16012026-LT-01.qxd 16-01-2026 00:53 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune AGRI VARSITY JOINS BRICS’ UNIVERSITY GROUP PUNJAB’S CRICKETING FUTURE LIES IN SMALLER DISTRICTS JARKHAR SPORTS ARENA HAS EVOLVED INTO MODERN FACILITY BRICS, a diplomatic bloc, represents major emerging and fastest growing economies of the world. P2 With Gurdaspur-born cricketer becoming Canada team captain, spotlight has shifted to neglected hinterland. P3 The 38th edition of the three-day annual sports fair is scheduled to commence on February 13.P3 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 12°C | MIN 6°C YESTERDAY MAX 11°C | MIN 5°C SUNSET FRIDAY 5.45 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7:19 AM FRIDAY | 16 JANUARY 2026 | LUDHIANA Nine illegal under-construction Chinese string: Police to continue fight against menace in coming months buildings razed by MC in Lohara 2,443 rolls seized from 15 persons booked in 13 cases before Lohri Six commercial structures sealed over pending CLU charges, other dues Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 15 Continuing stern action against illegal constructions, the building branch of the Municipal Corporation (MC) demolished nine illegal buildings in the Lohara area, falling under the Zone C of the civic body. The illegal buildings, including five under-construction shops and four under-construction residential buildings, were situated in Kunti Nagar of the Lohara area. Civic body officials said the drive was conducted on the directions of MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal as owners failed to stop illegal constructions despite warnings issued in the past. Meanwhile, the officials appealed to residents to start construction works only after getting building plans approved from the civic body, otherwise strict action would be taken against the constructions. The drive against the illegal con- An illegal under-construction structure being demolished in Ludhiana. structions would continue in coming days too, they said. Continuing action against illegal constructions, the MC sealed six commercial buildings in different areas of the city on Thursday. Action against the unauthorised constructions has been taken by the building branch of the MC Zone D. Two buildings are situated on the Barewal road, two on the 200-ft road and one each on the Magnet resort road and the Ferozepur road. Assistant Town Planner (ATP) Harvinder Singh said action had been taken as owners failed to submit pending dues, including Change of Land Use (CLU) charges. He urged residents to avoid any action, they should start works only after getting building plans approved from the authorities. Our Correspondent Ludhiana, January 15 Identifying use of Chinese string for flying kites as a major hazard against human and animal health, the Commissionerate of Police, Ludhiana, has announced to continue fight against the menace during following months. Besides punitive action taken in the past, the Police Department has decided to rope in environmentalists, social and educational organisations to sensitise all stakeholders to causes and consequences of injuries caused due to the banned plastic string. Organisations working for the rights of shopkeepers and traders have also been asked to discourage members of their bodies from indulging in the illegal activity that had already emerged as a death trap for animals and birds, besides people. Reiterating their earlier stand on the subject, police officials, led by ADCP Chinese string collected by a person in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN NGOS, ACTIVISTS TO BE ROPED IN Besides punitive action taken in the past, the Police Department has decided to rope in environmentalists, social and educational organisations to sensitise all stakeholders to causes and consequences of injuries caused due to the banned plastic string. Karanveer Singh, said the Ludhiana police were committed to launch a multidimensional crusade under the supervision of Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma for minimising use of the banned string for flying kites in future. “Having received satisfactory results during our earlier campaign launched against those indulging in illegal storage and sale of Goods worth lakhs destroyed in factory fire Vet varsity gets ~4.08 crore for three research projects Our Correspondent Ludhiana, January 15 Goods and fixtures worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed in an accidental fire that engulfed the first floor of a factory situated in the Deep Nagar locality of the city on Thursday afternoon. Most of the workers, except one, had a miraculous escape as they were having lunch on the rooftop of the factory when the fire broke out. Amiri Parsad, who was trapped in the fire on the first floor, fell unconscious due to suffocation and was shifted to a private hospital. After noticing the fire, besides raising the alarm, the staff rescued Amiri Parsad, who was trapped inside and had become unconscious. Firefighters douse the flames at a factory in Ludhiana on Thursday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Ludhiana, January 15 Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) has secured Rs 4.08 crore under the Rs 90.53-crore Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) programme of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). The funding will support three interdisciplinary research projects focused on livestock health and sustainability, food innovation and healthcare technologies. The first project, “AI/MLenabled systems for monitoring livestock health, optimising production, and ABOUT THE PROJECTS The funding will support three interdisciplinary research projects focused on livestock health and sustainability, food innovation and healthcare technologies. improving sustainability,” will be led by Dr Devendra Pathak, Dr Sikh Tejinder Singh and Dr Navdeep Singh. It aims to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to improve livestock health monitoring, enhance productivity, and promote sustainable animal farming. The second project, “Enhancement of protein functional properties via non-ther- mal techniques for novel food product development”, involves Dr Sunil Kumar, Dr Rekha Chawla, Dr Anju Boora Khatkar, and Dr Narender Kumar Chandla. It will explore non-thermal processing methods to improve protein functionality for healthier food products. The third project, led by Dr Manu M and Dr Kuldip Gupta, focuses on developing biodegradable biomaterials for healthcare applications. Vice-Chancellor Dr Jatinder Paul Singh Gill said the grant would strengthen research infrastructure and help address challenges in animal health, food innovation, and sustainable healthcare. — TNS Return to SAD: Sukhbir to rebels Dist administration to set up help desk Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 15 During the Maghi Mela celebrations at Muktsar Sahib on Wednesday, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal urged “deserters” to return to the party in the larger interest of the state. However, the rebel leaders remain adamant that till the party president steps down and fair elections for the post are conducted, they have no intention of rejoining the SAD. Reacting to the statements made by Sukhbir, who appealed to the angry rebels to return for the sake of the state, Manpreet Singh Ayali, whose differences with the former are well known, maintained that the party president must make a sacrifice to unite the Shiromani Akali Dal. Ayali, who also attended the Maghi Mela at Muktsar Sahib, said the rebel leaders were firm on their stand and wanted Sukhbir to resign. “If he does not adhere to the Akal Dissidents want party chief to step down, put aside personal interests Takht’s orders, what else can be expected? The committee constituted by the Akal Takht and the Jhona Committee, formed under his (Sukhbir’s) leadership, have both asked him to resign, but he is unwilling. For the sake of the Panth and farmers of the state, we cannot expect more from him. The rebels will not support him till he gives up his personal interests,” he said. Ayali said the Jhona Committee was constituted in 2022 and went deep into villages to understand reasons behind public dissatisfaction with the Shiromani Akali Dal. Farmers reportedly told the committee that the party had failed to safeguard the interests of farmers, the Panth and Sikhism and had supported deras, he said. “He must admit his mis- takes and resign. Only then, will the party emerge stronger to protect the interests of Sikhs in the state,” he said. He said the rebel leaders were continuously meeting representatives of ‘ Waris Punjab De’ and were willing to work with them. “Our only concern is that it should not go against national interests and that the Panth’s interests must be safeguarded on a priority basis,” the rebel leader said. Meanwhile, reacting to Ayali’s statements, Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson and senior leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal said the former had no authority to comment, as Sukhbir was a duly elected party president. “Instead, Ayali should resign himself, as he is enjoying representation in the Vidhan Sabha on the SAD ticket, which was approved by party president Sukhbir Badal. Moreover, Ayali is hand in glove with AAP, hence, nothing else can be expected from him,” he said. to provide aid to undertrial juveniles Move attempt to ensure justice, dignity and holistic care for children Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 15 In an attempt to provide legal support, strengthen the rights and rehabilitation pathways for juveniles, who fail to fight their cases due to several reasons and pressures, the district administration will establish help desks for them. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said it was an attempt to ensure justice, dignity and holistic care for undertrial juveniles housed at the Observation Home in the city. “We have been conducting meetings with Karuna Shakti Foundation to extend support to establish the help desk for the juveniles. The initiative is being led by Tansheen Kaur from Karuna Shakti Foundation. The district administration in collaboration with the foundation will focus on improving institutional conditions, c m y b The Observation Home for juveniles in Ludhiana. INDERJEET VERMA support mechanisms and rehabilitative outcomes for the children in conflict with the law,” he said. A meeting was held recently on the establishment of the help desk for the children in conflict with the law, inspired by the Resource Cell for Juvenile Justice (RCJJ), a field action project of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). “The help desk is envisioned as a neutral, childfriendly access point to facilitate access to justice, address parental concerns, provide socio-legal guidance and bridge critical gaps within the juvenile justice system”, said the DC. It will focus on core areas of intervention such as profiling of children, including socioeconomic background, alleged offence, family and community context, hobbies, interests, food habits and aspirations, identification of individual needs to promote meaningful participation of children in rehabilitation and decision-making processes, bi-weekly interactions with the Juvenile Justice Board over the next two months to strengthen coordination, communication and institutional trust, life skill sessions to build confidence, decision-making abilities and resilience among children, restorative circles with observation home staff and the District Child Protection Unit, subject to availability, to promote empathy, sensitivity and a rights-based institutional approach. In addition to direct childfocused interventions, the help desk will also seek to address systemic challenges such as lack of legal awareness, procedural delays, absence of social investigation support, and exploitation of vulnerable families by empowering children and caregivers through timely information, guidance and referrals. Chinese string, we have decided to launch multidimensional fight against the menace keeping in view the probable enhanced use of the banned string on the occasion of Basant Panchami and Republic Day,” the ADCP said, claiming that 2,443 rolls of Chinese string were seized from 15 persons booked in 13 cases before Lohri. Highlighting salient features of the plan to be launched during following days, ADCP appreciated that office-bearers of various social, educational and religious organisations had agreed to associate with the campaign launched by the police to sensitise masses to the use of the banned string for kite flying. Referring to information collected from enthusiasts willing to be associated with the campaign, he alleged that appearance of the Chinese string on roads these days had resulted in injuries to many animals and birds, besides children. Factory worker dies, colleagues hold protest, seek compensation Lovleen Bains Sahnewal, January 15 A migrant worker, deployed at a factory in Kanganwal village, lost his life after he became unconscious and fell while working on a machine during his night shift in the wee hours of Thursday. He was taken to a private hospital in Ludhiana where he breathed his last during treatment. Later, his fellow workers stopped work and staged a protest, demanding compensation for victim Ranjit Singh’s Dharna lifted after owners agree to provide relief to kin family. A case has been registered. The protest was lifted after factory owners agreed to provide a compensation to the family of the deceased. The victim, a resident of Bihar and at present staying in a migrants’ vehra at Kanganwal, met with a fatal accident early this morning while working on a machine during night shift. He was suffering from some aliment due to which he became unconscious and fell while working at the factory. The injured man was taken to SPS Hospital where he died during treatment. Ranjit is survived by his wife and three children. The victim’s body has been sent for autopsy. ACP (South) Harjinder Singh Gill said the victim was suffering from some aliment due to which the incident occurred. Chief human resource officer of Happy Forgings Limited Gurjinder Singh Sandhu said the worker was sick and became unconscious while working at the factory. “His family will be handed over a cheque for Rs 15 lakh as compensation. We have provision for compensation which we pay in case our workers meet with some untoward incident even outside the factory,” he said.