03022026-LT-01.qxd 2/3/2026 12:46 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune 43 CHALLANS ISSUED, TWO VEHICLES IMPOUNDED Police intensify checks on traffic violations outside a school in Kitchlu Nagar. P2 » BANDE BANO BANDE LEAVES A LASTING IMPACT GRAMMY AWARDS UNFOLDED WITH MUSIC & CONSCIENCE Play by renowned Punjabi actor and writer Rana Ranbir screened at CT University. P3 Kendrick Lamar, SZA win Record of The Year defeating Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars. P4 » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 22°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 8°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.01 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:11 AM » TUESDAY | 3 FEBRUARY 2026 | LUDHIANA Sewage woes: Dhoka Mohalla residents Police closeto crack NRI woman’s murder case, rule out robbery angle protest outside civic body’s Zone D office Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Seek permanent solution to issue that has turned their lives into misery secondary drains. Even without rain, the water is entering our streets,” Sharma said, accusing MC officials of remaining “tight-lipped” about the engineering failure. Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 2 Left with no other option, residents of Dhoka Mohalla on Monday staged a dharna outside the Municipal Corporation’s Zone D office here, demanding a permanent solution to sewage and drainage crisis that has turned their lives into misery. For weeks now, dirty water and thick silt have been overflowing onto streets, even in the absence of rain. The situation worsened after heavy rainfall in the last week of January but residents allege that it has persisted for the past 10 days, disrupting movement and damaging household goods. “Rain or no rain, our life has become hell. Black water keeps flowing into our streets and houses. We are prisoners in our own homes,” said Hardeep Singh, a resident of Dhoka Mohalla. Residents’ anguish The residents complain that every monsoon season the dirty drain overflows, flooding houses with contaminated water and Causing health hazards Cong workers and Dhoka Mohalla residents hold a protest in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN inflicting heavy losses. This year, however, the issue has continued despite dry weather. Streets remain slippery, silt has piled up and elderly residents and children have suffered falls while trying to navigate the filth. The protesters said repeated complaints to the Municipal Corporation have yielded no lasting remedy. “We were left with no choice but to take to the streets,” they said, as they kept the main gate of the MC office shut during the demonstration. Cause behind overflow Congress councillor Arun Sharma blamed ongoing infrastructure projects for the mess. He alleged that construction debris and temporary structures from two new bridges being built over the Buddha Dariya have blocked the natural flow of water. “The width of the main drain has been reduced by nearly 90 per cent at two critical points. This is forcing water back into local Residents said the stagnant black water and silt pose serious health risks, raising fears of waterborne diseases. Many described the area as a “hazardous zone” where stepping outside had become nearly impossible. Former MLA Surinder Dawar and former Senior Deputy Mayor Shyam Sunder Malhotra also joined the protest, accusing the civic administration of negligence and ignoring basic public issues. ‘Warn to intensify agitation’ The protesters warned that if the problem was not resolved soon, they would intensify their agitation. “We cannot continue to live in such filthy conditions. The administration must act now,” residents said in unison. Ludhiana, February 2 In the brutal murder of an 81year-old NRI woman at Nai Abadi in Khanna, the investigation of the Khanna police has ruled out the angle of robbery and theft attempt by unidentified persons. The police probe maintained that the miscreants entered the house with a clear motive to commit murder. Talking to The Tribune, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Khanna, Darpan Ahluwalia, said initial investigation of the police found that robbers or thieves were not behind the killing, rather the suspect(s) barged into the house with a clear motive of committing murder. The house of the deceased was not found ransacked and even gold ornaments worn by the deceased were intact. After the murder, police teams were formed for investigation. Several CCTV cameras were checked by the teams and vital clues about the suspects were gathered. Some persons were rounded up and their questioning was on. Soon, the police would crack the case, Dr Ahluwalia said. Cops during a probe outside the house of the victim in Khanna. FILE Some suspects rounded up for questioning, says SSP “The Khanna police are close to solve the case, evidences are being collected and corroborated. Police teams formed to crack the case are working day and night to bring the culprits to book,” the SSP said. Meanwhile, police sources said role of tenants who were evicted by the deceased from the house over two weeks ago was also under scanner. They were also reportedly being questioned but so far their role was not confirmed by the police. 19-year-old delivery boy attacked by Akali leaders upbeat as 15 assailants in Jassian area, critical Bikram Majithia gets bail Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 2 A violent display of hooliganism witnessed in Rajouri Garden in the Jassian area here when 19-year-old Shivam, who was returning home from work, was ambushed by around 15 assailants. The miscreants hit the youth’s head with sharp weapons. He collapsed while bleeding profusely. With severe injuries, he was rushed to the DMCH and was stated to be on a ventilator. Victim’s father, Lakminder, said Shivam works as a delivery boy for Ekart. Late on Saturday evening, while returning home from duty, the youth was surrounded by around 15 men carrying sharp The victim, Shivam, at a hospital in Ludhiana. weapons and sticks near Rajouri Garden. The suspects attacked him without any reason. Since the victim was alone, he was overpowered by the assailants, leaving no scope for him to escape. The victim’s father, a plumber by profession, and his mother, a homemaker, were inconsolable. According to the family, Shivam began working at a young age to help his father. The attackers primarily targeted his head, causing serious internal injuries. He Homebound was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state, where doctors, put him on a ventilator. Nitish Dhawan, an acquaintance of the victim, said a few days ago, sister of a victim’s friend was harassed by the assailants and Shivam had only urged them to stop bothering the girl. Enraged over the same, they attacked him. Investigating officer ASI Sukhwinder Singh said the police had received a complaint and considering the seriousness of the matter, a probe was launched. The police were checking all CCTV cameras in the area to identify the attackers. Raids were also being conducted at hideouts of the suspects and they would be arrested soon. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 2 The grant of bail to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia by the Supreme Court in a disproportionate assets case has brought cheer among party leaders, who said justice had finally prevailed. They alleged that the state government had attempted to malign his image but failed to substantiate the charges. Paropkar Singh Ghuman, a senior SAD leader here, said the FIR against Majithia was the outcome of political vendetta and reflected the negative politics of the present government in the state. “The bail order has exposed the government’s attempt to curb the voice Allege state govt has failed to substantiate charges against him of the people by foisting false cases on SAD leaders. The Supreme Court has upheld the rule of law by granting bail to Majithia. Despite voluminous challans filed against him, the state government failed to prove any charges,” Ghuman said while welcoming the court’s order. Another senior Akali Dal leader, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, said justice had prevailed at last. “We learnt that the state government’s counsels had no concrete answers when questioned about proof of disproportionate assets. Even the head of Radha Soami Satsang, who is not associated with active politics, has stated that Majithia was innocent and that nothing has been proven against him,” he said. Harish Rai Dhanda, SAD leader and senior advocate, said the SC’s decision had delivered justice. “However, it also highlights the unfortunate misuse of state machinery and abuse of power, due to which Majithia had to remain in jail for nearly seven months. The allegations were exaggerated and ultimately nothing stood the test of law,” Dhanda remarked. Majithia had been lodged in a Nabha jail for the past about seven months in connection with the disproportionate assets case. Peddler nabbed with heroin, ICE drug Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service As the sun sets, a person heads home on the outskirts of Ludhiana on Monday. ASHWANI DHIMAN Shivani Bhakoo Ludhiana, February 2 The Ludhiana police claimed to have arrested a drug peddler and seized 273 gm of heroin and 61 gm of ICE drug from the youth’s possession. Interestingly, a man from Punjab staying in the USA has reportedly been managing the supply of drugs. He has hired the youth for running his drug network. Asistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Industrial AreaA, Inderjit Singh, said under the directions of Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, Swapan Sharma, and as part of the state government’s special campaign ‘War Against Drugs’, continuous action is being taken against drug traffickers and antisocial elements. In the ongoing drive, inspector Paramdeep Singh, Station c m y b US-based man behind smuggling network The suspect in police custody in Ludhiana. House Officer, Koom Kalan police station, and the team of the Katani Kalan police post achieved a major success by arresting the drug trafficker. “On January 30 at a checkpoint, the police team received information that Tarnveer Singh, alias Dhanna, a resident of Neelon Kalan village, who is a habitual drug peddler, was on the way to sell drugs from Machhiwara Road towards Kohara Chowk, Ludhiana, in his black Hyundai Verna car (bearing registration number PB 10 HS 7707). Acting swiftly on information, the police apprehended the man and registered FIR under Sections of the NDPS Act. Heroin, ICE and drug money were recovered from his possession, and the suspect was arrested as per legal procedure,” the ACP said. During preliminary interrogation, it was revealed that the suspect was already involved in four previous criminal cases registered at different police stations, he said, adding that further investigation was launched in the case and the entire drug supply line would be busted. Even big suppliers involved in the racket would also be exposed. A man of Punjab origin has been managing the drug supply. He has cases of drug smuggling and others in the state has engaged Tarnveer in the drug network. The latter is in touch with the person via Instagram and the police had also recovered evidences related to the same, the ACP said. “The man staying in the USA had gone there via donkey route. He has links with drug suppliers in Punjab. He gives directions to Tarnveer for picking drugs and also sends him for delivering the drugs. Further investigation in the case will give vital leads about the drug network being run from the USA,” he added. The elderly woman was found murdered in the Nai Abadi area of Khanna city in Ludhiana district. Her body was found in the washroom of her house. The police registered a murder case against unidentified persons and started exploring various angles of investigation. The deceased was identified as Jagpal Kaur, wife of Surjit Singh. She was a retired teacher. After retirement, she stayed in Canada for a long time. According to sources, Jagpal Kaur came to India from Canada in October 2025 and was preparing to return to that country in April. She stayed alone at her home in Khanna. UP woman dies by suicide Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 2 A woman staying in Shivaji Nagar died by suicide by hanging herself. The victim had three children and stayed in a rented house with her husband and brother-inlaw. The deceased was a native of Uttar Pradesh. After coming to know about the incident, local residents informed the woman’s husband. Following which, the latter informed the police. The police took the body to the Civil Hospital for a postmortem examination. 30-yr-old victim, mother of three, was working as a domestic help The deceased has been identified as Sheela Devi (30). She was married about 15 years ago and had been staying in the Shivaji Nagar area for the past five years. According to residents, she worked as a domestic help. Late at night, she ended her life by hanging herself with a scarf. She has three children — two daughters and a son. Her husband, Dilkhush, works at a factory. Before the arrival of the police, woman’s husband took the body down from the noose. Upon seeing the body, he was seen crying profusely. The police are currently investigating the case. The police searched the room but no suicide note was recovered. The husband is being questioned and information is being gathered from local residents about the woman’s relationship with her spouse. The police are also checking the victim’s mobile phone. SHO inspector Nardev Singh said role of her husband in the case was suspicious. The woman hanged herself using a scarf and the police were investigating all aspects.