28102025-LT-01.qxd 10/28/2025 12:40 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune DENGUE SPREAD: KHANNA SDM REVIEWS PREPAREDNESS BALGEET OF HOSHIARPUR WINS CROSS-COUNTRY RACE EVENT Balgeet Kaur came out triumphant in cross-country race in girls U-19 category during school games. P2 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 30°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 16°C MADHAVAN TRANSFORMS INTO EDISON OF INDIA GD NAIDU Residents told to play their part in curbing dengue spread by maintaining cleanliness in surroundings. P2 FORECAST R Madhavan in his biopic GDN plays the role of Gopalaswamy Doraiswamy Naidu, aka the Edison of India. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 5.39 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:34 AM » TUESDAY | 28 OCTOBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Potholes, open manholes turn into death traps on city roads On Sunday, a boy had a providential escape after falling in open manhole Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 27 Thanks to the callousness on part of the authorities, city roads have turned into death traps with deep potholes and open manholes. No political representative or the official concerned is prepared to own the responsibility. On Sunday, a five-year-old boy had a providential escape after falling in an open manhole. Thanks to some passers-by who noticed him falling in the open and uncovered manhole, he might have got flushed away with the drain water. The entire scene was recorded in CCTV footage in Golden Avenue Colony, Rahon Road, and the video was circulated on social media platforms but hardly any preventive measures have been taken as open/broken manholes were seen on Monday too. Visit any road in the city, potholes will greet you. As if that was not enough, the Municipal Corporation has left several manholes open without any cover. As accountability is rarely fixed as those responsible hardly get panelised, the carelessness continues unabated. Open sewerages and man- An open manhole on the Cemetery road poses risk to motorists and pedestrians. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN PAST INCIDENTS ■ Sunday’s incident has not been an isolated one, earlier also many such mishaps occurred in the city ■ In July 2020, a woman was injured when her Honda Activa was stuck in an open manhole on Sekha Road ■ In November 2024, two children were badly injured when a person on a bike, along with his kids, fell when the vehicle skidded into an open sewerage ■ In January 2025, a senior citizen fell off his bike due to an open sewerage. He received injuries holes are seen all over. Talking to The Tribune, Pankaj Sharma, president of the Association of Trade and Industrial Undertakings, here, said: “Open manholes are all over Focal Points. There is hardly any phase where all manholes or sewerages are covered. My factory is in Phase IV and there is an open manhole near it.” Incident taken non-seriously Mayor Inderjeet Kaur, after being contacted twice, texted since she was out of station, the MC authorities can be contacted. MLA Madan Lal Bagga said since the area where the child fell in manhole, was not under his jurisdiction, he would not like to comment on it. Show-cause notice issued, says MC chief MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal, however, said a show-cause notice had been served to the supervisor in this regard. He further elaborated on the particular incident saying that the cleaning process of sewerages in the area was on and workers were working on another manhole a few yards away when the incident occurred. When asked that there were many manholes, which were not covered, the MC chief said there were about 1 lakh manholes in the city and most of these were covered. There could be a few which might be damaged by heavy vehicles in Focal Point areas. These were being repaired on an urgent basis when the same comes to authorities’ notice. He said workers should have covered the manhole in which the child fell when the cleaning of the other manhole was on. RTI activist writes to human rights panel Meanwhile, Arvind Sharma, an RTI activist, has written to the Punjab State Human Right Commission about the incident. He said it was a criminal negligence and it could prove fatal if the passer-by had not saved the life of the child. He requested the commission to take action against the negligence of officials. Cop’s deployment as caretaker of Bhullar’s farmhouse raises eyebrows Mahesh Sharma Ludhiana, October 27 Deployment of a subinspector (SI) as caretaker of suspended DIG Bhullar’s farmhouse at Mand Sherian village in the Machhiwara subdivision has raised eyebrows among residents of the area. The Punjab Police official in uniform has been reported to be acting as a caretaker deployed by suspended DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar at his Mand Sherian village in Machhiwara that was raided by a CBI team on Friday. Though exact designation and place of ‘proxy’ posting of the policeman, known as SI Dilbag Singh, apparent custodian of Bhullar’s moveable and immovable properties, is yet to be ascertained, it is believed that he (Dilbag) would be one of the loyalists and favourites of DIG’s late father Mahal Singh Bhullar. Several ‘disciples’ of Mahal Singh have been close confidantes of suspended DIG. Though the CBI team constituting around eight officials had made no revelations regarding any objectionable recovery and observations made during the full-day raid at Bhullar’s farmhouse, residents said the sleuths had talked to them to collect information about people visiting farmhouse frequently and staying there permanently, including Dilbag. Khanna SSP Jyoti Yadav Though exact designation and place of posting of policeman is yet to be ascertained, it is believed that he would be one of the loyalists of suspecnded DIG’s late father ruled out any possibility of deploying any of the police personnel unauthorisedly at any of private premises inside or outside the district. “We don’t have even any information about the CBI raid or observations made by the team,” she said. The residents, including office-bearers and activists of various organisations, were reluctant to speak on record but revealed that a policeman, Dilbag Singh, claiming to be an SI in the police, used to stay at the farmhouse and manage all affairs till October 16, when the CBI had initiated action against Bhullar. According to villagers, Dilbag, who had been staying at the farmhouse for about one year, was responsible for everything happening at Mand Sherian properties, including farmhouse and agricultural fields, spread over 50 acres. He was also reported to be managing around 18-20 commercial premises situated on the Machhiwara- Ropar road but their (premises) ownership rights were not known. Villagers recalled that Dilbag had packed up his belongings and left the farmhouse shortly after reports arrived about the CBI’s first raid on Bhullar’s Sector 40, Chandigarh residence. None of the officials at any of the police stations or administrative offices of the Punjab Police could provide any information about Dilbag. However, sources in the department, on condition of anonymity, said he might be one among several uniformed ‘disciples’ of suspended DIG’s father late Mahal Singh Bhullar, who showed loyalty to Harcharan Singh Bhullar too. Sukhdev Singh, husband of village sarpanch Navjeet Kaur acknowledged the presence of Dilbag at the farmhouse but claimed that he (Dilbag) never interfered in affairs of the panchayat or any other organisation. Bhullar was arrested by the CBI on October 16 for allegedly demanding Rs 8 lakh bribe from a scrap dealer from Gobindgarh. He was suspended on October 18. A CBI team on Friday had also conducted a raid at the Mand Sherian farmhouse belonging to Bhullar and interacted with residents of the village to know details about people visiting the premises and staying here. Gurugram gangster brought on production Man lands in police net with heroin warrant in connection with firing incidents Our Correspondent Mahesh Sharma ‘GANGSTERS USING MY NAME TO EXTRACT MONEY’ Ludhiana, October 27 One of the Gurugram’s most wanted gangsters Kaushal Chaudhary has denied his role in any of the cases registered recently by the Ludhiana police. However, he has admitted that some gangsters sitting in foreign countries are using his name for extracting money from businessmen and bigwigs. Kaushal was brought on production warrants in con- Gangster Kaushal Chaudhary has admitted that some gangsters sitting in foreign countries are using his name for extracting money from businessmen and bigwigs. He was brought on production warrants in connection with probe of firing cases in which unidentified persons had left messages on his behalf for seeking ransom. nection with investigation of some firing cases in which unidentified persons had left messages on his behalf for seeking ransom. Retired naib subedar Nand Lal of Begoana village under the Ludhiana Sadar police station had informed the police that two bike-borne miscreants had opened fire at his house in the wee hours on October 19 and left a slip demanding Rs 5 crore ransom in the name of Kaushal Chaudhary. The glass of the balcony was broken in the incident and it had multiple marks of bullets. The miscreants had fled towards Lohara Bridge after committing the crime. Assistant Commissioner of Police Harjinder Singh Bhullar acknowledged that Kaushal had been brought on production warrants but the investigating team was yet to arrive on any conclusion regarding his involvement in the firing case at the village. “We are interrogating him and information received so far cannot be divulged at this stage,” he said. Ludhiana, October 27 The police claimed to have nabbed a drug peddler who has been involved in illegal trafficking of drugs and narcotics. The police seized 15 gm of heroin from the suspect, identified as Karamjit Singh Karma, a resident of the city. He was nabbed when he was waiting for his customers at Bhaini Sahib in the Katani Kalan area. Additional Deputy Commissioner Police (ADCP) Vaibhaw Sehgal said the suspect was identified and nabbed during ALREADY FACING TWO DRUG CASES Police officials revealed that the suspect was already facing two cases registered against him under the NDPS Act. an ongoing drive launched under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner Police (ACP) Inderjit Singh Boparai on Sunday afternoon. Investigating team, led by Katani Kalan chowki incharge Surjit Singh, revealed that the suspect was already facing two cases registered against him under the NDPS Act. The suspect in custody of the Katani Kalan police. Gaiety marks Chhath Puja celebrations as devotees offer prayers to setting sun Resident extends help to migrants to perform puja Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 27 Thousands of devotees from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar offered prayers to the sun god during Chhath Puja at various locations in and around the city. Most of the devotees, who are migrant workers and employed in local factories, celebrated the festival with religious fervour along with their families, friends and fellow workers. In addition to Sutlej banks, thousands of devotees created makeshift ghats for performing rituals The banks of the Sutlej witnessed a massive gathering of worshippers offering prayers to the setting sun. Devotees, including a large number of women and children, offered fruits and other items and stood in the river Devotees walk along the rail tracks to reach Sidhwan Canal to celebrate Chhath Puja; and (right) perform rituals on the banks of the canal in Ludhiana on Monday evening. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN water for one to two hours to complete rituals in the traditional manner. In addition to the Sutlej banks, thousands of devotees also created makeshift ghats — small water enclosures — for offering prayers and eatables in localities such as Giaspura, Sherpur Chowk and Focal Point. TR Mishra, chairman of the Purvanchal Parishad, said the festival holds immense importance for people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. “Since many migrants have been residing in Ludhiana c m y b for decades, rituals are performed here with the same devotion as in our native places. We also receive full support from the administration and police,” he added. Chitranjan Kumar, a leader of the Bihari community, said special ghats were prepared in Giaspura where lakhs of devotees participated in the rituals. “While many have travelled to their native villages, a large number of migrants chose to celebrate the occasion here in the city,” he said. In memory of his 25-year-old son who died by suicide, a local resident, Nirmal Singh, along with his family, organised Chhath Puja for the migrant population on his sixacre land in the Giaspura area — home to a large number of migrants. From constructing “ghats” and arranging priests to help in performing rituals and distributing prasad, the family also hosts a cultural programme as part of the celebrations. Nirmal Singh said he was moved by the sight of migrant women and elderly parents waiting for hours to perform the puja on the banks of the Sutlej. Determined to make things easier for them, he decided to offer his land for the community to celebrate their biggest festival. The entire expenditure, which can go up to Rs10-12 lakh, is borne by the family in memory of their late son.