27102025-LT-01.qxd 10/27/2025 12:42 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MODEL TOWN MARKET BATTLES RAT INFESTATION VET STUDENTS CONTINUE CHAIN HUNGER STRIKE AYUSHMANN OFFERS WARM WELCOME TO ANEET PADDA Shopkeepers say despite repeated complaints, the civic body has failed to act in the matter. P2 Indefinite strike by members of the Veterinary Students’ Union entered its 32nd day on Sunday. P2 Taking to Instagram story, Ayushmann shared a screenshot of the post-credit scenes from his film Thamma. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 30°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 16°C SUNSET MONDAY 5.44 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:33 AM MONDAY | 27 OCTOBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Crackdown on open dumping of garbage, Man claiming to be Oz resident demands extortion from bizman challans issued to 112 traders, vendors Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Corporation officials have been keeping a strict vigil over violators Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 26 Coming down hard on violators, the Municipal Corporation (MC) issued challans to 112 shopkeepers and street vendors in the Ghumar Mandi area over open dumping of garbage. The drive has been launched on the directions of MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal and the challans were issued by the health branch of the civic body. The challans were issued after the shopkeepers and street vendors were caught dumping waste around their shops and vends. Civic body teams have been keeping a strict vigil over the violators day and night. They also confiscated a number of vends over dumping of garbage and encroachments on road portions. Recently, the MC Commissioner had also held a meeting with members of market associations of the ‘SUPPORT MC IN KEEPING CITY CLEAN’ MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal appealed to residents to support the civic body in keeping the city clean and stop open dumping of garbage. Strict action will be taken against violators as per the solid waste management rules. MC officials issue a challan to a violator at Ghumar Mandi in Ludhiana. city and the shopkeepers were directed to follow solid waste management rules and stop open dumping of garbage to avoid action. The shopkeepers had been directed to hand over waste to garbage collectors or dump the same at designated sites (static compactor sites) of the civic body. Similar orders were also issued for street vendors, directing them to stop dump- ing of refuse around their vends and install dustbins. Dachalwal said it was time that residents should own their responsibility. The civic body was making regular efforts to keep the Paddy procurement: High arrivals, low relief amid crop disease concerns Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 26 As the paddy procurement season peaks across the district, mandis are witnessing heavy inflow of grain amid mixed emotions among farmers. According to figures shared by the Punjab Mandi Board, with over 6.21 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy arriving in district markets, Khanna Mandi leads with 1.14 lakh MT, reflecting the region’s robust agricultural output. Yet, behind the numbers lies a season marked by distress. So far, 6.04 lakh MT of paddy has been procured — entirely by government agencies as private buyers remain absent. As many as 17,445 MT of paddy remains unsold and 4.79 lakh MT has been lifted. The maximum procurement price touched Rs 2,389 per quintal, offering some relief, but not enough to offset challenges farmers are facing. Meanwhile, basmati arrivals across Jagraon, Khanna, Maachiwara, Mullanpur Dakha and Raikot totalled 25,576 MT, all purchased by private agencies. The entire stock has been sold, with 25,461 MT lifted. Prices ranged from Rs 2,850 to Rs 3,360 per quintal, depending Paddy being uploaded on a truck at a grain market in Ludhiana. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA RELAX PROCUREMENT NORMS: FARMER UNIONS With no private purchase of regular paddy and mounting concerns over disease-related rejections, farmer unions are urging authorities to relax procurement norms and expedite lifting and payments. “We’re not asking for charity — just fairness,” said Gurpreet Singh, a farmer who was waiting at Khanna mandi with his unsold stock. on quality and demand. However, farmers say this season has been particularly harsh due to widespread crop diseases. “False smut and discoloration have ruined a large portion of our harvest,” said Harbhajan Singh, a farmer from Raikot. “Even if the grain reaches the mandi, we are unsure if it’ll be accepted.” Another farmer, Baldev Kaur from Maachiwara, said: “RBSDV, a plant pathogenic virus, has hit our fields hard. We’ve spent more on inputs and now face deductions due to quality issues. The government must consider disease impact while evaluating procurement norms.” With no private purchase of regular paddy and mounting concerns over disease-related rejections, farmer unions are urging authorities to relax procurement norms and expedite lifting and payments. “We’re not asking for charity — just fairness,” said Gurpreet Singh, who was waiting at Khanna mandi with his unsold stock. city clean. Despite appeals/warnings issued to the shopkeepers and vendors in the past, they had been dumping garbage outside their shops during odd hours, which gives a filthy look to the area. Similar action would also be taken in other markets or areas to ensure cleanliness across the city. He again appealed to the residents to support the civic body in keeping the city clean and stop open dumping of garbage. Strict action would be taken against the violators as per the solid waste management rules. One held for tearing policeman’s uniform, misbehaving Ludhiana, October 26 The Sidhwan Bet police have registered a case against a man who tore the uniform of a policeman. The incident occurred when police officials went to attend a complaint lodged by a woman on the PCR number, stating that her brother was fighting with her and trying to set things in house afire. The man was nabbed later. The suspect was identified as Jaswinder Singh Virk. ASI Daljit Singh, said on October 24, Gagandeep Kaur of Virk village in Jagraon, reported that her brother was fighting with her and setting on fire household goods. Afterwards, he, along with Home Guard jawan Jagtar Singh, reached the village. “As we reached the house of Gagandeep Kaur, she was arguing with her brother, who set some household things afire. When we tried to stop them, Jaswinder tore Jagtar’s uniform. He also misbehaved with the police team,” he said. — TNS 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. Boy falls into open sewer in Jagirpur Colony Trapped for some time, youngster pulls him out after another child raises alarm Ludhiana, October 26 A shocking incident unfolded in Jagirpur Colony here when a boy fell into an open sewer and remained trapped inside for several minutes, crying for help. The matter came to light when another child passing by raised the alarm, prompting nearby residents to rush to the scene. A youth eventually managed to pull the child out by his hand, avert- NO ACTION DESPITE COMPLAINTS The child sustained minor injuries but the incident has sparked serious concerns about civic negligence. Residents allege that the manhole cover in the middle of the road had been left open for days despite repeated complaints to the municipal authorities. ing a major tragedy. The incident occurred near a senior secondary school, whose students often play in the adjacent park. The child sustained minor injuries but the inci- dent has sparked serious concerns about civic negligence. Residents allege that the manhole cover in the middle of the road had been left open for days despite repeated complaints to the municipal authorities. “This is not the first time that such an incident has occurred. Open manholes are a regular hazard in our colony,” said Ravi Kumar, a local resident. “We had even conducted a cleanliness drive and informed the authorities but the sewer lid was never placed.” Local residents claimed that several manholes in c m y b the area remain uncovered, posing a constant threat to pedestrians and schoolchildren. A video of the incident has also surfaced, further fueling public outrage. Responding to the matter, area MLA Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal said: “A thorough investigation will be conducted, and if any municipal official is found guilty of negligence, strict action will be taken.” — TNS Ludhiana, October 26 A person claiming to be a resident of Australia demanded an extortion of Rs 5 lakh from a businessman running a money exchange firm after threatening to kill his family. Following the threat, the businessman was terrified that he transferred Rs 3.45 lakh to the suspect’s account. After getting the money, the latter demanded an additional Rs 5 lakh. This time, the victim brought the matter to the attention of the police. After this, two youths, reportedly accomplices of the key suspect, came outside the businessman’s office and with the help of the police, they were arrested later. Investigating officer ASI Ranbir Singh said the nabbed suspects were identified as Abhishek and Pradyuman. The police were searching for their third accomplice, Victim transfers ~3.45 lakh; two accomplices arrested from outside money changer’s office Harvinder, who claims to be a resident of Australia. The complainant, Suraj Mohammad, a resident of New Janta Nagar, filed a complaint with the Police Division 6, stating that he runs a company, Minhaj Forex Private Limited, in the Gill Chowk area. He deals in money transfers and booking of air tickets. A few days ago, he received a WhatsApp call. The caller demanded a ransom of Rs 5 lakh and threatened to kill the businessman and his family if the money was not given. The suspect also sent an account number to transfer the money. The suspect called again a few days later, after which the businessman shared the matter with his brother, Amrik Khan. Following which, the suspect called again and identified himself as Harvinder, a resident of Australia. The two brothers were so distressed by the threats that they transferred almost Rs 3.45 lakh to the account specified by the suspect. Afterwards, the suspect called again and demanded Rs 5 lakh more. Meanwhile, two individuals in an Hyundai i20 car with a Haryana registration number came outside Suraj’s office. When they tried to catch the suspects, they fled the scene. Suraj then brought the matter to the attention of the police. Taking action, the police arrested Abhishek and Praduman and seized the car. Man goes for driving test to centre in place of father, case registered Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 26 A man went to a test centre in place of his father to clear the driving test. As soon as centre employees got wind of this, they contacted the Assistant Regional Transport Officer for necessary action. In this regard, the police registered a case against both of them based on the official’s complaint on Saturday. According to investigat- ing officer ASI Davinder Pal, the suspects were identified as Dharminder Singh, a resident of Railway Colony, Sherpur, and his son, Prince. While filing the complaint with the Police Division 7, the transport official said Dharminder Singh was scheduled to take his driving test a few days ago at the centre located on Chandigarh Road, Sector 32, here. To clear his test, Dharminder’s son, Prince, reached the centre on October 9. When the centre staff received information about the incident, they stopped the test and informed the RTO office. Following this, the police started investigation and registered a case against Dharminder and Prince under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and started an investigation in the matter.