir Singh, ACP , Industrial Area B, Satwinder Singh Virk, and SHO, Police Division 6, SI Balwant Singh addressed a press conference in this regard on Tuesday. The suspects have been identified as Raghav Kakkar, a resident of Bhikhiwind, Tarn Taran district, and Karamjit Singh and Harmanjot Kaur, residents of Bhull Majra in Gangster seeks ~20L extortion from trader Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 9 A man posing as a gangster from Canada made a threatening call to citybased trader and demanded Rs 20 lakh extortion. Acting on the complaint of the victim, the police registered a case against the unidentified person and launched a probe. The complainant, a resident of Model Town, who refused to be quoted, said he owns a small shop in the city. About two months ago, he had received a WhatsApp call from a Canada-based phone number. The caller introduced himself as a gangster and demanded Rs 20 lakh extortion from him. The caller even warned that if the money was not paid, he would kill him. “We had lodged a police complaint in June this year and after over two months, the Model Town police have registered a case against the unidentified caller,” he said. We have been assured by police officials that a thorough investigation would be conducted in the case,” the victim claimed. The complainant said after he informed the suspect that he was a middle class person, runs a small shop and could not give any extortion amount, the victim did not receive any call. HEALTH & WELLNESS The Tribune is starting a Q and A column to address your health-related queries. Please mail your questions (not exceeding 40 words) at healthandwellness@tribunemail.com. The Tribune’s panel of doctors will answer all your healthrelated concerns. ADCP Karanvir Singh said the key suspect, Raghav, was a drug addict. He was also facing four cases, including three of drug smuggling. It is being suspected that he had spent about Rs 4 lakh on buying drugs for himself. Even a probe is also being conducted to inquire if the suspect was also indulged in smuggling drugs. Cops address mediapersons in Ludhiana on Tuesday. Fatehgarh Sahib district. DCP Rupinder Singh said a police team, led by SHO Balwant Singh, traced the Rs47.50 lakh robbery incident that occurred on August 29 at AH Alloys Rolling Mill, Durga Colony, Focal Point, here. After the incident, the police had launched a thorough investigation and managed to crack the case with the arrest of the three suapects. He said during the investigation, the main suspect, Raghav Kakkar, was arrested near Military Camp, Sherpur, and a knife and a Honda Activa scooter used in the crime were also recovered. Raghav was also a former employee at the rolling mill. On the basis of his disclosures, the police recovered Rs 20.49 lakh from the suspects. Raghav’s girlfriend Harmanjot Kaur was also arrested and Rs 1.60 lakh was recovered from her. Later, the police arrested Raghav’s maternal uncle, Karamjit Singh, and recovered another Rs 6.50 lakh. This brings the total recovered amount to Rs 28.59 lakh. Mayor, civic body chief check sanitary workers’ attendance, order action against absentees Ludhiana, September 9 With an aim to improving efficiency of work and rationalise sewermen across the city, Mayor Inderjit Kaur, Senior Deputy Mayor Rakesh Prashar, Deputy Mayor Prince Johar and MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal checked the attendance of sewermen in all four zones of the civic body on Tuesday. The attendance of the sewermen was checked at the zonal level, covering all 95 wards of the city. The drive to check the attendance of the sweepers commenced from the Zone A office near Mata Rani Chowk. Afterwards, the attendance was checked at the other three zones too. ID cards/Aadhaar cards of sewermen were also checked while taking attendance. Further, the officials concerned were directed to take strict departmental action against those found absent during the inspection. Mayor Inderjit Kaur said the main aim of the drive was to take stock of the situation at the ground level and improve efficiency. Rationalisation would also be held wherever required. A few employees were found absent during the inspection. The officials concerned have been directed to compile a list and take strict departmental action against the erring employees. The Mayor said the officials concerned of the civic body had also been directed to ensure attendance of staffers on a daily basis. It was to be ensured that the work should not get affected at the ward level and surprise inspections would be held in coming days too. — TNS Get staff verification done before employment: DCP DCP Rupinder Singh has appealed to businessmen and industrialists that they should get employees’ verification done before employing them at their workplaces. Like in this case, the owner of the rolling mill, from where Rs 47.50 lakh was robbed, had not got the employee verification of the main suspect, Raghav. Since he was aware about the presence of huge cash in the firm, the man engaged his maternal uncle and girlfriend in the crime and committed the robbery. Ludhiana/Jalandhar Sept 9 Three miscreants travelling in an auto-rickshaw tried to rob a woman on the Jalandhar-Ludhiana highway near the Jalandhar bypass here. They tied the woman’s hands with a dupatta and tried to rob her but the victim showed courage and fought with the suspects. She kept clinging on to the auto for about 500m to save herself. The video of the incident also went viral on social media as a car-borne person captured the same. The victim took an autorickshaw from the Jalandhar bypass and had to catch a bus from Phillaur to Nawanshahr. Deputy Commissioner of Police (City/Rural) Rupinder Singh addressed a press conference regarding the arrest of the suspects on Tuesday. The woman narrowly escaped. Other drivers also tried to help her but the auto driver kept driving the vehicle. After some distance, the auto went out of control and overturned. Fol- A video grab of the incident shows the woman leaning out of the auto-rickshaw, seeking help, on the Ludhiana-Jalandhar highway. lowing which, two of the suspects were caught and handed over to the police. The victim, Meena Kumari, said she was sitting in an auto when a pas- senger stopped the auto on the way on the pretext of going to toilet. When he returned, the robbers moved her from the side and made her sit in the middle. When she asked the driver to get down after going a little further, the miscreants did not stop the auto. The trio took out sharp weapons and tried to tie her hands with her dupatta, but she clung on to the moving auto and started asking for help. A car coming from the rear of the auto recorded the video of the entire incident. Another car driver tried to stop the auto but the robbers rammed their vehicle into it, damaging cars of two passers-by in the incident. Two suspects, Mohit of Subhash Nagar and Dimple, who were staying near AR Model School, were arrested while the third suspect, Shubham of Subhas Nagar was yet to be nabbed. Mohit is also having a criminal past as he had been facing three criminal cases. Hit by rain, PSPCL cash counter near Chand Cinema temporarily shut down, consumers face trouble Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 9 The cash counter of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) located near Chand Cinema has been temporarily shut down after rainwater entered its premises and damaged the computer server, leaving residents scrambling to find other locations to pay their electricity bills. Already in a dilapidated condition, with peeling walls and poor infrastructure, the cash counter has long been in need of repair. The recent downpour has only worsened its condition, forcing PSPCL officials to close it for safety reasons. A notice pasted outside the cash counter states that now, consumers can pay their bills at the Fountain Chowk or Daresi Ground counters. The PSPCL cash counter near Chand Cinema in a deplorable state. INDERJEET VERMA For many residents, the closure came as a surprise — especially for those arriving on the last date of the bill payment. “I came to deposit bill on the last date and had to return after seeing the counter closed,” said Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Amar Nagar, adding that “now, I’ll have to pay fine. It will take time to locate other counters as I’m not sure where they are.” Harpal Singh, who lives in a nearby area, said: “I’ve been paying my bills at the counter for the past five years. It was convenient and close to my home. Now, I’ll have to figure out where the other centres are. Sunita Rani, a homemaker, said: “There should have been some prior notice or SMS alert about the closure of the counter. Not everyone makes payments online. For senior citizens and those without smartphones, it’s real inconvenience.” The situation has sparked concern among regular bill payers, especially those unfamiliar with digital payment methods or alternate bill payment locations. However, PSPCL officials said they were aware about the issue and had been working to resolve it. “We are doing the needful to restore services at the affected cash counter. It’s roof was leaking and the computer server got corrupted. As a result, receipts of the cash deposited could not be printed. Consumers can use nearby counters at Fountain Chowk or Daresi or online platforms to avoid delays. The repair work has been initiated and within two days we are hopeful to reopen the cash counter located near Chand Cinema,” said PSPCL Chief Engineer NPS Boparai. Neelon Canal: A steady stream through the storms Mahesh Sharma Mandi Ahmedgarh, Sept 9 The Neelon Canal, named after a village on the eastern bank of the Sirhind Canal, has stood strong for over 140 years, rarely overflowing even during heavy rains or floods. Interestingly, rainwater from the Ludhiana-Ropar highway often seeps into the canal but it doesn’t cause flooding. Thanks to the canal’s smart design, careful water management and natural protection. Built in the late 1800s under the order of Maharaja Mahendra Singh of Patiala, the canal was inaugurated in 1882 as the largest irrigation system in the Malwa region. Its construction involved cutting deep into the ground, which made it less likely to over- Has stood strong for over 140 years, rarely overflowing even during heavy rains or floods due to its smart design, careful water mgmt flow. Water is released from the Ropar Headworks only when needed, reducing the risk of excess flow. Another key factor is the tree cover along both sides of the canal. The trees help stabilise the soil, reduce erosion and absorb excess rainwater, acting as a natural barrier against flooding. Local residents say the greenery has played a quiet but crucial role in keeping the canal safe. Manmohan Sharma, a 70-year-old resident of Neelon Kalan, said he’s never seen the canal overflow in his lifetime. His grandparents also recalled that the canal remained calm between Ropar Headworks and Neelon Bridge. In the past, it was even used to transport timber, people and cattle using a simple raft system. Harshant Kumar Verma from the Canal Department explained that canals built by cutting into the earth were naturally more stable. He said engineers carefully monitor water levels, especially during the flood season, to prevent any mishap. Officials, including Executive Engineer Damandeep Singh and SDO Avaldeep Singh, confirmed that regular patrols were conducted to check for weak spots along the canal banks. c m y b The canal is 13.4 ft deep and 220 ft wide at its base. It’s lined in key sections to further strengthen its structure. Historically, Doraha town became a hub for timber trade due to the canal’s role in transportation. Neelon Bridge also became a popular picnic spot, especially near Deer Park. Manav Kareer, a contractor from Ahmedgarh, was set to launch a boating project on the canal but postponed it due to monsoon and flood risks. He said the Canal Department could earn ?10–15 lakh annually from such ventures. Meanwhile, the LudhianaRopar highway, which runs alongside the canal, often suffers damages during rains. Maintenance crews frequently repair eroded sections to keep the road safe for yearround travel. The Neelon Canal is named after a village on the eastern bank of the Sirhind Canal. PHOTO BY WRITER