01122025-LT-01.qxd 12/1/2025 12:28 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune STUDENTS DISPLAY CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS AT GADVASU MALAIKA TO DEBUT AS AUTHOR WITH WELLNESS BOOK A strong display of literary talent by students marked fourth day of the GADVASU youth fest. P2 Published by Bloomsbury India, the book reflects her trademark clarity, elegance and practicality. P4 » SERIOUS SIDE OF PUNJABI COMEDIAN COMIC SINGH PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 21°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 8°C SUNSET MONDAY 5.22 PM Comic Singh, aka Manpreet Singh, carries a blend of everyday Punjabi humour, sharp social satire. P4 » FORECAST SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:02 AM » MONDAY | 1 DECEMBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Wedding celebrations turn into mourning as two groups open fire during clash Groom loses maternal aunt, childhood friend to gunshot injuries Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 30 Celebrations turned into mourning after a clash occurred between two groups at Bath Castle marriage palace on the Pakhowal road killed two, including a woman, on Saturday night. The groom, Varinder Kapoor, a contractor, lost his maternal aunt Neeru Chhabra (36), a resident of Jalandhar, and his childhood friend Vasu Chopra (36) of Ludhiana due to firing. A few minutes after the groom entered the marriage palace, both groups clashed and fired bullets at each other. Both victims, who were standing there, suffered bullet injuries and died on the spot. After the incident, panic spread in the area. The groom also ran for safety as bullets were being fired from both sides. The groom’s house and his friend Vasu’s house are located near each other. Vasu was the sole breadwinner in the family. The houses of the groom and his deceased friend (right) in Ludhiana on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN “Vasu was the only earning hand in the family. About a year ago, he had lost his father and over two years ago, his paternal uncle passed away. He was not only looking after his own family that consists of a one-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son, but he was also feeding his uncle’s family after the death of the latter,” said Vasu’s kin. They said what was the fault of Vasu who went to attend the marriage of his friend. A rivalry between two groups cost lives of two persons. Marriage palace owners are equally responsible for such incidents as they fail to pre- vent the entry of weapons in wedding venues. “The suspects had put the lives of about 700 persons at risk as the way they were firing gunshots there could have been more casualties,” they said. The groom said he had just entered the venue and some marriage rituals were going on when the two groups indulged in a clash and fired shots at each other. “I along with my family went underneath the stage for safety. I am not aware about those who opened fire. Our celebrations have turned into mourning. I have lost my aunt and childhood friend,” he said. Marriage palace owners to face stern action for violating norms: CP Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 30 A clash between two groups at a marriage palace, Bath Castle, on the Pakhowal road has again exposed the lackadaisical attitude of the managements of marriage palaces as armed guests face no checks at such venues. Now, after the incident that cost lives of two persons during a wedding function. Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma hinted strict action if marriage palace owners fail to comply with the directions and allow armed people in functions. He said after the Saturday night’s incident, a case was also registered against the management of the marriage palace for failing to prevent the entry of weapons in the wedding. “The Ludhiana police again serve strict warning to the marriage palace and hotel owners that the police will not spare anybody if they allowed guests carrying weapons in functions. The owners will face legal action for non-compliance,” the Commissioner of Police said. Thieves target 8 shops in Dugri Buses lying abandoned at the Hambran Road depot in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN Traffic chaos: Residents call for public transport revival Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 30 As the city’s traffic snarls worsen, residents say the absence of a reliable public transport system has made commuting a daily ordeal. With most city buses lying defunct and the promised electric bus fleet delayed for over two years, citizens are left with a few options but to depend on autos and private cabs — a costly substitute for short-distance travel. The city was sanctioned 100 electric buses under the PM EBus Sewa scheme, with modern depots planned at Hambran Road and Ghora Road. Contractors were finalised but the Municipal Corporation has yet to issue work orders for the depot construction, leaving the project in limbo. “We were told electric buses would ease traffic and pollution but nothing has moved in two years,” said Rajesh Kumar, a shopkeeper from Model Town. “Meanwhile, we spend hundreds on cabs to reach nearby markets as commut- E-bus project delayed, fleet of vehicles lying defunct, commuters forced to rely on costly cabs ing on own vehicles means getting struck in traffic for long hours,” he said. Of 120 buses procured, only 15 running Of the 120 buses procured under the JNNURM, only 15 are running on two routes. The rest have either been declared scrap, reclaimed but unused or stuck in legal disputes. Repeated attempts to auction defunct buses have failed while reclaimed vehicles are deteriorating in open yards. “Every day, I spend nearly double on cab fares in the absence of buses,” said Meena Rani, a textile worker from Field Ganj, adding that “Affordable transport is our right but we are forced to pay more”. Residents seek affordable options Residents argue that pub- lic transport is not only about convenience but also affordability and reducing traffic chaos. “Private cabs are fine for occasional use but they can’t be the backbone of the city transport,” said Harpreet Kaur, a civic activist. “We need buses that are frequent, affordable and ecofriendly. Electric buses are the need of the hour,” she said. “City’s narrow streets are jammed with cars and autos. If buses were available, many of us would happily switch,” added Ravinder Singh, a retired transport planner. The road ahead Officials claim work would begin soon on converting the Hambran Road depot into a modern facility for ebuses but commuters remain skeptical. With traffic congestion worsening daily, residents say the delay is costing them their time and money. As one commuter summed it up: “We don’t need promises of smart cities but buses that actually run.” Ludhiana, November 30 Thieves targeted eight shops at Guru Ramdas Market, located in the Dugri area. Besides, the culprits also tried to break locks of a few other shops. The Dugri police have received a complaint from Swaranjit Singh, a retired SDO of the Irrigation Department, and has started investigation. Swaranjit Singh said after retiring from the department, he was running an insurance company office in Guru Ramdas Market. On Saturday evening, he went returned home as usual. At 4 am next morning, he received a call from a boy staying in the neighbourhood, informing him that shutter of his shop, along with several others, had been broken. He reached the scene and saw that the shutter of his shop and the inner glass were broken. Most of his work is conducted The broken shutter of a shop at Dugri, Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN online due to which there was no cash in his office. The complainant stated that the thieves also targeted readymade garment shops, pizza shop and a mobile phone shop located in the same market, breaking their shutters. The complainant reported that the suspects targeted eight shops in the market and stole goods worth lakhs of rupees from them. The incidents were also captured in CCTV cameras. Meanwhile, in-charge of the Dugri police station said the police started a probe into the matter. He mentioned that a complaint had been lodged by Swaranjit Singh and the case would be solved soon. — TNS Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma addresses mediapersons in Ludhiana on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Had the management of the Bath Castle marriage palace checked guests at entry points, such unruly armed carrying youths could have been stopped from entering the venue and the tragedy could have been averted, he said. Suspects enjoy political support The suspects who were involved in the deadly clash at the marriage palace had allegedly been enjoying political support for years. They kept changing their political bosses with time. They even openly post videos and photographs with their political masters on social media to show their political influence. Politicians, govt officials run for cover Interestingly, during the firing incident, many politicians and government officials were present at the marriage palace. At the time of the firing, they went for cover to save their lives. However, they managed to inform the police on time after which the latter had reached the scene in a few minutes and sealed the palace for probe. Civic body faces heatover incomplete RTI info Ludhiana, November 30 The Punjab State Information Commission has pulled up the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, for failing to provide complete information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, directing officials to furnish remaining details or submit a formal undertaking if records are unavailable. The order, issued by State Information Commissioner Harpreet Singh Sandhu follows a complaint by Sat Pall Sharma, a resident of Haibowal Kalan, who alleged that the civic body had shared only partial information in response to his RTI application regarding ‘Punjab Nirman’ programme. “I’ve been pursuing the same for months. Citizens have the right to know how public funds are used and incomplete replies defeat the purpose of transparency,” Sharma said. The commission has also instructed the Public Information Officer (PIO) to either provide the remaining information or file an undertaking confirming its non-availability. A copy of the same must be sent to both appellant and the commission. In case of non-compliance, the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, has been directed to appear in person in the next hearing. The matter has been adjourned to January 15, 2026, with a follow-up date of January 21 for further proceedings. “RTI is a tool for citizens to hold institutions accountable. When departments dodge questions or delay responses, it signals deeper issues in record-keeping and intent,” said Jaspreet Kaur, a local advocate. — TNS Wrong nameplate at PSSSB examination centre creates confusion among candidates Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 30 Numerous candidates appearing for the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) examination in Ludhiana were faced trouble on Sunday morning due to a glaring mismatch between admit cards and the nameplate outside the exam centre. The cards listed the venue as ‘School of Eminence, Mundian Kalan, Chandigarh Road’, but the board outside the school premises still read ‘Government Senior Secondary School, Mundian Kalan’. The failure to update the signage left candidates baffled, with many rushing between two different schools in search of the correct centre. “Even Google Maps did c m y b not show any School of Eminence here. It directed us to Guru Arjan Dev Nagar, nearly 5 km away. We wasted precious time running back and forth,” said a candidate from Mohali. The mix-up was compounded by the existence of another School of Eminence in Guru Arjan Dev Nagar, nearly 5 km away. Many candidates rushed there after failing to locate the centre at Mundian Kalan, only to discover it was not the designated venue. “We first reached Government Senior Secondary School at Mundian Kalan as most people assumed that it was the right place. But then some said the School of Eminence is in Guru Arjan Dev Nagar. We had no option but to travel back and forth,” said another candidate from Mohali. Panic before crucial exam The confusion led to widespread panic among candidates and their parents. Some reported arriving late, while others said the stress nearly broke them down before the exam even began. “I almost had a nervous breakdown. Instead of focusing on the paper, I was worried about reaching the right centre,” said another candidate from Jalandhar. Parents accompanying kids echoed similar concerns. “This is sheer negligence. For a recruitment exam that decides careers, the authorities should have continued on page 2 Candidates outside the exam centre in Mundian Kalan, Ludhiana.