06012026-LT-01.qxd 1/6/2026 12:20 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune CITY ALL SET FOR NATIONAL SCHOOL GAMES FROM TODAY PAU’S INDIGENOUS OATS VARIETY PROMISES QUALITY FODDER ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER WINS BIG Arrangements in place for more than 900 student athletes from across India who are in the city for school games. P2 University officials said the variety, OL16, offered farmers an option that delivered superior fodder & nutritious grain. P2 One Battle After Another was named Best Picture at the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards. P4 » » FORECAST CLEAR SKY MAX 15°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 14°C | MIN 8°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.39 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7.25 AM » TUESDAY | 6 JANUARY 2026 | LUDHIANA Youth shot at over monetary dispute Ludhiana, January 5 A dispute over Rs 10,000 debt took a violent turn on Monday when a 23-year-old youth was shot at near Bhagwan Das Colony on the Jalandhar bypass. The victim, identified as Luv Singh of Ashok Nagar, is the son of a local makeup artist. He is presently undergoing treatment at a private hospital after being shot in the leg. Sources said Luv was going on his motorcycle towards the Jalandhar bypass chowk with a friend when four men on bikes chased them, forced them to stop and opened fire. The attackers fled from the spot after firing at Luv. Luv’s friend managed to get him to a hospital. The police began reviewing the CCTV footage of the chase and the attack that surfaced after the crime. Inspector Harshvir Singh, SHO, Salem Tabri police station, said the shooting appears to be the result of a financial ego clash. Luv had recently confronted an acquaintance who owed his girlfriend Rs 10,000. Two days prior to the shooting, Luv reportedly had a heated argument on a phone call with the debtor, who had been avoiding repayment. The police believe the debtor orchestrated the attack in retaliation for being pressured over returning money. The SHO said an accused was identified who was already known to both Luv and his girlfriend. The police are now working to identify the three accomplices of the accused who helped him carry out the attack. — TNS Police to bring ~7-cr cyber fraud case accused for questioning Had transferred funds into 200 mule accounts, says ED probe Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 5 After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested the two key accused in a case of Rs 7 crore cyber fraud with Padma Bhushan awardee and country’s leading textile manufacturer by putting him under “digital arrest” in 2024, the Ludhiana police are set to bring the duo for questioning. Both the accused were arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the ED. Notably, after fraud case came to the fore, the Ludhiana police cracked Oswal’s case within 18 days with the arrest of two main accused Atanu Chodhary and Anand Kumar from Guwahati and recovery of Rs 5.25 crore. Investigations revealed how the chairman of Vardhman Group was put under “digital arrest” for 24 hours and Rs 7 crore extorted from him. A senior police official confirmed that once the ED finished its questioning of the two accused, the police would bring them — Arpit Rathore from Kanpur and Rumi Kali- police cracked the case, an ❝After the Ludhianamatter was conducted by the investigation into the Cyber Wing. The Enforcement Directorate jumped into investigation to probe the money trail involved in the racket. Senior police official ❞ ta from Guwahati — on production warrants for detailed interrogation. “After the Ludhiana police cracked the case, an investigation into the matter was conducted by the Cyber Wing. The ED jumped into investigation to probe the money trail involved in the racket,” he said. ADCP (Cyber Crime) Vaibhav Sehgal confirmed that the police would secure custody of the accused nabbed by the ED. If their involvement was found in the case, they would be named in the FIR and arrested, he said. It is learnt that the ED initiated an investigation on the basis of FIR registered by the Cyber Crime Police Station, Ludhiana. Nine additional FIRs related to cybercrime or digital arrest involving the same group were also included in the investigation. The same group defrauded others of Rs 1.73 crore through digital arrests and cyber fraud scams. Investigation revealed that funds were routed through multiple mule accounts operated by accused Rumi Kalita and Arpit Rathore. The probe further determined that Kalita came in contact with Atanu Choudary and utilised bank accounts belonging to his firms Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics and Rigglo Ventures Pvt Ltd to launder illicit proceeds. Funds derived from nine digital arrest cases were deposited into the accounts of Frozenman Warehousing and Logistics, while proceeds from two cases were sent to the account of Rigglo Ventures Pvt Ltd. These amounts were subsequently transferred to more than 200 mule bank accounts, facilitating diversion of the proceeds. The completion of these transactions was enabled by Arpit Rathore, who instructed Rumi Kalita on transferring funds, once victims had made their deposits. Religious fervour Maskedmiscreants set vehicle on fire Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 5 A farmer and his son have been booked under Sections 325 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for alleged cruelty against a stray bullock. The duo inflicted injures on bullock’s backbone with axes on Sunday. The animal was shifted by villagers to Veterinary Hospital at Punjab Agricultural University where it succumbed to injuries. The accused were identified as Dharminder Singh and his father Harnek Singh, residents of Assi Kalan village in Ludhiana district. Gajjan Singh, a resident of Assi Kalan village, informed that the accused had attacked a stray bullock with axes causing grave injuries to the animal’s spine. Doctors at the Punjab Agricultural University Veterinary Hospital declared the animal dead during treatment. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had first tied snout of the bullock before attacking it with axes. The police led Sub-Inspector Dharam Singh arrested Dharminder Singh on Sunday. Harnek Singh was yet to be arrested by the police. Ludhiana, January 5 Masked miscreants set a vehicle on fire and damaged several others last night at Sanjay Gandhi Colony here. The miscreants were captured on footage of the CCTV cameras installed in the area. They were also carrying sharp weapons. First, miscreants poured petrol on a makeshift handcart and set it on fire. Furthermore, after setting the vehicle on fire, they damaged it with sharp weapons. Colony resident Kesari said miscreants set his house gate and a vehicle parked in the street on fire. Upon discovering that the vehicle was ablaze, he immediately rushed outside, poured water on it from a bucket, and doused the flames. He filed a complaint in this connection with the Division No. 7 police station. A CCTV footage clearly shows two youth with covered faces approaching the colony. They poured oil from a bottle on a vehicle parked in the street and set it on fire. They also set a gate on fire and attacked other vehicles with weapons. The complainant, Kesari, ❝Two miscreants set my house gate and a vehicle parked in the street on fire. Upon discovering that the vehicle was ablaze, I immediately rushed outside, poured water on it from a bucket, and doused the flames. I filed a complaint in this connection with the Division No. 7 police station. ❞ Kesari, RESIDENT OF SANJAY GANDHI COLONY said the miscreants damaged several other vehicles in the locality. Following the incident, area councillor Chatarveer Singh Arora questioned handling of the situation by the police. Vehicles parked outside people’s homes were set on fire due to lax approach of the police, he said. Loose supply of petrol goes on unchecked in Malerkotla Accused who fled from police custody held Ludhiana, January 5 The Jamalpur police claims to have arrested an accused, who fled from the custody, along with his two accomplices. The arrested accused were identified as Santosh Kumar (who fled from the custody), a resident of Majri Mohalla, Khanna, and his accomplices Deepak of Pump Wali Gali, Khanna, and Prem Nath of Jogi Peer Mohalla, Khanna. The police also recovered a mobile phone, a Splendor motorcycle (bearing registration number PB91E-8497), a Bajaj Platina motorcycle (bearing registration number PB10EQ-0122), an iron rod and a toy pistol from the possession of the accused. Inspector Balwinder Kaur, SHO, Jamalpur police station, said on July 6, 2025, unknown persons had looted Rs 2 lakh, a mobile phone, a.32 bore pistol magazine, along with 18 live rounds and other necessary documents, from the owner of Shagun Jewellery, Gobind Nagar. On the statement of owner Vijay Kumar, a case was registered. During investigation, accused Santosh Kumar was named in the case and arrested on December 28. Looted mobile phone was recovered from him. On December 31, a police party brought Santosh to Khanna to recover other looted valuables and to nab his accomplices. However, Santosh Kumar managed to escape from the police party’s custody, the SHO said. A separate case was registered against him in this connection, she said. At present, the accused were in police remand and further investigation was in progress, the SHO said. — TNS Father-son duo booked for killing bullock Mahesh Sharma A gurdwara all decked up on the occasion of Parkash Utsav of Guru Gobind Singh at Kitchlu Nagar in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN Vehicle owner, 2 accomplices attack traffic cops Ludhiana, January 5 The Division No. 8 police station has registered a case against three persons, who attacked traffic policemen, after vehicle of one of the accused was picked up by a towing van from the Dandi Swami road. One accused was arrested by the police. Those booked were identified as Arshpreet Singh, a resident of the Civil Lines, Rohit Kumar and one unidentified person. Arshpreet Singh was arrested by the police. In a statement to the police, complainant Rahul Kumar stated that on January 4, he was towing a Kia Seltos car, which was wrongly parked on the Dandi Swami road, along with ASI Joginder Singh and driver Jaspal Singh. When they reached near the Police Lines, along with the towed vehicle, the accused parked an Activa scooter in front of the towing van and surrounded them, said Rahul. The accused then boarded the towing van and attacked all occupants, Rahul said. Rahul said they filed a police complaint in this connection. One of the accused was arrested by the police, he said. — TNS Malerkotla, January 5 Loose petrol and diesel are being supplied by various filling stations in the town and the surrounding localities. Consumers, prominently teenagers and the youth, can be seen procuring petrol in plastic bottles against the guidelines of the Petroleum Act, 1934, and Petroleum Rules, 2002. Several unauthorised outlets, including grocers, workshops and roadside eateries, supply petrol and diesel round the clock at a premium price. Senior functionaries in companies supplying petrol and diesel to filling stations rarely know about authorised sale of the fossil fuel. Personnel in government offices responsible for monitoring functioning of licensed outlets and check unauthorised sale from unlicensed counters showed ignorance about the malpractice which can create a havoc due to unsafe storage of highly combustible liquids. Residents led by social activist Hoshiar Singh alleged that unscrupulous elements can procure petrol An employee of a fuel station fills petrol in a plastic bottle in Malerkotla. or diesel for antisocial activities from shops situated in mohallas and streets. Perusal of manuals maintained at almost all filling stations revealed that the rules generally restrict dispatch and delivery of petroleum products to individuals who do not have proper storage licence. This makes the sale of loose petrol or diesel in unapproved containers like bottles illegal. Only in exceptional cases and under specific circumstances, a small quantity of petroleum can be stored without license, but it must be kept in an approved container, and likely for a “proven need”. The rules allow storage and transportation of fuel in cer- tain metallic or glass containers. Storage in plastic bottles is completely prohibited as petrol can react with plastic and dissolve in it. Temperature fluctuations during severe winters and summers also increase risks involved in unauthorised storage and transportation of fuel. District Food and Supply Controller Daisy Khosla did not respond to repeated phone calls. SDM Gurmit Bansal said officials concerned in the Food Supply Department would be asked to ensure that the malpractice was stopped with immediate effect and no unauthorised person was allowed to store and sell petrol or diesel. District admn to set up feeding zones for stray canine across city Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 5 Amid rising dog bite cases and divided opinion among residents over the presence of stray canine in the city, the district administration has mooted a proposal inviting volunteers to help establish approved feeding zones for strays. Under the plan, feeding zones will be created in various streets and wards so that stray canine do not roam from place to place in search of food and bite unsuspecting persons on roads. Talking to The Tribune, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said, “Approved dog feeding zones will serve the purpose to a large extent. These feeding zones will organise feeding for stray dogs rather than stopping it altogether.” “Designated spots will be established to reduce movement of dogs, prevent littering, avoid crowding of ani- mals near gates and roads, and minimise conflicts between residents and feeders. The step will support animal welfare, help in maintaining public cleanliness and safety, while aligning with the legal guidelines that permit and regulate street dog feeding,” said Jain. Dog lovers have welcomed the district administration’s proposal. Surbhi, a dog lover, who regularly feeds strays on roads, said the initiative would stream- c m y b line movement of stray canine across the city to a considerable extent. Dog lovers hope that once feeding zones are established, strays will learn where and when food will be available. Designated feeding zones will reduce anxiety and unnecessary roaming of stray canine and also help in controlling their aggressive behaviour. With assured food, dogs are less likely to fight over it. Besides territorial disputes among strays are expected to reduce once feeding zones are earmarked. The initiative will also prevent food littering at random places in the city. Jain said providing food at particular locations would prevent dogs from entering the residential areas. “We hope to receive a good response from residents for this initiative. Also, we are looking for a sufficient number of volunteers to serve stray animals,” he said. Stray dogs roam on a road in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN