09012026-LT-01.qxd 1/9/2026 12:42 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune HELP FARMERS PROTECT CROPS, PAU TELLS SCIENTISTS RURAL SPORTS BODIES SEEK INVOLVEMENT IN NAT’L EVENTS Asked to stay available for round-theclock assistance for winter-related contingencies. P2 Say can help young players from across nation appreciate cultural heritage of rural Punjab. P3 » » ACTOR SARAH JESSICA PARKER HONOURED Sex and the Cityactress receives 2026 Carol Burnett Award at Golden Globes' Golden Eve ceremony. P4 » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 13°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 13°C | MIN 7°C SUNSET FRIDAY 5.38 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7:20 AM FRIDAY | 9 JANUARY 2026 | LUDHIANA Severed body of man missing for 2 days found in plot near Jalandhar bypass One part recovered from plastic drum, other found charred at scene Mahesh Sharma Forensic team collects evidence from the crime scene; and (right) waling kin of the deceased in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Ludhiana, January 8 Davinder Kumar of Bharti Colony at Bhora village here, who has been reported missing for two days, was found murdered brutally by some unidentified persons. The severed body of the man was found abandoned in a vacant plot near the Jalandhar Bypass on Thursday morning. While one part of the body was found concealed in a plastic drum, the other was found charred. The Salem Tabri police had initiated a probe into the sequence of events leading to the murder of the victim and dumping of the body at the deserted place. A forensic team has also been deployed to investigate the heinous crime. Hemraj of Bhora village had informed the police on Wednesday that his cousin Davinder Kumar went missing after he left home on the pretext of some personal work on Tuesday. A case was registered in this regard on Wednesday. Davinder, who was serving as Excise Dept tightens noose around eateries serving liquor illegally Two outlets violating norms raided, cases registered Ludhiana, January 8 Cracking the whip against those serving alcohol under the guise of eating joints, the Excise and Taxation Commissioner (ETC), Punjab, Jitendra Jorwal, said there was zero tolerance against violators. Serving liquor without permission at chicken corners or dhabas was a violation of the rules. Regular checking and raids would be intensified in coming days so that illegal premises could be checked, the ETC said. Jorwal said many dhabas and eateries were still on the radar of the department and serving liquor to customers without valid licence would not be tolerated. In this direction, two outlets were raided on Wednesday night. People were drinking alcohol openly inside Sher-ePunjab Chicken Corner at Kamala Nehru Market and Bawa Chicken near Samrala Chowk. Excise and police officials collected evidence from the spots. As per the Excise Department officials, on the basis of a tip-off, a special team of the department raided two outlets and registered cases for serving liquor in an illegal manner. ACX, Ludhiana East, Shivani Gupta, said the department had been receiving complaints for a long time that some chicken corners were flouting the norms and serving liquor to people on their premises without any valid licence. In this context, two outlets were raided on Wednesday night, in which people were found drinking alcohol openly inside Sher-e-Punjab Chicken Corner in Kamala Nehru Market and Bawa Chicken in Samrala Chowk. After which, the police collected evidence from the spots. “When EI Navdeep Singh and his team raided the Kamla Nehru Market, they saw that people were sitting inside the Sher-e-Punjab Chicken Corner consuming alcohol, following which the police recovered liquor bottles from the spot and booked its manager Ramesh Chand under the Excise Act,” said an official of the department, adding that in another raid, EI Barjesh Malhotra and other excise and police officials conducted a check at Bawa Chicken, Samrala Chowk, located in Guru Arjun Dev Nagar. As liquor was being served in an illegal manner at the outlet, a case under the Excise Act against manager Sachin Sharma was filed. — TNS Bomb threat email triggers panic atcourt complex Turns out to be hoax, premises evacuated by policemen Rajneesh Lakhanpal a computer operator at a private company in Mumbai, had returned from Mumbai on Tuesday after over five months. Shortly after reaching home, he left the house, telling his wife that he would return soon. While police personnel, led by ASI Prem Chand, were investigating the case, some passers-by informed the police about a drum containing body parts on Thursday morning. Though the police have not provided any details regarding the progress in the probe, a close friend of the deceased is suspected to be involved in the case. The suspect, staying in a nearby street, was allegedly captured while carrying a drum on a motorcycle, along with his companion, in a CCTV camera footage. Ludhiana, January 8 Panic gripped the District Courts Complex here on Wednesday after a bomb threat email was received on the official email ID of the Sessions Division, Ludhiana, prompting judges to vacate their courtrooms for police checking and bringing judicial work to a complete standstill. The threat reminded the bomb blast incident occurred at the Ludhiana courts on December 23, 2021, causing damage to the judicial building and death of the alleged suspect. Well-placed sources disclosed that the threatening email was purportedly sent by Ajmal Abdul Raj’ from email ID rajeevan_ajmal@outlook.co m, claiming that three RDXbased improvised explosive devices (IEDs) prepared using C-4 RDX, had been planted at key locations in the court complex. Lawyers and litigants on the premises of the District Courts Complex in Ludhiana after a bomb threat email was received. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN The email further alleged that members carrying remote-controlled triggers would approach the building in the afternoon and the explosives would detonate automatically once they came in a 100-ft perimeter. It also contained threats of sui- cide attacks inside the court building, drawing parallels with the Sri Lankan Easter attacks. Following the receipt of the email, panic spread among judges, lawyers, judicial staff and litigants. Afterwards, judges left their courtrooms, Civic body to adopt eco-friendly cold fogging tech to combat mosquitoes Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 8 In a move towards sustainable public health practices, the Municipal Corporation is all set to introduce cold fogging technology to combat mosquito-borne diseases. The shift will mark a significant departure from traditional diesel-based fogging methods and help in combating air pollution that is spread through traditional fogging method and at the same time, will prove light on MC’s pocket as well. Unlike thermal fogging, which uses heat and diesel to vaporise chemicals, cold fogging disperses a fine mist of water mixed with insecticides. It spreads more evenly and penetrates mosquitobreeding areas more By switching to method, it expects to save crores through reduced fuel consumption, efficient chemical application effectively, without releasing harmful emissions. Experts believe the method will enhance coverage in densely populated zones and reduce health risks associated with inhaling diesel fumes. “Residents often complain about smoke and smell during fogging drives. Cold fogging will eliminate that,” said a Health Department expert. A senior MC official said: “It is not just about two diseases, our aim is broader prevention. We want to ensure that residents are protected from a range of mosquitorelated health risks.” The Municipal Corpora- tion plans to issue a tender soon, following which the fogging operations will be carried out by a private company. Officials emphasised that the new method would not only reduce air pollution but also significantly cut operational costs. “Traditional fogging methods rely heavily on diesel, which contributes to air pollution and adds significantly to expenses. The shift to cold fogging will help us adopt a sustainable method and curb pollution caused by diesel combustion,” said an MC official. The switch will be cost effective as well and help the MC in saving money. At present, the corporation operates 14 large fogging machines, each costing approximately Rs18,000 per day for diesel and chemicals. It amounts to Rs 2.19 lakh daily and nearly Rs 68 lakh monthly. Additionally, 95 smaller machines, distributed across wards, consume 475 litres of diesel daily, costing Rs 42,000. Over a month, diesel expenses alone reach Rs 13.10 lakh. Chemical usage adds another layer of expenditure. The 95 machines require chemicals worth Rs 46,000 daily, translating to Rs14.26 lakh monthly. By switching to cold fogging, the corporation expects to save crores annually through reduced fuel consumption and more efficient chemical application. police teams rushed to the spot and intensive checking and security measures were taken on the court premises. The majority of the lawyers and litigants left the complex as a precaution, resulting in suspension of routine court proceedings for the day. 7 booked for thrashing man Raikot, January 8 The Hathur police have booked seven persons, including two unidentified suspects, for allegedly thrashing a hairdresser of Lamma village near here on Tuesday. The suspects, who came on two motorcycles, had also threatened the victim of dire consequences by pointing a pistol at him before leaving the scene. Five of the suspects were identified as Inderjit Singh, Ranjit Singh, Jagjit Singh Jaggi, Kuldeep Singh Keepa and Sandeep Singh, all residents of Lamma. Sukhchain Singh, the victim, said informed the police that the suspects had thrashed him by entering his saloon forcibly on Tuesday morning when he was working. The police said a probe had been initiated into the incident after filing an FIR under the BNS and the Arms Act. — OC Dor da adda: Fading threads of kite tradition in city Crackdown on illegal Only a few traditional hubs, where kite strings are spun and strengthened, remain at places such as Daresi Ground, Dugri Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 8 Once the lifeblood of the city’s festive skies, ‘dor da adda’, traditional hubs where kite strings were spun and strengthened, are now dwindling. The ‘wooden-posted workshops’, once lining city’s lanes, have nearly vanished. Today, only a handful remain at a few places such as Daresi Ground, Dugri and Sunet. As Lohri approaches, these quiet corners suddenly hum with activity. The rhythmic winding of thread, the smell of paste and colour and the chatter of customers evoke memories of a time when every street was alive with charakhri dor. A dor maker at Daresi said: “Making and selling traditional string is in the blood. We can’t leave it as long as we’re The making of traditional kite string in progress at a 'dor da adda' in Ludhiana. INDERJEET VERMA alive. Once lanes of every locality used to turn into addas as the dor was traditionally made at home but now, the art remains limited,” he said. Gopal Chand, who has put up an adda near Pakhowal, said: “For a few days, demand surges and the adda regains its old vibrancy, a reminder of old days. Today, the demand has decreased and the Chinese string has taken away our business. The government should enforce strict laws to check its sale,” he said. Another traditional dor maker, Satti Ram, said synthetic strings and factorymade reels have eroded demand. Safety concerns and changing leisure habits have further dimmed the tradition. “We are keeping the tradi- c m y b tion alive by passion, not due to profit. More than a business, it is a legacy for us. Each spool carries stories of generations who celebrated Lohri with kites soaring high,” he said. Their resilience ensures that, at least for now, the tradition refuses to fade entirely. Another traditional kite string maker from Jodhan said the rise of Chinese dor had led to the end of an era for traditional dor manufacturing. “We once took great pride in producing the best strings, as kite flying enthusiasts from different cities would converge here to purchase our strings. But now, factory-made strings and Chinese dor have flooded the market, taking away the business from traditional dor makers,” he said. One of the oldest dor da adda is being run at Daresi. A second generation dor maker, Vijay Kumar, said his father told him how advance bookings were done for their cotton strings, made by hand with materials such as glass powder and glue. “But now, those things have been replaced by Chinese dor,” he rues, with sadness writ large on his face. “I still buy traditional dor every Lohri, even if it costs more. For me, it’s not only about flying kites, but also keeping alive memories of our childhood and the heritage of city’s festive skies.” The ‘dor da adda’ is not just about string, it’s a connection. It ties together memories, festival and identity. As the city prepares for Lohri, these hubs remind residents that heritage survives not in monuments but in hands of those who keep the traditions alive. sale of MTP kits in city During the drive, a total of five firms were inspected. Ludhiana, January 8 Acting on the directions of the higher authorities, inspections were carried out on Thursday across different areas of Ludhiana to verify the sale and purchase of medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kits. The drive was conducted under the supervision of Dinesh Gupta, Zonal Licensing Authority (ZLA), Ludhiana, with two teams led by Rupinder Kaur, Drug Control Officer (DCO), Ludhiana-2, and Navdeep Sand- hu, DCO, Ludhiana-3. During the inspection, a total of five firms were checked. Of these, three were found stocking and selling MTP kits without valid purchase bills and without issuing sales bills. The authorities confirmed that investigations against defaulting firms had been initiated and show-cause notices would be issued. Chemists across the district have been directed to adhere to the rules regarding sale and purchase of drugs. — TNS